Oh, there you are winter!

Just when we thought that winter was never 

going to come to Gothenburg this year... 

it went and did this last week! 

Now it's getting much colder like -10 or so!! 

(I know that's not much to you Swedes, 

but my natural temperature range is somewhere between 0 and plus 30, on extremes) 

Sweden has a slightly different way of determining when it is a new season. 

It has something to do with the temperature being under or over a certain amount,

for a certain number of days in a row. 

The official change of season is also localized to the different areas of Sweden. 

This is unlike New Zealand where the seasons can quite happily blur in to each other,

so a set date seems to be the way to go.

The sudden snow-slush-ice has turned the city in to a giant ice skating rink/sandpit,

but has also brought some amusing little tricks to my attention...

You know that silvery thing that is somewhere under the passenger seat, 

or is it under the back seat, or somewhere in the boot? 

Well anyway, that thing that doesn't quite stay in place

or keep the heat out on a hot day...

Well apparently you can use it to keep the cold out, or the heat in, 

or at least make the de-icing of the windscreen a bit easier! 

I also came across a row of parked cars, and was sure that some sneaky person thought it must've been hilarious to make all the windscreen wipers stand on end on their way home from a night out.

But on second thoughts, it must also be an anti snow/ice trick!

I don't really mind the snow (more like slush and ice in Gothenburg but oh well)

At least it brightens up  the -still quite short- days.

However, one major downside is having a very visible indication 

of just how many dogs have been taken for a walk in the last couple of days! ewww...

*Ok, think of something nice to finish off this slightly odd blog post Polly!*

Well, my new job at Ikea is already giving great rewards! 

I've met lots of friendly people, and even been given another department to work in. 

The best thing so far has to be this wonderful picture 

from one of the kids in the play room. 

That's a better horse than I can draw!

Hello there New year!

Oh hi! 

Well it's about time I filled you in 

on the latest happenings... 

(All 13 of you wonderful followers!) 

So where do I begin? 

Well, Christmas was Christmas.

You know, 3 days of eating, sleeping, and then eating some more. 

New years was delightfully laid back with more super delicious food,

a bit more bubbly, fireworks and sparklers! 

(Can't go wrong really)

I did try to photograph the night, I really did. 

But I seriously need to invest in a tripod 

before I go subjecting you to wobbly lamb racks and blurry chocolate pudding...

The most important ingredient for a good blog 

that people want to come back to, I know, is photos! 

However, with an appreciation for photography 

I like to have some standards. 

I've had a bit of trouble capturing the latest fixing-uppings 

around our place lately when it's SO DARK! 

Also I've had a lot of work over the Christmas break, 

often not getting home until around 9pm.

By which time it's been well and truly dark for about 5 hours already.

I am very grateful to finally have work, 

but being paid monthly and waiting two months for the first pay

is something that's a little difficult to get used to...

There has been some slight changes around our place, 

mostly involving things being repainted. 

The bedroom has received another layer of curtains. 

Oh man what a difference they make,

so subtle but so much more cozy!

Another thing on the go, is yet another mini home makeover for a friend!
This is what I love the most, helping other people to discover
that it doesn't require a lot of money
or new things to make an environment feel new and exciting!

A little bit of shuffling around can make a place much more effective and fun.

We still have the finishing touches to put together,
after we get dad -with the electric drill power- in
to sort out the attaching of things to concrete walls.

But here's a sneak peek of an ordinary old Billy bookshelf that we dressed up
using mostly things that she already had around the place.

I really am a bit of a sucker for a bold black and white stripe...
It reminded me of a some fabrics I quickly stretched over some old frames
back in New Zealand to fill up a large empty wall space.

Have you got a space that needs a bit of sprucing up?
Send me a photo and I'll throw some ideas at you, go on!