Well hello there!
So last week I had the pleasure of travelling to Germany with work, to attend a 3 day meeting. Now normally I don't write that much about all my business trips, as they are not that interesting really...but this one was...but not for all the right reasons.
Firstly, is everyone else aware that Germany are light years behind when it comes to accepting credit cards?? In Sweden, you can pretty much do anything you want without cash. Even down to getting your haircut..yes, barber shops accept cards! But Germany was like stepping back in time! We got there, got a taxi...nope, no cards. Went for dinner...nope, no cards! Supermarket, 'of course we accept cards. What, you are foreign?? No, we only accept German cards' It was certainly an experience...and I won't forget to take cash next time!
However, I was in Wallau which is a really pretty part of Germany. We also went for dinner in Mainz one night, which is quite lovely! The restaurant was called "Heilig Geist" (Holy Ghost for those of you not fluent in German) and it is located in an old church. It is gorgeous inside, as they have done it all up and made it very pretty. If you want, you can check it out here. I had the schnitzel, and can highly recommend it!
So, after a week away, Saturday came round, and it was the final of Melodifestivalen. As I said in the previous post, the qualifying rounds have been very 'interesting' (pretty crap songs) but the final was a very pleasant surprise! There were probably 5 or 6 songs I would actually buy in there! Now maybe I am becoming too Swedish already, but I really do think the winner has a good chance to win Eurovision! If you want to check out the songs, just look for Melodifestivalen 2012 in YouTube. But if you want to narrow it down to the pretty good ones, look for: David Lindgren "Shout it out", Lisa Miskovsky"Why Start a Fire", Loreen "Euphoria" (the eventual winner), Ulrik Munther "Soldiers", Molly Sanden "Why am I crying" and Danny Saucedo "Amazing"
Maybe not really worth the 15 minutes of your life, but some good songs! Sarah and I were with the same group of friends, and we actually agreed on the top 3 (Loreen, Danny and David) so were quite happy.
Oh, and Lisa Miskovsky has actually been part of the Swedish Snowboarding team...talk about talented!
I also had an unplanned visit to a Swedish hospital recently, and with the current standing of Sweden being the best place for health care in Europe I thought it would be worth talking about.
To start, my friend doesn't have a Swedish Personnummer, and so needed to be treated under the European health insurance card thing. (for those that don't know, it lets European people get health care in Europe without having to pay the usual costs) So straight off we were asked if we wanted to pay right away, or pay by invoice. Yep, that's right, you can pay by invoice! (pay attention Germany!) The fee was 350 SEK (about 35 English Pounds, 39.50 Euro) and this is for anything that is needed while there! (I am sure there are limits, but we had a lot done for this)
All the staff spoke very good English, and were very helpful and communicative. Unfortunately, my friend has had an operation in England within the last 12 months, and so we had to be put into isolation as they might have carried the MRSA bug. Now we know that they don't, as the UK is very good at testing everyone in hospitals for it, but I don't mind them being over protective. The room was really clean, the equipment was all pretty new, and we really had no complaints at all! I think the number 1 spot is deserved to be honest...
Things I have learnt this week:
Germany do not like foreign cards
There are actually some good songs in the Eurovision song contest (at least 1)
The Swedish health care system is really good!
P.S. Never be sorry for wanting to be sure about your health. It is far better to know what is going on than to wait for it to get worse!
Tuesday 13 March 2012
Monday 27 February 2012
Catching up with friends, and watching melodifestivalen
This week we have finally been able to get out on Friday for my workplaces 'afterwork' (beers after work on a Friday) and it was really nice to see lots of friends that we haven't met up with for months. Its really nice to know you have friends that you don't see for ages, and yet when you do meet up it is like you saw each other last week.
There was a good turn out this week, I think about 25...but I didn't actually count. Some new faces too (well...they probably aren't new anymore, we have just been away for so long we hadn't met them) which is always good. I am quite a sociable person (when I want to be) and meeting new people is always good.
So after a few drinks we went for dinner at a local Thai/Chinese place called Big Buddha. Now normally I would say this is one of the tastiest places to eat in Helsingborg, but apparently they do not cope very well on Swedish pay day, as it was crazy busy and it took nearly an hour for them to bring the food. There were 9 of us, but still...an hour?? And when it did arrive, the food wasn't even all hot...so very disappointed indeed. However, it was still really tasty, and certainly didn't put me off going again...I will just not take 7 friends with us next time!
Then on Saturday, Sarah and I decided that it was about time that we cleaned out our storage area in the basement of our apartment block. I am quite ashamed to say that I still had the cardboard boxes that I used to move to Sweden with (yes...three years ago) so these were the first things to be thrown! In the end, we had to do 2 trips to the dump (refuse disposal, tip) as we had so much rubbish to get rid of!
Then on Saturday night we went round to a friends apartment for dinner and to watch the 'Melodifestivalen'. Now for those of you not in Sweden, this needs explaining. It is actually the qualifying rounds for the Swedish entry to the Eurovision Song Contest. If you have never seen Eurovision, you really need to search for it on YouTube or something similar. The main contest is European countries entering 1 song each, and voting for who they think is best. It is absolutely appalling, and is only really worth watching to laugh at.
So you can imagine the quality of the qualifying entries...! What I hadn't realised is that it is such a big deal in Sweden! Imagine the X-Factor level of attention...but for absolute trash. It is also not a 1 off thing...there are 4 heats, 4 semi finals, a second chance final, and then the final. So yes, it goes on for a few weeks...
This Saturday was quite an eye opener. There were 3 OK songs (in my opinion, which is often made fun of) and some absolute rubbish too. Unfortunately, to prove how bad my taste is, 1 of my favourites got voted out completely! However, the other 2 did make it straight to the final. One of them is absolute cheese... do a search for 'Danny Saucedo amazing melodifestivalen 2012' in the search engine of your choice and prepare to be amazed. He has a tracksuit with Christmas fairy lights on. No, really...it is. And that was one of the winners.
After the show, we amused ourselves for the rest of the evening playing on the Wii, which is soooo much more fun with other people than on your own.
What an evening :)
Oh, and I nearly forgot my favourite part of the night! My friend has purchased a steering wheel with pedals for his PlayStation! The feedback is really good, and it really makes playing racing games a lot more fun. If only I had the money to get one at home...oh well, guess I will just be going round to his house more often.
What I have learned this week:
Melodifestivalen is interesting...
Good friends are really worth keeping hold of
I want a force feedback steering wheel and pedals for my PS3.
PS, doing boring things with the right person makes them so much more fun :)
There was a good turn out this week, I think about 25...but I didn't actually count. Some new faces too (well...they probably aren't new anymore, we have just been away for so long we hadn't met them) which is always good. I am quite a sociable person (when I want to be) and meeting new people is always good.
So after a few drinks we went for dinner at a local Thai/Chinese place called Big Buddha. Now normally I would say this is one of the tastiest places to eat in Helsingborg, but apparently they do not cope very well on Swedish pay day, as it was crazy busy and it took nearly an hour for them to bring the food. There were 9 of us, but still...an hour?? And when it did arrive, the food wasn't even all hot...so very disappointed indeed. However, it was still really tasty, and certainly didn't put me off going again...I will just not take 7 friends with us next time!
Then on Saturday, Sarah and I decided that it was about time that we cleaned out our storage area in the basement of our apartment block. I am quite ashamed to say that I still had the cardboard boxes that I used to move to Sweden with (yes...three years ago) so these were the first things to be thrown! In the end, we had to do 2 trips to the dump (refuse disposal, tip) as we had so much rubbish to get rid of!
Then on Saturday night we went round to a friends apartment for dinner and to watch the 'Melodifestivalen'. Now for those of you not in Sweden, this needs explaining. It is actually the qualifying rounds for the Swedish entry to the Eurovision Song Contest. If you have never seen Eurovision, you really need to search for it on YouTube or something similar. The main contest is European countries entering 1 song each, and voting for who they think is best. It is absolutely appalling, and is only really worth watching to laugh at.
So you can imagine the quality of the qualifying entries...! What I hadn't realised is that it is such a big deal in Sweden! Imagine the X-Factor level of attention...but for absolute trash. It is also not a 1 off thing...there are 4 heats, 4 semi finals, a second chance final, and then the final. So yes, it goes on for a few weeks...
This Saturday was quite an eye opener. There were 3 OK songs (in my opinion, which is often made fun of) and some absolute rubbish too. Unfortunately, to prove how bad my taste is, 1 of my favourites got voted out completely! However, the other 2 did make it straight to the final. One of them is absolute cheese... do a search for 'Danny Saucedo amazing melodifestivalen 2012' in the search engine of your choice and prepare to be amazed. He has a tracksuit with Christmas fairy lights on. No, really...it is. And that was one of the winners.
After the show, we amused ourselves for the rest of the evening playing on the Wii, which is soooo much more fun with other people than on your own.
What an evening :)
Oh, and I nearly forgot my favourite part of the night! My friend has purchased a steering wheel with pedals for his PlayStation! The feedback is really good, and it really makes playing racing games a lot more fun. If only I had the money to get one at home...oh well, guess I will just be going round to his house more often.
What I have learned this week:
Melodifestivalen is interesting...
Good friends are really worth keeping hold of
I want a force feedback steering wheel and pedals for my PS3.
PS, doing boring things with the right person makes them so much more fun :)
Monday 13 February 2012
Driving back to Sweden, the Harwich to Esbjerg way
Hello!
Ok, lets just gloss over the absence of a blog for...some time, and move on. Agreed? Good.
So now that is out of the way, I will get back to what this blog was supposed to be about, an English view on Sweden.
We (my wife and I...yep, I am now married to the lovely Sarah!) recently drove back to Sweden after a long (4 months) stay in the UK. We haven't actually ever done it by car before, for the last 3 and a half years we have flown all the time, and so it was a bit of an adventure. And of course, the weekend we decided to come back, it decided to snow. Now for those of you in Sweden (or most or Europe actually) this isn't a big thing...for those of you in England, or those of you who have ever been in England during snow, you will know that this is a MASSIVE thing! Well luckily we had had winter tyres fitted to the car about 4 days earlier (as they are a legal requirement in Sweden this time of year) so I wasn't too worried about the snow, but the whole country basically ground to a halt!
With the winter tyres we didn't really have an issue in getting down from near Sheffield to Harwich, it was quite fun passing all the cars with 'summer' tyres on actually! But due to the snow, we left early...2 hours early. And of course, with winter tyres we had no problem, and got to the ferry early... 2 hours early!
Now, a bit of advice for those of you who will ever get the Ferry from Harwich to Esbjerg.. do not get there early! There is nothing to do at all! The website says 'make sure you get there at least 90 minutes before departure time', and we were there 3 and a half hours before departure time...and so spent 3 and a half hours in the car waiting! (ok, exaggeration...we went to the toilet for 5 minutes) But really, the gates open for the check in and security bit 90 minutes before departure, but after that you sit in your car for about an hour anyway.
So, we did eventually get on the ferry, and it was actually ok. Nothing special, but certainly not something you have to avoid. The ferry goes overnight, so be set off at 1710 ish (British time, GMT winter time etc...) and got to Esbjerg at 1300 the next day (Danish time, CET, Swedish time etc...)
Oh, and a not of warning...food is expensive on the ferry! 500 Danish for the 2 of us... that's about 55 of the Queens English Pounds, 550 SEK!Oh well, we will know to take food next time, you live and learn.
So we get off the ferry, and of course there is snow. Everywhere. And guess what...not a single problem. Roads are fine, all the cars are fine, no queues or anything!
And then we drive home, to Helsingborg. For those wondering if its worth the extra time...yes is the answer! Its beautiful through Denmark and Sweden, we even saw deer (only 2, but still!) And actually, the overall cost was very similar to 2 people flying, if you miss the low low cost flights. And for those of you who like bridges, there are 2 very nice ones to cross. This one and this one. (Both toll)
So we are back in Sweden now, and I am back working in the office again. I never thought I would say it...but I am glad to be back in an office! 4 months working 'from home' is actually pretty tough, its nice to have a separation of work and home.
We have also got to catch up with quite a few friends, not as many as we hoped to yet, but we are getting there. So, if you know me and haven't seen me and Sarah for a while, and want to come visit, just let me know :)
I will update you on more later, but that will do for my first foray back into this blogging world.
Things I have learnt since last time:
The drive from Esbjerg to Helsingborg is beautiful
I REALLY like being in Sweden at this point in my life
I have missed our Swedish friends more than I thought!
P.S. Guess what?? Got ya! :)
Ok, lets just gloss over the absence of a blog for...some time, and move on. Agreed? Good.
So now that is out of the way, I will get back to what this blog was supposed to be about, an English view on Sweden.
We (my wife and I...yep, I am now married to the lovely Sarah!) recently drove back to Sweden after a long (4 months) stay in the UK. We haven't actually ever done it by car before, for the last 3 and a half years we have flown all the time, and so it was a bit of an adventure. And of course, the weekend we decided to come back, it decided to snow. Now for those of you in Sweden (or most or Europe actually) this isn't a big thing...for those of you in England, or those of you who have ever been in England during snow, you will know that this is a MASSIVE thing! Well luckily we had had winter tyres fitted to the car about 4 days earlier (as they are a legal requirement in Sweden this time of year) so I wasn't too worried about the snow, but the whole country basically ground to a halt!
With the winter tyres we didn't really have an issue in getting down from near Sheffield to Harwich, it was quite fun passing all the cars with 'summer' tyres on actually! But due to the snow, we left early...2 hours early. And of course, with winter tyres we had no problem, and got to the ferry early... 2 hours early!
Now, a bit of advice for those of you who will ever get the Ferry from Harwich to Esbjerg.. do not get there early! There is nothing to do at all! The website says 'make sure you get there at least 90 minutes before departure time', and we were there 3 and a half hours before departure time...and so spent 3 and a half hours in the car waiting! (ok, exaggeration...we went to the toilet for 5 minutes) But really, the gates open for the check in and security bit 90 minutes before departure, but after that you sit in your car for about an hour anyway.
So, we did eventually get on the ferry, and it was actually ok. Nothing special, but certainly not something you have to avoid. The ferry goes overnight, so be set off at 1710 ish (British time, GMT winter time etc...) and got to Esbjerg at 1300 the next day (Danish time, CET, Swedish time etc...)
Oh, and a not of warning...food is expensive on the ferry! 500 Danish for the 2 of us... that's about 55 of the Queens English Pounds, 550 SEK!Oh well, we will know to take food next time, you live and learn.
So we get off the ferry, and of course there is snow. Everywhere. And guess what...not a single problem. Roads are fine, all the cars are fine, no queues or anything!
And then we drive home, to Helsingborg. For those wondering if its worth the extra time...yes is the answer! Its beautiful through Denmark and Sweden, we even saw deer (only 2, but still!) And actually, the overall cost was very similar to 2 people flying, if you miss the low low cost flights. And for those of you who like bridges, there are 2 very nice ones to cross. This one and this one. (Both toll)
So we are back in Sweden now, and I am back working in the office again. I never thought I would say it...but I am glad to be back in an office! 4 months working 'from home' is actually pretty tough, its nice to have a separation of work and home.
We have also got to catch up with quite a few friends, not as many as we hoped to yet, but we are getting there. So, if you know me and haven't seen me and Sarah for a while, and want to come visit, just let me know :)
I will update you on more later, but that will do for my first foray back into this blogging world.
Things I have learnt since last time:
The drive from Esbjerg to Helsingborg is beautiful
I REALLY like being in Sweden at this point in my life
I have missed our Swedish friends more than I thought!
P.S. Guess what?? Got ya! :)
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