Boxing Day – 26th…the snow-beauty continues

Christmas Day in Gallnas

White Christmas!  White-OUT Christmas. Snow, snow and lots more lovely snow.

Our very welcome guests are creative folk and have shaped some special memories for us, not least

Helen Mirren as 'The Queen'…..and what I think might be a loose interpretation of a Rush Limbaugh picture…..hehehe

 

Meanwhile it has carried on snowing. Fine, small, powdery snowflakes but enough to give 12 cms in 3 hours…and more to come

The last 2 pictures taken at 00-15 26th Dec on Ragnhild's NEW Fujifilm F200EXR – and as you can see, NO FLASH. Amazing camera and chip.

Geely and Volvo

http://business.timesonline.co.uk/tol/business/columnists/article6967006.ece  --  an article worth reading

what to say……

When LESS is MORE

My late Father was an english policeman for over 30+ years. One piece of advice he once gave me was that you could judge a nation by the behaviour of it's police. Over the years of my life travels I have repeatedly found this to be so. I have never given any cause for the Swedish Police to require my presence, but as part of their endeavour's to assist people to obey the laws (passed in a democratic country) they do occasionally have spot checks at the roadside as I'm driving, or similar procedures.

 

I have always (YES,always) found the Swedish police to be courteous, respectful and helpful. This,I mention, as we move into that other season of the year when driving behaviour can result in police involvement in our lives. People often forget that the Police are required to enforce the laws (they don''t make the laws) and it is the general public that pays them to do just that. So in this winter weather and with the possibility of a 'party influence' being another consideration, it worth for us to remember to treat others as we wish to be treated. My rare inter-action with the Swedish Police has always demonstrated the beauty of that mantra.

So I guess by my Father's advisory measure, Sweden is an excellent country.

 

Which leads me on to yet another aspect of Sweden that is rarely mentioned – the incredible generosity and heart-felt desire to help those less fortunate.

It's been a tough year in the world in respect of finance. It's been pretty tough on almost everyone. This, however, has not prevented almost RECORD LEVELS OF CHARITY DONATIONS from the Swedish Public.

That's another way to assess what the personality of a country is like – what happens when times get tough for everyone.

definitely serious snow… :):):)

seriously snowy……YEEEAAAAHHHHH!

Oh, and since it's nearly Christmas…some bellringing…

Ode to Joy….whoever she is (I didn't know we owed her anything)

It has been reported this week in Sweden that, for the first time, a small majority of people polled were in favour of abandoning the Krone and having the Euro as the currency in Sweden. I personally am not in favour of this (because of the other legislation that is included in the Euro agreement), however, in tribute to those in favour I thought we should play the EU anthem, "Ode to Joy"