That Old Tree

Midsummer at the old tree. The weather is always a big talking point around Midsummer. Luckily for us the rain stayed away for most of the day in Haninge, and it wasn't until late in the evening that it started to pour down. I had planned to show you the sunrise at the old tree this morning but the rain and fog made me stay in bed! I will try again tomorrow.

Midsommarsnaps

Midsummer in Sweden. The country comes to a total standstill for a few days. Follow the link to read about Midsummer as seen from the eyes of foreigners. goo.gl/ds7PiY

Pontiac LeMans

On my way home I noticed this Pontiac. The driver had just parked it so I knocked on the window and asked if I could take a few photos. Martin was okay with that, and was it possible that I could send him a few photos as he was getting ready to sell the car? Fine with me, so I snapped a few quick photos and emailed three of them to Martin that same evening. Oh, and it turns out Martin is a lucky guy because he won the car at an event that I have visited a few times and you can see a photo of him posing next to the car here.

Accidents Happen

The sign at the FikAnn cafe at Vega in Handen reads "Moped rider sure, but this was "jävligt" boring!" The F-word is pretty much a Swedish word these days, everyone uses it everywhere. But for the fun of it I translated it back to Swedish here. This is at least the third instalment that I have seen here. The Christmas version was Santa on a kicksled. And another Summer version with a motorcycle usually appears around the time that the big motor meets takes place across the road at the legendary Vegabaren.

Hidden in the staircase

In August last year the new owners to this old cottage at a property along Gammelgårdsvägen in Norrby decided to replace the old stone staircase with a more modern one. It was hard work and they left the removed stones nearby for a while. Then, a few weeks later early in the evening the light hit one of the stones and revealed part of an inscription that no one had noticed before. The local archaeologist was soon there for a closer look. And it was exciting news for Roger Wikell and his colleagues as the stone turned out to be a runestone from the Viking Era one Millennia ago! I had a look at the stone together with my friend Jim on Sunday, but couldn't see anything. The owner of the property, Mikael, told us what the archaeologists had been able to see and that included a name, Hialmviðr and also a cross. The stone had been cut to fit in the stairway a few centuries ago, so two thirds of the original runestone is still missing. Now we are waiting for the Swedish National Heritage Board to have a look and maybe clean the stone up and fill in the cross and the inscription with red paint, and then place it by the side of the road with an explanatory sign next to it as is the norm in cases like this. When that happens I will go back for a photo of the stone. A photo and some info in Swedish about the find here: goo.gl/xgCFwC

The Book Stacking Problem

This is not the original book stacking problem, but it is still a good one. This is the book stacking that you can see in the library at the cultural centre in Handen. Locally known as Boktornet, or The Book Tower, it will surprise most visitors to the library. It was created quite a few years ago now by the scenographer Annika Thore. And if you are curious about how it was made don't ask Annika because she prefers to keep that to herself!

Going Nuts Here

The smell from freshly baked pastries were driving this guy crazy outside the cafe a few days ago. It ran back and forth, jumped up onto my bike and also tried one of the chairs at my table, but couldn't find anything edible there, only my friend Jujja's jacket. One window stood open at the bakery, but it was too high up for the squirrel although he measured the jump a few times and I'm sure he will make it one day soon.

Alvsta

This is probably my last canola snap of the Summer as they are all overbloomed by now and not very photogenic. This field is at Alvsta in Västerhaninge.

The IT Manager

So I spot this guy from a distance. Figure him as an old hippie. Or maybe a retired sailor who will tell me that "I have sailed the seven seas, and here's my story". Not at all. This is Oscar Ian Borgström. He was waiting for his bus at Port 73 in Handen yesterday when I asked him if I could snap a few portraits with my new 35mm lens. I told him that it was the combination of a few things that made me want to take his photo. The big white beard, the deep tan, the sunglasses and of course the Hawaiian shirt. Turns out Oscar wasn't the old hippie I took him for. And he didn't sail the seven seas, and he never visited Hawaii. He is a former IT manager! And the closest thing to a hippie life in California was a trip to Nevada for a computer and electronics fair in Las Vegas back in the day. I'm sure Oscar could have told me a few interesting stories from his life, but just as I took up my notebook his bus home to Jordbro arrived.

Yeah, we all want to be seen

That is most likely Goran out driving in one of his rides, a turquoise McLaren 650s. Last time I photographed one of his car it was a Mercedes-Bens SLS AMG, and that one was also a bit on the shiny side. Probably another job by WrapZone.

Kulturparksfestivalen

The fourth annual festival in the "Kulturparken" in Handen took place last weekend. I dropped by for a quick visit and a few photos. Had time to hear Garland perform at the Gula Villan stage, and also listen to Tess Mercedes and Doktor Krall playing for a more mature audience at one of the other stages.

The pen is mightier than the sword

The annual Art Promenade, or Konststigen in Swedish, opened for the Summer last weekend. You can find the artworks in and around the garden at the Kyrkskolan Gallery in Österhaninge. The theme for the artists to work with this year was Peace. I missed the guided tour and opted for coffee and cake in the garden before I had a look at the different sculptures. This one was just next to the table were I was sitting. I had a leaflet with some of the artworks listed, but a few were missing so I'm not sure who made this. Therefore I have decided to call it The pen is mightier than the sword.

The Girl in The Field

As a photographer I find it hard not to stop and photograph the local canola fields. This Summer I have found three such fields while out cycling. It was a glorious day when I returned to the field near Alby next to the Österhaninge cemetery. I was there for maybe 40 minutes. Took a few walks as I photographed the field with three different lenses on two different cameras. Mid-shoot I sat down on a small hill overlooking the field and ate a meatball sandwich. And during all that time a young girl was walking around in the canola field! I spotted her as soon as I arrived and then her head popped up here and there, I waved to her but got no response, she was still there when I left.

Deux Chevaux

A Francophile out on a Summer drive in the "two steam horses", a car like no other. Spotted from the pedestrian bridge that crosses the Gudöbroleden in Handen.

The World is Ours for the Taking

That time of the year again when I get the old Alice Cooper song in my head. School's Out Forever.T he Fredrika Bremer Secondary School in Handen closed for the Summer yesterday, and a few hundred graduation students celebrated in style. Sort of. They have been partying since mid-Spring and there poor parents are probably broke by now but who cares about that on a day like this!