Pink House

A pink house at Skolvägen in Tungelsta. There was a stable here before blocking the view from the road. Now the area is changing as some 80 houses will be built in this part of Tungelsta. Took the photo a couple of days ago, the snow is gone now. Bigger photo.

Micke

This is Micke. I met him in Västerhaninge today. I asked if I could take his portrait for the 100 Stranger project and he happily agreed. Mikael lives in Sorunda and works at Coca-Cola in Jordbro, and was on his way to work. His hobbies are cars and motorcycles. Although it's probably much more than a hobby. He owns a Harley Davidson and an old Volvo PV, both ongoing restoration projects. On weekends he often goes for long drives up to Dalarna (200 kilometres one way), just for a cup of coffee! Almost every year he flies over to Los Angeles. After one night at a hotel he takes off in his rental car and drives away into the desert. On one trip he drove through eleven states. On another US visit, he was in Texas, and was pulled over for speeding by a Texas Highway Patrol outside Amarillo. After the cop learned that he was from Sweden he got away with a warning. Hear this, fun facts about Mikael: he doesn't own a cell phone. Or a computer, and he doesn't even have a stereo in his car, an old Amazon that he bought from an old lady for 700 SEK!

Hagstugan

I have shown you this place a couple of times before but not from this angle so here it is again. I walked past the old Hagstugan the other day, and as always I lifted the camera and took a photo. The cottage is 300 years old and today used as a summer house. My last photo is from November. Back in the old days the cottage was known as a Rättarbostad and belonged to the Skogs Ekeby estate.

Still Winter

A house on a hill at Ålsta in Tungelsta. When my mother was young, in the 1940ths, there was a bakery here from where she often bought bread. Back then you would have seen the Ahlfont family greenhouses from the hill. Much have changed since then. Bakery and greenhouses are gone. Hedberg and Ahlfont no longer live here. I don't know the people that live here today, but I think they are members of Folk och Trädgård, so my mother has probably meet them on their meeting at the cafe in the park. A few years ago I took a winter panorama here and at that time the house was painted yellow.

Olympic Gold Medalist...

...A W Persson once lived in this house at the corner of Gamla Stockholmsvägen and Kvarnvägen in Tungelsta. When my mother was a young school girl in the 1940ths, her friend Eva lived here. Eva's dad was a famous cyclist and as my mother remembers it they had a big cabinet filled with sports plaques from his career.His greatest achievement is a gold medal from the 1912 Stockholm Olympic Games!

Bigger photo.

Skogs Ekeby Rune stone

For a thousand years people have travelled the old Skogs Ekeby road in Tungelsta. And all that time this rune stone has stood beside the road. The inscription reads: Vigils and Gerhjälm had this stone made after their brother Gudhjälm -björn cut the stone.

A Postcard Beauty

I have been asked to make a few postcards for a local gardener association to mark their centennial celebration. The postcards will show Tungelsta today. With greenhouses, horse farms, old and perhaps even new buildings, artwork and more. But I don't think I will use this photo of the MusikCentralen building in the park, that I took this morning. Local bands practice here, and when they do I can often hear them, as I live close to the park. They get their funding from the local council (Haninge Kommun), and should perhaps ask for some money to clean the place up as the rest of the park, including the greenhouse and a building used as a cafe and also for concerts and meetings look a lot better. Bigger photo.

Winter Panorama

I took a morning walk along a few new roads in the neighbourhood. As Tungelsta is growing a few forested areas have been cleared and houses are being built around Skolvägen, close to Aspnäs and the old school. These houses are older but the yellow one where Lars Gustafsson lives has been renovated and repainted a few years ago. To the left you can see some of the greenhouses at Rosenhill. The panorama looks better at the original size. I have collected photos from this area in a flickr set I call Skogsekeby.

Toy 4 A Big Boy

I guess most boys played with a toy digger or toy excavator in the sandbox when they were young, I know I did. So after seeing this digger at Vallåkra in Tungelsta it's not so strange that I wanted to have a go (but I didn't). I wonder if the owner isn't really just a big kid, I'm sure he sneaks out at night when no one sees him and plays with this digger.

Say hello to Adam

I was crouching by the road side taking photos of a sculpture when this family came walking up the road. I asked them if I could take a photo for the 100 strangers project and they happily agreed. This is Adam and his parents, Stefan and Linda. They live in Stockholm. Linda was born and raised in Österhaninge and they were staying at her mother's place for Easter. If you look closely Adam has a brand new toy car that he wanted everyone to see. Linda told me that she was baptised in the old Österhaninge church (the tower is hidden behind one of the trees behind them), and that she didnt believe the old story about the unhappy builder. If you want to know more about that have a look at some of these photos. She asked if I knew about the mystery rock nearby, which I obviously do. Then we said our goodbyes as the young family was on their way to a grocery store, picking up items to bake a sponge cake. Probably to Adam's liking! This is my tenth photo for the 100 Strangers project that has to be one of the best flickr ideas ever.

Outdoor Art

We have had some snow over the last couple of days. Yesterday I was caught in a hale storm and today in a snow storm! When the snowing stopped I was able to take a photo of a cool sculpture. Every year there is an Art Promenade in Österhaninge. Artists from the Kyrkskolan gallery pick a theme, and it always makes for an interesting promenade, either in the gallery garden or along the roads in the neighbourhood. This piece from an earlier art promenade can still be seen along Kalvsviks Road. Bigger photo.

Tungelsta Commuter Station

The commuter station in Tungelsta is growing. The new platform will be long enough for two full trains to meet when it's finished in August. Then, next year a second track will be built between Västerhaninge and Tungelsta. That's a 5 kilometre stretch. The yellow house in the background is today a private residence, but when the railroad was new, one hundred years ago, it was a hotel. Bigger photo.

If we zoom out a bit you see some of the surroundings. The four storey buildings to the left are known as Ankaret, a housing cooperative along Allévägen.

Percy & Mårten

Meet Percy and Mårten. They were just finishing their work in the park in Tungelsta this afternoon when I caught up with them to ask if I could take a photo. They happily agreed. Keeping the park clean can be hard work they told me. There's a playground where some of the older kids spend their weekend evenings shouting and drinking as teenagers do, and for whatever reason they smash the bottles against the playground features. Mårten has been working in the parks for the last couple of years. Percy was only on his second week on the job. There are two sculptures in the park and they told me that the kids also enjoy removing the bricks from the one called The Tower. This is my ninth photo for the 100 Strangers project that has to be one of the best flickr ideas ever.

Canadian Geese

Two Canadian Geese at Lower Lake Rudan in Handen. Last time I saw them there was some ninety birds on a field nearby. That was back in October when they were heading south for the winter. The Canadian Goose was first imported to Sweden back in 1930 and can these days be seen all around the country.

Three Happy Girls

The weather improved a bit today compared with the last week or so I took a Sunday bike ride and met quite a few people out and about. Here are three happy girls that I met at Gullringskärret. Out on a Sunday ride with the horse. Probably on their way back to the stable at Kalvsvik in Österhaninge.

Mr. Walkman

It's Street Art Saturday at Photos From Haninge today. This is Mr. Walkman. He is tired and wants to go home. We call him Herr Gårman, which is a pun as it can be a read as You Walk Here. The artist who once made the sign was Kåge Gustafson. I found this slightly altered street sign in Västerhaninge today.

At The Amphitheatre

This is the amphitheatre at the Olof Palme Park in Handen. Also known as the Eskils Park. In the park you will find a fountain with artwork made by PYE Engström. Surrounding the park is a big grassy area where weather permitting you will see a lot of people picnicking, resting, walking their dogs, jogging or even watching the local cheer leading group practice. During the summer months there's sometimes a theatre play or a concert at the the amphitheatre. But on this visit the only spectator sitting there in the sunshine was yours truly. Oh, and thanks to Nanok at Metro for the mention of this blog in the paper today, much appreciated!

Decaying Barn

This is an old decaying barn at Djurgårdsgrind. The home of famous writer Ivar-LO Johansson, who moved here with his parent when he was ten years old. He was a friend of my grandfather and wrote a few good novels. Sadly the elderly owners of Djurgårdsgrind havent been able to look after the buildings for many years. When they do visit, they stay in the house that Ivar-Lo's parents built after arriving to Tungelsta back in 1910. Hopefully the municipality will one day buy the property and restore it to it's former glory, as it is a piece of local history.

Smoking Pavilion

The smoking pavilion in front of the hospital in Huddinge. I noticed a few sick people nearby. One of them, a woman was hooked up with two infusion bags, but still managed to drag herself out from the hospital towards the pavilion to try to and kill herself with yet another cigarette. Of course the promenade did perhaps do her some good...

Meet Stacta

This is Stacta, (Latin for Myrrh oil), as her friends call her. I met her yesterday in Västerhaninge and asked if I could take her photo. After a little persuasion from my side (I gave her a Moo Mini Card), she agreed. She works for the Swedish Postal Service at the big post terminal at Årsta in southern Stockholm. When I met her, just outside the Olympiasalongen at Åbyplan she was on a promenade with her brothers dog Kira. I had forgotten my notebook so Stacta had to wait for a while (in the rain), as I got some writing paper from the barber shop. This is my eight photo for the 100 Strangers project that has to be one of the best flickr ideas ever.

Stadsberga

This is Stadsberga, a small rural village in Österhaninge. Surrounded by history. There are ancient grave fields and rune stones here and there. It's close to Årsta Castle, Årsta Säteri, Alvsta, Ormsta, and many other interesting places that I have documented over the years. Bigger photo.

A Fibonacci Spiral

I'm fascinated by Fibonacci Spirals. They are everywhere in nature. Here in a Tussilago fanfara. Another sign of spring 2008!

Elin

Say hello to Elin who I met at Lake Rudan today. Elin comes from Tyresö and for the time being lives in Handen. She works as a beauty therapist. Or perhaps the title should be skin therapist. She was at the lakes with her two friends, Stefan and Daniel (who turned down the chance of flickr fame). They were on a picnic, sitting at a bench and table down by the water, grilling hot dogs, after learning their dogs to play fetch. This is my sixth photo for the 100 Strangers project that has to be one of the best flickr ideas ever. Bigger photo.

Geese Crossing

Neat looking sign close to the big pond at Årsta Säteri. Lots of geese that you may have to look out for. Don't think I have ever seen a pheasant here but maybe the artist have.

Alvstatorp

Situated in a beautiful landscape, this is Alvstatorp. Surrounded by open fields and forested hill sides, Alvsta has been populated since the Bronze Age. Six hundred years ago it was called Aluastrom and later Alfsta. There are grave fields (ättehögar) nearby where it is believed the original village once stood. In the forest between Alvsta and Ormsta you will find a rune stone. The gravel road you can see here goes from Alvsta to Årsta Säteri and it dates back many centuries. Bigger photo.

The Dahlgren Farm

Two hundred years ago the Dahlgren farm was moved from it's original location on the hill to this flat field. Behind the main building you will find the cottage where the agricultural laborers lived. More photos and info in the Tyresta Set.

Photojournalism

There was an accident in Tungelsta today. A truck overturned in an uphill climb at Manhem Hill on Södertäljevägen. Rescue services arrived to the scene finding the lorry driver stuck under the truck. Using air bags they managed to lift up the truck and remove the driver. They then lifted him onto a stretcher and carried him across the road to a field where a waiting helicopter took off for the Karolinska hospital in Stockholm. I live only a kilometre down the road and took my bike over to the scene of the accident. I mailed a few photos to the evening papers and Expressen bought and published one of my photos. The road was closed off for three hours. No news yet about the condition of the injured driver.

Meeting With A Sculptor

On my way home I suddenly heard the sound of a chain saw. I stopped and saw (no pun intended), a man under a tented roof working on a wooden sculpture. I walked over for a chat. Meet Lennart Jansson. An artist and sculptor since 40 years. He has his work shop in Håga were I met him. Currently working on a big sculpture for a spa in Saltsjöbaden. You can see the bottom part here. (more photos later). It's a Carolean soldier that Lennart will be paid around 30 000 SEK for. Since 1985 he has been working with the chain saw. Before that he carved with knives. For many years he toured the country in his van, visiting markets where he sold his art. He makes everything from bird houses (starting at around 1000 SEK), to very comfy chairs (made from Norway Spruce), and cool bird statues and figurines that will set you back a few thousand SEK. When I told him about the 100 strangers project, he had me helping him carrying out some art pieces from a shed, so that I could get some more photos of his art. I will make a collage later. He gave me his business card and I will talk to some people that might be interested in selling his art. This is my fourth photo for the 100 Strangers project that has to be one of the best flickr ideas ever. The project also have a web site.

Manhem is no more

This is what remains of Manhem at Manhemsbacken (Manhem Hill), along Södertäljevägen. I took a photo here last year. Yesterday on my way to Djurgårdsgrind (photos later), I was shocked to see that Mannhem had been destroyed in a fire. The house was built back in 1937 by Otto Arrhenius. He was a gardener and at the time had the longest greenhouses in Tungelsta, they measured 60 meters. Arrhenius had two daughters. One of them Karen, went to school with my mother, who still has a book given to her as a gift from Karen. It's in Danish as Mrs Arrhenius came from Denmark. Later the house was rented by a guy called Folke Hellqvist. I googled the address and the current owner is a woman called Ann Elisabeth Holmberg who I don't know. My mother told me that it was a peculiar house, with doors and rooms where you didnt expect them to be. And now it's history. Bigger photo.

Graffiti Collage

I have a flickr set with graffiti and street art photos. From those photos I choose to make a collage with the help of bighugelabs mosaic maker. I like some graffiti, like the Homer Simpson, it's from a pedestrian tunnel in Handen, but dislike the one called Modern Vikings, and I don't think I have to tell you why. Here are links to the four photos:

Homer Simpson.

Graffiti Artist.

Modern Vikings.

Yo!

Normally I would have links to all 144 participants in the theme day, but as I and a few other bloggers were stopped because of some new silly rule, you will have to look elsewhere for that.