Thailand

I won't bore you with the details of the flight between Frankfurt and Bangkok, only to say:
- squeezed inbetween two guys over 6'4"
- celebrated the New Year over Germany somewhere
- coughed for 8 out of the 10 hours of the flight
- they played the same stupid movie twice
- slept for 2 hours, if that, of the 10 hour flight
- food was terrible
- and they played the same stupid movie twice (when you don't sleep this is a problem!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! They promised Toy Story 3 but didn't deliver and I was the only one awake to notice!)

We arrived in Bangkok, having just had breakfast and it was 3.30pm in the afternoon. Weird! We then booked in for our flight to Chiang Mai and waited around for a couple of hours, feeling jet lagged and very very tired. Our flight with Thai Airways to Chiang Mai was a wonderful flight, with the plane only one quarter full and space and our own TV...bliss. I'm afraid Lufthansa do not have my vote for best airline...especially for long haul flights. Very uncomfortable! (Although here is an interesting fact: Lufthansa won the "Best Fun Airline" in 2010". Why? Because of the "pillow fight" flight! Go figure!)

We finally arrived at our destination and our host family were there to greet us! We were so happy to see the Siamphukdee family as they were to see us! Hugs all round!

I can't remember to sequence of events, but David was examined by Dr Judy shortly after our arrival and was promptly put onto antibiotics for his Bronchitis. I refrained from taking these antibiotics as being the "special one" that I am, I knew that I could possibly be allergic to these. David showed signs of improvement straight away, but I was still struggling with Bronchitis, anxiety (wanting to go home!), lack of appetite (for over two weeks - very very unusual for me - I love my food as anyone would attest!). Finally, Dr Judy had had enough of me not improving and insisted that I take antibiotics. I was too weak to disagree. So I took them for one day - all good! Two days - what's that red welt on my leg? Just heat rash. Day 3 - rash on my body from head to toe - not heat rash but a lovely reaction to antibiotics...I am so precious and special! (David says it's self-fulling prophesy, but I just say I'm special!)

I hate being special.

Our dear hosts, who had a full and wonderful week planned for us, were very patient with us as we needed to rest. So we only did about half the things Peter had planned. We did get to the highest point in Thailand, some 2,500 metres, and to the King and Queen's memorials not far from the highest point. Unfortunately, "special one" was having trouble breathing at this altitude and we needed to curtail our journey and go back to the hotel. Disappointing!

Handicraft village! Here they make the
Thai umbrellas!

Lunch at Tiger Kingdom! I declined the offer to go into
the cage with 4 very large tigers to have my picture taken
with them. I might have been lunch!!!!

At the night market! Thousands of people!

As the sign says "highest point in Thailand".

Memorials to the Queen (left) and the King!
Magnificent temples and stunning gardens.

We were taken to some temples in the area, and we appreciated the beauty of these buildings and watched with interest the monks and their routines. Very interesting! We had lunch at Tiger Kingdom, and watched as terrified people entered the cage with four very large tigers, and lay down next to them to have their picture taken. The tigers were like very large domesticated cats, but I didn't feel so inclined to join them. We also went to night markets, which were very busy, but full of life. Like many countries we have visited, they only come alive in the evening.

We were treated to some wonderful Thai meals while we were here! We love Thai food, but with a lack of appetite, I was very frustrated.

Toward the end of the first week, David had improved dramatically, but "special one" still needed to rest. Finally came the day we left Chiang Mai to drive (with our host family) to Chiang Rai to meet up with the Mission Trip participants. I had been emailing the tour director regularly to let him know our health progress, and really thought that we would both be going out to the village some 300 kms into the mountains from Chiang Rai, where there was no running water and no electricity, for mission work. But I was wrong!

I was not doing well...David and I finally decided that it would not be good for me to travel out into the back-blocks of Thailand still not 100%, not even 70%. So, it was decided that I travel back to Chiang Mai to stay with the Siamphukdees and David travel on alone to the village for extreme camping. I was so disappointed...I cried...alot!

Then the reality of David leaving came at 9.00am the next morning! I cried...alot! David and I have been together for 16 weeks 24/7, "Team Paech" was breaking up for this one week...the last week of our travels. I feel like a failure, to have faltered so close to the end. But it was the right decision and I am slowly improving and have finally got some of my appetite back.

So please pray for David and the Mission team (11 others) working with the very poor villagers in the Nan province of Thailand. He will be having a ball, I know! But pray for continue health improvement and safety.

I miss him very much. I am crying...alot! Can't wait for Team Paech to be together again and to be home!

Thank you to all who have followed along with the Paech Blog. We have really appreciated your comments as they have kept us connected to the "real" world back home! We look forward to catching up with everyone in the very near future. God bless you all!

With our love, Chris "special one" and David "extreme camper"

Wondering where these WALLIES are?

Hello out there in Blogging land. We are still alive, but these "Wallies" have had an interesting time over the past number of days. We have had limited internet access...so we have be out of touch and add complications with our Bronchitis to the mix and we had been out of sorts completely.

Back to where we left off in Holland and I'll bring you up to speed.

Speed...Hi-speed actually. This is where I will begin.

Hattem, the tiny medieval town we visited.
I was taking a number of pictures of this
house when I became aware of someone
waving at me from inside...the owners are
happy for us to take pictures, but it was a
little unnerving at the time.

David and I were still under the weather with this "stupid" bronchitis (diagnosed in Thailand - but more on that later!) and we still had to research, find and book our transport from Holland to Frankfurt Airport to catch our flight to Bangkok. So our dear friend Terry said she would do the research for us...and found that the Hi-speed train travels from Holland (Arnhem) to Frankfurt in 2 1/2 hours, which would be quicker than travelling ALL the way back to Amsterdam and flying out to Frankfurt. Good plan...book it Danno! (Thai TV screens the old series of Hawaii Five-O everyday...I didn't realise how much I had missed Jack Lord and Danny over the past 30 or more years! We saw a lot of Thai TV - but more on that later!)

Hoar frost close up! Amazing spectacle! It is on every
tree branch.

So, toward the end of our week in Heidebeek, I finally felt well enough to do some sight seeing (David was still not well enough to go out!) of the lovely little towns around the area. The best part of the trip was travelling along the dyke and the water frozen over, and being introduced to Hoar Frosts. Now, don't ask me what it is or how it happens (even though Terry did explain! Duh!???)...but the effect is spectacular. Every tree branch was magically transformed into an icy miracle. You will need to look at the pictures to understand...but it was stunningly beautiful and only happens under special weather circumstances. What a thrill to be there to experience this occurance. The next day it was gone...and Terry told me a few days after we left the snow was completely gone...so I think that Holland put on the snow and hoar frost just for us...what a blessing! (I love snow!!!!!!!!!!!!!)

Hoar frost on the trees along the dyke. Gorgeous!

But finally it was time to leave our little (sick) nest and move onto our next adventure. With heavy hearts (amd colds) we arrived at the train station to catch our hi-speed train to Frankfurt airport. We looked at the timetable for our train and noticed that it was 15 minutes delayed...and we were there early anyway...so let's kill some time and grab a coffee. Great idea...although I said to David I would be more comfortable waiting on the platform...you just never know with these things! David mockingly said...so you think that the train that is delayed by fifteen minutes (says so on the board) would actually leave on time...without us? Duh! What was I thinking! Alright I'll relax and enjoy my tea (I don't drink coffee!)

Magical Holland!

Skaters - these people are very excited about skating in
December which is much earlier than in past years.

So, taking into consideration the 15 minute delay, we made our way up to the platform (which was an open air platform minus 2 degrees and we were coughing and spluttering everywhere!) and noticed a group of about 10 people gathered around the train attendents. Very quickly we became aware that there was no train on the platform going to Frankfurt airport. Huh??? Fortunately Terry was with us and jumped into the conversation that these people were having with the attendants...and yes, the train to Frankfurt airport LEFT ON TIME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I gave David one of my most SEVERE looks (scary at the best of times!) and he conceded that it might have been a good idea to be on the platform waiting for the delayed train that went on time. I KNOW ABOUT THESE THINGS...I HAVE A SIXTH SENSE! WHY DON'T PEOPLE LISTEN TO ME????????????????????????

Okay, it wasn't the end of the world because I had decided to take the earlier train anyway, we still had plenty of time to get to the Frankfurt airport. But how???

Because there were 12 of us that the train left behind...the train attendants were busy organising alternative transport. Finally it was decided that we would get a taxi from Arnhem (Holland) to Oberhaus (Germany) and then catch the necessary train from there to the airport. Hmmm! Sounds easy doesn't it?

Waiting...waiting...waiting (in the open air minus 2 coughing, spluttering!) for the taxi. An hour or so later it arrives, one taxi for the 12 of us and our luggage...squeezy! We said our goodbyes to Terry who had been patiently waiting with us and interpreting for us...and had looked after us so well along with husband Ed and kids David and Chris. It was sad to be leaving...but we were moving on again!

Taxi ride just over one hour...our last look at real snow! Goodbye SNOW! I love you!

Arrive at the station...go to information. How do we get to Frankfurt airport? Catch this train and get off and then catch the hi-speed ICE train to the airport. Sounds easy doesn't it?

Okay! David suggests that we get something to eat and go and wait on the platform. BRILLIANT IDEA!!! Although I didn't have the sense of urgency this time, but I humoured him! We get MacDonalds (we lowered ourselves to the lowest common denominator!) and got up to the platform which of course is in the open air (minus 5 by this stage). We sit down, coats, scarves, gloves, hats - battened down. How does one eat MacDonalds (by now freezing cold) with all this gear on??? Not easy..but we managed to down the solidified fatty chips and icy burgers! Yuck!

We wait and wait and wait...the 5.12pm train finally came...delayed of course! We get on and we get off at the next station...yes dragging our lugguage on and off the train and up and down stairs.

We are now waiting for the hi-speed ICE train, which has been delayed (of course!) We are again waiting on the (open air) platform, trying to discover the correct information (our German is not so good!) about the train we need to catch. We wait! The information on Platform 4 finally turns to display our train information...it's coming! It comes...we get on...we find some seats (very comfortable seats) and make ourselves at home! We are finally on our way to the Frankfurt airport...but here comes the conductor. We have tickets for a completely different train.  "You explain the situation to him" I said to David. "Why me?" "Because you didn't listen to me in the first place!" "Oh!"  A number of minutes of broken German/English, the conductor was quite happy with our story! We are on our way...in a very fast train...192 kms per hour.

Off to Bangkok to be with our host family, the Siamphukdees - Peter (Dad), Judy (Mum), Aim and Ongard. (More next blog!!!)

Bunkered down - checking "crack' network - feeling crook!

Hi folks.
Yes, bunkered down here in rural Holland (well outside Amsterdam). Snow at the door, heater on, hot cuppa and Chris has gone shopping with Terry. A quick blog from me.

Yes, we are grateful to have arrived safely here, given the European weather of late!

Chris told me I needed to be careful with this entry...sensitive audience & all that. But she's gone shopping...so here I am!

We were laughing earlier this morning as we read the "crack trial" report of one new, but very determined manufacturer back there in the Mt Evelyn environs. There have been a number of busts in that area in recent years (that we are aware of )....so beware Fiona H! Your blog comments are probably traceable given our recent big brother experiences....

Very amusing...watch for odd behaviour from the dog!...and "stick" with it. Looking forward to the genuine article when we return.

Chris & I have both been crook. Chris picked up something in Rome & it developed in London...several days in bed. She's now on the mend , but I 've succumbed. since arriving here...sore throat, cold, flu thing....

This is a wonderful place for us to rest. In an earlier life these very buildings had served as a "Leprosorium", when Holland was the colonial power in Indonesia. Lepers were brought here to be cared for. Now as a YWAM centre for Discipleship & Training, (since 1975), the ministry continues. YWAM has about 1000 centres in approx 145 countries across the world (16-20,000 staff!). We feel very blessed by these generous folk.

Chris is now on the mend (thus the shopping) & to her delight she can taste & smell things....I'm still mending!

Please remember us in prayer, as we prepare for the final Thailand chapters of our adventure later this week. Firstly, Chaing Mai with Ongard & Aim's family & then Chaing Rai with Pastor Simon McKenzie & a young Lutheran mission team from Sydney. Then home on the 15th...God willing!



The "Vicks tent"-Chris's mum Rita would be proud!



David & various remedies

White Christmas for the Paechs!

HAPPY CHRISTMAS TO EVERYONE AND A JOYOUS NEW YEAR!

The Paechs were able to get out of London via Gatwick Airport to Amsterdam on Christmas Eve. Fortunately Gatwick did not suffer the same problems as Heathrow and because it had not snowed for a few days all the flights were able to depart...so we arrived in Amsterdam and our friend Ed Sherman met us at the Arrival Hall as his flight in from Geneva arrived at around the same time.

We then made our way down to the train station and boarded the train taking us to Zwolle in the countryside (north)east of Amsterdam. The train was fantastic, so quiet and quite fast...and got us there in about 1 and a half hours. I had a good sleep, as I had been under the weather with a respiratory problem and was very tired.

Ed's wife Terry picked us up from the train and drove us to our Bungalow in Heerde a few kilometres out from Zwolle. The bungalow/Guest cottage is part of the Youth With A Mission (YWAM) complex called Heidebeek, see their website http://ywamheidebeek.org/en/ . Ed and Terry are both involved here, with Ed travelling regularly to teach in the various YWAM programs. He had been working in Geneva & will be travelling to Perth, Western Australia, early next year.

We're in Holland & it's Christmas! 

The bungalow is very quaint and cosy, and Terry (our angel) had fullly stocked the fridge and cupboard for our arrival. Outside there was snow covering the ground and on the trees, making it a magical sight. What a blessing to be here for some much needed rest an recovery (for me particularly).

Christmas Eve & the view from our bungalow door!

We slept in quite late on Christmas Day then pottered around, skyped the kids (for an hour) until our chauffeur arrived (Terry & Ed's friend Belinda - also a YWAM staff member) to take us to Ed & Terry's place for Christmas dinner. What a delight beheld us when we arrived...there was a beautiful Christmas energy in this place, beautifully decorated and food as far as the eye could see (unfortunately I could not enjoy the smell of Christmas because of my head cold - aghhhhhh!)

Ed and Terry's two sons (David and Chris - I kid you not!) and David's friend Jeroen, along with us and Belinda, made up the guest list for the evening.

The Sherman's Christmas table - clockwise: David P, Terry &
 Ed, Belinda, Chris & David Sherman, Jeroen.

Dinner was served and we all enjoyed a sumptuous meal together. It was great to gather around the family table of Christian folk here in Holland to celebrate the birth of our Saviour & Lord. Prayer, food, wine & lively conversation, especially about various musicals, in particular Les Miserables. Each of them have seen it several times. It is a favourite of both Chris Sherman & Chris Paech. A timeless story of grace. It was in fact Ed & Terry, back in January 2010, who at our dining table in Mt Evelyn, encouraged us to include a "London jaunt" in our travel plans....especially to see Les Mis at the Queen's Theatre! Chris didn't take much convincing. And it was magnificient...

A winter Christmas view!

Then present opening...we even had something under the tree which was quite a surprise. I opened the card and it was from my dear friend Sue Boonstra (who introduced us to Ed and Terry last January, and who is ably taking over my job while I'm away!). She had travelled to Holland in September and had "squirrelled" away in her suitcase some tea bags from my desk at school and had wrapped them up for me for Christmas. Now this might seem a little strange to you, but to me it brought me unstuck and I had a bit of a cry over these silly teabags. I had realised how much I had missed Sue and everyone at school and how thoughtful she had been. The card even had a Sudoku on it for me to do...which I promptly did! Sue you are a gem...thank you!

The sisterhood! Belinda and Terry!

What to do SNOWED in, in London?

Snow is an amazing thing! It can make life exciting. It can make life very difficult...in London it was the latter. We were actually very lucky to get into Heathrow at all, as they closed the airport the next day. Our friends, Marga and Anders had missed their connecting flights and therefore stuck in London. No hotel room awaited them though unlike us. They had to crash at a friend's place...and I think they are still there (or else on the way home to Stockholm, having missed their Christmas celebrations with their family in Australia.

Anyway, back to us and London. London is cold, wet, and snowy! And I had a touch of  gastro, so spent the day in bed watching the snow fall outside. But I managed to haul myself out of bed to go the theatre that night to see Les Mis. We have been waiting 12 months to see this show and here we were sitting in the audience of the Queen's Theatre watching my favourite musical. And what a performance it was...it was brilliant. The performers were fantastic and we were compelled to get to our feet as they finished the spine chilling last song...we clapped and whistled and clapped for a long time...and then they were gone. It is always sad when the show comes to the end. We floated off to the Tube to get back to the hotel.

What else have we done in London:

D&C and Big Ben...in the freezing cold!

Jumped on the Big Bus - this bus travels around all the well known sights and provides commentary on each of these. It is a hop on hop off affair, so you can get off anywhere on the route, then jump back on later.

Our first stop was the Big Eye - you would have thought that I was over things that were high in the air, wouldn't you???? No, you have to do the London Eye - cos it's there! Well, once you are in one of the pods...that's it...you are stuck there. No way out now!! It starts off being quite cruisy and the view of London at night with the lights is lovely...but it keeps going higher and higher and the pod actually turns as the wheel (looks like a large bicycle wheel) and then you are headed towards the top of the wheel. It was at this point that the panic set in...there are seats in the middle of the pod...FOR GOOD REASON. I sat down with David who also looked a bit pale and tried to find a happy place...happy place...don't look down...happy...happy...once it's at the top it will start going down...that's a happy thought...don't look down. Then I became aware of the pod in front of us. These pods hold 25 folk! Just a well dressed couple & a waitress with champagne etc....At the very top of the wheel, I notice the young man on his knee holding the hand of his true love, proposing! It was very romantic...and took my mind off the stupidity of being that high in the air on a bicycle wheel. She did accept - would have been an awkward 30 minutes back down to the bottom otherwise!

D & C looking slightly terrified at the top of the London
Eye. Thinking happy thoughts...happy thoughts...

What else? We went to the changing of the guards! What a boring, boring thing to watch. The only interesting thing that happened was when one of the guard slipped over...I didn't laugh (much) at his misfortune but it did make for interest in a rather dull 45 minutes. So we can tick that off our list! (PS David here...I found it v interesting!...so much symbolism/ritual  & they are just ordinary guys...some very young & chatty as we observed when a couple came up close...why do each pair of guards come forward to the Palace & kick the gutter? Still don't know...then there is the checking of the box! etc etc..) But Buckingham Palace was interesting and the Queen was in...thought about popping in to say howdy, but needed to get down to No. 10 Downing St via the Horse Guards. So walked around some more and made our way to Trafalgar Square.

(Oh by the way, I have been trying to get photos of all of the Monopoly board properties. I doing okay, but struggling with the light blue properties like Euston Road. I might have to cut them out of the paper, but I'll do my best.)...[David again...many of you will know my Princess has expensive taste and will notice when you eventually see her little collection, that she has focussed on the Red set (Trafalgar Sq... etc) right up to Mayfair! Has 'em all from the wealthier "princess" parts of town!]

At Trafalgar Square we picked up a "Ghosts by Gaslight" night-time walking tour around the past dark "underside" of London. Now this was a lot of fun, going through backstreets and very narrow lanes...even dropped into Sweeney Todd's barber shop, now the actual Vicarage for nearby St Dunstance Church! - (aside...Gog & Magog live in the clocktower next to St Dunstance's...David's Yr10 City trip "CENSUS 10" kids will know these two...they have counterparts in Melbourne). Back to Sweeney...yes, the Barber shop was true, his house was real, the tunnel to Mrs Lovett's Pie Shop really exists...BUT is the story true about the many murders??? We will never know! But the mind boggles!

We also visited the Temple Church where part of the "da Vinci Code" was filmed, which was interesting. Spoiler Alert...the film isn't REAL people. We were told that many people, particularly Americans, visit all the sites in the film only to find, to their disappointment, that it is actually a novel. The vicar at the Temple Church, who allowed filming on site, embraced the attention at the da Vinci Code's release and held lectures to defunct the premises of the novel. Did well out of it. Other churches mentioned in the novel would not have anything to do with the filming, so alternative filming "locations" had to be found. Fascinating!

The Ice Skating Rink far far below the "Eye"...happy thoughts...
happy thoughts.

The next day we spent at St Paul's Cathedral, which was wonderful. We went to a Eucharist service in the afternoon, then pottered around the crypt which included visiting Lord Admiral Nelson's grave and others. Then we stayed on for "Evensong" prayer & worship with the "quire". We were invited to sit in the "quire" stalls for the service which was a real treat. It was a wonderful day in this house of God.
David went back the next day for a Carols service, but realised once he was there (a little late for the 4 pm start) that he had naively left his run and bit late and was not able to get inside as it was packed to the rafters. People had been queuing for 3 hours to get in! So he sat outside with the big screen in Paternoster Square.  He enjoyed it very much with his Starbuck's coffee & BLT...although a wee bit cold out there. (Chris says she saw me on BBC News that evening)


St Paul's Cathedral.


So we are off tomorrow if the weather remains the same - that is NO SNOW! and we will be having Christmas in Holland with our new friends Ed and Terry.

We wish everyone a wonderful Christ-filled Christmas. With our love, Chris and David

PS. I, David, wanted to end this blog with a special blessing...my clip of the magnificient singing of  "Hark The Herald Angels Sing" by the huge St Paul's Cathedral Carols congregation and then the special Christmas blessing by the Bishop...but alas, it looks like copyright restrictions block me uploading. Chris says "they" apparently can identify the location (GPS?!) of the filming/recording...content? who knows?! ....(this also happened with pictures we took of us at the big glass Pyramid at the Louvre!)
Anyway, you will have to imagine that amazing, heavenly, harmony of Charles Wesley's final verse..."Hail the heaven-born Prince of Peace!..." I can hear my Mum (Betty) in Adelaide & dear sister Marlene Pietsch & the St Paul's choir (Box Hill's that is!) back home...lifting harmonies of praise to the Prince of Peace!
May this Jesus fill your lives with peace and joy!

St Paul's from Paternoster Sq. Big screen, Carols finished. The Bethlehem star? No..a plane. The snow is clearing! We may yet leave London as scheduled!

Did I say we loved SNOW?!!!!

After a lovely lovely week in Stockholm, we were off to London on a British Airways flight arriving in London at 5.30 pm local time.

The flight was slightly delayed leaving Stockholm, and some 30 minutes later we were off! I love flying...and we were actually travelling with Marga, Anders and the kids who were off to Australia for Christmas via London. We arrived into London airspace (the view of London's lights is stunning), which was good, then over the speaker comes "we apologise ladies and gentleman but we are experiencing some delays and we will need to hold for awhile" which turned out to be not too long and we were able to land...safely...with snow everywhere! Thankfully.....

Over the speaker comes "ladies and gentleman we apologise but because of the snow there have been significantly delays with flights leaving and flights arriving and there are no parking spaces available until the current flights have been cleared...there will be a 1 hour wait. Thank you for your patience!" Oh, okay 1 hour won't be too bad...will it?

Speaker "ditto...sorry but we've just been informed that the wait will be 2 and half hours. Huh!!!!!!!!!! Tired, thirsty and hungry...we waited and waited and waited and waited. We read the newspaper from cover to cover; played with the 2 year old to keep her from going nuts (and me for that matter - do you know how much room there is on a fully loaded aeroplane - NOT MUCH!!!!!!!!!!); spoke to the Captain (who had come down the plane placate us - didn't work!); found food; found drinks (tiny cans of fizz - no water!); went to the toilet (lots - although the line up outside was quite long!); moved seats; got to know the people in front and behind and behind them and behind them...and THEN - speaker: "ladies and gentleman...they have found us a parking space and we will be pushing forward (sounds technical doesn't it!!!) but...."

Anyway long and short of it we finally arrived and then had to wait for them to find some stairs to come and get us off the plane, but before we could do that we had to wait for the buses to arrive to take us to the terminal...we finally got there, 6 - 7 hours after we left Stockholm - the flight was about 2 hours.

Now the fun began!!!

We followed the thousands of people toward the passport control and lined up...for about an hour! "Are you here for a holiday?" asked the passport lady. "Well we would like it too be a holiday...still waiting for it to start...can we go now?"

Off to baggage collection with thousands of people...as well as those whose flights had been cancelled...and all their luggage. Which carousel?????? No signs of where our luggage was going to turn up, so David waited with all the hand luggage (I needed a walk very badly! Leg cramps!!!) and I scouted all the carousels and then out of the blue, I spotted it...I could see our pink name tags from a distance...thank you, thank you David for insisting on PINK name tags. There they were...and there I was - it was a joyful reunion. I rang David to meet me somewhere - as there was no way I was getting back through the crowds to find him. Our eyes locked across the room and we found each other (and our luggage!) All was well.

Now where's the tube????

No pics - sorry!

Snow...we love snow!

We farewelled Rome...relunctantly, and headed to the airport to catch our flight to Stockholm (via Frankfurt). This is our third time in Frankfurt so it is becoming quite familiar...it's very big!!!!

We arrived in Sweden at about 3.30 pm and it was pitch black outside (the sun sets early here in Winter) and there was snow everywhere! SNOW! and more SNOW! It was magical! Although I did find out very quickly that my "only" pair of shoes suitable for snow are very very slippery in the snow. Hmmm! This will be interesting.

Two SNOW bunnies??!!!???

Anders picked us up from the airport and took us somewhere about 30 minutes away, and there was Marga (Chris worked with Marga for many years at MECS) and their two children Carl (4) and Anna (2). It was wonderful to see our dear friends again after 18 months or so. They have moved over to Stockholm to follow work for Anders...who is the director of the MC (motor cycle) Collection - for the design of Motor Cycles.

Unfortunately, I had picked up a head cold in Rome, so I was not feeling at all well for the first three - four days, which seriously restricted our activities. Although we did go out for short walks here and there.


Carl and Chris at Christmas brekky!



The following day we were invited to attend Anders parents (early) Christmas celebration breakfast which was delightful, with typical swedish treats...including Marzipan pigs (with chocolate bottoms). I thought Christina (Anders Mum) said Marzipan figs...so when I bit into one I was slightly disappointed that there was no figs to be seen (or tasted), but then the penny dropped when I realised it was in the shape of a pig...duh!!! The other treat that I am now slightly addicted to is Swedish Crack...hello my name is Christine Paech and I am addict. Swedish Knack, translated means Crack, is a toffee...but not a hard toffee, but rather a gooey, creamy, sticky yummy toffee, here's a recipe for you http://annesfood.blogspot.com/2005/12/christmas-candy-swedish-crack.html.

Marga and Ander's home is very close to forests, lakes (now frozen), farms, shopping, train stations and so much more. They "go" skiing or skating any time they get the opportunity during winter. I believe that summer is also very beautiful here in Stockholm. We were thoroughly enthralled by the beautiful environment.


Marga and Anna in their winter playground!


On our last day we took the train into the old part of the city of Stockholm where we wandered around the shops and lovely old buildings. we walked across a very high walkway to a tower which overlooked the city and port which was lovely as the night lights twinkled and reflected off the snow. It was only 4 o'clock in the afternoon. Very eerie!

Getting around in Marga's car...David in the middle with
the kids! Very cool.

Magical forests!