Visitor

Last weekend we had a visit from Mr Alex. It was Grahams birthday so we all, plus Rachel and Ramish, went out to their local Chinese, which Alex likes. When it came to say good night he wanted to come and stay so how could we refuse him.

It wasn't very nice weather being dull and rather cold.





Not many people would help you polish your shoes and boots.

As a reward we went down to the playground near the river where the favourite thing was the slide.

Its over.

Monday 16th July. We didn't really need our wake up call as we hardly slept. Up early and a quick trip out to the airport, which is a wonder of engineering and architecture.
We are now on the last leg of our journey and just want it to be over. We are still not 100% and very tired, emotionally drained as well of course.

Arrived back in Sydney early evening but as the flight arrived early we had to wait to be picked up by Alex, Becky and Graham. I think Alex had forgotten us but it didn't take him long remember. When we got home the house was as cold as only a house that has been empty, in Winter, can be.
Put the heating on and lit the fire!!

Tuesday 17th July. Didn't sleep too well and I know, from past experiences, it will take me about 10 days to sort my sleeping patterns out. Very cold morning with frost and -5C!!!!
The garden isn't as bad as we expected as we have wonderful friends who have been looking after it and George even mowed the grass, now that's a real good friend!

We had a wonderful holiday, despite not being well for a good part of it. We caught up with family and friends but the most important part was to be able to spend so much time with Elin and Jim, and to meet Elins lovely family.

The last stages.

Sunday 15th July 2007. Arrived in Bangkok after a long and tiring flight. We both had some left over cold so suffered with pressure in our ears. Managed only a couple of hours sleep. Bangkok is a huge airport, the biggest we've been in. Service was good and our car was waiting to take us into the city to our hotel. There is a lot of building work going on, including what appears to be an elevated rail line from airport to city.
It got a bit worrying when the car was stopped at the approach to the hotel and mirrors were passed under the car before we could proceed. We were in our room by 4.30pm and glad to sit down in a seat that didn't move.




Views from our room over the city. A storm was brewing.
The hotel adjoins a huge shopping centre so we decided to go and have a look. It was massive but too busy and too noisy for us to take it all in as we both still have ear ache and mild headaches.

Arranged for an early wake up call as we have to be at the airport by 5.30am.

The end of a Swedish Odyssy

Saturday 14th July. Lovely sunny morning but sadly our last day in this wonderful country. Now the panic has started to see if we can get everything to fit in the luggage. Had a last walk around the immediate area.


E&J's apartment is just on the right.


From Luma Park looking towards E&J's. The school is directly in front and the ski slope in the background.


The last time to watch the bridge opening.

The last time to see the Hammarby ferry in action.


Our last meal with Elin and Jim.

The last tram running past E&J's.

After a light lunch we took a taxi for the 40 min run to the airport, arriving at 13.10. Booked in and checked the luggage in.

Had a cup of coffee with E&J and got our very sad good byes over as quickly as possible.
The last photograph taken in Sweden!!

Bangkok, via Copenhagen, next stop.

A Swedish Odyssey......

Thursday 12th July. Woke to an overcast day. As we will be leaving in a few days Di and Elin did some washing. We had planned to go into the city but heavy rain put paid to that plan so we deferred that trip until tomorrow. Had a relaxed day and then a walked down the road and had a nice dinner near the Sickla tram stop.

We have noticed another great idea. Some baby strollers have a pair of wheels and a small platform at the rear so that a second child can stand up between the handles.

Friday 13th July. Woke up to find it raining but the sky started to break up and it got brighter. We went into the city to do some last minute present shopping.

I think this sculpture gets the message across.
For dinner we went to one of E&J's favourite eateries. Very good food but far too much but we struggled through.


From the balcony just outside E&J's apartment.


From the same spot some time later.



Swedish currency.

A Swedish Odyssey......

Wednesday 11th July. A nice sunny morning so I went for an early walk down to the lake.






The majority of wooden homes are painted in this red colour which is nationally well known and culturally important. It is called Falu Red and is a by product of copper mining in and around the town of Falum.
There are very few fences in Sweden as Swedish law provides extensive right of public access to land and waters. You are allowed to walk, cycle, ride, swim and camp practically everywhere, provided that you don't disturb people or destroy anything. You are allowed to pick wild flowers, berries, mushrooms and such like everywhere, or to collect dead wood and make a fire, provided that adequate safety measures are taken. So someone, in theory, can walk through you garden as long as they don't make a nuisance of themselves, damage or litter it.

It was a bit cool so we had breakfast indoors before saying bye to Agneta and P-G and taking a round about route back to Stockholm.


It seems strange to see warning signs to animals other than kangaroos, wombats etc.


We called in to see Mia and Ulf where they were staying in Ulf's Mother's lovely house near Hofors.

Mother and daughter.

A Swedish Odyssey......

Tuesday 10th July. We slept well but were woken by the light at about 5.30. There was some very light rain but by 8.30 it was nice and sunny, not as cold as we expected.

But obviously it can be very cold!!


This is our Friggebod alongside the main house.


After an early morning walk, breakfast outside although we were more rugged up than this.
One of the more unusual breakfast meals is hard boiled eggs with caviar.


These could be Australian mail boxes!




Had a nice lunch in Leksand and a good look around this lovely town.


Found this unusual carillon down near the river.

Now you don't see many of these!!


Another indication of how cold it can get up here. This small device is the plug for the heater system that keeps the engine and transmission warm when parked.

And this is the other end. The boxes on poles, like speakers at the drive-in, are where you plug the car into. These were at a small shopping centre.


Traditional houses.

Some with sod roofs.


We visited the old Dalhalla limestone mine which has been turned, very successfully, into a concert venue.


Approximately 25 concerts are held here during the summer alone and all tastes are catered for, opera through to jazz.

A Swedish Odyssey......

Monday 9th July. Woke to an overcast morning. Did a small bit of packing as we were heading up country to stay for a few days with Agneta and P-G. Made a stop off in Sollentuna to buy Panadol etc as colds are still hanging around, and pick up Mia's car. We drove for about 3.5 hours through beautiful countryside to P-G's summer house in Leksand. Leksand is a town in the Dalarna region with about 16 000 inhabitants. Very quiet rural area with lovely red painted traditional houses and Friggebods.

Having settled in we all went for a tour of the immediate area. Leksand is on a lake and ringing the lake are the 'Blue Mountains' which look like ours but don't get their colour from gum leaves!


The lake is Lake Siljan which gives its name to the wooden horses that are carved in the area. Siljan is Sweden's sixth largest lake, 354 km2. It is located at the centre of a crater that was formed when a meteorite hit the earth 370 million years ago.

Most of the horses are smaller than this !!

Back at the house Jim and P-G cooked a nice BBQ.

Nice meal eaten indoors.


Followed by nice dessert, coffee and quite a bit of drinking. Talked until late by candle light and the light from the open fire.