The rest of our summer
Autumn came early last week and any day now I will be waking up for work in the dark. Speaking of which after 3+ glorious weeks off I returned to the hotel last Monday. It was my longest time off in 4 years so it felt a bit odd honestly coming back after being away for so long. I also am working two weekends in a row but hey ho I have a great weekend schedule in October so I won't complain. Anyway I need to write about the rest of our summer so here comes a ramble fest from yours truly!
At the start of August I got my second dose of the vaccine!!! I was extremely fortunate to have no reaction again. Sweden is at almost 75% fully vaccniated which makes my heart sing!
August was a special month indeed as we got to see a lot of family and our holidays started on the 19th. At the start of the month my dear brother who I had not seen in almost 3 years flew to Sweden for 6 days for my fathers birthday. Unfortunately I was not able to join for the festivities but he thankfully flew up to Stockholm to spend 24 hours with us. We made him dinner Sunday night and stayed up late drinking the hubby's latest homebrew. Monday we both took the day off of work to spend with him. We took him to one of our favourite restaurants for a belated 40th birthday lunch. The forecast was cool but sunny so we could sit out by the water. After lunch we made our way to my hotel so I could take him for a tour and have a few cocktails. Even after all these years away from each other he still knows exactly how to push my buttons which makes me chuckle but it was so special to see him after so long. My parents and I had planned to go see him in Austin for Thanksgiving later this year (Texas in November what a dream!) but alas that bloody state is so poorly vaccinated it did not seem like the safe thing to do with my elderly parents. We are absolutely crushed and will really try and go next Easter instead!!! Thank goodness we got the 24 hours with him last month.
The week of our wedding anniversary was very nice. The Monday after I got out of work I headed to meet ClareBear and JC for a picnic on the pier and swim. We have been pretty good about getting together this year which is really nice as we really always have so much to discuss. Later in the week our nearby neighbours we met earlier in the year came over to try the homebrew. The British husband had helped with the brew day. We actually just had a Thai takeaway at theirs last night! We are so chuffed to have friends in the area since the other local couple we hung out with are splitting their time between Belgium and Sweden the next 3 years for work. Even though it was only days before my holidays started I actually had our wedding anniversary off which fell that weekend. Somehow 5 years has passed since we said I Do and will have been together a decade next January! We booked a table at our favourite restaurant that is coincidently called Wood. As always it was wonderful and we had the best time. We had a few beers around the corner at the new Mikkeller where we met the nicest Korean woman who have lived in Stockholm for a few years. Saturday we had a nice slow day around the flat before picking up groceries to make dinner at home. We usually watch the videos of our vows but alas we have been having problems casting so have not had a chance to yet this year. Sunday we made our way over to a new restaurant that opened last year that serves farm to table. The atmosphere was a bit cold but we loved the food and as the menu changes depending on the season I will definitely be back. All and all a wonderful just perfect for us 5th anniversary weekend for us.
And then finally on Thursday the 19th our holidays began!!! Friday we went out for lunch to the cafe near us we have been wanting to try. We really liked it and after a few wet days it was nice to sit out in the hot sunshine. I spent the rest of the day prepping for both the hen do I was hosting that weekend and our 10 days of travel coming up the Monday. Saturday I headed to Pingry's where we waited for the bride and our other bridesmaid to rock up. The bride is from the American South so we made her a full Southern Brunch including grits which I just adore! After brunch she had some challenges to solve before we headed to the two hotel rooms I had booked through a friend. We did face and foot masks, watched Bridesmaids and grazed over our hotel room picnic. It was nice to spend time just the 4 of us as we had not done so since the brides 30th the year before. The next day we walked her to the park where about 8 other women were waiting for us to surprise her. We really lucked out with the weather and I only wish I had brought my bathing suit to go for a dip at the end! We played lots of games and just enjoyed getting to know each other before the wedding.
And then on Monday the 23rd for the first time in 18 months we boarded an airplane!! Granted it was only a 25 minute flight to the island of Gotland but even still it felt very odd to be at an airport and hear plane noises again. It is definitely the longest I have gone in my life without flying. Anyway for the first week of our holiday we were heading to the beautiful island of Gotland for the first time in 5 years which we last visited on our mini moon. It is a very special island and I am so glad we finally made it back. Our first two nights we treated ourselves to a beautiful B&B. They grow about 80% of what they serve which is wonderful and we really enjoyed our breakfasts and two dinners there. Our first evening we had a cocktail on the sunset terrace and it clicked that we were on holiday. The next day we drove all the way to the very south of the island as we had never been down that way before. Parts of the landscape look like Sub Saharan Africa! We were there the first week after the summer season so a few places I would have liked to go to were already closed but on the flipside there was no traffic. I really, really wanted to swim but alas the water was just too choppy and I didn't feel safe going in past my knees. Later in the day before having dinner we went to a brewery that had decent beer but very good tater tots of all things?! On Wednesday on the advice of our B&B host made our way to an absolute stunning National Park for a morning hike. I couldn't get over the variety of colours and textures. On our way to the new hotel we were staying at we stopped at a bakery for fika but of course. Almost simultaneously as we finished our cinnamon buns we both declared it was one of the best we had ever had!! We then got to the hotel we were staying at which is a mini resort and so not our kind of place. But my old manager from the other hotel is the GM there so was able to get us a 25% discount so we booked it. She had arranged a small upgrade for us, 5 beers and two bags of gourmet bags of crisps so it was a nice welcome from her. The rest of the hotel left a little to be desired and I wouldn't stay again but it was fine for these 3 nights. That evening we were having our big meal of the trip at Lilla Bjers a well known farm to table restaurant. Everything from the venue, food, service and atmosphere were top notch and we absolutely loved our meal! The next day we drove out to my distant relatives place for lunch. We had not seen him for a number of years and it was my mother who reminded me he lived in Gotland. He has a really cool house and we had a lovely few hours catching up. By then a persistent light rain settled in which hung around for the rest of our time on the island. After lunch we dropped off the rental car and made our way into Visby for the first time that trip. It is a totally charming World UNESCO Heritage site. We were meeting my old manager for dinner that night. She was 9+ months pregnant but a total champ and it was really nice to spend time with her. We went back to one of our favourite restaurants which had changed names and a bit of a different menu but the food and service was still great. Friday we took advantage of the bad weather and had a very slow day. In the afternoon my manager had arranged some cava for us down at the jacuzzi. We lucked out when we were down there that the rain had let up for a little. That evening we walked back into Visby and had unfortunately atrocious Tex Mex. We were so disappointed! Saturday our ferry to Småland was leaving at 16:30 so we had some time to go back into Visby and we got a table for lunch at what we think is the best seafood restaurant in Visby! I was not looking forward to the ferry ride to Småland but luckily we were on a much newer ferry then we took 7 years ago and I meditated and slept for most of it so the journey went fast. My parents were at the other end and we drove the 80 minutes to Kalmar where we had booked into a nice hotel my friend had arranged for us. We all had an early night. Sunday the weather was truly horrid all day and I was not dressed for it which meant early only I got a bit of a chill I struggled to shake the rest of the day. We did though have a wonderful time exploring the very impressive Kalmar Castle. It also featured a really amazing Erik Johansson photography exhibit that I had missed in Stockholm a few years ago. I was a bit stressed at one point when my Dad and I were walking up at the top of the castle in really windy conditions and my favourite summer hat blew right off my head!! Thankfully a very kind staff member helped me go through a locked door to get it back. Hubby and I bought it 9 years ago in Key West. Later we went to go look for a family grave in the area and then a late lunch at a cute little botanical garden. By then I was truly chilled and headed back to the hotel with a hot chocolate and wrapped myself up in the duvet. We were really struggling to find somewhere for dinner that night as most things were closed on a Sunday but thankfully we ended up at a wonderful pizzeria. We had some drinks back at the hotel and just enjoyed being together. The next day after we checked out of hotel we drove across the bridge to Öland. Gotland it is not!! But I enjoyed seeing where my mother went to summer school and visiting some nice beaches but not swim sadly. I wouldn't rush back to the island but glad I saw it. The next 2 days we were at my parents place and mostly just hung out. We plan to spend a week with them at Thanksgiving and they might be up here before then for All Saints weekend. Shortly after we got back to Stockholm it was time to check into my hotel for two nights! About 20 of us from the wedding were staying there. Saturday the sun shined beautifully and we went to our first wedding since our own 5 years ago!! I was also a bridesmaid for the first time in 7 years. As we still have restrictions in place in Sweden it was not your ordinary wedding. But we ate very, very good barbecue and I enjoyed getting my hair and make up done! And then it was my last week off. I had grand plans to reorganize my wardrobes and sort through some boxes but motivation completely left me and I had a very lazy few days. Thursday afternoon we headed down to Norrköping for a long weekend a small city we have been wanting to visit for a few years. We had a nice low key 3 days exploring. It is an old industrial city that they have completely revitalized and we both really liked it. Funny thing was when we got to our AirBnB we realized we had booked two single beds in separate rooms, doh! All and all a nice weekend to wrap up our holidays.
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At the start of August I got my second dose of the vaccine!!! I was extremely fortunate to have no reaction again. Sweden is at almost 75% fully vaccniated which makes my heart sing!
August was a special month indeed as we got to see a lot of family and our holidays started on the 19th. At the start of the month my dear brother who I had not seen in almost 3 years flew to Sweden for 6 days for my fathers birthday. Unfortunately I was not able to join for the festivities but he thankfully flew up to Stockholm to spend 24 hours with us. We made him dinner Sunday night and stayed up late drinking the hubby's latest homebrew. Monday we both took the day off of work to spend with him. We took him to one of our favourite restaurants for a belated 40th birthday lunch. The forecast was cool but sunny so we could sit out by the water. After lunch we made our way to my hotel so I could take him for a tour and have a few cocktails. Even after all these years away from each other he still knows exactly how to push my buttons which makes me chuckle but it was so special to see him after so long. My parents and I had planned to go see him in Austin for Thanksgiving later this year (Texas in November what a dream!) but alas that bloody state is so poorly vaccinated it did not seem like the safe thing to do with my elderly parents. We are absolutely crushed and will really try and go next Easter instead!!! Thank goodness we got the 24 hours with him last month.
The week of our wedding anniversary was very nice. The Monday after I got out of work I headed to meet ClareBear and JC for a picnic on the pier and swim. We have been pretty good about getting together this year which is really nice as we really always have so much to discuss. Later in the week our nearby neighbours we met earlier in the year came over to try the homebrew. The British husband had helped with the brew day. We actually just had a Thai takeaway at theirs last night! We are so chuffed to have friends in the area since the other local couple we hung out with are splitting their time between Belgium and Sweden the next 3 years for work. Even though it was only days before my holidays started I actually had our wedding anniversary off which fell that weekend. Somehow 5 years has passed since we said I Do and will have been together a decade next January! We booked a table at our favourite restaurant that is coincidently called Wood. As always it was wonderful and we had the best time. We had a few beers around the corner at the new Mikkeller where we met the nicest Korean woman who have lived in Stockholm for a few years. Saturday we had a nice slow day around the flat before picking up groceries to make dinner at home. We usually watch the videos of our vows but alas we have been having problems casting so have not had a chance to yet this year. Sunday we made our way over to a new restaurant that opened last year that serves farm to table. The atmosphere was a bit cold but we loved the food and as the menu changes depending on the season I will definitely be back. All and all a wonderful just perfect for us 5th anniversary weekend for us.
And then finally on Thursday the 19th our holidays began!!! Friday we went out for lunch to the cafe near us we have been wanting to try. We really liked it and after a few wet days it was nice to sit out in the hot sunshine. I spent the rest of the day prepping for both the hen do I was hosting that weekend and our 10 days of travel coming up the Monday. Saturday I headed to Pingry's where we waited for the bride and our other bridesmaid to rock up. The bride is from the American South so we made her a full Southern Brunch including grits which I just adore! After brunch she had some challenges to solve before we headed to the two hotel rooms I had booked through a friend. We did face and foot masks, watched Bridesmaids and grazed over our hotel room picnic. It was nice to spend time just the 4 of us as we had not done so since the brides 30th the year before. The next day we walked her to the park where about 8 other women were waiting for us to surprise her. We really lucked out with the weather and I only wish I had brought my bathing suit to go for a dip at the end! We played lots of games and just enjoyed getting to know each other before the wedding.
And then on Monday the 23rd for the first time in 18 months we boarded an airplane!! Granted it was only a 25 minute flight to the island of Gotland but even still it felt very odd to be at an airport and hear plane noises again. It is definitely the longest I have gone in my life without flying. Anyway for the first week of our holiday we were heading to the beautiful island of Gotland for the first time in 5 years which we last visited on our mini moon. It is a very special island and I am so glad we finally made it back. Our first two nights we treated ourselves to a beautiful B&B. They grow about 80% of what they serve which is wonderful and we really enjoyed our breakfasts and two dinners there. Our first evening we had a cocktail on the sunset terrace and it clicked that we were on holiday. The next day we drove all the way to the very south of the island as we had never been down that way before. Parts of the landscape look like Sub Saharan Africa! We were there the first week after the summer season so a few places I would have liked to go to were already closed but on the flipside there was no traffic. I really, really wanted to swim but alas the water was just too choppy and I didn't feel safe going in past my knees. Later in the day before having dinner we went to a brewery that had decent beer but very good tater tots of all things?! On Wednesday on the advice of our B&B host made our way to an absolute stunning National Park for a morning hike. I couldn't get over the variety of colours and textures. On our way to the new hotel we were staying at we stopped at a bakery for fika but of course. Almost simultaneously as we finished our cinnamon buns we both declared it was one of the best we had ever had!! We then got to the hotel we were staying at which is a mini resort and so not our kind of place. But my old manager from the other hotel is the GM there so was able to get us a 25% discount so we booked it. She had arranged a small upgrade for us, 5 beers and two bags of gourmet bags of crisps so it was a nice welcome from her. The rest of the hotel left a little to be desired and I wouldn't stay again but it was fine for these 3 nights. That evening we were having our big meal of the trip at Lilla Bjers a well known farm to table restaurant. Everything from the venue, food, service and atmosphere were top notch and we absolutely loved our meal! The next day we drove out to my distant relatives place for lunch. We had not seen him for a number of years and it was my mother who reminded me he lived in Gotland. He has a really cool house and we had a lovely few hours catching up. By then a persistent light rain settled in which hung around for the rest of our time on the island. After lunch we dropped off the rental car and made our way into Visby for the first time that trip. It is a totally charming World UNESCO Heritage site. We were meeting my old manager for dinner that night. She was 9+ months pregnant but a total champ and it was really nice to spend time with her. We went back to one of our favourite restaurants which had changed names and a bit of a different menu but the food and service was still great. Friday we took advantage of the bad weather and had a very slow day. In the afternoon my manager had arranged some cava for us down at the jacuzzi. We lucked out when we were down there that the rain had let up for a little. That evening we walked back into Visby and had unfortunately atrocious Tex Mex. We were so disappointed! Saturday our ferry to Småland was leaving at 16:30 so we had some time to go back into Visby and we got a table for lunch at what we think is the best seafood restaurant in Visby! I was not looking forward to the ferry ride to Småland but luckily we were on a much newer ferry then we took 7 years ago and I meditated and slept for most of it so the journey went fast. My parents were at the other end and we drove the 80 minutes to Kalmar where we had booked into a nice hotel my friend had arranged for us. We all had an early night. Sunday the weather was truly horrid all day and I was not dressed for it which meant early only I got a bit of a chill I struggled to shake the rest of the day. We did though have a wonderful time exploring the very impressive Kalmar Castle. It also featured a really amazing Erik Johansson photography exhibit that I had missed in Stockholm a few years ago. I was a bit stressed at one point when my Dad and I were walking up at the top of the castle in really windy conditions and my favourite summer hat blew right off my head!! Thankfully a very kind staff member helped me go through a locked door to get it back. Hubby and I bought it 9 years ago in Key West. Later we went to go look for a family grave in the area and then a late lunch at a cute little botanical garden. By then I was truly chilled and headed back to the hotel with a hot chocolate and wrapped myself up in the duvet. We were really struggling to find somewhere for dinner that night as most things were closed on a Sunday but thankfully we ended up at a wonderful pizzeria. We had some drinks back at the hotel and just enjoyed being together. The next day after we checked out of hotel we drove across the bridge to Öland. Gotland it is not!! But I enjoyed seeing where my mother went to summer school and visiting some nice beaches but not swim sadly. I wouldn't rush back to the island but glad I saw it. The next 2 days we were at my parents place and mostly just hung out. We plan to spend a week with them at Thanksgiving and they might be up here before then for All Saints weekend. Shortly after we got back to Stockholm it was time to check into my hotel for two nights! About 20 of us from the wedding were staying there. Saturday the sun shined beautifully and we went to our first wedding since our own 5 years ago!! I was also a bridesmaid for the first time in 7 years. As we still have restrictions in place in Sweden it was not your ordinary wedding. But we ate very, very good barbecue and I enjoyed getting my hair and make up done! And then it was my last week off. I had grand plans to reorganize my wardrobes and sort through some boxes but motivation completely left me and I had a very lazy few days. Thursday afternoon we headed down to Norrköping for a long weekend a small city we have been wanting to visit for a few years. We had a nice low key 3 days exploring. It is an old industrial city that they have completely revitalized and we both really liked it. Funny thing was when we got to our AirBnB we realized we had booked two single beds in separate rooms, doh! All and all a nice weekend to wrap up our holidays.
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