Autumn Angels

The two angels are back. They sit on a tombstone at the cemetery next to the Medieval church with the leaning tower in Österhaninge.

A Relaxing View

Walking in a birch forest is always relaxing I think. And sometimes just looking at a photo of birches can have that same effect. I just read about that in my morning paper today. They have a room called The Calming Room at a hospital in Stockholm. You can sit there for a while, listening to sounds of the forest or the summer while looking at the wallpaper that shows a birch forest in summer. This is probably the worlds most narrow birch alley at the Söderby Estate in Handen.

Red house with white trim

A typical house at Stav in Tungelsta. Most of the houses here are around a century old. The old village road dates back to the Viking Era. There's a runestone from that period in front of the neighbouring house. To see that runestone press here.

Goldfinch

Out bird spotting. This is a Goldfinch. We know it as a Steglits in Swedish. This bird might be migrating to the Mediterranean, but some do stay here for the Winter.

The old schoolhouse

On a winter morning in February back in 1847, a teacher opened the green door to let the first students in to this school at Svartbäcken. 150 years after that first school day, on February 15 1997, the door opened again. That's when the school museum opened. Inside you will find a typical class room as it would have looked a century ago. This is the oldest school building in Haninge.

The Birds

Artwork in the Eskilsparken in central Handen. One of several sculptures made by the sculptor PYE Engström.

The Bootleggers Place

Alghot Niska lived a different life. He played Olympic football for Finland in the 1912 Stockholm Olympics. He fought in the Winter War. During World war II he smuggled Jews out from Nazi-Germany. The Gestapo was always after him. During Finnish prohibition he handled illegal liquor and became a famous bootlegger. During that period he had his headquarters at this farm house in Tyresta. Police in both Finland and Sweden tried their best to catch the folk hero and he spent some time in jail in both countries. Niska died in 1954 at the age of 67. By then he was all alone in the world. He had no money, no family, and no friends.

Autumn Promenade

I took the bike to Tyresta national park three days ago. Grey skies with some rain,maybe 10C, but the colors were great. This is the old gravel road near the Tyresta Village. I showed the photo to the girls and they seemed to like it.

Fredrika Bremer Tombstone

Here rests Fredrika Bremer. She was a famous Swedish feminist. She lived at Årsta Castle. And had a school at the Hesslingby Estate. This tombstone is well looked after and you will find it at the Medieval church in Österhaninge. Taphophile Tragics.

Autumn Road

Fall colors at Gullringskärrets nature reserve in Jordbro.

To Whom It May Concern

The park workers in Haninge are angry today. Someone is stealing the plants in the Eskil's park, and now they want the thief to return them. Good luck with that.

A few days later

I shoved you this scene just a couple of days ago. It was very green then. That has changed now.

A Grey Autumn Day

Another shot from Lillsjön (Little lake), in Jordbro.

Malmens konditori

It is possible that the outdoor season is over at my favorite cafe, Malmens konditori for this year. But I did enjoy a mug of coffee in the Autumn shade there yesterday, so you never know. Here is a collage of some previously unpublished snaps from my 2012 visits. If you read this blog on a weekly basis you will have met a few of this people. They include the blue eyed babe Anna. The posing couple is Fredde and his girlfriend, the Ultra marathon runner. The dude on the old bike is local legend Tompa Eken.

That Old Tree

A few leaves on the path next to the old tree. I met Josefin from the Mulsta farm not far from here and told her that some of the people following my photos have asked me to remove that broken tree branch. I can't do that because I don't own a chainsaw, but Josefin said that they had one...

Farm Building

One of the remaining farm buildings at the Rudan nature reserve in Handen. The farm dates back around 400 years, and had several owners through the centuries. Today the land is owned by the municipality and the farm is long gone.

The European Champion

This is the winner of the women's Sörmland Ultra Marathon. Kajsa Berg from Huddinge. She is an experienced runner and very modest about her success. When she is not out running she works as a school teacher. She started out as a Marathon runner and has three starts in Stockholm Marathon. Her best result there is a Bronze medal. She switched to running ultra long races about one year ago. Earlier this year Kajsa ran in the Swiss Alpine Marathon. More impressive is the result in the World Championships where she finished in second place! That race was also the European Championships, and she was the gold medal winner in that race. She averages around 500 kilometres per week, and doesn't ever get really tired!

A Personal Victory

When I arrived to the finishing area at Lake Rudan for the Sörmland Ultra Marathon race yesterday afternoon, the top seven athletes had already crossed the finishing line. This is one of them Victor Kabo. He was stretching after the tough 50K race and had time for a chat. He was very happy with the result and was waiting for his girlfriend to arrive with a change of clothes. Victor lives in Stockholm. He is originally from Växjö in Småland. He runs his own business producing and selling bike equipment. Victor has previously competed in a few orienteering events and also another Ultra race.

Bell Tower

The tower of the Medieval Church in Västerhaninge. Before it was struck by lightning a few hundred years ago it was 55 meters high. Not sure how high it is today, but you can see it from far away. Last summer I climbed up the tower to have a look from the view up there.

The Tractor Girls

Two teenage girls from the agricultural college at Berga out ploughing a field at Stav in Tungelsta.

Autumn Road

Empty road. A few years ago this was the most dangerous road in the country. Today it is a dream for cyclists. The new road opened a couple of years ago, and this is often the scene on the old road. Shot this near the agricultural college at Berga.

Bird Migration

These birds are heading south for the winter. Shot this scene on a rainy day at Stav in Tungelsta. Whooper Swans and Canada Geese on a field. They stayed for two days before flying south. Update, it is Greylag Geese.

Unusual Tombstone

Another runestone-like headstone from the big burial ground in Österhaninge. The runic inscription reads: Here rests Jörgen Andersson, and Rolf, his father, and Irene, grandmother, and Karl, grandfather. God bless their souls. Jonathan did the carving. For Julie's Taphophile Tragics meme.

The phenomenon of autumn

It has been a few colorful weeks in Haninge. Everywhere you go (at least if you know where to look), there's fall foliage to direct your attention and camera at. I shot this colorful scene in Österhaninge. Lurking behind these trees are the old Solberga vicarage. It is a beautiful building (you will have to take my word for it). The building dates back to 1764. Today one of Sweden's most beloved entertainers lives here.

Woody

Birdman was sitting on a bench along the bike path in Jordbro on Saturday afternoon so I stopped for a chat when I noticed him from the bike. He then spotted a woodpecker up a tree, and I decided to try and zoom in on the bird with the Tamron lens. The bird took off a few seconds after I had shot this photo, with that pine cone it is eyeing here secured in it's beak.

Fallen Leaves

This is an old building at Välsta in Tungelsta. You have seen quite a few Välsta photos on this blog. The old tree of course, and also Josefin and Erika. Back in June I showed you a fox. This Autumn scene was chosen as Spotlight photo at Utata today.

Bicycle Repairman

Stig Nordén repairs bicycles in Vendelsö. I noticed a big hand made sign advertising his repair shop earlier in the week and decided to check it out. He has had the business for 26 years. I didn't ask about his age, but he told me that he worked as a bus conductor back in the early 1950s. Stig seems to be a great guy. He started telling me stories from that time while selling me a bike tire and fixing a bike in the shop. One of his hobbies includes painting, and some of the art he has made was hanging on the walls in the tiny shop.

Autumn Avenue

Allevägen in Tungelsta a day or two ago. The avenue is two hundred years old. The trees were planted by the Upmark family, they bought the land here and built two estates, Hammar and Hammarbo.

The Viking Carpenter

David Wåhlander is the Viking Carpenter. I met him during the Viking Festival in Handen. He told me the story about the lathe. It origins from ancient Egypt. 5000 years ago it took two people to operate the tool. An Emperor and his slave! David does it all on his own. He really loves his handicraft, and if you check out his web site you will find a photo gallery showing many of his works. www.snickarvikingen.com/

Viking Warriors

Jonas is a Viking Fighter. He sometimes travels around, visiting Viking festivals in Europe. I met him at the annual Viking market I brytningstid at the museum in Handen on Saturday. Originally from Dalarna Jonas now lives at Adelsö in Stockholm. He is a member of Alsnu Hind, a group dedicated to the art of Viking Fighting. They meet twice a week in Stockholm. In the triptych you can see him winning a fight against another tough Viking. At the moment they are building a Viking Era farm at Adelsö. More facts in Swedish at their web site: www.alsnu.se/

Lozt in the Pancake

I overheard a conversation the other day. And as I had the answer to the question that was asked, I joined in. This is Christer Blomberg. Back in the day he was a drummer in a punk band called Vilze i pannkakan. He told me that the band played a number of times at the legendary Ultra House in Handen back in the 1980s, and that he visited the house several times per week for a few years. I asked him if he had any interesting stories or memorabilia from that time, as a book is currently being written about the Ultra House. Turns out he had a poster, a few good stories and also an old EP with the punk band Inferno that he needed to return to it's owner, Jujja whom you have met on this blog before. We also talked a bit about photography and Christer mentioned that he liked to work with monochrome images, so I told him that the portrait would be one in black and white.