Text and photo: Helena Bergström
What sunny and wonderful days we've had! And so much good food we've eaten! But at the same time we wonder... will the misery never end? When we last whined a little about everything going wrong - we had no idea that another thing would happen.
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Sunny days
”At least we're lucky with the weather.” That's what we sometimes say when everything else is going wrong, and so we try to pretend to each other that everything is pretty okay anyway.
And it has been sunny and nice! Sometimes it's summer heat and sometimes cooler (sometimes even really windy!) – but mostly sunny and nice. And that can cheer up the mood in most situations. Well, almost anyway.
Delicacies
The past week has not only brought us sunshine, but also lots of delicious food. We have been to several events, all of which have had a culinary theme. Oh, we have eaten so much delicious food, while learning about the food cultures of different countries!
I have so many photos from the latest events – so it will be a separate post this weekend. Until then, you will have to settle for a picture of one of Peter’s ”quick specialties”. He usually serves this dish as a starter, without bread, but when I took the photos, it was a heartier version with sourdough bread underneath.
The base is: Tomato (preferably different colors) + mozzarella + balsamic. Easy to put together, and a real favorite in our kitchen!
Will the misery never end?
So, what happened then? Let's start by saying that we are already pretty tired after a year of financial, technical and emotional setbacks.
The short version: Bad financial investments, a canceled long-haul flight (without getting a refund), wine in the computer (yes, the one with the money), broken electric bike, ill health in the immediate family, technical problems (including being logged out of Facebook for a month) and so on, and so on.
We keep thinking (or trying to think anyway) that ”it will turn around soon”. What happens then? Well, Peter drops his mobile phone from the gangway, straight down into 10 meters of pitch-black water. Yes… for real!
And no, we don't have insurance for these things. Home insurance doesn't cover things purchased at the company and we had to cancel our business insurance because it was so hysterically expensive (and barely covered anything anyway).
But yeah, at least we're lucky with the weather. Or what should we say? The other night we saw a rainbow from our dock. Maybe it's sloping straight down into a treasure somewhere...?
This week: Grateful for ...
When everything tends to go wrong all the time, it's hard to find that feeling of gratitude. But maybe that's when it's most important to try?
We are grateful for the nice weather, for the wonderful events (with great meetings) and for the good and affordable help we received from the computer doctor (even though the computer was unfortunately "beyond rescue"). And of course: Because we are healthy! That is the most important thing of all.
Your turn ... What are you grateful for this week?
The week ahead
We are still at home in Stockholm. We longing really looking forward to leaving with the camper (it's probably never taken this long) but it's going to take a little longer. We have another week of events, meetings and work from home and then we're off on a press trip by plane (which we're really looking forward to!) to Germany.
Here at FREEDOMtravel you can expect several different reports with different types of food inspiration. By the way, you didn't miss that our guest writer, Anna Nilsson Spets, jumped into our "series" about food in different countries and wrote about food in Belgium – where she lives? Really funny that she made this jump in, which helps make the series even more genuine!!
We would like to take this opportunity to wish you a nice Friday and weekend! Do you perhaps have some nice plans for the weekend or week that you would like to tell us about?
Did you miss the last Friday Blog? Read it Turkey, Trentino, report about us and competition
You might also like:
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Friday blog: Houseboat life in wintry Stockholm
The Friday blog: With a bit of a jolt, a bit of a jump, and a bit of a kick-start... we got the motorhome going
Friday Blog: Norway Weather, Nortrip and Travel Chat
Friday Blog: Happy and intense days at the Elmia fair
English (UK) 
Svenska
SonjaS says:
Hope things turn around soon for you! I have the same problem, mainly financial difficulties for a few months and other 'bad luck'. I also think: now it will be better, but no, then the cat will end up in the animal clinic for a day and it will cost a month's salary 🙁
29 May 2026 - 7:46
Helena says:
Oh how sad and difficult it is with the cat!! Hope the situation gets better for you soon!!
31 May 2026 - 11:50
Anna i Portugal says:
Being healthy is of course the most important thing, but that doesn't make other problems any less. I really hope things turn around for you now. Have a nice weekend!
29 May 2026 - 9:03
Helena says:
Thank you, and I wish the same!!
31 May 2026 - 11:51
Znogge says:
Then I think it's time for things to turn around now. Then I think health is the most important thing, but even there things have wavered, I understand.
29 May 2026 - 9:30
Helena says:
Yes, health is of course the most important thing, I completely agree!!
31 May 2026 - 11:51
Eval8 says:
But what bad luck you've had! Hope the rainbow fixes it.
This week I am so deeply grateful for how wonderful we have had here on my childhood island. Nice meetings with people from the past, lovely weather, nice swimming, etc. Most of all grateful for the painting that dad painted. It was in the old cottage and I got it!
29 May 2026 - 9:44
Helena says:
How wonderful it sounds to have a great time on the island of my childhood!! Wishing you a continued great weekend!
31 May 2026 - 11:51
JoY says:
Oh no, Peter's phone in the water with everything in it! You can't dive down to 10 meters so easily. I don't know if it can handle such a swim even if you find a diver to retrieve it.
Yes, sometimes everything just goes against you, hope that things turn around and it's nice weather.
The garden is starting to look nice again but there is still a lot to do, now the lawnmower broke down and another machine broke down, which is good to have. There is always something. Otherwise we have met friends and family and I have played my first round of golf.
Wishing you a nice weekend too. Hugs
29 May 2026 - 10:22
Helena says:
We googled a bit, but it seems that a mobile phone can't last that long at that depth, so we chose not to spend money on bringing in a diver. Wishing you a continued great weekend!!
31 May 2026 - 11:53
bmlarsreseblogg says:
Now we really hope that the misery is over for you. For us, it feels more like a ”physical decline” has come. Now that I will have a pair of new teeth in place after almost a year, it is Lars’ turn to replace an old bridge and a few other things, expensive! Then there is a troublesome hip, a swollen knee, etc. We are probably not 25 years old anymore. This week we have had a really nice time at home where we have met loved ones and played golf. Next week the dentist race starts again so there will be more days in the home region. We wish you a really nice weekend and what a simple and delicious sandwich Peter fixed, we can imagine that one evening…
29 May 2026 - 11:00
Helena says:
Yes, dental care can be incredibly expensive, unfortunately... I hope things work out as well as possible with both your teeth and your knees! I wish you a continued nice weekend!
31 May 2026 - 11:54
petra says:
The height of bad luck for you poor people, now it has to turn around. Being grateful for your health feels most important now, but of course the beautiful weather too and all the nice flowers that smell and that the family is feeling as good as we can.
29 May 2026 - 19:58
Helena says:
Thank you for your comment! I wish you a nice weekend!!
31 May 2026 - 11:55
BP says:
Of course, good health is the most important thing, but if you're unlucky like you've been this year, it's a small consolation. A very small consolation.
And being without a mobile phone is an impossibility these days. If you have home insurance, it may include a "drulle" insurance that covers the mobile phone. No, the poor thing!!! Many warm hugs of strength...
29 May 2026 - 20:12
Helena says:
We bought the mobile phone from the company, so unfortunately the home insurance does not cover it. It is our own choice of course. Will buy the next mobile phone privately – and get a ”senile cord” …! 😉
31 May 2026 - 11:56
Ditte says:
I hope and wish that things will change for you soon. I am grateful that without a car or for several years also without a boat, we still have the opportunity to do a lot of nice things that we enjoy. So grateful this week I am extra for a really nice ”Lighthouse Cruise” with Birka Gotland and where on Tuesday evening we started driving south towards Landsort and later past the Swedish mounds before we crossed over to Åland. We passed 60 lighthouses and it was with a knowledgeable guide who told us about most of them. And from Mariehamn, we passed Söderarm and the ”normal” road to Stockholm. With many lighthouses.
Yesterday we were with Blidösundsbolaget and their ship Sjöbris on an archipelago expedition to the Stockholm outer archipelago. Landing and guiding on two islands and a captain and cicerone on the boat who told us ”everything” – both facts and curiosities. Very successful. Met friends and had an MRI scan.
29 May 2026 - 23:16
Helena says:
Lighthouse cruise sounds super nice!! Nice to be able to get away even without your own car or boat! Archipelago expedition also sounds super nice! Wishing you a continued nice weekend!
31 May 2026 - 11:57
Annika på Resfredag says:
Nooo, sounds terrible! Now the misery must end!
I myself am grateful for a fantastic week in Scotland with my immediate family. Very grateful, even! Now school graduations, celebrations and summer vacation await – we are looking forward to that. Hugs to you – hope the trip to Germany will be nice!
30 May 2026 - 13:03
Helena says:
Scotland sounds fantastic! Wishing you great summer activities ahead!!
31 May 2026 - 11:58
Lena - gott för själen says:
But oh my god! It never ends! Great trials to say the least.
Hug Lena
01 June 2026 - 18:16
Annika says:
Well, enough with the bad luck for now. I understand that you're just thinking that NOW things have to change.
I understand that you just want to go out with Freedom on an adventure now. I also love tomato, mozzarella and balsamic, perfect summer food. YUM!
The mobile, where everything is also there, just all the fuss with a new one when the old one is ten meters down in black lake water... sigh.
Hugs from me.
02 June 2026 - 14:39