Up to date

A lot of things have been happening since I posted anything of value on this blog so I doubt that anyone is reading anything here!!! (Make a comment and prove me wrong and I will start writing more often. ;-)

Anyway, a quick summary of what we have been up to would be:

Free State, wedding, holiday, Christmas, summer, New Year, Labrador puppy, mom (mamma) and birthdays!

So, we went up to a BIG wedding in the Free State in December. The Free State is vast and flat and consists of mostly farmland with small towns dotted around the countryside, but it was nothing like I had imagined. It was green and lush and also a lot colder than I expected.

The reason for going was that Rene’s cousin Via got married to her (husband) Dani. The bride was beautiful, the groom handsome and it was a great party. And when I say it was big I mean BIG: +/- 260 guests.

There is also a tradition in the Free State that is reason enough not to get married (if you are the groom); the grooms speech. This is the usual thank you speech, but with all your friends at the front heckling you and making comments the whole time. I got away lightly at my wedding!

In the Free State

We also met Rene’s father’s family again who were friendly and fantastic hosts!

Christmas, New Year and the summer holiday has come and gone. I think we had a very nice holiday even though we did miss family and friends in Sweden and in the UK. The best thing with celebrating in SA is that we get to celebrate twice; 24 December is celebrated in Sweden and 25 December is the main day in SA. We still only get one set of gifts...

Then on Yew Years Eve my mom (Lena) came to visit us for 3 weeks. It was great to have her here and to show her our new house and spend some time together. We didn’t tour the country but kept it local and went to Worcester and Onrus/Hermanus.

Mamma visiting SA

We also got a dog during my moms stay: a Labrador puppy called “Alfie”. The name comes from Alfred or Alfredsson who is a great Swedish ice hockey player in Ottawa Senators. Our good friend Fraser was the one who first suggested the name and we liked it. (Fraser is a huge Ottawa Senators fan). Here are some photos from when we picked him up.

First day with Alfie

Alfie is very cute and likes to bounce and bite and chew and dig. He is also (sometimes) a brave dog who likes to play with other much bigger dogs, like the Great Danes on the farm in Worcester. He also liked to play with Nala,Craig and Lil’s dog, who is a huge Ridge Back, and a very kind dog.

More of Alfie

I/we would also like to say congratulations to James and Jill who have had a baby boy!

Last but not least a big “Happy Birthday” to every one who has recently had their birthday.

Babelas! (A party or two to remember!)

Went to a great party two weekends ago. It was Rene's sister Jules 40th birthday.
Jules had arranged for all her close friends to come and celebrate with her at a B&B outside Hermanus. It was a good location and no one had to drive after the party; we all stayed at the B&B. The food was good, great people and too much to drink! (If there is such a thing ;-) Perfect! The main thing that changes with parties when you get older is that the music do NOT change and your hangovers get worse. This hangover lasted a day and a half! Perhaps one reason is that you never have the luxury to sleep in to the afternoon as you did as a student. Thank you Jules; we had a great time!

And last weekend it was another birthday party. It was Fraser's turn to turn 40. (Just kidding Fraser, it is still a few years to go ;-) Any way... Some times you (I, that is) never learn! Too many drinks again! Or perhaps it is just lack of sleep (again)!? However we had a great time, South Africa won the rugby and the braai was excellent. Thank you for everything Nicole and Fraser! Also want to say thank you to Chandre and Clinton for letting us stay with them. The breakfast alone was worth the trip!

The game of golf the next day was everything but excellent!

I am now looking forward to the Scandinavian Golf tournament which is played on Atlantic Beach on Friday. I will need to improve quickly and stop mixing pars with triple bogeys to have any chance!!!
I will also need to drink less on the following braai to avoid headache the next day. Have I learnt my lesson?

The big 30!

Went to Martin's 30th party last weekend! (Happy birthday Martin!!!)
We had a great time and my hangover was non existent the next day! Brilliant!

Martin's Birthday Party

Poor Rene had to be up early, early (like 5ish in the morning) the next day to help at the Cape Town marathon. NO running involved!

Sneak peak!

We went to take some photos of our new house last weekend... It still gives us a great feel and we can't wait to move in now. Check out the photos below. The TV and furniture is not ours; do I have to point that out?! :-)

New house - Madison

It has been a hectic but good week: Had my yellow fever vaccination done on Monday so that I will be let back in to the country after our holiday to Zanzibar.
I played squash for the first time in 2-3 years (sore? oh, yes!) and we had our new neighbours over for dinner on Tuesday. Very nice and too much wine.
Wednesday night is now wine tasting night - it use to be hill running night - guess which is more fun? ;-)
Thursday we went running with Pinelands AC as usual.
Friday we relaxed with a movie, A Very Long Engagement.
Up 5:30 Saturday morning to do a 15km run in Ravensmead. Last night our friends Martin and Kelly had a great engagement party! I have a hangover but it is better now! Great party! I had some sushi and and vodka, so it is not only at Swedish parties you mix raw fish and vodka, but there was no singing when drinking! ;-)
We have also started to watch season 4 of 24 on DVD. This is not good since it is very addictive and you can't just watch one episode at the time and nothing else gets done!
Rene have also been working this weekend, with typing reports, to clear her desk before our holiday.

One more week, then Zanzibar!

Oh, I almost forgot: Congratulations to Monette and Tom who got engaged this weekend!

Congratulations!

Pappa,
Ett STORT GRATTIS på 60årsdagen!

It is my dads 60th birthday today and we are thinking about you!
We wish we could be in Sweden and celebrate with you.
Everyone here in SA sends their love.

Booked!

We have now finally booked our holiday in August. We are going to Zanzibar! Should be fantastic! Can't wait. Moving to SA has been an adventure and exiting BUT it has not been a holiday. Looking for jobs, a places to stay, a house, cars etc IS stressfully and you don't think that you can relax. So before our next BIG move we are flying away for a few days of sunshine and relaxation. Can't motivate a holiday like this if you got a new house but since we are doing it before we move...
The trip is booked with a company called African Encounters. It was a proper "African Encounter". It took 3 weeks to achieve but it is now confirmed! Well I am not 100% sure until I see the tickets! Wouldn't recommend them to book anything in the future, but since we were so close to time of our holiday we felt "forced" to use them. 15 emails and 10 phone calls... Done! I need a holiday! ;-)

It was Wayne Birds birthday yesterday, but we are celebrating him today!
Happy birthday, Wayne!

Happy Birthday to you!

Happy birthday to you, Happy birthday to me!?

It was my birthday last weekend and I had a great time going out for dinner with a few friends: Rene, Fraser, Nicole, Clinton, Chandre, Kelly and Martin. We went to the Fat Cactus in Mowbray, Cape Town. It is a Tex-Mex place and we had a few Margaritas and Tequilas too, as one should.

[Photos]

Thank you guys!

And thank you to everyone who phoned and sent sms/text messages!

It was also my uncle Dan's birthday last week: Happy birthday to you!!

And it was my granny's birthday on Monday: Happy birthday mormor!!!

It is Barbara's (Rene's mom) birthday today: Happy birthday ma!!!!

It is our good friend Janet's birthday tomorrow: Happy birthday!!!!!

Anyone else?

Oh, I almost forgot: A BIG congratulations to Martin and Kelly who got engaged on my birthday! We wish you all the best in the future and with the planning of your wedding!

A new boy in town!

Our old friends in the UK, Kelly and Wayne had a baby boy yesterday!
Congratulations!!!

Sveriges Nationaldag (Sweden's National Day)

June 6 is Sweden's National Day and we have been calibrating with SWEA in Cape Town. We were about 10-15 people in total and perhaps the same amount of children. It was nothing to serious just a glass of champaign and a chance to speak some Swedish... We actually arrived a bit late just after they had sung the national anthem. Oops! ;-)
We ended up having dinner with another couple, their new born baby and the Vice Chairwoman of SWEA.
It is always nice to meet new people!

17 May, Norway's national day!

Tonight I will be celebrating Norway's national day together with the Norwegian Society in Cape Town.
There are also quite a few swedes going to all the activities and meetings so I wont be the only non Norwegian person there.
The Norwegian Society is much more active than the Swedish which seems to have stopped all activity and seized to exist...
"Skål!" (Cheers!) for Norway!

Happy Birthday Susanna!

Congratulations on your birthday!
(Grattis på födelsedagen!)
It is my sisters birthday today the 11 May.