My Birthday present from Emma

So at 50 years of age, there are some things you can do for fun on your Birthday. Knowing this, Emma made a good choice and got me something that pampered to one of my interests, cars. She got me a driving experience ticket to take a little sports car out for a quick spin. Naturally as she is a student with a related budget, she chose the introduction option which was designed to provide a short but exhilarating taste of shear driving fun. This was to take the shape of a quick spin in a Lamborghini Gallardo LP 570-4 Spyder Performante, the open-top version of the Superleggera.

The one I drove was one of just 2 existing in Sweden. When sitting comfortably in the Lamborghini, I asked the instructor, if there was any policy on speed, he simply replied “its your driving licence”. The Performance of the Gallardo is simply stunning. The V10 power unit with a displacement of 5.2 liters generates 570hp. It catapults you and the open-top Gallardo from 0 to 100km/h in a mere 3.9 seconds and keeps on going to a top speed of 324km/h. Being an open-top, the engine and exhaust noise as you rev the engine, which goes to 8500 rpm, is simply fantastic. Its hard to stop yourself from slowing down on a straight bit of road simply to be able to speed up again and hear that roar all over again.

Thanks Emma, even though the drive was short, the experience was fantastic, and despite touching around 250 km/h on the motorway, I still have my driving licence.

Sunny times!

After spending most of the month of May at home due to chicken pox, we are really enjoying getting out and about again. The weather has been fantastic for over a week now and we've had quite a few picnics already. We even managed to get the bikes out of the garage and Neela had her first ride in the trailer, sitting next to Liam.

Neela seven months

Liam is developping a creative streak

Some serious painting

and some serious fixing.

Finally, spring is here!

With an amazing 17°C today, it finally feels like spring has come! You people from Germany and England won't believe it, but eventually even we have some crocuses out in the garden :)

It's just wonderful after this loooong winter and Liam enjoys digging in the sand again, which was covered in ice and snow for such a long time.

Liam making tea in the garden.

In the little garden play house.

Preparing the balcony.

Liam and his friend Tim.

Neela with Lisa, Tim's little sister.

Neela, almost six months!

Liam and Neela, April 2011

So much fun!

Dr Liam on duty.

Happy!

Liam the builder.

5th to 19th March in Germany

We spent 2 weeks in Germany during March, one week in Cologne and one at Caroline’s mum’s house near Stuttgart. In Cologne we stayed with Til and Chris and they had their 25th wedding anniversary party. It was also carnival week and Liam had his first chance to see a street procession. Caroline’s mum had a birthday party too while we were staying with her, so we also got to see Florian and his girlfriend. Here are some pictures from the trip.

First bath with big brother

I love baking, and I love baking bread. Especially if it turns out as good looking as this one:

First day of 2011

There was a lot of new snow coming down on New Year's Eve. So the perfect pastime for the first day of 2011 seemed to be making a big snowman in the garden.

Happy New Year to all of you!

Neela & Liam with their friends on New Years Eve

Visit Junibacken

Liam and I went to Junibacken, the indoor theme park based on Astrid Lindgrens books on Pippi Longstocking. We went together with Aaron and his two children.

Pippi in the show