It was a very nice Christmas holiday. I travelled by train and bus to Borås already on Dec 20. The shopping started the next day. My mother had spotted a newly opened outlet store selling my size of clothes. I ended up getting a few items there; a cardigan, a pair of jeans and a top. I also went to several of the thrift stores and vacuumed the shelves for books to my library. I'm looking for fact books from a specific publisher that never sent the depository copies to us. Over the weekend we decorated the (real) tree at my sister's place and had some glögg. On the Sunday I got a present early: we went to see the movie Bohemian Rhapsody. A very good choice, it was definitely worth seeing.
Monday the 24th was the celebration at my sister's house. We followed the usual routines with Disney clips on TV, tomten/Santa, presents, lots of great food and a board game (at which I excelled, of course). My presents included a bracelet, a wire stand my mother had made, a Christmas ornament my niece had made and a gift certificate for a spa treatment.
Thursday after Christmas I travelled by car with my mother and her boyfriend and my niece to the summerhouse in Skåne. It was pretty cold there but we got the heaters going rather quickly. On the Saturday my father and his girlfriend came to visit and helped us weed some dead branches and trees in the back yard. That same day the rest of the family from Borås also joined us. Sunday we went to the new shopping mall in Kristianstad, where several of us bought shoes on sale. We had Asian buffet for lunch and then we drove out to a hiking area. It was about 7 degrees and somewhat sunny. It was a nice excursion.
New Year's Eve was this Monday. We prepared a three course meal. My sister made toast with goat cheese for starters, my mother made a chicken dish for the main meal and I made chocolate mousse with strawberries for dessert. Very tasty, all of it. At midnight we stood on the sandy beach watching the fireworks both to the north and south of us. We can see most of Skåne's east coast from there. Since I had to work today I returned home yesterday.
Wednesday, January 2, 2019
Monday, December 17, 2018
Christmas party
Last Wednesday I held one more lecture on biographical works but this time for a different crowd. The board members of the Skåne Historical Society were visiting. They were enthusiastic, to say the least. Even though this is their subject area they had never heard of most of the books I showed.
Friday at the morning fika I was asked by one of the cataloguers where I will spend Christmas. After talking for a while about Borås (where the library science college is) we realized that we attended the library education at the same time - in the same class! She has been my colleague here for two years and we didn't recognize one another. The library education was a long time ago now, more than 20 years. I can't believe how fast time flies.
Friday evening there was a fabulous Christmas party at work. It was arranged by the cataloguers. The theme was kid's party. We had to be creative and make a pasta picture and there was also a quiz. The alternative Lucia songs with unexpected lyrics performed by the cataloguers were incredible. A very tasty buffet was served but it was not in Christmas style. Chocolate cake for dessert. We also got our presents from work, it's a gift certificate so we get to chose the present from a website.
The weekend was not that hectic, at least not compared to previous ones. Saturday I went shopping and ran some errands but mostly for other people. I found a few more books for the library. Sunday there was biathlon to watch on TV (the Swedes did very well) and my kitchen needed sanitary arrangements.
I just sent out the annual Christmas letter by e-mail. If anyone feels neglected, let me know. Since I'm going to Borås for the holiday it might take a while before I can write here next time. I wish you all a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!
Friday at the morning fika I was asked by one of the cataloguers where I will spend Christmas. After talking for a while about Borås (where the library science college is) we realized that we attended the library education at the same time - in the same class! She has been my colleague here for two years and we didn't recognize one another. The library education was a long time ago now, more than 20 years. I can't believe how fast time flies.
Friday evening there was a fabulous Christmas party at work. It was arranged by the cataloguers. The theme was kid's party. We had to be creative and make a pasta picture and there was also a quiz. The alternative Lucia songs with unexpected lyrics performed by the cataloguers were incredible. A very tasty buffet was served but it was not in Christmas style. Chocolate cake for dessert. We also got our presents from work, it's a gift certificate so we get to chose the present from a website.
The weekend was not that hectic, at least not compared to previous ones. Saturday I went shopping and ran some errands but mostly for other people. I found a few more books for the library. Sunday there was biathlon to watch on TV (the Swedes did very well) and my kitchen needed sanitary arrangements.
I just sent out the annual Christmas letter by e-mail. If anyone feels neglected, let me know. Since I'm going to Borås for the holiday it might take a while before I can write here next time. I wish you all a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!
Tuesday, December 11, 2018
Lots of great food
Last week I gave one more lecture on biographical works. My engagement in the education team meant that I have started to write a manuscript for an online film. It will be an instructional film on how to manage the database and handle check outs of books, returns and renewals. The work is going slowly, this is new territory for me.
Wednesday afternoon I attended a lecture at the Archive center. The University archivist had published a book containing stories about some of the students and professors he had encountered in the archive material. He showed some of this material and talked about these odd characters. It was a very entertaining lecture.
Friday there was After Work at a restaurant. Two colleagues got new jobs elsewhere and were seen off. It was a noisy but fun event, also the hamburger was worth the money.
During the weekend I decorated the apartment in the spirit of the season. There is now an overloaded tree in the living room and Christmas ornaments everywhere. It sparkles and glimmers. Sunday my father and his girlfriend came to pick me up. We went to Ikea in Helsingborg. I had told them about the marvelous Christmas buffet and after tasting it they totally agreed. Great food. We also went through the store and got some small things.
Monday I took leave and went by train and ferry to Helsingör (Elsinore) in Denmark. It's a nice town with several charity shops and one outlet store with plus sizes. I got three tops, all on sale. For lunch I had a typically Danish dish; fish and chips with remoulade sauce. I couldn't resist buying some Danish cheese also, the kind that smells a lot. It was a very nice visit to Denmark, despite the high winds and rain.
Wednesday afternoon I attended a lecture at the Archive center. The University archivist had published a book containing stories about some of the students and professors he had encountered in the archive material. He showed some of this material and talked about these odd characters. It was a very entertaining lecture.
Friday there was After Work at a restaurant. Two colleagues got new jobs elsewhere and were seen off. It was a noisy but fun event, also the hamburger was worth the money.
During the weekend I decorated the apartment in the spirit of the season. There is now an overloaded tree in the living room and Christmas ornaments everywhere. It sparkles and glimmers. Sunday my father and his girlfriend came to pick me up. We went to Ikea in Helsingborg. I had told them about the marvelous Christmas buffet and after tasting it they totally agreed. Great food. We also went through the store and got some small things.
Monday I took leave and went by train and ferry to Helsingör (Elsinore) in Denmark. It's a nice town with several charity shops and one outlet store with plus sizes. I got three tops, all on sale. For lunch I had a typically Danish dish; fish and chips with remoulade sauce. I couldn't resist buying some Danish cheese also, the kind that smells a lot. It was a very nice visit to Denmark, despite the high winds and rain.
Monday, December 3, 2018
Christmas music
There was a cold spell a week ago, when I had to scrape the ice off the windshield a few days in a row. It is now a lot warmer, about ten degrees and very wet. The month of December is dark here and many people decorate for the up-coming holiday early. My star is up in the window and I have spent some evenings making decorations with beads and wire.
Last week one of my collegues returned part-time from maternity leave. She needed training in the new database since she hadn't seen any of it. Thursday I held one of those lectures on biographical works I usually give when there are enough new employees who are interested. I handed out a long list of titles and brought some of the books to show.
The weekend was very busy. Saturday morning I brought some discarded things (both from me and my friend Eva) to a charity shop in Lund. Of course, I couldn't resist also to shop there. Only some small things. At 1 PM I met my father at the History museum. This weekend was the re-opening after repairs and entrance was free. There was a new display with finds of gold and silver items from an old grave field close to where my father lives. We spent hours in the museum and actually covered all the displays; curiosities, flint material, animal skeletons, barbaricum, classical statues, cathedral interiors, coin collection and treasures. All of it very interesting. After a late lunch with my father we parted ways and I continued on to a church in southern Lund. There was a small concert with the choir and a piano player. The theme was songs of the season. One of my colleagues is in the choir. Nice event, but sadly rather few attendants. I heard later that they had forgotten to include the event in their online calendar.
Sunday was very rainy but I decided on yet another thrift store round in the countryside. This time to a large place I had bever been to before. Incredible amount of Christmas ornaments for sale there. Didn't get any of that, but instead bought four books for the library. In the evening there was a concert in the local church. I walked across town to attend. It was the Police force band and choir giving their annual Christmas concert. Very nice event. The church was filled to the last seat.
Last week one of my collegues returned part-time from maternity leave. She needed training in the new database since she hadn't seen any of it. Thursday I held one of those lectures on biographical works I usually give when there are enough new employees who are interested. I handed out a long list of titles and brought some of the books to show.
The weekend was very busy. Saturday morning I brought some discarded things (both from me and my friend Eva) to a charity shop in Lund. Of course, I couldn't resist also to shop there. Only some small things. At 1 PM I met my father at the History museum. This weekend was the re-opening after repairs and entrance was free. There was a new display with finds of gold and silver items from an old grave field close to where my father lives. We spent hours in the museum and actually covered all the displays; curiosities, flint material, animal skeletons, barbaricum, classical statues, cathedral interiors, coin collection and treasures. All of it very interesting. After a late lunch with my father we parted ways and I continued on to a church in southern Lund. There was a small concert with the choir and a piano player. The theme was songs of the season. One of my colleagues is in the choir. Nice event, but sadly rather few attendants. I heard later that they had forgotten to include the event in their online calendar.
Sunday was very rainy but I decided on yet another thrift store round in the countryside. This time to a large place I had bever been to before. Incredible amount of Christmas ornaments for sale there. Didn't get any of that, but instead bought four books for the library. In the evening there was a concert in the local church. I walked across town to attend. It was the Police force band and choir giving their annual Christmas concert. Very nice event. The church was filled to the last seat.
Sunday, November 25, 2018
One more funeral
Last weekend Ikea started offering their Christmas buffet. I couldn't resist it, I drove to Ikea in Helsingborg on the Sunday for this. Really great pickled herring selection. For dessert there was homemade ostkaka Småland style with strawberry jam and whipped cream. Amazing.
The week at work started with two days of some janitor work. The two regular janitors were off on a staff conference. I handled the boxes with transport books and the incoming mail. One other colleague helped also. During the week I processed a large number of donated books (some of them had been on a storage shelf for years). They are now visible in the catalogue. There is more to do with this, especially since I found an additional ten books for the library at thrift stores these past few days.
This week there have been many sales because of Black Friday. It's a concept we have copied from the US. I did go to a mall but only bought some small things, like a new bed sheet and a top. The visit to Eslöv yesterday resulted in some underwear at 20% off also.
Friday morning I drove to my ancestral origin, Norra Strö. I attended the funeral for my uncle's wife. She had been ill for some time. She was the third relative laid to rest at Strö church in only six months. The church was almost full. She knew many people since she was active in the local community. Some of the attendants I hadn't seen since the 1990s. After the funeral my father and I drove to his place for lunch and book talk.
The week at work started with two days of some janitor work. The two regular janitors were off on a staff conference. I handled the boxes with transport books and the incoming mail. One other colleague helped also. During the week I processed a large number of donated books (some of them had been on a storage shelf for years). They are now visible in the catalogue. There is more to do with this, especially since I found an additional ten books for the library at thrift stores these past few days.
This week there have been many sales because of Black Friday. It's a concept we have copied from the US. I did go to a mall but only bought some small things, like a new bed sheet and a top. The visit to Eslöv yesterday resulted in some underwear at 20% off also.
Friday morning I drove to my ancestral origin, Norra Strö. I attended the funeral for my uncle's wife. She had been ill for some time. She was the third relative laid to rest at Strö church in only six months. The church was almost full. She knew many people since she was active in the local community. Some of the attendants I hadn't seen since the 1990s. After the funeral my father and I drove to his place for lunch and book talk.
Saturday, November 17, 2018
Archive Day
Last Saturday it was Archive Day. Many archives and libraries had open houses. This year my library participated in the exhibits at the Archive Center. The theme was "party and festivities". There were book sales, an entertaining film, short courses in genealogy, information booths and several lectures. Lots of people attended, the arrangement was a great success. I met a few colleagues there, both on duty and not. I came home with a few books also...
Sunday morning was spent at work. This was because I wanted to follow up on a clue I found in a database at Archive Day. There was a little progress, but I still can't find the origin of my soldier ancestor who is supposed to have come from Estonia (or possibly Russia). At noon I drove to my father's place to celebrate his birthday. It was a nice visit with great food; moose dinner and cake.
At work I got an introduction in cataloguing in the new and very complicated national system. My cataloguing colleagues are still very upset about the incredible work load they have now because the database system is so difficult. It takes such a long time to get one book processed that the activity level has decreased by 50-60%. This means that there are vast amounts of new books on shelves waiting to be catalogued and we have no idea if we have received a specific book or not the past six months. I needed to know how to add call number to the bibliographic item in the catalogue and this is thankfully not as complicated as regular cataloguing. It does take a long time, though. I have now added the books we got from the Economics library earlier and will continue with more backlogs.
At work the newly formed crisis team participated in a workshop, where we first soaked books in water and then tried to dry them again. It was training for something we hope will never happen in real life. We concluded that it is easier to wrap the book in plastic and freeze it, rather than spending time trying to get the water out by leafing in tissue paper.
Today I met a colleague and fellow book nerd in Lund. It was Amnesty's biannual second hand book sale. I didn't find anything for myself this time but I bought three books for the library. We also covered two thrift stores and enjoyed fika at a coffee place.
Sunday morning was spent at work. This was because I wanted to follow up on a clue I found in a database at Archive Day. There was a little progress, but I still can't find the origin of my soldier ancestor who is supposed to have come from Estonia (or possibly Russia). At noon I drove to my father's place to celebrate his birthday. It was a nice visit with great food; moose dinner and cake.
At work I got an introduction in cataloguing in the new and very complicated national system. My cataloguing colleagues are still very upset about the incredible work load they have now because the database system is so difficult. It takes such a long time to get one book processed that the activity level has decreased by 50-60%. This means that there are vast amounts of new books on shelves waiting to be catalogued and we have no idea if we have received a specific book or not the past six months. I needed to know how to add call number to the bibliographic item in the catalogue and this is thankfully not as complicated as regular cataloguing. It does take a long time, though. I have now added the books we got from the Economics library earlier and will continue with more backlogs.
At work the newly formed crisis team participated in a workshop, where we first soaked books in water and then tried to dry them again. It was training for something we hope will never happen in real life. We concluded that it is easier to wrap the book in plastic and freeze it, rather than spending time trying to get the water out by leafing in tissue paper.
Today I met a colleague and fellow book nerd in Lund. It was Amnesty's biannual second hand book sale. I didn't find anything for myself this time but I bought three books for the library. We also covered two thrift stores and enjoyed fika at a coffee place.
Thursday, November 8, 2018
New door
The month of November has so far been rather mild. It's not freezing here yet. I didn't notice that much of the Halloween weekend. No one asked for candy. It was cheap at the Coop grocery store so I contributed to the candy bowl at work (which is permanently placed on a table in the stacks). We need sugar to make it through the day sometimes. This week we got a large amount of books (5 moving boxes plus some extra parcels) from the Economics library. They had a weeding project and ended up with these books that they thought we wanted. Many of them we did want because our copy was missing but a large part of it we discarded (after checking our collections, of course).
The biggest event this week included a new apartment door this Wednesday. I had to stay at home that morning while the workers installed it. It's a heavy security door which is airtight. The installation took longer than expected because they made mistakes. They not only brought the wrong door, they also put the hinges on the wrong side of the frame. There are 40 apartments that will get new doors, all different colors and models. Things got a little mixed up. Finally, after five hours, they were done (right door, right hinges) and I could drive to work to attend a meeting in the afternoon. In the evening I had to vacuum the entire apartment. There was a lot of dust everywhere. I'm very happy about the new door, it shuts out the sound from the other apartments and the stairs.
The biggest event this week included a new apartment door this Wednesday. I had to stay at home that morning while the workers installed it. It's a heavy security door which is airtight. The installation took longer than expected because they made mistakes. They not only brought the wrong door, they also put the hinges on the wrong side of the frame. There are 40 apartments that will get new doors, all different colors and models. Things got a little mixed up. Finally, after five hours, they were done (right door, right hinges) and I could drive to work to attend a meeting in the afternoon. In the evening I had to vacuum the entire apartment. There was a lot of dust everywhere. I'm very happy about the new door, it shuts out the sound from the other apartments and the stairs.
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