A Summer Break in England

Just as the last snows of Skåne seem to be disappearing, and the children start yelling 'Spring is here' as I finally stop nagging them to wear a hat to school each morning, it's time to start planning how to spend those first two weeks of summer break when school's out and everyone needs a vacation.

As usual, when March finally arrives, it comes with a mixure of relief for me that winter is over, and disappointment that it still really isn't that warm outside. It's my birthday month, so while I'm stamping the ground outside trying to decide if I can start Spring planting in the garden, the children are happy to argue over what flavour filling they want to put in my birthday cake this year. I actually love Betty Crocker, her packet mixes far out weigh any success I could possibly hope for in the cake baking department. But hey, the kids love to bake, and if I'm not involved in the clean-up afterwards then who am I to tell them that Betty Crocker is my favourite cake flavour?

OK, back to the weather. It's not that I don't enjoy our winter here in Southern Sweden. Contrary to popular belief amongst those of you who are less umm...well-informed, we actually don't sit in the dark everyday during the winter months. Sure, snow is almost guaranteed, but with it comes blue skies, sunshine, a chilly stillness and yet no rain or wind. Beautiful. At least, most of the time. But, though born and bred in England, after years in Australia, California and Florida, I'm a warm-weather kind of gal at heart. Hey, I will happily embrace the Swedish winter outdoor lifestyle without complaint, but only for 4 months of the year. Tops.

As in previous years, I expect Spring will be cut short and summer will arrive quickly, hot on it's heels. As soon as school finishes, we will just be able to squeeze in my favourite Swedish celebration, Midsummer, before heading off for a break to one of my favourite places in the world, Cornwall, in the south-west of Britain. I've been to many places over our globe, but there's just something about the rugged wild west of England that leaving me longing to return. And since my last visit was over 20 years ago, I've decided to introduce my family to the summertime haven of my childhood adventures. We've rented a great cottage in a fishing village and are heading there for a Cornish adventure holiday. I am recounting tales of the legend of King Arthur to my children, of brave knights of Camelot, historic shipwrecks and secrets of the Cornish smugglers to get them excited about visiting this fabulous coastline.

It is quite possible that we will be the only Scandinavian family in Cornwall of course. For amongst the 5 million visitors that this gorgeous region of England welcomes each year, Cornwall is almost unheard of here. Mention existance of the Scilly Isles and people actually think you're joking. And even suggest Cornwall gets an almost subtropical climate then Swedes think I'm crazy. But it's all true of course. And to try and persuade the Scandinavians otherwise, I am in the process of creating a website all about travel and vacations in Cornwall, written in Swedish. My aim is to persuade them that the beaches and coastlines of Cornwall are more beautiful, and more exciting than any other beach in Northern Europe. I know, it's a tough fight. But right now there is virtually no information about Cornwall for the Swedish market. So, watch this space (don't worry, I'll publish it in English too).