Looming Ted

A highlight of Romford

Where I usually go for a beer (which is far less often than it used to be). The Golden Lion has bits dating back to the 17th century and a pub has been on the site since around 1440. Not much of old Romford is left but at least this piece is a pleasant place for a drink.

First blossom

Blossom on a tree not far from my house. Another sign that spring is not far off... for us anyawy

Central Library, Romford

Romford is hardly one of the country's cultural hubs but we have a library and it still has some books! Pity it is an ugly concrete lump that looks as if it could do with a clean.

Walkabout, Västerås, February the 23'rd

At first - let's stop in the small garden outside my building. My oh my, how inspiring. Not.

Well, you see that little thingee sticking up almost in the middle of the snow? That's what's left of last year's peony-colony. In a couple of months they will return. That's what keeps me going right now. Spring. There WILL be a tad of spring and summer this year too :-D


Graffiti or art? Well, this kind of "graffiti" I like to call "art" - street art. I love these small pictures that can be seen in sometimes hard-to-find places.

This MIB guards the house of the local newspaper. I hope they won't wash him off. He's handsome.

On we go, let's stop in Rudbecksparken for a while.

(It was very late in the afternoon/early evening, hence the gloomy colours - think of them as mysterious if that'll make'em more beautiful ;))

Look up - is this the equivalent of a high rise, but for a colony of magpies?

Nah, think again. This is where Santa grows all his...

...misteltoe! Before I moved to Västerås, I had never seen it grow wild, but in this region you can find them everywhere. Quite nice for being an utter parasite, don't you think?

Now - if they grow wild, does the kissing-rule still apply?

This little guy guards the park.

Daytime, he often gets attention from kids, trying to sit on him, trying to feed him and so on. Nighttime, he's magic. The illusion of a small deer (oooh, dear deer!") standing on watch is perfect, when you are only - barely - able to see the outline.

I don't know who's (whose? sh*t, my English grammar skills are deteriorating) work this is yet but it almost looks like something made by Arvid Knöppel (Swedish artist, 1892-1970) .

Library, Houston

I just have to show the temporary main library in Houston. In my opinion in a much nicer building than the normal one. The main branch is normally housed in the house behind this one, a 1970s building now being renovated (a little sliver can be seen behind this builing, on the right hand side). This older building was (I think) donated a long time ago to be the start of the library system. I love the tree in the front yard. Both library buildings are dwarfed by one of the downtown skyscrapers.

Library, Västerås, again

This is what the corner of my favourite library looks like in spring, I think this was taken in the beginning of May two years ago. From a distance just a boring square combination of one brick on another, but there are plenty of interesting details (also apart from the decorated bricks). Will try to go there again soon, in the company of Ms Ixus :)

(I tend to leave her at home much too often these days)

Say neeeeeigh :-)

Next castle?

No, but next unusual workplace. We are talking 1993, hence the poor quality of the picture. Oh, and my coworkers - well, they are just playing around. Male bonding rituals? :)

This is a building housing a gas insulated high voltage (220 kV) switchgear in Kuwait. I spent a few months there 1993-1994, trying to get it working (well, we were successful in our mission). Amazing place.

Kuwait towers, one of the important landmarks of Kuwait City. Partly destroyed during the war in the nineties, but in good shape when we came there a few years later. Sadly, that was not the case everywhere we went :(

...speaking of workplaces

This is - by far - the most beautiful place where I have ever worked.
Strömsholms Castle, some 20 kms west of Västerås, is a very small castle open to the public a few months every summer. No one lives there, it's a museum owned by the Swedish royal court.

(this was one of the places where I worked - in the café and as well as an assistant inside the museum itself - trying to make ends meet during/right after my studies.) <--- perrrrfect for a med student - don't you think? Taking care of an old wreck ;)

(ouch ouch ouch, that is NOT a nice thing to say, errrr, WRITE)

Initially it was built by Gustav Vasa, later it was rebuilt again almost from scratch in 1669. Some of the grounds from the Vasa-era remains, to be seen in the basement.

It does NOT house any ghosts. I was so disappointed to hear that :(

I really love the place, and despite being extremely happy that I have a better job now I still miss it from time to time.

The new cat basket ...

... is approved by the second tester, using a slightly different testing technique.