The treatment I got at the chiropractor's today was not particularly pleasant, but it was necessary. My spine made some pretty interesting cracking sounds. I feel better now, it's easier to move around.
It's time for another four-day holiday here. It's Ascension Day on Thursday. I have taken a few days extra off from work and will travel by train to Stockholm tomorrow. It's my paternal grandfather's 95th birthday on Thursday and it will be celebrated with lunch at a restaurant. I have other relatives in Stockholm also, and I will spend Friday-Monday there. I was thinking of seeing some of the museums in the capital city. I'm sure there will be opportunities for shopping also...
Tuesday, May 19, 2009
Sunday, May 17, 2009
Danish ancestors
I used the hours at the archive Saturday to search for more information about my grandfather's Danish ancestors. His mother was born here in Sweden, but her parents were both from Denmark. I knew the Ellers had immigrated in the 1870s, but didn't have an exact date. I found it to be in 1874. There is a brief family history written by my great grandmother, so there are some names on the ancestor chart on that side. Doing research in Danish records is more difficult, because there are no household records. Only census records for some odd years, and the usual vital information (birth, marriage and death info). The problem is that you have to know where they lived. With the help of the extensive collections at my library and the internet, I now have more details about them. Some of the Ellers had prominent positions, one was a county governor and another a lieutenant colonel. The origin of the Eller family is believed to be in Strasbourg in present-day France. Back then (early 1600s), Strasbourg seems to have been an independent area. According to the legend, the Danish king Christian IV had invited Hans Wilhelm Eller from Strasbourg to become the fencing-master at the Royal Academy for Young Knights at Sorö.
On the way home from the archive the bus passed by one of the squares in Lund. It looked like it was time for another major clash between the police and an interest group. Lund is a liberal university town, and that means that it attracts groups with somewhat dubious intentions and/or views. This weekend the young rebels were planning on a demonstration and occupation of a few empty houses. It seems like most branches of law enforcement were there. Helicopters, equestrian units and large armored vehicles with police officers ready for riots. According to the newspaper, there have been about 30 arrests made. I'm glad I don't live in Lund.
Today was a rather slow day, but I got the laundry done. It was a big load, it was four weeks ago last time. Luckily, my interest in clothes shopping keeps the wardrobe full anyway.
On the way home from the archive the bus passed by one of the squares in Lund. It looked like it was time for another major clash between the police and an interest group. Lund is a liberal university town, and that means that it attracts groups with somewhat dubious intentions and/or views. This weekend the young rebels were planning on a demonstration and occupation of a few empty houses. It seems like most branches of law enforcement were there. Helicopters, equestrian units and large armored vehicles with police officers ready for riots. According to the newspaper, there have been about 30 arrests made. I'm glad I don't live in Lund.
Today was a rather slow day, but I got the laundry done. It was a big load, it was four weeks ago last time. Luckily, my interest in clothes shopping keeps the wardrobe full anyway.
Thursday, May 14, 2009
Hair cut
Unfortunately, the chiropractor got sick, so my appointment was rescheduled. I will have to endure my back problems a few more days. But I got another thing done that I also needed - a hair cut. There is a salon here in Kävlinge that is open late on Thursdays and I was there today. I told her to cut it as short as possible, and she really did.
The spring weather is pretty good, sunny and some rain showers, but still a little cold in the mornings. The lilacs are now blooming here. The daffodils on my balcony are no longer yellow, but the pansies are looking great in the flower box.
It's getting close to the end of the semester and the students are returning the books to the library in fairly large amounts. The peak season is end of May/beginning of June for returns. This is also the time when the lazy students are asking for books to write a paper on, which should already have been handed in. Some of the students are very high maintenance and show up at the library expecting the librarians to do everything for them. It doesn't work that way. They are taught to help themselves request books and check their loans online, and some of them are shocked to learn that they actually have to do the job of requesting the book and then wait until the next day to get it. My colleagues call these students the curling generation. They were born in the 1980s, and have been "curled" by their parents. In the sport curling you sweep the way for the stone. The parents of the curling generation have swept all the obstacles away in front of their children. They have never had to work hard or fight to get something. In an affluent society like this, they don't have to. What worries me is the fact that this generation will be the one who will pay for my pension.....
The spring weather is pretty good, sunny and some rain showers, but still a little cold in the mornings. The lilacs are now blooming here. The daffodils on my balcony are no longer yellow, but the pansies are looking great in the flower box.
It's getting close to the end of the semester and the students are returning the books to the library in fairly large amounts. The peak season is end of May/beginning of June for returns. This is also the time when the lazy students are asking for books to write a paper on, which should already have been handed in. Some of the students are very high maintenance and show up at the library expecting the librarians to do everything for them. It doesn't work that way. They are taught to help themselves request books and check their loans online, and some of them are shocked to learn that they actually have to do the job of requesting the book and then wait until the next day to get it. My colleagues call these students the curling generation. They were born in the 1980s, and have been "curled" by their parents. In the sport curling you sweep the way for the stone. The parents of the curling generation have swept all the obstacles away in front of their children. They have never had to work hard or fight to get something. In an affluent society like this, they don't have to. What worries me is the fact that this generation will be the one who will pay for my pension.....
Sunday, May 10, 2009
Dalarna research
There hasn't been much going on this past week. Except work, and that was also rather uneventful. It was my turn to drive to the remote storages and it was not pleasant. My back is not really in favor of that kind of heavy lifting. I have made an appointment with my chiropractor on Tuesday.
Saturday I once again went to the flea market, but didn't find much. I got a brand new handbag for 20 SEK, that was all. I then took the bus out to the archive, which is situated in an industrial area east of the town center. This is also where we have one of the remote storages. This time I actually did some research for myself. My paternal grandmother had assembled some family information about 25 years ago, and there were considerable gaps on one side. There wasn't much about my grandfather's father's side. This part of the family lived in Dalarna province (towns Hedemora and Garpenberg), and that's not an area I'm used to searching in. I have to say that it was easier than expected. First of all, most of the household records had indices, both village- and name-indices. Wonderful aids for a researcher. Then these people didn't move around much, they tended to stay where they were born. Also something you prefer in cases like this. It took about four hours to get three more generations on my grandfather's father's side. Most of them were farmers or worked at the ironworks. When I came home I searched the internet for those names and found that someone else has done even more. For part of the ancestor chart there were names back to about 1650. I will make an ancestor chart for my grandfather and give it to him on his birthday in about two weeks. It will be his 95th birthday and he plans on celebrating with a lunch at a restaurant. We are all amazed at his good health.
Today I have cleaned the stove and vacuumed. Not much else, apart from the vain attempts at keeping the genealogy and other documents off the floor. I counted the number of folders I have associated with genealogy - 75! And then there are heaps of papers everywhere which are not yet filed.
Saturday I once again went to the flea market, but didn't find much. I got a brand new handbag for 20 SEK, that was all. I then took the bus out to the archive, which is situated in an industrial area east of the town center. This is also where we have one of the remote storages. This time I actually did some research for myself. My paternal grandmother had assembled some family information about 25 years ago, and there were considerable gaps on one side. There wasn't much about my grandfather's father's side. This part of the family lived in Dalarna province (towns Hedemora and Garpenberg), and that's not an area I'm used to searching in. I have to say that it was easier than expected. First of all, most of the household records had indices, both village- and name-indices. Wonderful aids for a researcher. Then these people didn't move around much, they tended to stay where they were born. Also something you prefer in cases like this. It took about four hours to get three more generations on my grandfather's father's side. Most of them were farmers or worked at the ironworks. When I came home I searched the internet for those names and found that someone else has done even more. For part of the ancestor chart there were names back to about 1650. I will make an ancestor chart for my grandfather and give it to him on his birthday in about two weeks. It will be his 95th birthday and he plans on celebrating with a lunch at a restaurant. We are all amazed at his good health.
Today I have cleaned the stove and vacuumed. Not much else, apart from the vain attempts at keeping the genealogy and other documents off the floor. I counted the number of folders I have associated with genealogy - 75! And then there are heaps of papers everywhere which are not yet filed.
Monday, May 4, 2009
Weekend in Borås
My last visit in Borås was in December, so it was a while ago. My sister and her family are having the bathroom and bedroom remodeled, and it's getting close to being finished. It has been a long process to get everything done, but it looks very nice. The bathroom is brand new with white tiles and a generous space for the shower.
On May Day we joined a group of other people for a hike in a natural preserve outside Borås. It was a wonderful and sunny day to go on an excursion, and we enjoyed the flowers and the view from the highest point. John was happy to climb among the rocks. Afterwards we had a picnic on the grass. We were also shown the old mill, which the local historical society there kept as a museum. The milling stone still worked and they have demonstrations of it a few times a year.
Saturday I walked about 500 meters (uphill) to my mother's apartment to visit her. I hadn't seen it since we painted it this Christmas. It was now furnished and decorated, and looked very cosy. She showed me the fabric she had, and I really don't think I need to buy anymore for her. She is a volunteer at a second hand store and can get fabric there cheaply. She has produced many aprons and oven mittens, and has also started to make necklaces. It's a very popular pastime here to use pearls to make your own jewelry. I got one she had made of fairly large brown glass pearls.
Sunday was spent shopping in the many stores in the area called Knalleland. This is an area known for clothes and textiles, and there are a few stores worth visiting. Sometimes even the chain stores sell their clothes cheaper here than in other cities, because the competition is really tough. I made some purchases; a flowery summer jacket, short blue jeans, a long shirt, black sandals and a bright yellow bathroom mat.
The return trip by train took longer than expected, because train number two was two hours late. To avoid annoyed customers they let us take the next available train instead, which was ok with me, since I had a first class ticket and got to sit down. The rest of the train was very crowded. It tends to get that when you squeeze in double amount of passengers. I missed my connection in Lund by seven minutes and went grocery shopping for about an hour (I walked slowly)..... I was at home by 10 p.m.
On May Day we joined a group of other people for a hike in a natural preserve outside Borås. It was a wonderful and sunny day to go on an excursion, and we enjoyed the flowers and the view from the highest point. John was happy to climb among the rocks. Afterwards we had a picnic on the grass. We were also shown the old mill, which the local historical society there kept as a museum. The milling stone still worked and they have demonstrations of it a few times a year.
Saturday I walked about 500 meters (uphill) to my mother's apartment to visit her. I hadn't seen it since we painted it this Christmas. It was now furnished and decorated, and looked very cosy. She showed me the fabric she had, and I really don't think I need to buy anymore for her. She is a volunteer at a second hand store and can get fabric there cheaply. She has produced many aprons and oven mittens, and has also started to make necklaces. It's a very popular pastime here to use pearls to make your own jewelry. I got one she had made of fairly large brown glass pearls.
Sunday was spent shopping in the many stores in the area called Knalleland. This is an area known for clothes and textiles, and there are a few stores worth visiting. Sometimes even the chain stores sell their clothes cheaper here than in other cities, because the competition is really tough. I made some purchases; a flowery summer jacket, short blue jeans, a long shirt, black sandals and a bright yellow bathroom mat.
The return trip by train took longer than expected, because train number two was two hours late. To avoid annoyed customers they let us take the next available train instead, which was ok with me, since I had a first class ticket and got to sit down. The rest of the train was very crowded. It tends to get that when you squeeze in double amount of passengers. I missed my connection in Lund by seven minutes and went grocery shopping for about an hour (I walked slowly)..... I was at home by 10 p.m.
Wednesday, April 29, 2009
Summer weather
It's practically summer weather here. It's very warm and sunny. The trees and flowers are blooming extensively, and the allergy season has started. Even I, who have no allergies, have noticed the pollen. Many of my colleagues sit outside on the deck on the breaks, but not me. I sneeze a lot when I'm outside if the sun is shining brightly, and then I get a headache, usually. I do prefer the winter season.....
We had the first social club board meeting with the new members this Tuesday, and the only thing we decided was to have a picnic in the beginning of June. We do this every year to mark the end of the semester. We will play boules and eat subs.
Tomorrow I will travel to my sister's place in Borås and spend the weekend there. It's May Day on Friday, which is our Labor Day.
We had the first social club board meeting with the new members this Tuesday, and the only thing we decided was to have a picnic in the beginning of June. We do this every year to mark the end of the semester. We will play boules and eat subs.
Tomorrow I will travel to my sister's place in Borås and spend the weekend there. It's May Day on Friday, which is our Labor Day.
Sunday, April 26, 2009
More flea markets
The desk duty on Thursday was rather boring. There were few visitors, and the ones who came managed on their own. I used the time to compare shelving systems on the two company websites we have to choose from. They are similar in construction, so I don't really know which would be best.
Yesterday I did the same as last Saturday - started at the flea market in Lund and then went on to the archive. It was an even bigger flea market than last time. Made some small finds, mainly fabric for my mother's production of aprons and oven mittens. I found one piece of fabric with chanterelles on, it was unusual. Also three egg cups for my collection.
I learned yesterday from some people who were selling clothes that the flea market at a square in Malmö was worth visiting, so today I went there also. I brought the backpack this time, and I filled it with fabric of different kinds. Two pieces (a curtain) with horses on that I was thinking could be used for a children's apron, for instance. Also two large pieces of a thick, black fabric that will give eight aprons. This I had to fight for, it was too expensive for my taste, so I let it be and went on to other stalls. On the third try I got the price down so that it was worth buying (40 SEK). We'll see if my mother needs all this fabric, I really think she has enough. It's just so fun to go shopping!
Yesterday I did the same as last Saturday - started at the flea market in Lund and then went on to the archive. It was an even bigger flea market than last time. Made some small finds, mainly fabric for my mother's production of aprons and oven mittens. I found one piece of fabric with chanterelles on, it was unusual. Also three egg cups for my collection.
I learned yesterday from some people who were selling clothes that the flea market at a square in Malmö was worth visiting, so today I went there also. I brought the backpack this time, and I filled it with fabric of different kinds. Two pieces (a curtain) with horses on that I was thinking could be used for a children's apron, for instance. Also two large pieces of a thick, black fabric that will give eight aprons. This I had to fight for, it was too expensive for my taste, so I let it be and went on to other stalls. On the third try I got the price down so that it was worth buying (40 SEK). We'll see if my mother needs all this fabric, I really think she has enough. It's just so fun to go shopping!
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