Monthly Archives: May 2021

The true cost of a lovely day

Posted on May 31, 2021 by Gary

Today was a Bank Holiday in the UK and, given Mirinda is still working in the UK, we had the day off. Well, not really me because I did my usual shop and visit to the butcher. Come to think … Continue reading →

Posted in Gary's Posts, Sweden 2021 | Leave a comment

The king is not always right

Posted on May 30, 2021 by Gary

We have had a few recommendations for things to do in Stockholm. One of the most often recommended has been the Vasa Museum. While it was open when we first arrived in Sweden, it closed, following government guidelines, before we … Continue reading →

Posted in Gary's Posts, Museums & Galleries, Sweden 2021 | 1 Comment

The almost perfect roast

Posted on May 29, 2021 by Gary

After a few days of grey, today was gloriously blue. Once more the raincoat was put away and the shorts came out. The house was opened up and the general feeling and smell of damp was gradually replaced with springtime … Continue reading →

Posted in Gary's Posts, Sweden 2021 | Leave a comment

Fatless and despairing

Posted on May 28, 2021 by Gary

I noticed a new poster at the Trollbäcken bus stop this morning. It’s an advertisement for alcohol free alcohol-like drinks. I really wonder why. After all, if wine is non-alcoholic, isn’t it grape juice? And, likewise, if cider is non-alcoholic, … Continue reading →

Posted in Gary's Posts, Sweden 2021 | Leave a comment

Real scary stories

Posted on May 27, 2021 by Gary

I was appropriately lounging in the lounge room this morning, having been woken up by Emma wanting to go to the toilet, drinking my coffee and half listening to the radio when The Food Chain started. This is a programme … Continue reading →

Posted in Gary's Posts, Sweden 2021 | Leave a comment

And then the bus leaked

Posted on May 26, 2021 by Gary

It didn’t stop raining today. Okay, it might have eased off for a few minutes once in a long while but, essentially, it rained all day. It was the worst day in Sweden I could recollect. Then Mirinda reminded me … Continue reading →

Posted in Gary's Posts, Sweden 2021 | Leave a comment

No small potatoes

Posted on May 25, 2021 by Gary

The Irish Great Famine saw a lot of people leave Ireland. One of them was a distant relative of Mirinda’s who was orphaned and sent to Australia to be married off to a man who had settled in Bathurst. Another … Continue reading →

Posted in Biographical sketch, Gary's Posts | Leave a comment

Emma the Victorian botanist

Posted on May 24, 2021 by Gary

Monday at Café Notholmen is a much different experience to the usual weekend brunch. Firstly, certain, popular menu items run out quicker and, secondly, the place is almost deserted by 2pm. The latter is rather good for us because we … Continue reading →

Posted in Gary's Posts, Sweden 2021 | Leave a comment

How do you walk to Telegrafholmen?

Posted on May 23, 2021 by Gary

Viveca Sten is a Swedish writer of Nordic murder novels. Her books take place on an island called Sandhamn. Mirinda has read all of the Sandhamn Murder books. Sandhamn is real. The murders, not so much. And so, today, for … Continue reading →

Posted in Archipelago 2021, Gary's Posts, Sweden 2021 | Leave a comment

Blood water shower

Posted on May 22, 2021 by Gary

Mirinda couldn’t find anything about tourist stuff on Värmdö in any of the usual places, so she created her own day of exploration. And it was excellent. From a Buddhist temple to a dive school, coffee in a barn to … Continue reading →

Posted in Archipelago 2021, Gary's Posts, Sweden 2021 | 3 Comments