Mostly the same, but still different

 This is the town centre of our new hometown. We've been here for a little over a week - the days fly by even though we at times feel we are standing still. Life here is typical of a wealthy European country. Free WIFI-zones in every larger shop, properly working infrastructure in banking, transport and the social sector, and more choice/options when it comes to shops and products than one can cope with. It's not always the big differences in how things are done that feel the most challenging - small things can really get to you! Like when trying to find similar products to what one is used to and realising that oats here come in 500gr bags whereas in Sweden we could buy 1,5kg bags (we eat a lot of porridge).
The weather has been brilliant over the last few days - sunny and well over 25°c. The kids have enjoyed running around in shorts all day long. If you want to see more pictures of our time here then feel free to follow us on instagram: philipsinning, elinsinning
One other thing we've noticed here is that large Austrian spiders are very sneaky. See if you can find one in the picture below... (it's the size of a tablespoon!!!)

Ein, zwei drei!

 

We have now lived in Austria for 3 whole days! We're all doing well, but we're tired and have had quite a lot to do. Our flight went well, the boys did great and we're grateful to God that Matteus wasn't afraid of flying anymore! He walked in front of the rest of us into the plane, and that was that. No problem!

Yesterday morning the boys and I went for a long walk where we checked out the high corn fields and the nice view from up the road. (If you zoom in on the left picture you see the castle Riegersburg on the far hill, above Benjamin's red cap!)

In the evening the moving lorry came with all our things! Everything seems to have made it here nicely.

 The weather here is fantastic, we have high summer all over. Today we've had +26 and it'll get even hotter at the weekend. We've played football both on the lawn and the table... And we have enjoyed sitting outside every day so far, among the many flowers (and wasps!) in the garden. This afternoon we also got an up-close study of a hornet and a huge spider...

 And last but not least, this is our new ride.... We have been so blessed by Philip's parents, who are not only letting us stay in their house but also letting us have this car! Today I faced my fears and drove it down to the grocery store to do some shopping...

 Bis bald!

First leg of our journey

A lot can happen in a day!
Today we became homeless, said goodbye to Skellefteå, drove 800 km and thus completed the first leg of our journey...


Our highlight was the stop by the Höga Kusten bridge, with new creative ways to spread butter on our bread! That's what you get when you move and everything is either packed or gotten rid of...
     

We are now with Elin's parents in Stockholm.
Sunday morning the adventure continues...

Packing...

 

 I think we are slowly getting the hang of it. All that is left of our belongings here will hopefully fit into five suitcases and a little handluggage. (top: tonight's exercise in a relative's home, bottom: a week ago in our house)

Ready, set... GO!

Ready, set... GO!

The first post on our blog to chronicle our adventures - our move from Sweden, which has been our home for the past 11 years - to Austria, which we hope to make our home for the forseeable future.

There's only two nights left in the north of Sweden before our journey south begins.