Transit by name, transit by nature……

It’s hard to be certain of where exactly we fit in this world, and harder still when it feels like your heartstrings are pulled in 100 different directions. I’m currently sitting in transit – literally and emotionally. Physically I’m in Abu Dhabi airport awaiting my flight to London, and emotionally I am in transit between my family, friends, home and all the familiar comforts that affords me, and my return to Håkan and to his beloved Sweden. Now I have no hesitations with regards to this return, I know that I belong with Håkan, therefore for now I belong in Sweden. However, the “transit” is what I find difficult.

It has become a fact in my life that basically I am always missing people in my heart. When I am in Sweden, I miss my family and friends, when I am with my family and friends I am missing Håkan and when I am in transit I am missing everyone. I am trying to reflect upon a blog I wrote last year while in transit in Canada. It was such an exhilarating time and I was filled with enthusiasm and for the life of me with this transit, I cant get that enthusiasm back. I am not sure if it is because of extreme exhaustion or because I know what lies ahead?? Last year I was excited, and well naive with regards to how my life would turn out in Sweden.

I am positive that this year will be a lot easier than last, however, by the same token easier than the last doesn’t mean easy. Håkan and I have both said on many occasions if we knew what we were getting ourselves into, we might not have done it. So now all I can think of, is what doesn’t kill us makes us stronger, right? And what didn’t break us last year, certainly made us 1000 times stronger, so I guess instead of wasting my energy trying to find the same enthusiasm and that lust for life I had whilst in transit last year, I am going to use this time to reflect on the past year and how the "difficulties" we have endured, are also what has led to provide me with a incredible relationship with a person I had no idea would prove to be so generous, loving, supportive and dependable.

So I guess here is to the not so exciting times in out lives, and may the hard work prove to bring us all wonderful wonderful things!

It may well be a long way to tipperary, cause it's a damn long way home...

Ok so I think most people know this story or bits of this story by now, but for those of you who don’t know, I will summarise as quick as I can. I left Sweden on the 23rd January via train to Copenhagen, flight to Frankfurt 6hr transit and then a flight to Bangkok. When I arrived in Bangkok my luggage was missing which I didn’t really have a problem with as I didn’t want to carry it. I checked into my hotel on Kao Sahn road and swore solemly to myself never ever ever to stay in that district again on my own. How much do you think a very blonde untanned westerner stood out as an “easy target” for hagglers. None the less I did a little shopping, had a wax and decided to have an early night. I was awake by midnight and gave up on sleep by 2.30am. By 4am I was in a taxi on my way to the airport for my “waitlisted” flight. And was still waiting at 4pm after the very incompetent decided that despite 4 seats being available and several first class seats being available I wouldn’t be getting on that plane. After 12 more hours and 22,000 BHT off I was in business class on my way to Sydney (where I had to purchase a virgin blue flight to Brisbane!)

It was a nightmare, I was exhausted, but man it was kinda nice to hang out in business for a while! Definitely would be up for that if I had the chance again – I didn’t have a flat bed, but man my knees definitely didn’t hurt either.

Arriving home was amazing. It was nice to fly into Sydney on a clear Saturday morning, and know that it was Australia Day. I felt proud and excited, and I wondered even more so if the benefits of living abroad outweigh living in Australia and being surrounded by the comforts I enjoy. Mostly being the weather. When I arrived in Brisbane, I had a very sheepish Sam leading the pack of Fo, Nat and Max, he was standing there holding a “Welcome home Aunty Cas” I felt loved and at home, and it took the edge of my tiredness let me tell you! And it certainly didnt take long untill he was entertaining me with long stories of mowing, wipper-snippering or snipper-snapping and chainsawing and dancing and singing! I then got to spend the afternoon and most of the evening with most of my closest friends and family. Despite that I could barely function, or speak. Oh well!!

I am angry at myself for not blogging every week while I was home. Because to be honest, I don’t think I can bore you for that long to explain the mixed emotions I felt during my month at home. I often felt as though I was on an emotional roller coaster, and that Nat and Fo were my grounding points (Thanks guys!). I find it difficult even now to be ascertain if the emotions I felt were real, or if they were niggling feelings enhanced by not having Håkan with me and guilt at not doing all the things I promised myself I would do. I’m sorry but some days singing and dancing to the wiggles with a 3yr old is just the only thing I want to do.

I was going to give some honourable mentions to a few people who I am not sure if I am very good at making sure they know how much I miss them. However after I wrote them out, I realised that most of these things require being said in person and not on a public blog.

So instead I say that everyone who I spent time with while I was home, I miss you dearly, and thank you for making the effort to spend some time with me. That month will give me enough strength to get through the rest of the year in Sweden, and I cant wait to spend time with you all again next year. And hopefully with the members of my family who didn’t come to the beach!!!!! Hint hint nudge nudge.


And now for some photos by my very talented sister who you can find at fionacarsonphotography.blogspot.com god bless her cottons!!!

Trying to get myself organised!!

Ok, after many a conversation about how I would most definately blog more (kerry) write more (nat and fo) and generally be much more organised and diligent through 2008 (with myself almost every day) – I figure the best way to get a jump start on that is to summarise on what I missed previously.

I did as I mention get a job. I am working as a PA to the founder of a new website aimed at helping women tranisition through their lives. In a nutshell the website aims to connect women throughout the world, whilst also essentially becomming a “google” for women (with what will be an extensive listing of resources, organisations, book recommendations etc etc so go check it out www.2balanceu.com (let me know if any of you are wanting to join, I will send you an invitation code.

As the days were growing darker and darker my spirits continued to lift out of the sundeprived depression with anticipation of Natty’s impending visit. She arrived on the 15th December and I must say, I am not sure how I would have gotten through the darkness without her visit!! We decided to drive to collect them, and it was my first trip over the Oresound Bridge! The view was spectacular it was a pity it was dark by the time we returned home ! It was of course WONDERFUL to have Natty and Alex with me, I didn’t seem to notice quite so much that we were only have 6hours of daylight and well Sweden actually pulled out some pleasant December weather (whilst I sit in Abu Dhabi airport writing this I am bracing myself for a hideous March as I believe the cyclonic wind and icy rain has arrived!!). We ate lots of wonderful food, made a couple of trips to Denmark, did lots of shopping and drank lots of cider and coffee!!

I think the highlight for the Sweden leg of our holiday would have been a visit to Krononburg Castle in Helsingor (which is actually in Denmark!) – It is where Hamlet was set and was a very unpretentious sparsely decorated Castle. Whilst the weather was not on our side that day, Helsingor is such a picturesque village that everyone seemed to grin and bear it. Chrsitmas was a double celebration, with Agneta and Claes kindly inviting us ALL to celebrate a Swedish Christmas (celebrated on the 24th December). Unfortunately the majority of Sweden’s Jul Bord (Christmas table in English) is fish based – and very strong fish i.e. smoked eel, caviar etc Whilst this type of food is a taste you need to acquire over many years it was nevertheless wonderful to be involved and welcomed. The traditional baked ham etc was still on the menu and of course no one left hungry nor empty handed (Thank you again Agnetta for spoiling us so!!!!). Christmas day was Australian Christmas, and this time I decided to treat the girls (Kel and Laura had arrived on 17th December) to Moose and Raindeer (I kid you not!). I am not convinced that Moose is best roasted, but none the less the plates were very empty and everyone very happy, merry and full!

After a night in Göteborg on the 27th we were off to Glasgow for John and Jo’s Wedding. It was so good to see Jess, Kerry, Kaz, Lib and John and Jo (obviously – they were the happy couple after all) Kieran and Val, and of course to meet Kerry’s lovely friends! We most definitely received a warm welcome to Scotland and the food and cider and good times flowed I guess you could say!
New Years Eve was spent at George’s square in the drizzle watching The View, and then on to a club with Kerry’s friends. It was a great night, and while I fell asleep on the couch (at 8am), I briefly work up at 10am when the majority of the kids headed home (and when I decided to kick the rest out!!!!).

The rest of the time in Scotland flew. We (Kaz, Håkan and myself) did however make a quick trip through the snow (only snow I have seen this winter) to Sterling, St Andrews and back to Edinburgh for dinner with Lib and Jess. When we were leaving St Andrews we decided we were starving, so what were we to do but go to the golf course and behave like we belonged there and ask for a meal :P I have long believed that if you have an accent, and you behave like it is perfectly normal for you to be there, you can pretty much get away with anything. I took the lead and strode towards the wonderfully kilted doorman, whom enquired could he help me. I explained quite matter of factly that we would like to eat in the restuarant - which just so happened to be closed. So with my two rock star and sheepish followers (Kaz and Håkan) we were escorted into the Library and given a private dinning menu. I am quite convinced that I looked like a manager/assistant to the rockstars in question, and all was dandy! To be honest the food was inexpensive considering where we were, and very enjoyable!

No for those of you who read libs - you already know the story about the haggis - for those who dont, go read Lib's blog!

After Scotland, we went down and met nat in London. Basically we only had time for a pub meal on friday night - usual transport issues ment Nat didnt arrive until around 10pm. Saturday we went to Camden (of course) which I am so glad we did as obviously it's not quite the same anymore!!!! Sunday Nat, Håkan and I went down to Banbury to visit a very heavily pregnant Leona (who has since had a little boy named Ewan) and Berners. A wonderful day, despite the hangover and more usual rail problems. What should have been a 1hr each way trip turned into a 5hr return trip. Oh well - it was an adventure.

Ok I will leave it there, and I promise to create a blog in the future dedicated to my thoughts on Bratislava and Paris. This is simply summarising, and not reflecting my thoughts on anything!!!















(and this one is from Lib's last visit in October!)

Introducing Ms Crappy McCrap Crap.....

Well actually I doubt I need to introduce myself. You all know me - generally I masquerade as Cass the organisation nazi. You know why I am the nazi that I am???? Yep that's right - cause really deep down I am crap. No other word could describe it better than this. I dont have a motivational bone in my body. If i dont do things straight away. I dont do them EVER. Well hardly ever.

I will let you in on a few things I have learnt about myself over the course of the last year.

- I will learn exactly what I need to learn, you know the bare minimum and that's it. Dont believe me? Then how come I can understand Swedish, but am too lazy to practice and become fluent in conversation? Cause I dont need to! I can order coffee, I am aware if someone is talking about me, but I wont be talking back if you know what I mean :P
- Once I stop excercising, good luck getting me to EVER start again :D
- Once I miss just one single week of blogging, I'm over it dude :D
- I will look through the rubbish bin 3 times for my house keys before I will look underneath the bed!
- I have self proclaimed prophecies which I impose upon myself and force me to misplace EVERYTHING. Well almost everything :D It's true. Very very complicated but true!!

So that's the bad stuff of my final blog for 2007 (I know it's Feb 2008 - just goes to prove how crap I have become!) and now for how 2008.......

How will i improve on all the crapness???
I will share my 2008 resolutions with you....

- Take short writing course.
- Start Rock Climbing.
- Re-enroll in masters programme (I know I am not sure how this will improve my crapness other than I will be toooooo busy to not be organised!)
- Be not crap.
- Blog more.
- Travel more and record it and share it with my friends!
- Think up schemes to make me very very very rich so I can enjoy the Australian Summer and the Swedish Spring and Summer!

ok I think that's it you get the gist! I promise to be better and to stop losing everything and not ever rely on a Thai Airways waitlist flight from Bangkok to Brisbane (stay tunned - that will be in the next blog!)

Wish me luck!

Well bloody hell I got my residency!!!!

That's it there is no more to say...
Letter arrived on a saturday. Mail never comes on a saturday... but seeing as we had our interview on a saturday it seems only fitting. I am able to stay in Sweden until 01.11.10.... I will post later how I feel about that. For the moment I am more concerned as to when they will post my visa in my passport.... There is no mention so far.... and last time I entered, german customs we're so happy I didnt have a visa in my passport. I dont think I could jag it twice....
we will see I guess?????????????

Fona is surely going to kill me!!!

Well I am not quite up to date with my blogging yet - only October and November to go!! But I wanted to deliver some new news.... some current news!!
I have just applied to join the Masters Programme at Lund University, although I have changed from my original Public Health stream to International Development and Managagement opr Development Studies (to be confirmed at a later date!)

I decided that Håkan was making little headway in deciding what he wanted to study - so why should he.... If he is happy to support me while I study - then why should i care!!! He can work support me and pour his soul into his music and writing rather than studying. Whatever makes us happy! So come August 2008 (I know sooo long away!) I should be back on the career path. This does scare me a little - I may never be a full time nurse again. Yay on one hand. aggghhh on the other hand.
While yes, I was starting to outgrown the parameters of nursing there is nothing and I mean NOTHING quite like the adrenaline rush you feel after pounding on someones chest untill it starts beating on it's own again...

Anywhoo, the programme is actually a two year programme - however I only really need to be in Sweden for 1 of those years... The third semester i can do anywhere in the world (read Africa) and then the final semester will be writing my Thesis... surely that can be done remotely if we have decided to move to bigger and better pastures???
We shall see!!!
Man I wish I could start now... or at least next year in January....

September 2007

September was a more pleasant month than the last, partly attributed to my further adjustment to life in Sweden, although, most likely the result of another trip to London!

Without a doubt this trip was the highlight of our summer, and a heavy reminder that living in Europe has very big perks!!! The weather was mostly gloriously dry and sunny for London at that time of year... however, occasionally those nasty grey clouds would come out in an attempt to thrawth my plans of ensuring Hakan fell as deeply and as madly in love with London as I am! The weather was playing a leading role in my desperate attempt to ensure this, in the hope that Hakan would whisk me off away from the evils of viking ancestory, pickled herring and foreign languages to bask in the land of warm beer and mushy peas.

Whilst i sit here writing from Sweden some almost 3 months later we can all safely assume that while yes, Hakan most definatly has a love for London, no there will be no wisking, and no basking - and well, there never would have been any consuming of mushy peas! (and in all honesty I am actually ok with that!)

Our trip to London was one of the most pleasant and EASY weeks we've had since living in the Northern Hemisphere together! I say easy and i mean of the carefree variety - anyone with visions of redlights and Kings Cross need read no further!

While this point may not be solely connected to London, I will however repeat myself - It is a luxury to be able to order food and have complete faith in knowing what you will recieve. and it is a luxury to be able to converse with strangers - trust me stranger danger need not always apply! Now I dont mean to sound like i'm galloping away on my hobby horse, however, I mostly write this mostly to ensure that, I, myself, will always appreciate how wonderful living in an english speaking country can be (when I have that opportunity again) and to never take this for granted.

So as usual I digress - Back to the details of London. I am as I have said before - in love with London. It would seem as though she (my london is always a she!) has grown up a little since i called her home. She takes much better care of herself these days (which i believe is due to the presence of recent Lord Mayors of London and the impending 2012 Olympics). She carrys a newfound sense of modern elegance and perhaps a little wisdom which she displays in the least likely of places. I speak not of the cobble stones and wealth of SW1 but of the inner east around Shoreditch, Hackney, Islington and Stepney Green - and I am certain that the renovation and innovation extendeds far past my visible eye! I felt a mixture of admiration for the new grown up version of my beloved east end, and sense of loss for the inner east I remember, loved and called home. The place that still exists in my memories and of course on Eastenders, but it would appear not in real life!

I am not sure quite how this new grown up version of inner city London has been achieved, as I doubt that addiction, crime or poverty have disappeared, and I wonder if the current and former mayors has simply done a little reshuffling of the masses, in the same way that Sydney moved their poorest and most disadvantaged away from Redfern (i.e. sight) prior to the 2000 Olympics??

Again I digress, without sharing any details of our actual trip. So, as quick as I can.... We arrived on Friday and took our bags to our gracious hosts (Laura) home and managed to find her flatmates home watching the cricket and drinking Fosters - HOW AUSTRALIAN IS THAT!!! so we joined in and they spent quite some time not only patiently teaching Håkan the rules and aims of cricket, but also explaining the difference beetween 20/20 matches and test cricket!!
A little later and we were in Waterloo to meet Lib, Laura and Kell!! Laura and Håkan had box seats at Festival Hall to see Brian Wilson - the lucky buggars.
Seeing as it was a very mild september night, Lib Kell and I got a table outside at The Waterloo Firestation (for old times sakes - I used to meet Jess, Nickers and Scotty there as it was half way to our houses!!) It was a wonderful night, and it honestly felt like it was after work drinks on a friday for me...
Saturday we of course went to Camden, often we left Håkan to the vintage shopping while we went and had Mojito's and tapas :D
The Swede loves his vintage shopping as we all know, however, we were devestated (or perhaps financially relieved) to find the vintage stores by the arches have shut for what we thought was renovation - however it seems for good!!!
www.camdenlock.net/fashion/vintage.html


Lib cooked us all a great dinner and of course spoilt us rotten as only Lib can do.
Sunday we had a lazy brunch at Providores followed by Regent's Park, Spitalfield Markets (also being partly renovated) and a drink with Fran and Steve (fantastic to see them!!!) before we headed to Southbank again for The Coin Street Festival and fireworks.
www.visitspitalfields.com/osm.html




Monday we did a red bus tour - which I am so glad we did, for there is so much of London's history I had forgoten (and well have forgotten most of it again!) and because it felt so wonderful to look at London through tourist eyes again, rather than as a local or ex-local rushing to work or dinner or wherever.

Ok there was a lot of other things, such as a lomography exhibition, tate modern, harrods etc etc but I will leave it there as I have babbled on for more than long enough and I havent even mentioned that September also say Hakan's bday - which he happily got a cigar box guitar for (earlier in sept) and he also did a little bit of busking with Johannes during september. There is some great money to be made in busking let me tell you!!!
Oh and I got a job!! But I will elaborate on that in October's blog!!!


oh yeah... and Håkan and I got asked to pose for a photo for fashion/media students doing an assignment of Fashions of London!!!

August 2007

While Spain was everything we needed, August seemed to throw curv ball after curv ball at us. While we weused are getting quite used to being poor and living on the poverty line, having wisely spent our savings lounging around Spain - gotta say sent some shock waves through the Doyle/Lanz Household!!

I started at a new swedish school - one that was free, but also one that had me reciting the alphabet over and over..... While I readily admit learning Swedish is not my superskill, I didnt need to be feeling as though i was in preschool - most days i would leave fighting back tears of frustration - because I wanted to learn... I just wanted to learn something new!

Nevertheless we decided to behave in a waý that is typical of us both - we went to Copenhagen for the day to pretend we werent poor and almost destitute! It worked..... We shopped... well actually we tried to shop. It was that silly "inbetween the seasons" time of year... While it was technically summer still, I was not going to fooled into believing i would wear summer clothes again this year (I had a denim skirt leggings and summer top on and i thought i would freeze to death!).
We ate, and we even sat in a pub. An actual pub. We bought beer that someone poured from a tap for us. Other than on holidays we had been to a bar once since i had arrived!!!)





I got my first job in Sweden. And well as most of you know... I lost it again almost the same day. Apparantly my version of swedish is not quite the same as those who call it their native tounge! I missed out on a visit to Aureol in Stockholm as well - initially i thought i would be working LOL!

Oh we took a trip to Lomma pier - and even though it was August - it felt as though it was August in Australia!!
Looma Pier has a 2km jetty you walk along to reach a large glass walled cafe with the obligatory attached sauna so you can do the scandanavic "overheating" in the sauna followed by a dip in the freezing ocean!!!
I believe people do it all times of the year! ewwwwww... NOT FOR ME!

Well it's been a while!!!

For the last five months or so I have said to myself every week 'I must get the midsommar photos and update my blog'
Guess what - I still dont have the midsommar photos through no ones fault but my own of course... But i also figured seeing as it's almost mid winter - perhaps it's time to update anyway!!

So I might do it month by month!!
June.
Other than our midsommar celebrations which were great - Luckily we sat outside so the smell of herring didnt curdle my stomach quite as badly as it did at easter :P We were appropriately dressed for a swedish midsommar in jumpers raincoats hats and wellingtons!!
We celebrated in a small village in Skåne (and the name escapes me now as it was so long ago!) with Håkan's parents and some family friends. Everyone made me feel very welcome and even put a small Australian (toothpick size) flag as well as a swedish flag on the midsommar staff on the table.

July.
Was a bit of a rocky month. I considered comming home to Australia - I didnt think i would cope in sweden for much longer - in my defense it rained for 5weeks straight and this was ment to be the summer :(
I finished my first Swedish language course - and to be honest i'm not sure if it did me any good. While it was a social outlet, it cost a bucket load of money and the teacher ignored the fact we always spoke english to each other - and well often to her ???????? anywhoo i met some great people and it was nice to have somewhere to go!
We attended a wedding which was nice... Mostly what i'm used to except only the bride recieves a ring at the wedding - you exchange rings when you are engaged in Sweden, which is also when you recieve your band... then when you are married or "gifta sig" the bride recieves her pretty ring :D Kinda fitting with the whole day really. Who ever thought it was about the groom???







After my melt down I took myself off to London for a few days - where honest to god, I felt like a new person from the minute i arrived. Firstly it felt like i was home (scary thought!) and second of all it felt so nice to just be confident in ordering a cup of coffee - trust me you dont know what a luxury it is to KNOW you ordered the right thing.
I was waiting for Kel at Victoria Station feeling like a champion for making it from Sweden to Victoria station by 9.15am when two very gay men starting talking to me about how fabulous i looked (purple suede boots with all black people!) While it was a silly little thing, it was enough to restore the confidence that sweden had knocked out of me over the last few months. YAY me!!!
Found kell - was rudely reminded how much the tube can suck!
Shopped - well dreamed of buying everything (it was summer sales), had a beer in covent garden and off to Brick Lane for dinner it was.
Oh my god - Brick Lane area is amazing. AMAZING! cleanish with lots of designer and vintage stores. Very very very london!
Had a meet up on Saturday with Lib, Helen and some of Helen's friends (luckily seeing as Helen is now up the duff and no future drinking sessions in sight) Hope and Anchor in Islington... Got a little lost because Islington looks sooooooo different. Remember the days where all there was in Islington was the walkabout and an all bar one. Not anymore! Also we went to Brian Jones Town Masacre... strange... very strange. ahhh.... lets just say it was great night despite the strangeness!

Also did the usual Camden on sunday and Hawley Arms for a pint. Somethings will never change (well actualy the Hawley is new for me because my old pub is now a chain pub)

Lib introduced me to an AMAZING cafe in Marlybone on the monday - Providores. Owned by NZ chef Peter Gordon - soo soo nice to have a flat white!!! http://www.theprovidores.co.uk/
absolutely recommend it to anyone!!!








Wednesday I flew to Girona where i met Håkan - whose flight was late and he didnt arrive until midnight. We then drove to Barcelona (after we stopped randon men working to ask how to get to Barcelona airport.) Now remember no one speaks english in spain. so after 5mins of charades me feeling all the more confused, Håkan trying to utilise the 15 spanish words he knows to make sentences - the men finally indicated we should follow them (we hoped).
After 35mins of driving - including a highway in the opposite direction to what we anticipated we decided either these men were the kindest in the world, or we were about to die.
Luckily they were the kindest in the world, and we arrived at the airport collected Laura and Kell and off we went to Benicassim.

Arrived in Benicassim at 6am aggghhhh....
Couldnt pick up tickets until 9am... cant enter camp site until we have our tickets :(
By midnight that night I felt as though i would prolly fall over if i didnt sit down... but it was good.
Lets just say that the tone of Benicassim was pretty much set by this - complete lack of sleep.
Ran into Clydey's friend Carlos that he used to work with in London! It's a small small world!!
I didnt enjoy the food as much as i had anticipated in that region of spain - although this could possibly be influenced by the fact that the small coast village of approx 80 000 was invaded by 100 000 for the festival. Made everything very very difficult!!
Håkan managed to pass out on the day after the festival was all over. I think we all caught some type of virus that gave feelings of verdigo and nausea (yay!) and that combined with dehydration and lack of sleep - and well it was a recipe for disaster really.
Valencia was wonderful - although we ended up staying miles from anywhere.... The Original plan was to rough it camping - however the whole passing out incident made me think we should stay somewhere with aircon etc etc... I would love to go back to Valencia another time and stay in the centre of the city and avoid hangovers.... It is beautiful beautiful city with wonderful architecture and the old town is fantastic. The gelato also rocks!
Madrid.
Madrid is also fantastic. We had great accom in the centre of Madrid. Food is to die for. Paella Tapas and Sangria... hmmm tapas! We had our wonderful little restaurant we went to and ordered paella potato calamari olives bread and a jug of sangria - all for about 10euros each :D :D :D
Håkan's cousin is living in Madrid at the moment studying spanish and we are so so so jealous! yep madrid we will definately visit again!!
just a few photos of Spain for you!

New hair!!

such is my life - uneventful this week so all i have to show is that i got my hair done - and well after it turned out yellow - and i mean yellow, not golden or anything like that - I had to convince the hairdresser (apprentice - I am poor and unemployed remember!) that she should try a toner through it - not to bleach it again!!!!!! Man as it is - it is way blonder than what i wanted - I think my hair would have snapped off if she'd bleached it again....
sooo... this week.... tonight i am going to an extra swedish lesson - because for some reason i have decided i dont like speaking the language anymore and i think i am just tired of speaking with a broken dialect, so maybe if i try a little harder and maybe meet some more people I might find this better (dont hold your breath.... shhhh....)
We are going to a wedding on Saturday - Håkan's boss is getting married (which means we cant go to Roskilde - shakes fist at sky!!!) and I promise to post re: Midsommar once i have a copy of the photos.

p.s. it's the middle of summer and i have a scarf on :( it has rained mostly for the last 3 weeks - I am truely over it!!!!! spain here we come.....