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I was returning from the toilet at Sund Nergården when I was accosted by a woman who was paying at the reception desk. She said something to me in Swedish to which I responded with a plaintive, “Sorry?” She laughed and said, with an almost perfect English accent, “Oh, you don’t speak Swedish!” This made her husband and the woman taking the payment, join in the laughter.
The woman then proceeded to tell me how much she loved my white hair, my beard and, most of all, my suit. She felt my sleeve and I said “Tweed.” We all laughed.
It’s not often I get to wear my suit and I was pleased with the recognition. I must admit, I was looking a lot sharper than I had during the day when my reflection surprised me with my variety of colour.
That was after lunch, returning from taking the girls to the ski lift and back, with a brief rest for Freya at the tiny, empty parking area.
Mirinda had gone off to Swedish class, leaving me and the girls to enjoy her birthday without her.
I had cut her a slab of simnel cake to have with her morning tea at 11am. She suggested that I have a slab with a coffee at the same time, but apart. And I did. It was beautifully moist and, I think, one of my best.
She had a good day at class while I lazed around the house waiting for her return, hoping she’d make it in time to drive up the road for this month’s concert with the Kammarmusik Trosa people.
I saw the concert advertised on a poster during one of our journeys around the poster boards of Trosa. The concert featured the amazing guitarist, Mats Bergström. I knew Mirinda would enjoy him and, given he was performing on her actual birthday, thought it would be perfect.
And it was. Or, rather, he was.
Among the pieces he played were three ‘psalms without words’, something that Mirinda wholeheartedly endorsed. He also played a bit of Bach. Without the organ, these also made for excellent listening.
For anyone who loves acoustic guitar, I can highly recommend him. Have a listen; you won’t be disappointed.
But that was not the end of Mirinda’s birthday celebrations.
A few weeks ago, KSP introduced us to the amazing Sund Nergården and most of the staff. At the time, we vowed to return. So, I booked us in for the five-course taster menu. I am so glad I did.
It has been a while since we went to a fine dining establishment. I think it was at Blue Light Yokohama in Stockholm, with Lisa, last year. It feels like we went a lot in the UK; for celebrations, you understand. But not so much here, in Sweden. We think it might be because, while we have found some wonderful restaurants, we had yet to find somewhere, close to home, that has that extra special promise of an adventure in fine dining.
Well, we have found one now.
The food tonight was superb. Inventive, clever, so beautifully presented. A true celebration meal. And not forgetting the staff who were also excellent. We’ll definitely be returning.
And I got to wear my suit. What a perfect day.
