The time with Reese and Thom has gone by quickly! It's already been close to two weeks that 
they have been here and I feel like we have done a lot, yet we have a lot yet to do.
New Years Eve was the best! It was Thom's birthday, but getting reservations anywhere here for dinner was impossible, even though I started the task in early November! We decided that for the day, we would walk around a bit, run some errands, (see hockey shop above), and then have Thom pick where he wanted to grab a bite. We ended up at The Bishops Arms which is right around the corner from the apartment. While we had hoped that we could call this our "local
watering hole", we decided we shouldn't. With beers at 63 SEK (That's just about $9.50), it will get very expensive - we'll try somewhere else...it was even cheaper for a beer (56 SEK) in Gamla Stan when I went out with the gals! We had a meal there - mine was delicious Deer, while Thom's was VERRRRRY fatty Veal - not what he had expected and we walked away somewhat satisfied that we tried something new, but somewhat disappointed we didn't stick to instincts of going with the normal. Oh well.... Onto 
the festivities. We came home for a bit to play with Reese and tire her out - she loves jumping onto her ball! We did a little "pre-party", and then to the city - it was like our Fourth of July in a way - fireworks were everywhere --- and it is apparently legal for almost anyone to shoot off any kind of firework from anywhere they want! I have no idea how many firework shows were going on at one time, but the main one was shot from the Skansen Park area. We headed to Slussen to walk around a bit in Sodermalm, then to watch the show. After the nearly 45 minute show of fabulous fireworks, we decided to avoid the crowds in the tube, and we took the empty bus all of the way back home. Thom has said that it was by far one of his favorite NYE celebrations ever....glad that we were able to make that happen :)
they have been here and I feel like we have done a lot, yet we have a lot yet to do.This week, after we got back from the bandy game on Sunday night, I had to work Monday and Tuesday, as well as getting some things done on Wednesday, so we pretty much laid low and did things that were close to the apartment. Christmas Eve is when they celebrate he holiday here, in fact, the children actually get to see Santa Claus deliver the presents on Christmas Eve (if you wonder how, I'll explain that later so as not to spoil any surprises for any children old enough to read and believe). I do realize now though, that since Santa delivers on Christmas Eve here, that is how he can deliver to all good girls and boys all over the world --- and yet he delivers in the US on the night of Christmas Eve. I get it now - might help you explain to your children how he can deliver all over the world.
We decided that we would venture to Gamla Stan on Christmas Eve to see the beautiful 
decorations and watch people milling around, as well as get some last minute gifts for some friends here. We had a lovely lunch in a cafe as well as enjoying some of the shops. Christmas day, I had an invitation to go do some training with one of the other team mates - including a 45 minute run including hill work out, as well as skating with her for an hour, then skating with the men's AIK bandy team for an hour. Yes, I had a great work out. I got home as fast as I could because we then were invited to go back to dinner with my old host family for Christmas night. It was a lot of fun to see the children and socialize with Miska 
and Camilla - I've missed them. Thom realized how I learned so much living with them and why I loved it - the way they teach you so much with small words at a time and the cooking that they do - fabulous! I got a new recipe from them and can't wait to try it on my own! The day after Christmas is like the "black Friday" of Thanksgiving weekend for us...it's their shopping day where all of the sales take place. We ventured out to run some errands and decided to head out to the outlets and see what we could find there....what we found were lots of people and shortened hours of the outlet mall, so we didn't get much done. We have found out from a few failed attempts that you cannot believe the Post Office here on their posted holiday hours online --- we've tried to get to the post office and have had them closed when the posted hours said they would be open. Oh well, Thom got to venture on the metro system to find the post office and a hockey shop that was also closed....Lesson Learned - they close pretty much everything the weekend after the holiday. Sunday morning, I got up early to meet a few of the gals at the rink for more training - was on the ice about 2 hours, then ventured back home to meet Thom and Reese to go for a small walk about the town. Work and training were on the schedule for Monday, along with some shopping at the AIK shop as they had a sale going on for the day. Tuesday was a full day of working for me while Thom did the laundry (so nice having someone else to do that for me :) ), and Wednesday was NYE. I had to work a bit on New Years Eve (boo!), but after we were done with that, we ventured out to the hockey shop to see if they were open and hopefully get some replacement parts for Thom's helmet! They were OPEN! Thom was successful in getting the parts he needed while I scored on a Reebok sweatshirt and pants (I love "rea").
decorations and watch people milling around, as well as get some last minute gifts for some friends here. We had a lovely lunch in a cafe as well as enjoying some of the shops. Christmas day, I had an invitation to go do some training with one of the other team mates - including a 45 minute run including hill work out, as well as skating with her for an hour, then skating with the men's AIK bandy team for an hour. Yes, I had a great work out. I got home as fast as I could because we then were invited to go back to dinner with my old host family for Christmas night. It was a lot of fun to see the children and socialize with Miska 
and Camilla - I've missed them. Thom realized how I learned so much living with them and why I loved it - the way they teach you so much with small words at a time and the cooking that they do - fabulous! I got a new recipe from them and can't wait to try it on my own! The day after Christmas is like the "black Friday" of Thanksgiving weekend for us...it's their shopping day where all of the sales take place. We ventured out to run some errands and decided to head out to the outlets and see what we could find there....what we found were lots of people and shortened hours of the outlet mall, so we didn't get much done. We have found out from a few failed attempts that you cannot believe the Post Office here on their posted holiday hours online --- we've tried to get to the post office and have had them closed when the posted hours said they would be open. Oh well, Thom got to venture on the metro system to find the post office and a hockey shop that was also closed....Lesson Learned - they close pretty much everything the weekend after the holiday. Sunday morning, I got up early to meet a few of the gals at the rink for more training - was on the ice about 2 hours, then ventured back home to meet Thom and Reese to go for a small walk about the town. Work and training were on the schedule for Monday, along with some shopping at the AIK shop as they had a sale going on for the day. Tuesday was a full day of working for me while Thom did the laundry (so nice having someone else to do that for me :) ), and Wednesday was NYE. I had to work a bit on New Years Eve (boo!), but after we were done with that, we ventured out to the hockey shop to see if they were open and hopefully get some replacement parts for Thom's helmet! They were OPEN! Thom was successful in getting the parts he needed while I scored on a Reebok sweatshirt and pants (I love "rea"). 
New Years Eve was the best! It was Thom's birthday, but getting reservations anywhere here for dinner was impossible, even though I started the task in early November! We decided that for the day, we would walk around a bit, run some errands, (see hockey shop above), and then have Thom pick where he wanted to grab a bite. We ended up at The Bishops Arms which is right around the corner from the apartment. While we had hoped that we could call this our "local
watering hole", we decided we shouldn't. With beers at 63 SEK (That's just about $9.50), it will get very expensive - we'll try somewhere else...it was even cheaper for a beer (56 SEK) in Gamla Stan when I went out with the gals! We had a meal there - mine was delicious Deer, while Thom's was VERRRRRY fatty Veal - not what he had expected and we walked away somewhat satisfied that we tried something new, but somewhat disappointed we didn't stick to instincts of going with the normal. Oh well.... Onto 
the festivities. We came home for a bit to play with Reese and tire her out - she loves jumping onto her ball! We did a little "pre-party", and then to the city - it was like our Fourth of July in a way - fireworks were everywhere --- and it is apparently legal for almost anyone to shoot off any kind of firework from anywhere they want! I have no idea how many firework shows were going on at one time, but the main one was shot from the Skansen Park area. We headed to Slussen to walk around a bit in Sodermalm, then to watch the show. After the nearly 45 minute show of fabulous fireworks, we decided to avoid the crowds in the tube, and we took the empty bus all of the way back home. Thom has said that it was by far one of his favorite NYE celebrations ever....glad that we were able to make that happen :) The actual New Years day, most things were closed around the area, so we relaxed at home for a bit in the morning, then headed out for a couple of hours walking through Haga Parken. That was enjoyable for the whole family and really 
tired the pooch out! She had fun running through the
fields of the park. I took them to the top of the hill so they could see Solna to the North and Stockholm to the South...it was a breathtaking view and lovely sunset. We saw some great ice crystalization on the top of the hill (see picture), and finished the walk off by the butterfly house and the sculpture garden. After the walk, I wanted to warm up and make the apartment smell festive, so I baked some 
gingerbread cookies. Not bad if I must say so myself...without a rolling pin or more than a small cookie sheet, I think they turned out wonderfully. They taste even better than they look!
So, for the rest of the week - I have training on the 2nd and 3rd as we prepare for a big game against Sandviken on Sunday! Should be a good match. We have quite a few games next week - one on Tuesday as well and Saturday soon follows. Busy week ahead of me - I'm ready though....
tired the pooch out! She had fun running through the
fields of the park. I took them to the top of the hill so they could see Solna to the North and Stockholm to the South...it was a breathtaking view and lovely sunset. We saw some great ice crystalization on the top of the hill (see picture), and finished the walk off by the butterfly house and the sculpture garden. After the walk, I wanted to warm up and make the apartment smell festive, so I baked some 
gingerbread cookies. Not bad if I must say so myself...without a rolling pin or more than a small cookie sheet, I think they turned out wonderfully. They taste even better than they look!So, for the rest of the week - I have training on the 2nd and 3rd as we prepare for a big game against Sandviken on Sunday! Should be a good match. We have quite a few games next week - one on Tuesday as well and Saturday soon follows. Busy week ahead of me - I'm ready though....
Hope everyone had a Very Merry Christmas and ringing in 2009 was as fun for you as it was for us!
KP
2 comments:
Happy New Year, K Predator.
Glad to hear that ya'll are having a good time.
Good luck with the game vs Sandviken, and rest assured that your Buran club are doing well in your absence with both Pat and Annie getting goals in recent games.
Hope to see you in a few weeks time.
Thom looks much shorter in that top photo. Is he shrinking with age? And what's with his red pointy hat?
But it's pretty cool that the Swedes drop everything to celebrate Thom's birthday with fireworks and all...
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