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Moving to Sweden | Our first Swedish Christmas

1/11/2016

15 Comments

 
After a summer of upheaval and no breaks at all since then, we decided that, this year, we would stay put for Christmas. Our first Christmas in Sweden, in our new home, just the three of us. Visitors were welcome, but other than a brief stay by my mum at the beginning of Christmas week, it really was just the three of us. 

Our first Swedish Christmas probably wasn't very Swedish at all - no julmust, glazed ham, or herring salad. Just food plucked from the fridge when we felt like it. On Christmas eve I prepared a simple salmon dish. Leftovers of that for Christmas Day lunch. Spaghetti bolognese for dinner that day, because that's what we felt like. The Bean opened a few presents on Christmas Eve, got distracted with them, opened a couple more the next day. Two new toys, a pair of pyjamas covered in a panda print, a couple of books. I wasn't sure about how the PJs would go down, but in the end he wore them for three days straight and would only answer to "little panda" for a while. Never underestimate the power of the panda PJ.
The Days In Between were spent doing not very much at all. We had made plans to explore, take trains, go away - really we had. But in the end the lure of bed socks and knitting, e-books and toy trains, blankets and bullar, was just too strong. Occassionally we ventured out for a walk, but there's nothing like an uncooperative almost-three-year-old and 53 layers needing to be put on, to drain you of that smidgen of motivation. 
Monsoon Stole in Brushed Alpaca wool || Pattern by The Little Bee NZ
New Year's Eve was, on the other hand, quite Swedish. Go us. Or rather, go our hosts - we were invited for dinner at the home of some new friends, and I don't think I'll ever be able to explain to them properly how touched we were by their graciousness and hospitality. At the stroke of midnight I had a moment of giddyness - our Italian lives are well and truly in the past now - as well as of gratefullness: we got here, with so many people's support and patience. 

From New Year's Day onwards the Swedish Winter remembered what it was supposed to be doing, and it's been cold. Frozen sea cold, as we discovered one particularly motivated day. 
Frozen Oresund Strait || Photo by E Alcocer
Frozen Oresund Strait and Pier in Bjarred, Sweden || Photo by E Alcocer
Frozen Oresund Strait || Photo by E Alcocer
So that's it, really. Three weeks of Christmas holiday, on our own, in Sweden. We've played and made a lot. Slept properly for the first time in three years because the Bean has discovered lie-ins, although we have had to give up the idea of having the bed to ourselves entirely. For the first time in the History of Christmas, I'm sure, we haven't over-eaten because we couldn't really be bothered with either shopping or cooking much. It has been odd not to see my nephews jostling around the tree, or squeeze old friends at New Year's. I've thought about them, wanted to see them and remind them how much we hope to see them this year. Don't forget us, out here in Sweden. Wonderful Sweden, which has given us our first Christmas as a contented, sleepy, wrapped up little threesome. 
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However you ended up spending your holidays and whoever with, I hope it was all you dreamed of. Here's to 2016!

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15 Comments
Polly link
1/11/2016 10:14:17 pm

Your Christmas sounds lovely. It was the first festive season I've spent without seeing my family too, as I recently moved, but it was actually really peaceful and good. The frozen sea looks incredible! Gorgeous photos.

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Eline @ Pasta & Patchwork link
1/12/2016 10:23:19 am

Thank you Polly! Peaceful is definitely the right word - I did miss my family but it was wonderful not have anyone to worry about but ourselves.

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Becky Brown link
1/12/2016 08:29:13 pm

I would love a Christmas like you just described! We had family over from the UK and it was lovely to see them. I would love to try a French Christmas one year with a big meal on Christmas Eve and then slob it out on Christmas day. Late nights for the kids meant late mornings and I kinda wish we got out more, the weather was so mild. I still much prefer Christmas in France to the UK, it's so much calmer. Hope you have a wonderful year!

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Eline @ Pasta & Patchwork link
1/13/2016 09:16:29 am

Happy New Year to you too Becky! A couple of years ago we had family over for Christmas in Italy as well. It was really fun but also exhausting, so I'm glad we got a bit of a break this year! Still, I'd love it if we got guests to enjoy a Swedish Christmas with us next year, as I'd definitely prefer to be anywhere but the UK...

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Clara link
1/14/2016 02:22:01 pm

Lovely! We had a very laid back Christmas too, although the reason was the direct opposite to yours: it was too darn hot! My parents were here and we did have presents and a roast meal, but it was just a chicken and nothing fancy and we all just relaxed all day, really nice. Incidentally some of our best friends here are Swedish, they are lovely.

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Eline @ Pasta & Patchwork link
1/22/2016 11:38:53 am

That sounds really lovely, although I'm not sure how you managed to do a roast in the heat of summer!

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Phoebe @ Lou Messugo link
1/14/2016 03:47:10 pm

This sounds so cosy and relaxing and the complete opposite to my Christmas, manically spent driving across France to visit the French in-laws and then 8 days of eating and drinking with 15 of us in the house. I so over indulged that for the first time in my life I'm attempting a dry month! Nearly half way now! I'm always torn by the idea of having a quiet time at home and a big family reunion and in the end the big gathering wins out. I think my boys would be very disappointed if we just stayed at home, they love seeing their cousins, aunts, uncles and grandparents. They are rather a lot older than your kid though! Anyway I certainly fantasize about a quiet Christmas at home and loved reading about yours. Can't imagine how cold frozen sea weather is....brrrr. It's been unseasonably warm wherever I've been from UK to northern France and now back home in the south of France. here's wishing you a very happy and successful 2016 Eline!

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Eline @ Pasta & Patchwork link
1/22/2016 11:41:12 am

Thank you Phoebe, all the best for 2016 to you too! I'm pretty sure that as M gets older he will - quite rightly - want to spend Christmas with his cousins too so I think the days of quiet holidays will soon be over! Still, it'll be nice to have an indulgent one again next year. Good luck with the rest of the dry month!

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Keri link
1/14/2016 04:26:09 pm

You know what, that sounds marvellous - spag bol for christmas day and no bloated belly for 3 days lounging in your sloppy gear at home. Yep a Christmas like that might be needed soon. And the lie ins - oh the joy you must feel right now - go Sweden! #myexpatfamily

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Eline @ Pasta & Patchwork link
1/22/2016 11:43:00 am

I have to admit, it was all pretty good! Go Sweden indeed.

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Seychellesmama link
1/15/2016 09:22:11 am

Reading this has made me SO happy!! Your Christmas sounds absolutely wonderful! Totally relaxed, how it should be, but never ever is, well done you guys!
That picture of the sea all frozen is unbelievable I would love to see that!!!
Well done to little bean on discovering the lie in, we've had a couple 7am'ers and that has been amazing for me!!
So lovely that you were invited for a Swedish new year, great that you got to enjoy that...sounds like it was pretty symbolic for you too!
Thanks as always for joining in with #myexpatfamily X

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Eline @ Pasta & Patchwork link
1/22/2016 11:44:45 am

You know, I think our New Year's was pretty symbolic. I kept turning to Mr. P&P and saying how I couldn't believe we'd made here, and how slowly but surely we're finding our feet. x

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Zeyna - Mummy On My Mind link
1/15/2016 12:31:03 pm

Sounds like a very cosy and warm christmas, and by the looks of the frozen sea, you seem to have made the right decision! #myexpatfamily

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Ersatz Expat link
1/15/2016 09:13:53 pm

That sounds like the perfect Christmas and New Year in a new posting. Good luck for 2016

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Amanda link
1/15/2016 09:58:59 pm

What a wonderful Christmas that sounds! Sometimes, especially after a crazy year, simply enjoying the simple things beats any of the wonderful plans we may have made with the best intentions!!

Wishing you a fabulous 2016 with many more adventures ahead...

Amanda (formerly of The Family Patch!) xx

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