Forrrest Guuuump!

”My Mama always used to say: Life is like a box of

chocolate – you never know what you get”

And wasn’t she right……

Today was really a day with chocolate surprises… Now I got your attention didn’t I? haha… well, it’s all very surprising even to me… I hadn’t expected something like that to happen.

OK OK, I’ll stop with the teasing – I’ll get right to it but I have to start from the beginning of course – you need to get the whole picture!

Anyway – this morning after dropping the children off at school I was to go to Kitsilano – a small town near the Burrard bridge where according to Alex they had a lot of books that she wanted me to borrow for the children – since we are going to be off school for a week then they need to keep on with their studies anyway and therefore I went there at the same time exploring a new part of Vancouver – and apparently met someone new – a new acquaintance – somebody I had never in my life thought I would meet – ever, not in those circumstances… haha- yepp, teasing again  – sorry..

Well, I was on the bus – got an unexpected BUT wonderful call from my grandparents in India – it was such a joy to hear their voices and know that they are OK and that everything is alright –apparently they wanted to tell me something. Anyway, as I said I was on the bus so unfortunately I couldn’t talk to them for that long –still being a little unsure of where to get off etc… I needed to follow the bus route on the map. I asked a lady whom I gave a seat to next to me and asked where I should get off to get to the Kitsilano Public Library. She apparently was a tourist too and so we laughed about it, and the nice lady infront of us told me instead where to get off – again, I am so happy about how friendly people are here in Vancouver!

I got off, and realised I needed to walk for a while until I got to the point where I believed the Library was… I walked and walked and walked and surprisingly enough it didn’t take that long as the map suggested – seeing all those streets that I needed to pass before getting there – it wasn’t that bad after all! On the way I also thought I could call Mummy because I miss her so much and surprise her just like she surprises me sometimes with her calls and boy was she surprise! :D BOOOYA! Haha – I managed to surprise her! YES! I even got to talk to my dear friend Eva who thanked me for sending her a postcard.. I am so glad that all my postcards have arrived safely!

Oh god – I keep on writing about sidetracks on my story… hmmm, ok – now , yes I was walking… bummer that – ehm, I thought I had found the Library but actually did manage to get lost – I took the wrong turn somewhere and ended up in a neighbourhood that didn’t look THAT enticing so I scurried back to the main road in hope of finding someone kind to ask for directions – I finally did, or rather the nice lady found me looking a little lost, haha, she helped me and told me I wasn’t really lost, I was just on the wrong side of the ROAD!!! Gaaah!!! Haha, so I thanked her and walked on – finally I got to the Library and lo and behold! I was 20 min early and they hadn’t opened yet so I stood outside studying my map just to pass the time…

Then it happened, that unexpected but fun part… a postman, a young man came walking by, probably to leave some post for the Library and stopped and asked if I needed help and also if I wanted a magazine to read… hmm, I looked at it, saw that it was Sports Illustrated, laughed and said no –thank you… he smiled and he had to ask what I was doing here – I told him about my errand and that I had to wait for the Library to open… then we began talking… about everything, my life… why I was here, what are the dilemmas in life… how come I am not blond and blue-eyed that he had heard Sweden was famous for? How come I was Swedish and brunette with brown eyes – haha, I answered them honestly and we had a wonderful talk!! We laughed and before we both knew it we were exchanging email addresses so now I hope we can have some contact in the future while I’m here – he also requested to receive a letter from Sweden – so I said that that means he has to wait for a long time but if it’s to any concelation I could always send him emails from here until I get back home after 1 year…. He laughed and we agreed… and that was that BUT more happened…. Hmm, should I tell? Well, it was pretty funny so Lance – if you are reading this forgive me BUT YOU ARE NOW OFFICIALLY BLESSED IN THE NAME OF THE POPE OF ROME just so you know – no grudge OK? :P haha… well, what happened was that suddenly PLOP and Lance had got bird-droppings all over his nice shirt… we were both so shocked at first that we didn’t know what to say but before Lance opened his mouth to let out a manly screech of displeasure I managed to say in my high-pitched voice “ YOU ARE BLESSED!” Lance looked at me a little quizzicly… wondering what this Swedish young girl was babbling about and I explained what it meant and that perhaps your encountering was blessed now! THEN came the laughter – and boy did we laugh!! Haha – we couldn’t stop!!

In the Library after he had washed it all off I asked if I could take a picture of him as a memory and then of course followed by if I may post it on my travelling blog – highly professional if I may add…. And he said of course and grinned. So I snapped some pictures of him reading a very interesting WALRUS – I mean –ehm, PC Magazine… haha, WALRUS was some kind of facts magazine, no idea but the name was awful so I didn’t want it in the picture haha … then we had to say our goodbyes so I hope that we get to see each other again… that would be nice…!

This is Lance! :D HI LANCE :D It was a pleasure to meet you!

Hmm, now to the Library-part, I chose a lot of books for all the children and the girl who helped me was soo nice and went through so much trouble searching for almost all the authors I was looking for – then I borrowed the books – stuffed them in my Vancouver Library shoulder-bag and went out… knowing that I needed to get back home to finish off preparations for the dinner and do some other chores before having to fetch the children from school. So that is what I did and that was actually my day – the rest of the evening was just spent for myself, researching a little about buses tomorrow since the children and I have to go by bus downtown and then Hannah and I will go to the Opening Ceremony Dress rehearsal of the Olympics 2010! :D hahaha… I HAVE to say all of that because I KNOW that you who are reading will be filled with awe and wonder… am I right?!? Hihi…. I am evil I know BUT you know that EVIL backwards will be LIVE so I am just LIVING! :D

haha- funny sign! :D

ALL The books in my bag...

Huuuuuuuuummmer! :D

The bookmark that you were allowed to take from the Library! :D

BOOKS! :D For the children - Eng and Fre.

My Darling! <3 :D haha... it's thank to this exquisite piece of technology that YOU get to know all of my adventures! :D

Now Stephen is here to have pianoclasses with the children… I am quite tired actually but very excited about tomorrow…!! This week is a crazy week!!

Talk to you soon!!

BYE!

Ps. The sun was SOOO warm and cosy today!! Just so you know I am thinking of you all people who are living in Sweden – I know how terrible the weather is there… wishing you good weather herewith!”

...SUNSHINE!...

Sun in my Eyes :D I LOVE IT!

DRESSREHEARSAL FOR THE OLYMPICS 2010!!!

HEEELLLLOOOO people!!!

THIS WEEK IS GOING TO BE CRAZY!!!! hahaha – you have NO idea what I am about to tell you!! Well, obviously you don’t because I haven’t told you – hmm, stupid remark, anyway… here are the news! Stay focused! :P

Wednesday:

Alex came home with TWO tickets to see the DRESSREHEARSAL for the Winter Olympics 2010 celebration in Vancouver!! One is for me and the other one is probably for Hannah – we two are going off into town and seeing all this!! IT WILL BE SO FABOLOUS!! It begins at 6p.m and will probably last for about 3h, before that us two girls will I guess checking out downtown as we go!! THIS IS SO AMAZING!!! I can’t believe it!! I am so excited that I don’t know what to do!!!! :D CAN YOU BELIEVE IT PEOPLE?!?!?

I AM GOING TO SEE THE OPENING CEREMONY OF THE OLYMPICS

HERE IN VANCOUVER!!!

ME!!!!!!! :D hahahaha!!! THIS IS MAGICAL!! I am in HEAVEN!!! :D

Yepp - I AM GOING TO BE THERE!!! :D

Thursday:

Will be a ”normal” day at first BUT at 3.30 p.m I will hurry to school, pick up Johnny and Mary and then hurry off so I get a good spot where all the people will be assembled for the ANNUAL TORCH RELAY walking past here in KERRISDALE!!! I CAN’T BELIEVE IT YET AGAIN!! IT’S SO CLOSE I CAN ALMOST FEEL THE WARMTH FROM THE FLAMES OF THE TORCH!!!! :D THE OLYMPIC TORCH PEOPLE!! DID YOU READ ME?!? THE OLYMPIC TORCH!!! :D hahahh…. little me *sighs’ wow!!!

Sunday:

Williams and I will be driving off (John will of course be the one driving, just a manner of speaking ofc..hihi) to Whistler Mountain where we will be staying at their cabin, also accompanied by John’s brother Wayne… :D I haven’t met him yet but am thrilled to do so. I will be checking out what the Village is up to and will probably meet A LOT of tourists – who knows, perhaps I’ll meet some Swedish people!? hahaha, it’s a small world after all so I should never say never ! :D

We will be staying at Whistler til Friday I believe, then head back home and that’s that…. but WHAT A WEEK I HAVE AHEAD OF ME! :D

Tomorrow I will also be heading off to another destination – namely Kitsilano Public Library where I need to borrow some books in both English and French for the children so they can be ”home-schooled” by me in the evening after all that skiiing up at Whistler…haha :D I am a strict teacher if I may say so myself BUT – practice makes perfect and it’s good not only for the children but also for me! :D I am looking forward to it all! I am so thrilled I can barely stop smiling – I shouldn’t stop smiling – haha….

Well, in short – stay tuned for more and of course PLENTY of pictures from what you are all missing elsewhere…. Vancouver is the PLACE TO BE RIGHT NOW!! :D

I must have done something right in my life to get such an adventure at hand like this one… right? :D haha….

Write to you soon….

To be cont. (quote and copyright Jokerban) :D

From Google - but this is how the Olympic Spirit is like here in Vancouver! :D

Here are some X-tra pictures of John in the living-room, posing in his WINTER OLYMPICS 2010 VANCOUVER gear! :D

The front.. and his "necklace" of ID :D

The backside with the 2010 LOGO! :D

He is a host at the Olympic Ice-hockey Games! :) How cool isn’t that?!? :D haha…. he is so much fun! Thank you John for volunteering for a photoshoot with Crazy Swedish Nanny Who Only Wants to Take Pictures All the Time.. :D

Countdown- DOWNTOWN!



WHAT A DAY!!

How it all starts…. I don’t even KNOW where to begin!! There are so many things that I want to write at the same time and I have a feeling that my fingers will cramp because of all my writing BUT I am determined to write EVERYTHING!!

First of all:

-          Sit comfortably

-          Make a cup of tea – preferably a cup of coffee so you manage to read everything in one go… haha.

-          Snuggle up in your armchair or couch with your laptop but if you don’t have one get a quilt or something to keep you warm because you’ll need it cause there is a LOT To read and A LOT to see!

-          Brace yourself…

Morning:

I woke up fairly early – now what does fairly early mean you wonder – it means about 8.30 a.m. Perfect.

I got up, put on my clothes and went to the kitchen to eat some breakfast. The two girls Mary and Collette were already up watching telly and eating breakfast… Alex had apparently gone out for a quick run but would be back any minute according to Mary.

Breakfast was gulped down and some coffee devoured. Perfect. I was beginning to wake up… then Alex came home, we began talking about plans for the day. Hannah was going off with Alex for her game, then doing some shopping – Johnny was still at his friend’s house, John was fetching him, Mary was home and they needed to drop off Collette at her house. It was a busy day – now what should I do? Alex and I began talking about me going downtown, grabbing a bus – taking it to the Vancouver Museum – I wanted to go there first AND since it was sunny, warm and beautiful outside it would be perfect because the Museum was close to the water AND it would be easy to go downtown Vancouver if I wished by bus or walk….

Alex was so kind that she wrote down all the routes I could take by bus or walk if I wished. I am so grateful for what  – then before I headed for my shower she cried “ SPREAD YOUR WINGS GIRL”(Mummy – déjà vu yes? – I felt that too) YES I shouted back, happily and went for a quick shower, got ready, camera packed, maps packed, everything ready… I went out into the bright sunlight! I AM ON MY WAY!

Walked down to Kerrisdale – refilled my mobile with money just in case I got lost and needed to call John or Alex – safeties sake… however, I was stubborn to find my way with map assistance AND if I needed to I could always ask and people are SO friendly here!

After Roger’s (mobile refill) I began scanning the map to find the right way to go by bus to the Museum. An older lady saw that I was looking so intently on the map and then on the streets that she came forward and asked so kindly “can I help you sweetie?” I said yes please and she showed me which bus to take and which way it would take me – where I could get off and then walk some blocks to the Museum by the beach. I thanked her heartily and walked to the bus – I didn’t need to wait that long – the buses come every 15min…. the bus-driver helped me as well and told me that he would tell me when we were closing in and that I needed to get off. He was so kind!! It was quite a long bus route and then suddenly I heard in the speakers “Vancouver Museum” – however, I knew that that wasn’t a busstop but he had just said that in the speakers so I would understand it was ME he was referring to and nobody else in the bus –I had to go to him and say thank you and then stepped off – walked some blocks, then began scanning the map again and walked (hopefully) in the right direction. I began walking and at some points I was a bit confused – took up the compass so that I knew I was on the right track (thank you JB! – but I wasn’t really destined to go home just yet, hihi) and began walking again – finally I began recognising the street names on the map and understood I was on the right way…

On my way....AND on the RIGHT way too! :D

I recognise the road we biked on.. :)

A HUGE poster :) CANADIAN OLYMPIC SPIRIT PEOPLE! :D

Showing me the way.......

A very HAPPY ELizabeth... haha :D Finding her way - you hear that!! hihi ;)

Other things I saw in the way... :)

And mountaintops....

WIIIE! :D I FOUND IT!!!

ofc these cute houses were opposite the Museum! :) had to take a picture - it's just so England! haha :D

MUSEUM OF VANCOUVER!! TADAAAA! :D

The Sign - Logo... you get it :)

A CRAB fountain - yepp, you heard me - a CRAB fountain! :)

A some strange scultpures... prototypes of the earth outside as well...

The sign underneath the prototype..

:)

There were cute ducks swimming in the pond surrounding the Museum :)

And these famous Greek sculptures were outside in the garden :)

The view from the Museum windows.

Suddenly I saw the water… the beach and signs saying that THIS way was the MOV (Museum Of Vancouver I saw it!!! I was deliriously happy to have found my way without having to ask anyone!!

Stepping into the Museum I saw a beautiful ceiling and the counter where two adorable ladies were seated – they took the admission fee ( I was student to them, haha) and said it was OK to take pictures but no flash and also one of the ladies GAVE me a beautiful bookmark because she liked me so much I think, hihi… I felt special and thanked her very much!

The first exhibition.

...

Small bottles with dead things in them.... eeew - just a little ew :)

fish... haha xD

what is this stone type called again... isch, keep on forgetting the name!

The 2nd Exhibition - Crafts.

Horizon

It's a suitcase... cool isn't it? :D

THe Copper Woven leaf....

interesting.....

3rd Exhibitions - from Korea.

A black bowl....

chair

Jewelery.

4th Exhibitions - Night and Phsycological art... will write more about this...

Another view from a window.

Back to the exhibitions which was based on Canadian history.

Bookmark + other leaflets that I took on the way in to the museum:

I walked through the museum and saw all the exhibitions – quite interesting… perhaps not the animals, it was a bit terrifying with stuffed creatures but I still wanted to see it… I liked the Crafts Exhibitions much better – what work of art! I won’t say anymore, look at the pictures instead…. Enjoy. – like I did!

the olden days bathingsuits :)

Glorious 50's...

FLOWER POWER... !

Note the small shrine at the far left... :)

The Reception :)

The beautiful ceiling

yet another exhibition - woooosch, haha :D

Something more for Jesper I fink :)

After the Museum I walked to the beach, curious what it looked like, knowing that Alex had told me it was beautiful – and boy was it beautiful!!! I couldn’t just walk around but I HAD to sit down on one of the cosy benches… and just savour the idyllic and marvellous landscape of Vancouver… the water was luminous, blue… not dirty at all, the boats could be seen here and there…. You could hear the dogs bark on the beach because this beach allowed dogs, the owners shouting at them or throwing them toys to catch… elderly couples walking arm in arm, also enjoying the beautiful sight of the water and then the huge mountains-tops peeping up behind all white and glittering.. it was amazing – I can barely explain it and words won’t do justice to how beautiful it actually was… but hopefully my pictures caught some of that magic feeling…

I didn't go there... :) but it looked nice.

Do you see the kite :)

dogs playing in the water :)

These are CANADIAN squirrels :P

It got a little chilly and I felt that I needed to start walking again, not really knowing where I wanted to go now… the elderly lady who was sitting on the bench next to me got up and we smiled at each other… I could see that she had aged with grace, the way she walked, the way she smiled but also the way her eyes still sparkled with life. How poetic I felt and still feel while telling you readers… it was so magical, it felt as if the water was telling a story, the waves singing and the dogs making you realise you are not dreaming but that your mind is.. does it make sense to you? Haha. Anyway, I got up and began walking to the Burrard Bridge – on of the bridges that cross to Downtown Vancouver.

I decided then that I had so much time so why not head downtown? A nice walk in the sunshine and drinking it all in… so I headed over the bridge, it wasn’t that hard and I loved it! I got terrific pictures of the city from a height.

View from above...

The bridge.

From where I came...

SUNSHINE!

SOmeone had written on the wall :)

When I got downtown I recognised some of the streets and turns that John and Johnny and I had taken while biking so I thought it would be good to go that same route then I would eventually end up downtown centre… so I just walked and walked and walked. Thank you Mummy for training me so much for this! If I hadn’t been used to walking fast, efficiently and still being able to enjoy what I saw around me – I wouldn’t have lasted 1h otherwise!

Over the bridge :) and the first thing I saw....

the second thing I saw :)

Bikes for rent :)

and then...... :) when I turned a corner....

another type or Porsche I haven't seen before..?

a cute house...

The Olympic Cars :P

LAAARS?!?!? :D Where aaare you!?!? :D hahaha :D isn't it awesome?!?

This is how all the cars look like now xD

Well, I decided to head for the Countdown point where I was the very first time during the bike-ride. It was easy to find because I remembered the huge buildings towering up behind it but also the huge Canadian flag behind it as well… I saw a lot of shops and a café on the way where I later had some coffee at.

people everywhere!

The Art Gallery.

One of the exhibitions

On the way to the countdown of course I “stumbled across” The Vancouvert Art Gallery, haha, so OBVIOUSLY I went in… it was so beautiful! It felt as if I was in Italy or somewhere else except Vancouver. There were also SO MANY PEOPLE EVERYWHERE! It was so crowded and apparently the Olympic hosts had built an ice-rink just down a flight of stairs near the Art Gallery and there were steps leading up to the Art Gallery Café – as I said, it felt as if I was near the Spanish Steps than in Vancouver!! I was so touched by what I saw and so immensely happy that I felt like jumping up and down – laughing and hopping around! But of course I was sensible enough not to do that but oh how I wish I could have… haha. I regret it a little now, hihi… but I will be here for a while longer – BEWARE!

The icerink

So – back on track – when entering the Art Gallery I again got the student admission, hmm, wonder why look like a student? Haha – then I went to hand in my clothes because you weren’t allowed in with things… then in I went.

It was HUGE! I was very intrigued by the Da Vinci exhibition they were having and I was lucky because there were just a few days left until they would take it all down – the other art exhibitions were very abstract, I looked but didn’t feel drawn to it. Then I went to the 2^nd floor where there were landscape art, beautiful – I also found on the 2^nd floor landing a kind of dome-like room where I just had to sit down for a while, look up and feel myself back in the Louvre or somewhere in Florence again. It was amazing! I am sorry I couldn’t take any pictures – you weren’t allowed and since there were many people around I couldn’t sneak a pictures with my mobile either.. so sorry, perhaps some other time in the future – keep this in mind then if you want to see what I mean by the dome.

I carried on walking around, 3^rd floor was some artists interpretation of British Columbia – photographies, interesting but not that flattering, demonstrates, signs, colour, nothing that artistic from MY point of view but it was interesting seeing it at least. Then I saw that time was closing in and I still wanted to grab some coffee and see the Countdown place again before heading home again across the bridge, taking the bus and to Kerrisdale…

I took many pictures at the Countdown place along with some other things I hadn’t noticed earlier last time I was here. There were a lot of security guards everywhere so now you will perhaps get the idea of how intense things are at the moment and how stressed people actually are for the upcoming Olympic Games 2010!

Art on the back of the Gallery building...

A young man sitting on the steps playing on his guitar - it was lovely! :) He looked like a older version of Jason Mraz don't you think Jesper darling? :)

Then I headed for Wave’s Coffee, not Wayne’s. haha, found it and sat to rest and enjoy my coffee. I tried Ice Latte, not that good but drinkable. After sitting for a while, looking through my pictures I knew it was time to head back just in case and also to have a good time-margin IN CASE I got lost…haha, even though I had a compass with me, a map and a very beautiful face, hihi, I still wanted to manage on my own and not have to ask every person I met for directions, haha… orientation is GOOD!!! Not only NOW but also for future references and of course for future travels…. Somewhere else…

The fountain I hadn't noticed before with mosaic design at the bottom.

A book shop.

PEOPLE!!!

PEOPLE people People!

*phew*

A juggle in the middle of the street.

Urban Outfitters.

PUMA

I wanted.... :) but resisted.

hahaha. something... different xD

ADIDAS:

SUNSHINE!

Waves Coffee.

INside Wave's coffee.

The tables.

What I bought....

Me enjoying the Cold LAtte....

What is it? :P

Yepp - Aston Martin!!

I headed back the same way as I had come… across the bridge and lo and behold!! Biking past me was Hannah – Johnny, John and two other friends of Johnny and Hannah!!!! I couldn’t believe it!! Haha – actually, I heard some bikers but didn’t really believe it was THEM and then I looked sideways – Hannah and I got eye-contact and she just screamed with surprise and called “DAADDDDY – It’s ELIZABETH! STOOOOOP!!” hahaha, I was afraid they would all fall down…haha but we stood and talked for a while and I was so shocked by this encounter – I had just thought of them, wondering if they were home yet or somewhere nearby and there they were! Haha – unbelievable!! Then we split up and said “see you at home”… I managed to get a good picture of them all while biking up the bridge… then disappearing… wow. What a small world we live in!

Hannah, Johnny and the others :)

Kajaking... I want to try sometime :)

On the way to some bus-stop or other that would take me the right way I saw some very interesting car-shops… I’ll let you endure them without words…. :

and other things….

adorable...

I walked for some time, I realised I was walking the same way as we had biked some weeks ago but didn’t wish to head back the exact same way because I wanted to go by bus the last bit – I got a little lost but then noticed I was close to a larger road which probably would have bus-stops… however, while scanning the map again and VERY nice young man came up to me – asked me again if I needed any help and being tired and a little sore in my legs I said yes please.. and we stood and discussed which way I could walk and he was so charming – I shook his hand and thanked him a lot before heading our own separate ways… wow – what incredible people live here!! It’s amazing!! I love this country!!

I finally got to the right street, found the bus-stop that would take me to Kerrisdale, jumped on and was heading home!

Gosh what an energy-kick I got out of taking the right bus, and I even followed the streets in my map so I knew which route the bus was taking and so that I could perhaps take the same another time I wanted to go downtown… no probs at all!! I LOVE BIG-CITY LIFE!!

Another thing that caught my attention was how wonderfully hospitable the bus-drivers are here – not at all grumpy or sour… but perhaps I smiled a little TOO much that they felt a little forced to smile, hahaha.. who knows, haha.. just wishful thinking perhaps but I enjoyed it a lot!!

I finally recognised the streets and realised I was home, jumped off and began walking home.. on the way I stopped at London Drugs where I had to buy some things but also a SWEDISH FLAG you see because NEXT weekend we are ALL gone and going to Whistler for the OLYMPICS!!!! So I NEED a SWEDISH flag – boy did the people at London Drugs stare, haha… even the cashier woman reacted that I had a SWEDISH flag of all flags.. hihi.. I felt a little special..

Then my legs were really protesting, I had been walking non-stop for about 6 hours… but it felt soo good and I was pushed on just so I could tell everyone at home what I had been doing… I heard voices when I got home at the front-door so I went that way instead and found a lot of people, among others Hannah and Johnny’s best friends Jefferey and Anna-Lee and their parents… I said hello to the parents, shook hands and they were very glad to meet me because they hadn’t earlier… apparently the children had been allowed to have a sleep-over WHICH means that I will have to deal with 5 CHILDREN!!!! Hahahah – babysitting is really my thing it seems – haha – but I know we will have a lot of fun and I like Jeffery and Anna-Lee so no problems.. they are 11 and 9 years old so I don’t think they will be so loud at all – and we can all do something fun together right? However, I must be honest and say I am pretty tired after all that walking but what excitement as well!!

The beautiful bookmark I got from the lady at the Vancouver Museum! :D

The beautiful bookmark I got from the lady at the Vancouver Museum! :D

HEEEY! :D I am tiiiired now! :D Goooodnight!

So – now you have managed to READ and SEE through EVERYTHING!!

I hope you enjoyed your “journey” through Vancouver Downtown –feasted your eyes at the luxurious life of THE CITY but also enjoyed the wonderful work of art that I saw… the architecture in the city and the beautiful weather and the amazing views!! Everywhere you go you see the Mountains loom behind every building—- I’m surrounded by heaven…  Is this Nirvana?

Tomorrow, Sunday will be a relax-day at home, I’m not going out at all, perhaps for some errands but nothing more than that – I have also created specific school-schedules for each of the children that will begin on Monday and will continue til Friday EVERY DAY! So now organisation is really coming along…

I love my life here!! I hope you have felt a little of the excitement I had today… it’s a little tough writing it sometimes because you feel so much….anyway, thank you for reading… haha, there will probably be more of these kind of intense and adventurous days so hang on…

For now – good evening or goodnight wherever you are in the world – Vancouver-time is evening around 6 p.m.

Love you all!

Vancouver-girl

Fly High – Fly Mighty!

Today I flew high… you know why? Keep reading…..

So – an ordinary Friday, I didn’t have to make dinner so instead I decided to arrange the basement a little –rearrange the furniture, hihi, I love doing that AND don’t worry –I have permission so I’m not making it all Elizabeth:an…that sounded cool! Well, anyway, after that I took a long warm shower, got ready, ate some lunch and wrote a little on my laptop…

After a while I decided to leave to fetch the children and I also managed to create a new hairdo… see:

WIE! :D I managed with the plait! :D What do you think?

Another pic :)

Well, time really flies by so I got ready and this time I could wear my spring jacket! I was so happy because for once the sun was shining and it wasn’t that cold at all! I enjoyed my walk to the school immensely…

Arriving at the school I met the children as usual – gave them their banana and then let them play for a while in the park because the weather was very good after all. Then Hannah wanted to go to 7-Eleven across the street so we all went there instead. Hannah was so kind that she bought some candy for Mary as well. I bought some kind of coffee and milk kind of drink. It was very good.

Before heading home I wanted to go and see the store next to 7-Eleven called MAGICBOX HOBBIES. Why? Because it seemed like something Jesper and Papa would have LOVED and NEVER left without buying something they need for their hobbies such as building either small model cars OR building replicas of post-war RAF planes. So I had to go in there to see and BOY did they have things to sell! I immediately felt a little sad that Papa couldn’t be here to buy all his things because there were so many various materials you could use such as cement for model cars, or paint for the details on either model cars etc but also the car models themselves were there – I hope you can see the pictures… I also took pictures of the ones with the planes… impressive – expensive though but which hobby is cheap right? In this case I mean…

Beef Jerk with A LOT of various flavours :D PAPA _ shall I send some? hihi :D miss you!

PAAAAPAA! :D YOu seeeeeeing this???

See this as well Papa?!!? :D

Jeeeeespeeeeeeer?!?! See thiiiis?!?! :D

And thiiiiiiis Jesper?!!? :D

Papa - next stop for you ? :D

When I was happy and content after seeing the shop we began our walk home. On the way I of course saw an Antique Store which looked so inviting that I had to step in… the girls in tow I stepped in and saw the most beautiful furniture and everything glittering in the wonderful light from the ceiling… We walked around, Hannah and I gaping at the beautiful crystals and the amazing jewellery with jade and various stones and gems. The gentleman who owned the shop smiled at us and we began talking. I smiled back and said what beautiful pieces of art he had because they were truly beautiful – the sensual kind of art that I love and also draw myself… alas, it was a little too expensive but it doesn’t hurt to look right?

I walked around and saw more of that exquisite art and the gentleman explained that they were an interesting piece of art because they were drawn from photographs in the 50’s… I gaped because what was so interesting was that the women in the picture were nude however they were a mixture between classical art and abstract – blue contours and a slightly green background… the gentleman was perhaps a little surprised by my way of interpreting art that he asked politely where I was from realising that I wasn’t from Vancouver and also confused because I had two sweet girls with me… I explained to him I was their new nanny from Sweden, long back relative to their father which was the reason how I got this special opportunity and adventure… he was mighty impressed and then began showing me a bookshelf with many old antique books and believe it or not they were SWEDISH! August Strindberg – Karin Boye – Gustav Fröding – Wilhelm Moberg , you name it!! ALL the Swedish classics! I was so surprise but happy of course, then he explained that this particular table in the middle of the room was also Swedish – apparently a Swedish family named Johansson I believe had once lived in Whistler and then donated their antique furniture to this shop… I was intrigued and the gentleman was so kind and polite and he hoped I would return again.. I said I would love to and ushered the children out so we would get home in time. It was such a wonderful experience and pleasure to meet such nice people!

On the way home we talked, laughed and flipped coins trying to win over each other – tons of fun!

At home I sat with Hannah for a while, gave her 20 words from her book to spell, corrected, then corrected Mary’s French dictée which is very important and then we began planning what we could do with our idea of Elizabeth’s Stars… I will tell you folks later about that when it’s on the move.. the plan I mean…. So stay tuned for more as usual!

After a while Alex came home, then she went to drop of Johnny as one of his friend’s house for a sleepover and Hannah, Mary and I were left at home, waiting for Mary’s sleepover friend Collette… later we all ate pizza, John came home and we all talked about everything.

Alex and I also talked about what young people should do at my age… we should travel, explore! Alex has had such an amazing youth. She told me that when she graduated from University she went to Japan Tokyo, lived there, explored, moved again and travelled like you wouldn’t believe – I was so amazed!! Alex is so cool!! How wonderful!

So now I have found a route by bus that I can take downtown and see what I can find… I am so interested in the Vancouver Art Gallery first of all – also the Museum of Anthropology… god – there are so many things I want to do!!! BUT – I have the time! First things first right?

Tomorrow John, Johnny, Hannah and I are probably going downtown on our bikes again – because John is curious to see what they are building for the Olympics. Today I also got my thoughts confirmed that John IS going to be a host at the Olympic Hockey in Vancouver and that his first shift begins on Monday!! HOW COOL ISN’T THAT?!?!?!? WOOOOW!! I am SOOOO in the right company here!! Haha – sooo happy!! SOOO excited!!

Well, now you’ve got the most of the news…. I am happy, content but most of all so at home! Everything is taking shape, routine, life, love, joy, experience but most of all my goal that I am reaching my goal to grow up – becoming more mature and also becoming the woman I have always wanted to be! What kind of woman? The Adventure Kind of Woman!

Bye and goodnight for now! See you soon!!!

Fly High – Spread Your Wings!

The Swedish Way….

Heeeey out there!

Hope you all had a wonderful week even though it’s not Friday yet in my case – it’s still Thursday BUT if you are from my country – Sweden, then it’s 5.23 in the morning and Friday! So… apart from those facts I just wanted to inform you that I am getting ideas for my room… ideas of how to decorate, make it more my style but also a classical style so that anyone can live in it.. it won’t scream Elizabeth – however, I must admit I do have a much classic style when it comes to colours and décor so in this case I’m not only doing it for me but perhaps for the next nanny to come? Who knows? Everyone in the house want to sleep in my room, haha.. cause it’s apparently the best room, haha. The Williams really are hilarious!

Well, about ideas… do you have any? Do you remember how my room looked like? If you do feel free to comment and suggest what I can do! I am more than happy to hear your views.

But for starters I will show you a picture of one of my ideas that will be hanging on the wall opposite my bed…. Ideas from IKEA of course.. AND with a little help from my friends (quote The Beatles) Hannah, Johnny and Mary, but mostly Hannah because she was the one who began suggesting after John was so kind to put up my mirror now that I had finally made up my mind where I wished to have it…

The result: PERFECTO!

Anyway, I don’t have much to write but just wanted to write some of my ideas.. we’ll see if they can be fulfilled, or not…

Here is a picture of us three, Hannah, Johnny and me lying on my bed and laughing and talking! :D I love these children!!

Wiiie! :D I look a bit crazy haha- but we had fun! :D

Bye for now and goodnight.

Ps. Here is also a picture from the IKEA homepage here in Richmond… the black hat-hanger is the one that gave me ideas… what do you think?

With black or white boxes on top? :) And hang my shirts and skirts and suits underneath? I don't know yet... what do you think?

A tisket – a tasket…

Hey there guys!

Sorry for keeping you waiting – been a bit busy with life itself here but now I am finally getting the hang of things. Yes, I know I have mentioned those words before but honestly? Get used to it.. haha, cause there will always be  new things I am not used to, always be new things I will adjust to, accept and just live with in this new world, new culture but the most exciting adventure of my life!

Everything is going great here and I am enjoying my life to the fullest – I can’t believe it sometimes while walking back from dropping the children off at school – seeing the sun just coming up when it’s a lovely day, seeing the huge mountains towering up behind the houses and seeing the beautiful pure white snow on the top and seeing the tips being coloured gold by the sun’s beams…. Doesn’t it sound magical? It’s magical to me… it’s magical to just BE here… I am such a lucky girl and by each day that passes by I realise how grateful I am to what life has given me… what an opportunity but most of all what a chance I have been given. Now it’s my responsibility but also way of showing gratitude to fate and destiny that I accept this adventure, embracing it with all my heart and learning from it everyday…!

Why I don’t write on the blog at some points , such as these is because there isn’t really anything THAT interesting to write about… life goes on right? People can’t read my blog everyday but most of all I can’t write everyday because of various chores and things I need to do BUT I promise you my dear readers that I WILL post new texts on my blog whenever I am experiencing something new and exciting… life here is exciting but the ordinary life is slowly emerging and that’s something I just can’t write about everyday because I will suck the fun out of the blog as well…. or? haha, what do you think?

I’m just letting you know about these things so that there won’t be a misunderstanding :)

This weekend I will not be doing much, taking it easy, unwinding as my Mother brilliantly puts it. :) So…. keep up on my blog of course. I’m a favorite on your Internet I hope! hihi….

Lots of love,

Vancouver-Girl