Miscellaneous

Gizmo was attacked this morning

Yesterday morning when I was taking a walk with Gizmo, we met an elderly man with a dog. The man stopped and held his dog tight as we passed by, and said that his dog didn’t like other dogs. So we hurried us past them.

This morning we met again. I was waiting for a car to pass by, at a corner of a house, when the man and the dog came from the other side of the corner. His dog attacked Gizmo berfore I even realized who they were.

The man were shouting to his dog, trying to make him stop, and I was trying to grab Gizmo. At one time I actually thought he was gonna kill Gizmo. He bit over Gizmo’s back and held him in the air for a few seconds, like Gizmo was light as a feather. Fortunately he lost his grip and just a few seconds later the owner got control over the him and Gizmo could run away. 

I thought Gizmo was ok. I found a little blood in his fur but I saw no wounds. He was walking as normal, even in the stairs.

But around 11am he started to shiver – a lot! I thought he was cold (we have only 15°C inside) so I held him in my arms wrapped in a blanket for 10 minutes, but he didn’t stop shivering. He didn’t follow me to the kitchen, as he always does. And he didn’t strech as much as he ususally does.

So I called the vet. and got an appointment just half an hour later. Dr. Trevor examined Gizmo. He had a slight fever and seemed to have some pain in the back where he was bitten, but was only ihe muscles. Trevor also found a small wound. Nothing serious.

Gizmo got a shot with antibiotics and one for the pain. We also got some pills to give him the next 5 days.

I am so relieved that it was not more serious than that.


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Gordan Lighthouse

View from Gordan Lighthouse. The citadel is in the middle.

View from Gordan Lighthouse. The citadel is in the middle.

Gordan Lighthouse

Gordan Lighthouse

Gizmo

Gizmo

Terrace-cultivation are used everywhere in Malta and Gozo

Terrace-cultivation are used everywhere in Malta and Gozo

The way down from the lighthouse

The way down from the lighthouse


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A piece of Sweden

On the parkinglot near the market in Marsaxlokk a Volvo was parked.

On the parkinglot near the market in Marsaxlokk a Volvo was parked.


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A nice walk in Pembroke

Taking a walk in Pembroke

Taking a walk in Pembroke

Gizmo loves to run around here

Gizmo loves to run around here

Voff! Nice to see you again!

Voff! Nice to see you again!

Flowers on the ground - not a common sight for Swedes on Christmas day!

Flowers on the ground – not a common sight for Swedes on Christmas day!

 

On our way home

On our way home


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Christmas Eve

Inlagd sill and rödbetssallad

Inlagd sill and rödbetssallad

We didn’t have all the traditional food we usually eat in Sweden on Christmas Eve, but Jan-Olof brought inlagd sill from Sweden and I made rödbetssallad after my grandmother’s recipe. We also had Findus småköttbullar and knäckebröd that we bought here in Malta. Kalle found som kind of sausage that looked like prinskorv, but it didn’t taste like prinskorv. The only thing I missed was julskinka.

Gizmo is checking out the christmas gifts

Gizmo is checking out the christmas gifts

Kalle is also checking out christmas gifts. He gave me the Wii game "Wii Fit Plus" that I wanted, and now he is checking it out.

Kalle is also checking out christmas gifts. He gave me the Wii game "Wii Fit Plus" that I wanted, and now he is checking it out.

 

Gizmo and Pelle

Gizmo and Pelle

 

Tired!

Tired!


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Volvo!

We started Christmas Eve by taking our guests on a sightseeing tour. When we left Swieqi we saw two Volvo cars. I don’t think I have seen more than 5 Volvo’s here on Malta, so I had to document the moment. :-)

Old Volvo

Old Volvo

 

New Volvo

New Volvo


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I’ve finally been to Candynavia!

What a day!

I decided to do some christmas shopping today. And so did the rest of Malta I think! I took the bus to Valletta and stayed there for several hours looking for christmas decorations and christmas gifts.

In the afternoon I went to Sliema to buy some clothes and more gifts. when I was done I had 3 big shopping bags in each hand. After spending 20 min waiting for the bus I gave up and found and started looking for a taxi that could take me to St Julians. By then I was really tired.

10 min and €12 later – candy heaven!

I just couldn’t resist! I try not to eat candy, but when I left the store I had bought at almost 1 kilo of Malaco smågodis (pick n mix), OLW chips and ostbågar. Yammy!

Candynavia

Candynavia

 

Swedish candy! :-)

Swedish candy! :-)


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18°C feels varm outside but a little chilly inside

Even Gizmo is feeling cold and likes to sleep under a cozy blanket sometimes

Even Gizmo is feeling cold and likes to sleep under a cozy blanket sometimes

It's nice to have the heater running

It's nice to have the heater running

The temperature inside is about the same as outside. There are no or very little isolation in the walls. Last winter when it was 14-15°C outside, we had the same temperature inside. That feels coooold when you’ve had a shower or get out of bed in the morning!

It’s already started to be a little chilly inside, so now we have the gas heater in the livingroom and the electric heater in the study when we sit by the computer.


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Let’s build a gingerbread house!

Since I hade plenty of dingerbread dough left, I decided to build a gingerbread house.

First I had to cut out the different pieces I needed.

First I had to cut out the different pieces I needed.

Let the pieces cool down.

Let the pieces cool down.

The smaller pieces got a little burned, but it will have to do anyway.

The smaller pieces got a little burned, but it will have to do anyway.

I think I have all pieces now.

I think I have all pieces now.

 
The corners must be separated from the wall.

The corners must be separated from the wall.

So, all corners at separated from the walls now.

So, all corners at separated from the walls now.

I melted sugar and used it as glue.

I melted sugar and used it as glue.

The first 3 sides were easy to put toghether.

The first 3 sides were easy to put toghether.

It was difficult to add the last side without getting burned on the sugar.

It was difficult to add the last side without getting burned on the sugar.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
First corner piece in place.

First corner piece in place.

All 4 small corners added without any problems.

All 4 small corners added without any problems.

 
Corner walls

Corner walls

 
All corners are added now.

All corners walls are added now.

  
 
The roof is put in place. The hole is for the antenna.

The roof is put in place. The hole is for the antenna.

 
I had to add reinforcement on the roof for the heavy antenna.

I had to add reinforcement on the roof for the heavy antenna.

 
 
 
 
 
Looking good!

Looking good!

I had problems with the antenna, it almost went throught the roof.

I had problems with the antenna, it almost went throught the roof.

Almost ready now!

Almost ready now!

Time to decorate

Time to decorate

I'm done with the decorations.

I'm done with the decorations.

Portomaso Business Tower as  gingerbread house

Portomaso Business Tower as gingerbread house


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I’ve been baking gingerbreads for over 3 hours now

I made heart-shaped gingerbread this year

I made heart-shaped gingerbread this year

…and I still have dough left that I had to put back in the fridge.

A few years ago I made lussekatter (saffron buns). And I thought it was just as good to make a lot of lussekatter, so I almost doubled the recipe. Then I was stuck baking lussekatter for 6 hours. I was sooo tired the next day! But I think my collegues at work were happy when I served the buns at the coffee break. :-)

So, this time I made only 3/4 of the recipe. Next time I’ll only make half!

The gingerbreads are ready!

The gingerbreads are ready!


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