Today, night and day are in perfect balance. It is only twice a year that day and night become equal in length. From now until the summer solstice, the daylight hours will be increasingly longer than the night.

So at last, it is the Vernal Equinox (March 20th 12:33). The Council of Nice (Nicaea) decreed in 325 AD that “Easter was to fall upon the first Sunday after the first full moon on or after the Vernal Equinox”, so that is why we are to have an early easter this year.

While the snow is still lying around and ice covers most of the ground, there are sure signs that spring is here. The first cranes have returned to Lake Hornborga in western Sweden and the first new potatoes have gone on sale in Helsingborg (for the ridiculous price of 500kr a kilo).

We spent the weekend at the southern Stockholm suburb of Tyresö with Bosse and Ann. It was a relaxing time filled with talking, laughing, good food, wine, more talking and laughing - in other words a perfect time for all of us. We first went to their boat club to see where Tintomara II lives (I can't possibly say "the boat" when Boose and Lars-Göran are around, I have to refer to them by name). Ann had prepared tea, coffee and cake to share and we sat outside in the sunshine to enjoy it.



Lambi did her very best impersonation of the poor, small, vulnerable, starving totally neglected dog and Ann responded to it by scooping her up and snuggling her inside her jacket, wrapping her scarf around her to keep her warm and cosy. What a con artist! She wanted to be near Ann only because Ann was closest to the food.



I like the smug look Lambi has on her face. Then the boys went off to study the work in progress on Bosse's boat, while Ann, Lambi and I chose the sensible option of warmth and comfort of the club house. After an hour or so, we roused them from their study of pipes, screws and pieces of wood and went around to see the nearby palace and church. It was a glorious, sunny day and the church looked beautiful through the trees.



The curch, constructed of bricks was built along with the palace from 1638-1640 by the wealthy and influential Gabriel Oxenstierna as a family chapel and burial place for the family. It is one of the most popular places in Stockholm for weddings because of its beautiful setting in the gardens and also the proximity to the palace (now used as a museum and a venue for weddings and conferences).



Bosse and Ann told us that the palace has its own guest pier plus a lovely and reasonably priced café that is very popular in the summer. We have decided that we must sail past and visit there sometime this summer. We like to try new places and are always looking for something a little different to do. The area around Tyresö is one we haven't explored before as we spend more time in the outer archipelago.

After our small guided tour, we went to their home, situated not far from centrum in a beautiful, natural environment. I really like the way the Swedes organise their suburbs into little communities dotted here and there with a lot of the forests left intact. It is as though they are trying to make as little impact as possible which is so much nicer than miles and miles of houses without a break that characterises the Australian suburban sprawl. This is the view out of their living room, overlooking the back garden



Isn't it beautiful? Apparently on summer evenings, one can sit on the deck and listen to the sounds of the hundreds of birds in the trees and feel nothing but peace and relaxation. I can well believe it.

We had a delicious dinner and chatted with them and their two children. At age 19 and 21 the kids were articulate and very open and friendly which surprised me a bit as often children are reluctant to talk to their parent's "boring old fart friends". We all discussed summer plans and various observations about Sweden and Australia while sipping wine and eating until we couldn't move. Their home was warm and inviting and we had to laugh when we saw the entrance hall. It had an area that would normally hold a mirror or a selection of family portraits, with a table underneath. But instead of a mirror, there was this enormous framed photograph of their boat. The table had a candlearbra and the effect was not unlike an altar to the boat.

Something I'm sure Lars-Göran would also do if he got half a chance. Which he won't!