Ring Ring Ring!

My REAL engagement ring is finally ready and on my finger!




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Royal Treatment?

Our four-poster (or technically half-tester) bed at Eldergrove B&B in Ambleside in the English Lake District.




I've noticed during this trip (and Millan has blogged about it earlier) that English (hotel) beds are much smaller than the (international or at least American) standard. All our double (sometimes called "queen" and sometimes "king") beds in five different locations during this week have been maximum 1.40m (and shorter tio). That's pretty tight and we're reasonably thin; what do less normally built people do?! At home we have a 1.60m bed but I think the most common in Sweden is 1.80.

That said, as you can see in the picture, the Eldergrove bed is lovely, and besides, we don't mind cosying up. I can really recommend the Lake District! I thought it was going to be beautiful but I had no idea the landscape was so spectacular!

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Long Time No See

After-dinner talk with Karl, Diego, Peter and Céline. Only one missing is James, the one whose wedding we're here for (tomorrow). Last time we all saw each other was a year ago so lots of catch-up to do!

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Holiday!

Tomorrow is my last working day before going on four weeks' leave - yay! I'm really looking forward to it, not because I'm sick of work as I actually like my job a lot and don't mind working at all, but I love travelling and visiting places and that's what holiday time is really for. That said, so far we only have one trip organised and are planning to spend the remainder at Peter's family summer house, unless the weather turns miserable and we're "forced" to book a last-minute trip to the sun. But going to the summer house is also a holiday of sorts - at least we're not at home doing chores.

Earlier in the week I read that according to scientific research, being on holiday/leave does not have any beneficial consequences. You may think that vacation makes you calm and relaxed and that you come back to work a better person. Nope. Studies show that Swedes' long leave periods (usually four or five weeks of consecutive leave in the summer) have very little, if any, effect. You are not happier afterwards and after a few days back at work your holiday calm will be gone.

The only measurable effect of vacation is that you are happier before you go than those not going on holiday. You enjoy the planning and having expectations on what is ahead. But when you're back at work you are equally happy as those who have been working throughout.

But I agree with the journalist; I'm not sure these research results are credible. Maybe planning and expectations and hopes are what gives us joy, more than the actual holiday. That must have some long-lasting effect on us. I certainly enjoy the planning part as much as the holiday, well, almost.

As the journalist point out, afterwards there are new knowledge, experiences and memories that can be cherished for a long time (and nowadays thousand of photos making it almost possible to forget!).

Or, maybe the Americans are right; two weeks' holiday and a few long weekends per year is plenty (a topic that has featured on a lot of blogs of Swedish expats in the US lately). But I doubt it.

Facedicted

I just read that one in three women log onto Facebook as soon as they wake up in the morning. Haha, that's me! That said, I wouldn't probably do it if I didn't have an iPhone with a Facebook app. But I admit I'm addicted. To Facebook and to my iPhone :)

Go Holland!

Our own outdoor big screen viewing of the World Cup final while the meat is cooking on the grill. Only problem is the fact that the sun sets so late, making the screen a bit light... But it's the atmosphere that counts!




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Late Night Swim

Peter goes for a 11pm skinny dip. Loving the light Swedish summer nights!



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For Stieg Larsson Fans... with a Sense of Humour

I haven't read the Stieg Larsson trilogy yet, partly for the very reason Nora Ephron makes fun of in this column and partly because I become anti when too many people like the same thing :) I'm familiar with the story though as I've seen the films. So I very much enjoyed this piece!

What else? I'm at the Almedalen political week until Thursday morning. Posts from a previous Almedalen visit here in case you're wondering what it is!