everyday life

gustafsberg VII

gustafsberg VII, originally uploaded by catsfalk.

M/S Gustafsberg VII is a lovely ship. Built 1912 and sailed between Stockholm - Gustavsberg during the years of 1912 to 1928. 1930-1964 she sailed Stockholm - Ljusterö. 1964 she sank and she was rescued and restored 1966-1972. Since 1974 she back trafficing Stockholm - Gustavsberg but also to Stockholm - Sigtuna. And yesterday I had the chance to enjoy a trip to Sigtuna with her.

I had a great time sitting on the sundeck and watch the scenery goes by. Stockholm is a city situated on 14 islands (on the lake of Mälaren and the salt sea) and lot of the suburbs is also situated near the Lake Mälaren. It's a great way to see a diffrent side of these suburbs, from the seaside. On the way to Sigtuna you pass the inner city islands of Södermalm, Riddarholmen, Långholmen, Kungsholmen, Lilla and Stora Essinge islands. And the suburbs of Kärrsön and Färingsö islands and mainland suburbs of Bromma, Blackeberg, Hässelby, Nockeby, Järfälla, Kallhäll, Stäket, Kungsängen, Upplands Väsby. You can spot some palaces/castles near the water on the way and lot of those fancy/posh seaside villas.

During the trip I watched the scenery but I also had time to knit. On the trip I brought my Madder Sock, and I managed to turn the heel and start on the foot on this trip.  I show you pic's later.

More about Sigtuna tomorrow!

/ C

i'm done

my copy, originally uploaded by catsfalk.

I finished the Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows yesterday... I was sobbing hard when I read the last 5 chapters.. Emotional stuff. And I don't want to spoil anything for your who haven't finished yet..

E-mail me [alpacasilk at yahoo dot com], and tell me your thoughts..

Now I'm off to Sigtuna!

/ C

f i n a l l y

just before the rain, originally uploaded by catsfalk.

Finally - my vacation has started! YAY! I'm happy! 4 weeks with no hard work, just relaxing and just having fun! On Monday I will take a boat trip to the town of Sigtuna, just north of Stockholm. The boat ride will take about 4 hours -one way- with a nice sceney of the shores of Lake Mälaren. If I'll take the train/bus the scenery is much duller.

We had a the first big thunder storm yesterday for the season. The picture is showing the sky just before it all starts, the view from my balcony. Usually these thunder storms are common through the whole summer from May/June to August/September - but this year we hadn't have them at all, not at least in my neighbourhood. I like these thunder storm, when I'm inside in a safe enviroment. I have respect for this weather. A former boyfriend lost his best friend in a stroke of lighning. They where out canoeing on a small lake and was surprised with a thunder storm.

I haven't knit as much as I wanted these past weeks. I still have pain in my shoulder, but it's getting better. I actually knitted yesterday evening infront of the telly.

I have read about 2/3 of the latest Harry Potter! It's very exciting! I guess I will finished the book this weekend. So next week I'm sure I want to talk about it..

/ C

magic

Gryffindor
Originally uploaded by catsfalk

I'm at work, but I rather be at Godric's hollow with Harry at the moment... I have been in Harry's company most of my weekend. I finished the Half Blood Prince on Saturday. And then I started the Deathly Hallows.. I have read about 1/3 of the book by now... My intention to read a chapter a day, flew out of the window, as soon I started to read it, I had no will to end after the first chaper - I had to read on... the feeling is bittersweet at the moment.. I have been crying two times, but I'm a crier.. I cry both in happy and sad times. I need to go home and continue my reading... but I can't, not yet...I have to work a couple of hours before I can go home..

I have been sitting on my balcony with Harry in the sun during the weekend. And I had Ben & Jerry with me too..

*Sigh* Back to work

/ C

(but this is my last week before my holiday kicks in)

harry potter

harry potter theme, originally uploaded by catsfalk.

1. Gryffindor, 2. Harry Potter's Trolley, 3. Hufflepuff, 4. <3, 5. HogwartsSeal, 6. HP 34, 7. Knight Bus, 8. Cloisters, 9. Hogwarts express, 10. Ravenclaw, 11. Harry Potter stack, 12. Slytherin

Created with fd's Flickr Toys.

So, we are almost there now. There are lot of speculation on the Internet at the moment and I have been reading a lot the past days about what people think is going to happen and it has been fun. You have sites like Beyond Hogwarts, Mugglenet and The Leaky Cauldron.

My thoughts on Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows:
Who will die? The specultions are running wild. JK Rowling has told us that two major figures will die. My guess is Voldemort and Snape.

Will Harry return to Hogwarts? Harry has other big tasks to cope with. He can return later... But Hogwarts is a safe place for Harry, so.... JK said that one of Harry's classmates will become a teacher, so Hogwarts will re-open.

How will the various relationships unfold/begin? Harry and Ginny will get back together. Hermione and Ron will problebly become a couple. Bill and Fleur  will marry. Lupin and Tonks will stick together. Neville and Luna finds love together. And what about the Dursley's? Is mrs Dursley a squib? She knows more about the wizard world than she will tell...

To what does "Deathly Hallows" refer? I have no clue

Is Snape good/bad/neither? Definitely good. He did what Dumbledore told him to do! And Snape has a issues with Harry, we know that, and we know Snape hated James but he also loved (?) Lily. Did Snape and Lily date before she began to date James?

General comments on the series coming to a close. I'll be very, very sad. I started to read Harry Potter during 2001. I read the first book during the Easter in 2001. And the second, third and fourth while travel back and forth Stockholm-Härnösand-Stockholm on train, beginning in September 2001. I went back to school to get my archivist degree and I had Harry with me on these trips. Love the books and the films.

/ C

saturday is coming

a banner for the Deathly Hallows, originally uploaded by catsfalk.

It's just a couple of days left now. Before the last Harry Potter book is published. The tension is high, and we are talking about Harry Potter everyday now. I can't let it go, I'm so excited. Since my friend, Jenny, has borrowed Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone and Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, I had to go to the library, picking up the audio books, for the 2 first books - and listen to them. I borrowed the Swedish edition and it's the Swedish actor Krister Henriksson, who reads the books. I have actually never read the books in Swedish, just in English, so it's almost like the first time around. When I got home from work today I sat in my favorite chair, drinking tea and listen to the story! I'm enjoying it very much. 

If you want more of Harry Potter - check out Fluffy Flowers daily Harry Potter  contest! It's very fun and you can win fabulous Harry Potter prize's. I had no luck so far, but still hoping for a prize! (crossing my fingers!)

I have ordered my copy at AdLibris so I will not get it until Monday - and I then I will only read a chapter a day, so I can have this pleasure to read it as long as I can...

/ C

closed for holiday?

closed for holiday?
Originally uploaded by catsfalk

Well, you can think so, looking at the board - 13 of 15 archivist are having their holiday at the moment - but there are 2 left behind, still at work, running the business - Me and Stina! Stina is leaving for Portugal next week, but then Stefan is coming back from Öland and Ola is coming back from Orust. The word Semester means holiday in Swedish. I have now 8 days working days before my holiday kicks in... Countdown has begun..

I had an appointment with my doctor this morning. The last couple of weeks I have had problems with my left shoulder - and during the weekend the pain developed. So it was time to visit my doctor again. She gave me anti inflamatory pain killers and I will also set up a meeting with a fysio terapeut.

Because the pain, I haven't been able to knit... So, I'm hoping the medicin will help!!

/ C

harry potter and the order of the phoenix

harry potter
Originally uploaded by catsfalk

So, I spent this Sunday afternoon at the movies (yes, again, 3rd Sunday in a row). And this time it was the 5th installment in the Harry Potter series: Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix. The (so far) thickest book became the shortest film so far.. I understand that things had to be left out, but I felt they skipped some important character development and I missed the St Mungo scene. And somehings are changed from the book, and I don't like that. But I liked it. And as soon as I get my hand of the dvd, I will see it over and over again.

Imelda Staunton was so great in the role as Dolores Jane Umbridge. And Evanna Lynch as Luna was well casted too. And I'm glad we got to see some familiar faces back on the movie: Emma Thompson, Brendan Gleeson, and David Thewlis. And Helena Bonham Carter is always a joy to watch. I hope she will say yes to the next film too.

I read somewhere, that the film people wanted to leave Kreacher out of the story, but JK Rowling said it will be a problem in the 7th film to introduce him then. So I guess the house elf Kreacher has a bigger role in book 7?

And as you know, if you read the books, there are lot of knitting going on in this magical world. In this book Hermoine knits hats for the house elfs but it's not in the movie. But Hermoine wears a lot of stylish knitted sweaters, and so is Ginny and the rest of the gang.

What did you think of the film?

/ C

eco veggies and fruit

dinner, originally uploaded by catsfalk.

I have a subscription on a box of vegetables and fruit. It's arrives on my doorstep  everyother Thursday, and I got a box today filled with tomatos, paprika, chili peppers, lettuce, lemons, watermelon, bananas, pears, a leek, cabbage, an eggplant, carrots but also a box of apple juice, a bar of chocolate and a package of bulgur. Everything is of course eco friendly. I get the subscribtion from Årstiderna. And so far, I am more than happy with this service. I get fresh veggies and I don't have to carry them home from the store!

So my dinner was totally vegan with grilled eggplant, salad of tomatos, paprika and lettuce and bulgur. It tasted very good.

/ C

pink rose

pink rose, originally uploaded by catsfalk.