Writer: Helena Bergström
What a winter we are having this year! We usually joke that ”in Stockholm it's only winter for a week” and the like, but it's not really possible to joke about this year. The winter goes on and on!
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Winter in the houseboat marina
This week we had a meeting with a partner who, in between the topics of the meeting, expressed his genuine concern about how we manage in the houseboat... ”Isn't it cold?”
We can assure anyone who is worried that we are warm inside - often warmer than some large houses. We have underfloor heating, radiators and an air source heat pump. Some days we get the idea of burning in the stove too - then it will be very hot! Here you can read a bit more about houseboat life in winter:
Like living in a house... but not!
Although we are warm inside our houseboat, winter naturally brings some special conditions. We have to look after ”our house” and there can be completely different things to think about and discuss in our neighbourhood, compared to living in a villa or apartment...
- Wow, it was so slippery on the gangway today! And on the jetty perhaps ...?
- Aren't the wheels of the gangway banging unnecessarily against the jetty? We probably need to sprinkle some coarse salt to get rid of ice ...
- ”How much ice do you have around your boat?” We must ask Pampas to start the third ”propeller”, so our ice-free marina remains ice-free!
Good food brightens up your life
As you may know, Peter loves to cook. When we're living our everyday lives, with lots of meetings and work at the computers, home-cooked dinners are our highlights. Sometimes it's extra tasty (and pretty!) and I'll take a photo. Here are two lovely meals from the past week:
Honey marinated chicken thigh from farm chicken, cooked in the oven (thermometer 85 degrees closest to the bone) together with baked sweet potatoes, haricot verts (cooked in rapeseed oil in a pan, on low heat), cream of goat cheese, green peppers and feta cheese.
Fillet of beef cooked in sous vide (53 degrees with rapeseed oil, crushed garlic and thyme), browned over high heat in a frying pan, with haricot verts, asparagus (cooked on a low heat), mushrooms (cooked on a high heat) and béarnaise sauce (ready-made).
This week: Grateful for ...
This week has been up and down. We ordered a parcel, but never received a text message, and the parcel was returned... Annoying and inconvenient! At the same time, we have had some good meetings, and Peter has been to the dental hygienist, without any problems. That's something to be thankful for, isn't it? What are you grateful for this week?
The week ahead
I hope you read Anna Nilsson Spitz's report on Mali? Sooo interesting! Part 1 on Mali can be found here.
And now, what's next? We have a lot of mixed posts coming up, written by us and others: motorhome fair, music memories, Sicily, press trips and much more! Don't miss checking in here every day (we always publish at 06:00) or subscribe to our newsletter!
Did you miss the last Friday Blog? Read it Projects, walks and TV series
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English (UK) 
Svenska
Orsakulla mamma vid 20 - Dalaliv, finporslin & pudelliv says:
Well this winter is cold anyway. The snow came late though. I hope this is a good sign for a nice and warm summer. I remember the year 2015 and 2018 those winters were like this and then the heat came to summer.
06 February 2026 - 6:56
Helena says:
Let's hope so! A warm summer to look forward to! 🙂
06 February 2026 - 14:22
Eval8 says:
Terrible weather with snow and wind.
I am grateful that my cold is going in the right direction, that the bank meeting went well, that we had an icy, windy, but sunny day in Österlen.
06 February 2026 - 9:41
Helena says:
It can be tough when it's both cold and windy... Get well soon, and have a great weekend!
06 February 2026 - 16:43
Znogge says:
It's certainly an unusually cold winter here in Skåne too. Here it has been snowy so I am grateful that I have been able to walk with the dogs without slipping over.
Yes, I have read about her journey and it was very interesting.
Have a nice weekend!
06 February 2026 - 9:58
Helena says:
Glad you read about Anna's trip, she makes such exciting trips! Wish you a nice weekend in the winter cold!
06 February 2026 - 16:44
bmlarsreseblogg says:
Of course I have read Anna's post from Mali. She is really tough because it is not the easiest destinations she chooses. Sweden has really got winter and down here we have lost count of the storms and storms that just trigger each other. Tomorrow it's time for the next one and 30-40 mm of rain again... However, we are grateful that we have managed well and we also have time to wait out the storms.
We wish you a nice weekend!
06 February 2026 - 12:43
Helena says:
Agree that Anna is tough and that it is not the easiest of destinations! But she has some experience under her belt, and that probably helps! What storms you seem to have ...! Wishing you a great weekend!
06 February 2026 - 16:45
Marianne Cargus says:
When I lived in Sthlm 82 - 2005 I thought it was usually proper winters. But here on Öland I have said the same, that it is winter just after New Year and a week ahead, but today came more snow, when most of it rained, blew and thawed away.
Yes, of course, there will be other problems in a houseboat than in a villa, just one thing with slippery gangway and dock seems dangerous, no one wants to slip and fall into the water 🙂
Such good food he cooks, your Peter, it's a bit luxurious when guys like to cook.
06 February 2026 - 15:55
Helena says:
Yes, you have to be a bit careful on the gangway, and also on the jetty (although the marina owners shovel the jetties). And yes, it is a luxury to live with someone who likes to cook! Wishing you a great weekend!
06 February 2026 - 16:41
Marianne Cargus says:
It looks like my comment disappeared, but I'll wait a few days to rewrite.
06 February 2026 - 15:58
Helena says:
Hi Marianne! Your comment didn't disappear, but I have to approve them before they appear. (It should be clearer, I know! It's on my to do list to try to fix it!)
06 February 2026 - 16:42
Hanneles boktips says:
Lame it may be, after a cold dry week we got more snow today in Gothenburg. But salty? Pour on hot water from the kettle...?
Exciting with parcels... we have mail delivery tr3 times a week but rarely order. To grandchildren in Jämtland, practical, but delivery rarely there too.
Looks good
06 February 2026 - 17:10
Helena says:
Winter everywhere it seems! Yes, warm water works in the short term, but it doesn't work in the long run ...? Salt seems to keep ice free for a very long time.
06 February 2026 - 18:27
Titti/Umeå/Huay Yang says:
Very little snow here in Västerbotten on the coast.
However, it has been very cold for some time.
Grateful to have it warm indoors.
Thinking of the homeless this winter.
06 February 2026 - 18:15
Helena says:
Wow, do you have some snow? Nice to think of the homeless! We have a friend who does a fantastic job for the homeless where she lives, handing out food boxes and encouraging contact with social services (we understand that sometimes it takes a lot of trust to take the plunge).
06 February 2026 - 18:29
BP says:
Yes, the weather is right up my street, but we were probably spoilt for a few years with mild winters. Now we have to pay for it. Hope Madeleine is right with her forecast for the summer:-)
Of course I read Anna's report on Mali. That woman not only has skin in the game but she is extremely brave too. Travelling alone in Europe as a woman is nothing special, but to do it in Mali with its civil war, polygamy and so on - I call that adventurous.
Peter's meals are always a delight to share. Hope you know how spoilt you are;-))))
06 February 2026 - 19:13
Anna i Portugal says:
Being thankful for a good dentist visit I understand! I'm glad you are warm in your home, this winter has really been strange on all fronts it feels like. Have a great Saturday!
07 February 2026 - 9:55
Annika says:
Freezing cold at my place too this winter. It's supposed to be the longest sustained cold we've had in 150 years. When I look outside, all I see is snow.
but it's getting milder now so this snowcrete, as it's called (snow that has frozen and become asphalt-like) should disappear slowly but surely.
Yes Pampas In winter skate, not bad. So nice there. They keep the ice off as much as possible around the boats. I know you said before that you have warm inside the boat. Thank goodness. yes slip I would probably be afraid of on piers and gangways. Have it best in the cold
10 February 2026 - 14:28