Yep, I know it’s pretty late (ok, 2 weeks late) but at least I got the month! This month is the 1st birthday of www.helloliefje.com …to come to think of it, it also marks that the gaming house ended one year ago.

I’m happy to say that it’s been a really fantastic year for me. I started this website basically when everything was up-in-the-air for me… with the end of the gaming house, I didn’t really know where my life was going. But it ended up taking a really good turn, where I started writing for Pro Gam3r Magazine, then finally I got drafted into the CGS. And on this first anniversary, it seems like i’m back to square 1!

Yep, my contract with the CGS is ending in March and me backing down from writing for the magazine, it seems like it’s complete shambles. Basically for the next 3 months I won’t have anything to do (gl finding a job in Sweden, HAH) and i’m anxiously waiting on the go-ahead from the CGS for me to be able to make new video blogs. I have a lot of really fantastic footage from New Zealand which I am totally itching to share with you all!!!!

The previous video blogs I did for the Berlin Allianz can be found on the Allianz website.

So keep your eyes peeled for my new videos, i’ll be posting each one on here as I make it so comment if you want to see something in particular

Another thing… To mark the anniversary i’ve changed the look of the site! What do you think? Mmm, pink Also i’ve updated the media section, where you can find links to recent interviews. I recommend watching the Epileptic Gaming one.

Until next time… puss o kram!!

Wooooooooow ok it’s time for a LONG overdue update. I have been so busy travelling lately that I just haven’t had the time. I have just spent the past 3 weeks in New Zealand visiting my friends and family for the first time since moving to Europe. It was so nice to see them again and even though i’ve only been back 2 days I miss them loads already.

And I come back to a bunch of crappy news and some guy getting murdered in the apartment building near mine :s

I had a super fantastic time in NZ and i’ve uploaded some more pics to my facebook album.I’m on the move again in a few days, heading to Norway with Olander to play at a movie festival! It should be really cool More info about it here.

So ok, i’m trying get rid of this jetlag and its really hard because its a full 12 hour difference! My days are nights and nights are days. Last night I took some sleeping pills to help me fall asleep in what would have been daytime (but really it was like 2am) and I think I was sensitive or just REALLY tired because I ended up sleeping until 2200 the next day!! OH nooooooooooooooo. So i’m going to try and pull an “all-nighter” today (staying up 24 hrs) to fix this schedule.

Hmm it’s 10am and no one is playing DoA! 12 hrs to go… !

dun dun dundundun dundundun dun dun dun dun dun…

Ok that’s super dorky for those of you who know the song (if not it’s “Insomnia” by Faithless) but I really can’t get no sleep! I’ve been feeling a little under the weather lately due to the winter weather and I ended up sleeping the day away today and now I just can’t get to sleep again! It’s 7:40am and I figure i’ll just pull an all-nighter and head to bed early tomorro.. tonight?

I’ve been playing DoA a bit lately and I feel like i’ve been improving. It’s really nice to hear when people say “oh I saw you on CGS, you’re a lot better than I thought!” I know my results at the world finals were bad but I don’t intend on letting that happen again

I think that the next combine will be really interesting. I think that everyone currently involved in the CGS really wants to do it again for another season so they will have the drive and motivation to practice really hard because they know exactly what they’re playing for.

Not a lot has really happened in the beginning of 2008 for me but that doesn’t say that that’s how it’s going to be for the whole year! I think most people are still kind of in “holiday mood”. I’m more in the mood for change. I want to join the gym (but am having issues doing that right now), move apartment and redecorate. I think I need a change of scenery… perhaps involving a bigger place with more room for my ever-growing wardrobe ;). Don’t be alarmed though, I still fully intend on staying on top of my game!!

Ok enough about me, since I can’t sleep i’ve looked up some tips for you other insomniacs out there (and I know there’s a few of you!) to help you get sleep:
* Take a warm bath
* Listen to music (soothing stuff, none of this deathmetal!)
* Drink warm milk (this relaxes your nervous system)
* Avoid caffine, alcohol and tobacco
* Get up earlier in the morning (this way you are more tired in the evening)
* Keep a regular bedtime
* Exercise during the day
* Avoid naps!

And now, back to the most mundane thing you could ever do on your PC…… organising files!! WOO! hahaha ohh I want sleep!

Firstly, I just wrote a really huge blog but then firefox crashed and I lost it all so this one will be more brief since i’m a little mad. Anyway if you didn’t read my previous blog I left with my bf for Düsseldorf on the 30th of December just to go to a huge New Year dance party called Sensation White.

I got back late last night and I must say, i’m a little sad to be back in Sweden simply because it means i’m going to have to wait until summer for the next Sensation!

I guess it’s needless to say, the party was immense. It went from 20:00 - 7:00 and even by that time I didn’t want to leave. The hotel I was staying at was basically part of the LTU arena (where the event was held) so the night before I could sit in the dining room sipping a beer and watch them test the lights and the bass for the next night.

Even though I got a little taste of what was to come, when I walked into the arena when the 30,000 or so people had showed up and the djs were playing (I came around an hour and a half late because I had problems picking up my tickets) I got happy tears just because it looked (and sounded) so incredible. There was this giant white “tree” in the middle where the DJ would sit (and rotate around while playing) and it would light up, there was dancers, water features and fire! I don’t know how to describe it any better.

I got VIP tickets for the event which means I had access to this lounge where there were many more bars, a dance floor (where other DJs would also play) and couches ad stuff for when you just want to chill out. I wish I had better pictures of it but I didn’t have my camera with me. It was nice to be able to go to that area so I didn’t have to wait in line for the bar or bathrooms but I really did enjoy the main arena the most.
I couldn’t have asked for a better end to a fantastic 2007 and an even better beginning to 2008.

So i’ve been back for almost a week now and I still can’t get my time right. For the first few days I was waking up at like 2100 and I figured the best way to remedy that would be to stay up the entire day afterward. It didn’t work out and I would always end up sleeping around midday. Now I guess it seems to be a bit OK, i’m up at like 7am but it’s better than waking up at nighttime! I can’t even tell the difference here in Sweden anyway, it seems to be dark 24/7.

I haven’t really done a lot since i’ve been back, mainly just chilling out and playing a little. It’s weird, after I lose at a tournament I always am more motivated to play (even if I have been doing nothing but playing for the past 3 weeks) so I can rock the next one.

Another weird thing I found is that I actually didn’t want to play UT3 when I got back. In all honesty I thought I would install the game right away and that would be that. But I didn’t! I tried one map (just running around.. deck of course) and it just didnt seem like anyone was playing online! Shocking!!!! I think i’m afraid to install it because I pretty much know that it won’t run nicely on my PC. Maybe a new PC should be my xmas present to myself…

Many people at CGS have written blogs thanking and recognizing various people, but if I were to do that I would just list everyone that I came into contact with Everyone was great, what a world-class bunch of people I got to spend 3 weeks with.

I guess a lot of people underestimate one big thing about gaming and that’s the people that you meet through it. Online of course there are always those assholes but at tournaments everyone seems to be cool! Over the years now it seems like I can travel almost anywhere and have someone I know in that place, I think that’s pretty amazing

…LA. Yep it’s all anyone can talk about! For most of us, our lives have come to a screeching halt as we prepare for this big event. I’ve read many blogs about how people are already packing, exchanging money etc.. they all seem so worried about the travel itself than anything else!

Since a lot of people will be taking long-haul flights there, i’ve put together a little bit of travel advice just so everyone can take a bit of a breather and relax a little!

1. Remember: No liquids on the plane. You aren’t going to be happy when they confiscate your $120 bottle of perfume just because you forgot to pack it in your suitcase!

2. Yes, you CAN ask for which seat you want on the plane! Don’t be scared, the check-in people are there as a step to help you have the most comfortable flight possible. Remember, flying is a service that a consumer pays for so don’t be afraid to ask them for water or whatever you might need on the long flight there.

3. The two most important things you will bring will be your passport and your credit card. If anything goes wrong, those will be the two things to save your ass. Don’t worry if you forget to pack something, your credit card can save you!

4. Moisturiser is always nice. Even for guys. Being on a plane for a long time really dries out your skin and you will be surprised how refreshed you will feel after applying just a little to your face and hands. Those little bottles they give out in hotels are the perfect size for you to be able to carry them on to the plane. Some airlines even have little bottles of moisturiser in the bathroom =)

5. Flying isn’t scary. It’s more likely that you will be struck by lightning than you will be involved in a plane crash. Don’t stress about it, just sit back, relax and enjoy the flight. Sample their snacks. Watch the horrible family-oriented in-flight movies. Chat up a stewardess. Watch better movies on your laptop. Try and get into the mile high club, whatever! =P Pilots of commercial airlnes like the ones your are flying have years and years of experience (yeah, notice how they’re all pretty old?) and you are in more than capable hands.

6. This might be unncessary but… don’t try and board the plane drunk. Just like at nightclubs, they are able to turn you down and put you on a later flight.

7. If you’re posed with the problem of a screaming baby the whole flight, there isn’t a lot you can do except ask for ear plugs. You’d be surprised, most airlines do carry them and give them to passengers upon request. Also it doesn’t hurt to ask at the check-in if you can be seated as far away as possible from babies. They are usually placed at the front of the middle rows in each section.

8. Don’t harass airport security. They have to process everyone and you will make their job easier if you do as instructed (ie: laptop out of bag, shoes off, belts off, liquids in a clear bag) as quickly as possible. The easier you make their job, everyone wins =)

Most importantly, the long-haul flights are only a tiny little bit of this whole experience. There are so many things to be looking forward to so stop stressing about the flight, YOU WILL BE FINE!!!!!!!

Just so you feel a bit better, i’ll share some travel stories of my own and how they worked out:
* I’ve landed in Sweden on 3 separate occasions where my luggage has not come off the plane. Simply just go to the baggage counter of the airline you have just flown and let them know. They have ALWAYS been super speedy with returning my luggage (the longest I had to wait was 3 days) and they bring it to wherever you are with a taxi. You will get it eventually so don’t worry!

* During one domestic flight in the US they informed the passengers that one engine wasn’t working but would continue with the flight anyay. It was one of the most comfortable and smooth landings i’ve ever had. These guys know what they’re doing.

* (Note: this has happened on two separate occasions) I was on connecting flights with a relatively short connection. The first plane was delayed and I landed with something like 10 - 20 minutes before the next flight was due to take off. By that time of course the planes had already been fully boarded. I told the stewardess on the flight and they ensure you get off the plane first. They then radio someone on the ground to tell them that you will be making your next flight (if there is still time, if you miss it they will put you on another one). Then you are met at the gate by an escort who takes you to the gate of your next flight.
BTW: If you know you have a short time in-between connecting flights tell the person at the check-in desk! They will put a tag on your luggage saying that you do have a short connection so it’s put in a more frontal location of the baggage compartment so that it will be transferred to the next flight speedily.

* I was on a 12 hour flight once with a baby that won’t shut up. This baby was screaming like crazy. It started to cough because it was screaming so much and so loud… and for 12 hours. I asked for ear plugs. It didn’t help. I survived.

That’s all I can think of for now but i’ll add some more stories if I think of them =)

It’s been a while since i’ve written a blog, I guess due to the reason that I don’t really have anything super interesting to write about. A few days ago I got a big heavy box delivered to my door. Hmmm… a late birthday present? BETTER! It was a bunch of copies of the second issue of Pro Gam3r Magazine!

If you don’t know already, i’m a writer for this new publication. The first edition was a collectors one that was released at QuakeCon earlier this year. It’s a quarterly, meaning it comes out every 3 months. This time the magazine was a lot different than the collectors edition released. Instead of focusing on the pro leagues like the first issue it’s a lot more focused on the professional gamers themselves!

Theres a really nice piece in there about the game commentator Paul “Redeye” Chaloner (a fascinating individual) and also the unstoppable Vanessa Arteaga. Also, find out about a 6 year old gamer that has bragging rights of his own.

I was really excited to get this issue because while I write for the magazine, I don’t put it together or see what other staff have written! If you’re interested in subscribing, go here.

Oh hmm now that I think about it, i’m an internationally published author! hahaha!