Christina and I came back to Denmark (Copenhagen) in May 1999. It was summer, the best that the danes had had in many years. I think coming to a new country in the best season is pretty important. My first impression therefore of Denmark was of beauty and tradition and people drinking beer and being happy. My impression to date has only improved. Denmark is a great place and Copenhagen is wonderful! For the first 2 to 3 months we just settled in and spent what savings we had having a good time and getting to know the local social life. I had a great amount of difficulty getting residents permits etc etc. The system in Denmark had just changed! It was important to get a job in order to get a temporary resident permit, but to get a job requires knowing the language (despite the fact that every dane I have met speaks better english than I do), to learn the language requires getting on a course - there are courses provided by the state free of charge for new immigrants - but to get on one of these courses requires a resident permit - see the problem?? I think in the end we were just misinformed.

Wedding bells a'chiming

.... after a few months, Christina and I got married for the first time (the official wedding) at the town hall in Copenhagen - Rådhuspladsen. We only invited some close friends (Tusind tak Adam og Inge og pigerne!!) as witnesses as we had already decided that we would have a proper wedding party (and christening) the next year! When we got to the town hall we regretted this a little bit as other newly wed couples were coming out with their families drinking champagne. It was therefore a lovely surprise that Christina's Dad was there with a bottle of bubbly and so was Thomas, with a delicate disposition as well as a bottle of champagne!!

Christina meeting some of the local personalities....... her majesty the Queen of Denmark (in blue or is that violet?)

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