Q. What does Sweden & Canberra have in common?

A. LEGAL FIREWORKS!!

Here is an excerpt from a US warning on the dangers of fireworks:

U.S. FIRE ADMINISTRATION FINDINGS
The Dangers of Fireworks 2007

· Fireworks were the cause of 13 fatalities, 8,500 injuries, 7,000 fires, & $40 million in property loss
· Males are three times more likely than females to be injured.
· 92% of accidents involving fireworks are associated with the excessive consumption of alcohol.

So.......for Easter Madelene's three brothers and myself pollished off the 1.5 litre bottle of O.P. Bundy I brought across from OZ and set off a small arsenal of fireworks in the front yard...next to a fire. We managed to buck the trend and avoided fatalities, injuries, fires and property damage, however the bottle of Bundy resulted in the regular evoking of Mike "don't look at me I'm ugly in the morning" Patton the next day. But I guess it mostly came out as "titta inte på mig jag är ful på morgonen". Not sure if that has quite the same ring to it.

I hear it is hot in Oz

Apparently it was 35 degrees + in Oz over the last few days. Well this it what it looked like this morning in Onsala, Sweden. Temperature gauge says it is 0.4 degrees and Madelene assures me that this amount of snow is minimal. I commented that the snow was beautiful and Madelene's mum looked at me like I'd used the kitchen sink as a toilet. Apparently people who live in the snow aren't particularly fond of it. Oh, and I ate Moose Pie the other night for dinner. Doesn't taste like chicken.

Stockholm Syndrome

Well I'm finally in Europe. Quick summary of what it is like to try and move your life o.s. - it absolutley sucks golfballs. I hope that if I ever tell Madelene to head off 1 month before me while 'I take care of it all' that someone hears me, stops, and slaps me across the face with a large cold trout.

The flight over wasn't too bad. I was all set to try and convince Malaysia Airlines that I was recovering from a major knee injury (even walked up to the counter with a limp) and that I therefore needed to be seated in an aisle and in front of an exit, but they just changed my seat anyway. Important point in the future - ALWAYS request a seat in front of an exit. I had toyed with the idea of telling them it was a war wound, have to try that regardless some day. They did loose my lugagge though, apparently it's in SE Asia somewhere. Hopefully it makes an appearance as I am travelling pretty light otherwise. Oh, and for all those budding drug mules out there Sweden appears to have no customs process. Just walk on in. I did see an x-ray machine at one stage but it had a flower pot sitting on it so I guess it doesn't get used a whole lot.

I wanted to bring Madelene's brother's over some Aussie booze so I brought them a large bottle of Bundy O.P. Rum. She informs me that the fact that I have brought them something which I myself absolutely refuse to drink may be taken in somewhat of a negative manner. Bit precious the Swedes.

So, we're in Stockholm and are heading down to Gotebörg on the train. I think we'll probably float around there for a couple of weeks before we go over to the UK. I'm so glad they're having their warmest summer in 100 years here......it's currently 2 degrees.