London in December

I haven't yet told you about my latest visit to London earlier this month.  Originally I meant to take Isolde with me and visit a friend, K, in Abingdon outside Oxford (K has just had her second baby and her older daughter is just one year older than Isolde).  I then thought it would be nice with an extra pair of hands and my mum is always keen to go to England, and now she hadn't been for a while.  We started looking at flights and hotels in Oxford but the more we talked, we felt it was probably best not to bring Isolde, as we wanted to do some Christmas shopping as well - not Isolde's favourite pastime - and besides, with another baby on the way, when would I have another chance to travel sans children?  Probably not for a while.  And with Peter having made a trip in November it felt "fair" that I got my share of travel too. 

So it quickly developed into a London-focussed trip but with a day-trip out of town to see K.  We left mid-day on a Saturday and flew back on a Wednesday, which gave us a full three days plus some.  Last time I was in London, or England in general for that matter, was in February, and then I hardly had any spare time as I was doing a course, except for the weekend which we spent with K and her family (Isolde and Peter came along for that whole week). 

I hardly took any photos at all on this trip but here are the handful I took.

Christmas lights in Oxford, where we fought our way through the crowds our first evening in town and then didn't return for the remainder of the trip.

At least one visit to Starbucks was a must every day, mainly to take advantage of free wi-fi.

We stayed at the Hilton Metropol at Edgware Road, which I can recommend for the location and standard (at least at the rate we managed to get through hotels.se), but not necessarily for the view from our window, but then again we didn't spend that much time in the room so...

No visit to England without Afternoon or Cream Tea!  I think we managed to gobble three Cream Teas in as many days.  This one is at Muriel's Kitchen just outside South Kensington tube station (and we had one at Liberty too).

My mum with the latest addition to the M-O family, Seren.

A very delicious (non-alcoholic) drink in the hotel restaurant our last evening in town.

And of course no visit to England without fish & chips!  I like how it was presented - also at the hotel - on newspaper and with the lemon in a net.  And ketchup, mushy peas and tartar sauce on the side.

We were actually both very unlucky and lucky on this trip.  Let me tell you!

Story 1

• We're about to board the plane at Arlanda, Stockholm, and as the attendant checks my boarding pass and passport, she says "by the way, how far along [in the pregnancy] are you?".  "Week 27", I answer, "why do you ask?"  "I think you need a doctor's certificate from a certain week, but I think it's week 28", she says and asks me to step to the side so she can check in the computer.   She confirms that it's week 28 and writes a note in the system for the return flight so they will know then that I'm clear to fly.  I hadn't even thought about checking or getting a certificate as I thought it was from week 32 at the earliest that a certificate would be needed and I flew around the same time when I was pregnant with Isolde and no one bothered to ask then.  I know that you're not allowed to fly at all during the last four weeks, but I never thought it would be a problem with more than three months to go.  But turns out I might not have been allowed on the plane had it been one or two weeks later (I don't know if they mean as soon as you enter the 28th week, i.e. 27+1, or it applies from when you have completed 28 weeks, i.e. 28+0) so lucky start to the trip!

Story 2

• On the Monday of our trip we went to visit K and kids.  We had agreed that we would take the train from Paddington to Radley, the nearest train station to them, and she'd pick us up with the car.  The train was running 15 minutes late so I texted K to let her know and sent a last text two stops before Radley.  So far so good.  We get off at Radley and wait in the parking lot.  After about 15 minutes we start wondering where she is (before that I hadn't worried about her being late, just thinking that it's difficult to be on time with two little kids) and I check my mobile to see if she's texted to say that she's late.  There's no text but no reception either!  My mum checks her phone which has the same provider (Telenor) and she doesn't have any reception either.  After another 10 minute wait or so we go to the pub next to the station to borrow their phone but I just get through to K's voice mail (the girl at the pub says the area has very bad reception). 
• I remember that K has told me that there's a bus into Abingdon so we go to the bus stop and hop on the next bus coming.  I figure she has probably sent me a text saying we should meet her in Abingdon instead.  The bus passes by familiar neighbourhoods - I have visited them once before, in February, but at that time they picked us up at another train station and I didn't pay too close attention - but I decide it's safer to go all the way to Abingdon (10-15 min journey).  We get off the bus in the town square and proceed to Costa café where I ask to borrow the phone and leave another message for K, as our phones still don't have any reception - all very strange!  We order hot chocolates and a muffin and stay there for 45 minutes to an hour in the hope K hears my message.  When she doesn't show up I'm starting to think something must have happened.  And why are our phones still not working?! 
• I borrow the phone at Costa a last time and leave a new message, telling K we'll go to the library - I've spotted a sign - to try to use the Internet to find her address (which of course I haven't written down on a note, as I was so sure we'd be picked up and also that I would be able to use my mobile) and a map so we can walk to her house.  At the library they luckily have wi-fi so I can easily surf on my iPhone and eventually I find K's address in my Facebook messages.  We copy a local map (2 pages for 20 pence) and walk for about 15 minutes to K's house (which was the way the bus came so I had remembered correctly). 
• Over 2.5 hours after arriving at Radley we ring K's doorbell.  She opens with "I'm so happy to see you!  I take it you have received my messages then?"  We shake our heads and she tells us that she had to go to the A & E with her oldest, I, who fell off the bed and banged the back of her head on the bedside table.  They had just returned home and K had just heard my messages, as she wasn't able to pick up at the A & E. 
• Happy ending to the story in that we made it in end and I. wasn't seriously hurt, but what are the odds of our phones not working at that particular time?!  We didn't have any reception for the remainder of the day and I heard once back in Sweden that Telenor had had problems that day, especially with international roaming.  I'm so grateful for public libraries and the resources available there, as well as for friendly innkeepers letting you borrow their phones.

Story 3

• Wednesday AM and we're on our way to Heathrow on the tube when I get a text from British Airways that our flight has been cancelled.  We had seen on the morning news that there was icy frost and fog and that a lot of flights were cancelled or delayed but since our flight wasn't until 2 pm we thought it would be fine by then. 
• The text said to call a number or visit the website to get a refund or rebook onto another flight.  I try the number right away but of course it's impossible to get through, as thousands of stranded travellers are trying to ring at the same time.  I want to avoid the cost of international roaming so I forward the text to Peter back home in Sweden so he can go online for us.  When we get off at Hatton Cross to change for the right terminal train he calls and is about to rebook us on an early evening flight from City Airport, also with BA.  However, the system keeps on failing every time he tries to pay for it - probably because hundreds of other people are trying to book the same flights - and eventually it's not a 2,000 SEK flight anymore but a 14,000 SEK one.  Peter gives up on that flight and tells me he will check other (non-BA) alternatives but that we should proceed to the ticker counter as soon as we get to the terminal.
• As you could imagine, once we get there the queues are super-long and they are handing out a piece of paper with the phone number (same one I had already tried) and the link to the website, and also saying that most people will be rebooked on flights the following day.  We position ourselves in the queue but after a while Peter calls and tells us he has found tickets for a SAS flight later that evening.  It will cost us 8,000 SEK and we know we're probably only getting 2,000 SEK back for the cancelled flight*, but we really want to get home the same day (especially since my mum has a meeting scheduled early the following morning and I have a cold and would prefer to get home to my own bed), so we take it.  Besides, even if BA would have rebooked us the next day they would probably not have paid for the hotel, as weather problems are considered force majeure.
• We get out of the queue and make our way from Terminal 5 (unfortunately, as the shopping there is so much better) to Terminal 3 to check in for our SAS flight.  The flight doesn't leave until 9 pm so we spend almost 8 hours sitting around waiting and reading, with a few pitstops for food or coffee and some taxfree shopping.  I'm very happy Isolde wasn't on this trip with us, as it would have been quite tiring to entertain her at the airport for all those hours (and also being "lost" in Abingdon for almost 3-hour a couple of days earlier).

So, as you can see, a bit of adventure on this trip to say the least, but all with happy endings I guess! :)

* We know now we're getting the 2,000 SEK back but I'm still in contact with BA regarding the difference, and soon probably with my insurance company.  Wish me luck!

Friday Gallery: Faith, Hope and Love

Making it easy for myself today as I'm busy packing for a Christmas shopping trip (and catch-up with friends) in London Saturday-Wednesday together with my mum.

Found this very timely ad for a new exhibition at the Maritime Museum. Not that I'm particularly fond of tattoos (rather the opposite), but could be an interesting exhibition.

By the way, Västmanländskan is Friday Gallery director for this month and has chosen today's and three other themes: Lucia, Christmas preparations (julstök) and Half-Year Check (photos from the last six months).

Another Day

Another course day for me and a day of leisure for Peter and Isolde (the course is really great but I wish I had at least one day just strolling). In the morning they just went to the local playground but after lunch they visited the Swedish church for a weekly play group (where they offered semlor, cream buns for Shrove Tuesday!) and then ventured to Jermyn Street for some shopping (they had a buy-one-shirt-get-two-for-free-deal so Peter bought three shirts and one tie for only £86!).

When I got "home", we walked across the Embankment bridge to the London Eye for some London views from above. I've gone once before when the wheel was new but Peter had never been on it. It's perhaps not worth its ticket price but it's still something to check off the list. And I can watch Houses of Parliament and Big Ben at night over and over again! After the 30-minute ride we walked up to Covent Garden and Neal Street and spent quite a lot of time at Barbour - Peter bought a quilted spring-autumn jacket but I'm still deciding - before devouring moules frites at Belgo's. Finale of the day was a crêpe to share from the crêperie in Covent Garden on our way back to the hotel - Shrove/Fat Tuesday is Pancake Day in the UK after all!

Next Time in London...

I read an article (in the newsletter/magazine from Swedish Church in London) where news correspondent Per Nordangård* shares his London highlights. Having lived in the UK for four years, two of those in London, I have seen a lot of London but not these and I look forward to visiting some of these sights next time I go to London (soon I hope!).

• - Apsley House, the poshest house in London on Hyde Park Corner, alternative address "No 1 London". Apsley was the home of the Duke of Wellington (who defeated Napoleon) and is still home to members of the Wellington family.
• - Battersea Dogs & Cats Home, luxury shelter for (15,000) homeless dogs and cats (every year). Offers guided tour of all four floors.
• - The Clockmaker's Museum, at Guildhall Library in the City (London's financial district). It houses the world's oldest collection of clocks and has been recently renovated.
• - One of the most complete collections of dolls and toys in the world at the Museum of Childhood.
• - Fish & chips from the Golden Hind in Marylebone Lane (I used to live in Marylebone but never went to this particular fish & chips shop).
• - The Garden Museum at St Mary-at-Lambeth
• - The Hive Honey Shop with 700 different products and 20,000 bees at work
• - Kew Gardens (no, haven't been there yet), one of the world's leading botanic gardens
• - Little Venice - walk along Regent's Canal past canal boats, London Zoo and several parks, all the way to the markets and locks in Camden
• - Classical music and candlelight every day of the week at St Martin-in-the-fields in Trafalgar Square. This church also has a café and restaurant under the arches in the crypt as well as jazz concerts on Wednesdays.
• - The National Dining Rooms at the National Gallery for traditional British food.
• - Ports and wines at Berry Bros. and Rudd, a 3oo year-old wine shop
• - The Queen's Gallery at Buckingham Palace, displaying pieces of the royal art collection
• - Afternoon tea at the Orangery in Kensington Garden (been there but not for afternoon tea)
• - Ye Grapes pub in Shepherd Market, Mayfair, a pub with history and atmosphere
• - The Zest Gallery for contemporary glass blowing and design

* Nordangård has just published his fifth book, Den siste korrespondenten

In Case You've Been Wondering

I've been learning how to save the world at a climate and energy conference in London. Looking forward to catching up on my blog reading!

Long Time, No See

You've probably wondered why it has been so quiet on the blog. The simple answer is a busy work schedule as well as social calendar. A recap:

Thursday 4 December - Preparations for Céline and Diego's visit from Barcelona; tidying up and baking for Friday's gathering (though I did blog that evening)

Friday 5 December - Céline and Diego arrived just before our other 15 or so guests for a glögg (mulled wine or Glüwein) evening.

Saturday-Sunday 6-7 December - As Céline and Diego have been to Stockholm before they wanted to see a new part of Sweden. So we chose an overnight stay in Tällberg, Dalarna (Tällberg is probably most famous for Tällberg Forum, an annual international conference). We visited a couple of traditional Christmas markets, looked at local handicrafts and stuffed ourselves from a huge julbord (Swedish Christmas buffet) as well as enjoyed a swim and a facial/body treatment at the hotel's spa. Most importantly, Tällberg was covered in snow, something we don't see in Stockholm too often these days. We even slid off the road on one of Tällberg's hills - note to self for next trip: don't bring a back-wheel driven car.

Monday 8 December - We dropped of Céline and Diego in Uppsala on Sunday night but Monday night they came back to Stockholm. Peter and I cooked some meatballs and mash for them, very traditional, and I have to say, better than the Ikea version! :)

Tuesday 9 December - On our visitors' last night in town I accompanied them for some souvenir shopping before we met up with Peter for a dinner at one of the local Thai restaurants.

Wednesday 10 December - Not an exciting evening at all; had to do the wash. Like many Stockholmers we don't have our own washing machine make use of the building's complimentary laundry room. We only manage to book it every ten days or so due to its popularity but with three washing machines, two dryers (though the one is usually broken) and one drying cupboard, we can easily do our washing in three hours.

Thursday 11 December - Time for my work's julbord, which I had organised, from 4 o'clock onwards. Unfortunately I had to leave already at 7pm since my mum was coming to spend the night ahead of our trip to London. Although after all the food I had consumed I was pretty tired anyway.

Friday-Sunday 12-14 December - Long weekend in London designated for shopping, eating and enjoying each other's company. Unfortunately I got a migraine and had (for some stupid reason) only brought this new medication I hadn't tried yet and it turned out not to work. So Saturday and Sunday I was a bit down but Friday I was still fit-for-fight - and quite a fight it is to do your Christmas shopping in London less than two weeks before Christmas. Saturday was really rainy so we went to the brand new super-size shopping centre Westfield in Shepherd's Bush. A great place to shop plus there's a very nice Italian deli near the entrance by Waitrose is located, where I had a very nice English breakfast and my mum had salmon and scrambled eggs on toast. All felt very freshly produced and the staff was very friendly.

Monday 15 December - Did nothing in particular except recover from landing late at 00:40 the previous night

Tuesday 16 December - Worked late; did an evening presentation for a bunch of teachers

Wednesday 17 December - The annual Christmas party at work with the usual after party in the work pub (didn't stay too late but sometimes 11pm on a work night feels pretty late!)

Thursday 18 December - Tried to do most of my remaining Christmas shopping

Friday 19 December - Dinner at Peter's cousin and her fiance who have just moved to Hammarby sjöstad. Very nice evening with glögg marinated pork tenderloin as main course and ginger cookie cheesecake for dessert!

Saturday 20 December - We were supposed to celebrate "little Christmas" with my relatives (aunt, uncle and cousins with families) but my parents, the hosts, got sick and it had to be cancelled. So I spent the day tidying up and cleaning and wrapping presents instead and in the evening our friends Maria and Daniel came over for dinner.

Sunday 21 December - After a well-deserved lazy morning I met up with Helena, Tommie and kids for a late lunch before going to a Christmas carol service at Sofia Church. Helena used to sing in one of the participating choirs and her sister still does so it has sort of become a yearly Christmas tradition. In the evening Peter and I attended a little glögg do at his sister's before it was laundry time again!

Monday 22 December - Last night I had meant to blog as I had the whole evening to myself while Peter was out with the lads! But I ended up wrapping presents, watching TV and weeding and posting photos on Facebook instead. Things that were also necessary of course! :)

So this brings us today, Tuesday 23 December. My last working day for five days! I left the office already at 3pm actually and picked up one last present. Then packed my bags and made sure I had all packages with me before setting off to Södertälje. Peter and I will spend Christmas Eve and most of Christmas Day with our respective families but on Christmas Day I'll go over to his parents for dinner with his sister + boyfriend, grandmother and uncle + cousins. Last year we spent Christmas in South Africa so everybody is happy to have us home this year.

So with the last few weeks' of hecticness (is that a word?) I haven't even had time for Friday Show & Tell! I did spend some time weeding old recipe collections around the time of the cookbook theme. I have four huge binders with recipes that I subscribed to in my late teens, early 20s, but since I have hardly used them (what a waste of money!) I have set a target to myself to reduce the collection of recipe cards to a size that fits into one binder. I have done pretty well and am now down to 1½ binders. I figured that I would only keep those that I know I will actually cook/bake.

When it comes to dream travel I will need to come back to that. It does remind me though that I still haven't blogged about the last legs of our US trip this past summer. I will simply have to make that one of my New Year's resolutions!

London Calling

In case anyone is wondering I'm in London this week, both on business and for pleasure! Back in a few days!

Update

I've been a bad blogger this month. Since I wrote last I have:

• Been working (of course)
• Spent a week in London on a conference and a training course (such an excellent course on political lobbying and negotiation!)
• Been joined in London by my mum for some shopping and sight-seeing (can recommend Borough Market)
• Celebrated a birthday and had friends over for drinks and dinner
• Enjoyed the first snow in Stockholm since the beginning of November
• Sewn curtains

I think that's about it! :)