We visited two lakes this morning. First up we popped down to Norrby then, after discovering there really isn’t anywhere to walk at Norrby, we drove across to Kumla to discover another beach type spot with very little walking.
There’s a lot of lakes in Stockholm. Actually, there’s probably more lake than land. Norrby and Kumla, for instance, are both on the banks of Drevviken but a long way apart. In order to get from one to the other, it’s a matter of 5.5km. On the lake, though, it’s a lot closer. Not that we took the lake.
The area of the lake is 1,410 acres with an average depth of around 22 feet (6.7 metres) with the deepest bit being 50 feet (15.2 metres). It’s a serious body of water that wanders around a bit between quite a few areas.
I’m not sure, but it seems to me that one of the reasons Stockholm is such a wooded place is because of the proliferation of lakes.
Norrby Café is down by the edge of the lake and I reckon, in summer, the place is probably heaving with swimmers. There’s only a small car park so it’s probably a case of first in first parked.
Kumla beach is a bit bigger but the parking must get bad in the summer because, the road that leads down to the water has no parking signs along it for the summer months. The road is very narrow with a big trench on one side.
We parked at a small, overflow car park well above the lake. In fact, we had a bit of a walk down, through autumnal paths to the water’s edge. The walk took us along a short but lovely tree lined road (alle), at the end of which was an interesting looking restaurant. It is only open for lunch and brunch but might be worth a look-see.
After a short walk, we returned to Max then back to the house so Mirinda could have a Skype with Fiona. Except Fiona couldn’t make it so it was rescheduled. Then Mirinda worked all day. As did I.
I’m presenting the Talking Newspaper this week, so I was busy editing most of the afternoon. I’d tested the connection with Charles on Monday and it worked fine. Looks like I’ll be the FATN Foreign Correspondent.
Earlier I’d had a text message from the Swedish post office saying I had to go and pick up my Amazon delivery from the local post office branch. I followed the link in the text message to see if I could opt to have it delivered to the house. This was not a possibility. I could pay to have it delivered to another shop but the post office was closest.
Apart from anything else, this could mean the end of my relationship with Amazon. I see little point in ordering and buying from a company that doesn’t deliver. If I have to walk to the post office and carry things home, I may just as well walk to a shop in the first place.
After a few hours of editing, I decided to have a break by walking to the post office.
It took me 40 minutes to get there. It took about ten minutes to get the parcel. I then walked the 40 minutes back to the house. Apart from getting away for a bit, it wasn’t that much fun. Though I did get to walk by the shop where the Swedish Queen buys her frocks.
Modevillan has been on this corner for 40 years, according to a couple of signs proudly proclaiming the fact, dotted around the footpath.
I don’t know if Queen Silvia actually does shop here but Camila says it’s so and who am I to doubt our landlady? She says a pair of socks will cost you £30. So maybe she’s right.
As well as dressing royalty, Modevillan is also a brilliant landmark. We pass it no matter which lake or shop we visit. And we always know where to turn to get home.
Back at home, after my trek, I finished up the editing, made dinner then settled down to watch two episodes of That Girl. This was possible because of the Amazon purchase. The TV here isn’t very smart so Netflix is not possible. I bought a mirror cast device, so we can watch Netflix via my phone. We don’t watch a lot of TV but, when we do, it makes it easier if it’s in English.
I then had a webinar with the WFA all about propaganda.
Today, this happened
In 1986, British PM Margaret Thatcher opened the last bit of the M25. At the time, as Maggie cut the ribbon, it was the longest ring-road in Europe at 117 miles. It had initially been proposed in 1944 by Patrick Abercrombie and was completed in a number of separate projects. It also stopped and started a number of times.
However, it had first been considered back in 1913 by Sir Charles Brassey and Sir Edwin Lutyens. Even earlier than that, William Rees Jeffreys, in 1903 said “It was a disgrace that no road existed which encircled the English capital.”
Of course, by 1986, it wasn’t big enough for the traffic that needed it. There has been widening going on almost constantly since it was rumoured to be complete. So, I guess, it’s been a bit of a car park since the beginning.
Interestingly, the M25 was the first to consider environmental issues in the building. But, possibly my favourite M25 fact is how the Lyne Rail Bridge was voted the ugliest bridge in the world once it was finished. It was voted for by a whole load of civil engineers, so they might have been looking at it through technical rather than beauty appreciation eyes.
I’m no engineer but I do like a good bridge. I’m not sure about the whole world but I agree with the civil engineers on this one.
