Skara Domkyrka

Back in Brunei a while back, we passed a wedding celebration and came to talk about why people get married, when and where etc. Linnea was asking where Nathan and I got married, and when my answer was:
-"At the church close to Mormor & Morfars house", the instant follow-up question was:
-"What's a church..?"

Hm. Might be time for some religious education..?
It's a bit odd really, because in school they learn lots about the religions of the Malay, Chinese and even the Indians - but when it comes to Christianity it's only about the "commercial" side of the holidays, they never really talk about why we celebrate Christmas, or Easter etc.

So today I took them all to visit our pride here in Skara, Skara Domkyrka (our Cathedral), one of the biggest in Sweden.



We went for a walk-around inside, but neither of the kids showed any big interest so we cut the visit quite short. Linnea thought it was very pretty inside though, and she borrowed the camera and took some photos. This one of me and Nathan actually turned out pretty nice!

"We like cold water!"

You couldn't get me convinced to get in, no way, not a chance! But the kids are not too bothered about the chilly water temperature, they have far too much fun, even though it's slightly cold!
They keep insisting that "We like cold water!", even though they are shaking and their lips are blue after only a short play in the pool.
Bless them, I hope the sun will keep heating it up more for them the next few days.

Only a year ago...

It's only been a year since I took up running, I wrote this post on my first day of our Sweden vacation last year.
And here I was again, again, again this morning:



I'm trying to get out and run every day this year. Trying, because it's not the motivation that fails if I miss a day, it's the lack of time.
I so enjoy running here, in the cooler weather and the lovely surroundings. I look forward to each run.
Of course it's nice to be able to keep up the fitness while on vacation, but the main reason I run really is because it's so fab here..!

A changed girl

Just like last year, some teens are having as their summer job to work/hang in one of the playgrounds in town every afternoon, entertain and play with the kids - and they also do face painting on whoever wants it.
Lucas hasn't been keen so far, but Linnea wants it every time we go there (well, it's free so go for it!). We have noticed a slight change in her choices from last year though - there is no more Spidergirl, only a very girly girl!





Fairy face from the other day, very pretty!

The Pilgrim Trail

Here is yesterdays hike in pictures.
We walked from the famous Varnhem Abbey Church nearly to Sätuna, 20k in total. Across the Billingen mountain (highest point 265m) and alongside Lake Hornborga, Europe's largest wetland project full of bird life.

Pax et Bonum

My friend Erika arrived yesterday from Stockholm. Already back in March when we saw each other last, we made plans for her visit here this July: We wanted to walk a part of the Pilgrimsleden (The Pilgrim Trail), around Hornborgasjön.
We chose a 25k (normally 2-day) part, the walk from Varnhem towards Gudhem, but planned to stop half way at the Fågeludden café (nr 5 on the map):



It was such lovely weather today though, and the route was so enjoyable - through different kinds of woods, along streams, on the road a bit, through endless pastures with cows and horses grazing, on and off rolling hills, beside the Lake Hornborga... just all so beautiful! We ended up walking about 20k all in all, and enjoyed every minute of it! (Apart from the part where we got chased by a big, moo-ing herd of cows! I got a bit scared there for a minute and started to look for a tree to climb..!)

The Pilgrim Trails will take you through waste parts of Västergötland. During the summer, there are organized walks with leaders, but mostly people choose one or more parts of the route they would like to walk. A lot of the route go through "Arn-land", famous for those of you that might have read the books (or seen the movies) by Guillou, about the medieval temple knight Arn.
Fantastic surroundings for a hike, absolutely fantastic.



We learned today that the seven key words for pilgrims are:
Slowness, which leads us to slow down in life.
Freedom, to live without big demands and just focus on the essentials.
Simplicity, that becomes obvious when you only have what you can carry.
Light-heartedness to take each day as it comes, one step at a time.
Silence, that gives peace.
Sharing, which builds a community spirit.
Spirituality, sought in discussions and encounters along the way.

Obviously Erika and I were more about the sharing and less about the silence along the way..!

Cold!

Mormor and Morfar bought a new pool this summer, for us to have fun in while we are here, yay! Yesterday, which was a beautifully sunny day, was spent setting it all up, it took all day and the kids were rather disappointed they couldn't try it out because it wasn't yet full when it was their bedtime.
They got promised that today they would be allowed to swim, all day if they wanted to!

Well, today it rains. Of course.
It doesn't just rain, it pouring down actually! Almost like Brunei-rain! It's so cold too, brrr! Swedish summer, boo-hoo.

Linnea still wanted to try the pool though, so here she goes in...



... and here she comes out just as quick!



Well, we have another five weeks, it's bound to become sunny and hot again at some stage. Until then we'll spend the rainy days in the shops! ;)

(Just for fun info, last Sunday they measured the second hottest day ever here in Skara since they started measuring weather in the 1850s. Only once before has it been hotter, and that was back in the 1940s.)

Falkenberg

Last summer we had it on the way down to Copenhagen, this summer on the way up - a pit stop in Falkenberg!



Our German friends from Brunei have a summer house there, and it suited perfectly to stop in for a cup of coffee and a bit of a chat on Thursday when we were travelling through.
Last year Claudia was still pregnant, this year there was a cute little Malin added to the family!



Linnea was lucky enough to get some special treatment from the big girls, she was allowed to wear some of their nail polish..! But Claudia had to assist with the manicure.



Then she found her dream toy, a microphone that played HSM songs... ooooohhhhh...



On the way home in the truck, she watched HSM2 on her Archos, and this is what she was doing every time 'Troy' came on the screen... Jeez, she's only 4!

Garden fun

Our last day in UK was spent with all our good friends in Anna's garden. She has the most beautiful garden, which is also a perfect playground for the kids, all kitted out for hours of fun - trampoline, football goal, endless range of toys, playhouse etc.
Even though the weather was rather unreliable with shattered rain showers every now and then the kids had a blast.
They were playing themselves hungry and then had a picnic outside:



Savannah & Linnea:



Maya & Lucas



It's been so amazing to see these few days back in the old home town, how well the kids have played with each other. I can't help but wondering if it is thanks to the kids' social skills (my kids are anything but shy...), they are pretty used to meeting and playing with new people; or if it is because deep down they do feel that there is some kind of connection. Anyhow, I'm happy I have easygoing kids and that they (well, we!) have such good friends in so many places!

Old friends

While in the UK we didn't just see the Swedes, we also went to see our South African friends. For Lucas, this was a reunion with one of his oldest friends - his pal from his time in the UK nursery, Griffin.

Somehow, this photo reminded me a lot of this photo I took two years ago. They seemed to play a similar game this time:



Griffin's little brother Hugo had grown a bit though:



And I also got reunited with an old friend, my grandfather's ancient chair! No, it's not very pretty anymore, hasn't been for a while, but gosh is it still supercomfy..!

Savannah 2 years

Yesterday was not just catching-up lunch, it was also Savannah's 2nd birthday - so we celebrated with singing, presents and birthday cake! Mmm!

Birthday girl with Anna:



Supermum Linda and little Valentina, one week yesterday!



Swedish meatballs for lunch:



Birthday cake and rhubarb pie, mmm:



Cecilia having a cuddle with Valentina:

In the time warp

Have returned to our old hometown in the UK for a few days before continuing our travels over to Scandiland.
We lived here for about five years and both the kids were born here, but it's now been three years already since we left. Considering everything we have experienced since then, in a way it feels like a lifetime ago!
Driving in to town though, it all felt strangely comfortable and homely in a very odd way.

Yesterday was spent with my very good friends here and sitting around the table laughing and giggling our way through lunch, I realized how much I miss having them in my life. I just slotted straight back into the group and it all felt so normal, like it was just yesterday we hung out together.

I had such a nice day, and I'm feel lucky that I have friends like these. Even though I might physically see them just once every few years, they are still people I care a lot about and friendships I really treasure. I feel rich.

Here's the kids and their friends yesterday, first normal:



Then crazy shot!



And the girls:

See'ya!

Time to leave the 'bubble' for some well earned holidays!



See'ya when we get there!

Congestion in the simpang

Our office is facing the back of the house, and the window is overlooking the road that goes past down to the other three houses in our simpang. Two of those are other RBA people and the last house belongs to a Malay family.
My desk is closest to the window so I have prime view over who's coming and going, although usually there is not much to see. Just the neighbours driving in and out a couple of times a day.

The last few weeks though, there has been heavy traffic down our simpang, and today it culminated in total traffic chaos. You see, the son in the Malay house is getting married, and a wedding here can draw out over several weeks.
There has been BUSES driving in and out, hundreds and hundreds of people coming and going, endlessly.
Today was the main day, and from my window I've seen people come and go (you see, you don't stay long!) all morning, since they obviously mostly parked along the main road.
It's quite nice to watch them, as they are all in their best outfits, and often the whole family is colour-coordinated.
When we drove from our house down to join our main road (Jln Muara) to go off for lunch earlier, this is what we saw in one direction.



And this in the other!



And it didn't even end there, there was cars over the hill and continuously for several hundred meters yet, and down every side-simpang close to here too. I've never seen so many cars before for a wedding, gosh!
When we got back from lunch 1 1/2h later though, they were all gone! Just like that.

Reuse. Reduce. Recycle.

I've passed these funny creatures a couple of times before, but always in busy traffic and never really had time to stop and have a closer look. I wanted to see if there were actually there for this purpose and it seems like yes, they are.



It seems like at least one environmental message have caught on here in Brunei, and I really like this little recycling project!
I think it's supposed to be... an aeroplane?



And a dragon, or a dinosaure? Quite cool!

Celebrating Summer Holidays

The end of this school year got celebrated vividly yesterday, both in school and afterward. Both Lucas and Linnea had parties at school, Lucas' one was mostly just for the kids in the class with nice food and playtime; whereas us parents were welcome to participate at Linnea's pirate party.
There was so much food, as usual, everything beautifully set up. After their treats they had a pirate piñata and then it was time to say goodbye.

It's always a bittersweet day this last day of term. It's so nice it's finally arrived, but also it's a long time not to see all our friends now the next seven weeks, lots of goodbyes as many people are going away. Also quite a few leaving for good, always changes the dynamics a bit in our little expat bubble.

After school, we took the kids out for a nice lunch at an Italian restaurant, where they could make their own pizzas. All to celebrate that school is out. We also treated them with some special gifts, a little tradition, to reward them for all their hard work this year.
Lucas got a Wolverine figurine and dress-up, and Linnea a Belle-dress up and a Gabriella doll. Both very happy!

Here's a slide show of yesterday's events:

Last day of Year 1 & Kindy

Today is the last day of term for this year. Another year gone already, time flies! The kids were very excited to go to school this morning, because they are both having parties later today. Here they are with all the presents for their teachers, ready to go:



Linnea is having a Pirate Party today. Here she is presenting her teacher Mrs Moran with her present. This year I brought back some locally produced honey from the area where I'm from in Sweden, and we also gave them a honey spoon in bamboo and lovely cards the kids had helped me make:



Here is Lucas with his teacher, Mr Jolly:



The kids have both had a great year this year, with great friends and super teachers, and they have learned so much! They both got excellent school reports and they both enjoy school and look forward to next year already.
We are so proud of them.

Clean slate

The notice boards have been emptied and are now clean and ready for next year. The calendar have been crossed out until the last day - TODAY!
It's now only a few hours left until Summer Holiday!



(If you want to be negative, you could say that this morning will be my last morning in peace, with my coffee by myself, for quite a few weeks... But I'm not negative, it's all good!)

Yay - Summer Holiday!!!