Beautiful creatures

Safari time in South Africa

A continent apart

Sitting in my bed with a cuppa and hot water bottle and the heater on wheels is standing in the middle of the room. So where am I? Back in Australia on a visit? You would think so hey? But no, I'm somewhere that I find so exotic, very different and breathtaking; in a little bit cold and springy South Africa. I'm away with work on a mobilty scholarship for 10 days in Port Elizabeth, visiting Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University.
Yes, yes, it didn't take long before my heart started to long for my boys. In fact, it was already on the second stretch between Amsterdam and Cape Town when it kicked in. But am on day 3 now and it's going ok, better than expected. It is a busy schedule filled with very interesting meetings and work shops and it is all really enjoyable. Upcoming leisure events will be such things as visits to the townships, game reserves and a Sunday lunch with newly made friends here. In many ways, Australia and South Africa are alike with the friendly people, exotic wildlife and very poorly isolated houses :-). PE is also as windy as Perth and offers fantastic seafood. However, you notice very quickly that there are also some dramatic differences which reminds me of how lucky (and spoilt) the Westerners really are. But SA is as we all know in transition and if the cards are played right, there is a bright future ahead. One thing is for sure, I will be coming back to SA as this country can't leave you untouched, which in my eyes makes a place the perfect holiday destination. And next time I'll bring my dear family along as there is nothing that beats enjoying experiences togheter with the ones you hold closest to your heart.

"Har du ont pappa?"

This morning we were sleeping in, being Saturday and all. Noah laid down next to Shawn and put his forehead against pappa's and said: "Har du ont pappa?" (= Are you in pain?). Pappa answered back that he was just tired. "Ok. Do you have pain in the arm?" Noah said and pointed at arm. Pappa didn't have pain in the arm and again explained that he was just tired. But Noah didn't take no for an answer and continued to ask and went through all the body parts.

The day was spent - choice by Noah, surprise surprise - at Liseberg, Göteborg's amusement park. Today there was a showcase on with farm animals, trucks and free tastings of homemade country specials. For the past week we have felt the autumn in the air but luckily we had very little rain during the visit at Liseberg and we were able to squeeze in a couple rides as well. All in all, a very good day.

Eagle eyes

"I found the sunglasses in the drawer mummy!"

"Maybe play trains after dinner pappa?"

"I put the paper in the toilet."

"Yes, I did it. Noah fixed the dator!" [Managed to start up and play a DVD file with Mickey Mouse on the laptop...?!?!]

"Mamma, Noah också kela baby?" (=Mummy, Noah also cuddle the baby?)

The last two weeks Noah's sentences

has become much longer and more complex. 5-7 words are now the usual length which makes the conversations with him so much more fun and interesting.

We have also noticed that he knows all the tram stops on our line and what to expect at each

single one; bridges, tunnels, soccer fields, schools, shops, baby swim, train station and so on. He also knows which tram line to get on, either number 5, 6 or 10. The little chap has much better eye sight than us so when a tram is arriving further up the track and it can hardly be seen on the hills, Noah shouts "It's tram number 5 mummy! Look daddy, it's number 5. Look! Look! Noah goes on the tram now."

It seems to never bore him to go on the tram. During the winter when it was all wet and humid inside the carriage, he was happy as Larry. Now during the summer, it's boiling hot on board (no AC here in Europe), he doesn't even notice the heat. He sits still and in (almost) silence and looks out through the windows, dreaming away about...yeah who knows? One thing is for sure though; he is such a boy!

Strawberry Jam, mmm, mmm!

We spent three days with Mormor and Morfar in Lundsbrunn. We had so much fun!
First we went strawberry picking. What a joy to pick your own strawberry and be able to eat as many as you want at the same time. Of course, Noah ate the most!
From the strawberry's we picked, we able to make strawberry cordial, strawberry jam and and strawberry cake. It was incredibly cheaper to make it yourself and taste so natural.

This strawberry didn't make it into the bucket.

               

4 Kilos in 15 minutes!

Sun, Sand and Surf!

Well its been quite a while since we've been able to update the blog, but now we've gone back on the old computer and we can post some photo's of our summer vacation.

Our first summer vacation in Sweden, why go anywhere? So, we stayed in the city for two weeks, hired a car for a week - traveled around the south of Sweden - and then came back to the city for our last few days of what has been a great Swedish summer. The pictures below are from our time in the south of Sweden.

During the first two weeks, we had visitors from Australia and from Stockholm. When we collate those photos we will post them immediately.

Sun and Sand......in Sweden!!!

mmmmmmmmm.........ICE CREAM