The House Husband in Sweden

Given I’m off to Stensund with KSP tomorrow, I went into town today to visit the System. It was quite a warm day, though it was probably just me, given I was the only one in a t-shirt. Everyone else I saw had at least a cardigan on. If not big, bulky, puffy jackets. I even saw one mamakorv.

Not that I cared. As I walked through the school, I noticed I wasn’t alone after all. There were plenty of healthy, little kids running around in short sleeves. Not the teachers, mind you.

Interestingly, we woke in the stuga to rain. Quite a bit of rain. Fortunately, it had stopped by the time I left. It didn’t take more than sticking my head outside to know I only needed a t-shirt. Maybe, everyone else thought they’d better wear a few more layers in case the outer ones got wet.

When I was leaving Trosa, I realised something. I had seen one or two men but an awful lot of women. Even in the System. Lots of women. I almost felt like I’d been dropped into the 1950’s and all the men were at work while the women shopped. It was almost a pleasant experience.

By the time I returned home, all evidence of the earlier rain had vanished. I knew I had to start mowing the grass.

It was already thick and lush but with the extra moisture from the morning, it was almost impenetrable. I had to use the mower like a muncher, lifting the front and dropping it on the clumps. It was laborious having to unclog the blade every few metres. Still, I managed to reduce the forest growing around the deck before the battery died.

In the meanwhilst, Harald and Roger worked away in the lounge room, heading towards an end to their painting labours. By the end of play, the walls were looking decidedly green.

Having said they’d finish by tomorrow, I reckon they just might make it.

Speaking of ‘making it’, in Eurovision news, Sweden is through to the final while Belgium is not. I don’t know why they didn’t like Belgium. I’ve had all the songs playing on Spotify and I liked their song. But, no one asked me and I don’t have the TV in the stuga. I am powerless in the music voting stakes. Roll on Saturday.

I did not have a good night last night. I woke up numerous times. Every time I laid my head on the pillows and drifted off, I felt like throwing up. I would then sit up until the feeling subsided. This went on for a long while. Eventually, I piled the pillows higher and slept, half sitting, my head much higher than the rest of my body. This seemed to work.

When I woke at 5 as usual, I felt like I hadn’t slept. I also felt very queasy. Regardless, I let the dogs out then made myself a coffee. Then, also as usual, I started writing my blog post for yesterday.

I wrote two sentences, then decided I was not well enough to write anything. I deleted the two sentences, closed the laptop and went back to sleep. Though, before I did, I set the alarm for 8am given Harald and Roger were coming back this morning, and I’d have to unlock the house. Which I did, before heading back to bed, still feeling awful.

Eventually, Harald woke me up, knocking at the door, wanting to know what colour to paint something. I must have looked an awful sight. Still, Harald being Harald, he didn’t mention it. He did mention that they should be finished by Wednesday, which cheered me up considerably.

It seemed a bit pointless going back to bed at that point so I made another coffee while the dogs pestered me for a walk. It doesn’t matter how many times I tell them we will go after lunch, they rarely get the idea. Which is interesting given two of the words they recognise are ‘walk’ and ‘lunch’. And they have never had both together.

So, eventually, we headed up to the woods for a rather slow and painstaking climb of Mount Trosa. It was only slow and painstaking for me. The girls raced up, as usual.

Back at home, I collapsed onto the lounge, exhausted. Pathetic old man that I am.

Anyway, now for something a lot more pleasant.

Here is a photo of Mirinda in her official archaeological dig, flouro vest.

Funnily enough, with all the digs I’ve ever been on, and there have been many, I have never been given one of these.

Originally, yesterday, the plan was for Nicoline and Kalle to come over and visit the girls. Kalle insisted, and who am I to deny the kid’s delight? It was planned early because of the ice hockey game which I figured would be at night. Of course, I was completely wrong. Given it started at lunch time, I suggested to Nicoline that we forestall Kalle’s visit by a day.

It then occurred to me that the house, currently, looked like a building site and was not particularly conducive to receiving guests. After Kalle’s claim that we didn’t have a vacuum cleaner, I thought the detritus of Harald and Roger’s work might just be a bit too much.

Then, Nicoline saved the plan by suggested we visit her for lunch and, thereby, not only let Kalle play with the girls but also let Mirinda check out the boat. This is Nicoline’s boat, which she has offered for loaning purposes should Mirinda so desire.

Heading over for lunch also allowed us to visit with Lina, David and little Hasse as well. And what a lovely visit it was. Lots of laughs and stories. Everything but a song. Which was ironic given David sings bass in a very prestigious choir.

The only downside was we had to leave for an important appointment at 2:39*. We were having a video call with a couple who will be house sitting for us over midsummer. 2:39 might seem unusually precise but, to give him his due, Kevin called on the dot.

He and his wife Elena were lovely. It was a big bonus that they were Australian. As Kevin said, he didn’t have to watch what he said. So true. It’s something only an Australian would understand.

Anyway, we gave them the job and will be seeing them in around a month.

The only photo I took today was of the roadworks progression on the way to the ICA. They are close, I think, to finishing. At any rate, they have filled in the roadside bit of the trench with gravel.

* This was, in fact, a typo by Mirinda. She, obviously, meant 2:30, but her phone decided she meant 2:39. Kevin thought it was a brilliant jape and decided to go along with it. To be fair, that was pretty much all it took for me to decide that they were right for the job.

Today, Canada beat Slovenia 4-0 in the ice hockey in the International Ice Hockey Federation, Ice Hockey World Championship. Not that I saw it. Mirinda went with KSP and Jonas. My seat was happily taken by Karl Fredrik. I was in charge of the dogs instead. However, I did get a few photos.

Apparently, it was enjoyed by all 9,000 plus spectators.

Here, in Trosa, where the weather was grey and the ice hockey non-existent, we walked into town. It’s been ages since I ventured as far as the harbour but today, as I explained to Emma, I was determined to check out the progress of works that I had reported on previously.

And it appears that the new area of landscaping called Hamnängen, as reported back in November last year, appears to be complete. Today it was swarming with kids wearing yellow, ICA emblazoned t-shirts for reasons unknown to me. They might have been taking part in a big litter pick. They did have big plastic bags – sometimes bigger than them – that could have been for rubbish.

One thing I do know, though, is that they enjoyed engaging in a bit of a group dance at one point, which a supervising adult happily filmed for them. There was a lot of laughter.

There is also a series of big beds along the edge of the grass, currently containing lots of bulbs. It all looked very colourful.

Another progress report I can happily include is regarding La Aduana. Last year I included a photo of the new decking at the front of the building. Well, it is well and truly finished. Added to the decking is an enclosed glass seating area as well as outside seating surrounding it. Actually, the enclosed glass seating area used to be at the other end of the restaurant.

Another change is to the harbour side area which, formerly, housed the bar. The bar has gone around the corner and the area is now open to the path with seats for drinking sprinkled around the deck.

I would have stopped for a drink but, sadly, it wasn’t open.

I did stop for an ice cream though. As usual, Trosa Gelato was open, serving their special brand of deliciousness. We sat outside, enjoying the treat and people watching. And there were quite a few people to watch. It’s the most people I’ve seen in the centrum for a while. Okay, it wasn’t at the level of the markets but, even so, it was almost a crowd.

And there were a lot of dogs, which is always a pleasure. Some were very keen to say hello to the girls, while others completely ignored them. This is only fair, as they do the exact same thing. I often wonder how they differentiate the friendly from the ignorable.

We made our slow walk back home, eventually collapsing into the stuga for a well-earned beer and rest. We were still there when Mirinda returned to regale us with the excitement that was the hockey.

A little later, Mirinda asked what we should do about dinner. I reminded her that she had suggested that we should go to Ankaret. So off we went and, along with a lot of other people, enjoyed a lovely meal prepared by someone else.

A tasty end to an tiring day.

NB: That’s one bloody good ice cream.

I had a knock at the window this afternoon. I was sitting darning socks, having just returned from our daily walk in the woods. The girls were pretending to be exhausted. The sudden knock made me jump. It was Roger letting me know that he and Harald had finished for the week. The kitchen was ready for re-occupation. As planned.

“As planned?” I asked. “By whom?“

Roger didn’t know so I assumed it was some secret pact between Harald and Mirinda.

And, in the age-old tradition of before and after photography, here is how the kitchen looked at the beginning of the week:

Before I add the after photo, can I just say that I actually quite liked the wall paper.

Anyway, after a week of concerted effort, here is how it looked this afternoon:

The effect that Mirinda was going for was a sort of sunshiney room, lit by the walls. And I think she’s achieved it. Especially given that the day was particularly dull and grey.

Having taken this photo, I started returning everything from the various hiding places about the house. It took quite a few trips back and forth, with Freya tippy tapping behind me. Emma took up her place on the window sill in the lounge. She has clearly missed her street observation duties.

After Mirinda returned and expressed her delight with the paint job, I asked if she’d made a pact with Harald to be finished today, but she said no. It seems that Harald had a pact with himself. Pleased with this, I moved the ingredients for dinner from the stuga to the house.

As it turned out, I didn’t cook in the house. So I moved the ingredients back to the stuga and cooked in there. For the first time. All week I’ve had salads so this was the first time using the oven which, I am happy to say, worked well.

Before dinner, however, I heard all about Mirinda’s week away. (KSP asked me if she’d spent it in a tent. After I stopped laughing at the thought, I explained that she had stayed in an AirBnB.)

Her week had been very tiring, both from the daily wanderings around the dig and the nights spent playing board games. It was quite weird hearing her talk about the various aspects of the dig. I didn’t realise how much I miss the many Weasel outings to ancient sites armed with trowels, mattocks and barrows. It was a real Worlds Collide moment.

One thing she was amazed at, particularly given she was examining the site from an aural point of view, was the noise. And not pleasant noise, either. Not like Trosa where most noise comes from Emma and a rather persistent cuckoo.

Speaking of Emma, she found a rather lovely stick for me to throw for her today, at the top of Mount Trosa. I was sitting, getting over my ascent of the mountain when she appeared, delighted by her prize.

She didn’t carry it very far. Usually, she’ll bring sticks along with us for a while but not today. She would have had trouble getting between trees for a start.

It was a lovely day followed by an even lovelier night given my wife was back. Even if only for a couple of days before she ventures forth once more.

I have mentioned before how other bearded men, strangers, often acknowledge me with a slight nod of the head or a something a little more overt in the recognition of another hirsute male. The beards have to be big; the owners generally the same. And it happened again today.

I was returning from my usual Wednesday walk and shop into Trosa when, just before I crossed Smackbottom, a biker, relaxed on his Harley, his black beard luxuriant, gave me a big, friendly wave. I didn’t know him. It was merely the result of a meeting of beards.

It added some more joy to an already joyful morning. A morning of sun and cloud, intermittently interspersed across the sky. At one stage, a rather odd occurrence of coloured cloud presented me with a photographic opportunity.

It looked a lot more ethereal in real life. The effect of sunlight on cloud made for a slight rainbow effect that looked decidedly unnatural. I tried a few times, but the above was the best photo.

Maybe the mysterious coloured cloud caused it to be very quiet in town today. A few old people shuffled about and there was the occasional tourist, but, generally, it was delightfully empty. I realise this is the calm before the storm as visitors increasingly arrive for the season. As the town shakes off the winter duvets and embraces the summer warmth.

Anyway, I managed to shop and get home in double quick time. Who am I kidding? It took the usual two hours.

Not that the walk through the woods was usual. Hordes of screaming kids were abroad today, chasing the little white and orange things in trees, placed by teachers for their charges to discover. At least, I think that’s the idea. I’m not sure how the screaming helps, but I’m of the opinion that it must, given the amount they employ.

It’s lovely seeing the kids enjoying the woods, scampering over rocks, between trees and along the path, each one clutching what appears to be a map. When people complain about how great it was in the ‘good old days’ when kids had more freedom, it’s interesting to note that the ‘good old days’ appear to still exist here in Sweden. I didn’t see a single teacher.

It’s a great joy. Even with the screaming.

Back at the house, I noticed the Dead Neighbour’s House had three visitors today. There was a man on the roof, a woman with a clipboard and an invisible person I didn’t see. Which makes sense given they were invisible. I have no idea whether they were new owners, inspectors or simply interested strangers.

There was an open house there last week for a few hours so, maybe, we’re about to have some new neighbours. We shall see. I’m hoping the curse doesn’t take them too.

While inside our house, things are cracking on. Harald and Roger have progressed to the colour stage. And I have to say, I really like the yellow in the kitchen/dining room. I’m thinking it will look quite bright when the sun hits it.

Speaking of colour, I do wonder whether my grey beard is indicative of being wise, old or a wizard. I’m going with wizard until I hear differently.

Sitting in the stuga, watching the TV and throwing a tennis ball for Emma, I was amazed at how many people jog around the track of an evening. It’s almost non-stop. But not like in groups of run club members. They seem to be individuals, evenly spaced along the path. I guess they must come home from work, don their Lycra and then hit the dirt before bedtime.

Or maybe it’s just a Tuesday thing. After all, during our walk up Mount Trosa, we saw a lot more people than we did yesterday. Though they all kept to the track rather than scale the heights like we did.

Don’t be fooled by the blue sky and sunshine in the photo above. The sky fluctuated between blue and grey and the temperature was adversely affected by sudden blustery winds. Though, once we were in the woods, surrounded by trees, the wind died down and the temperature remained a little more consistent.

The girls were glad. If they are inactive but not asleep, for too long, the shivering starts and I am forced to put the blow heater on. This makes me far too hot. I guess that’s just karma, given it was me who decided they should both be shorn completely as opposed to Mirinda who wanted some hair left on them.

Anyway, apart from the occasional shiver, all is going well in the stuga. It’s like being on holiday, in an AirBnB, but without my wife. This is quite an unusual situation. It is also a bit of a voyage of discovery. For instance, I found a cheese slice! I was looking in the wrong drawer yesterday.

It seems a bit odd when it was us that stocked the place.

Meanwhile, in the increasingly unliveable house, work continued in earnest.

Harald started in the hallway while Roger, who turned up in the afternoon following his training session in the Woody’s screw section, worked in the kitchen.

Most of my day was spent doing tax stuff. Suffice it to say, it was all very dull, though intense and requiring maximum concentration.

A big highlight of the day was finding this Trump take down on YouTube.

I wonder what Trump thinks of satirical political TV programmes? Personally, I love them but I don’t think he’d understand.

It was lunchtime and we were sitting in the stuga, on the Squirrel, watching the TV, eating lunch. Suddenly, the evil Norwegian Forest Cat appeared at the glass door. It was the first time I’d seen it close up. There was a momentary pause, as if the world had suddenly frozen. Then all hell broke loose as the girls launched themselves at the door. The cat was gone in a flash. Needless to say, it was a while before I let the girls out.

It was a very exciting moment in an otherwise quiet day. Quiet for me, I hasten to add. In the house, Harald and Roger worked very hard all day. Scrapping, unscrewing, taping up, painting, painting, painting.

Early on, while giving a bit of a test scraping in the kitchen, Harald discovered another layer of wallpaper underneath the black and white pattern. I didn’t like it. Neither did Harald. Mirinda, when I sent her a photograph, was of a different opinion. She said she might have kept it rather than have it painted.

I think the yellow she has chosen will be much better than lots of little flowers. And, to be honest, I’ve never been much of a wallpaper fan.

Anyway, they were hard at it all day while I spent time working away on various bits and pieces, mostly consisting of computer work. I also jotted down a few things that the stuga lacks. Like, for instance, a cheese slice. Seriously, how on earth did I not think the stuga kitchen needed one? That will be rectified asap, I can tell you.

The weather was beautiful today so, after the incident of the cat at the glass door, we headed out the blue gate, onto the track, up Mount Trosa and, finally, through the woods, for a delightful walk. And we only saw one other person.

He was a grumpy chap. I think he disapproved of the girls being off lead. I gave a cheery hello anyway. He was wrapped up more than I thought necessary and had headphones on, blocking out the sounds of nature. I guess he prefers the artificial to the natural.

I thought it was an odd coincidence that Mirinda was spending the week listening to the sounds of nature while most people prefer cutting their ears off to them. Still, that’s their look-out. For my part, I love listening to the birdsong and the wind in the trees.

Something else the suga lacks is a lot of natural light. The sun doesn’t penetrate it very much. That’s something very different to the house, which is regularly flooded with sunlight. What that means is that the stuga remains quiet chilly while the world outside is quite warm. In turn, that means there is a lot of cockerpoo shivering during the day.

While that would be excellent in the height of summer, it’s a bit of a sea change for me. And the girls. Freya spent a lot of the inside time wrapped up in a blanket. Emma warmed up by chasing a tennis ball all over the place.

At the end of the workday, the kitchen was looking a bit stricken. I tried to ignore the mess in order to take an end of day photo.

I’m not sure why I bothered sweeping the floor after emptying the room this morning.

Tonight, after a day of hectic activity, I moved into the stuga and collapsed in front of the TV before heading for bed. I had two very confused cockerpoos, sitting as close to me as possible. They had no idea what was happening. I had assured them this was just like any holiday but they were not convinced.

Their confusion may stem from the fact that I gradually emptied the main rooms in the house, spreading stuff into bedrooms and studies in order to allow Harald painting access. Possibly the confusion came to a head when I wheeled the TV away and then encouraged them to follow me outside, heading for the stuga.

Or maybe it started when Mirinda left, car packed with half the house, for her week away at her dig. They were standing at the threshold of the glassroom, looking at her, hoping for some sort of logical conclusion to what was happening.

Or it could have been even earlier, when he headed up to Emil’s Backe for a brunch that didn’t happen.

Emil’s Backe officially opened for the season yesterday but without Chez Charlotte. Tarte Tatin was serving coffee and sweet treats and Hippie Home was open but of hot food, there was no sign. A bit like the sun, really. As can be seen from the photo above, we were sitting in the shelter, not from the rain but from the icy winds that blew for most of the day.

Still, the coffee and sweet treats were very nice and we felt it only right that we should show our loyalty.

Back at home, it was a hive of activity. I’d been shopping early and, once back, started moving things and cooking other things for Mirinda to take away with her. There was another batch of wild garlic pesto as well as a quiche.

Just because she’s not home does not mean she has to miss out on Chez Gaz meals.

And so our 34th wedding anniversary passed by in a flurry of activity and a confusion of cockerpoos.

Later, via a video call, Mirinda reported that the quiche was very filling and her AirBnB accommodation decorated to her satisfaction.

Apart from the confused puppies, all was good.