punk in writing

Dear Spring, please come soon

2012-01-24T21:37:00.000+01:00

Black ice, darkness, thermal underwear and freezing cold weather. I am so ready for winter to be over.

I've replaced the Christmas decorations with tulips and spring crocus. Yesterday there was just a tiny hint of purple but look at 'em today!

Spring crocus in a vintage measuring cup.

Now that's what I call a risotto

2012-01-24T19:16:00.002+01:00

The vegetarian dish at a company event is a pretty good indication of the level of skill and ambition in the kitchen. I have eaten some truly great meals in places that had no vegetarian food on the menu, but chefs that were happy to rise to the challenge.

I have eaten many boring versions of veggie lasagna and risotto. I'm not a big fan of pasta and most of the time risotto tastes like rice porridge gone wrong. But at today's conference I was presented with a risotto that was truly yummy and full of mushrooms, beets and other tasty stuff. Well done Moriska Paviljongen!

Yummy risotto.

Vert Attack 6

2012-01-23T19:18:00.001+01:00

Vert Attack 6 takes place this weekend in Malmö. Duane Peters is supposed to show up, but I have my doubts...
Last year I watched the webcast because the venue was really crowded and my friends didn't wanna go. We'll see what happens this weekend.

More info and full schedule on skatemalmo.se

The Other F Word

2012-01-22T20:17:00.002+01:00

The Other F Word is finally out on DVD January 31. I think I'm gonna pre-order a copy because I've been wanting to check out this documentary about punk rock and fatherhood ever since I heard about it.

More info at http://www.theotherfwordmovie.com/

Hard and Fast

2012-01-13T18:33:00.000+01:00

Check out this message from the British Heart Foundation. Brilliant!

I love how they use humor and Staying Alive to get the message across. If you're not a fan of Bee Gees you can do compressions to the beat of Another One Bites the Dust.

The Hard and Fast campaign has a good website too, check it out at http://www.bhf.org.uk/heart-health/life-saving-skills/hands-only-cpr.aspx

I get training in basic CPR once a year through my job and it's one benefit I really appreciate. If you plan to learn a new skill this year - check out CPR. Like Vinnie Jones said, it ain't as hard as it looks.

Julgransplundring

2012-01-06T23:30:00.000+01:00

Today is a holiday in Sweden, celebrating the fact that the three wise men have reached Bethlehem and delivered their gifts to baby Jesus.

It's also the end of Christmas and soon it's time to take down the tree and all Christmas ornaments. Julgransplundring (plundering the Christmas tree) is a Swedish tradition - a party where you eat lots of candy and give the tree a good sending-off.

My tree may be on the small side but there was lots of stuff to eat so all the guests were happy. The savory stuff in the kitchen (homemade pizza, tzay pieces, cheese and crackers) and all the cakes and sweets next to the tree.

Sweet stuff!
The candy tree in the background originally belonged to my great-grandmother.

Annika, Philip, Rob, Alex and Amanda.

This photo is a little blurry but you can see the baby Christmas tree in the background.

Made a sidetable for plates and cups using a cardboard box and a vintage kitchen towel.

Copenhagen

2012-01-02T22:44:00.000+01:00

Spent the first Monday of 2012 in Copenhagen. Had lunch with my homegirl Malin in her office on Strandboulevarden, took the train down to Nørrebro and checked out some shops in the area. But it was just one of those days where I didn't find anything I liked.

I walked past The Lakes and saw a bunch of swans hanging out. They seemed to be enjoying the mild weather too. Downtown Copenhagen was a little too crowded for my liking so in the end I just picked up some tulips and some danish pastries and headed home. Not a bad way to spend a Monday.

Swans chillin' in one of the lakes.

Happy New Year!

2011-12-31T10:30:00.000+01:00

Here we go... the last few hours of 2011 and soon it will be 2012. New year, new possibilities and a bunch of new years resolutions crowding my gym during January.

It's been quite a year - in a roller-coaster sort of way. I am grateful for my family and my friends who helped me through the rough times and made the good times even better.

I'm gonna end this post with a card that my mother sent to relatives in 1959, wishing them a Happy New Year.

Vintage Card

Check out those stamps!

This Xmas...

2011-12-27T23:58:00.000+01:00

...I cooked like mad, hung out with my family, ate veggie Christmas food, visited relatives, read books, went to church, watched movies, ate some more food, went for long walks and ate sinful amounts of chocolate. Often for breakfast.

It took a few days to unwind but it feels like I've started to relax and enjoy the holidays. I've even had time to see the new Sherlock Holmes movie and check out the sales.

My mother really wanted a white tree this year and she decorated it in red ornaments. I think it's our Danish heritage that shines through... and it's fun to have a tree with a twist.

Mom's Christmas Tree

Dannebrogen

Christmas Cards

2011-12-22T21:37:00.000+01:00

Found these groovy vintage Christmas cards on Kevin Kidney's flickr. His blog is pretty cool too, check it out at http://miehana.blogspot.com/

I love Christmas cards and I send mine out in early December, usually a week or two before everyone else. In this digital age there is something special about selecting the right cards, writing them by hand and walking down to the post office to send them. I know there are websites, apps and all kinds of digital ways to send Christmas greetings but I prefer the old school way. Paper, ink and stamp.

Vintage 1960s Christmas Card - Snowy Street

Vintage 1950s Christmas Card - Disney

Vintage Christmas Card - Santa Greetings

Wrapped

2011-12-21T22:01:00.000+01:00

All my Christmas gifts are wrapped and ready! It's hard to believe Christmas Eve is only a few days away.

Christmas Gifts

It's coming...

2011-12-18T22:35:00.001+01:00

Christmas Eve is less than a week away! Had an awesome weekend with glögg, the movie Elf and good times with old friends at a swanky cocktail party.

My grandparents treated the family to Christmas food at Ängavallen. Everything is organic, mostly home-made and really tasty. And their julmust is amazing.
Julmust is a Swedish thing, and it drives the Coca Cola company crazy each year because we don't drink cola during the holidays, it's julmust all the way.

Dessert, sweets and julmust.

And I even found the time to decorate my little Christmas tree. I'm going with Hello Kitty and chocolate pine cones this year.

My little tree.

Tredje Advent

2011-12-11T21:19:00.001+01:00

Today is tredje advent, or the third Sunday of Advent. Advent means "coming" and is made up of four Sundays that lead up to Christmas and the birth of baby Jesus. Advent is all about waiting for Jesus to arrive, and using the candles to count down to Christmas.
In case you hadn't noticed, I'm one of those radical people who think Christmas has something to do with religion.

And it's also a nice tradition to sit down, light the candles and drink a cup of tea. It's really dark here in Sweden at this time of year, as daylight starts at 8.30 and ends at 15.30.

Three out of four.

The Season of Giving

2011-12-10T20:34:00.001+01:00

Some of the firefighters who are working on Christmas Eve are gonna drop by the local City Mission to hang out and show support. They plan to donate some clothes and have asked their co-workers to see if we have any that we can donate.

I've dug around in my closet and come up with a bag of clothes that I don't really need or use. It feels good to do some giving in the middle of the Christmas shopping frenzy.

The Annual Retro Blaster Xmas Bash

2011-12-04T18:00:00.000+01:00

I may be fighting a cold (again) but that didn't stop me from attending our annual Retro Blaster Xmas Bash last night. Well, I had a ~~little~~ lot of help from ibuprofen, cough drops and decongestant. And DJ Undertaker lent me a chair in the DJ booth when I got a little dizzy.

Still, the Xmas Bash is an event I don't wanna miss. Johnny Horsepower, Thee Gravemen, Astrolites and Wild Wax Combo on stage and DJ Undertaker spinning records. It seems like everyone is there and the atmosphere is great.

Punky hangin' with Micke, Eddie and Marcus.

Johnny Horsepower

Anthem For The Unwanted

2011-12-02T20:42:00.001+01:00

Brand new video from New Found Glory! I've been listening to Radiosurgery for weeks and there are no weak tracks... just some songs I love more than others.
And this video makes me wanna see New Found Glory live even more...

Word

2011-11-29T23:26:00.001+01:00

Gingerbread Cupcake

2011-11-26T18:40:00.001+01:00

A gingerbread house in the shape of a giant cupcake? Saw this at Cafe 13 in Ljungby today. They also had a sparkly white Christmas tree with cupcake ornaments and multi-colored lights.

Small towns have the best flea markets and Mom and I lucked out today. Vintage tablecloths, candlesticks and a big portrait of Jesus. Did I mention that my mother is a Reverend?

Cupcake!

Candlestick and vintage tablecloth.

We dropped by Grandma for a visit and I found a group of tomtenissar (Santa's little helpers) eating rice porridge. My mom made these little fellas from an old egg box, felt and other bits and pieces when I was a kid. I got all nostalgic and took them home with me.

Tomtegröt.

Punk Rock & Roll

2011-11-22T23:06:00.001+01:00

I want that good feeling of the open road! We all need a little punk rock & roll!

Gesundheit!

2011-11-15T22:24:00.001+01:00

I haven't fallen off the face of the earth. I'm just being held hostage by an evil cold. The sneezing, endless tissues and lack of energy is driving me crazy. I wish I could stay on the couch, eat kiwi fruit, drink tea and watch Buffy the Vampire Slayer.

Is anyone working on the cure for the common cold? I don't have any vast sums of money to donate to research but I'd happily cheer them on with some enthusiastic clapping of hands.

Office Propaganda by Steve Thomas

Good Riddance

2011-11-06T23:21:00.001+01:00

I've had a lot to do lately. Busy at work, busy with the hepcat store, busy sorting out my own head. And then there's all the little everyday things like groceries to buy, returning library books and remembering where I last saw the car keys.

But I also keep thinking about things and people I thought I had made up my mind about. Questioning my own actions and decisions. Asking that eternal question "what if". Hoping to talk to you. Looking at that photo of us. Wondering what is on your mind and why I care.
Maybe I'm processing. Maybe I just need a vacation.

Time to take Billy Joe's advice...

So make the best of this test and don't ask why

it's not a question but a lesson learned in time.

Happy Halloween!

2011-10-31T21:20:00.000+01:00

Happy Halloween everyone!
Muffins, candy and The Nightmare Before Christmas. It's tradition.

Meet Sigge

2011-10-30T18:05:00.000+01:00

Sigge is a cool little dude. He is 14 weeks old and lives with Emma and PM in a big apartment in the fancy part of Lund. PM and Emma are cool too but Sigge is just so... furry.

We had a really nice Friday night with burgers, friends, beer and plans for world domination. Saint 21 crew goes hemmakväll.

Sigge is a laid-back dude.

Patric, PM and Sigge.

Caramel

2011-10-20T20:20:00.000+02:00

It's getting dark and cold outside and I'm tired after a really busy week at work. My gloves and scarves have some out of hiding, I'm cooking soups and trying to locate my Halloween decorations. Summer is long gone...

Luckily I picked up a package on my way home today, a box filled with a selection of tasty handmade caramels from Pärlans konfektyr in Stockholm. These little treats really brightened up a quiet evening at home.

Yum!

Apple Cake

2011-10-16T18:52:00.000+02:00

Made a simple apple cake with a little cinnamon today. The apples are from my paternal grandmother's garden in Småland. The cake turned out fine and the top was almost a little chewy - in a good way.
Recipe can be found here.

Taa-dah!

Om nom nom!

Serve it with some ice cream and a side order of Tom Gabel and Chuck Ragan.

My weakness is that I care too much

2011-10-15T22:00:00.000+02:00

Raise your hand if you've ever gotten a little drunk and done things you shouldn't. Hey, you too?
Not being perfect simply means we are human.

But we all have to decide what is right for us and what we make room for in our lives. And sometimes I let people into my life who are not what I thought they were. You don't respect me and you don't really care.

It is not for me to judge you or how you live your life. I simply choose not to be a part of it.

This Weekend

2011-10-11T19:33:00.003+02:00

Checked out the local punk scene at Mejeriet in Lund on Friday. Vånna Inget and Troublemakers kicked ass.

Vånna Inget

Troublemakers

Saturday night was reserved for a garage party held by some of my friends. Good friends, alphabet yoga, dancing and good times. Saturday nights are for getting drunk and doing things you shouldn't.

Alphabet yoga

Alphabet yoga - Jocke demonstrates the letter W

Hangin'

Two bunnies at the bar? Danny Boy, Captain T, Eddie and Emilia.

On the menu

Captain T

Frida and Triumph

The Jetsons

2011-10-05T20:25:00.000+02:00

I'm part of a project that is trying to predict trends that will affect the fire and rescue services in 2030. Discussing and imagining the world of tomorrow made me think of cartoon The Jetsons. It originally aired in 1962-63 and had a revival between 1985 and 1987. Meet George Jetson...

The Jetsons

Dinner in the future

The Jetsons on vinyl

Elroy and George

Judy Jetson

Vintage Cosmetics - Or Not

2011-10-02T14:50:00.000+02:00

I'm a fan of vintage cosmetics and I like my eyeliner in the style of the 1950's. But I need to clean out my bathroom cabinet more often... I don't wear a lot of makeup and while I go thru my liquidlast eyeliner, smashbox lid primer and vanilla eyeshadow quite rapidly there are some things that should have been thrown out years ago. The dust on some of the bottles should have been a clue...

The romance may last forever but what about the lotions and potions?

I rarely wear foundation because I have sensitive skin that tends to break out if I wear too much makeup. However I've heard a lot of good things about mineral makeup so I'm trying out Bare Minerals. So far so good, but it does go on a bit shiny which is fine for a modern look but not so good for a 1950's look.

I've also heard a lot of good things about Lily Lolo but I can only find them online and I'm not very good at picking out the right shade of foundation for myself. Still, it might be worth ordering some samples and see how they work.

If you are a retro gal with sensitive skin I'd love to know what works for you.

So flirting comes naturally to the girl who wears Seventeen Cosmetics?

Natural looking? With that hat on?

Stop Motion Tattoo

2011-10-02T11:54:00.001+02:00

I love stop motion animation and this is a really cool project. Check out part 2 and part 3 to see the piece get finished.

Chicken of the Sea

2011-09-21T21:28:00.002+02:00

I picked up this "Chicken of the Sea" magnet on Etsy a little while ago simply because I like the design. And when I searched the web I found a bunch of cool ads from the company. Like this one.

Tuna sandwich, anyone?

I dug around some more and found the image below. Turns out that Chicken of the Sea sponsored a popular pirate ship restaurant inside Disneyland. And yep, they served lots of tuna.

The image below is from the relaunch of the restaurant in 1960. Check out Kevin Kidney's blog for the story of the restaurant and more fabulous images.

Another great place I found is Daveland which has a bunch of vintage photos and stories from Disneyland, including the Chicken of the Sea pirate ship. There are some pretty cool images on his site. Most are holiday snapshots or photos from the construction of various parts of the park.

Spot the two mermaids!

Did all this talk of tuna make you hungry? Then try this original recipe for Tunaburger, as served at the Chicken of the Sea restaurant. According to the good folks and brave taste-testers over at Mid-Century Meny it's pretty damn tasty.

Radiosurgery

2011-09-18T12:05:00.001+02:00

New Found Glory's new album is out on October 4th! Let's hope it comes with a tour that brings them to Scandinavia and my neck of the woods. I'm loving Jordan's new hairstyle btw. He's beginning to look like one of my Saint 21 boys. Very stylish.

It's the singer not the song

2011-09-13T09:45:00.000+02:00

Just listen to Brian Fallon of the Gaslight Anthem sing his version of I Do Not Hook Up. It gives me goosebumps every time I listen to it. His voice and his performance really gets under my skin.

I Do Not Hook Up was written by Katy Perry who never released the song. She gave it to Kelly Clarkson who recorded it in 2009. You can find her version here.
Brian Fallon completely transformed the song from a teen-pop number to an acoustic ballad. Mick Jagger was right. It's the singer that makes all the difference.

If Ever I Stray

2011-09-12T20:28:00.002+02:00

A friend lamented about the lack of new talent in the current editions of pop idol/true talent/whatever. I find most of those fame-game shows to be crap, resulting only in "artists" that record bland versions of someone elses songs, do a bit of touring and fade back into obscurity. Fame and artistry are two different things.

I told my friend that she won't discover new talent by watching fame-game shows on TV. The real talent is busy writing songs, rehearsing, playing local gigs and touring in vans. If you want to find it you have to leave your sofa and check out some local gigs.

Just look at Frank Turner. I still remember seeing him opening for the Gaslight Anthem in 2009. I went to that show to see Gaslight Anthem and ended up walking out of the venue raving about Frank Turner. And I wasn't the only one. The buzz about him and his songs came from people who'd watched him performed and loved it. That's true talent and that is how you build a career in music. By writing and performing great songs, touring, playing and talking to those who listen to your music.

And the b-side to If Ever I Stray is a song called Sailor's Boots. Simple and amazing. Move over Brian Fallon, I've got a new writer's crush.

This Week

2011-09-11T11:27:00.001+02:00

This week just zoomed by. Two busy and fun days working in Stockholm. I was up on a roof and down in a bunker, checked out some churches and some shops, played boule and ate some good food. Later in the week Von Sven dropped by the shop and did some pinstriping and inhaled some thinner. Good times.

I picked up some cool trinkets at a charity shop, found some great veggies and fresh fruit at the farmer's market and checked out Swedish punk band Vånna Inget's release party in a converted artists studio last night. Maximum capacity was 90 people so it was intimate, loud and fun.
Their album Allvar is out on Heptown Records next week and they are going on tour soon. Check 'em out!

View from a roof.

Art in the bunker.

Up in the air.

Von Sven pinstriping in the HepCat Store.

Vånna Inget live.

Breakfast. Fresh strawberries, banana, pear and lemon yoghurt. Grated some espresso chocolate on top.

Turn over a new leaf

2011-09-03T14:46:00.001+02:00

September means harvest time and the start of the local farmers market. I love eating food that is local and organic. At the farmers market you get good quality stuff and the prices are good too. Totally worth getting out of bed early for.
I picked up some great stuff this morning, including kale, goats cheese, plums, mini-cauliflower, gooseberry and whiskey jam, yellow beets and tomatoes.


Loot

"Little fiancée" - a local goat's cheese.

Gooseberry squash and gooseberry and whiskey jam.

During this fabulously rainy summer I passed the time with some online retail therapy at the Imperial War Museum's shop. Got a new poster for my kitchen, a few books and some other stuff. They've got some nice things if you're into retro and history.

Turn over a new leaf - poster from the Imperial War Museum.

Yup, I got the mug too.

Sometimes you just need a reminder

2011-09-01T21:55:00.000+02:00

Live right now
Just be yourself
It doesn't matter if it's good enough for someone else

#theconf

2011-08-25T18:37:00.010+02:00

I've just spent two great days at the conference (#theconf on twitter) listening to some amazing talks on digital media and the future. If you weren't there you should check out some of the talks that are available online.
I strongly recommend the keynote talks by Riyaad Minty who works with social media at Al Jazeera and the talk on Man & Machine by cyborg anthropologist Amber Case.

I also attended talks on disruptive thinking, crowdfunding and hacking your own body. My head is spinning after two really intense days with lots of new ideas and impressions.
And I became my own souvenir. I got scanned, digitalized and a mini-me printed on a 3D-printer. The technology is still a little primitive but imagine what they are gonna do with 3D-printers in a few years...

Tried this pose at first but the scanners didn't like it.

Analog Punky.

Digital Punky in 3D

Plastic Punky - the result of a 3D printer

And since the conference was the world's first flattrable conference I signed up to and am now using flattr, a system for micropayments and donations. You can read more about flattr on wikipedia and on flattr.com

I talked to a lot of interesting people during these two days, but the words that stuck the most come from Bill Drummonds keynote talk this morning.

"You can stand on the outside looking in or you can stand on the outside looking further out. I prefer looking further out."

Bouncing Souls and Boysetsfire

2011-08-23T20:51:00.005+02:00

Two of my favorite bands played at Malmöfestivalen yesterday. Yay! Am too tired to write anything substantial so I'll just say that the Bouncing Souls were great and Boysetsfire were awesome. Singer Nathan Gray is just as good live as on recordings.

Oh yeah, I saw NOFX too and they were rude but fun.

Bouncing Souls

Boysetsfire

Punky and Nathan Gray

NOFX

Ultra Bowl III

2011-08-20T21:43:00.000+02:00

Skateboarding is so much fun to watch. My local skatepark Stapelbädden is hosting Ultra Bowl III this weekend. The local kids are skating side by side with the stars and the atmosphere is really relaxed and fun.

And these days there are quite a few skatergirls with worn sneakers, scrapes and badass attitudes. I hope some of them will be competing and kickin' ass in a few years time.

Took a bunch of photos with my phone because I didn't wanna drag my nikon camera around the malmö festival. When are they gonna make a kickass system camera that I can fit in my handbag?

Pro Quarterfinals

Checking out the deep end.

Pro Quarterfinals

Pics from Captain T's Camera

2011-08-19T20:22:00.004+02:00

Tony aka SoulCrap Syndicate's very own Captain T just handed over some pics from A-Bombers Old Style Weekend. Enjoy!

Heading to Backamo!

I'm working so fast I can't be captured on camera!

Jens, Rob and me.

Heading home! Captain T has new heart tattoos on his little fingers.

Fancy Coffee

2011-08-17T14:36:00.004+02:00

Malmö is a great city if you want a good cup of coffee while you eat something sweet and gossip with friends. I haven't seen much of the sun this summer, but it put in an appearance yesterday when I had a cappuccino and a flapjack covered in chocolate at Lite Off. Flapjack not pictured because things that are covered in chocolate won't survive uneaten for long...

Fancy cappuccino in the sunshine at Lite Off.

I'd heard a lot of good things about Chez Madame and finally tried their food today. Lovely veggie food and nice atmosphere. Just look at their flowerpots.
There were quite a few things on the menu that sounded tasty so I might be back here soon.

Is it a stack of books? An art installation? No, it's a flowerpot at Chez Madame!

Coffee and cherry cake with a cherry on top.

Cardinals Junkyard Jamboree #4

2011-08-15T23:23:00.004+02:00

This past Saturday was the 4th Cardinals Junkyard Jamboree. DJ Undertaker was spinning records and the dark clouds had decided to move on when Rob and I got there in the early evening. The junkyard looked a little empty but soon the cars started pouring in and there was barely room to park another pre-1960s car.
A really nice night at the junkyard.

Junkyard

Nice profile

Charlie's sweet new pickup. I think I'm in love...

But these events and meets aren't all about cars or music. No sir, the next big thing is gonna be yoga! People are gonna sell their kustom cars and next year it will be nothing but customized yoga mats at the junkyard. Think I'm joking? Just look at this little yoga session we improvised.

Jocke doing a... some kind of... pelican?

Not a bad dancer pose considering I'm in boots and wearing dungarees.

Dan has a go at "dancer pose with camera"

Jocke is pretty good at this...

Junkyard Warrior

Ehm... I may have been kidding about yoga mats replacing cars next year. Back to the cars, the crowds and the rockabilly music. Say hello to DJ Undertaker.

DJ Undertaker

"Same time next year?"

Pat C Miller

Love at the Junk Bar

Full set of photos can be found on Flickr.

Radiokaka

2011-08-12T14:29:00.001+02:00

The Swedish weather has been crap lately, just rain, rain, dark clouds and more rain. So I've been hangin' out indoors, reading books and watching movies. The other day I started reading this little Swedish book on 50's nostalgia that my mother gave to me.

Lilla nostalgiboken 50-talet

In this book there is a bunch of classic recipes that were popular when my mother was a kid. One of them was for Radiokaka (radio cake, so named because the slices are said to resemble the front of an old school transistor radio) and I decided to have a go.

Radiokaka is made from baking chocolate, coconut fat, confectioners sugar, egg and mariekex. It's chilled in the fridge overnight, not baked, and tastes a lot like ischoklad. Very rich and tends to melt in your hand so you better eat it quick.

Radiokaka

And then I felt like baking some more... because I got a good deal on some fresh blueberries and raspberries yesterday. Gotta love the farmers market at closing time!

My first batch was blueberry muffins.

Raspberry muffins in the oven.
Those stripes on the side are a reflection of my PJ pants.

Taa-daah! Raspberry on the left and blueberry on the right.
The tray is from 1951 and a recent flea market find.

North Side Gal

2011-08-09T12:26:00.004+02:00

This is the song that gets played over and over at all the car shows and rockabilly events this summer. JD McPherson singing North Side Gal.
The album Signs & Signifiers is on repeat in my car.

The Road to A-bombers

2011-08-09T09:02:00.001+02:00

Condensed version of our the HepCat crew's adventures at A-bombers: packing, loading, running late, driving, coffee incident, snoring, arriving, setting up the booth, selling, rain, j.tex, sleeping in the van, selling even more, finally some sunshine, waffles, doing business, meeting friends, beer, packing, loading the van, driving home, more coffee, arriving at the shop and unpacking.

But allow me to expand on one of these moments; the coffee incident. We were at a gas station an hour or so away from Ljungskile, all ready to get back in the van and continue driving. And that's when Tony drops his large coffee in his lap... and over the seat and my leg. Awesome, right? Anyway, the car was cleaned, jeans were changed and Tony went and bought himself another coffee. Which he put a lid on and held very tightly until he had finished it. As did all of us for the rest of the trip...

The best part of A-bombers for me is meeting old and new friends. I could have chatted to the girls from Rockefella for another hour, Bullitt Leather is always excellent fun and Kustom Kutting were almost as busy as we were. But having Rascal and Markus drop by on Saturday was a special treat. The HepCat crew also got a very interesting talk on denim from Fabian from Pike Brothers.

However, the veggie food at A-bombers is crap and I wish they would sort out some more showers. It would make life on the site a lot easier for us vendors who work from 9 am until midnight for two days.

Fun fact: I just did the math and realized this was my fifth visit to A-bombers in six years. I missed one year (2007? 2008?) because I had a bad cold and didn't want to sleep in a tent.
But enough words, here are some photos!

Loading the van.

On the road again!

Quick dinner at Max. I opted for a deluxe milkshake in banana split while the boys slurped regular strawberry milkshakes.

Goddamnit how they snore!!
When one of them stopped the other one got started...

How many bands did I see this year? None.

Kustom Kutting's new shop truck.

J.Tex live in front of the HepCat Store booth.

Night at Backamo.

And on Sunday it rained again... the coast is beautiful in any weather.

Heading home and taking care of business on the phone.

Coffee break #2

I'm really glad I packed appropriate footwear.

Nói

2011-08-08T17:52:00.003+02:00

If only all Mondays started with a two-hour ride through fields and villages under a clear blue sky. We rode between fields of ripening oats, corn, beets and barley.
The ride took us through the village where I was born and it was fun to point out my old house, the duck pond where I used to ice skate in the winter and the village school to my friend Mia.

Another great experience at Näsets Islandshästar.

Just look at that horizon.

Mia and Funi

Dirty, happy and with lovely helmet hair after two great hours on a horse called Nói.

Stuff I Used and Wore at A-Bombers

2011-08-07T21:51:00.007+02:00

I just got back from this years A-Bombers Old Style Weekend. I was there with the HepCat crew as usual and we've had some long and fun days. Being a vendor ain't all glamour... yet I seem to have more fun working at events than I ever did as a visitor.

We had a few quiet hours during the hillclimb on Saturday so we went for coffee and waffles.
Photo by Emma Lindbladh

I got some compliments on a few things I wore and carried around during the weekend, including my snood, hairflowers and water bottle. I believe in supporting small companies who produce good things so here are the details on the items and where I got them.

I have two snoods from Arthelia's Attic and they are the best I've tried. She also does custom orders which is great if you want a special color or a smaller size snood.

Most of my hairflowers are by Little Rascal who is on vacation in her native Sweden right now and dropped by A-bombers on Saturday. Good quality stuff!

My water bottle in a retro-inspired print is by Pretty & Preppy. I also have it in olive. It's easy to clean and very sturdy. Much more fun than using an old plastic bottle and it keeps beverages cool. Pretty & Preppy also make travel mugs.

Photos and stories from A-bombers and the road will follow in another post but now I really need to sleep...

Let Them Eat Muffins

2011-08-01T20:40:00.003+02:00

I've made a mess of my kitchen and all I've got to show for it is a whole lotta muffins. The first batch was corn muffins from a recipe I found on Swedish blog Vegobrudens.
The second batch is my tried-and-tested banana bread made as muffins.

Corn muffins with leek and feta cheese

Banana muffins

Mode utan midja

2011-07-29T18:12:00.002+02:00

Where do you go when the weather is crap? To a museum!
Dropped by Malmö museer today and checked out their exhibition "Mode utan midja" (fashion without waist) about the 1920s woman and her clothes.

They are showing some fabulous dresses and accessories from the museums collections as well as portraits and photographs. Drop by if you can, it's well worth a visit. Didn't manage to get any photos of the dresses but here are some snapshots from the exhibition.

Mode utan midja - fashion without waist

Ad for Philips radio.

1920s vaccum cleaner. The AEG Vampyr.

Curling iron and cosmetics.

Vogue cover.

Rhubarb crumble and ginger ale at Slottsträdgårdens café.

Ehm yes... that last photo is not from the exhibition but from our tasty lunch at Slottsträdgårdens café. All the food is organic and you can eat outside or in the greenhouse.

Christmas in July

2011-07-28T14:50:00.007+02:00

No I haven't lost my mind, I've simply stocked up on Christmas cards early this year. Notorious Kitsch is sadly going out of business and they are offering a 15% discount on everything.
Their webshop will close on July 31st, so hurry up and shop!

It's the same old line

Over and over

Howdy Do

I also picked up this fab little alarm clock and a vintage style tablecloth that matches my kitchen curtains perfectly.

Bullitt Alarm Clock

Priest

2011-07-26T21:48:00.005+02:00

I watched Priest a few days ago and I really liked Paul Bettany's performance and the look of this movie. A bit more graphic and dark than the movies I normally go for but I liked the art direction and the sets. And bikes that run on solar power? Brilliant.
Curious? Check out the trailer here.

Poster

Movie still

Movie still

Movie still

RIP Amy Winehouse

2011-07-24T13:35:00.000+02:00

British singer Amy Winehouse was found dead in her apartment in Camden, London yesterday. It's a shame that such a talented performer never found her way out of the prison that is addiction. Club 27 did not need another member.

Guardian has a good obituary and a few other articles about Amy Winehouse such as Amy Winehouse: a creative inspiration for young female artists.

A Walk in the Woods

2011-07-23T23:48:00.007+02:00

I went for a walk in the woods today to check on my trees. The trees looked good but I only found two blueberries where there should have been plenty. But at least they were tasty.

We found a handful of Chanterelles too, even though it's a little early in the season.

On the way back the sky turned dark without any warning and it started to rain. A lot. All that running I've been doing lately came in handy when I ran for cover. That summer rain was a lot like standing in the shower.

View from behind a tree.

Larch tree and birch trees.

Chanterelles.

Norway

2011-07-22T21:48:00.005+02:00

It feels surreal. First a massive bomb blast in central Oslo and then a shooting at a Labour Party youth camp on an island outside Oslo. I do not understand the kind of evil that hunts down and shoots children at a peaceful youth camp.
My thoughts and prayers are with the people of Norway.

BBC: Twin terror attacks shock Norway
Guardian: Norway attacks - live cover
krisinformation.se

Rockabilly Riot

2011-07-20T00:08:00.002+02:00

Just got back from a great night in Copenhagen. Brian Setzer rocked Vega with his Rockabilly Riot featuring Slim Jim Phantom. They played a lot of hits and put on one helluva show with bass battles, Stray Cats songs and some fine guitar playing.

I sipped a rum and ginger ale, sang along to almost every song, clapped my hands and stomped my feet until they hurt. And yes, they played fishnet stockings. Yay!

Epic bass battle

Slim Jim Phantom and Brian Setzer

Rockin' the sparkly green Gretsch guitar.

"my sweet baby wears fishnet stockings, when she starts a rockin' there ain't no stoppin'"

Full set of blurry camera phone photos on flickr.

Tonight

2011-07-19T18:12:00.002+02:00

Brian Setzer is playing in Copenhagen tonight and I'm wearing fishnet stockings. See you in the moshpit!

Silverforsa #2

2011-07-16T23:34:00.006+02:00

Went to a local car show with the HepCat Store today. It's been a lovely sunny day and I had a nice afternoon in the company of friends.

Miss Ylva doing her thing.

Interior from a really nice little trailer.

Daniel with son Charlie and Denise with daughter Hollie.

These babies are groovin' to vinyl singles in the shade.

Cars. A common sight at car shows.

It was sunny so I brought my parasol.
The top is Vivien of Holloway and the jeans are Freddies of Pinewood.

Double Exposure

2011-07-15T22:24:00.002+02:00

Had some fun with the double exposure feature in Vignette today.
Found in the bathroom of my favorite restaurant.

"Press pen to flush"

New Perspective

2011-07-11T22:03:00.002+02:00

I don't remember where on the interwebs I found this image but I like it. It's been sitting on my desktop for weeks.

Hey, hey we're the monkeys...

Game of Thrones

2011-07-08T21:41:00.002+02:00

Have you seen Game of Thrones? I just finished the first season and it ended just when I really, really wanted to know what was next.
Sorry True Blood and Sons of Anarchy, this is the best show on tv right now.

Frank Turner - I Still Believe

2011-07-02T11:47:00.003+02:00

I posted this song on facebook last night and it got a lot of great feedback so I figured I'd post it here as well. If you haven't listened to Frank Turner before, do it now! And once you've listened to I Still Believe you can check out The Road and Photosynthesis.

"Who'd have thought that after all, something as simple as rock n roll would save us all"

Fun in Copenhagen

2011-07-01T17:00:00.002+02:00

How much fun did we have before Social Distortion's gig in Copenhagen? Maybe a little too much fun... At least we don't take ourselves too seriously.
Alcohol had very little to do with this, we just like to be silly. A lot.

Tony, Jenny and Punky.

Dan looks way too normal to be in this photo.

Nice shot, Jenny.

Social Distortion and Frank Turner at Vega

2011-06-30T12:09:00.001+02:00

Went to Copenhagen yesterday and had a lot of fun. Frank Turner and Social Distortion played at Vega. Awesome gig, awesome time in the company of friends.

On the train.

Who's that behind Rickard? Doesn't he sing in some band? Like Volbeat?

Frank Turner. Awesome.

Protect your ears at rock gigs!

Social Distortion!

He's got the machine gun blues...

Social Distortion.

Mike on guitar.

The full set of photos in on flickr. All photos are taken with an HTC Desire using Vignette and FxCamera.

Connection

2011-06-29T15:55:00.014+02:00

I took a great photo at work yesterday. Well, I took several great photos but there is always one that stands out. Connections are amazing when you can capture them with the camera.

Anna-Maria gives diver and firefighter Peter a peptalk before the live broadcast of a children's tv-show.

The firefighters were guests on a popular morning show for kids on national tv. It's broadcasted live from a boat in Malmö. Two of our rescue divers were guests on the boat, picked up stuff from the sea and talked about water safety. They were warm and nervous but did a great job.

The full set of photos can be found on flickr.

Grandma's Bike

2011-06-26T18:22:00.002+02:00

Went for a ride on my grandmother's old bicycle today. The weather was perfect for biking around my old neighbourhood by the sea. This area is beautiful in the summer and in many ways I was lucky to grow up here.

Bike on the road.

View from the bike.

I'm not big on the colour orange, but Grandma's old bike can get away with it.

Wedding Present

2011-06-24T09:01:00.001+02:00

My little sister got married a few weeks ago and she was the most beautiful bride I've ever seen. I was the bridesmaid and a very proud older sister.

This is what I got the newly-weds as a wedding present. It's a custom made bowl with their initials and the date of their wedding on the bottom. The bowl and the birds come in a variety of colours so I choose a combination that I hoped would appeal to the couple.

It's created by Tasha McKelvey and I'm very happy with my purchase. The bowl was even better than I imagined when I ordered it. You'll find her etsy shop here.

Lovebirds on a pale green bowl.

More lovebirds.

The bottom has the couple's initials and the date of their wedding.

Times Like These

2011-06-19T21:40:00.003+02:00

"I'm a little divided - do I stay or run away, leave it all behind?"

Lakris

2011-06-14T23:38:00.001+02:00

I was looking thru an old box of photos from school when I found these images of my cat Lakris. I had him from the day he was born and I loved that cat. I used to walk around with him draped around my shoulders like a feather boa.

Lakris was really sweet around me and around the house but he got into quite a few fights with other cats and even a few dogs. He won most of those fights and even survived a broken tail.
Rest in peace my cuddly little fighter.

Watching...

He's sitting on the balcony of our old apartment on the third floor.

It's pink but I like it

2011-06-13T16:53:00.004+02:00

I've got a thing for string furniture and I won this little set of two bowls and a stand at an online auction last week. I was the only bidder so I got it at a good price.

I'm not really a fan of pink, but this set is fine. And when I unpacked it I noticed that it matches my tablecloth prefectly.

Ceramic bowls with string stand.

Poison

2011-06-12T22:41:00.005+02:00

Dating confuses the hell outta me. When I find something I want, I tend to go after it. But that doesn't seem to work in this game... You're supposed to keep busy, date at least three people at once and keep everything open. That doesn't work for me.

When I find someone I like I wanna give it a shot, focus on that person and see what happens. I guess I'm an old-fashioned romantic that way.
I respect those who are honest and choose to tell the truth, even it's not what I want to hear. It's called being cruel to be kind, and it is infinitely better than any white lie. Even when the truth hurts.

Have you seen my monkey?

2011-06-08T21:13:00.003+02:00

I've just come back from two great days at a castle. Yeah, we have a few of them scattered about the countryside down here but this one has a really great restaurant too.
I was there for a great workshop about equality that is a requirement for all employees.

We had to introduce ourselves by drawing a vehicle, a plant, an animal and a performer/artist that said something about who we are. I drew a monkey and I think it turned out rather cute.

I have nothing bad to say about this view.

Have you seen my monkey?

In case you're wondering where I've gone...

2011-06-06T21:51:00.003+02:00

My sister got married this weekend and the weather has been fabulous, so I've been doing a lot of this during the past two days.

Yeah, summer is definitely here.

War of the Worlds

2011-05-31T20:19:00.002+02:00

If you haven't seen War of the Worlds (1953) you should check it out on a rainy summer afternoon. It is so much better than the Steven Spielberg version.

Roadrunner

2011-05-30T23:04:00.000+02:00

Today I did something I never thought I'd do... I went and bought myself a pair of running shoes. They are asics, they are purple and they were on sale. It was simply meant to be.

Ta-daaah!

I went for a short run when I got home and so far it was really fun to run outdoors. And I used to hate running when I was in school. Come to think of it, I've never liked running. But now I'm thinking... maybe it might even be fun?

Night of Rain and Traffic Lights

2011-05-29T12:23:00.003+02:00

View from my homegirl Malin's kitchen last night.

Captain T

2011-05-28T19:08:00.003+02:00

Captain T is up to something and he refuses to tell me what it is...
Check out the shenanigans of Captain T and his partner in crime (and romance) Captain M at Soul Crap Syndicate.

Captain T

The Gaslight Anthem - Bring It On

2011-05-25T19:09:00.002+02:00

Yeah, I've still got a writer's crush on Brian Fallon...

Curtain

2011-05-23T19:45:00.005+02:00

I found this piece of vintage fabric in the basement of my house in Småland last summer. I couldn't decide what to do with it, so I just stuck it in a plastic bag and forgot about it. Somehow that plastic bag ended up in my kitchen and that's when I figured out what to do with it.
With a lot of help from my sister and her sewing machine, the fabric was transformed into a curtain.

In progress

Ta-daah! Pardon my ugly lamp and my mess.

Sneak preview

2011-05-22T13:01:00.004+02:00

I picked up a dress I ordered for a family wedding. It's been custom made so it fits like a dream and all the details are just the way I wanted them to be.

Dress from local designer Tekla.

I carried a watermelon

2011-05-15T22:21:00.000+02:00

I was in the mood for a classic tonight so I watched Dirty Dancing. I have watched this movie so many times in the past two decades that I know it by heart.
I've had many "I carried a watermelon" moments, but I haven't learned to dance the mambo. But trust me, when my Johnny Castle comes along I'm willing to learn.

And it got me thinking... are there any teen movies from the last ten years that are as good as Dirty Dancing is?

Nobody puts Baby in a corner.

Chandelier

2011-05-11T21:05:00.002+02:00

Went to a glamorous event at an old theatre yesterday. When I saw these amazing chandeliers I thought of a certain musical...

This is what I call atmosphere.

And because I'm me, here's a great version of a song from that famous musical. You can find my favourite version of the original here.

I remember a documentary about a theatre that used old Victorian theatre tricks to make their production of Phantom look absolutely stunning. Those old school mechanical tricks are often so clever and simple, much more impressive than any hightech CGI. And they look like a lot more fun to operate.

Sadly, there wasn't a phantom in sight at yesterday's event. Just some authors, glamorous women and complimentary wine. And we got some pretty sweet goodiebags too.

There's an interview going on down there.

View from the backseat of a '49 Chevy

2011-05-08T12:44:00.003+02:00

Went for a ride in Dan's '49 Chevrolet yesterday. The weather was perfect for riding around town in this old beauty.
I must get my act together and start bringing my Nikon with me instead of relying on my phone...

Dan behind the wheel.

Dan and Lisette

Ain't she pretty?

More photos on flickr.

May the 4th be with you

2011-05-04T19:05:00.003+02:00

Happy Star Wars Day!

If you want more Star Wars tomfoolery check out Eddie Izzard's "Death Star Canteen" in lego.

Skate or die

2011-05-01T20:38:00.002+02:00

Shut up and get rad because now it's time to skate or die!

Valborg

2011-05-01T17:25:00.001+02:00

Yesterday was Valborg, the last day of April. We celebrate the end of winter with bonfires, outdoor picnics and alcohol. I had a great day with bikes, sunshine and good friends.

Rode down to Bike Line for their HD event on Dr Dan's purple Harley.

Sparkly helmet from Loser Machine. Safety first!

The shop was there too.

Later that day we got a ride into town in style in a '66 Mustang.

Picnic in the park!

Jimmy on guitar.

HappyHappyJoyJoy

2011-04-27T20:22:00.004+02:00

Boysetsfire and Bouncing Souls, two of my favourite bands, are coming to my hometown in August! They're playing at Malmöfestivalen so both gigs are free.

I saw Bouncing Souls at West Coast Riot two years ago and that gig was amazing. I've never seen Boysetsfire live, but Nathan Gray is one of my favourite vocalists so I have really high hopes for that gig. I'm still stoked that they reunited last year.

Flip-flops

2011-04-25T22:42:00.004+02:00

The weather is unusually warm for the season. I can't remember the last time I wore flip-flops outdoors on Easter Monday.

Roxy makes the best flip-flops.

Red Riding Hood

2011-04-24T21:51:00.003+02:00

I first read about this movie in Bust, where there was an interview with director Catherine Hardwicke. I was intrigued, and I bought the tickets before I even looked at the trailer.

I saw it tonight and I feel like it was money well spent. A good adaptation of the classic story that had me guessing until the end.

Detox... kind of

2011-04-24T15:21:00.005+02:00

I've eaten an insane amount of sugar during Easter, so I made a fresh and simple lunch today. It's an adaptation of the nori wraps with orange cashew cream from Color Me Vegan.

Fresh and pretty. Alfalfa sprouts, beetroot, carrot, cabbage and avocado.

Wrap with extra orange cashew cream

I made the original recipe yesterday, but I wasn't too impressed with the nori I used. I remember using the same brand for sushi a while back, and it was pretty blah. I might give it a go again, but the leftover tortillas I had in my freezer was a good substitute.

It was my first attempt at cashew cream though, and I have to say it was far tastier than I would have imagined.

Kustom Kutting

2011-04-23T21:00:00.004+02:00

Cleaned out my camera and found these images from Kustom Kutting's latest visit to the HepCat Store. I haven't used the Nikon in a while but it's time to choose quality over convenience. Enough camera phone, more system camera!

Patric in action.

Trimming the sides.

Duo. Patric and Sanna.

All photos from our back room have a slight orange tone. The floor is red with flakes and there's no direct sunlight in the room. The naked eye doesn't really see anything different from the front room, but the camera picks up on the difference.
Full set on flickr.

Good Friday

2011-04-22T20:45:00.003+02:00

Had an early start, quite a long drive and breakfast at a gas station; coffee and some sort of tasty hybrid between a cinnamon bun and a doughnut.

The weather has been fabulous so we cooked and ate our lunch outside. The countryside ain't bad on days like this.

The best way to cook?

It's more moss than grass but who cares. It's pretty.

Treats at Big Hair Mama

2011-04-20T18:50:00.003+02:00

My homegirl Yen isn't just a fab hairdresser, she gives her customers treats too.

Check out Big Hair Mama if you want to know more about the best organic hair salon in south Sweden.

Tea and dark chocolate.

Self-portrait

2011-04-16T18:57:00.000+02:00

Self-portrait featuring the messiest part of my apartment in the background. Taken after a long and fun Saturday working at the HepCat Store during Record Store Day.
Two local bands played, our friends dropped by in their best cars and I sold a Rebel8 tee to a member of US ska band Toasters.
They're touring Europe at the moment and dropped by the shop on their way to Copenhagen.

All members of staff rocked limited edition "Popstad Lund" tees today.

If it ain't popstad Lund it ain't worth a fuck.

Rhubarb

2011-04-15T21:57:00.003+02:00

I'm trying something new this year. Growing rhubarb on the balcony. Hopefully there will be enough for one or two desserts in a few months time. Mmm... rhubarb pie.

Grow and be tasty!

I long for...

2011-04-12T22:02:00.000+02:00

...summer, sunshine and the open road. I long for roadtrips in cars that are packed full of merch, sleeping bags, snacks and coffee. I don't mind working for hours; packing, driving, unloading and setting up, because I'm talking to new people and catching up with old friends.

I don't mind the long days and the endless summer nights. I don't mind living of junk food from gas stations and coffee, sleeping in the van or hiding the days earnings in dirty socks.
I love the music, the atmosphere, my friends and the feeling of being on the road.

Hello open road.

Question

2011-04-12T21:02:00.004+02:00

Why is it so easy to place your happiness in someone else's hands and so hard to get it back?

Gone Swimming

2011-04-10T18:38:00.003+02:00

What a fabulous Sunday! Spring is in the air, the sun is shining and my balcony is full of new plants. It's been so warm I've dug out my red spring jacket and my chucks.

Pax thought it was warm enough to go swimming. I didn't quite agree...

Pax went for a swim in the sea.

Walking in the sunshine.

Checking out some more water.

Pizza, munchmallows and a movie

2011-04-09T23:29:00.003+02:00

Had a homemade pizza with extra everything for dinner tonight. My sister makes the best pizza sauce ever. As you can see, we believe in using as many toppings as we can possibly make room for on a pizza.

Pizza - it's all veggie. Even the ham.

Dessert was fresh strawberries, pineapple chips and munchmallows in front of Buried. That movie felt so real I almost freaked out. It ain't for the faint of heart... I hope I don't have nightmares about sand.
As usual, Gizmo had the best seat in the house and watched most of the movie with us.

Gizmo has the best seat in the house.

I feel like baking

2011-04-09T14:58:00.003+02:00

My grandparents are moving and they are donating a lot of their things to us grandchildren. I found these lovely cookbooks in the kitchen. They were all published by various cocoa and chocolate manufacturers in the 1930s and 1940s.

Doesn't it look delicious?