Oh my God

The Christmas smorgasbord

I just realized I haven't written anything since November 23!
But I can tell you I haven't been lazy but there has been so much going on that I haven't had the strength to write.

I had meetings that week and I was supposed to be at a conference hotel for lunch that Friday but I was to tired I had to cancel it. So instead I baked safron buns (!) and made chocolate troufles with ginger. 

The ferry

On December 1 it was Staffan's birthday (Hasse's oldest son) and I worked and worked at my job. Thursday I and Hasse were supposed to go to the theatre and see Come again Charlie, which was one of my birthday presents - thank you Pär and Brita. But Hasse wasn't feeling well so instead I asked Linnea, my bonus grand daughter if she wanted to go and she was very happy that I asked. We had a really good time and the play, which was a comedy, was funny but also with a message which made you laugh and then stop. It was about the situation that is in many countries today especially in Europe I think  where dark forces are coming up sprung from the politics of nazis. Here in Sweden for instance the party, Sweden democrats, has caused a goverment crisis and we are to have an extra election in March next year. They don't want any immigrants but only Swedes. They say that judes and sami are not Swedes (!) I hope they do get less votes next year but you never know. The same thing is happening all over Europe right now.

Hasse in our lovely suite

But the play was funny thoughtful.

Next day it was time for the Royal Opera and Madame Butterfly by Puccini. I haven't seen that opera in decades and it was truly an experience. I just love the music. Miss Saigon, the musical, is based on the same story as this opera. An american marries a japanese and she has a baby that he doesn't know of. He goes back to America and marries an American woman and they come back and found out about his son and take him from Butterfly to give him a better life in America. Butterfly commits harikiri and that's the end of the opera. Not a very uplifting story but then again almost all operas ends with death.

Last week work on Monday and Tuesday and then a Christmas concert with my two favorites, Peter Johansson and Matilda Grün. Christmas hasn't started until I've seen them :-)
 

Matilda Grün - beautiful and so nice

And yes, she's having a baby boy in March :-)

Funny when we the audience learnt and danced square dance :-)

Peter and Matilda - cousins and incredibly talanted!

The day after which was Nobel day I took the day off work! Hasse and I watched the Nobel prize both in Norway and in Stockholm on TV. I really liked the choice of peace prize winners this year.
Very well deserved to both of them. Hasse and I always eat "Nobel dinner" which means I make something extra and I did that this year as well.

The next day which was Thursday we had our traditional Christmas party at the Rheumatic association but before that a meeting in the planning committe (for next year's big event). We also plan the Christmas party, the food etc. Very nice, good food and so nice to meet everyone working in the county associations.

Me at the hotel restaurant

Dessert and candy a must on the Christmas smorgasbord

Hasse at the table

Friday me and Hasse went to our favorite hotel Elite Marina Tower, thank you Helen, for Christmas smorgasbord. We had a wonderful big suite overlooking the water, Stockholm skyline and the harbor. The food was so so good. The only downside was that we really can't eat that much. Some people can eat so much and take again and again and again. We can't! But it was good and we were moderate measured which was good. After a wonderful breakfast on Saturday we went home, this was Lucia, and I once again baked safron buns! Yesterday I rested :-)

And today it's on again. Work, home, work, home and on Wednesday work and then I go to see my doctor Christer and on Friday it's Christmas dinner with my work. That is we cook dinner, 6 courses, and then we eat it :-)