Swedish Midsummer Party

The midsummer party crew, Erik, Johanna, Frida, ourselves and Lina, newly arrived from Sweden, started out the Midsummer celebration with raising the Swedish flag.

Patrik and Erik unfolding the flag.

The flag is raised from the balkony of RiverPlace.

A closeup on the beautiful swedish flag.

After the flag was up we had breakfast with fresh pancakes & and coffies at the Riverside cafe Plaza Meze.

The City Cat took us for a windy ride down to Southbank beach, where we enjoyed a walk to the beach for some beach activities. Next stop was the New Farm Park Rose garden.

Frida, Lina and Kristin on the CityCat (Älvsnabben)

Beautiful Champagne and surprisingly tasty strawberries in the "winter sun".

Then began the work to create a truly Swedish Midsummer lunch. This table did not disappoint anyone. We made sure our neighbours had plenty of Swedish songs to enjoy during our luncheon.
The Smörgåsbord with a lot of swedish flags.

As a surprise, Lina had brought some swedish fotball-fan gear to Australia.

Next was "kubb". Since in Australia the sun sets much earlier than in Sweden, this time a year, it became a night version of the kubb.

Maybe someone scored...

BBQ at Eric & Bec's house became a very much musical event as well as a warm up to the nights football game.

Practising on the cheers

The nights surprise event was Japanese Kareoke at Wollongabba. Everyone made sure to contribute!

A very beautiful version of "We are the world"

Party & drinks continued at the Judith Rights Contemporary Arts Centre.

Then the evenings highlight... Sweden vs Germany at Uncle Jack Sports bar at 1 am along with some serious dancing.

Swedish rythm...

Swedish cheerleaders down under.

Our Midsummer party took to an end with a handshake with a few Germany supporters.

Midsummer with the "Swedes down under"

The traditional Midsummer celebrations at Rochedale scouthall was a crowded event. 180 people (Swedes and Aussie friends) met up to dance around the maypole.

The folkdance team performed together with a folkband.


Patrik, Yvonne and a few singers supported the folkband with some singing.


Christina & Daniel (from the choir) is trying some Glögg. This time of year is , after all, Brisbanes coldest...The girls where prepared for rain.

Winter Golf

at St Lucia golfcourse in Brisbane is nothing like winter golf in Sweden. Comfortable temperatures around 20 degrees, mostly sunny, warm Caffe Lattes and a winter blanket at the Club house following the 18th hole round.

The Winter Racing Carnival

Stradbroke Race Day at the Eagle Farm Racecourse in Ascot was a spectacular event.

The race day started at 11 am and was filled with friends, hourses, race bets, strawberry champagne & extravagant hats!

Patrik, Simon, Heather, Nathan & Fiona at the Members Lounge.

Here's Fiona Kristin & Heather enjoying hoping they bet on the right horse....

Preparing for midsummer

This is what our Swedish summer celebrations will be looking like...

National day celebrations

On Sunday the 4th we celebrated the Swedish National Day.
Ann-Helene and the Swedish kids sang "Idas sommarvisa" in the Church, & our choir sang a few more songs. The new priest Katja spoke a few fine words too & so did the Swedish general consulate.

Birthday lunch

We invited some friends for a birthday lunch on Saturday.
It was Patriks friends from work, Rob, Jon with Danielle and Frida & Johanna (the trainees), Heather and Nick (from Cairns), Damien & Kristen, Craig & Tina, and Erik, who had left Bec at home to finishe her thesis.
The Cheesecake birthday cake had candles but unfortunately the strong winds finished them before Patrik got to them! It was a cold true winter day in Brisbane!
A bit chilly for us Queenslanders!

Patriks Birthday!

On Patriks birthday the 1st of June, we went out for a dinner at Garuva restaurant in New Farm. This restaurant is very well know for its "cosy" interior design. Each group sits on the floor with lots of light white curtains closing off each party from eachother.
Among Patriks birthday presents where his favourite Callaway golf balls, favourite Maltesers sweets, flowers, the always amazing passionfruit cheese cake and lots of other stuff. Very much appreciated was also the video that Patriks family had sent over with birthday singing and celebrations.

Now we'll start with preparing for his birthday party at the River Place on Saturday lunch when we'll have lots of friends over for a BBQ!