I'd be able to leap out of bed on a Sunday morning, even in the coldest weather in order to take care of all of the animals and take advantage of that bracing Nordic chill, crunchy snow crystals and glorious mid morning sunrise with a clear and rosy sky and the moon still visible.



Instead, as a confirmed non-Viking, I spent my morning snuggled firmly under the doona, peeping out of the window at the snow, but mostly engrossed in Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie's Purple Hibiscus while trying to use telepathy to convince Lars-Göran to serve me breakfast in bed. Which he didn't. The animals had to also fend for themselves.

Do you ever wonder what your name would be if you were a Viking? Well, even if this question hasn’t been keeping you up at night, here is your chance to find the answer at the Viking Name Generator.

My Viking name would have been Móeiðr Treehugger. Actually, my name would have been more like "Móeiðr Björnsdottir"; but the generator thinks that since this is the 21st century, I should have a name in my own right, rather than be simply known as someone’s daughter [thumbs up!].

Well, through this exercise, I discovered that even though I apparently don’t have what it takes to be a Viking, I am “strong and tireless, frequently shouldering burdens that would tire lesser women”. And I would have been known as "tree-hugging hippie peacenik".

Oh well; I have been called worse. :-)

When I finally pulled myself out of bed, I sat with Lars-Göran, planning our summer sailing - fully decked out in our new ocean sailing hats from OCCA.



With a name like that, it was THE only brand to buy. How Swedish am I, spending my winter dreaming about that few days they call summer over here! I won't yet reveal where we are going, but it will be something we've never done before and we are both excited. With a bit of juggling of work and family committments, we hope to leave in mid-May and be away four whole months. I guess we'll need a house-sitter :)

However, that seems a long way off. Today's reality is bleak, wet, cold snow wherever you go. Walking down the street:



Driving by the harbour:



On the train:



On the bus:



And on the water it is really icy:



For some of the boats that have been a bit neglected, or simply left by the owner without proper winter precautions, things are not looking so rosy:



And for some poor boats, it is already too late:



This particular boat has a very new, very expensive and powerful engine. Well, maybe I should say "had"... I guess the insurance company will have to pick up the tab.

This morning, we were up having breakfast at the crack of dawn as the builders and their drills arrived at 7 a.m. to do the work on the kitchen. Dirt, dust, no running water for the next TWO weeks. Not to mention the plumbers (who bear an uncanny resemblance to ZZ Top) stomping around the apartment. But it WILL be worth it - I keep hanging on to that thought. And summer is just around the corner.

Oh God! The plumbers are singing. Remind me never to go to karaoke night at the pub with them.