Westlings in Sydney

Roadtrip North

2011-12-27T22:26:00.000-08:00

Yesterday we went on a Road trip up North for Fredrik to get his
hours up as a Learner Driver.

As he is only allowed to drive for two hours, we started driving north, past the Hawkesbury river and then off the Freeway onto the smaller roads. Very winding and interesting drive through the rainforest on the central coast.

First stop: The Entrance - where we ended up having lunch. A nice waterfront, but dont think we will be in a rush to return.

The Entrance

Fredrik then drove us past New Castle and we ended up going to the RAAF museum in Williamstown. It was raining outside and the boys loved the stop. Had coffee there before continuing to Port Stevens for a look.
Had dinner at Nelson Bay Marina.

We then headed south.
Fredrik drove for two hours, then swopped with Niclas who drove for half an hour. We had a quick snack break and then Fredrik drove home in the dark. Small winding roads.
Oliver thought it felt as an airplane, as he was bedded down in his carseat with a blanket and fell asleep.

Jul 2011

2011-12-25T16:33:00.000-08:00

Att julbaka hann vi med innan helgen började.

Julhelgen har varit härlig.
Toppen väder, lugnt och skönt.

Julafton var det paket i julstrumporna på morgonen, bad nere i Dee Why, sen lunch och poolbad hos kompisar och julklappsutdelning på kvällen.

Juldagen var alla barnen hemma och efter frukost blev det en tur ner till Dee Why för ett bad.
Sen seafood BBQ med goda vänner hemma hos oss. Avslutningsvis ett parti kubb.

Oliver reading Dr Seuss

2011-12-12T02:58:00.000-08:00

Oliver reading Dr Seuss in October 2011.

Lucia 2011

2011-12-10T00:26:00.000-08:00

Lite fler bilder från Nippers. Oliver tycker att det är jättekul.

Oliver och Sanna var och tittade på djur häromdagen, bla kom Santas "raindeer" - nu var det ju inte renar, men små rådjur, men de var söta. Sen fanns det små kycklingar, babyankor, lamm och killingar, plus en kanin och marsvin som barnen fick klappa. De fick hålla i kycklingarna med.

Idag var vi och firade Lucia med Svenskor i Sydney. Lekgruppen hade luciatåget och Oliver var med som tomte.

Trevligt att träffa svensk gänget. Barnen fick träffa tomten, vilket var mycket uppskattat.

Oliver var för säkerhets skull iklädd tomte kostymen hela dagen. Lekte med grannpojken innan på gården, som små tomtar.

Nippers!

2011-11-05T21:29:00.001-07:00

Here are some photos from Olivers Nippers lessons at Longreef beach.

He is in the u6 boys group and have a few school friends and other friends there.

He loves it, they run in the sand, the water and race around having fun,

learning about water and waves.

Oliver at a farm with school

2011-10-09T23:32:00.000-07:00

Skolan för Oliver

2011-08-19T15:50:00.000-07:00

Mitt i terminen är det. Fredrik har sina trials, dvs förberedelser inför studentproven.

Oliver har haft öppet hus i skolan och jag var där och hälsade på. Förutom att visa runt i klassrummet hade alla barnen dansuppvisning. Kindergarten klasserna hade tränat hela förra terminen en gång i veckan och tyckte det var jättekul att dansa inför föräldrar och grandparents.

Här är lite bilder från klassrummet.

Sen bestämde sig Oliver för att han ville ha "tiny hair" så Niclas klippte honom med maskinen.
Han trivs jättebra med sitt nya hår och är hur busig som helst nu.

Jessica har flyttat hemifrån. Hon flyttade in med en kompis i en lägenhet i Coggee, som ligger mycket närmare skolan. Bara 10 minuters promenad från stranden. Hon har fullt upp med pluggandet, jobb och kårspex som går av stapeln nästa vecka. Vi ser med spänning fram emot att komma och titta.

Midsommar 2011

2011-07-10T03:59:00.000-07:00

Midsommar firades iår hemma i Sydney.
Först med härlig middag med kubb tillsammans med goda vänner på lördagskvällen.
På söndagen firade vi med Svenska klubbarna - det var midsommarstång, dans, kransar, folkdans, lotterier och svenskt fika bla. En härligt solig dag.

Annars är det mitt i skollovet nu. Oliver leker med vänner och är hemma och bygger lego eller följer med mig på dagarna. Fredrik är hemma och pluggar mest.
Jessica har fullt upp med att träffa vänner och jobbar litegrann dessemellan.

Vi försöker njuta av havet när vi har chansen. Det blir minst en promenad till stranden varje helg - helt underbart. Hoppas att vi får se några valar snart :)

Autumn 2011

2011-06-09T23:02:00.000-07:00

We have now entered winter, the nights are colder and the wind a little chilly, but overall pretty nice - except for indoors, where we get a little cold - though the gasheater is great.

Oliver is busy at school and learning more and more words. He also loves watching the Incredibles on film and it has made a great impact on him. Just before watching this movie, he made his own Superhero costume, his friend had a bought one and I did not want to buy one. His superhero is FQ.
Now it is all about Superheros - well the comment is "when I am a Superhero when I grow up.."

Fredrik is working hard at school and looking forward to the school holidays, starting on the 1st of July.

Jessica is on study leave at the moment, followed by two weeks of exams from next week and then a month off. She just completed her masquerade ball dress for the ball on the 2 June, she made it all. I am very impressed. There is alot of sewing going on.

We also went up to the Sydney Tower one day, not having been there yet - we had a lovely day with the boys.

First term of school almost finished for Oliver

2011-04-05T15:49:00.000-07:00

Wow, how time flies - it is amazing that Oliver has now been at school for almost a whole term, autumn break is from Friday this week until 27th of April.

Olivers first day to school

He has had a great time. Loving School, loving learning to read and write. One thing they do is to go through the top 100 most used words in the first year. They are grouped into colour groups and when the child has learnt one group, the child gets to move on to the next set of words.
The first 12 words are called Golden Words and are:
a, and, be, I, in, is, it, of, that, the, to and was.

Oliver keeps his wordsheet on the fridge and practices every day - and he is looking for the words all over the place. He moved on to the next set of words, 18 Red words, last week and is moving fast on them.

Fredrik has just completed his mid yearly exams and done very well.

Oliver in the Blue mountains

Jessica having started university recently is loving it and working hard, and having lots of fun too.
She has done well in her first tests.

Keep updated here as I will endeavor to write more often from now on.

We had visitors from Sweden in February, the Jungstedt Family, more on this in the next update.

A winter trip to Stockholm

2011-01-01T10:08:00.000-08:00

The family flew to Stockholm to spend xmas and New Years with the family.
Niclas will stay for two weeks and the rest of us return after four weeks.
The weather is absolutely wonderful here in Stockholm, amazing snow and it just keeps snowing. It has been cold every day and the kids are loving the weather.
I prefer to be indoors with a few short walks outside in the beautiful landscape.

New Years eve was spend with Niclas sister and family and after having watched some amazing fireworks we walked home in the wintery night - 10 cm of new snow had fallen and it was very nice.

We are around!

2010-12-05T18:47:00.000-08:00

Hi All,

Yes we are around, its just that life gets a little busy sometimes.

Just moved into a new house - which is just 5 k south of where we have been for the past years.
Niclas saves aprox 1 hour per day in travel into the city and the main buses and the mall are all within walking distance.

Life is great!
Jessica is working at KikkiK in the mall and enjoying working before going to University next March.
Fredrik has just started on his final year at school and is working hard.
Oliver starts school in February and is very excited - he cannot wait to start big school and to turn 5.

Niclas is working in the city and I am working in Mosman and from home.
There are lots of things happening and we hope to be able to enjoy summer now it has arrived.

Photos of the new house will be posted any day soon.

;)

Winter day at Dee Why beach

2010-07-21T18:50:00.000-07:00

A few weekends ago we went down to Dee Why beach for a walk. Oliver rode on his balance bike, he has currently decided that this is better than his new bike (as he keeps falling off....)

The weather was great, sunshine and amazing to be down by the sea. Oliver and Fredrik had an ice cream each and it was the first time Oliver had a normal cone, which he managed to finish all by himself.

Our "Food Guy" or the little Swedish Chef

2010-07-04T00:09:00.000-07:00

Oliver decided to build himself a "kitchen" in the living room the other day.
He put two footstools on their side, arranged with pillows and blankets behind, added a few legoboxes on the
side (for an oven) and then collected lots of pots and stuff.

We then found his chefs hat and gear and he started "cooking" for us.

It is amazing how much fantasy these little people have - so much fun to be had :)

Then later that day he helped make an apple pie for dessert :)

Kungabröllop

2010-06-23T04:33:00.000-07:00

Vad härligt med allt glitter, kärlek och härlighet som vi kunde skåda i lördags.

Vi hade en härlig helg, det började på lördagenmed att vi lämnade Fredrik i Avalon för att gå Military Tattoo med AirCadets. Resten av oss gav oss iväg till Palm Beach - ihärlig vintersol - tog en kaffe och satt på stranden ett tag. Oliver lekte och hade helmysigt.
Vi såg en säl som låg länge och lekte i vattnet inte långt från vattenbrynet - den verkligen lekte och vinkade till oss.

Sen framåt natten, när de flesta sov hemma, bestämde jag mig för att sitta uppe och se det Kungliga bröllopet - Tack till SVTplay som släppte det live till oss utanför Norden på nätet.
Jag satt framför min dator, i skön fåtölj bredvid elementet, iklädd varmt, med stearinljus och champagne och tittade tills brudparet var ungefär vid Djurgårdsbron. Sen var det läggdags.
Sen när jag vaknade på morgonen kunde jag se resten av festligheterna.

We are back!

2010-06-13T00:10:00.000-07:00

The family Westling are now back on this blog - our other blog had mysteriously disappeared - the wonders on technology.

Update:

Jessica is in Switzerland to learn french, working as an au-pair in a great family, living near Morgins in Port de Soleil.

Fredrik is in year 11 and studying hard - lots of extra classes and extension work going on - he

is currently doing an extra course at one of the Universities in Sydney.

We also attended the schools Debutante Ball in May with him - a nice experience.

Oliver has picked up Swedish more and more and how speak Swedish more than English at home. He is also learning how to ride a bike with two wheels, no training wheels.

Niclas is working in Surrey Hills and enjoying the atmosphere there, he also gets to travel to Melbourne now and then.

Sanna has a new job as and Executive assistant working for a coach-leadership trainer in Mosman part time on a freelancing contract.

Oliver and Sanna spent March in Stockholm visiting the family.

Last week we had an american student staying with us from Atlanta, Georgia - it was very nice to get to know her.

Winter is here in Sydney - and after 3-4 weeks of rain the sun has now decided to join us and the weather is a little on the chilly side - but beautiful. Mostly it is the cold indoors that get to us - heaters are running but the house needs some more insulation.

NOVEMBER 2008

2008-11-02T02:47:00.001-08:00

Here we are - already November - and I havent been posting for a while.
Yes - I know I wrote that I was going to get better and more active - but hey - life isnt always as you want it to be.

Since then I have had many thoughts and ideas on how to make this blog - and our Swedish one - work better together. I have a plan that I would like to have both languages on the same site - and share the photos - and I think I have found a way - or at least a starting point.

http://westlingfamily.com/blog/wordpress/ is the new site - there will be posts in Swedish some days and English some - and you can click on the language on the side to see all posts in your prefered language. The photos are there for everyone - and when I find a better solution on displaying the photos (or I get Jess to help me create such format) I will do that - but atleast it will be easier to create from there.
It will also be alot easier to leave comments - and please do - it is great to see that someone reads what I write - and also great to hear from your lifes too. We miss you all!

Please come with us to the new site,
Love to All!

Winter is over!

2008-09-01T03:30:00.000-07:00

Finally Spring is here - and today was a beautiful day - 24 c in the middle of the day.

The last weeks (or should I say all winter ....) it has been very cold and windy - but alot of sun - though very cold in the southerly winds.
But I have tried to be on the beach at least twice a week with Oliver - when you live this close you should really take the advantage of it. Especially as I dont have a 9-5 job to go to at the moment.
Oliver does childcare twice a week and I am trying to get my head around life and the future.
Reading a fantastic book at the moment about that - will let you know about it when I am finished.

Otherwise all is well - Jessica has her final year 11 exams starting next week - then after the school holidays she begins on her final year. And then only 12 months to go before University....how time flyes.

Oliver has started enjoying childcare and wants to go there - and has started talking lots more - both English and Swedish, this week calling me Mummy only - not Mamma anymore when calling me - but Mamma in a sentence.

I have started playing squash again - once a week at the club in a handicap tournament - and once a week in the pennant for Northern Sydney. Good fun to be back again!
Also hoping to pick up some swimming and walking on the beach now that spring is on its way (well will start in the swimmingpools - then move to the sea when the sea gets warmer....15 c is a little cold - even for me - especially without the sauna).

Trip to Stockholm

2008-08-22T18:07:00.001-07:00

After having moved into our new house, Oliver had an operation mid May to remove his tonsills.
We had a couple of weeks of recovery for that and then I flew to Stockholm with him for our annual holiday.
Arrived the week before Midsummers eve and spent the first two weeks mainly with my parents and family. Midsummer weekend was spent at Hummelmora in the arhipelago. Not very warm weather - and freezing cold in the water - but nice and relaxing and Oliver was great.

Then Niclas, Jessica and Fredrik arrived from Sydney and we stayed with his family for a week.
Here we got time to meet up with cousins and go on assorted trips. I also had the opportunity to meet Nicky and the girls, who came over to Stockholm for a few days.
As it worked out with flights etc this time I did not get a chance to come over to London - which is unfortunate and I miss you guys over there. But hopefully I will be able to fly that way next time.
And if anyone wants to come down you are all the more welcome any time.

We then spent one week in the summerhouse again with my family and had a great week - the water temperature got a little higher - and the weather wasnt too bad. We met plenty of great friends and family.
Last week was spent visiting and saying goodbye to mostly family. My Grandmother and Grandfather are 90 and 91 and my other Grandmother is 89 - and I miss them lots.

We flew with Malaysian - direct flight from Stockholm to Kuala Lumpur and then direct to Sydney. Though we had a two-day-one-night stop there. Weather was nice and warm and we got lots of hours just lazying by the pool.

Back home again we have had Winter Chill since we got back - and now only one week left until it is supposedly spring again - cant wait. Today has been extremely cold winds - and rain.
Kids only have four weeks left of this term and then a three week holiday. I am keeping busy with just being a stay-at-home Mum, but hoping to be able to get some more work in soon.
Oliver attends childcare twice a week now - which helps.
He has fully recovered from his operation and the year without solids prior that and he is a very happy and fun 2 1/2-year-old.

I try to spend at least 2-3 mornings on the beach with Oliver, who loves playing in the sand. And it is great to sit on the steps by the beach and drink coffee and listen to the waves. We live in a fantastic place and cant wait until the summer when we can spend some of that time in the water (though easier now without all the stuff needed for swimming...).

Time to Move again!

2008-05-13T19:58:00.000-07:00

Well well - finally we have found a house that we would like to live in for a while. Just signed a 12-months rent for a 5-bedroom house, with pool and spa, a little further north. About 5 k from where we are now - and it will be close enough to school that the kids will be able to walk if they want to (and there is a bus close too).
We move on Friday - which means the house currently is full of boxes and stuff. It is amazing how much stuff we have accumulated in the three years we have been here - and because the move is not going overseas - it is a little harder to get rid of lots of stuff - but I think that we all (apart from Oliver) have decided that we are going to try and keep stuff to a minimum in the new place. Clutter is best kept away out of sight - and if not used - not to be kept. One can only have dreams.
Otherwise we have had a hectic time in the past month, but it is now getting alittle better. We met Olivers doctor last week and he is having his tonsills removed next week - which means we have to take it easy for up to two weeks to keep him calm. Hopefully I will be able to get time to unpack the house as soon as possible. It would be nice to have it in order before I go to Stockholm on the 15th of June. Only one month away!

And having a two-year-old is great - he is such an entertaining little fellow at the moment - just started talking more - we understand most of what he says and means now (but not all to his frustration). He loves being with Jessica and Fredrik (and eventhough they love him heaps and think he is the cutest thing - sometimes it gets a little much having such a small person hanging around All the time). He says words in Swedish and English. His favourite pasttime is trains - which comes from Thomas Train - and Bob the Builder stuff and anything to do with cars and trucks and some planes.

How time flyes!

2008-04-23T03:19:00.000-07:00

Time just rushes past - and it is already end of April - this first part of the year has just rushed me by - I still feel it is around February time.
Xmas was spent here in Sydney - we had a great time - just family - and then in January my parents came down for a visit. Mum stayed for a month and Dad for a week.
The weather this summer has not been the greatest - but good enough and plenty of rain - which the land has appreciated.
March was a lot better - with plenty of sun and warm waters.
Jessica turned 16 in January - and got her L-plates - and is now learning to drive. She will be able to do her drivingtest when she turns 17, provided we get all the hours in.
Fredrik turned 13 and Oliver 2. Jessica and Fredrik started a new school end of Jan and have now settled in well. Currently on School holidays - with one week left.

Oliver started daycare and has been there two days a week throughout this year - he loves it there and has his best friend, Max there too. He also has another friend, Jack there whom we also see on days off.

We have a trip to Stockholm planned for June-July and hopefully the whole family will be able to make it. I fly up with Oliver two weeks before the rest of the family arrive. We all stay 3 weeks then back to Sydney.

Niclas works hard at 3 and I have started working as a salesconsultant for some friends who have a company, Underwear of Sweden. Hopefully I will be able to work a little later on in the year.
We are still struggling with Oliver and his eating and sleeping - but have done a sleepstudie and are now waiting to see another Dr on the 8th of May to see if he is to have an operation that hopefully will make him eat and sleep better.

Back in Sydney again!

2007-12-13T22:57:00.001-08:00

Have already been back a week here in Sydney - and xmas is rushing closer...though hard to think when the sun is shining and it is nice and warm outside.
Returning the uniform was a nice feeling - I feel free now....

Otherwise I had a lovely time in London - though very short - and then we had a very good trip to Sydney. What a difference to travel as a passenger - knowing that you get on the flight - and when you depart and arrive - and I got heaps of time at T4, airside.
Managed to get the passenger next to me moved - which meant Oliver got a seat for himself, as well as the bassinett - and we were on the "Movies on demand" plane.

After returning we have been very busy, preparing for pre-xmas celebrations and Oliver having started daycare.

Jessica graduated from school today - and she did very well. She was awarded Most Outstanding Student - we are very proud of her.

Oliver and Friend Amelie in Claygate and Oliver dressed for snow in Stockholm

Visit to Stockholm

2007-12-02T06:31:00.000-08:00

Currently I am in Stockholm with Oliver. We arrived on the 13th of November after one night in Hong Kong (only at the hotel on Lantau Island). Flew with Qantas and Finnair, a nice trip.
Lucky to get a seat for Oliver on all the flights.
He was a happy little traveller - especially on Qantas, with movies on demand, and Pingu.

The day we arrived it had been snowing, especially around where my parents live, very wintery and cold. The snow stayed for around 10 days on the ground, then it melted away and left normal, grey, November weather.

We have visited our family and friends and have had a great time. Missing Niclas and the kids in Sydney though.

On Tuesday we depart Stockholm for a night in London with good friends, and to return my uniform (if I manage to get it on the flight). Then on Wednesday back to Sydney.
Returning home to summer on Friday.

Some photos on the Swedish site - more will follow here when I return home.

Schools back

2007-10-16T04:35:00.000-07:00

We have had some lovely days at the end of the holidays - weather was great though very windy.

Kids went back to school yesterday - and we have a heat wave - though due to subside by tomorrow. But we have had time to enjoy friends pool - Oliver loves the water - looking forward to when the sea will be just slightly warmer for him to be able to go in more often.

I have just booked tickets to fly together with Oliver up to Stockholm and London.
Strange to book a ticket - its the first time ever for me - how is it done? Luckily I know someone who works at My planet here in Sydney, and she arranged a ticket for us.
Flying via Hong Kong to Stockholm, dayflights with a nightstop in Hong Kong. Hopefully this will be a great way to fly with Oliver. Arriving Stockholm late in the afternoon.
Returning through London - staying one night and day - hoping to be able to see alot of friends in London - how I dont know yet - but I am sure I will be able to catch up with as many as possible.

A week into Spring Holidays

2007-10-07T04:37:00.000-07:00

Well - met up with Andrew in Manly last Sunday - and had a great time. The evening was warm and nice.
On Monday I met up with another crewfriend of mine, Carlos. We met in town and went for a walk and then had a something to eat. Oliver was with me and was wild as anything. Learnt some new tricks - italian ways to show food is good - he still does it.

Jessica came home from Cadet camp on Tuesday evening, she had a great time. Absailing, nightspotting, orientering etc.

The rest of the week just passed really quickly and we didnt really get time to do much. The computer broke down and we have had to leave it to the dealers for repair.
And we went to IKEA for lunch.

And, finally, on Thursday, we had exchange on our house in London. A great relief.

This weekend has been very relaxing, not to have to worry about the house in London too much, the weather has not been too bad, not too hot and not too cold. A little windy yesterday though. Fredrik and Niclas went dingy sailing at the boat club, Fredrik had a good time.

Warmer weather!

2007-09-29T21:06:00.001-07:00

It has gotten warmer - finally - and we hope that this is the start of the summer weather.
And as we live in a great place - I now try to go to the beach with Oliver at least a couple of times every week. Last week, being the first warmer one, we spent one morning at a lovely playground near the sea. It was a little windy, but great, and the nearest coffeshop do deliverys - fantastic. Just phone in your order and they deliver.

Oliver is a little wild one - even if he doesnt eat much - and he wont leave the house without his little car or cyckle, or a tennisball and racket or football. He loves kicking and throwing balls around - in and out.

This weekend is a three day long weekend, and we are pottering about in the house - and tonight we meet a friend from London and take him out for dinner in Manly, where there is a Jazz festival on. Looking forward to that.
Jessica is away at camp with the aircadets and get back on Tuesday.

Then it is springholidays. The kids being at home for the next two weeks - hopefully we will be able to get a few things done around the house - and some excursions aswell.

Treasure Hunt

2007-09-25T22:50:00.000-07:00

Well - last Saturday, me and the kids went on a Geocache - a treasure hunt using GPS. We where introduced by a friend of mine, and it basically means that you look at the website, find a treasure hunt, get coordinates and a map and then off you go.

We went with my friend, she has a handheld GPS, and after we found our first cache, the kids got really into it (well Jessica and Fredrik, Oliver was fast asleep on this first one). Off to the next one, in a lovely place, high up in one of the National parks not far from us, with a great view, Oliver was awake, which was good - the pram could not come on this one - and when Fredrik and Jessica found the treasure, Oliver got to choose. Hopefully we will be able to do a few more of these over the spring holiday coming up next week.

You can also "tag" things and plant them in a treasure, and then watch them as they make their way around the place, or world if you like.

I had a very nice weekend, it felt very long, mainly because we went to a friends birthday party on Thursday night (only Niclas and me)- then off to a seafood dinner with friends on Friday ( with only Oliver joining us) and then on Saturday I went into town to meet up with a good friend of mine, Annett. We had drinks at the crewhotel first, then off to a great restaurant in the Rocks. Got home late, and Oliver wakes lots in the night and early in the morning, but it was all worth it.
Sunday was spent lazing around the house - or gathering rubbish and stuff to throw out - council clean up on Monday.

Yesterday I had my first homeparty - selling underwear - went well and I now feel more confident in starting this whole thing up.

Niclas is in Hong Kong this week - lucky him - perhaps next time I can come too...

Where did this month go?

2007-09-19T16:09:00.000-07:00

Well - another month past.
As of the 30th of August, I have now left BA, after 19 years. It feels strange.
The first two weeks I felt a little depressed, probably not for the fact that I had left the company, though I will miss the flying alot, but more due the fact that I dont have an employment now.
But I have started getting over it, though it will probably feel odd for some time.
Especially without the same possibilities to come over to Europe at short notice for little less money. But then again, nice to have a seat booked and know that the trip will only take around 30 hours and not more.
Though for a year or so I think that I will stay one night in Asia on the way up and down.Oliver had a much nicer flight when we did that last time. And as for Fredrik, it made his jetlag minimal (he is the one in the family that suffers the most).

I have started a little selling enterprise, selling at homeparties for a friend of mine. Underwear and childrens clothing. Looking forward to getting started fully on this. My first party is next week.

Otherwise, alot of contact with friends are now had on Facebook, very addictive but fun at the same time.

Oliver is my Coffeemate - and he loves his Babycino. As the weather is bad today, I think we will head to the mall and have a coffee and go to the library. Then home to try to get a grip on the de-cluttering. It is amazing how much one manages to collect, two years in the house and it is choker with things already. Well - council cleanup on Monday - better get those black bags out and start filling them.

Back in Sydney

2007-08-18T05:18:00.000-07:00

After a lovely holiday in Stockholm, where we met lots of family and friends, we are now back into our routines at home. Winter is here - first weeks back was very nice and warm - but lately it has gone colder again. But it is only a couple of weeks left before spring.

Oliver has now started eating a little bit again - he has not eaten solids since we got back from Europe - probably doesnt want to get the itchy mouth from his allergies - and things he is allergic to makes him feel sick - not very nice - I wouldnt eat if it made me feel bad.

Otherwise, this weekend I have spent alot of time sorting through photos from the holiday - putting them on different photo sites to be able to print and share them with people.

Stockholm

2007-07-01T07:57:00.001-07:00

Oliver and I have arrived in Stockholm two weeks ago - in time for Midsummer celebrations.
It was rather wet and cold - just like winter in Sydney...though warm indoors...

We have been to London for a few days to see friends and family - and also to check in on work at BA.
The weather there was more like early spring - where is summer in Europe?? Not up here.

Today Niclas, Jessica and Fredrik arrived after a nice flight upp to Stockholm, via Singapore and London.

We are now starting our family holiday and hope to meet most of our friends and family.

Off to Stockholm

2007-06-15T05:49:00.000-07:00

Oliver and I are off to Stockholm on holiday tomorrow - all being well and we get on the flight.
Short stop in London, at the airport for a change of terminals, then straight on from T1 to Stockholm.
Celebrating Midsummer in Sweden but I will be over in London for a few days the last week of June. Hope to see some of you then.

The weather here is very wintery - cold and wet - looking forward to summer in Europe and meeting friends and family.

Cant remember if I said that we have been told that Oliver is allergic to Nuts and Egg - which is presenting its own problems before we get used to checking him for what he eats when playing with friends. No chocks yet though - but a few bad reactions. Hopefully, as we learn, he will get less and less reactions. And there is a possibility that he grows out of it.

Little Allergy baby

2007-05-28T01:40:00.001-07:00

Last week we where told that Oliver has an allergy to Nuts and Egg and we need to remove these foods from his food to see if he gets better - he has improved lots since when we got told. Very happy little boy now - it makes such a difference from having been a complete non-eater of food and clingy.
He now enjoys playing with his friends and his toys.

Jessica has done her midterm exams last week - she is doing her school certificates this year, and now she is working on her HSC - the one subject she does an HSC in - Software and Design.
Lots of hard work and she is looking forward to the end of the week when it is over.

Oliver and I are off to Stockholm mid June and the family follow end of June for a return around the 19th of July. Looking forward to coming up to meet friends and family. I will be in London for a few days at the end of June - if anyone at home and would like to meet up - let me know.

Veckans Väder

2007-05-11T16:52:00.000-07:00

Tänkte att det kanske vore kul med en liten väderrapport varje vecka.
Så jag prövar om det funkar.

Denna veckan hade vi:
Måndag; 23 c och Sol
Tisdag; 25 c och Sol
Onsdag; 23 c och Sol
Torsdag; 21 c och Regn
Fredag; 22 c och Sol

Inatt hade vi neråt 13 grader som kallast, och bara 14 grader när vi gick kom upp vid 7.30.
Men solen skiner och det är nu (vid 10 tiden) 18 grader.
Oliver ligger ute och sover i sin vagn - med fårskinnet under för första gången denna säsong.

Warm Autumn

2007-05-07T05:49:00.000-07:00

After a few rainy days at Easter and the week after, the sun has been out for the past two weeks. Lovely and sunny with blue skies and around 25 c and calm.

On Saturday we all went to the beach, just me, Niclas and Oliver in the morning for a coffee and swim, and the whole family in the afternoon - when all went for a dip in the sea - great - 22 c, calm and very clear water.
Oliver did alot of digging in the sand and wondered around looking at the sand and the water.
He had a great time. (as did we all).

I have had some problems with my photos this evening and havent been able to do different ones for this and the Swedish site this time - otherwise I normally put different ones on each blog - worth looking at the Swedish blog even if you dont understand the lingo.....

There is also some videoclips there of Oliver.

Autumn in Sydney

2007-04-22T04:57:00.000-07:00

Easter holidays are almost over now - just one more day to go - then back to school for one day - bankholiday on Wednesday as it is Anzacday. Jessica is going to an Anzac service with her cadets - in her nice uniform. It will be an early day - but more on that next time.

Easter days we spent about 2 hours north of Sydney - Niclas was sailing nationals with an IC, photos on flickr. We spent a couple of nights in a tent - it rained for most of the time - good thing was that the tent was a great one - but Oliver got a high fever - for most of the time...

We got back for Easter Monday - and from that day until yesterday we have had 25 c and sunny. Lovely weather for autumn. We walked down to the beach yesterday and Niclas and Oliver had a swim in the rockpool.

Oliver has just turned 14 months and is a little wild thing - climbing all over and loving to help at home - especially in the kitchen.

Barefoot ball!

2007-04-01T03:01:00.000-07:00

Wow - we have been to a ball - my first in ages - but a different one - at the sailing club - and barefoot....
The guys wore dinnerjackets with boardshorts and the ladies best coctail dress or ballgown.
First a band played and there was dancing by the water or on the beach (though it was warmer to stand in the water then on the sand....) and later on disco in the club. We had a great time and somehow it was 01.00 when we left to go home. Pretty tired and even worse on Sunday as Oliver woke 4 for a bottle of formula (I was hoping he would sleep longer with that) but he woke just after 5 and did not want to go back to bed....

Otherwise he is now climbing everywhere - preferably atop the desks where we have the computers - we have to keep the chairs well away currently - at the moment this is a deterant for him - but it wont be long before he will be able to push the chair across the room. We have our hands full..

Daylight saving over!

2007-03-25T03:52:00.000-07:00

I guess autumn is truly here now - clocks went back last night - and we are all struggling today as Oliver woke up his normal time (was this morning 5 am....). But we managed to keep him up til 8.30 pm and hopefully he will sleep past 7 tomorrow morning.

Saturday was great summer weather, up to 31 c, sunny and humid, and we spent the morning on the beach and the afternoon at a friends pool. Fredrik and Oliver enjoyed all the swimming. Oliver has now taken to "running" (holding our hands) straight into the sea - laughing.
In the evening the southerly winds arrived and the temperature dropped til 21 and this morning it was only 17 - and today has been very rainy.

Oliver is now walking!

2007-03-14T03:00:00.000-07:00

Oliver has this week started walking properly - more walking than crawling - and today walked next to me, holding my hand, when we where at the mall. He enjoys his little sandals.
Otherwise what he likes most is anything in the kitchen, brooms, balls and tennisrackets.

Jessica has joined the aircadets, has had her first weekend away - visting the RAAF base closest to us here in Sydney - to get her uniforms and she also had the opportunity to fly in a glider. She loves it, next weekend she is off on her first bivack - something she is mostly concerned about among everything they get to try at the cadets. She is worried about the spiders at night....but parachuting, flying single engine planes, gliding, abseiling etc doesnt concern har much, she is looking forward to all this.

Fredrik is playing playstation, gameboy and reading lots - other then the tennis both he and Jessica plays twice weekly.

I was looking forward to start playing squash and tennis again after the birth of Oliver, but just as I had recovered from that I injured my right elbow - its not working properly and I have to go and see the Doctor next week and see what he says can be done to sort it out.

Otherwise we try to do as much swimming and beaching as we can before the winter sets in. Oliver loves the water and the sand - on the pitcure in a friends pool.

Finally Internet - broadband is back!

2007-03-02T01:32:00.000-08:00

We have now got internet back - after two weeks without broadband - wonder what we did before ??

This week has been great - rainy to start with and things got done at home - but it has been warm. Today has been great weather - sunny and 28 - and Oliver and I have been to playgroup with the Swedish mums and visited a friend with a pool. Oliver loves being in the water.

In the afternoon me and the kids went down to our local beach - just 5 mins away by car - and we had a great time. Oliver loves playing in the sand and tried the waves today too.
He is just about to start walking - he practices alot now - soon he will be off. He is careful as his older brother.

Jessica is now an aircadet with uniform and all - she went gliding last weekend - and loved it - and cant wait to fly small aircraft.

Birthdays!

2007-02-24T17:38:00.000-08:00

Last weekend we celebrated the boys birthdays. Fredrik turned 12 and Oliver 1.
It was a lovely day and we spent some of the day on the beach - loved by both the boys and parents. The rest of the weeks has seen fantastic weather - hot and sunny and Oliver and myself have tried to be at the beach at least once a day - and have managed it too.

Oliver had his first birthday party with 4 little friends with mums (and one brother) attending. The others are between 17 and 20 months. He enjoyed the presents and the cakes, though he got a little shy when we sang for him.

Otherwise we have now been granted our permenant residency - horray - finally done - and are now planning on staying. House in London will soon go up for sale and we are househunting here on the Northern Beaches (lots of money needed though....=).

Our internet has been out for a week now and will probably not be fixed for another week or so - despite chasing the company who unplugged us....Niclas has sorted a temporary thing through work this weekend (great to have a hubbie in the mobile industry) but next week will be less internet for myself at home.

In Sydney again

2007-02-07T03:02:00.000-08:00

Back in Sydney after having been in Stockholm for four weeks. The weather in Stockholm was great for winter - snow and -5 to -10. The kids enjoyed the snow and made sure they were out in it as often as possible. The baby thought it was a little odd - especially when being "packed up" and squeezed into a sack in the pram - very snug - so he slept almost everytime we where out walking.

After the strike threat stopped our plans to stay in London for a few days and meet up with you all there - we decided to fly straight back as soon as possible - and we where lucky and got seats to Sydney direct.

Kids are now back at school (they only missed out on three days in the end) and Oliver and I are getting back to our social life here on the beaches. Weather has been great and on Sunday Oliver "tried" the buggyboard with Fredrik. Great fun and its a good start.

In Stockholm

2007-01-21T01:35:00.000-08:00

On holiday in Stockholm, now half way through. The snow arrived properly yesterday and it is still snowing. Not possible to get out with the car this morning - but the Jessica and Fredrik are very happy. They have been wishing for the snow to arrive as they havent been in the snow for almost two years now.

Oliver just stood and watched the snow this morning - he was very sleepy and it was time for his nap. He fell asleep in the pram during a walk around the area - not easy to get around but the pram has great wheels for snow (and sand....reason to get that one...).

Hopefully he will enjoy the snow better this afternoon when he gets introduced to it.

Otherwise we have visited friends and family and are having a great time.

Off to London 29th for a few days and then onwards home to the summer early Feb.

Xmas over this time

2006-12-28T15:03:00.000-08:00

Well - xmas is now truly celebrated and over here in Sydney - now we are trying to get into summer spirit. The older kids are on summer holidays - but the weather is not what it usually is at this time of year. (around 25 c with some cold southerly winds). But we managed to spend some time on the beach over the xmas weekend. But we visit the beach every day - sometimes only for a coffee and to watch the waves and surfers.
Oliver loves playing in the sand and Fredrik enjoys the waves on his bodyboard.
On Boxing Day we watched the start of the Sydney to Hobart race - it was a great day and a spinnakerstart for the smaller boats.

Xmas!

2006-12-21T20:31:00.000-08:00

Well - xmas is upon us - just two more sleeps til xmas eve - and we are almost done - just some more food to get ready ( and a birthday to celebrate).
Kids are now on summer holiday and Niclas is in-between jobs and off.
Xmas will be celebrated with Niclas brother and girlfriend from Sweden and our good friends here in Sydney - at their house - complete with pool and spa.

Then off to the beach on the 25th - what a way to spend xmas

Kids and I plan to fly to Stockholm mid Jan and return early Feb.

Last weekend we celebrated Lucia - a Swedish tradition - at the Swedish Club - it was overcast and only around 22 c and felt a little more like xmas then if it had been 30 and sunny (which is normal for this time of year).

2006-12-11T23:00:00.000-08:00

photos

2006-12-11T22:48:00.000-08:00

Here are a few photos - also visit our photosite on flicr - see shortcurt

Our English blog

2006-12-11T21:13:00.000-08:00

Here is a blog from us in Sydney - in English. The Swedish one - Oliverandco - is more updated - but I will try to keep up with this one too.

Currently we are getting ready for xmas - has been hard to get into xmas spirit when it is over 25c and sunny and most days we go to the beach at least once - but this weekend we got ourselves a xmas tree - yes a real one - very nice and xmassy smell - the kids enjoyed decorating it.

Otherwise the pool is up in the garden and yesterday all three kids had a long swim in it - Oliver for the first time.