Holiday 2012 - Day 5

We woke early considering we had a very late night, about 05.30 and the thermometer showing an outside temperature of only 11C.  We had a late breakfast, enjoying the company of our little family.

 Di and myself went for a walk in the area as it was nice and sunny but unfortunately there was a biting wind.  This is a big wooden horse that I think is advertising a racetrack.

This local parkland is still being developed. There is not much growth yet as plants and grasses are just getting over a hard winter.

This sculpture reminded me of a set of billiard cues.

This is a photo looking back from the top of the park towards Annedals.

Jim finally managed to get Johan, complete with helmet, into the bike seat.

I have been looking at the front balcony to see how I could make a gate to prevent Johan getting out, while Jim made notes for the final builders inspection of the apartment.

Holiday 2012 - Day 4

We woke up early today, about 06.00, probably a mixture of jet lag and early sunrise. 

We were going for a early walk but as usual the day got away from us so it got postponed until mid morning.

                                                                                                                                                            

 

We are having a walk along the waterway towards where Elin and Jim used to live.

This is looking back with the blue bridge in the background.

Not many boats back in the water.  In a few weeks time these moorings will be full.

A few boats here and there.

Walking across the bridge towards Elin and Jims old apartment, alongside the new rails and bridge for the T-Bana. Their apartment is just behind the one central in the photo.

A stop for fika in a very nice store called Mio, before food shopping as we are expecting visitors for dinner.
Also checked out microwave ovens as there wasn't one fitted in the apartment when Elin and Jim moved in.

While shopping, Jim bought a bike seat for Johan. Once fitted Johan was a little wary of trying it out especially when Jim tried to fit his safety helmet and then he went mad.

Mormor and Johan.

A very nice dinner with Mia, Ulf and David.  It was lovely to see them again.  The meal is a special in another way as it is Walpurgis Night which is to celebrate the end of Winter. We drove to a nearby small community and joined a procession, some carrying burning torches, to a local oval to watch the lighting of a huge bonfire and listen to the singing.
It was a late night, don't know how Johan keeps going.

Holiday 2012 - Day 3

We had a good nights sleep and woke about 07.00 to a very cold morning, for us, with a temperature of just over 7C.  It was grey and overcast but by 09.00 the sun was out.

After a lazy start to the day we all went shopping and while there decided that Johan needed a haircut.

Although Jim wasn't too keen on getting it done.

Very little fuss from Johan at all.

Who is that good looking little boy? What a difference a few clicks of the scissors can make.

Mr Happy.

Mr Grumpy.

Johan and Jim playing in Johans bedroom.

Watching TV together.

Elin came back from Australia with two metal lamp shades that she wanted to have hung above the dinning table.  While shopping we managed to find the right sized fittings to suit them. Now all we need is some red cable and the use of a hammer drill, which will have to wait until we get back from the UK. Unless Jim gets them fixed before then!!

Holiday 2012 - Day 2

We left Bangkok just after midnight and had a nice and comfortable flight with SAS.  Very different to Thai.  Good food, good service, comfortable and we even managed to get a few hours sleep.  We arrived in Copenhagen on time but the plane to Arlanda was delayed and we landed about 30 mins late.  Elin and Jim had been for a coffee while waiting and were walking down the concourse as we walked out. Johan was the first to see us and all we heard was a little boy calling Nanna, Nanna.

 We drove to Elin and Jims new apartment in a new suburb called Annedals. Most of this new residential area is still being developed but has lots of potential.

 This is the view from the rear balcony.  At the end of the deck is boardwalk alongside the creek.

 Kitchen area.

Lounge area.

As you can imagine we had a lot of catching up to do, have a guided tour of the new apartment and some late lunch. After lunch we went for a walk around the area to get our bearings. It was very cold with a biting wind.

Each block of apartments are differnt but are interlinked with these boardwalks which all give access to the waterway.  All these areas are provided with seating.

 Its still early days in the area and a lot of planting still to be done.

This lovely little bridge will eventually give access to more parkland on the other side of the creek.

The rear balcony of Elin and Jim, still in winter mode.

We had a long day and were tired so an early night was in order, in bed by 21.00.

Holiday 2012 - Day 1

Continuing on from the blog dated Friday the 8th February.

The big adventure starts here.

Well actually it started a few months ago when we were talked into a longer than usual trip.  This of course involved a lot of planning with pre-payment of bills, cancelling of papers etc, registering cars, and hoping that Becky and family would look after the cat. The family and cat get on well together but Becky has a new house and garden which the cat has never seen before.  I expect they will manage but Di worries

Yesterday afternoon we went to pick up our hire car from Richmond for the trip into the airport.  For us this is very convenient but also the cheapest way of getting there.

We had booked a small car but this is what we ended up with. A top of the range Toyota 4 x 4 which the hire company needed to get back to Sydney International. This suited us and meant the holiday started with an extra bit of luxury.

We put the suitcases out last night and started to pack but it wasn't until we picked them up to check the weights that we realized one was badly damaged and it literally fell apart.  Its had a hard life!  It was too late to go shopping for new ones so we arranged to borrow one from Becky.  We were calling in anyway to say bye and drop off the cat but now we had to repack one case again.

This is our plane, a Thai Airways 747, flight TG472 which took off on time at 15.55.
Di wasn't  keen to fly with Thai Airways but it was the best deal we could do to get us to Bangkok and connect with Scandinavian Airlines. I think the plane was showing its age as although we were flying business class it seemed noisy and the seats were uncomfortable.  Now I remember why Di wasn't keen to fly with Thai.

We arrived in Bangkok on time at 2200, local time.

Decorating.

We have been doing a little rearranging and decorating of Jims old bedroom.  Lots of new plug outlets and light connections have also been installed. The corner computer table has gone and been replaced by a 2M long bench on the opposite wall. Moving the bed from under the window to the wall where the computer was has freed up a lot of space.

I've also fitted new timber railings to the mezzanine level.

Some of the pictures are back on the walls, also a new notice board.

By putting the computer table on this side of the room we have removed a restriction from above one of the air conditioning floor outlets.

Di enjoying our first link up with Johan and Elin since reconnecting all the computer stuff.

The new layout works very well.

Holiday 2012

Just an update as the day of departure gets closer.

This time last year we had a message from Jim to say that he, Elin and Johan were booked on a flight to the UK on the 16th May and returning to Stockholm on the 23rd May. We will be joining up for a short time and they too will be staying in Janes lovely new big house.