...Living the Swedish Sumer, Living as a couple and Malmo

Hej!

Wow, a full month without blogging...this isn't exactly how I envisaged this going! But yet again, I have been caught up in everything that has been going on. Not that I have really been anywhere to stop me blogging, its just that I have been busy :)


So what have I done? Well, to start with I had another visit back to the UK to see Sarah for a long weekend, and it was another really hectic one! We seemed to be busy the whole weekend, but in a good way, and it was fun.

We had a night out in Doncaster for Sarah's sisters birthday, and it was certainly an experience. Lots of 'cougars' as I have been taught that they are called. Basically, older women dressed far too young, chasing something young.

Oh, and of course I had to make a fool of myself, and spray the tap all over my top when I went to the bathroom....just very glad it dried quick!

Then on the Sunday Sarah and I went to Wigan to have dinner with my brother and his wife. I worked out it should take somewhere between an hour and a half to two hours, and I pretty much knew the way...up the M1 and across the M62...I've done the drive lots in my old job.
So we set off, and were having a good laugh and good conversation and Sarah asks 'Where is Scotch Corner?' as the sign says we are on the way there....I suddenly realise I am driving to Gateshead and not Leeds/Manchester...oh bum!
So we come off at the next exit, and put on TomTom (don't ask why I didn’t do this to start with, I just knew I knew the way...ok!) TomTom then tells me I have basically driven as far north so that we were basically the same time away as we were when we set off...after about 45 minutes of driving! Oooops.
But anyway, we got there in the end, and had a very nice Chinese meal and a nice evening at Gregg and Julie's house, and I got to see their new A4 too, although they didn't let me drive!

So Monday came, and Sarah and I got ready to come back to Sweden. Yep, she was coming to visit for the whole summer, 6 weeks together! Was very excited!
As we were staying so long we didn't want to leave the car at the airport that long, so Sarah's mum brought us to the Airport...thanks Julie!
The journey was pretty standard, long and uneventful, but it just reminded me how much better travelling is when you are not alone.
So we have now had a few weeks of living together, and have tried to fill it with doing things so Sarah didn't get too bored while I was at work. We have been to see Harry Potter (pretty good, missed loads from the book, 4 stars) and we have been to the Helsingborg Festival. This was 4 evenings of stalls rides and music acts (no-one we had heard of) around Helsingborg, and it was pretty good. We didn't spend ore then a few hours there, as it was pretty much the same 6 stalls again and again, and we didn't fancy the rides.
I have managed to borrow a car for a few weekends too, so we have driven North and South along the coast, and seen quite a lot of very beautiful Sweden.
However, Sarah as also had to play nurse for a few days, as I got a pretty nasty cold and was pretty much house bound for 2 days. Not nice at all. But it was nice to get to spend the extra time together! Just rather it could have been with me not feeling so bad.

Oh, and I bought a bicycle! I have been thinking about it for a while, as it would really lower the time it takes to get to work and back. It would also allow me to ride around a bit more and see a little more of Sweden. So while we were shopping I saw one that was really good price! About a third of the other ones I had seen, and a pretty good make too, so I bought it. Who says I can't make quick decisions!?! And I like it, lots.
Sarah and I then went shopping for all the accessories and stuff...so I now have flashing lights for the back and a light for the front, pump and fix kit bag thing and a set of waterproofs...going to look soooooo cool in those when it rains! Not.

We have been talking about going up to Gothenburg for the weekend too, as there is a really good weekend deal thing that gives free access to museums and the theme park, as well as discounts for shops and restaurants, and this pass also includes a hotel room and breakfast.
But we haven't done it yet...we went to Malmo this Saturday instead. Its only about 45 minutes away on the train, and is very nice indeed in the main bits. Sarah was happy as the shopping is far superior to what is available in Helsingborg, and we came back with quite a lot more then we went with...!
So we still have Gothenburg on the plan, but not 100% sure when we will do it. We also plan to do a bit more sight seeing in the localish vicinity, so hopefully I should have some more pictures to show you just how lovely it is here.

I have also been acting manager for my full team over the last 4 weeks, as my manager has been on vacation, so I have had a busy/a little stressful few weeks. But I think I have done pretty well with it, and have definitely enjoyed it! I think it has shown me I am going in the right direction with my career, and also that the Swedish move has been really good for me so far!

What I have learned this month:
Having some one to travel with makes the journey much better
Its worth taking the time to visit other parts of where ever you go, small changes can be good! Extra responsibility is hard...but well worth it!

PS. Sometimes people get sidetracked, or something happens to make someone act a little differently to normal. This doesn’t always mean things have changed, just that their head is in a different place. Its worth talking it through and making the effort to change, as keeping what you have is much better then losing it!