-
Understanding
Freely translated, the philosopher Kirkegaard wrote “If I want to succeed in leading a person towards a definite goal, I must first find her where she is and start right there”. He probably meant that willingness, curiosity, and empathy are required to truly understand someone else. *** Now it’s dark and rainy in Stockholm, so it’s nice to think about the summer days that were, and the warm summer nights. ***
-
An excursion to Björnö
The Björnö (bear island) nature reserve is located at the far end of the Ingarö island in the Värmdö municipality southeast of Stockholm. Here you can walk in typical archipelago nature with an open agricultural landscape interspersed in valleys between forests and cliffs. The area, which is located on a peninsula, is easily accessible even without a boat. Björnö is managed by the Archipelago Foundation and has been protected since 1983. Here you will find living agricultural land, pine forest, spruce forest, pine bogs, deciduous swamps and deciduous forest. There are several bathing sites and meadows with the possibility of camping. At Småängsuddarna there is a lookout tower with a…
-
The love of swimming!
Since long, I am well known as a ”bathing coward”. Google translate doesn’t translate the Swedish word “badkruka”, but I am talking about outdoor swimming in cold waters, I didn’t use to appreciate it. Mostly, it’s rather chilly in the waters of the Baltic sea. Ever since I got a boat of my own, gradually I’ve had to learn to appreciate swimming in cold waters. Like most of Europe, in recent weeks we have had high pressure weather and a heat wave. The water in the sea has become really comfortable. This weekend, it didn’t take much courage to swim. I could even wash the water line! Pictures by Carolina…
-
Fear is the new safe!
We live in a time of security mania. Taking it safe before the uncertain seems to be an increasingly common mantra. But, putting yourself at risk does not necessarily have to be fatal.Lack of trust in a relationship can lead to an awkward feeling of insecurity. But, in order to build trust, we need the courage to be in uncertainty for a time.The saddest thing in this context is that the feeling of insecurity is often imagined and comes from one’s own inner fear. We need control over our inner fears to have the courage to live. Pictures from the boat trip with Adam, my youngest son, the last week-end.
-
There are many paths to the goal!
You can reach nature in the Stockholm archipelago in many different ways. One is to hitchhike with a boat owner. When sailing, the journey often becomes the most important part of the destination. While going by motorboat, I have learned that the journey itself becomes less important for the overall experience. It is fun to discover the islands. Recently I visited Bullerö in the outer archipelago. The celebrated artist Bruno Liljefors’s studio and hunting lodge is located on this island. In the early 1900s, Liljefors regularly invited his famous artist friends, like Anders Zorn and Albert Engström to the island, for partying and hunting. Today a museum is dedicated to…
-
Comforting archipelago nights
Nights can be scary. You might feel alone and left out to dangerous and alien beings. In the archipelago, on the other hand, at night there is a calm tranquility and you never feel alone. You feel like part of nature and the nature takes care of and protects you. We are all part of nature. Unfortunately, many of us have forgotten that insight. I think that’s why we enjoy staying in the nature. Why we feel safe at sea or in the woods, even at night. We feel that we are part of nature. We feel a connection.
-
Touring on the edge!
Traveling the wide road is easy. Going along a narrow path is much more interesting. But, touring on the edge really is thrilling! Lately, we have had calm weather excellent for boating in the outer archipelago, on the edge of the open sea.The bare islets and the open view is balm for the soul. It is also cozy with a small bay with no other boats, except the ones passing by at a distance on the very edge. In the coming days, we will receive high-pressure weather with really high temperatures even in the archipelago. Continued calm weather is promised so I will head out to the edge again.…
-
Midsummer mystique!
Last Friday, in Sweden we celebrated Midsummer Eve. It is an important feast that some people think would be Sweden’s national day. It is celebrated on the night before Midsummer Day which used to be on June 24. Since 1953 it falls on a Saturday between June 20 and June 26. It is perhaps a problem that the day varies if it were our national day. Also in Finland Midsummer is thoroughly celebrated, and the day varies. Some say the feast has pre-Christian origin but the evidence is lacking. In the 300s, the undivided Christian Church designated June 24 as the feast day of St John the Baptist. The Christians…
-
Alla batterier är laddade – All the batteries are charged!
På sommaren är det bra att vara ledig, göra något kul, njuta och ”ladda batterierna”! Hösten smyger sig på, ledigheten är över och på jobbet går allt i full fart. Ikväll hann jag bläddra bland sommarens bilder.Sommaren har verkligen varit kul! Jag har njutit! Och som vi har badat!Nu ska jag njuta av hösten!
-
Värsta båtsommaren! – What a boating summer!
För en hel del år sedan, när jag var yngre och seglade med Anders H-båt eller med lite större, hyrda båtar, var det självklart att jag själv skulle ha en båt när jag blev stor. Det är en hel del år sedan jag blev ganska stor. Någon gång under åren hade självklarheten med en egen båt försvunnit. Jovisst, jag var nära när vi skaffade en femmeters Buster att roa oss med på före detta svärmors lantställe i inre skärgården, men det räknas inte.För tre år sedan, ombord en skärgårdsbåt på väg till Utö drabbade mig plötsligt självklarheten med en båt. Men, hur skulle jag ha tid med segling också? Var…
-
Midsommarfest! – Midsummer party!
I förrgår var midsommarafton. I år firade jag med min syster och vår mor på en liten ö i inre skärgården. Med var också systerns son och hennes karl samt grannar på ön. Det har blivit lite si och så med midsommartraditionerna men vi hade sill, öl och nubbe. Den gamla modern agerade midsommarstång. Det blev en väldigt trevlig fest! Jag sov gott i båten i den ljusa midsommarnatten.
-
Plötsligt händer det! – Suddenly, it happens!
Vintern kändes lång och våren dröjde, men plötsligt kom högsommarvärme, hela maj! Vi drog ut i Stockholms skärgård och hade viken för oss själva. De finaste bilderna dyker upp plötsligt utan förberedelse eller varning. Jag diskade och hon tog en liten promenad. Plötsligt stod hon där i vattenbrynet, i motljus. Jag såg bilden!
-
Ovanför molnen – Above the clouds
Nä, det var inte bättre förr, förr när all fotografering var analog. Visst, analogt foto med film hade sin charm, men det var mycket svårare. Det var trettiosex rutor i en film, man försökte tänka på allt, disposition, skärpa, exponering och så tryckte man av. Förhoppningsvis blev bilden bra, oftast fick den duga. Jag lämnade båten på service häromdagen. Det var ganska tidigt på dagen och jag tog med kameran i en förhoppning om lite vacker dimma. Det var ingen dimma men där var ett hål i den i övrigt helt mulna himlen, som bevis på att solen alltid skiner ovan molnen! Helt klart ett fotoläge! Jag tog flera digitala…
-
Bilden och känslan – The Picture and the feeling
Det är något särskilt med solnedgångsbilder. De är väldigt lika och egentligen ganska tråkiga rent “fotografiskt”, men de väcker känslor av välbehag. Man riktigt känner hur mysigt det var när bilden togs! Den här bilden är från i somras. Mange, Lollo och jag hade natthamn vid Horsslangen, Lådnaön i Stockholms mellanskärgård med aktern åt väster. Perfekt solnedgångsfotoläge och en bild som har givit många likes i Instagram. (Foto-gubb-nörd-fakta: 1/125 sek, f/14, ISO 200, 22 mm)