The anemones of spring are fading away, We’re between cherry (hägg) and lilac (syrén) as we say here in Sweden. We’re passing through spring into early summer and we’re getting plenty of long weekends to make the most of it – Easter, Christ Ascention Day, 1st of May, and the Swedish National Day. We get all our public holidays before summer and none after.

Everything is sprouting leaves and flowers, or chirping madly to find a partner and a nest to lay eggs. If you are a human you can try a swim in the ocean 57° north of the equator on the first of May. Not many degrees in the water and stiff breeze coming off of the North Sea. Something for strong Nordic women, nothing for me.

A flycatcher couple moved into one of our bird houses at the summer house, laid an egg and had a baby. Big drama however, as we believe the baby was pushed out and replaced with a cuckoo chick. The couple brought up the cuckoo instead as though it was their own baby.

Göteborgsvarvet, a half marathon from the city over the Älvsborg bridge to Hisingen and back to the mainland over the other bridge. Mathilda, Edde and Pontus ran this year. We cheered them on with champagne and good humour as they passed just below our apartment.

In town life moves out on the terrace when the sun shines. Family and friends come for drinks and dinner and life feels pretty good.

I never finished this post. We’re now well into July but I thought I would post this anyhow.