It’s blindingly sunny and cold here today after a week of grey skies and continual snow. I have so enjoyed these last few weeks of changeable conditions. It’s the most unusual late winter I’ve had since I came here in 2000. I always say that what I like best about Sweden are the ever changing seasons, even the blustery and bitter days of February. I think that what I like most about this February is that we are having so many seasons in rapid succession. It really is like a picture postcard.



Of course, not all of the family are so enchanted by the scenery. In fact, some of the family look positively bored by it all. It takes a lot to impress my well-travelled pets.



One reason that I’m happy about the sunshine is that a friend from Sydney is arriving in Stockholm for a few days. She will be treated to the city at its best – with the stately architecture contrasting with the beautiful mounds of soft, white snow glittering like diamonds, brilliant sunny, cloudless blue skies and crisp, cold nights. I’m pretty sure she’ll never want to leave, especially if the snow stays around.



Just lately I’ve really started to cherish my weekends. During the week, I always have to be organised, up and about early and it makes me feel somewhat stressed. One reason for the extra early start has been the builders, who arrive while it is still dark and start up their electrical tools. As they are renovating all of the apartments, you can expect them to barge in at any time to fix small things here and there. A couple of times I’ve been caught in my dressing gown at the breakfast table, so now I ensure that I am dressed and ready in good time.

But on Saturday and Sunday I am free from that stress and can get up at my leisure, read a few pages of my book while lolling about in bed and slouch around the apartment in my dressing gown for as long as I like. Except that Lambi always has strict ideas about going outside way before I’m ready for her. But it’s better than the usual weekday morning chaos. And it's also a chance to really enjoy the scenery in my beautiful town.



Last night, I had a quick look at some of the opening ceremony for the Winter Olympic Games in Turin. As you would expect from the very arty Italians, it was quite sleek, stylish and a little quirky. I was particularly fond of the cute black and white cows. Yet again, the sheer length of the ceremony made me thank the powers that be that Australia appears at the beginning of the alphabetical line-up! I get bored very quickly of groups of highly excited people marching past the camera. By the time we’re getting to countries beginning with “B”, I’ve generally had enough. So no, I didn’t see Sweden march into the arena. But I did manage to tease Lars-Göran about the fact that Australia won two gold medals at the last winter games while Sweden won none. I know, I know, with the whole dual citizen thing I ought to support Sweden as well, but I find that my heart simply isn’t in it. I’ve been cheering for Australia for too long and now it is a habit I can’t break. To be perfectly honest, we’ll probably ignore the whole thing. Neither of us is particularly fond of sport and neither of us ever seriously feels that patriotic urge to cheer for our country. It’s all a bit tribal for my taste. I’ll really only be looking for opportunities to tease him.



What did surprise me last night was the number of African and Asian countries that sent teams. Very small teams, but still - Zambia? India? Thailand? You don’t normally associate these countries with winter sports. I guess the film about the very popular Jamaican bobsled team inspired them. As a consistent supporter of the underdog, I would love to see one of them snatch a medal.

And before I forget, we have a new doormat. I know you are thinking that Lars-Göran is the doormat, but he can’t do the job alone. I had thought of buying this model, but really it’s been done to death lately and is a bit passé. So instead, we opted for one that reflects our usual reaction to visitors:



I didn’t actually buy it – but I think it was an inspired choice by my dear man, who is becoming more and more Australian as time goes on. The beauty of this mat is that our good friends will see the humour straight away and laugh. As for those who are offended by it, well they are probably those to whom it was directed. Let’s hope they get the hint!