Well, I suppose that is what it must look like when you take a gander at my poor husband's raw and sore hands! They have been like this for the last two months and steadily getting worse. We have seen three different doctors and got three different diagnoses and treatment plans and spent a literal fortune on creams and tablets. The worst part of it is that he was in constant pain. He described it as a thousand needles poking into his skin. He (and therefore me!) has been unable to sleep through the night, making us all feel rather tired and grouchy. And by late last week he was pretty much disabled - unable to hold a coffee cup, dress himself or comb his hair.

At first it was thought he had a fungal infection, then they thought psoriasis but now they admit that they have absolutely no idea what it is, but the dermatologist suspects that it is aggressive and infected. So finally he prescribed antibiotics, a very strong cortisone cream to be used twice a day with a softening cream in between and rather surprisingly, an old fashioned bathing regime in a diluted solution of Condy's Crystals. He has been doing this since last Friday and so far the results have been nothing short of a miracle. I really hope that this continues as it was looking like he would not be able to sail at all this year and he was climbing the walls in frustration.

In the middle of all of this, Sandy (of the "Aussies in Holland" fame) and her husband Ad came for a visit. And yes, we made a splash in town!

This is the obligatory shot that foreigners always want to have when they see the "Slut" word here in Sweden. It actually means the end or the finish in Swedish. You would often see it in the shop windows when they are having a final clearance sale. I do remember being somewhat amused by the large "Slut" signs I saw plastered over shops just after my first Christmas here.

I guess the exclamation marks at the end of this particular sign made it irresistible. It actually is a car sticker used here by those opposing the building of a highway from Stockholm to Nynäshamn - an issue that has divided the community in this town. Those who want the highway to make the journey safer, faster and help develop the region use the slogan "Väg 73, Nu!!!!" (Highway 73, Now!!!) and the opponents who want to keep the old road use "Väg 73, Slut!!!"

Whatever the reason, Sandy spotted it and thought it was very "us". I wonder what she meant?

She had emailed me to say she was taking the night train from Berlin on Wedneday 21st, arriving in Stockholm on Thurdsay 22nd at 12.40 and I said I'd meet her. I was supposed to be in town on the Wednesday but cancelled as Lars-Göran was feeling so unwell and I spent the day washing, cleaning, shopping, doing my Swedish homework and getting the boat ready as we were going to sleep there while Sandy and Ad slept in out apartment. I had planned to eat last night's left over Nasi Goreng after class and make up a snazzy Swedish smörgåstårta that we could keep for dinner on Thursday. I thought I was very organised.

All was going well until about an hour before I had to be at my 6.00pm class, when I finally had a minute to log-in to the net for the first time. There was a letter in my inbox from Ad. I thought it was a confirmation of the train time the next day. Imagine my horror when I read "We are in Stockholm. Where are you? Tried to ring but I can't get through." I almost fainted! They had been in Stockholm for nearly 6 hours!

I frantically tried to call his mobile but couldn't get through. I answered the email, hoping they might go to another internet café. Boy was I in a panic. I cancelled my Swedish class and started running around like a headless chicken. About 20 minutes later the phone rang and it was Ad. He was calling from a public phone as his mobile wouldn't work in Sweden. I told him he was 24 hours early! But I managed to blather out instructions to the train they needed and told them I'd meet them at the Nynäshamn station when the train arrived here.

I threw together a quick Matjessilltårta (a typical Swedish herring dish) and salad as I didn't think they'd appreciate leftovers for dinner. Then down to the station to meet them.



In my rush to get them to the right platform and train, I had forgotten to mention that only the first four carriages go all the way to Nynäshamn. Yep, you guessed it, they were not on the first four carriages! But when they unhooked the other carriages at Västerhaninge, the conductor hurried them off to the about to depart other half of the train. They DO tell you this information, but only in Swedish.

After all of that they finally made it and we spent a fun couple of days with them. We went down to the harbour, where Ad did the typical Dutch pose with a beer bottle (can't trust these low-landers to behave)



And Sandy found a bit of graffiti to pose in front of - I like the little crown myself, it adds that bit of class :)



Then we visited the booze shop where Sandy could marvel at the fact that all the alcohol is behind glass cases and we have to queue up and ask for the grog by number (I'll post about that another time). She also got told off for taking a picture there. I'll have to be more careful when I do it (mental note: no flash...)

And we did get to enjoy that smörgåstårta and beer!



We also managed to get her on the train and off to Göteborg to scare them all at the ANZAC Day dinner there. It was lovely to finally meet up as we have been emailing and phoning each other for a couple of years now. And she was very much as I imagined her to be.

Now the weather has turned sunny again and the call of the sea is overwhelming. Today it looks like this:



It is definately calling. And as we have the public holidays coming up for Walpurgis, the birthday of King Carl XVI Gustaf and also the First of May, I think we might sail off for a day or two and see if some sea air and sunshine will help out "swamp man".

Vi ses, senare!