'twas a lovely three days away in Leksand, Dalarna and a complete change of scenery. Cold and crisp, masses of snow and very picture postcard picturesque. Tones of grey and white with splashes of red " Falu red " the traditional colour of houses in Dalarna. It has something to do with the copper content in the paint, copper mined in nearby Falun where I lived for a year , thirty years ago. I would often come to Leksand for the weekend.
Now I was the first of Mikael's friends to visit him in his new homw since his retirement two months ago; two months spent building an extension to the main house and making the little guest house habitable and comfortable.
After a lovely lunch in town armed with groceries and goodies we drove home. I kept oooing and ahhhhing at all the snow and all the beautiful sights on the way. I've been to M's place before , but that was over 20 years ago and in the summer, never in the winter.
First evening was spent scoffing goodies and good old chinwagging and then after a good night's sleep a sightseeing tour of the local beauty spots higher up in the mountains. This area is famous for its spas, inns and retreats. We tried to get lunch but they were all closed, their main focus being on "Julbod "- traditional Christmas Buffé - an orgy of food and drink that lasts for several hours and costs about €30- 45 when all we wanted was a simple lunch knowing that we'd be having our own three course dinner that evening together with neighbours Anita and Erik .
Couldn't miss the Nobel banquet so after dinner we all snuggled up in bed to watch and comment on what everyone was wearing.
