Is it me or are the Swedish better at everything? I’m flush with Scandi Fever at the moment after frequenting the Scandinavian Film Festival, binge watching “Bonus Family” on Netflix and devouring meatballs. Minimal design, blonde people, cinnamon buns, latte papas. I want to go to there.
Flat-packs: While it’s true I can’t find an exit or put together a flat-pack if my life depended on it, I still love Ikea. The simplicity, the price, the exotic sounding names, the pictures of the bespectacled designer. I say ja ja ja! Ditto the clothing wonderland of H&M.
Skarsgard: Look no further than this acting dynasty as proof of the superiority of the Swedes. Be it a Stellan, Alexander, Gutaf or a Bill. I’m IN Viking! Nordic Noir has garnered mainstream acclaim for it’s bleak stark simplicity. While some of it is a bit Noir for my frothy taste, I appreciate the honest black humour of the TV Shows and films I’ve been viewing. Some of the main characters are even quite unlikeable. That gives me a nakenchock *
Latte Papas: Sweden offers 480 days of parental leave and it’s frowned upon if Dad’s don’t take it. The result is that “Areas of Stockholm are now rife with ‘latte dads’ – typically youngish, bearded men carrying their babies in slings or hanging out with their toddlers.”* I do love sighting doting Dads being patient in the supermarket, playful in the park and cheerful at a crowded animated feature. More of this please.
Forest schools: “There is no bad weather, there are only bad clothes”. This Swedish saying demonstrates the hardy attitude to getting outdoors in all weather. Forest schools encourage children to explore, climb and take risks, something I think we should encourage more of here rather than plastic playgrounds and I-pad screens. The extreme contrast in light and temperature of the seasons is also something I’d like to experience.
So excuse me while I enjoy a Fika* dreaming of all things Swedish…
Love and light and kyssar* xxx Yvette
*Literally “naked shock”
‘Ogooglebar’ … and 14 Other Swedish Words We Should Incorporate Into English Immediately https://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2013/03/ogooglebar-and-14-other-swedish-words-we-should-incorporate-into-english-immediately/274383/
*Read more at https://www.businessinsider.com/sweden-maternity-leave-paternity-leave-policies-latte-dads-2018-4#jull6sBEvIwsRdLZ.99
*Fika is considered a social institution in Sweden; it means having a break, most often a coffee break, with one’s colleagues, friends, date or family. The word fika can be used as both verb and a noun.
*kyssar=kisses
Weave the Future Magical 
We love Scani noir in our house ,- and Netflix. The Killing and The Bridge two of the best ever. Indeed the American remake of The Killing is also marvellous
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Scandi!
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Yay! I’ve started watching The Bridge. Full on but great! Thanks for reading xxx
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Love your Scandi Fever, it makes a great read. So pleased that you have discovered Nordic Noir. We have been watching for a year or two now and also watched The Bridge. Sofia Helin, who plays Sago in The Bridge, does an amazing job with that part. We recently binged on watching Greyzone. I like the Swedish words you have put into your blog and the explanations such kyssar=kisses and also the info that there are 480 days of parental leave for Dads. Enjoy your watching! xxx
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Thanks 🙏 happy you’re feeling the fever too. I’m looking forward to watching more Nordic noir and hopefully going there one day too x
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My friend made a busking show, called MAN vs IKEA, in which he tried to set up an Ikea bunk bed on Swanston st side walk…..as a clown……Ikea won.
Quite a few of the comments all talk about the Bridge…..I have been watching it too. Just now. Pretty good, although I have a feeling it might peter out as the series goes on. Series one was good. I’m up to series 2 ep 3.
How cool would it be to go there? I’d love to see the northern lights….not sure where you have to be to see them. I have been to Stavanger in Norway. Twas amazing, staying and sailing in a yacht. We were going to sail to Scotland….I was so excited, but then something busted on the boat and we couldn’t go………and so a return one day would be good.
An interesting fact about Sweden
Sweden was the first country in the world to ban the smacking of children in 1979. Since then, 35 other countries have followed suit
Anyway, everything is Lagom.
The Swedish term lagom doesn’t have an English equivalent. It is not just a word, it is a concept that means “just right” or “adequate” and it can be used for just about anything and every situation
But the Yunkuntjarra word ‘playa’ is a multi meaning multi use word too. It can mean how are you…..I’m good……hello…are you okay…..thank you. In fact it’s my favourite word. Have you got a favourite word??
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