spring continues it's changes

Cranes

About this time of the year some 18,000+ Eurasian Cranes descend on Lake Hornborga before travelling to their nesting sites around Sweden.

In England it was a very rare thing to see just one….if you were very very lucky

picture reblogged via

 

We DID have two in the field last week here.

The TRUE coffee experience

They are even growing a coffee plant at my favourite internet cafe in Bengtsfors.

 

 

Spring is moving on…

Ehmmm? Ahh! Ohhh! hehehehehehe….

Guess what, us oldies are not as decrepit or worn out or redundant as has been 'traditionally' advertised in the last 50 years or so as commerce has targeted the 'once wealthy teenagers' and glorified the wonder of youth. If you are 40 or over, take heart, THE BEST IS YET TO COME

 

Q.

So what kinds of things does a middle-aged brain do better than a younger brain?

A.

Inductive reasoning and problem solving — the logical use of your brain and actually getting to solutions. We get the gist of an argument better. We’re better at sizing up a situation and reaching a creative solution. They found social expertise peaks in middle age. That’s basically sorting out the world: are you a good guy or a bad guy? Harvard has studied how people make financial judgments. It peaks, and we get the best at it in middle age.

 

you can read more here

history of inebriation:Sweden:Walpurgis Night…..or any other excuse?

Police busy on alcohol-soaked Walpurgis Night

 via

Busy Valborg for Police: "Walpurgis Night, or Valborg, is a long established night for partying and getting drunk among the young and students"

via

It would be interesting to see the age range statistics of those arrested.

I guess it must be in the genes,huh?

 

 

Credit where it is due……

 

That's a pretty good performance from them within a relatively short time. It used to be that when America caught a cold, European/Scandinavian economies got pneumonia. It was the Swedish 'rescue model' that was followed by Gordon Brown (UK) and subsequently Barack Obama (USA) and it seems to have done good service in Sweden as well.

Here's some of my best buddies………ehm, friends :):)

The good (?) old days……….1

Where did all those people come from in a land with such a modest population?

speak to me of love…

Sweden tops again – health care

read more here

 

No surprise if you live in Sweden.

Boing! Boing! Good morning Zebedee…….. and Spring

The frozen lake is beginning to thaw out creating interesting shades and textures as the morning sunlight peaks through a hazy sky

 

Well, HELLO THERE……

S=R(2x.999999r)[n3¤/sh\3¤~17]x2000.673

Success is relative; the more success the more relatives.

Food at last

With rumours that about 30% of the Deer population has died this last winter, it is so nice to see some around and able to get some grass as the snow melts

ehem! Sweden TOP again………

if you want to read more, go HERE

The snow is back

OOOPs!  Not quite Spring yet then,huh?

Springtime and Spring Fever

It's getting more like spring

The snow is melting slowly (and there is a lot of it to melt)

The birds are twittering around, busy nest building……

and it appears my youngest cat (who is now 10 years old – my oldest being 20 years old) has got the SPRING FEVER and fallen in love.

However, I think I must get him to a cat psychologist or something, he's got all cuddly crazy with a DUCK!

an Indonesian Duck

the duck doesn't seem to mind

but then it wouldn't would it? After all it's made of wood!

Maybe Peter (the cat) doesn't need a psychologist…..perhaps a carpenter is the kind of expert help he requires……hehehehe

strange weather effects

Shaken structures and beliefs

OK. OK!.  I understand.

In winter be careful about snow and ice falling from rooftops.

 

OR IF YOU ARE IN SWEDEN:

(via)

The minister (Environment Minster Andreas Carlgren) pledged the imminent introduction of amendments to Sweden's construction and planning laws following a meeting on Thursday with a range of government agencies.
Snow levels recorded this winter in no way exceeded the projections that form the basis for accepted construction norms, said Carlgren.
"It's not acceptable that the roofs have collapsed on buildings that are supposed to be able to house the general public," he said, following a winter that has seen roofs cave in on everything from vast supermarkets to a range of sports halls.

and here were my comments.published in The Local, on 1st March when the ICA roof collapsed in Kristinehamn:

 

I wouldn't find it unusual that roofs collapse under snow in,hmm, Jamaica? Martinique? Maybe even Florida. But, this IS Sweden is it not? These are PUBLIC buildings, like supermarkets, sports halls, etc.

It is time for Bygningskontrol and the government to revise the specification standards to accommodate extreme weather conditions in this supposed age of 'global warming'.

There is something fundamentally wrong in roof specs when this can happen. Materials calculations and consequent stress/load specs are failing to meet the conditions.

Prosecutions would be meaningless if the kontroll specs themselves are too 'finely calculated'. A margin of at least 50% extra in materials strength would not be excessive. In Sweden the materials cost is roughly only 33% of building cost - the rest being labour,design,consultancy, etc. costs.

It is to be most sincerely hoped that no-one is killed - it's a disgraceful way for society to learn a lesson.

If you are going to buy a house, build a building, a well-angled roof is a pretty good idea and snow cannot build up on it to any great thickness.Plus, if it's black, then what little sunshine we do get in winter heats the roof and assists with insulation,saving energy costs.

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