When I first moved to Sweden I didn't know the language at all, but that didn't stop me from trying to read the weather report every day. I thought it was an interesting feature that they reported the weather on the north pole. I remember saying to people while attempting to make conversation, "It's really warm at the North Pole today, I read about it in the paper." After a year or so I realised that the paper was printing the forecast for northern Poland ('Norra Polen'), and not the North Pole ('Nord Polen'). Oops!

And in case you were wondering, you can check out today's weather at the North Pole, which is not quite the same as the weather in Nynäshamn.

Here today we are awaiting the first winter blizzard, which promises a lot of snow and gale force winds. Luckily Lars-Göran went down and secured the boat properly yesterday.



As you can see, even before today's weather gets to hit us that there is plenty of snow around. This includes on the deck, which the poor man had to sweep off. The boat ought to really be covered by now, but we were hoping to go out for a little New Year's Eve sailing weekend. Yes, I know... are we mad? But as the girls are here at the moment that may or may not happen. We'll see. So he had to take our new broom and sweep it all off. After the witch suggestion he made at the Christmas market, I'm quite happy to let him do it ALONE.



Yesterday I took the chance to stock up on groceries so that apart from taking Lambi out for her daily walks, I can stay inside and finish off reading Peter Carey's My Life as a Fake. I'm thoroughly enjoying the book, not in the least because I was fascinated by the whole Ern Malley affair when I studied at university and in fact used to shop regularly at Max Harris's well stocked bookshop in Grenfell Street. There is nothing I like better on a day like this than curling on the couch with a good book. I often feel sorry for people who don't like to read. They miss so many beautiful, unique experiences and so many opportunities to learn.

While walking to the supermarket yesterday, I noticed how lovely everything looked, despite the cold and the darkness. It's the snow that makes such a difference. Even a couple of days later when the ploughs have made high walls that line the streets and the sand spray from the wheels of passing vehicles have splattered them brown, it still looks great.



That is the lunchtime rush in Nynäshamn! Though I ought not to joke as a couple of days before Christmas a woman was knocked over near here. I passed by the scene as the ambulance crew arrived and looked at her shopping strewn across Centralgatan - Christmas ham, meatballs, cheese, wrapping paper etc. The sight of those simple groceries brought a lump to my throat - in the simple act of doing something quite ordinary, she was struck down. I hope she wasn't hurt too badly, though it looked pretty serious. It also made me think of those who will lose their lives over Christmas in road accidents. The road toll here stands at nine, but I see in Australia it is a whopping twenty seven! People, please be careful!

Back in sleepy little Nynäshamn, even the elderly are out and about in this weather, pushing their little rullator along the snowy pathways. I'm not sure whether it is because I walk so much more here than I did in Adelaide, but I notice that there are a lot more old people out walking around than I ever saw back home.



In addition the trip home along our street is so pretty with the snow covering everything. Snow can transform the most ordinary spot into something you wish you could paint. Coming up from the supermarket, I looked up and watched a flock of blackbirds wheeling into the air as the wind tore the white coverlet off the shivering trees. I even saw a shy arctic fox, resplendent in it's silvery winter coat slink along the pathway - there is something to marvel over even in the ordinary task of doing the weekly shopping!



I am quite overcome with beauty and the warmth of home. Of course, this is December. Catch me around the third week of February after the 25th snow storm of the season. I may find it all a little less enchanting.