Back in England - now in Swedish

Sista dagen hos mormor, flickorna leker med puttekulor (marbles).
Jag antar att de flesta som läser den här bloggen nu är svenska, så jag ska sluta skämma ut mig med min kassa engelska. Fast det har varit ganska lärorikt att skiva på engelska, måste jag medge!
Liselotte och Elton, som hälsade på oss i fredags.
Olivia var väldigt skeptisk till en början, hon är ju försiktig av sig. En timme senare sprang hon runt hela fästningen med Elton i kopplet!
Snart Frillesåsbor! Det ser vi fram emot!

På flickornas rum. Olivia fick Vera att leka "kung och prinsessa". Vera verkar trivas i klänning, vilket är kul eftersom jag mest får höra tjat om mer mörkblått och mer spiderman.
Välling är gott ...
Efter en timme var det som att Vera hade bott här hela livet. Olivia var så glad över att se sina saker, sin tv, sin fåtölj, sin keps, allt.
Vera fösöker koppla musen till Ias Dora-dator.

Ikväll, framför barnprogrammen. Jag har beskurit bilden för att inte bli anklagad för barnpornografi. Vi har haft en lugn dag, med promenad och lek i trädgården. Olivia och pappa har också varit och badat på Nizels. I morgon börjar Ias skola igen. Det kommer att göra henne gott!

Vi var ju förresten beredda på krångel när vi kom till Heatrow i går - de har ju ifrågasatt oss när vi kommit med bara Olivia, på svenska pass och allting, och med tanke på hur svårt det var att få visum så förutsatte vi att det skulle bli ett jätteförhör här. Vi hade gjort upp en plan om att Mats skulle ta Olivia till ett cafe och jag skulle sitta med Vera och sköta förhören med immigrationsmyndigheten. Vi blev helt paffa när - en tjej i vår ålder, tack och lov! - sa välkomna, tittade igenom passen, stämplade och släppte förbi oss på mindre än en minut!!!! Hurra!

Time to go

We have packed all our stuff - a lot! - and tomorrow early we are off to Sevenoaks. We are all looking forward to go home, but I think we will miss Granny and Douglas a lot. They have been a big help and a part of the girls daily life for more than a month now.
The last two days have been very nice. Yesterday, Douglas joined us to the summer house as I had to clean out the winter, complete with mice left-behinds and dead spiders etcetera. Douglas thought he would have time to play the guitarr and listen to some good music, but Olivia kept him busy every minute. The weather was lovely how ever, and I think they all had a great time out doors ...
Today my friend Liselotte visited us. We got to know each other during the horrible IVF-period. Liselotte is also my mum's (Granny's) massage therapist and we regained contact last summer, when they discovered the connection. Liselotte and her husband Pierre awaits their first adoptive child from China. Hopefully they will go next winter - the wait continues to get longer and it's naturally very frustrating for them. On the bright side they have a new project; they have recently bought a house in Frillesås, so we hope to see a lot of them this summer!
Liselotte brought her dog, a four year old cocker spaniel named Elton. Olivia was sceptic in the beginning, but then wanted to leed Elton by herself when we took a stroll around the citadel (Fästningen).
The girls were of course excited when daddy returned this afternoon. We had a quick "after work" with champagne at a local bar, but Vera was very tired and needed yo go to bed (she was awake eight!!! times tonight, puh, sigh). And the taxi comes at six tomorrow morning.
Night night!

Friends from China

We went to see Bosse, Annelie and their daughter Wilma yesterday. Wilma (Lu-Lu) and Vera-Mei (Fan-Fan) were friends at the orphanage and we got the girls on the same day (along with seven other families). They live outside Falkenberg, not too far away from Varberg.
It was so nice to see them again. We spend the whole morning there, and Olivia and Vera said hello to the horses, hens, the dog and a cat. Olivia was thrilled and she wanted to go back today again.

Wilma calls Vera Fan-Fan, so they obviously know each other, but there was no special reaction when they met again. Well, it's important too meet anyway!
Wilma is a lovely little girl and she seems to have settled amazingly well in her new home. It is easier to notice the changes when you don't see the person every day, I guess.
Vera-Mei on one of the big trot horses (is that how you say it?).
Spring is here now, and the trees are getting green.
I love the wood anemones, and the girls enjoyed picking them.

In the afternoon when we were back in Varberg, the sun broke through and we went to the beach. The girls wanted to try the water. I thought it would be too cold for them to find it nice, but they both wanted to take a bath.

I said no, of course, I had no towel and it still is very cold, but they did their best to make themselves wet anyway.
Geggamoja!
Vera-Mei enjoyed herself so much she couldn't stop laughing. Until her mean mother told her to step out of the water after a while, of course.
The game continued for two hours while the trousers dried in the sun.
Okay, summer, come on, we're ready!

Today has also been a lovely day. We went to the driving range with Douglas in the morning, and after lunch and playing in the garden we went to the local hospital for Vera's lung x-ray - a part of the adopted childrens special check up. Tomorrow is the follow up with the doctor, by the way. I assume everything is fine, they would have called earlier otherwise, wouldn't they?
We then went to see the girls' granddad, my pappa Lasse. You can set the clock by watching him, because he always goes to the pub Harry's at 5 pm sharp - a very trustable routine. At the moment he's only having water - doctor's order, but he is counting the days and the restrictions will stop on the 2nd of May. The girls had fish fingers and chips (happy days for Olivia) for dinner there and they are now both fast asleep.
Tomorrow we are going to the summer house to prepare it for the summer and the guests who will rent it. Doctor's appointment is in the afternoon and in the evening Granny returns from her four days course in Malmö. On Friday Mats comes back and on Saturday - to Sevenoaks! It will be so nice to come home, but I am afraid I have got a little bit too used to the beach and the sea. Luckily, we will soon be home for holiday.

Photos

Olivia helps mummy baking a birthday cake. We were lucky yesterday, it was a cold, windy but still sunny day.
Today has been horrible. We went to the summer house to meet friends of our neighbours. They will rent the house for three weeks in June and July. I don't like it to be empty to much, it's like inviting burglars. The rain was pouring down at it was freezing cold. They still want to rent the place, so I guess the really like it!
In the afternoon, we said goodbye to Mats. He is back in Sevenoaks by now and will return here on Friday, after a trip to Stavanger. And on Saturday, we will all go back to Sevenoaks!
Olivia said today: Mummy, I like being at Granny's, but this is too long!
This was yesterday. Olivia helps uncle Simon planting a Lebanon Cypress (I think), his present for her.
Vera helped with watering.

Gunnar came to see us, and gave Vera a lot of soft tennis balls to play with.
Just imagine the first person who comes without a gift - she will hate him or her!
The older generation brought a lot of gifts, of course. Olivia and Vera-Mei had a great time.
Ready for summer!
We relaxed in the evening and enjoyed some good seafood.
Granny is going away with her job for a few days and will leave us all alone here. I suppose she will find it very relaxing ... but the girls and I will miss her a lot this week, and of course when we are back in Sevenoaks. On the other hand, summer is approaching and we will soon she her and Douglas again!

Birthday girls!

62 today! Happy birthday, Granny! The phone has been ringing all day.

And here is birthday girl number two: Vera-Mei!

Today, we went to see one of my oldest friends, Lisa. She and her partner Martin has build a beautiful house by the sea south of Gothenburg and this was the first time we visited the house. Oh, I too want to draw my own home!
The view (and wind) was breath taking. And I hope Lisa has a good window cleaner!
Lisa herself. We have known each other for about thirty years and know a lot of dark and embarrassing things about each other since we were teenagers. Lisa is nowadays a very respectable doctor at the hospital Sahlgrenska in Gothenburg. She is a heart surgeon and works mainly with transplantations. Both Olivia and I are very impressed. Vera-Mei was more impressed by Lisa's daughter Siri's toys.
Lisa is also a very good chef. The girls had pancakes. What else could you wish for on your birthday?

Olivia and Siri found each other very quickly and played nicely for hours. Vera-Mei managed to amuse herself most of the time without disturbing the big girls.
Oh, this is from yesterday when Oscar was our dinner guest. When he used to live in London he visited us almost every weekend. That's why Olivia still calls the guest room "Oscar's room".

Today again. Vera quickly developed a taste for opening presents. She has got gifts from Mummy and Daddy, Granny, and Granpa, and mr Postman also delivered a few. Krika, thanks for the pretty dress! It was so thoughtful of you to send the receipt. I will probably change the dress to a smaller size.
Granny gave her a Barbie doll and she likes it! Olivia, of course, just sniffed at it.
But Olivia has been a happy girl most of the day, anyway, as she has also received presents.
Most appreciated today was the card from all Olivia's (and soon Vera's) friends in Sevenoaks. It was so beautifully made, with photos of them all, and I was so moved the tears almost came. Thanks! See you soon! Our tickets are booked and we are going next Saturday!!!

More photos

Mats and I have been around the world, but we have never tasted any fish or shellfish nearly as good as what you find on Swedens west coast.
Vera-Mei plays in the garden. She has to be supervised every second, as she is now very quick and sometimes just runs away if she sees something interesting. Olivia has always been hanging around me ... but I have to get used to this. Putting Vera down in a shop, for example, is impossible. Keeping her happy in the buggy is equally impossible.
Granny gave Olivia a new bike as an early birthday present. Uncle Simon helps her practising the skills without stabilazors. She hasn't cracked it yet.
The girls in the sand pit at Södra fästningshörnan yesterday. My friend and colluege Eva came to visit us and we had a lovely day, though the wind was cold - this place is always on the lee side.
I think Eva was quite exhausted when she left ... her children are teenagers so she is not used to the pace.

Later tonight Mats will arrive, and spend a long weekend with us. The girls will be so happy to see him again!

Photos

At my friend Cilla's house Wednesday morning. We played for a little while outside.

Cilla herself ...
... before we went in and had some fruit. Cilla's children are Andrea and Filip.
Vera-Mei tries her new potty.

And Olivia tries her new helmet and child seat.
Today it has been almost like summer. We started the day with a tour by the sea down to a hotel at Apelviken and had some coffee. Olivia and Granny went by bike.
Varberg with the harbour and fortress and castle.
And Vera and I had a walk.
Leon and Gideon came and played this afternoon.

Yes! we'll get the visa!

Just a short message: Today I got a phone call from the British Embassy in Stockholm. They say Vera-Mei will get the visa! Yes!!! Yesterday everything seemed very negative, they sent all our documentation to a special unit in London for "further consideration" and we thought we would never get it. But, yes, yes yes! We have already booked tickets, on the 28th of April. Vera-Mei has an appointment with the doctor first, it's a mandatory follow up after the adoptive children's check up.
I will write more tomorrow and also post some photos from the last few days. We have seen friends, been to the playgroup and enjoyed the beautiful weather. This afternoon was so lovely. We met my aunt Pia and spent a couple of wonderful hours at the seaside. It was just like summer, with sunshine and the calm ocean glittering. There were even sailing boats out!
And, yes, yesterday Olivia and I went to a circus. Olivia found it very exciting, but missed about half of the performance as she fell in love with a boy next to us. The two of the wispered, exchanged sweets and giggled together through the first half. The second half was a bit more scary, so she found a safer place on my lap. And, Charlotte, not to worry, today she is asking about Sam again. She is so happy we'll soon go back to Sevenoaks, she misses her school, her friends, her house, everything. Borta bra, men hemma bäst! She asks me everyday if we can go tomorrow, then. I'm glad I can give her sort of a perspective. It makes the wait easier, ask me, It feels like I haven't done much more than waiting the last six or seven years.
Enough about that. A Bond movie starts in five minutes. Time to get ready!

Look, she's talking!

A short summary of Vera-Mei's progress in our family!
Vera has been with us for four weeks and she becomes more and more lovely every day. She is very sociable and cheerful, but also likes to play by herself and seems to think a lot. She loves the playground, the swings, the slide and the sand pit. She talks all day long. Still, most is impossible to understand, but it's clear she copies us and for an untrained ear it would sound as baby Swedish.
She now says
Hej (Hello)
Bye-bye
Hejdå (Good bye)
Upp (Up)
Där (There)
Titta (Look)
Bil (Car)
Mamma (Mummy)
Pappa (Daddy)
Lampa (Lamp)
Good girl
and she puts words together:
Titta-på-där (Look-at-there)
Titta-på-det (Look-at-that)
Bil där (Car there)
She understands a lot and nods or shakes her head to answer. I thought she would say "No" or "Nej" by now, but in a way it's nice not having to hear it yet ... She is happy all day long and falls alseep within a coulpe of minutes (angrily crying) - no nap made the whole difference.
The night sleep is getting better and better, and she hasn't had a night terror in one week. A relief! Her appetite is still good but she is starting to get a little picky, naturally, as she is two.
She shows much interest in the loo and has let us know she wants to use a potty. So we bought her one today and she was so happy! She undressed and walked around with the potty for hours. Olivia of course wanted to do the same, so we had to naked girls here before bedtime. Then, Vera wanted to try Olivia's nickers, and of course she forgot this wasn't a nappy and finished the day with making herself wet. Oh, well, it doesn't matter!