Answering the telephone
Most Swedes will answer their phone by saying either their first or last name or both. People rarely pick up and say hello without giving you any indication of where you have called.
That's pretty useful actually; it's always frustrating when you call companies or other workplaces in the UK for example and someones just answers "hello", and the first question you have to ask is "is this x?".
Be on time!
Swedes are neurotic about punctuality, agendas and timetables. It is considered very disrespectful to be late both professionally and privately. If you are late, do call and let the waiting person(s) know and you will be easily forgiven. Always apologise if you are late!
Good custom I think, except the obsession with numbering the weeks! "Yes, I can meet you Monday week 16." Que??
Calling others
On weekdays you can call people between 9am - 10pm. Do not call before 10am on weekends. It is also considered bad form not to introduce yourself even if the person answering is not the one you are looking for.
I would probably not call people before 8am or after 9pm, 10pm if it's a good friend.
Condolences
If someone loses a member of the family it is common to call and give your condolences. If it is not a close friend a written note sent home is an appreciated gesture and if you want to send flowers any kind will do.
First name basis
Swedes are informal and rarely use titles when addressing one another.
A nice custom, why this Mr and Mrs and Ms in other countries!
Gender roles and equality
Most women work outside the home both before and after marriage (oh, my God, how could they?!). They also continue working after having children (nah, it can't be true!), but after a maternity leave of 12-18 months (hopefully it will soon be less than that, when more dads start taking more of their entitlement). Consequently men are expected to do a larger burden of the work within the home. However, most will agree that the domestic chores still largely fall under the woman's domain (shouldn't be, but sadly it is so). Some traditional gestures are still upheld. For example, men often open doors for women and let them enter first. Men often propose marriage even though it is often a common decision between the two parties without involvement from the families.
Lunch
Most restaurants have daily lunch specials. It is reasonably priced and this is the main meal of the day for many Swedes.
Dagens rätt is an excellent invention!
Monarchy
Although the socialist party has governed Sweden for most of the past hundred years, the monarchy has not been threatened by public opinion. The Swedish monarch is down to earth and well linked and respected by most Sweden.
Yes, we're all buddies with the King. I think the "socialists" would prefer being called "social democrat" though.
Peacekeepers
Swedes shun conflicts. They prefer not to raise an uncomfortable issue if it means risking having to raise their voice.
But if we are peacekeepers I assume it means talking about difficult issues once in a while.
Pets
Swedes are fond of their animals. Cats and dogs are treated as family and live inside the home. However, there are regulations for how to keep your pet. They must not make noise that disturb the neighbours. When taking your dog for a walk you are expected to pick up your pet's disposal and bruing it to a rubbish bin. The pet should get the necessary shots. Nametags with address and phone numbers are helpful if the animals strays. It is fairly uncommon to neuter your dogs while it is more common with cats.
Didn't know that last thing about neutering.
Queuing strategies
In order to make queuing easier many places have a ticket machine by the entrance. Pull a number and then wait for your number to be shown on a display.
So efficient. Lets you do other things while you wait as well, and most importantly, prevents people from jumping the queue.
Talk about the weather
As the fall and winter months are so long in Sweden, Swedes are obsessed with the weather. One can say that it is a common denominator for all Swedes. Swedes love to talk about the weather. Talk about the weather is often used as an icebreaker.
We share this with the Brits (or at least the English) who are equally obsessed with the weather, but perhaps not due to long autumn and winter. Instead I tend to believe in the antropologist Kate Fox's explanation that we do it because we are a reserved people who really believe in personal integrity and the weather is almost the only neutral topic there is. She agrees that it is also used as an icebreaker.
Thank You
Swedes like to say thank you many times through a conversation. It can be hard to end a telephone conversation before both parties have said thank you at least twice.
I have heard foreigners in Sweden say this also but I hadn't thought about it. It's true though. One example people give is when we thank the cashier for our change, money that is righfully ours. I guess we thank him/her for the action of handing it over rather than the money itself. But I can't imagine that this is unique to Sweden; other nationalities must do this too.
Understatements
Jantelagen is a term often used. It means that you should never think that you are better than anyone else. What Swedes consider bragging would in many countries only be to tell it like it is. Another thing we share with the English although they take it to extremes - Kate Fox has many good examples in her book!
Visiting friends and acquaintances
Swedes like to plan things (no kidding!). If you want to visit someone, call in advance and ask them if it is convenient. A Swede might find it embarrassing if their home is not orderly or if they do not have anything to offer you when you come. A need of privacy can also be disturbed by a surprise visit.
At least we still entertain IN her our homes. The French for example, usually meet up with friends at restaurants. When it comes to kids though, usually they just ring the doorbell and ask if X wants to come out and play. This is different in e.g. the USA where "playdates" are the norm, set up by the parents.
Thursday, February 07, 2008
Wednesday, February 06, 2008
Listed Love
I love lists! Three things that I always have...
In my fridge: Lactos-low or free milk, orange juice, Balsamic vinegar
In my freezer: Ice, quorn, toast bread
In my spices cabinet: Besides the essential salt and pepper; basil, paprika, chili
In my bar stash: Champagne, South African Amarula, prickly pear liqueur from Malta
On my kitchen counter: Olive oil, rapeseed oil, salt & pepper shakers
On my bathroom shelf: I keep everything in the cupboard but sometimes I leave out body lotion, hairspray and hand cream
On my shoe shelf: I'm a bit of a shoe maniac so I have shoes in closets, drawers and in the basement, but in the hall I keep winter boots, a pair of nicer dressed up indoor shoes and a pair of loafers
In my basement: Clothes, old school books and supplies, inherited crockery and kitchen equipment I can't make myself get rid of (may become useful some day)
In my purse: In addition to the boring necessities (wallet, keys, wallet); lip balm, work pass, pen
In my makeup bag: Eyeshadow, eyelash curler, mascara
In my coat pocket: Tissues, bus tickets
In my thoughts: Ministerial visit next week, the pillow cases I'm sewing, summer holiday plans
In my fridge: Lactos-low or free milk, orange juice, Balsamic vinegar
In my freezer: Ice, quorn, toast bread
In my spices cabinet: Besides the essential salt and pepper; basil, paprika, chili
In my bar stash: Champagne, South African Amarula, prickly pear liqueur from Malta
On my kitchen counter: Olive oil, rapeseed oil, salt & pepper shakers
On my bathroom shelf: I keep everything in the cupboard but sometimes I leave out body lotion, hairspray and hand cream
On my shoe shelf: I'm a bit of a shoe maniac so I have shoes in closets, drawers and in the basement, but in the hall I keep winter boots, a pair of nicer dressed up indoor shoes and a pair of loafers
In my basement: Clothes, old school books and supplies, inherited crockery and kitchen equipment I can't make myself get rid of (may become useful some day)
In my purse: In addition to the boring necessities (wallet, keys, wallet); lip balm, work pass, pen
In my makeup bag: Eyeshadow, eyelash curler, mascara
In my coat pocket: Tissues, bus tickets
In my thoughts: Ministerial visit next week, the pillow cases I'm sewing, summer holiday plans
Tuesday, February 05, 2008
Super Fat Tuesday
Today is not only Super Tuesday (or Super Hyper Tuesday as it's called this year) but also Fettisdagen, the Swedish Fat Tuesday or Shrove Tuesday or Mardi Gras or whatever name it has in your country. Basically it is stuffing-yourself-with-lots-of-unhealthy-stuff-before-Lent-starts day. In Sweden we eat semlor, a really simple cardamom bun with whipped cream and marsipan.
In the UK it's pancakes, in Iceland salty meat and peas and in Poland pickled herring with vodka.
Lullun in Greenland has also written on this topic today and Beverly has some excellent recipes for a different style of semla (which would definitely not be approved by traditionalists).
Monday, February 04, 2008
Green Driving
Environmental theme today. Five steps to greener driving behaviour:
1) Plan, plan, plan. It's essential for economical driving. Don't stop and start when it isn't necessary.
2) Drive in as high gear as possible. Change directly from second to fourth gear. Or from third to fifth. Today you can drive most cars in highest gear already at 50 km/h.
3) Keep the speed limit and don't overtake when you don't need to.
4) Motor break instead of breaking with the pedals.
5) Roll downhill - and keep level gas uphill.
Other tips
* Keep the right tyre pressure. Higher pressure reduces both wear to tyres and fuel consumption.
* De-assemble the roof box. Reduced air resistance gives lower fuel consumption.
* Use motor heaters. Cold starts consume a lot.
* Don't let the motor idle.
* Service the car regularly.
* Turn off the AC when you're not using it.
* Half of all car journeys are shorter than 5 minutes. Park the car and walk instead.
Source: Swedish Road Administration / Svenska Dagbladet newspaper
1) Plan, plan, plan. It's essential for economical driving. Don't stop and start when it isn't necessary.
2) Drive in as high gear as possible. Change directly from second to fourth gear. Or from third to fifth. Today you can drive most cars in highest gear already at 50 km/h.
3) Keep the speed limit and don't overtake when you don't need to.
4) Motor break instead of breaking with the pedals.
5) Roll downhill - and keep level gas uphill.
Other tips
* Keep the right tyre pressure. Higher pressure reduces both wear to tyres and fuel consumption.
* De-assemble the roof box. Reduced air resistance gives lower fuel consumption.
* Use motor heaters. Cold starts consume a lot.
* Don't let the motor idle.
* Service the car regularly.
* Turn off the AC when you're not using it.
* Half of all car journeys are shorter than 5 minutes. Park the car and walk instead.
Source: Swedish Road Administration / Svenska Dagbladet newspaper
Sunday, February 03, 2008
Another White Thing - UPDATED
SNOW!! Finally, after a winter with no snow so far (except for a powderish layer once or twice), we got 1cm or so yesterday and a few minutes ago it started snowing again. Big snowflakes are slowly falling from the sky.
Update 14:30 - Looks like it may be already melting :(
Update 14:30 - Looks like it may be already melting :(
Friday, February 01, 2008
Show & Tell: Three White Things
Since I have been a total failure when it comes to posting photos from our trip to South Africa in December (to my defence I have posted a couple of hundred of them on Facebook) I thought I'd use my first go at Show & Tell (initiated by Norrskensbuddha) to give you a taste of South Africa. The instructions said "things" but I'm going to widen it a bit to fit my purposes.
White theme 1: Zebras - Just one example of all the cool animals we saw
White theme 2: Black and white - Our visit to Kliptown in Soweto, Johannesburg, symbolises the years of Apartheid in South Africa and the segregation that still exists
White theme 3: Seagull - Represents the beautiful and amazing nature and scenery we experienced in South Africa
White theme 1: Zebras - Just one example of all the cool animals we saw
White theme 2: Black and white - Our visit to Kliptown in Soweto, Johannesburg, symbolises the years of Apartheid in South Africa and the segregation that still exists
White theme 3: Seagull - Represents the beautiful and amazing nature and scenery we experienced in South Africa
Wednesday, January 30, 2008
K as in Killing-gänget
I've been challenged by Johanna to take part in a chain blogging exercise focused on films with titles following the order of the alphabet. It's my turn to find a film title that starts with K. Impossible! I don't like Kill Bill and I haven't seen The Kingdom. So I will go with a fun clip from the Swedish comedy group Killing-gänget. This is really only funny if you understand both English and Swedish but since probably at least half my readers fit that description, it will do just fine.
As goes with these challenges, I will have to pass the torch onto three people. My choice is: Anne, Marianne and Nonna.
Friday, January 25, 2008
Monster Called Haga
Alva's dad recommended a system that helps you track who's been visiting your blog and how they got there. Most of mine find their way here from other blogs (mainly the ones I visit often and some of which also link to me). Others search on Google (or other search engines, but Google is predominant) and for a mix of straighforward and inexplicably reasons end up on Anna, Fair and True:
* Offside rule for women (or offside rule and women's shoes) - This is a joke I posted once
* Is ljubljana safe for tourists - This is really weird because I have never even been to Slovenia...it must be one of my posts about the EU
* Monster called haga - Que?? At least it gave me a good laugh
* That booty shake - I think it's a You Tube clip with a cute little girl dancing
* Role models - A post about my mother
* Amazing talent - That's me of course!
* Celebrities for the congestion charge - Not sure where the celebrities come in but I have written about road tolls several times
* Jcr wii oxford - JCR is the junior common room (student member body and social club) at Oxford, and, well, you know by now what the Wii is
* California's 4 most popular attraction - Haven't been there for over 11 years but maybe I wrote about Alcatraz or something??
* Sweden most popular attraction - Must have been the Vasa Museum
* Durkslag in English - Colander or strainer, but this was actually a discussion in the comments to the post
* Offside rule for women (or offside rule and women's shoes) - This is a joke I posted once
* Is ljubljana safe for tourists - This is really weird because I have never even been to Slovenia...it must be one of my posts about the EU
* Monster called haga - Que?? At least it gave me a good laugh
* That booty shake - I think it's a You Tube clip with a cute little girl dancing
* Role models - A post about my mother
* Amazing talent - That's me of course!
* Celebrities for the congestion charge - Not sure where the celebrities come in but I have written about road tolls several times
* Jcr wii oxford - JCR is the junior common room (student member body and social club) at Oxford, and, well, you know by now what the Wii is
* California's 4 most popular attraction - Haven't been there for over 11 years but maybe I wrote about Alcatraz or something??
* Sweden most popular attraction - Must have been the Vasa Museum
* Durkslag in English - Colander or strainer, but this was actually a discussion in the comments to the post
Tuesday, January 22, 2008
Wiinjury UPDATED
Peter and I have been laughing at all the safety instructions that you have to pass through before the Wii lets you play a game of tennis or baseball, or even a-sitting-down-and-relaxing game such as Super Mario Galaxy.
On Sunday I got a taste of what they are trying to protect you from (and themselves, in case people want to sue). We were playing tennis - we have two wiimotes now - and stood next to each other in front of the TV, keeping what we thought was sufficient distance between us. Apparently not enough though as suddenly Peter, getting very carried away in his efforts to win over me, smashes me very hard on the shoulder with his wiimote.
Monday morning I was a bit sore, Monday night was probably the worst (going to a yoga class didn't help either) but today it's feeling much better. Good thing I have a massage session booked tomorrow.
Updated
I thought for a moment that I had coined a new phrase - wiinjury - but when I googled it I got over 6,000 hits. Someone already thought of wiiplash also :)
On Sunday I got a taste of what they are trying to protect you from (and themselves, in case people want to sue). We were playing tennis - we have two wiimotes now - and stood next to each other in front of the TV, keeping what we thought was sufficient distance between us. Apparently not enough though as suddenly Peter, getting very carried away in his efforts to win over me, smashes me very hard on the shoulder with his wiimote.
Monday morning I was a bit sore, Monday night was probably the worst (going to a yoga class didn't help either) but today it's feeling much better. Good thing I have a massage session booked tomorrow.
Updated
I thought for a moment that I had coined a new phrase - wiinjury - but when I googled it I got over 6,000 hits. Someone already thought of wiiplash also :)
Saturday, January 19, 2008
Nonsense Pondering
Is it just me or have you ever seen Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes's daughter Suri in a pram or a pushchair? They are always carrying her, everywhere. It must be some Scientology crap, just like that barley (wheat) formula babies are supposed to drink according to the Scientologists, instead of breastmilk or regular formula. It's probably good for little Suri to run around, but sometimes she'd probably like to take a nap in a comfortable pushchair instead of her mum's shoulder.
Friday, January 18, 2008
Friday Four - Time Travelling
I really liked the book "The Time Traveller's Wife" and I need something to blog about while I sort out my South Africa photos (though I have posted most of them on Facebook). In addition, it was a long time since I did one of these Friday Four things (the guy even stopped posting them so I had to take an old one).
Theme: If you could wind time back and forth, what would you have done if you were...
1) ...7 years old?
Written down what I felt my first day of school because I can't remember it at all :( Weird, because I really enjoyed school. The good thing is that it must mean that it was a traumatic experience for me (it's not like my mum got lost on the way to school).
2) ...15 years old?
Convinced my parents to get me a moped and to let me go on one of those summer language exchange courses.
3) ...30 years old?
Not postponed things, like posting travel photos or sewing pillow cases (I bought the fabric in Hong Kong in March and... that's how far I've got)
4) ...60 years old?
Retired and spent the rest of my (hopefully very long) life travelling the world, spending time with grandchildren and doing charity work for a worthwhile cause (or involving myself in local or national politics).
Theme: If you could wind time back and forth, what would you have done if you were...
1) ...7 years old?
Written down what I felt my first day of school because I can't remember it at all :( Weird, because I really enjoyed school. The good thing is that it must mean that it was a traumatic experience for me (it's not like my mum got lost on the way to school).
2) ...15 years old?
Convinced my parents to get me a moped and to let me go on one of those summer language exchange courses.
3) ...30 years old?
Not postponed things, like posting travel photos or sewing pillow cases (I bought the fabric in Hong Kong in March and... that's how far I've got)
4) ...60 years old?
Retired and spent the rest of my (hopefully very long) life travelling the world, spending time with grandchildren and doing charity work for a worthwhile cause (or involving myself in local or national politics).
Thursday, January 03, 2008
2007 Summarised
Stealing an idea that is going around a lot at the moment.
This year's....
Daily joy: Facebook, reading my favourite blogs
Gratitude: surviving bad turbulence when flying home from South Africa
Greatest expectation: the long wait for the trip to South Africa (from March to December)
Greatest disappointment: the rainy summer
Greatest joy: spending every day with Peter
Greatest triumph: praise at work (e.g. a very nice personal thank you letter)
Greatest "I wish more had happened this year": a ring would have been nice...!
Most wonderful weekend: a cosy weekend at the country house
Ponder: where to (job) go next
Relief: at least some sort of progress on the climate
Best new contact: new blog contracts, or re-finding old friends on FB
Happening: seeing wild animals hands-on in Africa
Project: Helena's hen party for which I was the co-ordinator, or the planning of the South Africa trip
Trip: South Africa, or Hong Kong
Person: Peter
Piece of clothing: a dress from Sand that was way too expensive (though worth it!)
Book: Snabba Cash
Purchase: Nintendo Wii
Restaurant: the thai place near home which is saviour
Most difficult: finding time to read (due to my Internet addiction)
TV moment: Heroes
Best party: Helena & Tommie's wedding or many of the 30th birthday parties I attended
Film: elephants in South Africa
This year's....
Daily joy: Facebook, reading my favourite blogs
Gratitude: surviving bad turbulence when flying home from South Africa
Greatest expectation: the long wait for the trip to South Africa (from March to December)
Greatest disappointment: the rainy summer
Greatest joy: spending every day with Peter
Greatest triumph: praise at work (e.g. a very nice personal thank you letter)
Greatest "I wish more had happened this year": a ring would have been nice...!
Most wonderful weekend: a cosy weekend at the country house
Ponder: where to (job) go next
Relief: at least some sort of progress on the climate
Best new contact: new blog contracts, or re-finding old friends on FB
Happening: seeing wild animals hands-on in Africa
Project: Helena's hen party for which I was the co-ordinator, or the planning of the South Africa trip
Trip: South Africa, or Hong Kong
Person: Peter
Piece of clothing: a dress from Sand that was way too expensive (though worth it!)
Book: Snabba Cash
Purchase: Nintendo Wii
Restaurant: the thai place near home which is saviour
Most difficult: finding time to read (due to my Internet addiction)
TV moment: Heroes
Best party: Helena & Tommie's wedding or many of the 30th birthday parties I attended
Film: elephants in South Africa
Wednesday, January 02, 2008
Back in Sweden & A New Year
We're back after a fantastic holiday (our luggage decided to stay a bit longer though...)! Will blog about soon - just need to go through a thousand photos first...
Happy new year to all my readers!
Happy new year to all my readers!
Saturday, December 15, 2007
South Africa Here I Come!
We're off for a two-week holiday in South Africa - will be back here with lots to tell and photos to post in the new year!
Monday, December 10, 2007
Feminist Inspiration
I attended a very interesting lecture by Nawal El-Saadawi tonight. El-Saadawi is a leading Egyptian feminist, sociologist, medical doctor and writer on Arab women's problems. She is one of the most widely translated contemporary Egyptian writers, with her work available in twelve languages.
I just wanted to share a few of the interesting points she made (in the order they were raised):
I just wanted to share a few of the interesting points she made (in the order they were raised):
- I don't like the term "the Middle East". Middle to whom? If we call it the "Middle West" people laugh but why? When I go to America I say that I go to the "Far West".
- We don't live in a post-colonial world; it is neo-colonial.
- There are global and local dictators. Local dictators imitate global ones.
- I challenge the concepts of "democracy", "diversity" and "multi-culturalism". They divide people. They are words of post-modernism, which in turn is neo-colonial.
- Condoleeza Rice is biologically a woman but when you open up her brain, George Bush is there.
- Nakedness and veiling are two sides of the same coin = the paradox of the woman's body. Plastic surgery is the post-modern veil, the veil of the body.
- The father (or the [male] teacher, professor, etc.) is the representative of the divine power.
- Religion (Christianity) has caused a split between body and spirit. The woman is associated with body, physical and feeling, while the man is spirit, mind and thinking. Eve ate from the tree of knowledge and became a sinner. Why was knowledge condemned?
- One cannot get away from the history of patriarchy in the bedroom.
- If someone says they are apolitical it means they are political but that they are hiding their politics. Everything is political.
- The education is system is based on fragmented knowledge. We specialise. We are not organised and united. But a physician must know why people get sick.
- We must believe that things are possible. The veil of the mind is the most dangerous.
- God is my conscious. Religion has no meaning if one does not do anything. If one just goes to church/mosque or read the bible/quran but never works for justice, is one then saved by religion/God?
- The religious backlash is a political backlash.
- A woman cannot marry two men because then one won't know who is the father of her children. The father's name is important. We should give the mother's name to children instead.
- There is a difference between sexual liberation and economic and political liberation. Women have the first but not the latter [not even in Sweden].
Wednesday, December 05, 2007
What Kind of Healthcare System Will My Children Have?
Some of the initiatives in the healthcare sector in Sweden are making me a bit worried. The new Op-Ed Dagens Arena - independent, radical and progressive - has written on the topic.
The centre-right Alliance majority in Stockholm County Council has decided to go through with major privatisation in the Stockholm region. One of the places where they are starting is my hometown (where I grew up) Södertälje. According to the proposal on the table all healthare in Södertälje should be privatised, including the emergency hospital. In addition the responsibility for financing and commissioning of the care will be transferred to a private company.
I do not have a problem with private providers of care. What I do not like is when we start financing care through private insurances or handing over responsibility that should remain in public hands. What happens with the democratic governance of the health service and the principles about equality in care ?
The emergency hospital is put in the hands of private profit interests linked to the insurance companies and a monopoly is created consisting of a private company that develops healthcare fully on its own conditions. Simply a private county council in the county council.
As mentioned above, I do not mind diversity of providers in the care sector (or education for that matter), in fact I think it can be a good thing in many ways. But when the majority of these providers are being bought up by big companies or international venture capitalist my alarm bells are ringing.
The centre-right talk about diversity within healthcare, social care services and schools and that different ideas, providers and methods are needed. But sometimes, or really, they seem to be pretty keen on privatisation for the sake of privatisation. Why are private monopolies better than government ones?
As pointed out in Dagens Arena, Fredrik Reinfeldt said in the election campaign last year: "We don't want to sell emergency hospitals. We are not proposing that and I'm happy that you gave me the opportunity to announce that decision tonight." (10 Sep 2007)
But what is this proposal if not selling out the health service in Södertälje? And that is just the start.
The centre-right Alliance majority in Stockholm County Council has decided to go through with major privatisation in the Stockholm region. One of the places where they are starting is my hometown (where I grew up) Södertälje. According to the proposal on the table all healthare in Södertälje should be privatised, including the emergency hospital. In addition the responsibility for financing and commissioning of the care will be transferred to a private company.
I do not have a problem with private providers of care. What I do not like is when we start financing care through private insurances or handing over responsibility that should remain in public hands. What happens with the democratic governance of the health service and the principles about equality in care ?
The emergency hospital is put in the hands of private profit interests linked to the insurance companies and a monopoly is created consisting of a private company that develops healthcare fully on its own conditions. Simply a private county council in the county council.
As mentioned above, I do not mind diversity of providers in the care sector (or education for that matter), in fact I think it can be a good thing in many ways. But when the majority of these providers are being bought up by big companies or international venture capitalist my alarm bells are ringing.
The centre-right talk about diversity within healthcare, social care services and schools and that different ideas, providers and methods are needed. But sometimes, or really, they seem to be pretty keen on privatisation for the sake of privatisation. Why are private monopolies better than government ones?
As pointed out in Dagens Arena, Fredrik Reinfeldt said in the election campaign last year: "We don't want to sell emergency hospitals. We are not proposing that and I'm happy that you gave me the opportunity to announce that decision tonight." (10 Sep 2007)
But what is this proposal if not selling out the health service in Södertälje? And that is just the start.
Monday, December 03, 2007
Age and Gender
Sweden has just (October) changed to the ILO definition of unemployment which encompasses the 15-74 age range instead of 18-65-year-olds. The Swedish unemployment rate accordingly rose to 5.7% from 4.8%.
This being said, according to fresh labour market figures from the European Commission, Sweden's elderly work the most in the EU. The statistics only look at 55-64 year-olds, but if Sweden is already best in the class in that age range, I would assume that the 65+ are doing reasonably well (although I really hope that our elderly don't have to work if they prefer to retire but that they can work if they want to).
The EU average for employment among 55-64-year-olds are 43.5%, far below the Swedish figure of 70%. One reason for the Swedish scoring top place is that employment among women aged 55-64 is by far higher than other EU countries: 67%. The equivalent in Belgium is 23% (wow, that's low!), in the UK 49% and in Finland 54.3%.
The European Commission praises Sweden for its work with lifelong learning and active aging. Coupled with the high birth rate in Sweden this provides a basis for an increase of the work force until 2050.
This being said, according to fresh labour market figures from the European Commission, Sweden's elderly work the most in the EU. The statistics only look at 55-64 year-olds, but if Sweden is already best in the class in that age range, I would assume that the 65+ are doing reasonably well (although I really hope that our elderly don't have to work if they prefer to retire but that they can work if they want to).
The EU average for employment among 55-64-year-olds are 43.5%, far below the Swedish figure of 70%. One reason for the Swedish scoring top place is that employment among women aged 55-64 is by far higher than other EU countries: 67%. The equivalent in Belgium is 23% (wow, that's low!), in the UK 49% and in Finland 54.3%.
The European Commission praises Sweden for its work with lifelong learning and active aging. Coupled with the high birth rate in Sweden this provides a basis for an increase of the work force until 2050.
Countdown to Christmas
My blog has been given an early Christmas present! A new dress for advent and Christmas! What do you think?!
Tuesday, November 27, 2007
Spreading the Word!
I want to promote the blogs of the people I work for - you have seven bloggers to choose from!
Thursday, November 22, 2007
More Pasta for the People
Håkan Bengtsson writes about an interesting experiment in Italy that he thinks should be followed around the world (he read about it in Dagens industri).
A union leader in Italy recently called the low salaries in Italy a "national emergency" and he is supported by pasta producer Enzo Rossi. Rossi grew tired of his teenage daughters wanting money all the time and being used to getting what they wanted. His solution to the problem was to make the family survive on the same amount of pay as his employees at the pasta factory, i.e. 1,000 euro a month. To succeed the family gave up the car for a scooter, reduced their consumption of nice wines and [Rossi] stopped smoking. They only ate out twice a month. After 20 days the money was gone.
His experiment was meant to open up his daughters' eyes but opened up Rossi's about his employees' salaries. He didn't like the experience of running out of money.
So Rossi decided to raise his staff's salaries!
A union leader in Italy recently called the low salaries in Italy a "national emergency" and he is supported by pasta producer Enzo Rossi. Rossi grew tired of his teenage daughters wanting money all the time and being used to getting what they wanted. His solution to the problem was to make the family survive on the same amount of pay as his employees at the pasta factory, i.e. 1,000 euro a month. To succeed the family gave up the car for a scooter, reduced their consumption of nice wines and [Rossi] stopped smoking. They only ate out twice a month. After 20 days the money was gone.
His experiment was meant to open up his daughters' eyes but opened up Rossi's about his employees' salaries. He didn't like the experience of running out of money.
So Rossi decided to raise his staff's salaries!
Wednesday, November 21, 2007
Wiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii!
We've been thinking about getting one for a while and today we did, a Nintendo Wii! 30 mins of play (tennis mostly) and I'm hooked. And I was supposed to bake and blog about serious stuff (climate change) tonight!
For those of you who also like games, here's another addictive game for you: pick the correct meaning of a word and win bowls of rice for hungry children around the world (for real).
P.S. We've got that Super Mario Galaxy game too!
For those of you who also like games, here's another addictive game for you: pick the correct meaning of a word and win bowls of rice for hungry children around the world (for real).
P.S. We've got that Super Mario Galaxy game too!
Thursday, November 15, 2007
Still A Long Way to Go
Sweden may be one of the most gender equal countries in the world, but in some areas we are far from reaching the goal. Some stats:
Women in the 20 biggest stock-listed companies' boards
2005: 16.1%
2006: 18.1%
2007: 18.3%
Swedish stock exhange companies completely lacking women on their boards
Industrivärden
Handelsbanken
Skanska
Volvo
SCA
Nordea
Telia
Sonera
The share of newly appointed board members who are women
2005: 20.6%
2006: 26.9%
2007: 16.8%
Share of female chairs
2005: 0%
2006: 0.7%
2007: 2.7%
Board election committees
Women: 18
Men: 84
7 election committees completely lacked women
(Source: Svenska dagbladet)
Women in the 20 biggest stock-listed companies' boards
2005: 16.1%
2006: 18.1%
2007: 18.3%
Swedish stock exhange companies completely lacking women on their boards
Industrivärden
Handelsbanken
Skanska
Volvo
SCA
Nordea
Telia
Sonera
The share of newly appointed board members who are women
2005: 20.6%
2006: 26.9%
2007: 16.8%
Share of female chairs
2005: 0%
2006: 0.7%
2007: 2.7%
Board election committees
Women: 18
Men: 84
7 election committees completely lacked women
(Source: Svenska dagbladet)
Monday, November 12, 2007
Picture Perfect
I did a test on Facebook called Picture Personality, which had me pick pictures that I thought symbolised different states of mind (freedom, love, success, etc.) or my dream house or dream car. I don't think the analysis was that accurate but I will share it with you nevertheless.
Temperament - Energetic
Your energy is boundless - you are racing ahead to some goal, dream or opportunity that lies before you. And you always make sure that you are two steps ahead of the pack. You move so fast through life that you sometimes forget to take time to smell the "proverbial" rose. Channel your energy into what lies immediately ahead of you and your future will be full of even more exciting happenings.
- It's probably true that I'm a bit restless, always looking for the next thing (e.g. job) or thinking that the grass is greener. However, I do enjoy the moment and don't worry to much about that path to the future, even though I'm constantly planning.
Interests - Thrill Seeker
You are interested in anything that is exciting and pleasurable. You're not afraid to indulge yourself - you live by your own set of rules and don't allow yourself to get hung on what others think. For the most part, you are independent and do whatever you please to do. Trying to stop you from doing something only makes you want it even more. At the end of the day - you live for life's most thrilling moments.
- I am pretty independent and don't get hung on what about other people say or think (at least if I know in my heart that I'm right). But I wouldn't say living for life's most thrilling moments is an accurate description of me.
Amusement - Adventurous
It's a good thing that you are filled with energy and ambitions (that others sometimes find exhausting) because you're continually looking for a new adventure and exciting experience. You struggle with a continual feeling of restlessness which constantly pushes you to the next level of excitement. Once you have accomplished one thing, you are eager to accomplish something more exciting, riskier and distinguishable.
- Ready to accomplish something new, yes, but not necessarily taking risk.
Passion - Physical
You are a cuddle bug - from a warm hug shared with your best friend to steamy sex with your partner, you enjoy every bit of human contact that you can get. You demonstrate your love for others most fluidly through physical one-on-one contact and you feel the most loved when you are being touched. You feel disconnected when you are physically isolated from others. You're a people person and a lover of all things human.
- I'm definitely a social, people-person but I actually touch others (like patting a friend on the back) quite sparingly. I have a friend who's like that though and I've always thought I should be more touching (in the non-harassment way).
Temperament - Energetic
Your energy is boundless - you are racing ahead to some goal, dream or opportunity that lies before you. And you always make sure that you are two steps ahead of the pack. You move so fast through life that you sometimes forget to take time to smell the "proverbial" rose. Channel your energy into what lies immediately ahead of you and your future will be full of even more exciting happenings.
- It's probably true that I'm a bit restless, always looking for the next thing (e.g. job) or thinking that the grass is greener. However, I do enjoy the moment and don't worry to much about that path to the future, even though I'm constantly planning.
Interests - Thrill Seeker
You are interested in anything that is exciting and pleasurable. You're not afraid to indulge yourself - you live by your own set of rules and don't allow yourself to get hung on what others think. For the most part, you are independent and do whatever you please to do. Trying to stop you from doing something only makes you want it even more. At the end of the day - you live for life's most thrilling moments.
- I am pretty independent and don't get hung on what about other people say or think (at least if I know in my heart that I'm right). But I wouldn't say living for life's most thrilling moments is an accurate description of me.
Amusement - Adventurous
It's a good thing that you are filled with energy and ambitions (that others sometimes find exhausting) because you're continually looking for a new adventure and exciting experience. You struggle with a continual feeling of restlessness which constantly pushes you to the next level of excitement. Once you have accomplished one thing, you are eager to accomplish something more exciting, riskier and distinguishable.
- Ready to accomplish something new, yes, but not necessarily taking risk.
Passion - Physical
You are a cuddle bug - from a warm hug shared with your best friend to steamy sex with your partner, you enjoy every bit of human contact that you can get. You demonstrate your love for others most fluidly through physical one-on-one contact and you feel the most loved when you are being touched. You feel disconnected when you are physically isolated from others. You're a people person and a lover of all things human.
- I'm definitely a social, people-person but I actually touch others (like patting a friend on the back) quite sparingly. I have a friend who's like that though and I've always thought I should be more touching (in the non-harassment way).
Tuesday, November 06, 2007
Monday, October 29, 2007
What's In a Name
Another challenge or list if you will.
YOUR ROCK STAR NAME (first pet & current car): Kitty Golf
YOUR GANGSTA NAME (fav ice cream flavor, favorite cookie): Chocolate Ginger Thins
YOUR "FLY Guy/Girl" NAME (first initial of first name, first three letters of your last name): Akom
YOUR DETECTIVE NAME (favorite color, favorite animal): Blue Cat (I like that!)
YOUR SOAP OPERA NAME (middle name, city where you were born): Elisabet Södertälje (not to much fun...works better with English names)
YOUR STAR WARS NAME (the first 3 letters of your last name, first 2 letters of your first): Koman (could be a Star Wars name!)
SUPERHERO NAME (2nd favorite color, favorite drink put "The" first): The Pink Moijito (haha, I like it, I wonder what my superpower is!)
STRIPPER NAME (the name of your favorite perfume/cologne, favorite candy): Oui Licorice (yes, could probably be a stripper)
WITNESS PROTECTION NAME (mother's & father's middle names): Edit XXX (as my dad has a double Christian name but no middle name)
Can you resist finding out your stripper name?!!
YOUR ROCK STAR NAME (first pet & current car): Kitty Golf
YOUR GANGSTA NAME (fav ice cream flavor, favorite cookie): Chocolate Ginger Thins
YOUR "FLY Guy/Girl" NAME (first initial of first name, first three letters of your last name): Akom
YOUR DETECTIVE NAME (favorite color, favorite animal): Blue Cat (I like that!)
YOUR SOAP OPERA NAME (middle name, city where you were born): Elisabet Södertälje (not to much fun...works better with English names)
YOUR STAR WARS NAME (the first 3 letters of your last name, first 2 letters of your first): Koman (could be a Star Wars name!)
SUPERHERO NAME (2nd favorite color, favorite drink put "The" first): The Pink Moijito (haha, I like it, I wonder what my superpower is!)
STRIPPER NAME (the name of your favorite perfume/cologne, favorite candy): Oui Licorice (yes, could probably be a stripper)
WITNESS PROTECTION NAME (mother's & father's middle names): Edit XXX (as my dad has a double Christian name but no middle name)
Can you resist finding out your stripper name?!!
Saturday, October 27, 2007
Another List
1. Take the book nearest to you and open page 18 - what does it say on line 4? "It's made up, it' as simple as that"
2. Stretch your left arm as long as you can, what do you touch? An armchair
3. What was the latest you watched on TV? Austin Powers 3
4. Without looking, guess the time: 18.10 (it is 17.57)
5. Besides the computer, what can you hear right now? A film with Zach Braff
6. When were you last outside last and what did you do? Drove to Ica and bought some stuff for dinner (and earlier today we took a walk in our wellingtons in the woods here at the country house)
7. What did you look at before you began this survey? At the other blogs on my roll (and Facebook)
8. What are you wearing? Jeans and a green T-shirt
9. Did you have a dream last night? Actually something with Britney Spears (who was a mess in my dream too, just like in real life) and Angelina Jolie, but I was happiest when Brad Pitt showed up
10. When did you last laugh? Watching Austin Powers earlier
11. What are on the walls of the room you are in right now? Windows, two pictures with old maps of the Stockholm archipelago
12. Have you seen something strange lately? That Austin Powers film
13. What do you think of this challenge? A good blog posting when you cannot think of something else to blog about
14. What was the last film you saw at the cinema? Bourne Ultimatum
15. If you were a multimillionaire, what would you buy? A house in Stockholm, a green car and a flat or a summer place abroad somewhere (and give some to charity)
16. Tell something about yourself that people don't know? I'm really very lazy
17. If you could change ONE thing in the world, without taking into account politics and guilt, what would it be? The brains of men who beat or rape women and little children
18. Do you like dancing? It's alright but I'm not too good at it
19. George Bush? Can't wait until he's gone!
20-21? What would you name your children, boy and girl? Isolde and Julius
22. Would you consider living abroad? I have lived abroad and I would love too again!
23. What do you want God to say when you come to heaven? "You're late!"
Anyone is welcome to answer these very same questions!
2. Stretch your left arm as long as you can, what do you touch? An armchair
3. What was the latest you watched on TV? Austin Powers 3
4. Without looking, guess the time: 18.10 (it is 17.57)
5. Besides the computer, what can you hear right now? A film with Zach Braff
6. When were you last outside last and what did you do? Drove to Ica and bought some stuff for dinner (and earlier today we took a walk in our wellingtons in the woods here at the country house)
7. What did you look at before you began this survey? At the other blogs on my roll (and Facebook)
8. What are you wearing? Jeans and a green T-shirt
9. Did you have a dream last night? Actually something with Britney Spears (who was a mess in my dream too, just like in real life) and Angelina Jolie, but I was happiest when Brad Pitt showed up
10. When did you last laugh? Watching Austin Powers earlier
11. What are on the walls of the room you are in right now? Windows, two pictures with old maps of the Stockholm archipelago
12. Have you seen something strange lately? That Austin Powers film
13. What do you think of this challenge? A good blog posting when you cannot think of something else to blog about
14. What was the last film you saw at the cinema? Bourne Ultimatum
15. If you were a multimillionaire, what would you buy? A house in Stockholm, a green car and a flat or a summer place abroad somewhere (and give some to charity)
16. Tell something about yourself that people don't know? I'm really very lazy
17. If you could change ONE thing in the world, without taking into account politics and guilt, what would it be? The brains of men who beat or rape women and little children
18. Do you like dancing? It's alright but I'm not too good at it
19. George Bush? Can't wait until he's gone!
20-21? What would you name your children, boy and girl? Isolde and Julius
22. Would you consider living abroad? I have lived abroad and I would love too again!
23. What do you want God to say when you come to heaven? "You're late!"
Anyone is welcome to answer these very same questions!
Thursday, October 25, 2007
A Bit of Sicko in the Swedish Healthcare System
Johanna Graf is always so spot on! I agree with her completely so I have translated her post:
"Unfortunately I have to throw up...
...because this is one of the most tasteless things I have heard. A private children's hospital is opening at Sophiahemmet in Stockholm [where] children of parents who have paid into a private child insurance can receive care. In a web survey carried out by [the tabloid] Aftonbladet it is admittedly a majority who thinks it is wrong with privately financed [through insurance] children's healthcare, but alarmingly many who still think it is a good idea. Maybe they have fallen for the insidious talk that is always brought out when private care is the topic; "But, if more people pay for their care themselves, the pressure on the public health service will be relieved and it can work better".
But think one step further! What do you think happens to the private caretakers' willingness to pay for care they no longer need, or need less and less often? What happens with the strength of a tax system where some, often those who are less willing to pay, do not think that the quality of the service that they are getting for their money is good enough, och therefore join another [health] insurance system?
In the particular case with private children's hospitals one can also quietly ask oneself what will happen with children who are born sick and in all likelihood have not yet been - or would never be - granted a private insurance?
This with private children's insurances is already today a chapter to itself. My middle son gave the wrong answer during a hearing test at the children's health centre and is still to this day, at age 16, not granted a full child insurance with our insurance company. And I have heard a lot worse stories. NO to such a society!
In the long term one could ask why all of us together must pay for their expensive medical training if many doctors only devote themselves to help those who pay the most for their services?
To be very clear, so that no one goes mad now: What I'm criticising is NOT private care, but private insurances. (It is the same thing with the education system: It is not the free-standing schools that is the problem, it is the financing system that moves tax money around in an eternal moving merry-go-around that is very financially unsound.)
It makes me happy that it is not only Social Democrats who criticise these systems. Also the Swedish Association of Health Professionals is a warning voice: "The risk is that the cleavages in society increase, that those who cannot afford to pay receive worse care and that the public health service cannot be financed at the same level as today."
Less that three years to the election, but there are unfortunately a lot that can be destroyed before then."
"Unfortunately I have to throw up...
...because this is one of the most tasteless things I have heard. A private children's hospital is opening at Sophiahemmet in Stockholm [where] children of parents who have paid into a private child insurance can receive care. In a web survey carried out by [the tabloid] Aftonbladet it is admittedly a majority who thinks it is wrong with privately financed [through insurance] children's healthcare, but alarmingly many who still think it is a good idea. Maybe they have fallen for the insidious talk that is always brought out when private care is the topic; "But, if more people pay for their care themselves, the pressure on the public health service will be relieved and it can work better".
But think one step further! What do you think happens to the private caretakers' willingness to pay for care they no longer need, or need less and less often? What happens with the strength of a tax system where some, often those who are less willing to pay, do not think that the quality of the service that they are getting for their money is good enough, och therefore join another [health] insurance system?
In the particular case with private children's hospitals one can also quietly ask oneself what will happen with children who are born sick and in all likelihood have not yet been - or would never be - granted a private insurance?
This with private children's insurances is already today a chapter to itself. My middle son gave the wrong answer during a hearing test at the children's health centre and is still to this day, at age 16, not granted a full child insurance with our insurance company. And I have heard a lot worse stories. NO to such a society!
In the long term one could ask why all of us together must pay for their expensive medical training if many doctors only devote themselves to help those who pay the most for their services?
To be very clear, so that no one goes mad now: What I'm criticising is NOT private care, but private insurances. (It is the same thing with the education system: It is not the free-standing schools that is the problem, it is the financing system that moves tax money around in an eternal moving merry-go-around that is very financially unsound.)
It makes me happy that it is not only Social Democrats who criticise these systems. Also the Swedish Association of Health Professionals is a warning voice: "The risk is that the cleavages in society increase, that those who cannot afford to pay receive worse care and that the public health service cannot be financed at the same level as today."
Less that three years to the election, but there are unfortunately a lot that can be destroyed before then."
Sunday, October 21, 2007
The Super List
1. When did you get up today? 10ish (it's Sunday and we went to a party last night)
2. Diamonds or pearls: Pearls (diamonds are beautiful too but I would have to make sure they weren't conflict diamonds)
3. Latest film you saw at the cinema? Bourne Ultimatum
4. Favourite TV show? Heroes, House, Two and A Half Men
5. What did you have for breakfast? Home-made juice, tea, bread and croissants
6. What is your middle name? Elisabet
7. Your favourite food? Indian
8. What food don't you like? Brown beans
9. Favourite crisps? Don't eat crisps that often but either salt & vinegar or sour cream & onion
10. What is your favourite CD at the moment? Either Salem el Fakir or Sofia Talvik
11. What car do you drive? The Golf my boyfriend and his sister share
12. Favourite sandwich? Ciabatta with pecorino
13. What human characteristic can't you tolerate? Cynicism
14. What are your favourite clothes? Jacket (i.e. suit jacket)
15. If you could go anywhere on vacation? Mauritius or somewhere like it
16. Favourite brand? I go more on if I like the item
17. Where do you want to retire? Stockholm but with flats in NYC and London and maybe some place warm
18. Favourite time of the day? Evening when I just have come home from work
19. Where are you born? Södertälje, Sweden
20. What is your favourite sport to watch? Football
21. Coca cola or Pepsi? Coke
22. Football or ice-hockey? Football
23. Are you a morning or night person? Both or neither
24. Pedicure or manicure? Pedicure
25. What did you want to become when you were little? Lawyer
26. Best childhood memory? So many
27. Been to Africa? No, but I'm going in December!
28. Ever rolled someone in toilet paper? No, I think that's just done in the US
29. Been in a car accident? No, but witnessed one
30. Favourite day of the week? Friday
31. Favourite restaurant? Depends on what I want to eat
32. Favourite flowers? Roses and tulips
33. Favourite fast-food restaurant? Lebanese one I can't remember the name
34. Do you own a bike? Yes, an old one that hopefully doesn't get stolen
35. Who sent you the latest e-mail? Sarah (not counting Facebook)
36. In what shop would you choose to max your credit card? Furniture and design
37. Bedtime? Too late, usually 11pm
38. Last person you shared a dinner with? Shared? Well, I had a buffet with 30 others at a 30th birthday party last night
39. What are you listening to right now? Savage Garden
40. Favourite colour? Blue
41. How many tatoos do you have? NONE
2. Diamonds or pearls: Pearls (diamonds are beautiful too but I would have to make sure they weren't conflict diamonds)
3. Latest film you saw at the cinema? Bourne Ultimatum
4. Favourite TV show? Heroes, House, Two and A Half Men
5. What did you have for breakfast? Home-made juice, tea, bread and croissants
6. What is your middle name? Elisabet
7. Your favourite food? Indian
8. What food don't you like? Brown beans
9. Favourite crisps? Don't eat crisps that often but either salt & vinegar or sour cream & onion
10. What is your favourite CD at the moment? Either Salem el Fakir or Sofia Talvik
11. What car do you drive? The Golf my boyfriend and his sister share
12. Favourite sandwich? Ciabatta with pecorino
13. What human characteristic can't you tolerate? Cynicism
14. What are your favourite clothes? Jacket (i.e. suit jacket)
15. If you could go anywhere on vacation? Mauritius or somewhere like it
16. Favourite brand? I go more on if I like the item
17. Where do you want to retire? Stockholm but with flats in NYC and London and maybe some place warm
18. Favourite time of the day? Evening when I just have come home from work
19. Where are you born? Södertälje, Sweden
20. What is your favourite sport to watch? Football
21. Coca cola or Pepsi? Coke
22. Football or ice-hockey? Football
23. Are you a morning or night person? Both or neither
24. Pedicure or manicure? Pedicure
25. What did you want to become when you were little? Lawyer
26. Best childhood memory? So many
27. Been to Africa? No, but I'm going in December!
28. Ever rolled someone in toilet paper? No, I think that's just done in the US
29. Been in a car accident? No, but witnessed one
30. Favourite day of the week? Friday
31. Favourite restaurant? Depends on what I want to eat
32. Favourite flowers? Roses and tulips
33. Favourite fast-food restaurant? Lebanese one I can't remember the name
34. Do you own a bike? Yes, an old one that hopefully doesn't get stolen
35. Who sent you the latest e-mail? Sarah (not counting Facebook)
36. In what shop would you choose to max your credit card? Furniture and design
37. Bedtime? Too late, usually 11pm
38. Last person you shared a dinner with? Shared? Well, I had a buffet with 30 others at a 30th birthday party last night
39. What are you listening to right now? Savage Garden
40. Favourite colour? Blue
41. How many tatoos do you have? NONE
Saturday, October 20, 2007
It's All Relative
On this site you can find out how your income compares to the rest of the world. I was No 59 million in the world but that still makes me within the 1% richest in the world. Gives you some perspective those days you're mad at your boss for not giving you that raise that you deserve, and makes you think how you can help someone out there.
Thursday, October 18, 2007
Those Americans!
Kids drink too much soda and not enough good stuff, such as milk, so what do we do?
We carbonate milk! The result is Refreshing Power Milk or E-moo, served in American schools but also for sale in stores.
What will they think of next?!
What about a Swedish invention, caviar cream (Swedish bread spread made of fisheggs, which is tasty but probably sounds weird to the non-Swede) WITH BANANA!!! Yuck! Well, I haven't tried it yet and I don't think I ever will!
We carbonate milk! The result is Refreshing Power Milk or E-moo, served in American schools but also for sale in stores.
What will they think of next?!
What about a Swedish invention, caviar cream (Swedish bread spread made of fisheggs, which is tasty but probably sounds weird to the non-Swede) WITH BANANA!!! Yuck! Well, I haven't tried it yet and I don't think I ever will!
Tuesday, October 16, 2007
Early Dementia?
I had this great idea for a blog post at work today but now I can't for the life of me remember what it was about!
Does the same thing happen to you?
Does the same thing happen to you?
Tuesday, October 09, 2007
Yes, Why Do They?
So why do "normal" people get tattoos?
It used to be the thing to do among sailors, prisoners and bikers but now tattoos are (maybe not as common but) common among lawyers, doctors, teachers and other "regular" people, and among men and women alike. And the tattooers were of a similar "breed".
Tattooing used to be the preserve of people who were too lazy to work and too scared to steal. Nowadays you have got proper artists.
According to the article tattoos were popular among the upper class in the 19th century, at least discreet ones. After that they became associated with macho, working class culture but now they are gradually becoming a middle class domain. The difference is instead in the motifs people choose.
That may be so but I'm still not getting one. I like the piece of advice given at the end of the article:
Fashions change but tattoos are forever.
It used to be the thing to do among sailors, prisoners and bikers but now tattoos are (maybe not as common but) common among lawyers, doctors, teachers and other "regular" people, and among men and women alike. And the tattooers were of a similar "breed".
Tattooing used to be the preserve of people who were too lazy to work and too scared to steal. Nowadays you have got proper artists.
According to the article tattoos were popular among the upper class in the 19th century, at least discreet ones. After that they became associated with macho, working class culture but now they are gradually becoming a middle class domain. The difference is instead in the motifs people choose.
That may be so but I'm still not getting one. I like the piece of advice given at the end of the article:
Fashions change but tattoos are forever.
Thursday, October 04, 2007
Wednesday, October 03, 2007
The Different Worths of Tax Money
Continuing on the issue of the difference between cheating the system and cheating the system, Åsa Petersen writes really well in Aftonbladet today:
"The radio news reveal cheating with household services [and the right to make tax deductions on hired services, introduced a few months ago]. Half of the companies called up by the radio station are prepared to write something different on the receipt so that the client can request a tax reduction for household services [such as cleaning, baby-sitting, gardening]. For example, you are allowed to make deductions for hedge trimming, but not for pruning trees. The tree is [conveniently] shrunk to a bush on the receipt.
Minister for Enterprise, Maud Olofsson (Center party) is not particularly worried about tax evasion. 'I choose not to see it as a huge problem. I realise that when you implement such a reform, it was like that with the [deduction for building and construction] also, it takes a while before you have a completely serious market. Before customers learn what demands to pose and before companies know how to act.'
Stop for a moment. The companies and the customers know exactly 'how to act' to cheat. They have read the rules and agree to write bush instead of tree, removal cleaning instead of removal transport, on the receipt.
The tax authority cannot do much to stop the cheating. To control all receipts is an administrative impossible. Maud Olofsson instead has her hope set on 'consumer power': 'It is important that the customers, that is, citizens who buy the services, are careful with posing demands. If we are going to buy these services it must be white, we are not going to cheat these rules.'
What if representatives for the government reasoned similarly when it comes to cheating with [other tax money]. 'It is not increased control that is needed in the social security system. Cheating with [temporary parental leave for caring for a sick child] and sickleave pay is not a big problem. The insured just has to learn what demands to pose on the Insurance office: to never get compensation for something they are not entitled to.'
That would be something. If Minister for Social Security Cristina Husmark Pehrsson said that. No, that will never happen. The Alliance government actually separates people from people. People with big resources, those who have big incomes or can afford to buy household services, can avoid closer scrutiny by the Tax Authority. People who on the other hand are sick or need to stay at home caring for a sick child are subjected to tougher controls. In addition new guidelines are coming that will narrow the sicklistings. Society cannot pamper those with migraines or those who have had heart attacks.
Cheating with welfare benefits is according to that logic worse than tax evasion. "Those down there" are assumed to have worse morale and fewer rights than "those up there". This "those down there" must be controlled, disciplined.
Please set about preventing evasion. But if so, consider all evasion with our common resources equally serious. That Maud Olofsson does not see incorrect receipts as "a huge problem', IS a huge problem."
I so agree with Åsa.
"The radio news reveal cheating with household services [and the right to make tax deductions on hired services, introduced a few months ago]. Half of the companies called up by the radio station are prepared to write something different on the receipt so that the client can request a tax reduction for household services [such as cleaning, baby-sitting, gardening]. For example, you are allowed to make deductions for hedge trimming, but not for pruning trees. The tree is [conveniently] shrunk to a bush on the receipt.
Minister for Enterprise, Maud Olofsson (Center party) is not particularly worried about tax evasion. 'I choose not to see it as a huge problem. I realise that when you implement such a reform, it was like that with the [deduction for building and construction] also, it takes a while before you have a completely serious market. Before customers learn what demands to pose and before companies know how to act.'
Stop for a moment. The companies and the customers know exactly 'how to act' to cheat. They have read the rules and agree to write bush instead of tree, removal cleaning instead of removal transport, on the receipt.
The tax authority cannot do much to stop the cheating. To control all receipts is an administrative impossible. Maud Olofsson instead has her hope set on 'consumer power': 'It is important that the customers, that is, citizens who buy the services, are careful with posing demands. If we are going to buy these services it must be white, we are not going to cheat these rules.'
What if representatives for the government reasoned similarly when it comes to cheating with [other tax money]. 'It is not increased control that is needed in the social security system. Cheating with [temporary parental leave for caring for a sick child] and sickleave pay is not a big problem. The insured just has to learn what demands to pose on the Insurance office: to never get compensation for something they are not entitled to.'
That would be something. If Minister for Social Security Cristina Husmark Pehrsson said that. No, that will never happen. The Alliance government actually separates people from people. People with big resources, those who have big incomes or can afford to buy household services, can avoid closer scrutiny by the Tax Authority. People who on the other hand are sick or need to stay at home caring for a sick child are subjected to tougher controls. In addition new guidelines are coming that will narrow the sicklistings. Society cannot pamper those with migraines or those who have had heart attacks.
Cheating with welfare benefits is according to that logic worse than tax evasion. "Those down there" are assumed to have worse morale and fewer rights than "those up there". This "those down there" must be controlled, disciplined.
Please set about preventing evasion. But if so, consider all evasion with our common resources equally serious. That Maud Olofsson does not see incorrect receipts as "a huge problem', IS a huge problem."
I so agree with Åsa.
Tuesday, October 02, 2007
I Love Frappuchino!
This was the best possible result! I just love frappuchinos (or frappacino or whichever is the correct spelling)! I drink one or two coffees (regular, not frappé) a day but in the morning and late evening I prefer tea. So it's not a perfect analysis as I would say my coffee addiction is slightly higher than low and I drink it because I like the taste and I don't take sugar. It's just my coffee drinks I like sweet.
| You Are a Frappacino |
 At your best, you are: fun loving, sweet, and modern At your worst, you are: childish and over indulgent You drink coffee when: you're craving something sweet Your caffeine addiction level: low |
Monday, October 01, 2007
Proportionality
Lately several international newspapers have covered the fact that Sweden welcomes large numbers of Iraqi refugees. A recent article in the New York Times asks: how can the US, ultimately responsible for the outflow of refugees from Iraq (or at least deeply involved, depending how you see it), let other countries bear the burden?
Extracts:
Many are restarting in Sweden. Between January and August this year, Sweden took in 12,259 Iraqis fleeing their decomposing country. It expects 20,000 for all of 2007. By contrast, in the same January-August period, the United States admitted 685 refugees, according to State Department figures. The numbers bear closer scrutiny. In January, Sweden admitted 1,500 Iraqis, compared to 15 that entered the United States. In April, the respective numbers were 1,421 and 1; in May, 1,367 and 1; and in August 1,469 and 529.
When Tobias Billstrom, the migration minister, says, “Yes, of course the United States should do more”, you can feel his indignation about to erupt like milk boiling over. He notes that given the huge population difference, Sweden’s intake of Iraqis “is the equivalent of the U.S. taking in about 500,000 refugees".
Full article here.
Extracts:
Many are restarting in Sweden. Between January and August this year, Sweden took in 12,259 Iraqis fleeing their decomposing country. It expects 20,000 for all of 2007. By contrast, in the same January-August period, the United States admitted 685 refugees, according to State Department figures. The numbers bear closer scrutiny. In January, Sweden admitted 1,500 Iraqis, compared to 15 that entered the United States. In April, the respective numbers were 1,421 and 1; in May, 1,367 and 1; and in August 1,469 and 529.
When Tobias Billstrom, the migration minister, says, “Yes, of course the United States should do more”, you can feel his indignation about to erupt like milk boiling over. He notes that given the huge population difference, Sweden’s intake of Iraqis “is the equivalent of the U.S. taking in about 500,000 refugees".
Full article here.
Thursday, September 27, 2007
I live in the Greatest City in the World!
Not just by me, but also according to Reader's Digest, which has ranked Stockholm the world's No 1 in eco-friendliness and environmental thinking and calls it "the world's greenest, most livable city". At the other end of the 72 place-long list is Beijing. The magazine is basing its ranking on a range of criteria such as public transport, air and water quality, local environmental laws, energy prices, waste management and green areas. The governor of Stockholm, Per Unckel, thinks the city's green thinking in its housing development is a key factor and markets the area of Hammarby Sjöstad. And he's probably right, because many governments - the British being one of them - have visited Sjöstaden to learn about sustainable housing. (Almost as many have visited Stockholm to study the congestion charge scheme.)
Stockholm can do at least one thing better though. It did not - and I can't understand why - participate in the European Car Free Day last week. If Rome can manage to ban cars in the city centre for a day, Stockholm definitely could!
Stockholm can do at least one thing better though. It did not - and I can't understand why - participate in the European Car Free Day last week. If Rome can manage to ban cars in the city centre for a day, Stockholm definitely could!
Wednesday, September 26, 2007
Unequal Numbers
Sweden is supposed to be - and probably is - one of the most gender equal countries in the world. Yet,
Sigh.
- Only 8% of companies controlled by the Gender Equality Ombudsman live up to the 13 year-old legal requirement to do a survey of salary levels once a year
- Only 9 of the 296 companies on the stock exchange have a female CEO
Sigh.
Tuesday, September 25, 2007
Swenglish
I read a quote from Swedish linguist, comedian, film director and TV presenter Fredrik Lindström about Swedes and the English language:
When people say that they speak fluent English, as well as they speak Swedish, then I want to take them out in the kitchen, pull out a kitchen drawer and say: Talk about these things now!
I think he's so right on! Swedish politicians and officials working at EU institutions and international organisations often turn down the possibility to receive simultaneous interpretation with the argument that their English "is perfectly fine, I don't need it", when they are really not at the level needed to discuss matters properly, or run their own cooking show in English for that matter. They don't realise that they are limited in their comprehension, vocabulary, creativity in using the language, etc.
I have lived in English-speaking countries for five years and work in an English-speaking working place, but I'm still aware of my limitations and feel that I learn new words, expressions and subtlities of the language every day.
When people say that they speak fluent English, as well as they speak Swedish, then I want to take them out in the kitchen, pull out a kitchen drawer and say: Talk about these things now!
I think he's so right on! Swedish politicians and officials working at EU institutions and international organisations often turn down the possibility to receive simultaneous interpretation with the argument that their English "is perfectly fine, I don't need it", when they are really not at the level needed to discuss matters properly, or run their own cooking show in English for that matter. They don't realise that they are limited in their comprehension, vocabulary, creativity in using the language, etc.
I have lived in English-speaking countries for five years and work in an English-speaking working place, but I'm still aware of my limitations and feel that I learn new words, expressions and subtlities of the language every day.
Wednesday, September 19, 2007
Just a Thought
It seems to me that people (read: the government) think that the worse thing you can ever do is to misuse welfare benefits (e.g. staying home from work even though you're not that sick or getting payments for caring for a sick child in the home even though the parent is the one sick as it pays better) while to cheat the system by not declaring (paying) taxes on labour and services (e.g. building work or cleaning services in your home) is permissable and in fact quite understandable and normal*.
But isn't the latter as bad since both scenarios in effect mean that you cheat the taxpayer? Either by trying to milk the system or avoiding to pay taxes you are supposed to pay.
* Especially among the centre-right government ministers.
But isn't the latter as bad since both scenarios in effect mean that you cheat the taxpayer? Either by trying to milk the system or avoiding to pay taxes you are supposed to pay.
* Especially among the centre-right government ministers.
Tuesday, September 11, 2007
I'm a Dinosaur
I really thought I was going to be Monica but for some reason I am like Ross...
I have always thought Ross was a much better character than how they just described him though.
Which Friends Character Are You? | |
 | You are Ross. You're intelligent and adored by your parents. However, your lack of social skills causes you to talk too much and try too hard. While your friends pick on you for your nerdiness, they better watch our for your rage. |
| Find Your Character @ BrainFall.com | |
I have always thought Ross was a much better character than how they just described him though.
Tuesday, September 04, 2007
Democracy à la China
I read in (Swedish broadsheet) Svenska Dagbladet the other day that Chinese school kids are choosing class reps in free elections. Perhaps a good sign for the future, or not...
The article tells the story of some third graders who are choosing a class constabulary, a story that is the subject of a coming documentary "Please Vote for Me" looking at how free elections take place in an autocracy (presumably to be shown in the non-Chinese world). The election campaign is a tough one and seems to centre around pointing out the opponent's bad sides. "You don't have any self-confidence", says one eight-year-old and points out to the class that his opponent cried again recently. "You won't be able to control the class if you're that sensitive."
The Chinese director Chen says he wanted to do the documentary because he expected to see unrepressed, naive longing for freedom, but the third graders, pushed hard by their parents to win the attractive position, turn out to be shrewd political players. One father supports his candidate son by buying the class gifts and excursions and says to his son: "[Opponent] Cheng Cheng will probably say that you hit your classmates. Then you must say 'I have supervision over the class and if I'm not strict they will not obey me'".
The director argues that the Chinese one-child policy means that the children are always surrounded by adults and therefore very early on absorb the rules of the social game. And thus also those of the dictatorship. In this way children provide an interesting reflection of the adult world's values. According to Chen the school elections demonstrate how long the road to democracy in China is. "The dictatorship's values sit deep down in the Chinese society and free elctions are far from the same as when a country is governed by democratic ideas."
Who won the election? The little dictator Luo Lei with the bribing father. The bribes, the tough hand and the speech about the good leader who punishes his subjects seem to have been a hit with the classmates.
The article tells the story of some third graders who are choosing a class constabulary, a story that is the subject of a coming documentary "Please Vote for Me" looking at how free elections take place in an autocracy (presumably to be shown in the non-Chinese world). The election campaign is a tough one and seems to centre around pointing out the opponent's bad sides. "You don't have any self-confidence", says one eight-year-old and points out to the class that his opponent cried again recently. "You won't be able to control the class if you're that sensitive."
The Chinese director Chen says he wanted to do the documentary because he expected to see unrepressed, naive longing for freedom, but the third graders, pushed hard by their parents to win the attractive position, turn out to be shrewd political players. One father supports his candidate son by buying the class gifts and excursions and says to his son: "[Opponent] Cheng Cheng will probably say that you hit your classmates. Then you must say 'I have supervision over the class and if I'm not strict they will not obey me'".
The director argues that the Chinese one-child policy means that the children are always surrounded by adults and therefore very early on absorb the rules of the social game. And thus also those of the dictatorship. In this way children provide an interesting reflection of the adult world's values. According to Chen the school elections demonstrate how long the road to democracy in China is. "The dictatorship's values sit deep down in the Chinese society and free elctions are far from the same as when a country is governed by democratic ideas."
Who won the election? The little dictator Luo Lei with the bribing father. The bribes, the tough hand and the speech about the good leader who punishes his subjects seem to have been a hit with the classmates.
Sunday, August 19, 2007
Monday, August 13, 2007
Impending Career Change?
Back from a week of sun and swimming in Malta, pictures coming soon. In the meantime, I may have made the wrong move by getting a political science degree...?
| Your Career Type: Investigative |
 You would make an excellent: Architect - Biologist - ChemistDentist - Electrical Technician - MathematicianMedical Technician - Meteorologist - PharmacistPhysician - Surveyor - Veterinarian The worst career options for your are enterprising careers, like lawyer or real estate agent. |
Tuesday, July 31, 2007
Sweden: Safe Destination for Tourists
Sweden advances in tourism ranking and places high in the international honesty index. Are the two linked?
The United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) says that global tourism grew by some 80% between 1995 and 2006, and that worldwide receipts from international tourism reached USD 735 billion last year. Population gains, greater prosperity and budget airlines are just three of the factors that lie behind the increase in growth. According to UNWTO, Sweden's receipts from tourism rose to USD 9.1 billion in 2006, up 23% on the previous year. Sweden now ranks 20th in the rankings, up 4 places from the previous barometer. Apparently Sweden has passed even a sunny and hot place such as Portugal.
The magazine Det bästa has tested people's good will by "losing" mobile phones in 32 cities around the world. According to the test, the world's most honest people live in Ljubljana, Slovenia, where 29 of 30 mobile phones were returned. But Ljubljana was followed closely by Toronto, Seoul, and Stockholm.
So maybe another reason why tourists come here is because the feel safe and don't have to worry about losing their belongings!
The United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) says that global tourism grew by some 80% between 1995 and 2006, and that worldwide receipts from international tourism reached USD 735 billion last year. Population gains, greater prosperity and budget airlines are just three of the factors that lie behind the increase in growth. According to UNWTO, Sweden's receipts from tourism rose to USD 9.1 billion in 2006, up 23% on the previous year. Sweden now ranks 20th in the rankings, up 4 places from the previous barometer. Apparently Sweden has passed even a sunny and hot place such as Portugal.
The magazine Det bästa has tested people's good will by "losing" mobile phones in 32 cities around the world. According to the test, the world's most honest people live in Ljubljana, Slovenia, where 29 of 30 mobile phones were returned. But Ljubljana was followed closely by Toronto, Seoul, and Stockholm.
So maybe another reason why tourists come here is because the feel safe and don't have to worry about losing their belongings!
Wednesday, July 25, 2007
The World's 50 Most Popular Attractions
And I have been to 24! Out of 50! Not bad at all! Inspired by Skolfröken (as often).
1. Times Square, New York
2. National Mall & Memorial Parks, Washington D.C. Sort of...
3. Disney World, Florida
4. Trafalgar Square, London
5. Disneyland, California
6. Niagara Falls, USA/Canada - Canadian side
7. Fisherman's Wharf, San Francisco
8. Disneyland, Tokyo
9. Notre Dame, Paris
10. Euro Disney, Paris
11. The Chinese Wall, China
12. Great Smoky Mountain National Park, Tennessee/North Carolina
13. Universal Studios, Osaka
14. Sacré-Coeur, Paris
15. Le Louvre, Paris
16. Everland, South Korea
17. Forbidden City, Beijing
18. The Eiffel Tower, Paris
19. Universal Studios, Florida
20. Sea World, Florida
21. Pleasure Beach, Blackpool
22. Lotte World, Seoul
23. Hakkeijima Sea Paradise, Yokohama
24. Disneyland, Hongkong
25. Centre Pompidou, Paris
26. Tate Modern, London
27. British Museum, London
28. Universal Studios, California - well, the outdoors part
29. National Gallery, London - Six hours without getting bored!
30. Metropolitan Museum, New York
31. Grand Canyon, Arizona
32. Tivoli, Copenhagen
33. Ocean Park, Hongkong
34. Busch Gardens, Florida
35. Sea World California, San Diego
36. Statue of Liberty, New York
37. The Vatican, Rome
38. The Opera House, Sydney
39. Colosseum, Rome
40. American Museum of Natural History, New York
41. Grauman's Chinese Theater, Hollywood - Well, outside
42. Empire State Building, New York
43. Natural History Museum, London
44. London Eye, London
45. Versailles, Paris
46. Yosemite nationalpark, California
47. The Pyramides in Giza, Cairo
48. Pompeji, Italy
49. The Hermitage, St Petersburg
50. Taj Mahal, India
1. Times Square, New York
2. National Mall & Memorial Parks, Washington D.C. Sort of...
3. Disney World, Florida
4. Trafalgar Square, London
5. Disneyland, California
6. Niagara Falls, USA/Canada - Canadian side
7. Fisherman's Wharf, San Francisco
8. Disneyland, Tokyo
9. Notre Dame, Paris
10. Euro Disney, Paris
11. The Chinese Wall, China
12. Great Smoky Mountain National Park, Tennessee/North Carolina
13. Universal Studios, Osaka
14. Sacré-Coeur, Paris
15. Le Louvre, Paris
16. Everland, South Korea
17. Forbidden City, Beijing
18. The Eiffel Tower, Paris
19. Universal Studios, Florida
20. Sea World, Florida
21. Pleasure Beach, Blackpool
22. Lotte World, Seoul
23. Hakkeijima Sea Paradise, Yokohama
24. Disneyland, Hongkong
25. Centre Pompidou, Paris
26. Tate Modern, London
27. British Museum, London
28. Universal Studios, California - well, the outdoors part
29. National Gallery, London - Six hours without getting bored!
30. Metropolitan Museum, New York
31. Grand Canyon, Arizona
32. Tivoli, Copenhagen
33. Ocean Park, Hongkong
34. Busch Gardens, Florida
35. Sea World California, San Diego
36. Statue of Liberty, New York
37. The Vatican, Rome
38. The Opera House, Sydney
39. Colosseum, Rome
40. American Museum of Natural History, New York
41. Grauman's Chinese Theater, Hollywood - Well, outside
42. Empire State Building, New York
43. Natural History Museum, London
44. London Eye, London
45. Versailles, Paris
46. Yosemite nationalpark, California
47. The Pyramides in Giza, Cairo
48. Pompeji, Italy
49. The Hermitage, St Petersburg
50. Taj Mahal, India
Friday, July 20, 2007
Friday Four
Theme: Favourite quotes
What is your favourite quote about...
1) ...love?
Love doesn't sit there like a stone. It has to be made like bread; remade all the time,...made new. - Le Guin
2) ...life?
Play for more than you can afford to lose and you will learn the game.
- Winston Churchill
3) ...death?
'til death do us apart.
4) ...happiness?
Happiness does not depend on outward things, but on the way we see them.
- Leo Tolstoy
What is your favourite quote about...
1) ...love?
Love doesn't sit there like a stone. It has to be made like bread; remade all the time,...made new. - Le Guin
2) ...life?
Play for more than you can afford to lose and you will learn the game.
- Winston Churchill
3) ...death?
'til death do us apart.
4) ...happiness?
Happiness does not depend on outward things, but on the way we see them.
- Leo Tolstoy
Wednesday, July 18, 2007
The World Is a Sick, Sick Place
I read in Financial Times the other day that the World Food Programme, the UN's organ to fight starvation in the world, has difficulty to balance its budget. One reason is that the price of grains is increasing, as a result of increased demand for bio-fuels in the developed world. Crops that earlier have gone to starving people in countries such as Chad and Etiophia now go to changeover the western world's transport to environmentally friendly.
I.e. the West is now going to burn what others want to eat.
The changeover from oil dependance to other fuels is of course important, but are we going to do it at the expense of efforts to alleviate starvation? There must be some way to reconcile the work to reduce poverty and starvation and the work for a better environment!
I.e. the West is now going to burn what others want to eat.
The changeover from oil dependance to other fuels is of course important, but are we going to do it at the expense of efforts to alleviate starvation? There must be some way to reconcile the work to reduce poverty and starvation and the work for a better environment!
Monday, July 16, 2007
Listed
Entertained myself with these questions at work today.
1. What did you think when you saw yourself in the mirror for the first time this morning?
I look tired. Why do I never go to bed at a decent hour on Sundays.
2. How much cash do you have on you?
200-300 kr which is rare because most of the time I carry hardly any cash
3. What word rhymes with "test"?
Quest
4. Favourite planet?
Tellus
5. Who is no 4 on your missed call list on your mobile?
Some number I don't recognise and they didn't leave a message...
6. What is your favourite ring tune on your mobile?
I just use one of the complimentary. Not too bothered about changing ring tunes.
7. What are you wearing on your upper body right now?
One of my favourite summer tops, bought at Principles in the UK. It's aubergine with green and pink flowers
8. Do you put lables on yourself?
No, and not on other people either
9. What is the brand of the shoes you are wearing right now?
Oscaria or similar (the tag has been somewhat worn out)
10. A light or a dark room?
Design-wise I like light rooms, both light coming through the windows and light base colours but with elements of colour through pillows, curtains, paintings, etc. I don't like the completely white design style! I can also sleep pretty well when it is light if I make myself used to it.
11. What did you do at midnight?
Slept, but I went to sleep just half an hour or so before midnight
12. What does it say in your last received text message?
"Okay, I'll be in touch"
13. Where is the Seven Eleven nearest to you?
Artellerigatan at the corner of Valhallavägen
14. Which expression do you use most?
I use "like" and "I mean" way too much
15. To whom did you say "I love you" most recently?
Peter. But one of my favourite little girls, Ester (friend's daughter) said to her mum "I love Anna" the other day! So sweet!
16. Which furry thing did you touch most recently?
A cat at Peter's parents old summer house on Saturday
17. How many different kinds of drugs have you used in the last three days?
White and red wine and some Bacardi Apple
18. How many rolls of film are laying around waiting to be developed?
None
19. What age has been the best so far?
It's just getting better every year!
20. Your worst enemy?
No one that I know of
21. What is your desk top image right now?
At work, the required background (cannot choose), at home some Stockholm archipelago picture
22. What was the last thing you said to someone?
Talked about some remote place in the archipelago with a colleague
23. One million dollars or the ability to fly?
The money. Then I could donate to worthwhile causes, pay off my student debts, travel to all the places I haven't been to yet, and buy my dream house.
24. Do you like someone special a little bit extra right now?
Besides Peter, a British MP who sent me a very nice letter as a thank you for organising such a good study visit for them in Stockholm.
25. The last song you listened to?
Don't know the name of the song but something on one of Peter's 2,000 LPs!
1. What did you think when you saw yourself in the mirror for the first time this morning?
I look tired. Why do I never go to bed at a decent hour on Sundays.
2. How much cash do you have on you?
200-300 kr which is rare because most of the time I carry hardly any cash
3. What word rhymes with "test"?
Quest
4. Favourite planet?
Tellus
5. Who is no 4 on your missed call list on your mobile?
Some number I don't recognise and they didn't leave a message...
6. What is your favourite ring tune on your mobile?
I just use one of the complimentary. Not too bothered about changing ring tunes.
7. What are you wearing on your upper body right now?
One of my favourite summer tops, bought at Principles in the UK. It's aubergine with green and pink flowers
8. Do you put lables on yourself?
No, and not on other people either
9. What is the brand of the shoes you are wearing right now?
Oscaria or similar (the tag has been somewhat worn out)
10. A light or a dark room?
Design-wise I like light rooms, both light coming through the windows and light base colours but with elements of colour through pillows, curtains, paintings, etc. I don't like the completely white design style! I can also sleep pretty well when it is light if I make myself used to it.
11. What did you do at midnight?
Slept, but I went to sleep just half an hour or so before midnight
12. What does it say in your last received text message?
"Okay, I'll be in touch"
13. Where is the Seven Eleven nearest to you?
Artellerigatan at the corner of Valhallavägen
14. Which expression do you use most?
I use "like" and "I mean" way too much
15. To whom did you say "I love you" most recently?
Peter. But one of my favourite little girls, Ester (friend's daughter) said to her mum "I love Anna" the other day! So sweet!
16. Which furry thing did you touch most recently?
A cat at Peter's parents old summer house on Saturday
17. How many different kinds of drugs have you used in the last three days?
White and red wine and some Bacardi Apple
18. How many rolls of film are laying around waiting to be developed?
None
19. What age has been the best so far?
It's just getting better every year!
20. Your worst enemy?
No one that I know of
21. What is your desk top image right now?
At work, the required background (cannot choose), at home some Stockholm archipelago picture
22. What was the last thing you said to someone?
Talked about some remote place in the archipelago with a colleague
23. One million dollars or the ability to fly?
The money. Then I could donate to worthwhile causes, pay off my student debts, travel to all the places I haven't been to yet, and buy my dream house.
24. Do you like someone special a little bit extra right now?
Besides Peter, a British MP who sent me a very nice letter as a thank you for organising such a good study visit for them in Stockholm.
25. The last song you listened to?
Don't know the name of the song but something on one of Peter's 2,000 LPs!
Friday, June 29, 2007
Making Up For Old Sins
Since I have been neglecting my blog lately, due a new-found love, eh...addiction, to Facebook, I feel like I have to post twice in the same day.
Today's Friday Four - Theme: Current Opinions
What do you believe/think/feel about...
1) ... Paris Hilton getting out of jail?
I don't care too much except that I'm glad she had to go to jail like a non-celebrity would have had to do, had s/he been guilty of drink driving (wihout a license!). It felt rather short though but hopefully she learned a lesson and will never do it again.
2) ...Spice Girls temporarily getting back together for a reunion tour?
Great! Probably the tickets will be impossible to get and/or obscenely expensive, but it would be fun to witness it. I once saw them in concert back in...1999 I think, just a little bit before they split up. Didn't really plan it but a friend of mine called me 3 days before the concert and asked if I would go instead of another friend. We pulled up the average age in the arena by far but it was fun!
3) ...the release of iPhone in the USA?
Fun for those who want it but I don't care. Don't think I will get one this year. I would never queue for days for anything.
4) ...that it seemed to have rained so far this summer?
Well, lately it has but before that it was pretty nice. Even 30'C for a while. I don't complain too much about the weather - hot or cold, dry or wet - what's the point? You just get annoyed and stressed in vain.
Today's Friday Four - Theme: Current Opinions
What do you believe/think/feel about...
1) ... Paris Hilton getting out of jail?
I don't care too much except that I'm glad she had to go to jail like a non-celebrity would have had to do, had s/he been guilty of drink driving (wihout a license!). It felt rather short though but hopefully she learned a lesson and will never do it again.
2) ...Spice Girls temporarily getting back together for a reunion tour?
Great! Probably the tickets will be impossible to get and/or obscenely expensive, but it would be fun to witness it. I once saw them in concert back in...1999 I think, just a little bit before they split up. Didn't really plan it but a friend of mine called me 3 days before the concert and asked if I would go instead of another friend. We pulled up the average age in the arena by far but it was fun!
3) ...the release of iPhone in the USA?
Fun for those who want it but I don't care. Don't think I will get one this year. I would never queue for days for anything.
4) ...that it seemed to have rained so far this summer?
Well, lately it has but before that it was pretty nice. Even 30'C for a while. I don't complain too much about the weather - hot or cold, dry or wet - what's the point? You just get annoyed and stressed in vain.
Is It Just Me...
...or aren't Gordon Brown and Monty Python member Terry Jones really the same person?!
Tuesday, June 12, 2007
High Up In the Sky
Luckily we had our adventure already a week before Upp & Ner really lived up to its slogan "go on the adventure of your lifetime"! (For those of you who don't understand the Swedish in the article, the balloons were caught in sudden bad weather) Our trip went really smoothly, we hardly had any wind even and made it 2 km in 1 hour! But it was fun anyway, everything from having to put the balloon together to the view from 400 metres up in the sky!
Friday, June 01, 2007
When Is It Going to Be Summer?!*
Theme: Summer feelings
* The weather has been very autumn-like lately
1) Do you feel bad if staying inside on a sunny day?
Definitely! I have to take a walk, at least. It's okay if I'm at work but on the weekend I get very anxious.
2) When does summer begin and end according to you?
Summer starts around this time. I can't really go after when I take summer vacation because that's towards August. I like to take vacation towards the end of the summer because there are so many holidays in the spring anyway, like a Friday or Monday off here and there. In autumn there are none so taking vacation in August is perfect. Usually the weather in Sweden is pretty good in August while it can be rather chilly still in May-June. In September it starts being late summer and October is definitely autumn.
3) What things are a must for you for it to be a "real" summer?
Long days with sunlight until midnight, swimming, skirts and summer shoes, lots of grilled food, cutting the grass
4) Did you ever not long for summer?
Not that I can remember, perhaps when I had to leave a boyfriend behind and have a long-distance relationship for a while.
* The weather has been very autumn-like lately
1) Do you feel bad if staying inside on a sunny day?
Definitely! I have to take a walk, at least. It's okay if I'm at work but on the weekend I get very anxious.
2) When does summer begin and end according to you?
Summer starts around this time. I can't really go after when I take summer vacation because that's towards August. I like to take vacation towards the end of the summer because there are so many holidays in the spring anyway, like a Friday or Monday off here and there. In autumn there are none so taking vacation in August is perfect. Usually the weather in Sweden is pretty good in August while it can be rather chilly still in May-June. In September it starts being late summer and October is definitely autumn.
3) What things are a must for you for it to be a "real" summer?
Long days with sunlight until midnight, swimming, skirts and summer shoes, lots of grilled food, cutting the grass
4) Did you ever not long for summer?
Not that I can remember, perhaps when I had to leave a boyfriend behind and have a long-distance relationship for a while.
Wednesday, May 23, 2007
Phew!
| You Belong in the UK |
 Blimey! A little proper, a little saucy. You're so witty and charming... No one notices your curry breath |
Tuesday, May 22, 2007
Competitive Sweden
The IMD World Competitiveness Yearbook 2007 was published last week. IMD ranks Sweden no 9 out of 55 countries, a pretty good grade in my opinion! The comparison is based on 323 competitiveness criteria. The US comes in first like last year and in the EU Luxembourg scores highest (no 4 overall). In the Nordic region Denmark beats Sweden by four places and Norway can be found at no 13, followed by Germany (16), the UK (20) and France (28).
Thursday, May 17, 2007
Name Game
Name theme that I "stole" from Skolfröken:
1. What does your name mean?
The name Anna is biblical and comes from the Hebrew Hannah. It means mercy or the endowed. In several languages the name is used as slang for mother. Virgin Mary's mother was the holy Anna.
2. How old is it?
Old. It originates from before biblical times and has been one of the most common names in the Nordic countries since the Middle Ages.
3. How many share your name?
Loads. It is the most common name in Sweden at the moment. For women that is. There are 310,000 women and 5 men called Anna. It's one of those names which may not be the top name given to newborns every year but it keeps being in the top hundred throughout generations.
4. Why did you get this name?
The working name was Vilda Matilda (because I kicked so much) but luckily my parents came to their senses. Nothing wrong with Matilda but I think I'm much more an Anna. There have been Annas in the family (obviously, considering the history of the name mentioned above) and I suppose they just thought it was pretty too.
5. What do you think about your name?
Have never really reflected on it too much. I remember thinking when I was little that I was happy with a simple, common but beautiful name, especially since I had a very rare surname. But I want to give my future children more unusual (or less common) names.
6. Do you have a nickname?
Not really. I guess Anna Panna as a child and variants of my surname but nothing that has stuck. My British (Armenina) friend Anoushka calls me Ans.
7. What do you want to be called if you could choose?
I'm pretty happy with Anna. When I was little I probably wanted to be called all the different names I gave my dolls and Barbies.
1. What does your name mean?
The name Anna is biblical and comes from the Hebrew Hannah. It means mercy or the endowed. In several languages the name is used as slang for mother. Virgin Mary's mother was the holy Anna.
2. How old is it?
Old. It originates from before biblical times and has been one of the most common names in the Nordic countries since the Middle Ages.
3. How many share your name?
Loads. It is the most common name in Sweden at the moment. For women that is. There are 310,000 women and 5 men called Anna. It's one of those names which may not be the top name given to newborns every year but it keeps being in the top hundred throughout generations.
4. Why did you get this name?
The working name was Vilda Matilda (because I kicked so much) but luckily my parents came to their senses. Nothing wrong with Matilda but I think I'm much more an Anna. There have been Annas in the family (obviously, considering the history of the name mentioned above) and I suppose they just thought it was pretty too.
5. What do you think about your name?
Have never really reflected on it too much. I remember thinking when I was little that I was happy with a simple, common but beautiful name, especially since I had a very rare surname. But I want to give my future children more unusual (or less common) names.
6. Do you have a nickname?
Not really. I guess Anna Panna as a child and variants of my surname but nothing that has stuck. My British (Armenina) friend Anoushka calls me Ans.
7. What do you want to be called if you could choose?
I'm pretty happy with Anna. When I was little I probably wanted to be called all the different names I gave my dolls and Barbies.
Monday, May 07, 2007
Hong Kong photos!
We have FINALLY posted the photos from our Hong Kong (and Macau) trip! There are lots of them so I advise you to look at the index pages and just loading the ones you think look interesting. Enjoy!
Sunday, April 22, 2007
Five Books
I hardly read these days (just look under the heading "Reading" to the right, which hasn't changed for ages...) but I want to get back into the habit and I used to read a lot a few years ago...so I guess I can continue the list of five weird books that Malin has created (reached me via Skolfröken).
So the theme is "weird" or "wacko" books. Name five books that you thought were the most curious, different, stranger or crazy in terms of content or language or both. They do not have to bad but made you raise your eyebrow or smile in pure astonishment.
1. A heartbreaking Work of a Staggering Genious by Dave Eggers - One of the best books I have ever read! Don't miss reading the small print on the title page or even before that in the book, and look out for a picture of a stapler! It's also a biographical account which makes it all the more interesting. His second book about two friends travelling to Senegal is not as good but probably stranger.
2. Everything is Illuminated by Jonathan Safran Foer - Just saw the film last week and it was good but not as good as the book, of course. The Ukrainian guide's (ab)use of the English language is priceless! I haven't read his second book Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close but it's sitting on the shelf waiting to be read.
3. The Narnia series by C. S. Lewis - Didn't really like them. I guess I'm not much for fantasy in general and I just thought animals with human heads and other weird creatures were scary.
4. Rabbit is Rich by John Updike - I think Updike can write the longest sentences; often more than a page long. The things Rabbit does or thinks are pretty strange too.
5. The Black Book by Orhan Pamuk - Pamuk starts telling a story but digresses so many times so the next part of the story comes a couple of chapters later. But I guess that's why he is a Nobel prize winner.
So the theme is "weird" or "wacko" books. Name five books that you thought were the most curious, different, stranger or crazy in terms of content or language or both. They do not have to bad but made you raise your eyebrow or smile in pure astonishment.
1. A heartbreaking Work of a Staggering Genious by Dave Eggers - One of the best books I have ever read! Don't miss reading the small print on the title page or even before that in the book, and look out for a picture of a stapler! It's also a biographical account which makes it all the more interesting. His second book about two friends travelling to Senegal is not as good but probably stranger.
2. Everything is Illuminated by Jonathan Safran Foer - Just saw the film last week and it was good but not as good as the book, of course. The Ukrainian guide's (ab)use of the English language is priceless! I haven't read his second book Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close but it's sitting on the shelf waiting to be read.
3. The Narnia series by C. S. Lewis - Didn't really like them. I guess I'm not much for fantasy in general and I just thought animals with human heads and other weird creatures were scary.
4. Rabbit is Rich by John Updike - I think Updike can write the longest sentences; often more than a page long. The things Rabbit does or thinks are pretty strange too.
5. The Black Book by Orhan Pamuk - Pamuk starts telling a story but digresses so many times so the next part of the story comes a couple of chapters later. But I guess that's why he is a Nobel prize winner.
Saturday, April 21, 2007
Dailies
Today's I Want: Book trip to South Africa
Today's outfit: Jeans, green top and black sweater on top
Today's makeup: Usual, bluish-greyish eyeshadow, black mascara
Today's hairstyle: Up
Today's event: Peter's purchasing a grammophone/LP player so now he can start going through his 2,000 LP collection and sell the unwanted one, allowing us some new space for books!
Today's song: The fame theme song on the new LP player
Today's plans: Well, the day is almost over and I don't think I will join Peter and friends clubbing (getting too old)
Today's I am missing: Work, nah, just kidding!
Today's most stupid: I have to reiterate what Johanna said: the American arms legislation
Today's sickest: The Swedish house prices
Today's drug: Saturday sweets
Today's funniest: Peter preparing to go to the gym with a friend and then arriving there just when they close; major anti-climax (the friend is exercise addicted and had to go across town to an open gym, while Peter came home to share some red wine and cheese with me)
Today's favourite: Sleeping in
Today's purchase: Nothing for me but Peter's wallet was busy on behalf of both of us (new rug to the hallway and the afore-mentioned LP player)
Today's sweet: My regular Saturday intake
Today's mood: Happy, a bit weekend tired
Today's word: Windy (it was super-windy today!)
Volunteers?
Today's outfit: Jeans, green top and black sweater on top
Today's makeup: Usual, bluish-greyish eyeshadow, black mascara
Today's hairstyle: Up
Today's event: Peter's purchasing a grammophone/LP player so now he can start going through his 2,000 LP collection and sell the unwanted one, allowing us some new space for books!
Today's song: The fame theme song on the new LP player
Today's plans: Well, the day is almost over and I don't think I will join Peter and friends clubbing (getting too old)
Today's I am missing: Work, nah, just kidding!
Today's most stupid: I have to reiterate what Johanna said: the American arms legislation
Today's sickest: The Swedish house prices
Today's drug: Saturday sweets
Today's funniest: Peter preparing to go to the gym with a friend and then arriving there just when they close; major anti-climax (the friend is exercise addicted and had to go across town to an open gym, while Peter came home to share some red wine and cheese with me)
Today's favourite: Sleeping in
Today's purchase: Nothing for me but Peter's wallet was busy on behalf of both of us (new rug to the hallway and the afore-mentioned LP player)
Today's sweet: My regular Saturday intake
Today's mood: Happy, a bit weekend tired
Today's word: Windy (it was super-windy today!)
Volunteers?
Thursday, April 19, 2007
Missed the Deadline
Another tag, which is way overdue, but better late than never. (And yes, I promise that HK photos are coming soon!)
Three Things That Scare Me
* Being subjected to some sort of violence (although I think the risk is pretty small and I try to eliminate it as well by not walking alone in the middle of the night or similar)
* Dying young
* The rate at which we are destroying the planet
Three People Who Make Me Laugh
* Peter (boyfriend)
* My British colleagues when they get going (or set of people)
* My cousins when they get going
Three Things I Love
* The appetite and search for knowledge in myself and in others
* Spending time with friends and family
* Travelling, and then coming back to beautiful Stockholm
Three Things I Hate
* War and violence of all kinds
* Intolerance and narrow-mindedness
* "Unsolidarity"
Three Things I Don't Understand
* All of the above under what I hate
* Cynicism
* The new Swedish government
Three Things On My Desk
I don't have a desk but next to me on the couch are:
* Pile of post from my other flat
* New beautiful pillows
* My embroidery that I pick up when I need to relax (sort of meditation)
Three Things I'm Doing Right Now
* Watching an old episode of "House"
* Boiling eggs
* Waiting for a delivery of a new grill for the balcony
Three Things I Want To Do Before I Die
* Have children
* Have a interesting, successful career, allowing me to work with something I really love and think is important
* See Africa and South America
Three Things I Can Do
* Talk constantly
* Bake cheesecake
* Spell (as opposed to many Swedes these days it seems)
Three Things I Can't Do
* Parallel park (I can manage but I don't like it!)
* Speak Mandarin or Arabic, two useful languages
* Play an instrument
Three Things I Think You Should Listen To
* Salem al Fakir
* Sofia Talvik
* Yourself
Three Things I'd Like To Learn
* Arabic or Mandarin
* More cooking (though I think I am okay)
* Anything and everything
Three Favourite Foods
* Chicken korma
* Most vegetarian
* Haloumi cheese
Three Wonderful People to Inflict My Meme On
* Nonna
* Tora
* Skolfröken
Three Things That Scare Me
* Being subjected to some sort of violence (although I think the risk is pretty small and I try to eliminate it as well by not walking alone in the middle of the night or similar)
* Dying young
* The rate at which we are destroying the planet
Three People Who Make Me Laugh
* Peter (boyfriend)
* My British colleagues when they get going (or set of people)
* My cousins when they get going
Three Things I Love
* The appetite and search for knowledge in myself and in others
* Spending time with friends and family
* Travelling, and then coming back to beautiful Stockholm
Three Things I Hate
* War and violence of all kinds
* Intolerance and narrow-mindedness
* "Unsolidarity"
Three Things I Don't Understand
* All of the above under what I hate
* Cynicism
* The new Swedish government
Three Things On My Desk
I don't have a desk but next to me on the couch are:
* Pile of post from my other flat
* New beautiful pillows
* My embroidery that I pick up when I need to relax (sort of meditation)
Three Things I'm Doing Right Now
* Watching an old episode of "House"
* Boiling eggs
* Waiting for a delivery of a new grill for the balcony
Three Things I Want To Do Before I Die
* Have children
* Have a interesting, successful career, allowing me to work with something I really love and think is important
* See Africa and South America
Three Things I Can Do
* Talk constantly
* Bake cheesecake
* Spell (as opposed to many Swedes these days it seems)
Three Things I Can't Do
* Parallel park (I can manage but I don't like it!)
* Speak Mandarin or Arabic, two useful languages
* Play an instrument
Three Things I Think You Should Listen To
* Salem al Fakir
* Sofia Talvik
* Yourself
Three Things I'd Like To Learn
* Arabic or Mandarin
* More cooking (though I think I am okay)
* Anything and everything
Three Favourite Foods
* Chicken korma
* Most vegetarian
* Haloumi cheese
Three Wonderful People to Inflict My Meme On
* Nonna
* Tora
* Skolfröken
Monday, April 02, 2007
Home Sweet Home
I'm back (on Friday, but didn't get around to blogging over the weekend because the weather was so sunny and nice!). A blog challenge and posting photos from HK await!
Friday, March 23, 2007
Made in Hong Kong
Sitting at Arlanda waiting for my flight to start boarding. Was supposed to go via Zurich at 19.35 but it was delayed so they re-booked me for Helsinki. I feel very lucky, since the layover in Zurich was only 45 mins and I would have missed my connecting flight to Hong Kong otherwise. Now I will only be arriving in HK 2 hours later than planned.
I expect a lot of sight-seeing and shopping but I'm also excited about 22 degrees instead of the recent chill in Stockholm. And most of all, to see Peter again after ten days! :)
I expect a lot of sight-seeing and shopping but I'm also excited about 22 degrees instead of the recent chill in Stockholm. And most of all, to see Peter again after ten days! :)
Thursday, March 22, 2007
Days of Our Lives
I've been challenged (what would I blog about if people didn't keep challenging me I wonder?!) by Skolfröken to write about the years that I have experienced that end with a 2 or a 7.
1977 - I was 1 and don't remember too much. I do have a memory of standing in a big field (I know now that it is Öland) and getting afraid because my parents were ahead of me (they were probably not very far away but at that age even 10 metres is probably an abyss). This must have been in the summer of 1977 so I was a year and a half.
1982 - I was 6 years old, in pre-school and longing to start school. We had Kindergarten classes once a week but I mostly remember learning how to light matches (some sort of safety lesson I guess) and drinking coffee with lots of sugar and milk (some sort of becoming-an-adult lesson?). My parents contemplated putting me in school one year early but decided against it as they wanted me to stay with the friends I already had and let me play for another year. I started school in 1983 instead, which is perfectly fine with me now because otherwise I wouldn't have the same friends I have now.
1987 - A highlight this year was that I got a new cousin and was able to play with her instead of my dolls (now she's 20 and wild!) We had a caravan in the yard of our little country house that I pretended was my own home (much bigger than my little playhouse) - mostly playing with my friend Malin who used to spend a lot of time with us there.
1992 - I finished compulsory school. I think the end-of-year party both at the end of eight and ninth grade was at Folkets Park, where we tried - unsuccessfully - to get in for free. I had been madly in love with the same guy for the last three years of school but nothing never happened between us, not a few years later when he was interested in me either. By that time I had moved on.
1997 - I started university in January that year, after having been an au pair in the USA for a year and worked at a pre-school for a few months. I spent one term at Stockholm University before moving on to Uppsala in the autumn of 1997. At Uppsala I met two girls, Jenny and Lena, who talked about studying in the UK, an idea that really appealed to me. In an interesting twist Lena ended up staying only for six months or so and Jenny went to the US instead, while I remained in the UK for four years.
2002 - I finished my MPhil at Oxford and did an internship at the European Commission - two really important milestones in the beginning of my career. After the period in Brussels, in March 2003, I moved back to Sweden, something that took a while to get used to. It probably wasn't until 2004 I felt that Sweden was truly my home again.
2007 - The best time is always the present. I am madly in love with a guy who seems equally in love with me, so I think this is the beginning of the rest of my life!
I challenge Johanna and Karin!
1977 - I was 1 and don't remember too much. I do have a memory of standing in a big field (I know now that it is Öland) and getting afraid because my parents were ahead of me (they were probably not very far away but at that age even 10 metres is probably an abyss). This must have been in the summer of 1977 so I was a year and a half.
1982 - I was 6 years old, in pre-school and longing to start school. We had Kindergarten classes once a week but I mostly remember learning how to light matches (some sort of safety lesson I guess) and drinking coffee with lots of sugar and milk (some sort of becoming-an-adult lesson?). My parents contemplated putting me in school one year early but decided against it as they wanted me to stay with the friends I already had and let me play for another year. I started school in 1983 instead, which is perfectly fine with me now because otherwise I wouldn't have the same friends I have now.
1987 - A highlight this year was that I got a new cousin and was able to play with her instead of my dolls (now she's 20 and wild!) We had a caravan in the yard of our little country house that I pretended was my own home (much bigger than my little playhouse) - mostly playing with my friend Malin who used to spend a lot of time with us there.
1992 - I finished compulsory school. I think the end-of-year party both at the end of eight and ninth grade was at Folkets Park, where we tried - unsuccessfully - to get in for free. I had been madly in love with the same guy for the last three years of school but nothing never happened between us, not a few years later when he was interested in me either. By that time I had moved on.
1997 - I started university in January that year, after having been an au pair in the USA for a year and worked at a pre-school for a few months. I spent one term at Stockholm University before moving on to Uppsala in the autumn of 1997. At Uppsala I met two girls, Jenny and Lena, who talked about studying in the UK, an idea that really appealed to me. In an interesting twist Lena ended up staying only for six months or so and Jenny went to the US instead, while I remained in the UK for four years.
2002 - I finished my MPhil at Oxford and did an internship at the European Commission - two really important milestones in the beginning of my career. After the period in Brussels, in March 2003, I moved back to Sweden, something that took a while to get used to. It probably wasn't until 2004 I felt that Sweden was truly my home again.
2007 - The best time is always the present. I am madly in love with a guy who seems equally in love with me, so I think this is the beginning of the rest of my life!
I challenge Johanna and Karin!
Tuesday, March 20, 2007
Monday, March 19, 2007
That Explains It
I may have misheard - I really hope I did - but it sure sounded like Göran Persson said (in the documentary about him on TV tonight) that Helmut Kohl used to eat butter. Plain butter. Not plenty of butter on bread, but just butter. With a spoon. Especially when he was nervous.
Yuck!
No wonder he was so fat.
Yuck!
No wonder he was so fat.
New Times
The Social Democrats selected their new leader this past weekend, the first woman chair in its history. Eric Sundström has written very well about Mona Sahlin here. Let's hope she becomes Sweden's first female Prime Minister (yes, for some peculiar reason we haven't had a woman leader yet) in 2010! We also said goodbye to Göran Persson after almost eleven years at the post (and as prime minister for over ten).
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