Category Archives: Jon

Clowning Around

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Freya started circus school today. She’ll attend one fifty-five minute lesson a week for the next fifteen weeks. Today’s class got Freya doing forward rolls, balancing a bean bag on her head and spinning plates, among other things. It should be a great way for Freya to expend her insatiable need to be active, as well as improving her dexterity, balance and other motor skills. Oh, and I suppose it’ll be fun, too.

Some years ago Jo and I discussed an eventual move to our house in the north. It’s located in a small village in the middle of nowhere and embodies all that Stockholm isn’t: a tranquil, low stress hideaway where you make your own entertainment. The idea of permanently relocating ourselves to the countryside has been put on the shelf – at least for the time being – because Stockholm, ironically, embodies all that our house isn’t. As a family we want and need things that Stockholm offers: friends, vegan restaurants and food shops, parks, swimming pools…circus school. The list goes on.

I want our daughters to live a city life, despite the problems of pollution, congestion, crime etc. I was born an raised in a moderately sized town, and I appreciate the (limited) options I had. Freya and Zelda live in a capital city ten times the size of my hometown. I cannot even imagine what their childhood memories will be like.

The End Of A Football Career

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On 14 May 2007 I became manager of Stockholm Wolves, through an online football management game by the name of Hattrick. After many seasons, and with some success, I have decided to throw in the towel. I still enjoy the game, but it takes away precious free time from real video games, of which I have not spent enough time with recently. There are a number of unplayed PS2 and Wii games that have been sitting in the cupboard for a long time, and I’d prefer to spend time with those than in front of the computer, working out formations for the coming matches or searching for new players.

Thanks Hattrick, and goodbye.

Concert Blues

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I went to see Depeche Mode two days ago. I’ve seen them a few times before, and have always enjoyed them. Even the last tour, which had me wondering whether they were past it, turned out to be a bit of a blinder. This time, though, they failed to impress.

I’m used to DM starting their concerts with some atmospheric instrumental intro, building up the tension, before they come on stage and give it some. On this tour they decided – who decided? – to start off with a rubbish, slow track with inadequate lighting effects to accompany the sad event. It felt like they were coming into my living room, turning on the lights, and saying “Everything ok? Mind if we practise a bit?” And it continued like that for the first half of the show until, like the last tour, it ended up as a bit of a Greatest Hits tour.

I don’t actually mind the inclusion of the singles. They made the concert a little more enjoyable. But it was all too late, and I sat their, stuck in my chair, hardly appreciating the whole affair. And then, when it was all over and I made my way to the train, I saw loads of middle-aged zombies who had also witnessed the travesty. I came to the conclusion that it may have just been a bad night for DM, but it was worse for me. I AM one of those incongruous beer-bellied oldies, wishing and hoping that the band would make me relive my past.

Footnote to future daughters to make this blog entry even mildly interesting:

Your mum and I have always been into music. Mum comes from a musical family; she played the balalaika and tuba as a young girl, though probably not at the same time. As she was growing up she listened to Pink Floyd, Dag Vag, Thåström and Guns N’ Roses.

I, on the other hand, come from an unmusical family. Your nan and grandad may have listened to music when they were younger, but, in their later years, the only CD’s I heard Nan play were pan pipe versions of famous songs, male choir versions of (most likely) the same songs, and Vangelis’ 1492 (that one was thanks to me). Despite their lack of interest I played the piano a bit and started to make my own synth music at the age of fifteen. And it was really thanks to Depeche Mode that I did.

I like synth music, and it has been with me in many forms for most of my life. Your mum and I met because of trance music, in fact. I was Djing at an event called Save the Robots in Luxembourg, and Mum was working on the door. That was the night we became a couple. Since then music has had a place in our hearts and in our home.

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The Return Of The Pudding

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Like many parents, we worry about the amount and kind of food that our offspring consume. Freya has been not so eager of late to eat food, and our liberal approach of asking her just to taste everything before she declines is starting to get to me a bit, since it is not reaping the rewards I wish it to. In fairness, the recently introduced “three more mouthfuls” tactic has worked, and I’m happy for that small blessing.

Today we made Sneaky Dad’s Pudding, a mixture of strawberries, banana, avocado, peanut butter, flax oil, carob powder, soya milk and orange juice. Now, I know it does not sound like the kind of thing that would be tasty, or be appreciated by children, but it is actually very nice. Everything gets whizzed up in a food processor, giving it the consistency of half-melted ice-cream, and has lots of minerals that any child would benefit from.

Both Freya and Zelda tucked in, and Freya even had three portions of it. She wasn’t so enthusiastic when she was little, but now she claims she wants it every day. I’m not sure just how long it’ll take before they get bored of it, though for the first time in a while she is eating very well.

Being Amongst Vegans

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The family went to Vegomässan 2009 today, a vegetarian/vegan fair that is now in its second year. While the location reminded me of an underground parking, it was reasonably cosy and there was a fair bit to do/see/eat. In fact, we had difficulties deciding exactly what to eat there, with soooo many delicious-looking buns, cakes, burgers, hot-dogs and other comestibles to consume. In the end we made our choices, and they were good.

Vegan food has, not surprisingly, come on a long way since my last foray into animal rights fairs. Vegan grub is at a far more acceptable level, and I would have been happy to take a no-vegan there, assured that there was not a lentil in sight (not that lentils are a bad foodstuff).

Freya loved the fair. There was a small, but (judging by Freya’s comments after we came home) pleasing kids’ corner where she stayed a while. She enjoyed walking around the crowded locale, and she liked the food. She even asked us, a few hours after we got back, if it was still open. I reckon that counts as a success.

A great day out for us all, even though we did not get to hear the lectures that we wanted to. And we even got to buy a Christmas ‘ham’ that apparently tastes very nice. We shall see.