I’m in Ghent.

The one thing that ran through my mind time and again last night (and I must admit a bit this morning as well). It’s such a lovely and friendly city.

And I have to admit that I was a bit nostalgic for the years I studied and lived here.

I came here for a sleepover at my bestie Julie’s and a friends-date at Kastart. Oh dear, I missed their spaghetti during the past two and a half years.

After dinner we went to Hotsy Totsy where they have the best tea selection and amazing 30s-40s music playing. It was quiet there which was nice for all the things we had to tell each other after not seeing each other for over two months (the horror!).

Can I just say how much I love just walking around this city? It’s just so beautiful, especially at night when the beautiful buildings have awesome lighting.

Below is a picture of NTGent, the main theatre where Julie and I presented the Ghent Irish Festival a couple of years ago. Good times, good times.

We also passed through some of the shopping streets and can I just say that the window displays are hilarious at times?

Yes lady. I’m a boar, stealin’ your tartan handbag. Muahaha.

The only thing missing here to have Who fans flocking to Ghent is Matt Smith inside.

From next week you’ll be able to find me working at the bakery again every Sunday.

I need money + I am a student again + the girl working there on Sundays quit = me being very happy at having the chance to do my favourite student job again.

There’s something about the smell of bread in the morning that wakes me up and puts a smile on my face.

I came across this awesome illustration from New York Times illustrator Wendy MacNaughton on the Modcloth blog a month or so ago.

Time to get inspired for snacks during your creative endeavors. My personal favourite is Emily Dickinson. I love me some home-baked bread. I have to admit thought that Joyce Maynard’s lime popsicles are a very close second.

What’s your favourite?

Also please read this post at The Oatmeal about spelling. The universe will be grateful (and you’ll get a good laugh out of it).

Have I ever told you about my love for scones? Well, I love scones.

I first had scones last summer while I was on a musical theatre-trip with some fellow cast members and three of us wandered around close to Victoria station. We felt like having some tea and this little place we found had a special for tea and scones. It was heavenly.

So this morning I had a bit of a Joy the Baker moment (I sometimes like to think I’m an awesome baker like she is) and baked scones for my breakfast.

Of course I couldn’t finish all six of them so I saved the others for lunch with my mum and brother. There’s another six in the fridge ready to be baked tomorrow. I think I’ll bake them tonight and take them with me to my audition tomorrow

What’s your favourite thing to bake? I think these scones are definitely going on my top five list: simple, quick and delicious.

I first watched Pushing Daisies during my Erasmus time in Sweden. A detective fairy tale in glorious colour with amazing sets and wonderful vintage-inspired costumes.

Add to that the ridiculously talented Kristin Chenoweth and loads of pie and it was no wonder I was sold.

Episode 1.08: Bitter Sweets

Yesterday I watched the first two episodes and then my mum joined me for the next two. As I want to watch another episode now I thought a pice of pie would be appropriate snacking.

How I wish I could start a bakery like the Pie Hole.

I spent my last full day here in Stockholm. First I accompanied Kristina to the Indian Consulate to apply for her visa and then we had some fika at Vete-Katten.

It was so hard to choose something but in the end I settled on the Twiggy: passionfruit and raspberry panna cotta on a hazelnut meringue base. It also helps that it has the name of a style icon…

Something sweet with raspberries that's called Twiggy? Yes please!

We sat outside, had some tea with our cake/sweets/fika and had a nice chat. Lovely day.

I woke up today to a blue sky dotted with sheep clouds. Add to that a sunny porch, sandwich with Västerbotten cheese and a gorgeous view of the river and I’ll happily sit like that for hours.

I met up with Emelie for lunch in Gävle today. No red rose though as I couldn’t find any.

I hadn’t seen her for a year and a half and it was so great/awesome/insert-loving-adjective-here to see her again. During lunch we talked about anything and everything and then we went shopping.

Our smoulder is pretty impressive. Thanks to lovely Caroline for the pictures.

I brought her my favourite Belgian chocolate and then after shopping we had tea and blueberry-vanilla cheesecake.

The perfect afternoon if I say so myself.

I had birthday breakfast at Caruso with my mum this morning. Her birthday is actually on the 17th but as I’ll still be in Sweden then we wanted to spend some quality time together today.

Yes, I quarter my croissants before eating them.

I still can’t really believe that I’m leaving tomorrow afternoon to see my Swedish dad again. I’m SO looking forward to it even though I’m sorry to miss mum’s birthday. As a present I ordered one of Katie Daisy’s prints and if all goes well it should arrive the day before the 17th.

But before I go to the north we have Mamma Mia! the musical tonight. Mum is treating me and my brother to the theatre just like she did last year. She’s awesome like that.

PS: There will be updates directly from Sweden as I’ll have internet access. Stay tuned! (yes I  speak like that, I’m a child of the 90s)