"I am sure the English fortnight will write it's own story as journeys always do."
The purpose of this trip is to fetch Elsa. I also have a dentist, solicitor and barber to see. I have much socialising planned, but I have an unexpected job to do urgently. I need a new lodger. I've worked fast and diligently. Thanks to more experienced friends for help and advice. You know who you are. mondaytofriday.com specialise in weekday only lets for professionals under the government rent a room scheme. There will be other avenues to try, but this one is fast. Pictures taken, advert composed, submitted and approved, so just waiting for publication, and the phone to ring. Managing this from Sweden will take patience and work, but it is what I do. I'm firing on all barrels, so the only stress is a revenue stream that will dry up very soon. I won't starve. The roe deer back in the forest might start to look very tasty upon my return.
The room rental under control, no time to loose, I better get on with preparing Elsa. It is so good to be riding the lanes of Warwickshire with her. She isn't grumpy with me for my roving eye, which strayed towards some very handsome Triumph motorcycles on Tuesday. I can dream!
On my profile it says something like "work? Only is I get cold or hungry". I'm looking for work in Sweden!
Friday, 17 May 2013
Yowtaboy!
They call Goteburg Little London and I get it. Failed pubs in the UK have been ripped out, shipped and installed here. Walk through the doors and it could be London, or occasionally Manchester. English pub culture is fashionable. The even have Angram hand pumps and good English beer shipped across the North Sea. £7 a pint (and it is often a pint) is a reality check though. Welcome to Swedish beer prices.
The gang got together Saturday night. Anders and Maria hosted the pre dinner drinks party at their place, then two car loads, new girlfriends, baby et al, to the park for al fresco dining. Once the sun comes out in Gothenburg in the Spring, the Swedes stay out doors as long as possible. Outside areas at restaurants and bars have brightly coloured blankets draped over the backs of the chairs, and by 8 o'clock we are using them, as does everyone else. Back at Anders and maria's place to finish the night off, and it sort of got away from us a little. Sunday morning was slow...........
......But not slow enough to prevent the "hair of the dog that bit you" beer from turning into a Yotaboy pub crawl. Did we see the city in the tourist quarter? Of course we did. The pubs have windows! Just to give you some idea of how hard it is for a Brit to get his head around Swedish language, Yowtaboy is my frenetic spelling of Goteburg, according to how it is said. Would you have guessed that from "Goteburg"? I struggle.
Monday was a lazy day but the three of us did get out to a local castle. Dark, chilly weather around the kitchen and cottage gardens, and into the coffee shop with heart warming aromas. The Scandinavians really do pastries and cakes, and the coffee was good. I don't often drink it. It's generally too strong for me. This was good, and OK, if you see what I mean.
Anders drove me to Landvetter airport. I offered my hand, but I got a bear hug. "Swedish way please", the big guy said. I made my way to check in for BMI's inaugural flight to Birmingham. I am crossing paths with my friend Graham from England, who is flying in for a training course. Bizarrely it is Coventry that we will link up next week. We just couldn't make a Goteburg meet up happen.
We got the works. BMI laid on champagne and cake. The press snapped away. Brass made nice speeches and cut ribbons, cameras clicked, and this first flight left on time, with a positively party atmosphere. I thoroughly recommend this Birmingham - Goteburg service which is pitched above budget airline and below regular big carriers. It costs maybe £10 more for the ticket than their budget rival, but hold luggage and on board refreshments are included, and some changes are allowed even on the cheapest ticket.
Pick up by Allan and Sue went like clockwork. I couldn't get them on the phone, but know them well enough to know that means they are already on their way. Arrival at my English house felt strange indeed, but tomorrow is another day.
The gang got together Saturday night. Anders and Maria hosted the pre dinner drinks party at their place, then two car loads, new girlfriends, baby et al, to the park for al fresco dining. Once the sun comes out in Gothenburg in the Spring, the Swedes stay out doors as long as possible. Outside areas at restaurants and bars have brightly coloured blankets draped over the backs of the chairs, and by 8 o'clock we are using them, as does everyone else. Back at Anders and maria's place to finish the night off, and it sort of got away from us a little. Sunday morning was slow...........
......But not slow enough to prevent the "hair of the dog that bit you" beer from turning into a Yotaboy pub crawl. Did we see the city in the tourist quarter? Of course we did. The pubs have windows! Just to give you some idea of how hard it is for a Brit to get his head around Swedish language, Yowtaboy is my frenetic spelling of Goteburg, according to how it is said. Would you have guessed that from "Goteburg"? I struggle.
Monday was a lazy day but the three of us did get out to a local castle. Dark, chilly weather around the kitchen and cottage gardens, and into the coffee shop with heart warming aromas. The Scandinavians really do pastries and cakes, and the coffee was good. I don't often drink it. It's generally too strong for me. This was good, and OK, if you see what I mean.
Anders drove me to Landvetter airport. I offered my hand, but I got a bear hug. "Swedish way please", the big guy said. I made my way to check in for BMI's inaugural flight to Birmingham. I am crossing paths with my friend Graham from England, who is flying in for a training course. Bizarrely it is Coventry that we will link up next week. We just couldn't make a Goteburg meet up happen.
We got the works. BMI laid on champagne and cake. The press snapped away. Brass made nice speeches and cut ribbons, cameras clicked, and this first flight left on time, with a positively party atmosphere. I thoroughly recommend this Birmingham - Goteburg service which is pitched above budget airline and below regular big carriers. It costs maybe £10 more for the ticket than their budget rival, but hold luggage and on board refreshments are included, and some changes are allowed even on the cheapest ticket.
Pick up by Allan and Sue went like clockwork. I couldn't get them on the phone, but know them well enough to know that means they are already on their way. Arrival at my English house felt strange indeed, but tomorrow is another day.
Friday, 10 May 2013
Fetching Elsa
My month set up visit is over. I acheived everything I wanted to with the exception of the guest cabin. That job is more involved than I expected. The ceiling needs to come down to make way for tall visitors. Once I cut into it I may well open a can of worms. Other than that "Peace Cottage" as I've come to think of it, is ready for the summer season. Patio furniture would be nice and I have the July sales firmly in my sights. "Sommer Ria" in Swedish I think.
So hard to leave just now. Swedish friends are right. Spring is the best season. It is fast , urgent even, and very much alive. The little white flowers are called vitsips I think. You couldn't fit any more onto the meadows and forest slopes. It's wonderfully insane just how many there are. When I get back my acre of grass will be high and it will be my first time with the little tractor mower. Not so little actually. With the slopes, getting the job done without turning it over will be an achievement, but that is for another day. I am preparing to leave. It feels like going away for a two week holiday. Are both places home? Is home where your heart is, or your assets, or your motorbike? Just one month i've been here. In some ways it feels longer.
I have a work morning here before Anders and Maria arrive to take me back to their place in Goteburg. I can give the community a couple of hours of my labour before leaving. I want to do my part in all of the communities I live in, time and commitments permitting. Saturday I'm out with the Goteburg crowd, catching up and drinking beer I would imagine. It will be good to see them all for sure.
Monday evening the plan is that Maria drives me to Goteburg Landvetter Airport for my evening flight to Brum, where Allan and Sue will retreave me and deposit me at my English home. The purpose of the trip is to fetch Elsa. I have her booked onto a cargo ferry in two weeks time. I will travel with her and live with the truckers for 26 hours. I have to secure the bike myself, which is actually not new. Loadies walk away on passenger boats. No one wants the bill if a motorbike falls over. All that is different is I have to bring my own straps which are quite bulky. I am sure the English fortnight will write it's own story as journeys always do.
Friends and family to see. That bit I am looking forward to.
So hard to leave just now. Swedish friends are right. Spring is the best season. It is fast , urgent even, and very much alive. The little white flowers are called vitsips I think. You couldn't fit any more onto the meadows and forest slopes. It's wonderfully insane just how many there are. When I get back my acre of grass will be high and it will be my first time with the little tractor mower. Not so little actually. With the slopes, getting the job done without turning it over will be an achievement, but that is for another day. I am preparing to leave. It feels like going away for a two week holiday. Are both places home? Is home where your heart is, or your assets, or your motorbike? Just one month i've been here. In some ways it feels longer.
I have a work morning here before Anders and Maria arrive to take me back to their place in Goteburg. I can give the community a couple of hours of my labour before leaving. I want to do my part in all of the communities I live in, time and commitments permitting. Saturday I'm out with the Goteburg crowd, catching up and drinking beer I would imagine. It will be good to see them all for sure.
Monday evening the plan is that Maria drives me to Goteburg Landvetter Airport for my evening flight to Brum, where Allan and Sue will retreave me and deposit me at my English home. The purpose of the trip is to fetch Elsa. I have her booked onto a cargo ferry in two weeks time. I will travel with her and live with the truckers for 26 hours. I have to secure the bike myself, which is actually not new. Loadies walk away on passenger boats. No one wants the bill if a motorbike falls over. All that is different is I have to bring my own straps which are quite bulky. I am sure the English fortnight will write it's own story as journeys always do.
Friends and family to see. That bit I am looking forward to.
Monday, 6 May 2013
A Room With a View
Two and a half weeks here and the season changed. It hung on tenaciously but the snow went away eventually. Just two weeks and the slopes are carpeted with small white flowers. If fresh air smells of anything, this is it. My furniture faces the wood burner. Perfectly sensible for a cold winters night. It's facing the wrong way. Turn around and just look at the tree tops bathed in evening sunshine. The forest so lit goes on for miles. The sun also illuminates the hills on the other side of Vattern. Granna is over there and when the sun goes down, and the lights go on, it looks fantastic. You have to walk to the communal grill place for the best views, then you can see Lake Vattern and Jonkoping in the distance. My sun deck has these views also, and step out there and you get the sounds as well. Bird song and little else. Vitared is a sleepy place, certainly at the moment.
Over the weekend people arrived to carry out spring cleaning on their weekend retreats, ready for the new season. Will this place still be so peaceful when the summer people are in residence? I imagine these are the best days. We shall see.
2000Msqr takes some looking after. I will not go short of work to do. I put in a day just dead heading plants and cutting back to make way for this seasons growth. Another day tomorrow should do it. I wheeled out the sit on grass cutter and tried starting it up. I had plenty of battery even after a long hard winter. It cranked over but still wouldn't fire up. I'm not understanding and I never had one of these machines before. I put it away because it was eating into other urgent jobs, and the grass isn't going to need cutting for a couple of weeks yet. Choke? Is there a fuel tap I missed? Tomorrow is soon enough.
The Scandinavian evenings really draw out at this time of year. We must have 2 hours more day light now than the UK. The sun goes down behind the hill and the shadow stretches ever further towards Vattern. Soon my view will be forground only, once the birch have their leaves. I'll loose Vattern until the autumn I imagine.
We explored Hökensås nature reserve just 5 miles (UK) away. Dozens of fishing lakes that deliver just what you imagine Sweden should look like. They are the kind of views that end up on the lids of boxes of chocolates. Miles of hiking trails to explore another day. The queue for service in the fishing shop was long. I didn't need to speak to anyone to get maps and info' in Swedish, English and German. Robi arrives in four weeks, driving from Zurich for fishing and to hang out as guys do.
Before he arrives I will fetch Elsa from England. I have a packed programme. The first weekend is in Goteburg with Anders and crew. Time to catch up. Anders has ferried me from Jonkoping to the airport in Goteburg several times. I am endlessly grateful for his support on the journey that brought me here. Then it's home to blighty to catch up with friends and family that I miss. The trip also includes motorcycle servicing and testing, dentists, solicitors and the barbershop, then on to Immingham to load Elsa on to the frieght ferry for Goteburg. Sue and Allan are coming over and I am literally racing on ahead to get home before they arrive. Their schedule puts them just 12 hours behind me. I nearly wrote that life is hectic right now, but that is not true. I'm sitting in my window gazing at the view of Vattern between spurts of writing this post. It doesn't come much better than this.
I can't purchase a television package without the personnummer I'm waiting for. A blessing in disguise.
Over the weekend people arrived to carry out spring cleaning on their weekend retreats, ready for the new season. Will this place still be so peaceful when the summer people are in residence? I imagine these are the best days. We shall see.
2000Msqr takes some looking after. I will not go short of work to do. I put in a day just dead heading plants and cutting back to make way for this seasons growth. Another day tomorrow should do it. I wheeled out the sit on grass cutter and tried starting it up. I had plenty of battery even after a long hard winter. It cranked over but still wouldn't fire up. I'm not understanding and I never had one of these machines before. I put it away because it was eating into other urgent jobs, and the grass isn't going to need cutting for a couple of weeks yet. Choke? Is there a fuel tap I missed? Tomorrow is soon enough.
The Scandinavian evenings really draw out at this time of year. We must have 2 hours more day light now than the UK. The sun goes down behind the hill and the shadow stretches ever further towards Vattern. Soon my view will be forground only, once the birch have their leaves. I'll loose Vattern until the autumn I imagine.
We explored Hökensås nature reserve just 5 miles (UK) away. Dozens of fishing lakes that deliver just what you imagine Sweden should look like. They are the kind of views that end up on the lids of boxes of chocolates. Miles of hiking trails to explore another day. The queue for service in the fishing shop was long. I didn't need to speak to anyone to get maps and info' in Swedish, English and German. Robi arrives in four weeks, driving from Zurich for fishing and to hang out as guys do.
Before he arrives I will fetch Elsa from England. I have a packed programme. The first weekend is in Goteburg with Anders and crew. Time to catch up. Anders has ferried me from Jonkoping to the airport in Goteburg several times. I am endlessly grateful for his support on the journey that brought me here. Then it's home to blighty to catch up with friends and family that I miss. The trip also includes motorcycle servicing and testing, dentists, solicitors and the barbershop, then on to Immingham to load Elsa on to the frieght ferry for Goteburg. Sue and Allan are coming over and I am literally racing on ahead to get home before they arrive. Their schedule puts them just 12 hours behind me. I nearly wrote that life is hectic right now, but that is not true. I'm sitting in my window gazing at the view of Vattern between spurts of writing this post. It doesn't come much better than this.
I can't purchase a television package without the personnummer I'm waiting for. A blessing in disguise.
Wednesday, 1 May 2013
Coordination Number
A serious post for any EU citizen needing to reside in Sweden part time.
You cannot even buy a pay as you go mobile phone here unless you have a personnummer. That is a social security number. You can't get an electricity supply without one. That help manage immigration I imagine. If you are an EU citizen from one of the other member states, and your main country of residence is not Sweden, you are entitled to a Coordination number that does the same as the personnummer. The other part of the criteria for a coordination number is that you are not working here and therefor not a Swedish tax payer. Don't be put off. A coordination number appears to be easy to get if you are entitled (let me confirm when mine arrives in the post).
I went to the Jonkoping Tax office to request my coordination number. It is not an application because if entitled the provision of one is not in question. I was however at the wrong office. Everything I do revolves around the excellent city of Jonkoping. Everything except where I actually live. I crossed over into the next county by a British mile and a half. I should have been in the Tidaholm office. NO problem! They all end up in the same place and since you are here now I might as well do it for you. !! Can you imagine that happening in the UK? I don't speak Swedish (much) so could not fill in the one page form. No problem, the lady just helped me fill it in. The whole process from entering the building to leaving took 20 minutes. I'm staying on in Jonkoping for this evening. Spring celebrations to attend. A brass band outside the church then a bonfire and fireworks. Drive the winter back. Shame it is so bloody cold! Sorry, miserable little English man.
Today is Labour day and if I understand correctly there is trouble in Jonkoping city centre. A rally got over heated and curb stones were hurled through office windows. Did I understand that one correctly? VMCK this evening. With a day off and sunshine, Ernst and crew dusted down the bikes and went for a ride out. I'm very jealous. Darwin doesn't care.
You cannot even buy a pay as you go mobile phone here unless you have a personnummer. That is a social security number. You can't get an electricity supply without one. That help manage immigration I imagine. If you are an EU citizen from one of the other member states, and your main country of residence is not Sweden, you are entitled to a Coordination number that does the same as the personnummer. The other part of the criteria for a coordination number is that you are not working here and therefor not a Swedish tax payer. Don't be put off. A coordination number appears to be easy to get if you are entitled (let me confirm when mine arrives in the post).
I went to the Jonkoping Tax office to request my coordination number. It is not an application because if entitled the provision of one is not in question. I was however at the wrong office. Everything I do revolves around the excellent city of Jonkoping. Everything except where I actually live. I crossed over into the next county by a British mile and a half. I should have been in the Tidaholm office. NO problem! They all end up in the same place and since you are here now I might as well do it for you. !! Can you imagine that happening in the UK? I don't speak Swedish (much) so could not fill in the one page form. No problem, the lady just helped me fill it in. The whole process from entering the building to leaving took 20 minutes. I'm staying on in Jonkoping for this evening. Spring celebrations to attend. A brass band outside the church then a bonfire and fireworks. Drive the winter back. Shame it is so bloody cold! Sorry, miserable little English man.
Today is Labour day and if I understand correctly there is trouble in Jonkoping city centre. A rally got over heated and curb stones were hurled through office windows. Did I understand that one correctly? VMCK this evening. With a day off and sunshine, Ernst and crew dusted down the bikes and went for a ride out. I'm very jealous. Darwin doesn't care.
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