Spending time in Stockholm when really I should have been in Cheshire

When I introduced Sally and Ben to each other a few years ago, I really had no idea what was going to happen. Maybe I should have realised really but there you go - I can only hold my hands up and say sorry. I don't really mind that Ben got Sally pregnant, even when you take into account what he must have been doing with her at the time it happened. But I draw the line at Ben joining the family. Luckily, I don't recognise the office of Brother in Law so I can ignore him at family functions.

In truth, I'm really happy that Ben and Sally are married of course. I was really dissapointed not to have been able to go and see it happen myself. I have since seen a video of it, so I accept that it really did happen. But somehow it doesn't seem all that real if I wasn't there to witness it myself.

The reason I wasn't there was because I couldn't afford to be there. So instead I was spending Sally and Ben's wedding day in... er... Stockholm. If that doesn't sound like the actions of a man who can't afford to travel abroad, I can only say in my defence that Stockholm is a lot closer to Tampere. And not for us the jetsetter lifestyle; Ulriikka and I gave a masterclass in cut-price city break holidays. We are a cut above the 20 minute express train from the airport to the centre. Instead we went on a small bus tour of the Arlanda industrial estates before catching a commuter train to the centre. I tell myself that this is a better way to the see the city, but deep down I know that with a little bit of extra cash I'd be on the express train every time. But honestly, the railway cuttings of Stockholm really do deserve to be savoured and not whizzed past.

Stockholm itself is a pretty wonderful city. It's like a fairytale - or is that Bruges? Either way, it was one of those cities that are nice to just walk around admiring the buildings - as opposed to Hull for example, where standing next to a man with a bayonetted rifle is a lot more dangerous.



Back here in Finland, Ulriikka and I decided that organising our own wedding wasn't giving us enough stress and have launched ourselves onto the property ladder. This means that our June will be filled with decorating our new home. I can't really say very much about the place yet as we haven't got the keys. But it is still in the city centre, just a little bit away from the main shopping streets. It's also right next to the main market square which means that I will be able to have blood sausage for breakfast every morning.

I realise that it isn't a very helpful picture, but here is our new house.