bye july

Time to say goodbye to July, it has been a lovely, relaxing summer month of rain and sun which has been so good for nature. And sleep.

I know most Swedes are total weather grumps - all year round, no matter what the weather is, complaining is the thing. People are just boring and weird that way. - and of course they have been complaining and whining all summer long that it hasn't been a proper summer yada yada yada. But you know what, nature loves it! And there have been quite a few sunny days and decent temperatures around +25. The perfect mix. Much preferred over the last three summers which have been incredibly hot and left the gardens and nature in a dry mess. Plus seriously sleep depriving. I'm grateful I don't live in the south of Europe, the temperatures there seems crazy high this year too with no relief days.

If I would say one negative thing about the summer of 2015 so far it would be that on the cloudy days there has been a distinct, un-summery chill in the air. But still, why so many people dress in high boots (!) and thick jackets for that I have no idea, that's just crazy summer kill joy behaviour.

That said it has been a rather slow month, much like June (with the grand exception of Berlin then of course). I've treasured that slowness a lot. Reading, sleeping in, drinking tea, listening to music on the sunbed, watching movies - and a great style documentary -, eating strawberries, those are good activities.

• I cut my hair. Much shorter than I usually do. I needed a change. Not really visible in the picture, but it's assymetric and much shorter in the back than in the front. And I can still do a ponytail. Though, let's face it, if I don't do anything really drastic to my hair and diligently style it (which I rarely have the time or inclination for, despite all my awesome hair products) it will look pretty much the same - ie the curse of the the curly hair

• There was the tiny frog - whom I haven't seen since.
• There was the hedgehog 2015 - whom I have sadly not seen since either for some reason.
• My new cosy, colourful garden corner
• Three + two new bobs arriving - yes, two tiny more that have yet to be introduced...
• I've found not only one but two new great dresses of the Marimekko kind.
• Plus a cardigan and a frilly blouse.
• I've played tourist in my own city.

• I've enjoyed my blue sandals a lot, they have been truly wonderful to walk in.

• There have been regular eating of good brunches - and by that I mean a sleep in followed by a sandwich and pastry at a sweet garden cafe of choice.
• There has been working and ooing over my snazzy new office equipment, thank you Berlin.
• There is a bobbaloo car in da house.
• As well as a new but second hand wardrobe for all important recycling (plastic, tins, glass, paper, cardboard, deposit etc). The old sofa I thrifted when I moved to my second apartment 24 years (!) ago and then did a fine job re-upholstering, a job that through the years have been properly destroyed by various cats has finally been put down and sent to sofa heaven. I feel both sad and relieved. But is is cleansing. Finally I seem to be getting the hallway in practical and pleasing order, adapted to cat owning factors.
• Got an unexpected and pleasing email from a long term project-client. It's nice to be appreciated.
• But sadly no month without the madness of heartless people doing vile things to animals, I've cried over the horrific end for Cecil the lion. And for all the other poor animals who never ever get a chance of life because the is such a despicable thing as canned hunting. Hopefully some good things will come out of this from all the justified outrage and great people who work against the madness of vile hunters and animal abusers.

Now I'm looking forward to August with excitement. Even if I have worked all through summer it has of course not been as intense as it can be, I'm looking forward for it to be, new business collaborations and new clients, networking, lunches and discussions. It's going to be such fun!

But of course summer is far from over yet. Before all that fun begins there will be other funs, like shorter roadtrips and a visit to the Skåne region - and dinner at lovely Friden gårdskrog - as well as Copenhagen.

Thank you, July 2015, 
you have been a good month for mind and body.
Welcome August, we're going to have such fun together, I'm sure!

what have you done today to make you feel proud?

Yes it's an old-ish tune, but it's only recently I've really listened to it. And that refrain is really powerful in its simplicity. What have you done today to make you feel proud?

What if we thought about that every day, or better of course, what if we actually did something every day, however small, that we felt proud about? It's a bit like the dare to compliment thing, start small and work towards bigger things that will make a real impact.

I've also come to the conclusion, that on those days I may not have made an impact on or a difference for someone or on the world (most of us probably don't alas) I can at least be proud over a picture I've taken. Today this was the below picture my proud thing.

Red hair, blue eye and a black teacup. And, without realising it until afterwards, some really neat reflections of Stockholm on a cloudy day (and my iPhone snapping) in the teacup.

Some days that type of pride is enough. Saving up for real impact on other days.

Listen to Heather Small - Proud
(though I prefer the above music video, shot in beautiful Cape Town)

10 inspiring things to read, see and listen to

Kicking off the month of may with a list of articles, photos and talks well worth reading, seeing and listening to. Some are absolutely aweinspiring, thoughtprovoking, tear-inducing and brilliant. Some are simply good tips or full of awwness.

And yes today was the day I spotted the 2014 king's meadow lilies (fritillaria) in the garden - I think the magic field is some weeks behind in bloom yet.

:: Sun kissed cat photos - because there can never be too many cat photos, right? Right.


:: This is a great TED-talk about how to create a more compassionate, humane, responsible and environmentally sustainable world, about leather and meat without causing pain to sentient beings. Clearly one doesn't need to eat meat nor using leather at all, though that is a discussion on its own.

Andras Forgacs - Leather and meat without killing animals


:: Meet the hidden players, the international facilitators, the banking system, shell companies and our politicians behind global corruption in one of anti-corruption activist Charmaine Gooch great TED-talks - here

:: A cat's guide to loving a human - us cat-owners can really relate to this...


:: A fine and thoughtprovoking review of the movie Specieism. In which the quote from Jewish writer Isaac Bashevis Singer's book The Letter Writer sadly rings truer than ever "In relation to [animals], all people are Nazis; for the animals, it is an eternal Treblinka."

And just like for him I have to say that vegetarianism is my religion. If I was ever to say I had any.


:: First sunshine for 752 rescued battery hens - all hens and chicken deserve this. "To be loved for who you are, not for what you can produce."


:: You're not an environmentalist if you eat meat. Simple as that.

I'm an ethical vegetarian, I chose compassion and kindness, but I know the dairy industry is a big part of abusing, misusing and in the end slaughtering animals and also having a devastating impact on our environment, thus I keep my dairy intake to very small amounts. And only when there's no better option (not containing palm oil).


:: Absolutely fascinating movie clip about the lion whisperer Kevin Richardson and his interactions with wild lions and hyenas. Inspiring, heartwarming and heartbreaking all at once. 


:: If you, like me, somewhere along the way have lost your reading mojo, perhaps some of these 55 great books under 200 pages can get you back on track with literature? What's your favourite short read?


:: Stop being busy - change your life to the better in two steps. It could be that simple. If we just let it be.

tedx stockholm - embracing failure

Went to my third TedX Stockholm event last week. This time it was called "Embracing failure" and while, as usual, the quality of the speakers is very mixed it was a, also as usual, very enjoyable evening spent. Ideas worth spreading tend to do that.





The charming presenter Gustaf who always manages to say thought provoking things.





My favourite talk was the one by Mona Sahlin, former party leader of the social democrats and almost became the first female prime minister of Sweden (I know it's a disgrace that Sweden of all countries still 2013 has not had a female prime minister!). She held a very touching talk about life, feminism, politics, Nelson Mandela (who was the one who made her get in to politics in the first place) wasn't bothered about her less than perfect English and came off as very human and caring.

"Why is it so important to ask 'Where are you from?' instead of 'Who are you?'" - Mona Sahlin

The conclusion of sorts of the evening is that if we're always afraid of failing (and what is failure?) we'll never cath our dreams and goals. And that by failing (whatever that means) we learn, grow and become more complete as human beings.

"Almost all truly great people have gone through some sort of suffering" - Desmond Tutu

mandela 1918 - 2013

Of course I was sad to hear about this great man's passing, but he had lived such a long life, accomplished so many great things most of us will never come close to accomplish, touched so many lives, inspired so many people all over the world, his forever rest was well-deserved.

Nelson Mandela was one of very few politicians and public figures I really admired. Such a sad few of us are able to show such immense insight, thoughfullness, kindness and compassion. Every day I'm amazed that so many turn a blind eye to what their daily deeds and choices causes in terms of harm and pain to others. That so few seem interested and willing to become a better earth being, to leave a reasonable and kind footprint, to cause as little harm as possible and to show kindness in life.



My visit to Robben Island remains one of the most powerful, heartbreaking, world turning experiences I've been through. The way the guide enthusiastically talked about how much Sweden had done in the struggle against apartheid is still one of my proudest moment as a swede.

- It was different times then, we had politicians with visions and passions, who fought good fights too. These days we have not, or at least they are far and few apart, and I am most often ashamed of our society and its politicians. Which I am certain isn't anything particulary Swedish, I believe all too many people are jaded and ashamed of how "our" politicians act and how the world look today. -

During those hours the human madness and cruelty was so near, tangible and visible. And yet, obviously there is hope and ways to overcome things seemingly impossible, change for the better is always possible. If we dare to speak up against injustice, dare to lead by example, dare to lead the way for a better, more compassionate future.

Thank you for being who you were, Nelson Mandela,
may your spirit and inspiration live on and flourish ~

the denim jacket

In general I'm not a jeans or denim kind of gal, the style and garments may look great on others and I hear it's suppose to be comfy. Me, I've never actually found jeans to be comfortable to wear, rather the opposite actually. Some exceptions to this personal view exist, though they are a few and mostly of the more tailored denim kind.

But when I find one of those exceptions I tend to be very happy and wearing it a lot. Because denim goes so very well with any fabric, style and most occasions depending on accessories. I've treasured some denim jackets over the years and I'm so very pleased about my latest bargain. Something I stumbled over at the outlet village shop (with my number one favourite brand, Danish Noa Noa) just hanging there, all alone, with a 80% discount (~35 $). And in the right Pia size. Sometimes life is good in denim.

I think the pocket embroidery totally rocks and I had serious plans of adding something similar to the collar, but I think the quirky little seams (that I didn't notice when I bought it, seen on top above) are good just as they are. And they match the quirky details on sleeve.

However, I would like to add something special and jazz it up somehow (and brooches just aren't enough) and hey presto, M (yes, generously giving him cred for the idea) came up with the brilliant notion of using the sweet handmade ceramic half eaten apples and worm button set that screamed 'buy us!' at African Touch (a place I really recommend for a good shopping experience on many levels) recently and change the ordinary buttons in jacket now into half eaten apples with wee worm delight.

The buttons, which come in many shapes, are from South African Incomparable Buttons, handmade and oozing uniqueness. Read more about the interesting company's story here.

So come green spring, this fine denim jacket bargain with be yellow-green appley smiley wormey sweet ~

And yes, I do feel very, very fortunate to be living in a very reasonable proximity to a Noa Noa outlet shop... Courtesy of that shop too, amongst other treasures, are gorgeous winter coat (that once turned me into a giant princess cake) and last year's (now more than well worn) plaid skirt.

december 20th - books

Lately I haven't felt inclined or focused enough to read as much as I usually like (have) to when life is more in tune. That lack of reading makes me sad so I hope it will change soon - that I have finished writing all Christmas cards, run out of yarn (well, that's so not a possibility) and the good influence of a red calendar may also play parts in me getting my reading mojo back - soon. Especially with some new wordly lovelies I felt appropriate to order in time for Christmas.

Some books from already favourite authors, some I found intriguing reading the cover (or just liking the cover design...), some recommended from fellow bloggers (thanks! I hope, I better wait with gratefulness until books are read perhaps...). Now which book(s) to begin with from this eightsome...

:: Helen DeWitt - The Last Samurai. Recommendation. Reading about it, at first glance it seems like a mix of Murakami's "Kafka on the Shore" and poor Bertie's life in the 44 Scotland Street-series. I'm sure it will prove capable of standing on it's own literary feet though.

:: M. Ann Jacoby - Life after genius. Recommendation. The story seems like a blend of "The Secret History" (Donna Tartt) and the wonderful "Special Topics in Calamity Physics" (Marisha Pessl). Be as that may, the story about a boy genius who suddenly turns his back to the world of academics instead embarks on his new life as a furniture seller / embalmer sounds quite special anyway.

:: Alexander McCall Smith - Love over Scotland. As I'm just finishing the second in the delightful 44 Scotland Street-series I might as well throw myself into the third right away...

:: Herta Müller - Herztier (swe 'Hjärtdjur', eng 'The Land of Green Plums'). My first book by the 2009 Nobel Prize in literature winner. It's about 200 pages, seems like a good place to start exploring her writing.

:: Jed Rubenfeld - The Interpretation of Murder. I liked the cover, I liked the unusual crime novel story set in 1909 New York, a murder and a visiting Sigmund Freud.

:: Scarlett Thomas - Dead Clever and Going Out. Two more novels from favourite writer. Somehow I doubt they'll be as mindblowingly brilliant as "The End of Mr. Y" or "PopCo" but they will surely be great reads in their own way.

:: Rachel Zadoki - Gem Squash Tokoloshe. I liked the book title, I liked the cover, the story about a girl growing up in rural parts of South Africa in the 1980ies seems both beautiful and heartbreaking.

Have you read anyone of these books? Any thoughts?

having the blues in colours

I finally completed the second scarf with mohair purchased in South Africa - well over two years ago now, I still think about that most amazing journey almost every day. I would love to return. If only it wasn't so far far away. If only there was money. If only there was time. If only - it turned out quite lovely and unusal in a very delicate yet sluggish way I think. Only two packages of yarn was bought, one green one pink. I so regret not buying more as it was sold for a good cause (not only soothing for my own soul) and turned out so well.

Reciever of second pair of greenish socks was very pleased with her new feet warmers and I'm of course more than equally pleased to satisfy her needs for most magic socks in other colours.

Yes there might also be new projects for self as well as others involved in the acquiring of more yarn. I feel, for strictly unselfish purposes of course, I should do my best in working my way through the different colour-combinations of magic yarn.

The drab, bland hues excluded. Although there is a chocolatey-beige-eggshellish mix that speaks to me I have to admit.



There was pumpkin cake baked today. It turned out a scrumptiously moist loveliness and it was most enjoyed.

The sun even showed its these days rarely seen face for a moment or two. So it was a rather good day. If it hadn't been for a worrying letter. I don't appreciate such letters. And I don't like the way I worry about such matters. Stupid, ignorant, uncreative, bureaucratic, grey, heartless yet worrying issues.

There are days when these matters can be faced and most certainly fought. And there are days when they just put a damper on a whole day, days or more. They swirl, twirl, twist, infest, poison, try their best in suffocating happiness and the positive outlook that things will certainly work out for the very best. They do. They will. For sure. The matters will not matter then, the things will do.

Today has been a dampen day, despite the fortune of colourful yarn, good cake and a few rays of sun. Some days just are.

ikea musings and tea towels

Admittedly I am not one of those who swoon from the whispers of the name that begins with an I continue with a K, E and ends with A. A major part of my childhood was lived in the vicinity of the largest and most famous IKEA department store ever - built in 1965 and the second one opened situated in Kungens Kurva in the southern outskirts of Stockholm - and most families I knew back then were pretty frequent visitors to that store.

I think many people found it pretty awesome that good (?) design suddenly was available for all wallets and the siren calls of modern, new, mass produced and cheap were irresistable. The many - now more obvious - back sides to the new and very shiny coin were nowhere to be seen.

Yes, I can see the founder of IKEA, Ingvar Kamprad, as a clever, ingenious and in parts inspirational businessman. But I'm far from sure that I find the fact that the IKEA phenomena has spread over the world like a wildfire, as something Sweden should be all that proud about. For many reasons. Some of the reasons for that are the fact that I wholeheartedly advocate

:: small-scaleness production,
:: long-lived handcrafted quality.
:: add preferably with a quirky uniqueness.
:: not to mention, with those prices, how ethically sourced is the production, what about obvious criterias as organic and fairtrade?

So with few exceptions I rarely frequent IKEA as a grown up. The things the brand stands for do quite the opposite than speak to my heart. Apart from my Billy book-shelves - so far 10 of them, I claim pure necessity - I pride myself in not shopping IKEA.

There are the odd case when the above well advocated criterias meet IKEA and makes sweet love together. One such case being the rather brilliant, previously mentioned, 'I wish we had IKEA' tea towels made by South African designer Heather Moore with her brand Skinny la Minx available on Etsy.

Even if I may say that one probably should not be so unhappy about not having an IKEA store nearby, I do love the quirky thought and end product. The orange towel I kept for myself, the grey one was a gift to someone who actually is a great fan of IKEA - being a woman in her forties whose goal in life still is to be working at IKEA when she grows up. Oh indeed we all have our different dreams - and she loved it, for every reason.

And such people, the ones who frequent IKEA a lot, do know their way around the product-names (imagine that) thus spotted a misspelling on sweet towels; table Leksvig 's proper name is table Leksvik.

Despite me being an upstanding member of the spelling squad wouldn't have spotted that for the world and I really don't care - see I can be as word mellow as the next one - because the towels are quirky and personal, cute and snazzy. And a pretty darn perfect gift to anyone who happens to think (imagine that) that IKEA is one of the most amazing places for shopping there is. Plus, the tea towels have been thoroughly paw approved.

Dotty kitty prefered the grey version

Whilst liquorice fellow chose orange
(a cat after my own heart)

Upon receiving the tea towels I also had a revelation of the uttermost Malte kind. The little loafie extraordinaire has obviously made a firm paw print at IKEA too - there's a bar stool pluming the Malte name. Of course nothing like the real deal on four legs, and a comfy arm chair had been a better choice for the distinguished name, but still cool cats dig bar stools as well as tea towels.

Water Week - South African Water Moments

One the beach, Kenton-on-Sea

Addo Elephant Park

Hanging out with penguins at Boulder's Beach

Tranquility

On Robben Island

A few treasured South African water moments. Oh, do I need a holiday...

water week is a theme shared by the following blogs:

stockholm by pixels - The World According to Pia - Ystad Daily Photo

Orange Vibes

After showing it's rather pleasant, sunnyish midmorning side the weather said, enough of this - and since then the rain has either been pouring down, drizzling or just slowly dripping. Sure it makes everything looks fresh, lush and green, but to fight the grey, cloudy skies I for one need *a bit* more colour. So I thought I'd share some orange to bright up the day.

Not orange as in fruit orange, but as in colour. It's a colour that's quite obviously not pink, but pretty darn close. It's a gorgeous, perky, feel-good-vibey colour. The colour of one of, if not The, favourite handbag, darlin' Elvira. Who travelled with me all the way to the other side of the world and back - to a country that I found, to my delight, celebrated the colour orange everywhere, South Africa.

Orange is also the colour of my favourite vegetable, carrot, which comes in many shapes, like in infamous carrot cap shape or cute dangling earrings shape. Anyone for a carrot or two?

It also comes in cute as a button William Wallace shape. The once wee one has grown up to a handsome boy of 9 months, latest news is he's doing well at cat-shows, always the last thing seen when going to sleep and the first thing seen when waking up, constantly purring - in other words a furry orange gem.

Yes, for many reasons, orange rules, in a whole lot of ways, shapes, sizes and forms

Hope Springs & The Chocolate Wafers Clause

So, even if today wasn't nearly as bad as yesterday and the day before that, I still have to remind myself that somewhere there's hope, or Hope capital H, sun, warmth and a southernmost point. Which most certainly isn't situated in my close vicinity.

Incidentally, can you imagine the hordes of tourists we had to fight to get this picture of a Single Orange Elvira by what presumably must be one of the world's most well known as well as most photographed signs...? Really, an achievement I just might colourfully add to my CV...

As far as today's classroom experience went it wasn't all that bad, might have something to do with the fact that we worked on a group project most of the day, contract law, hence didn't have to endure as much of the Annoying Guy as usual. Must say I was quite pleased with the suggestion of a contract we (fine, read "me" here, humble isn't my middle name today) came up with.

I think the imaginary corporate management can sleep easy at night knowing we've negotiated a mighty fine deal with the suppliers. I'm especially satisfied with that sophisticated yet discernible damages clause containing a specified amount of chocolate wafers being provided us wronged. Brand, the one and only, Cloetta, since that's what keeps us good and happy.

Now I'm good and ready to go to bed, enjoying my well-earned rest and not having to rise at an ungoodly hour, tomorrow not having to drag myself into the shower when I'd much rather stay in bed for yet some hours and thank goodness not having to deal with the rush hour people and their bad morning breath. Please, may I refer to the-chocolate-wafers-clause.

2007 - A Picture Per Month

JANUARY - this was Stockholm in winter shroud a year ago. How time flies... And how similar the weather was then compared to this now moment in time. But above all, as pretty then as it is now

FEBRUARY - was the month of one of my most amazing experience ever, so far, the South African one. On the beach in Kenton on Sea - bliss! And yes, one of these days I will continue writing about the days in Cape Town too...

MARCH - I discovered the joys of Kusmi tea - and it was comforting in troublesome times...

APRIL - pink cherry blossoms in Kungsträdgården, that makes my heart go all ditty! And now it's only three months away...

MAY - the darling buds of May gave me one of many perfect moments in the year 2007. This was at the gardens of Svindersvik

JUNE - I befriended my favourite cookbook, and the culinary delights from that has since brought countless tears of savoury joy into the eyes of dinner guests at my humble casa

JULY - in the rain I met a strawberry little, and I have been wondering ever since, what happened to that little one after I left...

AUGUST - was in so many more or less describable ways a perfect month, but if I have to chose one picture - and I do - it'll be of beautiful Scanian windmills

SEPTEMBER - showed such a lovely side, and made for ample excursions in and around Stockholm. Simply a perfect ending to an amazing summer!

OCTOBER - gets two pictures, since it was the month of major compact living as well as my birthday trip to Amsterdam

NOVEMBER - there was just a whole lot of cats and mittens going on

DECEMBER - was a month of endings, new beginnings and spreading of Christmas joy

The events pictured in these photos are by no means the most important ones through my year 2007 - they're just a picture, a symbol, from January to December. If you happen to actually be interested in excerpts and words from my 2007-life, I suggest you have a look in the archives.