I like to call my father “Daddy Jon”. Mum is simply “Mum”, Nan is “Nan”, and Mormor is “Mormor”. Of course, Dad and Mum think this is very cute, and at the same time perplexing. I wonder what other nicknames I can come up with that’ll have them guessing?
Category Archives: Freya
A Weekend Of Fine Arts And Finer Tubers
The problem with playing a newly-purchased game (Lord of the Rings: The Third Age, since you ask) is that I have little time to think about, and no time to write, this blog. This weekend, however, has been an eventful one for Freya, and so I need not delve deep to find something to screeve.
Three nights ago we forgot to put a nappy on Freya when she went to bed. For a fair few months now we have not been mentioning a night nappy to Freya (and will only give her one if she specifically asks), waiting, instead, until she was asleep before furnishing her with a nappy.
We actually forgot three nights ago, and it was only when the morning came that we realised what had happened, and at the same time realised the bed was dry. Since then (being a mere two nights) she has remained dry, which makes us (though not the manufacturers of nappies) very glad.
Yesterday we went to a hotel to eat a free brunch, something that came about through Jo’s work. Freya was given a couple of balloon flowers (they kept popping, which may have been due to the friction on the floor – I have no idea), and some new paints and glitter glue from Maria. The lunch itself was average for vegans, but the potatoes they served were fantastic, and Jo and I stuffed ourselves to get our money’s worth.
This weekend has also seen a general tidying-up, sorting out, and making Freya’s room more space effective. This has led to her having access to paints and recently bought felt tips (something that has been strictly supervised, due to possible unwanted redecorating), and she also received today some of my pearl-beads. She always loves playing with them when she gets the opportunity, and so having her own, in an accessible place, must be heaven for her. As soon as she got them she played “pizza” and “soup” with them.
Finally, today, we went to the cinema with her for the first time. We got free tickets from our neighbours (with whom we have become relatively friendly with, to the point where they are welcome to borrow our car when they want), and decided to see Laban, which lasted only forty minutes. Freya enjoyed it all immensely, especially the popcorn, and could have continued watching, but I think this was a good test of her will and concentration.
I Suppose You Had To Be There
This evening, when Jo was taking Freya to bed, our daughter came up with an unintentional classic: she told Jo to wait because she was going to fetch something, stuck her finger up her nose and pulled out a bogey.
Saint Lucia Day (The First In A Series)
Today is a special day here in Sweden: St Lucia’s Day, the celebration of the beginning (along with Advent) of the Christmas season. In almost every school around the country, children clothe themselves accordingly, wear fake candles on their heads, and sing Santa Claus songs. Today was Freya’s first school Lucia Day.
Needless to say, many proud and excited parents turned up with more technology in their hands than the C.I.A. have at their disposal, to record this special moment in every parent’s child’s life, and we were not to let the side down.
It was a heart-warming occasion, with the added bonus of an available CD purchase of the children practising the songs at an earlier date. The quality is moot, though the sentiment very much appreciated.
Despite Freya being ill, she managed to sing along to the songs as best she could. Even a few hand movements were spotted, though in her weakened state (and, perhaps, with the presence of so many people peering) she did not give it her best effort. We have seen here singing the songs at home, where she was both vociferous and whatever the word is for using lots of hand movements.
We left after Freya wanted to see the on-site Santa. She refused to go in the room to get her present, but she was happy to watch from afar. Santa asked me if I was a good dad, and I replied that I thought I was; he should, of all, people, know, so the question was a purely social one.
Days, Weeks, Christmas And Swimming, By Freya
This idea of time is a strange thing that takes getting used to. I know there are days when neither I go to school nor Mum and Dad, to work, and I’ve just started using the word “yesterday” in the correct context. There is one day, however, I am more aware of than others: Mondays.
Mondays are, as everyone knows (don’t they?), when we go swimming. For some odd reason I’m offered badges now and again, for doing a few things for my swimming-instructor, Mia. I have no complaints about this, but isn’t it like giving me sweets for eating all my buns?
Today I needed to jump into the swimming-pool three times (why always three?), each time turning around under water and making my way back to the safety of the edge by whatever means necessary; this activity had to be performed without the aid of Mum or Dad.
Anyway, I made my parents very happy and proud by doing what was required of me, and came away with a shiny Blue Crab badge. I do not personally see what a crab has to do with jumping and stuff, though my knowledge of crabs is reasonably limited, blue crabs more so.
I think I shall suggest pinning my ever-growing number of badges on a nice piece of framed padded-velvet or something similar, when I know how to articulate such a request.