Our Blog
Jobb search |
9 Jan 2018 |
| At the end of the year, just before the holidays I
had another Skype interview. I've had a few so I am quite
comfortable with them by now. I thought it went quite well, but I
the search for the new employee would be put on hold till new year.
That too is searching a job in Sweden : Waiting. But the new year started very well. Even before the planned date I received the request to propose some dates for an interview on-site. And now, less then a week later ..... here I am : in Växjö.  After
spending a few hours on an interviews with 4 technicians, a lunch
and meeting two staff members, there is not a lot more to say then
that I'm feeling very much at home! Apparently the feeling is
mutual, because the next morning i wake up with a text message. An invitation to come by the office before heading home. The whole situation is new to them as it is to me, but we agree it feels perfect and we are both willing to give it a chance. Afterwards it costs me about one hour for all different calls before grabbing a coffee and start heading home. Every few miles my first Swedish contract smiles back at me from the passenger seat. |
I resign |
16 Jan 2018 |
And then: There it is. Email. A contract signed by both parties.
This is when it really starts. First a call home en then it is time
to start informing some of my direct colleagues. I's not a surprise,
but it is unexpected. And even though they realize the implications
for them, they are happy for me. It all still needs to sink in. I've
got a 6 month contract 688 Km North-East from home. No car. No place
to live. And ...... I'm very happy and exited about it. And all
those todo's are just things we have planned for. Now we only need
to do them.Driving home I can still see all the surprised faces. Sad faces and no cheering "good riddance". It is comforting knowing you will be missed. Just as I will miss them. A lot has happened the last 10 Year. Not all of them good, but there was always a lot of support among us. And there have been some great achievements too. A lot is worth remembering. |
Going once ... Going twice .... |
24 Jan 2018 |
 Then it
finally happens : The bidding started. It does not take long to get
to an offer we are willing to accept. Even the planned hand-over is
at the right time. But of course, the waiting starts again. Wait for
the signing of the contract. The passing of the legal cool-down
period. For the buyer to get the finances in order. But at least,
the final stages has started and we are expecting it to come with an
happy ending. |
Drive |
27 Jan 2018 |
We've been searching for a car at several places. The one i liked
much did not feel right. Strange noises which the seller waved away
easily. Probably not bearings, just the tires. No problem. Still did
not feel right. And then we found this one. A French car -of course- like we usually have. Just a few
minor repairs
and APK and then at least can drive to work which is 700Km away in bird-flight.I will take the caravan with me as
well, so I've also got a place to sleep. |
Bostad |
09 Feb 2018 |
Finding a place to live is not always that easy. Even if you are
listed as urgent, it takes time and luck. Just like most emigrants,
we don't relocate to go and live in the city. And just like in the
Netherlands, most people move from the country to the city. And so,
we found ourselves a nice place. Pretty much the stereotype image of
what you think of when talking about a Swedish house. It took some
effort to get it but we got the place just now. It's a little closer
to work compared to today, and the roads are quieter and
way more beautiful. |
Welcome to Sweden |
11 Feb 2018 |
We visited the emigration fair in Houten a few times, just like
everyone else gathering tips and ideas. Last year we got invited by
Region Jonkopings Lan for field trip where the take you around
visiting companies, schools and governments facilities. Apart from
collecting last bits of info, we visited them again to let them know we
are really coming to Sweden. The immediately pulled some chairs to sit
us down and wanted to hear all about is. And even we are not settling
in their region, help was once again offed. One thing was especially
noticeable. After days full of people stating it's sad to see is go,
people said "How nice that you are coming! Welcome to Sweden!"
|
No pie |
14 Feb 2018 |
 Usually
when there is a special moment, there is pie. However, I am known at
work to bring the left-overs as my hot lunch. Often hungry eyes stare
over a sandwich toward my Indian, Chinese or Mexican food which spread
a pleasant smell. And every once in a while accompanied with remarks
like "Where is ours?" And so I decided not to bring pie on Friday, but
to serve warm lunch today for my colleagues. The best decision i could
have made. Sharing a variation of warm foods over lunch is a much
better way to spend time together than just another piece of pie.
|
Last minute | 20 Feb 2018 |
Departure time is getting close. So many things left to do. Packing. Throwing stuff out. Last appointments. Wait for this. Run there. Do that. Biggest concern now are the winter tires. Where are they? Will they arrive on time? And what if not?
|
| Tue 20 Feb 2018 |
 Toch nog op tijd !! :) | |
| tonny | ||
| Tue 20 Feb 2018 | Succes en goede reis! Spannend en leuk👋ðŸ»ðŸ˜˜ | |
| Marian | ||
What nobody told you | 23 Feb 2018 |
After a very late departure I started the long journey yesterday and arrived in the dark. The last part was like driving into a postcard. But then ...... I had to clear at least 75 M2 from 20cm snow, just to get the car and caravan of the road.
That only to find all heaters set to 5 degrees Celsius and only 2 lights. I'm cold and tired, and i only want my pizza (even though the edges are a bit burnt) a beer and the sleep. But ... the dog is happy to be out of the car and all he wants is to play.So now most cold left the house. Had a shower, clean clothes, music (Metal, after all it's Sweden) and ....coffee with an amazing view! Then it's time for formalities. First to the office to pick up the contract for without it nothing happens for sure. Everyone seems to be impressed I could start in such short notice. Along with me three others will start, so they grow swift. The owner himself also appears quickly for a warm welcome. Oh, by the way, do you want this pone or that one? And laptop? This or that? That's a lot faster than the formalities. The bank: Oh, at least two weeks. Tax agency? expect 8 weeks. It's not going very fast. Or are we in the Netherlands to hastily ? That is also an possibility. 
 |
At Home | 27 Feb 2018 |
Finally, Brenda is here. I's better to start this together, and I can fix the house, but she makes it a home. Let's go to IKEA for the stuff we need. Right. Two choices: Jonkoping or Almhult. Both are just a little over 100 Km away. An now one understand the MilThe sun always starts at a clear blue sky, but today is the first day he doesn't stay in sight the whole day. Snow is flying across the land. And mind you: it does so horizontal. Just for the fun of it, i bought a thermometer yesterday. So far, the outside temperature over the day ranges between -5 .. -11. Especially the the sun comes in through the window it's real nice. When she goes down at the end of the day, closing the curtains makes a heck of a difference. Time sure flies! Tomorrow is my last day off, and then it's time to start working. I don't really mind, I'm looking forward to working with the new colleagues and it will add a rhythm to my days as well. * 1 Mil is used in Scandinavia. It's not related to the mile, but it's 10 Kilometers. That's one of the reasons you could think a used car in Sweden is hardly used at all. The ODO is in mil. |
Svengelska | 2 March 2018 |
The first day started already interesting. After something like 1 mil of snowy roads i get to the main road (#23/#37) where one would expect better conditions. Nope. Instead of snow, i got ice. Swedes don't care. 80 Kmh should pose no problems. Luckily, a truck lead the way between 60 Kmh & 70Kmh. Fast enough for me! And truth be told, the Swedes don't overtake even when the situation allows for it. Nonetheless, arrived at work just in timeAt the office everything was ready. PC, Phone, accounts. The rest is just loads of information to go through. Nothing really new most is just as you would find at every company. Surprising was a list of people to talk to. In the Netherlands they would have scheduled it all for you. Now it's up to me. Just make sure you meet these people. And of course, I've got one of the Jonases mixed up. But the gladly accept and then when you meet tell right away you most likely have them mixed up, and guide you to the right one. 
So after two days work, i am impressed by the warm welcome, and I was told that for now that's most important. Feel that you belong and are at home here. From their end they where impressed with the level of knowledge on the language. Day one was mostly English, after that we often start in Swedish and switch to English later, only to switch to a mixture of the both, known as Svengelska.
Time flies that first day and I can't wait to get home and tell Brenda all about it. |

Weekend | 3 March 2018 |
|
Weekend. My brother in law and his kids left yesterday. Last night we had a night with just the two of us in our new home. But now Brenda is also heading home. Back to the Netherlands to be more exact. It will be two months before I will see her again. After a long walk with our dog it's time to knock on doors and meet neighbors. 
They are all interested and curious to whom entered the little community. Everyone is kind and happy with the short introduction and talk. It's clear there is a high level of readiness to help each other when needed. After all, it's only populated seven houses and two holiday cottages. You can knock any door at any time.In the meantime I got the tip to cut cost by using the airco instead of electric radiators to heat the room. I've been monitoring power usage, so it will become soon clear if there really is a difference. My neighbor told me to take care on the road to Braås. Crossing moose are quite common. Just like foxes, deer and wild boar. I did see foxes myself last week, and from the wild boar you see a lot rooted places. The dog finds them real interesting. Funny, a Spanish dog, but loves the snow! |
The great walls of | 5 March 2018 |
|
I asked my health insurance company how to handle the fact I would work in Sweden for six months. Their reaction was simply to cancel my insurance. Period.
An alternative works with acceptance policy, so they need to gather info and that takes time. Weeks. Lucky enough we just found a cheap alternative to cover that period! I'm now a Globetrotter.
I did the same for car insurance. They told me up to 90 days is covered, but not a minute longer. But then Brenda called yesterday. The governments traffic department send us a letter stating my car lacks insurance as of March 1st. My first reaction was "Damn! another one that cancels insurance as result of a question". Import my car is not done overnight, and no Dutch company insures abroad. First thing today: call them. To my relief it's another government thingy. Upon first insurance the conformation code was wrong. And somehow, they cannot handle corrections. So, yes, your car IS insured, and we will try to convince the government of that fact. Next challenge: Banking. Why wait for one? let's get an account at another one. In lunchtime down to the bank. No personalnummer? From EU country? No problem. Bring your passport, work contract and rental agreement and we gladly help you. Less than five hours later: I see another girl at the counter and I immediately get scarred. No personalnummer? can't help you then. Yes, you can. Hmmmm fill these in please.......... There you are. Passport? Work contract? Rental agreement? .... there you are. Then I just need your personal number. *sigh* no you don't. The EU states the right of banking for everyone unless you can proof I will abuse it. Okay, then I need your work permit. No, you don't I'm EU citizen so I am allowed to work anywhere in the EU. Therefore, my employer hired me. *silence & typing* Sorry, but then I need a temporary personalnumber. *sigh* No you don't. *more silence and typing* Sir, you must apply for a work permit first. I produce my passport and hand it to her. This is my work permit. Valid in the whole of the EU. Silence again and I give a blank stare. She starts to open her mouth, and before she can ask my personal number, I shoot at her "It's harder, but it CAN be done without the number". Her jaw starts to move again but I don't give her a chance and I confirm "yes, really, it can". She gives the monitor one helpless stare and then walks over to the other counter. Mumble..mumble...fictive number...mumble ...mumble...change fictive into actual...mumble..mumble Sir, I am going to take these forms, and when the have been verified we will open an account for you. Our policy is to process within 10 working days. I give her a smile and utter kind words of relief and gratitude. As I walk out I realize you people told me about the way I can put up my face. And even as I smile to her at the end, I know my face shouted "Didn't I told you so? What a great planet this would be if people listened to me from the start". |
Swedish habits | 7 March 2018 |
Woke up this morning to find 5-10 cm of fresh snow. My dutch mind shouts CODE-RED! CODE-RED!. That's where I fail to understand Swedish traffic. Every roundabout, crossing and junction they stop and wait. They wait. They wait until nobody comes their way. They wait until nobody considers to come their way. And then they drive. Maybe. But once they get on the road .... DRIVE! Whatever the road is, asphalt, snow, ice ..... they don't mind and step on it.Their office life however is healthier. Frequently you hear the sound of electric motors raising a desk so one can work standing for a while. Some always work standing up. I've tried it and I'm not yet used to it, but I do think it's great. Different but good. At home I did found a new level of laziness. Since some light switches are located at most erratic places -whatever the electrician thought is way beyond me- i drove to one of the best places on earth : Biltema. I bought myself some lights with motion detectors. And that is what I want later in our own place! Everywhere lights with motion detectors. Everywhere but the toilets. You can't read Kalle Anka in the dark. |
How kitchen machines get invented | 14 March 2018 |
The road conditions have finally improved enough to start running again. Had to fix the belt for the dog first. Only the sight of the elastic cord was enough to make him jump up and down. During the run he pulled like never before. Not too far since it has been like two weeks, but we started off again, an it feels good. At the office is a shower, so I think later this week I will run during lunch hour.An advantage of going out for lunch is you get to discover new foods. Last week I discovered ragmunk. Now That should not be so hard to make. Milk, potatoes, egg, flower, butter. IF i had thought it through, I would have known I only have a fork to mash the raw potatoes. Only halfway the first one I knew: it's recepies like this that led to the invention of kitchen appliances.
 |
Lunch | 15 March 2018 |
After a glance at the map, I decided to do it right away. I took my running gear with me to work. When they set off to a restaurant
, I changed clothes and went for a 7 Km run through the park, around the two small lakes in town.
|
The weather | 17 March 2018 |
Life in Sweden seems to have an different rhythm. Early in the evening all gets dark and quit. Likewise, life starts early in the morning. I'm fine with that. I like it that. I was up way before 8:00. Did the laundry, vacuum cleaning and got latest groceries to bake oatmeal cookies. I do my shopping during lunch on workday to avoid useless rides and tell myself to live with what's in store at home. However, I still had not yet paid Puttes in Ramkvilla a visit and that should be fixed. It's the nearest local store 8Km out. Small, but with the groceries you need. After that I took a long walk with the dog including cross-country plouging through the thick snow. Thought I was back home round 15:00. Put on some water for coffee, then looked at the clock to find it pointing 10:45. Still a day ahead of me.Looking out the window it's beautiful outside. With only -4 C so not even that cold, but the wind is 4 Bft and gusts of at least 6 Bft. It cuts about just right trough everything. Looks a lot like yesterday. Sunny with an almost an clear blue sky. Then all of a sudden, snow flies horizontal and visibility drops to 100 Mtr. It last a few minutes and just as quick as it started, it stops. Only to repeat itself in 5 minutes. Or 10 or even 15, not very predictable. The snow is very light and very dry. The wind forms it into dunes, lined up with every obstruction. Trees, fences, stones creating a strange landscape. All tracks of the previous days are washed away, filled with thin snow. The gusts create small tornadoes of snow of about 5 Mtr height. These pop up, move fast for a couple of meters and are then gone. Small clouds of thin snow fly low over the fields and then lie down without one being able to see them laying down. It's beautiful, but also has a little strange and somewhat magic feel to it. Conditions like this will have led to the great many Nordic stories about gods and all kinds of creatures. At the other side of the window the sun sets and I finish my tea. Time to bake pancakes and make the bed. Won't be long before all is dark and quit again. PS: The gods liked the rituals of last night and accepted the offers. Today has a clear blue sky, sun and no wind whatsoever. |
Up in the sky 
 | 18 March 2018 |
|

It's the most beautiful weather you can imagine. Clear blue sky, sun, no wind and around 0 oC. Snow still covers the fields and trees. Perfect conditions to run with the dog. When I got back, I looked out the window and burst into tears. I want so send my mother a picture of the view. "Mom, look what I came up with this time! Look where ended up now!" But she died soooooo many years ago. So there is only one thing I can do now: contact Brenda. After that and contact with other family members, I'm okay. Hours later the sun sets and it's time to walk the dog. It's dead quit outside. You don't hear a thing. The colors of the sky ranges from a little red at the horizon in the west towards almost white and then overhead in all kinds of blue till nearly black at the eastern horizon. Deep black silhouettes of trees stand out sharp against the colored sky which in turn is crystal clear. You can see each and every star. One twinkles and I know: That's her. Looking, watching and smiling. I don't care if it sounds childish. It works. While I stand there looking up, the sky keeps shifting colors. More stars appear. Some even fall from the sky leaving a trail of light behind. The perfect silence makes it all more impressive. This is a sight i will never get bored of. |
Swedish | 20 March 2018 |
|
In the Netherlands, I was usually the only one to bring warm lunch on a regular base. Not in Sweden. Now I'm the only one who has sometimes sandwiches for lunch. And, here too, they wait. So many people with warm meals leads to a queue at the microwave. Nobody complains. They talk with each other and wait their turn. At the table I inform curious "And tonight a hot dish again?". They look up surprised. "Yes, what else?". I only answer to their reply "you don't scare me. I like to add a warm breakfast to it as well". An approving nod and with a "then maybe you are a Swede" the case is closed. To my surprise I got a text from the bank yesterday. I checked out okay and I am welcome today at 15:30 to open an account. I show up only to find the bank closed. I'm not the only one though. After some waving one lady of the bank comes to the door. "Sorry, we are closed". Uhhh, no, you are not. I got an appointment to open an account. "Ah, yes, to that we are open, please come in". The girl at the counter get my papers and looks a bit troubled. Her colleague helps her out by pointing at the fictive number option. My heart makes a small jump. It's gonna work this time! She asks my identity and start typing stuff from the papers into the computer. Further nothing happens. Then I think to myself, Ah! it's Sweden. Wait. Just wait. I got this. I can do this! After 5 minutes she walks away to a cabinet. I think "Ha! my card!" No. More papers. More typing. I still know I can do it. Another 5 minutes of reading and typing pass, and again she walks away. This time with my passport. False alarm, just another Xerox. I start to think it's not about the account, it's a test. Yes! I still can do it! I'll wait. Then finally after another 5 minutes .... action! Sir, please sign here. Thank you. And here. Yes, and here also. Great. That will be all. All will be sent within 5 working days to the home address you provided. Out in the street I ask myself what has happened the last 15 minutes. Why did I even have to there? But then again.....who cares, I got an bank account. 
 |
One month in Sweden | 23 March 2018 |
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Today I am one month in Sweden. As a gift, my bankcard is here! According to the brochure that came with it, no paperwork, all is done via internet. But.... I don't have internet here. Ah well, my work phone is pretty secure for a cell phone. Great, there are many way to identify yourself. I search everywhere for a field "account number" but the login name must -and can only be- your personal number. I'm not sure, should I laugh or should I curl up in the corner of the room and cry silently? I decide not to let me get get it. Many things go well. One of them being the special beers I brought. I carefully study them, pick one and open it. Celebration time! 
 |
Waffels | 24 March 2018 |
An email from the landlord about the rent. Not unexpected. But, it would not have been Sweden if there is not some thing just a little different. In the Netherlands they take a forecast of what you will use throughout the year. They average it out over 12 months and there you are. Flat fee and we even the bill at the end of the year against actual usage. It turns out the electric meter here has a mobile phone, an you get your bill on actual usage each month. Now isn't that fun? In wintertime........Tomorrow is Waffelday. How could I not have taken my waffle-iron with me? Lucky enough, I have to go to Puttes to pick up my parcel, an now it happens to be the church is baking waffels there for charity. At the back of the store is a little table with a friendly old lady. She immediately offers waffels and coffee. Now way I am going to insult her so I gladly accept. As I offer to pay, she simply answers "What ever you like to donate". As we stand there and talk I'm a little surprised at the ease with which I do this small talk in Swedish. And from her story I understand I donated enough to help one child. Then she says "But you are not from Ramkvilla". I smile and say, oh yes I am. Only since three weeks, but I am. And even though we just met, she welcomes to the area. An other elderly lady shows up and brings new waffels. In Swedish style. Just two. She then looks around the store to see how big the next batch has to be. I hand the note of the package to the shop owner. He say ah yes, then we have to go to the back and starts walking. He stops and turns around and says "Well, come on then" and I follow him to the back. He grabs a pen and when it hoovers above the note he says "And you personal number is?" I came prepared. I don't have that yet, but I do have identification and my passport is out and opened way faster than Lucky Luke ever drew his gun. "Ah, yes I can see that is you". He looks one more time at my address on the paper, then at my face and you just know these two are now linked and stored somewhere in his head. From now on he can -and will- beat any digital system. And then the day ended perfectly. While walking the dog we were almost home when I see something move just besides the path. Big. Dark. Not a deer. Probably nothing. Then it moves again and it now seems to have drawn Dango's attention too. Then I see it. FINALY! Moose. It slowly walks a few meters just to join an other one. I look at them, they look at me, and Dango is just sniffing "something is there". Then they turn around and disappear like smoke and without a sound. Pretty impressive for such huge animals. |
Early mornings | 26 March 2018 |
Last days temperatures where just above zero. Snow slowly melts, earth shows up again, birds start whistling in the morning and DST has started. Also in Sweden. As I wake up I notice immediately that something is different. Not just due to DST. I look out the window and find 7 cm fresh snow covering the world as far as I can seeThe thermometer is back to -15oC as well but neither surprises me. The views are absolutely stunning. As I drive to work the sun starts to climb in the crystal clear sky. It makes the tree tops light up with a orange/red glow against different kinds of blue sky. I'm back in the postcard. Jullianaplein is a vague memory as I make my 44 Km to Vaxjo wearing a big big smile. |
Easter | 28 March 2018 |
Arriving at the office I see at every desk an big Easter egg filled with chocolate candy and a card. How nice, and that also means a long weekend coming up i say. Yes they say. Monday is 2nd Easter day. And guess 
what! Friday is good Friday, so then we are free then as well. And therefore we work Thursday only till noon. Why? do I ask. Why Thursday till noon? The look at me in great surprise. Well, since Friday is what well call a röd-dag (red day). Then the day before you work till noon. I don't get it but you don't hear me complain or reject. There probably is a story behind having red days which i will find out soon enough. For now, plenty of time off. |
Defeat | 29 March 2018 |
That bank account. It keeps me wondering. With a lot of googeling and by putting the various pieces of info together I manage to produce a valid IBAN. What if ..... ? Yes! The bank app accepts that other number there as personalnummer. But still no login. Can the Swedes have been so far off? I read the papers again. No. It's not in there. Against all habits, I decide to follow the link "Need help with login? We are here 24/7". And it is 40 minutes later -it's one of those times hands free is a blessing- when a girl apologizes three times. Sorry, they should have given you an identifier when you opened the account. And take my advice, ask for mobile bankID, it's much more useful in Sweden. Please.....bear in mind, tomorrow they are only open from 10 till 13.Sure says the man at the counter. Could I just have you ID so I know it is you? I give him my passport. He opens it and his face changes into disgust. I know, it's not my best picture, but it's not like he has to date me or anything. Uhhh, do you have an Swedish ID? Personalnumber? Even a temporary one will do. I take out the bankcard and application forms and put them with my passport. He just glimpse at them and say HA! a fictive number! and barely keeps himself from rolling over the floor with laughter. That won't work. Why? do I ask. We can not connect it to anything he says. Then I think I got him. Yes, you can: to the account. That is all that matters. The bankcard is tied to the account, so as long as there is money in the account, regardless who's money we're both be happy. Now he thinks he's got me. Sir, you can check the balance at any time at any machine outside. Yes, I admit. I know that, but it won't tell me where it came from and where it went. Nor can I pay the rent, the electric bill or my taxes there. Yes, that would be a problem he admits. One more time I ask "So?" He goes one more time through my passport as if a Swedish page will show up after all. So you'll need a personalnumber for access to internet banking. What is so top-secret or power full in the internet access to justify this? That number takes eight to twelve weeks to get! I tell him as a last appeal. So then go and talk to them he says. I need your *real* number to give you access to internet banking. Nothing I can do about that. I walk back to my car and I know: I'm defeated. Also, I decide I'll file an complaint with the bank. Yes, just for the fun of it. I do not believe for just one second it will get me anywhere. I drive home and think maybe it's time to go sit in a corner and weep. |
| Fri 30 Mar 2018 | Tijd voor een biertje. 😋 | |
| Edwin | ||
Easter | 1 April 2018 |
I asked the landlord about the chimney's condition. The kitchen furnace and the stone stove are not allowed to be lit by fire brigade orders. The fireplace in the living room should be okay he said. The former guy did not really use it, so just try it. That lines up with the story I've heard about him not knowing how to build a fire. So yes, I'll go for it!
Then there is only just that minor issue: firewood. But why not just like on holiday's: collect some fallen down wood in the forest.Not much later I've got a nice beer, a good fire and my guitar. Still practicing, making slow progress. I try to "play" a few minutes every day but still struggle to play the first four accords fluently. How did this thing ever got invented? I know where this could lead to. But should the first player not have thought after a his first week "Still no tune. This won't work. Maybe this is not a good idea." My fingertips are still a bit sour from pressing down the strings. Suddenly I see a link between firewood and my guitar. But not yet ready to give up, I press down a few strings. The first accord is okay. The second too. It's just the fourth I did not get right immediately. Ah well, maybe -just maybe- I'll get the hang of it .......... eventually And now it's Easter morning. I realize not having seen any "paas stol" (a sort of bread, filled with raisins and often dried fruit, covered with powdered sugar) in any of the stores. Can't have a proper eastern without it. Time to be self provisioning again. I've got an apple left. Raisins are there. Flower is never an issue neither is yeast, and I know how to make bread without any books. As I boil my last two eggs the smell of fresh bread already starts fill the whole house. Glad PÃ¥sk! |
| Sun 1 Apr 2018 | Vrolijk Pasen ! | |
| Marian | ||
Oj, that dutch guy again | 5 April 2018 |
It was just for the fun of it. The bank however took it seriously and only a few working hours after my complaint, my phone rang. It was all a misunderstanding. Please come and see us again to correct this mistake.So here I am again at the bank. Surprised how busy it always is in here. Unlike any dutch bank. Nervous as hell, all I have is a name and the statement "but someone called me this morning and said it was okay". Ping #A152 ..... I state my business to the girl at the desk, give my bankcard and passport. She enters the number in her computer. The she compares the display with my passport. Now i get real scarred. Nothing happens. "Did someone call you about this this morning" she then asks. Little hope lights up as I answer "Yes". Thought so, that was me she says, I recognize the name. She gets me a token, offers to explain how to use it and reminds me there is an annual fee. Then I see the man who helped me last time. He could have acted as if he did not see me, as if he does not recognize me but instead he comes over and apologizes for turning me down last time. It was based on the wrong information he said. Then they decide to wave the costs for the first year "after all, we made you come here twice". As I walk away, the feeling of joy is immense. Not much later I leave the "Systembolaget", a beer in each hand. Great I think, my first pin transaction was with the Swedish governments. The countryside is nearly green again. Some of the footpaths in the forest look solid but you sometimes sink in, little over your ankle. The ground is no longer frozen but saturated with melted snow and a little rain. With 6-9oC it feels almost warm and the electricity meter grinds to a halt. Ah, okay, that is not true, at night it's still around zero, but the energy usage decreased with something between 60 and 75 %. That is also what I hear from the neighbors. A nice house, but need some renovation for better comfort. For now I'm real comfortable, and when I try to decide to start with the red or the blue one, I open up Thunderbird. Only fair to let the bank know that after all i think they handled it very well. |
The Swedish way to do it | 8 April 2018 |
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I got a letter from "skatteverket" in my postbox. Can it be ?? .... No, we're like six week into the process, that was even to early to inform on the status. And indeed, the page's headline shouts a decision has been made on taxes. The page itself then states the tax table which applies to me. It's followed by a bi-lingual sheet about how the personal numbers are constructed. Then there is an change form and finally a page explaining -in ten languages- how important it is to notify them of address changes. But nowhere line saying "Here is you number, now get a life and pay your taxes". Still, it does not add up. The information provided is so much more. Then it hits me. The bank wrote it ....... I look again, and indeed. I recognize my date of birth ... + 60 .... four extra digits ... My personal number, IT IS HERE! I have become a number! It also prove the importance of accuracy (obedience). I applied for a client-card so I can use self-scanning. The application came back. Your date of birth is wrong. It took me a while to see it, but indeed, they said YYYY-MM-DD and I filled in YYYY-M-D. Add a padding zero to both and send it in. Then it came back a second time. We only have your initials, but we need a full first name. I replied immediately with my name to the email. So did they. Just fill it in on the application form and return it to us. Did it, and the application was accepted in hours (Yes, even on Sunday). 
And now it's weekend. It is 20 degrees outside. How strange, last week we still had frost and even in double digits at night. Even last night was little below zero. But anyway, I turn off all heaters, open all windows and go outside. Time to clean the car, wash the caravan and finally ...... wash the dog's stuff which now will dry quickly outside. As I go in for lunch, I see the letter from skatteverket covered in sunlight on the table. Yes, there now is only the Swedish way to have lunch now..... |
| Tue 10 Apr 2018 | Tijd voor een grillkorv. 😋 | |
| Edwin | ||
The numbers game | 22 April 2018 |
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Let's make the bankers happy. Hi, I got a personal number you can tie to my account. Fine sir, we will do just that.......Your card however will be blocked. But don't worry, you'll get a new one in 3 working days. Give or take. Oj, that's not such a good idea. Oh, please do take a moment to get some cash first. No problem. Well, Yes problem. I need this card to get my car out of the parking garage. See you next week. And speaking of cars ..... Let's start the import process.
All these struggles with formalities, is it worth the effort?? Well, the last days I did not run that much, but made long walks of up to 3.5 hours with the dog. Passing a field where 8 deer spend time sunbathing and grazing. Amazing views from hill tops. Scoop water out the lake for coffee. The kind and relaxed people. Looking over the water with in one hand coffee and the other a kanelbullar I can see myself there in my kayak. The dead-silent crystal clear nights. Just look at the pictures. None of them does the reality any justice. So, no doubt. It's worth it. 
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Good ideas | 28 April 2018 |
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Hi, I'm ready. Block my card and change the fictive number. The keyboard rattles. Block your card? We won't do that. We close the account and open a new one. But...but...I started using this number and started handing it out. That is not convenient. No, she agrees. Can't see why you want this to begin with. A samordningsnummer is just as fictive to us. And so, nothing changes. Trafficstyrelsen was very cooperative. First -of course- you wait. Just as long as in the bank, but now on the phone. With my headset, a coffee and a laptop is 45 minutes not too bad. With my number he found me in a flash at the tax agency. After that there was the usual fun of fields being to small for all my Christian names. Having four himself also, he could relate to that. The surprise was bigger when the next day I got a letter confirming the link between the two agencies. And remember, If you ever get a permanent number, not call us. We will know. This week I also had to think back at my time at HP some 20 years ago. A colleague from America was amazed by the orange turning signal on our cars. So simple. So easy. So effective. Brilliant. We must have that back home! The thought was triggered by the water tap outside my house. True, I was a bit annoyed at first by the amount of turns I need to make before water started flowing. And when closing the valve, there was a huge splash of water at the wall. After two times it made sense. When closing, the tap opens a small opening at the bottom. Being at the hose end, it releases the pressure in the hose so you can disconnect without force and/or splashing in your face. So simple. So easy. So effective. Brilliant. We must have that back home! And even neither the Swedish language nor playing guitar are yet fluently, I still notice progress on both. So I did learn something in two months. Two months..... That means Brenda will be here soon. |
| Sun 29 Apr 2018 | Geniet nog maar even van je rust.we komen er bijna aan. | |
| Brenda | ||
Valborg | 30 April 2018 |
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Today is Valborg. Another great thing in Sweden. Just like Christmas and the eurovision song contest. Among other things, it marks the start of spring. They build a great fire for that in the evening. The heat in your face, the cold at your back. Poetic, but good thinking. Today however we have storm, thunder and rain. Even now at 21:00, just half an hour before the fire is lit, it's raining cats and dogs. Not quite. I took the dog out, but after two paces he turned and looked at me "If you think I'm going in there, you've got an other thing coming". Still, I drive to Ramkvilla. Entering town I see people returning from the town center. So not likely that it will be happening tonight. But while I'm there, i get out of the car and make a short walk. Then i see glowing sparkles over a rooftop. Man! you gotta love them Swedes! Storm and rain ain't holding them from building a great fire if they want to.
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Moving to Sweden | 1 May 2018 |
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After two months of preparations the moment is here. Yesterday we picked up the van and started packing. Today loading the remaining stuff and then down to the notary. After that a stop at Amy and Rommy's and then to Sweden. It sounds a lot easier than it is. Just packing the van. A nightmare. Measure. Fit. Shift. Fit again. Measure again. Amy had helped packing, and now, besides Shana, my brother Edwin and his sons Joep and Kasper are here to help. Anneke also came to help which is a good thing. I could never have done this alone. Thank you! All of you. We got everything in the cars. A last round through the house and then park the trailer at Anneke's. Then, at the notary, shortly after 14:00, i was officially homeless. Picked up the trailer and next stop at Amy & Rommy. After a good meal at 18:30 it's time to get going. The cat whining start to finish, but besides that all went well. After sleeping on the ferry, I now stand on Swedish soil and begin the last track to Ramkvilla.So now the adventure starts for me too. Unpacking and find a place for everything, including myself.
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Part-2 | 2 May 2018 |
The house is handed over to the new owners. Most of what we have is now stowed in one van and is on it's way. I did not tell Brenda I made arrangements to work work at home today. Instead I told her where the key would be and bread for lunch is available.
As I look out the window, I see a great white rectangular shape at he other end of the fields. I just know it's them. They are here at last! I get the dog and await them outside. Brenda leads the small convoy and it's good to see her again. At the same time it does not feel like we did not see each other for two months.Only moments later the once quiet and almost empty house is filled with people, boxes and furniture. With special thanks to Joep & Shana who where in charge of the main transport. The brought the van from the Netherlands to Sweden and are great helps in loading and unloading. The first period has ended. Now we are both here, we can start the next phase. |
| Sun 6 May 2018 | Geweldig, geniet weer van elkaar en succes met uitpakken en inrichten | |
| bianca meeuwissen | ||
Still a bit dutch | 5 May 2018 |
I did not have missed TV one single moment the last two months. If it's up to me, I would not get one. I prefer radio any time. Brenda however likes to have one, and so today I set up the dish in the garden. In the past it would mark you down as foreigners, but nowadays a satellite dish is quite common. In the countryside every house has one. 
And even though the company is present in Sweden and in the Netherlands, it's just not possible to get a package including channels from both countries. That would have been best (eg learning the language), but for now it's the dutch channels.And there is one more dutch thing: It' convenient to have shoes you can quickly slip in and out. Short walk with the dog. Quick job in the garden. Get the post. Take out the garbage. There is noting one could choose over ..... Wooden shoes! |
| Wed 9 May 2018 | toch nog Hollands humor in zweden | |
| Hendrik Jan | ||
Bye | 10 May 2018 |
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Indoors it's warm and outside there's a nice wind, So yes, at 25+ live has moved to the outdoors. But there is more movement. A diesel roars to life and after a tricky turn, the tail lights disappear behind the hill. Then a turn and the great white rectangular shape of the van is gone. Shana and Joep heading back home. Not much fun knowing we probably won't see her till mid august. And now it's the two of us and boxes. Still a lot of boxes to move. Probably we won't unpack them all since we don't know how what and where we will be 4 months from now. |
They are so funny | 16 May 2016 |
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The request for car import is on hold. They told me a document is missing. It looks like they refer to what we called part-II. And yes, you can request it from the dutch government for export. For all I know, everything goes smooth, as long as you follow the rules into detail. Dots spaces and all. So...let's call just to be sure. Yes, Yes. There must be a 'credit-card' and also a paper document that came with your car. So i tell her "no, they do not issue that by default anymore, maybe I can get one". Ah, no she says. Don't bother. I just have to ask you if you got it. Well, you don't, so that's okay. And you own the car over a year, so go ahead, have it checked. Sorry, No, I don't own it more than a year. Just three months. "Ah, does not matter, it's already a EU car so it's fine. I'll process it today. You'll get a letter, but don't have to wait for it. Make the appointment for physical check. |
| Thu 17 May 2018 | en inderdaad, niet veel later is de status op internet aangepast in "goedgekeurd, wacht op keuring" | |
| tonny | ||
Tooltime | 18 May 2018 |
Since a few days the water flow is erratic. If you open a tap, water flows and the pump kicks in at two bar. But before the pressure is rebuild, the water flow comes to a full stop. Then a second later it flows again ..... and stops. Wait a second ... and flow...and stop...and ... and.I got a number from the guy who installed it but it seems hard to get hold of him. But once I spoke to the secretary, he calls back real quick. And he is very help full. "you don't have a problem, you just don't have enough pressure in the pressure tank. If you want, we can help you, but the first opportunity is in five days". But it's simple, there is a nipple on top, one just like you'll find on your car tyres. If you want you can sent me pictures and I'll guide you further. Images of those 12 Volt cheap plastic car tyre pumps pop-up. No, not this time. I've had enough of those. This time -yes, life is hard- I'll buy myself a decent compressor. As a kid in a candy store I stand before the compressors. Don't need a top model, don't need the smallest. I take my pick and head home. In the garden I pressurize the tank, hook it up to the pressure tank of the water system and increase pressure. Learned something and the water flows like never before! |
Imported | 21 May 2018 |
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Today is the day. The car is up for "registreringsbesiktningen". In the end, there is not much to it. The hardest part was locating the chassis number. A quick visual inspection, checking some data against the papers and the owners manual. That's it. The longest part was waiting for the administrative process. Strangest to me was measuring the car length. But even the APK can be transferred, and so, I walked out with a registration number. So while waiting two or three days for the plates, I can search for insurance. |
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Surprise! | 23 May 2018 |
At the end of a short meeting a manager walks in. I am dismissed while the others stay to continue, and a strange feeling crawls up my back. An hour later I am asked if I have time for a quick meeting with management.Not sure what to expect we go down to a meeting room. Shortly the manager walks in and closes the door. Oh oh. "Do you still like it here?". Well, Yes, a lot actually. "Great, then we like to move forward, here you have your permanent contract". Fantastic. But...but...how, why? "Well, then you have security and you can go on with your life, buy a house etc, and we have more continuity since you can no longer walk out any moment you like, for you have a month notice. You fit the team so why wait another three months" Stunned by what happened out of the blue, but happy and surprised I go out into the sunshine to call the family. Having received the car's license plates is just a minor bonus. In the fridge is still a large Leffe Triple waiting for a special moment. If this is not one, there will never be any. |
In the waiting line | 9 June 2018 |
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As mentioned before, the Swedes don't (seem to) mind waiting. Whatever the queue is, you'll wait and you end up at the front position. But it goes further than that. If you only have a hand full of items, they have no problem of offering you the position before them. It happens to me more times in a week then in the Netherlands in a year. And it lines seems to create a feeling of "we". I tried to buy a ticket for the parking lot, but the machine did not like any of my bankcards. So I let the man behind me have a turn and he had a ticket in no time. "Try again" he says, but still "no". He puts in his card again and asks "how long do you need to stay?" and he starts punches the buttons. "But I don't have the cash to compensate you" I bring up in all honesty. He takes his bankcard from the machine and says "Now who will care about that then?" and is gone before the machine has printed the ticket. |
For Sale | 12 June 2018 |
Sometimes we see a place which looks nice to us, and then we drive by to see if it is as on the pictures. Some are already empty and you can have a good look around. Specially the older owners are help full. As you stop at the house, they come to meet you and offer assistance. The help ranges from "No sorry, the deal has just been closed" up to "Oh, would you also like to look inside?" followed by a personal tour through the place they grew up.Today we had our first tour with an real estate agent. It was not as we know it, but it was as we started to suspect it would be like. When we arrived at the scheduled time, the place looked as if a wedding was going on. Many cars along the road, people scattered over the lawn en through the house. When we met the agent, it immediately felt as a tour. She stood in front of the house as if it was a museum. Handing out brochures and answering questions. For the tour itself ...... well just go as you like, everybody else does. Many potential buyers wander though the place looking, touching, examining. Kind of strange at first, but it's nice to go through the place in your own pace without someone babbling the whole time. But it feels a bit strange to be there with so many potential buyers at once. Also, many agents offer an sms service when the bidding starts. On each new offer you receive the info and one can put in an higher offer. A colleague had it on a property just out of interest. For a while his phone sounded like a machine gun, we are not yet that far. |
"Folkbord" | 14 June 2018 |
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We're getting the hang of it. With the request for a personal number I added a copy of everything which could even be remotely relevant to the request. And there it is. A new record : One week and we are "Folkbord" This means as much as being registered as living in Sweden, and more important: no longer a samording number, but the real personal number. |
Midsommar | 21 Juni 2018 |
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It's about as big as Christmas: Midsommar. It's a short holiday (well, the school holiday has begun) and people give each other the best wishes. At a central point everybody sit together with their families for coffee and cakes. At the same time the maypole gets decorated and after it's been erected, they sing and dance around the pole. The day before I drive home and notice a little more traffic around the mall. The radio mention a significant traffic load, and mention the importance of the new potato's. But I notice system bolaget also seems to make a peak revenue. All in all, the summer and the longer warmer days are celebrated.
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6-6-6 | 3 Jul 2018 |
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Everything goes in sixes .... Wait six weeks....wait six months .....We have our personal number. We thought wrong, for its not the goal, it's a start point. "Can I have your ID so I can verify it's your number??" So apply for the id. Sorry, but the print of payment you brought does not show you personal number in a remark field. The main office will sort it out ....... in six weeks. Only a few days later I find out it was my ignorance. It seems logical to me that when you click on a payment in the bank app, you get details. Well, no details. there. At the bank for an other errand, I beg them to help me out here. They insist the info is there for me to see. They can not but I can. They pass me a paper with the road map and I'm on my way again. Damn. They are right this time. Click here, then there and there too and .... voila!! More ignorance thinking to drop in at Skatteverket, leave the paper end be out of there. Take a number and stand in line. What are the odds?? I meet the girl that created the id card request at the counter. "Wow, you managed that real fast" she says. The keyboard rattles...... "Oh....the case officer has already sorted it out and approved the request really fast, within six days". And now we wait for the ID to be manufactured. |
Fun | 4 Jul 2018 |
Running has been a bit low lately. So today I decided again not to run, but to take my bike for a spin. Slow crawls up-hill, idiotic fast down on coarse gravel. A little mechanical damage keeps the trip somewhat shorter than planned, but sill fun all the way.
And even though the dog looks at me angry for going sporting without him, more fun awaits at home. Since the beginning of may, it's very warm in Sweden. The dog sheds so much hair, he should have been naked by now. Finally I'm fed up with it and decided to buy a vacuum-robot. First a simple one just to see if it does what I expect it to. I like it!. I can watch it for hours trying to discover how it's pattern is written .......
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| Sat 7 Jul 2018 | Leuk hoor, die blogverhalen! | |
| Marian Verhoef | ||
Cooling down | 7 Jul 2018 |
It's warm. Since early may. Everywhere you see trees turn yellow is if it was autumn already. And finally the dog gets it: Water is nice! So, at the end of the day we go down to the lake and get in. He does not like it all the way, but bit by bit we get deeper.After that I undo the leash and he goes totally bananas! Runs up and down, back and forth until it's time to head home. |
Forensen | 9 July 2018 |
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ANWB | 10 July 2018 |
Brenda will go back to the Netherlands for a few days to visit the kids. At 3 am. she puts her bag in the trunk and the car responds with a crack. We are pretty sure it's not supposed to look like this.Since the transfer to Swedish plates is more than a week into the future, it's still a dutch car, and she still has ANWB roadside assistance. So, they come to the rescue, but she can't wait for it and .... took of in my Peugeot. It took some hours (not six) but they arrive. For reasons I will never know, they where sent to the campground. A woman gets out and prepares the truck. Just get her on here she says. I drive the car up the ramp and wait for her to lift it. But the truck has a mind of it's own. Instead of lowering it only rises and I feel as if we will be launched to a garage instead of driven. 
But, it gets sorted out and I get a lift to the garage to get me a rental. No. We are not heading to Växjö which would be convenient. Ramkvilla lies in Vetlanda, so that's where they dispatched the truck from, so that's where we go.At the garage they write it all down, look at his screen and explains what will happen now. I decide my Swedish is still somewhat poor, for I think he says it will take a fortnight. To my reaction he explains it's busy, it's holiday season, and two weeks was not a joke he likes to play on his customers. Neither is the fact that he's fresh out of rentals. I turn to the ANWB and plead for help to speed things up a bit. They love to help with a rental, but no thanks, I'll solve that one if you focus on the repair. A bit lost I wander through Vetlanda weighting my options. First decision is to get a bottle of water and something to eat and then start at the train/bus station. Since the bus goes three times a day, I have no expectations. Seeing only one bus there does not help. Oh yes, it does. It's the bus to Växjö via Ramkvilla, leaving in 5. I hop on and decide I don't need a rental. Just take the bus to work an then I can use one of the company vans. And again it works: take a walk to make your the best plans. |
Travel without a car | 11 July 2018 |
So, no car and I'll take the bus to work. There are not so many people in Sweden, for the bestride is the same as yesterday. Different is the fare. It's about the same distance, but probably something with zones and crossing the county border makes the price threefold. After two failures of the pin transaction the driver say "ah, try again in Växjö".In Växjö I can easy slip out with the crowd, but decide to pay his trust and walk up to him and offer to try again. He looks a bit surprised, mumbles and waves at the office. What I make out of it is "No, but you can try there if you really want to". And so I get rather cheap at the office. My co-worker probably knows this job is a cover-up and I'm relay here to collect good stories about Sweden...... he immediately wants to know how things went with the car. When done laugingh he says, Well Friday I'm starting my holiday, you can have my car if you need one. Stunned by the offer i decline and make reservations for one of the company cars. Seems to me less disturbing in work relations if anything happens to the car whether it's my fault or not. |
Housewarming | 12 July 2018 |
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The neighbors new house is ready and everyone is invited. To me the time (16:00) looked a bit odd, but I'll join. As I walk out it looked like a parade for all the neighbors walked down there at the same time, armed with gifts like flowers and drinks. Not much later I get to meet another Swedish tradition which in all honesty I've never seen or heard off ever before : smörgastärta I tossed the shrimps gently aside, but other than that, I can recommend it. It's just layers of bread, with in between.....well anything you like and can think off. Fruit, egg, cheese, meat, mayo. Topped with more mayo, fruit, ham, (shrimps), parsley etc. Actually, hard to describe. Just need to try it. The Swedish conversations are sometimes hard to follow because mo many talk at once, and I need to focus on just the one, but supported with some English I think I managed it pretty well. After that the proved the Swedes are my kind of people. Coffee and cake. Not just a piece served with the coffee. Cut your own piece. And a joke like "You can only have another coffee if you take some more cake" never scarred me and didn't start today either. |
Sylt (jam) | 14 July 2018 |
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For one thing I'll never be noticed in Sweden: If I see berries -preferably in the wild- I'll pick them. Eat them then and there, make them jam, or put them on waffles. It might be less due to the long lack of rain, but in is few weeks you'll see Swedes standing bend over in the woods. Nothing funny, the just scoop blueberries. Yes, scooping. They don't pick them one by one, but invented a tool to scoop them up by the dozen. (Yes, sure I got one too! What did you expect?). So when i see my neighbors going through their gardens with baskets, I'm triggered. And now it's close to 30 degrees again, and here I am, with my head above a hot stove turning fruit into jam.....
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Weather warnings |
17 July 2018 |
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As mentioned before: It's warm. The last months have been an constant warning for huge risk of forest fires, and a nearly constant temperature warning. Three months without rain turned most grass plains into dead yellow areas. Many trees already turn into their autumn colors. On the radio I heard they have never seen anything like this ever before and seamlessly went into discussion on meat prices. A bit curious I kept listening. Farmers are bringing their cattle to the slaughter by the lot. There is hardly enough to feed them all, and sure as hell there won't be enough for the wintertime. The same goes for hobby animals. Bringing hay in from other countries would be very expensive, but even there it's hard to get hold of it. Yes, its warm...... |
Sommarrock | 2 Aug 2018 |
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Visitors | 11 Aug 2018 |
Every once in a while we get visitors. Dutch visitors. Friends, family, re-routing their holidays to come by and see for themselves how we ended up. Still nice to see how impressed they are with the views we enjoy every day.Many regard our move as a big step, where we feel we just did what we talked about for years. And even though it's the best decision we've made, it's nice to speak to someone else for a while in an easy language: Dutch |
Update | 23 Aug 2018 |
A lot is just going it's way. The heat is gone and finaly rain has fallen.The Citroen Berlingo is beyond repair and it took a while, but it has been replaced by an bright shiny white Renault Clio. Today it has brought us to Växjö where we went to the movies. As in the Netherlands, many movies are in the original English language with subtitles. But no. hotel Transylvania-3 is targeted at kids and therefore Swedish spoken. Although one would expect it, but children movies are not easier to listen to. They often talk faster and in 'strange' voices but we understood parts of it and the (3D)images completed the rest. And most important for now: we found a house of which we immediately thought "This is the place where we will live". So now we are busy buying the place. |
Found it | 23 Aug 2018 |
Already from the photos the house looks most appealing. There is no mentioning of a open house session as we attended before, so we just register our interest on the website. A few days later the real estate agent calls back and all in Swedish we plan a visit.The gravel road leads through a nice area. As we come up to the house we already see a car. Doesn't look like the agent's car but we pull up to the grounds and park there. As we get out, it has immediately the feeling "yes, this is what we are searching for." A woman greets us and soon we discover either we or the agent made an error of one hour. Instead of waiting an hour, she offers to guide us around the place. As we reach the front door we find out she's dutch as well and will re-migrate. The more we see it, the better we like it. It costs a bit more than we planned, nut we can afford it, and we won't have to do renovations. As the agent arrives we are already done with all viewing and just discuss the formalities with him. In the evening my phone beeps and the first offer the agent mentioned is a fact. We already knew it, so the choice is not hard. I send my bid by email so I can clearly describe my conditions and refer to them later. Another text message arrives and as of now I'm known as bidder-2. The waiting is nerve wrecking. Will the over-bid? If yes by how much? When? Text messages keep coming in, but on another house we've visited. When that house goes for twice the price, I'm still the highest bidder. Then we get an text If you accept the advertised price it's yours....... deal! We got a house! |
| Sat 25 Aug 2018 | gefeliciteerd, veel geluk in jullie nieuwe stekkie | |
| bianca meeuwissen | ||
Communications | 26 Aug 2018 |
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The rental contract on the current house is open ended. Still, the landlord keeps pushing for a promise to stay at least to April next year, with the option to buy the place then. We fail to see why it's important to rent it long before you can buy it. We feel like you rent the place or you sell it. The pressure for commitment feels unpleasant. We agreed on open communications, so we send an email we bought a place. Expecting a promise to stay, he did not take that news very well. He pointed out I formally did not quit the rent, and only two lines later stated he has put the place out on the market again. We don't have a contract on the sale yet, and till then we won't quit the rent. I added that he did not quit the rent either. We just have to wait and see who is gonna quit first..... |
The official part | 28 Aug 2018 |
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So after the fun-part we get to the official parts. First a technical review. And the do take is serious. Need to know it there is moist behind a wall? They drill a 10cm wide hole to check. That all goes well and no serious issues arise. Until we got under the house. There is a leakage under the bathroom. I's very accessible, so if I have to, I can get to it myself, but we agree it to be repaired before transfer. Next step is the banking. We've read the stories of others. Moved to Sweden. Found a dream house. Get the dream smashed by the bank for they refuse the loan. So with legs like jelly I contact 3 banks. First you apply for a lånlöfte. Just a statement they are prepared to loan you an certain amount of money. Once you found a house you like to buy, you transfer that promise in a mortgage. Well ..... if the accept that house of course. Lansforsakeringen is the first to call. They asked a lot and at the end they just say "no, for we don't have a credit history from you". That being the one thing the asked nothing about. To my surprise I receive a letter from an Swedish credit registration stating my records have been pulled by Lansforsakringen. Next is our 'own' bank, Swedbank. They pull up my client-card, look at it and close it. Sorry, your account is on a fictive personal number. As soon as you have an account with an 'real' personal number, we'll gladly help you. And, that's true. Once I cot my Swedish ID card, I re-opened the account I got the Länlöfte in no time. Key in it seems to be we asked for a loan of less than 50% of the sum. And even though now we are covered, I accepted the invitation of Handelsbanken. I showed them the brochure of the house and ...... "Sorry, can't help you" ..... took me by surprise. "We are a local bank, and since the house is in Alvesta, that's where you need to go". But, they sent all the info from Vaxjo to Alvesta. When they called I was a bit reluctant, but we went anyway. As did Swedbank, the gave us a lånlöfte with a big smile. |
The financial system | 30 Aug 2018 |
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There is some time until the final transaction, but to avoid issues we decided to start the transfer of our funds to Sweden. To spread the risk, we transfer only part of it just now. As I check the account the next day there is no money, but there is a message. "Please provide evidence where the money comes from, and state it's purpose. Include the filled in forms attached and copies of you ID, validated by two others not being relatives or employees. If you fail to do so within 10 days, the money will be returned to the sending account". After sending it in, it takes Swedbank a day to demand more : 3 months worth of bank statements and a copy of the contract of the house we sold. A bit pissed about the amount of detail the want I full fill the request. I have to have the money here. That takes them once more a day to discover the money went back an forth to another account. They thank me for my patience and understanding but demand 3 months worth of bank statements of the savings account too. As I provide it I don't hesitate to mention the reached the limit of what I am willing understand and include a simple schematic of the flow which I hope will come across as it's meant: cynical. My mind is made up. One more question, and I will tell them to return the lot. Even before this, we have made our choice. The contact at Handelsbanken felt better. The info was broader and more complete. And now we went there, opened an account and took out the mortgage. No problem. Since the will handle the transfer of the house, our part of the money needs to be in this account. It scares the hell out of me! I ask him if i need to do something special for the transfer from the Netherlands to Sweden. "Ah, if you can, give me a copy of the house you sold. that will do". That evening I send it to him, and after I successfully transferred 5 Euro to the account, we transferred the lot. We also informed Handelsbanken it's on it's way. A multitude of the transfer to Swedbank. The next morning it's here. Just like that. After that Swedbank informed me they approved the transfer and the money will arrive. A few hours later everything is set. We can pay the house. And now we did the down payment into the real estate agent's client account. |
| Thu 30 Aug 2018 | Moraal van het verhaal : mijd de Swedbank ? | |
| Edwin | ||
The contract | 31 Aug 2018 |
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There we are. At the real estate agent's office in Alvesta. We just started our coffee as the sellers arrive. It's a real good atmosphere and for convenience we talk English. At least, when the agent is there. He walks off quite often, and we are not sure why. Maybe to give us a chance to read and talk. And there is a lot to read. And they go through every document, take the time to explain it, and one copy (his) requires a mark on every page. More than one hour later we are out the office again, signed documents in hand. The deal is final. They can't sell to anyone else, and have the obligation to deliver. We have the obligation to buy. Now there will be two long weeks in which we wait for the final step: The keys !!! |
Pin, Water & Silence | 4 Sept 2018 |
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I wonder, have I discovered two Swedish obsessions? After getting yet a new PIN code I started counting. I have gotten more than 15 new pin codes since I came to Sweden. Their length between 4 and 9 digits. Bankcards, devices, data centers etc etc etc all requiring their own PIN. And water. Water and houses are linked tighter than mother and child. In the announcements they mention the distance to the water. In the contract it says more than 150 mtr from the water. While taking insurance on the object the main questions: "How many bathrooms? Any separate toilets? Wash machine" Dishwasher?" And when we got to the other buildings "How big is it? Has it water?" and finally the garage "How big? Has it got water?" But all of that is easy forgotten in the evening. The summer is nearly over and in the evening out with the dog it's silent again. Dead silent with a clear black star spotted sky. Won't be long before I'll sit outside with a thin jack next to a fire with either an whisky or a whiskey*. * Spelling depends upon the country of origin. Countries that have E's in their names (UnitEd StatEs and IrEland) tend to spell it whiskEy (plural whiskeys) Countries without E's in their names (Canada, Scotland, and Japan) spell it whisky (plural whiskies) |
| Thu 6 Sep 2018 | Het blijft leuk lezen hoor, je blog! HIer in Nederland is het nog een beetje klam warm, maar inmiddels om 20.3 uur echt wel donker. Is ineens heel snel gegaan. Tot lezens maar weer! | |
| Marian Verhoef | ||
Keys! | 12 Sept 2018 |
Yes, we counted down the days. And the hours. And now it's time. Today we get the keys. Shana & Rebecca are also here and curious about the place. The car's packed with the first load. I have a dejavu. Six months ago it looked the same: Kayak at the car's rooftop, caravan behind it, up to the new house.At the bank it's rather straight to business. No small talk and no coffee either. And in less fifteen minutes we 'lost' a lot of money but gained a place to live. Then we set sail to Our place. |
| Thu 13 Sep 2018 | Ik zie het volgende week wel. Tot dan. | |
| Edwin | ||
Make it our own | 15 Sept 2018 |
One thing is sure. The dog likes the place better than anything. Wednesday he got out the car and felt right at home. For one he loves the garden we've now got. He's exploring it on his own and appears when I whistle. We spent the first nights there and it's gradually becoming our place.
The first days have passed we started the DIY. Now the place is empty, there is more work then anticipated. I knew about leaf filters in the rain pipes, an outdoor tap and a wood shed. Some outlet's outdoor is useful as well. But now the furniture is gone you see you need to paint. The wash machine is replaced a few days ago, but the new one has an integrated hose which is too short.
But, today is an important day: Wood! they dumped wood besides the garage. Just 7m3. It will however only warm me twice. We're late in the season so we got it cut and dried. I only need to stack and burn it. First clean out some old wood, probably build extra storage for it ..... Yes, Countryside living is hard work.
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Moving again | 23 Sept 2018 |
We already took some stuff each time we went up and down, and we practically live at our own house already. But, this weekend we will move everything over. I took one of the company cars again for it can hold more and larger stuff. While Brenda takes care of matters in the new house, Edwin and I drive up and down between Ramkvilla and Lonashult. Often the rain pours down when we (un)pack the cars, but after 4 rides over the weekend, it's all done.
The house is one big mess of boxes. In the once so spacious double-garage it's hard to see any concrete floor. So much left to do. Painting, extra wiring, sorting out boxes, (re-)assemble the furniture, wood stacking. In the meantime Edwin took out the lawn mower and started ploughing through the high grass. And as with gardening, the neighbors scared us last week. They sold their trees to Sodra and they started harvesting. It seems one of the former owners of our house cut the trees close up to the perimeter. And now the neighbors are doing the same, so there are not many trees left at some points. It's at the side, so we don't lose any of the view we have, but it gave us a few gray hairs. |
Autumn | 25 Sept 2018 |
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Yesterday we had a night with 0.3 degrees and before I could return the company car, I had to scratch off an thin but tough layer of ice from the windshield. Today we had -3 degrees. Out the window I can see the grass covered with an thin layer of ice. But, thanks to the carport, the windows where crystal clear and apart from a little chilly, my car was ready to go. The ride is absolutely stunning. The forest is a mixture of green, yellow, red and brown. After a few kilometers I get to a high point and can see the mist lingering in the valleys. Crossing lake Asnen I see the corners of the lake covered with mist as well. Not much later a deer crosses the road less than 100 M in front of me. Not far from the point where last week an fox stood at the road side staring at me. I don't have to search for it. Nature just presents itself. It's just a normal day and I'm just driving to work! Never ever had a morning been so beautiful. Emotions get hold of the better part of me and my eyes get watery as I think to myself 'this is where we live'.
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Water | 28 Sept 2018 |
Brenda calls me, there is an issue with the water. I think I only need to 'reset' the hydrofoor. Drain it and fill it again. She says the pump keeps running, and that matches my suspicion for the former owner told me that as well. Drained it, and start the pump for a refill. The bubbling worries me a bit, but pressure rises. Not far enough and the bubbling is still there.The concrete lid slides easier from the well then I imagined it would. Something glitters so there is water. I get myself a torch, and indeed there is water, but not nearly enough of it. Great. An dried well. All daily actions suddenly become an hassle. The water cooker has some left, so medication can be taken. When i return from walking the dog I notice the rain barrel behind the garage. Great, another problem solved, now we can flush the toilet again. First action, get jerrycans, then make further plans. |
Departing | 29 Sept 2018 |
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We where are taking it easy waking up when there is a knock on the front door. Quickly I get out and answer the door. A man from the village offers to buy the hunting tower we have standing at the roadside. We wanted to tear it down anyway, so, yes. I think he got a hell of a deal, he told me it would be torn down in the afternoon. And now we are off to Ramkvilla. Brenda started cleaning inside, and I took up lawn mowing. It took 3 times filling the tank, so i guess the grass was quite long. After a few hours we're done en make a last round saying farewell to the neighbors who have been very kind and help full. They all are curious who will come next and if they Will blend in. I understand that feeling a bit for the house closest to us is under renovation and will be up for short or long time rent once it's done. The neighbor would not let us go until we had tea and something to eat. We gave them all sunflower seeds for next year, and then it's time. We drive off home realizing it's the end of the beginning. |
Water | 1 Oct 2018 |
| Hoping against hope I re-open the well. Well, I'll be damned .... Water !! Slowly the well seems to fill up again. It's not much but more than enough to restart the system. The next days rain is expected and I think however much comes down, it won't be too much. Frequently I peek down the shaft and the level rises day by day. First we have drink water. Shortly after short showers, and now we also use the washing machine. We're still sparse with water. As the song ....You don't miss your water till your well runs dry. |
And this is Sweden too | 17 Oct 2018 |
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It's a misty morning as I drive to work. Only 3 Km out a huge moose appears besides the road. I slow down to have a good look but he decides to jogg off into the woods. Impressive and big animals. 20 Km later a second moose besides the road. This time a hunter is standing besides the dead animal, waiting for his friend to show up with the car. Puts a bit of a damper on the morning for it's not something I was waiting for to see. But .... this is Sweden too. |
Garden | 28 Oct 2018 |
The first snow fell. It's a little, but it's snow beyond any doubt. The last two days Dango yelps a lot, and it took no time at all to see why. The garden has been taken over by small deer. The are alert, but not at all afraid. They come up till 20 Meters of the house. Even if you walk up to the window, they see you, nut they don't care. What a view from your chair besides the fireplace!
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| Sun 28 Oct 2018 | Wintertijd is begonnen.... wat een leuk idee dat ze door je tuin lopen. Mini-Ouwehands-dierenpark. | |
| Marian | ||
DIY | 30 Oct 2018 |
The storm of a few weeks back ripped one of the flag's loops. Since the former owner did not loop the flag line........The line's end hangs 8 Meter up from the ground. My ladder only comes half way pup, but renting one is impossible (that long is considered too dangerous). Asking around at the office got me a ladder is I want to, but he tells me to check again. That kind of pole comes with a hinge. And indeed.... cut some grass, and looking up I do see a fixed pivot point hidden in the stand. So disassemble the bench, and a little nervous unbolted the pole. Together we lower it real easy. I'm not tying the ends but replace the line with a new one. -Yes, immediately looped it- As I show how to raise the pole again, it's so light, I can get it up alone. Quickly bolt it up, assemble the bench and done!
And there are more DIY projects. Brenda wants chickens again, so she got a hen house for her birthday. Before I put is up, I went to the DIY store to get some insulation for the floor (I can do that now, not after it's erected) and ironware to level it. These stores are a bit different than the Dutch ones. No clumsy show with a cart you load at least two times. No, you drive up the premises. Load all you need in the trunk or your trailer and drive up to the gate.Get what you need inside as well and go to the register. They scan the small stuff and then join you to the car and scan all the big stuff. Back inside you pay and are done! Neat! If you like you can saw up whatever is too long at a real sturdy workbench where you get all kinds of tape measures and saws. Someone gave this some thought. It's so much easier like this.
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The Hunt | 14 Nov 2018 |
| For a moment we thought the hunt passed by slowly. Wrong. The last week the cat brings home a mouse nearly every day. Dead or alive. Together with the dog they chase the mouse and we chase them. Its close to a Chaplin movie, but we managed to release e few back into the wild. It's nice she does pest control, but can't remember asking for proof. |
Well being | 16 Nov 2018 |
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During the periodic evaluation there are not only work related questions. There are also questions if everything -from ergonomic perspective- is as one likes it. So far nothing strange. But, Swedes do not seem to fear discussing personal circumstances. "Do you eat healthy? do you exercise?". Easy questions, the know I often bring home cooked lunch, I regularly run during lunch time and got the network team hooked on lunch walks. But it goes further. This week we could sign up for a free flu prevention shot. And then ..... During the office meeting all of a sudden a picture of a battered face in the presentation. The next 5+ minutes are spent on the importance of a cycle helmet. And bottom line, If you cycle to work, buy a helmet and feel free to put it up for declaration. They clearly see employees as an asset you have to take good care of. |
Svensk språk | 24 Nov 2018 |
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After a few ring-backs the phone gets answered. Almost a Pavlov reaction I ask if she speaks English as well. "A little, but we are in Sweden" the dentist assistant answers. A short flash-back to a call some time ago to a government agency reveals itself. And as then, the conversation continues in Swedish. And actually, today again it goes quite well and she compliments my language skills. The next day during the company breakfast three colleagues independently do the same. All kind and well, but it does not match my feeling. Often I'm lost for (Swedish) words. Specially when multiple Swedes talk at once -that happens more than you think- I'm lost- Sometimes that can make you feel real lonely when they all talk and laugh and I don't have a clue. But, as a whole, I notice I talk more and more Swedish, so it can't be all bad and perhaps I make more progress than I realize. |
Swedish | 2 Dec 2018 |
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As I wake up I see immediately the light is different. I pull open the curtains: Snow! A good 3 to 5 cm covers the world. I get back in bed and we just stare outside. The other side of the cold is that the car battery gave up. It had it's doubts once before at -18 in March, but now the cold was too much. Then again, you can get yourself another one right off the shelf in a great many stores. Car lights are another thing too. I always hated the high-beam. Irritating for others while not offering a lot more road view. But after having had deer crossing in front of you twice while doing 90 (yes, sometime we are allowed to go that fast) one thing you learn is that they help to visualize the road-sides (and maybe scare them off). So, what I've driven in total all years with high beam......i do easily in one week . Just like any one else driving around here. 
And dark it gets it around here. Is a headlamp a nice toy in the Netherlands, you won't think walking the dog here without one. You would think aliens have landed when you see 12 green dots floating over the fields. It's just the sheep of our neighbors following your every move. And now the snow has frozen, the sight at night is absolutely stunning. Clear black sky full of stars and where ever you look, the grounds and trees glister. It's easy to see how they came up with flashing Xmas decoration, but that can not even stand in the shadow of the real thing!Returned home from the walk I follow another Swedish tradition: take off your shoes. Not a strange thing. When there is snow, it will prevent your floor from getting wet. And if there's not, well, you won't believe the sound of all the small rocks that nested in the profile of your soles make on a wooden floor. And while sipping hot tee I have a clear view on the illuminated flagpole slowly that sways a little in the wind. |
St. Klaas | 5 Dec 2018 |
There's a knock on the door. Can't be St. Klaas for he's not well known in Sweden. And, like his clone St. Clause he uses the chimney. But still, it's him using the postal service.
A box with the St. Klaas goodies has arrived. And at the bottom he(or she) proves to have a sense of humor by adding a special Kalle Anka edition.
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Julbord | 20 Dec 2018 |
Christmas is closing in. At the town square the tree has been erected. A few days before Christmas there is the company's annual julebord. A big thing in Sweden. The place radiates Christmas and before you go in you will get a glass (okay, cup) of Glögg. Good start, en to me it's no problem that Brenda has one but does not drink it at all. Colleagues show up dressed as never seen before and take place at the pre-arranged seats. The dinner is in buffet style, but they did not exaggerate. Starters and dessert are obvious most important. Something like 30 different starters based on fish, and about the same number for meat and vegetarian. Just the main dish was a handful of choices, but now way one would starve here.
Half way through eating became a bit difficult for constantly someone would shout very loud "Skål" and everyone get their glass and joins the toast.The day after (some might have had a rough morning) the frequent asked question was "Was it your first Julbord, did you like it"? |
X-mas | 24 Dec 2018 |
| And then it is Christmas time. Like St. Klaas, Santa found his way to our new home and delivered a box of goodies. Donald Duck included :) . The day before all is covered in a layer of snow, but on Christmas eve most disappeared again. It's not a white christmas, but it's not green either. As to most, christmas as is not as much a religious feast as it is a family get together. And that's the point for us. First time Christmas without the kids is not much of a Christmas at all. |
More light | 27 Dec 2018 |
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Yes, it's 50/50. It's useful but I could do without. I just wanted to have them om my car too. And so, with the interior heating installed weeks ago the french car from the Netherlands is becoming more and more Swedish.
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The language | 28 Dec 2018 |
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Although not perfect, I manage to get around using Swedish quite well. In one to one conversations that is. Groups are still a challenge. And at work they also notice I begin using Swedish just to slip back to some English if necessary. And even though we are responsible for the data centers, me and my direct colleague have chosen to participate in the 2nd line schedule. It's the best way to how things work out in the fields. It seldom involves customer contact so the language won't be a big issue either. But unavoidable, there came the day the phone was required. And on one day I had it all, a colleague, a client and a supplier to talk to in Swedish. And even thought they did most of the talking it went quite well. So when I had to call a customer a few days later I was pretty confident. Big big disappointment. "Sorry, I have no idea what you are trying to tell me. I think you must be Danish or something, I don't understand you. Nothing personal, but please have someone Swede call me". The fact the one that called her later mentioned that indeed communicating with her was a bit difficult hardly helps. After the endless compliments it's an tough experience. In the evening again it was 180 degrees around. The results of SFI's* "national prov" where in. Scored 4,5 out of 5 with the remark that I probably would have cleared most reading, listening and talking of the next level too. Just too bad my grammar need some (i know a lot of) work which shows in writing. Up to the final level. * SFI is the language education the Swedish government offers to new citizens. It's got 4 levels (A-D) and transgression from one level to the other is decided upon you test results in the "national prov". |
Gott nytt år | 1 Jan 2019 |
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As in Netherlands, anyone can shoot fireworks in Sweden too. And they also discuss whether it should still be allowed. Great difference is they don't sell any crackers. In the end we decide to get some ourselves. It's the first new year since we moved here. And even though the choice is rather limited we take our pick. In the dark the fireworks light up real well, and the explosions echos with heavy thunders. There is also some in the distance, but way before 0:30 it's quit again and 2019 has started. The year 2019 won't be boring either. Shortly Amy and Rommy will move in with us and will Rommy starts his job in Sweden. The company i work for offers two holiday's. First to Majorca -with partners- and later we will go up the Kebnikaise . The Swedes however think it's just business as usual. Where in the Netherlands you're glad when it's Jan 6th and the "happy new year" greeting ends, Swedes just say "God morgon" on Jan 2nd as if nothing happened.  |
Preparing the cabin | 12 Jan 2019 |
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Only a few days till Amy and Rommy get here, so time to do a bit of work on the cabin the will be using. We will build a new kitchen ourselves, so part of the old one will be installed here. And after a day and some evenings the kitchen is installed. It has plumbing but water comes from a tank, but still, it really looks like a kitchen now. The shower in the basement has nearly no flow, but then it dawns to me. I'm happy the pipes have valves, and shortly the tap is un mounted. Indeed, the filters are clogged, but thanks to the compressor (the one I got when having water issues in Ramkvilla) that is solved quickly. Since I also seen sand at the wash machine, the next task is clear: Install water filters.
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Plumbing | 13 Jan 2019 |
And as planned, the filter has been installed. I needed one for sand etc that comes from the well, but since I have to redo the lot and the don't cost much, i just installed two casings.And since I had to do work on the pipes, I also inserted a one-way valve and some extra valves. We can now cut different parts of the house from the water flow independent. I had to re-do one of the R25 but with all the valves I got now that was an easy job. I will really enjoy those in two weeks when kitchen gets done. |
Kitchen | 15 Jan 2019 |
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After the first steps -taking down the bar and make a kitchen in the cabin out of it- the main kitchen is next. We designed a new one and reviewed it with a kitchen designer. Out of the design the create an order and plan the home delivery. The choice is ours. Pay at the register or go home and pay via bank transfer. As long as it's payed one week before delivery, it will be delivered. And now part of the living room became a warehouse. Little more than a week and I've got a week off and we will also get some help for a few days.
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Here they are | 22 Jan 2019 |
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Brenda has been in the Netherlands for a few days to help Amy and Rommy move. And Monday morning at 02:00 -after a 14 hours trip- they are here. Our house is now transformed into a farm. We have a dog, cat and four chickens ourselves, but now another dog, two cats, six rabbits and four pony's have been added. A little mis-fortune surrounded their move. First the rental van crashed on the way back (only material damage). Then after collecting the hay, the trailer would not be un-hooked from their car. Don't worry, I've got an angle grinder that solved that. And so their adventure begins now. Starting with application for a personal number and a bank account. Or as one can call it: Today they will get their basic training in waiting. The preliminary work on the kitchen has started too. Filling the gap in the floor proves to become a challenge. Looks like we 'just' have enough boards, but some damage near the door makes it impossible to take those boards away AND put them back afterwards. Also a power cable pops out of the ceiling in the middle of the room. Via the attic I can almost reach it to move it, but there is hardly any space to work, and it's under at least 20 cm glass wool insulation. An wall socket however could be moved but..... the tool to bend the PVC pipe i need to do it got lost either between Hooghalen and Ramkvilla or between Ramkvilla and Lönashult. Then I remember my LTS education. Warm the pipe with a burner to bend them. Boy did I suck at that at the time. None the less, I have no alternative so I go for it. Just the one pipe, so I need to get it right first time. It ain't perfect, but it does the job. I would never have guessed that to be grateful to have learned (not mastered) that specific skill 38 years later. |
Sotning | 08 Feb 2019 |
The mailbox contains two very official looking letters from the municipality. The first states the are coming. Coming to clean the chimney and the stove, a process they call sotning. They just send someone who takes it door by door. You can re-schedule but then the cost will be higher for they will have to come again later just for you. Aha! so you will get invoiced for it. Ah well, it's something good to do anyway for the stove is used as main heating for the house. In Sweden it's also quite common to have steps on the roof to make it all easier.
 And for all i know it's also common to have the ladder out there too, so my guess is they don't expect the roof steps to be hidden in snow. So in the early evening I'm out on the roof clearing the snow. Curious I follow the process so I now I also know how to do it myself if I want an extra sweep. All is well and he answers the contamination is not extraordinary so we burn the wood is a good way. Yes, the second letter. The will also do a "Brandskyddskontroll" Not sure what it's about exactly, but it's a more general inspection regarding fire safety. But we will find out tomorrow. |
Timber | 17 Feb 2019 |
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From every direction the sound of chainsaws drift towards us. I decide it's best to follow the natives. Unfortunately mine broke down a few years ago and so ....... together with Rommy I drive to Växjö. After visiting Biltema and Jula, and having finished coffee and a Semlor we go back home with a new chainsaw in the trunk. Already at the assembly I notice the quality differences with the ones I owned before. When it's ready and running, I go in and get dressed. I was little in doubt, but Rommy convinced me -and even gave me- protective pants. After having decided on a tree I attack it. It only takes a few minutes and I admit, it's not a show-case, but without any personal or material damage I have cut down my first tree. After some time the branches are stripped and the trunk cut in pieces. We are curious and pull out the clover. But the fear is un justified! The machine doesn't flinch and even the most sturdy looking pieces. Amy and Rommy enjoy the device so much, in no time all blocks are into small pieces. It feels spectacular to have cut your first wood from our own property.
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365 | 23 Feb 2019 |
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Yesterday I HAD to go to the store, getting a treat for the dog. For today is a special day: Exactly one year ago the two of us came to Sweden! And a lot has happened that year. How different things are. Did we have a long drive then, today relaxed outside building a new woodshed. We came to a dark cold house where we layed a mattress on the floor. Today we have a home where he has his own rug in front of a cozy fire. For us there is a normal bed to sleep in after we get out of the sauna. Great many stories too, and looking back I would not change one thing. It has been one of the best years ever. |
Color coding | 26 Feb 2019 |
The Swedes are quite strict in DIY and electricity. More strict the we are used to in the Netherlands. None the less, there are lots of things that can be improved, and having had the education, I so some myself. Ans so I bought a net heater for in the kitchen. Fits just under a small ridge, and it hangs by the door. I relayed the cable from the old radiator just for that. Just perfectAnd so it hangs. Cable runs neatly through the cupboard's inside, connected blue to blue, brown to brown, and....earthed it. Proudly I put back the fuses and with a loud bang and a flash my pride got shot. There are an awful lot of fuses, and as always, there is a paper that documents is. Which does not mean the document is useful. A long session of faulty fuse-finding follows, during which it dawns on me. After having the fuses fixed, I do some measurement and my hunch was right. They connected the brown wire to a phase and the null return wire ..... to another phase. So much for professionals following color schemes. The brand new heater expected 230 Volts but got 400 Volts. And with that, it DID heat up. Very quick. Very short. |
Mobility | 28 Feb 2019 |
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The last week it was all about mobility. It started with Rommy's car giving up. The tow-truck would take about 2 hours. Fortunately, it broke down along my route. I tried the engine again and it fired-up en kept running. We discussed it, but it kept going, so we headed home prepared to make an emergency stop and a tow. All went just fine, even the drive to the workshop the next day was without issues. They fixed a small thing and that was it. Having found what looks like an decent garage, I made an appointment to service my car. I also asked to check the brakes, for one gets real hot every now and then. That ended up with new brakes all around. While we are at it, booked an appointment for Brenda's car too. It's time someone looked at that irritating rattle while driving bumpy roads. Not the most difficult repair, but a good thing too. They discovered an issue with the front springs, which could have led to an dangerous situation. So after heavily sponsored the local workshop, I go to the mandatory vehicle check full of confidence. The engineers first remark: "Wow, impressive how this car brakes !" And after that "It's in a remarkable good shape, especially the underside". Too bad I can't approve it. 
I'm stunned and ask him why. Then he explains "you have an detachable towbar, but we can't get it off for inspection. No inspection, no approval". I try to defend that by explaining the faster the better. Nothing worse then a towbar comming of. He looks at his form and there is no appeal of clause available. They tried two gentle bangs with a rubber hammer, but didn't help. So, if the towbar does not come off, the car is no longer road-worthy. I get a month to fix it (of have it fixed).Once more it's the Biltema store that comes to the rescue. Bought a can rust remover, and sprayed the parts involved. Sprayed again two hours later. Sprayed once more on the way home. There I petted it with ......... my sledge hammer and off it came. The form said any certified garage can report the issue as fixed, so I assume, it is a very minor thingy. And so, the next morning I walk proudly into the station with the towbar in hand. "Look! I fixed it!". His first look is as if he sees some water burning. But he recognizes me, and during a brief explanation his gaze shifted to his 'I could not care less look'. He asks me "Did you book a re-check ?" Uhh, well, no. "Okay. Just do that, and then we can have look at your towbar" Have a nice weekend. |
| Mon 4 Mar 2019 | Herkeuring .... Kwestie van binnen rijden, trekhaak er op, er weer af .... klaar. Blijkbaar vonden ze het zelf ook een genante situatie, want zelfs de verlaagde prijs van na een controle werd gehalveerd. | |
| Tonny | ||
Smålands Nationaldag | 7 March 2019 |
Three big cakes arrive at the office. "fössta tossdan i mass" they say. Never complaining about cake I join them and dig in. Even though I know the don't need a reason for cake, I do some inquiry for the reason and the meaning of the text. It turns out the region Smaland has it's own national day: "Smålands Nationaldag".The text "fössta tossdan i mass" means really nothing else then "första torsdagen i mars" (first Thursday in march). So they just celebrate the day change out all "rs" to just "ss". A thing I'm told they do all year round, it's just their dialect. |
Taxes | 14 March 2019 |
Full of good hopes I log in at the tax agency's website to fill in my 2018 taxes. "You emigrated, so you cant declare on-line. The proper form (Form-M) is on it's way to your current address". And it did arriveClearly the decided to take revenge on us for no longer paying taxed in the Netherlands. Previous years it was a matter of logging in, check the info they already have and submit the data. I'm old enough to remember the paper tax form. But now ........ now they have send us a paper monstrosity I've never seen before. A grand total forty two double-sided A4 pages (and it's not even the ultimate answer) and ninety double-sided A4 pages 'clarification'. And to really set you off: one A5 sized envelop for return post. Their motto is: "we can't make it nice, but we can make it easy" so it can't be as hard as is looks. Very unlike me, I first read the instruction. "Fill it in asap" it says. "We need it within 5 years from now". That is good for a laugh. The letter though says return before June this year. Next. "Start in this leaflet". That does not start with name and contact details, but we jump right into question 69. Okay, strange but have it your way. We start with an decision tree. That I can do. The result of it : "You don't have to fill in question 69 to 73, go directly to question 74." Another decision tree. ..... result of that one: "Skip 74A, B and C, start directly with 74D" Question 74D: Go to the calculation help 74D in the clarification This is going great, all I do is jump forward, this way I'm done way before diner. And then it all goes down hill very fast. (Now bear in mind, we are now at the HELP section in the clarification, NOT the actual form) The calculation help is a simple table of 6 rows with the simple instruction: copy the answers from question 28I, 29a, 70B, 74A, 74B, 74C in this table. But.. but.. those are the ones they told me to skip !!!! Question 28 is even worse, that is a multi-paged table where you fill data from both countries. Everything in Euro, but nothing on the conversion they are gonna accept. And all questions start to interconnect. You always need to copy data from other questions. I tried to draw how the questions tie together to keep track of what I've finished, but it can't be done. I'm stunned. How can they come up with this and send it to us mortals? How can they interpret the end result? "ping" new e-mail. The Swedish tax agency: "Your tax declaration will become accessible for you in two weeks". |
Växjö lakers | 24 March 2019 |
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Our management sends out a message. Tomorrow is a big day for the Växjö Lakers (the ice hockey team in Växjö). If they make it to the next round, we will go to the next match with all personnel and their partners. We've never been to icehocky, but often heard and read it something you need to attend at least once in your life. And so, in the evening I keep one eye out on the scores. All I can make out of it is they didn't made it. And an there is no invitation the following days either. Then a week or two later, there is an invitation to lunch buffet and quarter finals match of the lakers. It's definitely not the match mentioned before, but obvious it's important we go and see the lakers together, whether they won or they didn't. And there we sit. High up in the stadium. Tables along the side, so half way into lunch we can follow the warming-up which feels like a bit of a show too. For Dutchmen its feels like home, for orange is the most common color wherever you look. After the warming-up the clean the ice rink, during which "kleintje pils" is very absent. Then they bring out stuff on the ice floor which even I know don't belong there in a icehocky match. The lights go dim again and then a grand opening show begins. Exactly according to schedule they knock off at 15:00 sharp. The puck flies pretty damn fast, and the game is not as rough as you see it on the TV. After 20 minutes there is a break, and what follows is very unlike the first period. The game got much faster and a lot rougher too. The crowd is never silence, but in a good mood while the teams go up side by side. Unfortunately the Lakers didn't win, but still the stadium clears neatly. Out on the street no police, no guards. Fans cross the street neatly at the zebra crossing where cars just wait patiently as only Swedes can do it. Yes, definitely something to go and watch again!
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Running | 11 April 2019 |
A colleague told me "You're gonna live in Lönashult? They have a damn good sports club !". I've looked it up, but the run on Thursday, and that's one of the days I went to SFI. Indeed, went, for I've finished D-level and decided it's enough. I'll expect to learn better, faster and more in the real world. (Nah, maybe not better, but more practical anyway). So, having time on Thursday, I contacted them again and told the I wanna join-in.I'm not sure what they expect, for they responded that they are just an gang of old boys hanging in there. Arriving at the stuga they just sit and talk relaxed, in no hurry to get going. But when they got to it, they gave me a good run for my money. Still not used to the Swedish roads only to be going up and up and up. That together with an respectable pace made it quite an work-out for me. Then again, it's good to be challenged for running by yourself makes it hard to progress. Yes, I'll go next Thursday again. 
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Sewer | 17 April 2019 |
Since there is some construction work going on at the office, I work from home today. Having fiber has it's benefits. As I just sit with a coffee and some music at my laptop, I hear the recognizable beep-beep-beep-beep from a truck backing up. And yes, there is one backing up our driveway. It's clear he's not just making a turn for he comes all the way down to the house. It's not a delivery truck, so curious I go out to see what they want.The text at the side of the truck explains enough: The came to empty the sewer. The driver has a quick look where the sewage well is and while taking the animals in account they lay out the pipes along the other side. Where are you from he asks while they prepare the truck. The Netherlands, I answer and He says 'So is he' pointing at his colleague dropping the pipe in the well. So, a lot of Dutchmen in Sweden. Even a small village as Lönashult holds three dutch families (as far as I know now). The look genuine surprised as I offer coffee before they continue to the next address. Even though he regularly talks Dutch, I keep going to Swedish so the both understand what's being said. As the truck leaves the premises I notice I'm not even surprised they came without warning to empty the well. It's just a thing that is needed and is also a part of the waste disposal so they just go on with it. |
Woodshed | 19 April 2019 |
So, we use little over 5m3 wood in wintertime, and there is only storage for about 4m3. If you cut your wood before Easter, you can use it the next winter. But better the year after. Therefore I estimate a storage of 16m3 is what I will build. A damn simple construction, but still takes a few days to build. But it's done! And while I'm at it, installed automatic lightning and an outlet for the clove.
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Gardening | 13 May 2019 |
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The garden is approximately 100x120 meters. Partly buildings, partly trees, partly grass. And not the flat grass as soccer players like it. Edwin cut part of it last year, I cut a part too. Tough job. It became a little easier after a rock broke off a part of the plastic protective cap. When the sparkling socket seems damaged after maintenance that was the end of it. At the back of the garden there are still many logs which need to be taken to the woodshed, and there will be more next year so it's an easy choice. Took a bit longer than expected (and hoped) but finally a light-blue postnord truck drives up to the house. Tore down the protective crate and there it is: My garden tractor/lawn mower. The only disadvantage is that mowing is done so quickly. Now search a trailer for it and get the wood up here.
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Backlog | ... |
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There have not been any new posts for a while. That however does not mean nothing happened. I finally caught up and over the next few days post will be released. To make it more fun, the will be released at random. |
| Wed 17 Jul 2019 | Laat maar komen. Ben benieuwd!! 😉 | |
| Marian Verhoef | ||
BBQ | 19 May 2019 |
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Went running, seen a neighbor and introduced myself. Went biking, seen another and introduced myself Went..Went.. So over time I've seen all the neighbors. Common seems to be they all live here three years or less, and not really know each other. Other then by name and waving while driving by. The idea to throw a welcome BBQ seems like an good idea. We have bought invitation cards and written them with the best Swedish we know and dropped them around. And as days go by without someone accepting. True, they are not declining either. But then, not long before the planned date reactions start coming in. They too think it's an good idea and gladly accept. Only one reaction missing, but the BBQ is on! When the day is there and we do final preparations, the neighbor family caught a virus and for not wishing to infect all of us the kindly decline last minute. They do however take the effort to bring the flowers they bought us. So in a much smaller setting we proceed anyway. There is no alternative then the Swedish language, but with patience from all sides we manage conversations on all kinds of subjects. A slight rain forces us in close to the end, so in a way it's good too we have a smaller setting. Many hours pass in a good atmosphere and when our guests are heading home, we all agree: We need to do this every month, but definitely more often. |
To the Netherlands | 13 Jun 2019 |
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Two more weeks and our oldest has her birthday. For we can't make that, we plan a surprise trip. After the direct flight from Växjö to Amsterdam it's a short train ride to Den Haag. There we sit i a Greek restaurant we wait. She just don't get it why her friend -who is in the complot- drags her in here. It's quite a shock when all of a sudden she spots us, but could not be happier. Since we are there for a long weekend, we decide to take a day out to the zoo with just the four of us. What surprises me the most are the traffic jams. They are not new to me, but, in Växjö you can almost consider 5 cars before the roundabout a traffic jam. The car develops a failure in the muffler, but we can still drive. However, when we park to have dinner, we see the police executing a major traffic check. Many cars get impounded and many fines written. We decide it's better not to start the car again while they are busy. I'd gonna be a long night..... The next day we take the train together, but split up in Utrecht. While Brenda visit friend to take a look at their new house, I will go to my sister to see hers. But since I have some time before that I take a walk in Utrecht. Standing at the foot of the Dom I look up and realize its now or never, and 5 minutes later I am the owner of a ticket that allows me to climb up with the first tour of that day. Even it's 110 meters high, you can only go up till 95 Meters. It goes with several stops and while not all will agree, but it's not too hard a climb. The view itself is a great reward, but back down on the street I know there is only one reward/lunch possible: "Broodje Mario!" and from the one and only original stall at the "oude gracht". Then it's off to my sister. That is the other side of emigrating, you can't visit friends and family that easy. Sure, the are many channels over internet, but it's better to see and talk to them in real live. And even better: after seeing the houses share dinner together on a sunny terrace. In the evening back in time to spend another moment with our daughter and her friend and then we are only one night sleep away from the return flight.
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Midsummer | 21 Jun 2019 |
Driving home, I stop at our neighbor for she texted me she wanted to talk to me and had a question for us. After some chatter she invites us to come over and celebrate midsummer with her. It will be us and some of her family and other friends. I'm honored. Together with Christmas, midsummer is the event in Sweden. Rich with tradition usually celebrated with family.We are welcome right after mid-day when they start with potato's and herring of which we politely pass for the latter. Further we pass the time with games, talks and laughter. Here too, not much English so we all have to get by in Swedish. Then follows one of the greatest Swedish joys: BBQ. Everybody brought something so enough to choose from. We are way into the evening when we turn home tired and happy. We have attended public celebrations before, but It's clear that midsummer is at its best in many hours spent with a group at home. |
Various | 29 Jun 2019 |
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Management A colleague is retiring. Management send out an email that the intention is to throw a party next Friday. However, so many are already on holiday, so it's agreed to postpone till September. But still -for who wants to- we have an after work party Friday with pizza and beer. And on Friday it's management taking the orders and get the pizza's. A week later the walk through the office twice. Once to take your order for ice-cream, the second time the distribution. And that is actually very typical for our management. They treat you, and make you feel valuable and important to them. Danish It's getting to ridiculous proportions. I've heard it times before even up to twice a day, but now.... I went to get a warm lunch at the Thai take-away close to the office. Yes, I frequent the place, but not *that* often. Still, even she started now and asked with an heavy far-east accent "Your accent ..... Are you Danish??" Caravan It's not required, but, we decided to put the caravan on Swedish license too. Filing all the papers still got extra work for I filled the request but in the Netherlands it was not in my name. Being married made no difference, Swedish government still sees it as transfer of ownership. The registration control is just as expensive as for a car. They check the chassis number, measure it, approve is and .... warn you not to use it. Why? Fist 'Kontrolbesiktiging'. The test it's brakes and wheels. have a quick look and we're free to go camping Greenhouse We have a greenhouse in the garden. Some windows broken (I'm fighting not to promote Linux now) but still in working order. There is an old grape plant in the back which looked dead, but that's how the look after winter. Poured new soil in and build a small bench from the scrap wood still left. Hung a lawn sprinkler in the top, and finally bought a pump so we can avoid using our tap water but use the rainwater collecting well instead. Just a few weeks later grapes start to develop and all kind of green plants pop up from the soil.
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Cabling | 3 Jul 2019 |
And even though we live in the countryside, we do have fiber. Unfortunately it's terminated in the cellar and no wiring available. Using WiFi bridges we get internet working in the house. It's only some multi-media that does not always work properly. Still, not how you want to have it as a network engineerSince the house is build from wood, it looks an easy task to run cables. After a lot of measurements and three useless holes I quit. Some weeks later I take another look. Running them along the outer wall is simplest. But it's ugly, I don't want that. I measure again and conclude I need to drill further away from the outer wall. Nope. wrong again. As last resort I decide to go the other way. Drilling from the cellar up. That was an eye opener. It was way further from the outer wall then I ever had it. But now I know the measurements. And finally, the six-th hole is the right one. From this point on, all the other holes are easy. 
Instead of the cables required, I do as a colleague taught me: "lay a few extra for future use. Doing it now will be no cost nor extra work at all". And now I have numbered outlets on the wall for multi-media, WiFi and the 'home-office'. Improved network capacity and functionality.
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Cable cutter | 6 Jul 2019 |
For some reason, the house is lacking ventilation. Not just some, but all of it. Early this year I already made smaller ventilation slits in the windows, but those are hardly enough. A few weeks later I bought a ventilation set to mount in the wall. For a few bucks you buy a drill of the exact size to make the job real easy.I examine the wall as best as I can and decide where it will be placed. First a small pilot hole with a real long drill just to line up the center in and outside. Then the main drill. Not long before I am through the outer wall. The inner wall even faster. The tube slide in smoothly and then it's just marking and cutting it. six screws later I'm done. The living is ventilated! Now in the warmer summer it's time for two more rooms to fit with ventilation. Got a better drill for the pilot hole and having it done before, the second ventilation is placed even quicker. The third one takes a bit more time to find the right spot. It won't fit where I prefer to, so I go down one board. After drilling the outer wall I find an extra plank in the wall. Damn! I feel around, but it's real thin so no stud, and I continue the hole and it's a thin plank. 
How different from the inside. When I'm almost through, there is a flash, and the vacuum cleaner halts. Yup. cut a power line right in the middle. Extra work I did not need.After the first irritation I examine the damage a bit more. Not *that* hard to fix, it's just opening and closing of the wall that is so much work. But, still lucky.... Would it have fitted where i wanted it, I would not have taken down a power line, but taken out an complete junction box. I get the saw from the garage and open up the wall. It's not as much work as I feared it would be, and an hour later the wall is closed and I take look at the result. After having walked the dog, I take another look and rip it all open again before glue and plaster dried. It will work, and it's okay, but I can do better. Tomorrow I will get myself a small junction box. One more hour not to difficult labor and its really done. |
2 | 15 Jul 2019 |
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It's holiday season and many colleagues go on Holiday. And it's easy to notice at work too. There is less to do, in support too. Today is the last day in a series of 8 days in second line support. All four other network engineers are free. It has been even more clear how much every one helps each other. I now notice more that when you ask something in regard to a ticket the often not only just answer, but also fix it for you. Kind and easy, but not always the best way to learn. Since I'm not in the habit of calling people on holiday it's been a good period of learning. The funniest ticket was making a customer near Gotenburg very happy by saying "I'll just call your head-office and solve it for you". So I called their head office who by seeing a Swedish number politely answered in English. When we spoke it took little more then a minute for the other engineer to realize it, and i head the question "How come we can talk dutch all of a sudden??" coming over the line from Rotterdam. The day after that, a colleague came over and said "That must have been fun, doing support in native language". After answering 'yes' he said "I have a thing more for them to do, would you mind calling again?" |
Washing clothes | 27 Jul 2019 |
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In Sweden it's common that household equipment belongs to the house. So buying a house usually includes refrigerator, freezer, wash machine and a dryer. After signing the contract, the wash machine went broke, so the former owner had to buy a new one. With hose being a bit too short, it was placed at a weird angle. But it worked, and that's the requirement, not the cosmetics. However, It was not to our liking, so I changed the water pipes at the time. Extended them, put in valves and installed a tap outside the house for that was lacking too. A few weeks later we learned the hard way that the washer and dryer are not connected to the distribution group installed for it, but to the water heater and water pump. No clue why, but a little rewiring took care of that too. Now just one issue left: Drain. The drain does not flow as supposed, and no blockage was easy to be found. Solved it temporary by creating a buffer that collects the water from the washing machine and releases it sloooooowly into the sewer. I considered a few times call someone to fix it, but then again, can't bear the idea of someone coming and fix it in the blink of an eye and look at me like "and this to too hard for you ???" Just the sight of the opened well is disgusting. Hot water and soap does not do the trick. Then with a nice rubber glove I go in and feel around for the opening. It's not clogged. But a plunger is use less, and other tools can't make the sharp bend. I take a break to recollect my thoughts. That seems to help. The penny drops. That small square thingy just might be a plug. Little cleaning, and indeed it is a plug. Soaking my precious tools into the dirt is even harder then going in with a glove, but it opens, and the clog direct behind it is easily removed. Re-assemble, test and it runs as supposed. Take away the buffer and another job done. Well, almost. Real hot water, strong soap, good drying and a little, little drop of oil, and the tools are good as new too.
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Butterflies | 29 Jul 2019 |
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During netwalking -the daily walk after lunch, but it's often just network team members- we found many grass area's having received a short and simple wooden pole wit a small note. It did not look like a prank or such a thing, so after a few curiosity won. So entering the grass to read the notice. It is a government message. It's informing everyone the flowers start blooming, which attracts bees, butterflies and other insects. They find it so vital, that just for that reason the won't cut the grass in the coming period. Don't bother to complain, just enjoy the butterflies. Very good initiative! Back home I see out grass getting wild. I notice butterflies, and see flowers. And I see the sad view of an orange a tractor in the garage. It's gathering dust while it waits for the blooming to be over. When that happens, there will be a lot of mowing to do which would have been hell by hand. |
Flying high | 1 Aug 2019 |
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I looked at it a lot. Thought it over. Thought it over ones more. And bought myself a drone. A toy drone that is, the 'real' thing is way to expensive. Brenda kindly remembers me of the glider model plane adventure that never worked out as hoped, but that did not stop me. The box is incredibly light, so is the model. Charging the battery and then it's time to get air borne. Flying it is not hard at all. Unlike the glider. You can even clam a cell phone to the remote control and watch real-time camera images. After a few flights I feel secure enough to take it outside. I do have to wait till after dinner time for the wind to lay down. Outside it's even easier than indoors, and soon I have some camera images. The quality matches it's price (or I can't hold it still enough yet) but it's clear what they are all about. Again some flights later I let it fly out further, as well as higher. The range it has should be around 70 meters and is still impressive for a 12x12x7 cm toy. Since the underside is lit in red and green, I have to fly it by night too. No doubt about that. It's dark' It's wind still. Perfect. The drone flies nice, and in the dark it will be real fun to take it high up. In theory. Once it's higher than the tree tops again, it's clear is not wind-still at all. Worse, the drone does not seem to have the power to go against the wind!! I see it drift further away over trees which are more the 10 meters high. Lights start flashing in what I guess is an out-of-controller-reach warning. Thank you for that. Would never guessed that on my own thank you very much. As a result of that it starts the landing procedure all by itself....... I get in asap and get my very strong head light. Rommy follows as I set out in the woods to search a drone. It's light must still be on. I mostly look up, fearing to see it hanging 12 meters above ground. Where to look? No clue how far it got. But then Rommy sees it's lights. Lucky for me it cleared the trees and 'landed' in the fields. Only 400 Meters from where it took off. A lesson learned.
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Cars | 29 Sept 2019 |
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It was time for Brenda's car's car inspection. So I drive the car on the bridge, pull the handbrake and hand it over for inspection. All looks well, just a little too much slack in one of the parts, but otherwise it looks okay. Until he rotates the back wheel. Tries to rotate is more accurate. "I'll take off the handbrake" I shout cheerful and climb on the bridge. Then it seems he already took it off. But the wheel won't rotate. "Maybe if we drive and take the break test" is his response. It does not take lone to realize that won't do. The break-test machine is even clearer about it. "That won't take you home" he says, but calls in a colleague. Together they manage to release the handbrake and explain what's required. On the way home I buy a second safety support and back home I jack up the car fix the handbrake. The slack however is in a more critical part, so that I won't do myself. For my car a new set of tires is required, so our workshop earns quite a bit out of us this month. On the tires we got a discount. Or so it seemed. It was for they could not properly balance the wheels, that must be done by a specialist. Two days later I'm at a tire specialist. They take off the wheels, fiddle around, mount them and hand me the keys free of charge. "We can't do these......No, no idea who can here in Växjö". It takes a bit of searching, but the I discover the existence of "blind rims" and the special treatment of balancing them. It was hard enough in Dutch, and there is not much time left, I decide to have it fixed over a few days when back in the Netherlands. Unbalanced it's a little less comfortable driving, but with a little less speed we still get there. Traffic in Germany is hell. The six hour drive takes 2,5 hours extra. When on a two lane road, I floor it just to overtake a lorry. When I passed it, the motor management warning lights up, engine power fades and steering becomes heavy. Luckily there is an exit and a safe place to stand still. I read-out the board computer and it says major fuel leak, but no such thing. I reset the fault, and carefully we continue the drive. A bit nervous we get to the destination. Between the party and family and friends visits we had planned, we managed to get the wheels balanced at the fifth station we tried. Now that is comfort! Smooth we roll over the highways. The engine repeats it failure but when driving without fast acceleration it's all okay. The way back is as horrible as the way down. After many hours extra in German traffic and a ferry crossing we are back on the quit Swedish roads. Not long before we can leave the Swedish highway and turn onto the countryside. That's where it all goes wrong. Directly after leaving the highway, I want to accelerate on the country road but the engine responds by turning itself off. We are at an emergency lane, so that's not bad, but the engine won't start at first attempt. At second it does, but immediately quits when I try to drive. No new error's appear in the diagnostics, and after a reset we can drive. But it's no longer a relaxed drive. The car is only capable of slow pull-up. The whole ceremony repeat itself two more times and for the last part we avoid the main road. My suspicion is with the fuel filter. Searching for the error code on the internet confirms that suspicion. Lucky for me, Biltema is even open on Sundays. I fill in the car's registration number and click spare parts. The have it in store in Växjö. Then just out of curiosity I click 'maintenance advice'. By calculated mileage, the advice me to ...... replace the fuel filter! It's only 15 minutes work to replace it and we can commence the test drive. On a secondary (maybe even tertiary) road I floor it again. No sputter, no failure. The car takes off like it's designed to do. |
Rain | 17 Dec 2019 |
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It has been a real autumn. Many weeks with wind and lots and lots of rain. We found another advantage. It's not just having water. The taste of the water has been changing on a daily base, sometimes even by the hour. First I gave my family a blind test. Got water directly from the well, and from the tap. A happening on it's own. The bucket broke and the you have a plastic bucket with metal hinge five meters below in your well. A story on it's own to get it out, but none the less, they taste no difference. Next we got water from two different emergency tap's. Not a big difference either. In that case, it could just be us. Just to be sure, we send a water sample to a laboratory, which is common to do at least once every few years. It has been tested less than one year ago, and the numbers came back the same. The only two values that where close to the limits showed a slight improvement. So as a last resort, I added a coal-filter. Good thing I installed an extra filter housing when I mounted the sand filter, it was no work at all that way. But having that planned ahead did not solve anything. But now, after all the rain that fell, the taste is very good! It's excellent. And it's taste is constant as well. It's good to notice natures impact so direct. Better groundwater levels lead to better water quality. Curious I moved the concrete lid and looked down the well. The level is almost three times it has been (not counting the dry weekend we suffered in Sept. 2018) |
How does it work? | 10 Jan 2020 |
The one thing that is most different is the one thing that everyone has started to take for granted: Utilities. Many are surprised by the differences, and never realized it could all be so different.
In the city there are communal services for most, but not in the country side. So what is different? How does our utilities work?
And now what does that all means? It means everything is there, just on a small scale, and much is your own responsibility. Electricity is key. Power-outage means no electric heating. No cooking. No light. Also no pump therefore no water. But it's not the end of the world. Keep fridge and refrigerator closed as much as possible. Warm the house with the stove, and use it to make food at the same time. You can also cook on the holiday stove or get the BBQ out. There are rainwater reservoirs for water to flush the toilet. Drink water can directly be taken from the well with a bucket or picked up at public tap's freely accessible just for that purpose (assuming the have electricity). Sounds like we practiced, but no. We have had one outage that lasted longer then 15 min. And that has been at night around 4:00 and lasted roughly 3 hours. So apart from the alarm clock, no pain felt from that one. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Roadkill | 20 Jan 2020 |
It already dark as I drive home on the main road 23. Occasional headlights blind a little but that's nothing new. And then just a few kilometers out of VäxjÃit happens to me. A deer jumps from the roadside in front of the car.I realize there is no upcoming traffic and try to avoid it. A little ahead I find a place to stop. Even though I hear a bang, I see no damage. I head back to check, but find nothing. Amazing how awfully quick things can change. Unfortunately a bit too late I find out it should be reported so authorities send out a hunter with a trained dog to search for an injured animal to avoid it from suffering. Lesson learned for the next time which i hope won't come............ |
Hägertorpet | 9 Feb 2020 |
Besides the house, we got a stuga as well. Since we do not use it ourselves, Brenda decided to try and rent it out as a hobby.It combines well with my hobby, so it now has a bunkbed and a small kitchen for basic usage. Being a little stuga (two persons) it already got nick named 'Piggelmee' but that's very dutch and probably a registered trade name. Then what? Hägersjöhylte points to a farm a kilometer down the road. Hägersjö feels odd since we have no lake/pond nearby and it points to some families 10 kilometer away. Not that easy to come up with a name that suits and is not yet widely used. The I remember when looking closely at the garage doorstep, they wrote a name there back in 1984. Hägertorpet. After some searches that still seems quite unique. And someone already put in the effort, so we go with that. 
We now do have the website http://hagertorpet.se and also the Facebook page http://facebook.com/hagertorpet .Maybe we can do more with the name. Today I brewed my first beer. Might as well be "Hägertorpet Porter". Next in the series will be a "Hägertorpet Blonde" and the "Hägertorpet Triple" which are already waiting at my sister's place. Hägertorpet ... the start of a whole new brand ?
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