Summer in Stenum

A summer stay in Stenum pretty much involves the same thing every summer. A lot of excursions to the neighbouring cities for doing different errands, and for fun. Like going to Lidköping and having Klings ice cream on the square:

Baking, one of Linnea's favourite things:

I usually go on daily walks, although this year not so much. I actually don't know why! I had nice company on one of my walks though. A few days before our actually anniversary date we went passed our church:

A lot of fika! This was in Falköping on the actual wedding anniversary, when Nathan had already gone back to Abu Dhabi.

 

 

Mormor taking advantage of Lucas' height to help out around the garden:

In the meantime, enjoying all the treasures of the garden. To me this is absolute luxury, to be able to go out and pick berries or harvest cucumbers, tomatoes or salad and put it all straight on the dinner table:

Not to forget the treasures of the forest, this year as well we managed to find enough chanterelles to make a yummy toast for Mormor and I (the only takers):

And even though we didn't have a much rain this summer, we still spend a lot of time playing board games, and doing puzzles. That is also very much included in the components that make up summer in Stenum.

20 years later

This summer involved a lot of driving, mostly from Skåne to Skara and the other way around. Ended up driving the same route four times... The first weekend of August it was time to go south, first down to Bunkeflo to leave the rental car there, and then across to Copenhagen.
Since I was in Copenhagen the last time, Thomas had moved house, and he is now in Frederiksberg. No more apartment, instead he is living in a huge villa. Really nice, with a massive garden and everything, right in the middle of the city.

We had planned for a little gathering to celebrate our 20th anniversary, and Thomas generously offered we could gather in his garden. Lush!

We had a party in Copenhagen to celebrate our 10th anniversary as well. A bit of a bbq outing in a big park, it looked a bit like this:

This time though, there weren't that many of the kids (now busy teenagers) joining in, only Max and Tilde as the Robertsons came all the way from Helsingborg as a family. It was great they came though, as all the kids were really happy to see each other. Max and Lucas already started making plans for when Lucas turns up at the end of the month.

Thomas has two beer taps installed, in his kitchen! Great when you have a house party! Less great when they run out... a lot of carrying involved:

We had great Danish pizzas (yes, they are different to other pizzas) for dinner, yum yum!

Linnea and Tilde:

Lucas & Max:

Here we are, him and me, 20 years later! Happy anniversary to us!

This is how we looked 10 years ago, during that other anniversary party. If you think Nathan looks a bit wonky in the face, you are right! A few days before the party he had been stung by a bee while on a bike ride, and the swelling persisted unfortunately.

And can you believe it - he got stung at this party too!! A bee attacked as he put his hand in his pocket, so he's not flipping the bird, he is actually just showing the very red, recently stung finger:

Had to grab a photo of just me and my girls, Christina and Kamilla. It's been 24 years since we started our flying career together. Twenty-four years... it feels like last summer... So appreciative of these friendships.

We continued late, late into the night. More and more blankets and jackets came out, and even though it got dark, and even rained for a tiny little bit, we persisted and enjoyed the Scandinavian summer and the fabulous company - a great evening!

Thank you to all who came to celebrate with us! Let's do another party in another 10 years!!

Oslo and the Bohusläns Museum

Linnea and I had a four day head start in Stenum, before the boys turned up. Although, of course, their trip wasn't a normal straight forward one either... nooo... they flew from Abu Dhabi to Milan, and then from Milan to Oslo..! The silver lining was that they then got the opportunity to see our mate Peter who lives in Oslo. He picked them up from the airport, and they stayed for a night at his place, and even got a quick city sightseeing the next day before departing - by Flixbus... to Uddevalla where I picked them up.

I had left in good time to take the opportunity to do some sightseeing before the boys arrived. Mormor recommended the Bohusläns Museum, so that's where I went. It had free entrance, bonus!

A little bit boring to have lunch all by myself, but at least I had a nice view!

This museum apparently have many different temporary exhibitions each year, and also presents the history of the region and its culture. This first part of the museum showed a summer exhibition called Through the Mirror, with four female artists reflecting on body, identity and self-image.

Another part of the museum presented the history of this coastal region:

So much to see and learn, although I enjoyed the general Swedish history stuff more than the local.

What I did enjoy the most was this room, with the art collection donated by the wine dealer John Johnson (1861-1951, portrayed below). This room had works by many different artists, from Anders Zorn and Bruno Liljefors, to Marcus Larson and Jacob Jordaens. Quite an eclectic mix.

The boys were then successfully retrieved from the bus, and then we were all reunited in Stenum!

The fish new outpost

For her 70th birthday Mormor got this fish tower. Since I was home last, Mormor and Morfar had redone the whole pond, and installed the tower. Lovely addition to the pond!

It was really meditative to sit and watch the fish go up and down in the tower. They really seems to enjoy it!
Can't help but wonder though, what are they thinking when they are up there!?

A Varnhem walk-about

Amazingly, considering I hadn't been able to make any plans at all before arriving in Scandinavia this summer, I still managed to catch up with my friend Carin - even if it was only for a quick morning fika, and a short wander around the Varnhem Abbey.

We've been here many times, but for every art history course I take, I learn more and more and see more and more new things, which makes it even more interesting each visit.

Linnea lit a candle for Grandma and Grandad ❤️:

The ambulatory with the monk's chapels that in the 17th century were made into memorial chapels for the kings Knut Eriksson, Erik Knutsson, Erik Eriksson, Inge the Elder and Birger Jarl.

Late 13th century baptismal font:

We also walked up to Kata Farm, where you can find the ruins of one of Sweden's oldest churches, dated to the late 10th century. According to me, this really is one of the most interesting and spectacular sights to visit around Skara.

Great to see you Teti family! I hope you enjoyed the rest of your holidays!

1 August 2022 Covid status

Covid, covid, covid... It's weird to write about Covid while in Sweden, where the attitude towards it is so UTTERLY different than back home in the UAE. All restrictions are gone since a long time here; if you catch it, you are recommended to do the same as what you would do if you caught any other cold or flu. It's so good to see that life goes on!

But since there is no change in restrictions at home, I'll keep up the reporting, so here's today's numbers in the UAE:
* 1088 new cases, from 162,695 new tests.
* 0 new deaths.

Planes, trains and automobiles...

Our big cross-Europe hike wasn't quite finished yet. We left Kolding on another Flixbus, end station Copenhagen. This trip wasn't so long, which was lucky, as the wifi didn't work on this bus.

In Copenhagen we switched out the bus for the train, and traveled along the Danish side from the capital up north to Helsingør.

When in Denmark, time for tebirkes (a Danish pastry with poppy seeds). I didn't have it for breakfast though, but enjoyed it on the train as any time is good time for tebirkes!

Of course we also squeezed in a short travel by boat, ha ha! Crossed Helsingør-Helsingborg on the ferry.

Our friend Karin was super helpful and picked us up at the ferry terminal to take us to the rental car place. The journey then continued by car from Helsingborg, we had about another 4,5 hours to reach Skara. Obligatory travel stop for dinner - at Max Burger of course!

Finally, by traveling through Holland, Germany, Denmark and the whole south of Sweden - we reached Mormor and Morfars house! Yay!