Sill & Nubbe

Midsummer... long lazy days when the sun barely seems to set before it is up again. Surely it is something to celebrate?



..which this year I managed to do in fine style.

First in Dalarö for traditional folk dance around the 'midsummer-pole' - a short walk to the beach and then back to the marina. We are heading for the archipelago :-)

Björkösund, and the island of Ornö is the destination, with an open invitation from Anders & Ilya to come and celebrate midsummer. The location you can only envy - a lovely old-fashioned new house perched on the cliffs with views out onto Mysingen. Add four boatloads of dancers, plus most of the neighbourhood and you have yourself the makings of a fine party.

Herring, snaps and boiled potatoes. Strawberries, and sticky chocolate cake. Blend some tradition food with a some spicy music, mix thoroughly with the guests and simmer until the small hours.

It was great!

Thanks Anders! 'You're a diamond geezer' - (as Ilya would say).

School's Out

Breaking up from school. No more hanging around in the old art room or feet up in the lounge at Baysgarth (..they tore it down long ago for a new sixth form centre.) No more teachers, no more rule books.. No more Alice Cooper on the radio.
Summer, and then university.. and good friends spread to the four winds.

Did we celebrate? I can't rightly recall.

Idas Studenten

Today, and here in Sweden it's another thing however. Schools out! And we're going to party! Bigtime!

At this time of the year the city gets a rude awakening as gymnasium finishes and thousands take their 'Stundenten' - rushing out from class to be met by their family and friends, before disappearing off into the streets to party.

This week it was Ida's turn (Karin's daughter). The weather was good.. and I had my camera in tow, both at school and back home afterwards. Lots of pictures in this one...
Grattis Ida, och jag önskar dig en lycklig framtid!

Heja Sverige!!

One of the those quaint and intrinsically English things is the summer fête... or so I thought.

Yesterday was Sweden's National Day - a relatively new invention of national fervour. No-one's quite sure how to celebrate it, though like May Day the extreme left and right wing seem to think it's a good excuse for a scrummage in in the city.

Görvälns Slott

Out in the sticks we have more modest ways of flying the flag... which is how I came to take a walk out through the woods to Görvälns Slott with Peter and Karin my neighbours to sample what was, for want of a better word, a village fête: stalls selling handicrafts, a stage with people jumping somersaults, or between times playing folk music, rides on a horsedrawn cart, fresh baked waffles, or just a chance to lie out on the grass.

There was even the obligatory 'loppis' - a stall selling jumble. Since re-use is better than recycling I felt obliged to do my civic duty, and after a determined rummage I came away with albums by the Cranberries, Manic Street Preachers, U2 .. and of course some salsa for the princely sum of 40kr. Plus a burner for a Trangia spirit stove (to an old design I'd not seen before) - which is great, because two years ago I bought a stove that had no burner :-)

Patience they say, is a virtue...

By the way.. can I get a day off for Trafalgar day?