Riksgränsen 20 years later

Riksgränsen and 20something years later. We've been there too now.

My life lately

My life lately:

1. I was lucky to be in the half Norwegian home in Eskilstuna by the time they had many reasons to celebrate.
2. I spent some time with Arvid & Elin in Stockholm. Their cat Hjördis had something important to tell me. 4 o' clock in the morning.
3. I have met my two friends, one new and one dear: Annamalin and her little Verner.
4. The most beautiful wedding couple in the whole Sjuhärad: Emelie & Andreas. If you ask me.

Easter times

Easter times at Sunnabäcken palace. Mmm.

Helgens sista ansträngning [SWE]

Helgens sista ansträngning: praktiskt ansvar under gudstjänsten. Arbetsuppgifter: ställa fram, ränna efter Monstret Matheo som river ner, ställa fram igen. Allt har sin tid.

I know what you did last weekend.

Polterabig. Bachelorette party. Möhippa.

Emelie is getting married.

When I look at these pictures

When I look at these pictures I feel so thankful, so blessed, so... loved! And "my belief in humanity has gone three steps forward."

Nordic walking and bingo

When I tell people that we played bingo, went nordic-walking and baked Swedish small cookies (småkakor) people glares at me as if I were joking. But that is what ladies do!

Sofie came along.

I'm a Fi-fighter.

Sofie the amazing story-teller came along too. I love her so.

And then the others came

On Friday night the others came. The weekend program was listed in a Kitty book. Hanna got a Kitty book with a parrot on. So her.

Utmanad [SWE]

Katrin har utmanat mig och jag har som ren princip att ignorera request av denna sort. Nu vet vi att jag är sämst på principer och jag antar således utmaningen.

- Gå till mina bilder på din dator: Check!

- Välj den 6e bilden i ditt 6e album och ladda upp på din blogg - Check!

- Skriv 6 meningar om bilden som du har lagt upp:

Sammanträffligt nog är det Katrin herself som har tagit fotot. Staden heter Dubai och det var vår första semesterdag i april i fjol. Till vänster skymtar ryschiga gardiner, av sådant slag man ofta ser i arabvärlden. På det hela taget en omåttligt ful bild. Varför hon ville föreviga denna bruna möbel får vi fråga henne själv.

- Utmana 6 personer till: Nej, usch. Det orkar jag inte.

Our mission

"This is our mission, Ida..."

Tim Lindsay said so about a year ago in IKEA Spreitenbach, looking at some gigantic map of the world that Rebecca doesn't allow him to buy.

E-tuna rocks

Summary of E-tuna last weekend: Casper danced and sung to Mamma Mia. Then Adrian came over and we jammed a little bit more. Then we fell a sleep.

Christmas glimpses part II (SWE)

Photo above: Månsson by marriage
Photo below: Månsson before marriage

Christmas glimpses

Christmas glimpses.

Photo above: The ceasing tribe Månsson. Photo below: Granliden Palace.

My pretty cousin

Månsson defined. My prettiest cousin lives in Oslo.

Being a bad tourist in Oslo

Things I didn't see when I was in Oslo:

1. Holmenkollen
2. Vigelandsparken
3. Akebrygga
4. The Norwegian king

Conclusion: I am a bad tourist. Especially in foreign and familiar Norway.

At least I had a chance to see Norwegian Sport Center, where Johanna works for Norwegian Orienteering. Their conference center is cool.

Daddy's girl

Blurry photo or not: daddy's girl I am.

Quote of the day

From my wonderful Fi:

Courage doesn't always roar. Sometimes courage is the quiet voice at the end of day saying "I will try again tomorrow".

Mary Ann Radmacher said so.

Home group at my place

Wednesday = Home group. Nelly is our youngest member.

Memories from my photo album: We were cool

When Susanna and I still were cool. Or at least: our jackets, the ones from Camden Market, were cool.

Memories from my photo album: Suntorp gangsters.

Suntorp gangsters. Now afterwards I don't see the point with the hair dryer.

Memories from my photo album: High school graduation

Back in the days when we were gangsters, just before high school graduation, just about to make an attempt on Assberg round about. We did not want to draw any attention, therefore the clothing. Eh. And Susanna in a pink snoopy scarf??

Before we were

Glögg (i.e. Swedish Glühwein) tasting at my place. It was not my idea. When I first heard it I did not know whether the tasting was about tasting different kinds of Glögg or different stuff in the Glögg. We did the first mentioned.

Sometimes I believe my life now is what my parents' life used to be before we were. Drinking tea and gather people around odd themes no one else would think of.

Anyway. I noticed that I carry my mum wherever I go. The almonds consequently have to be peeled and candles are my virtue. In line with this Mother Suntorp life style I am honestly thinking of motivating some of my working colleagues to run Vårruset next year. Scary me.

Stockholm with my dearest Tora

Last weekend: Stockholm with my dearest Tora. Here reading the menu (!) at the local restaurant in Aspudden.

Last Friday

I want this Friday to be like last Friday.

Memories from my photo album

A photo from mum and dad's stone age album: Mum and Lillan up in Riksgränsen. The year 1976.

Next year in Rikgränsen, Clare.

Concert at Brunnen

I recently, in the name of my church, organised a concert at Brunnen in Jönköping. Jerker Gunnarsmo and Christofer Olsson played. My beuatiful Fi came. And so did my little Hanna.

Memories from my photo album

Clear Lake, CA, in 2001, no clue what on earth we were looking at. Elin was, together with Anna, Linda and Tora, part of my California quintet that summer. Seven years later, last Tuesday to be correct, we met again, Elin and I. She happens to live in the best city ever. Jönköping, of course.

And I love life.

Munkgatan 3a

On request: My sweet home. Jantelagen is not valid here. My landlord assures that the stove is not only for the sake of a pretty sight but for use. Katrin wonders: Are you sure YOU may use it?

Eh. No.

Reading gossips in Eskilstuna

Last week: A worked (a bit) at Mälardalen University in Eskilstuna and Västerås. In the meantime Casper read gossips. But maybe that's the same thing?

Memories from my photo album

Me and Mel in Andermatt, around Easter time 2008. Those were the days. How I miss it, how I miss it. I have 1499,35 km or 16 hours to Dachslernstrasse 63 from Munkgatan 3A.

Happy B-day, brother! [SWE]

Charlie Brother, happy 30!

Or: Jag tänkte egentligen skrivit att det är nu som du blir gubbe. Men det är fel. Gubbe har du varit hela ditt liv.

Photo was taken in Edared, Sweden, in 1985.

We like to move it (move it)

I barely can't believe it. For the first time since year 2000 I have managed to book a ordinary charter tour. Last time was with the chicks to Turkey and this time: Valencia, Spain with all the great peep in Zurich! One week with beach, good food and lazy times.

Well, ordinary might not be the right word: I will fly to Basel with Ryan, then by train to Zurich and then by bus to Spain... eh. But compared to driving on uncompleted roads in the Omani desert or going to Albanian birthday parties in Montenegro this is, in my world, quite ordinary.

We like to move it. Move it.

Prayer plants

Back in May Sofie gave me sunflower seeds, soil and pots as a welcome home/away to Sweden gift. I had mentioned to her that now when I was going to live on my own I had to grow sunflowers and name them afteer the kids in my old community.

Sunflowers need a lot of water, a lot of attention and they are always searching for the light. These flowers have turned into my prayer plants. One plant for each kid. One prayer for Ciarrah, one for Cian, one for Darren every day.

In Ciarrah's plant I have put a red book mark I found in one of my books that Ciarrah must have read to, since the book mark belongs to her. On one side it says Du schaffst es, Ciarrah! (You can do it, Ciarrah!) and on the other side it says Ich vermag alles durch den, der mich mächtig macht - Fil 4,13 (I can do everything through him who gives me strength - Phil 4,13).

I wanted to introduce these plants later on when the flowers had come; but growing plants is just like prayers: it is the process that counts.

Finding Texaco

Lost again on my way to home group out in Kaxholmen. I was so lost, that Kalle Vingren had to come and pick me up. In my searching for the place I found this forgotten gas station. Note that is situated just next to a Preem station.

Ode to my Johannas

Any Johanna is a friend of mine.

My life is full of Johanna's. They have harassed me since kindergarten, they joined me to candy store, they have been my roomies and made me laugh in Zurich.

Sara Margareta Johanna Magdalena Emma Kristina. We are in the middle of Fruntimmersveckan, Swedish lady's week and it is supposed to be rainy all week long, according to old Swedish farmer's tradition. Rainy or not; today is Johanna day and I say happy names day to all the wonderful, beautiful Johannas I have in my life and to all the ones that I will get to know in the future.

John Bauer and his fairy tale world.

I wish Casper was in Jönköping last Thursday. Then we could have visited John Bauer's magic fairy tale world at Jönköping Läns Museum. We could have dressed up as kings and giants and trolls. We could have spent hours searching for the lost treasure.

This is the best museum ever.

My home is a home for people and Pelagorniums

My home.

My home is a home for people and Pelargoniums.

Fynda i Ida-lådan (SWE)

Lagerrensning i Ida-lådan. Allt ska bort. Allt är gratis. Gäller så långt lagret räcker. Johanna-i-Oslo stod vid låset på Munkgatan och hängde och sedan på öronen i lådan.

They Shake 'em Ups

My friend Vaughn and his band:
http://www.myspace.com/shakeemups.

Love it. I assume that the song "Chicken" is dedicated to Chicken, Alaska, where Vaughn used to work.

Morfar

Morfar.

*July 21st, 1917
+June 6th, 2008

Here with my brother in Denmark, 1984.

When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life. [John 8:12]

Seven years of famine in Switzerland

This is so not fair. Cousin Hanna just had the opportunity to show two other gorgeous cousins our Switzerland. Buuuh. Me want too. My personal analysis of Hanna's photos:

Photo 1. 85% of all the photos include food. No surprise but my only concern is: Is there any chocolate, cheese or anything eatable left in Switzerland or should the Swiss prepare for seven years of famine?

Photo 2. A real Månsson loves mornings and happily get up round 6am to bake. Inasmuch as she goes to bed at 9pm. I assume this wasn't the case in Switzerland.

Photo 3. Why Hanna, why?

I am not bitter.

How to cope with change, point 2

Point 2. Expect emotions.

Katrin sends me funny 20-Minuten articles from Zurich. I go to a BBQ with some new friends in Jönköping. Rebecca sends me photos from Dachslernstrasse. I book my Friday with AnnaMalin in Husqvarna. I receive frequent updates from Zurich Vineyard. Anna involves me in a new hobby in Vättersnäs. And. And. And. I am excited. I am missing. At least: never bored. Tell me why. Why does following your dreams. Take you far away from me. And I knew that it would.

When he had said this, he knelt down with all of them and prayed. [Acts 20:36]

Rebecca Lindsay took the photo when her son fell a sleep on the living room floor.

Don't forget me (SWE/DE/ENG)

Förgätmigej.
Do not forget me.
Vergissmeinnicht.

Photo taken in cousin Björn's garden, Ödstena, Fotskäl.

Michael letar ställen (SWE)

Magnus till pappa: Det var ett fint ställe ni har här.
Michael till pappa: Va? Vilket ställe pratar han om!? Det VILL jag också se!

Retirement countdown

Now when Susanna and I only have 39 more years until retirement we have to check out all the oldster activities in the region: Pot outlet in Lidköping, theatre at Torpa Stenhus, John Bauer Museum. Wei, I live close to her again!

Welcome away

Välkomen bort. Welcome away. My welcome committee gathered in Casa Blanca, my parent's place. A bunch of cousins came. All the good old and new ones came too. Linn (picture below) loves to do on the contrary to what her mum says. Mike (picture above) loves fashion; Mummy, I like your skirt but why don't you wear one with flowers on?

There are two of us

Pastor Tim is wrong. There is someone crazier than me. My cousin.

Memories from my photo album

This is how crazy it was. My Zurich. Photo was taken on June 1st last year.

This was my life

This was my life in Zurich.

Working colleagues, Swedish youth group, teenies, church friends and much, much more.

What happened to ABBA?

What happened to the ABBA girls? Anni-Frid Lyngstad lives in Switzerland nowadays and only make a few performances a year. Agnetha Fältskog lives in Sweden and has some sort of connection to Jönköping.

All inclusive good bye party

Yesterday: Good bye party at restaurant Barnabas, Regensdorf including all the good ones, all the good kebab and all the good gifts. Katrin and Martin gave me "Die Schweizer Heimweh-box", including all the necessary stuff, such as aromat, the first verse of the national Anthem, Toblerone chocolate, Swiss Music and much more. Hilarious.

Words for the coming season

Joy, a girl who is her name, shouted to me from the other side of the street:

Und du Ida! Viel Spaß!
(I.e. Ida, have fun!)

Oh yes. I won't forget that one.

These were mine

These were mine.

Over two years in Zürich Vineyard have come to an end and I am slowly realizing the hard consequences of leaving this place. Being the leader of the oldest children in Kids Church has been a privilege, an eternal joy and a blessing. Just as the sun shines at you today Ida, God will continue shining on you, and for the coming season he shall shine A LOT.

My Switzerland: Schwyz

Schwyz.

Just another skolresa. Most people come to Canton Schwyz for tax reasons. I only go there for leisure activities such as skiing or - like on Friday - swimming in Alpamare. It is better than Liseberg and Skara Summerland together. I Promise. Other than that, I could not care less about Schwyz.

En obekväm sanning (SWE)

Emma, en av många kusiner små, har en blogg, på vilken följande fras finns nedtecknad:
”Resan till Schweiz är nu också bokad (eller var det österrike??) ska bli skitkul att komma ner och hälsa på kusinerna...”

Låt mig korrigera ett grammatiskt fel i meningen: det torde stå ”ska bli skitkul att komma ner och hälsa på kusinen.” Den andra har nämligen åkt till Sverige. Skitkul. Den bittra sanningen är att blott dagarna tre före lill-Emmas nedresa har jag lämnat landet. Det där med Österrike är i sammanhanget bara ett klassiskt drag av välmenande Månssonmentalitet. Det må vara Kina eller Slovakien, vi är inte så noga mä’t. Ackusativobjektet i fråga är kusinerna. Det är dessa vi hälsar på, oavsett var de råkar befinna sig. Att Lill-Emma med tillhörande syster nu inte har kunnat pallra sig hitåt i tid är vårt släktvapens dystra baksida; planera är kul bara om det sker spontant. ”Du planerar illa, Ida”, som Johanna-i-Oslo skrev till mig häromdagen. Det gäller för hela blonda släkten.

Next week's trip

Katrin illustrating what a week of traveling with Ida in the desert might be like.

Today's conversation with Dad:
D: But are you sure women can travel to that place all by themselves?
I: Yes, they can.
D: And on what side to they drive?
I: On the right side.
D: You have to call me every second hour.

Katrin hasn't told her Dad yet. I will, she says. In ten years or so.

Goldilocks and the two (South African) bears

After exploring 11 Cantons (ZH, AG, SO, NE, VD, VS, BE, OW, LU, ZG, SZ):

Someone's been sleeping in my bed and she's still there! exclaimed Goldilock.

Just then, the two (South African) bears woke up and saw Goldilocks. She screamed, Help! And she jumped up and ran out of the room. Goldilocks ran down the stairs, opened the door, and ran away into the forest. And she never returned to the home of the two bears.

Morning coffee

J'sis having her morning coffee before jogging.

Easter camp

This is not the cleaning staff. We are just having another camp.

Glimpse of my life

This could be a församlingshem (Parish hall) anywhere in Sweden. But this is Kurvenstrasse, downtown Zurich.

Every other Monday we gather young Swedes (read: girls) to have coffee, egg sandwich with caviar, chat and laugh. In the photo: Karin, who is a nursery teacher, Annina, who is Swiss but speaks fluent Swedish, Emelia, who works as an au pair and Nathalie, who is all over the place (but most likely at the Red Cross).

I wonder: is there any other church who join its members out in the world?

Anita nose wheeling (SWE)

Anita gör en nose wheeling. Jag kan också göra så. I smyg.

Switzerland is in my heart

Switzerland is in my heart. Always and forever.

Tunisian dinner in Winterthur

Katrin is my best Swedish friend in Switzerland; I have quite a few so it IS a compliment. I talk with her about everything (even though she doesn't necessarily listen but I don't care).

Our friend Martin (2008) says that "Ida is easier to understand if you add Katrin to the equation".

On Friday we had Tunisian dinner and watched belly dancing in Winti (Winterthur) planning our trip to a new part of the world to both of us - and it is:
1. A place Anna would call "Ida tvärtemot"
2. Sandy
3. Not Norway (but sort of)

More clues coming.

Grattis Pappa

Grattis pappa.

Here with Aunt Elvy, his godmother, summer 2007.

Happy birthday mum!

Super mum:

Farmer's daughter - check!
Nursery teacher - check!
Swim teacher - check!
Swim club president - check!
Garden therapist - check!
Culinary art director - check!
Rose expert - check!
Interior designer - check!
Born on February 21st - check...

Grattis mamma!

The photo was taken in... Denmark 1983? I don't really know, I slept until 1988.

We are the raggy dolls: lite trasiga och knasiga (ENG/SWE)

Katrin and I chilled at my place yesterday with Pizza and TV programme intros from the good old 80's. We were supposed to go out but the tunes of Trasdockorna (Raggy dolls) kept us at home. Raggy dolls was a Children's TV show about seven dolls who had been left over, since they of various reasons could not be sold.

Which raggy doll is Katrin to be identified with? I would say Princess, whose manufacturer ran out of material and used odds and ends to finish her off. And me? Claude, of course! He was the doll who was supposed to be shipped to France but missed the ship.

It is a common convention that any lyrics in its original language is the best one. But I must give some credits to the translator of Raggy dolls' intro music; The original chorus "Raggy dolls, Raggy dolls, made imperfectly" was translated into the unbeatable "lite trasiga och knasiga..."

This IS Katrin's and my song:

Att va' söta men lika som bär vad är det o ha?
Lite annorlunda är inget fel o va'
Om man är av en annan sort
Varför ska man kastas bort?
Lite trasiga och knasiga!
I vårt trasdocksgäng
Lite trasiga och knasiga!
Det är vår refräng
Är din näsa sned
eller armen ur led
och din tå är gul och blå
"lappri" säger trasdockan - Du är lika bra ändå
Fast trasiga och knasiga!
Vi sjunger vår refräng
Lite trasiga och knasiga!
I vårt trasdocksgäng

Memories from Xmas in Sweden '07

The youth of Överlida.

Advent Calendar of the year

Creativity is out.

In this country people put a lot of effort in creating advent calendars. A popular thing is to involve 24 households, and let all of them create an advent window for a specific day and on this day the other 23 households are invited to have cookies, coffee or whatever. This requires at least one desperate house wife, a lot of friends and excellent organization.

Such ideas are all too pretentious for an inpatient person like me. My roomie Stephan has received a quite goofy, unfemale and trashy advent calender from me.

Presents opened so far:
1st of December: Beer
2nd of December: Beer
3rd of December: Beer
4th of December: Beer

Change is to come though.

Månsson mentality from another perspective

Månsson memories.

From right: Adam, Anders, Lydia, Hanna, Anna, Emma, Britta, Karin, Beata and Ebba.

Yes, there are some Bullerby/Noisy village tendencies.

Månsson defined

Månsson mentality in one word:

Food.

When we are not cooking/baking/eating we talk about what we should cook/bake/eat next.

Birthday acknowledgement

Find a friend and get a monster for free.

When I was 3 years old I apparently had no feeling for estimating potential friends. Johanna is the evidence. For some reason I was humble enough to save her from her fish balls and since then I cannot get rid of her.

Please help me.

She is the kind of a person who will pick on your morning cereal choice, who always forget your birthday, who learn to write your address properly ones you are relocating, who has her vacations planned 1 decade ahead and always give you bad conscience for not jogging Ütliberg every morning. She is one of those who voluntary moved to the last Sovjet State, i.e. Norway, and that says everything.

But somehow I cannot live without her.

Anyway: It is her birthday today. Or no: 70 minutes ago. But as principal I cannot congratulate her on her birthday, it would be too much.

Johanna, I will quote yourself: I hope there is a lot of fish in your birthday cake. That is all I expect from Norwegian cakes.

Notes from a Birthday party in Stettbach

Notes from a Birthday dinner in Stettbach:
Photo #1: Molgan does exist (I am still convinced though that this guy was a hired actor of the night).
Photo #2: In Gävle meatballs are meatsquares.
Photo #3: Saint Katrin is one of the candidates in who wants to become a Bambatant 2007.
Photo #4: Bregott. Most likely one of the most valuable things worth smuggling from Sweden.
Photo #5: It was in 1567 Saint Katrin became a saint after killing 4 demons with a tree fork.

Throughout my 20 months in Switzerland I have been fortunated with lots of visitors:

Anna - my soul mate, who flew here with me.
Helena - the red-pant-lady who had to escape some French striking students for a while
Mum and dad x II- the ones who, if you're lucky, will call you in Alsace telling you they're on their way
Johanna-the-cousin - my pirate twin
Susanna - on her way to her retirement
Lovisa and Mike - fond of the Swiss transport system
Johanna-the-fish-ball-hater - and I almost died while she was here (don't come here again!)
Mademoiselle Fleur - an extension of the Swiss Mansson branch
Katie and Luke - all the way from Minnesota

Who will be my next visitor? Please apply to idaserneberg@hotmail.com.

Possible presumptions from my side:
1. One or two Mansson-cousins - not too impossible
2. Daughter of a Doctor Hägglund - would be a blast!
3. Mattias and Evelina - in my dreams
4. Mum and dad again - they're probably already in Hannover
5. Selma-the-dog
6. Rebecka-the-cow - will never happen (she is always financially broke)
7. The Godmother - probably the best guess

When Hans-Rüdi and Sandra lived happily ever after

Sandra & Hans-Rüedi

September 15th 2007
Höngg / Küsnacht, Zürich

Me actually

Let me introduce myself. This photo requires some explanation (and self-defense). I have been addicted to Facebook lately, yes - BUT my new roomie Stephan is sometimes slower than slowest - AND my time is indeed too valuable to just sit and wait. I'd rather then go online - even with helmet and backpack on.

Rebecca caught the moment.

Latest news from Altstetten

Sunday in Altstetten: Celebration Day with Vineyard Netzwerk Zürich. They had me to organize the Vineyard Olympic Games 2007. One of the tasks the teams had to do was to create a poem out of five random words (August, Affoltern, schaukeln, farbig and schlafen). At the end the three final teams had to make a song out of the poem. In the movie above, Team FC Bayern is performing there contribution to the game. From the left: Julia, Stephan, John and Oli. Visi is playing the piano.

Two Americans in Zürich

In the beginning of the week I got unexpected visitors from the other side of the Atlantic. I showed Luke and Katie all important stuff in Zürich, like Starbucks and McDonald's. We did climb the Grossmünster though. The photo was taken on the top of it.

Studying (?) outside

Yesterday was supposed to be the last day with sunny weather so I took the opportunity to study outside. I joined a bunch of Herrings* to Letzibad, Zürich.

In the photo from above: Darren, Noomi, Cian.

*Rebecca's maiden name is Hering.

Just another Thursday

On Thursday I normally hung out at Julia and Christo's place. In this photo: Sara, Nicole, Nadja, Fabs and Sara. Angi, Christo and Tobias are hiding.

Unconvenient truths

Linda is not my cousin. She is the small and stupid cousin to my cousin Johanna & Siblings. Everytime I see her she reminds me that Johanna and I on every party used to encourage her to save her candy 'til the end. Johanna and I, on the other hand, wolfed down our candy immediately and then robbed Linda on her savings.

I fear this is true.

Linda also believe that Johanna was fairly innocent and evil Ida was the brain behind it all.

I fear this is true too.

Quiz walk winners

Cousin Linde won the quiz walk. The parrot (?) told uncle Reine all the answers which resulted in a second prize.

Johanna's pirate party

Tina Turner showed up at the pirate party too.

You know you are a Serneberger when...

You know you're a Serneberger when...

1. you don't take yourself seriously
2. you take a theme party extremely seriously
   
3. you wouldn't have a party without sending all your guests on a tipspromenad (quiz walk)
   
4. you live in Fotskäl
   
5. you like candy
6. you are a snus (Swedish kind of tobacco you put under your lips) consumer
   

Oli and Fabs's wedding

Oli and Fabs's wedding: in this photo three of my friends represent three continents. Eldette is from South Africa, Mathew is from India and Lucy is from Ecuador.

To mum and dad on their anniversary

It hit me that I don't have any digital photo with my mum and my dad on the s-a-m-e photo; so I draw one myself. Not that I am as excellent in using Paint as Rebecka, but still. So why this effort? On this day, on July 15th, 30 years ago:

• my mum changed her surname from Bengtsson to Serneberg
• my dad accepted the fact to be a hillbilly (or should I write mellbilly? haha) for the rest of his life
  
• fought with the priest, who accused them of bringing the devil's intrument (i.e. a bunch of fiddles) into Fotskäl church
  
  So by the way: Happy anniversary. Congratulations to 30 years of cow dung odour and afternoon sun. Hereby I allow myself to point out the most important events of these passed years:
  
  
• 1978: A screaming baby is being found in the food cellar. He is blue out of screaming and is screaming because he cannot find anymore meatballs (he has eaten them all). He doesn't stop eating meatballs for the next 5 years.
  
• 1981: A sleeping baby is being found in the potatoe garden. Since then they've treated her as their own. She wasn't of much trouble, since she kept sleeping for the first 6 years of her life and only woke up in times of bad smells, like passing by Grums.
  
• 1983: Mr. and Mrs. Serneberg are concerned that the meatball baby can't stop eating meat balls. They give him a bike and 2 seconds later he knows how to ride it.
  
• 1984: Mrs. Serneberg understands the benefits of child labour, wakes the sleeping baby up and have her to pick 11 kilos of strawberries in 4 hours.
  
• 1996: Mr. and Mrs. Serneberg employ a watchdog, Selma, who due to shooting phobia appears to be useless for her purpose. Nowadays she works as vacuum cleaner.
  
• 2004: Mr. and Mrs. Serneberg relocates not less than 50 metres. Mrs. Serneberg insists to keep e-v-e-r-y-t-h-i-n-g (including broken extension cords), Mr. Serneberg insists to leave everything which they have double of; ladder, chain saw, region map, fridge etc. It is still a wonder that he didn't leave one of their kids.

How to acknowledge a birthday

I forgot. It was my birthday last friday. Kristin sent me, as always, a bunch of photos of birds. Kindergarten pal Johanna wrote:

What day it is? Hey, it is Friday - you should keep the days in order, I don't want to stand and wait for you at the airport on Thursday!

Oh boy, I missed the days when Johanna used to send me post cards from up north with messages such as "enjoy your cake".

Thesaurus Mike (SWE)

Även om det nu är några dagar sedan Lovisa och Mike for vill jag ändå, till deras ära och för att de tog sig mödan att ta sig ner hit, presentera ett urval ur Thesaurus Mike, Michaels egen ordbok:

• Äckluck = Samlingseufemism för allt som är äckligt
• Buss med sväng = En sådan där jättelång buss med nån slags dragspelsliknande mojäng i mitten som får bussen att kunna köra runt även i jättesmå svängar
  
• Skog = Planta av modell större än tulpan (jäkla stadsunge)
• Trymdrake = Drake som första gången omnämndes i en av Idas alla historier, där hon döpte draken Trym efter Mikes norske dagispolare. Trymdrake blev sedermera benämning på allsortens drakar
• Schweiz = Lindsay WG, alltså kollektivet i vilket Ida bor - INTE landet som hon bor i
• Alla folk = invånare i Lidköping

Best of Switzerland (according to Mike)

Lovisa and Michael are on short visit to Lindsay WG and Switzerland. Best of Switzerland (according to Mike):

+ When tram 2 travelled away without Ida and Mike and Lovisa were in the tram (Let's do it again, mum)
+ All the Lindsay kids
+ All the Lindsay kids' toys
+ All the Lindsay kids' water balloons
+ The playroom in church (better than Grandma's place)
+ Riding boat
+ Riding train
+ Riding bus
+ Chocolate on your sandwich
+ Ida's stories
+ Saying Danke and Bitte

Not so best of Switzerland (according to Mike):
- Lack of public toilets
- Lack of toys in Ida's room
- Joggers on the stairs of the watchtower of Ütliberg (where are they going? You are actually not allowed to run on the stairs!)
- Speaking English all the time
- Bed time (We already slept yesterday)

Little and big frogs (ENG/SWE)

Four generations of Bauhn frogs show how to sing and dance Little frogs properly.

Det är så roligt när papporna och mammorna är med och leker. Ja, det skulle kanske inte vara så roligt om man måste leka med dem varje dag. Men när det är midsommar tycker jag dom kan få vara med.

ur Bara roligt i Bullerbyn

Parents-almost-being-on-time

And all of a sudden my parents showed up. Only 20 minutes too late this time, that must be a record.

Månsa mentality

We could spend hours analyzing this photo. In the background, Gunilla the party organizer of the day is putting the last pieces of the party on the right place. Lennart is making a phone call at the same time. Conclusions:

1. We do have men in our extended family - but only by marriage

2. The men we have in our extended family are luckily and happily oppressed

3. The female part of our extended family have all the information, power and decisions in their hands

Counting cousins

What is Anna thinking about? Maybe she is trying to figure out how many female cousins she has. We must have most female cousins in the world. Everytime I start counting them my brain gets messed up and I have to start over again. Counting cousins must be a more effective fall-asleep method than counting sheep, I am sure.

Photo on top from the left: Ebba, Beata, Lisa, Britta, Emma, me.

Månsa food

All you can eat. It cannot be healthy to attend two Månsa parties in one day.

How to eat Israeli food

Daniel shows how to do it the Israeli way: You eat with your hands, scream loudly and you never sit still.

Isareli cooking

Daniel, who was raised on a Kibbutz, cooked Israeli food for us.

And.I.am.the.most.fortunated.person.in.the.world.

Eldette's birthday party

On my spare time I... attend birthday parties. It seems to be my only hobby right now. Eldette's birthday at Daniel's awesome lake house in Thalwil was terrific. It must be a good age sign when you celebrate birthdays without actually knowing the age of the birthday kid.

Bringing bread

Then I brought my big bread to Julia's party. I made sure to socialize... with the food.

Chics

Rebecca and her chics being served.

The brains behind the project

The brains behind the project: Tim, Darren and Dominik.