Author Archives: jon

Happy 40th Birthday To Me

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Today is the anniversary of my fortieth birthday, which is celebrated accordingly in Sweden with cakes and big presents.

I can’t remember the last time I had a birthday cake, and Jo did a fine job of making a three layer strawberry & apricot affair to last us the year out. It actually felt a bit strange getting cake and blowing out the candles, as it did to have a few friends over to eat said cake and homemade pizza.

Jo had secretly arranged for Janne, Lotten, Edla and Chris to come over for dinner. It was a little bit overwhelming, in fact. Also, I think, because it is midweek I’d been expecting a quiet, early night. I wasn’t quite up for so many visitors, though I’m still glad they came.

The presents I received were absolutely spot-on. I’d been given a few items that were on my Christmas wish-list, which included The final Harry Potter book and a Fred Perry polo-shirt; the Harry Potter book is a bitter-sweet gift, since it marks the end of a long journey; the Fred Perry is an item I’ve been wanting for a while, and harks back to my Rude Boy era of the early eighties, when a white Fred Perry, black Harrington jacket, white socks and loafers were the order of the day.

The best present, one which I’d been expecting, was the Nintendo Wii. I’d not asked for anything else, despite having ideas about a bigger TV or a flat-screen monitor. The Wii was the obvious choice since a) I haven’t yet bought into this generation’s consoles b) the whole family can enjoy what the Wii has to offer.

I’ve been given an option to chip the Wii, which I don’t think I’ll be taking up. Firstly, I don’t wish to contribute to the piracy that is rife in the gaming industry, and, secondly, it feels like it won’t be a Wii, but a bastardized copy of one. I know it sounds strange, and I do not really expect anyone else to understand, but I think I’ll keep my virgin Wii.

All in all I have had a marvelous birthday, and I thank Jo and my friends for making it so.

Old Writings #2

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Probably written about the same time as my previous literary find (around 1994), a short diatribe about religion found its way onto paper, thus preserving my hubristic ramblings forever. I still agree with a fair amount of what I wrote then, though there is also a great deal that oversimplifies the subject, and probably just as much that is wrong; however, regardless the validity of the text, I definitely come across as a supercilious pansophist, which fits perfectly with the erstwhile teenage/young adult Jon. Despite the arrogance of it all, here it is:

The main problem with Western religion is the tenet that we are born as sinners and that our only salvation is to repent, to give ourselves over, to a higher being.

Most of our anxieties, our fears, our inhibitions, are given to us in childhood, and this notion of eternal damnation through constant indoctrination reinforces our inadequacies as human beings.

The sooner we recognise the falacy of religion, the sooner we shake off this self-limiting ideology, then the sooner we can realise the inherent goodness that lies repressed at the very centre of each of us.

The real evil reveals itself when religious and political indoctrination is complete, when sexual, racial and gender bigotry, competitiveness and unemotional apathy are the norm, whilst harmony, co-operation and community responsibility are ill-conceived utopian ideas to be scorned.

It is time that each and every one of us realises the truth. Then, and only then, can we begin to repair the damage done, and remember: at the very base of our being we have had the potential to do incredible things for the Universe.

Realise this and we are at the beginning of true enlightenment.

Old Writings #1

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I found some old scribblings of mine up in Jämtland over the holidays. I knew I had them there, though I was unsure about what I’d kept. An old essay from my Psychology degree was safely guarded in a plastic folder, which I’ll be blogging (as usual) for future Freya’s amusement.

Stuffed behind the essay, to my surprise, were a few other pieces of paper with my past thoughts legibly written for the now Jon to peruse. The first, a copy of which shall follow, is the lyrics to a never-written song I’d planned to do with Den and Mart in 1993 (?). I think the idea was to speak, rather than rap or sing, the words, most probably because none of us could rap or sing.

Anyway, here is a glimse into my past:

The painted smiles, the miles and miles of
plastic seats and knives and lives,
A fairytale scene, so clinically clean
where all will live the American Dream.

Give me some fries the size of your lies,
I’m going mad for the burger I had,
something to relish, but not to cherish,
a shake to shake the taste.

Malice in Burgerland forcing a hand in how
to keep the industry bland,
The clown of hearts will reach the parts
that others fail to reach.

Whichever you choose, you stand to lose
resign yourself to self-defeat,
When it comes to lunch, when it comes to the crunch:
one man’s murder’s another man’s meat.

Highlights Of 2007

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I don’t know if three times can be called a ritual, but this is becoming a regular feature, at least. And so, in no particular order, this year’s highlights:

1) Having a Car – We were given a 20 year old Volvo 740 last year, which has already given us the ability to go on missions with Chris during the warmer months, exploring Sweden as tourists. Having a car at our disposal has meant a great deal, despite costing an arm in running/repairs.

2) Hattrick – The online football management game has stolen many hours of my free time the last six months. It is a welcome thief, though, and I probably spend more time with it than supporting Wolverhampton Wanderers.

3) StarCraft – Another RTS game, which has led to my spending a bit more time with Leigh, since Nevewinter Nights became redundant.

4) Music – This year has introduced us to a fair amount of new music, the jewels being Mesh, Komputer, Psilodump and Junior Boys. I don’t know why I’m surprised every time we happen across groups that really appeal, but I am. So there.

5) Our Neighbours – Jo got in contact with the couple who live below us, Lotten and Janne, to initiate a meeting with Freya and their daughter, Edla. We have spent many evenings socialising with each other, and I feel a real friendship is growing between us. They are kind, interesting people with whom we share more in common than I could have imagined.

6) A New Addition – Three will become four, as we expect a new little angel into our lives in the Summer. How this will affect our current way of living, who knows? I am as inexpectant this time as I was with Freya.

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Freya meets Link

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Freya has started to take a deeper interest in videogames, and it’s thanks to the Nintendo DS and Zelda.

Jo received Zelda: Phantom Hourglass for Xmas, and is already addicted. She has spent the last two evenings, stylus in hand, even lying in bed and playing late into the night, whilst Freya and I sleep soundly. I’ve also played a bit, and could easily find myslef in the same situation as Jo, had we the luxury of two DS’s.

Yesterday morning Freya sat next to me while I started the game. She sat silently, watching the screen as I relayed the story to her. And she calmly watched as I made my way around Mercay Island, talking with its inhabitants, trying to cross the broken bridge to get to the port, and receiving the first puzzle. Freya helped me to count the palm trees on the south beach, the answer then being written on “Grandfather’s” storeroom sign, which then opened up to reveal a chest, where Link’s sword lay.

Freya then took a more active role, taking the DS and stylus when we came across the first monsters. She tapped the screen wildly, initiating Link’s thrust attack, and demolished said monsters with aplomb.

Since then Freya has watched while Jo or I play, and has played on her own. While she misses the finer points of the game, it is encouraging to see her involve herself in one of the best game-series ever created. She is quite able to steer Link using the stylus, entering houses and caves, dispatch enemies and pick up rupees (“diamonds” according to Freya). I shall be encouraging her newfound interest in games, which have also recently included Eye Toy 3 and a simple Dora The Explorer game for the PS2. I may even invest in a mini controller for her.