The Hat

The First Snow

Bremen Wedding

The Details in Life

Nothing is more rewarding than a good conversation...

Switzerland Unlimited

Some more pictures from the great weekend we spent in the mountains.
Fell in love with the most adorable cat... too bad I could not bring it with me to Zürich!

Summer Time

Took advantage of the perfect weather and went hiking in Unterwasser. 32 degrees and clear blue sky, not much more to ask for (maybe a lake to swim in). We did not get very far but stopped for a picnic under a tree and enjoyed the stunning view.

Today we were invited for a barbeque close to the lake Türlersee, where we also took the first dip for the season. The summer is finally here!

 

 

Welcome to Switzerland

People marry relatively late; they concentrate on their training and career before they start a family. Swiss women are among the oldest in Europe at the birth of their first child.

The majority of couples have only 1 or 2 children. In 2004 the average number of children per woman was 1.42, less than the EU average of 1.5. The world average is 2.65.

Surveys have shown that parents put financial difficulties as the main reason for restricting family size. Large flats are expensive, and there is a shortage of affordable child care.

The Swiss family

Indicator	Value 2005
Source: Federal Statistical Office (2005) & http://www.swissworld.org/en/people/families/family_life/
Age at first marriage	31 (men) / 28.7 (women)
divorce rate	52.6%
children per woman	1.42
mother's age at birth of first child	29.5

The Comeback

And suddenly is the urge to write and express myself back.  It comes when I let go of mjukisbyxorna and leave Sweden.

Had an interesting trip to Zürich in an easyjet operated plan, with kind man with Parkinson on my side offering oreo cookies, making me realize so many things I cannot put down in words.

Life is a short trip.

Almost immediately became an incarnated Swiss, after landing and purchasing my halbtax, finding out that my information was still in the Schweizerische Bundesbahnen’s database. They like “Ordnung” here.  And I am welcomed back.

Short Story of My Life

BWO- Sunshine in the Rain

When I’m in Berlin you’re off to London
When I’m in New York you’re doing Rome
All those crazy nights we spend together
As voices on the phone

Wishing we could be more telepathic
Tired of the nights I sleep alone
Wishing we could redirect the traffic
And find ourselves a home

Monkey Does, Monkey Do

Photographs: Granada, Nicaragua

...kind of like shopping in Malmo, everything and everyone look the same. Kind of boring.

I bought new pair of sunglasses. An no – they are not Ray Bans…

My Life in a Song

The Verve – Bittersweet Symphony

Cause it's a bittersweet symphony, this life
Try to make ends meet
You're a slave to money then you die
I'll take you down the only road I've ever been down
You know the one that takes you to the places
where all the veins meet,

No change, I can't change
I can't change, I can't change
But I'm here in my mold
I am here in my mold
But I'm a million different people
from one day to the next
I can't change my mold
No, no, no, no, no

Well I never pray
But tonight I'm on my knees
I need to hear some sounds that recognize the pain in me,
I let the melody shine, let it cleanse my mind, I feel free now
But the airways are clean and there's nobody singing to me now

No change, I can't change
I can't change, I can't change
But I'm here in my mold
I am here in my mold
And I'm a million different people from one day to the next
I can't change my mold
No, no, no, no, no
I can't change
I can't change

Cause it's a bittersweet symphony, this life
Try to make ends meet
Try to find some money then you die

You know I can't change, I can't change
I can't change, I can't change
But I'm here in my mold
I am here in my mold
And I'm a million different people
from one day to the next
I can't change my mold
No, no, no, no, no

Black & White

Not much in life is black and white, except this picture and potentially my morning coffee.

Enjoy this Alphaville classic in a melancholic cover for a perfect end on the weekend…

Ane Brun – Big in Japan

"Winter’s cityside
Crystal bits of snowflakes
All around my head and in the wind
I had no illusions
That I’d ever find a glimpse
Of summer’s heatwaves in your eyes
You did what you did to me
Now it’s history I see
Here’s my comeback on the road again"

A Beautiful Goodbye

Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

Über allen Gipfeln
Ist Ruh
In allen Wipfeln
Spürest Du
Kaum einen Hauch;
Die Vögelein schweigen im Walde
Warte nur, balde
Ruhest Du auch

Karin Boye - Evighet

En gång var vår sommar
en evighet lång.
Vi strövade i soldagar
utan slut en gång.
Vi sjönk i gröna doftande
djup utan grund
och kände ingen ängslan
för kvällningens stund.

Vart gick sen vår evighet?
Hur glömde vi bort
dess heliga hemlighet?
Vår dag blev för kort.
Vi strävar i kramp,
vi formar i strid
ett verk, som skall bli evigt  -
och dess väsen är tid.

Men än faller tidlösa
stänk i vår famn
en stund då vi är borta
från mål och namn,
då solen faller tyst
över ensliga strån
och all vår strävan syns oss
som en lek och ett lån.

Då anar vi det villkor
vi en gång fick:
att brinna i det levandes
ögonblick,
och glömmer det timliga,
som varar och består
för den skapande sekunden,
som mått aldrig når.

Från Svensk Lyrik

Enough?

I have been reading the interesting book “Enough” by John Naish. Very fascinating book which strikingly describes the social race for ever more possessions in the society (by quantity or price).

I encourage all men and women to read it…

It is sad when you realize (once again) that the world is built on consumption and the human urge to always want more.

I will try to practice John’s advice – Enoughism

Photographs: Mi Casa, Malmö

Malene Birger

Malene Birger is doing a fantastic job. So fantastic that part of my salary would be seriously threatened - if there was a salary. Meanwhile I will enjoy it as eye candy…

Pictures from shop.bymalenebirger.com/

Creating Attention

Found this brilliant clip on The Guardian Sustainable Business Page created by Greenpeace UK

That I have missed it before is totally unacceptable

Enjoy

Melancholic Saturday

Anna Ternheim - Shoreline

I've been standing on the shoreline
Always waiting
For something lasting
Loose your hunger, you loose your way
Get confused and you fade away

Oh this town
Kills you when you are young
Oh this town
Kills you when you are young

I'm not the boy i used to be
This town has got the youth of me
All eyes turn hollow
From the work of sorrow

Standing on the paving
By the office building
They've got so much to do
Never time for you

We are shadows
Oh we're shadows
Shadows in the alley

You die when you're young
You die when you're young
You die when you're young

You Are My Sweetest Downfall

Give me a piano and a great voice and I am all yours - "Samson"

Break

 

 Photographs: Sofiero, Helsingborg

Relaxing Easter

Had two of the best friends over yesterday, M & P, taking advantage of the fact that I had the kitchen on my own. M and I surprised our self with actually succeeding with the chicken with pesto and chili and we managed to throw together a decent chocolate cake as dessert. I must have had too many rum and cokes (by myself, everyone else has a medical reason not to drink…) because today I feel slightly hangover. Great evening anyway, and hope we can have some more of them (with more alcohol ;-)).

We are currently babysitting this little fellow above, not very easy to handle as the female has understood the meaning of Easter – egg time. Yesterday she took advantage of taking a shower in the sink, reluctantly leaving the bowl she is nesting an upcoming egg…

Enjoy your Saturday!

Holidays

Time

Tomorrow I will see M again. It’s been approximately 2 months, separated by distance and time and then back to only distance again. We are used to it and we know we can do it and that we want to do it.  

There is too much going on in life than to be attached to one person physically. But mentally, we are always together and in the end that is the most important thing.

Nevertheless, the physical form of M is very much appreciated tomorrow! I can finally meet up with my friends that somehow are all in pairs now, with my own partner in crime. I guess I forget that time passes also at home when I am away.

Photograph: Grand Canyon

Napa

One of the most perfect areas in the world is Midwest California, with San Francisco, the ocean and Napa Valley. Here you will find it all; great culture, amazing food, shopping and wine. If you are heading to Napa Valley, take the Golden Gate Bridge and enjoy the beautiful scenery overlooking the city. Once you are in Napa, make sure your first stop is Robert Mondavi vinery… and that you have a driver ;-)

 

 

Photographs: Napa Valley, California