Christmas came and went, and here at home it's been pretty quiet. After an intense autumn, we finally feel like we've got some time to spare - both to tackle things that need doing and to unwind. Happy Friday!
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A simple Christmas celebration
The whole of December has been a "cooking race" in our house. Cooking is a hobby for Peter and if he has a lot of work at the computer, he likes to take a break by standing in the kitchen for a while (or a few hours rather!). Every day, he has new plans in the kitchen - and sometimes the creations have to be photographed and filmed. For example, there was a massive post with recipes for luxury starters, and there will also be films on our YouTube channel.
We didn't have time to prepare the Christmas food in the same way, so we "cheated" a bit by buying a lot of things ready-made. Our Christmas celebrations have been quite simple this year. We met some relatives and friends before and after Christmas Eve, and then we organised a simple Christmas lunch at home, just the two of us. It's been nice not to have to stress about all the preparations for Christmas!
Finally, some time to spare...
This autumn, everything has come together, and we've barely had time to breathe or think. It's only now that we've got some time to spare. We are still busy with travel agency planning of course, but we've also had time to do a few other things, like ordering business cards, sorting through storage and all sorts of other things.
Time to spare also means that I (Helena) have had time to read blogs more than in a long time, which is a nice chore. And we have had time to watch TV series! First we followed Yellowstone (HBO Max) and then we watched Rome (HBO Max). We liked both! I don't know about the rest of you, but we tend to subscribe to one TV channel at a time. We like to watch shows on different channels, but we try to stick to paying for only one channel at a time.
Best this week
The best part of this week? It's probably that we've had some peace and quiet, both to get things done and to be able to relax with luxurious things like good food, TV series and blog reading. Your turn ... what has been the best part of your week?
The week ahead
We will continue to hang out in Stockholm and in the houseboat during the week, while we load for New Year's celebrations. Here at FREEDOMtravel, we'll be reporting on food (both Swedish and more exotic), houseboat life and a slightly different cruise (guest writer). Hope you'll join us! Now we wish you a nice Friday and weekend!
Did you miss the last Happy Friday? Read the Christmas is coming (and houseboating in stormy weather)
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Turkish and Egyptian inspo - and winter in the marina
Stockholm hangout, campervan trip and non-alcoholic beer
Meetings, fair and new travel plans again
Winter, weekdays and local adventures
Concert, dinner at home ... and remodelling in progress!
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Fun in Nature says:
We usually do as you do, one streaming service at a time, Now we actually took TV4play plus service it without advertising and often with programmes and series episodes released in "binge". It probably feels difficult to cancel, because avoiding advertising in films and series is liberating.
27 December 2024 - 9:02
Helena says:
Agree that it's nice not to have adverts in films. Now lately we have had adverts, and I get just as annoyed every time ... 😉
27 December 2024 - 12:28
bmlars travelling companion says:
We understand that you are enjoying a few weeks at home to catch up with yourselves, take care of must-do's but also relax, read blogs, watch TV series etc. Here, the best part of the week has probably been our quiet unpretentious Christmas holidays and trying to tackle better eating habits and walking after the weeks in Namibia with lots of good food and cold beer that tasted delicious in the 40-degree heat ... (but which was visible on the scale and around the waist).
Have a great time over the festive period.
27 December 2024 - 10:16
Helena says:
Cheers to those of you who are getting to grips with new good habits! We would also have to do that! There will be some walks in any case, not least because we lack light in the winter months so we often need to get here and there on foot ... 😉
27 December 2024 - 12:29
Hanna's crib says:
Smart to vary which channels you subscribe to. We have both netflix, disney+ and viaplay.
27 December 2024 - 11:08
Helena says:
Yes, it works pretty well. You usually do not have to commit, but can pay a few months at a time and then switch ... 😉
27 December 2024 - 12:30
Hanna's crib says:
Did my comment appear. Seemed like it just disappeared.
27 December 2024 - 11:09
Helena says:
I have to approve all comments before they appear, but they will! Thanks for your comment!
27 December 2024 - 12:31
BP says:
It's quite nice to take it easy - sometimes!
I'm glad you've started reading blogs again, which has actually resulted in you getting more comments on your blog... Because comments are actually important, I think.
I thought that business cards were completely out there except for lawyers, but I must have been wrong;-)
27 December 2024 - 18:50
Helena says:
Yes comments are nice, so yes, I agree! It is possible that business cards are "out" what do I know, but they tend to be used a lot at fairs and stuff. A few people send "digital business cards" to the phone, but I find it tricky, don't really know how to keep track of the digital business cards after I get them ...
28 December 2024 - 7:48
Anna in Portugal says:
Great that you were able to land and have time for other things than work. Nice to make a simple Christmas when life is spinning on. Oh dill stewed potatoes were so long since I ate, really good! Have just eaten leftovers of the engraved salmon, with avocado on a nut bread. What also good. Have a nice Friday night. The best thing this week has been our visit from good friends.
27 December 2024 - 19:13
Helena says:
Dill stewed potatoes are incredibly delicious! The classic is rimmed salmon, but it can be a little difficult to get hold of, but the man in the fish counter recommended us to try with engraved salmon, preferably in pieces, and it worked great! Engraved salmon with avocado on nut bread also sounds super good!
28 December 2024 - 7:50
Orsakulla mum at 20 - Dala life, fine china & poodle life says:
Sounds wise to buy, you can still do what you want and that thing about always cooking from scratch can actually "cost" more than it tastes.
27 December 2024 - 21:22
Helena says:
Sometimes it's convenient! And it's true, not always cheap to cook from scratch either, depends a bit on what it is and how much to make ...
28 December 2024 - 7:51
JoY says:
Isn't it nice to just be and take it easy? We have had a quiet weekend as we wished together with my mother. By the way, made meatballs according to Peter's recipe + a little cucumber paste, very good.
Have a good weekend.
27 December 2024 - 22:49
Helena says:
I'm glad you tried meatballs with Peter's recipe! The cucumber paste sounds like an interesting and flavourful ingredient!
28 December 2024 - 7:52
Madde says:
we have also let go of the Christmas rush when it comes to food. I hardly like Christmas food anymore. The gravlax with dill stewed potatoes. How good it looked. Yum.
28 December 2024 - 6:05
Helena says:
Of course you can get tired of Christmas food! It's best if you can customise it to your liking 😉
28 December 2024 - 7:53
The Adventure of the Future says:
Breathing space is needed now and then.
I'm happy to follow you and all the recipes, I like to cook..and inspiration for other types of recipes than my own is always good.
Good continuation in a double sense
28 December 2024 - 14:56
Helena says:
Thanks for your nice comment! Wish you also good continuation!
28 December 2024 - 18:55