Why they call the land life real life I have yet to figure out. After almost a week in Sweden I still miss my life on Cantare. The first night in an ordinary bed was difficult, I couldn’t fall asleep, there were no water sounds, no movements and the air was dry and filled with pollen, which I’m allergic to. After one restless night I gave up and returned to Cantare, together with Sandra, Emelie and Alan (from Starfire) I sailed to our favourite harbour in Denmark, Hornbaeck. When the barbeque was loaded and the food was getting ready we could see the first lightning, the clouds were dark and threatening so we hurried back to Cantare. All of us were tired, when we’d finished the wine we went to bed. What a pleasure to fall asleep in Cantare’s fore cabin to the sound of raindrops on deck. When I woke up the next morning the others were barely stirring and it was already 11 am. Alan said it was his best night since he came to Sweden, I agreed. Although I tried to pretend that we were still on our big adventure I knew that we had to return to Sweden again. Back home real life according to my dad started two days ago, the alarm went off at 6 am and marked the beginning of my first work day. 8 hours in my dad’s workshop, welding, drilling and sawing, my feet hurt a lot when I was free to take a shower in the afternoon, I’m not used to standing up that much. The worst part though, everyone that came to visit laughed when they saw me and told me it was time to pay the price. Another thing that has fully hit me is how organized life is ashore, people plan ahead, not only for the coming week but months from now and they want responses to whether I’ll attend a party or not. The usual phrase, we’ll see how the weather is and if the wind is with us isn’t a good answer, they don’t seem to understand the concept of living for the moment. How I long for my real life, life on Cantare, freedom and adventure, when will I be able to get it back?

A last update in Swedish about our homecoming is now to be found on the insurance company Europeiska's webpage, you find it here: http://www.europeiska.se/sv/blogg/?p=2102
Enjoy and have a really nice weekend! /First Mate Sofia

Shit, less than three days until we are coming home, crazy! As I think I have said a thousand of times, sailing and planning don't equal, but we will try to arrive in Höganäs harbor on time the 10th of July. However, to have a bit of margin we have set the time to sometime between 15.00 and 16.00 local time! I repeat, some time between 15.00 and 16.00 local time we will arrive in Höganäs! If you would like to come down to the harbor and wave when we are arrving please be there at 15.00! Thereafter Maria and I are looking forward to loads of hugs and kisses and a party in true sailor's style. Maria has just refilled our rum storage on Helgoland and throughout the afternoon and evening Carribean rum drinks will be served! We are hoping on glorious summer weather but the yacht club is booked in case of rain. Towards the evening we are planning to eat something together and to those of you who have the opportunity to stay the whole night and party with us (which we hope are all of you :)), please bring your own picnic food (and if you want something else than rum to drink, bring that as well)!

Maria and I are now preparing ourselves and Cantare to be ready to come home on Saturday. Among other things, stainless steel polishing is on the meny, Cantare is going to shine in the sun! Until we meet on Saturday there is an update in Swedish about our last adventures on the insurance company Europeiska's blog, you find it here:

http://www.europeiska.se/sv/blogg

For those of you who missed the article in NST/HD yesterday, a new chance is given here:

http://hd.se/angelholm/2010/07/07/cantare-tjejerna-tillbaka-efter-ar

Back to work! Over and Out!! /First Mate Sofia