Christmas nostalgia in Sweden

Lots to catch up on this week. Last week we completed our decorating. I cannot explain how much of a relief it is to finally be able to say that! In true geek style, I couldn’t help taking before and after photos...I promise, the last you will hear on the subject! 



So, last week was extremely inactive in terms of blogging and tweeting. On Wednesday morning, I flew to Sweden for a 3 day internal conference. We stayed about 40 minutes outside Stockholm in the ‘countryside’ suburbs on an event type complex. I felt like I had gone back a few weeks to before Christmas. A blanket of snow covered everything in sight. Fairy lights lined the main buildings and garden statues, evoking true Christmas nostalgia.

As the trip was only for 3 days, even the cold, minus 5 temperatures were a pleasant experience. I can safely say I’ve experienced a ‘proper’ winter this year, as it looks as though the South-East isn’t going to get one this year. I had the opportunity to put my woolly jumper, scarf, hat and gloves to very good use (all Christmas presents, only the scarf had been used up until that point).

When it comes to dressing for the cold months, the Finns have got style combined with practicality down to a fine art. In at least 5 layers, including a bulky coat, the Finnish women effortlessly pulled off elegance. Lots of faux fur, leather boots and statement hats where their main fashion pieces. While the men looked just as stylish, again in leather boots, jeans/thick chinos, shirts, woolly jumpers, tweed blazers and quilted gillets and coats. Reading this back it all sounds a little Jane Austen esque, although I was hoping that their very modern take would come through in my description. I couldn't quite ask for them to pose for my blog #notappropriate comes to mind.

It sounds like I was at a fashion conference. Unfortunately the subject was a lot less fashionable. The theme of the conference was about making a difference in the company I work for. A key phrase I took from the conference was, “Work hard, have fun, make a difference.” It was quite motivational. We have a conference every year in January with particular roles invited. There’s nearly 200 of us from the company, from locations across Europe. It’s a great opportunity to meet people from other cultures and be inspired by their talent, values, thoughts…and course, their fashion. 

I could ramble on but I’ll save that post for tomorrow because as usual I have too much to say on it - Tomorrow's post - Cambridge Weekends

See you tomorrow.