Xmas letter 2018

(you can click on pictures)

We opened 2018 in Botswana, followed by our return to the beautiful but cold Sweden beginning of January. We had hoped for rain during our two months' stay in Botswana, but it was not until we left that the skies opened. Too much rain … from comments on social media! But, of course, rain is ever so welcome in Kalahari Botswana. There was not enough snow for winter activities in our home town Sigtuna and the Stockholm area in general. It was fifth year running of grey and miserable winters. Summer arrived with a bang. Long and dry, it created huge challenges as fires consumed forests, followed by a ban on grilling or barbecuing -- a favourite pastime in Sweden in recent years.

We have in earlier greetings mentioned a social group of friends - Soppgänget (Soup Gang), who meet 6-8 times a year to enjoy soup lunches together. We had, since we joined the group ten years ago, talked about travelling to Botswana together. The wish turned into reality when, in early March, we boarded Ethiopian Airlines en-route Gaborone. Seven out of the group of nine spent three weeks in Botswana travelling far and wide, to experience the beautiful and wildlife nature of the country.

Back to Sweden, Julia decided to step down as BOTSFA (the Botswana-Sweden Friendship Association) chairperson, following 10 years of board membership of which 7 as chairperson. Per continued with his board membership of Stockholmsbild (photography club), PRO (retiree association) and MFG (folkdance group). The folkdance group took us on the annual secret trip, this time to Säter in Dalarna

June took Julia and our daughter Anna to the USA to attend a wedding of a friend's son in New Jersey. Two months later, we (Per and Julia) were both back in the USA, this time in Maine to spend time with our former neighbour, Glenda Booth. Glenda had introduced us to the same place, Boothbay, when we lived in the USA … and we were hooked! We had a wonderful three-week visit, as we greatly enjoyed driving around the Nordic-like sceneries of Maine, lobster lunches, dinners and beautiful music. We also caught up with a long-time friend, Bob Porter.

Per had a two-week rest from the Maine trip, before undergoing a long-awaited knee surgery. It went well. The second knee awaits a scalpel, at a time to be decided. Time for knee and hip replacement! Just another reminder that we are not growing younger, our son, Moleko and daughter Anna, turned 50 and 40, respectfully.

In early November, Julia had to heed a call to visit Botswana to be with her mother who had developed a skin fungal infection. At 91, she is healing and doing relatively well.

Spending time with our grandchildren is the cherry on our cake. We have seen them grow from babies to, some of them, adults … with the oldest, Josefin and Julia being truly adults in their own right.End of May, we travelled to Abu Dhabi for David's graduation. This was followed by a trip to Moominland with our granddaughters Asali and Amani. The visit to we spent in Botswana, earlier in the year, also gave us the opportunity to spend time with the three grandchildren, Nyaladzi Chedu and Tesana, who live furthest away from us. This time, regrettably, no safari to central Kalahari.

2018 was a bit of a disappointment as it was too dry for our passtimes of wildberry and mushroom picking. Per, however, took some time to have a photo exhibiton which he called Life in Botswana and which attracted significant interest from Sigtuna, Märsta and among friends living in the Stockholm area. Julia resumed making presentations on Botswana, including to the Sigtuna Rotary Club. Midsummer took us to Falun where we spent time with Botswana yesteryear friends, with Per later returning for the traditional Nordlek dances. There was time for taking walks along Lake Mälaren, playing minigolf, and enjoying the company of friends -- for example the Eidem family, who we meet with annually to play games with our respective families.

May 2019 and beyond bring happiness and peace!

Per and Julia


	(you can click on pictures) We opened 2018 in Botswana, followed by our return to the beautiful but cold Sweden beginning of January. We had hoped for rain during our two months' stay in Botswana, but it was not until we left that the skies opened. Too much rain … from comments on social media! But, of course, rain is ever so welcome in Kalahari Botswana. There was not enough snow for winter activities in our home town Sigtuna and the Stockholm area in general. It was fifth year running of grey and miserable winters. Summer arrived with a bang. Long and dry, it created huge challenges as fires consumed forests, followed by a ban on grilling or barbecuing -- a favourite pastime in Sweden in recent years. We have in earlier greetings mentioned a social group of friends - Soppgänget (Soup Gang), who meet 6-8 times a year to enjoy soup lunches together. We had, since we joined the group ten years ago, talked about travelling to Botswana together. The wish turned into reality when, in early March, we boarded Ethiopian Airlines en-route Gaborone. Seven out of the group of nine spent three weeks in Botswana travelling far and wide, to experience the beautiful and wildlife nature of the country. Back to Sweden, Julia decided to step down as BOTSFA (the Botswana-Sweden Friendship Association) chairperson, following 10 years of board membership of which 7 as chairperson. Per continued with his board membership of Stockholmsbild (photography club), PRO (retiree association) and MFG (folkdance group). The folkdance group took us on the annual secret trip, this time to Säter in Dalarna June took Julia and our daughter Anna to the USA to attend a wedding of a friend's son in New Jersey. Two months later, we (Per and Julia) were both back in the USA, this time in Maine to spend time with our former neighbour, Glenda Booth. Glenda had introduced us to the same place, Boothbay, when we lived in the USA … and we were hooked! We had a wonderful three-week visit, as we greatly enjoyed driving around the Nordic-like sceneries of Maine, lobster lunches, dinners and beautiful music. We also caught up with a long-time friend, Bob Porter. Per had a two-week rest from the Maine trip, before undergoing a long-awaited knee surgery. It went well. The second knee awaits a scalpel, at a time to be decided. Time for knee and hip replacement! Just another reminder that we are not growing younger, our son, Moleko and daughter Anna, turned 50 and 40, respectfully. In early November, Julia had to heed a call to visit Botswana to be with her mother who had developed a skin fungal infection. At 91, she is healing and doing relatively well. Spending time with our grandchildren is the cherry on our cake. We have seen them grow from babies to, some of them, adults … with the oldest, Josefin and Julia being truly adults in their own right.End of May, we travelled to Abu Dhabi for David's graduation. This was followed by a trip to Moominland with our granddaughters Asali and Amani. The visit to we spent in Botswana, earlier in the year, also gave us the opportunity to spend time with the three grandchildren, Nyaladzi Chedu and Tesana, who live furthest away from us. This time, regrettably, no safari to central Kalahari. 2018 was a bit of a disappointment as it was too dry for our passtimes of wildberry and mushroom picking. Per, however, took some time to have a photo exhibiton which he called Life in Botswana and which attracted significant interest from Sigtuna, Märsta and among friends living in the Stockholm area. Julia resumed making presentations on Botswana, including to the Sigtuna Rotary Club. Midsummer took us to Falun where we spent time with Botswana yesteryear friends, with Per later returning for the traditional Nordlek dances. There was time for taking walks along Lake Mälaren, playing minigolf, and enjoying the company of friends -- for example the Eidem family, who we meet with annually to play games with our respective families. May 2019 and beyond bring happiness and peace! Per and Julia