On Saturday (13 June) our King Carl XVI Gustaf and Queen Silvia celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary. There were live TV broadcasts from Stockholm most of the day; but I didn't remember until rather late in the afternoon. In the evening I watched a special one hour concert for them from the Royal Opera House, though (also broadcasted live).
A royal boat used only on special occasions.
They were lucky with the weather in Stockholm that day, and had a beautiful day for the celebration.
Down here in the south-west it was a rather grey weekend with frequent rain showers; but I managed one or two short walks in the nearby cemetery. The azaleas are past their prime now, but most of the rhododendron are still magnificent:
And new summer flowers had been planted here and there.
Today (Tuesday) there seemed to be a chance to get through the day without rain, so I decided to seize the opportunity, and called my hairdresser to ask if she could fit me in for a haircut. She could; so I walked into town for that, and afterwards to the pharmacy for a few items. Before I went back home, I also went by my optician's too book an appointment for an eye exam - as yesterday I got a text message from them which was not just reminder, but an offer of a free test (for being a long term customer).
It's been a while, and even if I haven't really felt any deterioration, I had it in mind already last autumn - but then I had that accident with my knee, which left me rather handicapped all winter. (And the optician's examination room is "upstairs"...) And then more recently, I broke a tooth and needed a new crown, so that took priority!
A couple of years ago I was also diagnosed with macular degeneration (but the slow kind, and I haven't felt it getting worse). So I've also been hesitating if best to start a new checkup at the eye doctor's, or with the optician. I had actually just come to the decision that I'd probably better ask about that - when this offer turned up. With a free test at the optician's, nothing to lose by starting there!
That's an exciting event, there is no chance of us seeing royalty here, personally I still don't understand why we have royalty but that's just my personal take on it, have a nice week.
ReplyDeleteAmy, I can see reasons to question the monarchy system; for my own country I can also see reasons to keep it, as it kind of stands for a continuity that ever-changing governments lack.
DeletePlease give my personal congratulations to King Carl XVI Gustav and Queen Silvia. As you know, he is the longest reigning monarch in Swedish history. Please tell him that if he is ever in Sheffield he is welcome to pop round to our house for a cup of tea and a bite to eat.
ReplyDeleteP.S. It's nice to read that you have more or less fully recovered from your fall and the resulting injury. You're out and about - moving more confidently now.
Thanks YP. I'll try to remember, next time I run into them. Alas they're not in Borås all that often - and I haven't visited Stockholm since the 1990s... ;)
DeleteI'm still using a walking stick when I'm out and about, and wear a knee sleeve more or less around the clock (changing between a couple of different kinds). But yes, I have managed to gradually extend the distance that I normally feel confident about managing to walk.
I need to go back to the eye doctor too with one eye not seeing clearly lately. Your King and Queen were mentioned on our news, but very briefly and there were no pictures. King Charles and Queen Camilla from the UK got more coverage.
ReplyDeleteRiver, I should perhaps go for eye tests a bit more regularly now, but with other health issues popping up, I've kept putting off the things feeling less urgent...
DeleteYou got good T.V shots. the boat is very impressive. I was diagnosed with Macular Degeneration as well, the dry kind. I have the Amsler grid on my fridge, and have to go to the specialist for it every six months.
ReplyDeleteGinny, I should probably have been back for a checkup at least once by now, but when it's up to oneself to call it's very easy to keep putting it off (when not feeling any change myself).
DeleteI'm about to move and had to cancel my eye appointment that I've had for a year, because I didn't think the glasses would be ready before the move...so I will get to that in my new town and with a new optician. Here it's kind of up to the insurance who I see, as they stopped paying my previous optician completely.
ReplyDeleteBarbara, that's one of the "hassles" of moving - having to arrange new contacts for things like that... Here, our general health insurance includes visits to eye doctors (one pays a limited fee) but not opticians or glasses. For me now it's more about "getting round to it" than the cost as such, though... Good luck with your move - all aspects of it!
DeleteThe Royal barge is so beautiful - lovely lines to it.
ReplyDeleteFree anything is often worth pursuing. I hope the results will be pleasing.
Thanks Janice - and also for the word 'barge'. I don't even remember what they call this one in Swedish, even though they probably mention it when showing it on TV...
DeleteThe free eye test arrived at just the right moment, and after a year of knee troubles and dental appointments, taking the opportunity for a thorough check of your vision seems a very sensible next step.
ReplyDeleteThanks Ro. Yes, I decided to take it as a "sign" that it's time I got round to dealing with this as well...
DeleteWell done on the walk into town and getting various things accomplished!
ReplyDeleteHere, some opticians have better and more modern equipments than a doctor may have at the eye surgery. With macula degenerations, regular tests are important; even if you may not notice any deterioring in your vision, your doctor (or optician) might, and could recommend treatment when necessary. The free test offer almost seems like a nudge from "above" :-)
Silvia looks beautiful (as always), the colour of her outfit suits her dark hair so well.
Meike, oops, somehow a longer reply to you went off as email instead. I'll just shorten it here to yes, I did decide to take it as kind of nudge "from above" - as well as from the optician! ;)
DeleteThank you - I have just your longer reply, too, that arrived by email :-)
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