This past week I bought myself flowers. They are so beautiful but they are in Malmö and I am in Värnamo. Värnamo is a much smaller town about 2 1/2 hours north. It is much colder here. I packed a few things I wasn’t using and have started the moving process. I have certainly accumulated more than I thought.

The new apartment is a roomy two bedroom. I have room for guests and room for my writing desk. I found a small side table in the clearance section of IKEA. It is perfect. Not too big, but enough or lagom as they say in Sweden (just right). I planned to get my windshield chips taken care of this morning but because I have too many they have to replace it, but it isn’t much more, thanks to insurance.

Yesterday I spent the day unpacking. I got everything I brought put away. I will be teaching one more Body Pump class next week and be done at Nordic Wellness in Malmö. The nearest one here is too far to get a job at but maybe there will be an alternative closer. It will be sad to leave my class behind. A lot of them have been coming since I started last May. It will be emotional.

I am looking at it as an opportunity to explore Småland. I hope to get to know people in town and get familiar with new things. I am sure it will be fun to discover all the things Småland has to offer but will miss the hustle and bustle of Malmö. There are so many more things to do in Malmö, but Växjö is 45 minutes, where my friend Nathalie lives, and Jönköping is about an hour, which is much larger. So many possibilities.

A new beginning, again. I still struggle in the evenings but have Nala and Sorin to keep me company, when he isn’t working. He works a lot of different shifts from early mornings to late evenings. I have my trip to the states coming next month, which will be here before I know it. I will keep myself occupied with packing, cleaning, and driving back and forth for now. I am discovering I can make changes but have lots to work on to become the best person I can be.

Last Friday I celebrate my cousin Christina’s 55th birthday with her and her daughter. Her daughter made her a cake which was very good. They gave me a very nice mug and some chocolate for getting my license. It was very sweet of them. I hope we will still have time to get together when I come down occassionally.

I also got to attend Melodifestivalen live in Malmö Arena with a friend. Her partner was sick, and they asked me. It was fun. It is a television program where people or groups compete. Some people are well known, and others are new. They presented one 3 minute song, and the audience decided the winners to go to the semi-final. It was fun to be a part of. The program airs live every Saturday evening for a few weeks from different places in Sweden. They showcase the city they perform in, which is interesting. The winner goes to the Eurovision competition, which happens soon after, where they compete with other European nations. I watched it now and then, but now I am excited to see who wins.

It was fun to see people dressed up and all the families in attendance. We sat way up in the rafters next to a couple around my age and a couple with their grandchildren. The boys were so excited. They had voted for one of the young women who was 16 that day. This festival is where Carola got her start at the age of 16, so it does happen. Carola is a popular singer who won in 1983. She performed at the end of the contest.

Today I am taking a break from cleaning and packing. Have a relationship coaching call this morning and plan to make Swedish meatballs for lunch. I do need to go to the store for white pepper and stamps. Fun combination, right? It is a challenge being in the middle of a move when the distance is so far and my car is so small, but I am grateful I have a car! Sure helps in the small town although they have busses too, which is what Sorin does for work. Have a wonderful weekend.