Soon after celebrating New Year 2014 in Gaborone with our grandchildren, Nyali, Chedu and Tesana, we headed to Nxai Pan and later Deception Valley in Central Kalahari. Botswana had been praying hard for rains and the prayers were heard. Luckily, despitedriving deep pools of water, we managed to complete the trip as planned. Our four-wheeled vehicles followed each other closely, as we could not afford to lose sight of each other. At one point, it took 2 hours to get one of the vehicles out of mud. Even with continuous driving, an 80-kilometre drive from Rakops to Deception Valley took 5 hours. In the company of our son, Moleko, his wife Kutlo and their children, who are all exceptionally experienced bush campers, we were determined to conquer the Kalahari, and we did.

Since our daughter Anna and her family moved to Kenya end of last year, we are finding ourselves less involved in one of the pleasures we have had for a number of years--spending time with Asali and Amani. We had greatly enjoyed the years they lived in Sigtuna as they stayed only a five minutes walk from us.

Anna, Asali and Amani spent two months (June to August) with us in Sweden for medical check-ups for Asali --  living with the challenges of the 22q11 syndrome, doing very well but continuing to need specialists' care. Eric had to remain working in Kenya but was able to join them for the last two weeks of their visit. Until they find specialists able to deal with the  various medical needs for Asali, this may be an annual routine. On the other hand, the sun and the warm weather in Nairobi appears to be doing wonders for Asali. She is growing stronger and stronger.

Time was also spent with our grandchildren, Josefin, Julia and David (Petter and Cecilia's children) who live in Stockholm. Since they are older, time together involved visiting museums and other cultural places.

We enjoyed a few short trips during the year including a visit to friends in Gothenburg, Bosse and Jana Önnerlöv, where we went to Vinga, the birthplace of Swedish singer Evert Taube. The longest trip was to Cornwall where we joined Karen Collins, her family and friends to recollect memories of her late husband, Peter Collins. In addition to Karen, it was wonderful to see friends from the 1980 Botswana years (Tony and Trish Lett, Geoff and Beth Neden, Simon Whinney and Georgene Bentely, Mike Roberts and others). A Pasty and a Pint for Peter became a joyful celebration of his life. We later visited Åke Aastrup in Stocka, Härnösand. Åke, the first Swede to be sent by Sida to Botswana in 1972, turned 102 in October. It was an insipration to spend time with Åke, who is mentally clear and alert, hears and sees relatively well, and can take himself around with a walker. We, in turn, enjoyed visits from friends from across the globe.

We had the time for traditional dancing and photography (Per), travelling with the Märsta Folk Dance group, meeting the Sigtuna soup gang, picking mushrooms and giving well appreciated presentations on Botswana to retirement groups in Märsta and Sigtuna. The Botswana-Sweden Friendship Association (BOTSFA) and the Embassy of Botswana in Sweden continued to provide us with opportunities for meeting friends with links to Botswana. BOTSFA, chaired by Julia, is growing from strength to strength. The association attracted 25 new members during the year reaching a total of 150 (individuals, families and organisations).

The elections in Sweden and Botswana came and left, leaving us with questions as to where the political winds are blowing in both countries. Sweden had an overwhelming increase in the support for the extreme right wing and racist-perceived Severigedemokraterna and Botswana had the most engaging elections since independence, in 1966. The appointment of candidates who had lost elections, as specially elected parliament members, the high court case for the adoption of a system of show of hands instead of secret ballot in the endorsement of the vice president and election of the speaker and vice speaker and the partisan approach to the post-electoral process, left one wondering where Botswana is heading with its democracy. The Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) has been ruling since independence but these elections resulted in a significant number of seats going to the opposition (20 out of 57). Not only that, the opposition attracted more votes (53%). So by popular vote, minority rules! We attended a political rally by Stefan Löfven, leader of the Social Democratic party, in Märsta, and had hoped for a more decisive outcome for the Swedish elections. And, yes, Stefan Löfven became the new Prime Minister, but in a minority government. A failed budget process has, since, resulted in new elections scheduled for March 22, 2015.

To create time for social interests, Julia decided to put a closure to her mission work with the IMF and the World Bank. However, fulltime retirement has its own drawbacks as one is seen to have nothing else to do. We are finding ourselves taking on more and more responsibilities for activities outside our plans. One of the biggest satisfactions was finding time to pick mushrooms with Ulla Odqvist, who recently moved to Sigtuna. We picked more mushrooms in Härnösand with Kicki and Kalle Westman (Per's niece and her husband)

As we close this fun-filled year, we look forward to yet another good year. For the rest of this year and part of the new year, we will be in Kenya and Botswana  (November to February) where we are spending time with our children and grandchildren, Julia's mother, relatives and friends.

We plan to visit game reserves both in Botswana and Kenya. Last year's experience with elephants blocking the road during our Central Kalahari trip left us wanting more of seeing animals in their natural environment.

In memory of friends that we lost during 2014 and to the loved ones they left behind, let’s take comfort in the words by an unknown author, “When someone you love becomes a memory, the memory becomes a treasure.”

Wishing You a Happy and Peaceful 2015