A few readers have asked how our house sale and purchase is going so I thought I’d write a quick update.We put our apartment on the market in May, there were a flurry of viewings at the beginning but no offers and the summer months, when everyone was away from the city, were very quiet and we were a little worried. But the start of August arrived with four viewings on one day and suitable offer made soon after, which we accepted. The paperwork from our buyer’s solicitor was sent through and was very straightforward. Our estate agent gave us a summary in English and we read the original document ourselves. The handover date of 1 December was agreed.

So far everyone involved in the process has been really helpful, in the main, and things have been going smoothly.

At the time we felt we had a sufficient period in which to find somewhere we wanted to buy but as time went on and we didn’t see much we liked and what we did like we missed out on. In once instance we offered the asking price but someone bid higher and were successful. In Denmark it is not possible to enter into a bidding war so we missed out. The seller can ask all interested parties to submit a closed bid if they wish but most will simply take a high bid and be happy.

We have found a place we like and whilst it is in lovely condition, the same couple have lived there for forty years so there is some work needed and we don’t want to put an offer in until we know how much everything will cost. Also this place won’t be available until February. If this one doesn’t happen there are few options at the moment and we felt the clock was ticking in regard to where we would live after the 1st December.

Luck smiled on us. I was chatting to someone I know who runs a lovely shop in Vesterbro and we were catching up on what had been going on in our lives. I mentioned the slight panic I felt about our living situation come December and by chance a relative of hers was looking for someone to rent his apartment for four months starting on the 1 December. It is only a few minutes from our current place and after visiting on Saturday and falling in love with it, we struck up a great deal. As she said its great when good people find each other. So the pressure is now off. We have our fingers crossed that everything continues to go in our favour.

Once all is finished I shall write a how to post about buying and selling here.

Back on April 1st The Local reported on the planned opening of Løs Market, a packaging free shop, and for some bizarre reason some readers thought this was an April Fool. When the joke is now on them as after a crowd funding campaign that exceeded its goal, Løs is now open for business on Saxagade in Vesterbro.

Løs Market is part of Settlementet, a community project in Vesterbro and (from their website)” is a new way of buying food here in Copenhagen : organic products, sold in bulk and without packaging. Food products are set up in specially designed silos from which you can get the exact amount you wish to buy. You can come with your own jars, containers, or use the pretty jars sold in the shop, or the compostable paper and material bags that are at disposal.”

I think this place is a great concept. How many times have you bought some flour for baking project and ended up throwing most of it away? Sadly I think we are all guilty of wasting food even with the best intentions and let’s not get started on all the packaging we recycle (hopefully) every week.

So what is available in Løs? Most of the stock in store at the moment is dry goods such as nuts and seeds, teas and spices, muesli. coffee, dried fruits, flour, pasta and rice. There are vats of oils and wines too. Plans are in place for refrigerated foods and local fruits and vegetable.

I bought a bag of mixed nuts (mixed by me with the ones I like and not the ones the producers think I like) and they were amazing. So fresh and tasted like nuts should taste, especially the hazelnuts.

Løs Market is an amazing concept but the word needs to get out there. With the constant fight against food waste and excess packaging this place is pioneering the way forward and you can be part of the charge!

Saxogade 77 – 1662 København V

Website

At the weekend I went along to Finderskeepers, design market, this time at the Grøntorvet in Valby. I am a fan of Finderskeepers and I have spotted a lot of the now popular designers such as Nur there before they made it big. I missed a few events as I had found I was seeing a lot of the same designers there. This time I was delighted to see almost all new designers. So without further ado here are the five that really caught my fancy.

First up is Mini Mexico. This Danish concept store producing unique Mexican inspired decorations. I loved them and found that they immediately made me smile. In what are usually white apartments here in Copenhagen these bright decorations will bring in just the right amount of colour and difference. They have a webshop here.

Next is a photographer I have been following for a long time on Instagram. Morten Nordstrøm has printed a number of his beautiful photographs, which he sold at Finderskeepers but there is a webshop coming. A number sold out on the day and you can see why – beautiful and unique compositions of this wonderful city. Follow Morten on Instagram here.

These smily faces are the two guys behind Dau-Daw. It is rare to see something that is really unique and the Mappa Mammalia collection is just that and I shall be certainly getting one on our new walls. I also love the pictographs. Definitely a brand to watch (I called it here!) Check out the webshop and keep them smiling!

We can all do with cloth bags for shopping, books and general junk. Show your allegiance to your Copenhagen neighbourhood by carrying your stuff in one of these bags by Aurelia. I’m loving the hipster and his burger for Vesterbro! Webshop here.

Finally another artist called Annette Boas. I didn’t get a shot of her stand but I had to bring this little fella home (who I can still convinced in a girl – slightly geeky on the surface with a streak of cool). I adore Annette’s detailed black and white illustrations. If you love this lovely owl you can get your own (or something else that grabs your fancy) in the webshop.

Last night I held the first of many (I hope) networking evenings for some of my clients from Dejlige Days Welcome to meet each other and some other more established expats. I hand-picked people who I thought would have something in common with the newbies and I was delighted that the evening was lively with people chatting and getting to know each other . It was fantastic to hear people saying ‘let’s keep in touch’ and plans to meet for coffees.

It is tough to meet people in a new city and I want these evenings to mean that people do meet some others. It was deliberating small with around 20 people invited so that everyone would have the chance the chat and not feel lost in a huge crowd. As a bit of an introvert myself I hate big events with lots of people and I find I pull into my shell.

I also chose to hold the event in a cosy and quirky basement cafe near my home called Gedigen so people would feel hyggeligt and at home. I run Dejlige Days Welcome as a business but the soul of what I do is to help people feel comfortable and have a positive relocation experience and these little get togethers are a big part of this. And last night made it all worthwhile, hearing laughing, chatting and a really positive vibe.