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| Hand luggage |
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| Val getting the blog right up to date |
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| Linsey with a cup of tea |
Monday 11 November 2013
Hej da Sweden
Suitcases were packed, extra bags found and we all met up in the hotel foyer at 8.15am. Taxis arrived together with Anta and her husband to transport us to the airport. Check in was smooth and quick and then we waited for the call to head for the gate.....
Last day and night in Sweden
We came down in ones, two's and three's for a late breakfast and then went our separate ways.
Most of us started the day with a tram ride to the Abba museum. Inside we had great fun singing and dancing along to the group. Lots of catchy tunes. Video footage and some photos should be available for us to download when we get home. Others went to Drottningholm Palace and yet others to the modern art or Vasa museums. There was some wondering around the old town and the newer shops before we all met up for dinner in the hotel.
The meal in the hotel was good and then the 'awards' from the tour were presented by Nina who had thought long and hard about who deserved which award. Margaret gave a vote of thanks to Corrie for all her hard work as Captain, each skip said a few words about their team and then Margaret gave everyone a unique gift which recognised their talents, needs or likes.
We finished the evening off with evening class, a game of Family Fortunes and discussions about our first reunion!!!
Most of us started the day with a tram ride to the Abba museum. Inside we had great fun singing and dancing along to the group. Lots of catchy tunes. Video footage and some photos should be available for us to download when we get home. Others went to Drottningholm Palace and yet others to the modern art or Vasa museums. There was some wondering around the old town and the newer shops before we all met up for dinner in the hotel.
The meal in the hotel was good and then the 'awards' from the tour were presented by Nina who had thought long and hard about who deserved which award. Margaret gave a vote of thanks to Corrie for all her hard work as Captain, each skip said a few words about their team and then Margaret gave everyone a unique gift which recognised their talents, needs or likes.
We finished the evening off with evening class, a game of Family Fortunes and discussions about our first reunion!!!
 |
| The 'awards' |
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| Nina with her 'little black book' |
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| Rhona waiting for her meal |
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| The 'steak' meal |
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| The 'burger' meal |
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| Sandra proudly showing off her rosette |
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| Fiona and her rosette |
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| Jan with her gold cup |
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| Rhona and rosette |
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| Rhona thanking the committee on behalf of the group |
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| Corrie and Nina |
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| Corrie and Gill |
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| Abba towel |
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| Inside the Abba museum |
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| Outside the Abba museum |
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| Stockholm by night 1 |
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| Stockholm by night 2 |
Sunday 10 November 2013
Anta's apartment
Suddenly it was the last evening of the Tour and we assembled in our "number ones" for a pre party apperatif before going to Anta's apartment.
We were greeted with champagne and canapes before sitting down to a fantastic supper of cheese pie, venison, salmon and various very tasty salads. Wine and conversation were in full flow, when to our great surprise Anta brought out her favourite schnapps. We all (Swedes and Scots) had to sing our song before downing the schnapps in a oner (not many oners by the Scots and of course the ever vigilant Nina caught most of us out with the appropriate fine).
Corrie gave a moving vote of thanks to the representatives of the Swedish Curling Association for their generosity and especially to Tita and Anta for looking after us so well.
The highlight of the evening was sword dancing over crossed curling brooms, most joined in including the Swedes.
We finished the evening with the last unsung song in the book and noted that 10 days on tour had not improved our singing!
Home to bed - the end of a very successful and happy tour.
We were greeted with champagne and canapes before sitting down to a fantastic supper of cheese pie, venison, salmon and various very tasty salads. Wine and conversation were in full flow, when to our great surprise Anta brought out her favourite schnapps. We all (Swedes and Scots) had to sing our song before downing the schnapps in a oner (not many oners by the Scots and of course the ever vigilant Nina caught most of us out with the appropriate fine).
Corrie gave a moving vote of thanks to the representatives of the Swedish Curling Association for their generosity and especially to Tita and Anta for looking after us so well.
The highlight of the evening was sword dancing over crossed curling brooms, most joined in including the Swedes.
We finished the evening with the last unsung song in the book and noted that 10 days on tour had not improved our singing!
Home to bed - the end of a very successful and happy tour.
Ready for the Scottish invasion
Delicious food
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| Tita |
Saturday 9 November 2013
Scores on the Boards
It was 3.15pm when we left the ice in Sweden for the last time. But we left feeling VERY HAPPY because we had secured the much wanted win against our host nation..... And now it is party time!!!!
Well done everyone, the throwing of your stones and the sweeping for the extra inch has paid off handsomely. We should all be proud of ourselves.
Many of the curlers we met are keen to come on tour to Scotland in 2018 and they should know that everyone of us is looking forward to seeing them again and welcoming them to our country and ice rinks.
Well done everyone, the throwing of your stones and the sweeping for the extra inch has paid off handsomely. We should all be proud of ourselves.
Many of the curlers we met are keen to come on tour to Scotland in 2018 and they should know that everyone of us is looking forward to seeing them again and welcoming them to our country and ice rinks.
Current Total
| |||
Scotland
|
177
|
159
|
Sweden
|
Game 9
Stockholm
Saturday 9th November 1.15pm
Scotland
|
Sweden
| |
Team 1
|
11
|
2
|
Team 2
|
4
|
4
|
Team 3
|
2
|
4
|
Team 4
|
6
|
1
|
Total
|
23
|
11
|
Game 8
Stockholm
Saturday 9th November 10.00am
Scotland
|
Sweden
| |
Team 1
|
6
|
1
|
Team 2
|
5
|
3
|
Team 3
|
4
|
6
|
Team 4
|
4
|
2
|
Total
|
19
|
12
|
Capital Curling
Friday morning was time to say Goodbye to our hosts and head for Stockholm. It was only a short journey and we then had a couple of hours free time before we headed off into the city centre.
We stopped first at the Royal Palace where we were told all about the Royal Regalia. Some earlier kings really liked crowns - there were lots of them!! From here we walked to a bar for a drink and then on to the Gondola restaurant for a delicious meal of baked witch flounder with artichoke, trout roe, Savoy cabbage, white wine sauce and Parmesan potato followed by Cloudberry mousse with almond and chocolate ice cream. This restaurant was on the 12th floor so we got good views of Stockholm by night.
Saturday was a beautiful morning in Stockholm made all the better by the fact that we didn't have to rush too much over breakfast.
We were driven to the ice rink (we had to find the right kind of car to take broom bags - thank goodness for Volvos!) by some of the curlers we were going to play against and when we got there we were greeted by an archway of brooms held by the Swedish curlers.
Djursholms is another beautiful 8 sheet ice rink, with antique sleighs, potted trees and sheepkins on the benches. There was the singing of the national anthems before we took to the ice which was very emotional.
Following a good Scottish win we had a delicious lunch of spiced asparagus soup and quiche with fantastic chocolates for pud.
We were given a lovely gift of brass tealight holders and lots of badges then Anta presented gold, silver and bronze medals to our points winners.
With just enough time to draw breath and being a few (!!) shots to the good it was onto the ice for our very last game of the tour. The adrenaline was pumping and all the Scottish ladies played their socks off. The final score will be posted very soon...
But here are a few photos from the last couple of days......
We stopped first at the Royal Palace where we were told all about the Royal Regalia. Some earlier kings really liked crowns - there were lots of them!! From here we walked to a bar for a drink and then on to the Gondola restaurant for a delicious meal of baked witch flounder with artichoke, trout roe, Savoy cabbage, white wine sauce and Parmesan potato followed by Cloudberry mousse with almond and chocolate ice cream. This restaurant was on the 12th floor so we got good views of Stockholm by night.
Saturday was a beautiful morning in Stockholm made all the better by the fact that we didn't have to rush too much over breakfast.
We were driven to the ice rink (we had to find the right kind of car to take broom bags - thank goodness for Volvos!) by some of the curlers we were going to play against and when we got there we were greeted by an archway of brooms held by the Swedish curlers.
Djursholms is another beautiful 8 sheet ice rink, with antique sleighs, potted trees and sheepkins on the benches. There was the singing of the national anthems before we took to the ice which was very emotional.
Following a good Scottish win we had a delicious lunch of spiced asparagus soup and quiche with fantastic chocolates for pud.
We were given a lovely gift of brass tealight holders and lots of badges then Anta presented gold, silver and bronze medals to our points winners.
With just enough time to draw breath and being a few (!!) shots to the good it was onto the ice for our very last game of the tour. The adrenaline was pumping and all the Scottish ladies played their socks off. The final score will be posted very soon...
But here are a few photos from the last couple of days......
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| Preparing G&T's in a Stockholm bar |
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| Enjoying the G&T's |
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| Rhona with G&T |
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| General bar scene |
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| Menu for the evening meal in the Gondola restaurant |
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| Main course - delicious |
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| Arriving to an archway of curling brushes |
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| An archway of curling brushes |
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| Lunchtime soup and quiche |
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| Margaret's gold medal |
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| Val by the ice rink |
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| Lillias proudly standing alongside her score |
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| Val by her score |
Last curling games
Today we leave to go to the ice rink for the last time on this tour.
We are one point behind Sweden.
Can we make it up and come out overall winners?
We will know the answer in a few hours. Before then rest assured we will all be trying our hardest to play to the best of our ability and have fun at the same time.
Until later.....
We are one point behind Sweden.
Can we make it up and come out overall winners?
We will know the answer in a few hours. Before then rest assured we will all be trying our hardest to play to the best of our ability and have fun at the same time.
Until later.....
Friday 8 November 2013
Results after Games 6 and 7 in Nörrköping
We walked on to the ice to the sound violin music played by two youngsters from the local music school. We followed our team Captain, Corrie, up the side across the top and back down the middle (a first for many of us).
The games then began with Scotland being given the hammer on all sheets. The ice was less swingy but still keen and this helped some but not others.
The results are below and we now know exactly what we have to do in Stockholm to maintain the winning record of the previous tour.
The games then began with Scotland being given the hammer on all sheets. The ice was less swingy but still keen and this helped some but not others.
The results are below and we now know exactly what we have to do in Stockholm to maintain the winning record of the previous tour.
Current Total
| |||
Scotland
|
135
|
136
|
Sweden
|
Game 7
Nörrköping
Thursday 7th November 7.00pm
Scotland
|
Sweden
| |
Team 1
|
10
|
2
|
Team 2
|
7
|
5
|
Team 3
|
1
|
8
|
Team 4
|
4
|
6
|
Total
|
22
|
21
|
Game 6
Nörrköping
Thursday 7th November 4.00pm
Scotland
|
Sweden
| |
Team 1
|
5
|
9
|
Team 2
|
6
|
6
|
Team 3
|
8
|
4
|
Team 4
|
5
|
10
|
Total
|
24
|
29
|
Outer space and out turns
Thursday began in a more leisurely manner having breakfast with our hosts. We were then taken into the centre of Norrköping for the most fascinating talk from Professor Anders Ynnerman in the Visualisation Centre. He and his assistant took to us Mars and beyond with a 3D film showing us the world from outer space as it was at that exact moment in time. You can see us in our 3D glasses below!
Lunch was in the City Hall where we were guests of the Lady Mayor, Eva Andersson, and lady Vice Mayor, Jirina Klevstigh. The lunch was held in a beautiful room with a high ceiling and pictures of the previous mayor's on the wall. There had been 5 female mayors in recent times. Sara Meyer then gave us a tour of the city chambers.
There was time for a brief shopping trip or walk around the town. One part of the town used to house the industry but this has now been transformed into housing and university buidlings (see below).
Once back at the ice rink we played two games of six ends each with an hour for soup, bread and cheese in between. Music was played as we walked onto the ice behind the flags of Scotland and Sweden.
Once back at the ice rink we played two games of six ends each with an hour for soup, bread and cheese in between. Music was played as we walked onto the ice behind the flags of Scotland and Sweden.
The games were all well contested and the details can be seen on the next blog. All I will say here is that there is everything to play for in Stockholm.
We all agreed that staying with Swedish hosts had been great and that they are all guaranteed a bed and big welcome in Scotland if/when they come over for a visit whether it be to curl, golf or just on vacation.
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| At the Visulisation Centre |
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| Norrköping |
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| Lunch in the City Hall |
 |
| Touring the City Chambers |
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| Old industrial buildings now with a change of use |
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| Reflection of a building |
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| After walking on to the ice behind our flag |
Points, Polargris and Pyttipanna
An early breakfast, on a lovely bright morning, was followed by a brisk walk to the ice rink. Because there were no teams available to play against us we played the Swedish version of Points with both Jan and Margaret scoring more than 40 points! Prizes were awarded to Margaret, the Tour Points Champion, with Jan being 2nd and Corrie was 3rd.
Everyone who scored more than 30 points won a point for Scotland. When the extra points were added to the team score we had our noses in front - just! See separate blog.
Jennifer followed the tour tradition making a lovely speech of thanks and handed over a Tour Pennant for the ice rink and gifts for the ladies who helped feed us so well. The Ice men were not forgotten with whisky as a thank you for the superb ice. Four more games to come before the tour ends......
After curling and an early lunch we got on the bus again heading for Nörrköping stopping off at Gränna where they make the famous candy " Polargris". We watched a demonstration of making the brightly coloured candy and quite a few purchases were made. Then we had a chance to wander through the village which had pretty painted houses and a lovely church.
On arrival at the ice rink in Nörrköping we had a frantic change into our finery before having photographs taken (hopefully there will be one that can be used as the 'official tour' photo).
We then were treated to a fun evening of getting to know our Swedish hosts (no hotel for 2 nights), learning some basic Swedish phrases and listening to some children from a local music school show us what good singing really sounds like.
The 3 course meal (herring, pyttipanna, apple cake) was interspersed with singing Swedish songs and afterwards we performed a couple of songs from our repertoire. We finished with a good rendition of Curling Queen.
The vote of thanks was given by Linsey and then it was off to our hosts houses. Some went straight to bed, others had cups of tea whilst some others talked well into the night over G&T'S !!!!!
The following pictures will give a flavour of the day. Captions will be added later.
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| Rolling the candy |
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| Candy 'drying' |
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| Candy for sale |
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| Houses in Granna |
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| Cakes galore in a local coffee shop where we just happened to stop! |
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| Granna church |
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