Month: April 2015

The yearly celebration of Valborg – with our family enjoying a nice dinner, watching the bonfire and spending time together.

There was a lot of people by the fire, as usual. It was a bit chilly but hardly no rain. I wish the celebrations would be more like they used to – when a choir would welcome spring with the traditional Valborg- and May 1st hymns, when some politician held a speech and the evening was ended with a big firework. Nowadays it is almost only the fire itself that keeps the tradition going. I can easily do without all the lotteries and tivoli rides. But I guess it is fun for the kids.

Wish you all a great Valborgsmässoafton!

Don’t know what happened to the first couple of days this week – already Wednesday and I’ve been a busy bee all day.

Life can be a challenge sometimes. Then it is nice to know you have family and friends around.

I long for summer and sunshine. It was raining this morning but the sun was shining when I walked back from the subway after work. Just got home before it started to rain for a bit again.

Back to the real world again – it is a lovely sunny day and I decided to walk back home from the subway after work. Birds singing, flowers in bloom ..

Spent the afternoon catching up on things. Trying to get back on top of things now when I have some re-gained energy!

The alarm clock went off early on my last day visiting my friends. Got my stuff packed and organized and then we drove all the way back to the west part of the country. This time in
daylight so I could see the lovely scenery!

Tulip fields are amazing!

We drove to Haarlem where the flower parade was parked for people to see. It was so nice to stroll around there and take photos and enjoy the flowers in our own time.

After a lovely afternoon together and a great Dutch lunch with croquettes and weissbeir – yum – it was time to drive back to the airport and say our goodbyes for this time.

My second day was not as sunny and warm as my first.. But just as filled with chatting, catching up, laughs and walks through memory lane.

After a nice morning we drove into Groningen for a bit of shopping and touristing. My guides really showed me the city from sides I would never have been able to find myself – a real treat!

We had dinner reservations at a lovely tapas restaurants in town and after being served one gorgeous dish after another it was time to head back home. Another great day!

Woke up early and this fantastic view was outside my bedroom window. Life is not so bad. 

Coevorden treated me a lovely sunny warm day and we started the day with breakfast outside in the garden – and ended the day with dinner in the garden. So nice.

Spring has come a lot further here than in Sweden and most of the trees are already covered with little green leaves. A perfect first day with my dear friend and her husband!

A lovely weekend ahead that I have been looking forward to for ages! Finally it is here – Coevorden – here I come!

Worked almost a full day and then hopped on the bus to Arlanda and took a straight flight to Schiphol where my friend since forever waited for me to pick me up!

Back to work again .. and Stockholm was amazingly beautiful today with the Kungsträdgården cherry trees in full blossom. It was a real comfort for the soul.

Unfortunately it is a real tourist trap and not a great place if you are looking for peace and quiet. That I find here in my corner though. And a nice coffee.

Time to pack my bag for my trip tomorrow! Can’t wait!

A day to recover and get energy back. Vård av Barn – Care of Child – a day paid by the health insurance office.

When your kids have turned 12 you can only stay home and care for them when they are really sick. You need a certificate from a doctor to do so. And when your kids have turned 16 they need to be fatally ill in order for you to be allowed to stay home and care for them – with pay from the health insurance office that is. So, since my kids became teenagers I haven’t used so many VAB-days as before they were 12, thank God.

But, today is one of those days and I hope he (we) will gather all the energy and strength we can possibly get. So, let’s start with a nice breakfast with home made bread!