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Published: July 25th 2009
Despite a rather inconvenient SAS (the airline not the special forces) schedule change a few weeks ago, Mum and Dad arrived safely at Central Station late on Thursday evening. What had originally started as a quick 20 minute trip to City Airport to catch their flight became a marathon nearly 2-hour train/tube journey to Heathrow before even setting foot on the plane! But they got here, and that's the main thing. We even found each other at the station easily enough. Unfortunately, the walk from Hornstull to my flat managed to convince Mum that I live in an area full of tramps and prostitutes but never mind... Just teasing Mum 😉
I had to work on Friday so Mum and Dad had a "relaxing" day walking the entire length of Södermalm, twice, and tramping all round Gamla Stan, despite the heat. I think they stopped off for a few pitstops at various local cafes and bars, but they still managed to cover a fair amount of ground! They even found time to go to the supermarket so I came home to a lovely home-cooked meal of baked salmon and veg... Thanks Dad 😊
Saturday was boat trip day (if
you visit, I will make you go on a boat trip, whether you want to or not - it's the law here) and dawned fairly bright and sunny. I didn't really want to go to Waxholm again as I'd already been twice so we went a little further afield to Grinda. The boat trip there was around 2 hours, and stopped off at Waxholm on the way so we got to see the fortress anyway. On arrival we got off the boat and simply followed the hordes of people towards wherever they were going... This island is a little different from Waxholm - it's pretty much all woods and fields! There didn't seem to be any vehicles either - just footpaths leading towards the centre of the island where we found the best (only) restaurant in town. Luckily enough, we managed to get a table, despite not having booked and the waitress looking at us as though we were lunatics for just showing up. We suggested taking one inside but were told that they didn't use those in the summer... which we understood once the first fat drops of rain began to fall and we all scuttled in to shelter
at the alternative tables! It proceeded to bucket down through our entire (very nice) lunch whilst a procession of soaking wet people dripped in to use the facilities or wring themselves out.
Our return boat was at 1530 and we were a little concerned that we'd get wet on the walk back to the quay but, as luck would have it, a break in the clouds timed itself nicely with our departure and we got back to the boat in the dry. But it didn't take long for the
rain to catch up with us again. Mum and I spent the return trip taking lots of pictures of rain whilst Dad diced with death by sitting on a metal bollard on the deck of a metal boat in the middle of the sea in a thunderstorm. He got lucky - no lightning strikes!
Once back on Södermalm we went to sample my local Irish hostelry, as recommended by one of my colleagues - Southside at Zinkensdamm (the metro station before Hornstull). Which turned out to be a very fortuitous discovery as we had several pints of Fullers ESB (Dad), Guinness (Mum) and Grolsch (yes, it was me that
let the side down). Dad ended up making friends with the stag party and somehow the conversation turned to the number of times Dad's been accused of wearing a wig... For the record, he doesn't, but the discussion became very silly anyway.
Sunday was a day for walking so we headed off to Djurgården via the little Djurgården ferry. And accidentally ended up at the garden centre. I swear there must be a homing signal built into every parent that sends them straight to the nearest garden centre/DIY store... Although I will admit it was very pretty and to be fair we didn't actually go into the shop part of it! We continued our wanderings, discovered a heronry (which Mum got very excited about), stopped for a coffee and a sandwich at the cafe at the end of the island and then headed for the bus to take us back towards Djurgårdsbron. Next stop was the Vasa Museum... which I think Dad was a little reluctant to go into, but once in there he was off! No corner was left undiscovered, which took us over 2 hours in the end. They do say that if you visit just one
museum in Stockholm, it should be this one and boy, did we visit it 😊 After which we were all thoroughly exhausted so stopped at Josefina's for a restorative beer. And then back to Southside for a few more restorative beers, a restorative burger/fish & chips and some seriously good tennis on the big screen - Wimbledon men's final, third set to the bitter end. I still think Andy Roddick deserved to win...
Sadly Monday was back to work for me so off I trotted to earn a crust whilst Mum and Dad had another relaxing day wandering the city and watching the boy soldiers changing the guard at the palace. I think they even ended up back at Josefina's! But still they got home in time for Dad to cook us another lovely meal - the local sausages this time which I hadn't dared to try before as everything's in Swedish and I had no idea what was in them or how they should be cooked... Dad was not deterred 😊 Which was a good thing as they were really very tasty!
Tuesday came around all too quickly and it was time for Mum and Dad to
depart 😞 We managed a final quick lunch near my office and then they were off on the Arlanda Express again to start their mammoth return journey. I got home that night and it was all rather quiet and empty in the flat. Despite them only being here for a few days, it felt weird! Although perhaps not as weird as having to sleep in the spare room for the next couple of nights because I'd messed up on booking the laundry room and missed my slot. Oops.
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Susi
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Mum and dads visit
Apart from a whole load of unreadable area names when I look through this blog I see Mags and Johnny looking just the same as when they came to Guernsey. Do you think they could have just filmed this in Greenhithe with a moving backdrop!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Love to you all SUsiwoo from sunny Torteval.. If you are not careful I will have to do a blog on the Annual Torteval Scarecrow Weekend which is happening as we speak... Wot an exciting life we lead.......... Take care Auntie Susi xxxxxxx P.S. your little cousin Tiff has just passed her driving test , not bad 10 weeks after her 17th birthday. Mum and Dad out tommorrow to get shedded, daughter can drive home......... yes its payback time......