Sweet Strawberry

... taken 4 weeks ago. I've got some catching up to do.

Vi är så glada...

Happy 26th Birthday Pa!

Rain dears?

The Fells

Just spent three days in the mountains with 70 teenagers and survived, in spite of storm winds, heavy rainfall, near sub-zero temperatures and lemmings everywhere, even in the tents.

I think all the teenagers made it too, but I kept losing count.

More pictures soon.

Putting the chicken on...

for Granny

Ghostly Class Trip

Back at the end of May, Strawberry went on a class trip, spending the night in a supposedly haunted old children's home.

At the last minute I went along too as they needed an extra car. This was the view from my bedroom window.

I slept very well there, but one rather odd thing happened. When I first entered my room it was very warm, so I opened the window to let in some fresh air, before I went back to the car for my overnight bag. When I came back the window was closed. I'd left my door locked and the window was shut and fastened down when I came back.

Nipa's Dog Blog

Nipa now has her own blog, see under links on right...►

No need to comment, it's just her showing off her photogenic genius, computer skills and other doggy tricks.

Back home

These were taken back in May from the top of the hill on Frey's Island looking west to the mountains, south over the lake and east over our home town.

The Jump

Inspired by Ted Gardestad's "I'm going to jump from the Eiffel Tower", Strawbs puts in some practice, showing her big sister how to do it.

It's a very long way up to the top, and the queue is just silly,

so we do it the quick way...

The Fashion Crime!

Lots of French food...

We stopped at regular intervals to fill up on pain au chocolat and fresh peaches washed down with coffee, hot chocolate, Orangina, Bella Lula etc ...

we also found an enormous lollipop...

a Norwegian salad (?)

steak and tagliatelle (? I had mine with pommes frites!)

...sorbet

... and crepes of course!

Paris!

Last week we took a last minute trip to Paris for 2 days. I haven't been for 30 years and the girls, although they have traveled a lot, have only been to and from England, plus the odd day trip to Norway. I thought it was time to widen their horizons. The flights were cheap leaving late in the evening and early in the morning. I thought we'd find some comfy seats at the airport in France and just rest rather than booking hotels. Unfortunately this cunning plan to save a few Euros failed miserably. The airport closed at midnight and armed soldiers, fingers on their triggers marched through.

Fortunately some very kind people took pity on us and found us a cheap hotel for the night in spite of the late hour. The hotel was so good, and cheap :) we booked the same one for the trip home.

The first day in Paris, it rained so hard all day long, I didn't dare take my camera from its plastic bag. The second day looked like rain again, but we managed to stay dry and complete are goals for the trip:

• Eat lots of French food (me)
• Jump from the Eiffel Tower (Miss T)
• Commit a crime of fashion (Strawberry)

The last of Stockholm

Just a few last pictures of Stockholm from our return trip to London at Easter.

Dancing and singing in the Spring at Skansen in Stockholm Saturday April 30th.

And finally the night train home...

Arriving home Sunday 1st May 2011 6.50am...
More tomorrow. Having done London and Stockholm, how about Paris?

To and from Skansen

Still Saturday 30th April!

Saturday April 30th

Back in Stockholm we celebrated Carl XVI Gustaf's birthday with some delicious Italian food in a restaurant next to the King's Garden,

not far from the palace

with the daffodils in flower.

The sun was shining, but the wind was cold.

So cold that we didn't stay for the lighting of the traditional bonfire at Skansen, but when the choir had finished "singing in the Spring", we made our way back to the station for the night train home.

The Day of the Wedding, Friday April 29th

All dressed up for his Majesty's not so secret service?

Miss T towers over her little sister, but then she is in her mum's little sister's stilettos.

Strawberry and Miss T posing with Camilla for a portrait, she and Charles followed behind in the car on to the ...

... garden party, causing quite a stir and several hoots as they both waved regally through the back windows.

Party games, putting the ring on the right finger

and lots of royal grub, including a chocolate fountain

proved to be a complete knockout.

Thank you little sister and everyone else there, we had a blast.