Less time, more blog: A rare afternoon off got me thinking about time, creativity, and why I actually blog more when I have less time. Turns out, limits might be the secret sauce.
Archive
2025
I’ve got a question for you. This old beauty of a laptop is very close to giving up completely 👨💻😔 I’m thinking about replacing it with a MacBook Air 13", but at the same time, I really like the idea of just using an iPad. Mostly for blogging and basic HTML/CSS stuff. Has anyone …
Fungus and flow: An unusual house inspection got me thinking about routines, resistance, and why blogging — like most things — gets easier the more we do it.
I spotted this beautiful creation on my way to today’s first client — who hadn’t even noticed it. Funny, or maybe a bit sad, how much we miss when we’re caught up in our thoughts, our phones, or whatever else. There’s so much beauty around us, if we just remember to look up and take it in. 😍📷
The heart of Stockholm, literally. This time of year, the city dresses up in its summer clothes. Streets bloom with decorations, and some are even closed to traffic so people can stroll, pause and enjoy. 🌸🦋📷
Turning resistance into reward: Some days the attic feels like a sauna, but I still climb up there — because it’s what I do. This post is a reflection on discipline, resistance, and why the easiest choice isn’t always the right one.
Not only do we get rainbow crossings this time of year in Sweden, we also get the famous and delicious prinsesstårta (princess cake), all dressed up with the rainbow flag. Yummy! 🌈📷
If there’s any Micro.blog plug-in creator out there looking for ideas, I’d love to see a plug-in that automatically creates OG images. Something like what Good Enough did with Pika would be awesome.
Passion as the recipe for success: I listened to an interview with a Swedish baking star and it got me thinking about how joy and passion are the real keys to success. Maybe the question isn’t “Will this work?” but “Does this light me up?”
Finished reading: Wild and Crazy Guys by Nick de Semlyen 📚 The stories totally live up to the title of the book. It’s a crazy ride! Packed with fun trivia and all kinds of behind-the-scenes stuff, but also quite a bit of tragedy. Sadly, comedy and tragedy often go hand in hand. Anyway, a great read!
In Tyresö, Sweden this time of year, the pedestrian crossings come to life in the colors of the rainbow. 🌈😍📷
I spotted this Swedish “rondellhund” (roundabout dog) the other day. “Kram” means hug in Swedish — and that’s exactly what I want to send your way. Wishing you a wonderful weekend! 🤗📷
Text or talk?: Had a job out in the archipelago the other day and ended up calling instead of texting the person who booked it. Just a little reminder that sometimes, a quick call can save a lot of misunderstanding — tone matters more than we think.
Stumbled upon a beautiful car today that looked a lot like the one I spotted the other day. Different brand and year, though. 🚘📷
I was pretty sure I wouldn’t be a fan of iOS 26. But after giving the public beta a spin for about an hour, I have to admit — I actually like it. Some neat and welcome changes in there! 📱✍️
I spotted this beautiful car creation and had to take a closer look. It’s not just nostalgia — some things were simply made more beautifully back in the day. 🚘📷
Can't please them all: Did a routine inspection, gave a thumbs up and explained everything clearly to the client — still got a thumbs-down back from the client. Oh well, can’t please everyone.
Stumbled upon this lovely waffle café between two jobs today. So good, and a wonderful atmosphere 🧇😋📹
What keeps us going: I met a 99-year-old client who was full of energy, and it got me thinking — maybe the secret to a long life isn’t about what we do, but that we keep doing what we love.
Cute little ”hobbit house” at one of today’s clients. 😍📷
It’s not wrong, it’s life: Life rarely gives us a week without challenges — and that’s not wrong. Accepting the ups and downs without judgment can make things a little easier to handle.
I want a blog restart: Thinking about restarting my blog — new name, new domain. Just sharing some thoughts (again) to clear my head and figure out what’s next.
For my Crucial Track today, I picked Chiquitita by ABBA and wrote, “It’s actually been quite a while since I last heard it.” Two hours later, I walk into a pub and hear it streaming from the speakers. Spooky! 👻📹
Beginner's mind: Some thoughts on how a beginner’s mind can outsmart twenty years of experience. Sometimes, not knowing is exactly what we need.
Finding flavor in life: A customer told me he quit his high-paying job because it just wasn’t worth it anymore. It got me thinking about the choices we make — and how true contentment rarely comes from titles or paychecks, but from something much simpler.
Overthinkers non-anonymous: Yesterday, a blog identity crisis. Today, all clear thanks to writing it out and hearing from others who’ve been there too. Overthinking is more fun when you’re not doing it alone.
I took the opportunity to stop by here before the first house inspection today. Always a good feeling to start the day off with some calmness. 📷
Finished reading: Atomic Habits by James Clear 📚 Nah. Some interesting stuff, but not a particularly inspiring read. Each chapter follows exactly the same formula: In [a year — preferably at least 40 years ago], [person/event], [something happened]. Then comes the lesson: what we can learn from it …
Blog identity crisis — again: Just me, once again, trying to figure out how to balance micro posts and long-form writing. No big revelations, just some honest thoughts about what feels right (and what doesn’t) when it comes to blogging.
The lost art of listening: I’ve been thinking about how rare good listening has become. Here’s why being a listener matters to me, and why I think it’s something we could all use a bit more of.
Re: Starting without a plan: Thoughts on why I love seeing new blogs pop up, and how blogging can be both a creative outlet and a way to connect with others.
Dancing with ghosts: A dreamy dive into Kate Bush’s Wuthering Heights — ghostly vocals, red dresses, and a story that’s kind of like Baby Reindeer on steroids. Music, obsession, and a little bit of awkward dancing.
Finished reading: New Thinking by Dagogo Altraide 📚 An interesting read! It’s cool to see how much of today’s technology exists thanks to really old inventions. But the book was also a bit of a sad reminder of how often war and the military have driven innovation throughout history. Personal …
The present: A notebook I got for present. I heard someone say that we need to understand our past in order to create our future. But is that really true? Do we have to “understand” our history? Isn’t it enough that we’ve learned from it — that we’ve used it to shape better conditions moving …
Just a random stranger I passed while walking home. I liked the color palette and snapped a quick shot. 🎨📷
Finished reading: The Executioner by Chris Carter 📚 Yep, he’s done it again! Without a doubt the best series I’ve come across in the genre. Not for the faint-hearted, that’s for sure — but if you’re into dark crime, you’re gonna love this series.
A lifetime of lessons: I recently overheard a conversation where someone proudly shared a photo of their grandchildren. The lighthearted response was a joke about the grandchildren doing the same in reverse: “Look, this is my grandmother. Isn’t she cute? Guess what she said today?” At first, it made me …
Making Micro.blog more colorful: Street painter outside The Royal Dramatic Theatre in Stockholm. I’ve put together a Micro.blog Color Palettes page to go along with the Micro.blog Styles collection. You don’t have to use Micro.blog to enjoy the palettes, of course. Just rename the variables to match your own theme (you might need …
Setbacks with a purpose: I was recently listening to a thoughtful interview with the wonderful Finnish singer Arja Saijonmaa. The conversation touched on something we can all relate to — life’s inevitable setbacks. She said something that really stayed with me. That every difficulty, no matter how overwhelming it might feel …
Clarity over chaos: This day started out with a bit of a challenge… The first client I visited had a (false) preconception about why I was there. I tried to explain, but she wouldn’t have it. Luckily, I’ve learned the value of a firm no. So I told her — it’s either my way or no way at all. I wouldn’t say we got …
Here in Sweden, we love our cinnamon buns and our soft ice cream — so of course, some genius had to combine the two. The result? Pure magic. Yummy! 😋📷
A place that feels like elsewhere: Right now, I’m sitting at The International Bar. It’s just around the corner from where I live. Every now and then, I drop by for a beer or two. I like the atmosphere. The staff is super friendly, and I often bump into some regulars. Like one guy — an aspiring author from Germany. We …
First test with the Indigo camera app. So far, I like it. Neat features, good design, and nice results. Gonna play around some more with it. (via gunnar.se) 📷
The perfection myth: I just finished reading Creativity, Inc. by Ed Catmull. I loved it! So interesting and inspiring. One thing Ed said that really stuck with me (among many others) was when he talked about sharing your work with others. He said: Don’t wait for things to be perfect before you share them with others. …
Finished reading: Creativity, Inc. (The Expanded Edition) by Ed Catmull 📚 A great read! Full of inspiring thoughts on creative work and packed with fun Pixar trivia. Since Ed worked closely with Steve Jobs, there are also some fascinating stories about him — a more personal side than you usually …
Micro.blog blogroll styles: Micro.blog has a neat built-in feature for creating a blogroll. It seems like quite a few people have missed this little gem — maybe because it’s kind of “hidden” under Design → Edit Recommendations. If you’re using Micro.blog, I highly recommend giving it a go. The recommendations can then be …
Finding your voice — and keeping it: My nephew, Sigge There’s one challenge most bloggers face: discovering their unique voice. And honestly, the only real way to find it is to just keep blogging. With a bit of luck (and a lot of writing), we’ll get there eventually. But keeping that voice alive? That can be just as tricky. It’s easy …
No likes, no stats, no problem: Sign at a café in Chiang Mai, Thailand I really appreciate the new features available on this fresh little blog home of mine. I like how easy it is to create photo albums and track books. And I love that I can publish blog posts straight from my favorite text editor (iA Writer). I also appreciate …
Beautiful morning! I always try to make a quick stop at this place whenever I’m working in the area. It’s so energizing! And this morning, I really needed that boost… 🥱📷
CSSunday: I’ve spent this Sunday styling my blog. Considering the Zen of CSS, I’d say that counts as a pretty impressive meditation session. As most bloggers know, it’s always a work in progress. A never-ending cycle of tweaking and playing around, but also a genuinely fun way to be creative while learning …
Blogs have birthdays too: I just read the post Thank you for being you by Ruben Verweij. He writes that his blog has just celebrated its one-year anniversary. Happy blogbirthday! 🥳 I think many bloggers can relate to that kind of joy. I know I can. A blog isn’t just a digital platform. It’s more like an entity — a close …
Met this adorable little family during a house inspection today. I know they have a reputation for wrecking gardens, but as a city slicker myself, all I see is pure cuuuute. Look at them — almost like a kiss! 💕📷
I’d rather be a fake millionaire: I heard on the Swedish news that our dear neighbors in Norway had a bit of a bummer the other day. About 40,000 Norwegians received an official message from Eurojackpot (a big lottery game across Europe) saying they were millionaires. Turns out, there was a sliiight miscalculation. The winnings had …
Re: IndieWeb is Punk: Yay, I got my ”IndieWeb is Punk” T-shirt today! 😎 This awesome creation is a perfect example of what the indie punk DIY spirit can lead to. It all started with Jamie Thingelstad publishing the blog post IndieWeb is Punk. I commented that the title would make an awesome t-shirt. Jim Mitchell picked …
I don’t know about you, but I think this tiny-house movement is starting to get out of hand. 🏡📷 To quote Derek Zoolander: What is this? A center for ants?!
After the blogging honeymoon: With this new home for my blog, I’m still on the limited Micro.one $1/month plan. It’s a surprisingly generous setup, with neat features like book tracking and photo collections. Coming from Bear Blog — a wonderful platform in its own minimalistic “bear necessities” kind of way — this feels like a …
JulyReply 2025 is here: Junited 2025 is over, which means it’s time for JulyReply 2025! If you’ve been following my blog for a while, you might remember I did this last year too. Can we get even more participants this time? Let’s make it happen! 🤩 The idea is simple — and no, it’s not a contest or anything too …
The beauty of blogging: I’ve been blogging for about 20 years now — give or take a couple of breaks along the way — and I can honestly say it’s one of the most rewarding things I’ve ever stuck with. Blogging has been a creative outlet, a tech playground, and, most importantly, a way to connect with people I might never …
Finished reading: Battle Scars by Jason Fox 📚 An honest, interesting, and at times deeply unsettling read. It paints a raw and personal picture of one of the many terrible aftereffects war can leave behind — and the road back to recovery.
Photo challenge day 30: Solitude 🇹🇭📷 This is my final entry for the June 2025 Photo Challenge. And here they are — all my contributions from the month.
Bought a bag of mixed candy for the movie. The person at the register only charged me for the drink. I asked if he forgot to charge for the candy. He replied: ‘It was such a small amount, it’s on us.’ There’s still hope for the world! 🍬 📷
The illusion of overnight success: I recently listened to a documentary about the artist Charli XCX. It featured, among others, the Swedish songwriter, producer, and friend Noonie Bao, who’s been with her since the very beginning. Noonie shared how happy and moved she feels seeing Charli’s success. Having witnessed all the hard work …
Bought a bag of mixed candy for the movie. The person at the register only charged me for the drink. I asked if he forgot to charge for the candy. He replied: “It was such a small amount, it’s on us.” There’s still hope for the world! 🍬📷
Photo challenge day 29: Winding 🪜📷 A staircase inside a tiny library tucked away in the Östermalmstorg subway station, right here in my neighborhood in Stockholm.
The Zen of CSS: Creating a rainbow logo or category styles takes me a long time. Too long, most people would probably say. As an amateur, I have to search for answers and do a lot of trial and error. But that’s not really why it takes so long. And it’s not about chasing perfection either. It’s because I find it …
Tinkering a bit more with my theme. I’ve now added separate styles for both the books and notes categories. Still planning to play around with it, but first… I really need to do some code cleaning. 🧑💻✍️
Photo challenge day 28: Ephemeral 🪦📷 From Skogskyrkogården (The Woodland Cemetery), just a few minutes from central Stockholm. It’s a beautiful and peaceful place — it’s even on the UNESCO World Heritage List. If you ever come to Sweden, I highly recommend a visit.
I spotted this cool calendar at one of the houses I inspected today. I love the minimalistic, abstract look, and the fact that it still manages to be super clear and easy to use. Design at its best! 📹
Cherish what you have: I remember a house inspection I did a while back. Before I started looking around, I asked the owner if any of the bathrooms had been renovated recently. He said no. Then we got to the first one, and it looked almost brand new. When I mentioned that, he said: “Oh no, this must’ve been redone at …
Photo challenge day 27: Collective 🎤📷 Shot earlier this year when Kent, one of the biggest bands in Sweden, did a few reunion gigs.
Blogging balance: In her latest post, Véronique writes that she’s been thinking about posting daily “card pulls” and journaling prompts. She then adds: …but idk if that would be too much for people who aren’t interested in that stuff… I emailed her and said that I totally think …
I’ve updated the Micro.blog Rainbow Logo post with matching styles to create a rainbow border for your avatar. 🌈✍️
Photo challenge day 26: Bridge 🌉📷
Gorgeous morning! Off to work on one of the islands. Not sailing there with that majestic ship, though… maybe next time! 📷🛳️☀️
Awesome aging: Since I’m in the one step at a time process of moving my blog, and today picked Ava’s post I like getting older for my Junited 2025 list, I figured it was the perfect time to move this 2024 post of mine over here. I was listening to an interview with the Swedish artist Peter Jöback. They were …
Finished reading: The Innovators: How a Group of Hackers, Geniuses, and Geeks Created the Digital Revolution by Walter Isaacson 📚 Very interesting read! From the invention of the computer to the birth of blogs. Fascinating stories and fun facts, like how the terms bug and debugging came to be.
Finished reading: Studie i mänskligt beteende by Lena Andersson 📚 I really like her books! She has a fantastic ability to capture people’s quirks in a way that’s both hilarious and touching.
Still tinkering with my Micro.blog. The latest experiment: a typewriter/paper-style look for my shorter notes. Might try some special styles for ”Finished reading” posts as well. 🎨✍️
Photo challenge day 25: Decay 🛳️📷 The ”Ghost Ship” on Koh Chang in Thailand. The photo is taken before the fire last year that unfortunately destroyed part of the structure.
Micro.blog Rainbow Logo: Want to sprinkle some rainbow magic on your Micro.blog during Pride Month? Or why not keep the joy going all year round? Rainbows never go out of style! 🌈✨ Just hop over to ‘Design → Edit CSS’ and paste in the code below. I’m using the mnml theme, but it should play nicely with …
True success is daring to fail: We often only see the finished product, not the messy journey behind it. That thought struck me while I was listening to an interview with the Swedish artist Per Gessle, best known for his work with the band Roxette. When asked about the key to success, he replied: “You have to dare, and you …
High on low expectations: We’ve all been there: the anticipation of something great, only to be met with disappointment. It’s easy to have high expectations in life. A much-anticipated sci-fi film, a dream trip promising fantastic experiences, a project we strongly believe in. Then reality doesn’t live up …
Photo challenge day 24: Bloom 💐📷 Taken during the annual flower festival in Chiang Mai, Thailand. 🇹🇭
Finished reading: Crucifix Killer by Chris Carter 📚 A new favorite of mine in the crime/thriller genre, and I’m not just saying that because the main character is named Robert.
A life in motion: Lately, it’s struck me that I now prefer books, movies, and shows that feel real and take place more or less in modern times. I used to love animated films, fantasy, and stories with historical themes. But not so much anymore. Maybe it’s just a phase I’m going through. I don’t know. …
Photo challenge day 23: Fracture 🌳📷
Blog Recycling: I listened to an interview (it’s in English by a Swedish journalist) with the American songwriter and producer Desmond Child. He mentioned that he had used one of his creations in three different productions with three different artists: If You Were a Woman (And I Was a Man) – Bonnie Tyler …
I’ve updated the Our Blogging Workflow page with several new names. If you have a similar post and would like to be included, just let me know. I’d be happy to add you! 🧑💻✍️
Photo challenge day 22: Hometown 🏘️📷 On my about page, I have written a little bit about where I live.
Love music? Check out the podcast Hemma hos Strage (At Strage’s Place). It’s hosted by Swedish journalist Fredrik Strage, who’s really great at doing interesting, fun, and thoughtful interviews. Some episodes are in Swedish with Swedish artists, but quite a few are in English. Give it a listen! …
Added Bukmark Club and A Webring List to the Blogging Tips & Tools page ✍️
Micro.blog Question Challenge: A while back, Ava kindly invited me to take part in her wonderful initiative, the Bear blog question challenge. You can read my answers here. Now that I’m on a new platform, I thought it would be fun and interesting to do a Micro.blog version of the same challenge. Below are Ava’s original …
Photo challenge day 21: Silhouette 🌴📷
Swedish Midsummer: family, frogs & flowers: Today is Midsummer’s Day here in Sweden. Of all the holidays we celebrate, this might just be the biggest. Yes, even bigger than Christmas. This year, I spent it with my family in Åkersberga, the neighborhood where I grew up. It was a lovely day with great weather, lots of people, and of course, the …
Ordered the “IndieWeb is Punk” T-shirt created by Jim Mitchell, based on a blog post by Jamie Thingelstad. Glad it was possible to get it shipped to Sweden for an extra fee (Total: $49.56). ✍️ Update: Arrived!
Today is Midsummer’s Eve in Sweden! To celebrate, I decided to give my blog a Midsummer pole logo. Glad midsommar! 🇸🇪☀️✍️
Photo challenge day 20: Gather 🇸🇪📷 Perfect timing with today’s prompt since it’s Midsummer Eve celebration here in Sweden today. 🥳
Micro.blog Wishlist: It’s been a couple of weeks since I moved my blog to Micro.blog, and it’s been a nice experience so far. I like the possibilities the platform provides without having to come up with half-baked workarounds. But, as with any platform, there are some things I miss. Here are some that first …
Finished reading: Från Noice till nu by Peo Thyrén 📚 This book is a nostalgic trip back in time, but only if you’re from Sweden and old enough to remember the band Noice (yes, that’s how they spell it) at their peak during the late ’70s and early ‘80s.
Finding my genuine English voice: My blogging workflow used to involve writing in Swedish and then translating it into English. I did it that way to make the writing process as smooth as possible. Today, I decided to try writing in English from scratch. It doesn’t feel natural, and it takes longer, but I want to give it a fair …
Speaking of Finding my genuine English voice, so to speak, I decided to embarrass myself by adding an audio version. Worst idea ever! 😂
Photo challenge day 19: Equal 🟰📷
The overthinking blogger: I’m dragging my feet when it comes to writing this post. Or rather, publishing it. Not because I find it embarrassing (well, okay, maybe a little). But mostly because I’ve touched on this topic so many times before that it’s starting to feel boringly repetitive. If you’ve followed my blogging for a …
Photo challenge day 18: Texture 🪑📷
Never forget to remember: Today I spent the whole day working in the Swedish archipelago. A colleague and I traveled around by water taxi, visiting several fantastic islands of varying sizes. On days like this, it almost feels wrong to call it work. It feels more like a vacation. Beautiful weather, open water, stunning …
Photo challenge day 17: Warmth 🔥📷
Jumped on the Google tram, but before I reached my destination, the AI voice announces: “Service canceled.” 🚊📷
One step at a time: One ongoing project for this new home of my blog is to move content over from my old platform—like I just did with the BlogBuddy shortcut. There’s quite a bit to go through, so it’ll probably take a while. I plan to bring over one or two posts every now and then; otherwise, it starts to feel …
BlogBuddy is an updated version of an Apple shortcut I’ve made to boost and inspire blogging. ✍️
Photo challenge day 16: Blur 💨📷
We all need a hobby: I recently read the autobiography of one of Sweden’s most well-known actors, Mikael Persbrandt. Among other things, he talks about his deep interest in cars and motorcycles, and how he finds something meditative in tinkering with them. It’s his greatest passion in life, and he mentions that he …
Blogging Tips & Tools page updated with a Logos category and lots of other useful resources. ✍️
Just trying something with the beautiful Micro Social app app. 🐮📷
Photo challenge day 15: TIE ⧓📷
The simple perfection: There are many reasons why I love my job. One of them is all the amazing places I get to visit. I make up to seven customer visits a day, so that’s a lot of places – places I never would have set foot in if not for my job. Yesterday, I spent the entire day out in beautiful Värmdö. During …
Finished reading: Thorsten Flinck : En självbiografi by Thorsten Flinck 📚 What a ride! Great book, both inspiring and incredibly tragic at the same time. Definitely worth picking up, especially if you’ve also read Mikael Persbrandt’s book – they make for a really interesting pair to read together.
With great platform power comes great reader responsibility: You probably recognize the inspiration behind the title. Even though Voltaire coined the phrase, most people likely associate it with Spider-Man: With great power comes great responsibility. That quote came to mind as I was thinking about my new choice of platform for this blog. Micro.blog offers …
Photo challenge day 14: Twilight 🌴📷
The uplifting burdon of living: I started the weekend with a visit to a burger joint in my neighborhood. I took a seat on the outdoor patio, feeling grateful that this time of year finally has arrived here in Sweden. It was almost full. When a group of friends couldn’t find a table, I offered them to sit at mine. Since I was …
Your Swedish Local Guide: There are so many things I love about my job inspecting houses. Getting to meet people in their homes every day, and visiting places I never could’ve dreamed of otherwise, is something I’m genuinely grateful for. Right now, as I’m writing this, I’m out in the beautiful archipelago, sitting at one of …
Photo challenge day 13: Pathway ⛰️📷
Photo challenge day 12: Hidden 🫣📷
Everyone's a genius behind the wheel: I visit up to seven places a day in my line of work. That adds up to a lot of driving. And with all that time on the road, there are plenty of moments when I think other people are driving like idiots. I’m sure plenty of drivers feel exactly the same way about me. It’s often said that people find it …
Blogging & Design Resources: Those of you who’ve followed me for a while know that I like to collect useful links related to blogging and web design. Everything from handy guides and colorful patterns to inspiring articles and other reads that help spark creativity. I’ve now moved this extensive — and constantly growing — …
When saying no is the right answer: The other day, I received an offer that sounded both fun and interesting. I started drafting a reply: “Absolutely, that sounds great! I’m looking forward…” Then I paused. Something didn’t feel quite right. I deleted the message and instead replied that I’d get back with an …
Photo challenge day 11: Brick 👨🚒📷
Finished reading: Be Useful by Arnold Schwarzenegger 📚 An inspiring read. Also some fun trivia, like Danny DeVito filling Arnold’s cigar with weed on the set of Twins. The book even made me reflect on my own blogging in a way.
Photo challenge day 10: Rail 🛤️📷
Curiosity as a compass: We all feel disappointed, sad, hurt, or unfairly treated from time to time. When it’s something big, we speak up—if we can. We explain what we believe was wrong and why. Sometimes it gets resolved; other times, it doesn’t. Then there are the smaller things—the ones we don’t think are worth trying to …
Photo challenge day 9: Wood 🐿️📷
Photo challenge day 8: Travel 🚈📷
My blogging inspiration: As a blogger, one of the questions I sometimes get asked is, “Where do you get your ideas?” The truth is, inspiration is everywhere—you just have to tune in. Most of my posts are sparked by everyday experiences. It might be something that happened at work, a passing comment during lunch, or a …
Learning to live with uncertainty: This day started like any other. I woke up and did my usual little yoga routine in bed—a comforting habit that helps me land in my body before the day really gets going. But not long after, the day took an unexpected turn. I felt something itchy behind my knee. At first, I thought it might be a …
Photo challenge day 7: Switch 📞📷
Celebrating Sweden’s National Day: Today is Sweden’s National Day, and I celebrated it with family and friends in my childhood neighborhood, Åkersberga. It was a lovely day! We combined the celebration with a birthday party for one of my sister’s children, who turned 12. There was delicious food, cake, and plenty of joyful memories. …
Photo challenge day 6: Contrast 🚪📷
My blogging workflow: Now that I’ve moved my blog to Micro.blog, my blogging routine looks a bit different. So I figured it’s about time I updated my contribution to the Our blogging workflow list. Writing Most of the time, I write my posts in TextEdit on my Mac, in full-screen mode. I love the completely stripped-down …
Photo challenge day 5: Reflection 📷
Why I remember you: I’ve conducted over 6,000 home inspections. That’s taken me to countless places — and brought me face-to-face with even more people. Each inspection is unique, not just because of the property, but because of the people I meet along the way. Every now and then, I come across a customer I’ve met …
Photo challenge day 4: Nostalgia. 📱📷
When nothing is everything: I was a few minutes early to one of the jobs today. I sat down on a park bench to wait. The first thought that popped into my head was: “What can I use this time for?” As if something always has to be happening. As if it’s a loss not to do something productive the moment a gap appears. As if a quiet …
Photo challenge day 3: Shadow 🐴📷
You have time: When I finished one of the day’s jobs, the customer asked if I wanted a cup of coffee. I politely declined and explained that I had to head to my next appointment. He smiled at me and said: “Oh yes, you have time.” And of course, he was right. Sure, I had another customer to get to, but it really …
Photo challenge day 2: Curve 🌳📷
Why I moved my blog to Micro.blog: This blog has moved from Bear and now has a new home on Micro.blog. But it was far from an easy or obvious choice. I posted my first entry on Bear on February 16, 2023, and I still love the platform. My time there has led to several valuable connections, thanks to the fantastic community that has …
Google has placed a giant Dala horse in the “Central Park” of Stockholm. “Hej Sverige! Your new Google Cloud region is here.” 🐴📷
Photo challenge day 1: Tree 🌸📷
Finished reading: The Empty Chair by Jeffery Deaver 📚 It was good, but not quite as strong as the previous books in the series. Still had solid suspense and some nice twists, but it didn’t grab me quite the same way.
Finished reading: Tio tankar för själens hunger by Antje Jackelen 📚 Not my cup of tea, but it’s a good book that will definitely appeal to a lot of people more than it did to me. One interesting thing I picked up was that René “I think, therefore I am” Descartes died in Stockholm. News to me!
Spotted this Simpsons mega mural on my way to work this morning. Kinda cool that they hand-paint ads like that! Not sure I’d want the job, though. 📹
Finished reading: Wolf by Mo Hayder 📚 A good book with a thrilling, unpredictable ending, but the middle dragged and lacked engagement. Worth reading, though not my favorite in the series.
Finished reading: I May Be Wrong by Björn Natthiko Lindeblad 📚 A truly wonderful read, filled with profound and insightful wisdom. It’s one of those special books you can pick up and read again and again, always finding something new to reflect on.
Finished reading: The Coffin Dancer by Jeffery Deaver 📚 An outstanding thriller-even better than the last Lincoln Rhyme book I loved. Deaver cranks up the suspense with unpredictable twists, tight pacing, and a chilling villain in the Coffin Dancer. Gripping from start to finish.
Finished reading: Mikael Persbrandt by Mikael Persbrandt 📚 What a wild ride! A great example of when reality surpasses fiction. It’s a story more unbelievable than any role he’s ever played. Definitely a must-read … at least if you’re from Sweden.
Finished reading: Markoolio – mörkret och den rosa bubblan by Marko Lehtosalo 📚 I liked it. It was both funny and sad-full of honesty and openness. Felt very real and human all the way through. Definitely worth a read-if you’re Swedish.
Finished reading: The Bone Collector by Jeffery Deaver 📚 A top-notch crime thriller-gripping, smart, and suspenseful. The forensic detail is compelling, and the twists kept me hooked. Can’t wait to read the next in the series!
Finished reading: A Life on Our Planet by David Attenborough 📚 A powerful and sobering read. The shrinking percentages of wild spaces hit hardest, painting a stark picture of humanity’s impact.
Let's get curious: I listened to an interview with the Swedish artist Ernst Billgren. Among other things, he said: If we had half as many opinions, and if the ones we had were half as strong, I think we would live happier lives in a more peaceful world. I am convinced that this is true. There is so much suffering in …
Finished reading: Din tid kommer by Carl-Johan Vallgren 📚 Definitely worth reading! I love Vallgren’s books. I think he has an incredible ability to take on different genres, eras, and subjects, and write about them in a format that perfectly suits the spirit of the time and the story.
Finished reading: Poppet by Mo Hayder 📚 A decent read, but the weakest in the series so far. It felt scattered, trying to juggle too much-especially wrapping up the last book. Still enjoyable, but I’m hoping the next one is more focused.
The value of a firm "No": It’s been a pretty challenging week at work — lots of home inspections and a whole lot of driving. I did the math, and on average I’ve been doing six jobs a day and driving twelve Swedish miles (about 75 English miles). Yesterday, during my lunch break, just as I finally sat down to relax, the …
Finished reading: Shutter Island by Dennis Lehane 📚 Just read the book for the first time, and it was at least as good as l had hoped. I feel like watching the movie again now when I have the book fresh in my mind.
Why write?: I’ve been thinking about why I write… Is it a call for attention? A hope that it might lead to something “big”? A fear of missing out? To be honest—yes, that was true in the past. And it felt good, for a while. But then, it started to itch… A constant sense that nothing was ever good enough, …
Finished reading: Gone by Mo Hayder 📚 Easily the best Jack Caffery book yet! Non-stop excitement. If you’re into thrillers or love Mo Hayder, don’t miss this one!
Finished reading: Skin by Mo Hayder 📚 Another chilling, gripping ride with Jack Caffrey. If you’re a fan of the series, this one won’t disappoint. Dark, twisted, and totally engrossing.
Finished reading: Ritual by Mo Hayder 📚 Brutal, like the other books in the series, but well written with a good and gripping story.
Finished reading: En bra man by Tina Trender 📚 Thought about putting it down more than once. But somewhere around the middle it turned around, and from there it just kept getting more and more intense as the main character got into worse and worse situations.
Finished reading: Sömngångaren by Lars Kepler 📚 Rreally exciting all the way through, and definitely the best one in the series about Jonna Linna so far. Couldn’t put it down.
Finished reading: The Treatment by Mo Hayder 📚 Liked the first one better. This one felt unnecessarily dragged out. Nonetheless, it is still a tense and horrifying story worth reading.
Wednesday, February 26, 2025 →
Finished reading: The Silence of the Lambs (Hannibal Lecter, #2) by Thomas Harris 📚 Finally read it after a million viewings of the movie. It totally holds up. Just as creepy and gripping. Some iconic scenes were missing (no tense door-knocking!), but the book adds its own great details.
Finished reading: Birdman by Mo Hayder 📚 Wow, what a ride! This book was absolutely great stuff, genuinely guaranteed to give you some fantastic nightmares.
Finished reading: The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky 📚 I love the movie! Seen it a bunch of times. Finally got around to reading the book, and wow! I loved it just as much, or even more. So good!
Finished reading: Documents Concerning Rubashov the Gambler by Carl-Johan Vallgren 📚 As always, I’m in awe of Vallgren’s writing. I love his books, and this one was no exception. He has a real gift for pulling you into another time and place — it’s like being dropped right into the middle of a …
Finished reading: Jävla karlar by Andrev Walden 📚 I absolutely loved it! It’s a fantastic mix of both fun and sadness. Andrev Walden has a brilliant sense of capturing odd and spot-on likenesses.
Finished reading: Sonny Boy by Al Pacino 📚 A refreshing read, open and honest. A glimpse behind the scenes, giving a more personal look at Al Pacino.
Finished reading: Jag lever, pappa by Siri Marie Seim Sønstelie 📚 I found myself wishing it was fiction, something imagined. But sadly, it’s not. It really happened, and that makes it all the more heartbreaking. A tough but important reading.
Finished reading: Greenlights by Matthew McConaughey 📚 I loved it. It’s full of wild stories and surprisingly great advice on how to catch more of life’s greenlights. Honest, funny, and inspiring. Well worth the read.
Finished reading: The Last Thing He Told Me by Laura Dave 📚 Kept me interested, but didn’t blow me away. I wanted more depth or suspense. Fans of family secrets and complex relationships might enjoy it more.
Free from freedom: I heard an interview with the Swedish author Per Hagman. As a new parent, he explained that nights out and similar activities no longer appealed to him. He described it as being “free from freedom”. Even though I’m not a parent, I understand the feeling. It’s one of the …
Finished reading: No and Me by Delphine De Vigan 📚 I loved it! It’s such a beautifully written book that manages to be sad, funny, and interesting in a perfect mix.
Finished reading: No Time Like the Future by Michael J. Fox 📚 Inspiring and beautifully written. Michael J. Fox manages to be both funny and vulnerable, which makes the whole thing super relatable. If you’re looking for something that will leave you feeling hopeful, definitely check this one out.
2024
Don't f*ck with fika!: Coffee cups at Ritorno Café, Stockholm. Did you know that Sweden is one of the top 10 coffee-consuming countries in the world? We really love our coffee. Not just the drink itself, but the whole experience. We love to fika. I actually started drinking this magical beverage pretty late — around 18. …
My blogging journey: Inspired by Juha-Matti Santala’s post, Short History of My Blogging Journey, I decided to write a little about my own blogging journey — which has been a bit bumpy, to say the least. I started blogging about 20 years ago using Movable Type, which was pretty much the only tool available at the …
2023
Cutting concepts : Went to the hairdresser. I started explaining what I wanted… Then I stopped myself and said: “Just do whatever you think looks good.” The result? Something I’d never have thought of – and it looked great. What if we cut (or at least trim) our ideas and preconceptions in other parts of life too, …
It's alive!: Hello everyone! I’ve been keeping an eye on Bear Blog1 for a while, and I really like its approach and philosophy. So, I started thinking: “What should I write about? The blog needs a theme.” And I kept thinking… and thinking… and thinking… Finally, I realized …