Arrived in slovakia. #iihfwc11 here I come! Slovenskoooooo!!!!

@Violet_NL I'll get nash for you don't worry :) pity as soon as I arrived slovakia got knocked out

8-May

I had forgot about slovak hospitality. I had 3 lunches in 5 hours.complete with beer,wine and shnaps http://yfrog.com/gy3bthpj

@Violet_NL lol indeed I thought so too. The 3 dish was pizza overtopped with 3 types of cheese. Don't want to know my calorie count for 2day

@NHLfanDenmark doing latenight stuff - lol! Tomorrow slovakia - denmark. Pretty useless game apart from taking revenge for last year's 6-0

9-May

it's the last game slovakia will be playing in the #iihfwc11. Come on Slovensko at least beat Denmark and take revenge for last year !

glad to hear the slovak support being loud at a 12.15 game and after a big disappointment #iihfwc11

danes score on a great counter attack after an attacking start by slovakia #iihfwc11

the slovak defense misses Zdeno Chara too much! for Slovakia's sake Boston should win the Stanley Cup now #iihfwc11 #nhl

GOLLLL!!!! Jurcina draws 1-1. Nice game so far. Slovkas are believing in themselves #iihfwc11

it was Stumpel that scored (deflected). now power play for the danes. #iihfwc11

@Violet_NL @NHLfanDenmark being a rangers fan i have no particular sympathies for the Bruins as a team, but Slovaks above all :))

GOOOLLL!!! SATAN!!!!!!!!!!!! #iihfwc11

first period over 2-1 for slovakia. slovakia are playing without fear of losing today. much nicer hockey that way! #iihfwc11

After scoring in the first, Satan is on fire in the second period too. Hit the post and had few shots on goal. #iihfwc11

Strebak - head shot on danish backup goalie

a few golden opportunities for slovakia which ended with Satan getting into a fight. told you he's on fire #iihfwc11

last 20 minutes for slovak team in this championship. 2-1 in the start of the second

GOLLLLLLLL!!!!! HOSSSSSAAA!! Finally, Hossa is on the board! #iihfwc11 on the power play!

danes with 5-3 power play! 2+2 and 2 minutes. long PK for slovakia #iihfwc11

1killed. 2minutes left to PK. great work from Halak in last 2 mins #iihfwc11

looks like slovakia are going to play the whole 3rd period with man less. another penalty for Slovkia #iihfwc11

4-1 Richard Zednik scores with less than 10 minutes to go! #iihfwc11

@NHLfanDenmark it seems like it doesn't it. i wish they had spread it out a bit better too.

nice to hear the enthusiasm of the crowd in the last game. #iihfwc11

slovakia end their adventure on a high note - if you can call this a high note (it's as high as it gets given the circumstances) #iihfwc11

marian hossa gets the best player of the game for team slovakia #iihfwc11

RT: @IIHFHockey Advice to Hab GM Gauthier - sign Jagr! He's got something going with Plekanec. Jagr would basically play for free to wear the CH.

The foreplay is over! Wed moving to bratislava to enjoy the next 7 games live. Looking forward for all but rus-can will be awesome #iihfwc11

10-May

Slovak uber deliciousness. Pierogi (dumplings) filled with bryndza cheese and potatoes. Yummm http://yfrog.com/hsbrntvj

@Violet_NL what to do in slovakia on a 'free' day?: spend the day programming (work), eat a lot and go to a cryo-chamber in the evening

In banska bystrica: found a shop with a great selection of german board games, agricola,small world,dominion,catan... #slovakia #boardgames

Testing my new slovak mobile internet for live tweeting tomorrow. Non hockey fans beware :)

@Violet_NL no worries I did it just for fun to see what it is. Just froze for 1.5 minutes at -100 degrees celcius. Quite an experience

@Violet_NL not really. i was quite a bit skeptic at first but after doing it i'd say its not that bad. its like a reverse sauna :)

@Violet_NL yes kind of, but it's mainly used for fast muscle regeneration for athletes, parkisons disease, scoliosis, immunity boosting etc

11-May

my first day of actual holiday started by getting the GRPS internet to work on Slovak 02 and a promising start from my split classifier.

Weird and wonderful slovakia: RT @TheSlovakDaily: Police catch Slovak cannibal red-handed http://nblo.gs/hI2Mr

Tickets: check, hockey shirts:check, spirit: check. Bratislava here I come!! #iihfwc11

Very interesting 1st period. The jagr-plakanec line is superb making it seem like czechs are playing against children #iihfwc11

5 on 3 for usa. Pavlec look shaky but usa not capitalising. Ok he just made a good save now.

After end of second period czechs lead 2-0, with another Jagr goal. Starting a 'get Jagr back to the NHL' fan group very soon #iihfwc11

Great goal by plakanec puts the czech republic with a foot and a half in the semis. 3-0 wit 9 minutes to go #iihfwc11

Jagr single handedly annihilates the usa. A hat trick for the veteran mastermind and 4-0. Crowd is eurphoric #iihfwc11

Mark Messier presenting awards at end of game #nyr #iihfwc11

==Czech Republic - USA game report and pictures==

Pavlec posts a shutout and gets best player award. He must have read my tweet and decided to prove me wrong #iihfwc11

Next game in line finland - norwary. Nice to see a lot of finnish brothers (also known as crazy bastards) at the game. Go suomi! #iihfwc11

@IIHFHockey weren't cameras supposed to be allowed at the games as per website?!! Security is disallowing cameras

0-0 after the first period, half of which was dominated by the finns and the other half with a mild reaction from the norwegians #iihfwc11

RT @DannyTBHotStove: RW-Richard Panik, 20, drafted 52nd overall in 2009 NHL Entry Draft has signed 3-yr Entry Level Contract #TBLightning

Norway's reaction turning more concrete. Finns need to be careful. Ok penalty shot for norway!! #iihfwc11

Norway score 1-0 #iihfwc11

Finland score 3 goals on power plays to make the score 3-1 with 4 minutes to go in the second #iihfwc11

Fast beer drinking skills come in handy when you're not ready to miss any part of the game #iihfwc11

==Finland - Norway game report and pictures==

After gladly seeing the Finns beat the last outsiders of the tournament 4-1,I'm on my way to the anticipated final Russia - Canada #iihfwc11

@Violet_NL today is the night of the great nash plan. I've got my trap set for after the match!

Overwhelming amount of russian supporters at the game. Looks like they're playing at home. Winner of this game will meet finland #iihfwc11

Sparks already flying between players. Hot game #iihfwc11

This is one tight game even though canada leading 17-6 in shots on goal. Score 0-0 after the first period #iihfwc11

Scraping blood off the ice. Its indeed a battlefield out there. Canada leading 1-0. #iihfwc11

Second scrubbing lol @Violet_NL :))) yes at game great great atmosphere. Got only phone for pics cause they didn't let me in with camera

WOOOWWW that must be the best goal of the championship!!!! #iihfwc11

Wooww!! That match should have been the final. Great game with russia coming on top 2-1 #iihfwc11

==Russia - Canada game report and pictures==

Russians celebrating their win in a rainy bratislava night. Tomorrow first czh - swe then rus - fin. Should be interesting #iihfwc11

13-May

Best pissoir ever - this was in a microbrewery in bratislava - patronsky pivobar #slovakia #iihfwc11 http://lockerz.com/s/101221256

First semi final between sweden and czech republic about to start in 10 minutes. Later its the finns vs russia. Another hot game #iihfwc11

At the start of the 3rd period sweden are leading 2-1 over czech republic. Deservedly one would add #iihfwc11

Sweden score again on a counter attack 3-1 #iihfwc11

WC over for the czechs 5-2 with 1 empty net goal. Now my wish for sweden finland in the final is 1 step closer #iihfwc11

==Sweden - Czech Republic game report and pictures==

Crap picture of the fan village with the 3 towers in the background #iihfwc11 http://lockerz.com/s/101281138

Rus-fin is the most balanced game support wise so far #iihfwc11

@aquigley it's hockey the finns are playing their arch rivals the russians. I'm actually at the game and it's crazy. Great fun. Still 0-0

A splendid goal in the second period puts finland in the lead. Very exciting game, still wide open #iihfwc11

Best goal of the tournament by Mikael Granlund of Helsinki IFK

==Finland - Russia game report and pictures==

Thank you blackberry for not dying even if I starved you to death

And finland make it to the final. Suomi now is your time to make history since 1995. #iihfwc11

14-May

==Went back to BB for an off day off hockey and ended up watching the Eurovision for which neither the dot not Slovakia qualified==

I thought I was going to avoid the #eurovision this year but no. Guess as someone said it's malta only national sport so I have to see it

@biggibabe any bets on it? Comments on twitter on #eurovision just make it worth watching just for a big laugh.

@biggibabe I'd bet on moldova in top 10. uk relegation zone, ireland in top 5. #eurovision

@biggibabe I agree. I think it was the first time ever that my musical tastes were accepted by such a wide audience ;) #eurovision #metal

RT @UlfVinr Serbia - please tell me I'm not having an acid flashback! Please? # eurovision

Wow positively impressed by georgia! Rock on babe! I think you'll get my vote (so you're not going to win) #eurovision

#Eurovision uber shite list: uk, sweden, russia but sweden can win only if they lose tomorrow #iihfwc11

Georgia and estonia get my votes. Ireland get my moral support #eurovision

@aquigley ireland have a good chance here. Catchy song and good visuals. @biggibabe indeed. Let's hope so!

@aquigley lol lol you read well between the lines :) I was loyal to my music roots not my adoptive countries

@aquigley did you vote from oulu for finland to give 10 points to ireland :)

Someone should build a eurovision predictor and gauge the 'geography' effect #eurovision #ml #datamining

15-May

Managed to get in late for the game thanks to taking a wrong bus (daft) and game time change. As soon as I entered I saw 3 goals. #iihfwc11

Glass smashing break at the game. Czh leading 4-3. This game really should go to OT. #iihfwc11

@biggibabe yeah a bit all over the place, they should keep scoring though #iihfwc11

The czech republic wrap up this game and the 3rd place with an empty net goal to make the score 7-4. Russia too many mistakes. #iihfwc11

The czech republic receiving the bronze medal #iihfwc11 final score 7-4 http://lockerz.com/s/101912693

==Czech Republic - Russia game report and pictures

Bit nippy outside so fans waiting for the final inside the big tent in fan village #iihfwc11 http://lockerz.com/s/101924867

@_Karoliinka_ enjoy the czechs deserved it

Guy at the supporters shop said everybody is looking for finnish stuff. I like to hear that. #iihfwc11

The arena is shaking! Finns bringing down the place. Leading 3-1 #iihfwc11

And that's how a great week should end - with a win! The finns overdid it, winning 6-1. I picked them as winners before the start #iihfwc11

Finland win the gold medal!!!!!!!!!! http://lockerz.com/s/101985485

==Finland - Russia game report and pictures==

16-May

This short holiday was an absolute blast. It exceeded even my very high expectations in all aspects. Driving back home happy and refeshed.

The blog called for attention a few weeks ago when Seth reminded me that I had to pay the yearly maintenance fee. To feel that I’m not wasting money (I really am but I don’t feel like killing it yet) I decided to write an update post while stuck in a long traffic jam on the 1200km journey back home from Slovakia.

Well, the most important thing that's going on at the moment is the wedding planning. Back in the time when I used to scout for new and interesting blogs, the first mention of the word wedding (or kids) used to be enough to skip the blog. Blogs of this kind usually meant either a post for each invite sent and each flower chosen, or detailed accounts of each nappy change for the kid. In turn I promised myself to keep my wedding prelude as quite as possible. I'm allowing myself one tiny outlet for the record, just to prove that I this thing actually happened.

In a simple sentence I can sum up my wedding planning experience like this:- it's not half as complicated or troublesome as most people make it out to be. Perhaps I'm saying this because I'm lucky enough to be with a sane and most practical woman, or perhaps it’s also because I'm not having the wedding in a wedding crazy country where the wedding has to be planned more than 2 years in advance. Another thing that definitely helps is treating the whole thing as a project for two, biting into it a bit by bit, together. Cooperation from parents on both sides, with the right level of interest and without being too intrusive doesn’t hurt either.

In effect, planning a wedding is like throwing a big party. All you have to do is find a place, get some food and drink (sampling both before and playing God with dish decisions - perhaps one of the most satisfying parts of the planning), get some cool clothes (= shopping for the ladies), get some music and outsource your pictures while throwing in a couple of decorations and an exclusive afterparty - a cracking honeymoon. I’m happy to say that I helped in almost everything from the wedding hall to choosing the bride dress (and yes I saw the dress cause we’re practical). We planned and organized this in 3 intensive weeks over a period of six months, with remote administration in between. With one month to go I think we've covered most of the ground that we needed. I still need to get a pair of shoes, decide on the suit and send off the last couple of invites (to those lazy buggers who haven't sent their home addresses yet) but everything is under control.

It's not all wedding bouquets and wedding cakes though. Last week I was in Beijing for a business trip. Luckily I had some free time to see a couple of main sights and buy half of the tea in china. The most impressive was the forbidden city. To think that the emperor build this magnificent playground (with 9999 rooms and 100,000 eunuchs) for his wives is mind blowing in itself. Even more mind blowing is the mind behind the great wall, another must see which I managed to slot in between meetings. I was surprised at the cleanliness of the place, or rather the lack of dirtiness, although smog was a real killer on some days. The traffic is crazy both in the amount of cars and the rackless driving (people in Beijing seem to drive with their hands fixed on the horn). Anyone who cycles in Beijing must be a stuntman. One surprising thing were the body temperature machines, that scan your body temperature as you pass by (I think this was introduced after SARS).

Surely someone is going to want to know about food. Yes, the food is different from "European" Chinese food, although it’s mainly because of the ingredients more than the style. The style and idea is similar but the diversity of ingredients is considerable. From my limited experience the Beijing cuisine was quite dry i.e. not soaked in soup like sauces like some takeaways. Also, I never found typical Chinese takeout dishes like sweet and sour pork or lemon chicken. Peking Duck (a must in Peking) is served identically to restaurants here and the taste is also very close. My culinary regret was that I didn’t try the sea cucumber (expensive). I found a few turtle dishes but due to moral reasons I didn’t order any. I had no problem having shark fin and shark lip soup, and intestines with chilli, but I didn’t find any dogs that I could eat (no moral objection as long as it’s not a pug). The Chinese beer that we tasted was quite watery, but the green tea is wayyyyyy better than the tea-bagged green tea you can get here. The difference is huge.

I gave up hope that I'll be updating the blog before the end of summer and/or before I move to Luxembourg. I'm posting interesting links every once in a while on twitter, so if you want you can follow me there.

I've uploaded some pictures of Columbus (Ohio). Now you can see for yourself how interesting the place is.

After lunch I was wandering aimlessly around the hotel, and I happened to meet a random stranger. He started talking and I started chatting with him. He was complaining that he's going to have the most boring 7 hours, packing candy for tomorrows hockey match. I pricked my ears, "what hockey match?", I asked. He told me that the blue jackets were playing, so I asked if tickets would still be available today, just 1 day before the match. He made a quick phone call to check for me, and confirmed that tickets were still available. While he was walking with me to show me where the ticket office was, I asked who they were playing. They were playing the NY Rangers! How cool is that!

The only other time I came to the States (also for a conference), I had got a ticket to see the NY rangers, even before getting to NY. That time I had a major screw-up with flights and missed the match. This time with the greatest serendipity possible, I got a ticket for tomorrows match between the Blue Jackets and the NY Rangers. Woooooohooo!!!

Yes, him! He sneaked out of a seedy ally while I was walking to the hotel yesterday night after the banquet. He crept slowly from behind, jabbed me in the ribs and screamed, "LADDDDYYYYYY". Did you guess now? I met Seamus!

I had to come all the way to this godforsaken state in the US to meet him again. I think the last time I saw him was after I hooked up with the chick. There was that little story with him and bob the ghost, the one who used to live in Rathmines. Been quite a while since then. He was still 13.

Well I must say the kid is alive and well. Ok, maybe not so well, living like a parasite in the side streets of Columbus, but hey, he got here and we met. What else do you want. He found out that I was coming over and decided to make an effort to meet.

The other great thing was that Thomas Brown's lately adopted pet wasn't there. Apparently the 3 legged dog was held at customs when the two stooges tried to sneak him in the US. Now you tell me, who tries to sneak a rabbis infested, 3 legged dog in the US. I mean you can try to sneak in a bottle or two of explosive liquid, but the dog. Come on. Btw, Thomas Brown was detained too.

After all the effort Seamus went through to meet up, I couldn't even be pissed off at him. Not even after what he did. It was like the good old times. Maybe even better. He could get a Dr. Pepper here, instead of Pepsi.

We spent the night chatting away, browsing through the channels looking for an episode of family guy. At night he slept in the shower, and by morning he had already vanished again.

Yes the inevitable had to happen. I'm back from Japan. It was a wonderful holiday, everything went according to plan, and we got to see as much of Japan as possible in two weeks. We started out with a couple of days in Tokyo, then went on to climb up Mt. Fuji. Luckily the weather was cooperative on the mountain, after the torrential rain we previously had in Tokyo.

After Fuji we went to the cultural capital, Kyoto, with a side trip to Nara. From there to Hiroshima and the island of Miyajima. Finally in the end we visited Beppu in the South Island (Kyushu) and Yudanaka near Nagano to see the snow monkeys.

Hopefully I'll have some time to write a bit for meaningful comments about Japan, instead of a list of place. At the moment though I'm having a sever attack of post holiday blues.