The kids climbing together

2nd week in Italy

 For our second week we moved to a new cottage in Castelfiorentino, not far from Florence. Another very nice location in the hills and part of a vinyard with castle and all. We took day trips in our rental car to Florence and San Gimignano. The cottage had access to a shared pool just accross the small lane through the farm. This is where Nicholas learnt to swim on his own with arm floats.

This was the view from the front of the cottage out over the viyards of Tuscany, lovely!

1st week in Tuscany, Italy

 Our 1st week in Tuscany was in a cottage just outside a small village called Pietraiva. The place was great and had fantastic pool in the garden. Shared by just a few other appartments on the farm, we had it almost to our selves most days. Great day trips to Siena and other mountin villages.

It's been so cold this year, but the apparent end to frost has prompted me and Neela to plant some seeds, at last!

Tidy up Day at Nicholas's Playschool. He was a very involved lad

Caroline exhibits in Salem's library

Seeds planted. Easter weekend

Skiing with Liam 2017

Liams class theatre group photo

Liam skiing for the first time

I took Liam to a small ski hill called Flottsbro this week. Its only 15 min from Rönninge and its where Hannah and Emma learnt to ski. This was the first time he's been skiing properly and he did very well. I sort of expected him to do well as he has good balance and skates well. I spent a few hours teaching him the basics and pulling him back up a shallow beginners slope. He quickly got the hang of doing a snowplow and as he was fearless, soon wanted to try going further up the hill. In the end he managed the run down, putting in a few small turns and making the gates. He even tried the button lift and made it up first time. Looking forward to going again with him and next time I will take skis too and go up to the top with him.

A sunny winters day in January

The winter has bee quite on and off in terms of snow and cold this year. This was one of the weeks when we had snow and the place looks very picturesque. We have had lots of minus temperatures, but only a few that were very low. On night at -22 was cold and enough to freeze a water pipe to the wash room. Fortunately not badly and I was able to free it up in just 10 min. or so.

Wood cut and stacked for next year

Yes, cutting wood is good fun and essential when you have several open fires as we do. I have put more effort into it this year, to ensure we don't run out again. I cut a small birch down to add to the mix of wood in the stack.

Our new kitten Selma

This is our new little kitten who is called Selma. We bought her from a Syrian family in Kista and she has settled in very quickly. Even Charlie seems to be OK with her.

Our New Years Day BBQ in the woods

Christmas 2016