Midsummer Eve in Sweden

This day is a national holiday and you can find the traditional maypole everywhere you go. It is decorated, carried in procession and erected by brute force, ropes and good teamwork. Then comes the ring dancing and singing and holiday fun!

Even on this wet and windy Midsummer I spotted this elderly lady in her garden 'out gathering the seven species of wild flowers to lay under her pillow for a future husband to appear in a dream.' 

The community on Ingmarso island have invented a great tradition of their own. After the dancing, everyone processes down to the pontoon to greet the 4.30 ferry from the mainland. 

This commemorates the time when wives and children spent the 3 summer  months on the island and fathers came out for the Midsummer Eve. Someone said that it was essential to meet the dads to help carry them home after a heavy drinking session on the ferry! Nowadays the ferry captain joins in with the spirit of the event as you can see from this clip - it's rather long but great fun.

Stockholm Archipelago

My few holiday snaps cannot do justice to the experience of sailing and holidaying in the mass of islands laying just outside the Stockholm conurbation so have a quick peep here and here before you scroll!

The island of Ingmarso is a classic example of island holiday life:

Sump Hamn

The chill-out spot after the sauna (on the right)

A sweet swimming spot

My Swedish colour palette

An Unexpected Find

Catholic churches are rather thin on the ground in Sweden but we found one in the nearby town of Akersberga, along with a gym, pool, art gallery and  library. During the years of Mass attendance with Paul, I have taken an interest in the art work of the Stations of the Cross (more on these here.) The images appear in a huge variety of styles and materials and sadly, I have kept no real record of the many I have seen. I must own to a ‘soft spot’ for Station VI, where Veronica hands a cloth for Jesus to use. This seems a most humane yet practical gesture- in the midst of the cruelty and horror of the Via Dolorosa. 

This image has to be one of the most moving I have seen – as Veronica turns directly to face us with her despair.

The Ever Practical Swedes - Self Help Refreshments

During the busy period of boat set-up, a local take-away kiosk was a God-send. The Swedes make it so easy to get a cuppa.  Everything you need is right there!

Preparing Starship Sirius for Summer 2015 Stockholm Archipelago

Starship Sirius  endured the Swedish winter propped up in Svinninge Marina compound, The first job on arrival is to remove the poles and winter cover and make the interior ship-shape. We hold our breath when re-starting all the systems in the hope that  Paul's winterisation schedule back in September 2014 had drained the boat of every drop of water. As this includes all liquids, we are unable to toast his success immediately - it's a dry ship till the work is done!

Next up, a huge contraption lifts her up and pops her in the water.