The Crown redoubt was built between 1687 and 1700 as part of Göteborg’s defence system. It is built on a steep mountain Risåsberget above Haga city district. Takes your breath away in more ways than one. The stone building is 33 meters high and reaches 87 meters above the sea level. The sconce has a twin Skansen Lejonet (Lion redoubt). Today the fortification has a better use for conferences and parties.
Take a deep breath, ha de Gött!
Land of Feel-Sorry-for-Yourself
a place to put you down
beat your ego up
Low Self Esteem for president
besieged by, enemy of you
never ending civil war
army fight call “no use”
stay down for every count
dare not to seek, citizenship
It all starts with the man in the mirror, ha de Gött!
Book full of forgotten things un-remembered issue release daily thick as the book of what-if's pocket size in constant use some miss-use now and then wear it on my shoulders every chapter, dare a read a highly dangerous deed largest book in the library that is my brain the book of oblivion
My memory is good but short, ha de Gött!
some in frequent use pages darkened by hungry fingers 'who done it' tickling the darkest inside us some covered by dust only yellow by age 'who wants to know' fuelling the creative light during long dark nights dark prose in the poetry corner and whiskey stinking PI's comparing their scars silent with millions of words organised in rows and shelfs collective minds peaks and abysses of humanity
Growing up in a broken home in the suburbs, the library was always a safe haven. Still today I get calm entering a library or a book store.
Take care of the libraries, Ha de Gött!
After rain they come crawling
up from the wet grass
crossing the roads and footpaths
where are they all going
is it an initiation rite
cross without getting crushed
see what’s on the other side
a sluggish paradise or
a sticky mess under a shoe
The killer slug (Arion vulgaris), yes that is it’s name! It’s also know as Spanish slug. It’s considered an invasive species and a great annoyance to all gardeners all over Europe. Why it’s called killer slug I don’t know but the best explanation I heard from a child. “They are called killer slugs because you kill them.”
Watch your step, ha de Gött!
A fair for people interested in books. Yes, there is, every year in Göteborg, and this year I was there. Not only because I’m interested in books but my son was there to receive an award from the Royal Swedish Academy for the Swedish teacher of the year 2023. Sorry for the boast but I’m so enormously proud. At 25 he is the youngest ever to receive this award.
The Swedish Academy was founded in 1786 by the king Gustav III. With 18 members elected for life the members are the highest language authority of the Swedish language. This are the same persons that elect the Nobel prize winner in literature.
The five day fair was really crowded and it nice to see that the book is still going strong. In this day and age with social media scrolling it is comforting to know there are so many people working for the printed book.
The only heat that should come from a book is heated exchange of ideas, ha de Gött!
I found this giant’s kettle at Lindö. It’s approximately one meter in diameter and I estimate it to be around one meter deep. In the folklore these holes was created, and was used for cooking by the giants that in the past roamed the world. Hence the name. The giants tossed large boulders at each other when fighting. You can find these laying randomly in nature. God was angry with them and turned them into stone. Yes, if you look close, you can see them in the hills.
There is of course a more scientific explanation, equally forceful. As the inland ice shelf melted away huge rivers with strong currents was formed. When a smaller rock was trapped and started to spin it grinded down into the solid rock. These stones can sometimes be found at the bottom with a perfectly smooth egg shaped surface.
Don’t throw stone in a glasshouse, ha de Gött!
Since 1889 it has been guiding ships towards the Kosterfjord sea-lane and Resö. Originally the light came from the second floor windows but in 1917 it was replaced with gas driven AGA lighthouse in front of the building. The first floor was the living quarters for the lighthouse keeper with family. Since the the new AGA lighthouse was automatic there was no personnel after 1917. The house was sold to a private owner in 1950. Easy to manage garden, I guess, but probably needs to be painted regularly due to the harsh and salty west winds.
The fully automatic AGA lighthouse was invented by the Swedish inventor Gustaf Dahlén. He was awarded Nobel prize in physics for his work with lighthouse technology. The light was kept burning with the help of carbine gas. To save gas it was started and stopped with the help of a sun-valve also invented by Gustaf Dahlén.
Always steer towards the light, ha de Gött!
By chance we were able to attend a viewing of the secret garden of Halmstad castle. The castle is still in use as a government building, residence of the Landshövding (governor) of Halland. Apart from the amazing 200 year old blood maple, the garden was not what I’ve expected.
The castle was built by the Danish between 1600 and 1615 as a residence for the governor. The city of Halmstad was at the time part of the Danish kingdom. The castle, the city Halmstad and the administrative area Halland became Swedish in 1645.
In the garden it is possible to see remainders of the 8 meter high wall surrounding the city. Outside the wall there was a moat. During the years the castle has undergone many changes and colours. Believe it or not but it was actually pink before repainted to red in 1998, as is believed to be the original colour.
Be curious and learn more, ha de Gött!
Driftwood on a stony beach at Trossö-Kalvö. Someone, somewhere cut it down and let it fall into the sea. Currents and winds brought it here to frame this picture. Did it come from just around the corner, the next island or did it float in here with the Golf Stream from distant shores. Only Njord knows.
Njord (Njǫrðr) is the sea god of the Nordic mythology.
Go with the flow and see where it takes you, ha de Gött!
UlleHaddock 