The last couple of days of our sailing trip flew by in a flash. It was considerably colder than it has been, so we felt some pity for the feathered members of our crew and opted to go directly home, covering the last 85NM with only a single stop around the Nyköping area. There is the tail end of a tropical hurricane (Maria) heading this way and we'd like to be home before the rain and gales hit.

We did beat the storm home and everyone was happy to be back in the apartment. Though not so happy when we discovered that the painters had not been as we had hoped and that all the preparation was for nothing. Well, that's not quite true as they are apparently now coming during the first week of October (maybe...), but we were hoping to not be here when they were.

There are signs of autumn being here with these little critters busily stocking up



I so love watching the squirrels, but Lars-Göran is pretty non-plussed by them. I get excited when I see the minks playing out in the archipelago and when I see moose by the water, but Lars-Göran just goes "Hmm...yeah...whatever". I guess I can understand it as they are common animals here whereas I see them as being so exotic. I used to feel the same way when we had overseas visitors come to Australia and say they wanted to see kangaroos and koalas and I'd secretly roll my eyes and think "Oh God, no. Do we have to?"

The birch leaves are starting to turn golden yellow and drop to the ground, but I'm careful to keep that to myself as Lars-Göran becomes depressed at the thought of the end of summer. Unlike him, I like the cool months and even cope quite well with the darkness. His theory is that I have had so much sunshine in my life that my internal "sun batteries" are full and I can do without it for a few months without feeling the effects. Sounds like another of his crackpot theories if you ask me.

I think we will have to plan a few sailing trips over the autumn and winter months to break up the long, dark months for him.

But for the moment we are enjoying being on dry land and snuggling up on the couch with a plate of cheese and biccies - and a glass of red wine.

Cheers!