It’s been a day of spring cleaning and re-arranging the furniture.
Ever since I arrived back from Europe I’ve been looking at my lounge and living space in a less than glamorous manner.
“What’s prompted this?”, my frend Sue asked me on the phone.
I guess it’s the realisation deep down that my place hasn’t exactly been the most conducive place for socialising for quite some time.
I’ve had a lot of furniture crammed into a small space, and ordered in a reasonably unsocial manner.
The television and the computer have dominated the space. The dining table moved into a corner. It’s been very “closed”. Oh, and completely messy as well.
And so I’ve moved the furniture around so the dining table is now right near the door as you enter.
I’ve moved the computer and desk from one side of the room to the other.
I’ve moved the lounge and television into a corner.
And suddenly it feels like the space is twice the size. Well, maybe that’s an exaggeration, but it certainly feels a lot more open.
Deep down, I guess it’s a realisation I wouldn’t mind socialising at home a little more, as it’s been quite some time since I’ve done. Aside from my annual Eurovision Party, of course…
As many of my friends and family know, I have NO problems going to sleep. I can fall asleep BEFORE take off on a plane. I can have a terrific micro-nap on the 304 bus between my place and Circular Quay.
But I wasn’t quite prepared for the nap I’ve had after having the Astra Zeneca. Yes, I know it’s hard to believe, but I am OVER FIFTY.
At first, I felt quite good, but after a few hours, I became incredibly tired. I also started to feel a little dizzy. There was a bit of pain in my arm too, where I had the injection.
So I cancelled dinner at a friend’s place and went to bed, waking in the early hours of Saturday morning.
Then I woke up and went back to bad for basically the next 24 hours. I woke up Sunday morning feeling pretty good.
As I shared this story on social media, many friends had similar experiences.
My partner had exactly the same reaction!!!
I had the same. Wiped me out for a day or so. But it means it’s worked!
I’m told this is the immune system kicking in. I was also tired after my Moderna x 2 here in California.
Falling to sleep easily must run in the family. I also drop off no problem. I had my first Asta jab six weeks ago and only felt mildly sleepy the following day. No sore arm either.
One of my mates had exactly the same reaction as you James. Fortunately I was fine after the jab.
Didn’t have any reaction other than the sore arm, and vaccines always seem to do that to me. Great way to get a good night’s sleep though, I guess it means it’s your immune system summoning up the response with a resounding, right people, this is not a drill. When in fact, it is.
Great to have this done at my local medical centre, without the need to travel long distances.
Sadly, there were no jelly beans at the medical centre.
Since arriving I’ve had three or four people ask me “why do you speak Swedish”? It’s a question for which there is no simple answer or at least no simple answer I can respond to in Swedish.
The first occasion happened arriving at Stockholm Airport. This was the first time I’ve actually come through the full border control at Stockholm, having previously entered Europe mostly through Germany and Finland.
As someone without an EU passport, I had to join the queue where they ask you lots and lots and lots of questions about why you’re coming to Sweden, how long you intend to stay and so on. To be sure I didn’t mess anything up, I had the initial conversation in English.
Fifty metres later and I was asked – in Swedish – by a security guard (in one of those random checks) where I had come from, about my nationality and so on. As this was reasonably easy to understand and to respond to, I replied in Swedish. Seconds later, the guard asked me, with a confused look on his face, “You’re from Australia. Why do you speak Swedish”? to which I replied, probably rather stupidly, “Because I’m learning Swedish in a class”. Dumb in hindsight, but he seemed happy with the response and let me continue.
It happened again when I went to exchange some currency and when I checked in to my apartment. “These are strange currencies”, the woman at the currency exchange said, referring to my Australian dollars and Chinese RMB. And then we got into an albeit very simple conversation about how I was from Australia and had travelled via China. Again, she asked, “Why do you speak Swedish”.
Sky Apartment, Thorildsplan, Stockholm
When I checked in to my apartment I began with English – I didn’t want to mess anything up – but then realised I could respond to some things in Swedish and did so.
I absolutely love my apartment. It’s larger than I expected for a “small studio”. The bathroom is as large as mine back in Sydney, it has a great little kitchenette, a nice and comfortable bed, even a lounge area and outside I can hear birds. And it’s new, clean and modern, and only about 10 minutes from T-centralen via T-bana. What more could I want?
After a bit of relaxation, I headed into the city where it was surprisingly warm. I was half expecting a night-time chill in the air, but that wasn’t to be. Indeed, when I popped into a bar, Torget for a drink I found myself actually quite hot. With the warm weather, Stockholm is really buzzing. There are people everywhere, and they’re definitely making the most of the sunshine and warmth.
After a couple of hours wandering around the city, it was time to come home, have a shower and hop in bed.
Today was a big day. I took delivery of my new mobility scooter, and I couldn’t be more excited. For me, this isn’t just a vehicle; it’s a ticket to freedom.
As a below-the-knee amputee, I’ve learned to navigate the world in a way most people don’t consider. While I have a prosthetic leg, there are many reasons why it’s not always an option. Sometimes, I simply can’t wear it because of skin irritation, swelling, or open sores on my residual limb. These issues can make it incredibly painful or even impossible to fit into the socket. Other times, I’m just too exhausted to manage the extra energy it takes to walk with a prosthetic, especially for longer distances. When I can’t wear my leg, I’m essentially housebound, relying on others for even the simplest errands.
I am eligible for in-home support through the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS), a program that provides funding to eligible Australians with a permanent and significant disability to help them live more independently. While this support is a fantastic resource, I’ve always valued my independence. The idea of being stuck at home, waiting for help to get to the shops or just to leave the house, just doesn’t sit right with me. I want to be able to go out and about on my own terms.
This is where the mobility scooter comes in. In the short term, it means I can get to the local shops or even the pub without relying on anyone. But in the longer term, it offers a sustainable solution for my independence. It’s not just a temporary fix; it’s a tool that allows me to maintain an active life, even as my mobility needs change. The freedom of hopping on my scooter and going for a spontaneous outing is something I haven’t had in a long time.
Proving the Need: The Occupational Therapist’s Report
Navigating the NDIS to get a mobility scooter isn’t as simple as just asking for one. Because a scooter is classified as ‘high-cost assistive technology,’ the NDIS requires a detailed occupational therapist (OT) report to prove it is a “reasonable and necessary” support.
My occupational therapist, Samantha from Golden Age, who was fantastic had to conduct a thorough assessment, focusing on how my disability impacts my daily life. The report needed to clearly justify why a scooter was the best solution for me. It had to cover several key points, including:
My Functional Capacity: The report had to explain how my amputation, and the factors that prevent me from wearing my prosthetic, limit my mobility and ability to get around my community.
The Impact on My Goals: My OT needed to link the scooter directly to my NDIS goals, such as increasing my community participation and gaining independence. It had to show that without a scooter, I couldn’t achieve these goals.
Safety and Suitability: The OT also had to assess my physical and cognitive ability to use the scooter safely. This involved looking at things like my balance, judgment, and ability to navigate different environments. They also had to recommend a specific model and explain why it was the most suitable option for my needs and the kind of terrain I would be using it on.
It wasn’t until I took my sister’s scooter for a spin late last yearthat I realized just how liberating it was to embrace the idea of a mobility scooter. It wasn’t about giving up on driving, public transport or walking; it was about gaining back a part of my life. After I broke my hip a few months ago, I hired one for a few weeks and was completely convinced.
Today, thanks to my NDIS support, my new scooter has arrived. It’s an incredible step forward—not just in terms of getting from A to B, but in reclaiming my independence and maintaining my mental and physical health.
All I need now is for the rain to ease, so I can get out and about.
My friend Paul asked AI to imagine me in a Mad Max truck!!
There’s a saying that if you can’t say anything nice, don’t say anything at all. It’s a saying I generally believe in, and part of the reason why I’ve been agonising for twenty-four hours about what to say about “Melodifestivalen #4”. Even though I watched it yesterday afternoon, it’s not until tonight that I’ve known what to say.
The problem was that none of the songs instantly connected with me. It wasn’t until a second viewing earlier tonight that I began to connect with any of the songs. In the end there’s two songs which I think are quite good. By a long shot, I liked “Dance Alone” by Love Generation, an all-girl group with shades of The Spice Girls. Beyond that, I half-liked Linda Bengtzing’s song “E det fel på mej” (“Is It Wrong Of Me”). Linda is a great Swedish schlager artist who just missed out on representing Sweden a couple of years ago in Eurovision with “Hur svårt kan det va” (“How Hard Can That Be?”. She lost to “Hero” by Charlotte Perrelli.
Beyond that, I thought it was slim pickings this week with far too many awful rock ballads – “Run” by Anders Fernette and “Leaving Home By Nicke Borg” – far too many half-arsed copy cats – “The Hunter” by “The Melody Club” had shades of former Swedish Eurovision entrant, “The Ark”, and “Better Or Worse” by Julia Alvgard was little more than karaoke – as well as the truly bizarre.
Lasse Stefanz
And by bizarre, I mean Lasse Stefanz singing “En Blick Och Nånting Händer” (“A Look And Something Happens”). Lasse Stefanz is a “country music inspired dansband” according to Wikipedia. From what I can see the Dansband phenomenon is quite big in Sweden – they’ve inspired a national tv show like Idol – which centres around a bunch of often middle-aged blokes doing cover versions. You could imagine them playing a RSL clubs in Australia on a Sunday afternoon. But somehow, they’ve reached greater heights in Sweden. “And why, I just don’t know” – to quote ABBA.
In the end, Linda Bengtzing made it through to the final, and so did Nicke Borg. Frankly, I can’t see either giving Eric Saade much competition in the final to represent Sweden at Eurovision this year. Hopefully, Love Generation might make it through to the final also via appearing in “Andra chansen” (the “another chance semi final”). So anyway, a bit disappointed again this week, especially compared with last week which was quite good.
In the end, I’ll leave you with “The Ark”. They were Sweden’s entry in Eurovision in 2007 with their glam-rock inspired stylings and a very catchy tune, “Not The Worrying Kind”. I’m more of a fan of their hit song last year, though.
I’ve always been a fan of Ros Reines. To be frank, it’s the only part of the Sunday papers I bother to read.
In particular, I love “Guess Who, Don’t Sue” where Ros often speculates about the misdemeanours of minor celebrities. I love trying to guess who she is talking about, and sometimes I actually know.
I also love the “spotted” segment where people text reports of celebrity sightings about Sydney. It’s all just so incredibly pointless, and therefore entertaining.
But things have reached a pretty parse, you must admit, when Clare, the faux Kings Cross crime witness makes it into Ros’ column.
I’d arranged with Tony to meet up at Allsang pa Skansen, the regular summertime television program in Sweden focussed on community singing. Along with some Swedish “favourites” there’s usually a pop star or two with a show or concert to promote. This week it was Benny Andersson’s Orchestra and the cast of Mamma Mia. Benny, of course, is an absolute bloody legend and needs no explanation, while the English-language production of Mamma Mia opens in Stockholm in a couple of weeks time.
The weather today was shitty. Really shitty. So I figured I had two choices. Either find somewhere indoors, maybe back at the hostel, or head off to Skansen to try to find a good seat. I’d been told people arrive as early as 7.00am. I think that’s crazy myself, but some people do it. I figured since I had nothing to lose, I’d do my best to find a good seat.
I was also warned about the “crazy old Swedish ladies” who scream and shout if you get a better seat than them. I didn’t see any of those, though I did see quite a lot of people who I thought looked a little bit “dueling banjos” if you get my meaning.
Wearing my yellow berka, as I began to call it, I grabbed a seat behind a group of four (two men and two women) and a little old lady with no apparent signs of craziness. For a couple of hours I sat there with only my eyes peering through a slit watching the complete lack of action. It wasn’t too long, however, before I realised the people in front of me were actually ABBA fans. And not normal ones, like myself, but crazy ABBA fans.
A bit like some born again Christians, crazy ABBA fans get this weird glazed look in their eyes. From time to time this group kept looking back at me, suspiciously, trying to figure out who I was. “Did I have more autographs than them?” “Did I know Frida personally”? That kinda stuff. One of them said to me at one point, accusingly, “You came late. You weren’t here at nine o’clock this morning”. Weird stuff, eh?
The attraction, of course, was Benny Andersson from ABBA. Tonight’s program was all about Benny and ABBA.
I watched the soundcheck and the rehearsal. Hearing Helen Sjoholm sing “Du Ar Min Man” for the first time live was absolutely amazing. She has a really strong voice and sings with a great sense of drama. The second or third time was still good, but by the fourth I was getting a bit sick of it, to be honest. As she walked around in her raincoat, you could see she was quite cool, and had a bit of a sense of humour as she joked with a few people.
Benny also seemed quite nice during rehearsal. Politely stepping back to let people through. Chatting with everyone. Greeting the cast of Mamma Mia with a hug. He wore his raincoat, did what everyone else did, and there were no signs of any prima donna behaviour.
That said, you could just see how much in awe everyone was of him. Just mention the word Benny and the whole audience errupted into applause.
A young couple sat next to me for a while. At first I thought it was just she who was the ABBA fan, but clearly they both were. They were very grateful, by the way, that I had offered them to share my seat when so many others hadn’t. I suspect the fans in front may not have been so kind. Within minutes of sitting down, the young couple too, were singing along to some of the more obscure recordings of Benny Andersson’s Orchestra.
Rehearsal for Allsang pa Skansen
Helen Sjoholm and Benny Andersson in rehearsal at Allsang pa Skansen.
I was really surprised at how many people were there, and how many young people in particular. There were probably more people there this week in the rain than last week when it was sunny.
During the show itself, I moved away from the formal seating, as I was so incredibly cold and wet. Four hours in the Swedish rain was too much for a boy from Sydney.
So how did I feel about the experience of seeing Benny perform live? I find it a little hard to articulate actually. I enjoyed the performances. I also feel a sense of “completion” in some ways, that I’ve seen him in a live performance. Would I go to a BAO concert? Yes, though I wouldn’t fly to the other side of the world, especially.
And with a couple of ABBA songs sung in Swedish, it was a very interesting place to spend my final full day in Stockholm. It was a very “Swedish” moment being at Allsang tonight.
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Sounds like a good start to the new year :)
p.s I’m messy too ;)
Sounds like a good start to the new year :)
p.s I’m messy too ;)
Wow!