Festivities and other hurdles to tackle

As we swang into the last month of 2012 we know we are going to have a very busy agenda.
To kick it all off Annalenas class had drama at school and all by themselves they came up with a play. Of course this had to be performed in front a "sold out" house filled with parents and other familymembers. Annalena herself was a cat, probably because she had a cat costume at home.
We had an evening filled with laughter, as the play unfolded. Not that there was any real "red line" or story in it. But I think it was great that they did it all by themselves, the characters, the story and how to  put it all together and of course perform in front of a crowd, twice. Of course they had help from their drama teacher but nonetheless a big thumbs up for them.
Two days later I went to get the newspaper, and what a nice surprise. My daughter on the front page and another big article inside the paper as well......


The PaperPicture

And our own one

After this great event, another suprising event. Ron got a phonecall from a teacher from the SFI course we wanted to attend. Off course we had a meeting with them before and had done a writing test, but never got an answer as to wether we should take the course or not.
Now they wanted us to take the exam for the highest level of the course, without ever having atended class.
We thought we might as well give it a try.
So we did, on december 11th we went to the Dahlander Gymnasiet in Säter and sat amongst 14 other people, almost all of them from african origin. Really felt a bit like an outsider there. The exam had 4 sections, reading, hearing, writing and speaking. The speakingexam we did not have to take, they said, they had already heard enough of that with the first meeting. So we were left with the other 3. Both Ron and I were ready  in no time with the reading part, but of course we didn't want to stand out too much, so we tried to stay put and sit it out, but ist's hard when you know you're going to have to wait for more then an hour. Eventually I got up and went, Ron soon followed, and we got ourselves a cup of coffe at the little cafe downstairs. The hearing section was peanuts as well and so we went to the last bit, The writing. This was the "hardest" part, because that is what we do least. We had to write two articles and had an hour and a half to do that. After half an hour I was ready and done, so I got up. My neighbour thought I had forgotten the second one, and looked a bit silly when I explained I was ready with the both of them. Ron followed, again, soon after. Then we waited, not knowing what was next. Finally I saw the teacher and asked. She explained it was save to go home for us, didn't have to stay and wait. She could already tell that Ron had only one mistake in the first two sections, and I had none. And there we had taken a writing test before, she was pretty sure that was quite allright as well.
Happy we went home, a little proud of ourselves that we did it, without classes or help, all by ourselves.
After a week we got our certificate. We both had a B.
Hopefully now we can apply for the SAS course (Svensk som andra språk).

Meanwhile, it being the december month with its festivities, both Ron and I had to work a lot more hours then we normally do. Due to sickness of a few of our colleges and  an awfull lot of people who want to have a spottless house when they start decorating for christmas. Off course these hours where welcome, it means, after all, money in the bank.
Especially since we got a  little less fortunate message from our employer that Ron would pretty much be without a job from the beginning of January. He will remain on the payrol as a substitute, but he lost all his own clients. So the jobhunt ,if it ever stopped, is back on again. We have set our hopes on a new to build and open IKEA store in Borlänge. As Ron has 10 years of experience working at IKEA in the Netherlands, this is the best option. Furthermore we got a few very good tips of ceveral people, about where we can get help in these matters. We just keep our fingers crossed and hope for the best. In the mean time we try to make ends meet as good as possible.

Of course december is also the month of the Christmas Fairs. So like last year I had booked a table on two of these fairs.  One in Skäve and the other one I was actually asked if I wanted to come with my Angels, this was at the Hönsgården in Nordansjö. Both were very chilly events, standing in a barn with a lot of holes in the walls. It was actually colder inside the barn then it was outside, and outside it was really freezing. The tea was freezing in the cup.

My little table in Nordansjö
 

Poor Annalena was really freezing her toes of. Luckily there was a place where she could warm up, so occasionally I sent her away to do just that. But it went well in terms of business. It helps when all the other sellers go home, because they think it is to cold. It was kind of funny that in the end there was no swedish seller left, only a German woman from kryddan i tillvaron , a woman from Rumania selling breads and this crazy Dutch woman. we had a good time the three of us, making the best of it all.
All in all I can say that it was a succes for me, aspecially considering the fact that a few days later I got an order for a pair of angels, thanks to the German Ulrike , who showed a picture of them to one of her own customers and gave the woman my telephonenumber. Thank you for that Ulrike, it's much appreciated.

As the month proceeds our children began to stir and act a little nervous. We knew they had a few secret meetings with grandma before and among themselves and that they were planning something special, but we had no idea what it would actually be.
It all had to do with our 20 wedding anniversary, that much we did know.
So the day came, december 22th, early in the morning we heard noises in the kitchen. Not knowing if we were supposed to get up or stay in bed, Ron got out to to fire up the heating, but was swiftly directed back to bed. we were served a 3 course breakfast, starting with a fried egg, followed by a bowl of managryn (semolina, griesmeelpap) and finally a big bowl of fruit. Egg and mannagryn baked/cooked by Sven and the fruit cut by Annalena and served by Elsa. What a wonderfull way to start a day.
But that was not all. They had invited my parents for fika and arranged a little present lottery, all gifts made by themselves. And the cake and cookies for the fika they bought from their own pocketmoney, secretly while they were at the daycare (fritids). In the summer they had done various chores while my parents were back to the Netherlands for a while. They earned money for doing these chores, and with that money they send my mother out to buy a nice bouquet of flowers.
And finally for dinner Sven made pizza for the whole family.
We had a great day and think we have a bunch of awesome kids, putting so much time and effort in making it all work.

Best presents ever!

 

Of course the house had to be prepared for christmas as well. Instead of getting a tree out of the woods, I bought one. Of course our children wanted to help and so they did.....

It turned out to be a very nice christmastree, if I may say so.
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Christmas shopping was not such a great ordeal as I thougth it would be, so on christmas morning there were presents for all of us under the tree, even some made by a special Santa, one that goes by the name of Sven.

Enchanting Christmasmorning
 

This christmas was a one of a kind for us. First time in our own home, just our little family. Good food, not in excessive quantities. The same goes for the presents. And just enjoying eachothers company. And of course it was al completed by a lovely snowfall starting Christmas Eve. Exactly as it should be.

Since it is real winterweather, Ron thought it might be a good idea to try some skiïng, something he had never done before. Nor have I for that matter. Since there came two pair of skis with the house and we soon found a matching pair of sticks, it was only a matter of going out and try. A little awkward it looked, but I must say, he did well. He only fell down once and that was because his shoe came loose from the strapping. No broken legs, arms or other injured bodyparts.

 

Just to give an idea of the great whiteness.
 

All this is soon followed by New Years Eve. we were a tat bit curious. How is that going to be so farout in the country side. The kids went to bed, and we had to wake them up around 23.00. This way they had enough time really wake before all hell was going to break loose or whatever was going to happen. I had some special champagne in stock for them. Ron and I just watched our last Harry Potter movie.( Between Christmas and New Year we watched the whole lot of them actually).

Then the clock struck 12, we toasted on the new year and waited..............Silence. After about 5 minutes we saw something that looked like Fireworks in the air, and here and there you could hear a thunder roling through the valley. We had our own little "Firework". I bought a coouple of those Ricepaper Balloons for the kids. So we went out and tried to get them in the air........and what a succes it was.......NOT.
The first one set itself on fire, and the other two, well...... they got airborne, but only to end up in the tree standing in front of our house.
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If this is an omen for the year to come, we better go in hiding

After this little sparkling adventure we just went inside. Then I saw our neighbour, standing with her horses. So me and my girls went out to wish her a Happy New Year and keep her and her horses a little company in the dark night. It was much appreciated.
But it being cold and two girls in pyjamas getting a little cold, we went inside and a little later the lights went out, for all of us.

And now we find ourselves in the year 2013, wondering what it's going to bring us. Happiness I hope.