Archive for the 'Geographics' Category

In Spite of the Weather…

Published on February 20, 2010 in Geographics and Tim. 1 Comment

…visitor turnout at Stockholm’s International Fair was better than expected and the two fairs today, the Antiques Fair and the Sewing Festival, attracted plenty of attention from those brave enough to have championed the blistery cold and snowy conditions that occurred in the Stockholm area.

After having toured the booths of antiquities, I decided there was only one message that fastened in my head…Don’t throw anything away! From elaborate furniture made hundreds of years ago or exquisite Chinese statues and porcelains to the simplest collections of electrical switches, woven rag rugs or almost plain junk the exhibitors did a grand job in displaying things that were worth more than what grandma or grandpa would have imagined. Too, it was fascinating to see items from the fifties and sixties fetching interest from both the curious and the investors.

Perhaps in honor to my mother, I was one of very few men taking on the array of colors presented in an attractive Sewing Festival. She could’ve stayed the whole day trying out the new computerized sewing machines on display or sitting at one of many workshop tables discovering a new part of her lifelong interest in sewing. Having taught me how to sew, I just enjoyed the cloth and fabrics. I was also looking for booths that connected with knitting and wool with thoughts of my wife. I wished that both of them could have been there today.

And, for a bit of Shetland, I found Yorkshire native Renee Darely spinning on a Shetland spinning wheel! But, where are all the Shetlanders and their lace work? Where are the Shetland knitting belts? Where is Shetland in this festival? (Note: My wife is an exceptionally good spinner and has a Shetland spinning wheel)

As spring comes nearer, plans to visit the Wilderness Fair, International Boat Show and The Nordic Garden Show are on the agenda for me. Most assuredly the weather will then be much better than today. Aren’t fairs, shows and festivals fun?

Käringboda Nature Reserve…

Published on January 23, 2010 in Geographics and Tim. 0 Comments

…is a tract of land on a long peninsula found just south from Nynäshamn. So close to the city that, with just a quick drive by car or a bus ride to its entrance, one can enjoy the archipelago wilderness that is so special for the Stockholm area. Consisting of over 1000 hectares (about 2,500 acres), Käringboda has the Baltic Sea hugging its northern and southern shorelines. In between, a wild growth of birch, fur, juniper, maple, ash and splendid oak join forces with a cultural farming landscape that live harmoniously together through the seasons.

Photo: The frozen bay is an example of the terrain near Kärgingboda Nature Reserve

Responsibility for the reserve’s upkeep and preservation lies on the shoulders of The Archipelago Foundation in Stockholm County. There is one long access road through the peninsula that covers most of the area and several paths allowing visitors to hike deeper into side areas. Toilets and parking areas are quite adequately spaced along the access road as well as natural beaches can be found for recreation. The foundation has a house that can be rented and used for group activities. This is appropriately named “Sågen”, or sawmill, and had earlier functioned with this capacity.

Winter is probably the least likely time to visit Käringboda, but I found several people out skiing across the bay or, like myself, taking a long walk. I was fascinated with all the majestic oak trees, a reminder of my Ohioan background. I was also attracted to the fact that a few farms actively exist within the reserve and mirrored a commitment to a living cultural landscape where nature and humans co-inhabit peacefully.

Photo: Oak trees in co-existence with a living cultural inheritance and typical of many places in the archipelago around Stockholm.

In spite of the dismal grey of winter, the snow gave indications of deer, fox, snowshoe hare and wild swine activity as these live amongst the sharp hillsides, cliffs and deeply cut valleys of Käringboda. One can only imagine what the place will look like this spring and upcoming summer when everything has leaves and is much greener and alive. Well worth a visit anytime of the year!

Three Trade Shows and a Photo Bag…

Published on November 7, 2009 in Geographics and Tim. 1 Comment

…is what happened to me today. After working hard all week and it being Father’s Day tomorrow, I felt I had to get out of Nynäshamn and enjoy life. Stockholm International Fairs had three trade shows going on at the same time and I decided to take Stockholm’s commuter train (fantastic way to travel) and see what I could find.

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StockhmBoatShow01Photos: Though the boat show may look empty, most people were on platforms along side the boats to get into them and look around

Trade Show Nr. 1: Stockholm Luxury Boat Show
Ever since I was a boy and my father took us to the boat shows in Cleveland, I’ve always been enthused with this form of cheap entertainment. The Stockholm Boat Show was not disappointing. One could find water craft from large yachts to small inflatable kayaks and a variety of booths with equipment, clothing or anything that could be useful on the water. Naturally, I was thinking of Shetland and was especially wondering how my friend Willie would feel about some of the boats that were on display.

Foo&WineShowVy copyPhoto: The Food & Beverage Show was most popular and quite crowded

Trade Show Nr. 2: Food and Beverage Show
Food&WineShow02For me, this was a risky place. I love to look at new kitchen utensils and the variety of food that can be had. There were a lot of people and many of these were carrying a wine glass in their hands. Being new to this kind of trade show, I discovered that the wine glass could be taken to the many wine booths and people could taste the wines. They also had whiskey-tasting booths.

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But, so many people and tiring legs, made me decide not to sample the foods nor drinks and I went on to the third show…

Trade Show Nr. 3: Health, Wellness & Fitness Show
If one became slightly “heavy” from doing the Food & Beverage trade show, then a visit to the Health, Wellness & Fitness Trade Show could have been just what the doctor ordered.
Massage01Photo: A massage demonstration
This show provided new ideas and developments in health and a variety of health foods, products and solutions were on show or available. It was sooooo… healthy! But…

…three trades shows in one day was a little too much! One particularly positive side from my visit is that I finally bought myself a new camera bag. The old one, now almost 30 years old, was replaced with a watertight bag; the kind that would be found in boats. Not too big and not too small and just right together with a laptop and note taking paraphernalia when needed. And, trapsing back and forth alone in the mountains or on Shetland cliffs, the color is perfect should something happen to me. I’m pretty happy about my new bag.

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Cruise Ships to Shetland…

Published on July 16, 2009 in A Great Adventure, Geographics and Tim. 0 Comments

…have become more abundant these last few years and are a meaningful source of income for Lerwick. Today, one of the behemoth-styled cruise ships came into Lerwick port, or rather anchored itself in the middle of Bressey Sound, because it was too large to dock anywhere else. As we drove into town this morning, the smoke-stack on this monster was higher than the houses on Hillhead, the highest hill of central Lerwick.

CruiseShipLerwick01Photo: Cruise ship arrives in Lerwick

I’m completely convinced that this method of touring has become popular and passenger rolls have increased with each sailing. For Shetland, and especially the small town merchants of Shetland’s largest city, they provide a full till of cash that is dumped by passengers anxious to buy native wares and services. If I’m not too wrong, this season will have brought in close to 50 cruise ships of various sizes and are very important for Shetland’s commerce. This particular cruise ship, the Costa Magica, had about 2000 passengers, or about 25% of the population of Lerwick.

CruiseShipWelcoming02Photo: Each passenger is welcomed to Shetland with traditional music and a warm handshake

One intriguing event that caught my eye, as I parked Jeppe on Victoria Pier parking lot, was how Shetland welcomed these passengers onshore and to Shetland. Since the ship was so large, a series of smaller boats worked in shuttle, transporting passengers between the main vessel and Albert Wharf. As the came onshore, Shetland had arranged for local musicians to play traditional music and a local personality to shake everyone’s hand and personally welcome them to Shetland. Great PR, isn’t it?

Seaways vs Airways –
Due to recent air carrier price increases, loss of creature comforts on flights, intense and almost “paranoiac” complications with check-ins and security at airports and the ever-present “what-goes-up-could-come-down-unwantingly” sensation on monster airplanes, I personally feel that it would be positive to observe an increase in ocean travel.

CruiseShipLerwick02Photo: The ferry to Bressey is drawfed by the size of a modern and impersonal “monster” cruise ship

But, does everyone really want to pay for 4 story shopping malls, outdoor swimming pools, activity leaders, casino machines, unknown stand-up comedians and entertainers, elevators to huge restaurants and having to hold a small map in hand so as not to get lost on board? Does one really enjoy a 6-9 hour marathon run to see popular points of interest in a world famous city? Why not simple cruises that give more time to explore foreign ports and harbors in exciting new countries and less time wasting on the ship?

Is it the destination or the journey to it, that’s fun? Consider a smaller cruise ship with adequate and quality cabin arrangements, a library of excitingly good reads, intimate eating arrangements allowing passengers to discover each other, chess boards, water-color tutoring and hours of just relaxing in fold-up chairs watching the sea pass by and using binoculars to count the aquatic bird life during the day. One can easily imagine themselves being an Ingrid Bergman and Humphrey Bogart, as these two hang over the railing, sharing a cigarette, a small scotch and talking about “love” on a moonlit ocean evening?

I would definitely be one of many that would choose a cruise with that theme, wouldn’t you?

SwedishYachtLerwick01Photo: An alternative method of ocean cruising from Sweden

Easter on Shetland…

Published on April 12, 2009 in A Great Adventure, Geographics and Tim. 0 Comments

…doesn’t seem that exciting. Scottish bank holidays, when stores, banks and other businesses are closed for a holiday, doesn’t include Easter on its list. Places are open this weekend.

But, Easter is a little special! Especially when it’s sunny and only a light breeze. People are out working in their gardens or some have started to prepare their boats for the coming summer. Lambing has started and small white miniature sheep on spinky, shaky little legs are being welcomed to this island. It’s an “easy” day, today, and even the seals are getting an early tan, as they sun bathe.

Wishing all our readers a HAPPY EASTER, plain and simple!

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    Photo: “Easter Seals” sun bathing on the Sandwick pier

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    Photo: Flower bed/garden outside the flat (Oh, No! Another flower picture!)

Jeppe’s Wintry Driving Tips…

Published on February 7, 2009 in Geographics and Tim. 1 Comment

…for British motorists! With the present snowy road conditions on the mainland, Jeppe wants to give some helpful hints for British drivers. Naturally, if you don’t have to drive, please don’t! Otherwise, here’s what Jeppe has to say…

jeppeinwinter01Photo: Jeppe waiting for an oncoming snowstorm. He’s not worried!

    1. BE PREPARED if you take yourself out on uncertain wintry roads. Prepare a thermos of tea/coffee, a couple of sandwiches, some fruit, sweets etc should you drive into the ditch and need to wait for help. Don’t forget to take a torch with fresh batteries. Remember, mobile phones may not always work, so don’t rely on these. Have an extra blanket in the car or even thermo coveralls. First aid kit! Small shovel! Flares! Matches and a small sack of firewood could be good to have for long waits or at night in isolated places. Sacks of sand/grit in the boot is a good idea! Just use common sense and be prepared for personal safety.
    2. NO SUMMER TIRES is a great rule! At best, good quality all-weather tires. In the Swedish arctic, we use studded tires with their own wheels that we put on our cars when road conditions require it. So, be smart and not lazy- take a grip on the problem of snowy roads. Snow chains for cars don’t take a lot of space and you should practice putting these on before you need to use them. Careful with driving too fast into slush piles…your front wheels may pull into traffic or off the road. When starting out, carefully test braking conditions on a straight un-crowded stretch of road. Then drive sensibly.
    3. MANUAL TRANSMISSION is smartest. Do starts veerrrry sloowwly and with feeling. Even second gear can help. With automatic transmissions, put in low and gentle with the gas. Should you start sliding, gently pump the brakes and look for a soft spot to land. Front wheel drive is good. Jeppe thinks 4×4 are best…but, he’s a little bias.
    4. BACK WHEEL drive…a few sand sacks in the boot just over the back wheels. Get some weight on those driving wheels.
    5. TRUCKERS- if you can, lift your back wheels slightly up and put more weight onto the power wheels. Buckets of sand/grit on your trailer to spread out on difficult places or on starts/ uphill can help. Almost reached your driving time limit? Be smart and take a nap or just pull over and enjoy life.
    6. COUNCIL ROAD PEOPLE…Salt just makes water out of snow. This freezes and requires more salt…freezes…more salt etc. You have to spend the time to plough slush and snow away; not just make it into water. Be better with ploughing and snow removal using correct plows and methods. This may mean 24 hour procedures. Use more sand/grit (with 10-15% salt to make it stick and not blow away) Take a course about roads and snow removal from geographical areas that know how to do it!
    7. BEST OF ALL, when it gets bad, take time to play and test snow and road conditions when you can. Not a bad idea to gain experience on oily test tracks etc. And…better late for appointments than dead.

….Here’s hoping some of the above will help. Stay safe out there!
Now, some wintry scenes from West Mainland, Shetland…
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Last Photo: Shetland’s “winter woolies”

Jeppe Is Safety Checked…

Published on January 12, 2009 in A Great Adventure, Geographics, Personal and Tim. 0 Comments

…in order to turn him back into being a British resident. Jeppe originally was British in his earlier life, while cruising the streets of London. A Swedish family had owned him, while they temporarily worked in the U.K. capital for several years, and then brought him to Sweden and registered Swedish. Because of changing circumstances, the family decided to sell Jeppe and that’s when we became owners. We needed Jeppe for our adventures on Shetland.

jeppemot_01Photo: Jeppe gets a lift at the MOT station in Lerwick, Shetland

British vehicle laws allow EU visitors to have their vehicles on English soil for maximum 6 months in a 12 month period. Jeppe now has to be “reborn” to a British subject again. To do this is a minor wall of bureaucratic procedures to contend with. Besides filling in registration papers and a custom declaration, for importing vehicles to Great Britain, Jeppe must be safety checked and approved for this country’s regulations and demands.

So, this blog could cover Christmas time or New Years or there of. Instead, Jeppe has been to MOT inspection, which is basically similar to “bil besiktning” in Sweden, or safety checked.

Jeppe had a time just before Christmas. He did not pass! Apparently, two rust hole had come about underneath him and these had to be welded. So, they holes were quality welded by the fabulous Burra Motor Repairs and a new time was to be made. Unfortunately, Christmas and the festive season put a stop to Jeppe’s anxious ambitions for approval and it wasn’t until Jan. 5 that Jeppe received his approved MOT certificate.

jeppemot_02Photo: Two rust holes stopped Jeppe’s immediate MOT approval and a welding job was needed.

Now, he’s waiting to receive confirmation of British car insurance and then he’ll send in a package of papers and forms, all must be original and not copies, to the DVLA offices in Aberdeen. Hopefully, this will go quickly and we’ll keep everyone informed about Jeppe’s British return.

The Shortest Shetland Day…

Published on December 21, 2008 in A Great Adventure, Geographics, Personal and Tim. 0 Comments

…of the year and all one can write about is the weather. Must be the number one topic Shetlanders, and many more, can speak of, as the sun crosses over the islands on its lowest journey of the year.

And, yes, we did have sun today. Above 66° longitude, the day in northern Sweden is just a few hours of blue twilight before the sun tuckers out, sighs and quickly plunges deeper under the horizon. Had it even had the time to be faintly noticed by the frigid occupants of the north? Doubtful!

Yet, Shetland had clear skies this morning. The isles could wink upwards and easily break out a smile seeing that the sun was definitely in its sky. Not under the horizon. Not just a hair teasingly over the horizon. It was a good 15° or more over it and stoutly bragging its presence. The temperature was a blossoming +9° Celsius in places and the shortest day of Shetland started out beautifully…until about midday.

It was at this time that the angry, roaring and infamous Atlantic winds came in from the southeast. Like weather Orcs, the clouds streaked forward across the sky, occasionally consuming the sun and plowing out a path that the wind charged along, whipping up the ocean waves and spitting out froth in its wake.

Force 7. Then, force 8 followed with force 9. Around two in the afternoon, gusts of a possible force 10 sunk its teeth into the water due west of Hamnavoe. The waves smashed onto the outside barrier reef only to be spat across the land and waterfall downwards on the eastern bank, like a broad river of salty rapids, only to recruit again with the water in the boiling bay beyond. So quickly did the wind smash into Shetland today, that some said it was the worst of the season, as they gazed through west-facing windows in the shelter of their houses.

And, what do two north dwellers do? Do the stay home? Do they retain shelter in their “granny flat” and no brave the winds? No! They were no scared of the weather Orcs. They jumped into Jeppe and headed westwards to visit good friends and had an immensely fun day visiting Papil, giving small seasonal tidings and wishing a very Merry Christmas. A super day, as Shetlanders would describe it.

But, afterwards, when the winds were at their worst, what did our two north dwellers do? Did they frantically head back to the flat and its dry comfort? Absolutely not! They headed for their wonderful Meal Beach and went down to the shoreline, now completely covered with waves. Almost grasping for handholds, so as not to be blown backwards from the wind and swept across the mud of the hillsides or roll across the grassy fields (as one or two sheep had observantly done) they reached the frothy beach and… searched…for a piece… of weathered rope!

Because of the wind and the cutting rain, no photographic documentation can reveal the adventures these two north dwellers had on “shortest day of the year”. They almost giggled with glee. Good day! Great friends! And, unusually stormy afternoon winds to playfully go to the beach in! Ah, well…who would’ve thought?

PS- Five minutes ago as of this writing, we had thunder and lightning in the Shetland skies. Cool?

Talking about Shetland climate…
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Photo: Although not connected with the text, an example of a Shetland garden and it’s green state for December…
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…and the garden can still boast of a few roses still

Språk.

Published on August 9, 2008 in Brita and Geographics. 0 Comments

I går kväll var vi och lyssnade på Lerwicks motsvarighet till Låtar och skrönor . Det blev en trevlig kväll där tre äldre gubbar berättade skrönor och två yngre förmågor spelade shetländska låtar på fiol och gitarr. Det som slog oss då var något som vi visserligen visste men inte riktigt hade tänkt på, att den shetländska engelskan har ett stort inslag av skandinaviska ord. Ordet hus hade vi redant observerat, man säger alltså hus och inte house. Nu lade vi märke till ännu flera ord,t ex ko, besman och sluss i betydelsen dammlucka. Det finns dessutom en alldeles egen dialekt/språk här som en del shetlänningar pratar sinsemellan, särskilt de äldre. Det verkar helt omöjligt att förstå men skulle kanske bli begripligt om man fick lyssna ordentligt i stället för att bara höra brottstycken då och då.

Al Gore received the Nobel Peace Prize…

Published on December 10, 2007 in Geographics. 3 Comments

…in Norway today and, with his work in enlightening the world of climate change and potential global catastrophe, we living in Lapland are experiencing what can be, at least on a short term observation, a change in winter. At this writing, there is more snow than “normal” on the ground in the forests at the Arctic Circle in Jokkmokk. Not that I’ve made exacting yearly accounts of snow depth while living here, but last week was probably the first time I tackled snow depth with my snowblower four out of six days. Strangely enough, a snowboarding competition that was to be held on the Dundret Hill in Gällivare had to be cancelled because of too little snow.

Perhaps with reporting on this unfamiliar condition we are having, it is important to point out that the scotch pines and spruce are heavily ladened with snow. Usually, we have some 20-30 cm (less than a foot) of snow on the ground just before Christmas and have had some mild temperatures that bring wind blowing the trees clean of snow. This hasn’t happened.

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The season changed from late fall to a justifiable winter with three days of constant snow and continued collecting to some 60-65 cm (appmx. 18-20 inches). This amount has mostly clung to the bows of the trees and there has been frequent finds of stout tree bows breaking off and falling to the ground.

For myself, after living on the same property for 30 years, I found the top of one scotch pine on the ground and several arm thick branches for the first time. Other places nearby, whole trees have given up and laid themselves to rest due to the weight of the snow. And, looking at the house roof, I’d say that I have to start shoveling off the snow two-three months earlier than normal this winter. A task I share with many who I’ve spoken with and share the same opinion concerning the winter and what’s happening with the sub-arctic climate.

Fortunately, snow in Lapland is as common as getting up in the mornings and only promotes a conversational topic when a little different. It’s still beautiful, but thanks to so many people like Al Gore, there’s a change happening out there. (Someday, I gotta hike past some glaciers in Laponia and compare them with my pictures from twenty or so years ago…if they’re still there!)

resize-of-mountainview07.jpgPhoto: Palkat Glacier, Sarek National Park 1978

PS- I’m becoming keenly aware of the carbon emissions that my snowblower spits out. I guess I’m a bad person. Perhaps moving to a “less snow” place in the world would be beneficial to the climate and I also wouldn’t have to spit out tons of smoke from wood heating? Hmmm…an interesting thought to ponder on…