“It’s undisturbable the peace we found
In a bright new space up above the clouds…
…you and I forever, baby, lifted, lifted…”
        Lifted, Lighthouse Family, 1995
I was pregnant with Rory when the Lighthouse Family released their first album, Ocean Drive, in 1995. I remember playing the CD, listening to the opening track, Lifted, and holding my bump. I was brimming with hope and happiness that our longed-for child was soon to join us.
The song, and the memory, came flooding back quite unexpectedly on a trip to Karlsborg, on the western shores of Lake Vattern. The town is famous for the large fortress which King Karl XIV ordered to be built in 1819 on the Vanas peninsula as a place of safety for the royal family and the government. This was at a time when the country was jumpy about its national security. By the time it was finished, 90 years later, it had become outdated: it wasn’t needed as a war fortification so functioned as a training and storage facility instead.
A major tourist attraction, most visitors head for the main square and sign up to watch a reconstruction of life in the 1860s, complete with stunt men and special effects. We decided not to join the others and, instead, chose to make the most of the hot weather that day by exploring the lake path which stretched beyond the walls. We walked and chatted and played silly games with fallen pine cones, seeing who could hit a specific mark on a tree. No-one else was about.
As we ambled on, we suddenly spotted the most beautiful lighthouse a few feet away from the path with a wooden jetty leading to it. Vanas Lighthouse, built in 1892, constructed of wood and surrounded by rocks and grasses and wild raspberries. It took my breath away.
We spent a long time in our secret place, enjoying the sun, listening to the water slap against the rocks and letting time slip by. It was a moment which captured the essence of Sweden: peace, beauty, water and space. And it was a moment when, as a family, we shared something perfect. I shall never forget it.
It looks fabulous and is just the kind of place that would be great to stumble upon ……
Coming across it by accident I think made it more special.
What a lovely little gem, and so unlikely!
Moments like that are indeed to be treasured.
The three of us each found our own rock to sit on..and eat the raspberries!
I want to go!! It looks like my kind of place.
I also love that album.
I hunted the album out yesterday and played it again. Very chilled.
How lovely! And how nice that it seems to be so well maintained.
I hadn't thought about that but, you're right, it was well maintained – like most places in Sweden.
I like lighthouses. And windmills.
There's a fab windmill, Moulton Mill, which is in the village where Dougie works. It's the tallest windmill in the country. The programme 'Restoration' did an episode on it. The top and sails have recently been put back on it and it's turning again.
Oh my gosh, the Lighhouse Family sang lifted that long ago? It seems last yesterday, now I'm really dating myself. I like lighthouses too, we have loads in New Zealand because of the pointy rocks and there was a cool windmill in England where we once stayed. What a beautiful song to remember your pregnancy by.
I know! 1995! Surely that can't be right, we can't be that old?
That light house is just stunning. A beautiful place, and beautiful memories! 🙂 xx
Thanks Emma. It's just lovely, isn't it.
That is a lovely lighthouse. We've considered Sweden but have been watching Wallendar recently…
Don't let the wintry miserable scenes in Wallander put you off – in the summer it's beautiful and no dead bodies on the beach as far as we could see.