Summer Cruise!

I know, we go on these cruises quite regularly, but you would, too, if you knew how cheap they are and how amazing it is (plus, tax-free booze and cigarettes)! 🤣🍹🎉

This time was extra fun though, because it was the first time Aaron went on one of the OG Silja boats, Silja Symphony. They look a bit special, with a huge promenade deck. I think he liked it.

We also had an ocean view window in our room, which we do not have very often, so that was fun!

And there were MANY more seats outside on the sun deck, than on our regular boats we go on, which both of us likes! We had cocktails outside for the entire two hours until food started. 😊

The food was, of course, tasty. We just prefer the other buffets we’ve had to this one, because the layout of the place was so chaotic. There was no telling where the line started or ended, it was too narrow and small for that amount of people. We were not impressed.

Still, all the food and DRINK (beer or wine here, on our regular boat Glory, you can also have cider!) you can devour in two hours isn’t bad. And when you did get the food, it was of course lovely (although, Aaron did not find as much to eat as on the other buffets, especially on the “cold” section…).

Both on the way to Helsinki and on the night coming back from Helsinki, there was this AMAZING dance group in the club, Dance Factory. They were incredible, both the singing and dancing. So many songs, so many costume changes, and it was so LONG. Really impressed by them, and two different shows, never the same.

There was also an incredible band, with lots of good covers and songs.

The LAST night on the boat, we found a secret disco open until like 4 or 5 in the morning, I had never seen that before. Unfortunately, there was no one dancing and barely any people there (probably because no one knows it exists!!)…

You arrive in Helsinki at 10am, and you get 7 hours ashore.

We walked along the docks for a bit, ate breakfast, and then actually took a sightseeing boat around all of Helsinki, something I’ve never done before, so, super fun!

There was a recorded guide talking in English about places and buildings we passed, and we learned a LOT about the history of Finland and Helsinki (always tossed between being owned by Sweden and Russia, poor things). The old fortresses and battles were the most interesting things to see, and hear about, both me and Aaron thought!

Next time, we might take a bus ride to them (which you can do) and get a guided tour inside the bunkers and fortresses, that would be cool!

The old pilot station barracks during world war 1 (built in 1910) and later Maritime Museum.

The tour lasted just over an hour, and it was well worth it. Just remember to dress warmly…

The rest of the afternoon, we simply walked around in Helsinki. It really is a beautiful city, I recommend anyone and everyone to go there if they have the chance.

The entrance to an ordinary grocery store.

We had lunch at our favourite taco place (yup, we have a “place” now in Helsinki, where we go every time we’re there), and they have the BEST frozen strawberry daquiris in the world, oh yeah, and awesome food.

All in all, it was an awesome cruise. And because we went to tax-free and purchased things for over 100 dollars TWICE, we got TWO free cruises, haha. 🤣 So we are planning to go soon again 😊💗

Trip to the North

Aaron, my mum, dad and I went on a looong overdue trip to visit my aunt in the north of Sweden. With stopping for lunch, the drive took about 4 hours.

She owns a horse ranch, and I pretty much spent my Summers there during my childhood. Now, it was probably 15 years ago since I was there, and my aunt lost her husband since, as well.

It was good to bring the love of my life there. My aunt barely has any horses left, and there is even talk of how long she will be able to keep living there. So I was very happy to go one last time (for all we know, we might go again).

While we were up north, we also took a day trip another 100 kilometres and visited the city where my dad and his sister grew up, Sundsvall, and my grandparents lived their entire lives. I have only visited there when I was small, and I don’t remember the place at all. My grandma died when I was 2, and my granddad when I was 9.

We drove by the actual house where the grew up, and their mother’s parents lived next door. That was cool to see, and it looked very much the same apparently ❤

We also went to the cemetery, where their parents are laid to rest. It was beautiful there. I’m glad we went.

For lunch, we went to a restaurant up in the mountains. There was an incredible view from up there, and the food was nice too, a buffet with a few nice dishes.

Aaron even went up in the tower that was there, and he got an even better view. You can see me tiny, waving, below:

Aaron and I decided to walk down the mountain, there were stairs and lots of fun historic stuff and information to see on the way.

And the view from a mountain on the other side of the city wasn’t bad either (in the Winters, it’s apparently a very famous and used ski slope):

Journey home went well, and we had a super tasty pasta for lunch. Too bad it’s 2,5 hours away from our home… It was a lovely trip ❤

Fixing up our porch (finally)

We have been enjoying our deck all Summer (and last), but the area under roof, we have sadly neglected, and it’s just sat there collecting dust and spiderwebs.

Well, in August, we decided to do something about that, so we bought a sofa group, some plastic vines, and some lights. After clearing out, vaccuuming and putting it everything together, it looked pretty good, we felt.

We’re getting more plants, and some hanging flowers, but otherwise, this is a place we actually want to spend time in now. During the Winter, we’ll get a heat lamp, and sit and read under a blanket with a cup of hot cocoa while the snow falls. 🥰

The rest of the garden/porch/deck will be fixed up next year, including the jaccuzzi. Now, it’s Autumn and no more naked sunbathing out there…

3rd on Guardian leaderboards!!!!

As I am working myself to an early grave, I am also, at the same time, grinding my ass off on Guardian. Only 4 weeks left on this season (and this will be the last one, as E-day is coming out soon), and I have managed to make it to 3RD PLACE!! I’ve been 3rd for three weeks now, and I was going for 2nd place, but it’s just not going to happen. I will actually lose this position very shortly, but I’m thinking that when my vacation kicks in, I’ll be able to play (even) more, and take 3rd place back.

Absolutely devastated to hear the news today that there will be no Guardian on launch on E-day. But, they will probably “bring out some fan favourite game modes later on”, and if that’s not Guardian, I’ll eat my hat. Right now, I’m just looking forward to:

  1. Handing in this big project I’m working on (I’m thinking just a couple of days into my vacation next week, and then I’ll just let it rip…)
  2. Having 4 weeks off work (and doing up the house, going on a cruise, taking some roadtrips)
  3. The E-day beta

Glad sommar!

The (Swedish) Summer is underway. We are enjoying some few very hot days out on the porch, in the lovely town Trosa (Fanny’s hometown, where she grew up) or in the country place by the lake and in the cabin.

Midsummer’s Eve is a big thing in Sweden. This year’s went by quite uneventful though (mostly because we were already hungover). Good food with the family, drinking bubbly and enjoying LOVELY weather (best Midsummer weather I think I’ve ever had).

I hope that everyone is enjoying their Summer. I have three weeks left of work (and I have to work like a PIG, because I have a huge deadline in my project on August 3rd), and then 4 weeks off (perfectly timed for the Gears E-day beta, can’t wait!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!). Be safe in the heat ❤

Dixie Car Meet 2026

We had a super fun time going to Tystberga and the annual veteran car meetup event Dixie Car Meet, a couple of weeks ago. Since it was only $20 dollars to camp there all weekend, we decided to buy the cheapest tent we could find and make an adventure of it. So we got there on the Friday night, put the tent up, checked out the stalls and stands that were open, and the cars that were there, and had burgers and cocktails in the evening sun outside our tent. That was AWESOME.

The tent was at first very cold, and once the sun got up, it was sooooo hot and clammy. We did not sleep much, and decided to only stay one night (and we took a nap when we got home that afternoon). It was okay though, we managed to enjoy the whole thing in a few hours on the Saturday, and had a wonderful cajun-grilled lunch.

There was also live music pretty much all Friday night and Saturday, some nice rockabilly, Elvis, country, Johnny Cash etc. Noice!

And, of course, we saw some exquisite cars 🤤🤤🤤

Watch the video from our adventure (mostly the Friday, including the beautiful drive there):

Cruise (Fanny’s birthday)!

We didn’t want to go nuts, but still do something fun for my birthday in May, so we went on a cruise with M/S Glory!

Before dinner, we had cocktails out on the deck, in the sunset. It was warm and NICE, couldn’t have asked for better weather.

We went the day before my birthday, and we had a the super nice buffet, and cocktails at midnight (of course)! It was the band’s lead singer’s birthday as well, so the whole club sang happy birthday (which we pretended was for me) 😅

It was super fun, as usual. The weather was great the next day as well, so we sat out on deck and I read my favourite book series for him (we’re on the second one, only 45 to go 🤣), we had lots of cocktails, and nice lunch.

And after we arrived in Stockholm, we ate at my favourite restaurant, Taco Bar. Then home for some cake in the evening sun on the porch, more presents, and after that Gears, and thereafter cuddling with a movie.

I had a great birthday ❤

Burlesque Club!

Fanny’s sister literally run the biggest burlesque club in Sweden, the Fraulein Frauke presents club. We don’t go to many of them (Fanny hung out and worked at every club for the first 13 years in business), but this time we wanted to be there for the Botanical Spring Ball.

The shirt we ordered for Aaron didn’t arrive in time, but he looked FABULOUS in one of my lace, see-through tops (with a shirt on top, of course). SO handsome 😍😜

Before the club, we had Chinese buffet at one of our favourite restaurants in Stockholm: Mandarin City. It was delicious 🤤

Then there was a pre-party with my oldest sister, and my brother + girlfriend. Two bottles of bubbly went down FAST. Then a simple walk to the club from her flat, so, perfect!

The evening started with my sister’s debut as a pop star (yup!). She played the music video for her first single, and then sang and performed her second song live. They were actually awesome (better live than even on YT)!

Proud mother on first row every club without fail 💙

And, of course, in the beginning of every burlesque club is the “house band”, Janne Sjöblom Trio, with my dad on piano. 💚

We absolutely LOVED the host, John Celestus, what a star (and what a voice)! 🤩 (right picture below taken by talented JP Bichard)

There were also some incredible burlesque acts, of course!

There is always a prize for the best dressed guests. Here were the finalists (the giant bugs won in the end):

Such a beautiful venue, Nalen. After all the acts were over (and literally everyone else went home), Aaron and I danced the night away 🥰

Picture by JP Bichard (my sister bottom right):

We had FUN. Thanks to everyone involved 💗

Business trip!

In my new and fancy project leader job, I works from home, but “some traveling” is included in the job description. Not too long ago, I was summoned on a business trip down to the city of Jönköping, south of Sweden and 260 km away from where I live.

First train departed at 6.15am, and after three (!) switches to other trains and buses, I arrived in Jönköping after 4 and a half hours. It rained…

I sat for half an hour and perfected the Powerpoint presentation about myself (yup, I had a Powerpoint. The ONLY one that had prepared that…). Then I went passed my hotel and dropped off my bag, then straight for the lunch with my colleagues.

Found this in my book on the train 😍😍😍💖💖💖

After lunch, a day of introducing ourselves to each other, lectures and workshops, we went to check in to the hotel, Elite Hotel – Stora hotellet. Such a lovely hotel on the outside, and this is the inside 🤣:

My room was lovely though, and Aaron 100% would have fit in the bed 😅 Next time, he can come with me ❤

After some freshening up and unpacking, we went to Ciro, a fancy Italian restaurant, for dinner.

If it hadn’t been raining, it would have been amazingly beautiful (well, it was anyway, but even more).

The food was fantastic. First a charcuterie board with some nice delicacies, and then I took a pasta Piemontese (beef, cream, garlic, red wine, rosemary, mushroom, parmesan and parsley). YUM-MIE.

After dinner, I stayed long after everyone else had left with two of the girls, and we had dessert and talked for a long time, super fun! Then the three of us went for a walk around Jönköping (to try and find a shop to buy soda and sweets, admittedly).

After a documentary about the Palme murder (when Sweden’s prime minister was killed in 1986), I went to bed EARLY.

The next morning, I met my two new besties at 7am at the hotel buffet. MAN, it was one of the greatest ones I’ve had! Sooo much food, and a WAFFLE station. I ate way too much, and for way too long.

I was eating for so long that I barely made it for the first seminar (also had to pack up and check out before that, but still). Let’s just say I was not hungry at 10.00am for the “fika” (pastries and coffee) OR the lovely lunch at 11.30.

When the official work was over and everybody had said their goodbye, I still had 2 hours before my train left. So I decided to do as much sightseeing of the city as I could:

You can tell it’s a very old city. It was actually founded in 1284, given city priveleges from Magnus Ladulås, the king of Sweden 1275 – 1290 (and the son of Birger Jarl, the founder of Stockholm). Unfortunately, most of the city burned down in 1612, so the oldest buildings are “only” from that time, but according to Wikipedia, the oldest preserved part of the city is the “Hovrättstorget” (Court square), where my company’s office actually is situated (all the pictures above). So, that’s cool (to a history nerd like myself)! 😋

I walked the same path like during the restaurant night, when it was raining. It was as beautiful as suspected in sunlight.

Then, I stumbled upon Jönköpings Museum, and I decided to spend my last hour in there.

What a great idea! It was marvelous, and SO mixed and diverse. It had everything from history and vikings, to technology, science, eSports and gaming, the women’s movement, the jews situation during WWII and the holocaust, paintings and photographs. Phew!

You needed muuch more than an hour in there, I only scratched the surface now. But I can definitely recommend it, if you are ever in Jönköping.

After the museum, I had to make it to my train, to go home. It was a lovely trip, and I work with some amazing people. Can’t wait to do it again soon ☺️

“New” restaurant

We recently found out that a restaurant only five minutes from our house has not only opened up with new owners, but also that it has amazing food, is open past 2pm (which it was not with the previous owners, one of the reasons we have had never gone there), and serves alcohol!

We went there a super sunny and warm day, when we wanted to celebrate something anyway (more about that if it happens!), and just went bananas. Starters, drinks, shots, and a fantastic main course. We were the ONLY customers sitting outside. It was soo great ❤

The beautiful view (and funnily enough, the reastaurant is called “The View”):

It’s a bit pricey, but we will DEFINITELY go there again this Summer 🤩