Archive

When worry grows like mould: A day of house inspections turned into a reminder of how easily we let worry grow — just like mould — often over things that turn out to be nothing at all.

The boredom antidote: Staying home doesn’t have to be dull — the secret is having something you love to do.

Right here, right hiraeth: Today I learned the word hiraeth, a longing for a past that may never have existed, and it made me think about memories, nostalgia, and living in the now.

How my photo blog came together: My new photo blog got some comments and questions, so I’m sharing how I built it with Micro.blog, a bit of CSS, and a lot of trial and error.

Routine beats word counts: Blogging gets easier with routine. Forget word counts, write a little every day, and let the posts come naturally.

Blogging is beyond age: Blogging erases age and borders. It’s a space where walls turn into bridges and inspiration flows freely.

Where inspiration lives: Everyday life is full of creativity, but only if we make ourselves available to it.

Doing the work: Talent helps, but without hard work it fails. Those who succeed are the ones willing to do the work.

Most people care: A sick day made me think about kindness, trust, and how most people - strangers included - really care about each other.

A new home for my photos: I’ve moved my photos into a new blog, giving them a space of their own. For now, it lives separately, with new photos cross-posted to my timelines.

Writing within limits: I used to write my blog in Swedish and translate it into English. Now I write directly in English. It takes longer, the texts are shorter, but maybe that’s not a limitation after all.

Beauty in the chaos: In times of chaos, something new stirs. When our walls crack, we open, and hidden creativity finds its way through. This is how we shape the future, here and now.

Micro.blog Wishlist #2: Less than two months after sharing my Micro.blog wishlist, three out of five wishes have already come true. Here’s what’s still on my mind for the next round of improvements.

The unseen victories: Even in dark times, progress happens quietly — unseen victories that remind us why we must keep fighting for peace, justice, and a better world.

Finding your own way: Finding your own way in life can mean sticking with one thing or exploring many. Both paths can be just as right, as long as they feel true to you right now.

Am I the new asshole?: Spent an hour inspecting a house and listening to a blame list longer than the inspection itself. By the end, I’m not sure if I fixed anything — except maybe my own status as the new asshole.

Writing it off: This week started badly, everything went wrong twice. No advice, just this: write it off. Writing clears the head and makes the day feel lighter.

Your blog, your rules: Personal blogging isn’t about rules, it’s about rhythm. Some days I write a chapter, some days just a footnote — the key is keeping it joyful and rewarding.

Our kryptonite: Just back from the new Superman movie, and it got me thinking. We all mess up, regret things, and miss chances. That’s human. The trick is remembering we’re not alone in it — our kryptonite is thinking otherwise.

You have me: A customer once said he had nothing of value, and his girlfriend replied, ‘You have me.’ A joke, but also the truth. We take so much for granted, yet nothing is ordinary once we learn to see it.

Bloggers unite: Earlier this year I joined the original Bear blog question challenge, and with Kev’s help it spread across platforms. I’ve now gathered the replies by platform.

Many men called Otto: Met the neighborhood’s own “Ove” the other day — car horn, complaints, and all. Unlike the movies, real-life Ottos never change.

Cookies and blogs: A little story about cookies, generosity, and how the blogging world still carries something beautiful that much of the Western world has forgotten.

A suitcase full of dreams: A family I met today is off to Thailand for half a year — finally living out a long-time dream. It got me thinking about that quiet inner voice that dares us to believe something might actually work.

The balance of just enough: Trying to find the right balance — in blogging, in habits, in life. Not too much, not too little. Just enough to feel that quiet spark of joy.

Pride Stockholm 2025: Went to the Pride parade here in Stockholm with my mom. A colorful, joyful day full of warmth, memories, and celebration. Snapped a few photos too.

Blaugust 2025 — with photos and music: I’m joining the Blaugust 2025 blog challenge — a fun little push to keep up the blogging habit. I’ll also be sharing daily photos and music picks throughout the month.

The bored blogger: Trying to find the perfect way to blog… again. This time it felt right — until it didn’t. A few thoughts on boredom, tweaks, and why I keep falling for the same idea trap.

The cost of not listening: Today’s client talked non-stop, leaving no room for me to do my job properly. It got me thinking about how much value people miss when they don’t stop and listen.

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.

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.

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.

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?”

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

The present: Reflecting on past, future, and the uncertainty of life, I realize the most important part isn’t behind or ahead of us. It’s the present.

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: 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 to do that even if you’re on Micro.blog). I’m currently …

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 …

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 …

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. …

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: 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 to get distracted …

No likes, no stats, no problem: 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 not having some of the usual features. …

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 …

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 …

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 …

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 …

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 …

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 …

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 …

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 …

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 …

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. …

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 …

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 …

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 …

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 …

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 …

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 …

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 …

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 …

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 …

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 …

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 …

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 …

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 …

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 …

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 …

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. …

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 …

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 …

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 …

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 …

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 …

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 …

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 …

Non-stop talkers: A long day, a social hangover, and a reminder that how we choose to look at things can make all the difference — even when people talk nonstop.

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 …

You're not me: A little rant about the classic line “If I were you…” and why I think it’s more about the speaker than the listener. Advice is fine, stories are welcome — but don’t tell me what’s best for me.

The sound of silence: People who talk too much are a red flag for me. Even when the topic is interesting, I end up drained. In this post, I reflect on silence, listening, and why some conversations leave me with a social hangover.

Social hangover: A few thoughts on why being social always seems to be the default, and why choosing solitude still feels like breaking some unspoken rule.

Don't f*ck with fika!: 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. Back then, I was working as a bricklayer …

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 …

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, …

This or that: Sometimes I catch myself stuck in either-or thinking. Life keeps changing, though, and so do we — maybe it’s time to listen more to that quiet inner guide.

The gift of limitations: Too often we see limitations as obstacles, but in this post I write about how they can actually point us toward new possibilities — if we just look closely enough.

Writing without waiting for inspiration: I haven’t written here in a while, but this post is about ignoring that “not today” voice and just getting started — whether it’s writing, working out, or anything else you want to keep doing.

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, …

A win-win kind of blogging: I started this blog in Swedish but quickly switched to English as a way to both write and practice the language. There will be some Swenglish along the way, but that’s part of the charm.

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 …