Had a wonderful weekend in Stockholm with Miche, we met up on friday afternoon in the central station, she having flown from Manchester to Arlanda, and then got the express train in, and me having got a bonus first class train from LInkoping ( it was cheaper than 2nd class - wahts that all about). Unfortunately it was one of the tilting trains, and as I didn't have a window to look out of, I ended up feeling pretty travel sick.
I'd booked us a hotel in Alvik, about 10 mintes from the city centre on the metro. We went straight there, and then went for a walk around the lake next to the hotel, we had perfect blue skies, and it actually felt like spring was trying to break through - was the first day that I've been here that there actually felt like some warmth in the sun. We followed up witha coffee and cake in another of Stockholms fab coffee emporiums.
In the early evening, we decided to head into Gamla Stan for something to eat, had alittle wander roud, and ended up eating at the first bistro that we had found. Was run by an argetinian chap, and was really nice. simple, but good food, and a cracking bottle of wine.
Saturday, we went everywhere - started off with a wander around gamla stan, then went over into Sodermalm ( i took miche to a shop that I'd bee with R&V which we all thought she would like - and she did! Therre was a little exhibition on there, an artist who created her stuff with embrodiery and material - quite cool), where we stopped for a coffee. Stopped off at the viewing platform at Katarinahissen, for some photos, before dropping down in the lift, and catching a boat over to the Moderna Museet. I'd enjoyed it last time, so we went back, as I thought miche would enjoy it.
Finally got a light lunch after this, and then went for another trek around, before stopping for a beer in a bar on the "Nobel" square in gamla stan, and then getting a lovely pizza from a little restaurant there.
part two tomorrow.
I finished off a book that Miche had got me for xmas Killing the Beasts, by Chris Simms. Its based in manchester, around the time of the commonwealth games, so has a lot of local interest for me. it had a good plot too, an interesting exploration of schizophrenia, but ultimately, something about it didn't quite hang together properly for me. Can't put my finger on it, but guess it just wasn't as polished as some of the books I've read whilst out here.
Monday, 23 March 2009
Sunday, 15 March 2009
Catching up
Been a bit of a while since I blogged anything. Had a couple of fairly quiet weeks, if the truth be told. Jon, my boss, came out about 10 days ago, and told us that our contracts weren't getting extended, so my swedish jaunt will end by easter. Still not got a final end date though. I had a nice weekend at home last week, then a busy week of work, squash and gym this week.
Went out for a walk last night to take some night time photos. Theres an area down by the river, where there is a bridge, and a nice arty metal arch, and its all lit up nicely, so I spent a little while down there, although was slightly put out, as I wandered under the bridge, when I realised that there were a couple getting it on in a car that was parked there. Did think about photographing them , but decided that was rude!
Been through a few more books: RJ Ellory's A quiet belief in angels, was one that Miche had brought out for me, which she said was good. She wasn't wrong, it was beautifully written, and with a really gripping story. I pretty much destroyed it during the journey home. I was actually dissappointed to arrive in manchester, as I wanted a few more minutes to finish it!
Then I read Stephen Booth's scared to live. We'd been over in the pennines at the weekend, and his books are based in derbyshire and the peaks, so this one grabbed my fancy when I was picking up some books for this stint. Its a good story, and well written, but I do finish them getting frustrated by the relationships or lack of them. There seems to have been no change in the relationships between any of the characters in the whole series, which ends up getting a little boring. Would be good to have a dynamics change.
Finally just read Stuart Pawson's Grief Encounters, which is what I'd term a cracking good yarn.... its easy reading, light hearted with a fast plot. A true bit of holiday fiction, if you will. Very enjoyable, but pretty forgettable as well. Might have to try a few more though, as apparently there is a series, so will see what I can find.
I've just ordered a the latest Booth, and Peter Robinson books from Amazon, as well as the new Starsailor album, so will be looking forward to getting my paws on them soon.
Off to stockholm next weekend with Miche, so looking forward to that.
AG
Went out for a walk last night to take some night time photos. Theres an area down by the river, where there is a bridge, and a nice arty metal arch, and its all lit up nicely, so I spent a little while down there, although was slightly put out, as I wandered under the bridge, when I realised that there were a couple getting it on in a car that was parked there. Did think about photographing them , but decided that was rude!
Been through a few more books: RJ Ellory's A quiet belief in angels, was one that Miche had brought out for me, which she said was good. She wasn't wrong, it was beautifully written, and with a really gripping story. I pretty much destroyed it during the journey home. I was actually dissappointed to arrive in manchester, as I wanted a few more minutes to finish it!
Then I read Stephen Booth's scared to live. We'd been over in the pennines at the weekend, and his books are based in derbyshire and the peaks, so this one grabbed my fancy when I was picking up some books for this stint. Its a good story, and well written, but I do finish them getting frustrated by the relationships or lack of them. There seems to have been no change in the relationships between any of the characters in the whole series, which ends up getting a little boring. Would be good to have a dynamics change.
Finally just read Stuart Pawson's Grief Encounters, which is what I'd term a cracking good yarn.... its easy reading, light hearted with a fast plot. A true bit of holiday fiction, if you will. Very enjoyable, but pretty forgettable as well. Might have to try a few more though, as apparently there is a series, so will see what I can find.
I've just ordered a the latest Booth, and Peter Robinson books from Amazon, as well as the new Starsailor album, so will be looking forward to getting my paws on them soon.
Off to stockholm next weekend with Miche, so looking forward to that.
AG
Tuesday, 3 March 2009
Stockholm part deux ( the aftermath)
So, slightly fuzzy, we reconvened in teh morning for some breakfast. There were some pretty ropey looking people in teh restaurant, which made me somewhat relieved that we had stopped when we did.
We first off headed to the central station to allow rob and vicky to stash their cases in a luggage locker - it was very james bond... "You may collect the asset from a numbered locker at T-Centralen, Mr Bond"
We wandered down through the commercial district towards Gamla Stan, and the National Museum, which was to be our mornings entertainment, it has a floor dedicated to swedish design, and another floor which is an art gallery and had a pre-raphaelites exhibition on, which was quite popular, and reaosnably interesting.
We left there and headed across the bridge towards the palace, where we were lucky to catch a guard change/ parade which was a nice way to spend a few minutes, even if it did get a bit cold standing around. Eventually we headed back up to the centre, and stopped at palce vicky recommended for some lunch, which was very tasty.
In the afternoon we went and had a little look round NK, the big department store, and then Rob and I retired to the sports bar in the station to watch the Carling Cup final, whilst vicky did some more shopping. Predictably, it went to extra time, which meant R& V had to leave without seeing the end of the game.... I unfortunately didn't , and wasted another half hour of my life watching it.
Finally, at 7:30 I boarded my traing home.... it had been a busy, but thoroughly enjoyable 36 hours away from LInkoping - I'm looking forward to going back with Miche in a couple of weeks.
On the train back, I finished my latest book, Henning Mankell's The Fifth woman. I've read it before, but Miche brought it out to me on my request, as I wanted to read something based in sweden while I was out here. I really enjoy Mankell's books, although I find it hard to visualise the evil inherent in his books, in the day to day life that I see here in sweden.
I started reading another Jeff Abbott book, Trust Me, which Vicky and Rob kindly brought out for me. Thanks guys - its almost unputdownable.
I've got the boss here tomorrow, then heading home on friday, will be nice to be back, having not been home for 4 weeks.
cheers,
AG
reading: Trust Me by Jeff Abbott
listening: Stop crying your heart out by Oasis
We first off headed to the central station to allow rob and vicky to stash their cases in a luggage locker - it was very james bond... "You may collect the asset from a numbered locker at T-Centralen, Mr Bond"
We wandered down through the commercial district towards Gamla Stan, and the National Museum, which was to be our mornings entertainment, it has a floor dedicated to swedish design, and another floor which is an art gallery and had a pre-raphaelites exhibition on, which was quite popular, and reaosnably interesting.
We left there and headed across the bridge towards the palace, where we were lucky to catch a guard change/ parade which was a nice way to spend a few minutes, even if it did get a bit cold standing around. Eventually we headed back up to the centre, and stopped at palce vicky recommended for some lunch, which was very tasty.
In the afternoon we went and had a little look round NK, the big department store, and then Rob and I retired to the sports bar in the station to watch the Carling Cup final, whilst vicky did some more shopping. Predictably, it went to extra time, which meant R& V had to leave without seeing the end of the game.... I unfortunately didn't , and wasted another half hour of my life watching it.
Finally, at 7:30 I boarded my traing home.... it had been a busy, but thoroughly enjoyable 36 hours away from LInkoping - I'm looking forward to going back with Miche in a couple of weeks.
On the train back, I finished my latest book, Henning Mankell's The Fifth woman. I've read it before, but Miche brought it out to me on my request, as I wanted to read something based in sweden while I was out here. I really enjoy Mankell's books, although I find it hard to visualise the evil inherent in his books, in the day to day life that I see here in sweden.
I started reading another Jeff Abbott book, Trust Me, which Vicky and Rob kindly brought out for me. Thanks guys - its almost unputdownable.
I've got the boss here tomorrow, then heading home on friday, will be nice to be back, having not been home for 4 weeks.
cheers,
AG
reading: Trust Me by Jeff Abbott
listening: Stop crying your heart out by Oasis
Stockholm syndrome
Just about recovered from my weekend in Stockholm with Rob and Vicky. They came out on friday night, taking advantage of a convenient RuinAir flight from Stansted to (Stockholm) Vasteras - I think it was about a 90 minute bus ride away from the city centre, but all seemed to work out ok for them. I jumped on an early morning traing from Linkoping, and met them at the very nice Clarion hotel, at about 10:30 which gave them plenty of time to eat the entire breakfast buffet, and go for a little explore too.
We then set about working away across stockholm's tourist attractions, with a plan to arrive at "The Dubliner" in time to watch the rugby in the early evening. We started off with a wander the Sodermalm, the "cool" bit of the city, had lots of nice little boutique shops, most of which didn't seem to open til the owners had recovered from being out on the lash the night before. We found a delightful coffee place, which we pit stopped at - the swedes are inveterate coffee drinkers, and you generally get a fine brew in all of the ( mainly independent) coffee places.
Then wandered around a little further to a good view point at the edge of Sodermalm. then on, down into Gamla Stan, or the old town... where we popped into the Noble museum for vicks to get some chocolate Nobel Prizes for distribution at work, and also for her to show us piccies of the various winners from Sanger.
We were getting a bit peckish now, so stopped for a little refreshment, LAsagne for me, with rob goign for some traditional Kottbullar ( meatballs), and Vicky a bowl of warming Gulash.
Next up, we took a boat across to the Modern Art museum, which contrary to the Lonely Planet guide wasn't free, but nonetheless had some good stuff - a photography exhibition by Andreas Gursky was probably the stand out thing for me - some of the permanent works were a bit on the pretentious side of sh*t! Not helped by an audio guide straight out of Pretentious Art critques for Dummies.
By this time it was snowing quite heavily and we decided to find somewhere to regroup. We located the dubliner, bu decided that starting to drink there already was a bit too early, so we adjourned to another Cafe for a while, then had a little jaunt into Urban Outfitters, where we laughed at the "build your cat a tank" kit, which I think Vicky quite wanted for Dexter.
finally got settled in for the rugby, which was enlivened by the humour fo having the irsih RTE commentary - which was amazingly one sided.
We ate at the pub after the game had finished, and then headed back to Sodermalm to try out a recommended bar. Eventually heading back to the hotel, where I think Rob wanted to revisit the bar there, but the long day had caught up with me and Vicks, so we called it a night there...
day two in a bit , when I've had some dinner...
Listening: Jools Holland Small World Big BAnd
We then set about working away across stockholm's tourist attractions, with a plan to arrive at "The Dubliner" in time to watch the rugby in the early evening. We started off with a wander the Sodermalm, the "cool" bit of the city, had lots of nice little boutique shops, most of which didn't seem to open til the owners had recovered from being out on the lash the night before. We found a delightful coffee place, which we pit stopped at - the swedes are inveterate coffee drinkers, and you generally get a fine brew in all of the ( mainly independent) coffee places.
Then wandered around a little further to a good view point at the edge of Sodermalm. then on, down into Gamla Stan, or the old town... where we popped into the Noble museum for vicks to get some chocolate Nobel Prizes for distribution at work, and also for her to show us piccies of the various winners from Sanger.
We were getting a bit peckish now, so stopped for a little refreshment, LAsagne for me, with rob goign for some traditional Kottbullar ( meatballs), and Vicky a bowl of warming Gulash.
Next up, we took a boat across to the Modern Art museum, which contrary to the Lonely Planet guide wasn't free, but nonetheless had some good stuff - a photography exhibition by Andreas Gursky was probably the stand out thing for me - some of the permanent works were a bit on the pretentious side of sh*t! Not helped by an audio guide straight out of Pretentious Art critques for Dummies.
By this time it was snowing quite heavily and we decided to find somewhere to regroup. We located the dubliner, bu decided that starting to drink there already was a bit too early, so we adjourned to another Cafe for a while, then had a little jaunt into Urban Outfitters, where we laughed at the "build your cat a tank" kit, which I think Vicky quite wanted for Dexter.
finally got settled in for the rugby, which was enlivened by the humour fo having the irsih RTE commentary - which was amazingly one sided.
We ate at the pub after the game had finished, and then headed back to Sodermalm to try out a recommended bar. Eventually heading back to the hotel, where I think Rob wanted to revisit the bar there, but the long day had caught up with me and Vicks, so we called it a night there...
day two in a bit , when I've had some dinner...
Listening: Jools Holland Small World Big BAnd
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