Clouds and silver linings

Swedish power company Vattenfall said that average electricity prices, both for customers on one-year and

three-year contracts, were the lowest since 2005.

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Vestre Silen Lake

A. What you say?

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121212

Stena mess up! Big time!

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Bengtsfors + snowflakes

Snow in front of the webcam makes rather pretty decorations

so much for 'nay-sayers'

Hallloooo..it's Sweden – it's winter!

I never cease to be amazed at how, in recent years, the media has become more Americanised in it's reporting.The 'havoc' referred to in this headline

is…cars skidding and ferries having a rough crossing.The fact that weather forecasting is now pretty accurate did not deter the ferries from sailing.There must have been 'havoc' in the accountancy offices of the ferry lines, the thought of having to cancel a sailing! Vehicles skidding…oh, what havoc!!!!

Hey, it's Sweden. It's winter. it happens every year. 'Havoc' is maybe just a little (no a lot) over the top as a headline.

no scramble….

Breakfast menu at McSquirrels

Sweden – known for it's interesting and varied scenery

especially travelling by train

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second only to Rio

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goog..gooo…..goog…gooogle

Big Mac Index

published by : The Economist

expensive Mice

Dompap - Pyrrhula pyrrhula

autumn impressionism gallnas-041012-001

click picture to go Full size (1920 x 1080)

Raja Batak coffee morning

In Bengtsfors I buy my coffee from my favourite Coffee Shop (which is also an internet

cafe and PC shop…so I get so much pleasure going there…as well as meeting my 'club'

of wonderful Swedish friends

 

I buy mostly a coffee latte when I visit and buy coffee beans to take home. They get

some truly exceptional coffees (including Kopi Luwak, which I could never drink due

to it's source). So here's a SUPERB coffee I just bought at CAMERAIT

 

They source many of their coffees from Johan & Nystrom, arguably Sweden's most

interesting roasteri producing 'slow-roasted' expertly sourced select coffees by hand.

Even just reading about their coffees (each usually has it's source history,farm,

location,etc shown on their website) guides you into the realms of not simply a

cup of coffee,but a 'coffee experience' that is one of the

great pleasures and delights of life. Click on the picture

below to go to their website (available in English)

Abba Gold

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autumn impressionist watercolour v 4.0

you are welcome to download the full size image for wallpaper: 1920 x 1080.  Just click on this image

for a full size version opening in a new window.

autumn impressionism watercolour v 3.0

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autumn impressionism oil painting v 3.0

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autumn impressionism v 3.0

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autumn impressionism v 2.1

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autumn impressionism v 2.0

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autumn impressionism

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Hungry?…again???

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Not so different from the rest of the West. It will be interesting to see what Sweden does about it….it may prove

(as with other aspects in society) that Sweden will give some lessons to the world

Party night

One of the locals visiting the apple trees again

Fishing bonanza

Over 10,000+ Rainbow Salmon escaped from the fish farm in Vestre Silen lake a little

over 2 weeks ago.

Needless to say, it brought out the fishermen who have been having a bonanza.

The more they take, the better it is for the indiginous fish population in the

Dalsland Lake system.(clicking on the pictures gives you a larger picture)

 

For those interested these shots were taken with my Fuji HS10 I bought last year

(a little over SeK  3000,-) with it's built in 30x optic zoom.

The picture sequence is from my kitchen window looking out across the lake.

Here's the real close-up:

children not possessions

"I think children in Scandinavia are looked upon differently to the United States or Britain. We do not classify them in terms of gender so much," Skarsgård said. "We treat children with respect. They are not possessions of the parents."

Asked if he has wanted his eight children to grow up in Sweden, the actor replied that he is "not nationalist by any means," but remains "fond of the Scandinavian culture".

"It's a society that is decent. We pay high taxes, but we also get free education and health care. It's a society that is worthy of the name society, because that word means we're all living here together."

 

Stellan Skarsgard

 

 

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ooooohhhh.Those autumn colours :-)

Squirrels…at least 5

I have seen 5 all at once and there is maybe more. This one seems to like having it's picture taken and appears to pose for me

If you click on the picture you will get a larger version to download if you wish

Full Moon

Referred to by many as a 'blue moon'

"While dust particles in the atmosphere can in fact make the moon at times appear blueish, the term "blue moon," which has a somewhat confusing history, generally refers to the second full moon in a calendar month. And they occur more frequently than the phrase "once in a blue moon" might have you believe: every 2.7 years. The last one happened to fall on New Year's Eve 2009." via Newser and space.com  Picture by gkr in Gallnas,Dalsland

Autumn Apple harvest

These animals just love the apples….but they ferment in the double stomachs and the Elg get drunk on them, so be careful around the Elg at this time of year.

This guy was in our garden late this afternoon

pay a visit

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Weasels - Vassla

So, I was just sitting on the porch, about 21-15.The sun had gone down and I was having my evening smoke.

Then, like they were out for a Sunday stroll and completely oblivious to me, two of these walked past – about 4 ft from me – and wandered along the paving stone pathway from the main building to the studio building.

I didn't have my smartphone or my camera with me, so I have had to find a pic online.They were just like these two:

 

I was totally amazed by how nonchalant they were, chattering away to each other and strolling along.

Hawks and Doves and board meetings

Blue skies shining on me…..

Andy Murray – brilliant!

It last happened 104 years ago

transcendental – YouTube flypast

click on the picture for a YouTube clip

transcendental

Net1 internet supplier for folks out in the forest,etc.

Yeah, I love the internet. What I don't love is all the problems I have had over the years getting anything like a modest and reliable connection

3.5 kms from me a fibre optic cable runs along the road.My telephone line, however, goes for 7 kms in the opposite direction! So I can't connect with superspeeds. The telephone company can,however, offer me….2 MBs. (that's two). I have even had satellite connections – which were expensive and pretty good – except uploading was via telephone on that 7 km line!!

About 4 years ago I looked into 'mobile broadband' and found that the 2 biggest suppliers couldn't reach my location – you know,there are lakes and trees and small hills…and only 12 people per square km.

Net1 (formerly Ice.net) have been supplying me for about 4 years. It was not a massive speed, but it was reliable and not so expensive.

Now, they have come with a new,faster modem/router called an R90 and I have just recorded speeds that are 10 times faster than I was getting 2 months ago! For some of you these speeds won't seem fast…in which case my advice to you is not to move to live in the beauty,peace and tranquility of the Dalslands lake and forest areas.

Considering this signal is coming about 25 kms,over hills and forests, I think it is pretty good. I am a very very satisfied customer of Net1.

Utoya – never forgotten

AAA

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Squirrel acrobatics

click on the image for a YouTube clip

the green green grass of…Dalsland?