Tuesday 26 February 2013

To have been in Sweden

After four nights and days in Gothenburg (which was sunny and not too cold) we're now back in the UK. It was just lovely to meet up with family (mum, dad, brother plus wife and their two daughters - M's cousins) and we're also able to celebrate M's youngest cousin's first birthday together with some more extended family. M plays so well with her 10 month younger cousin and we hardly saw them...The long weekend was all about walks, good food and laughter, as it should be. I hope it won't be too long till we see them all again. Of course I wish we lived closer to my Swedish family but at least when we do see each other it's proper quality time.

As it was two so called inset days at M's school this week we're having today off school/work as well and one of M's school friend (a favourite) is spending the day with us. It will be in in-door day as it's cold and it's raining.


On Friday we took the girls to Universeum, a brilliant aquarium/science museum in central Gothenburg (and realised I had called it Universum (The Universe) up till now which of course entertained my brother for the whole weekend no end...brotherly love).



Magic soap bubbles (pic above), a favourite at Universeum.



The famous (or for some infamous as they are certainly not loved by everyone) potato dumplings which are typical for the region where we come from, and not very common in Gothenburg where my brother now lives. A must when the family gets together, even if not on home ground.



TV snacks in front of the telly whilst watching the most important programme in Sweden at the moment, the Swedish song contest - the winner gets to (hopefully) take part in Eurovision this year. There is no UK equivalent to this, the winner is announced on the news, maybe, or you get to see it when watching the Eurovision. The Swedes are obsessed. Another thing I noticed is the selection of snacks, crisps, sweets and chocolate -it took up half the supermarket, just a slight exaggeration, and considering how healthy Swedes are perceived, I was surprised. In our local mid-sized Sainsbury's there is a small row, on one side, where the sweets live, that's it.



The biggest treat was carefully brought home, two of the best things there is in one - chocolate and salty liquorice (some of you may not agree with this).


 
When we got home these little beauties were waiting for us - spring is not too far away even though it feels like it today with only 2 degrees and rain....
 

Thursday 21 February 2013

To take a trip

On our way to Gothenburg, and when I'm writing this we're at the airport. It's just me and M this time, and we've already spent some proper mother and daughter time: lunch and shopping. I always ensure there is plenty of time at the airport as hate having to rush. And I've always loved being on my way somewhere, that "inbetween" time. Now it's time for a coffee and then off to the gate.



Tuesday 19 February 2013

To go butterfly spotting

The blog doesn't really reflect our life at the moment as it seems we're not doing much when it's quite the opposite. M has started her half-term school holidays and at the weekend we celebrated my husband's birthday with a visit to Wisley Gardens and the Butterfly exhibition. Who doesn't love butterflies and I was as excited as M when watching those beautiful delicate creatures flying around. We're informed they only live two-four weeks which also made me quite philosophical.

On Thursday we're off to Gothenburg for a long weekend. M is so looking forward to see her cousins and aunt and uncle (my brother) again, and of course "mormor och morfar" (grandparents). It's been six months, far too long.




Sunday 10 February 2013

To bring in a bit of spring

I saw snowdrops in a garden the other day and all of a sudden spring didn't seem too far away. But today it's cold, and it's raining, well more like sleet, and I decided to bring some spring indoors instead. Lovely fragrant hyacinths (if they survive in the jam jars...)

M spent the morning at the swimming pool and the afternoon at a birthday party. She does get around! We spent the time doing the weekly food shop but managed to fit in a quick glass of wine at the pub before it was time to pick up our princess. Now we're waiting for the Sunday roast, a bit of comfort food to cheer up a cold February evening (and there will be candles too).

Sunday 3 February 2013

To love Paris

Well who doesn't love Paris! And the cookbook The Little Paris Kitchen is a jem and so are Rachel Koo's cooking programme. It brings me right back to my days as a 19-year old living the bohemian life in Paris. It was in a tiny room, shared WC, an electric portable stove and no fridge - which worked OKsh up till April when it became a bit too hot to have the yogurts on the window sill outside...But who cared. I could by fresh baguettes and brie cheese every day as well as cafe au lait, cheap wine and green apples (OK, and quite a few French cigarettes). Perhaps not a balanced diet. As a student there weren't many opportunities to try out the French cuisine at the expensive restaurants but as long as there were wine, crepes, cheese and baguettes it didn't matter that much.

I studied french and History of Art at Sorbonne and worked two hours a day in a family as an Au-pair. My salary was that tiny room and a shower in their bathroom/week (Madame claimed that the hot water was so expensive...). This meant I had a gym membership and was a good way to get me going to the gym everyday and do some exercise.

One of my best memories was when a group of us were out having wine in the Bastille area and we started talking to this Moroccan guy, who was a social worker, and who lived nearby. At around midnight he invited all of us to his tiny flat and cooked up a Moroccan feast with couscous and Moroccan style stews and we had a fab time. Oh la la.

Admittedly, not much cooking was done on the little stove apart from omelettes and haricots verts but watching Koo's programme and having the cookbook at hand, it still reminds me of my days in Paris. I'm so glad I did go, on my own not knowing a single soul. I met up with some great people (mainly Swedes though...) and one of them is still a very dear friend today.



To party

It's been such a busy week so not much time for the blog.

M went to a birthday party yesterday (I guess you can guess the theme) which often means two hours of free child care for parents so a couple of us went to the pub. A bit of Saturday afternoon grown-up bliss.

Today M is spending the day with her grandmother which means mum could get some extra sleep in the morning (much needed as the neighbours decided to share their party music with us...), watch Rachel Koo's Little Paris Kitchen, have bagels with lemon curd and continue planning for the future, as there are some exciting (and a little bit scary) plans in the making - not only my big 40s bash.