The Truth - about that pillow!

I really believed that home was where 'my' pillow is - at least it always was until now!

My Prozac Tour to Stockholm was everything I wanted it to be. Perfect Swedish summer weather with blue skies, sun shine all day, long very balmy nights. Of course there was the shopping - sales start straight after midsummer. Talk about good timing. Traffic was down to a minimum. And of course my instincts on finding my way around were as good as if we still lived there - I drove automatically, could have done so blindfolded! It was all just so easy. Even my little run in with the Swedish Medical system went off without a hitch.

And then I returned to Sampa ..... by the time we arrived home, my eyes were burning (pollution) and by the end of the weekend my bosom buddy the 'headache' was back in all it's glory. So officially I want 'danger pay' for living here! ;-)) ok try telling that to a government that has just cut the budget that language lessons have to be cancelled - so I will now have to try and falo on my own - so if you hear me babbling in Swedish - just ignore me!

When (to the English teachers - I want to start my sentence with this word) Frank and I got married, I knew that we would end up living in different countries and I would never have a career of my own but would follow him around. I made peace with this before we were married as I also love travelling, in fact staying too long in one place is more scary than moving around!

I knew that my 'achievements' would be to raise my kids, support my hubby and have fun. I guess I have succeeded - at least I hope so!

Now after 24 years of marriage, 4 countries, 3 continents, 3 kidz I realize that for the first time my home is not where my pillow is! It would seem as if my European roots seem to have dug themselves in very deep in our previous stint on the continent!

A while back I had hoped that we would end up in Budapest - I dreamed of my 'housewarming' party - my guest list included over 30 people - all family members! These are only the ones that I know of! There was a 'manor' house in a village in Slovakia where my mother comes from that has my name on it - it's on the same latitude at the famous Tokaji wine region. Then there is that village where my grandmother comes from - there were vineyards there one before the communists arrived. And then there is Sweden.......

Alix is a typical teenager with a capital T, but she has said a few wise words, one being that she doesn't want kids because she is too scared they may turn out like her!! Yes! The second is that we need to get a place so that we, the family, can spend holidays together now that we are all going our separate ways! Wow, I was impressed - but then she does miss Carl! So where does one actually start looking for this place where we can all meet up?

Carl will not return to South Africa, in fact he has now been living in Sweden for more than 2 years already! Time has flown. Stephan may spend a little time in SA after finishing his studies but he too will head out. As for Alix, she is already talking about moving in with Carl and studying in Sweden - have to admit that it would be much cheaper for Frank and me! She only 3 more years of school, lets see where her path leads her, but like Carl she also feels 'free' and 'at home' in Stockholm.

It's very obvious that our kids will most probably settle in Europe, although if I can give Stephan some advice- South America, especially Chile is still discovering their best 'terroir' for wine.

Yesterday I spent a few hours browsing through a Swedish property website .........

Prozac Tour & A little Surprize.

I haven't actually been able to write because it's all mushy -

I LOVE STOCKHOLM and SVERIGE!

I am home and every wonderful epiteth you can ever think of. Yes I am a raving lunatic. From the moment we landed, yes there was a gorgeous guy at customs whose eyes met Alixandras and well, all I could do was pray that he would not single us out for a bagage search on the one hand and would have loved to get his telephone number for Alix on the other! Heads down we raced for the exit!

The sun was shining, not a cloud in the sky. It was hot, green and just absolutely magical. As we drove from the airport all my senses came alive, I felt calm. I was home, my roots recognized home ground. Deja vu. Then we ate 'farsk potatis' with gradfil and pannbiff - again home. Midsomer afton we gathered in the garden, cut, trimmed, pulled out weeds (read Dandelions,) ate, drank, talked. A truly perfect Summers day.

Midsomer Dagen - 5am saw me driving Peter and Andra to Arlanda Airport- I had the whole highway to myself! Yes everybody else was nursing hangovers! So far we have been to Barkaby, shopped at Ikea, going to the main branch on Monday ;-))

Last Saturday we were out of the house before 7am and in the city at the harbour by 8am, took the Värmdö 1543 to Puttisholmen, spent 3 fabulous days with Lars, Gurdun, Knutte & Hjalle - and the other inhabitants of the Island! Barnkalas and then Vuxenkalas, with our own 'Allsång på Puttis' What a party! I do have photos of the sunset but no pics of the wild dancing on the pier! Pity! But the pics of the sunset ........

Lars took us to Norra Stavsudde, where we took a stroll, had lunch, shopped and then barbequed. You have to have this picure in your mind - the parking lot is a pier and people pop over in boats on jetskis basically anything that floats to do their shopping! We stayed an extra day, found it rather hard to tear ourselves away at the most beautiful time of the day - late afternoon! Lars and Gudrun were our neighbours in Sjöberg, we 'saw' each other, but as so ofetn happens when people live so close we never got to know each other. A real pity because we discovered that we actually get on like a house on fire! Gudrun and Lars are like the older siblings I never had! We laughed and joked and never had a dull moment!

And then disaster struck - me anyway. I developed a large marble sized 'bump/lump' just above my belly button, it was painful too. In the end I figured it wasn't cancer but a darn hernia - I mean a lump that size does not just pop up! Tuesday afternoon was spent at City Akuten as I wasnt going to the hospital emergency and waste their time. After a sonar which confirmed the doc and my diagnosis - hernia, the doc sent me off to Danderyd Emergency anyway with a 'remiss' that I need surgery stat! I can only sing praises to the all the medical personnel at City Akuten and at Danderyd Sjukhus! They were professional and loads of fun! Oh and sexy and young - the male doctors, of course! A blessing that everyone spoke 'Ingles' However where Ingles wasn't enough I could speak Svenska!

I will also credit my two kids for taking good care of me and especially to my TEEN for being so patient at been stuck at home for three days with me! I hope the Bjorn Borg bag and giant watch- that she has been longing to buy, are in some way going to reward you for our patience!

Tack som mycket min lilla van! I must also mention that this trip would not have been possible if my other kid, Stephan, was not in Sampa to take care of Mika and Frank! I owe u - box of godis will be mailed next week - lotsa Marabou chocs......

Today, barely 3 days after surgery we hit the city again and oh did it feel good! Lunch and more shopping! Tomorrow evening - visit Carmel! Can't wait for that either - will be so good to see u and Anders again - neighbour!!!

I debated on whether to take a cruise on the Sija (Silly) Line, only my little surgery threw a spanner in the works and now we have run out of time, pity - BUT as I believe there is a reason dor everything, good or bad, I am not upset, a bit heartsore, I have however made peace and decided that the cruise will take place on my NEXT/NÄSTA Prozac Tour to Stockholm! So the issue is settled ;-)))

Alix and I are enjoying the shopping, great when u can divide all the prices by 4 to get the Brazilain equivalent in Reais! Our public transport ticket for the monthcosts the same as a good bottle of wine! A Meerlust Rubicon is but RS55 - need I say more! I am also enjoying all my favourite magazines, which, being summer have loads of freebies, books, clinique mascara, sunglasses, t-shirts, beach bags and much more. Another bonus is meeting people in Mörby Centre, it like meeting old friends.

I am sue that by now you want to throw the towel at me! So I am going to leave you with this - I have just enjoyed a huge bowl of fresh Swedish Strawberries and Cream and a few glasses of Kleine Zalze Chenin Blanc!

What a life!