Julafton 2022

Julafton/Christmas Eve, and all the little elves helped out in the kitchen, to get our Swedish Christmas Brunch ready in the early afternoon.

Look at the results! Om nom nom!

Watson Family shaping up well!

A very merry Swedish Christmas Eve, with 'Kalle Anka och hans vänner' and all!

 

German Xmas celebrations

We all made it back to Abu Dhabi in due time. Lucas had enjoyed his business class seat, and had even got lounge access in Brussels before the flight. Linnea and I had four hours in Istanbul airport this way, so we went for some sushi and shopping while waiting. We were lucky to get an empty seat between us on the second flight, so we also had quite a pleasant time actually, even in economy..! :)

Back in Abu Dhabi we settled right into the Christmas week. There was a few gifts still to be sorted, and other things to do.
Finally come the night before Xmas and most chores were done. Instead we let our hair down and went to our German friends to celebrate a bit, they had invited for some Christmassy wine and cheese.

We had a lovely night in their garden, having a great time catching up.
We used to be neighbours in the Haya Compound, and even if they are currently in Raha Gardens, we will soon be neighbours again as they are moving to Al Zeina as well in the new year. Yay!

Dinner with friends

Lucas set off on his trip already on the Monday night, as his connection in Brussels would've been too short otherwise, so he had to stay one night in a hotel at the airport.
In the meantime, Linnea and I took the opportunity to catch up with some good friends, the Enderleins.

 

We didn't manage to see Konrad (who was also there) nor Filippa in the summer when we were in Copenhagen, so it was extra fun to see them now. It had been so long, since pre-Covid, and they had changed so much. Filippa spent the last school year as an exchange student in the US, and now she had her American boyfriend visiting over Christmas, so we were quite a gang out for a meal.

Gotta love friends who drop everything when you arrive, to make time for you!

Jul i Tivoli

Even though the weather wasn't really with us the day before we left, I wanted to take Linnea into Tivoli to see the 'Jul i Tivoli', while Lucas finished up packing his suitcase. It worked out best for us to go in the daytime, but of course then the lights weren't quite on, or at least not visible yet. It is most beautiful in the dark, but it was still very very cosy!

The Tivoli Gardens opened already in 1843; so obviously me too I came here as a child with my parents. This ride below, the 'Farfars bilar' was my absolute favourite! Although we didn't go on this one (either) this time.

Linnea especially wanted to go on this ride (and many others), but I said blankly no! It was -2 degrees and raining! Imagine how it would've been up there!! Nooo thank you! (Mind you, I blamed the weather, but hadn't gone up there in summer sun either...)

Even in the freezing rain, this is such a magical place!

We walked around until we couldn't hack the rain anymore, and then it was time for some lunch - inside. We had glögg and æbleskiver, hot chocolate, and some fries and an open sandwich. Om nom nom! Perfect way of ending our visit!

 

Danish pre-Christmas dinner

Thomas had invited us to come over for his pre-Christmas dinner with the kids. We turned up in the middle of the very exciting penalty shoot-out in the World Cup Final - and could participate in the celebrations when Argentina finally managed to win!
A bit surreal to see Messi raise the trophy dressed in a bisht..!

Konrad and Lucas, just as tall and lanky the two of them:

We enjoyed brune kartofler and flæskesteg (sugared potatoes and pork), and Lucas got to open his presents from his Danish family. He got royally spoiled! He got some LED-lights, a packet of Happy Socks, a sheep skin and - a bike!

He also opened his Christmas presents from Mormor, as he is not back home until after the New Year. He got some Santas (of course), Christmas decorations, his own wall calendar to keep in his little house and a thermal set in wool to use as a base layer once it gets even colder. Handy!

Swedish pre-Christmas dinner

Before we left Skara we celebrated Christmas a little bit early with Mormor and Morfar. You can never have too much Christmas food!
It was a Julbord with only the favourites, perfect!

A quick group photo before leaving Skara for this time. Thank you for a lovely time!

Then it was time to roadtrip back down to Skåne. This time it was through rain and miserable weather instead of beautiful snowy landscapes, but we made it; said a quick hi to the Hybholts and continued across to Thomas' place in Denmark.

Falköping Fika

Linnea, Mormor and I did some excursions throughout the week to do some shopping. Mostly for Christmas gifts, but also for some clothes, Christmas stuff and other small things we had on our list.
One day when we were only doing one shop (Osterian in Falköping) we brought Morfar along too, as he enjoys going for fika at the Mössebergsgården.

It might be hard to see in the photo, but as this is halfway up a small mountain the views are fantastic. From up here you can see really far over the 'schlätta' (=the fields) and everything was frosty and white. It was really, really cold while we were in Sweden, below zero most days actually.

 

Lucia in Skara Cathedral

One of my favourite Christmas traditions is the Lucia celebration on the 13th of December.
Here in Abu Dhabi we have celebrated it many times at the Ambassadors residence, but unfortunately this year, it was only put on for a select group of professionals, and not the entire Swedish community as usual. Such a shame, especially for all the kids who love taking part usually. Disappointing also considering it's been canceled the past two years due to Covid.

So I was so happy to get to listen to the concert in my home town instead! Linnea wasn't feeling well, but Mormor and I went to the Skara Cathedral in the evening to enjoy the Lucia concert. Bliss!

Hard to get nice photos of the Lucia, as they (obviously) enter in the dark - but it was very moving. I have enjoyed so, so many Lucia celebrations and other special holidays in this church; it's really like a blast from the past to be back.

I am a sucker for traditions, so I was happy that it was a "traditional" Lucia concert. It was beautiful, and yes... I did get emotional several times.

 Feeding the soul. ♥︎

Arrival in Denmark

This time Linnea and I traveled to Scandinavia via - Turkey. A first.
We went on commercial tickets, in economy to Linnea's big disappointment, but that's what I could get while planning the trip. Having a 2.45 AM departure didn't make it any more pleasant, but actually, it wasn't too bad either. We both got some sleep, and we saw some movies; both flights were rather short, plus we only had a two hour connection in Istanbul so the whole trip went rather fast.

Flew in to a winter wonderland, minus degrees in Denmark, brrr!

And, we got met by Lucas! Yay! Big hugs all around!
We jumped straight on the train and went across to Malmö together, had fika at Emporia Mall before continuing on with the bus to Pia's house.

We then dumped the bags there and returned together with Pia and Sofie to the mall to do some last minute shopping. Lucas stayed for dinner before he went back home to CPH, and Linnea and I stayed the night to pick up our rental car the next morning, and drive up to Skara. A good start to our little Christmas trip.

Pia had operated her hand, but luckily it still worked for drinking 'Glubbel'..! (Glögg spices + bubbly wine, my favourite!)

We had a beautiful roadtrip the next day, through the winter wonderland. It was frosty, snowy and white all the way from Skåne and up through southern Sweden.

SBC Xmas Party

The Swedish Business Council organises two big parties every year, one for Midsummer just before the summer holidays, and a Julbord (a Christmas party) in December. I have never participated in either of them, as it is always in Dubai; but this year I thought - why not?

Linda, Johan and I drove up to Dubai on Saturday and the amazing venue that is the Ritz-Carlton Hotel in JBR, to take part in the big Christmas celebrations.

 

Since I don't have any red clothes, I wore my green suit as I felt it was at least a little bit Christmassy.

It was beautifully organised, there was even snow as we entered the dining area!

And as if that wasn't spectacular enough, there was also RAIN just before dinner was served! A crazy, but luckily quick, rainfall soaked us all. Not at all ordered by the organisers though... ha ha.

The gorgeous hostesses:

We had a five-course meal, with all the Swedish Christmas delicacies - Dubai-style.

Our table:

I had sponsored a gift for the big raffle, and here I am with the lucky winner!

I left the celebrations a little bit early, before the dancing and partying started, as Linnea and I were flying out in the middle of the night between Saturday and Sunday; and I had to get home to get her and get to the airport. Turned out I made the right decision ducking out early!
Because of the rain, and the general traffic situation on a Saturday night in JBR, I was already rather on edge; and then Morocco proceeded to knock out Portugal in their World Cup quarter-final game - so every Moroccan in Dubai took to the streets to celebrate! Aaargghh!
I did make it home in time, as once I hit the motorway there was no issues - but I did sit stuck in traffic without moving an inch for about 45 minutes inside JBR in the beginning, working up quite a pulse...

In hindsight it was a rather bad idea going partying in Dubai before traveling, as I didn't enjoy my evening as much as I should have. But oh well, you live and you learn.