It's what's on the inside...

I've made three excellent discoveries lately... 

1. It turns out I can actually read whole books in Swedish quite easily! 
2. Second hand books are really cheap! 
3. Hardback books are even better, without their paper sleeves! 

You know that old saying, "Don't judge a book by it's cover."
Well how can you not!

I find it quite distracting if the book cover has a picture from the well known movie (that most likely came out after the book) forcing me to see a certain actor or actress in my head instead of letting the story take me in to my own imagination.

Also, I'm not so keen on having all the reviews of other people shouting at me each time I pick up the book, I want to read it and make my own conclusions.

And as much as the author is very proud of themself for putting a whole book together (and so they should be!), I don't really want to see an awkward photo of them at the back - when I sneak to the last page to read the last sentence before I've begun...

Does anyone else do that?

I can't help but read just the last sentence only, before I've met any of the characters, have any idea what might happen to get there...

It has never given away the twist or ruined the book for me.
I guess it's kind of like lifting off one corner of the Christmas present just to see what colour the box is inside.
Then caaaarefully placing the tape back on so nobody will suspect you, and waiting patiently until Christmas morning like you have no idea what it could possibly be, and still you get surprised!

I give to you Exhibit A. 

I noticed while reading the Jodi Picoult book, (as I kept getting annoyed with the paper sleeve half slipping off) that it was a wonderful purple underneath! So I had to check it out, and voila!

Check out Exhibit B.

I discovered an almost totally new looking set of books that not only get along much better with each other on the shelf, but there's some lovely simple embossed metallic writing and they are even bang on the latest Hollywood trend (apparently) of colour-blocking!
(so they say...)

Going places, doing things.

As much as I started this blog with intentions of documenting

the process of decorating our apartment from scratch.

 Making crafty things, and maybe catching the eye of someone 

who might like to employ me...

Life happens, and other things take place.

The loss of a loved pet can bring up all those feelings of grief 

in exactly the same manner as losing a family member.

Our daily routine, suddenly upended 

and even the smallest things bring up a memory of her.

Of course there are times when I think to myself,

- Gosh, she was only a cat! 

(And I'm sure that others are thinking the same when I go on about her...)

However any living being, whom we interact with during our lives 

will always be difficult to part with if you know you won't ever get to see them again.

 One sure thing I've learned about death and grief, 

is that you can never be sure how you will react to it until it happens.

As it turned out, we couldn't be in our apartment for the first few days. 

So for the first time in a long time we were able to go on a few day trips together. 

For the whole day, not having to split up or cut it short 

in order to get home and look after the sick cat! 

First of all, we went to Trollhättan which is about an hour north of Gothenburg, 

It also lies on the Göta Älv canal 

which directly links the west coast to the largest lake in Sweden.

Some pretty big boats use this waterway so there is a very impressive dam and lock system, which make for some quite spectacular viewing at Trollhättan!

We also came across a rather large gathering of classic cars which apparently happens every Wednesday in the summer if the weather is nice. 

Our next day trip took us west, 

out to the coast and then further on by boat to the island of Styrsö.

Some of the views were postcard perfect! 

I really enjoyed sneaking a look in to some of the back yards 

and checking out the sweet little hideaways.

There are no cars on most of the islands out in the archipelago. 

The closest thing to cars are the electric golf buggies, 

or small motorbikes with a large tray on the front for carrying your stuff 

(or your girlfriend). 

Some of the smaller islands don't even allow these mopeds and the way of lugging all your stuff around is by good old fashioned wheelbarrow!

Now that we're feeling a bit more refreshed and sociable, 

we've been able to hang out with some friends, 

enjoying bbq's and beers and the good life! 

  Through all of this, 

I have to say that we've been very lucky to have such wonderful friends 

who've given us lots of love and support. 

We've even made some new friends, including this guy!

Doesn't he just melt your heart!?

Sunbeams and chicken wings.

When my mother knew that she was very sick, 

she gave me the greatest gift she could give next to life. 

My own life, another life, to look after, to call my own. 

I called her Zebe. 

When my mother died, I felt that somehow part of her spirit was there with me, 

with Zebe. 

My mum was by my side for only 12 years of my life, 

and Zebe, well she made it to (we think) 17.

She was the kind of cat who was always by your side.

Always around.

Always purring.

Today was the day that I never thought we'd have to face.

On the other side of the world to where she was born, 

her time had come to say goodbye. 

So, sleep tight my friend. 

May your kitty heaven be filled with sunbeams and chicken wings!

Celebrating life!

This past weekend, my dad came over to Gothenburg to visit us, 

but most of all to celebrate his 60th birthday!

We fed him dill potatoes and sill (pickled herring), 

took him on Paddan - a sightseeing boat ride around the canal through town . 

The ride goes under 20 bridges and points out all sorts of interesting history. 

Two of the bridges are so low that everyone has to get off their seat, 

sit on the floor and crouch down... so you don't get knocked out! 

We saw a mother moose and her two babies (with their ultra gangly legs) at Slottsskogen.

She was apparently still shedding her winter coat, at the height of summer! 

 

And then to really celebrate, we went to a super duper fancy dinner at Swedish Taste. 

What an experience! 

Each little bite was so artfully prepared, and delectable. 

(And it should be for the price...)

But it really was a wonderful meal, with all the ingredients locally sourced, 

and the wine glasses hand blown Orrefors, (making our bottle of NZ wine taste even better!)

To finish the whirlwind visit, we spent the Sunday walking around the nature reserve near to our apartment and found some very early kantarell. 

They ended up being an entrè to our bbq later on... YUM!

As well as some ancient viking graves from around 1500bc, 

we came across lots of pretty things to photograph.

And now my dad is back in England, but he'll be back again for a longer visit at the end of the month when we'll go up to Stockholm for more adventures. 

I'm really looking forward to that! 

Now it is time to try and get some sleep, tomorrow is going to be a big day. 

A day that I never thought would come for the past 17 years...

Why did the lady cross the road?

Because she could!! 

A few years back I saw an article in the papers saying that they would be introducing some -lady crossing the road- pedestrian crossing signs. 

Yay Sweden and gender equality!

This is the first one I've noticed so far in Gothenburg. 

I guess they'll only be replacing signs as they are needed, but since the buses seem to be really good at crashing in to the corners of Korsvägen, maybe all the pedestrian crossing signs around Korsvägen will be ladies before long! 

Here's a closer up, I'm pretty sure I remembered the lady having much more bouffant hair on the suggested image... Oh well. 

Still pretty cool right?

Right, I'm off for a walk now!