North of Hamburg

Weather forecast of the weekend. I am never going to live north of Hamburg again. The picture was found in today's DN.

In my early 20s

My boss took my out last week and introduced me to two of her best friends. We ended up in a discussion about cities worth seeing. One of them asked me if I had been to San Francisco. I heard myself using the expression "in my early 20s". Well, well. I guess I am getting older.

Yet this is not the beginning. This is not even the beginning of the beginning. But perhaps - this is the end before the beginning (Ida Serneberg, October 2006 - very much inspired by Churchill November, 1942) .

Favourite Season Award goes to...

...Fall. Fall does not hurry. Fall does not put anyone under stress. Fall does not have any demands.

Just watched: Love Story. Hey, preppy!
Just read: Volvo Lastvagnar by Erlend Loe. If you make one mistake in Sweden you will be dead. If your precursors have made a mistake you will be dead too.

Finding the perfect petrol station (to be continued)

On my dad's commision I am always on the hunt for the perfect petrol station. This one was found in Egg, Kanton Zurich. Note that the pumps are situated next to an apartment building.

Quote of the day (SWE)

Jag skriver inte ner alla mina tankar här. Jag skriver sällan ner en tanke första gangen den kommer till mig. Jag väntar och ser, om den kommer igen. Ur "Doktor Glas" (1905) av Hjalmar Söderberg

Do. not. fly. with. SAS.

Do. not. fly. with. SAS. SAS. is. evil.

I. hate. SAS.

I. hate. SAS. I. hate. SAS. I hate. SAS.

Anyone who would like to buy a return ticket from Gothenburg to Zurich on December 21st - January 3rd?

Christmas in Gothenburg is very nice - I promise. Rainy but nice.

Über das Licht (GE)

"Dann würdest du alle Mühsal vergessen und so wenig daran denken wie an Wasser, das verrinnt, und dein Leben würde aufgehen wie der Mittag, und das Finstre würde ein lichter Morgen werden, und du dürftest dich trösten, dass Hoffnung da ist, würdest rings um dich blicken und dich in Sicherheit schlafen legen, würdest ruhen und niemand würde dich aufschrecken, und viele würden deine Gunst erbitten..." [Hiob 11:16-19]

Memories

A long time ago, I think I was three or four, my dad took me to one of the marshy lakes a couple of kilometres away from our home. It was winter and the snow was higher above see level than me and the spruces was as dark as they only can be in Sweden. We had brought hot chocolate and biscuits. I neither remember what we talked about nor what we did. Minutes, hours or eternity - I do not remember how long time we spent at the lake. My father's presence and the nature beauty, that is what I remember. We do not have a single photo from this magic moment but yet it has become a milestone in my life.

It is one of my oldest memories and, I guess, the first time I was able to interpret and appreciate nature beauty. Ever since then nature has been one of my biggest refuges, recoveries and inspirations in life.

The photo above was taken on the top of the mountain on which we climbed last weekend - a new milestone in my life.

Stunning view.

The view was stunning. This hike is the best I have done in Switzerland.

My Switzerland: St Gallen

St Gallen.

In the background is Säntis, a mountain just on the border to Austria. I would not mind being a cow on the foot of Säntis.

good food and fellowship

We had a lot of good food and good fun together.

Hiking.

We went hiking.

Friends in my backpack

With me I had a bunch of old and new friends.

Wildhaus

Last weekend I went to Wildhaus in St. Gallen, eastern Switzerland.

Flowers

My mum is still the best - but Swiss people sure know how to arrange flowers. The photo was taken in Niederdörfli, Zurich.

a countrified beauty

Eventhough Switzerland is a countrified Borås (i.e. rainiest city in Sweden) it is a countrified beauty too. The photo was taken on the way up to Rigi Kulm, before the rain found us. My German friend Silke was with us as well but she collapsed on the way up and retreated.

Queen of mountains

It always rains in Lucerne when I am there. I do not know why I expected something else when Susanna came to see me in Switzerland. Despite the weather we climbed Queen of mountains: Mount Rigi. (1798 m above see level).

Quote of the day (SWE)

"Ju mer jag skriver, desto mer övertygad blir jag om att skrivande i första hand inte handlar om att skriva utan om att just se sin text, kunna lägga örat mot och höra vad den har att berätta. Resten är nedtecknande." Torbjörn Flygt i dagens DN.

"He he junger Mann...

...Dada ist keine Kunstrichtung". That phrase was found on a poster in Berlin 1919. all started at Cabaret Voltaire in Zurich and on Saturday I am going there to find out what Dada actually is.

What else is new? I have bought a swimming cap and I am spending more time in the swimming pool.