Wednesday 7 September 2011

Run, Jennie, Run!

Hello again ;)
I've not been making much noise in the blogosphere over the past week cause I went over to visit my folks in Sweden.
Every September around the time of my BURFday my sister, my niece and I do a fun run. 
For the past three years we "ran" the Adidas 5K womens challenge in Hyde Park but this year we decided that it was time for a change.
So instead of 5K in the big smoke we signed up for a 10K run in Stockholm.
I did a bit more training this year than I have done previous years but I still totally surprised myself when I managed to complete the run in just under the hour, what a buzz I got! 
Needless to say I was cream crackared when I got to the finish line but I did run like a ferret on Whizz the last K...something kicked in and inside my head the Bill Conti Rocky movie soundtrack tune started blaring out...
TRYING HARD NOW!
I spent a few days in Orebro with my folks before the race and eat like uber-pampered horse, my mum is getting amazingly good at vegan cooking now. I think that at first she thought it would be impossible to cook without dairy but she has always been a masterful cook and she is very creative in the kitchen so she's actually putting my own culinary efforts in the shade now.
Whilst in my old hometown I also visited my old favourite second hand haunts, Myrorna and Bra & Begagnat.
I didn't buy much, just a couple of craft books and some folksy looking wallhangings.
As per usual I took a heap of photos and I'll finish this post off with a medley of pics from my little trip...
The weather was great, it was like an Indian summer. I had brought a hat, scarf & gloves just in case.
A chair that I fell in love with at Bra & Begagnat in Orebro. 295:- Swedish Kronor is roughly £29.
I didn't fall in love with this little fellow quite so much but he's very quirky that's for sure.
Some friendly locals test sitting the armchairs and having a chinwag.
Some very odd art, not sure what to make of it?!
At myrorna in Orebro you could get kitschtastic stein mugs for 15:- Swedish kronor which is roughly a quid each.
The proudest daughter alive...me & my brilliant dad!
Fun Run & it certainly was ;)
We stayed with our brother who lives outside Stockholm and he treated us to a Chinese meal after the race.
On the Sunday we went walkabouts in Stockholm. Last time I visited the capital was almost twenty years ago but it hasn't really changed that much from what I saw anyway. It's mushroom season at the mo and judging by the sheer quantity of freshly picked chantarelles on this particular stall it's been a very good year for mushies.
Being the second hand magnet that I am, I managed to sniff out a bric-a-brac & vintage clothing market in the center of town. There were some quite nice vintage frocks up for grabs at rather reasonable prices too, ranging from approximately £7 to £25.
The bric-a-brac was priced for the tourists, so definitely not in the same realm as the pocket friendly car boot sale prices I'm used too.
Then we went to the old town or as it is known to the natives me included  'Gamla Stan'.
This is the prettiest part of Stockholm in my opinion with its impossibly narrow, cobbled streets and attractive old houses.
I'm smiling here but my feet are actually starting to kill me at this point. Cobbled streets & heels (no matter how low) are not a good idea...EVER!
On the facade of a house in the old town.
I love the colours, when the sun shines the houses look even more spectacular.
Swedish people love bikes and these old ones are like gold dust.
I'm not a supporter of any monarchy... Swedish, British or otherwise...a bunch of gits that get made into statues for pigeons to shit on...whoop-de-doo!
MISSING...Have you seen Snuff?!
Part of a shop window display in Stockholm.
That wraps up my medley of pics.
It's my BURFday today, so I'm chillaxing but tomorrow it's back to work!
I've got a fair few listings to go up on eBay, funky jumpers & blazers galore :)
Until next time, frock on folks!
Lot's of love,
Jennie
xXx


12 comments:

Helga said...

Happy Birthday,sweetheart!!!
Yay for completing the run, and so damned quick too!Ow,I feel pain just thinking about it!
Love these pix,I'd love to visit Sweden,it's so exotic to me!!!
Love! XXX

Kitty said...

thanks for the beautiful pics, Sweden is the home home of my ancestors, I'd love to visit one day.
How good are you on the running bizzo-well done!!!

Vix said...

Happy Birthday, Jennie! Lovely to see your brother and your brilliant Dad, too.
My friends Darren and Cheryl go to Sweden every year and absolutely love it, I can see why. It's so bright and beautiful.
I'm glad the weather was so lovely for your run. Well done, love! Rather you than me.
Loads of love,
Vix
xxx

mispapelicos said...

Happy birthday Jennie. I didn´t know that you were Swedish.
Thank you for sharing such fabulous photos.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Idee Fixe said...

Happy Birthday, may you have many more and the coming year bring you Buona Fortuna! I'm so impressed with you doing a 10k run in an hour, go YOU! Sweden looks beautiful, I hope to visit one day. One thing that struck me was how tidy the thrift shops are -- here in NY they are mayhem! Enjoy your special day!
XXX
Suzanne

Ivy Black said...

Happy Birthday, my lovely!
Great post, I would love to visit Stockholm one day. It looks beautiful.
xxx

Penny Dreadful Vintage said...

Happy birthday Jen! Glad you had a great visit home :) xx

Rose&Bird said...

Happy Birthday my dear, hope you had a good one x You're a braver woman than I to do a 10k, well done for finishing with such a good time. Love the pictures of Bra & Begagnat - the prices look pretty good too. Stockholm looks like a really interesting city, I'd love to visit one day x

Athyn said...

Happy Birthday!! Hope you had a wonderful time.LOVE your scarf.I'd love to go to Sweden one day.. maybe I will have to start doing the lottery! xxx

Pull Your Socks Up! said...

I hope you had a splendid birthday, what a great way to celebrate, a fun-run and some time with your family in Sweden! Your dad looks such a sweetie and so young! Such beautiful buildings and the first chair is awesome and a real bargain ... no room for that one on the plane? Well done on the run sweetie, you look so radiant and happy:))) xoxo

Curtise said...

Happy Birthday Jennie, and well done on the run - what an athlete!
Glad you had a lovely time back home, Sweden looks beautiful, great photos.xx

doradadama said...

Happy Belated Birthday Jen!
I should of known your a virgo.
awww you got to visit your Family Buildings and markets are so beautiful. I am eyeing the trinkets on that table.
gracias for sharing. one day I hope to visit.
Great Job on the run, your so determine.