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Written by Stephen Baines
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Friday, 22 December 2006 |
It's hard to believe that we've been here nearly 6 months, now. The place feels like home and we're really settled.
The last few weeks have seen some cold snaps, but mainly some quite heavy rain. The stream that goes through our land breached the banks and flooded part of the land.
In some ways it's been a good thing we hadn't rushed into everything, as we would have put stuff in the wrong places. Now we know where the flood risks are, we can safely avoid them! The waters have now receded and everything is back to normal.
One of the problems we hit temporarily was losing TV due to the dish moving in the weather. Less than half-a-millimetre is the difference between a perfect picture and no picture at all on the 2.4m dish!
Getting used to proper cold weather is something that we're going to have to get used to, even simple things you don't think about can cause you problems. Everyone knows you make sure the radiator is filled with antifreeze, and you have a proper dilution of screenwash to make sure it doesn't freeze. Everyone knows you keep deicer and scrapers outside the car so you can de-ice the car. But still things catch you out - earlier this week the car was frozen, Nigel went and de-iced it whilst I was getting ready. I went out, and the lock was frozen. No problem, methinks, a quick squirt of de-icer on the key and lock, slide it in, and the lock will work. It did. However, that didn't really help, as the de-icer is then diluted by the melted ice, and then freezes the lock open, so you can't close the door... That foolhardy mistake cost me half-an-hour waiting for the engine to get warm enough to run the heating to melt the lock again.
The christmas preparations are well underway, the julmust is being drunk, the ingredients for glögg are in, and the shopping is completed. I realised this morning how quickly you get used to things - Christmas in the UK supermarkets is the seventh circle of hell. Yesterday I went to do the shopping, I cursed and swore, yet in reality it was no worse than a normal shopping day in the UK. On a nicer front we discovered a fantastic little deli in Höör, only about 10km away, where we were able to buy some Stilton (our first proper hard blue cheese since we got here!) and some other little treats for Christmas. The ham is now cooked ready for our traditional Swedish christmas on Sunday, the herrings are in, and the lax is ready. For Monday we have the bird and usual trimmings, and the loin of pork we purchased will be cured and ready for slicing into bacon in time for the festivities.
In a few hours I'll be home and relaxing for a few days before the New Year arrives. I'm looking forward to a few days rest at home, and hopefully enjoying the snow...
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Last Updated ( Thursday, 13 September 2007 )
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