A Brit in Sweden

[Dreamwoven]

My wife is Swedish and in 1971 we married and after a lifetime of wandering we finally settled down in Sweden. I got a job in a research institute, and had - and still do have - permanent residence here. I came to love Sweden and, after ill health forced me to take early retirement in 2004 I still appreciate many aspects of life here. In this thread I will try to share with you my feelings about this great country.

[Dreamwoven]

Sweden is cold in winter but this winter has been colder than usual. The snow came in December before Christmas. It still lies around, hasn't melted. Temperatures around freezing but fluctuating around zero. This means the snow melts a bit, then freezes during the night, and so it has gone on. This makes it treacherous to walk, I wear grips attached to my boots, and use a pair of staves to help keep my balance. I fell one day and since then my wife accompanies me when I take a walk. She is very special.

[Dreamwoven]

I am not very good at keeping my balance with grips, its the large size of my boots, for some reason the grips don't stay on firmly. This winter has been tough and I long for spring, when I can stop on the way to enjoy the fresh air and have the warm sun on my face. There is probably another month of winter before we get "spring-winter" (vårvinter as the Swedes call it).

[Dreamwoven]

My command of Swedish has deteriorated since retiring, though I still understand it quite well, just from listening to the news on radio or TV. But while I was a researcher I understood and spoke Swedish better than today. Thats very sad, but I have to just accept it.

[Dreamwoven]

I don't have a current passport, as I don't travel abroad, although I have two out-of-date British passports, just because I wanted a record of which passports I used to have. But then with permanent residence I don't need a passport.

Permanent residence gives me limited voting rights in Sweden. I can vote in the county elections and local elections but not Riksdag elections, which is the most important one.

[Danik 2016]

.....

[Dreamwoven]

That's useful to know, Danik. I keep my driving licence up to date, I can also use that for ID purposes.

[Dreamwoven]

One of the good things about Sweden is that it has stuck by its neutrality and as on all major decisions, this has been respected by all governments, both Bourgeois (the Alliance) and Social Democrat. Sweden now has membership of the UN Security Council, initially for a period of 3 years.

[Dreamwoven]

What surprised me was the large number of political parties in the Swedish Riksdag. Besides the Moderates (now the New Moderates) and the Social Democrats, there is the Centre Party, the Folk Party (now the Liberals), and the Christian Democrats (the last four combined to form the Alliance.

There are two other parties, the Left Party and the Greens, both supporting the Social Democrat Government. The Greens in addition have ministers in the current Social Democrat Government, which in turn negotiates with the Left Part over issues they work out in common.

There remains a Sweden Democrat Party with some 20+ percent of the votes in Riksdag, the third largest Riksdag party. Until recently they have been shunned by all the other parties. Now the Moderates want to vote together with the Sweden Democrats to defeat the government in the vote that normally takes place for Riksdag to pass the budget, later this year. The other three parties of the Alliance are against this strategy and there has been much debate and opposition to this from all three parties, but mostly from the Centre Party.

So these 8 parties make up the Riksdag as elected 3 years ago.

Why force an election just one year earlier than the 4-yearly election that otherwise normally takes place? All the parties have stayed silent on this issue, until, no doubt, the early election is forced and electioneering begins.

[Dreamwoven]

Since my stroke in 2010 I have been put on warfarin to thin my blood, to prevent another stroke (warfarin is a rat poison, which kills in this way, but administered by injection into the blood stream it is safe). I need to go for a check-up every couple of weeks which involves leaving a blood sample. The result is that the dose is adjusted as needed.

The side effect of this is that I am more prone to feeling the cold weather, especially in my hands. I am impressed with the medical care provided in Sweden.

[Danik 2016]

.....

[Danik 2016]

.....

[Dreamwoven]

I'll have a look out for that. Thanks for the tip.

[Danik 2016]

.....

[Dreamwoven]

The winter here drags on, but the days are longer and the sun will soon start to warm the air. It is spring-winter at our latitude (vårvinter). We still have a snow cover but this is likely to disappear by the end of February. Spring is in sight!

[Dreamwoven]

What surprised me was the large number of political parties in the Swedish Riksdag. Besides the Moderates (now the New Moderates) and the Social Democrats, there is the Centre Party, the Folk Party (now the Liberals), and the Christian Democrats (the last four combined to form the Alliance.

There are two other parties, the Left Party and the Greens, both supporting the Social Democrat Government. The Greens in addition have ministers in the current Social Democrat Government, which in turn negotiates with the Left Part over issues they work out in common.

There remains a Sweden Democrat Party with some 20+ percent of the votes in Riksdag, the third largest Riksdag party. Until recently they have been shunned by all the other parties. Now the Moderates want to vote together with the Sweden Democrats to defeat the government in the vote that normally takes place for Riksdag to pass the budget, later this year. The other three parties of the Alliance are against this strategy and there has been much debate and opposition to this from all three parties, but mostly from the Centre Party.

So these 8 parties make up the Riksdag as elected 3 years ago.

Why force an election just one year earlier than the 4-yearly election that otherwise normally takes place? All the parties have stayed silent on this issue, until, no doubt, the early election is forced and electioneering begins.

Now there have been several polls, all of which point in the same direction. But the indications in the polls are that the electorate doesn't like the idea of forcing the election a year earlier than normal, and especially building a majority between the Moderates and the Sweden Democrats. It is so artificial. How can the Moderates get the votes from the Sweden Democrats while not including them in the new Government? My wife, who is canny about such things believes the whole idea will be dropped. I guess we will see...

[Dreamwoven]

Its the 1st March today, but the wintery weather continues. We had a couple of inches of snow before Christmas, but its been like this all through February freezing, melting, freezing again. The ice is hard-frozen and yesterday I stepped off the wooden front steps on to the ice that was so slippery my feet slid out from under me and I landed on my backside. Took a while to get up, floundering around like, well like a flounder. Kerstin helped me get up. She always comes with me since I fell in January.

But the days are lengthening rapidly and hopefully by mid-March the ice and snow will be gone.

[Dreamwoven]

The Centre-Right Government has announced that conscription is being introduced in Sweden. I believe it is rather restricted, though it is both for men and women. It is not universal conscription. More information when it becomes clearer what this involves. Meanwhile see https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Conscription_in_Sweden.

[Dreamwoven]

This article from http://www.thelocal.se/20160831/sweden-could-reintroduce-conscription-by-2019 is the best I can find on this in English. I will produce an update as soon as one comes out in English.

[Dreamwoven]

Dagens Nyheter 3 March p.4 writes that the armed forces begin recruiting some 4,000 boys and girls (begins on 1 July 2017) and recruiting 4,000 soldiers) in 2018 and 2019, then increasing numbers to 8,000 a year after that.

[Dreamwoven]

In Southern Norrland we have had quite a heavy fall of snow last night and today, some two decimetres (over 6 inches) has settled and it is expected to snow more. This is not unusual for this part of Sweden. But here we have been waiting for spring weather, so it is obviously disappointing.

[Dreamwoven]

We have watched the growing crisis in the Moderate Party, in which it has been steadily losing support at the polls, down now to 16.6%, compared to the Social Democrats 27.8%. It seems to lack any direction in its policy. Its leader, Anna Kinberg Batra, looks exhausted with dark rings around her eyes. Today's Dagens Nyheter sums it up as "Keep on course?: there is no course!" The Sweden Democrats with 18.2% are now the second largest party after the Social Democrats. There is already talk of the need for a new Moderate Party leader.

[Magnocrat]

Interesting reading. I have always suspected languages, like most things, need to be maintained ; even vocal understanding is different from the written form. I learnt the meaning of many words before I could pronounce them.

[Dreamwoven]

Its the 1st March today, but the wintery weather continues. We had a couple of inches of snow before Christmas, but its been like this all through February freezing, melting, freezing again. The ice is hard-frozen and yesterday I stepped off the wooden front steps on to the ice that was so slippery my feet slid out from under me and I landed on my backside. Took a while to get up, floundering around like, well like a flounder. Kerstin helped me get up. She always comes with me since I fell in January.

But the days are lengthening rapidly and hopefully by mid-March the ice and snow will be gone.

Thanks, Magnocrat. Nice to know someone else reads this. :)

Well, it is now mid-March (12th March) and we still have snow and ice and subzero temperatures overnight (minus 4 celsius last night). Just as slippery as ever.

[Magnocrat]

I always think the equinox is a turning point when day begins to outpace night;
around the 21st of march. As a boy I used to like ice- skating but I never reached the graceful perfection of those ice- dancers. Perhaps the most curious fact about ice is that it floats on water which means water expands as it cools between 4C and 0C.
A fact that seems to contradict common sense.
We have hosts of yellow daffodils on the roadsides , they never fail to herald spring.

[Dreamwoven]

My guess is that you are either a Swede living in the south of England or a Brit living the far south of Sweden - Sweden is a huge country, and I know that the daffodils are blooming down there already!

[Magnocrat]

I'm a seventy five year old retired Englishman on the south coast. I retired aged sixty one and have only a rudimentary education I set about filling in some of the gaps.
I am Mr Average with an IQ of about 105 so some subjects proved a little to hard to grasp and I soon learnt to accept the expert consensus. I'm not greatly traveled having brought up a family of four who are in the fast lane.

[Dreamwoven]

You and I are the same age, and I am also a retired Englishman! Welcome to LitNet and feel free to contribute to the subject of this thread. If you want to learn more about my background visit the genealogy thread on this website.

[Dreamwoven]

Spring is taking a long time to come to Sweden, its already the spring equinox, but we have had snow this morning, its still snowing and settling, and temps around -2 celsius.

[Dreamwoven]

Still snowing today as well. And the snow is clogging, partly melted, hard to walk in.

[Dreamwoven]

Today is bitterly cold, with an icy wind.

[Danik 2016]

I´m sorry to read that. Here we had some refreshing autumn days, but it looks like it´s going to be very hot today.

[Dreamwoven]

When we were in Minnesota we learned the expression "wind chill". This is what it means: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wind_chill. The term is not use in Sweden, despite the fact that we also get strong winds here. Because of this, temperatures given in weather forecasts often grossly give an exaggerated view of temperatures, I mean like 15 celsius without wind chill when the temperature is closer to 2 celsius when wind chill effects are taken into account.

[Dreamwoven]

We have had an unusually cold March, and even today there is snow on the ground from yesterday's snow showers and bitterly cold winds. I was so chilled down from taking a short walk, that I fell asleep on the sofa, so my night was partly disturbed as a result. Must remember to take warm outer-trousers today. Tomorrow is 1st April. Starting to long for spring.

[Dreamwoven]

It is now 12th April, and winter is taking a long time to end. Minus degrees every night, tonight it went down to -5 celsius. The ground is frozen solid, though it melts during the day when the temperature gets up to +3 or 4, occasionally to +8 when the sun is warm. The crocuses are out, on an estate near us we can go for walks there and enjoy the display. We even have a few at home in the yard. South-facing slopes are best for this. Occasionally we get snowfalls in April. The relatively low rain and snowfall figures mean that water will be in short supply this year. May even be rationed.

[Dreamwoven]

This is an uncommonly cold Easter week. Minus 7 last night and with windchill added it feels like -12. Good Friday here is called Long Friday in Swedish. But the days are rapidly lengthening and there are crocuses peeking through the soil in south facing flower beds. Our sons are visiting us later today. Look forward to seeing them.

[Magnocrat]

That's cold. When we lived high up in Wales it got to -14C in the winter and we had pumped water which failed due to frost. We were snowed in for two weeks.

[Dreamwoven]

That sounds tough, Magnocrat.

Sweden has added another holiday to its calendar, its called Annandag påsk, the sunday being påskdagen. Yesterday, the traffic was streaming back southward from the long weekend. It will likely be the same today. A time to enjoy skiing in the north.

[Dreamwoven]

We get occasional days like today, when the sun shines and it takes the edge off the cold. The leaves are budding on some trees, but it remains still wintry. Never the less, we have signs of spring. The ants were out today, foraging.

[Dreamwoven]

Same weather today, a bit worse with the icy wind lowering the temperature by some 10 degrees celsius. But we could get out for a trip to the north, some 35 minutes away by train.

[Dreamwoven]

Five days later it snowed all night and much of this morning, we now have several centimetres of snow on the ground. The winter seems to last forever...

[Dreamwoven]

Tomorrow night is Walpurgis Night, when Swedes celebrate the coming of spring: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Walpurgis_Night. As it falls on a Sunday this year the Monday is a holiday as well.

[Dreamwoven]

Its Monday 1st May today, none of my posts have been answered...where is everyone???

[Dreamwoven]

Today is 1st May, the start of summer. -5 celsius overnight, but by mid-morning a blue sky and warm sunshine, very nice weather. Sat on the porch in the sun

[Danik 2016]

DW, I usually read all your posts(unless they are about books I haven´t read). I haven´t answered them because I am under the impression that you don´t like being answered.
Have a nice holyday.

[Dreamwoven]

Danik, I am happy to answer anything, please feel free!

[Dreamwoven]

OK, this is the world Heritage site of Visby: http://worldheritagesweden.se/en/world-heritages-in-sweden/hanseatic-town-of-visby/. It is an old walled town on the island of Gotland.

[Danik 2016]

Sweden must be a good place to live. I like the often Medieval architecture.

[Dreamwoven]

Well, yes, except until the 1950s Sweden was economically backward.

[Dreamwoven]

That's why there are so many blocks of new high-rise flats.

[Danik 2016]

That´s a pity. I myself live in a flat, surrounded by high buildings and near the famous Copan by Niemeier now eternally in repair.

[Dreamwoven]

Wow, you live win Honduras, i looked it up: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Copán. What a long history its got!

[Dreamwoven]

I always assumed you lived in Brazil, perhaps because it is by far the biggest country in South America.

[Danik 2016]

No, you were right DW,I live in Brazil and I didn´t know of the existence of this archeological site in Honduras.
The Copan I mean is this gigantic appartament building projected by Niemeier:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edif%C3%ADcio_Copan

Here you can read, if you want to a bit more about Niemeier, the modernist architect of international fame, who almost comemorated his105 birthday:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oscar_Niemeyer

[Dreamwoven]

That's astonishing: a huge building. Designed by one who studied under Le Corbusier!

What's it like to live in?

[Danik 2016]

I haven´t an idea how it was when the building was still new. I live nearby in a rather small building.
I once visited on of it´s kittchenettes (the building has five types of appartements) and I didn´t like it at all. You go along a long deserted and unfriendly corridor. Then you open one of the doors and kind of fall into a hole.
There are also luxury appartments, but I´ve never visited them.
But today, whith the building being repaired very very slowly, living even in the luxury appartments must be unconfortable. And the housing contribution must be very high as the condominium manager gets a mayor´s salary. He has to administrate a small vertical town.

[Dreamwoven]

Sounds a bit like large apartment blocks everywhere. i think I would choose to live in a smaller building, too.

[Dreamwoven]

We are having an unusually cold May this year. This morning there were snow flurries and a couple of plus degrees. In between there have been a mild day with sun and warm enough to sit on the porch. The leaves are still not out on the birch trees!

[Dreamwoven]

We are having an unusually cold May this year. This morning there were snow flurries and a couple of plus degrees. In between there have been a mild day with sun and warm enough to sit on the porch. The leaves are still not out on the birch trees!

[Dreamwoven]

Yesterday it snowed all morning, settling, about an inch of snow. Kerstin says she has never know it so cold a week into May. Today it is also cold and the forecast is for frost everywhere in Sweden, here we had -5 celsius, and it is likely to be continuing through to the end of this week.

[Dreamwoven]

Well, the cold spell continues. The weather forecaster of last night said this is the coldest May in the last 150 years. Wintery showers and below freezing just about everywhere in Sweden. Global warming, anyone?

[Dreamwoven]

5 days later, on the 17th May, spring arrived. It rained, much needed for the parched soil. Today it is also very mild, 15 celsius. The leaves are starting to open on the trees, white wood anemones and blue wood anemones are out, and tussilago (coltsfoot, yellow, look like dandelions) are flowering. Butterflies are out, especially the small blue on their upper wings and white underwing. Lets hope there is no more frost at night. Five days above freezing is generally the sign that spring has arrived.

[Dreamwoven]

Today is the first day of summer in Southern Norrland. Blue skies, the leaves on the trees and bushes still not fully out. I don't sit in the sun, I find it too draining, but Kerstin does.

[Dreamwoven]

This coming Thursday is Ascension in Sweden and also in Australia and perhaps elsewhere too. In Sweden it is called Kristihimmelsfärd and is a public holiday, while the Friday is the squeeze day, that most Swedes take out as a holiday, giving a 4-day weekend.

[Dreamwoven]

Politics here in Sweden is very interesting. The attempt by the New Moderates to ally with the Sweden Democrats was disastrous for the New Moderates, it made the Sweden Democrats the second largest party, which blocks any changes the Social Democrats might want to make. But it is good for Swedish Neutrality as the Sweden Democrats favour it. The Moderates lost a lot of support, mostly to the Centre Party, but the Social Democrats are well placed for a second term in the 2018 elections. The Finance Minister Magdalena Andersson is well placed to take over as leader of the Social Democrats.

[Dreamwoven]

Today it is 2 June, but it is pretty cold for this time of year. Yesterday we had North winds, and in the morning with the thermometer on +2 celsius it was also very cold, made worse by the windchill. Near to gale force winds. We anyway took the train to Bollnäs and with the rain that fell all day yesterday and showers today it left the countryside looking green and fresh. The lilac bush at home is coming into bloom, and the fields look green and well-watered. Bollnäs Library has a good selection of books in English, and serves lunches with good vegetarian and lactose free and gluten free meals. I have borrowed two books by Alice Hoffmann in English, looking forward to reading them.

[Dreamwoven]

I have noticed we now need to include a title to each post, this is daft, but OK I'll comply.

[Dreamwoven]

Sweden's Riksdag is blocked by the Sweden Democrats becoming the second largest party. We will have to see how this develops.

[Dreamwoven]

The New Moderates have been ousted from second place to third, and have set up informal collaboration in the Riksdag with the Sweden Democrats to work out collaboration between them where the two parties' have interests in common. With one year of the 4-year term available to the Government before the next General Election, the Social Democrats will likely decide to make Magdalena Andersson (Finance Minister) the next party leader and Prime Minister.

[Dreamwoven]

A lot has happened in the year since the last post was published. Anna Kingberg Batra has resigned as leader of the "new" Moderates and a new leader is being appointed. When that happens I will report again.

[Dreamwoven]

The election of a new New Moderates leader is taking time, so everything else has to wait. Meanwhile for the first time ever the "Alliance" of the Bourgeois Parties has been broken with the Centre Party and the Liberals by supporting the Social Democratic Government so the voting went their way, confirming the Foreign Minister in his position. See https://www.thelocal.se/20170915/swedish-pm-survives-no-confidence-vote-by-wide-margin.

[kiz_paws]

I have noticed we now need to include a title to each post, this is daft, but OK I'll comply.We do? Hmmm, that's odd!
I am enjoying your stories and descriptions very much. Probably there are a lot of us in LitNet that read things, but don't feel compelled to post.
Nonetheless, keep on writing, this is fascinating indeed. :)

[Dreamwoven]

Thank you KP, I will!

[Dreamwoven]

This is the mildest and wettest summer I can remember. And toward the end of September it remains warm and mild, with highs around 15 celsius! It is also very humid. It is still Rot Month, which is normally the month of August, and that some may know of as Dog Days (named after Sirius the dog star): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dog_days. August is - or rather was - the time to go mushrooming. But now it is almost the end of September. Last year we had a mild winter with freezing and melting ice making the way very treacherous. Toadstools keep appearing, and seem to thrive!

[Dreamwoven]

We are a week into October and the mild weather continues.

[Dreamwoven]

I have never believed in global warming, but this view is now changing.

[Dreamwoven]

The changes are experienced more acutely in the polar and sub-polar regions. Southern Norrland is an example of a sub-polar region, and although we do have milder weather in our winters (see earlier posts in this thread) the change is noticeable here, too. Mid-October and there are still fungi growing around our house, with diurnal minimum temperatures still above freezing.

[Dreamwoven]

The Moderates have elected a new leader, Ulf Kristersson. See The Local - https://www.thelocal.se/20171002/swedens-moderates-elect-pragmatic-new-leader.

[kiz_paws]

Hello, are you expecting much colder temperatures to come soon? And do you get a lot of snow with high winds, and such? I am just trying to get a feel for someone else's perspective of winter. :)

[Dreamwoven]

We used to get cold winters but the last couple of years it has been milder, alternatively freezing, then melting. Makes the ice treacherously difficult to walk on. I guess we will see what it will be like this year, winter has not properly started yet. We do get cold northerly winds.

[Dreamwoven]

What about you? The Prairies are probably similar to Southern Norrland, on lat. 60 N approx. Never been to Canada, but we spent a year in Minnesota, which is a bit like Sweden, pine forests and lakes. Can see why so many Swedish immigrants settled there.

[Danik 2016]

I have never believed in global warming, but this view is now changing.

Global warming has become a palpable truth.

Some years ago the maximum of temperature in Summer here in my city used to be 30 º C. Now we easily reach 35 º in Winter. And I notice that high temperatures are present even in traditionally cold countries,

[Dreamwoven]

I would include where we live in Southern Norrland in this conclusion. But that is based on only a couple of years, is while I now do not reject global warming I have an open mind on it.

[kiz_paws]

What about you? The Prairies are probably similar to Southern Norrland, on lat. 60 N approx. Never been to Canada, but we spent a year in Minnesota, which is a bit like Sweden, pine forests and lakes. Can see why so many Swedish immigrants settled there.I have a cousin who lives in Minneapolis, Minnesota. By his description, and my experience visiting, their winters are much milder than where I live. They receive a LOT of snow, probably more than we get here, and it does get cold, but the description of winter for me is BITTER.

At present, we are enjoying the splendor and beauty of autumn ... leaves are still on the trees and are an array of yellows, golds, oranges, reds, spectacular! Our temperatures lately are between +8C to +20C. By the end of the month, the leaves will be gone and it will be bare trees bracing for the onslaught of snow. The temperatures will drop to +5C to maybe -10C by month's end.

November and December have their share of cold and some snow. By cold I mean about -15C to -25C. Come the New Year, the bitterness begins. Temperatures fall to the -30's C and then some. It doesn't snow all the time, but we get at least 6 ft. of the white stuff that stays the whole winter. We find that when it does snow in Jan. or Feb., the temps are milder. But then back to the bitter -30's. With the windchill as a factor, it can be up to -45 to -50C! Our furnaces never shut off then. All cars MUST have a block heater and be plugged in when not in use.

When it is bitter cold, the air has a magical quality. It smells fantastic -- cannot be described. And the world is absolutely beautiful. The days are blue blue skies against the backdrop of glistening snow. And sound travels in an amazing fashion; I sometimes joke that I can hear a person close their front door from a mile away! So that is the 'norm' for where I live.

OK enough said, I feel that I am 'hijacking' your thread, lol.

[tonywalt]

The Cayman Islands has remained the same. More development, mostly people from cold geographic areas moving to warmer climes: now that's a global trend to chat about. (northern US moving to southern in the last 50 years, influx of Northern Europeans to Spain etc)

[Dreamwoven]

It was while in Minnesota for a year that I learned the concept of "wind-chill". I think they even had a way of working it out, fairly roughly, I guess, i terms of the number of degrees celsius that the temperature would be reduced by a certain wind-strength. A useful thing to learn.

[Dreamwoven]

But "windchill" would be useful to know in Swedish winters, too. The concept just is not used here, which is a pity. Is it used in Canada, Kiz paws? Winnipeg is on lat 50 N. Mostly here it applies to wind in the east or north.

[Dreamwoven]

I have a cousin who lives in Minneapolis, Minnesota. By his description, and my experience visiting, their winters are much milder than where I live. They receive a LOT of snow, probably more than we get here, and it does get cold, but the description of winter for me is BITTER.

At present, we are enjoying the splendor and beauty of autumn ... leaves are still on the trees and are an array of yellows, golds, oranges, reds, spectacular! Our temperatures lately are between +8C to +20C. By the end of the month, the leaves will be gone and it will be bare trees bracing for the onslaught of snow. The temperatures will drop to +5C to maybe -10C by month's end.

November and December have their share of cold and some snow. By cold I mean about -15C to -25C. Come the New Year, the bitterness begins. Temperatures fall to the -30's C and then some. It doesn't snow all the time, but we get at least 6 ft. of the white stuff that stays the whole winter. We find that when it does snow in Jan. or Feb., the temps are milder. But then back to the bitter -30's. With the windchill as a factor, it can be up to -45 to -50C! Our furnaces never shut off then. All cars MUST have a block heater and be plugged in when not in use.

When it is bitter cold, the air has a magical quality. It smells fantastic -- cannot be described. And the world is absolutely beautiful. The days are blue blue skies against the backdrop of glistening snow. And sound travels in an amazing fashion; I sometimes joke that I can hear a person close their front door from a mile away! So that is the 'norm' for where I live.

OK enough said, I feel that I am 'hijacking' your thread, lol.
I don't think you are hijacking my thread, much of it is about the climate and changing perceptions of it, including global warming. The older I get the more I am aware of it.

[Dreamwoven]

But "windchill" would be useful to know in Swedish winters, too. The concept just is not used here, which is a pity. Is it used in Canada, Kiz paws? Winnipeg is on lat 50 N, while southern Norrland is around 60 N. Mostly here it applies to wind in the east or north, which in winter can be bitterly cold. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wind_chill

[kiz_paws]

Windchill is used all winter long here in the Prairies. A day may be -20C, but with a windchill factor, the cold is felt at whatever speed the wind is, so if high winds, for example, it would feel like -30C, etc.

I said that we have SIX FEET of snow... please, I need to correct this. *red face* We actually have drifts of 3-4 feet that last winter long. Can be more, can be less. But never six feet, forgive me. I was just picturing our driveway of last winter - where we had received more snow that ever. And after shoveling, on both sides of the driveway were very very high, but certainly not six feet... more like 4.5 feet.

But I will underline the fact that our January and February temperatures can be very bitter indeed... windchill or no!

We still go ice skating, though. Dress warm enough and you are ready for anything! (parka with three layers underneath, double mittens, you get the picture!)

[Dreamwoven]

You clearly have colder winters that we get here. Four feet in the driveway sounds very much to me. I suppose Anchorage in Alaska is a similar latitude to my part of Norrland. I Used to wear long johns in the winter. We will see how this winter turns out, but so far it is remarkably mild. Our part of Southern Norrland is not so far north. At 60s degrees north, similar to Anchorage. But we don't have the winters like Canada, presumably because it is surrounded by seas. I've always had a fascination for the Hudson Bay Company - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hudson%27s_Bay_Company. Originally a British company.

[Dreamwoven]

Well, yesterday was mild, but today (the 16th October) it is warm, we have sunshine and a temperature of 16 degrees celsius! I sat on the porch for half an hour in the sun in my indoor clothes. Lovely!

[kiz_paws]

So gone are our autumn foliage ... tremendous winds blew them away, awwww! *shock*
We are onto reality temps ... +6 - + 10C ... typical for this time of year ...
*sigh*

[Dreamwoven]

Here the fall is turning into winter, with temperatures around zero celsius. We had something similar last winter, so it looks like the mild winter we had then will repeat itself this year. Is global warming showing itself in Canada yet?

[kiz_paws]

Is global warming showing itself in Canada yet? There are those who would quickly answer yes. However, I really am not sure. Our winters are more bitter than I can recall as a young child. Then again, our summers are lasting longer than what was experienced in my child years. So it is difficult for me to say. I am sure that there are a few studies going on, as the earth as a whole MUST have a vested interest in this subject. I understand that polar ice is melting at a never-seen-before-pace. This should worry us all... :(

[Dreamwoven]

Yes, it is near the poles that the biggest changes are evident.

[Dreamwoven]

There is an interesting post on alligators and sharks, about how alligators sip fresh water off the top of salt water: http://earthsky.org/earth/alligators-eat-sharks.

[Dreamwoven]

"Despite the freshwater and saltwater differences, it’s fairly common for sharks and rays to share the water with alligators. Many sharks and rays can swim into freshwater where opportunistic alligators can’t pass up a good meal. Although alligators don’t have salt glands like true crocodiles, they are resourceful as they travel between freshwater and marine habitats." EarthSky website

[Dreamwoven]

Yesterday it rained all day and all night. Not just rain, but heavy rain. Kept me in all day. This morning the drenching we had yesterday made the air seem saturated. It wasn't quite like being under water, but close to it. Hard to breathe.

[Dreamwoven]

Cold weather at last. temperature of 2 celsius this morning, but a strong north wind means windchill lowers this well below freezing. Staying in today if it doesn't improve.

[Danik 2016]

Well, I hope it does, so you can sit on the porch.

[Dreamwoven]

No, is not possible so late in October to sit out in the sun, it too low on the horizon and very weak.

[kiz_paws]

This past Friday, we received a dump of snow.... which stayed .... which meant shoveling. Not too bad a job, could've been worse...

Our temps are in the minus teens this week, and had a sprinkling of snow again today. Tonight will be a cold one, coldest night since winter past. 'Twill be minus 24-28 C. YIKES! Got to get my car plugged in, or it will be fussy to start come tomorrow!

But the winter smells are baaaaaaack!! Oh I love icy weather for just that..... :)

[Dreamwoven]

I take warfarin for my heart, but since I am now 75 I find that in below freezing temperatures it makes my nose bleed. Luckily, we are still in a mild spell of weather, +3-4 degrees celsius so it happens rarely now.

[kiz_paws]

Hopefully your mild spell shall last! I feel bad for you about the nosebleeds. Sorry to hear that. :(

[Dreamwoven]

btw, I like your quote of Einstein. Its a good sentiment!

I have several threads devoted to nature and wild life.

[kiz_paws]

Einstein was one of a kind; basically my hero.
Intelligent, ever questioning, artistic, brave, kind and gracious.
And his gifts to us will last forever.
I could write a novel here, but will spare you all.... ;)

[Dreamwoven]

tonight the weather turned very wintry, with the temperature hitting minus 10 celsius. But I got out for a walk when the thermometer reached minus 3 celsius. Made it a short one, but no bleeding, so that's good.

[Dreamwoven]

Next day, and the temperature has risen to +4, haven't been out yet, but its very slippery after last night's snow which froze then melted.

[kiz_paws]

Dreamwoven, do you have grips that you can attach to your footwear, specifically made for walking in icy conditions? That would help immensely, if such things are available where you live.

At present here in the Prairies, we are experiencing much of the same that you described. Slushy during daytime but when it gets colder at night, things freeze over and make walking a serious issue!

[Dreamwoven]

Yes, we have grips here too. I wore them today for the first time this winter. We wouldn't manage without them!

[Dreamwoven]

Although I'm a "Brit in Sweden", my wife is Swedish and made sure I had all the clothing and footwear I need.

[kiz_paws]

Love hearing about the "Brit In Sweden". :)
Thought of you earlier -- it is raining here. Which spells trouble, as tomorrow will be -9C... Guess I will stay home and quilt. ;)

[Dreamwoven]

It was really only last winter that I came to realise that rain followed by freezing conditions makes going outdoors dodgy. I think I wrote about this earlier in this thread, when, naive Tommy that I am, I stepped out and slipped, my feet went out under me and I sat down hard: Ouch!

[Dreamwoven]

It is snowing here, at minus 1 degree celsius. It is 10.30 am on 29 November. The snow is expected to keep up until tomorrow with a low pressure area on the Gulf of Gävle, though it might turn to rain. We will be staying in all day today, just as we did yesterday.

[Danik 2016]

A beautiful mild sunny day (unusual for November) is beginning here.

[kiz_paws]

Speaking of unusual weather, we are experiencing a lot of warm temps for this time of year. And it is much like you have described ... rain, then freeze, repeat. And repeat!!

People with arthritis are complaining bitterly about this crazy humid winter! Normally it is clear and cold and low humidity.... But I tell them, wait. Just wait. You'll get your cold. This is a guarantee where I call home...

[Dreamwoven]

Well, so far we have had about a foot of snow, and more is promised for tonight and tomorrow...

[Dreamwoven]

The branches of the pine trees hang heavy with snow. I expect that it will get milder and start melting before freezing again tonight. Then the roads will be very slippery.

[Dreamwoven]

There is a Swedish word that describes much of the Swedish attitude to life. It is the word "lagom" pronounced with the emphasis on the first syllable: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lagom.

I didn't think the word would be in Wikipedia, but I was wrong. It is worth reading the whole Wikipedia entry on this word. It says much about Sweden and Swedish attitudes towards themselves.

[Danik 2016]

The German equivalent would be "die goldene Mitte"(the golden middle way).
Gebet



Herr! schicke, was du willt,
Ein Liebes oder Leides;
Ich bin vergnuegt, dass beides
Aus Deinen Haenden quillt.

Wollest mit Freuden
Und wollest mit Leiden
Mich nicht ueberschuetten!
Doch in der Mitten
Liegt holdes Bescheiden.


Eduard Moerike

In English

Prayer



Lord, grant me what Thou wilt,
Be it happiness or woe;
It is enough to know
That both from Thy hands flow.

Would that Thou not wish
To overwhelm me
With joy or grief!
'tis in between
Where sweet contentment is.


Translation: Charles L. Cingolani Copyright © 2007
http://www.cingolani.com/1em.html

[Dreamwoven]

I have 2 pairs of ski sticks, one with rubber ends for normal use, and one with metal ends for when it is snowy and cold (see post #112 above).

[Dreamwoven]

long-johns
outdoor trousers (waterproof)
mittens
woollen hat.

Other layers can be added for colder weather.

[Dreamwoven]

I've always had the thought that Sweden was a very informal country. But in the last 20 years or so I have had that illusion well and truly shattered. At the baptism of a royal child recently the Swedish church seemed just as much "High Church" as any other country.

[Dreamwoven]

We are having a cold winter so far. Temperatures round - 3-5 celsius. Today the temperature is round -8 celsius, though the forecast for tomorrow is plus degrees (!). I guess we will see...

[Dreamwoven]

Well, after a load of snow and below freezing temperatures today it is +2 celsius, rain and the snow is melting.

[Dreamwoven]

Very odd weather we have here. 6 inches of snow though much has melted now. But Gävle has had no snow at all, and further south nor has either Uppsala or Stockholm.

[Dreamwoven]

That was yesterday. Today snow is falling everywhere. Roads treacherous.

[Dreamwoven]

This looks like today will be the second day in a row I will be stuck indoors, it snowing again and temperature is zero celsius, we have had another few inches of snow.

[kiz_paws]

I hear ya ... we got a goodly dump of snow the other night and yesterday everyone had to dig themselves out. Not a crisis, just the usual for these parts.

Funny, and I never thought much before, but not only do we need to have machines to cut our grass (and many have riding mowers these days), but we need machines to clear the snow off the driveway. Both costly machines. However, having said that, I actually enjoy manually shovelling, provided the weather is not too bitter.

[Dreamwoven]

We don't have private snow-clearing machines, they are far too expensive, but we subscribe to a snow clearing service that we get when snow falls. It came round early this morning and a few days earlier when we had 6 inches of snow #127 above.

[Dreamwoven]

Today is the third day of advent, Lucia. The Swedes seem to have taken over this Catholic holiday complete with Saint Lucia a female wearing a crown of candles, and singing hymns. My guess is that Canada has something similar with its Catholic French. But its just a guess.

[Dreamwoven]

The other day I watched the Nobel Dinner on TV. What incredible pomp and circumstance! Even trumpets with flags hanging from them being blown. I understand why Bob Dylan didn't want to come to Sweden. The country has become the scene of such a formal do. The dinner lasted some 5 hours, male waiters rushing around with trays of food, a rather sick focus on what guests were wearing (most especially women), on "creations".

[Dreamwoven]

I did a search for Lucia here: http://www.asna.ca/resources/st-lucia-learn.pdf

It is a Canadian website, about Santa Lucia in Sweden. Very curious...

[Dreamwoven]

Today is the winter solstice, the shortest day of the year. Daylight only came at around 9 am and the sun set at around 2.30 pm. This means it never warms the air up enough, so the ice never melts this time of the year, it is rock-hard. Need to use our grips, too, and stamp each step to make sure they do indeed grip the ice. So the ice is very slippery to walk on. As a Brit in Sweden my walks become shorter and less sure-footed. Our drive is not particularly steep, but going downhill on the way home is very tricky for me to negotiate. Look forward to when spring comes so I can increase the amount of time I walk.

[Dreamwoven]

Da'n för dopparda'n was an old custom for children from the days of poverty in Sweden, when they could dip their bread into the sauce for the meat.

[Dreamwoven]

Well, we have had a snowstorm today, so all is white and only the road junctions have been kept clear of deep snow. More expected tomorrow, so the white-out will continue.

[Dreamwoven]

That was on boxing day, today the roads and footways are treacherous, the ice under foot make walking or driving very difficult, so it is a stay at home day. busses and cars slide off the road, a day for accidents. it is called "under-cooled rain" "under-kylled regn". See https://www.thelocal.se/20171228/heavy-snowfall-causes-accidents-and-fatalities-in-sweden.

[Dreamwoven]

The Local, by the way is Sweden's news source in English. I note that you have to subscribe to the Local to get the full news, beyond the headlines. That's a pity...

[Dreamwoven]

I have been exploring one of the websites that is something of a space blog. This one is called Deep Astronomy: https://deepastronomy.space/deepastronomy.xml, but it looks like it is a U-tube website. I'm still looking for a more general-purpose website.

[Dreamwoven]

The thermometer sticks around zero celsius, and it is often foggy here, as temperatures are kept up by warmer air. We have frozen snow on the ground making walking on it difficult. I remember how last winter it was like this until spring, which came late last year. May was the coldest for 150 years. Perhaps it will be cold this year, too.

All this is also a sign of global warming as winters used to be much colder, with temperatures around minus 20 celsius. It seems as though global warming affects the polar regions most of all, while the sub-polar regions like southern Norrland are also affected but less dramatically.

[Dreamwoven]

As it happens the Swedish weather forecast on 1 January mentioned the changing climate of the far north of Sweden, where there are 6 month of darkness and 6 month of light. The Lapps (Sami - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sami_people) - herd reindeer on the open hills but the pine forests are returning, threatening the traditional reindeer herds, that browse the open hills. We notice also this change here in southern Norrland with temperatures around zero celsius.

[Dreamwoven]

We are having a cold spell here, max around -10 celsius, so I have not gone out for a couple of days so far.

[Dreamwoven]

We had another foot of snow a couple of days ago, and now today we have +5 celsius in January that is remarkable, but I find it too steep to get out onto the road. So I just went round the house a bit, where the snow is deep. Wearing my grips hardly helped, Kerstin came out to help me. With my grips on and stamping my feet on the ice, I got some grip, but abandoned my attempt to get to the road. Retreated into the house relieved to get inside. Pity as the sun is shining and it is quite warm to be January.

[Dreamwoven]

The "relatively" warm weather continues, with temperatures around zero celsius. Often going as high as +2 celsius in the middle of the day. China with its 2 billions population is creating a warming effect in Siberian Russia, amplified by the greater warming effect near the poles (from EarthSky).

[Dreamwoven]

My wife drove me to the local health centre for me to leave a blood sample (PK test). We do this quite frequently to make sure my blood is not too thin. Today we filled up at the petrol station but because our car stands outside all night the petrol in the tank froze. Never known this to happen before.

I came across a website with the exact same name as this thread. "A Brit in Sweden": https://abritinsweden.com.

[Dreamwoven]

Ingvar Kamprad, the founder of IKEA, died at the age of 91. IKEA stores are now found around the world.

Did you know that IK (the initials of the founder!) are part of the name of IKEA? I think it means Ingvar Kamprad Enterprises Aktiebolag (Limited Company). He died the richest man in Sweden, and his self-assembly system for household furniture in a thirties style became world famous.

[Dreamwoven]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IKEA gives more information about this remarkable man. Note that it also gives the correct name of IKEA, not as I put it!

"The company's name is an acronym that consists of the initials of Ingvar Kamprad (name of founder), Elmtaryd (the farm where he grew up), and Agunnaryd (his hometown in Småland, southern Sweden).[15]"

[kiz_paws]

Interesting. :)

[Dreamwoven]

We have had heavy snowfalls for the last 2 or 3 days. Another 60 cm of snow (just under 2 feet) is expected today. With temperatures around or just above zero celsius, the snow is thick and heavy, making clearing the snow much harder.

[Dreamwoven]

It snowed heavily all yesterday causing two periods of internet and lights blackout. Now the snow is very deep here, so we are housebound. I don't think I have ever seen so much snow around our house, probably 1.5 metres deep. The temperature has fallen now to - 8 celsius.

[Dreamwoven]

No trains running on the Gävle- Ljusdal line, not even cargo trains. No newspapers delivered, either.

[Danik 2016]

I hope you have everything you need there. Have you got snow removing service?

[Dreamwoven]

We have a tractor come around asap, and they charge us a fee for clearing our drive of snow.

[Dreamwoven]

February is turning into a month with many cold days - like -20 celsius - so most days I am stuck indoors all the time.

[Dreamwoven]

Nearly a week has passed since I last posted in this thread. The snow is still thick on the ground, about 4 to 5 feet thick. Each time it snows is added to that already on the ground. It is between high banks of snow that we walk up to the parked car. The snow isn't cleared away but is simply piled up high on each side of the road.

[Danik 2016]

At least you seem in good health. What about the people, that used to clear the snow away?

[Dreamwoven]

They still do that. But they concentrate on getting the worst snow off the roads, and especially the road junctions. We are not very satisfied with the limited road clearing that is done, but such heavy snowfalls are a bit exceptional. They do their best, and spend much of the spring carting the snow away.

[Danik 2016]

Our summer weather up to now has been unusually mild this year. No rainstorms in Carnival, temperatures seldom rising above 30ºC. But maybe this means a harder winter in northern countries.

[Dreamwoven]

Where is Carnival?

[Danik 2016]

Here in Brasil.
Have a look.
This Samba school uses the story of Frankenstein to describe the Brazilian problems.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6mFWZl3r0wE

[Dreamwoven]

I'm not much wiser, is Carnival the name of a location? Or is it where all carnivals are held?

don't understand either Portuguese or Spanish. Looks colourful, though...

[Danik 2016]

Sorry, I thought it was celebrated in your country too.
Here is a link about the festivities:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carnival
The video I sent you is about the winner of the contest of Samba schools of Rio. Sorry, that it is commented in Portuguese. Maybe the best way to watch it, is by turning off the sound.
In the last years the favorite location for Carnival are the streets of the big cities.

That means that some avenues are literally flooded with people. In the region where I live it is difficult therefore to go out in the afternoons during the weekends.

[Dreamwoven]

Ah, Carnival is a Wikipedia item. I didn't know that...

[Danik 2016]

It is a Christian Celebration 40 days before Easter.
9859

In Brasil and now in São Paulo too the festivities sometimes last more than a month.

Above you can see how some of the avenues and streets of São Paulo look on Carnival.

[Dreamwoven]

I've been reading the long item on Carnival in Wikipedia. It is mainly a Catholic celebration, the only British survival from the Reformation is Shrove Tuesday, when pancake are eaten to symbolise breaking the 40-day fast.

The celebration in Catholic countries is much more fun-looking.

[Dreamwoven]

I've been reading the long item on Carnival in Wikipedia. It is mainly a Catholic celebration, the only British survival from the Reformation is Shrove Tuesday, when pancake are eaten to symbolise breaking the 40-day fast.

The celebration in Catholic countries is much more fun-looking.

[Danik 2016]

It is a great celebration , for the people that participate. Here in São Paulo up to now there were more than 9 Million people in the streets.
But for those who prefer to stay at home or who have to work it is a nuisance. The music is amplified and you usually have difficulties when you have to get out because the streets and the public transport is flooded with people.

[Dreamwoven]

Sweden has the opposite problem. It is still cold at Easter, no open windows, and Sweden is much more lightly populated. The entire country is 10 millions, and those are disproportionately concentrated in the southern big cities - Gothenburg, Stockholm, Uppsala and furthest south of all - Lund...So pancake day (shrove Tuesday) is a good time to eat stodgy pancakes...

[Danik 2016]

Well, I love pancakes!

I suspected that much, that is why I published video and pictures. It seems that the equivalent of all Sweden population has been on the streets of São Paulo, these days. For today a grand finale is programmed near by with singer Daniela Mercury. That means, that I´m going
tostay at home quietly.

[Dreamwoven]

The winter weather holds us in its icy grip. This is turning out to be a real "wolf winter" (what Swedes call "vargavinter"). Below freezing temperatures most of the time, 5 feet of snow on the ground, it snows lightly most of the time day and night. Global warming keeps the cold a bit at bay so the today the low only went to -6 celsius.

[Danik 2016]

Here we are having a rainless Februar, which is unusual. After Januar, Februar is the rainiest month of the year. Temperatures are below 30ºC, which is fine. Yesterday the leaves chose to fall from the trees.

[Dreamwoven]

Hmm, what does this mean in terms of the season of "Fall"? ("Autumn", as we know it in Europe). Or is that not relevant in a tropical climate?

[Danik 2016]

Here in São Paulo we say that we sometimes get all the four seasons on the same day. Today it´s very windy and more leaves are falling from the trees. Officially it is still summer.

[Scheherazade]

Here in São Paulo we say that we sometimes get all the four seasons on the same day. Today it´s very windy and more leaves are falling from the trees. Officially it is still summer.

I have heard "having four seasons in one day" used for so many places... I think it's a common occurrence in spring or autumn rather than in certain countries...

[Dreamwoven]

I'm not sure it is relevant to Sweden, I don't think winter with snow is likely to exist together with hot weather...

[Dreamwoven]

I don't think it was meant for winter or summer, but as Scheherazade said, spring and autumn.

[Dreamwoven]

February 2018 is set to be a colder that average month this year. I look forward to reading the end of month figures. Below freezing is normal but with 5 feet of snow on the ground it could be near a record...

[Danik 2016]

We are having an unusual February too. That means milder temperatures (mostly under 30º C) and very little rain. Anyway this season is drawing to an end.

[Dreamwoven]

The cold weather here continues and will do so for the next week. The high pressure area over Siberia is now over Sweden. Temperatures are below freezing everywhere, even in the far south of Sweden.

[Dreamwoven]

Here we have mid-day highs of -10 celsius, plus a windchill, so today I went to the post box and back. That was enough for me, a 2 minutes walk.

[Danik 2016]

Loving your midday highs! At least it´s ok enough to take a walk.

Present temperature: 25.4°C (mild) at 13:44

[Dreamwoven]

Yes but a 2 minute walk, a minute in each direction, is not enough exercise for me.

[Danik 2016]

Isn´t there any kind of indoor exercises you can do while you wait for warmer weather?

[Dreamwoven]

The best I have found is going up and down the stairs. I also do a bit of Qigong: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Qigong, and massage my feet which don't get enough exercise. It is not a major problem, though. Some years I extend my activities into May, which last year was the coldest and wettest for 150 years.

[Dreamwoven]

I am really looking forward to spring coming this year, last night we had another night of heavy snowfall. The drifts are up to the windows on our croft! So Spring will be late this year, as well. We miss taking the train to Bollnäs just 5 stops from our local train station. Haven't been there since late November. The trains suffer from long delays because of the deep snow all up the line as far as the end station at Ljusdal.

Bollnäs Library has a decent collection of books in English, the nearest decent library to us.

[Danik 2016]

Anyway I think the season is drawing to an end.

Meanwhile something interesting might be found here:

https://www.techsupportalert.com/free-books-read-online

[Dreamwoven]

Thanks for the reference, this new fall of snow is about 1 foot deep. Kerstin went out to clear a path to the car. The snow blows horizontally.

[Dreamwoven]

Thew trouble with e-books is that I have to read them on the internet, which I resist, it just increases my time on the computer.

[Dreamwoven]

Since then - and it is now 1 March, 28th being the last day in February - its has snowed on and off all day or all night, there is now 5 foot of snow around the croft. Can barely see the road from the window. We had gale force winds from the north which kept the croft on the cold side, despite the heating being full on.

I think this is the coldest weather we have had since the first winter here in 2010, which was also when I signed up for Literature Network Forums.

[Danik 2016]

The European winter was in the news yesterday. Houses wholly covered by snow. In some places -47ºC. Is that possible?

[Dreamwoven]

Yes, but not at the latitude that we are on. Kerstin chose this house as one of the more southerly places in Norrland.

[Dreamwoven]

Sweden normally has culls of wild animals to keep the populations down, especially the wolf, but also bears. But this is the first time I have known of a cull of the lynx: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lynx. This year 5 may be hunted in Gästrikland, which is where we live. I have never seen lynx in the wild, they are very shy and avoid humans.

[Danik 2016]

I don´t like that at times when so many species are disappearing. Lynxes are beautiful. And how will the authorities be able to control how much have been in fact hunted?

[Dreamwoven]

I, too think lynx are beautiful. They of course can' t know for sure but I assume this is agreed with the regional authorities. And even the hunting groups don't want to wipe out all animals. It is in everyone's interest not to do so.

[Dreamwoven]

We have noticed that temperatures given in the regional forecasts are always several degrees warmer than is shown on our thermometer, typically 5 or 6 celsius as against our readings of 2 celsius. The placing of the outdoor thermometer has an important influence. We put ours outside on the north-facing window, which partly explains the variation.

[Pompey Bum]

Greetings, DW! I've been thinking of you lately. Our New England woods have been echoing the honks of low-flying Canada geese, typically landing in an ungainly but somehow graceful V-formation. This is our early harginger of spring (just as the appearance of the first junco means that heavy snows are all but upon up). I remembered your talking about feeling a kind of mystical bond with the Canada goose, so I wanted to let you know that this spirit is haunting us once again. May it bring fair changes! :)

[Dreamwoven]

Well, Pompey, spring comes to you much earlier than to us. Its still full winter here.

[Pompey Bum]

Oh, we're not quite there yet. We dodged a bullet yesterday (heavy snow predicted, but it turned out to be just wind-blown rain). A very few songbirds could be heard this morning (and even the patter of a woodpecker somewhere), but it was nothing like the symphony that's coming. I'd give the March lamb about two or three weeks to get here.

[Dreamwoven]

12 March: It snowed all night and all morning, dropping a further 4 inches of snow on us. So still no sign of spring.

[Danik 2016]

Could do with alittle colder Weather, today. 34ºC. Maybe hottest day of 2018 as yet.

[Dreamwoven]

I have read the Japanese author, though the style of literature he uses is not one I feel comfortable with. Just the way it is...

[Dreamwoven]

I was ill yesterday, my heart was giving me problems. Better now, though.

[Danik 2016]

I am glad to learn that you are better, DW!

[Dreamwoven]

Thanks, Danik.

I overdid it going out for a short walk to the postbox. It was just too cold for me. The overnight low today was -18 celsius, but clear skies and sunshine made both yesterday and today a bit on the cold side, max of -4 celsius.

But the days are starting to get warmer, today the sun's warmth could actually be felt.

[Danik 2016]

Well I can understand one getting impatient of having to stay indoors for so long. But spring is coming.

Just now we are having those very hot summer days above 30ºC we didn´t have in Februar. Hoping for a mild autumn.

[Dreamwoven]

The weather has turned mild, it is now 4 celsius, though it will fall below freezing overnight, making it slippery to walk on. Large falls of snow from the roof of the croft to the steps up to the front door. It will have to be cleared away...

[Danik 2016]

Congrats! Minus 2 celsius is probably the lowest temperature I ever experimented. We had a midsummer storm yesterday.
Hope the snow clearing service works...

[Dreamwoven]

The snow clearing work doesn't work. 6 feet piles of snow are along the edges of the road near us. One in Sundsvall - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sundsvall - reached 5 meters high, reported on the news,

Plus 5 celsius today, but no sign of the snow on the ground melting. At this rate autumn will be on us before it has melted.

[Danik 2016]

Probably the sun isn´t hot enough as yet. Can you take walks in this weather?

[Dreamwoven]

Yes, no problem with that. I went out today for a short walk.

[Dreamwoven]

We have had a persistent cold north wind, sometimes Northwest, sometimes Northeast. But it is icily cold, even when the temperature is above freezing, as it has been for the last couple of days, as much as +5 celsius. The deep snow melts a bit but makes no discernible difference to the compacted snow now "only" 3 feet deep around the croft.

[Danik 2016]

Here temperatures are still around 33ºC. Until 30ºC they are bearable. With more than that it gets difficult to do things around midday. Luckily the temperature falls as soon as the sun sets.

[Dreamwoven]

I guess you must have air-conditioning as standard in the tropics?

[Danik 2016]

In São Paulo only more recently, when the temperatures started climbing above 30°C. But even so you can find it only in certain places, thank goodness! Personally I don´t like air-conditioning,because it´s unhealthy. I use an electric fan at most, when it is very hot.

[Dreamwoven]

The European Union has decided to build up a defence fund in the multi-billion Euro class. This is new money to create a permanent standing army. It is in addition to NATO forces already in existence. Unfortunately, my source, kritiska eu-fakta,nr 1499. mars 2018, does not provide enough information for me to make sense of it, so I need to research other sources for the details.

Here is what I have found to date: https://www.express.co.uk/news/world/878918/eu-army-european-defence-union-pact-brussels-uk-brexit
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Military_of_the_European_Union

For a slightly jaundiced view see https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Military_of_the_European_Union see
http://foreignpolicy.com/2017/05/22/germany-is-quietly-building-a-european-army-under-its-command/

What is the point of all this expensive duplication? The last entry above from foreignpolicy.com shows how the Czechs and Romania are dealing with this. Very sensible! They allocate a brigade to minimise duplication. There are no doubt other solutions...

[Danik 2016]

This is not exactly European politics but might be of interest.
Brazilian´s former president Lula is expected to go to prison today:
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-brazil-politics-lula/brazils-defiant-lula-expected-to-surrender-to-police-saturday-idUSKCN1HD1JI

[Dreamwoven]

Brazilian politicians seem to have problems with corruption, it seems.

[Danik 2016]

Very mildly put, DW. And they usually manage to evade punishments, because they have the best lawyers of the country.

[Dreamwoven]

Well, I know sweet FA about Brazil. It is a big country, too.

[Dreamwoven]

Summer has arrived, though the nights are still cold with temperatures falling to -10 celsius. We have been under the influence of East winds all winter. It is
the weakening of the Gulf Stream which affect us most. Sweden is far enough to the east of the Atlantic to have this effect on us.

[Danik 2016]

Congrats, DW. At least you can go out now and sit on the porch again, I think.

What is sweet FA ?#220

[Dreamwoven]

sweet nothings, here FA is short for sweet fanny adams: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fanny_Adams

[Danik 2016]

Thanks, DW. So the expression is ironic! Else I don´t see any connection between that horrible child murder and the expression.

[Dreamwoven]

I don't think sweet FA is thought of as the brutal murder of the child. It is used as a way of saying "sweet nothings".

[Dreamwoven]

The climate of Sweden has undergone a major shift in recent times. The prevailing westerlies that brought rain have weakened. Now the autumns bring snow instead of rain, we had about 6 inches of snow this winter. And we come under the influence of Russian weather more often. Right now we have blue skies and sit on the porch, it has been like this for several weeks now.

Early April and we are still under west Russian climatic influence. Expected to go on for a while yet.

[Danik 2016]

I don't think sweet FA is thought of as the brutal murder of the child. It is used as a way of saying "sweet nothings".

Thanks for the explanation, DW!

[Danik 2016]

The climate of Sweden has undergone a major shift in recent times. The prevailing westerlies that brought rain have weakened. Now the autumns bring snow instead of rain, we had about 6 inches of snow this winter. And we come under the influence of Russian weather more often. Right now we have blue skies and sit on the porch, it has been like this for several weeks now.

Early April and we are still under west Russian climatic influence. Expected to go on for a while yet.

Thatt´s fine, DW, I mean the blue sky !
Little internet this weekend. My modem has to be substituted. I´m sitting in the Public Library near my house now to be able to connect. Hope that by the beginning of the week things will be mended.

[Dreamwoven]

Today it feels like the first day of summer, the snow is melting remarkably quickly, the rivers are in spate, the birches still are not in leaf, but there is no hurry. We saw our first two Canada Geese this morning while we were out walking in Wij.

[Danik 2016]

That´s fine, DW!
We have now arrived to my favorite season: autumn. Luminous, sunny days, blue sky, mild temperatures so that one enjoys being outdoors.
No Canada Geese here, but the numerous doves, that are around the place, seem to enjoy the weather.

[Dreamwoven]

Wij Gardens is one place we visit regularly once winter is spent.

The website is in Swedish: http://www.wij.se.

It is a joy to walk there...

[Danik 2016]

Nice flowers! It looks well kept too. One can change the home page to German and English.

[Danik 2016]

Trianon Park not far from where I live.

http://www.braziltravelbuddy.com/Sao_Paulo/park/Trianon_Park

[Dreamwoven]

It looks lovely! Especially the nooks and many hidden paths. Thanks for sharing!

[Danik 2016]

You´r welcome, DW. It´s just a bit of wood amidst our asphalt wilderness!

[Dreamwoven]

That makes it especially valuable. :)

[Dreamwoven]

You are right about Wij Gardens: it is in English and German, as well as Swedish. I have always used the Swedish version, but I will from now on use the English version. The translation is not perfect, so I can switch between the Swedish and English versions.

The gardens are pleasant to walk in, but sadly despite being subsidised by the city kommun it still makes a sizeable loss, so its future is uncertain.

[Dreamwoven]

Today 1st May, is valborg: Walpurgis night, in Sweden - actually the day after: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Walpurgis_Night

Its often cold up here, which is an the 60th parallel, the same as Anchorage in Alaska!

[Dreamwoven]

The weather turned colder in the last few days, yesterday I didn't go out at all, just stayed inside, we had frosts and cold winds. Often happens in May...

[Danik 2016]

Today 1st May, is valborg: Walpurgis night, in Sweden - actually the day after: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Walpurgis_Night

Its often cold up here, which is an the 60th parallel, the same as Anchorage in Alaska!

Thanks, DW. This set me right. I always thought Witches Night was on the Eve of
All Saints Day.

[Dreamwoven]

Halloween is witches night, according to Wikipedia:https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Walpurgis_Night -thats in the autumn, tho in our global world for those in southern locations like South Africa and South America I guess it would be All Saints Day.

[Dreamwoven]

It is celebrated as the night when witches were burned:

"Local variants of Walpurgis Night are observed throughout Europe in the Netherlands, Germany, the Czech Republic, Slovenia, Sweden, Lithuania, Latvia, Finland, and Estonia. In Denmark, the tradition with bonfires to ward off the witches is observed as Saint John's Eve."

[Dreamwoven]

But this is a christianisation of a much older tradition. The first Republic of Slovakia under the pro-Nazi Tiso can be read here: . My father fled Slovakia in 1939 and was given asylum by the Churchill Government.

[Dreamwoven]

But this is a christianisation of a much older tradition. The first Republic of Slovakia under the pro-Nazi Tiso can be read here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Slovak_Republic_(1939–1945). My father fled Slovakia in 1939 and was given asylum by the Churchill Government.

[Danik 2016]

That´s curious. Here the emphasis is on St. John and the bonfire, but I didn´t know it was meant to ward of witches:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TDRuiSdWXfs

[Danik 2016]

I see. It seems we posted together. Brazil has a strong Catholic tradition.

[Dreamwoven]

Yes, as has Mexico. The Spanish were first to take over key parts of South America and North America outside of what is now the USA. See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mexico. See also https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spanish_conquest_of_the_Aztec_Empire which goes into the history of post-Columbian Spanish settlement of Mexico.

I mention this as I will be discussing in the astronomy thread on the maps of the ancient sea kings. You mentioned the Piri Reis map which I will return to in that thread: see https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Piri_Reis_map.

Two things stand out about this remarkable map, the presence of Brazil and the land connection to what is now the Antarctic Ocean.

[Dreamwoven]

Sweden is a big country. southern Norrland has spring about 2 weeks later than Stockholm. But it summer comes even later than that. Kerstin was wise to find this old croft with all mod cons in the far south of Norrland.

[Dreamwoven]

The problems that Trump face in building a wall across the Southernmost states that separate the USA from Mexico is understandable in terms of the different immigration policies of the USA and Mexico. In the USA immigrants could freely occupy Homesteading land to build a home on and with it a portion of land to farm. Virgin land was very valuable though it needed tilling. In Mexico this has not been allowed, settlers became peons just as they were in Spain. This is the difference between the USA and Mexico. See https://morningchores.com/free-land/.

Trump wants to build a wall across the two countries, to prevent free immigration into the USA from Mexico. I fail to see how this will work in practice. He wants Mexico to pay for the wall, which they refuse to do. And how will movement of people across the wall be regulated? You will need to determine the points of entry and set up police blocks to check entry visas. None of this has even been mentioned in politics yet.

[Dreamwoven]

My own feeling is that Trump will baulk at the bureaucracy he would need to set up to regulate this traffic.