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Guest writers: Maria and Jöran

After Falsterbo and Skanör, we had booked a winter season on Gotland. This did not happen as I had an operation in Lidköping in November. We then decided to stay at Kronocamping in Lidköping. It was just as well to stay the winter season there as there would be return visits as well.

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Once we arrived in Lidköping and after looking out our place, the husband would drive the whole team Wolfie and caravan. We were asked after the last post if it is not difficult to manoeuvre this vehicle?

The husband, who has all the letters on his driving licence, finds this caravan easier than a petrol station hire car. He says that more mass, more inertia, is actually easier to control. So don't be afraid to back up with a caravan.

The husband is skilful

Well back to the caravan park. There were a couple of guys sitting in a caravan next to it and they looked around curiously. What they saw was a large caravan that just missed hitting the electricity pole and a lady walking and talking on the phone.

"Is she supposed to go there and talk on the phone?! Won't she help? Should he park it himself? He's good!"

We know this having become very good friends with our boys so they have told us this. What they didn't know, but found out when we had our first coffee together, was that the wife was talking on the phone ... to the husband! "Yes darling 2 cm more, no to the right ... so yes straight like that ... continue ... a little more right ..." etc. She was the live rear-view camera, so to speak. Guess we had a good laugh about it!

Kronocampingen is a very nice, well-managed campsite with a good location to Lake Vänern with swimming in the summer and walking distance to the centre. In winter, Lake Vänern froze over and you could walk a long way on it. Fine hiking trails and many excursions are in the immediate area.

If you are going to stand in winter, we can recommend storm lines as it could be very windy down by the water. Yes, this really applies to all places in autumn and winter that we have been to.

The operation in November went very well and it was nice to live close by. For those who wonder if it is possible to live in a caravan after major surgery, I can confirm that: Yes, it goes very well. You have everything in a caravan that you have in an apartment so no big difference.

December and Christmas with the families. Here we want to take the opportunity to recommend the restaurant at the campsite. Really good Christmas table!

January and time to decide on the next summer season. We longed for the sea and a little quieter. Torekov became it.

Torekov

Bjäre Peninsula and Kulla Peninsula - we just say WOW. the campsite was a bit more natural plots and very close to the sea. Spring was so lovely here! Then came the summer and a fully occupied campsite.

Once again we realised that we don't fit in on campsites. More searching for a plot or cottage. No bite. In addition to full summer time, this was wonderful nature. There were many hours down by the sea or walked along the beach to Torekov that summer.

If you like to play golf, there are several golf courses on the Bjäre Peninsula with wonderful views! Tennis in Båstad was also fun to see the jippo around. There are many nice excursion destinations both on the Bjäre Peninsula and the Kulla Peninsula so you are busy!

Brush houses

So it was approaching autumn and time to move the team. We bet on Borstahusen this time as we have been on our way there before. Really views of the sea, nice and well-kept campsite. Right next door is also Landskrona's golf course, which was named Sweden's best in 2018. I have to tell you that neither I nor my husband play golf, although you might think so in this post. But our children do!

Now we started thinking seriously about what to do with the summer season. Not another year on campsites! We looked on Hemnet for smaller cottages in the neighbourhood and went to some viewings but nothing felt right.

Have the parents gone mad?

It was November and the solution came. My mum and dad had seen a cottage online up in Västergötland. Maybe not what we imagined, but it was secluded. We would clearly have a perfect location for the children, grandchildren and parents. With a daughter who would probably soon have children, we felt that it would be more fun to have only 6 miles to go than 36.

This was Sunday morning. There was a viewing at lunch. They went to look and called again.

"You have to come and check!!!" "Of course we can go up tomorrow", we said as we sat in the caravan in Borstahusen and were about to have lunch. "No today!" "Hm, ok give us an hour to eat and pack plus four hours of travelling."

All said and done. We packed a small bag for a few days' overnight stay.

By the time we arrived, it had become dark. It was 18 o'clock. Dad was driving and Mum sat anxiously beside him, watching our reactions. We sat in the back seat and saw darkness, darkness, darkness. We went on a county road first, then a small village road, then an even smaller gravel road in the middle of the forest ... Hm, I had said when we moved to Skåne that we would never live in the forest again! There was only forest here.

So when you start wondering if your parents were really wise, a clearing opens up and a cute little red cottage lights up.

The heat from the fireplace inside was lovely! As we couldn't see much of the surroundings, we decided to come back in the morning the next day. There was a lot of talk that night: how do we do it?

The next day we got to see the forest and the cabin in daylight. It was really nice and cosy, yes both the cottage and the forest. It felt right! We take it! Those who lived there had already moved out to their new one so we could move in when we wanted.

Down to Landskrona and pack up your tent and caravan to move into the forest two weeks later.

Snip, snip cop

As you may have noticed from our stories, we're not much for going back and forth... Just go for it! But if it feels right, it usually is! We are also very lucky as a couple to be equal and think alike in the big questions.

Yes, so we ended up here and our alternative accommodation in terms of motorhome and caravan was over. Must say that it is nice to avoid moving every six months. Here we feel good. Small accommodation, garage for the husband, large plot, nature close by, kind neighbours km away. We will continue to travel but with a camping furnished Wolfie (and the caravan is now for SALE!).

As for tips in Skåne and other places we think are worth writing about, it will come gradually on our website. On our instagram, there will also be tips on smaller excursions we do.

We have no idea what will be in the next post. It's certainly exciting! Have a nice spring until then! /EMJis

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Jöran and Maria Selin

Jöran and Maria are the names behind the former blog Magnolia Magis. They sold the house and lived 3 years outside first in a motorhome then a caravan. Travelling mostly in Sweden and Europe. Today they have switched to a small cabin in the forest and a camping-equipped Land Rover Defender with which they hope for many nice trips.

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