Thankyou, Mr Frost - what a perfect description of April. While the cloud has come over the sunlit arch this morning, it was a gorgeous weekend here, probably the first one we've had this year. It was bright and sunny, the temperature hovered around 14C and there was barely a cloud in sight.




It's just those kinds of days when I wish that I could write poetry, long and beautiful odes to Mother Earth in honour of her special day. If I could, I would have written about the swan I saw flying across the bay on Saturday morning, slowly and elegantly gliding towards the water. She was glorious as she slid effortlessly and gracefully through the air currents.




Or perhaps I'd write about the spring that is emerging all at once, with fields of crocus (krokus), wood anemone (vitsippor), snow drops (snödroppar) and daffodils (påskliljor) growing as wild as dandelions (maskros). Or the bluebells (blåklockor) lying in wait to replace them while the warm earth basks in sun.




The first small blossoms of wood anemone are blooming in the sunny little nooks in the woods. There are no bright, vivid colours here, just the precious morning light and this small glowing white amid last year's leaves. It's so peaceful...

Or perhaps I'd write an amusing limerick about the funny seagulls and their antics, especially the black faced gulls dancing on the harbour light poles.




We were outside for the whole day on Saturday and it felt so good to be without the thick, down-filled, bulky winter coats, enjoying the spring warmth on our shoulders. As we listened to the springtime sounds we both felt alive and refreshed. The ice has totally vanished, it is mid-April and one of spring's first really warm days. The ground has thawed and the air smells of fresh pine-needles while a gentle breeze ruffles the glittering water. We can see open water for the first time in months and our longing for the sea is really strong.

What better thing to do than to take the boat out for a quick spin? We had guests coming for dinner that night, but I had cooked everything in advance and as they are good friends, I felt quite relaxed about it all. So early in the morning, we set off along the familiar route out of the harbour and along the fairway heading south. The houses lining the shore looked bright in the sunlight and the newly raised Swedish flags flew proudly in the brisk breeze.




We decided to stop off at the bay where the boat club lies as there was the second-hand swap going on as well as a competition for some of the small radio-controlled sailing boats. And anyway, with the first boat launchings beginning today, this is the last weekend for several owners to get everything ship-shape so the wharf area was bound to be busy.

At the swap we were lucky enough to buy two of these fantastic chairs designed by Ergolife. It is the sort of simple but smart and functional design that you come to expect from Scandinavians. The chair is made from wooden slats, joined with canvas. It all rolls up into a compact parcel which you can store in a canvas bag and then you simply unroll it and fold it open to use on picnics, at the beach, on deck or anywhere that you need a seat with some good back support. It is ideal for all of our fika moments on shore and we were extra pleased to get two of them for 300kr (they are normally 400kr each). I also bought myself a club shirt and Lambi wandered along and made friends with the guy running the hot dog stall! Back to the boat for coffee with friends and a chance to relax and enjoy the sun.




Doesn't that dog look content? We spent some more time checking out progress on the wharf, chatting with friends and making arrangements for things to be taken care of when we are away. Luckily we were able to pay someone to do our guard duty in July, to arrange to have our mail collected, plants watered and the frame for our boat gathered and locked up once it is ready. The place was buzzing with activity and a few people were wishing that their boat was already in the water on such a glorious day. They are forecasting a burst of summer weather next week, with temperatures in the low 20C range, so that augers well for next weekend's Walpurgis eve bonfire. We also went down and watched the minature yacht race by the clubhouse pier.




They are so tiny and look so cute, even though the competition is really fierce and those involved are intense and focused on winning. All in all, there was a lovely, friendly and relaxed atmosphere here today, with everyone positive and itching to get those boats in the water.

We were not the only ones out on the water today. There were a lot of small fishing boats around as well and quite a few people on the shore casting lines. And one complete madman actually IN the water!




It must have been absolutely freezing and we both shivered and shook our heads, wondering (and not for the first time) what possible appeal there can be in fishing. It's not my idea of fun to stand up to my armpits in icy seas just to catch dinner. Each to their own, I guess.

Dinner on Saturday night was fabulous - our friends are a delightful Australian-Swedish couple and the night was full of laughter and non-stop chatting. Beth has only been in Sweden for two years, yet she speaks excellent Swedish, so much so that converstations were conducted effortlessly in both languages. I think the highlight of the night was when we were discussing the ghastly beach wear that we see around Sweden in the summer and Beth dropped the truly Australian term budgie smuggler to describe those men who wear the skimpy, revealing speedos. Lars-Göran, sensing an opportunity to to shake his head at Australians (yet again) quickly pounced on the term and demanded an explanation, which we both tried to give him, while keeping a straight face. Needless to say, he was horrified and quickly declared that as a nation we were all certifiably insane (or did he say "stark, raving mad"?) Whatever. It was a great night and Sandy, you will be pleased to know that I had to give out your Mexican Fruit Cake recipe yet again! Second time in less than a week.

An equally fulfilling Sunday left me with the feeling of how much I love the Swedish way of life. Life here is conducted on a less complicated level and as I grow older, I love the idea of living smaller and lighter. I’ve learned here that simplicity can encompass everything from architectural line and functional beauty to sharing what we have and how we treat our environment and our friends and neighbours. The Swedish way of life is simple in its most profound and refined sense and I relish being a part of it.