For the past few months the sun has barely been visible. I became a little bit scared thinking that perhaps some kind of climate change had brought about permanent grey skies and that I might never see the burning orb again. Then we got a day of sunshine and blue, blue skies. So I took a photo, just to remind me that blue sky days do happen, and of course, in case it might never happen again.




The sight of those blue skies has put me back in the real world and given me confirmation that the sun is a real concept, not something that I may have imagined on a vodka-just-before-bed fuelled dream. When it gleams and reflects off the stark, white snow the world brightens up. Winter's late return to the Stockholm archipelago was not entirely unforseen — one can reasonably expect the long white season to linger and then make surprise appearances until April at the earliest. It is so odd to look across this waterway where we sail during the warmer months and still see everything packed in ice and be unable to tell where the land ends and the water begins.





Yesterday's big news here was the resignation of foreign minister Laila Freivalds. Even blind Freddy could have seen this coming after her very poor handling of the South Asian tsunami, and more recently the Muhammad cartoon scandal.

Her departure will almost immediately relieve pressure on Prime Minister Göran Persson. Suddenly, just a few short months ahead of an election, he can reshuffle his cabinet and close the drawer on the pandora's box that has was the foreign ministry's appalling response to the whole tsunami catastrophe. I'm sure there were a few celebration fikas around Sweden yesterday. I thought of that when I spotted these brave souls having coffee.




It looks straightforward and civilised enough - a group of friends sitting outside on a sunny afternoon having fika. But let's pan back a little from that view and see just how warm it is where they are sitting.




See, it's not looking so warm and cosy now, is it? There is snow everywhere and I can tell you that the air is nippy. Why they want to sit out in the cold where their hot drinks will turn lukewarm in a very short time I just cannot fathom. I'm not fond of outdoor eating here, though I used to love it back in Adelaide. It is nearly always cold outside and as soon as they bring you your food, it starts to cool rapidly and it's no fun wolfing it down quickly. I prefer a nice window seat, especially in a waterfront place like this little restaurant. If we zoom back a little more, you can see the spring views over the "water".




I still love having the extra light and the warmth of the sun. It is so much more cheerful than February and you can feel the anticipation in the air. I know that the next picture still looks a little bare and bleak. But I know from past experience that when winter finally retreats in Sweden, the trees green up rapidly and within a short time the whole area is carpeted flowers and lush new growth. There is no gradual, quiet or subtle entrance here for Lady Spring, but an triumphant fanfare, running footsteps, an explosion of shaggy green leafage and a riotous profusion of blooms bursting forth, almost within minutes.




Last night I dreamed that I was wandering along in a meadow of wildflowers and lush green foliage, listening to a flock of grosbeaks (tallbitar) singing in the trees overhead. *Sigh* It's early days yet and those dreams will have to sustain me for several more weeks yet — at present the Swedish woods are still a realm of snow and deep blue shadow and they will remain so for quite a while.

Meanwhile back at the ranch, some birds are already busy in spring mode and the shredding continues unabated.




I was reading that the dreaded bird flu has reached Stockholm, with a couple of swans even carking it in spectacular style right in the middle of town (the Stockholm equivalent of King Willian St/North Tce intersection). It's so sad for all of the wild birds and no-one knows just what will happen when all of the migratory birds return from the warm southern lands. It is casting a shadow over the new season.

I was also reading today that the Aussie tourism ad has been causing yet another stink, thgis time in Canada of all places! What is it with people? For a change it wasn't the words "hell" or "bloody" that were a problem, but the fact that they say "I've bought you a beer". I'm not joking. Apparently you can't mention unbranded beer on Canadian television.

And they think WE are strange!