Sweden --> England

Returning to England, I was greeted by some proper British rain, just as I remembered it when I left. Rain wasn't the only thing to greet me, as things had been growing at home since I left the house. Mainly in the kitchen and in the garden. Being on holiday back home (sweden-home) is busy, trying to find time to catch up with everybody, but then, I'm not sure it's that much busier than my average week in Bristol.

So what happened in Sweden? I'll try keep it short. I met up with some good old friends and family, drank tea, beer  and ate good food. Seafood was on the top, and home made Swedish meat balls were a big hit as well! I loved the sea and the lakes, and a lot of days were spent by the water. There was also time for beach volley, bbq's, baby-sitting and dog-sitting. I visited some lovely people in Örebro, and went to my cousin's wedding in Stockholm. Me and my dad took our Hobie Wahoo out for a two-day sailing trip and ended up almost drowning ourselves in the waves on our way home. Gale and Hobies aren't a good combination! I will miss our beautiful house and big garden, the sea, the forests and the lakes with their jetties. Speaking of which, the grande finale was an hour of skinny dipping with my lovely sisters from one of 'em jetties! I will miss home, no doubt!

Shrimps and crayfish night

From a jetty on a lake anywhere in Sweden

Saying that, I am not really one to keep looking back, I know England has its own charms. Summer isn't over yet, and with some luck, there will be sunshine in Bristol again! As I phoned Tony yesterday, I could hear the joy in his voice as he realised I was back. He feared I'd decided to stay in Sweden and he didn't know how to contact me. Bless him, I'll meet up with him tomorrow! One day back, and the week is fully booked. Oh yeah, hit me life!

All Love

Sticky Love

Me and my sister are on the bus home from our cousin's wedding. It's interesting how a wedding, where pretty much all you do is eating, singing and listening to speaches, can wear you out. I feel exhausted, but then I've had 3,5 hours of sleep the last couple of nights...

Weddings are pretty sweet. Not only because there's so much good food, but because someone you know well has been completely swept away by insane love for another person. And they are more than happy about it, and so is everyone else. And you know that things will not be the same any more, cause once again, love has turned things around...

Love, the power to change a person completely, to restore or to ruin. Now, there are different kinds of love, but let's stick to the romantic sticky one for once. I think everyone who's ever fallen in love can agree with me that it is like entering a different world. Laws of time does not apply anymore. One day is like a year, and a year is like a day. Being apart makes every minute seem like torture and being together is trying to hang on to every moment like life depended on it. It's not logical and not reasonable. You can never win an argument with a person in love because they do not listen to any other voice than the desire of their heart. Like metal to a magnet they seem inseparable, constantly attracted to each other. No matter when or where, a person in love will always carry the other person in the back or front of their mind all day and all night. It is crazy, completely madness, but once you've fallen - you're lost to this new world and there will be no escaping.

Sticky love is for good and bad. I guess when it all works out, like for my cousin, it is one of the sweetest things one can experience. But when things does not work out... you're in for a tough round.

Last day in Sweden now. An update about my holiday is to come shortly (I hope).

All Love

HOLIDAY

Last day at work tomorrow, then it's holiday time! I've packed my wetsuit, a dress, high heels (!), bikini, some tops and some underwear. Toothbrush, camera, lap top and sunglasses to be added. I'm going back to Sweden baby, for 2 weeks! I'm looking forward to sailing, bbq's, skinny-dipping, beach volley, and quality sister time. Sometimes I do miss home. I was thinking about something English to bring that Sweden is lacking, but could think of nothing... ouch.

So I've been packing and I've made a Swedish style mud cake for tomorrow's party. Left to do is cleaning and a hot bath. Did I mention it's my last working day tomorrow?  Excitement!

Time to take Wahoo out for the first breath of sea this season!

All Love

Playful Minds and Childlike Excitement

One thing me and my housemate Sus have in common is that we're both very playful. The other day we were both extremely bored about all the things we had to do, and decided to leave it and go out and play instead. We ran upstairs, got changed and picked up the frisbee, then ran barefeet out from the house to the park and played for over an hour. We jumped around, made headstands, fell over and made the frisbee fly like magic. It was amazing! Then we went inside, did the dutiful washing up and hanging up laundry and then sat down , drank chai latte and played guitar til the clock had passed bedtime. Maria, if you're joining our household you know what you're in for!

Today I went and picked up my inlines - real Rollerblades! And all my protective wear had arrived as well. I'm so excited, the only thing missing must be a Walkman! When I arrived home the period pains started to make themselves known. It is not fair! Men can walk to the shop these days in order to get food, but women still have to give birth (or bleed)! God surely must have known this when he did the cursing?! Anyway, called in sick and ended up in bed. Tomorrow I will be back to normal!

Going Green

The unpacking is going slowly as we're waiting for some furniture still. We are settling in though, and the house has not given us any too bad surprises. It might be a sign of me getting older, but I have a new born desire to dig my fingers into the soil, I'm getting into gardening! Yesterday I went online shopping for plants and seeds, and maybe with a bit of luck our back garden will get a bit of blossom this summer. Today I took the bus to Eastgate to buy a spade and a watering can, and boy was that a mistake! Bank holidays and the traffic was horrendous! It took ages to get there and the bus back was 40 minutes late as all the cars coming out from the shopping centres were blocking the way. Roundabouts aren't always a good idea. I felt like running out into the street and kick the cars, and my mind said "You've got boots, you can do it". I didn't. I put on an annoyed face and clenched my fists discretely. Respect.

A bit of enamel fell off my front tooth last week, and so I have to visit the dentist on Wednesday. I tend to keep 4-5 years between visits, so I reckon it's time to bring out the floss again...

All Love

New Address

I can confirm, we have now moved houses. Me and Susanna moved from the posh neighbourhood of Redland/Clifton to the colourful neighbourhood of Easton, where the sound of police cars are frequently heard and where the local shops are full of random foods from all corners of the world. Hamdi might be pleased to know this part of town is full of Somalis. We share a house with two bedrooms and a bathroom upstairs and a kitchen, conservatory, dining room and lounge downstairs. And we have a small garden! The house is light and fresh though old and slopy. We've had a few guests walking into walls as the house reminds us a bit of "lustiga huset", walls and floor leaning in all kinds of direction. I find it charming, and call it character. I will try and get some photos up as we get properly installed and get all the boxes unpacked.

New Address:

Frida Linden
29 Beaumont Street
Bristol
BS5 0TD
United Kingdom

I have a spider in my room, I call him Nicholas and he lives in a corner of the ceiling, just over my bed. As long as he stays in his own territory he's free to lodge.

All Love

Sunshine of my Life!

It has been a gorgeous week of plenty of sun. Paris was absolutely lovely. Me and my darling mom would dress up in stripes and berets and pose in front of famous monuments, sit down at cafes for some wine and cheese and fall asleep in sunny green areas. The guy who worked in the reception of our hotel dressed up in stripes to match us. Brilliant!

Back in Bristol the sun has been shining as well. Yesterday I went fishing with Tony and his lovely 8 year old daughter Maggie. We had a lot of fun, caught nothing, but enjoyed the weather and the bacon sandwhiches. Maggie had made me Easter cards and I was given a yummy chocolate easter egg. Those two are as cheeky as can be, but they give me so much joy. I cannot remember the last time I've felt so appreciated. I plan to meet up with them at Funderworld tonight, a thing they set up on The Downs in early spring, portable rollercosters and other things that escaped the health and safety regulations.

I saw a house in Easton that I really really like. It looks light and spacious and has a rear garden. Tuesday morning I will be on the phone to see if it's still there!