It worked

If you read the blog entry before this one you might remember that I spoke nostalgically about the good old days when you might even receive a post card in your mailbox while staying in your summer cottage. Well, guess what! A reader took me up on it and I received this card a few days ago. Thank you so much!

Copyright Wildcard Company

The reference to IKEA is especially suitable since I have been there give or take 10 times since arriving here in Sweden this time. It is on my way to go and visit my mother so it is very easy just to slip in and get a kitchen utensil or a storage box or have lunch. 

On one of my latest visits I saw a big family of new Swedes having lunch together. There were children, teenager's, parents, grandparents, in-laws, they took up about three tables. So I thought that it would be a really nice gesture if IKEA changed some of the silly names in their catalogue and used some names that these new Swedes could identify with. So instead of having the book case Billy we could have the book case Rashid. And instead of the sofa Stockholm we could have the sofa Casablanca and so on. I am sure you get my drift. It would also make my task easier. I frequently have to explain/translate names of IKEA products to my friends in Australia. Let me give you some examples, we have the table JOKKMOKK, they don't know what or where this is in Australia. Or the bed TUFFING; where is that or what is it,? Or the parasol LÅNGHOLMEN, named after a prison where the last execution in Sweden took place.

Hubby is leaving in two days and I will be on my own here with my son-in-law until our daughter comes back from Oxford where she is working. Then we will do some sightseeing and hopefully the weather will stay nice. We don't have to do any painting, gardening or other chores since hubby and son-in-law have been working flat out the last two weeks.

Have to go now and plan dinner.  We are taking turns teaching our son-in-law to cook. but I think he would like us to follow recipes more. Both hubby and me cook with what's in the house. This way we discover novel flavors, while at the same time using up left-overs.  All you have to do is call it "nouvelle cuisine".

My mother always thinks that it is the serving
plate that is put in front of her, when in fact it
is just the new fashion of serving your portion
 in a very big individual plate.

Migrating bird

Yes, me and the other migrating birds are going to warmer climates. Maybe they don't have to spend the night before leaving panicking about the luggage and the weight of said luggage. In fact what do they bring and how do they feed themselves in flight? I know I will be constantly fed on my flight, even to the point of gagging, but what do they do? I am hoping to hear from one of my bird spotter friends on this matter. And since I am on the subject of universal questions I would also like to know how they find their way.

Packing problems

When I first came to Sydney I got lost all the time. To the point that I very nearly had to take a motel room one day when I had been to IKEA. My elderly mother was with me and it started to get dark and I don't like driving in the dark. Well, anyway, a wonderful kind man in the gas station where we had to make a pit stop took pity on me and drove in front of us to the road we had to take. After that I got a SatNav from our son, bless him, and I use it all the time, even for the smallest excursion.

I am not looking forward to the actual flight and I am debating if I should take a sleeping pill or not. At the same time I love catching up on movies etc. Please don't let this put you off, dear friends, if you were thinking of coming to visit us. It really is not that bad, I just like to whinge.

Lao Tsu says; "A good traveler has no fixed plans and is not intent on arriving". I think that definitely makes me a bad traveler. We arrive in France on Friday, spend the weekend there, and drive up to Sweden on Tuesday, that is what I call a plan. However his concept of traveling sounds pretty cool.

Until next time, so long!

Vivid memories

It must be very nice to turn 80 and have your children organize a garden party with friends and neighbours and  one distant relative. Yes, that distant relative was hubby who is  a second cousin to M on his father's side. The last time we saw M was at her husbands funeral so it was nice to see her at a happier occasion.   It was a very nice BBQ with lots of food and with cake later on and a few nice speeches. It has ben raining quite a lot here in Sydney the last few days but yesterday was beautiful.

The family

Yours truly together with R, the birthday girl's daughter

Friday night after hubby finished work we took the train into Sydney to see  Vivid Sydney which took place in the central parts of Sydney near the Opera house and the Bridge. It rained off and on but thanks to our big IKEA umbrella we didn't suffer too much. Instead we had complete strangers come and stand under it with us to protect their cameras. It's always nice to be popular!





Other than that I have also had my usual painting class and also a special workshop which was very nice. I am trying to do as much as possible before we go to Europe. I intend to bring a few paintings and they need to dry. It takes forever. The framing guy is coming today to deliver two paintings but the rest I have to take with me un- framed.

One of my latest efforts

I can't believe that we are going so soon but looking forward to seeing friends and family of course!!Today is Sunday, yes, I know I said I was going to make Monday my blog day but tomorrow will be busy since I am doing 2 art classes per week until we go next week to make up the time.