Yes, it's that time of the year again, where we farewell 2004 and look ahead to a new year and a new beginning. Of course, it's already 2005 in Australia and I've been able to see the fireworks display at Sydney Harbour on the evening news. It looked amazing!

It's been a mostly good year for us, despite a few set backs with boat repairs and the awful skin infection that Lars-Göran contracted last spring (and which he still has, if only to a minor degree now). Our plans for 2005 are fairly simple: to continue to enjoy growing and being together. We have other plans about sailing away to the north and the east when in summer, but I don't want to jinx them by even thinking about that yet, as Fiona is still up on land having her hull sanded and dried out.

It's quiet and calm in Nynäshamn tonight. Centrum is deserted and there are no cars about, except down by the church where a memorial service is being held this evening. I think this will be reflected across the country as the search continues for the 3,500 Swedes still missing and for the people from all countries that have lost loved ones. If you still want to know where to go to help out, there are some links at my earlier post here. The feeling of "let's go out and party" is just not there this year. In Sweden there’s no specific ban on celebrating New Year's Eve, but most cities official fireworks have been cancelled and tomorrow will be a day of mourning..

Usually by this time of the day there is the sound of sporadic rockets going off, but it's eerily quiet. A few people have bought fireworks as we heard one or two today and saw this on an earlier stroll around town.



I guess teenagers are the same all over the world. At least with less being around this year, perhaps not so many will be killed or injured. It still puzzles me that such safety-conscious people like the Swedes allow fireworks to be so openly sold to anybody.

And I must tell you the quote of the day, overheard as I was carrying Lambi past the hospital (yes, I know she's a dog and can walk, but I was in a hurry):

Little girl: "Look mummy! That lady is carrying a stuffed toy dog. How cute!"
Stuffed "Toy" Dog: Woof! (or should that be the Swedish "voff"?)
Little girl's mother: And so lifelike!

And I think picture of the day must surely go to the owners of this car parked at the ferry terminal for the Polish ferry:



Hmm... I wonder if they remembered to pack everything?

On that note, I wanted to thank everybody who has stopped by here and emailed me or commented. It's been wonderful to read all of your feedback and both Lars-Göran who takes almost all of the pictures and I are really overjoyed that these images of our world here in Sweden bring so much joy to people. One of the nicest things about keeping this blog is that I've made contact with so many people from all over the world.

Thankyou one and all!

As well as partying, traditionally New Year's Eve is time to remember and pray for those who have passed on during the preceding year, enshrined in the song we sing at midnight - Auld Lang Syne. So don't be strangers, enjoy your night and I'll see you "on the other side"

"But you haven't made any resolutions for 2005" I hear you say. Well, I'm not into "resolutions" at all, but I do hope that I can learn

To my friends all over the world I say: