Month: August 2023

Sat down in my hanging chair for a while this morning before going down to th ocean. Had to go by myself today and it was only 12.5C in the water. Brrr.

After breakfast we watched the quarter final in the Women’s WC and we managed to win over Japan 2-1. Yeah! Semi finals – here we come. Facing Spain. But, so far so good!

We have been putting everything away today – cleaned the bbq grill, done some laundry, cleaning and tidying up so we can leave our paradise in a good shape. So much nicer to return to a well kept and organized house than a mess. Fingers crossed it won’t be too long before we return.

One last long stroll around the area – a nice 60 min walk with my hubby and brother-in-law. Took some photos of the lovely surroundings. Breathe and relax. Trying to gather as much positive energy as possible to get a good start next week. Now the sun has come out and we might be treated one last sunset. Life is good.

This morning was the last morning this summer that me and my parents went down for our morning dip in the ocean. 26 mornings straight did we manage this time. Even though the water temperature has been anything but nice this week – today it was up to 13.1C. Brrr.

I start every day at 07.50 – change into my swimsuit and go outside to sit in my hanging chair for a few minutes while waiting for the others to come out. I am so grateful that my parents and I can do this together still and hopefully will be able to next summer too.

After breakfast they left to drive across the country to Helsingborg for a weekend of track&field. So now we are only five here. We have started to pack up and will continue to do so tomorrow.

This afternoon our second-cousin stopped by for a “fika” and a chat. Lovely to see her.

No sunset tonight – it’s been raining off and on all day and quite cloudy. Fingers crossed we will get a nice evening tomorrow.

Another chilly start with 12.8C in the ocean. Brrrr. And a grey & windy day too so it was really cold. 

Our guests started their journey back to the city after breakfast and we are down to seven people again. After lunch me and hubby went to buy some afternoon treats to celebrate his names day. We have another names day tomorrow so we celebrated both him (and my father-in-law) and the 2xLars since my parents are leaving in the morning. 

We have started to pack up and checked a few have-to’s on our todo list for the winter. Still plenty of chores to complete before it is our turn to start the journey back home. But good to get started and not save it all until the last minute.

This morning the temperature had gone up to 12.7C in the ocean – almost twice as much as yesterday LOL. But, we accepted the challenge once again and went in.

After breakfast a few of us went in to town to run some errands and also do some shopping. I found a few things I bought which was nice.

Tonight we have enjoyed our last “tisdagsmys” in paradise this summer. Watched the “Allsång på Skansen” and cheered in a glass of fizz. Then an episode of “Vera” while snacking on cheese and crackers and other goodies. A very windy and chilly day with some rain too. What happened to the heatwave and warmest summer in ages that the forecast promised us? A few weeks around midsummer – and that was it? Next week the weather will improve but then we’re back to work again. Oh well. It’s lovely to be here anyway regardless of the weather. Time off and time together – so precious!

The fingers crossed from last night didn’t work… we hit an all time low this morning with 7.0C in the ocean. Me, my parents and our two guests accepted the challenge and went in anyways. Brrrr. I went back to get my phone to take a photo of the thermometer and it was slightly higher with 7.3C at that time. During the day it has gone up to 11.1C so it’s heading in the right direction anyway. Shall be interesting to see that tomorrow brings.

Hardly any rain today but windy and not very pleasant to be outside. So we have taken it slow besides a few errands and some laundry. Tonight we are getting a take away dinner with “kroppkakor”. Mmm.

Last week in our paradise this vacation before it is time to get back to the other world again. I usually say back to the “real world” but someone pointed out to me that maybe the real world is down here? And I think she might be right.

This morning we managed to take our morning dip in the ocean before it started to rain. 17.3C. It’s been raining basically all day long so perfect weather for indoor activities.

First we watched the 8th final with Sweden facing the US and it was a very tight game that led to penalty shots where we finally won 5-4. PUH. Next is Japan on Friday in the quarter final.

The ones not so interested in soccer have been playing board games all day so we ended up watching a second soccer game this afternoon. A long lazy day in the sofa.

We bbq chicken for dinner served with rise and veggies. Yum. Now we are having lightnings and heavy rainfall – and a rumble of thunder in the back. No loud thunderclaps yet thank god. The kids at home sent videos of the storm too so it is affecting both places. My cousin and his daughter took a dip in the ocean and they came back to get the thermometer because they thought the ocean was very cold.. And they were right – it was 9.7C!!! Fingers crossed it will be a lot warmer tomorrow morning.. and no rain!!

Time again to say goodbye – this time to my niece who took the bus back to the city today. Loved having her here for three whole weeks! 

A sunny day today and slightly warmer in the ocean by a degree or so. Since the forecast has promised bad weather the next couple of days we finished some more laundry. Took a long afternoon walk for almost 1,5 hrs and after a quick coffee it was time to get ready to drive into Borgholm for a family dinner. Our two guests were going to a concert at the castle which is within walking distance from the restaurant. We had a great dinner and I think everyone was happy with their choice of food. 

Picked up some groceries on the way back and now we’ve enjoyed a glas of wine while watching something on the tv before it was time to hug our pillows. 

A lovely day. Started with a dip in the ocean, 17.6C. Nice and sunny and no plans other than relax and do some laundry. During the day the water temperature went up to 19.5C! 

After lunch me, my oldest niece and E went to pick wild dewberries and my niece prepared a crumble pie for an evening treat. 

This afternoon my uncle w/ family came over for coffee – they brought us cakes and strawberries and we set the table and made coffee. Lovely to see them all and sit down and chat for a bit! 

Tonight E & M treated us a Friday drink before dinner and then we bbq pork filet served with all kinds of goodies. After dinner we enjoyed the berry pie served with some vanilla custard. 

Tonight we buried Totte – the rabbit. My sis and niece  picked up his ashes the other day from the local vet and now he has been laid to rest next to my cat Trulsan. We all gathered together and it was a nice moment. A memory candle burns next to them. 

Time to celebrate the next names day – Karin – and we have two in the family. Always celebrated with a visit to an ice cream place near by – this time we chose Gelato in Sandvik. Mm. Congratulations and flag up! 

Only 17.0C in the ocean this morning and a really windy day today. Good for the laundry though – dried quickly in the wind. 

Tonight we have two new guests that just arrived and they brought a friend along for the ride who is visiting relatives on Öland. We are going to bbq meat served with oven baked potatoes but I’m not in charge of the cooking tonight after two busy days in the kitchen. Looking forward to sit down and eat someone else’s food tonight! What a treat!