top 5 swedish lifestyle blogs 2025

It may not exactly be news, but since 2018 I’ve been on the most extensive top list of Swedish lifestyle blogs. It started out on the top 20 list for a few years, moved up to the top 10, and have flipped back and fourth on place 2 and 3 for the last few years. Currently on 2.

As this blog will have its 20 (!) years blogoversary in September, I thought I’d write something about it. Even if it’s not something I make a big hullabaloo about, it is rather nice to know that after 20 years of more or less irregular writing there are still people who a) think it’s worth reading snippets from my point of view and b) think it’s worthy of a distinguished placement on a top list of Swedish blogs. 

Haven’t updated the lists, links and info in the sidebar ➡️ for many years now. And it still remains ad-free of course. Which is just how I want it to be. The truly meaningful ads of this world can probably be counted on five fingers, or there about.

blue sunday

 

I’ve been thinking about the current overwhelming stress and worry cloud over my head. I wish I was able to look at it as an adventure, the excitement of not knowing what will turn up, to trust the process and know everything will be alright, even if it currently feels ridiculously stressful. 

Once upon a time that way of thinking came easy, but then I always felt I stood on firm ground, had a solid base. Now I’m at a free falling place in life.

And that isn’t a pleasant, inspiring place to be in.

Although, I suppose it’s the perfect place for the ”anything is possible” mindset.

I had such high hopes for a) the every meeting has a meaning situation and my new mentor, 

b) the fantastic sustainability/circular economy company she stumbled over, and I reached out to and later even applied for the sales position (which would certainly be an interesting new challenge) at and 

c) the green book club meeting that felt very serendipitous.

Alas nothing long term positive came from neither.

The mentor did not really understand the assignment. And honestly she turned out to be one of those persons that makes everything circle back to her life experiences and her attitude towards life and people. 

Every time we’ve met it always ends up with anecdotes from her life. And more often than not, the same stories on repeat. I’m lucky if I get to open my mouth.

Naïvely I thought she as a mentor (who supposedly loves problem solving) would listen, grasp who I am and give useful advice. So far, apart from stumbling over the above company, she clearly hasn’t understood who I am and her suggestions have been more or less ridiculous. Offensive even. 

And even if we clicked right away in the beginning, I now feel the whole situation annoys me more than it gives me the energy and momentum I want and need. It just rubs me the wrong way.

So I suppose I’m a life lesson richer. But sadly disappointed. Extroverts really don’t understand how ambi/introverts work.

Apart from the late email I got from the founder of the local sustainability company I thought sounded amazing, and for which I would be a perfect match, I never did hear anything more about the job. 

It may not be a position I’d even contemplated applying for before, but nevertheless I ticked so many of the boxes they looked for and then a gazillion more. They would be fools if they didn’t at least met me, had me in for an interview, or a coffee.

Apparently they did not understand what a gem they decided to waste. And given how excited and happy I was for this obvious opportunity that would be so beneficial for us both, it was quite disappointing that it didn’t pan out. Fools they were.

As for the green book club. Well, we never decided on another time and date to meet up and discuss the book that was chosen. At least not when I was in the room. And I really really didn’t want to read that book either. I gave it a chance, and basically hated it. Which is an extremely rare thing for me.

Last week the chairman of the local Green party aka the woman who set up the book club sent an email saying that tomorrow’s book club meeting would take place in another place than last time and if we couldn’t make it please let her know.

It was a really weird thing to send an email one day before a meeting I had never heard of. I said I couldn’t make it and that I really didn’t like the book, but of course wished them a nice evening the next day.

The next day she removed LinkedIn connections with me. What an utterly weird behaviour. Because I didn’t like the book I never wanted to read in the first place, or what?

Such bizarre behaviour, especially after she wrote she felt that first meeting had been magical. So even if I had looked forward to other interesting books and more book club meets I have been truly put off the whole idea now.

My search of my kind of people continues. Again.

And today I dressed in blue.

That seems to be my only constant in life really. My penchant for colours and colour coordination. And my love for animals of course. 

Let’s make this week a good one! One step a day. 

when everything is uncertain

 

anything is possible.

Currently Fridays and caturdays evenings, in this house, equals old Inspector Lynley Mysteries on TV.

And today this memorable quote came up in a discussion on said series. It perfectly sums up my life. As well as the madness and uncertainties globally.

I’ve been watching the footage and photos from the Hands Off demonstrations in the USA. It makes me all emotional. Well done all of you who made it, naturally I whole🩷 support your efforts and objectives! 

I do hope April 5 2025 is the beginning of some positive progressive changes forward.

I was going to write something on the more personal level, but I think that is better saved for another day.

Always remember, when everything is uncertain, anything is possible. 

It’s a wonderful quote to go to bed with, especially when life feels particulary rough and unfair.

💚

happy 13th birthday, ågot

 

this time, exactly 13 years ago, the littlest feline one was born. 

and now she’s a senior cat. although she still looks like a kitten, and not at all her actual years.

her birthday was a low-key affair, some good soft food, cuddles and sleep. ie much like any other day.

Happy birthday, Ågot, it has been a blessing to have you in my lifefor 13 years already, I hope there will be many more. 💙

one step forward per day april

 

After my April 1st post the other day, I have been thinking A LOT. And the left comment on that post made me both very sad and grateful.

Blogger has been acting up for years when I try to reply on the rare comments these days, so I’m putting a spin on the reply I wanted to leave and write something here instead. Because the things written in comment is one of the reasons life currently feels particularly urgent as well as depressing.

I don’t think anyone could believe I feel anything but the uttermost contempt for and anger over the orange lump and his entitled, uneducated minions on the other side of the pond. I think this semi-quote sums it up fairly well -

”T and his unbelievably stupid government are acting very fast to make America small again. The self-destruction of the USA continues at full speed and Trump will be known by future generations as the biggest democratic accident of the 21st century.

Whether you are part of the MAGA-cult or a sane, decent American who didn’t vote for this trainwreck of stupidity, all Americans will suffer from this. Even worse, everybody in the world will suffer from this toddler tantrum. 

If the consequences weren’t so grave the ridiculousness of it all would be laughable.

After the pandemic, the Russian invasion of Ukraine and our catastrophic climate emergency, this economic world war is a very bad, bad, bad idea that nobody needs.”

The cult followers and the ones that couldn’t be bothered to vite at all, are getting exactly what they deserve. But I feel so very sorry for the sane people who fought and keep fighting for a better future. I fully understand the feeling of meaninglessness and dark future coming.

I’ve felt that since the hellish summer of 2018, when we saw obvious climate emergency glimmers of what to look forward to. That has hung over me as a suffocatingly heavy blanket ever since. And back then it was ”only” the climate change to worry about.

The future certainly seems bleaker than ever, and I can only imagine living inside the utter chaos called USA now. It must be rough, raw and utterly dispiriting. I know there’s nothing I say or do to help. But I can remind you about that powerful quote (origin unknown) - remember that the Power of the People is stronger than the people in power. 

We must help ourselves in all this mess, noone else will fix it for us.

As Swedish media in general doesn’t report a lot on what is really happening in US at the moment, I follow Threads closely (yet being cautious on what to believe or not. Critical thinking has never been more important than now). 

The impression I get is that many (most?) Swedish journalists somehow still can’t believe something this stupid is actually happening. 

To put it bluntly, it is the epitome of what Europeans think about Americans behind their backs, so surely something this surreal can’t be true? Let’s treat it as the joke it must be, let’s laugh it off. 

The pathetic delusion of grandeur. The misconception they think of and call themselves the leader of the free world. Stunningly laughable. Yet, most every European country have willingly supported the entitlement for all these years. 

I’m not sure what the EU is doing to fight and protect us in this surreal new world we live in. Politicians in general have always disappointed, and possibly now more than ever. 

I watched parts of Cory Booker’s plus 25 hours speech yesterday. I do hope it will be the real wake-up call for the American citizens who have remained unawakened so far. Such a grand example of Vegan Power as well as leadership that was! The world desperately need more politicians like him! 💚

Amidst all this global chaos, of which I can control practically zero, I have decided that this April, my April, will be focusing on planting a goal related seed every day. It doesn’t have to be a giant daily seed, but something to keep the momentum towards my dream harvest going.

It’s hart impossible to feel hopeful now. But I try and make my world as small as possible, continue to see beauty in the little things (which will be easier when we’re getting closer to the prettiest time of the year her, May-June). 

Feeling grateful for past experiences, travels, great meals enjoyed, love and happiness had. And a colourful wardrobe, that I now have stopped adding to. 

Signing every peaceful petition that comes my way. Trying to be mindful. Lead by example. Plant my little virtual seeds and hoping for a bountiful, beautiful harvest.

I hope you can and will continue to live a decent life in a world less decent than ever. Take care of everything precious you hold dear, including yourself. 🩷

april fool’s 2025

 

It may be April 1st today, but I honestly think life (personally and globally) has felt like a giant cruel, anything other than progressive, joke the past few months already.

It is more difficult than ever to find meaning and joy in this world. The craziness, heartlessness, solutionlessness (I’ve decided that’s a word) is mindboggling. I know I’m not alone feeling like this. But what to do?

My life and its circumstances have finally become completely riddled in financial worries. The recurring struggles obviously began when M passed away, which was 9 (!) years last week.

Since then I have worked so hard to find my new life path and my own solutions. There have been highs and lows, there have been brightness and sorrows, like in every life. I’m proud of my problem solving skills, but the solutions have alas always turned out to be short-lived. 

And even strong, multipotentialite and grounded individuals began to doubt themselves when things that look/feel/sound so right, so promising, always end up in a big, useless pile of blah. 

I know, I know, many struggle currently, now more than ever.

But long term, pre-pandemic, struggles, have just worn me down. I don’t even feel like myself anymore.

It has now become  r e a l l y  hard to trust the process. When nothing truly positive happens, and another month goes by, that trust gets worn down, day by day, week by week. Does the Universe really has my back?

My want as well as now turned desperate need still remains:

to welcome and say yes to that meaningful and reasonably paid job (I’ve worked so had for for too long now), that align with my values, skills and experiences. It is my time to shine now.

Please, please, please, April 2025, make it happen!

fat tuesday 2025

 

In our current crazy, erratic, topsy turvy, ignorant, selfish, disappointing, gobsmacking times it’s good to remember that there are still little pockets of joy to be grateful for. 

Like the fact that we’re celebrating the beloved Swedish pastry Semla today, like every other Fat Tuesday / Shrove Tuesday in Sweden.

As most always my vegan semla came from Bageri Passion in Sundbyberg/Stockholm. It was delicious! And it was actually the very first semla for me this year. Very traditional of me.

Unlike my choice of Snags tightsdu jour, I still support Ukraine. Of course. Like every other sane person. Like Europe.

positive, purposeful new beginnings, please, part III

First of all, finally got a reply from the founder of the recycling/circular economy company today! Not that it was an exciting response but at least it was friendly and helpful. And at this point in life friendly and helpful is definitely good enough. So keep sending good energy for the next step of the journey, please!

Something I enjoy doing a few times per year (since the pandemic) is ordering a large home delivery from my favourite grocery store. Sometimes they have conciderably lower prices on some of my favourite vegan staple goods. 

And as I prefer to stock up on things and not having to lug heavy stuff home from the store I enjoy getting someone else do it. Free of charge over a certain sum. 

This time it was my favourite vegan cheese from Violife, Oddlygood/Planti soygurt and organic cornflakes. 

The breakfast sandwiches are sorted for some months.

It was eons since I made chia puddings, something I used to love both eating out and making myself. I finally found chia seeds again so I got two bags of organic seeds. 

It was such a delight having chia puddings again! Nothing fancy or Instagram friendly, but delicious and filling. Ideally I would like to have one per day, but realistically I’d settle for 2-3/week.

So far I’ve had four since Saturday. Made with oat milk, frozen raspberries and frozen blueberries, organic raisins, dito banana, a splosh of organic agave. Topped with almonds, sunflower and pumpkin seeds, organic peanut butter, apple slices and organic orange plus dito shredded coconut. 

Need to vary the ingredients more to avoid getting bored.

I have loved using the vegan nuud deo since 2019. A dollop reliably lasts 3-4 days. However, since 2020 I have every other year have had an unpleasant fungal infection in the armpits happening during really hot summer days.

As I have never had fungal infections anywhere prior to this. And even if I luckily didn’t have to see a doctor for this, only get a prescription free balm at the pharmacy. So it’s obviously not something I can 100% blame nuud for causing. I asked the pharmacist if she think the ingredients list look off, she didn’t see any red flags. 

Nevertheless, when it happened again during summer 2022 and then 2024. However when it happened again in November I decided I would part ways with nuud alas. Would look for other vegan deos with refills, w/out aluminium of course.

So here are one old and two new with refills I’m using now instead. The  Swedish brand indy beauty I have used now and then during the issues above, just to let the armpit rest from nuud. It has a faint but very pleasant scent.

HAAN was a recent purchase, looked at another scent first, but opted for morning glory after some positive reviews. However the scent is so discreet that you almost don’t notice it. Which is somewhat disappointing. If I was to buy a refill it most likely would be with another scent.

I do like and prefer liquid deos though, so that’s a plus.

The Wild deo is a creamy stick, which is a minus, what’s a great plus though is a fantastic scent - clean cotton & sea salt. Which funny enough I wasn’t really keen on, but I prefer this blue case over other colours. And it’ll be fun to try other scents when it’s time to refill.

Apart from it’s a creamy deo it ticks every other box. Vegan, refillable, lovely scent. And of course it works as it’s suppose to as a deo. Even if not 3-4 days w/out re-applying. I just need to adjust my expectations.

 

Currently taking part in a great sustainable project that aims to make people using the washing machine less and instead use a textile mist to clean and refresh their clothes between washes. 

It’s an EU-funded project collaboration between Wargön Innovation and Pure Effect Sweden. The earlier in the process you use the mist with microorganisms (the real cleaners on the planet) the better the conditions are for circularity and long lastingness of garments.

The project period is ongoing in February. And one week in I’ve tried the mist on a few shirts, none very dirty, so it was more of a little refreshing thing than a go at really cleaning.

And being great at airing garments instead of washing and never routinely putting clothes in the laundry basket after one use if not obviously dirty or smelly. I never work out and sweat a lot, so no icky gym outfits to try this on either.

So I suppose I am far from the ideal test subject really. But I really like the idea of getting people to wash clothes less, cut down on water and electricity usage. And the mists smell so nice and refreshing (I chose the Green leaves & cucumber and White clover scents. They smell quite similar). 

You can refresh your shoes and boots with the mist also. It’s not exactly hot weather sticky feet season, so I’ll probably save the small bottle for this summer months.

Since the Swedish television network switched from analogue to digital a few years back, older (or rather not that old but still not supporting the new set-up) TVs can only be used with an added digital box.

I’ve been fine with my old Apple TV. Even if most channels one by one stopped supporting the old Apple model, there was always SVT and Netflix, which is what I mostly watch anyway.

Last year Netflix stopped supporting this version. And a few weeks ago so did SVT. It is the opposite of enjoyable to watch TV and movies on the phone, as well as really bad for the eyes.

My ”old” TV works very well still and I love the big screen. So very high on my wishlist is a new casting device (which may or may not be an Apple TV.)

But other things definitely have priority right now. So we moved 👵🏻 old TV (but clearly younger than my big screen one) with a small screen out to the living room. It looks awkward I know. But this solution will have to do for now. And it didn’t cost a thing,

So: More channels available. But no Play function.

So can’t chose to watch TV when I want/have the time. I have to schedule TV time and watch irl. Or don’t watch at all.

Have lived without commercial breaks for some years now. Which have been relaxing and natural. Having access to more channels, not only the state channel, means I’m forced to deal with all these ridiculous commercial breaks. Had forgotten how much I truly hate them. 

So access to this much crap means I’m watching conciderably less TV than I used to with only SVT available. I miss having access to quality series, documentaries and news when I want. 

But I suppose watching less TV can only be concidered a good thing. There’s so much more rewarding matters to spend time with. As the world is not so slowly fallin apart…

And perhaps this solution might make me reconcider my plans to get a new casting device. Even if I miss Netflix, I lived a great life prior to it. It was a subscription choice I made during the covid-years and I have no urge getting other streaming channels.

I have gotten good use of the pre-loved Marimekko faux fur I snatched up in September/October. It’s lovely and very oversized, can’t be used with a thick woolly sweater or seriously layered outfits, because that is just to warm. 

And I probably look like the Michelin-man (in blue) wearing it. Still, it’s a lovely coat for cold non rainy winter days. Great purchase. 💙

Now, I will concider this post finally finished. And please let the fantastic vibes for a positive outcome in the sustainability work process keep flowing freely. 

And again: Take care, stay strong, be kind, resist. 🩷

2025 have certainly had a shocking rocky start. I hope you are listening, Universe - we all need it to continue into purposeful, compassionate new beginnings for us all!

With gratitude and kindness, thank you in advance. 

positive, purposeful new beginnings, please, part II

Woke up to this. The forecast did not mention the risk of snow right here right now. Pre-climate emergency we could expect winter to last 2 months more on these latitudes. 

Now the weather is rapidly changing from day to day even. This winter have been crazier than ever. With heavy snowfall one day followed by heavy rain the next, effectively washing all that snow away.

And with these rapid temperature changes comes icy streets and roads. My trusty Icebug boots are made for walking on proper snow and ice covered ground. Not a paper thin sheet of ice, as there is nothing for the studs to grab on to. 

The amount of people that fall and need medical attention has risen a lot this year. And the fact that Swedish society (or rather politicians and public authorities) think it’s a great idea to save money on snow removals does not help. 

The cost of medical care and then the price the individual has to pay, not only financially, is definitely higher than a decent snow removal in the first place. Misspent public money, another prime example of it.

The last few weeks the garden has looked like this - yes I know, the clematis is up for some serious pruning when the weather gets warmer -

and on January 20 I even discovered snowdrops in the lilacs hedge. They have now been squashed by snow. 

Which feels like a metaphor for the current world affairs one might say.

To snuggle indoors when possible, and as much as possible is very much on my current agenda. I can’t snooze away without a care in the world, that’s a feline feature, but I meditate, read books of various sort, and of course enjoy vegan cooking when the spot prices go down. Then I can at least keep my worries at bay. For a while.

Behold a few plantbased meals I have enjoyed lately.

From top to bottom. First one of my simple favourites - a vegan full English breakfast (sans mushrooms and sausage) with scrambled tofu.

2. Toast Skagen. Didn’t make the Skagen myself, store bought for Xmas but then we got the flu so even the modest preparation felt overwhelming. And the I lost my taste, as I always do at the end of my colds and flus. 

It’s really simple to whip one together all by oneself though. 

3. Rice porridge aka Christmas porridge as it’s usually referred to in Sweden. The only reason I (rather my mum, she’s not able to cook much because of her bad eyes, but this is still her territory, the rice porridge) make it so rarely (despite loving it) is the time consuming stirring for up to 1 hour… 

It is possible to just let the oven take care of the work, but I didn’t think it tasted equally good when I made it in the oven. So that was a one time thing for me.

Chickpea stew with peanuts, banana and shredded coconut. It was a nice idea, but the recipe turned out called for too much sambal oelek to make it a pleasant experience. If I will make it again, possibly using tofu instead of chickpeas, I will omit most of it as super spicy food and I do not vibe.

4. On top of a hummus covered plate I put cold boiled potatoes (left over from previous day), steamed cauliflower, grated carrots and smoked tofu. A dollop of garlic sauce leftover and hoisin sauce. Plus sprinkles of sunflower, pumpkin and sesame seeds.

5. First proper cooking in February was this lovely creamy fish-like soup with saffron, potato, carrot, tofu and dill. Last time I made it was for New Year’s a couple of years ago. The recipe calls for dry white wine, but that’s not something I have at home regularly. Or ever really. So water and lemon had to do. Still a wonderful soup. And I think it’s amazing how dill makes the impression of a fish dish.

Behold My top 9 on Instagram, or rather an educated guess on my behalf as I’ve hid likes since that feature became available. Sometimes I look at the statistics though, and it’s just depressing. The decrease in likes this past year is mindboggling Not to mention new followers that are real people. 

And truly astonishing compared to 5ish years ago. The algorithms are rubbish. And so is the reach these days. As I’m not the least bit interested in ’playing the game’ for better reach and more likes, it is what it is. Not much fun.

Gosh, I am so very tired of social media for a gazilion reasons. I obviously closed my former Twitter-account a few months back (and loosing all my followers from 2009), opened a Bluesky account but I really can’t be bothered about my activity there. 

Twitter was so lovely in the beginning. And so was Instagram. I have always loathed Facebook and remain pretty inactive there. Have enjoyed LinkedIn a lot because of interesting content and articles, but like on IG I’m really not interested in adjusting myself to fit any ridiculous mold for better reach so my precense there doesn’t feel as rewarding as it once did either. 

I’m seriously contemplating closing most of my social media accounts. They don’t give me the inspiration and joy they once did. Most are just a waste of precious time to be honest. And given I have actively decided not to have any account on several of the popular platforms it won’t feel overwhelming to actually just remove myself.

I’m in a desperate need of inspiration, mood boosts and colour after this rough winter. My hair feels more grey by the day, and I would love to do one of my hair colour boosts. The thing is it has become so tricky to dabble with now that there’s no bathtub. It’s just such an effort to make, so until the weather gets warmer and lighter I settle for the look of tired and grey.

I have also come to the stage that I can’t be bothered with neither lipstick nor cover powder or eye pencils, which have been my three must haves for so many years now.

It is not that I’ve made a decision to skip makeup, or follow any natural look-trends (I have never ever followed trends, that’s only for people with a sheep-mentality). But trying to skip powder cover seemed like an interesting thing to try when my skin improved after a year of fresh skincare products. 

My cheeks still look flushed and the redness caused by rosacea isn’t gone, but at least the skin looks and feels conciderably healthier. And that’s certainly something to be truly grateful for.

The lack of eye pencil and lipstick is more down to forgetting since my make-up routine used to be short but predictable. When I stopped using the mineral powder I forget the other stuff.

Since this photo I have chopped of a conciderably chunk of my hair. It’s fascinating how that always make things feel lighter and real change possible. And if it’s a DIY it doesn’t cost a thing. 

And on the subject real change. Let’s get back to where I finished the post before. My ”mentor” stumbling over a job ad on Facebook and forwarding it to me.

As she herself used to be a sales executive and running her own business the listed sales job obviously felt very reasonable. But for me with basically zero background in sales (never mind I have had to sell my services as a freelancer) the ad did not speak to me.

- All those years with M who was an experienced sales manager, and clashing more than once over the sales subject, I have shyed away from sales related jobs. Not to mention all the bad to very bad sellers you have met in various situations over the years… Ugh. -

What did however speak to me was the fact that the company looking for sellers is a smallish company within circularity, recycling and sustainability. And the fact that it’s located in my suburb within a short bus ride (and biking for those who have bikes that work of course) makes it ticking a lot of boxes for me and what I have been searching for for years now.

The website and its content vibes with me in a way I haven’t felt for eons. It’s just such an incredible match! So I promptly emailed the founder and suggested we had a chat about a cooperation. As a non-salesperson I would not apply for the seller job though.

It may be naïve of me, but given my background, my dedication to sustainability and the fact that I live nearby, I actually thought he’d jump at the chance to have chat over coffee. 

A week went by. 

I regretted I hadn’t enclosed my CV to the email. And I had also thought about the sales job. As I ticked some of their wishlist boxes and the fact that I would be very proud to work for them I had slowly changed my mind and decided to apply for it. 

I then did a follow up email with CV to the founder and said I would try calling this week (have I mentioned how much I hate making these kind of calls?). I then went on to apply for the listed sales job. 

I’m still waiting to hear something. Surely given their location and lack of general visibility emails like mine must be extremely rare. I may find the non-existing answer strategy both disappointing and rude, but I also have zero insights in what their priorities are or what current circumstances look like.

I just know I would be an amazing multipotentialite resource for the company. Surely someone MUST pick up on that?!

If nothing happens prior I guess I will have to pick up the phone by the end of the week.

Please send good vibes. 

🩷❤️🩷

positive, purposeful new beginnings, please, part I

This post will be all about random photos and events from January. In other words pretty much like any post in this blog.

As usual I will write and publish parts of the post, and the add on stuff for a while, so it’s worth returning and check that out (if you enjoyed what you read, that is).

Let’s face it, I am rubbish at blogging regularly, often or daily. No matter what I say, those days are long gone. Do not trust me when I have those rare flashes of inspiration and semi-promise something like that. It won’t happen. 

Currently trying to upload a bunch of photos, but Blogger doesn’t cooperate. So maybe it’ll end up being only a couple or so of them.

First of all, the situation with the orange menace, with a five year old’s mental capacity and vocabulary, and his minions is truly sickening. It isn’t surprising I suppose, but never the less shocking and infuriating, as that amount of incompetence and pure self-serving evil will affect us all sooner or later.

How it’s even possible that a convicted felon and sxxual predator is even legally allowed to stand in an election over the pond is truly mindboggling.

The dismantling of every department and authority that make up the fragile web of democracy, letting a non-elected nasty right wing billionaire playing a major part in this. I can’t even begin to comprehend how it must be for a decent, sustainability dedicated US citizen at this time. It is scary enough to watch this unfolding from a distance.

Stay strong, be kind, resist the madness. ❤️

The literally orange in photo is quite the opposite to the menace and his minions. It’s a box of organic citrus fruit I won from Årstiderna’s Instagram competition prior to Christmas, which didn’t arrive until yesterday. Which in fact turned out to be much nicer than if I had gotten the delivery earlier. Right now anything uplifting is very much needed.

Have only enjoyed an orange yet, but looking forward to devour the content of that box! I hope my favourite citrus is hiding in it, blood grapefruit.

Took the top photo of little mum when we had done some grocery shopping and were returning home. It was one of those typical, bleak and depressing Scandinavian winter days. And it encapsulated the mood du jour so perfectly. Everything feels heavy, meaningless and worrying.

Compared to the LA wildfires that were raging at the time I took this photo, complaining about how depressing the weather was/is at this time of the year, felt rather spoilt. 

Yet it was/is, and there is so much to worry about. Globally as well as on a personal level. That day was just a perfect ’poster day’ for all the feels.

Second photo I captured in my hoods, my street even. I may not fully enjoy living this close to a fairly well-used pedestrian street with people walking to and from the bus station. 

My kitchen windows blinds overlooking that street are always down because I value my privacy and loath the fact that keeping them up would give full view to not only the kitchen but also part of the living room not to mention you always ”need” to remember to keep things and yourself presentable when on public display like that.

One would think I should have thought about that when moving here + 20 years ago, right? Well, both life and I were very different back then. 

Still it looks like a pretty, quaint and colourful neighbourhood in the winter snow. And all things concidered I think it’s a decent neighbourhood to live in. (That doesn’t mean I’m 100% pleased with things and the people that happen and live here. But all and all, it’s good.)

Too early for spring signs like snowdrops on these latitudes of course. Nevertheless found these in garden a couple of weeks ago already. Climate emergency isn’t an opinion, it’s a fact.

Can’t remember when I last fully looked forward to spring and summer. Was probably before hell summer of 2018. Ever since then I dread what is coming this year. The relentless heat and sleepless nights or the rain pouring down (and the consequenses for my poor roof in need of a new coat). 

And now also the ticks, almost ever present with the rising temperatures, making spending time in the garden very much less pleasant. And the mosquitos have become so aggressive too. 

Energy prices going crazy. And spot prices I find deceiving. Trying to keep the costs down is definitely trickier than it should be.

Keeping washing, dishwashing, showering to weird hours in order to save energy. Stopped baking after I realised the lussekatter buns I made in December really showed on the electrical bills. Try and cook when the spot prices are lower. But I’m still evaluating if that will make any visible difference.

Hopefully the prices will change for the better again when the weather gets warmer. For now it’s a bit of a roller-coster with one day of -4 C and the next day up to +6 C. The snow that fell in the beginning of January rained away shortly after.

Prior to this looming climate emergency snow fell and mostly stayed November - March, now anything can happen.

I try not to give my ever present financial angst energy. I try to keep my focus on ”this will find a solution”, the Universe has my back, ’this too shall pass”.

Which is far from easy to focus and be convinced about. But I keep on trying.

Things like this serendipitous meeting depicted above are what keep keeps me moving on and remain hopeful. 

A few weeks back I asked my ”mentor” - who still doesn’t fully get the assignment… But I basically put that down to the age gap, and how drastically things have changed on the labour market since her days, I mean it has radically changed only these last few post-covid years, I too have a hard time keeping up with the changes. - 

if we could have a good chat about how I could move forward and create the change I so  d e s p e r a t e l y  need. I thought meeting in a neutral setting like the library would be a good idea. I opted for Wednesday, which would suit us both.

I was certain we could find a quiet corner to talk and brainstorm. But for some reason I felt inclined to ask about meeting rooms. Unfortunately every room was already booked that day so we ended up going upstairs to the children’s library to look for a nook. 

On that floor one of the librarians had just finished a meeting, so we were welcome to sit in that room for our chat. We started to discuss solutions, which mainly were making me quite annoyed, as they most certainly didn’t align with my neither my values nor how the labour market works. 

Ie very unrealistic and somewhat ridiculous to be honest. She then began telling life stories to lighten things up. At that time a young woman came into the room preparing for a book club meeting, to which she invited us.

She then overheard my mentor taking about a man, that turned out to be her step-dad - what are the odds?? - and came over to talk. It then turned out that the book club was about sustainability and nature. And when she then added she was vegan I reacted by crying. Yup. 

All the tensions I’m experiencing bring out the tears quite often. I usually manage to keep them back in the company of strangers. But the relief of meeting a kindred spirit like that, by fluke, was just kathartic of sorts.

The book club (first meeting) was opened to anyone interested in nature and sustainability. But it turned out that everyone who turned up were either local green politicians or active withing the Swedish Greens Party (Miljöpartiet) - which is the only party anyone sane and caring can vote for these days. 

You may not agree on every single issue, but it is the ONLY party seriously invested in nature and sustainability and actively work for viable solutions.

That made me even happier. And the fact that a third vegan entered to room. And two almost vegans. We had a really pleasant gathering. Unfortunately the first book chosen for the club (I was definitely not keen on it) turned out to be rather horrid, especially if you are vegan. 

So I will most likely opt out from our next meeting. I think the book was a mix of nasty and boring. I’m just angry and disgusted, and have zero interest in discussing it. I want to feel inspired and/or feel I have gained valuable insights in a sustainability related area I had little or no knowledge of. 

This was just a waste of time and left me sad and annoyed.

That said, it was really uplifting to unexpectedly find myself in the company of likeminded strangers on a random January evening at the local library. 

Something I have been looking for in vain for so long now. So even if that first book turned out rubbish, the company were delightful.

Had I chose another day for our ”mentor” chat or another place or another date, this heart warming meeting would not have happened. How wonderful is that?!

After this experience my ”mentor” stumbled over a local job ad on Facebook (of all places). And you won’t believe what happened next…

I have decided to continue my reflections of 2025 in another post. Not keep adding to this.

So until next time (which I hope will be soon) stay strong, be kind, fight for decency and compassion. 🩷