Familjen Östbring - Ostbring family

I was on a tour today that was all about Sir Richard Whittington who was an merchant and politician during the latter part of the medieval time. He is also the real-life inspiration for the English folk tale Dick Whittington and his cat, which has very little to do with the real Whittington as he didn’t come from a poor background nor if he ever even owned a cat.

He was a member of parliament and a sheriff of London as well as he was Lord Mayor of London four times. He financed different public projects, such as a hospital ward for unmarried mothers, and drainage systems in the poorer areas of medieval London. He also donated his fortune to a charity which, nearly 600 years later, continues to assist people in need.

But as usual we heared a lot of other history on our walk around London.

Tonight, Peter and I was invited to the Finnish Ambassador’s residence here in London for some Christmas drinks and nibbles together with other defense attachés. A nice evening with nice people.

It was time again for celebrating St Lucia together with other militaries stationed here in London. The department of Defense at the embassy arrange it every year and it’s really appreciated by everyone that are invited.

The Lucia train consist of the middle school students at the Swedish school in London, they come and sing and the guests will applaud after each song if not told that you do that once they are done.

In Sweden, it is done on December 13 and everywhere – schools, pre-schools, care homes, work places, shopping malls and churches, from the youngest to the oldest it is liked. We do not only listen to them sing but also eat Lucia buns (with saffron), ginger snaps and drink glögg (a sweeter mulled wine).

When Peter was in Sudan he worked with a British officer (among others) and last time we were in Edinburgh we had dinner together. Peter has also met him in London when he’s been here.

We were invited to his birthday party at Craigiehall, outside Edinburgh, together with a large group of whom we had not met any before. We had a lovely evening and enjoyed the food and company. We stayed at Craigiehall overnight and after breakfast the next day we went back to Edinburgh and did visit the castle.

We didn’t do that last time as it was the tatoo at the time and so many tourists. This time we took our time, only thing was that we had to carry our bags as the line for leaving them at the station was too long. It’s a nice castle and different from other castles we have seen.

 

 

Today I went on a tour to BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir here in London. No passports were needed to go to India for a few hours. 

“The whole world is one nest” – Atharva Veda

“We are the birds of the same nest.
We may wear different skins,
We may speak in different tongues,
We may believe in different religions,
We may belong to different cultures,
Yet we share the same home – Our Earth.
Born on the same planet, covered by the same skies,
gazing at the same stars, breathing the same air,
we must learn to happily progress together
or miserably perish together.
For humans can live individually, but can only survive collectively.”

For some time, the NAWC ladies have asked if it would be possible to have a guided tour at the base. Many of the ladies have lived nearby for years and years but know nothing about it or have never been there. For us who can go there anytime it’s nothing special, there’s a coffee shop, gym, hairdresser, church and a thrift shop, but they were curious.

The tour ended with a small coffee morning that ladies connected to both the base and NAWC helped out with.

Been to the new Northwood School where Felicia go, Emelie only attended the old one. The school is well planned with every department having their needs met. Especially the science floor – my fellow teachers in Sweden teaching science would love this.

 

I went with some friends to see Queen Elizabeth’s fashion over the years. The exhibition was held in 3 places but we chose to go to Windsor.

 

My exploring took me today to Fleet Street and Middle Temple.

We were invited to the German ship FGS Karlsruhe who was visiting London. It was moored outside HMS Belfast in River Thames, between London Bridge and Tower Bridge.

We had a lovely evening with a lot of food and company. It was the ships last visit to London before being decommissioned next year (2017).

Picture from Wikipedia

Remember remember the fifth of November
Gunpowder, treason and plot.
I see no reason why gunpowder, treason
Should ever be forgot…

On the 5 of November England is still celebrating/remembering what happened in 1605 when Guy Fawkes was caught guarding gunpowder that was placed under the House of Lords. He was part in a plot to kill the King, James I. Talk about not putting the past behind you =)

Me, Felicia and Robbie went to Cassiobury Park in Watford to see the fireworks as this was the first year it didn’t rain on the evening. First they burn an effigy of Guy Fawkes and then there is fire work. There were so many people we could see the fire but not the effigy.

Kings Cross has been an area for a long time where people only went if they had to, it was a red-light district. The city decided to claim the area back when the Eurostar started to operate out of Kings Cross station. Even if this started already in the 90s they are still building and bringing it back to its old glory where the trains delivered coals among other things. They are keeping the outer walls of some of the old buildings and builds new behind.

The area is called Kings Cross and the train station is called Kings Cross/St Pancras.

John Betjeman was one of the founding members of Victorian Society who worked to save Victorian architecture, which St Pancras is.

Sir Nigel Gresley was one of Britain’s most famous locomotiv engineers. He designed fast, elegant and powerful locomotives including the Flying Scotsman and Mallard, the fastes locomotives in the world.

One of many companies having their headquarters in the area.

Paul Day’s sculpture The Meeting Place

The base of Paul Day’s sculpture The Meeting Place

My cousin’s son and his girlfriend came to visit. I picked them up at the airport and when they walked out my first thought was that they missed getting their luggage as they had no bags. But they had forgotten to book bags for going to London, luckily, they had it booked for going home. They just needed to by bags so they could take everything home they shopped here.

It was nice to have them here even if we just saw them for breakfast and when they came home to sleep. I’m glad that they came!

Tonight, we were invited to the Finnish defense attaché and his wife for dinner with the other Nordic and Baltic attachés and their wives. The hostess had together with the chef put together a lovely dinner with food from all the countries – Finland, Denmark, Estonia, Latvia, Norway and Sweden.

The food was delicious and looked amazing. Sadly, I forgot to take pictures of the food…

As mum and dad have now sold their house and is going to move beginning of next year they decided to come visit before all the packing and then unpacking. We had a few lovely days together where we did mostly spend it together but also got to do some outings. Took them to Sky Garden as they have never been there and I thought it would be something they both would like to do.

Together with some other Swedish friends we went to Bombay Sapphire Distillery for a guided tour. First part was with audio guide but then the last part inside the distillery it was by a lady who gave us the insight of how to make gin.

A part of the tour was to smell a range of different ingredients used in making gin, you were there plotting it on a piece of paper what you liked. After the tour you take your paper and give to the bartender, he then makes you a gin drink based on this ingredients. As I was driving I got a small bottle of gin and Fevertree tonic to go.

 

Today I went on a tour in the Bloomsbury area with my women’s club.

The clockmaster that invented the chronometer that allowed sailors to navigate more accurate.

Outside the site where Rossetti, Morris and Burne-Jones lived in 1851

She was an English crime writer as well as a poet and translator

Thomas Coram was a sea farer and the founder of the Foundling Hospital

A piece of art that symbolises the hospital and the abandoned children.

Peter Pan and Tinker Bell outside Great Ormond Street Children Hospital. SirJames Barrie donated his royalties for the play version of Peter Pan to the Hospital.

Russel Square

Today we went to Harefield and the Anzac Cemetery. The hospital in Harefield, Harefield Park was during world war l used as an Australian military hospital. Those who died there were buried with military honors in the graveyard of St Mary’s Church.

Being there we met a man from Australia who asked Peter to take a picture of him and the stone – his grandmother’s brother was buried here. He was told by the family that they wanted a picture.

She is the only staff that is buried here.

Today I went to London for a guided tour about the women of WW1. Many worked for the first time and still didn’t have any rights. Strong women that carried the country through tough times.

This lady was killed by the Germans for treason – she helped a lot of soldiers to escape from Belgium after it was occupied by Germany.

Where The London of Economics and Political Science is today the organisation of receiving Belgian refugees started.

From this post office a lot of letters were sent to the west front.

This tin Queen Mary made to send to all soldiers fighting the first Christmas 1914.

Ivor Novello wrote a famous song that become very popular during the war – today known as Keep the homefires burning.

Where the doctors were female – Endell Street Military Hospital 1915-1919

The words of the suffragettes.

Dame Agatha Christie DBE

A group of friends came to visit, as they were so many they stayed in a hotel in London. We didn’t do a lot of sightseeing as everyone have been here before but we did spend the time together walking around, talking, laughing and just enjoying.

We had Afternoon Tea, ate at Sartori, Carluccio’s and La Perla and some shopping before they were going back home.

 

Manchester United with Zlatan visited Watford. Of course Peter and Felicia was there almost secretively cheering for Zlatan from the most devouted Watford stand. Surpisingly Watford crushed United. It was great to see him on the pitch though.

We went to see the musical Motown which was arranged from the base. We took Jesper with us and I hope he enjoyed it.

The girls and I liked it even if there was a lot of music that was new to us. We liked the story, the singers and actors as well as the music.

In Swedish schools the students do work experience when they are 15 and 16 years old, for the 16-years-olds it’s two weeks during the fall. The son of our friends asked if he could stay with us and do his work experience in London, he was going to work at the Swedish store Totally Swedish.

We are looking forward having him here.

When we arrived here in Northwood Felicia couldn’t continue with her German language studies as her school only offers French. As she was 1,5 years behind of the others she needed help with her oral presentation, her parents not being able to help her. At least she says we don’t speak French, Peter and I think it sounds good =)

In my English class I have a French guy whom I asked if he could help Felicia to be able to get the pronunciation right. He has come around to help a couple of times and now it was time to invite him and his family over for dinner.

We served typical Swedish food – meatballs with cream sauce, lingonberry and pickled cucumber.

After coming back from Sweden and before going to Paris Emelie went around in Northwood applying for a job. She had handed in her CV at several places and was hoping to find something local to avoid commuting.

While in Paris she had switched off her phone and turned it on again entering UK. She had a missed called from Costa Coffee and contacted them the day after by going there, they wanted her to come in and do a trial shift to see if they wanted to hire her.

She got the job!!! She will now train to become a barista and we know she will be the best <3

Picture from www.research-live.com

Over the years, I have wanted to go but never got around doing it as there was always something else happening. But this year we got around to do it and both girls came along as well as Rebecca, Kicki and Sven, who’s here for a year.

We saw the parade as well as walking around having some food. It’s always a lot of people but nice to have done it.

When Peter, Felicia and I went to Paris in February Emelie couldn’t come along as she had school. We promised her to take her once school was done so she could also experience Paris. She could bring Peter or me and figured that Peter’s credit card was better to bring than mine =)

They had beautiful days but warm, almost to the point they were melting.

Felicia decided not to have any birthday party with friends here. We woke her up by singing and giving presents and then we spent the day together. In the evening we went out for dinner to a local restaurant of her choice. She was pleased with her day and her parents can’t believe it’s 16 years since she was born.

Our lasts days without the girls, Mia and Leif came from Brussels to visit. We had a few nice days together with sightseeing, food and lovely company.

They lived here when we arrived but left during our first summer, they have given us plenty of tips where to go and what to see here in UK. So I was very pleased to be able to show them something they hadn’t done while living here for 4 year.

We went to Sky Garden and they liked it.

Picture borrowed from insider-london.co.uk

Picture borrowed from skygarden.london

As the girls are still in Sweden it was just Peter and I who went on a daytrip. We decided to go to Winchester which is about 1,5 hours’ drive from Northwood if traffic is good, which it hardly ever is, so we had a 2,5-hour drive but we got there.

We started at the tourist information to see what else there was except the cathedral. We were surprised that most places closed already at 5 pm but decided to do as much as possible in the hours we got.

Winchester dates back to the Roman time when the town was called Venta Belgarum in 9^th century. King Alfred the Great did changes to it so that he could better defend it against the Vikings. In the city center, there is a statue of King Alfred the great. King Alfred ruled Wessex from 871 until his death in 899. At the time of his enthronement the Vikings had taken control and were threatening Wessex.

We decided not to go inside the cathedral and if the time allowed in the end we would do it later. The cathedral was built in 1079 and is one of the largest in Europe as it is the longest overall of all Gothic cathedrals in Europe, it’s supposed to have the longest nave as well.

Where the Abbey house stands today was Nunnaminster founded during the years of 899-902 by the queen of King Alfred as a nunnery. The name was later changed to St Mary’s Abbey and survived until the late 1530s. In the 1700 Abbey House was build and it’s today the official residence for their Mayors.

We also saw the City Mill that was built in 1086 and then rebuilt in 1744.

We also went to see the Great Hall in the Winchester Castle, it’s where King Arthur’s Round table is and the Great Hall is the only surviving part of the castle today. The castle was built by William the Conqueror and the Great Hall was later added by Henry lll.

 

By the time, we reached the Hospital of St Cross and Almshouse of Nobel Poverty it was closed but we could still look at it from the outside. In 1130s it was started to aid pilgrims on their way to Canterbury and it is the largest medieval almshouse (sv=fattighus) in Britain.

 

Winchester

We had a wonderful day in Winchester and going back home we stopped at Bombay Sapphire Distillery. We are going back there for sure!

Nu är Peter och jag tillbaka i London efter 2 intensiva veckor i Sverige. Vi hann både vara i Blekinge och Skåne och fick träffa de flesta vännerna även om det inte var alla. När vi åker hem så här är det mest att åka från än det ena stället till det andra. Ibland önskar man att vi hade haft något eget som folk kunde ha kommit till men det fungerar inte heller eftersom vi har vänner och släkt sprida i Blekinge och Skåne.

Denna gången skulle vi dessutom hinna med att ha student- och födelsedagsfest för båda tjejerna och då fick vi samlat många på en gång. Vi är ju hemma mitt i semestern vilket innebär att många är iväg också. Tjejerna var nöjda med sitt firande och vi hade sett till att beställa det mesta så vi skulle slippa slita i flera dagar. Våra vänner som kom från Karlskrona hade med sig mat från ICA Maxi Karlskrona som hade en fantastisk grillbricka – massor av mat och gott var det. Enda problemet när man har så stor fest är att man inte riktigt hinner att sitta ner och prata med alla. Hoppas att ingen kände sig bortglömd!

Vi hann även med att åka på vår årliga tur till Bakken i Danmark och åka så många karuseller att vi alla är nöjda i ett år.

English

Peter and I are now back in London after 2 intensive weeks in Sweden. We went to Blekinge and Scania and saw most of our friends even if it wasn’t all of them. When we go to Sweden like this it’s mostly spent going from one place to another. Sometimes I wish we had a place where we could welcome everyone but it doesn’t work as we have friends and family in both Blekinge and Scania.

This time we also had planned a birthday and graduation party for the girls and then we could see a lot of people at the same time. We do come home during the holiday for a lot of people and that means that many are already book on other things. The girls had a great party and were happy about it, we had bought everything ready made to have more time with family. Our friends coming from Karlskrona brought the food and it was really nice and tasty. The only problem with having a big party is that you have so little time to spend with everyone. I hope no one felt left out!

Nu är vi hemma igen efter att ha varit i Cornwall ett par dagar. Vi har hunnit se en hel del och även suttit en hel del i bilen men det var det värt.

Vi började resan med att åka förbi Stonehenge, inte så imponerade då vi tyckte att det påminde en del om Ales Stenar på Österlen. Nåja lite större kanske men ändå stenar. Vi fortsatte ner mot Cornwall och kom på att vi skulle åka till Jurassic Coast men då det låg lite åt fel håll slutade det med att vi doppade tårna i Atlanten på Charmouth Beach nära Burton Bradstock. Vårt boende låg inte i Cornwall eftersom det var omöjligt att hitta boende för de dagarna vi kunde åka i Cornwall. Vi hittade däremot boende i Torquay där vi utgick från resten av resan.

Vi bodde på ett fint hotell som låg otroligt vacker uppe på höjden i Torquay med utsikt över både stan och hamnen, vi hade båda våra rum med utsikt mot vattnet. På kvällen åt vi på hotellet och jag valde att äta fisk med tanken att vid kusten borde ett hotell med så hög standard ha en bra fiskkock, låt oss säga som så att jag hade fel…

Det blev ingen sovmorgon utan vi ville komma iväg så fort som möjligt för att få ut så mycket som möjligt av vår dag, uppskattades inte lika mycket av tonåringarna men de överlevde. Vårt första stopp, dag två, var vid Smeaton’s Tower i Plymouth där vi hade en fantastisk utsikt över stan. Peter och jag har varit i Plymouth tidigare men jag har inte varit vid fyren tidigare. Vi var fortfarande inte i Cornwall så nu var det dags att ta sig vidare.

Vi åkte till St Michael’s Mount dit vi kunde gå ut eftersom det var ebb men fick sen skynda oss tillbaka för att inte bli blöta om fötterna. St. Michael’s Mount är ett slott som ligger ute på en liten ö och som du kan ta dig till på två sätt, gåendes eller med båt. Du kan se här hur det ser ut.

När vi var klara här tog vi oss vidare till Land’s End som ligger längs ut på spetsen av Cornwall. När vi kom var det inte sol utan molnigt och blåsigt, vi gick runt och tittade och gick så långt ut vi kunde. När vi började gå tillbaka började dimman rulla in och sen gick det fort. När vi kom till bilen så var det som att titta på en filmjölksvägg när man tittade ut mot där vi varit bara ett par minuter tidigare och man såg inget.

Vi åkte då till Minack’s Theater som är en utomhusteater från 1932 men tyvärr hade de precis stängt så vi kom inte in och kunde titta på den. Men vi gick runt där det gick att se och såg då Porthcurno Beach som såg ut som om man befann sig någonstans på varmare breddgrader. Hade det varit varmare hade det varit mysigt att bada där men vädret var definitivt inte badväder.

Det började bli kväll och vi var alla hungriga så vi bestämde oss för att åka inom Falmouth för middag på väg tillbaka till Torquay.

Vår tredje dag började inte så där lysande, det regnade och var inget roligt alls. Men eftersom vi skulle åka tvärs över Cornwall visste vi att vi skulle sitta en del i bilen så då gjorde det inget. Vårt första stopp var på Jamaican Inn i Bolventor som är ett värdshus som ligger på Bodmin Moor och som förekommer i Daphne du Mauriers böcker. Värdshuset har funnit länge och sägs ha byggts 1750.

Efter att vi ätit lunch där så åkte vi vidare till Tintagel, vi tittade på det gamla postkontoret som byggdes runt 1380 innan vi vandrade vidare ut mot Tintagel Castle. Där slottet låg har man hittat lämningar från Järnåldern på att det redan då fanns ett fort här. Sin stora litterära berömmelse fick Tintagel Castle när Geoffrey Monmouth namngav det som stället där Kung Arthur avlades, och det sägs att Richard, Earl of Cornwall blev inspirerad att bygga ett slott här 1230.

Emelie ville inte klättra upp på höjden då hon inte gillar höjder, jag stannade hos henne medan de andra gick längst upp och tittade på vyn. Emelie och jag tittade på vyn från vår höjd vilken var betydligt högre än Emelie önskat. När de andra kom tillbaka ner gick vi ner till grottan (Merlin’s Cave) för att inspektera den och ta lite foton.

Alla var nöjda med resan och även om det blev en lång hemresa var det ganska så skönt att få komma hem och sova i sin egen säng igen.

English

Now we are back home after have explored Cornwall for a few days. We have seen quite a lot even if we also have spent a lot of time in the car.

We started the trip by going to Stonehenge, we weren’t so impressed as we thought it reminded a lot of Ales Stenar in south Sweden. Well bigger but still stones. We continued towards Cornwall and realized we wanted to go to Jurassic Coast but as it was the wrong way we ended up dipping our toes in the Atlantic Sea at Charmouth Beach near Burton Bradstock. We weren’t going to stay in Cornwall as we had problem finding accommodation for the days we wanted to visit Cornwall. We did find a great hotel in Torquay where we stayed and then did outings in Cornwall. The hotel was situated above the town and harbor and we had sea view from both our rooms. In the evening, we had dinner at the hotel and I figured that a nice hotel as it was, by the sea must have a chef good in cooking fish. Well let’s put it like this, I was wrong…

We didn’t sleep in the next morning as we wanted to get going and enjoy as much as possible of the day, wasn’t as appreciated by the teenagers but they survived. The first stop for day two was by Smeaton’s Tower in Plymouth where we had a wonderful view over the town as well as the harbor. Both Peter and I have been to Plymouth before but I have never been up by the light house. We still weren’t in Cornwall but now it was time to move on.

Our first stop in Cornwall was St Michael’s Mount where we could walk due to low tide but had to hurry back not to get wet feet. St Michael’s Mount is a castle on a small island just outside the Marazion Coast and you can go there by either walking or by boat. Look here to see the tide.

Once we were done we continued to Land’s End which is the most westerly point of mainland Cornwall and England. The weather wasn’t sunny but not bad, windy and cloudy, and we did start to walk around the site. When it was time for us to turn back the fog started to roll in and then it went quickly. By the time, we got to the car it was like a milky wall looking in the direction of where we came from just a few minutes before and you could make out the buildings.

We drove to Minack’s Theater, an outdoor theater from 1932, but sadly they just closed when we arrived and we couldn’t get in to look at it. But we walked around the area to see what we could see and then saw the Porthcurno Beach which looked like somewhere further south where the temperature is higher. If it had been better weather, we would have taken a swim there but sadly we didn’t have nice weather.

The evening was coming and we were all by now hungry and decided to go back to Torquay via Falmouth to have dinner.

Our last day didn’t start with good weather, it was raining and windy. But as we were going to cross all of Cornwall we knew we were going to spend some time in the car and then it didn’t matter. Our first stop for the day was at Jamaican Inn in Bolventor, an inn on the Bodmin Moor that has been there since 1750 and made famous by the author Daphne du Maurier’s book.

After we had our lunch there we continued to Tintagel, we saw the old post office house which was built in 1380 and then we walked towards the Tintagel Castle. Where the castle laid, they have found remains of an Iron Age fort. The castle became literary famous when Geoffrey Monmouth named it to be the place where King Arthur was conceived, and it’s said that Richard, Earl of Cornwall got inspired to build a castle here in 1230.

Emelie doesn’t like heights so she and I stayed halfway up while Peter and Felicia continued all the way up and looked at the fantastic view. There was a view where Emelie and I stood as well and way higher than Emelie liked. When the others came back we continued down to Merlin’s cave to look at it and make some pictures.

Everyone was happy with the trip and even if it was a long drive home it was nice to get home and sleep in my own bed.

Charmouth Beach

Charmouth Beach

View from our hotel in Torquay

Peter having a beer in the harbour of Torquay

Plymouth

St Micheal’s Mount

Land’s End

Porthcurno Beach

Jamaican Inn, Bodmin Moor

Old post office in Tintagel

Tintagel

King Arthur, Tintagel

Outside Merlin’s Cave

Merlin’s Cave

Idag så tog Emelie studenten här i Northwood. Här i England så firas detta inte alls utan man har vanligt skoldag och sen går var och en hem till sitt.

Farmor och farfar kom i onsdags och skulle vara med men Emelie hade även två kompisar som flög in på fredagen för att överraska henne. Mycket lyckat eftersom hon inte hade någon som helst aning om detta., mer än att hon tyckte det var konstigt att jag slängde ut henne för att jag skulle kunna fixa och förbereda. Dessutom behövde hon vara i väg när de kom.

Även Mia och Charlie kom bort till skolan för att gratulera Emelie, hon ville inte springa ut när skolan precis var slut eftersom alla yngre elever stod i vägen. Flera lärare stod och väntade för att se hur det skulle se ut när det var svensk student. När Emelie kom med sina klasskamrater så applåderade alla och kantade vägen ut. Vi stod utanför med skyltar och sjöng studentsången, Emelie tyckte det var lite pinsamt men glad var hon. Hon såg Kristina och Paulina direkt och det var dem hon gick fram till först.

Vi hängde blommor och nallar runt halsen på henne och gratulerade. Rektorn kom fram och pratade och även poliserna som skulle kolla så att det lugnt när alla skulle hem samtidigt kom fram och frågade vad det var för något. När vi stått där en stund så var det dags för Emelie att åka i väg med bilen vi fått låna av Rebecca en svensk tjej som bor här i Northwood nu också. Tyvärr var hon i Sverige och kunde inte vara med men vi får skicka lite kort till henne eller så får hon titta här när hon kommer hem igen. Peter körde några varv i Northwood men det är liksom inte samma sak när man är den enda som tar studenten.

Vi gick sen hem till oss för att fika svensk gräddtårta innan vi gick ner till ASK Italian för att äta studentmiddag. Emelie hade fått välja och tyckte att italienskt går alltid hem. Vi hade en fantastisk dag/kväll och Emelie verkade himla nöjd över dagen. Peter och jag är så stolta över henne för hennes kämpande och slit för att fixa det med ett helt nytt skolsystem de sista 2 åren.

English

Today Emelie graduated from Northwood. Finally, she’s done with school and next step will be university once she knows what she wants to study. Here in UK there is no celebration what so ever, it’s a normal school day and afterwards everyone goes home.

Peter’s parents arrived Wednesday to be here for her day but Emelie had also two friends who flew in on Friday to surprise her. Very successful as she didn’t expect it at all, well she did find it a bit odd that I made her leave the house as I wanted to arrange everything. She also needed to be out of the house when her friends arrived.

Mia, Charlie and Anna also came by the school to see her do her running out of school. She didn’t want to do the exit when the school just finished as all the younger kids would still hang around. Several teachers were standing outside to see how a Swedish graduation looks like. When Emelie came with her classmates everyone applauded and lined the sides when they left. We were standing outside with student posters and singing the student song, Emelie found it a bit embarrassing but was happy. With a big grin on her face!

We hanged flowers and other memorabilia around her neck when the head teacher came up to us. Even the police standing outside the school asked what we were doing, they were there to make sure that traffic and people behaved. After a while it was time for Emelie to leave in the car we borrowed from Rebecca, a Swedish girl living here in Northwood as well. Sadly, she and her family was not here to be a part of this but she can see the pictures once we are all back in Northwood. Peter drove around Northwood for a while before returning home. It’s not the same when you are the only one doing it.

The rest of us went home where we were joined by Emelie and Peter after a while. I had made a Swedish cream cake which we had and later in the evening we all went to ASK Italian to have the dinner to celebrate. It was Emelie’s choice and she seemed to be very happy about the whole day. Peter and I are so proud of her to do this and in a new school system for the last 2 years.

 

Så var det dags för midsommar igen. Vädret har varit lite ostadigt men vi hade tur och kunde sitta ute även om det blåste en del. Som förra året var vi hos familjen Philipson där många av de andra svenskarna också var. Vi körde med knyte och fick ihop ett ganska så rejält midsommarbord.

Vi åt, sjöng snapsvisor och dansade runt midsommarstången.

English

It’s now time again for midsummer. The weather wasn’t really during the day but we were lucky and could sit outside even if it was a bit windy. As last year we celebrated at Philipson’s together with several of the other Swedes. We had a potluck and go a decent midsummer smorgasbord.

Idag var hela familjen på utflykt med de andra två svenska familjerna här i Northwood. Givetvis hade männen hittat dagens utflyktsmål – en öl och matfestival. Det var en bit att åka med kommunala färdmedel men vi kom dit så småningom och en rejäl backe som vi fick ta oss upp för.

Vädret var väl så där men vi hade en härlig dag men en massa lokala ölsorter och ett ganska så stort utbud av mat.

English

The whole family went on a trip today together with 2 other Swedish families here in Northwood. It was of course the men who found the place to go – a beer and food festival. It was quite some way to travel by tube but we got there eventually and even climbed a hill getting there.

The weather wasn’t the best but we had a nice day tasting a lot of local beers and a fairly large variety of good food.

Idag var jag på en Legal London guidad tur där vi till och med fick möjlighet att lyssna på en rättegång.

English

Today I went to a Legal London walk and could even listen to a case.

Så var det dags för oss att ha vår coffee morning där vi bjuder in alla de andra medföljande att ta del av våra smaker. Dessa coffee mornings sker ungefär en gång i månaden och alla länder kan inte ha sin egen bjudning eftersom det är för många länder och några länder är så få att de inte får ihop det. Man får räkna med att det kommer ca 50 st för att delta.

Vi har det tillsammans med Danmark och Norge och inför varje gång sätter vi oss ner och bestämmer vad vi ska bjuda på. Det är ju trots allt så att många saker är samma i våra länder och det är inte kul om alla kommer med samma.

English

Then it’s time again for us to have our coffee morning where all the other spouses are invited to taste our things. These coffee mornings are about one a month and all the countries can’t have their own as we are to many countries and also because some countries will not be able to carry it off by themselves as they are too few. You will have about 50 people coming each time.

We have it together with Norway and Denmark and before the coffee morning we meet to decide what to serve as we have many similar things to offer. No fun if we all bring the same.

Tjejerna skulle springa ett Colour run i Wembley Park och det var för omväxlingsskull enkelt att ta sig dit och vi behövde inte åka tidigt på morgonen då det låg på eftermiddagen. Peter och jag var bjudna på middag hos Sandra och Luca några av våra italienska vänner här. Vi hejade på tjejerna och såg dem gå i mål innan vi åkte vidare till Bushey för vår middag.

Inte behövde vi åka hem hungriga i alla fall eftersom vi åt och åt och åt i flera timmar.

English

The girls were going to do a colour run in Wembley Park and it was for a change easy to get there and we didn’t have to leave early in the morning as they were running in the afternoon. Peter and I was invited to our Italian friends Sandra and Luca for dinner. We saw the girls run and cross the finish line before we continued to Bushey for our dinner.

We didn’t have to go home hungry as we ate and ate and ate for hours.

Vi har varit på drottningens födelsedagsparad innan men då på den som var helgen innan. Men i år var vi ditbjudna som representanter för ambassaden och satt tillsammans med försvarsattachéerna och deras respektive. Drottningen och hennes man kom inte inridande, vilket det har gjort fram till för några år sen, utan de kom in med häst och vagn. Och trots att hon inte är så stor syntes hon väl i sin extremgröna dräkt.

Det jobbigaste var att jag skulle bära hatt och varje gång vi reste eller satte oss ner var det någon som stötte till den och den hamnade på sned. Nästa år ska jag nog inte ha hatt utan då tar jag nog en “fascinator” som inte verkar lika besvärlig.

Lunchen efteråt för försvarsattachéerna och deras respektive var på Royal Horse Guard Hotel i en helt magnifik sal. Som tur var får man som kvinna behålla hatten på även vid lunchen och ni kan ju själv tänka er hur man ser ut i håret när man haft en hatt nertryckt och dessutom har det varit varmt. Det var inte läge att ta av den…

English

We’ve been to the Queen’s birthday parade before but then it has been the rehearsal the weekend before. This year we were invited representing Swedish Embassy and sat together with all the Defense Attachés and their spouses. The Queen and her husband Prince of Wales didn’t arrive on a horse, as they have done up to recently, but by a horse carriage. Even if she is a small woman she was easy to spot in her really green dress.

The hardest thing was that I had to wear a hat and every time we stood up or sat down somebody hit it and it went all wobbly. Next year I don’t think I will wear a hat but a fascinator as they don’t seem to be as troublesome.

The lunch afterward was at the Royal Horse Guard Hotel in a magnificent hall. Luckily as a woman you can keep you hat on during the lunch because you can imagine how my hair was looking after I had been wearing a hat and it had been warm. It wasn’t going to be taken off…

Varje år anordnar en cancervälgörenhetsorganisation på lokala sjukhuset här en nattvandring för att samla in pengar. Jag, Emelie och Felicia bestämde oss för att delta tillsammans med 900 andra kvinnor som gick ca 11,3 km genom Northwood. Vi hade anmält oss tillsammans med några andra kvinnor från NAWC och vi försökte att hålla ihop till att börja med men det var svårt när vi var så många som skulle gå på dessa smala trottoarer.

Peter kom och hämtade oss när vi var klara och då var det ganska så skönt att sätta sig i bilen och slippa gå hem.

English

Every year the cancer charity at Mount Vernon Hospital arranges a night walk to raise money and awareness. Me, Emelie and Felicia decided to participate together with 900 other ladies and do the 7 mile walk through Northwood. We signed up together with some other ladies from NAWC and we tried to stay together but it was impossible when there was so many and the sidewalks are so narrow.

Peter picked us up afterward and it was really nice to not have to walk back home.

 

Som avslutning på året med NAWC så har vi en lunch för alla medlemmarna. I år var vi på Batchworth Golf Course där vi hade en fantastisk lunch med strålande sol och utsikten var underbar, alla hade ett par trevliga timmar tillsammans.

English

As end of year with NAWC there is a lunch with all the members. This year we were at Batchworth Golf Course where we had a wonderful lunch with fantastic weather and the view was beautiful, everyone had some great hours together.

(Forgot to take pictures – this pictures are borrowed from the Internet)

Sedan vi flyttade till London har mina fd arbetskamrater från Europolitan tiden varit här och hälsat på, många av oss har inte jobbat ihop på många år och vi kan väl snarare kalla oss vänner istället för fd arbetskamrater. De kommer på onsdagkväll och stannar till lördagen, däremellan pratar vi, skrattar, äter, shoppar och ser London. Det är långa dagar och många steg och jag tror vi alla är ganska så möra när det är dags för hemfärd.

Denna gången var vi i Sky Garden, vi hade fantastiskt väder och såg därmed långt och vi var även på Portobello Road. Även om vi shoppar är det inte det som det är fokus på utan att umgås och skratta.

English

Since we moved to London my former coworkers have been here every year, many of us haven’t been working together for many years and today we call us friends instead of former coworkers. They arrive Wednesday evening and stays to Saturday, during this time we talk, laugh, eat, shops and sees London. It’s long days and many steps and I think we are all quite tired once it’s time for departure.

This time we went to see Sky Garden, we had fantastic weather and could see all of London and also Portobello Road. Even if we do some shopping focus is on spending time together and laugh.

Idag var jag och Emelie på en guidad tur med vår pub guide som visade oss mat-London och samtidigt lite gatukonst. Vic känner till mycket om London och även om pubar är ett stort intresse är även mat det. Vi var i delar av London som jag har varit tidigare men när man bara är på väg från ett ställe till ett annat tittar man inte lika noga.

Vi var i chokladfabriker, bagel-bagerier och små matstånd. Vi såg olika väggmålningar som pryder East End och som är stora. Intressant och gott!

English

Today I and Emelie went on a guided tour with our pub tour guide who showed us food and street art London. Vic knows a lot about London and even if pubs are a big interest so is food. We were in a part of London where I have been several times before but when you are going from one place to another you don’t look closely enough.

We went to chocolate factories, bagel bakery and small food stands. We also saw wall paintings all over East End and they are large. Interesting and delicious!

 

Idag var jag, Emelie och Felicia och såg Svansjön tillsammans med Hester och hennes flickor. Vi tyckte alla att det var helt fantastiskt och njöt av varenda minut. Det var första gången mina flickor var och såg en balett och de tyckte om det även om de inte hade helt klar med berättelsen men ändå hade de utbytte av det.

English

I, Emelie and Felicia saw Swan Lake today together with Hester and her daughters. We all loved it and enjoyed every second of it. It was the first time for our girls to see a ballet and they loved it even if they didn’t know the full story of the play.

Idag var det en tidig morgon för oss alla då tjejerna skulle springa ett lopp i Kempton. Det ligger ungefär 1 timme bort, söder om oss och förbi Heathrow. De skulle springa sitt lopp inne på Kempton Park Racecourt, ett väldigt fint område som vi kan tänka oss att åka tillbaka till.

De har sprungit Colour Run tidigare men denna gången var det med en hinderbana som var utlagd runt hela stället. Jag stod först i början av banan och sen förflyttade jag mig mot slutet så att jag kunde heja på dem, tyvärr innebar hindren att många inte sprang och det blev köer men de tyckte att det var kul. Jag tyckte att jag stått långt ifrån allt men såg när jag tog av mig skor att även vi som åskådare fått färg på oss. De slänger ju en massa pulver så luften var ju full av detta.

Vi hade med oss våtservetter och ombyte så att vi slapp ha all färg inne i bilen på vägen hem.

English

We all had an early morning today as the girls were doing a run in Kempton. That’s about an hour drive south of us and south of Heathrow. They were doing the run at the Kempton Park Racecourt, a very nice area where we would love to go back to.

They have been doing Colour Runs before but this time it was with obstacles all around the place. I placed myself in the beginning of the course and then later moved over to the end of the course so I would be able to cheer them on. Sadly the obstacles ment that many didn’t run as they built up queues but the girls liked it. I thought I made myself stand far away from the obstacles, where they were throwing the colour powder out but once I took my shoes of I realized that the air was full of this coloured powder.

This time we had wet wipes with us and new clothes and didn’t have to have all of the colour in the car.

 

Idag var vi bjudna på Scandinavian Barbecue på en militärbas som ligger norr om Gloucester, ett par timmars resa från Northwood. Men det var en inbjudan som kom via ambassaden och deras chaufför körde så då var det inte lika jobbig. I alla fall för mig!

Det var en trevlig tillställning även om det var i längsta laget att åka.

English

Today we were invited to a Scandinavian Barbecue at a military base north of Gloucester, a few hours from Northwood. But it was an invitation through the embassy and their chauffeur drove and then it wasn’t so hard. At least for me!

It was a really nice evening even if it was a bit long to go there.

 

Så var det då dags igen för årets stora händelse på basen – International Evening. Återigen var det 28 länder som serverade mat som representerar deras länder. Härligt att se alla som ansträngt sig för att visa sina specialiteter och ger oss möjligheten att smaka.

English

Then it was time again for big event at the base – International Evening. Again, it was 28 countries serving food representing their countries. Lovely to see how everyone have gone an extra mile to show their specialties and give us the opportunity to taste.

Idag var jag på en guidad tur i East End, ett område jag har varit i förut men med en annan guide. Alltid lika intressant att bli guidad av olika personer på samma ställe eftersom man inte får samma information, det är så mycket historia att de kan välja vad de vill prata om.

English

Today I went on a guided tour in the East End of London. An area I’ve been to before but with another guide, it’s interesting to walk in familiar places but not get exactly the same story. So much history the guides have to choose what to tell.

Emelie hade skola idag så det blev inte så mycket firande mer än att vi gick ut och åt på kvällen. Givetvis var det sång på morgonen som vanligt. Fira henne får vi göra i sommar när vi ska ha en kombinerad student- och födelsedagsfest.

English

Emelie had school all day so we didn’t really celebrate her birthday. Woke her up this morning with us all singing beautifully for her and in the evening, we went out for dinner. We will celebrate her this summer when we will have a combined graduation- and birthday party.

Jag, Colleen och Hester tog oss till Churchill War Rooms idag, ingen av oss hade varit där även om våra män varit mer än en gång. Det är därifrån Storbritannien styrdes under andra världskriget och det ligger underjord. Det öppnades 1938 och användes fram till 16 augusti 1945 då man bara lämnade det precis som det var då, några år senare tog man beslutet att det skulle bevaras som ett minne. Men först under 70-talet släpptes restriktionerna och 1984 öppnades det för allmänheten. Sedan dess har man öppnat fler delar och 2005 fick det namnet Churchill War Rooms för att hedra Sir Winston Churchill för hans insatser under andra världskriget.

Du får se hur rummen såg ut där man tog olika beslut, vart de som jobbade där sov men även en utställning över Churchills liv. Mycket intressant och väl värt ett besök.

English

Today I went with Colleen and Hester to visit the Churchill War Rooms, I’ve not been there before even if Peter has been there several times. This is where UK was run during the Second World War and is below ground level. It was opened in 1938 and used until August 16 1945 when it was left as it was, a few years later it was decided to preserve it for the future. It was under restrictions and it wasn’t before 1970s that these were lifted and in 1984 it was open to the public. Since then it has been added more rooms and exhibitions and in 2005 it changes its name and was dedicated to Sir Winston Churchill.

You see the rooms where all the decisions were made, where they slept and an exhibition over Churchills life. Very interesting and well worth the visit.

Min guidade tur för dagen var i Docklands, jag har varit i delar av den och idag började vi från väst och jobbade oss halvvägs inåt. Även om turen tog 2 timmar så hann vi inte hela. Docklands har varit Londons hamnområde länge men när trafiken ökade så var det ohållbart eftersom det dessutom ligger så nära centrum. Man har idag gjort en marina där och lägenheter och kontor i de gamla lagerhusen. När jag gick längs med Themsen och såg de nya lägenheterna som man byggt och restaurerat fick man lite Karlskrona feeling. Ska definitivt sätta upp mig på nästa tur som då blir del två.

English

The tour of the day was to see Docklands, I’ve been to parts of it and today we started in the west and worked us halfway in. Even if the tour took 2 hours we couldn’t see all of it. Docklands have been the dock of London but as the traffic became more it was not possible to keep it. Today there is a marina and the old storehouses are made into flats and office space. When walking along Themes and saw the area it reminded me a lot of Karlskrona (our hometown). Will definitely be on the next tour which will be second part of the tour.

 

I år var hela familjen med på rugbyn mellan Navy och Army, eftersom det är militära lag som spelar är det bussar från alla olika baser runt om i England som transporterar dit åskådarna. Många har suttit i timmar på bussen och har festat hela vägen dit = många ser aldrig matchen. Även på dessa matcherna sitter man blandat så sidan om mig hade jag en kille som tillhör flygvapnet och han hejade på dem som tog poäng.

Efteråt hade Peters arbetskamrat och hans sambo bjudit hem oss till dem på lite mat. Tjejerna tog bussen hem och Peter och jag promenerade bort till Gorm och Leanne som bodde nära Twickenham Stadium.

English

This year the whole family was going to the rugby game between Navy and Army, as it is military teams playing buses from different bases bringing the supporters. Many have been on the road for hours and partied all the way = some don’t even get to see the game. On games like this it’s the same as other rugby games that the supporters are mixed and next to me I had a RAF guy who cheered for the team scoring.

After the game, Peter and I was invited over to Gorm and Leanne’s house, near Twickenham Stadium, for some food and the girls took the bus back to Northwood.

Idag var jag på en tur i Southwark och fick höra ännu mer historia om området. Jag har varit här många gånger förut eftersom Borough Market och The Globe ligger här men har givetvis inte sett hela och absolut inte hört allt om det. Det har jag nog inte nu heller men jag har i alla fall hört lite mer.

Southwark ligger söder om Themsen och det var hit allt det “oanständiga” var tvungen att flytta när puritanerna styrde London. De ansåg att teater, pubar osv var syndigt och fick alltså inte finnas inom stadsgränsen. Det var också hit många kom för att lämna sina hästar och vagnar när de skulle besöka London. Precis som resten av London utvecklas det hela tiden.

English

Today I went on a tour in Southwark and heard more history about the area. I’ve been here several times as Borough Market and The Globe is here but I haven’t seen all of it and absolutely not heard all about it. I still haven’t but at least more about it.

Southwark is south of Themes and this is where sinful things were when the puritans oversaw the city. They thought theaters, pubs etcetera was sinful and were not allowed inside the city walls. This was also where people travelling from southern England came and left their horses and carriages when going to London. And as rest of London it develops all the time.

The Southwark Cathedral

Georges Inn

This is where the ferry man sat waiting for passengers crossing the river Themes.

Ännu en guidad tur och denna gången i Blackfriars som var ett område som ligger norr om Themsen men söder om St. Paul’s Cathedral. Vi fick höra om Shakespeares aktiviteter i området.

Namnet har området fått av en munkorden som bar svarta kappor och som flyttade hit i början på 1200-talet och byggde ett enormt kloster. Det hade en viktig roll i samhället fram tills att Henry VIII stängde ner alla kloster 1538, några av byggnaderna hyrdes ut till en grupp som startade en teater. Klostrets gästhus hyrdes ut till Apoteksföreningen (en av Londons 110 yrkesorganisationer) 1632 men brann ner 1666 i Great Fire of London. Apoteksföreningen byggde dock upp den igen och är fortfarande kvar på samma ställe.

Vi var inne i St Andrew by the Wardrobe (kyrka) och såg att de hade en massa kostymer som hängde och lådor med skjortor. Givetvis undrade vi varför och fick då förklarat att de tar emot avlagda kostymer och skjortor så att hemlösa eller fattiga kan gå dit och få en kostym om de ska på anställningsintervju.

English

Another guided tour and this time in Blackfriars, an area north of Thames and south of St. Paul’s cathedral. We heard about Shakespeare’s activities here while he was alive.

The name Blackfriars comes from the monks cappa, they moved there in the beginning of the 13^th century and build several buildings in the area. They were important to the state until they were closed down by Henry VIII when he dissolved all monasteries in 1538. Some of the building was rented out to a group who started a theater. The monastery’s guest house was rented out to the livery company Society of Apothecaries (one of London’s 110 liveries) in 1632 but it was destroyed in the Great Fire of London 1666. The livery rebuilt it again and are still in the same spot.

We went in to St Andrew by the Wardrobe (a church) and saw that they had a lot of suits and shirts. Of course, we wondered why, we got the explanation that when homeless people or very poor people are going to a job interview they can’t afford to buy a suit to look good at the interview. They can then come there to get one and keep it.

I NAWC har vi en äldre dam som är från Polen. När hon var tonåring hamnade hon i ett ghetto som skickade alla barn till koncentrationsläger. Eftersom hon var stor nog att arbeta fick hon stanna men hennes pappa som pratade även tyska erbjöd sig att åka med barnen för att ge dem en trygghet. Honom såg hon aldrig mer.

Själv fick hon arbeta och såg hur fler och fler försvann, hon var en av de sista kvar i ghettot när de allierade kom och befriade dem. Hon har jobbat ihop med en skola i många år för att sprida kunskap om vad som hände bland annat judarna. De har gjort en pjäs som skildrar hennes tid innan de blev satta i ghettot, denna har sedan spelats in.

Vi var på Holocaust Centre här i London där vi fick träffa fler kvinnor och män som överlevt och som berättade om vad de gör på Holocaust Centre. Filmen var väldigt gripande trots att Helena sa att hon haft tur jämfört med många andra.

English

NAWC has an elderly lady from Poland. When she was young she was in a ghetto that was the just keeping the Jews before they were sent to a concentration camp. As she was old enough she was useful for work and could stay, the rest of the children were sent away. Her father who spoke German offered to accompany the children, she never saw him again.

She had to work hard and saw more and more people disappear, she was among the last ones when the allied came to rescue. She has been speaking in schools to give awareness to what happened to the Jews. She has made a play together with some students that has been filmed.

We went to Holocaust Centre in London to meet other survivers and heard about what they do at the Holocaust Centre. The movie was emotional even if Helena said she was lucky compared to many others.

Vi har varit och tittat på rugby på Wembley Stadium mellan två Londonlag – Saracen vs Harlequin. Vi har tittat på dem tidigare och även om jag inte är särskilt intresserad av rugby så tycker jag om att titta på det. Lagens supportrar sitter blandade och det är bra med tryck på läktaren, det var nästan 84 000 åskådare.

English

We went to Wembley Stadium today to watch a rugby game between two London teams – Saracen vs Harlequin. We have seen them play before and even if I’m not very interested in rugby I like to watch it live. The supporters are mixed and still I have not seen any fights and with 84.000 spectators it’s a lot of sound from the stands.

Idag har jag och tjejerna varit på eftermiddagsföreställningen av Billy Elliot, den ska sluta gå så det var dags att äntligen se den. Jag tycker väldigt mycket om filmen och hade hört att musikalen skulle var riktigt bra. Vi tyckte väldigt mycket om den alla 3 och jag är glad att vi blev färdiga att se den här i London.

English

Today, me and the girls, went to see Billy Elliot in the afternoon, it’s not going to continue and it was time to see it. I love the movie and had heard that the musical was really good. All 3 of us liked it very much and I’m glad that we got to see it here in London.

Nu har vi varit ett par dagar i Köpenhamn för att fira att Peters föräldrar båda har fyllt 70 år, svärfar i höstas och svärmor i vintras. Vi skulle träffas på hotellet, Scandic Copenhagen, runt lunchtid men det drog ut på tiden för svägerskan och hennes familj att komma. De skulle ta tåget över från Lund men kom inte så långt innan det blev stopp och där stod de länge, så småningom så fick de tag i en taxi som kunde köra dem över eftersom det inte var några tåg som gick. De kom i alla fall till slut och det var härligt att träffa alla igen.

Vi åt på vietnamesisk restaurang, gick på Ströget, var på Blå Planeten och åt födelsedagsmiddag. Det var några härliga dagar med umgänge och vi hade fantastisk tur med vädret.

English

Now we are back from a few days in Copenhagen, where we went to celebrate Peter’s parents who had turned 70, father in fall and mother in winter. We were going to meet at Scandic Copenhagen, our hotel, around lunch but it took forever for Peter’s sister and her family to arrive. They were supposed to take the train from Lund but didn’t get very far before it stopped and then couldn’t continue, eventually they got hold of a taxi that could take them across the bridge. Finally, they arrived and it was so nice to see them again.

We had Vietnamese food, walked on Ströget, went to Blue Planet and had a birthday dinner. Lovely days with just being together and the weather was fantastic too.

Idag var jag återigen på en av alla mina guidade turer i London. Jag älskar att vara med i min klubb som ger mig möjlighet att delta i alla dessa guidade turer och höra all möjlig historia om London och deras invånare. Denna gången lyssnade vi på en guide som berättade om hur de homosexuella männen i London hade det under 1700 och 1800-talet. Det var olagligt att vara homosexuell och ställena de träffades på sågs inte som bordeller då det verkar som det var vänner som träffades i ett hem som uppläts för dessa möten. Ställena kallades Molly houses, vart ordet molly kommer ifrån är inte helt säkert men prostituerade kvinnor liksom homosexuella män kallades molly. Återigen så fick jag se nya delar av London men även delar som jag gått förbi många gånger men inte vetat om dess historia.

English

Today I was on one of my many guided tours again here in London. I love to be part of my women’s club that gives me the possibilities to take part in so many guided tours and hear the history of London and the people who have lived and live here. This time we listened to a guide who told us about the homosexual men of London during 18^th and 19^th century. It was illegal to be homosexual and the places where they met seems to have been homes that was hosting these meetings and they were not seen as brothels. The houses were called Molly houses.

Nu har vi haft mamma, pappa, Anders, Susanne, Isabella och Sofia på besök. Vi hade ett planerat besök på Kew Garden eftersom mamma och pappa gärna ville se det och vi försökte att gå på Naturhistoriska museet men det ställde vi in efter att ha sett den extremt långa kön. Istället så gick till en pub och åt fish & chips som jag tror att barnen uppskattade minst lika mycket, innan vi åkte och shoppade. Vi hann även med att fira Anders som hade födelsedag här.

Det är alltid trevligt att ha familjen på besök och lite tråkigt när de åker. Fast det är intensivt med så många i samma hus och jag måste säga att jag beundrar de som bor flera generationer i samma hus alltid. Eftersom vi bor så långt ifrån varandra är det mysigt att få rå om varandra helt under ett par dagar.

English

Now mum, dad, my brother, sister-in-law and nieces have been here to visit. We only had one thing planned, going to Kew Gardens as my parents have never been there and wanted to see it. We also did try to go to Natural history museum but changed our minds when we saw the line, instead we went to have some Fish & Chips before going for shopping. We also celebrated my brother who had his birthday while visiting.

It’s always nice having family visiting and a bit sad when they leave. But it gets a bit intense with so many people at the same time under one roof and must say I admire those who lives several generations in the same house. As we live so far away from each other it is nice to spend these intense days together.