I’m swamped with work and it’s not making me happy – today I had to miss a birthday party for it. I keep thinking of all the great, fun things I could be doing instead – and hopefully will be doing when I get off work in just a few days. So, here’s a list so I can remind myself:

- go to Sweden – it’s only a short car ride away, now we have the bridge between Copenhagen and Malmö. Once there I want to visit Ystad (where the Wallander detective books takeplace) and outside Ystad, Åbergs Trädgård, which is a garden centre and café and the loveliest place I’ve visited. I’m determined to go this year.
- sit in the greenhouse with a cup of tea and a book (actually, I could do this for my break today)
- sit outside with my husband on the porch at night, after M. has gone to sleep, drinking something nice, lighting candles (it’s been too cold for this yet)
- having friends over for a barbecue in the garden
- lots and lots of cafe lunches with good friends who are magically neither at work nor away on summer holidays
- spending a week on a Greek island, swimming in the ocean and eating salads, tzatziki, grilled lamb and yoghurt with honey. I’ll see if I can make this happen.
- picnics on the beach with fancy sandwiches and lots of blankets
- making homemade icecream and storing it in baby food jars for taking with us on above picnics
- sewing – on my list is pants for M., a quilt for M., pillows, something for me… a dress maybe? How about this one?
- bake cinnamon swirls and fruit crumbles and how about that fancy carrot cake with mascarpone icing again?
- go on a fishing trip in the Norwegian mountains
- go for walks in the nearby forest, bringing a backpack with drinks and snacks and something to sit on

I could go on. Now I’m going to go off and do the work instead. And maybe water the tomato plants a little. Anyone out there with more suggestions?