Back on Visingsö.

Back on Visingsö. The best way to tell your café guests that they've spent way too much time drinking coffee and it is time to go home: Cut the grass. Preferably right where the guests sit.

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!

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.

Some of us arrived already on Thursday eve. On Friday we had lots of time for studies and relaxing.

Visingsö

Ladies' weekend on Visingsö island.

John Bauer and his fairy tale world in reality

It was out here in the surroundings of lake Bunn and Ören the painter John Bauer got his inspiration. He loved the forest and used to stroll around in it. Since walking in the forest with no other purpose than painting was considered to be extremely weird, he always carried a gun, pretending to be out hunting. It was always unloaded though since he was against killing.

Kungligheter [SWE]

Utanför Sigges konferenslokaler står en Ford som är blå. Fint.


De offentliga toaletternas väggar pryds av kungliga fotografier. Stiligt.

Soppatorsk [SWE]

Häromdagen for vi ut med Sigge och hans Trolska båtturer på sjöarna Bunn och Ören. Med på färden var Grenna Museum/Turistbyrås alla två chefer och likaså våra två vaktmästare. I Gränna är alla goda ting två (tydligen).

Men redan vid Aranäs fick vi soppatorsk. Sigge fick ringa efter diesel.

Snus i mina skor (SWE)

Sommaren i Gränna lider mot sitt slut och jag vill påstå att tiden här har kretsat kring italienska verb, Visingsötrafikens tidtabell och den slutgiltiga lösningen på judefrågan. Tre månaders kvalificerat smilfinkeri är nu till ända.

Jag har smilfinkat tillsammans med idéhistorikern Andreas, en man som blir lycklig av likör, Sicilien och Mjällby AIF. Han har, på olika platser i Gränna, bott i sin husvagn och hyser en djup fascination för Sadamregimen, liksom Sveriges första polarforskare Rolandsson Martin. Det var ju han som gjorde sig en mössa av ett sälskinn och vandrade genom Sverige tillsammans med en död fiskmås. Andreas avser att uträtta tre saker i sitt liv: 1) Uppföra en staty av en av Grännas stugutgyrare i mimosasallad 2) skriva en avslöjande artikel om myglet kring polkagrisindustrin och 3) sälja sin svärmor på blocket.

Han säger sig själv vara ett av de viktigaste böneämnena i en västgötsk pingstförsamling (bredvid ett krig och en svältkatastrof). Låt oss sammanfatta det så här: Andreas har visat mig en ny dimension av livet.

Under sommaren har vi besvarat frågor som hur man får vatten till Visingsö (de har väl dragit ledningar från Gränna?), hur många trappstegen till Grännaberget är och när byn fick sina stadsprivilegier. Nuförtiden vill jag påstå att vi känner till alla Östergötlands riktnummer och hur släktskapen i Gränna är konstruerade. Dessutom hyser vi en bestämd uppfattning om vilket år som Visingsö, likt Atlantis, sjunker. Faktum är att vi är goda nog att disputera i Grännavetenskap.

Sommaren 2009 innehåller tillräckligt mycket stoff för att fylla en roman på 450 sidor. Den skulle kunna handla om museichefen som fick snus i sina skor utan att förstå varför, om vaktmästaren som slog världsrekord i att besöka styrelsemöten, eller om östgöten som cyklade vilse under Vätterrundan (hon försvann, det lilla livet).

Den som lever får se. Nu ska jag börja heja på Mjällby.

The best library in Småland

I dare to believe that the best library in Småland is to be found on the top floor of my work place in Gränna. It is so small that it still think it is possible to read every single book. And Jenny and Unn will make sure you never leave it without at least four books in your hand.

Latest exhibition

Latest exhibition at Grenna Museum. The exhibition is a result of all fit of rages that we have had at Grenna Museum/Tourist agency this summer. Every time someone got furious Elin bought a Kinderegg. When it comes to tourism business there are many reasons to get angry, as you can see. The thing to the left wasn't found in a kinderegg; it is our slimy stress ball. When you touch it you get a little bit more stressed up.

Not my fault.

Not my fault.

In Ryd, on my way back from Torpa. Someone had been here before me.

Many visitors in Gränna

We have many visitors in Gränna at this time of the year. Some of them are afraid of me.

Tappen i Gripenberg (SWE)

Tappen i Gripenberg med tillhörande ICA-affär. På väg till Tranås från Gränna hittade jag denna mystiska ort, mest känd för det så kallade Trårullatåget. Så tokigt.

Quote of the day

My eyes will watch over them for their good, and I will bring them back to this land. I will build them up and not tear them down; I will plant them and not uproot them. I will give them a heart to know me, that I am the LORD. They will be my people, and I will be their God, for they will return to me with all their heart. [Jer 24:6-7]

The photo was taken in Åsens by.

Åsens by

Midsummer: Back in Haurida. We made a walk to the culture reserve Åsens by.

Västgöta view

One of the many good things with Visingsö is that you always have a view over State Västergötland.

Ford?

Visingsö Tractor - Yeah! Is it a Ford?

Biking in the oak forest

What is the meaning with biking around Lake Vättern when you can bike in it? It takes three hours to see the whole island by bike and you will discover one of the best preserved oak forests in the world.

Island petrol

Is this the only place on Visingsö Island where you can get gas? We don't know.

Weekend excursion to Visingsö island

Back on wonderful Visingsö island again. I taught Susanna everything I know about Per Brahe, Andrée and Amalia Eriksson. Besides she coincidently learned what a variety of manure spreaders there are in this world.

Season is here

Season is here. Gränna is the place.

Haurida

Haurida.

Småland means the small countries. It is country of pine trees, IKEA, Astrid Lindgren, Carl von Linné and High Chaparal. Sweden in a box.

On my way to home group

On my way to home group. Or away group. Maybe it is easier to stay in Müller house group at Irchelstrasse.

Let me introduce my friends XXVII

Vist.

I have many good friends in Huskvarna. I have known Vist since 1984. Regardless of if we were going on ski holiday or visiting cousins or the capital; we had to pass by Vist.

On this photo he is holding Visingsö island in his hands, which he is about to through out in lake Vättern, so that his wife can get over the water too.

Vist. One of those reliable guys.

Gränna

Gränna Antik, neighbor house to one of my two work places. Not only the most beautiful house in town but most likely the best second hand store in the region. But don't tell anyone.

Lunch at Gränna Hill

Lunch today at Kaffestugan, Gränna Hill. They claim to have world famous shrimp sandwiches, even though I never heard of them before. Famous or not; they were... shrimpy. And the view should be world famous.

Ölmstad roundabout

And after about 2 kilometres you'll come to a very big roundabout...

My new working colleague Tina explained the way back to the highway after dropping her off at her place.

Well. Very big is a subject of relativism. At least here it is: the very big roundabout in Downtown Ölmstad. The biggest one in town.

Visingsö

Friday and Visingsö, the island in lake Vättern. Easily one of top ten sights in Sweden.