Home, sweet home! Well, after over 5 wonderful weeks away, I must admit that there is some things that we longed for in the end 
You know, the common stuff: your own bed, your own kitchen, really hot and long showers – Spain don’t seem to have the kind of speed on the water in the shower as we have here in Sweden. Though they have another water quality too, so much softer than our water. Almost like when you wash your hair in rain water.
…and of course we missed some of our Swedish specialities like Kalles Kaviar, Knäckebröd (crisp bread), the big choice of sandwich-spreads, Swedish homecooked dinner meals – the first one we did make was “Frukostkorv med pepparrotsås och kokt potatis”, (some kind of sausages with horseradish sauce and boiled potatoes) which we had been drooling when just thinking about it.
The last day in Spain we woke up kind of late after the late night out… ehrm… and it went by driving down from Nerja to Malaga and return the car we rented. There seem to be a lot of car hiring in Spain – there were several floors in the garage at the airport just with different car hire companies cars.
It felt really unreal, that it was the day to leave Spain. I had heard a lot about the weather in Stockholm, so I didn’t really long for it even though they claimed that the spring finally has arrived with no snow and sunny weather. Perhaps it also was because I knew what I had to deal with when coming home…
At the Malaga airport we had some bad news. Long, long lines at the check in desks for our flight to Stockholm. No one in the check in desk due to some problems between the airline company FlyNordic and the airport. Later we found out that they had changed name and Malaga airport didn’t think that they had any contract with them due to the new name…
FlyNordic has changed name to Norwegian.se just that day. Norwegian is today Scandinavias biggest low price air company. They’re also changing their airplanes to Boeing 737-800, which is more comfortable and less noisy – as well as more kind to the environment as they demand less fuel.
At last they find some staff to the check in desks, but then they let us through without giving us either gate or seat numbers, so there were some more waiting beyond that, giving us less chance to look around at the airports stores and restaurants.
We did see a woman out on the terrass at the airport, that didn’t have any luggage and had rather dirty clothes and no shoes, sitting mostly out on the terrass there. She got me thinking of the movie with Tom Hanks, The Terminal, where he is stuck at the airport…. I do wonder what she did there…
When we got aboard the airplane the Captain also told us that the airplane had been late too, a late departure from Arlanda and then at Malaga problems with the unloading with the luggage too, so that made it even more late.
Well, we arrived at Arlanda in Stockholm in the middle of the Saturday night after a normal flight home – except that I got a terrible ache in my left ear during the landing. It seems so be something I have to live with, because I remember that it was the same the last times we did fly too. *bummer*
I’m blessed with very nice siblings as I’ve mentioned before, so my brother picked us up at the airport with our car, which he has borrowed while we were away. Not only that, but he had washed the car, changed to summer tires, changed anti-roll bars which where faulty and a lamp to the stereo too.
…and bought some fresh bread, butter, cheese, milk so we could get some sandwiches at home. So we were lucky. We did drive him home, he lives kind of on the way between the airport and our home, so no extra detour is needed – very practical for us. We have done like that before too, because we can’t have our car parked on the street when we’re away, there is a need to move it for certain cleaning days on the street or we’ll get parking tickets.
So what have we done since Saturday night – besides sleeping?
Sunday went fast, we had a long meeting, my siblings and I, about my Mom. I got to know more about her last time here in life and we did talk about how to proceed with all the sad stuff like the funeral and all around it.
Yesterday went with a lot of paper work and phone calls. I’m the one that has been handling my Moms papers and are continuing to take care of most of the arrangements for her funeral now, so now you know what I’m doing the nearest time, but I’ll try to start to write about our long journey as soon as possible.
Now, I must leave, I’m on the way to the undertaker… *sigh*
Coming home can be so bittersweet!
I am so sorry to hear about your mother. {{hugs}}
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Welcome back aboard, Captain!!
Again, So sorry about your mom…
Mar’s last blog post..Big Bang marches on
I’m glad you are home safe, but I’m very sorry about your mother. I’ve lost mine too and I know how that feels. Big hug honey. Take care.
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Welcome Home!
Please join me tomorrow, April 9th for a celebration on Dackel Princess!
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Sooo sorry to hear about the loss of your Mom! In all the sadness; don’t forget to remember all the good times with her!
Very happy to know you are home safe and sound though and are looking forward to read your reports!
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Welcome back ! 5 weeks is quite a long time but I think you needed it and it did a lot of good to you ! I am a little surprised that your mother hasn’t been burried yet I didn’t know that you can postpone a funeral for such a long time. I have to say fortunately I don’t have a lot of experience of this.
ah, the feeling of getting home from a long travel. sorry about your mom
Gald you’re back home at last. Must be tugh to deal with all that when you’ve just come back from sucha tiring trip. Hope you get some rest soon.
Good thing everything went well in the end with your flight and you arrved safely and with your luggage too. You have such a sweet brother.
I’m sorry to hear about your mom.
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Welcome back to the Nordic April Climate.
I’ll comment in more detail when I’m back from the IT-Conference.
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So sorry to hear about your Mum, honey, it always helps being round your family. That’s what I found when I lost Grandma.
Glad you managed to have a good time and I know how you feel about wanting to be home. I was only in Week Two when I wanted to come home from Florida!
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Welcome home, I sure understand about your mixed feelings. Leaving such a glorious vacation, always good to be home, but not so good losing your mom. My heart goes out to you, as I know how it is. My mom passed in November and it was quite a shock for us. You’ll be in my thoughts!
P.S. I have kalles kaviar in my fridge – I was in Sweden over the weekend, so if you need a shoulder to lean on just stop in
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I’m so sorry to hear about your mom, you are in my thoughts!
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So sorry to hear about the loss of your mother. You have my deepest sympathy. No words can heal your pain but do know that if you need anything, I am here for you. Hugs, Kat
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Oh dear,
first of all: I’m so happy you after such a long pause from travelling at last could feel the freedom of going to visit other places and to a climate – during the Winter – that’s good for your health.
Whar I so far have read, and my knowledge of you two wonderful persons – I can imagine how you enjoyed and spread pleasures to others.
Then: Airports are Airports. All over the World. F–k them for customer ignorance.
Airlines – don’t they understand their clients minimum ecpectations?
Well: Norwgian do have about 60% of domestic markeshare in Norway, due to their business modell (SOA-based), and #1 in direct flights to destinations abroad from Norway.
You are lucky to have such caring siblings. Yes you are.
I shall not comment more about that. At least not in written.
Hope the two of you are well, and do take good care of your beloved bed, pillows and linen – *Giggles*
btw. We miss you – hope to see you during the Scandivian Summer
TorAa’s last blog post..Cats on Tuesday April 8 – 2008
Welcome back Captain! It’s been a long time and I missed you!
So sorry to hear about your Mom.My condolences. Do take care.
*hugs*
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What were your impressions of Spanish food.
The south of Spain is not typical of Spanish food (the best Spanish food is in the Basque country, also, Galicia, Cantabria, Rioja, Castille, Catolonia, and, to some degree, Valencia).
What I do love about southern food, though, is the fish. Especially ‘bocorones fritos’ (fried whiting) with fino (dry) sherry.
Sorry, going on a bit .. just interested in your impressions of Spanish food ..
Your Mom was on my mind lately so I was coming to your site to check on how she was doing. I am deeply sorry you lost your wonderful Mother, but know she is finally without pain and at peace after such a long hard struggle that she endured the past few years. She will never be forgotten. I will always be grateful for the chance to know her and for the pleasure of reading all her posts about her life. I still find myself going back and re-reading some of her posts. She will be missed.
My heart goes out to you and your siblings. I think your mom once said she had 4 children if I remember correct. God Bless all of you.
No problem Eamon, I like when my blogging friends writes long comments – and asking me questions! Sorry to answer you this late, but I’ve been really busy.
The Spanish food. Ah. There should be a whole post about it, but I’ll keep it short: it was very variating, the quality, but overall feeling was that the seafood and fishes was very fresh and therefor very good. What I’m never will understand is why the food isn’t more spicy. And that goes for about every country we come to. We use a lot of spices in Sweden obviously
Nice you come back! Life on board wasn’t the same without you on the web!!! I know how long it takes with all papers after funerals! We had the same for my mother. Papers and papers during several monthes. I enjoy to find again our captain! Our cruisers were so quiet!
A cup of champagne to fest your come back!
Tchin tchin!
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What a way to end time away, to have a mothers funeral
“There seem to be a lot of car hiring in Spain – there were several floors in the garage at the airport just with different car hire companies cars.”
There are rather lot of car hire places in New Zealand as well. All trying for the travellers $. Never the easiest to know who to go with. But each has their little niche and speciality.
New Zealand – yes, its the place of Middle Earth!!! I see that you have commented with Josh about our New Zealand. Well worth the effort, and a great place to live in. The South Island of New Zealand is amazing, especially around Queenstown. Thats the general area that The Lord of the Rings was filmed.
Regards
Michael Brandon