Outside the ICA in Trosa, there are three very handy benches. They have been placed, very handily, just off the car park, ready to receive bottoms that are waiting for a pickup or simply resting before heading home. They are also very handy if one has to take off and/or replace the spikes on one’s shoes. Except there is one thing that makes this latter very precarious. After a few days, the benches are surrounded by ice.

The grit helps but, essentially, when I’m done with my shopping and need to replace my spikes (I know, I know, it’s because I grew up in Australia and can’t retain my balance walking on ice like native Swedes can), I take my life and limbs into my own hands.
Actually, I don’t. A while ago I realised it was lethal and, instead, managed to balance on a giant, concrete ear of corn that sits almost under the shop awning. This is very wobbly but, there’s little ice around it. I’m sure it looks very funny but, it’s an essential part of my winter shopping.
Today, as I sat and balanced on the nobbly ear, I noticed an ice free area, not far from me. It crossed my mind that it would be an idea place for a bench where people, like me, could put their spikes on quite happily.
The spot is just by the supermarket entrance and would mean an easy entrance and exit without fear of falling.

I guess it’s not something people who can walk upright on ice really consider. It’s understandable. In Australia, for instance, people aren’t warned about bindies, drop bears*, snakes, spiders or hot sand; it’s considered common knowledge.
Anyway, I’m not really complaining. I enjoy shopping at ICA and the staff are always happy, and friendly first thing in the morning. It’s all just something I thought about this morning.
Back at home, Lukas returned to finish a few electrical things left over from last week. By lunchtime, he hadn’t quite finished but had another job to rush off to, which means he’ll be back tomorrow to finish properly.
Unfortunately, the heat pump in the stuga didn’t suddenly spring back into life. Lukas gave us the name of a company in Vagnharad and I contacted them to see if someone could come out and warm the place up for us.
I had a very quick response from a chap who actually started his email, “G’day Gary…“. I don’t think I know him but it seems a bit odd that someone would address me in such an Australian fashion. Maybe he read the article in the paper. I’ll probably never know.
Anyway, he assured me that an engineer would be in touch to arrange a time to come out. I waited for the rest of the day. I was never contacted. Hopefully tomorrow.
In the meanwhilst, Mirinda took the girls for a snowy walk around Mount Trosa. Emma kept collecting snow balls on her legs, which had her stopping and chewing them off. She prefers biting them off to someone helping her with snowball removal.
She continued biting them off in the kitchen upon their return.

Her season has finished, by the way. She’s back to her normal self.
Also, Fi headed off to Uppsala this morning for a couple of days away with Jason.
* Actually, foreigners are often warned about drop bears but, unfortunately, few take heed.
Dont take your spikes off when entering ICA! IF I would, I would walk without shoes…
But I worry about skating across the tiles if I go inside with them still on!
Does that mean Nicoline shops barefoot?
You should write to ICA. Nicoline knows the owners. Of course.
Sorry, dont get it. I put my icebugs on when leaving home. Take them off when back home again. Agree, having them on in shops like ICA is not great but definitly better than doing and undoing them….. (and no, i do not know the ICA owners… :-))