Dean's Blog

Those who know me will agree that I love travelling; it’s one of the only perks I enjoy in life. To travel these days is cheap, affordable and if you plan it in advance something of a joy. However there is such thing as overkill.

The past three weeks I’ve only been in my home four nights (not including weekends). Paris, Liverpool, Ireland, Birmingham, Nottingham...the list goes on. Now some may think that this is a life they would like to lead but I would not want them to live in my shoes.

I’m in Paris again for the third Monday in a row; I’m sitting in yet another strange hotel overlooking a place I do not know listening to a language that I simply cannot understand. A sense of confusion, entrapment and a longing for a Subway are all floating around in my head somewhere. Tomorrow it is another destination and then a 6am flight out to Sweden.

At least I can relax in Sweden, though I do not officially live there yet it’s like my second home. I can relax, not do anything too much, walk down to the pub for a beer or just watch TV in the comfort of the apartment.

Travelling is a luxury that not all have, and I am grateful and thankful for ever place, every person that I know. I just wish as times I did not have to travel so much.

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Being a Pagan moving to a new country is always a difficult thing to do. Usually when people say “What religion are you” I tend not to answer as if I say Pagan I usually have to spend the next three hours explaining the difference between Wicca and Pagan and also then correcting the most commonly known facts that are always incorrect.

I don’t have a witch’s hat, I don’t sit in a pentacle chopping up bits of dead cat and no I don’t own any of the Charmed series on DVD. Being Pagan is something I have been since a child and it’s my own personal path and belief and as I respect all of my friend’s religions including Muslim, Catholic, Protestant, Sikh, Hindu, Jain, Wiccan, Rastafarian etc I would also want them to respect mine.

The last few weeks I have been reading a lot about the history of Sweden and it is quite refreshing to know that Pagan history played quite a major part of the countries history. Now if you question anyone about Swedish history the majority will have no knowledge of anything between The Vikings and Abba. But it is good to see that the country is indeed full of Pagan related history.

So imagine my surprise when I found out about Valborgsmässoafton or known by it’s more common name Walpurgis Night. Not only is this a celebrated Pagan festival but also a public holiday. It is basically a spring festival to celebrate the new season, bonfires are lit to keep away the dead that were believed to walk among the living this is followed by the return of light and the sun as celebrated during May Day.

One of the main traditions in Sweden is to light large bonfires, a custom which is most firmly established in Svealand, and which may have begun in Uppland during the 18th century: In Linköping the students and public gather at the court yard of Linköping Castle. Spring songs are sung by Linköping University Male Voice Choir and speeches made by representatives of the students and the University teachers. There are also newer student traditions in Gothenburg, like the carnival parade, The Cortège, which has been held since 1909 by the students at Chalmers.
I will be in Sweden on the 30th April and though I will not be attending any of these events just being in such an historic country makes me proud to be Pagan. I am sure that I will be attending next years and it will be a new experience for a British Pagan.

From Gizmodo.Com

Last week we brought you grainy pictures that purported to show the next generation of iPhone - the 4G.

Now a well-respected technology website has claimed they have got their hands on a working prototype.



Gizmodo.com said the phone had been 'found in a bar in Redwood City', camouflaged to look like an iPhone 3GS.

Writer Jason Chen said: 'We got it. We disassembled it. It's the real thing.'

While the outer packaging of the phone was rather rough and ready, Gizmodo have insisted that the hardware is anything but.

They said that unlike the 3GS currently on the market, the new smart phone has a front-facing video chat camera. It also has an improved back-camera with a larger lens and flash.



The screen has an improved display with a higher resolution so that individual pixels are not discernible.

At the top they found what looked like a secondary microphone for noise cancellation as well as split buttons for volume. All the buttons were metallic.

he phone measures 4.5"x2.31"x0.37" and weighs 140 grams. The 3GS weighs 135 grams.

The battery 5.25 WHr at 3.7V, compared to the 3GS battery, which is 4.51 WHr at 3.7V.

On the back of the phone, it said it was XX GB, but Gizmodo were unable to see how large the memory was as they believe Apple had killed the phone's 4.0 operating system after it went missing.



It fits in rather neatly with a number of rumours that were circulating about the device. Apple are notoriously secretive about new products so this could be quite the technology coup.

Gizmodo are certainly convinced. Mr Chen said: 'We get false tips all the time. But after playing with it for about a week - the overall quality feels exactly like a finished final Apple phone.'

Some bloggers have questioned whether the strange set of circumstances was too convenient and yet another example of Apple deliberately generating good publicity.

The iPhone 4G is expected to hit stores worldwide in June, according to the latest blog speculation and will be on the Verizon network in the US.

This was given some credence by the CEO of Canadian carrier SaskTel, who said in an interview: 'The good news is that (Apple) is coming out with a new version of the iPhone in the June timeframe and they're going to put us on that. So we're quite excited about that.'

Another tantalising piece of evidence that the iPhone 4G is nearing release is the new 4.0 operating system, announced last week, which would incorporate features such as multi-tasking into the current iPhone 3GS model.

Last week Apple announced the UK launch of the long-awaited iPad would be delayed by a month as demand had outstripped supply in the US.



The software engineer was reportedly drinking in a bar in California last month when the phone, disguised as a 3G version, was either lost, misplaced or stolen.

It was then handed on to the Gizmodo website which published the claims and accompanying photos and video. Shortly afterwards, an emailed letter - that appears to be from Apple, was sent to the editor of the site.

So far there's been no comment from Apple and no independent confirmation of the story. Predictably though, the rumours have been spreading quickly among iPhone fans desperate for any news about the next version.

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One week following the volcanic eruption in Iceland and the travel chaos continues. It’s kind of an eerie feeling at the moment as there are no planes flying over London and it’s immediately noticeable. I feel a bit selfish at the moment; I am worried that I might not be able to fly to Sweden on the 29th, selfish purely in the thought that there are millions out there in a worse position than myself.

It’s hard to fathom that one volcanic eruption can cause so much devastation; the volcano has caused minimal damage on the ground but utter chaos in the air. It’s the largest shutdown on European airspace in history. So far all flights from the UK have been suspended and several experts have said this could last for months. But what about the people who are already overseas? Those on holiday with nowhere to go or stay, those who are planning to come her for medical treatment and of course there are the imports that we so heavily rely on medicine, food, water, drugs, fuel etc. The list is endless.

The UK is an island that relies heavily on the import of products from overseas and the current scenario is not helping. The governments of Europe have been too over cautious with this ban. Rather than listen to what the airlines have said they have just imposed a complete no-go zone. KLM, SAS, Air France and BA have all conducted test flights and have said there were no problems at all. So why don’t the governments listen to them rather than ignore?

It’s a joke when governments never co-operate with the people that really matter in events like these. Of course passenger safety is the most important factor here but if the airlines are saying it is safe to fly then it should be. Instead we have the Royal Navy ferrying people across the channel costing millions, we have families buying second hand cars and driving across Europe just to get home.

The Airlines need to have the decision here. Not the bureaucrats in charge.

Five weeks ago I lost a friend through suicide. It was yet another friend who had departed this life far too early. Yesterday I was sat in the Swedish pub “The Harcourt Arms” watching a game of football when I received a text notification that I had a facebook message. I opened the message and it read like a thunderbolt.

“Have you heard about Jessica’s death?”

I have five friends on Facebook named Jessica but I immediately knew what this was referring to. My friend Jessika had gone into hospital last week to give birth to her first child. The baby was several days late and as the news was quiet people were just wondering what had happened. When the news came through via that due to complications both mother and child were dead my hand began to shake. When I say shake I don’t mean a little, it was like a crystal glass on a table during a force 8 Earthquake.

I had to make my way through London to get home and left pretty much immediately, gazing out at the window into the London I tried to make some kind of sense in the world I live in. Looking at all the people running around like headless chickens, people full of ideas, hopes and dreams only to see them diluted by normality. Though the journey only took one hour I think I covered a multitude of subjects, faith, friendship, life and death. I thought of the people I have loved, the people I have lost and asked the eternal question “What is the meaning of this, why are we here?”

Jessika was one of those people that never took life too seriously, her attitude was mature yet juvenile, optimistic yet realistic and she always had an answer for whatever life threw at her. It is that very attitude that many of us lose somewhere along the way in life, we forget what our dreams were and we age, gracefully yet end up blending into some form of routine. I don’t want that.

I think about the last words we ever said, the times we would be up all night trying to put the world to rights via facebook or text. Then I think about how lucky many of us are, we get to watch our children play everyday, we get to see our loved ones faces, the beauty of nature and the joy that life can bring. Then there is the sadness, Jessika will never get to see her daughter, never get to be a mother and never get to share anything that we all take so much for granted.

I’ve lost too many friends lately, maybe that is a sign of the society and times that we live in, or maybe I am just the most unlucky person there is. But when I read that line I know that statement is foolish. I am lucky, very lucky. Life may throw challenges at me but the very essence of being alive is what makes it all so worthwhile. Like those I viewed I will have days where normality takes over I will have days where I will spend it daydreaming. Yet Jessika’s death has taught me a valuable lesson.

The lesson is that I am so lucky to have the ability to be doing what I love. My writing is no longer an ambition for me, it is my destiny. My friends that have left this planet will never be forgotten, I will ensure that. Through my writing their names, memories and lives will live on as long as I have an audience. Someone once said to me “When a loved one dies, live your life in celebration of theirs” and that is exactly what I am going to do.

We are only here on Earth for a brief moment in time yet we all have the ability to leave an impact no matter how little it maybe. If the lives we live touch the hearts of just one person then that is the most wonderful legacy we can leave behind. Some maybe famous, others fade into the wind but there is one lesson above all that I am going to carry forward. That lesson is simply this

Life is the most precious thing that we possess, never waste a second, and never stop believing. Once you do it’s over.

R.I.P Jessika Peach. Thank you for being a true friend, your name will live on in my work for eternity.

We all love you

[gallery]

http://jessika-peach.gonetoosoon.org/memorial/

Well what a fun weekend that was. After all the cleaning up was done I was faced with a mass of paperwork and forms to fill in for the insurance. I don’t know what is worse really actually being broken into or the amount of paperwork you need to complete in order to get a replacement item.

Then of course on top of all that is starting all over again, I have to rebuild my ITunes, my Mac. There was a bit of good news though, I had managed to backup all my music, writing and photos up until the end of March so all I have really lost is the early draft of my new screenplay “Departure”, this is still fresh in my mind so I will begin to write this again today. The two things I am missing the most are my cash card and my passport, replacements are on the way but will just be a very inconvenient week until they arrive.

Overall when I think of the person who broke into my apartment I have a lot of sympathy for them, they have stolen a passport that has almost expired, a cash card that they cannot use, A Mac that is securely locked so that cannot be used and a PS3 that was already broken. The effort it must have taken to steal and sell that is equal to the effort I had filling in the paperwork this weekend.

I am sure deep down that we both could not have done with all this hassle this weekend. If the reason behind this break-in was to fuel a drug habit then I really hope that they seek the help they so obviously need.

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I must have one of these



Look closely and guess what they could be...



Are they pens with cameras?



Any wild guesses? No clue yet?

Ladies and gentlemen... congratulations!
You've just looked into the future... yep that's right!

You've just seen something that will replace your PC in the near future.

Here is how it works:




In the revolution of miniature computers, scientists have made great developments with bluetooth technology...

This is the forthcoming computers you can carry within your pockets




This "pen sort of instrument" produces both the monitor as well as the keyboard on any flat surfaces from where you can carry out functions you would normally do on your desktop computer.





Can anyone say, "Goodbye laptops!"

Looks like our computers are out of date..again!

Time is certainly going quickly this year. I stepped out today into the warmth of the spring sunshine and realised that we are now far rid of winter and the warmth of spring entwined with summer will soon be among us.

My rather tired vlog last night did not really get into the grasp of what I was trying to say, then again after travelling on a train for 4 hours even getting my own name out of my mouth would have been an achievement. But it really has hit me that time is running out for me, and fast.

At the end of 2009 I made the decision to move to Sweden after the winter of 2010/11, it gave me ample time to not only complete my learning of Swedish but also research as much as I could about the county, make new friends, a new network of professional writers and then move with everything in tact.

Now here we are less than ten months until my move and I am panicking like a fish about to be eaten by an alligator. Whilst my reading and writing is fairly up to scratch I have had little in the way of speaking. Around two years ago I was more than converse, I was nearly fluent but it’s like driving a different type of car, after a while you just forget. When I am watching SVT I can sometimes understand every word, then there are the other times where I cannot understand a thing.

My knowledge of the country is at a good standard. The friends are beginning to grow, but I am far behind with so little time to complete this all. I’m in the middle of writing a script; I still have “Highland Equinox to finish” and on top of that launching my own business in August.

So the yellow and blue flag is rapidly approaching to say “Valkommen!” but I am really swimming uphill backwards in order to be as ready as I would like. This is a true race against time.

A chapter in my life is shortly coming to a close and a new dawn beckons. It feels like a huge weight has been lifted of my shoulders and with it leaves a lot of pain. Time is the greatest healer a human can possibly experience.

It was a decade ago that I decided to make the biggest decision of my life and relocate to a world I did not know. Being disillusioned with my life back in 2000 I was not a happy person. I had moved to a house where I never saw my flatmates, I was in a job I was not happy in and also at the end of a terrible four year relationship. The decision was simple, run away. So I did, to London.

Starting a new job in a city where you don’t know anybody is a challenge enough, moving into a new house with people you never met is frightening, but to start a relationship with a complete unknown is the biggest challenge of all. It was far from easy the years of 2001/2, they were financially tough. I was living in a house where it seemed there were more people than could possibly be contained, work was dull and my social life was hardly one to write home about.

The years went by and I finally felt settled in London, the relationship grew stronger, the work got better and though I moved at least twice a year I finally settled in a nice house by the river. But as usual with my life nothing was ever going to be easy and half way through the decade I found myself out of work, out of a relationship and almost homeless. So I made the temporary decision to run home with my tail between my legs.

Moving back in with your parents after eight years away is never an easy decision but it did allow me to become financially settled again and after several months of home cooked food I decided it was time again to return to London. Possibly the biggest mistake of my life.

The friends I had made were gone, all that remained was a shell of what my life once was, and the eerie laughter of days spent in pub gardens had turned into whispers in the wind. Places I used to frequent either torn down or transformed into an unrecognisable unwelcoming sight. Only the river offered any form of recognisable stability.

So here I am, ten years on from my move and the chapter of “London” is closing. I’ve lived, laughed, loved and lost since I first stepped foot into Elephant & Castle. I have felt highs and lows never experienced before. But through all the madness and sadness I would not change a second of it as it has made me who I am.

Sweden now awaits, a new chapter in my life begins. I am no longer the guy in his early twenties who moved to London to find that the streets were not paved with gold. I am wiser, smarter and more resilient. I know that Sweden is not a kingdom laid with treasure and heavenly days. It is going to be the biggest challenge of my life, living in another country where the language, laws, lifestyle and history is all so new. Making new friends will not be hard, and a relationship is already here. What makes this one such a challenge is that it really is delving into the unknown.

Physically I have not changed much in the last ten years, a few more lines on my face but mentally I’ve grown a skin tougher than a Rhino. Sweden is going to throw a lot of challenges my way yet as always I will face them head on.

A new decade, a new chapter. Let The Sweden Tales commence.

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