We visited old Swedish friends, stayed in a beach house with my sister and her family, swam in the freezing cold ocean, played in the sand, basked in the sun, went to Carols by Candle-light, took the ferry between Queenscliff & Sorrento, watched dolphins frolicking in the sea, researched & bought a new camera, saw penguins swim to shore and then scramble up over the beach to their burrows, rode motorbikes & 4-wheelers through the bush, celebrated a bush Christmas, killed spiders, heard snake stories, swam in a river & a freshwater lake, fed wild cockatoos & rosellas, went kangaroo spotting at night, visited an aunt and a cousin & her man on their newish farm, walked in the rainforest, escaped for a romantic night in Olinda, ate great food at cafés & restaurants, ate fish & chips on the beach, shopped, visited long lost cousins & a long lost uncle, bottle fed lambs, went to a Wiggles concert, enjoyed the company of old friends, had a picnic with the extended family, visited a community farm, visited the Australia Gardens, celebrated my birthday a month early, dropped in for dinner, chatted with people I couldn't see in person, looked through old photos, ate cheesecake, celebrated NYE with old friends, went to a 60th birthday celebration, went and saw the movie Australia on the big screen, drank lots of good wine & beer, played pool, jumped on trampolines (everyone has them), bbq'd, built train tracks and talked and talked and talked - with family and with friends. Otherwise we generally just hung out and enjoyed life.
And we were totally and utterly spoiled by my mum and her partner!!! They cooked for us, took care of the kids whenever we wanted, handed over the keys to her car, organised all the picnic stuff every time we had a picnic, shopped, did our washing, cleaned up after us....... the list goes on. Any wonder I feel more refreshed than I have in years. Thank you both. We'll be back next month. HA!!! I wish!!
Showing posts with label Christmas. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Christmas. Show all posts
Wednesday, 14 January 2009
Thursday, 1 January 2009
Sunday, 30 November 2008
First Advent Is An Important Tradition
in Sweden and a timely one too. It is dark, grey and bleak outside. The snow has melted and the days continue to get darker. It is a long way until summer.
We need First Advent, it gives us something else to think about, it brightens up our life.
The first of the advent candles are lit, marking the countdown until Christmas, or the fourth Sunday before Christmas.
Advent Candles are put on the window sills around the country.
Stars are hung in windows and doorways.
When we leave for work and school in the mornings in the darkness, they light up our way.
When we come home in the afternoon or evening in the darkness, they light up our way. The combination creates a special, magical feeling that I strongly associate with my first weeks in Sweden, many years ago.
The first Sunday in Advent is also the first day of the church year, and a day when people who are not normally church-goers might attend an advent service, often to see young children singing.
It also means we can officially start drinking glögg and eating pepparkakor.
We need First Advent, it gives us something else to think about, it brightens up our life.
The first of the advent candles are lit, marking the countdown until Christmas, or the fourth Sunday before Christmas.
Advent Candles are put on the window sills around the country.
Stars are hung in windows and doorways.
When we leave for work and school in the mornings in the darkness, they light up our way.
When we come home in the afternoon or evening in the darkness, they light up our way. The combination creates a special, magical feeling that I strongly associate with my first weeks in Sweden, many years ago.
The first Sunday in Advent is also the first day of the church year, and a day when people who are not normally church-goers might attend an advent service, often to see young children singing.
It also means we can officially start drinking glögg and eating pepparkakor.
Saturday, 29 November 2008
A Christmasy Saturday in Stockholm
After a big sleep-in we headed into town to say hello to Tobias and Klara who were holding a vernissage at LOD today.
Every year we buy the kids an ornament to put on the Christmas tree, the idea is that they will have a collection for their own tree in years to come. We try and get something different each Christmas and we try and get something with the year on it. Usually we don't manage to find something this early in the season, but today we picked up this year's ornament.
Klara and Tobias share their gallery with four others and the six of them have each interpreted the Christmas star and made a tree ornament. Makaila chose the star Klara designed, Kieran chose the star Tobias designed - with the words to "Twinkle, twinkle little star around it".
In the above photo you can see both Tobias's Twinkle, twinkle, little star, and Klara's which is also featured below.
Ty & I both loved the snowflakes. They are lovely pieces with both the designers name and the year on them.
We bought the collection, that way we won't have an empty tree when the kids leave home in years to come.
After LOD we headed in to NK to see the Christmas windows. There seemed to be stars everywhere.
The NK Christmas windows were pretty cool, each one was a huge box filled with presents made from a specific material. This one was china and glass
Plastic.
Fabric.
Metal.
M was very cute, pointing things out to her little bro.
Then we headed across the road to the little Christmas market in Kungsträgården.
And finally, we sat and watched the ice-skating for a few minutes before heading home.
I love Swedish Christmas markets. If you want to check some out this festive season have a look at AlltomStockholm, or StockholmTown. Alternatively google julmarknad Stockholm and you'll find a ton of them around the place - in squares, in castles, on islands and in galleries. Lots of fun and you might even pick up some nice things along the way.
Every year we buy the kids an ornament to put on the Christmas tree, the idea is that they will have a collection for their own tree in years to come. We try and get something different each Christmas and we try and get something with the year on it. Usually we don't manage to find something this early in the season, but today we picked up this year's ornament.Klara and Tobias share their gallery with four others and the six of them have each interpreted the Christmas star and made a tree ornament. Makaila chose the star Klara designed, Kieran chose the star Tobias designed - with the words to "Twinkle, twinkle little star around it".
In the above photo you can see both Tobias's Twinkle, twinkle, little star, and Klara's which is also featured below.
Ty & I both loved the snowflakes. They are lovely pieces with both the designers name and the year on them.
We bought the collection, that way we won't have an empty tree when the kids leave home in years to come.After LOD we headed in to NK to see the Christmas windows. There seemed to be stars everywhere.
The NK Christmas windows were pretty cool, each one was a huge box filled with presents made from a specific material. This one was china and glass
Plastic.
Fabric.
Metal.
M was very cute, pointing things out to her little bro.Then we headed across the road to the little Christmas market in Kungsträgården.
And finally, we sat and watched the ice-skating for a few minutes before heading home.
I love Swedish Christmas markets. If you want to check some out this festive season have a look at AlltomStockholm, or StockholmTown. Alternatively google julmarknad Stockholm and you'll find a ton of them around the place - in squares, in castles, on islands and in galleries. Lots of fun and you might even pick up some nice things along the way.
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