Erika 50th weekend

My last weekend i Sweden, for this time, I went up to Stockholm for my friend Erika's 50th. She had invited for a bit party on the Saturday night, but I decided to come already on the Friday as that was her actual birthday.

As a gift to herself she had been to get - a tattoo! A dainty little forget-me-not on her upper arm, so pretty! I was so impressed with the details and the colours, made me want another one myself..!

In the evening we went for dinner at the restaurant at the Museum of Spirits. A museum I yet have to visit actually! But I did get a chance to look through the museum shop.

It was just the three of us, Erika, me and her "other best friend" Ulrika, who she also met while in Lund, many moons ago.

On the Saturday it was time for the big party, and since it was 70s themed, the colour palette was brownish:

Erika hosted it together with a friend of hers, and they had invited over 100 friends to come join them in the 70s:

I had borrowed an authentic 70s blouse and some jeans from Mum's friend Viola, and bought a pair of mustard yellow plastic earrings to go with it. I had tried to make some Farah Fawcett curls, but they didn't last in my hair of course.

There was a seated dinner, games, a sing-a-long and other entertainment, and later in the evening a dance floor was cleared. Good fun!

Erika and Mohan:

Lotta & Ulrika:

Peace & Love!

One month later

Another quite surreal post, it almost feels like I am writing about someone fictional... But it's all in the name of documentation for myself, and for the memory book. Plus when it all comes down to it, death is also a natural part of life, so why not write about it.

Since we had wanted to have the casket during the ceremony in the chapel, Dad would be cremated afterwards, and they had told us this could take up to two weeks. We had inquired if it was possible to haste the cremation procedure so that we could do the urn interment before it was time for me to go home, and they were very kind and accommodating.
One month after Dad passed we could do the interment this morning, on a beautifully sunny autumn day.

It was just Mum and me, rather unceremonial, but quite emotional. This was the last, last farewell. 

Now we just have to wait for the head stone to be mounted, in yet another few weeks.

Ullared, take 2

After having helped Linnea with her room glow-up, Mum and I continued back up north for the last part of our little trip - Ullared! Yes, again. Well, Mum hadn't been there for a really long time, so I was happy to accommodate and come along.

After arriving late afternoon, we spent a few hours in the shop and had dinner at the restaurant. Then we stayed over at one of their cottages before going back in the next day to complete the shopping. Got ourselves some fika to enjoy during a pit stop driving back home to Skara:

Mum's Ullared-haul!

Folkhögskole-room glow-up

Linnea moved from Östhem to Västhem, another part of the boarding. The whole school area is pretty and all the different houses that offer boarding are nice, but also all a bit worn down and old.

Her new room felt much bigger than the room she previously shared, with even a small little extra room attached to it! Still with the ugly red plastic floor though, ha ha, and not very cosy or inspiring... Time for a change! 
Here it is before:

After:

From another angle, before:

And after:

It's amazing what a bit of colour and greenery can do! I also loved the rug, the lights, and the chairs - my favourite part! Those were a super second hand find, 300 SEK for BOTH! Linnea wasn't convinced at first, she didn't quite have the vision, but fortunately she let herself get talked into them cause they really turned out great!

One of Mormor's handmade rugs for the little room, a battery driven lamp on timer, and a fake flower even in there. Very happy girl with her new room!

We celebrated the successful make-over with some (massive!) kebab sandwiches from the local pizzeria, om nom nom!

 

Sofiero Palace

After shopping, before leaving Helsingborg, we decided to go out to Sofiero for a quick afternoon visit, as the weather was stunning and I wanted to do something else than just shopping with this weekend.

It had been quite a while since we were here last, back in 2017 when we reunited with some of our Horsham friends here.

We took a walk in the gardens, which is really the main attraction. They had a special exhibition on display which we could enjoy:

The 80-meter long and five meter wide wall border is designed as a classic English Mixed Border, featuring a combination of perennials, bulbs, shrubs and annuals. It is divided into three different colour schemes, and the plantings are a mix of old favourites and new varieties of flowers.

In the past fresh produce was harvested here in the kitchen garden, but today it has a different focus. It is more for pleasure than practicality. The garderners place more emphasis on visual appeal and the vegetables grow in beautiful harmony.

The Royal Vineyard House, built around 1912 and constructed in the English style. Inside, various varieties of grapevines were planted. Over time they produced many delightful fruits for the royal family and even brought the King awards for his fine grapes.

Sofiero began as a royal summer residence in 1866, when Crown Prince Oscar and his wife Sophie moved in to a more modest version of the castle. After Oscar became King Oscar II, the castle was expanded into what we see today. 

In 1905, Sofiero was gifted to their grandson Crown Prince Gustav Adolf, and his bride Margareta of England. The couple, both passionate about gardening, were the ones transforming the grounds.

Gustaf became King Gustaf VI in 1950 and remained deeply involved in the park, planting over 5000 rhododendrons, many of which still bloom in the ravines of the castle. He spent every summer at Sofiero until his death in 1973.

That year, he bequeathed Sofiero to the city of Helsingborg. Today garderners and landscape designers work to preserve the legacy left by the crown prince couple, and visitors can enjoy the beauty of the castle park every year.

Inside the castle I really enjoyed the current exhibition called "Magnificent Majolica!", a tribute to the influential ceramic technique and trend majolica, as it appeared when it gained popularity in Sweden around the turn of the last century.

So colourful and in so many fun shapes!

It displayed majolica pieces from leading Swedish producers such as Rörstrand, Gustavsberg and Höganäsbolaget. Elegant, nature-inspired design in vivid colours.