I’m not that fond of travelling but October saw me taking two (yes, two) holidays. First a quiet two-week break in Cyprus, followed later in the month by a trip to Stockholm. Although this sounds very jet-set, my husband Per is Swedish so the second trip was actually a family affair.

While I was away it was interesting to see the sort of gluten-free foods available in each country and I certainly learned the value of doing some research (or learning the local language).

 
Cyprus was lovely and it was nice to discover where the summer sunshine has been hiding but I did find eating out a bit of a struggle. Deciphering food labels and explaining coeliac disease can be confusing in the UK but, if you don’t speak the language, it’s just bewildering.
 

I did have a chance to try out my new Lakeland Toastabags at the hotel though. In the mornings I was able to pop my Dietary Specials bread into one of these handy bags and toast it in the hotel toaster without worrying about cross-contamination – amazing!

Compared to Cyprus, Sweden was quite simple. A little local knowledge goes a long way and, with Per on-hand to act as translator, we were able to find something suitable to eat everywhere we went. No time for sightseeing unfortunately but we were able to pick up some of my favourite Swedish goodies – Glogg (a Swedish mulled wine) and a beautiful Kosta Boda glass bowl.

Now that I’m back in the UK, I’ll be getting my nose back to the grindstone but it won’t be all work, work, work. Thanks to Keith, who recommended asking restaurants for their allergy book, I’ve got a great excuse to go out for dinner next week. I’m looking forward to it already.

Leave a reply