Happy Midsummer!

More TotallySwedish!
  We are happy and proud to announce the forthcoming birth of our new baby. On August 22, you are cordially invited to the grand opening and housewarming party for TotallySwedish2! Yes, there will be another Swedish shop for the good people of south and west London, at 66 Barnes High Street, SW13. Come see us, have a little browse, a little chat and a glass of champagne. We look forward to seeing you!

Happy Midsummer!
  As I look out on the garden, I realise that there will be very few home grown flowers in the wreaths this year for midsummer in London. Last year there were plenty but this year we'll have to raid the neighbour's flower boxes. No, sorry, that was a bad joke. Stolen flowers are not ok for celebrations. From the weather reports I get from the Home Country, there won't be a lot of flowers left there either. Except peonies!

As every year, there's a scramble to find the best celebration and there are a few official ones, actually the same ones as every year. If you know of any others, that are open to the public, please email us and let us know. We'll be happy to include them in our Midsummer guide online.

To enable shopping for this momentous event, we have extended opening hours in the shop. Thursday the 23th 10-19.30, Midsummer's Eve, 10-19 and Midsummer's Day, Saturday the 25th, 10-18. Welcome!

Midsummer in London; the same procedure as every year, James!
  The Swedish Church welcome all to celebrate a family friendly Midsummer in Southwark Park on Saturday the 25th from 3pm. Everybody meets up in the park by the Swedish Seaman's Church in Canada Water and together raise and decorate the Maypole. Of course there will be the traditional dancing and singing. There will be hotdogs, strawberry cakes and coffee is served, but do bring your own refreshments as well as something to sit on. This event will be finished about 6pm. Please also take the time, if you wish, to join the protest against the closing of this lovely and important part of Swedish life in London. The hammer has fallen, but it should not be allowed to pass quietly! You can find a FB group in Swedish and there may be one in English as well.

The other equally traditional - and in more ways than one! - celebration is the Swedish Chamber of Commerce and JCC Midsummer in Hyde Park starting at 12 noon. Bring your own picnic, play Swedish games as "kubb" and dance to traditional Swedish songs around the Maypole. TotallySwedish is happy to help you pack a suitable picnic basket!

Directions: Take the tube to Marble Arch. Walk into Hyde Park via Speakers Corner and take right into the park following the fence for approx 300 meters. Look for the Swedish flags and a Midsummer pole, of course!

Do remember that BBQs and open fires are not allowed in London's parks.

Food, glorious food!
  For the second year running, we are proud to announce that we'll have REAL new potatoes, as in Swedish new potatoes in the shop. They have a different texture than the Jersey Royals and other varieties at least I have tried here, and none of that slightly bitter after taste. Boil with plenty of fresh dill and eat hot or cold with good, salty butter. Unbeatable! Of course we also have our prize winning herrings and on the website we have recipes for what to do with those fabulous fishes. Don't forget that there is still time to order online as well and get all those supplies delivered! We have all you need, from morning till night, with napkins, drinks, presents, towels, breads, candy and Punsch. You didn't try Punsch last year? Gotta do it this year. It should be kept in the freezer for summer. In the winter, it's drunk hot with split pea soup! Let's hope the weather is more leaning towards chilled drinks...!

Happy Midsummer! And beware of those leaping foxes and Reindeer bridges.