Hej
Nu är julen över för denna gång. Kanske är det den sista julen på länge som som vi spenderar i Sverige. All mat och allt överflöd är lite för mycket. Det känns lite som om alla skall ta igen alla dåliga samveten över natten. Kommersen andas snabba cash, eller som en sann filosof säger, jag citerar " kunder och shopping i en skön symbios"

Jag vill med detta inlägg bara ge alla som läser detta en påminnelse att alltid vara sann med sig själv och sina medmänniskor, se alltid till att göra "gott" Kan  du hjälpa en medmänniska till ett bättre liv skall du göra detta, det är enkelt att göra människor glada utan att det kostar dig något, du kommer att få väldigt mycket i gengäld.

Vill att ni alla skall vara öppna och ge mer av er själva, våga GE mer av er själva.

Vet att jag är en sentimental gubbe men kan någon av er som läser detta tänka till och ge är jag glad

När det gäller nyår som snart kommer skulle jag vilja be er alla som kommer att köpa fyrverkerier att inte göra detta utan i ställer skänka pengarna till hemlösa eller andra saker som ligger er nära om hjärtat. Ni gör förutom perosner glada även sen stor insats för alla djur som är livrädda för smällare.

För alla som följer mitt råd vill jag skänka ett stort tack

Stor kram från den gamle
///Lasse

Christmas morning

For us in Sweden Christmas is Christmas Eve, especially if you are a child. That is the evening when Santa comes with his gifts. He doesn´t put them in stockings or anything but hands them out in person. That is also the day when family and friends gather to have a Christmas buffé consisting pickled herring of all kinds, gravlax, smoked salmon, meatballs, different sausages, patés and The Christmas Ham, not turkey.

Christmas buffé

Christmas Ham

I always eat rice porridge with cinnamon and milk and a ham sandwich on Christmas morning. That is my favourite time of Christmas. The house is clean (sort of) and the food for the buffé is done.

I also like Christmas Day because then the hustle and bustle is over and you get to enjoy the peace and quiet. The fridge is full of all sorts of goodies and maybe you got a new book for Christmas to read. Tomorrow I will hang with Pontus, the horse, in the morning. Maybe we will take a walk together if the weather isn´t as bad as today. In that case I will ride indoors.

This evening all my children are coming to eat and talk. Maybe Santa is coming but he might be to busy visiting younger children.

 I am going out in this lousy weather to buy some last minutes things like fresh bread.

Have a wonderful Christmas to all of you and I particularly think of one person who is spending Christmas alone. Take Care.Love You

Åse

early bird

I woke up early this morning 06.45. The alarm clock was set on 7.30 so it wasn´t any use to try to get back to sleep. I might as well go up and get ready to meet ol´ Pontus. I will only meet him twice before going to Portugal for almost two weeks.

I had some nice ham sandwiches and two large mugs of coffee and milk so I can keep warm in the stable. it will be a quite busy day when come home later. After lunch and shower we will do THE BIG GROCERY SHOPPING before Christmas. It is always a stressful moment. There are so many people out doing the exact same thing, shopping.

After that I will probably be worn out completely but i have to do some more things before I can call it quits for the evening. Cooking and preparing for Christmas Eve when all the children will come over for Christmas dinner and presents. That will be nice.

I might catch up with you later if I have the time and strengths.

Åse

Good bye and Christmas buffé

Last day in school, at least for a while. To say good bye to my students was very hard because I love them so much. One of the girls became very angry with me because she got a lower grade this semester. I hurt very much since she is very close. We parted with her not wanted to say good bye.

In the evening we went to a restaurant in Gothenburg. I think it is maybe the third time I have been out when the job has paid. At least since I started to work in schools. We went to Novotel and had a lovely Christmas buffé with mainly seafood and pickled herring, my favourites. The äggost, which is a kind of dessert and a speciality from Bohuslan, is made of eggs, cream and sour cream and heated til it curdles. I just love it.

Today it is winter solstice. So from now on the days are getting longer again, at least after a week or so. I read in the news paper that it is about 10 hours darker now than when it is the lightest, in the summer time that is.
In the beginning you don´t even notice the change bu then in February there is suddenly light again. Now it is so dark.

No day light in Sweden

Only three days to go until Christmas Eve. I am so happy that I get to spend it with my much loved children.

Gotta go

Åse

Paper work ready

The paper work is ready!
Jippie!

We were so thrilled when we read the mail that said;

"This morning we received word that the needed  papers have been signed and entered in the system from both Camara and tax office  and will be made available to Luis the moment I have these received from the Engineer sometime soon. So once Luis has received these I shall coordinate with him a location and time where the deed can be signed January 6^th."

This was three days ago and I had to read the words several times before I could understand.

Hopefully our lawyer got the papers by now so he can make up the contract

The reason it has taken so long time is, if I understand things coreectly, that we wanted the papers to be in order to be able to apply for a licens for Agro Turismo. The previous owners haven´t had any papers for that part. But we want everything to be in order and want to pay our taxes.

When they tried to get the papers in order the Camara noticed some things that weren´t in order about the size of the property and a building that wasn´t on the plan. They had to write everything in and get it approved and stamped in different departments.

Well enough of that. THE PAPERS ARE READY

Åse

Some light in the darkness

Some light is popping up though. We got some positive news from the real estate agent yesterday.

They are starting to fix the newly built patio (ours, not guests) It needs some paint and a big pile of dirt needs to be removed.

A construction company is coming in the end of the week to start building the stairs from the pool area up to upper vineyard where our intentions are to build a wood burning hot tub. We want it so you can sit there under the stars and sip a glass of wine after a long day of exploring the area, wine harvest or whatever.

They are spraying the infested beams this weekend when nobody is in the main building.

So it seems they can have everything ready if the papers will be ready til January 6 when the preliminary date is set for signing the deed.

I am doing the last two days at work this semester which is also nice. Then I will have a good Christmas holiday in Portugal. It is going to be lovely. The weather isn´t so nice nor warm there right now but I don´t care. Sitting by the fire reading books, having dinner with good friends and do some more exploring of the area wil be good as well.

Have a nice day

Åse

Lousy weather

Really lousy weather outside today. The weather combined with the winter season makes it so dark outside. It doesn´t get light during the whole day. You have to have all lights on inside just to be able to see. I am lighting candles, morning and night so you will get that cozy feeling.

Yesterday I took Pontus for a walk. i went down to the stable quite early and made him ready, grooming, fixing his water and food. Then we went out and it was all of a sudden a beautiful quiet morning. We met two joggers but apart from them it was only Pontus and I. After about 15 minutes a light drizzle started and 10 minutes later the wind took off. The rain now came from the side and it wasn´t so amusing anymore. I reached for my riding gloves in my pockets only to find that had brought to left ones. I rode with one on and the other left in my pocket.

Well at home, after a shower and some lunch I decided to take a nap. The evening was quiet and we enjoyed a fabulous dinner made by moi.

No news regarding the farm more than the usual nonsense. The sellers have problems completing things that we agreed upon so there has been a large number of emails going back and forth between us and the real estate agent.

It will be so good to finally complete this deal whenever this is going to happen so we can start doing the things we want to do. Now everything is delayed due to paper work not being ready.

Will let you know whenever things are moving in the right direction.

Ase

post dog

We admit. We´re crazy. We have three dogs. What kind of normal people have three dogs if you don´t run kennel. We do.  The dogs we own are stray dogs, from the street and spayed.

One is old. Going on his 12th year, could be more. Nobody really knows. I came to think what will you do after he is gone. He is the mentor of the pack and my dearest friend.

The thing is that you have to prepare for a life without him. Can you? Is it possible? It is painful to even think about it. I cannot say what life would be without him. It feels he has been with with us forever. What was life before him. I don´t know but it must have been empty and cold because with him in my life it is warm and sunny.

He is getting old. He has cataract on both his eyes. It is not so bad yet but is getting worse. he is a little bit more tired in the morning and he goes to bed earlier at night. Otherwise he is ok. He plays with his brothers and enjoys his walks and he sure loves his food. But, he is getting older. What will I possibly do without him?

I don´t know. Can´t even imagine.

Off the hook

Not many days now until this semester is over. I can´t tell how nice it is going to be not worrying about the students and their results. To be off the hook. Then I will spend my Christmas reading many books and drinking a glass of red, or two.

I am so happy we took the time off Sunday to go for a movie and a dinner. It took our minds off the stress of buying a vineyard in Portugal and also gave us some new energy to continue working towards our goal.

Yesterday was a day marking and grading. Today I have been in the stable, grooming Pontus and after i rode. I still can´t do anything but walk him. Hopefully he will soon be better so we can start trotting. I had to ride in the inside in the ring because it was really icy and slippery outside. It is a shame because I really wanted to be out in the woods today.

This weekend we´re going to buy most of the Christmas gifts. It is always nice when it is done. I really hate shopping, especially when the malls and shops are crowded. For myself I wish for a pair of rubber boots (ha ha), some socks and some money sent to the victims in Philippines. I don´t really need anything.

Now I have to do some grocery shopping. Maybe I write something later because I would like to reach 25000 visitors on my blog, today. That would be something.

Åse

marking and grading

Every day life when you are a teacher. I never stops, especially when you are a Swedish/English teacher. At least it fells that way. The pupils always get a second chance to do a test again. Sometimes they get a third and a fourth chance which means i mark and mark and the pupils will never make it (or sometimes they do).

Now it is that time of year when the teachers are grading their students. That means that they are getting everything from the students that was supposed to be "in" a long time ago.

Sometimes I feel like I want to say to them. "When the train has left, it is gone."

A bit of snow has fallen and keeps coming. I dream of a snow free life but the papers are still not ready but we have a signing date put up. January 6 is now the date we hope the farm will be ours. We are still going over Christmas. Unfortunately we can´t start with the work we had set out to do which will delay us the upcoming season. But what can we do?

We´re waiting and hoping

Åse

Time Out

The last couple of weeks mind twisting, maybe travelling, maybe getting a vineyard and a lot of work had made us confused, angry and a bit sad. All work and no play. It was time for us to get a time out.

The day started with us getting up quite early. I was going to the stable and a session with ol´ Pontus and Lasse was going to walk the dogs, paint and other things around the house. I spent about three hours in the stable and it was snowing a lot. Pontus was in a bad mood since all his mates had gone out to play in the snow and he was stuck in the stable with me. I rode and did all the chores and let Pontus go out into the paddock. He was really happy and showed it by chasing all other horses trying to bite them. After I went home to have lunch and a shower.

We started to discuss if were going to do something else after the disaster with the very boring Christmas Fair on Saturday. There has been so many maybes and musts these last weeks, the whole autumn as a matter of fact. We decided to go and see a movie in Gothenburg and to have a meal out. The movie we agreed upon was "Monica Z" but before that we went to Lai Wa, a Chinese restaurant which is our favourite Chinese.

The food was good, the film was excellent. All in all a very good evening.

Dark, wet and cold Gothenburg

Åse

To face the truth

To face the truth is sometimes hard. This week has been mentally challenging. First the paper work on the farm weren´t ready and we gave up the thought of owning the farm this year. Now we are aiming for January but everything feels so unsure. Maybe we are getting a bit cynical and negative but what else can we be thinking about the holidays. Maybe the Camara doesn´t work between Christmas and New year´s.

Another thing that I have to face is still not official but I will tell about it later when it is. Nothing dangerous though.

Getting dinner ready and inside it is warm and cozy but outside it is oh so cold. It is hard to walk the dogs because the pavements are covered in ice and you risk falling so many times. I really hate when it is so slippery outside. You try to not be so tense because it is easier to fall but it is hard not to.

We had a nice walk in the woods earlier today and the sun was out. Really beautiful weather but cold. The ground in the wood wasn´t slippery so it was nice walking there.

the guys

Afterwards wo thought of doing something fun so we went to a local Christmas Fair. So stupid we felt because the fair was a joke. It had basically nothing nice at all going on. I like when many local producers sell their food but here they had basically nothing. We went home quite depressed because we wanted to do something for a change. Not just stay at home and refurbish the house.

The dinner look nice though

Åse

snow

It has started to snow and my husband is still on his Portuguese lesson. I don´t like when he is out driving in bad weather. I hope he drives carefully and the weather isn´t getting any worse.


I was thinking about that we have been working too much on the house lately. We haven´t had so much fun. Maybe we cab come up with something fun to this weekend. The utility room is soon done and it is getting quite nice. I thought I was going to show you some picture how it is now. There are yet a thing or two to be done.

Oak bench done by my handy husband

Big utility room with hand woven carpet from Kalymnos

You throw the dirty laundry from the second floor through a
hole in a wardrobe straight down in the laundry basket

snow

Take it easy if you are out there on the roads.
Åse

Three white swans

I walked the dogs yesterday evening. It was a beautiful one and ground was about to freeze in some parts.It was very dark but all the christmas lights shone in all gardens and windows. There was also a lot of stars visible. All of a sudden I heard a funny noise from the sky and I and all the dogs looked up. As golden, three white swans flew by. Their bodies reflected all the lights from the ground and the glittered and shimmered. It was truly a beautiful moment.

Tonight Lars is on his last Portuguese lesson and I am home alone with the dogs. I am so tired after the days work so I think I will hit the sack quite early tonight.

A storm is coming in tonight and it is clearly very much colder inside because of the wind. I have lit a lot of candles and it is nice sitting here with all the dogs around me. Still I feel a bit sad. Sad about things that isn´t but should have been.

Maybe tomorrow is a better day.

Åse

Somewhere over the rainbow

Woke up 4.20. My husband was already up and making breakfast. He was going to Stockholm and had to get up at that hour but I went to bed for another hour of sleep.

Now when I am writing this entry it is 6.30 and he is gone and I am going soon. I am taking two of the dogs to doggie kindergarden and one of the dogs is staying home with my son. The dog is ill, or have some kind of tummy problem. It means he has diareea and there was poo all over one of the carpets in the living room. Nice to start your morning routine that way.

It is pit dark outside and it is raining. So I have to take rubber boots, not boats, and take the dog for a walk before I will leave them in doggie kindergarden. W are paying a good deal of money to that place. We are pleased with how they take care of the dogs but it is a lot of money.

Is this the way life is supposed to be? This is what we would like to get away from. Not the poo bit because if you have animals this id what you will get from time to time. I mean getting up so early, pay someone to take care of your animals so you can work. Lasse works such long hours. He went 5.30 and will get home at 10 pm. This rat race!

A new life is waiting for us somewhere over the rainbow.


Åse

buying a house in Portugal?

This is a good link if you are looking for a house in Portugal. It is in Portuguese but then I can practice my Portuguese.

http://www.eliseumateus.com/como-obter-a-licenca-de-habitacao/

Monday morning

Cold morning outside. That i can tell just by looking outside. It is white from frost everywhere, no snow though. the sun is shining so it looks like it is going to be another beautiful day.

Today is going to be a busy day. Beside working, marking a lot of papers before grading, Only three weeks before Christmas holidays so there are many things to do. I am also going to study some Portuguese vacuuming, go to the library and pharmacy. Busy, busy day.

In June we switched cable company and in the deal we were offered telephone and internet service. They, the new company, were going to get in contact with our old telephone company and make the change. WE were going to the cable company and make the switch. That was in June as I said before. First of September the old cable company turned off their service and the new one was going to kick in. Nothing.

Now it is December 2nd and we still have no TV, the old telephone company still provides it services. we have called endless times to "our" new supplier. Nothing. I think I will call them today and get really nasty.

Dreaming of this

Åse

1st Advent

Today it is 1st of December and in Sweden we are celebrating 1st of Advent. The word advent is from the latin word adventus, which means coming. The one that is coming is of course Jesus even if we are not that religious in Sweden any more. The first of Advent is the beginning of the liturgical year.

I think it is a wonderful tradition to light the candles because it is pretty dark in Sweden. We also bake saffron buns and eat ginger bread snaps. Sometimes we drink Glögg, which is a kind of spicy warm wine drink.

saffron buns

ginger bread snaps

glögg

I haven´t baked the ones above. Whenever I try to bake them they look disgusting.

I had a wonderful day out today. The sun was shining and it was quite warm for the time of year. 8 degrees centigrade. It was a bit windy but the ride on Pontus was wonderful.

Then I went out and walked the dogs so I have been out quite much today.

I think I found out what the lawyer tried to tell us in his mail on Friday. All paper work on the vineyard have been approved. The cottage which wasn´t on the title deed was approved by the Camara but it might not be approved as a living accommodation. If the notario wants that as well it will be another wait so keep your fingers crossed that everything will be ready on Wednesday, when it is supposed to be registered

Now I am going to have another bun.

Peace to you all.

Åse