Today, being a sunny Sunday in September, obviously meant a trip to Emil’s Backe. Unexpectedly, Nicoline popped round to join us. She did ring first but, unusually for me, I didn’t respond to her call. I was up to my brain, trying to sort something out on my new laptop and didn’t notice my phone. Then, as I rang her back, she pulled into our drive.
She accused me of being as bad as my wife. I thought this was a harsh and unfair accusation.
Also, because it was Sunday, Mirinda Skyped with Fi. When Jason found out, he wanted in on the conversation and rushed into Mirinda’s study only to be told to take his germs elsewhere. He joined the call from the Isolation Stuga.
Nicoline and I luxuriated on the deck, talking English words for various actions to do with assembly and packing.
I suddenly interrupted our interesting chat to say I had forgotten to fillet the fish that Jonas caught while we were on the lake the other night. Nicoline ordered me into the kitchen while she laid back on the deck sofa and had a little rest.
I followed the instructions that Jonas had meticulously given me and wound up with two very small fillets and fried them in some butter. I was going to give one to Mirinda but I had forgotten to scale the fish first. I tasted one piece and spent the next little while spitting out scales. I decided to eat both and forget it ever happened.
Apart from the scales, the fish was delish.
Mind you, it wasn’t as delish as the croque Dijonnaise I had at Emil’s Backe where we eventually went after the Skype call. I’m happy to say that there were no scales on the cheese.
As we sat, enjoying the day, Nicoline noticed a familiar face and gestured her over to join us. We then had a rather lengthy discussion about finances, strange Swedish mortgages and why Lagnö Bo is having its current problems.
That may sound a bit arbitrary, but the woman who had joined us was once a resident (and the co-operative bookkeeper) and had the inside scoop on everything. It certainly made for an interesting chat.
Before we left, Mirinda had to pick and Swish some flowers from Raija’s lovely garden.
You can’t see it in the photo but, the reason the flowers are thriving so well is because of Nicoline’s grass clippings which have been scattered beneath them. Why the sunflower heads have been placed like so many sacrifices is anyone’s guess.
Latest Letter
While Mirinda took the girls for a walk, I recorded my latest Letter from Sweden. Here it is, in case anyone is interested. Note that all previous letters are in the Podcast page here.
