We had a lovely sunny morning mostly outside, playing kubb:
Playing football:
And playing paparazzi, apparently..:
Yes, those photos were all Linnea's. This one is mine:
Saturday, 7 August 2010
Skara friends
We were lucky this year too with our timing, and managed to meet up with one of my old Skara-friends, Katarina, today. She lives far up in northern Sweden but has been here visiting her parents as well. Last year we met at "my" place, this year at "hers".
We had a lovely sunny morning mostly outside, playing kubb:
Playing football:
And playing paparazzi, apparently..:
Yes, those photos were all Linnea's. This one is mine:
We had a lovely sunny morning mostly outside, playing kubb:
Playing football:
And playing paparazzi, apparently..:
Yes, those photos were all Linnea's. This one is mine:
To the max
We only have one week of holidays left to enjoy together in Sweden, as a family; and the kids and I are down to only two weeks until we start our trip back home.
Time to change up a gear.
Time to really start enjoying every day to the max, come rain or shine.
Time to change up a gear.
Time to really start enjoying every day to the max, come rain or shine.
Friday, 6 August 2010
A bit too early?
I would've thought there would still be some time before we would see Linnea scribble these kind of things:
(For those of you a bit lost, she has written "Linnea Bolten", like in Troy Bolton - the cute guy in the High School Musical movies...)
(For those of you a bit lost, she has written "Linnea Bolten", like in Troy Bolton - the cute guy in the High School Musical movies...)
Elk alert
Mormor and Morfar came and picked us up from Åhus in the camper yesterday. On our way home we made two stops.
First we stopped at the elk show park Laganland on E4, to watch some moose.
Unfortunately we must have had bad timing, they feed in the morning and when we were there they all just slept... (Three years ago we went to Skånes Djurpark, which was a lot better, with more and livelier moose)
Sleeping stags:
A mother elk and calves:
The calves:
We also had a look at the 'Mooseum', where they had a little photo expo that showed the life of the elks during an entire year. Lucas enjoyed looking at all the photos:
Our second stop was at the shopping mall (yes, yes, again...) A6 in Jönköping. Again, it was actually just before closing time, and actually - I was the only one not coming away with any shopping bags..!
After a quick dinner at our new favourite burger place Max (how have I missed this all these years??) we continued home.
First we stopped at the elk show park Laganland on E4, to watch some moose.
Unfortunately we must have had bad timing, they feed in the morning and when we were there they all just slept... (Three years ago we went to Skånes Djurpark, which was a lot better, with more and livelier moose)
Sleeping stags:
A mother elk and calves:
The calves:
We also had a look at the 'Mooseum', where they had a little photo expo that showed the life of the elks during an entire year. Lucas enjoyed looking at all the photos:
Our second stop was at the shopping mall (yes, yes, again...) A6 in Jönköping. Again, it was actually just before closing time, and actually - I was the only one not coming away with any shopping bags..!
After a quick dinner at our new favourite burger place Max (how have I missed this all these years??) we continued home.
Thursday, 5 August 2010
What time is it?
When I was nearly six, I really, really wanted a watch. I had seen this lovely red one that I desperately wanted but my mum told me that buying me a watch was a bit silly, since I didn't know time yet.
It took me a month to learn how to tell time; and for my 6th birthday I got the beautiful red watch.
I haven't owned a watch since!
I loved my red one but carrying a watch was never really for me. During a brief period in high school I had a cool ring with a watch in it, until it's battery died...
A part from that, I developed a 6th sense for knowing time and also always knew where every "official" (i.e church clocks etc) clock were wherever I lived.
Finally since the mobile phone became standard gear, I've never really needed a watch (it's been just as easy to find the phone in my bag and check the time).
Until now.
I realized I enjoyed continuing wearing my Garmin, even after training, and somewhere recently I discovered Triwa. It's a Swedish brand who make trendy plastic watches in every colour imaginable. (Please read their story on their homepage, it's quite funny!)
Somehow I got hooked on their all-white watch 'Triwa Great White III', after having noticed something similar on two gorgeous women - Sandra Bullock (well her character) in the movie "The Blind Side" (a really good movie by the way!) where she constantly wears a white watch; and our own Swedish Princess Madeleine on a the January 2010 Elle magazine cover, also wearing a white watch, from Triwa!
So, I wanted one.
You can buy them via the Triwa home page, but I wanted to try it on first so was looking for Triwa everywhere. They proved to be a bit difficult to find, but the other day in Kristianstad I finally found a Triwa dealer, and they had my watch! Yay!
So far, we are getting along just fine! My fear was to feel a bit like a overdecorated Christmas tree but I'm actually enjoying wearing a watch. I like knowing time and I also think of it as a cool looking accessory to my outfits.
Me like.
It took me a month to learn how to tell time; and for my 6th birthday I got the beautiful red watch.
I haven't owned a watch since!
I loved my red one but carrying a watch was never really for me. During a brief period in high school I had a cool ring with a watch in it, until it's battery died...
A part from that, I developed a 6th sense for knowing time and also always knew where every "official" (i.e church clocks etc) clock were wherever I lived.
Finally since the mobile phone became standard gear, I've never really needed a watch (it's been just as easy to find the phone in my bag and check the time).
Until now.
I realized I enjoyed continuing wearing my Garmin, even after training, and somewhere recently I discovered Triwa. It's a Swedish brand who make trendy plastic watches in every colour imaginable. (Please read their story on their homepage, it's quite funny!)
Somehow I got hooked on their all-white watch 'Triwa Great White III', after having noticed something similar on two gorgeous women - Sandra Bullock (well her character) in the movie "The Blind Side" (a really good movie by the way!) where she constantly wears a white watch; and our own Swedish Princess Madeleine on a the January 2010 Elle magazine cover, also wearing a white watch, from Triwa!
So, I wanted one.
You can buy them via the Triwa home page, but I wanted to try it on first so was looking for Triwa everywhere. They proved to be a bit difficult to find, but the other day in Kristianstad I finally found a Triwa dealer, and they had my watch! Yay!
So far, we are getting along just fine! My fear was to feel a bit like a overdecorated Christmas tree but I'm actually enjoying wearing a watch. I like knowing time and I also think of it as a cool looking accessory to my outfits.
Me like.
Jeans & Sweaters
We are back up in Skara. Up "north". Well, if you look on a map, Skara is actually not that far up north in Sweden, actually we are in the southern half. Sometimes it certainly feels like we are really far up though. Like today. After a few days in Skåne in perfect summer weather - now we need jeans, socks and sweaters again... And don't forget umbrella! It's rainy, grey and a bit nippy.
Boo-hoo.
Boo-hoo.
Only in Sweden
Only in Sweden will you get this yummy "Swedish pizza salad" with your pizza! There is something new for you Pizza Hut! Yum, yum, yum!
Best way to start the day
When I'm in Sweden I really love, love, love to start my day by going outside in my pyjama to get the morning paper.
I always stop for a minute on the porch to smell the fresh air and listen to... the silence:
I always stop for a minute at the post box too, and look up and down the road, and enjoy the quiet of the morning, and the mist over the road:
Then I get the paper and go back inside to have a long breakfast, reading every little article!
I always stop for a minute on the porch to smell the fresh air and listen to... the silence:
I always stop for a minute at the post box too, and look up and down the road, and enjoy the quiet of the morning, and the mist over the road:
Then I get the paper and go back inside to have a long breakfast, reading every little article!
Wednesday, 4 August 2010
Perfect summer day in Åhus
Yesterday we had the perfect summer day down here in Åhus (North-Eastern corner of Skåne). We woke up by the sun, had a gorgeous breakfast outside and then took off down to the beach again, this time to play some mini-golf!
We had a really fun morning (some more fun than others, well I lost...); it had been forever since I last played mini-golf! I think it was the first time for the kids as well, and they took on the challenge pretty well!
After mini-golf and some nice lunch, we went in to Kristianstad for a bit of shopping. We only had about 1 1/2h until the shops closed, but with our power shopping skills we still managed to get a few things!
In the evening we had plankstek down at the beach restaurant Bistron here in Åhus. Great meal, and again, ages since I had a "planka", mmm!
We had a really fun morning (some more fun than others, well I lost...); it had been forever since I last played mini-golf! I think it was the first time for the kids as well, and they took on the challenge pretty well!
After mini-golf and some nice lunch, we went in to Kristianstad for a bit of shopping. We only had about 1 1/2h until the shops closed, but with our power shopping skills we still managed to get a few things!
In the evening we had plankstek down at the beach restaurant Bistron here in Åhus. Great meal, and again, ages since I had a "planka", mmm!
Tuesday, 3 August 2010
Åhus 2010
We are back in Sweden again, after our short stay in Denmark. We are visiting our good friends the Wellanders again this year. It's becoming a bit of a tradition, a very nice one!
This year we are staying in their summer house in Åhus and yesterday we had a bit of a Horsham-reunion with two other families we know from our time in the UK. Both the Johanssons and the Robertssons made the trip across Skåne from Helsingborg to come and see us.
We had a lovely afternoon in the sun, down at the beach. Åhus is famous for their ice cream so of course we had to sample some!
We then went back for a BBQ at the summer house, and neither us nor the kids got to bed in decent time last night; we all had too much fun!
This year we are staying in their summer house in Åhus and yesterday we had a bit of a Horsham-reunion with two other families we know from our time in the UK. Both the Johanssons and the Robertssons made the trip across Skåne from Helsingborg to come and see us.
We had a lovely afternoon in the sun, down at the beach. Åhus is famous for their ice cream so of course we had to sample some!
We then went back for a BBQ at the summer house, and neither us nor the kids got to bed in decent time last night; we all had too much fun!
Copenhagen photos
Finally, I've got on an internet connection and more importantly - found some time to upload some more photos. Here are some of the good ones from our Copenhagen fun day at Skydebanen on Sunday, it was so great!
Monday, 2 August 2010
Superday
We've had the best day today. Not only has the weather been absolutely superb all day but we have spent it with all of our friends here in Copenhagen.
It's amazing how they all always clear their busy schedules when we turn up, just to hang with us. Makes me all warm and fuzzy!
Here are some of us (more turned up later), on our way to 'Skydebanen', a fantastic playground in the heart of Vesterbro. We spent ALL day there... all day! Everybody were so happy, kids played and played and played, and us parents could sit back and relax. The day included two coffee breaks, pizza for lunch, a few plasters and tears and lots of chatting and laughing - glorious day.
I have nearly 300 photos from today to sort through so more will turn up here tomorrow!
It's amazing how they all always clear their busy schedules when we turn up, just to hang with us. Makes me all warm and fuzzy!
Here are some of us (more turned up later), on our way to 'Skydebanen', a fantastic playground in the heart of Vesterbro. We spent ALL day there... all day! Everybody were so happy, kids played and played and played, and us parents could sit back and relax. The day included two coffee breaks, pizza for lunch, a few plasters and tears and lots of chatting and laughing - glorious day.
I have nearly 300 photos from today to sort through so more will turn up here tomorrow!
Sunday, 1 August 2010
Useful lingo?
These pictures is from a tourist magazine I picked up on the Copenhagen Metro the other day.
I thought this article about the extremely useful Danish lingo was very funny, and spot on. If you can't read what it says, here it is:
- Må jag bede om en øl? = May I please order a beer.
- Tak. = Thank you.
- 50 kroner?! Men jag bestilte kun én! = 50 kronor?! But I only ordered one beer!
- Goddag. = Hello.
- Farvel. = Goodbye.
- Hvad sker der for alle de peruvianske panfløjte-orkestre? = What's with all the Peruvian panflute orchestras?
- Hvordan finder jag den Lille Havfrue? = How do I find The Little Mermaid?
- Hvad mener du med, hon er i Kina? = What do you mean, "she's in China"?
- Er vejret altid så dårligt? = Is the weather always this bad?
I thought this article about the extremely useful Danish lingo was very funny, and spot on. If you can't read what it says, here it is:
- Må jag bede om en øl? = May I please order a beer.
- Tak. = Thank you.
- 50 kroner?! Men jag bestilte kun én! = 50 kronor?! But I only ordered one beer!
- Goddag. = Hello.
- Farvel. = Goodbye.
- Hvad sker der for alle de peruvianske panfløjte-orkestre? = What's with all the Peruvian panflute orchestras?
- Hvordan finder jag den Lille Havfrue? = How do I find The Little Mermaid?
- Hvad mener du med, hon er i Kina? = What do you mean, "she's in China"?
- Er vejret altid så dårligt? = Is the weather always this bad?
A long time coming
This is a pair of trousers. On me. In size thirty-eight.
Finally.
(I nearly didn't want to remove the sticker...)
The jet setter life style
Today we met with some friends for lunch here in Copenhagen. Sounds like a completely normal thing to do, if it wasn't for the fact that I'm from Sweden, my husband from N.Zealand and we live on Borneo - and our friends are living in Germany, she's from Sweden and he's from the UK!
It just so happened that our plans were perfectly timed for a lunch date here in Denmark today. They were driving through from Germany to Sweden, and why not then meet up?
We decided to meet in one of the not so interesting places here in Copenhagen, a giant shopping mall. Not for shopping, but for the fact they have a huge indoor play land for the kids! Considering yesterdays weather, we weren't taking anything for granted...
We all agreed that the main object was to hang out and chat, not to do sightseeing or anything; so we needed to be somewhere where the kids would be happy to be too - not in a trendy café in Vesterbro etc...
So we did 1 1/2h in the play land, took a break for lunch outside in the mall, then another 1 1/2h in the play land after that again... Well - kids were happy, tired and had played really well with each other, and we had had time for coffee, chat and catch up! Great plan!
Three out of four kids, Thomas, Adam & Lucas:
Linnea got so exhausted from all the playing she fell asleep in our arms:
Maria and me:
It just so happened that our plans were perfectly timed for a lunch date here in Denmark today. They were driving through from Germany to Sweden, and why not then meet up?
We decided to meet in one of the not so interesting places here in Copenhagen, a giant shopping mall. Not for shopping, but for the fact they have a huge indoor play land for the kids! Considering yesterdays weather, we weren't taking anything for granted...
We all agreed that the main object was to hang out and chat, not to do sightseeing or anything; so we needed to be somewhere where the kids would be happy to be too - not in a trendy café in Vesterbro etc...
So we did 1 1/2h in the play land, took a break for lunch outside in the mall, then another 1 1/2h in the play land after that again... Well - kids were happy, tired and had played really well with each other, and we had had time for coffee, chat and catch up! Great plan!
Three out of four kids, Thomas, Adam & Lucas:
Linnea got so exhausted from all the playing she fell asleep in our arms:
Maria and me:
Dinamarca
We've now been in Denmark since Thursday. Took the train down, was a rather pleasant journey straight into central Copenhagen.
Descended at our friends' house in Kongens Bryghus (the Carlsberg Silo) in the late afternoon.
Had a quiet night in on Thursday, with nice dinner together with the big family (5 kids!) - well quiet might actually not be the right word... ha ha!
Nathan and Havana:
On Friday we took on Strøget, the big shopping street. It was raining cats and dogs, but if you have a busy schedule, you can't deviate too much!
I must say though, that normally Copenhagen is rather trusty when it comes to good shopping and stylish bargains, but this time I was rather disappointed. Not only couldn't I find anything, but whatever I found was horrendously expensive compared to in Sweden! I've only bought some practical things (like sport socks... hourra) and some earrings from my favourite shop Pyrit, as I always do.
Nathan had to buy a rain jacket..!
We also met my friend Kamilla who had come over from Jylland on purpose to see us, together with her baby Hektor. Last year when we were here she had just found out she was pregnant, and now Hektor was here - obviously I never got to see her with the big belly so "all of a sudden" seeing her with a baby, was a bit odd!
We had an absolutely fab lunch at the top of Illum (had to find a place with plenty of space for a buggy!) and went for another little walk around the shops.
Hektor slept most of the time, through lunch, through a little stop at 'The Dubliner' and through most of Strøget. Finally he woke up, just as we had been to the toyshop for some bribes (...), so time for coffee!
Hektor was a cutie, and the sun nearly came out while we were sitting at the café, nearly..!
Descended at our friends' house in Kongens Bryghus (the Carlsberg Silo) in the late afternoon.
Had a quiet night in on Thursday, with nice dinner together with the big family (5 kids!) - well quiet might actually not be the right word... ha ha!
Nathan and Havana:
On Friday we took on Strøget, the big shopping street. It was raining cats and dogs, but if you have a busy schedule, you can't deviate too much!
I must say though, that normally Copenhagen is rather trusty when it comes to good shopping and stylish bargains, but this time I was rather disappointed. Not only couldn't I find anything, but whatever I found was horrendously expensive compared to in Sweden! I've only bought some practical things (like sport socks... hourra) and some earrings from my favourite shop Pyrit, as I always do.
Nathan had to buy a rain jacket..!
We also met my friend Kamilla who had come over from Jylland on purpose to see us, together with her baby Hektor. Last year when we were here she had just found out she was pregnant, and now Hektor was here - obviously I never got to see her with the big belly so "all of a sudden" seeing her with a baby, was a bit odd!
We had an absolutely fab lunch at the top of Illum (had to find a place with plenty of space for a buggy!) and went for another little walk around the shops.
Hektor slept most of the time, through lunch, through a little stop at 'The Dubliner' and through most of Strøget. Finally he woke up, just as we had been to the toyshop for some bribes (...), so time for coffee!
Hektor was a cutie, and the sun nearly came out while we were sitting at the café, nearly..!
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