Writer: Helena Bergström
I'm sorry if I've been late (or a bit confused) in replying to your emails, if I forgot to call or if I haven't commented on your blog for ages. For us, the most intense day of the year was... yesterday! The days leading up to yesterday were like a crescendo ... until everything exploded!
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The following day
Today we wake up to a kind of ”day after”. That doesn't mean we can rest today. First, while we still have access to the hire car, we have to go and pick up all the materials we left yesterday. Then we have a meeting. And after that, we're going to an event...
But, sooner or later, things will calm down. In any case, we no longer need to prepare for the 12 March event. We have now, after three months of intensive preparation, left that behind us.
What happened on 12 March - and why?
There were several different discussions that led to the decision to create an event. The key point was probably the idea of the meeting place. Ten years ago, the blogging world was an extremely sociable place and digital encounters quite often led to face-to-face meetings.
Slowly but surely, all this has changed and today AI has also stepped in, for better or worse. We are love things you can use AI for. But it's also frustrating (and confusing) that the digital world is changing so fast - and when AI suddenly has all the answers, it sometimes feels like we humans stop talking to each other...
FREEDOM Community Event 2026
Anyway: we decided to organise an event, with a focus on travel inspiration. We booked a beautiful (but expensive of course!) venue in the centre of Stockholm and invited our travel network.
The idea was to have a big focus on travel journalists, bloggers and digital creatives. Many of these are our friends - which is why it felt natural - while we could use this audience to motivate destinations and others to become partners.
We'll tell you about the whole event soon, but today we just want to say that, phew, this has been a journey in itself! Wonderful and inspiring conversations, but also some anxiety about invoices to be paid. Logistics, purchasing, time management and digital meetings with potential partners on other continents. So, all in all Wow, what a lot of work this has been!
As I write this, we haven't landed yet... We'll be back!
This week: Grateful for ...
We are grateful this week that everything about the event came together, somehow. Sure, we'll have some bills to pay (no, it didn't go anywhere near plus - on the contrary, it will sting a bit in the wallet), but for the first time, we can still feel happy and grateful.
Many thanks to everyone who helped us with this in various ways! Everything has been extremely valuable - from cheering us on to giving tips or carrying a heavy box. Thank you, thank you, thank you!!!
Your turn ... what are you grateful for this week?
The week ahead
The week ahead ...? Well, it's like our clock stopped on 12 March. But, presumably, time will continue to tick on ... We will first of all clean up after the event, and solve everything around the practical afterwork. After that? Maybe some events ... We have not had time to check the calendar! Maybe we should get some sleep ...? We wish you a great Friday and weekend! Hugs and love.
Did you miss the last Friday Blog? Read it Stockholm Husvagn Husbil - photo extra from the fair
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New generator in the motorhome - and meeting with motorhome friends
Travelling around Georgia - questions and answers
Friday Blog: Greetings from Eastern Turkey
Friday Blog: We wish you a happy midsummer!
Friday Blog: Mingle, storms and fall plans
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Jossu says:
Great job with the event. I can only imagine the work you and your helpers put in. Had I lived closer or not had to go to work the next morning I would have been happy to attend.
I have also had an intense week as my Nepal trip had to be cancelled. Stopping over in Dubai felt too unsafe. So it's been really busy finding a new destination and booking everything needed for that trip.
I am grateful for the cancellation protection that allowed me to cancel and get a refund
13 March 2026 - 6:26
Lena i Wales och lite överallt says:
Thank you very much for yesterday! A fantastically well organised and interesting event.
I will tell you about this on my blog tomorrow.
13 March 2026 - 9:43
Lena - gott för själen says:
Thank you, thank you, thank you for a fantastic event you organised! And thank you for inviting us. Will of course write about this. I understand that it has been crazy hectic to organise!
It was very professionally handled everything. You and the participating destinations were really inspiring, Uzbekistan has really been a grey (well... 🙂 ) spot on the map for us, but after you started writing about it and after yesterday's event we are really keen to visit the country. And Frankfurt, this business and stopover city seems to have so much more to offer. And Tunisia, Slovakia and Austria... we've really got our eyes on them too.
And of course, so much fun to meet other acquaintances and those you have only ”seen in pictures”.
Thanks again for a great event!
Hugs Lena & Andreas
13 March 2026 - 10:00
4000mil says:
Thank you for yesterday, it was so incredibly nice! 🙂
13 March 2026 - 11:38
bmlarsreseblogg says:
We were actually thinking of you last night as we sat looking out over an illuminated Bilbao, but unfortunately it is not possible to share. We understand that you need to rest after all the organisation around this event but I'm glad it was successful.
This week we have started the journey home in earnest and right now it will be a couple of days in Bilbao before we continue up to Bordeaux. We thought we would arrive at the same time as the cranes, but today there were over 2000 cranes in place!
13 March 2026 - 12:26
Leon says:
Thank you for a fun and well-run event last night and for giving so much of yourselves! See you soon!
13 March 2026 - 12:55
Ditte says:
Many thanks for yesterday! Absolutely fantastic organised! Really nice! Such good food and drinks.
Understand that you are ”out”. Very fun to hear about different places and for us it was extra interesting and exciting to learn more Uzbekistan . Have read your posts from there, also with great interest, but now the country came as ”closer”. Here we want to go. Definitely!
Unfortunately missed Austria and Slovenia.
Although it is now three years since I stopped blogging but met several old blog friends spm I met over the years at various blog events, Also met some of Mona ”blog readers” who for many years followed my blog and missed it. Nice to hear.
I'm not that active in the blog world anymore but I have maybe eight blogs I basically read daily and a few more that I check in on from time to time.
Since I don't have a blog anymore, it's text and pictures on Instagram and FB.
Many thanks also from the husband.
Wishing you now a reasonably quiet weekend.
PS Extra thanks to Peter for the delicious chocolate balls. What a job to make these. Guessed that he probably makes a couple of hundred.
13 March 2026 - 13:37
BP says:
Judging by the comments, the event was a success. Many congratulations. You can never assume that an event that you organise as a ”small business owner2 and also for the first time will make financial sense. But as a starting point for a perhaps annually recurring event, it seems to have been successful. As I said - big congratulations:-)
13 March 2026 - 17:33
Solan says:
Yes, it's easy to see that you are two super professionals full of energy...
So thank you for a great event in true Freedom spirit! 👍💕
13 March 2026 - 18:00
Annika på Resfredag says:
So glad it was successful! Got some reports from people who were there - so appreciated. Well done!
13 March 2026 - 18:24
Anna i Portugal says:
What fun that it was a successful event, as I understand from the comments. Hope it doesn't sting too much in the wallet, but of course there is usually some learning money for new stuff. Next time it will probably be more instead! I am grateful for the sun!
13 March 2026 - 21:20
Anette says:
I'm glad it was so successful.
Have seen a lot of pictures on Instagram.
You are professional and lovely 🤗
14 March 2026 - 7:23