I think watching a film at home together is one of the most romantic things to do. With a glass or two of bubbly, some tasty nibbles (or even nibbling each other …), it makes for a wonderful Valentine’s evening in my book. I think it’s even better if your partner has chosen a classic film that he or … [Read more...]
Happy Midsummer!
Tomorrow all over the Nordic countries people will be celebrating Midsummer Eve.In Finland this means that good food and drink will be consumed, there'll be some dancing, and fires will be lit to mark the night when the sun never sets.In Sweden, and in Åland, people will be picking wild flowers to … [Read more...]
Misery on Ice or How Finland Won Olympic Bronze in Ice-Hockey
I know this post is a bit like London buses, you wait for ages for one then two come along at once. Last time I wrote about ice-hockey was in 2011, and here I am writing two posts back to back in 2014!But as you must know by now, ice-hockey is more than sport to me. It reminds me of my childhood, … [Read more...]
A Weekend Reader Offer on Coffee and Vodka!
Coffee and Vodka, dubbed 'Nordic Noir Meets Family Saga' at The London Book Fair, is now on a very special and very limited offer. From today until Sunday (26-28 April 2013) you can download my book for only £1.35 (or $1.99).Here are more details and links to where you can download the … [Read more...]
A-Z Blogging Challenge: C is for Creativity versus Cash
My theme: Writing and the business of writing.Creativity and the art of making money are often deemed complete opposites: creativity is pure and beautiful, whereas cash is dirty and ugly. How could these two things possibly be connected?But even writers have to eat.In fact, one could say artists are … [Read more...]
Happy ‘Little Christmas’!
In the Nordic countries we celebrate something called 'Little Christmas' on 1st of December. It's basically First Advent, but a less religious version. People have parties, children get presents from the elves, and the first advent candle is lit at breakfast (there's a huge FAIL in our household on … [Read more...]
Fäviken launch at The Swedish Ambassador’s Residence in London
I've written before about this extraordinary restaurant in Northern Sweden, Fäviken Magasinet, where chef Magnus Nilsson creates flavour explosions from locally sourced food and fauna. And I mean locally sourced. This is from their website:'We respect our raw ingredients for what they are, what they … [Read more...]
Swedish Wallander comes to London’s West End
The lovely Krister Henriksson.Photo: Baldur Bragason / Yellow BirdI've been a fan of Krister Henriksson long before he became the Swedish Wallander, but it's in this role of the moody detective created by Henning Mankell that the actor is best known here in the UK.This is about to change.I met … [Read more...]
Not skiing in Åre and ‘old’ friends
This pretty mountain train terminus is one of my favourite buildings in Åre village.I've just come back from a skiing holiday to Sweden, where we'd planned to spend most of the time on the beautiful pistes of Åre. In the event I got only a few days on the mountains, because unseasonably warm weather … [Read more...]
Fäviken Magasinet, near Åre ski resort, Sweden, revisited
The atmospheric Fäviken Magasinet is housed in an old grain barn.I was a little apprehensive about my third visit to Fäviken Magasinet, the acclaimed restaurant run by young Swedish Chef of the moment, Magnus Nilsson, since often when you revisit a place, which you've been raving about, you are … [Read more...]
