åsa's and my birthday party bananza (30+30)!

Several years ago, åsa and I decided that we would have a combined birthday party the third weekend in July on Strangon, an island outside our hometown, where her family has their summer bach.

A Swede always holds her promise...and we had the birthday party on the island as planned. The weather was pretty shocking leading up to the day, but when we needed the summer heat, we got it. It was calm, warm and pleasant without any mygg/mosquitos hassling us. We had about 40 people celebrating the occasion with us. I think this will have the be the last time I can take credit for turning 30. I have had 3 birthday celebrations now. Asa's birthday was actually in February so she is pushing it even further.

The party was a fab way to have all friends joining us and not having to travel around in Sweden on a tour. I was a bit over that after all the travelling we had done in England.

Mark and Sylvia popped by on their tour of Europe. Mark is as silly as ever before.

Peder (åsa's biggest..I mean oldest bro) is rigging up the barbies.

Ben and Antony, two kiwis I know from the tramping club, came over from the UK to join in. Ben is the paparazzi guy who has taken all the beautiful photos. Thanks so much for that Ben!!

Per-Oskar is dressing up for the celebration.

This is the boat shed which åsa's family has re-built, since the last one, was equally sized, but on an angle. The old one was actually the building in which I broke my arm after midsummer partying when I was 17. Only good vibes in this one though :-) Arne, åsa's father, the architect, who has a real eye for details.

Preparations of cakes with mum

Mikaela - one of many to try the scottish/viking/pippi langstrump head thingie. Maybe Mark can tell me what it should be.

Torsten and Anthony skimming or in Swedish "throwing sandwich".

In the middle of the dinner two very strange characters appeared. åsa was super excited since these were live versions of her dearest teddy bears that we played with (and she still does) when we grew up: Apan och Maja!!! Her two brothers would have spent a lot of time getting them as real as possible. Unfortunately my bother never had the chance to make me a live Vovva, who was my teddy. He was a pretty sad teddy though...so well used we had stuffed him with nylon socks. Might be hard to make as a live size version :-) I was happy to share the love from Apan and Maja with Asa.

I spent the night dancing around with the ape head.

We sang and drank and drank and ate...recipe for a great night.

More people in the party mood: my dad, Asa's brother Dan and her mum Kerstin.

Linus showing off quality Finnish beer with his monkey hand grabber.

Birthday song singing for the two of us...

Cutting the cake...almost like a wedding :-) I hope Charlie didn't get jealous.

We sat by the fire on the beach until the sun was rising again (2-3 am), singing with a guitar and listening to Linus having a one person show from time to time.

Both Asa and I were super pleased with the party. It was nice to be able to show a unique part of Sweden to the non-swedes (6 guests), offer some pickled herring ("sill") and some Swedish summer party atmosphere.