Did You Notice? We Had a Sunny Day!

We actually did! And almost no wind…Even the sheep could not believe their eyes…

About the temperature,…in fact,  it was about 10 degrees warmer than yesterday.

 

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Thursday Thoughts – Why you should go see this movie…

The Death of Stalin (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt4686844/)

 

“The distribution certificate for the film The Death of Stalin has been withdrawn,” a culture ministry spokeswoman told Agence France-Presse.

Russia’s Communist party, the second largest party in parliament, has called the film, which revolves around the vicious infighting that followed Stalin’s death in 1953, “a form of psychological pressure against our country”.

Nadezhda Usmanova, head of the Russian Military-Historical Society’s department of information, told Reuters that the film was “despicable”. “It’s a bad film, it’s a boring film, and it’s vile, repugnant and insulting,” Usmanova said.

Just looking at these few quotes -made us watch this movie. A word of warning though, the laughs are not as frequent as the trailer may portray, but if you’re in any way into war comedy based on true events in history, you should go. And if you, like me, have forgotten a great deal about Russian history since leaving school, and maybe believe that much of this is applicable on today’s politics/society – (and not only in Russia…) what are you waiting for? Just go see it.

This film had to walk on thin ice to balance Comedy, Seriousness and Satire.. And in my opinion it does so – Brilliantly. The actors all do a great job, and I ended up searching more facts for hours afterwards. Good. That is just the way it should be.

The Death of Stalin, which picked up four British Independent Film awards last year, stars Steve Buscemi as Nikita Khrushchev, Stalin’s successor, and Michael Palin as Vyacheslav Molotov, the Soviet diplomat. Zhukov is played by Jason Isaacs.

 

 

Just for Fun – a Sunday Cat Story

As I found the magpies are energetically building their nest even if it is snowing, I remembered a series I took when the neighbours’ cat ventured up to supervise…

Wishing you all a lovely Sunday!

 

 

 

Sunny City Stroll – Umeå

In the summer, the river banks are lovely to walk – but winter is very interesting as well. And of course it is easier to get to the other side of the city.

Going by car or bus, you have to use the bridges. And there is a bridge for pedestrians as well. We tried both.

There is a shimmering swirl of snow/ice crystals in the air, that we never have in Skane, where I live. I guess it is the crisp cold that does it. Difficult to catch on a photo, but here are two possible ones. I hope you get what I mean!

Some examples of architecture – lovely houses here. Mostly wooden. And a happy guide!

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One of the most beautiful buildings in Umeå is the Town Hall, built in 1892. The Restaurant and Brasserie, Rex, on the corner, had a sale this Saturday. Old porcelain and cutlery, furniture and miscellaneous. Not a chance of getting inside! The queue went around two blocks…in this cold…

The last day we had dinner at Lottas Krog – and we were all very satisfied with our visit – many thanks to our excellent guide. Lottas too, can be recommended!

New Fuji Camera – Old Apple Tree

My old apple tree is slowly dying

He has always been there, as a Warden Spirit, long before we bought this house

He is greatly loved by moss and lichen – and the birdhouse is always inhabited

The old tree is hosting many species, many worlds

But, last year, only one single apple managed to grow on these moldering branches

This spring might be his last one – what will happen to all his guests?

Thursday Thoughts

I cannot stop thinking of the school shooting in Florida. I just – know, this Must be stopped. There must be and end to this. What are we doing to our young?

I don’t have any solutions – but someone Must have. Someone is payed to have. We all know that there is something very, very wrong with a society that creates these disasters. Many of our young suffer from mental problems. In Sweden you will find them in every school, in every class. Every week we can read about this in new scientific articles, hear about it on the radio and see it on TV. As a teacher – I know. And mental illness combined with guns or other weapons…cannot but lead to disasters.

In Sweden we have to have a license to buy and own a weapon. Our weapons are meant for hunting animals in the forest – moose, deer, pigs, birds and others. The weapon must be kept dismantled and in a safe. This law saves us from the worst disasters.

People can get shot over here as well – but so far we have avoided mass shootings.

My heart goes out to the victims and their families.

 

 

What to do a Grey Day?

Today is a grey day. The snow is slowly melting and the sky is a thick mass of clouds.

Not even Totti finds it hilarious…

So what might cheer us up?

Maybe this little sweetie, hanging from my desk lamp, checking my doings and writings every day? He is not ”wet and ugly – nobody wants you”, as we use to tease Totti when he has taken a roll in something unpleasant…

OK, Totti! Let’s go play hide and seek now then!