When I left Malmo in August, it was nearing the end of summer. The days were still long but it did get a bit chilly. I had to wear long sleeves and a cardigan over it as I made my way to the airport. I knew that when I got back, it would get colder. Pete would update me on the weather while I was back in the sweltering tropics. He told me that the temperature was dropping and that it was raining more often - signs that fall has replaced summer.
I've never been in Malmo in the fall, or anywhere else in the fall, for that matter actually. Back home, I was trying to imagine how cold it would be. I thought it'll be a bit chilly, cold enough to need a good thick cardigan. I was also thinking that a good sweater could keep me warm enough. But when I arrived at Copenhagen airport, I saw other people in thick down jackets and was a bit taken aback. Even Pete had his winter jacket on. Oh boy. I braced myself for the cold.
Luckily I brought my thick jacket and it kept me warm as we waited for our train. There wasn't much wind either so it was a nice trip home. By the time we reached the apartment, the temperature had risen and it was a comfortable 10C. That was ok, I thought. I can handle this. And I could. At first.
I enjoyed going out since the cold kept me sweat-free. After two months in my hot and humid home country, the cold was quite welcomed. I loved the fact that I was in jeans and not having it sticking to my legs. I was also happy to not have to do anything to keep my hair off my face since my neck and scalp weren't sweaty at all.
That was only ten days ago. How fast the weather can change here. The past couple of days, trips outside meant a good ten minutes of me putting on layers after layers of clothes, swaddling my neck with a scarf and lacing up my boots. It has been very cold - between 3 - 10C. I'll be lucky if it is 8C outside and most importantly, not windy. The wind has this way of making it seem 5C colder.
But, having lamenting about the cold, fall is a great time to go outside and take in the beauty of the nature around me. On the train and bus ride back, I couldn't take my eyes off the trees. The lush greenery has given way to shades of yellow, orange and brown. The leaves that have fallen off the trees decorated the walking paths. Hazards, said Pete, if you were to step on them and slip. But this is my first fall experience. I know I am probably looking it through rose-coloured glasses, but it really is beautiful here.
It is even better when it's nice and sunny. It's still cold but the sun makes everything look so much better. It's therefore a pity that the days are shorter now. It starts getting dark around 5pm. By 6, we would need to switch on the lights. I guess that's why a hot mug of tea or cocoa is a must. It keeps us nice and warm. It's lucky then that I managed to bring back some Milo. Nothing beats having a cup of hot, chocolaty Milo and cookies while it's cold and dark outside. Mmmm....
Showing posts with label rain. Show all posts
Showing posts with label rain. Show all posts
Tuesday, October 30, 2012
Tuesday, August 7, 2012
Fruits (or should it be vegetables) of our labour
The weather has been a bit cloudy and wet these few days. Yesterday, I woke up to another grey, cloudy morning. Usually the grey clouds will clear and by afternoon, it will be sunny again until the sun goes down at 8 or 9pm. But just before noon, it rained - first a light drizzle and then the skies opened and it rained so heavily that I could see anything through the window. I thought I'd be stuck indoors the whole day.
But the skies cleared within the hour and the sun came out again. We decided to go to the garden. I know that I have some peas, beans and zucchini to harvest. The zucchini were about 10cm long the last time I saw them three days ago. I didn't want to wait too long because I know they can be super growers. I don't want them to get too big and tasteless and tough.
When we got there, we decided to check out plot number 2. His mum wanted to get a plot there as well and was hoping to get the unused plot next to ours, number 45. The owner said she has sustained a knee injury and couldn't work on her plot. She has been given another two weeks to start work on it. In the meantime, his mum has been offered number 2 so we went to see where it was located and if it was any good.
The plot as two rows behind ours and looks bigger than ours. Lots of weeds have been growing there so it would need a lot of tilling. However, the fence is still good and she wouldn't have to put up a new one. As we were walked back to our garden, I noticed that a lot of the vegetables in other plots have not been harvested. It is such a pity to see broccoli, squash, lettuce, onions and other goodies being wasted. I guess for some people, the fun is in the planting and seeing them grow. Maybe they don't really enjoy eating the vegetables.
For me, I much rather plant stuff that I want to eat. That's why I chose the plants that we have. I didn't opt for the zucchini but they plants were from my mother-in-law so I planted them anyway. I am also amazed at how the plants hung on and survived the cold weather at the start of summer. That made me treasure them and I have been harvesting and cooking them. I have stuffed, roasted and boiled them in soup. Next, I want to try making zucchini bread and zucchini muffins. I will try not to throw them out.
I have also been enjoying the peas, beans, carrots, potatoes, onions and lettuces. They all taste better than store bought ones. The carrots, especially, are so flavourful. I can smell them as I pull them out of the soil. I can smell them as I peel them and they are so nice and sweet after cooking.
I think next year, I am definitely going to plant more carrots. I will also plant more potatoes, peas, butterhead lettuce and beans. I will want to try planting cabbage, romaine lettuce, leeks and butternut squash. I might even want to try planting broccoli, even though Pete doesn't like them.
As we were walking back to our garden, Yvonne, my sister-in-law, pulled up in her car together with her two youngest kids and my mother-in-law. They were there to check out the available plot too. After checking out plot 2 again, we walked back to our garden and I started harvesting the zucchini. They have grown thrice their size! I managed to harvest six big zucchini, about 30cm long. I also harvested a whole lot of yellow and green beans and peas.
Yvonne's son loved the garden and was eager to try the vegetables. Pete let him pull up a carrot and he ate it all up. He loved it. Then, when he saw me harvesting the peas, he came over. I let him try one and he loved that as well. He said it was sweet and juicy. I let him pick as many peas as he wanted. He ate quite a lot! But it's really fun to see someone else enjoying the fruits of our labour.
But, apart from the harvesting fun, we did get an unpleasant surprise. We found some dog turd in the middle of my old bed of peas. We have seen some just outside our plot some weeks ago, but this is much worse! One problem with our plot is that it is just beside the bike and walking lane and it is a popular one with dog walkers. Also, we don't have a proper fence and gate. We have put up chicken wires along the outside perimeter but we left a gap of about 1.5m for us to get in and out. I guess that opening 'invited' these dogs, especially if they are unleashed. But then again, the dog owners should have known that the garden belongs to someone and there is no reason for them to trespass, let alone allow their dogs to relieve themselves there. That really made me mad! We definitely have to work on putting up a proper fence and gate soon or else we will get more of such unwanted 'gifts'.
But the skies cleared within the hour and the sun came out again. We decided to go to the garden. I know that I have some peas, beans and zucchini to harvest. The zucchini were about 10cm long the last time I saw them three days ago. I didn't want to wait too long because I know they can be super growers. I don't want them to get too big and tasteless and tough.
When we got there, we decided to check out plot number 2. His mum wanted to get a plot there as well and was hoping to get the unused plot next to ours, number 45. The owner said she has sustained a knee injury and couldn't work on her plot. She has been given another two weeks to start work on it. In the meantime, his mum has been offered number 2 so we went to see where it was located and if it was any good.
The plot as two rows behind ours and looks bigger than ours. Lots of weeds have been growing there so it would need a lot of tilling. However, the fence is still good and she wouldn't have to put up a new one. As we were walked back to our garden, I noticed that a lot of the vegetables in other plots have not been harvested. It is such a pity to see broccoli, squash, lettuce, onions and other goodies being wasted. I guess for some people, the fun is in the planting and seeing them grow. Maybe they don't really enjoy eating the vegetables.
For me, I much rather plant stuff that I want to eat. That's why I chose the plants that we have. I didn't opt for the zucchini but they plants were from my mother-in-law so I planted them anyway. I am also amazed at how the plants hung on and survived the cold weather at the start of summer. That made me treasure them and I have been harvesting and cooking them. I have stuffed, roasted and boiled them in soup. Next, I want to try making zucchini bread and zucchini muffins. I will try not to throw them out.
I have also been enjoying the peas, beans, carrots, potatoes, onions and lettuces. They all taste better than store bought ones. The carrots, especially, are so flavourful. I can smell them as I pull them out of the soil. I can smell them as I peel them and they are so nice and sweet after cooking.
I think next year, I am definitely going to plant more carrots. I will also plant more potatoes, peas, butterhead lettuce and beans. I will want to try planting cabbage, romaine lettuce, leeks and butternut squash. I might even want to try planting broccoli, even though Pete doesn't like them.
As we were walking back to our garden, Yvonne, my sister-in-law, pulled up in her car together with her two youngest kids and my mother-in-law. They were there to check out the available plot too. After checking out plot 2 again, we walked back to our garden and I started harvesting the zucchini. They have grown thrice their size! I managed to harvest six big zucchini, about 30cm long. I also harvested a whole lot of yellow and green beans and peas.
Yvonne's son loved the garden and was eager to try the vegetables. Pete let him pull up a carrot and he ate it all up. He loved it. Then, when he saw me harvesting the peas, he came over. I let him try one and he loved that as well. He said it was sweet and juicy. I let him pick as many peas as he wanted. He ate quite a lot! But it's really fun to see someone else enjoying the fruits of our labour.
But, apart from the harvesting fun, we did get an unpleasant surprise. We found some dog turd in the middle of my old bed of peas. We have seen some just outside our plot some weeks ago, but this is much worse! One problem with our plot is that it is just beside the bike and walking lane and it is a popular one with dog walkers. Also, we don't have a proper fence and gate. We have put up chicken wires along the outside perimeter but we left a gap of about 1.5m for us to get in and out. I guess that opening 'invited' these dogs, especially if they are unleashed. But then again, the dog owners should have known that the garden belongs to someone and there is no reason for them to trespass, let alone allow their dogs to relieve themselves there. That really made me mad! We definitely have to work on putting up a proper fence and gate soon or else we will get more of such unwanted 'gifts'.
Friday, June 8, 2012
Waterproof Swedes
Of course they are not really waterproof, but the way they brave the rain and cold looks to me like they are. This morning was cloudy, the way it usually is for the last two weeks. We were on our way to check out a possible location of our future business when ten minutes into our walk, it started to rain.
It started out as a light drizzle but got heavier by the minute. Pete doesn't like to carry an umbrella and I am too lazy, so both of us had to walk in the pouring rain. My hair that was washed and dried before I left home got drenched. Luckily I was wearing a long coat that kept most of the rain off of my clothes. And I was wearing my waterproof boots, so my feet are nice and dry and warm. Except for the wet hair and the cold, I felt quite ok actually even when we had to walk for quite a bit, since we were a bit lost while looking for the location.
Looking around as I walked, which was quite difficult since the rain was getting into my eyes all the time, I could see that a lot of other people were also without umbrellas. It was really very rare to see someone with a brolly even when it rained so heavily. Even parents with babies in their prams didn't carry any. The prams had a sort of waterproof cover and it was enough to keep them dry inside.
This is so different from back home. With the slightest drizzle, or sunshine, out comes the umbrella. In fact, umbrella sales are very brisk and there are so many types that are sold in many different designs, so much so that there are even stores or carts that sell only umbrellas. Here, there aren't many places that sell them and even then, it's just the standard types with simple designs and colours. But I guess waterproof jackets and coats are more popular.
I also see teachers leading their pupils as they walk in the rain. The kids, ranging from pre-schoolers to ten year olds, wear their raincoats and walk cheerfully with their friends and teachers. Again, this is so different from back home where the kids are over-protected and excursions in the rain will never go down well with their parents. I guess that's how the kids here grow up to be such tough adults. Just like the waterproof Swedes.
It started out as a light drizzle but got heavier by the minute. Pete doesn't like to carry an umbrella and I am too lazy, so both of us had to walk in the pouring rain. My hair that was washed and dried before I left home got drenched. Luckily I was wearing a long coat that kept most of the rain off of my clothes. And I was wearing my waterproof boots, so my feet are nice and dry and warm. Except for the wet hair and the cold, I felt quite ok actually even when we had to walk for quite a bit, since we were a bit lost while looking for the location.
Looking around as I walked, which was quite difficult since the rain was getting into my eyes all the time, I could see that a lot of other people were also without umbrellas. It was really very rare to see someone with a brolly even when it rained so heavily. Even parents with babies in their prams didn't carry any. The prams had a sort of waterproof cover and it was enough to keep them dry inside.
This is so different from back home. With the slightest drizzle, or sunshine, out comes the umbrella. In fact, umbrella sales are very brisk and there are so many types that are sold in many different designs, so much so that there are even stores or carts that sell only umbrellas. Here, there aren't many places that sell them and even then, it's just the standard types with simple designs and colours. But I guess waterproof jackets and coats are more popular.
I also see teachers leading their pupils as they walk in the rain. The kids, ranging from pre-schoolers to ten year olds, wear their raincoats and walk cheerfully with their friends and teachers. Again, this is so different from back home where the kids are over-protected and excursions in the rain will never go down well with their parents. I guess that's how the kids here grow up to be such tough adults. Just like the waterproof Swedes.
Sunday, May 20, 2012
Weather for walking
It started out windy and cold. We went out in the morning with his mum and sister to get some stuff for the garden. When we got home, it even drizzled for a while. It continued to drizzle after a short pause. A nice day to stay indoors, and indoors was where we would be for the rest of the day, I declared.
But when it got closer to 6pm, the weather turned. The rain stopped and the sun came out. Looking out the window, the bushes were relatively still and the leaves of the trees, barely moving. Well, maybe we can go out for our walk now.
Hesitantly, Pete got ready to go out. He was mentally prepared for a day of rest, but to his credit, he walked on and boy, were we rewarded with the best weather since I arrived. It was sunny, not too windy and not too cold. We took our usual route and passed our garden. I know our daily walks have done us good because we were not panting by the time we got to our patch.
As we continued on our walk, the day got even better. It got warmer and brighter and I felt like we could walk on for miles. And so we did. We took a longer route home and passed beautiful trees, houses and even a church. I even spotted a wild rabbit, scrambling into the bushes when it saw us. If only there are more of such days.
Before I end this post, here are pictures of some of the cats in the neighbourhood. The Swedes love dogs. I can always find someone walking their dog when I am outdoors and there are plenty of dog parks and fields for dogs to run around in. I didn't think they love cats as well, but I have been seeing cats in some of their homes. And the cats here are fat and fluffy, I guess to adapt to the cold.
But when it got closer to 6pm, the weather turned. The rain stopped and the sun came out. Looking out the window, the bushes were relatively still and the leaves of the trees, barely moving. Well, maybe we can go out for our walk now.
Hesitantly, Pete got ready to go out. He was mentally prepared for a day of rest, but to his credit, he walked on and boy, were we rewarded with the best weather since I arrived. It was sunny, not too windy and not too cold. We took our usual route and passed our garden. I know our daily walks have done us good because we were not panting by the time we got to our patch.
As we continued on our walk, the day got even better. It got warmer and brighter and I felt like we could walk on for miles. And so we did. We took a longer route home and passed beautiful trees, houses and even a church. I even spotted a wild rabbit, scrambling into the bushes when it saw us. If only there are more of such days.
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| we think these are chestnut trees |
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| spot the cat |
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| this was found in the same garden |
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| a close up of one of them |
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| the cat on the right jumped on the ledge when it saw me and got shocked by the presence of the one on the left |
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| this beauty was 3 houses away |
Thursday, May 17, 2012
Don't trust the sun
I am still trying to get used to the weather here. It really is strange to see the sun shining brightly outside but know that it might be cold and windy. Like today, for instance. The day looks bright and so we decided to head out for our usual walk, maybe even visit our garden. But when I opened the main door, the blast from the wind told me that we could have to cut the walk short.
Just barely ten steps from the door, it started drizzling. The wind, I might be able to stand, but getting pelted by cold drops of rain is not something I can cope with yet. So we definitely could not have our walk today. We only walked to the supermarket nearby to get some stuff and then back home.
But when we reached home, it started getting very bright again with no sign of rain. But any thought of going out again was dashed when Pete asked me to look carefully at the trees and bushes around the building. They were getting bashed by the strong winds. And yeah, soon enough, it rained heavily. At least my vegetables are getting enough water.
It was great weather for something warm and comforting. Something that tastes of home. I filled up a saucepan with water and put in some chopped cabbage, dried noodles, egg and soup granules. In minutes, I had our meal ready. Ahh...nothing beats instant noodles for days like this.
Just barely ten steps from the door, it started drizzling. The wind, I might be able to stand, but getting pelted by cold drops of rain is not something I can cope with yet. So we definitely could not have our walk today. We only walked to the supermarket nearby to get some stuff and then back home.
But when we reached home, it started getting very bright again with no sign of rain. But any thought of going out again was dashed when Pete asked me to look carefully at the trees and bushes around the building. They were getting bashed by the strong winds. And yeah, soon enough, it rained heavily. At least my vegetables are getting enough water.
It was great weather for something warm and comforting. Something that tastes of home. I filled up a saucepan with water and put in some chopped cabbage, dried noodles, egg and soup granules. In minutes, I had our meal ready. Ahh...nothing beats instant noodles for days like this.
Sunday, May 13, 2012
This is summer?
Yesterday, Pete, his mum and I, went to his sister, Yvonne's town about an hour's drive from Malmö. Her eldest son, Simon, was going through what is called there a 'Konfirmationen' or a 'confirmation'. I don't exactly know what it is in English, but this is what the young kids there go through after they have finished months of Sunday school. We were invited to attend the ceremony which was to be held in a church and then we'd go to Yvonne's place for lunch.
We set off at 9.45, in the cold, and windy morning. The drive there was lovely. Although it was cloudy, the scenery was gorgeous. There were fields and fields of green wheat or yellow plants which I learnt would be turned into canola oil. Beautiful!
Once we reached the town, Pete's mum had little trouble finding the church. But there were a lot of other people there so we had to park a bit out of the way and walk to the building. Once I stepped out of the car, I was frozen. The wind was strong and on top of that, it was raining lightly. The raindrops were like blasts of ice water. I shivered as I walked pass the neatly maintained graveyard, not because of the graves, but because of the cold. And boy was it cold! I was wearing my summer coat which offered me little protection from the freezing, harsh wind and the fine, cold raindrops.
Other people were also making their way into the church. Simon's group had 12 other kids so the small church was packed. We joined Yvonne, who was already there with her 2 other children. Sitting there, I looked curiously around me, taking in the stained glass windows, the lovely shade of green of the pews, the huge painting in front of me and also of the other Swedes there. I felt like I was in a quaint little village.
The ceremony took about a little over an hour. The whole ceremony was in Swedish, of course, and Pete took it upon himself to be my translator. I suspect it's just so he would not fall asleep :P I took it as a Swedish lesson. As they sang, I tried to learn the pronunciation of the words. Like some English words, they are not pronounced the way they are spelt. This is not going to be easy!
Back at Yvonne's place, we were nice and warm and there I met up with his other sisters and nieces and I finally met his oldest sister. They are chatty and funny. They do like to joke and tease each other. Now, if only I can speak Swedish...Yeah, they talk mostly in Swedish and someone, usually Pete, will translate for me. And they do speak in English to me. But oh, how I would love to I learn the language.
Yvonne served a Greek salad with feta cheese and olives, Swedish potato salad, grilled chicken drumsticks, cold cuts, a chicken quiche lorraine, and slices of baguettte. Then later, there was tea and coffee to go with a selection of cookies and the very Swedish princess cake - a thin layer of sponge cake with a generous layer of whipped cream, covered with green marzipan.
We left soon after since we wanted to visit his youngest sister who was warded at the hospital in Malmö. While waiting to get into the car, the guests who were standing outside the house to smoke, were huddled together, Pete's sister being one of them. She was hugging herself while saying that it's too cold for summer. Summer? Yes, she said, according to the calendar, it's supposed to be summer.
When we reached the hospital, the parking was outdoors so we had to brave the rains and wind again. We all pulled our jackets tight and brisk walked to the building. Inside the wards, it was warm and nice. It smells of coffee inside, so unlike the wards in hospitals back home. There's even a small cosy room for visitors and we were welcomed to help ourselves to the coffe and tea. We only have to pay a small sum for it. The warm drink was such a blessing.
His sister is being warded for some pains in her abdomen and the doctors were going to do some tests to determine the cause. She had to still be warded until then, I guess. I hope they will be able to treat her. She is also preganant, which makes it difficult to do more tests on her.
Soon, it was time to head back to the car. The gloomy weather didn't let up. I was so glad to be in the warm apartment. As we wind down the day and prepared for supper, the rain stopped and the sun came up. It was close to 7pm and it was bright! Well, that's Swedish summer, I guess.
We set off at 9.45, in the cold, and windy morning. The drive there was lovely. Although it was cloudy, the scenery was gorgeous. There were fields and fields of green wheat or yellow plants which I learnt would be turned into canola oil. Beautiful!
Once we reached the town, Pete's mum had little trouble finding the church. But there were a lot of other people there so we had to park a bit out of the way and walk to the building. Once I stepped out of the car, I was frozen. The wind was strong and on top of that, it was raining lightly. The raindrops were like blasts of ice water. I shivered as I walked pass the neatly maintained graveyard, not because of the graves, but because of the cold. And boy was it cold! I was wearing my summer coat which offered me little protection from the freezing, harsh wind and the fine, cold raindrops.
Other people were also making their way into the church. Simon's group had 12 other kids so the small church was packed. We joined Yvonne, who was already there with her 2 other children. Sitting there, I looked curiously around me, taking in the stained glass windows, the lovely shade of green of the pews, the huge painting in front of me and also of the other Swedes there. I felt like I was in a quaint little village.
 |
| inside the church |
 |
| outside the church |
 |
| Simon is the one in the middle |
Back at Yvonne's place, we were nice and warm and there I met up with his other sisters and nieces and I finally met his oldest sister. They are chatty and funny. They do like to joke and tease each other. Now, if only I can speak Swedish...Yeah, they talk mostly in Swedish and someone, usually Pete, will translate for me. And they do speak in English to me. But oh, how I would love to I learn the language.
Yvonne served a Greek salad with feta cheese and olives, Swedish potato salad, grilled chicken drumsticks, cold cuts, a chicken quiche lorraine, and slices of baguettte. Then later, there was tea and coffee to go with a selection of cookies and the very Swedish princess cake - a thin layer of sponge cake with a generous layer of whipped cream, covered with green marzipan.
We left soon after since we wanted to visit his youngest sister who was warded at the hospital in Malmö. While waiting to get into the car, the guests who were standing outside the house to smoke, were huddled together, Pete's sister being one of them. She was hugging herself while saying that it's too cold for summer. Summer? Yes, she said, according to the calendar, it's supposed to be summer.
When we reached the hospital, the parking was outdoors so we had to brave the rains and wind again. We all pulled our jackets tight and brisk walked to the building. Inside the wards, it was warm and nice. It smells of coffee inside, so unlike the wards in hospitals back home. There's even a small cosy room for visitors and we were welcomed to help ourselves to the coffe and tea. We only have to pay a small sum for it. The warm drink was such a blessing.
His sister is being warded for some pains in her abdomen and the doctors were going to do some tests to determine the cause. She had to still be warded until then, I guess. I hope they will be able to treat her. She is also preganant, which makes it difficult to do more tests on her.
Soon, it was time to head back to the car. The gloomy weather didn't let up. I was so glad to be in the warm apartment. As we wind down the day and prepared for supper, the rain stopped and the sun came up. It was close to 7pm and it was bright! Well, that's Swedish summer, I guess.
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