Run Jule, run! #2

© Jule Helmke

Remember how I said in August, that I’m not Mrs Sporty? Well it seems like I haven’t learned my lesson or understood my limits at all. Because when one of my colleagues asked, if someone would like to have her ticket for the Tjur Ruset, a cross country (more a cross forrest!) run over 10km, of course I had to say Yes. Why? That is still unclear to me. The best thing about it though, was the fact that the run was on saturday – I got the ticket on friday!

Well prepared as I was (cough),  I joined 5000 other crazy people and ran through mud, over and under trees and through slightly slobbery moats. I felt like a pig in wallow… And I’m sure I looked like one, too!

© Jule Helmke

The way home in the subway was hilarious! The guard gave me a plastic bag to sit on and I didn’t dare to take off my number tag, so that people knew why I looked the way I did. But still, people were confused and a tiny bit amused. When I came home and looked in the mirror, I knew why!

© Jule Helmke

But now I’m clean again. And after our caretaker unplugged the shower from leaves and twigs, we can even use that one again! Happy end after all!

Other posts:

Run Jule, run!

By the beautiful sea.

What can be more relaxing than a short weekend trip to the sea? Right, nothing. So pack your backpack, take your girls and head to the ferry: Gotland here we come!

It was so windy! Very windy! My hair looked like a birds nest at the end of the day, but it was totally worth it

© Jule Helmke

© Jule Helmke

 

Gotland is Sweden’s largest island and the largest island in the Baltic Sea. But it makes up less than 1 % of Sweden’s total land area! And all of a sudden it doesn’t feel that big anymore.

© Jule Helmke

© Jule Helmke

I really want to go back as soon as possible. Maybe during Christmas time to visit a Christmas market. We will see, or you will see when I post about it

© Jule Helmke

 

 

Brighter than the sun.

Happy belayed Midsummer!

Everyone of you who shops at IKEA probably knows what I’m talking about. But for the rest who have no clue what all the fuss is about, here a little explanation:

“Midsummer day simply refers to the period of time centered upon the summer solstice, but more often refers to specific European celebrations that accompany the actual solstice, or that take place on a day between June 21 and June 24, and the preceding evening. The exact dates vary between different cultures. Midsummer is especially important in the cultures of Scandinavia, Estonia and Latvia where it is the most celebrated holiday apart from Christmas.”

So this friday was Midsummer’s Eve and everyone was leaving for a trip to their summer houses or just gathering with friends and family in a park or at a lake, celebrating the longest day of the year.

Me and my friends met after work, grabbed our barbecue equipment and walked through bushes, mud and mosquitos to find this little piece of paradise

© Jule Helmke

 

A must have on Midsummer besides food, blankets and mosquito spray is definitely a crown made of wildflowers. My friend Daniela had the must beautiful Midsummer crown I had ever seen!

© Jule Helmke

 

A very popular thing here in Sweden are disposable grills. When I first saw them, I thought they were kind of ridiculous, but they are so handy and even a monkey would be able to use them!

© Jule Helmke

 

Unfortunately this year Midsummer’s Eve wasn’t as warm as it usually is here in Stockholm, so we couldn’t go for a swim.

© Jule Helmke

 

But is was still warm enough to enjoy a great dinner outside.

© Jule Helmke

 

After a couple of hours it was time to pack our things  and head back the apartment so that we wouldn’t get lost in the darkness of the woods.

© Jule Helmke

 

Year after year Midsummer  is such an amazing time, it’s the Christmas Eve of summer!

I hope everybody had a great weekend, celebrating Midsummer or just celebrating the weekend.