Kitty’s Place

Why is it that the days just roll into one another when you are on vacation. I had to sit and think very hard to remember what day it is today. *laugh*

Yesterday I got up early and did laundry and ironed. Then it was time to pack and head to Sköldinge. We stopped at a pet store and got some new food for Susan and at ICA where we got something to drink in the car since it is a 2 hour drive. We got here around 1400 and didn’t do much of anything. My fellow played with the cute little kitten that is staying here and then had a reaction to said kitten, reminding me why, for the first time in my life, I have no cat. The choice between a cat and Ibo is easy, I am crazy about him so no more cats for Kitty. *laugh*

Ibo’s uncle and the plumber were working hard to get the bathrom plumbed and the result was they have a functioning toilet. *laugh* After the plumber left we had a lovely dinner and then my fellow and his uncle began building the glass wall that will be one side of the shower stall. Once they had gone as far as they could with that we just relaxed for a bit before heading to bed.

Today the guys built the wall up halfway and then left it to set. Just as they finished Eva came home with her mom and her aunt and we had fika with them and then all of us headed to Norrköping to her parents place. We swam there and then had dinner with them. Her parents are so nice and their home reminded me of my paternal grandparents old home. (the one that is torn down and has an empty business on the lot *laugh*) My fellow called a workmate while we were there and we may go to see him tomorrow. I am so looking forward to meeting more of his workmates. After we got back here we all had a little power nap and then I sent off an email to a woman I know in Katrineholm who has asked me a couple of times to let her know if we are going to be there. We plan to spend some time there Saturday so here’s hoping she is home and we can do coffee.

Tomorrow we are going to a place called Söderköping, where we will eat ice cream and perhaps try our hand at minigolf. At the moment my fellows are out taking a sauna and hopefully will be home shortly. I miss them. *smile*

Yesterday we all slept in a bit. It rained really hard off and on for most of the morning so it really cooled things off here. I had laundry time in the morning and managed to get everything washed, including all the new clothes we got for LL and Ibo. We had a small lunch and then about 1530 we headed to the centrum to get some bottled water. We had fika there and we also checked in the tattoo parlor for tongue jewellery but they didn’t have anything fun.

Dinner was tacos, beef for the kidlet and we tried the soy ones for us, but they were way to soggy and I won’t do them again. It is better to do them with beans for us. The kidlet played outside for a couple hours and then was in bed by 2030. It was a repeat of Sunday night, he couldn’t settle, but at least last night he was asleep by 2230, not 0230 like the night before. *laugh*

We had a nice evening together, talked, snacked on some fresh veggies and dip, tried the Vana Tallinn liqueur I bought in Tallinn and just enjoyed each other’s company. We got to bed around 0100 and I was quite tired by then. It had been a hard day with jetlag making me really emotional and I managed to cry 4 or 5 times during the day. *laugh*

This morning I woke about 0830 to an empty bed and that was not nice. *laugh* My fellow had already showered and was on his way out with the dog. I got up and sat on the couch beside him for a few minutes but my body was saying “go to bed!”, so I did. I woke about 1300, my fellow had headed off to the vets with Susan and the kidlet couldn’t help himself, he had to come in to our room to see if I was awake yet. *laugh* He really hates when he has no one to talk to.

First thing on the list was putting together a broccoli feta salad for dinner and thawing the fish. I chatted online with Meaghan and via sms with my fellow while doing that. Once he was home I showered and then we went to Upplands Väsby, where I got this:

a spiky sphere in purple that is also UV, in case I ever stick out my tongue in the range of a blacklight. *laugh* It feels really odd in my mouth but fun. Then we went to fika at Arlandastad and came home.
Dinner was nice, fish with a sweet chili breading, broccoli feta salad and brown rice. Dessert was fresh fruit salad and while the kidlet did not care for the mango in it, we enjoyed it. Now he is tucked into bed and hopefully my fellow and I will have a nice evening together, doing nothing special except being together. *smile*

We are home!

Friday we woke early and I got the kidlet into the tub and dressed as soon as breakfast was done. Aunt Maud made me a lovely cheese omelet for breadfast. I have been so spoiled this vacation. Then while Aunt Maud and the kidlet went to get doughnuts for my fellow and stop to visit with Uncle Allan’s sister for a few minutes, I showered and packed. After chatting with my fellow online for a bit (a final Ibo fix before the flight home *laugh*) I called Sympatico and cancelled my internet service. Imagine my surprise when the fellow I was speaking with noted that I had only had the modem for 20 days and because this is a new service (only became available 2 months ago), there is a 30 day trial period and if you cancel within 30 days they will send you a shipping label and you can return the modem and get a full credit to your credit card. I had asked the woman I bought it from if I could return it for any type of credit and she said no. So imagine how thrilled I was about this, since it cost something like $270. I did make sure when speaking with him that there would not be any further billing for internet access and was assured that the money already paid would be the only amount billed.

The day went by very quickly and before we knew it the van was picking us up to go to the airport. A tearful farewell was made and we headed out. LL cried in the van for a bit but soon was all smiles when he spotted a bunch of TNT trailers in a parking lot beside the highway. Once at the airport we checked in right away and because we were 3 1/2 hours early there was no line to contend with. Then we strolled about a bit, bought a little etch-a-sketch on a keyring for the kidlet, had Starbucks and then went to our gate.

The flight was uneventful but I was so homesick for my fellow that I sat in the dark while the kidlet and the man in the other seat were sleeping, and cried like a baby. *laugh* We were actually early to London and then the BA staff was directing all families with small children through the “Fast Track” queue, so were through security and over to the other terminal 30 minutes after landing. The flight to Sweden was also uneventful but I did note that it was obvious we were heading back here because most of the people on the plane were speaking swedish, not english like the other plane. *laugh*

The best part of the journey was seeing my fellow when we cleared through customs! We came straight home and then I started digging in suitcases for his gifts. *laugh* He seems pleased with everything, including his doughnuts. After making the guys pasta for lunch, the kidlet went over to give one of his friends the gift he brought back for him and my fellow took the dog out for a long walk. I emptied all 4 suitcases and was thrilled that everything came home intact, including grandma’s crystal. The only accident was a small spillage of Captain Crunch cereal that Aunt Maud had put in a ziploc for the kidlet.

The kidlet went to bed at 2000, his pappa read to him for a half hour and then went out for a run with the dog. We had a nice evening here and went to bed some time after midnight.

This morning I woke first at 0445 and had a terrible time going back to sleep, after a cry and a back massage I did sleep again and we woke a bit after 1100. It was so nice to wake up and see my fellow there. *smile* After our shower, my fellow took out the dog and I woke up LL who was still sound asleep at 1215. We had a makeshift breakfast and then went out to Sigtuna to fika, followed by grocery shopping and then we headed to my fellow’s parents for dinner. They loved the gifts we brought them from Eric and Marla and from Aunt Maud as well as the ones the kidlet got for them. After Bollibompa was over we came home and I got the kidlet into bed while Ibo and Susan went for a run. Sadly LL is still awake, so I guess it will take a couple more days before his jet lag is gone.

Today I didn’t go anywhere. *laugh* I instead packed our suitcases and after a lot of moving stuff about, everything is packed and none of the bags are overweight (well at least according to the bathroom scales here). One of the things I really wanted to get into our luggage was some crystal my grandmother had put aside for me when she was clearing out the house after my grandfather died. So I was thrilled that wrapped in tissue paper and bubble wrap, it fit snugly in a plastic storage container I had kept out from our storage unit, specifically for that purpose.

The kidlet had a fun day with Aunt Maud and Uncle Allan, they played lots of games and talked lots. He got an early birthday gift from them, knee, elbow and wrist pads to wear when he learns to use his new heelys. I mentioned last night that we had not had pizza this visit and today Aunt Maud got us pizza for lunch. So we had all the foods we don’t get in Sweden and that should do us until we come back to visit, hopefully in a couple years.

At the moment I am doing up a couple loads of laundry and then will pack it into the suitcase and there will be very little to do in the morning besides getting some Tim Hortons for my fellow. We will leave for the airport at 1345 and I can’t begin to describe how excited I am to be going home. The kidlet is too and has talked about how he is going to run very fast to his pappa when he sees him and pappa will give him a big hug and pick him up. I wouldn’t mind doing that myself but I will be pushing the luggage cart. *laugh* For me I am looking forward to snuggling in bed with my fellow, he doesn’t kick like the kidlet does. *smile*

48 hours from now we will be winging our way home to Sweden and my fellow!

Monday we had a nice day. We went and did a bit of shopping, I topped up my phone and got some Benadryl to take home. LL bought himself an interactive Sponge Bob book. Then we went to Stratford, fed the ducks, walked a bit, shopped for some chocolate that Eric and Marla are sending over for Ibo’s parents and then went to a cute cafe to fika. Dinner was greek salad, rosemary potatoes and bbq chicken. Jordan and Greg had dinner with us and that was great fun.

During the night we had a spectacular thunderstorm that I quite enjoyed. Tuesday was a quiet day, I packed up everything and then we just lazed about for the day. Eric got home about 1600 and then we headed to Aunt Mauds, our last stop before going home. It was great to see them again and we had a nice dinner and Eric and Jared stayed for that. Aunt Maud and Llywellyn had an explore through my jewellery that I brought from storage and LL asked me if he could have my whistle on a chain, when I die. *laugh*
After the kidlet was settled in bed, Aunt Maud and I sat and visited and had sleepytime tea. Then it was off to bed and I actually slept till close to 10 am and only woke then because LL did. I talked to my fellow online a bit and then we went out and the kidlet went shopping at the dollar store for gifts to take back to his friends in Canada. When we got home, my portable internet was broken. A phone call to the provider informed me there was a problem at the local server. Luckily it was fixed by the time my fellow got home from walking Susan.

Now I am watching Aunt Maud and LL play LIFE and then after he is in bed, I will start packing. Now starts the jigsaw puzzle of getting all our stuff into our suitcases. *laugh*

We miss you! Only 5 more sleeps and we will be home. *smile*

Sunday was a nice day. I was up around 7 but the kidlet slept till close to 9. When he got up he had a little cry because he didn’t want to go to the pool with Jordan. We explained to him she was teaching a drop in swimming class and he could just swim and have fun but I think in his mind he has finished with swimming lessons so he just didn’t think he should be going. I told him he didn’t have to go anywhere, it is his vacation. Of course a couple hours later he had changed his story and said that he wanted to go but I said he shouldn’t. *laugh* Mom’s need broad shoulders. *laugh*

We had coffee on the deck in the sun and it was lovely, then I had a bagel for breakfast. I am enjoying eating the foods I won’t likely see again for at least 2 years. *smile* After breakfast I got the kidlet into the tub and ready for company. Our cousin Maureen was coming for brunch and I hadn’t seen her in many years. Both the kids here were off at work and LL did a good job of keeping amused with some help from Uncle Eric. He watered the garden again and then he gathered maple keys and worked away at getting the seeds out to plant.

We had a problem when LL wanted to phone his friend at home and we couldn’t find the number. Ibo was not at home and so I left messages for him for when he did get home after a text message let us know he was heading that way. While I was waiting for pappa to send the precious number for the kidlet, he was making trips in and out of the house asking “is he home now?” at regular intervals. *laugh* Thank goodness for dads who come through in desparate times for 7 year olds. Sadly he didn’t get to talk to his friend after all, he got busy signals (his friend has two teenage siblings *laugh*).

Brunch was lovely and we had a great visit with Maureen. I was doing the divide my time between here and my fellow online and it went well. The next phone disaster of the day occured when LL called his dad for their nightly talk and good nights. He gave my fellow a rundown of the day and then just as he was about to say good night the phone died. He came up to the living room where everyone was sitting and burst into tears. We tried all the phones but every one of them had dead air so I asked my fellow online to call us here. He did and sunshine poured out from the kidlet when he got to say good night, sleep well, I love you, to his dad. The problem was to do with one of the phones not sitting right in the charger. I felt especially bad because I need to put some time on my cell phone but was just so lazy yesterday that I never went out to a store.

After Maureen left I played Simpsons Road Rage with LL and he was in hysterics at my driving. At one point he told me that I drive like a grandpa. *laugh* While we played I talked with my fellow online for a bit longer while Eric and Marla were out for a walk. We were invited but LL didn’t want to go and he had done laps in the yard earlier so I was fine with that.

Dinner was lovely, broccoli feta salad, rosemaried potates and marinated steak skewers. I got a copy of a recipe book Eric and Marla made for one of our cousins and all those are in it so I will try this at home. Once everything was cleared up from dinner, we came down to the rec room and played Jenga. LL loved it! I had never played it before either so it was very exciting.

Yesterday was another day with an asthma flare, it happened in the middle of the night but after taking inhalers regularly all day I was fine by the evening. No idea what caused it, it was just like the one I had in Port a few days ago, came on like a runaway train and then was over in a few hours. At least they are passing quickly, no more days of chest tightness and wheezing.

Everyone made it an early night, me included, although I did stay up a bit later than the rest to play with msn. I have been using it more here than I ever do at home and so I downloaded the new one and last night I added some extras. So I was testing out what I can do with it now. The sad thing is that I know once I am home I will go back to forgetting to turn it on for weeks at a time, but it has been fun. *laugh*

This morning I woke about 0630 and got up shortly after. LL is little and cute but he is a kicker when he sleeps, something I had forgotten now that he rarely crawls in bed with us in the middle of the night. *laugh* I thought I would use this quiet time of the morning to update here. Not sure what we will do today, but I am sure we will have a nice relaxing time as we always do here.

We are at Eric and Marla’s after a lovely 5 days with Bryan and Carole.

Yesterday afternoon we had a really wild storm with thunder, lightning and winds that literally bent the trees horizontal. It was scary and exhilarating at the same time. Before the storm though LL played in the pool, the hottub and helped his cousin rake grass. He played some on the playstation as well but that was cut short by the rapid advance of the storm.

Later in the day Aunt Maud arrived with two of my empty suitcases from her place, since she was in town for a picnic with Uncle Allan’s family. So I packed up all the things we have accumulated over the past 18 days and it looks like we will be fine with luggage this time, no paying extra bag fees at the airport. LL had a game of Life with Matt and then they watched a movie about a monkey. I saw a movie called Something’s Gotta Give. It was good. We made it a fairly early night since we had to get up early.

This morning we got up early, had baths, had breakfast, sang Happy Birthday to Canada since July 1st is Canada Day and then Bryan and Carole drove us to Grimsby where we met Eric and did a transfer of luggage and us. *laugh*

Once we got here we had lunch and sat out in the sunshine. LL helped my brother plant seeds and water the flowers. I popped off and on to our server to talk to my fellow but for some reason our connection was terrible, although the one to MSN was fine. About midnight swedish time, he just stopped responding and I got very worried, since he always says if he is going away from the computer and he even leaves personal messages for his friends if he is taking out the dog. So obviously since we were in the middle of chatting and there was no mention of going anywhere I got panicky thinking he was ill. Half an hour later there was a very terse “I’m off to bed now”, so I have no idea what happened. I keep in really close touch with him, have sent 54 text messages in the past 18 days (and it is not easy to say I love you 54 different ways!), try to keep our activities confined to times when he is either working or sleeping so I can talk to him online in the evenings and we phone every day. So I expect him to let me know what is going on with him, he has ample opportunity. *laugh*

After I got over being in a panic here, we had dinner and then LL and his cousins lit sparklers out in the yard. He and Jordan went to rent a movie and came back with Winnie the Pooh - Springtime with Roo. We watched it and he loved every minute. After he got settled in bed I sat down at the computer to send my fellow his good morning messages and his morning sms. Then it was time to catch up on email and check out some websites. One of Ibo’s workmates has a cool site about her dog that I believe we will be hosting shortly on our server, so I took a little time to check it out tonight. Now I am updating before I head off to bed for the night. Maybe tonight I will be able to sleep for more than a couple hours at a time. It is next to impossible to sleep without my fellow beside me. *smile*