It's been a long time to see you Lucille....

Due to popular demand, and up-date on the madness of living in Denmark. Since November, Xmas has come and gone and we're heading into New Year where my bohemian lifestyle is soon to come to an end with the onset of a new job - but I won't bother with those details.
The cultural induction is almost complete. What seemed as a bizzare rite of passage when I got here is now something I've slipped into easily. I now know to take spare carrier bags with me when I go to the supermarkets (they're not freely given here); I take my slippers to houses (a number of issues here - I bought slippers (?); I think barging to the front of queues is OK and should be applauded; I wear a warm coat whenever I venture outdoors.
To complete my initiation I am now accepted by the 4 'O' clock women - this is not some reference to the ladies of the night who congregate in some parts of Copenhagen - but the women who pick up their kids from nursery - yes, I am now part of that gang and can willingly engage in conversations about outdoor kids clothing, cycle lanes and the cost of nappies. I am slowly becoming metro-sexual (not sure what that is but I am certain it must be me - perhaps "mixed up" sexual is more apt.
We are now at the stage where a new house and new cars (yes, plural - a diatribe will soon follow) are on the agenda. Firstly, buying a house in Denmark. One of the only things which is easy and seemingly doesn't involve lots of bureacracy. In fact, you go to the bank with the details of the house you want to buy and they do it all for you - I think they also negotiate money off the price! There are some great financial offers here - if the house has a cheaper loan still outstanding on it you can take that over and benefit from the lower interest rate - cool. Also, they offer bargain fixed rates for 30yrs - currently at 5%. Not bad.
All I can say about cars is....and I need a quick shot of vodka in order to type this next bit - all have 180% tax imposed upon them - ONE HUNDRED AND EIGHTY PERCENT!!
Having a Nissan Micra cost the same as my UK Volvo V70 has come as quite a shock - it is daylight robbery and makes no sense at all - in fact, it makes all Danes miserable. So much bile is built up over this policy that they Government even tax the hate that buying a car generates. We're in the delicate position of having to buy 2 of the buggers - my initial thought of a 4x4 has come falling to the ground. Company bike anyone?
On the positive side, Seba is fluent in Danish, Oscar is about to commence trials for MUFC Youth (sorry, that happens in a few years) and Marie is happy that I've got a job. It involves germs - that's all I can say at this stage.
As with the whole of Denmark this time of year, we're off to Norway for some skiing in a few weeks' and then Seba starts at his new International School - it's a communist training camp!