I love giving gifts. There is something immensely gratifying about seeing the look on a person’s face when they’ve unwrapped the present that you’ve chosen especially for them and it’s exactly what they need or want. Buying gifts for someone else is not a problem.

Deciding what I want to receive is a real problem, though. Two possible reasons for this come to mind. One is that I am not used to thinking in terms of what I want and what I need. The second is that I have everything of a material nature that I need in this world for my safety, health, entertainment and comfort. Anything more would be a complete overkill and smack of the sort of crass consumerism that I abhor.

I don’t want any more jewellery, the camera I have doesn’t get used enough to justify the purchase of something bigger and better, I don’t need any more gadgets for the kitchen or for my entertainment. And as for books, I can wait for the library to pick it up for me.

But Lars-Göran keeps asking what I want. And I keep telling him that my answer is not going to change. Maybe I should change the answer and tell him what I really want. But I’m afraid that will sound too much like I’m answering the ubiquitous beauty pageant question. "You know, what I really want is world peace, happiness and prosperity, an end to poverty etc...."

I wonder what they’d look like, wrapped up and left under the tree?




Today I went to centrum and looked at this year's entries for the local Gingerbread House competition. This is a very popular competition in towns across Sweden and even the big towns indulge in it. You can see some of the entries from one of the bigger competitions here. It's in Swedish, but just scroll down and click on the pictures.

I know it sounds a bit twee to have this sort of old fashioned competition in this day and age, but I rather like the idea as in a small town like this, it fosters a sense of community and helps to focus people's attention on a simple but enjoyable past time in a way that we can all enjoy. I'd always thought of a gingerbread house as being like a cottage in a Hansel and Gretel style, but it seems you are only limited by your imagination!




I absolutely lost it when I saw this one. I couldn't resist giggling like a maniac and yelling out friggin' at the top of my voice to my bewildered Swede. He of course thought of the Swedish word, which is used to describe a small shed, under 10 sq metres, called friggan. However, the same pronounciation in English means the equivalent of the Swedish jävla. Not quite the same thing. Yes, I know....one tracked mind and all that.




This one was of the old local Hotel Nynäshamn, which these days is called Nynäsgården. If you look at the picture on their website you can see that they have captured the style of the building really well. One of the things I like about a local competition like this is that you recognise local buildings and local issues. Hmmm... looking at the hotel's website, I see they claim to be "less than an hour" from Stockholm! Obviously, they don't use the train service!




The next one was something else that would warm an Aussie's heart on this cold, winter's evening - the pub! How great that they use the same word we do to save any confusion. Though there is one famous department store in Stockholm that is also called PUB. They don't serve alcohol there, which is a bit confusing for new arrivals who cheer when they see that word PUB in ten foot neon lights. Apparently the initials are for the founder Paul U Bergström.




This gingerbread entry was my absolute favourite! It is also humourous and very topical as it deals with the recent phenomenon of the rondellhundar that I've mentioned before. I spent ages drooling over this, admiring the cute little doggies, the bones wrapped up as pressies, the little woodland creatures hidden among the trees, the detailed and beautifully decorated street signs. It's gorgeous! And my pick for this year's winner.

Wow! Only two more sleeps until tomte arrives. Yes, we in Sweden get our Santa visit on the 24th. For once we are ahead of Australia!