Lucia 2025

Like last year, I was invited to the Embassy to celebrate Lucia, but unfortunately I got sick the same day and instead spent that evening in bed with high fever. 
There was still a strong Lucia presence in different forms at home, of course:

And while at work the next day, while studying, I enjoyed the songs from the TV-celebration in my headphones. So the Lucia vibes were certainly there!

All Saints Day

On the weekend it was All Saints Day, and I know that traditions around this day vary widely across different countries. In Sweden, families honour their lost ones by visiting cemeteries, decorating the graves and lighting candles. 
My Mum sent me these photos from back home. I found them so beautiful. The atmosphere is somber and serene, but communal, and the whole cemetery is glowing and peaceful. 

I was so happy that Dad's headstone was done so fast so that it was in place for this holiday. Mum had tended to his resting place, brought a lantern and planted some winter flowers, it really looks beautiful. ❤️

Happy 20th!!!

Linnea's actual birthday fell on a Tuesday. She has always loved her birthdays, and had expressed that it felt a bit weird having her birthday without us for the first time. Last year she even delayed her departure to London, just to be able to celebrate at home first.

We did celebrate her with Mormor and Morfar already back in August, and had promised her to celebrate her once she got home at the end of the week, but for her actual birthday she was at school.

I had been in touch with her closest friends and sorted out a cake for her, so they surprised her with that after school (the day before). They had also decided that Agnes and Amanda were going to sleep over in Linnea's room, so that they were there for her birthday morning, which was nice.

The girls made her go to Systembolaget for her first purchase. One cider, ha ha!

Tuesday night Linnea, the girls and Hugo went down to Malmö to meet up with Lucas for a birthday dinner. She had also invited Emma and Sofie, and Emma came along with her girlfriend Frida. 

They had some Italian for dinner, and then they went and played bowling before returning to Svalöv. 
Sounds like a good birthday to me, and the text I got from Linnea the following day says it all..! Every birthday is the best ever with our girl!

October celebrations

Came back to Abu Dhabi and right into a socially busy week. Pia came just two days after I returned, and while she was here we celebrated both Kanelbullens Dag and Linda's birthday.

The SwedishLadies had made Cinnamon Bun Day a family affair this year as it happened on a Saturday. So husbands and kids were also invited, and a group of baking ladies had made hundreds of cinnamon buns! What a feast!

Then on Monday we went down to a new (well, at least to me, I don't get out much) restaurant in Yas Marina to celebrate Linda together with a smaller group of Swedish girls.

Hipp hurray for Linda!

ID-travel

Finally time for me to return home to Abu Dhabi, I had to travel stand by as I couldn't get a firm seat. It didn't look that good on my first try, but I still went across to the airport as Lucas was coming in on the flight I was hoping to get home on. 
So at least we got to hang out for a bit, have a coffee and a chat.

I didn't get on that flight, but no matter, I returned to Pia's for the night and got to enjoy another day in the beautiful autumnal southern Sweden.

 Luckily the next day there were loads of seats, and I got home no problem. 

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!