The last week has been a relaxing (mostly!) introduction to live-aboard life with Patrick and Rachel. We have cruised around the Stockholm islands, anchoring or tying up to jetties.
The area is full of boats – little motor yachts zooming past, sailing boats, ferries that are the island commuter service, and huge cruise liners bringing thousands of tourists for a stop in Stockholm.
And everywhere, the buoys and beacons marking the shallows.
We had a great barbecue on the rocks where we watched the historic ferry go by on its final trip of the evening and blow its horn for the kids on the shore, young and old. The kids all take fog horns from their boats and hoot back at the ferry. This has been a summer tradition for generations.
We pulled into Waxholm harbour on Wednesday and watched England lose to Croatia, in a restaurant full of recently defeated Swedes, none of whom were rooting for the England team.
In between was some sailing, swimming and canoeing, and finally we dropped our crew off by dinghy to a ferry stop on the tiny island of Tegelon to make their way back to Stockholm.
Give my love to the happy newly-weds! xx