And don’t get too depressed by this picture! Spring will be here soon. Until then it will be a few more weekends in bed, with tea, book, TV and hopefully with the loved one to share this with. Ladies & Gents, whatever you are up to, make yourselves comfy, relax and have s great time. “I’ll be back,” said the sun. And I do not mean the paper but this big golden ball that used to pop up on the sky during daytime once upon a time.
@caschy’s Tweet “Renamed my iPod as ‘the titantic’ so when I plug it in it’s says’ the titantic is syncing.” and @matdahl’s comment on that “What are you syncing about?” inspired me to dig out this old video:
“Fudgie the whale” – no #fail but #WIN !! 🙂
Yesterday I got pointed to this video on FuzziGalore.com:
Pure Hooligan Awesomeness: London Scooter Riding Video | Fuzzygalore.com – Girlie Motorcycle Blog.
The note I got with it was: “Memories?”
And oh yes, man, this brings back memories.
Like I already commented on Fuzzygalore, I did not go as crazy on my scooter. Probably due to the facts that it was a bit bigger (Honda SH 125i) and that I definitely was more cautious. Plus less experienced than these guys since I only took my learner’s license and later the full mc-license in London.
Anyhow, I used to ride to work in thick morning traffic, and if you wanted to get to work in a decent time, you simply had to go a bit crazy like these guys. Which was fun and risky at the same time.
When I took my full license, at my school the instructors were divided between whether to show us how to ride in the “third lane” or not. The instructor of my group denied showing us how to do that. For our own security, as he said. And that should count for something, since he used to be one of the top-paid dispatch riders in London before becoming a riding instructor. He changed profession when he got married and had family, and his wife was not overly happy about him dispatch-riding.
Anyone who has been in London and experienced these people riding knows what I am talking about. And all others may want to watch this one:
This was my commuting route, by the way:
And this is my travel companion nowadays. Currently waiting in the garage for the few bits and bobs that need to be fixed before the next season starts.
Despite the snow outside, it is not far away anymore – yay 🙂 .
Just a test for mobile posting via WordPress widget from Hero. Just discovered how to move and delete widget shortcuts from the screen. Thought through and intuitive, self explanatory functions overall. I love that I can calibrate the touch screen to my way of typing. And that goes faster than “normal” mobile typing. Mobile blogging here I come 🙂 !
So that’s how weather is made!
Guys, could you change the program, please? All that snow gets a bit boring by now … 
Thanks b-roll-net 🙂
It was concert time last Thursday, the 14th of January.
Where? Louis de Geer Concert Hall in Norrköping
What? Pettersson’s 1st Symphony
When? 19.00
What was special?
Allan Pettersson was a Swedish composer who also lived in Paris during his career. He started a lot of pieces, but sometimes did not finish them. So it was with his 1st symphony. However, the conductor of this night’s performance, Christian Lindberg made a playable (and listenable!) version of it.
So on Thursday it was première for Pettersson’s 1st Symphony! Conducted by it Christian Lindberg.
I did not expect Pettersson to be my cup of tea quite frankly, but was willing to endure it, no matter what, because it was followed by Haydn’s Trumpet Concert in E-Dur and Dvorak’s 9th Symphony in e-moll op 95. Both is to my mind great stuff if performed nicely.
Back to Pettersson. The music itself was as expected not really my thing, but oh my – did I ever watch such an energetic and enthusiastic conductor before? No. Especially none that appeared in a colourful shirt instead of smoking and some cowboy-boots like shoes on stage. Classical concert, remember.
He, though, looked more like someone jumping in from a jazz session. Christian Lindberg is by the way known as one of the most skilled trombone players of our time. Having him moving energetically around on the stage while conducting, his figure also reminded of a marathon runner in smart clothes. So I’d even like to call him the first conductor with some kind of sex appeal – look at his website (linked above) or check YouTube and you’ll see what I mean.
Though, if you get a chance to see him live, grab some tickets. It is worth it.
He also conducted Haydn and Dvorak, in the same manner but changed to another shirt (now red instead of green) – and he was joined by the trumpet soloist Tine Thing Helseth, a Norwegian lady aged 23 who really showed off her superb skills when performing the Haydn trumpet concert.
I was really glad to have been to that for all these aspects very special concert. The loved one dragged me along, and I am still grateful for a fantastic night out. The concert hall was half empty, but I think people really missed out. If there would be any concert that gets young people interested in classical music, than it would have been this one. Simply because it was far from boring and proved all stereotypes of classical music that one gets exposed to during music lessons at school wrong.
It still is a lovely winter landscape out there. Almost fairytale like at times as you can see.
However, this beauty is right now responsible for all regional trains in Östergötland being cancelled tonight – only the fast trains to Stockholm were still running. The reason? The fog freezes on the electrical leads the trains connect to – and it is only the fast trains that can actually take that challenge.
So we will see if I get to work by train or bus tomorrow 😉 Yesterday my train got evacuated because of that very problem, the train could not connect anymore to the electrical leads – a little adventure, but all went smooth. Footage is missing, though. The train staff made us laugh with announcements like “We do have an on-time-travel-guarantee, so please contact us tomorrow. You have been on train 8770, but they should know, it was the one who broke down in the sticks.” Together with the expression of the voice that one was comedy pure. 😉
Another thing I noticed. You go with the same people on the same train at the same times every day. And you never exchange a word. It takes these events to get people talking to each other. Even though they might look past you next day again when they sit opposite you or just give you a shy smile of recognition. Elevator behaviour I call that.
So, any more adventures ahead? And if so, peeps, keep talking to each other!
P.S.: Comment on the last pic. It says “After a walk in the cold, hot soup and hot chocolate will make you glad.” Well, they’ve got a point, don’t they?
Whenever I see this sign I wonder what English speaking people might make of it. Especially considering the fact that almost everything could be given a double meaning in the UK … 😉
“Farthinder” is the Swedish word for “speed hump”… In case you wondered.
There is also this joke to tell. A Swedish guy visits his friend in the US and is really impressed by his car. “It must be nice to have a fart controller in the car” are his appreciative words.
“Fart” meaning speed of course.
And that’s as good as it gets.
Winter in Grythyttan and the region of Bergslagen in Sweden. We arrived on Friday night with minus 25 Celsius and left today with minus 14 Celsius. Gorgeous weather, though, and the cold is not as bad a one might think if the right equipment is available.
Here some photo impressions – a day in Bergslagen.
And this one definitely needs care. Nice old Husqvarna, though!
Just went to the garage for giving Elisa, my v35 Imola lady a bit of TLC and discovered this with one of our neighbours. Ok, it is a Harley, hence why it might even like it 😉 .
‘You are leaving the ugly sector and are now entering the beautiful sector’ and vice verse one could read on the sides of the ‘wall’ constructed of milk boxes. It was located halfway down Drottninggatan. While taking these pics I was wondering where the builders might have placed the hidden camera. Hints, anyone?
One last pic before I go home. Linköping market place dressed in white. Have a very Happy Weekend!
Obelix might have said. Why putting it on the wall when you can eat it?!? Not to mention the silly hat… This was part of the decoration of the restaurant where we had Christmas lunch.
Wha'ever! 