SWEDEN

Sweden conjures up certain images for many.

The blue and yellow of the nation’s flag and the Ikea logo are likely two of the things which first come to mind or perhaps a blonde-haired and blue-eyed girl; maybe it's a vision of Abba in their pomp, Pippi Longstockings or a plate of meatballs and lingon berries.

And a sauna, there's always a sauna.

However, after two summer trips, it is a whole new set of images that will be indelibly linked to Sweden when we recall our time in this pretty Scandinavian country.

Sailing boats. Rust red clapboard homes. A plate of pickled herring and bread. Coffee and cake with friends. Impeccably dressed families with tanned skin and perfect teeth. Bottles of all too sweet cider by the shore, and water water everywhere.