sunday test

A rough roof

 We started work weeks ago on the roof at the back of the barn. The old shingles were no longer doing their job and the planks underneath had to be replaced. We started off by mixing up 250 kilos of concrete to make a foundation for a new supporting post. Then we took off the old roof and discovered that the beams underneath were a bit soft on top. So we chiseled away the spongey bits and sandwiched the beams together with some fresh planks, lashings of wood oil and glue and a few nuts and bolts, the MOTH's idea.

Then we had to wait for a couple of dry days to nail on the new planks and cover it all up with two layers of tar paper and asphalt. Last Monday and Tuesday were dry, which was perfect as I started work again on the Wednesday.

This weekend we finished off with bargeboards and a splash of paint. Fingers crossed it will last the winter.

And the only thing I fell off was my bike as I dashed home for a quick lunch with the family on Thursday, skidded in some gravel and took the skin off my left elbow.

Summer time

 Me, up a ladder preparing to fix the barn, with the MOTH down below ready to catch me, which won't be necessary, as I have no intention of falling.

I have to finish painting the barn and fixing the roof on the outside poop house and only a week left to do it in, must get on. Summer time's too short!

One of The Boy's Toys

We're supposed to be fixing the roof,

not tinkering with toys!

But then again where would we be without them:)

25 years and the Transit of Venus

On the 6th June 1987 we met for the first time. 25 years later we celebrated by getting up at 2am and heading out for the closest highest point with clear views to watch the rising of the sun and the Transit of Venus. Between 3am and 4am the cloud covering was too thick to see the sun clearly, but between 4am and 6am we watched Venus passing in front of the sun. Then it was home for a Champagne breakfast and a restful day together thanks to the Swedish government who turned the 6th June into a national holiday in 2005, Sveriges nationaldag.

Happy 26th Birthday Pa!

The Easter Bunny!

At 5pm on Maundy Thursday on the way home from school we found the Easter Bunny, resting in the the mouth of a football goal. One of us, no names, but we have had quite a few long, rough weeks, had just had a bit of a paddy fit in the middle of the road, right next to the bunny, but it didn't seem to bother him. We walked around him to check he wasn't caught in the net, but he appeared fine, and on Good Friday morning when I walked passed with the dog he'd hopped it, presumably he's getting ready to deliver all those Easter eggs. Some of you may doubt this, having looked at the photographic evidence and seen that this is in fact a hare with his winter coat on, but here in Sweden the Easter Bunny is an Easter Hare, so there!

Glad Pask till er alla, hoppas pask haren hoppar inte over er.

Happy Easter to you all, hope the Easter Bunny doesn't skip over you.

A view of our garden:)

Inspired by all the wintery weather back in Britain, this was taken last weekend, digging out the car, note the wing mirror by left foot. At least it was warmer then, only minus 12 or so, now it's minus 25 and windy ... brrrr. Roll on Summer :)

Stay warm.

Thank you for the hats Granny!

December 23rd 2011

Stopped in Stockholm for breakfast, Christmas window displays and a 21-gun salute, not for us but for Queen Sylvia's birthday.

Autumn 2011

Living this far North, I often get asked about the light. How many hours of daylight do we get? Well, we're not so far North that it's dark the whole time. These were all taken at the end of November in the middle of the day.

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.