“You did this on purpose, didn’t you?” Dougie declared, looking up from the sheaf of papers I’d given him a few months ago, detailing our holiday itinerary for Sweden. “Did what on purpose?” “The third...
Mum’s gone to Sweden: Hooray for Trollywood
In the 1980s there was a cute car sticker for SAAB cars which said, “Made in Trollhättan by trolls.” The assembly plant closed down in 2011 but Trollhättan remains an industrial town. Which makes...
Mum’s gone to Sweden: Lighthouse Family
“It’s undisturbable the peace we found In a bright new space up above the clouds… …you and I forever, baby, lifted, lifted…” Lifted, Lighthouse Family, 1995 I...
Mum’s gone to Sweden: Face to Face with The Big Brown Bear
“Have you got the paper counterpart to your driving licence?” I asked Dougie. “No, I don’t have one.” “What do you mean, you don’t have one?” “When I lost my old paper licence a...
Mum’s gone to Sweden: The ‘Absolut’ spirit of Stockholm
It’s all very well me telling you about family squabbles and people dressing up as Scooby Doo but I’m sure you are keen to know a little more about Stockholm and what it has to...
Mum’s gone to Sweden: How to embarrass your teenage son on holiday
Half way through our second full day in Stockholm, Rory wrestled my trusty notebook out of my hands and wrote the following: “Awkward and slightly embarrassing moments Mum unable to say ‘hop on, hop...
Mum’s Gone to Sweden: Sitting on the dock of the bay
Rory on Strombron. The smaller boat on the left is a very popular youth hostel. There’s an awful lot of water in Stockholm which makes for a breathtakingly beautiful city. Spread over many islands,...
Mum’s Gone to Sweden: Stockholm Syndrome
In 1973 a robbery took place at the Kreditbanken in Stockholm and four bank employees were held hostage over six days. ‘The Norrmalmstorg Drama’, as it was known, has since been associated with the...