Last Saturday we gave our first party in Sweden. I mention this not because it was particularly funny, strange or abnormal that we should have a party, (although only one in a whole year...), but because of the gifts.
Having said that, I should qualify it by saying it wasn’t particularly funny, strange or abnormal for us, however, as my 104yr old grandmother said “it wasn’t Swedish at all (pause), I had a good time though” (bless, It must have been a good party. This from the woman who thought it a shame that bananas couldn’t grow in Sweden as they would taste better.). Incidentally, she bought a gift of home baked biscuits.
It was a combined housewarming/1 year in Sweden anniversary/oooh look, we’ve just had summer/hey, what the hell party, so we were expecting a certain amount of flowers, which is the traditional housewarming gift and this is the traditional country. Naturally the people we invited were all totally lovely, so we thought the standard of flowers would be quite good. Well, what can I say and there were others too!
1) Flowers: Horsenden Hill Allotment and Garden Association eat your heart out. The dahlias and other assorted garden flowers would have walked the first prizes at the shows, no worries.
2) Book (oh yes....) “things to do in Sweden” book – inspired, given the number of visitors we have got (booking for next year opening in January)
3) Home- made squashes – these have to be tasted to be believed. A home-made squash is truly awesome and I have estimated that I need 10 hectares of berry bushes to keep me in squash for the year. One of the bottles contains a blackcurrant concoction that is made to the receipt devised by my great-great cousin – get that!!! The tea jar can come under here as I may appropriate it for biscuits. It makes sense honestly!
4) Home-made/local produce jams – including a blueberry jam where the berries had been picked that morning and was still warm. And lime curd from England!
5) A huge chunk of moose meat – from the local forest. Can’t wait to cook it and have the red wine (see no 10) with it.
6) Several orchids and other houseplants, including several chrysanths with a bowl to pot up for the porch.
7) Home-made crisp bread – I can’t make crispbread until the maker of these dies, cos I just can’t compete.
8) Cakes – oh the cakes..... I will give the red currant cake receipt in a future blog. It is really rather nice. Haven’t eaten the chocolate or coconut one yet, but I will, oh yes, I will. (oh and Graham might get some too)
9) Cash – someone gave us something to get something for the home, which was incredibly sensible as they would have had no idea of our taste and it turns out to be totally different.
10) Wine – this was the second main difference with London parties. We got 2 bottles of wine. Yes, that’s right, two. Whereas normally you’d have more than you started with (approx 40 for a party of 3 people), here there are rather a lot of rabid teetotallers, so we had to discreet with the wine and people who did drink were very restrained. We did have one English chap to the party and he drank, so that was OK. (no national stereotypes there then).
11) Choccies – what can I say? The drug of choice.
So, great neighbours, lovely people, great food. What more could you ask? Another party!!!!! yeahhhh
