midsummer

Book Club, Street Party and a relaxing weekend

Published on June 19, 2018June 19, 2018 by HannaLeave a comment

The summer weather seems to have disappeared, but that’s completely normal for midsummer, which is later this week.

Sadly I won’t be celebrating it, but I’m meeting up with friends so it will still be a nice day. There are of course midsummer celebrations in London, but celebrating with lots of people in Hyde Park doesn’t appeal to me.

Monday last week was a quiet one (that’s how I like my Monday’s – the shock of getting up early and going to the office is enough for me) and I made a yummy pasta with cream, sherry and last year’s girolles (picked by my auntie) from the freezer. So yummy and a perfect start to the week!

Tuesday we met up with the book club at Marie-Lou’s and she has prepared a feast as usual. It was lovely to meet up and discuss the book and catch up!

On Wednesday I went to the Motcomb Street Party which was lots of fun with entertainment, charity auction, food stalls and flowing prosecco. All the food stalls looked good but I decided on a brioche bun with roast beef and creamed horseradish. Really yummy!

The rest of the work week was quieter; on Friday I watched the Portugal-Spain game at home and just chilled out. Saturday I met up with Laura in Surbiton for a walk along the river, lovely lunch and a cheeky ice cream. So nice to catch up!

The remainder of the weekend was unplanned which was just lovely. I can’t remember the last time I could catch up on sleep like this, binge on TV series and just chill. Such a treat!

Published on June 20, 2014 by HannaLeave a comment

Traditionally, if I was in Sweden today, I would most likely have the day off work and would have started the bypicking flowers from the fields; mainly cornflowers, poppies and cow parsley so I could tie myself a headband.

Then in the afternoon there would be cake, most likely a strawberry gateau. And in the evening there would be a smorgasbord of pickled herring, smoked salmon or gravadlax, new potatoes with dill, meatballs, sourcream and chives, maybe a matjes cheesecake and so on. To finish strawberries and cream.

Quite a lot of people have the traditional food for lunch and a barbecue in the evening, but although I’m not a huge fan of herring, that is not how I roll. There will of course also be plenty of snaps going around and we would sing snaps songs.

At some point during the afternoon or evening you would also dance around the may pole silly style singing children’s songs. And then party until really late as it is the shortest day of the year and the sun barely sets in Sweden.

This year, I’m in the UK and won’t really celebrate midsummer at all. Instead I’m going to an army ball in London, complete with chocolate fountains, fireworks and The Great Gatsby theme. Tomorrow and Sunday I have a hen do down in Kent where we will be glamping, playing silly games and drinking plenty of wine (I hope).

So regardless of what you’re up to, I wish you a Happy Midsummer!

Midsummer and the summer solstice

Published on June 22, 2012June 22, 2012 by Hanna1 Comment

Picture borrowed here.

Today is the longest day of the year, the summer solstice, and although some believe this can make you a bit crazy (see cult classic The Wicker Man) we celebrate this pagan tradition, Midsummer, differently.

Traditional foods are pickled herring, boiled eggs, new potatoes, meatballs and strawberries in some form, for dessert. Nowadays people like to barbecue too, as the Swedes go crazy with their barbecues every summer.

It is usually bad weather and often rain, which we try to laugh about, but you have to at least try to sit outside. And to keep warm we drink snaps and sing snaps songs of course.

During the afternoon it is customary to dance around a may pole (a phallus symbol) and especially the children like this. An old tradition young girls try at least once is to, late in the evening, walk around and pick seven different types of flowers while silent, then put them underneath your pillow and you will dream about your future husband.

Happy midsummer and skål!