thorn in my side, lilacs in my heart

Amidst sorrow blogging was tremendously therapeutical. In a chaotic project - with a client obviously many vegan sausages short of a full English breakfast and ill-equipped to lead a company - blogging was a must to sort out the bizarre, erratic behaviours.

This past couple of weeks with even more unsavoury behaviours, irrelevant ideas, a complete lack of acknowledging responsability, offering plausible explanations and solutions et al have been an exhausting source of even more blog topics of various kinds.

I don't even know where to start.

With the final proof that my team was a chimera? That their endless story of blatant lack of communication has cost me a lot of money, sleepless nights and caused so much anger, worry and disappointment. Our respective work ethics, business behaviours and moral compasses are clearly very different. Worlds apart.



Or that the immense beauty in nature all May also is a very obvious reminder that global warming is real? Everything, and I mean everything, is in bloom now. Flowers and trees that should bloom one after the other between May and August, if nature wasn't having a breakdown caused my human behaviour, is now simultaneously blossoming.

Dandelions, lilacs, lilies of the valley, honeysuckle, rhododendron, peony, fritillaria, roses, apple blossoms... The beginning of the end? High summer temperatures and no rain. Weltschmerz is also real.



What I think about the fact that some companies still use personality tests in their recruitment processes that are completely irrelevant for the job in question? It's simply outdated, bizarre and not least unprofessional. And would I really want to work for an organization that use obsolete methods like that?



That this is not my cat-cats that have been sweet and friendly for years suddenly act crazy and can cause a lot of pain with an unprovoked big bite? I should probably be grateful that I'm still alive. And I admit to for the first time ever having encountered a cat whom I'm actually afraid of, from here on.



Or that when nicecream is free every kid in Stockholm claim they are vegan hipsters (and are a bit full of themselves)? Especially the salted caramel hazelnut was nice, but not nearly as fantastic as Ben & Jerry's vegan icecream.



That you can actually get pretty decent results when you cut your own hair with guidance from YouTube tutorials? I cut over 20 cm. And funny enough I don't really miss the lost wisps, this time.



Or that Haevn's first album is released tomorrow May 25? That every song they've slowly released all through April and May have been lovely. But my favourites so far are "Back in the water" and this one "Love is a game". The phrase "I will be on my weakest when you hold on" is beautiful. And I like that it's dance music. Ie perfect for star dancing.



That the discovery that new TV-show "The good fight" is a spin-off from one of my favourite series "The good wife" makes me very happy. Always love a great story, a clever dialogue. In legal setting.



That there is a special, very warm place for recruiters and HR-people that don't realise the only decent way to behave (and not least an important part of their job!) towards every interviewee that don't get the job is to call or send a personal email, tell them why and thank them for their precious time and interest?



Or that I'm so incredibly tired of stupid, ignorant people (that don't live in a cave or are illiterate) that A) Don't acknowledge that it's their behaviour that causes global warming. That everything is connected, what you chose to do on this side of the planet, the food you eat, the clothes you wear, the transport, the holidays affect what happens on the other side of the planet?

That B) always blame other animals than humans for the environmental issues. And per usual think killing animals is the solution to sort problems caused by humans. Own your responsability, idiots. The butterfly effect is real. And a huge reason for the world being what it is, is people refusing to take responsability for their actions or non-actions.

Well, where to start? Let's see this post as a foretaste, and I'll elaborate another day.

When I'm not in swoon over the bliss and beauty of lilacs.

trade in your darkness for the light

When I began writing this post I was really angry. But before I hit publish I thought about the "Be responsible for the energy you put out in the world" and decided to sleep on it. And here is the much shorter version, still angry and disappointed, but I'll omit the worst, unsavoury details.

The anger includes myself because in hindsight I feel like a fool for trusting people I obviously shouldn't have trusted. For being open and willing to take a chance at a new, much less structured way of working, which went so awry. Will not make that mistake again. Even free spirits need basic structure. And trust is earned, partly by clear and transparent communication. And since I'm not usually gullable, the whole thing feels... bizarre. What. was. I. thinking?

Wish I could just let The Project That Became A Mess go, as a very important life and work lesson. But unfortunately I realised while going through my papers and invoices for the annual closing I'm still missing payments for it. A fact which obviously has added another layer of disappointment, hurt and anger to this whole mess.

So not only did I a) agree to a subpar fixed payment (since the work had so much promise for the future, in various ways) for a job that turned out to need a whole lot of more hours than originally stated -

and I who always want to do a great job, since it's important to be proud of your achievements, did put in more work and hours because to get the consistent quality level and attention to details that was needed -

b) I haven't even gotten all the payment I should have.

For me it's an important sum to get, for a well-managed company it would be penny ante.

However, since bitterness is a useless emotion, just like worry - what have I learnt from this? Well,

1. I will never ever again go against my instinct, experience and adopt a laizzer-faire attitude in work when it comes to agreements, communication and structure. This was the first time I did, and look what a mess that turned out to be. Duh, says lawyer I.

I realize this was a rather special situation and circumstances, but really, had we just set aside a few hours before we jumped right in this could have mostly been avoided.

2. I don't care if people, future team mates, think I nag and repeat, nag and repeat, nag and repeat, because seriously, it. is. so. very. important that we discuss, get everything in writing and have the solutions to what ifs and different possible scenarios well sorted beforehand. For everyone involved. Stress less, be more focused and productive.



Another thing to feel better, stress less and come up with solutions to tricky situations is to go for long walks in nature. Which also boosts kindness, happiness and creativity. As I haven't been able to do that much for these past couple of months due to all the snow and ice, I found it both incredibly elevating as well as exhausting when I've so far had two long dog walks in the sun and wind two days in a row.

No, I'm not a dog owner again, it's one of the neighbourhood dog ladies who needs help with walking her sister's dog (who she is currently caring for, one of the cuties I practised my dog whisperer skills on). She's such a sweet tempered labrador, but she is also very strong and needs someone who can hold the leash and keep up with her. Even I find it a bit laboursome, but perhaps it'll give me som serious upper arm muscles.

Funny thing is that the dog sitter think I and Mynta (the herb Mint in Swedish) match eachother so well. Walking side by side. Although, important detail, Mynta has a very special swagger and wag her bottom quite noticably. I most certainly don't.

I still miss having a dog of my own again, but it's also a responsability for someone who needs more of my time and not least structure, compared to the cats, perhaps I'm simply not there yet. And just as I believe that the above work experience with it's ups that ended in a serious down was meant to be, for experience and growth's sake, I believe if a doggie is meant to be it will happen.

Much like songs come your way when your mood calls for them. And even if it's difficult to believe I don't only listen to Haevn these days, this dreamy thing with Celine Cairo is one of my current music crushes.



From darkness to light, from anger to music that soothes a weary soul. As life is. And with winter phasing out, spring, real spring is just eager to step in and take charge. I do believe this will work wonders for the body and soul. And not least bring opportunities and new beginnings. Which I welcome with open arms and a curious, eager mind.

talk to me

This current and unexpected situation has really made me examined myself too. What I could have done differently over these past months, to better things. And apart from repeating, SCREAMING COMMUNICATION, PLEASE even more, I'm really clueless as to what I could have done. Asked more questions, demanded clarifications on intentions? Written confirmations on everything? Nagging? Such unpleasantry, nah.

Since we are, well, were, a remote team our communication has almost solely been via Slack, Trello, Skype and phone calls. And that puts extra demands on clarity and straight talk. When you can't see people's facial expressions, body language, look them in the eyes, you have to be extra careful about other people's views and feelings, what you can and can't do. You simply have to put in some extra effort with that. For me that's pretty darn basic.

Of course you can't go through life without never ever hurting other people's feelings. Or get hurt by other people. Part of life. Still, we can do our best to be kind, caring and insightful people. And please, never ever assume other people can read your mind.

As someone wise once told me - assume is short for making an ass of you and me.

I'm also thinking that I could have reacted in different ways when my cup finally runneth over. I could have called and demanded answers as to what the f was going on - not my style, hysteria is not my cup of emotional tea. Maybe it should be? Perhaps it clears the air? But it feels so uncomfortable and unproductive to me.

Instead I wrote a Slack message when I noticed they'd already dismissed the strategy, quality, TOV for something quite different before we had talked about it. What use was talking now? This was the last straw, so many different little things here and there have lead up to this. Small things that on their own would have been insignificant, but as a pattern painted an uncomfortable picture of not being able to trust the situation, the person anymore.

There has been so much drama all through this project, I was not aware of the full scope of it when I signed on. Looking back I would probably have done it anyway, because I would not have been able to grasp just how deep down a rabbit hole this would go. Surely we could have constructive meetings and talks about how to move forward in the best way, you know, grown up style? And nb, I'm saying this in a very unpatronizing way here. Ah, maybe I did ass-u-me to much?

I can't help but thinking back on my years working as a lawyer. All the decisions I had to make for other people, trying to get them to compromise, see their opponent's point of view, being yelled at, trying to keep my calm and explain the whys. Leaving that part of my professional life behind has been one of my best decisions in life. Still very happy I took my Master of Law degree, it has helped me in so many ways, made me see things differently, made me more versatile. But working as a lawyer, never again.

Still, sometimes I apparently find myself in some weird maelstrom of unprofessionalism forcing me to channel my inner lawyer. Which is the best way to try and see other people's reasons for acting in certain ways - as the saying goes, two lawyers, five different sides to a coin. But not even that channeling can make me feel less hurt. And it won't turn me in to a mind reader, alas.

Had I not been so involved in this, and hurt by the careless bulldozing, I can objectively see solutions. Steps that would possibly rectify. But those first steps are not mine to take. And not mine to spell out. I've said so so much already on different occasions.

It has been an intense journey and I'm so incredibly tired of feeling like a pawn. The one that's expected to be available when other people find the time in their schedules, because my time is obviously not as valuable. The inconsistencies of what's being said. I just can't be the greater person here, able to look past all this. Getting hurt and then cosset someone else's ego, gosh no. And obviously I'm the only one in the (ex)team who care about all of this anyway, everything communicates and silence is communication in itself.

There's a time for pride, for taking care of oneself's needs, for forgiveness. Life is short and I try to live by "What would the future Pia thank respectively reproach me for doing or not doing?" - but you know what, in this situation I have no idea what she would say.



The weekend has hold playing my theme song "Where the Heart is" countless of times. I also have a new favourite song - Talk to me by Thomas Azier. Smittened by his voice, the mix of 1980ies emo and 1930s decadence dressed in a 21st century costume.

"Talk to me, talk to me,
tell me how you really feel.
Talk to me, talk to me,
tell me what is fake and what is real."

Life would be so much better and distinctively less complicated if people just communicated better, and didn't just bulldozed forward, wouldn't you agree?

----

PS Next time I need to blog about happy things, positive news or just plain silly matters. Promise. DS

you shouldn't run a social network if you can't put a stop to hatred and threats

The other week I read this fabulous article or rather an article about a fabulous lawyer in Würzburg, Germany who started a crusade against Facebook demanding they comply with German laws regarding Volksverhetzung (racial agitation) and alike.

The article is in Swedish of course but do google there might be English versions out there too, there most certainly are German ones.

In short the lawyer and his law firm, just as so many of us, got sick and tired of the fact that Facebook just don't care about all the hatred and threats they are a forum for and decided to take them to court. And they won. It's quite obvious that if you run a social network business as Facebook you should not be able to shy away from putting a stop to hatred and threats that take place in your network. And it's absolutely crazy that they have been for so long.

Not to mention all advertisers that in fact finance all this hatred.

Hopefully this law suit and the aftermath will lead to radical changes for the better. Something really really has to change on social media. And I love this quote from the German lawyer Chan-jo Jun: "You shouldn't run a social network if you can't put a stop to hatred and threats." Simple as that really.

Of course I wish more people could live by the motto "if you can't say/write something positive or constructive just don't say anything", but since clearly a vast amount of people all over the world can't the companies need to take their responsability seriously.

I think this story is a great example of moral courage and law at its finest.

use the right hashtag and great things happen

You know the annoying tweep or instagrammer who publishes his/her tweet or photo with a gazillion different hashtags? Please don't be that hashtag-overuser. But by all means chose your # carefully and great things can happen. Both on a personal and professional level. More of that at the end of this post.

Myself I use hashtags that is relevant for the picture or tweet in question, some are well worked in and used a lot by many - like #vegan #vegetarian #svpol (Swedish politics), #swgreen (Green issues in Sweden) #vegomiddag (veg dinner in Sweden), #vegolunch (veg lunch in Sweden), #tbt (Throw Back Thursday), #notd (nailpolish of the day), #boktips (book tips in Sweden) - others I find relevant, amusing or I use as a part of my own marketing -

like #welcometosweden (which long after I began using it also became the name of a Swedish TV-series...), #teaftw (for all tea lovers), #prositordochbild (workrelated obviously) and #prosittipsar (when I want to give useful tips on different great things like vegan food, healthy options, design, books, animal and environmental-friendly alternatives etc). 

Recently I arranged a really lovely #tweetup with likeminded vegetarians and vegans in Stockholm. Of course you could then use the hashtag #vegotweetup, but just so it was very clear it was OUR meetup and noone else's the # was #vegotweetup211 (January 21). And simple as that, anyone could follow the discussion and planning via Twitter by following the hashtag in question.

Yes we are definitely going to have a #vegotweetup again. The hashtag will then be a new one as soon as we've set the date.

If you're a newbie find that these two articles on the use of relevant hashtags and the nonos quite useful. With some silly elements and advice thrown in, so go with your gut feeling and common sense. I find that 1-3 hashtags is usually fine on Twitter, where as 5-10 can be acceptable on Instagram. More than that and it gets a bit...nauseating.

Rules for hashtag marketing mastery

Best Instagram hashtags for different businesses

So what about my own experience with good stuff that comes from the right hashtag?

First of all, Instagram is for me personal, organisations or business accounts which tell personal stories or market with their own pictures only. I am fully and sadly aware that there are a whole lot of other accounts out there for other purposes. Myself I never enter any competitions on Instagram where you have to repost a picture that's not your own or shout out a company's name. I want to keep my account clean and my own. With my own photos only. And I don't see any point at all in posting quotes or cute animal pictures taken off the web -

which by the way is illegal if you haven't gotten the photographer/originator's approval. But you already knew that, right? Right. -

My Instagram account is me, myself, and I - or rather very few selfies and a whole lot of cats, vegan and vegetarian food, fika, design, colours, knitting, shoes, animals and pretty places. A miniature version of my blog.

Back to the hashtag business. When I got my new glasses I instagrammed the collage of four pictures and hashtagged it with #smarteyes (the optician and brand) and I noticed the smarteyes_official account liked the pictures, but didn't think much of it.

Then a few weeks later, last Friday, they left a comment on the picture which basically said "great looking! We would love to publish it alongside four other cool glasses-pictures that have been tagged with #smarteyes on Instagram. And for that you'll get a pair of glasses for free." Now that's a winwin as far as I'm concerned. Great and simple social media marketing which benefits all parties. And all because the right hashtag was used.

#prosittipsar - use the right hashtag on Twitter and Instagram and fun things happen!

green pea vegan soup

Behold the greenest and simplest of soups - creamy vegan pea soup made from frozen, thawed peas and Oatly oats milk only. Plus salt and spices obviously. I love when cooking can be made that simple and still with an absolutely delicious, healthy and filling end result.

No time for the more laboursome pumpkin soup yet, but there will be. Soon.

And one day I will blog more extensively about the fabulous Swedish brand Oatly which produces excellent healthy, vegan options to cows' milk and other dairy products - these products are made for humans not cow babies - made from oats. They have grand packaging with cocky copywriting (which I adore, it's very much in the same style as innocent smoothies...) and with that the've managed to enrage the horrific dairy industry so much - with slogans such as "Welcome to the post milk society" - that they've in fact been sued for their marketing. Go Oatly!



What's your favourite vegetarian/vegan soup?

first hyacinths

The Christmas season has never much interested me, less and less so with every year - apart from Christmas cards, Ris á la Malta, lussekatter and hyacinths that is. I enjoy these four things that come with the season.

I'm very pleased about the first hyacinths of this season has just begun to bloom. I knew that "lawyers never lose their appeal" and the camera mug would come handy one day. Silly little trinkets have a tendency to do so now and then.

With the weather being similar to a very wet, tiring, grey blanket covering the Stockholm area for more than a week now - yes, I still say horay to every day with no snow, I do - and the lack of natural light being quite appaling, you really have to find little joys that brighten the days.

Like hyacinths and silly little mugs.

wednesday words

:: Even though I in my usual manner think my days these days consist of too many unimportant meetings to keep people from actually working and not enough real and interesting, intellectual challenging and creative work I'm quite out of wit and inspiration when it comes to blogging. And not enough energy or geist to read as much as I usually do. Or feel the urge to knit (!).

This can't be meant to be. This can't be life. And I don't even get paid properly for having such uninspiring days.

On the bright side I had a really lovely lunch with a friend I don't see that often today. In a similar situation jobwise, with a different background, though clearly deserving so much more. We talked, ate, laughed and grumped, had a long walk in a Stockholm that can most definitely be described as , despite heaps of snow and treacherously icy streets, having spring in the air.

:: Even though I like to live by the idea that 'of two choices, two paths, chose the one that gives you the most resistance because it's the one that will make you grow the most' I also think that 'chose your battles wisely' is another good idea. Today I chose the most resistance-path in a matter that has upset be quite a bit as lately. It may be a minor thing in the big picture, but it really very much bugged me.

And as easy as it may be to write angry emails and stand up for yourself and others - and I have to admit I kind of love that. Ah, the lawyer in me thrives. Not that I always feel like making a big deal of matters wrong, I do chose my battles, but when I do it's quite delightful... - that way, it's far from always very pleasant to go all the way and face your adversary irl (which certainly can be seen as a prime example of the pros and cons with easy accessable Internet/online life).

Today I did the latter. And as most usual it wasn't at all as bad as it could have been. I may have been a bitch in parts - but in my full right of course - but also a reasonably well behaved one. And I came out wiser and with what was rightfully mine. And the lesson learnt (hopefully, perhaps, maybe) by adversary not to write such crappy contracts brimming with discrepancies (and spelling errors).

:: Tomorrow I have another gruesome meeting I could, would have liked to, be without. But even though perhaps not triumph I will surely survive that one too. And then comes Friday. And the weekend. And perhaps, maybe enough time to read, knit, catch up on blog reading, write and get at least a bit of sweet mojo back until another week begins.

:: Do you have to be stupid to be on Facebook? I wonder, since so many, too many (when one's one too many really) people think it's normal to 'lend money' to 'friends' on Facebook or be 'friends' with potential or current bosses and then think it's perfectly alright to whine about being scammed-not getting the job-feeling wronged by employer on television and in papers. Jeez, what's wrong with people? And where did they get their IQ from, the cornflakes box?

:: Today I got my electrical bill for January. So. Not. A. Good. Thing. for this winter.

:: I recently read that Albert Einstein is said to have had a lifelong suspicion of all authority. One healthy and wholehearted hear hear to that!

this and that monday musings

:: The interviews went well, the first one was both fun and jolly, the second one well, we can't all be congenials asking the right questions. I suppose. As the whole employing procedure has been, to put it mildly, muddled I am *dash* sceptical. There's a third interview scheduled later this week and oh, I don't know, it feels like 'on the one hand still rather interesting tasks on the other hand quite not well thought through'. Being involved in such a lengthy process does invite a whole lot of (possibly over)analyzing of the situation...

:: Despite wash bag shawls and scarfs with tassels and fringes always come out of the washing machine looking like this. I can't seem to find any fool proof way to wash tasseled stuff. Any suggestions (other than careful, slow motion handwash)?

:: As much as I loath superfluos silly English phrases in Swedish commercials I can't help but being highly amused by German phrases (spoken by Germans) especially car commercials, 'das auto' has such a comforting quality ring to it somehow.

:: Season one of "True Blood" airing here. I'm completely entertained and enthralled.

:: Once upon a time I shared the odd lecture and odder pen at university with the previous Swedish minister of justice / solicitor / writer / your average politician Thomas Bodström. He probably has his points, but I can't say I was impressed by him in those days, can't say I am now. To me he is a textbook example of the unfortunate fact that connections and nepotism counts for a lot. I'm all for politicians having a real job being in actual contact with real life. I'm all against their too often misappropriate use of public funding.

Again and again we whine and grump about the fact the ethics as well as regulations regarding this, that and then some just don't apply to (or so they think themselves) certain people in certain groups. Again and again they get away with it. As long as there are no severe measures taken and obvious expensive penalties for this blatant disregard of common decency they will continue to get away with it. Again and again. Bafflingly enough.

:: First Kenneth Branagh version of the Wallander-series on TV here. Well, what can one say, such a pity on a good story as well as good actors that they decided to film it in Ystad/Sweden and with the original names. Because it is beyond ridiculous that everyone speaks English in Swedish settings, with Swedish names and newspapers. The English prononciations of Swedish names are hilarious ' Wåll and Ör' 'Istad', 'Cört', 'Hasselholm', 'Sanndinn' to name but a few. Really. How I wish they had decided on changing the names and the setting to some small town in England instead.

Wallander personated is of course always brilliant actor Rolf Lassgård, the Krister Henriksson series are overall of a rather poor quality. He's usually a good actor, but he just doesn't work as Wallander. Or maybe it's the overall rather second rate cast makes him look bad.

:: As much as I see Barack Obama as one of the truly good guys capable of and with means to making and influencing great changes all over the world I'm more than slightly dumbfound about him being the latest Nobel Peace Prize laureate.

Not so silly me have always regarded that prize as an acknowledgement to someone who has already made a real and positive difference in a very substantial way already, and not as an incentive for positive vibes and something good that hopefully might come one day. Being given such an honourable - granted not all recievers have deserved it - prize for a work in progress seems like an obstruction rather than a prudent decision.

the lawyer, the document and the runaway text

Needless to say really, something with such a name obviously grabbed my immediate must-have-attention. A sweet and curious bracelet (a varnished illustration on an aluminium skeleton lined with felt) spoke to me. It's just a really lovely, unusual piece and fit comfortably on wrist.

In a perfect world I would have liked the bracelet to be not larger but slightly longer, covering more of my wrist, but then again it's a delicate work and that would probably make it so much harder to slid the bracelet on wrist without cracking the varnish.

Edit: on having used it a few times I unfortunately have to say I find the bracelet rather faulty and inconvenient in construction, it has to be watched very carefully as it constantly threatens to slip off the wrist. I love the idea and the looks, but sadly it suffers for not having a proper locking mechanism.

The bracelet could of course not travel all alone in a box and a bag across the ocean, that would simply not do, so with it came a really sweet brooch called "how to write a story" - which tells the exciting beginning of a story about a penguin who loves lox bagels, movies and gazing at the stars.

More fun, thought provoking, quirky items like this you find at Tilly Bloom on Etsy, a shop that has a lot of ingeniously absurd stuff happening.

The Undomestic Goddess

My only excuse for reading this book by Shopaholic-writer Sophie Kinsella was that I bought it before I got completely annoyed with the Shopaholic series. And just because I'm in general so much wiser and so much more discerning now - nothing hrm about that I'm sure - that I don't read chick lit anymore, this book has just been collecting dust in that ever growing to-read-list. Until I recently felt I just had to read something light, silly, relaxing and possibly entertaining without being world turning and thought provoking.

As it happened I quite enjoyed the read. Rather a lot actually. It might have something to do with the fact that it was about a stressed out lawyer (check) who turned housekeeper after having made a fatal error at work. Or so she thought, since of course many things aren't always what they seem (although too predictable that bit was.)

I could so relate to a lot of the things and feelings she went through, the way she with time mellowed in her new life and got things in perspective. The way she had to keep a straight face when plebs (as in mostly her new employers) who clearly know very less than they think they know utter and act in the most ridiculous of ways. To show that you have a brain doesn't - sadly - always work in your advantage or is the diplomatic and longterm way to approach things.

Admittedly I don't play in the main character's domestically challenged league, I just celebrate the fact that a clean house is a sign of a wasted life and that any kind of idiot can live in order only a true genius master chaos (those notions are more than handy as far as I'm concerned.)

But I thoroughly enjoyed reading about a woman who didn't know how the washing machine worked thus ended up having to replace her employer's fancy clothes for thousands of £, who pretended to have trained with the award winning French chef Michel de la Roux de la Blanc but ended up ordering sandwiches for 20 instead of 2 from a catering service.

I can relate to the way she doesn't want to be useless and needing lessons for seemingly simple things but wanting to handle things on her own without asking the assistance from anyone. And working your a~~ off at work without getting any real appreciation, rather the opposite in fact from some people (although I'm pretty darn sure she at least got a more substantial appropriate salary for that a~~ off working.)

There was an intense love scene in the vegetable garden on a hot summer day and there were fresh raspberries involved and of course an interesting pleasing to the eye gardener with a sun tan. And as I've mentioned before, anything involving fresh raspberries will get my full and immediate attention of course.

The ending was a bit to easy slapdashy put together. But I suppose that comes with the genre. All and all, despite that, I thought it was a surprisingly good and entertaining book, that I recommend for some easy few hours of reading. Mustn't forget that from the book I also learnt the important lesson that you don't put dry chickpeas in the oven in order to make them melt.

When Dolphins Fly

From October to at least March using reflectors is pretty essential and life saving living in Sweden with its many dark hours per day. And I suppose during the dark hours the rest of the year too, since 40% of all traffic accidents with walking people involved happen during the dark hours.

The reflectors are often firmly sewn in children's clothes, these past years more and more grown ups use reflector vests, you put them on the dog's collar and leash and most common of all reflectors, attach them to the outdoor garments with a safety pin.

Myself I hang one on most every handbag as well as one in each pocket of my coats and jackets. Apparently the fine optical parts in a reflector can be easily worn down and don't age well, hence they should be handled with care for a longer life. Though I doubt most of us bother, since reflectors are cheap and come in a plethora of different styles every winter season. Sold at most every department store, shop, pharmacist, gas station and supermarket, in other words, pretty much everywhere. They're often a common freebie with company prints on them too.

Myself I sport reflectors in shape of hearts, flowers, snowflakes, ghosts, Ahlgren's cars (the world's most sold car), cats, Lilla My (Little My), dogs, Lilla Spöket Laban (Little Ghost Laban) - but the one above that I spotted in a tree (even trees in Sweden apparently need pretty reflectors) looking happy content the other day, that's the first one in dolphin shape I've seen. Though I wouldn't mind having a reflector like that one, any tips on where dolphins looking exactly so are sold is much appreciated.

At the National Society for Road Safety you can read more about the use of reflectors and how to test if they still work (only in Swedish). There are also certain legal requirements concerning reflectors on vehicles in Sweden and a best in test reflectors 2008

A Bunch of Movies

Some views on some of the movies I've watched since last - and as usual the Pia-grading scale from turkey - 5 goes like this; turkey, worthless, 1-, 1, 1+, 2-, 2, 2+, 3-, 3, 3+, 4-, 4, 4+, 5. Not a simple 1-5 scale since I think there can be little values or not that makes a movie worth the "-" or "+" part.

• A Mighty Wind - one of my favourite movies ever is the brilliant dog show fake documentary "Best in Show" (and not only, spoiler alert, because the rightful BIS winner in the end is a Norwich, relative to Norfolk, terrier), which is hilarious and so true to life beyond belief. When you've travelled those circles (in my case cat shows, but from the few dog shows I've attended it boils down to pretty much the same type of people) yourself without being a sad stereotype the recognition factor and all the clever details of this BIS movie is stunning. And why do I mention this as the name of the movie here is "A Mighty Wind"? Well, the same makers and pretty much the same cast, this time a fake documentary about a folk musician reunion, very enjoyable. There's one detail about the TV producer Lars Olfen that claims he comes from Sweden, describing his hard life here and the bestselling recording of a folk music song when he was a teenager which is a 10-point joke (for us Swedes and no Olfen is not a Swedish name). Pia-grade; 4+
• Batman Begins - better than I had expected, decent action for the thinking mind, good actors and special effects; 4
• Bobby Jones - Strike of Genius - no I'm far from a golf fan, but as M (who lives in the illusion that golf is a decent hobby) had recorded it and there was good actors I gave it a go. It was more interesting than I had thought (although I still have no idea how one man can accomplish all that and still have a busy family life as well as a career as a lawyer...), the scenic Scotland and St Andrews views didn't hurt either; 3-
• Broken Flowers - great music in this movie! Good actors, entertaining in a sad-funny way, and the ending was such a bummer of an anticlimax, sigh. Pia-grade; -4
• The Da Vinci Code - I really didn't have much hope for a movie based on one of the crappiest most overrated books I've ever read. But on TV, it's free and a recent one at that hence *one has to watch it*. And I sure wasn't disappointed. It was just lousy, good actors performed way beyond their usual talents, the story (which if told better is a good one, I admit) even more muddled than in the badly written book. Pia-grade; 1-
• Dixie Chicks Shut Up and Sing - a very interesting documentary about the ignorant redneck reactions when one of the Dixie Chicks made her statement about Bush in 2003. Like the tagline says - Freedom of speech is fine as long as you don't do it in public...; 4
• Firewall - foreseeable but rather good thriller with good actors lead by Harrison Ford; -3
• Gentlemen's Relish - starring in this endearingly funny movie is lovely Billy Connolly who plays a Scottish painter gone photographer in Edwardian London; 4
• Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull - when the very first Indiana Jones movie was released in Sweden I thought it was just groundbreakingly brilliant. I didn't like the sequel, but the third one was pretty good (yes the one with Sean Connery of course). Making a fourth one so many years later, well, not the brightest of ideas perhaps, as the genre isn't very fresh and inventive anymore, I found this movie to be *tad bit* strained as well as corny but with good actors; -3
• Kattbreven (The Cat Letters) - silly plot, not very talented actors and stupid ignorant people who leave the cat behind at their summer house when autumn comes, what's to like in this waste of money Swedish movie? 1
• Kinky Boots - a sweet bagatelle based on a true story about a shoe factory in Northern England which finds itself in deep crisis and tries to find its new shoe niche... A memorable performance by Chiwetel Ejiofor, one of those actors who really has diversity; 3+
• LA Law The Movie - when this lawyer series came to Sweden in the late 80ies it was a huge hit (at least for us budding lawyers). Gosh, I was glued in front of the TV that one time every week and since then I'm such a sucker for well made lawyer series, what works better than a well written/told closing argument? So of course I had to watch this reunion movie of the series - turned out it was a rather sad event. To much time has passed and it was just stale, mostly uninteresting and tiresome; 2-
• Madagascar - with few exceptions I'm no fan of animated movies. This wasn't one of those exceptions. Y-a-w-n; 1
• Miami Vice - another one of those late 80ies glitzy, hip, groundbreaking TVseries that I adored at the time. Admittedly, when I see and odd episode nowadays I find them to be rather... nerdy and silly, but still the series fall into the category of fond-teenager-memories. Hence I wouldn't have dreamt of watching a stupid movie version at the cinema nor rent it on DVD. On TV - see above Da Vinci Code - that's another thing. Although as usual, a movie with talented as a tree-trunk Colin Farrell falls quite flat, add to that uninspired, stupid plot and you get a; 1
• Must Love Dogs - this is a movie I really, really like and watch now and then, I just thought I'd mention it as it really is a little romcom gem no frills, not a lot of überstylish people living in apartments/houses they wouldn't be able to afford with that income irl and so forth. Talented Diane Lane is a sweetheart - as always, why doesn't she get more good parts?? - and John Cusack is perfect as her counterpart in this charming story about somewhat jaded people looking for someone, The One, to love. Like most of us do. Pia-grade; -4
• The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe - I loved these books by C.S. Lewis as a child and I remember adoring a british TV-series based on the books with Aslan being so wonderfully made. This movie was nothing like that. Non plausible special effects and annoying child actors. Not that that did stop be from bawling my eyes out as usual when Aslan was killed by the evil witch...; -2
• Pieces of April - with a story that makes one very grateful for the family one has, I would have liked it much more if it hadn't revolved so much around a poor dead uncooked turkey for Thanksgiving; 2+
• Poseidon - I remember having seen the original Poseidon movie which I quite liked, this one though wasn't half bad either, in a horrifying way, you will never ever find me on a cruiseship, not before this movie (or Estonia) not after. Dauntingly well made special effects; 3-
• Stardust - this magical and funny lovestory is quite lovely indeed, brimming with good actors and quirky details. Although I could do without the over pompous soundtrack, I do know when I feel like crying, laughing, oh and ahing all by myself, thank you very much; 4
• 10, 000 BC - not a movie I'd chose to watch myself, but despite it's ridiculously modern take on a presumably prehistoric story it was okey, better than I had expected anyway; 2
• Tuck Everlasting - a rather sweet, fairytailish story about the possibility of living forever, beautifully made, good actors; 3

The Old House in Häverödal

Last summer we happened to drive through a small community, seemingly in the middle of nowhere, a couple of hours drive northeast of Stockholm. The village of Häverödal itself was perhaps not much to write blog about, but the church looking odd building residing in a pine clearing on top of a small rise in the village has left me wondering ever since.

A recent return trip showed an amazing looking as well as matching eerie sadly decaying building. Obviously not a church, more of a masonic lodge looking house, it sent chills down my back at the same time as I found it completely mesmerizing. In disrepair surrounded by silence in waiting for purpose.

After a bit of sleuthing by web - now and then google is my friend - I did manage to find out exactly what kind of building it was, built in the early 1920ies in national romantic style it was declared a notable building in 1989. When the county administrative board inspected the place in 2001 it was obvious the beautiful building was in dire need of repair. Despite the owner having been enjoined to restore the building under the penalty of fine since 2003 nothing seem to have been done. I think it's such a disgrace and waste of cultural as well as historical value and I'm more than curious to know why the place apparently hasn't undergone public administration control.

The answer to the once upon a time sector of use for this building somehow opened up to even more questions, because of its quite unlikely location. Yes unlikely even back then I should think. Care to have a guess, what was the purpose of this grand building?

Winter Tivoli with Adolphson & Falk

Adolphson & Falk is a Swedish duo, two guys who met in the late 60ies while doing their compulsory Swedish military service and there began their musical journey together. They were at their height as a synthpop band in the 80ies and that was of course when I discovered and fell for them. Even if not predominantly a favourite band I've always been very fond of many of their songs and lyrics.

Especially one song which has been a favourite of mine for over 20 years now, it so striked a cord deep inside when I was a teenager and the lyrics has never seized to so aptly describe the inner me. Time might fly, the clock is ticking but that song with its wistful and seemingly simple lyrics still means as much to me, if not more, now as it did then. Then, when my father and I enjoyed listening to Adolphson & Falk's music - enhanced by my dad's magical music machine - each wrapped in our own private little universe, now, when I listen alone.

So when the opportunity rised for getting tickets to one of their very rare concerts I jumped at it - although for some odd reason it wasn't all that easy to find friends who wanted to tag along, either they didn't know who they where *imagine* or they didn't like them *imagine even more* - and even if I perhaps didn't find the show to be top notch and all wonderful it definitely had its brilliant moments. Unpretentious, smallish and personal, not some big fuss in a gigantic arena, but just the way I prefer concerts and shows to be really.

The show also had two guest artists, one of which I knew very little, Ola Magnell, since the political progressive movement ("progg" as we Swedes say) in the 60-70ies was before my time, but let's just say that I was of a tender age compared to the rest of the audience and they happily sang along to his old hits.

The other one I did listen too quite a lot during the 80ies, when he was the front man in the band Freda´ (Friday), not so much since he went solo, but he has a very distinctive and heartfelt voice and has released some pretty powerful songs over the years, Uno Svenningsson. And yes, his performance was really lovely.

The *minor* issue I have with the concert though, is the fact that they didn't play either of my two favourite songs - on the other hand, that could mean I'm pretty unique in feeling so strongly about them and they really are best savoured on one's own.

Overall I thought it was a great evening out and once again I did get the distinct impression that being a musician seem to be such a rewarding, in many ways if not all, occupation. I can't think of any other trade where the professionals seem to have so much fun working at the same time as they bring so much joy to others. I do get a slightly envious, and although I'm well aware of the fact that the world is so much better off not having to deal with my attempts at singing it might have appreciated if I had been a bit more studious when it came to all those years of guitar lessons...

And having said that about musicians I think it was about time the, in Europe, much debated IPRED law went through, as every law it most probably has flaws and needs adjusting, but finally there's at least an acknowledgement on legal paper that the intellectual property right when it comes to file-sharing also needs some sort of, however feeble, protection.

Just because something isn't a graspable object, just because the Internet has brought easy access to so many, too many, things, it doesn't mean one should make use of it all. Common decency, uprightness and the respect for other's work and property never go out of style as far as I'm concerned. Graspable objects or not.

Adolphson & Falk - Blinkar Blå (Twinkle Blue)
Uno Svenningsson - Under ytan (Under the surface)
Freda´- Vindarna (The Winds)
Freda´ - I en annan del av världen (In another part of the world) - from the era of unbelievably tacky haircuts and great music
Ola Magnell - Nya perspektiv (New perspectives)

The Possible Instant Karma Of Skirt

First day of class this week - in general we *only* have two full days of lectures and the rest of the time we're suppose to know, I suspect from divine intervention, exactly what to read and study at home... - and I found it so darn relaxing since we'd finally reached the first course of law. Namely contract law.

It felt so very comforting somehow, not having to struggle with financial ratios and a new specialist language, instead just being able to sit there and nod wisely. And silently giggling and laughing inside at all those seemingly dorky - but really very sophisticated of course - legal jokes (including the complete naivety of some people that really very much should know better) the lecturer felt it very appropriate to tell. Snugness.

Well, it could have been all snugness, if it hadn't been for the Annoying Guy and His Pretendents. The excessiveness of today's interruptions and stupid comments... Give me strength. Especially since I was a tid bit too quick to be grateful for the fact that the group I ended up in these upcoming legal course weeks was blissfully free of the Annoying Guy and His Pretendants - turned out he jumped at the opportunity to change group. Ah, I can't wait to get even more of all his lovely - irony big time - comments in an even smaller group in a foreseeable future...

But - if you happen to sympathize with the Annoying Guy and His Pretendents - perhaps there is such a thing as instant Karma. All these unkind thoughts and subtle snarls somehow made my silly skirt - a skirt which happens to be spending her evening lying in the proverbial corner - get semi-stuck inside my pantyhose (and I swear I am totally obsessed by checking that whenever I've used the facilities) hence semi-flashing my behind all the way through our lunch at the favourite place and into the afternoon until someone discreetly mentioned it.

The only consolation from that moment on was the fact that no I didn't wear any butt ugly - every pun intended - leopard print g-strings, it was more of a Bridget Jones moment of flash, if you know what I mean... And that poor guy who's sitting in the bench behind me, that very nice guy, he must have had a horrifying moment when me and the lunch gang returned a bit late from lunch and I was trying to slide very discreetly in to my seat but(t) ended up shoving that Bridget-Jones-flash of a behind rather flagrantly into his visual angle.

I can only hope he has an obvious memory deficit. Or that the shock caused a sudden blowout. I promise I will so try and think only good and kind thoughts of the Annoying Guy and His Pretendants from now on. No more venture in to the area of Possible Instant Karma of Skirt.

Legal Creativity

Today I thought I'd get a bit of writing done while I'm still semi-conscious. So here goes. It's actually not that I'm studying hard 8 hours a day, every day, but my mind tends to have a studying agenda of its own and contemplate all sorts of new ideas, inputs, views, analysis when I myself would like to relax a bit. In short, I'm *slightly* winded up. All the time. I guess it just takes some time to get a more relaxed approach to it all, not that we have the time for that. Every course unit is only two weeks, so next week we start another unit. And pretty soon it's time for the first month of traineeship.

To be honest, the forward planning, or the very obvious lack of it, the schedule leaves a whole lot to be desired. I get a very semi-professional feeling, unfortunately. It's kind of a muddle what is really expected of us. My ambition is usually high - with a personality that constantly clashes between being laid back, with a longish takeoff since things really have a tendency to work themselves out with the right amount of effort, and at the same time being the overachieving kind, that gets *rather* annoyed when things aren't efficiently well-done in a no-wasting-time-way. Hence I'm grateful I am the very efficient, skip the drivel, let's work when I can't procrastinate no more (have you heard that before?)

With this course however, it is *rather* difficult to get a feel for what's expected and not, after the initial boosting of all the demands, it's all been well, confusing. Sort of. Not the subject per se, but the expectations. The two way communication part of this full speed ahead two lane thing isn't quite working. I hope it's only an initial glitch.

Having said that, we did have a really fun, and exhausting, group project on today. I think we worked well together, or ahem, well, perhaps it was just a very tiny bit of a me enforcing my ideas. Though really, IMHO I was the only one who had actually done a decent preparatory work. Anyway, we did have a lot of fun, silly fun, I think they were so darn witty some of the ideas. I hope the teacher (the first of 10) - which btw is a really, really good one, a very experienced practitioner in this field, giving us a whole lot of insight and great case studies, pedagogical and just very likable - can appreciate all those little creative details...

Ah, things just don't get much better than twisting legalities with dippy creativity. That mix of strict primness and resourceful creativeness is utterly irresistible! I get completely absorbed every single time. Addictive. Strictly in a very positive way.

There's Humour in Law

Perhaps a complete surprise to many, but of course there's a sense of humour in law, now and then - for starters, let me bring you into Svea's Food Court, the dining room at Svea Court of Appeal...