We had barely crossed into Halland when the satnav decided we needed a little excitement. Instead of guiding us straight to the cottage near Skanes Fagerhult, it sent us down a narrow track that ended in a field of tall grass. My partner and I sat there laughing while the children asked whether this was the "real Sweden" they had seen in the pictures. After a quick reverse and a lot of friendly waving at a passing tractor, we finally found the right turning and pulled up outside the wooden house with its neat red trim.

The first thing that struck me was how quiet it felt. No traffic noise, just the soft rustle of pine needles and the occasional bird call. The children were out of the car in seconds, running straight to the little wooden playhouse tucked beside the lawn. I stood for a moment taking in the simple things: the deck with its two folding chairs, the string of outdoor lights ready for later, and the way the evening sun caught the edge of the forest. It already felt like the sort of place where you could forget about rushing.

Inside, everything was exactly as you hope a cottage holiday will be. The kitchen was small but well stocked with the basics, and someone had left a jar of local jam on the table with a handwritten note. We unpacked the food we had picked up in Oerkelljunga on the way, then made the first of many rounds of tea. The living room had a big sofa and a wood burner that looked inviting even though it was still warm outside. Upstairs the bedrooms were cosy, with proper duvets and windows that opened wide to let in the fresh air.

After the long drive we decided to keep things easy. The children wanted to try the swing that hung from a sturdy branch at the edge of the garden, so we took our mugs outside and watched them spin until they got dizzy. My partner found a deck of cards in a drawer and we played a few rounds on the picnic table while the light slowly faded. It was nothing fancy, just the sort of evening that makes you realise how little you actually need.

Later, when the children were finally in bed, I stepped back outside for a minute. The air was cooler and smelled of pine and damp earth. I thought about how often we plan big adventures and then end up happiest doing almost nothing at all. Standing there in the half-dark, listening to the quiet, I felt grateful we had chosen somewhere so ordinary and so peaceful.