Category: Languages

  • The Panama Canal, and will the next pandemic be worse?

    Now war is a reality. Not only a trade war. No economist has spoken out, but from what I remember, trade tariffs are a textbook example of what a country can do to increase domestic growth macroeconomically. Real protectionism.

    Strategic targets are being attacked in the Middle East. I think about how important it was to control the Panama Canal so that the Nazis in the 1940s could not conquer the Caribbean and America. We will see how it develops with Greenland, which in a way has a similar geopolitical location to the Panama Canal.

    We must not be naive. In Sweden, banks and pharmacies are being targeted in cyberspace, affecting our everyday lives. I am working as usual and was reminded of the swine flu. T. Bäckstrøm and O-A Olsen were my bosses. Wash your hands! Which still applies even though I sometimes wear nail polish. The article from Boots Pharmacy Kråkerøy, Fredrikstad Blad (Norway) is still online: Swineflu short nails and wash your hands!

    It is with some concern that I wonder why Magnus Gisslén was not allowed to remain as state epidemiologist. We are the only country in the Nordic region where authorities with a medical mission are led without medical expertise. Why cannot the highest medical expertise be allowed to govern? Without expertise, the ability to assess signals, prioritize correctly, and, above all, understand the consequences disappears.

    It is similar to the first snow in November in Sweden. Even though it happens every year, it’s always the same chaos with slippery accidents, canceled public transport, etc. What if the next pandemic is also likely to be worse?

    I want to be involved and influence the day for the better. Time is passing. I heard such nice words about time in passing. Time that can be described with the laws of physics. Humanism has also tried to capture time. Me too, in my book “Time for Freedom”. Here is a variation of “seize the day” by an unknown author:

    You have no yesterdays.

    Time took them away.

    But you have today.

  • Fitness and Writing & Leisure

    My goal is the 5th of September 2026 – good that I signed up for the next women’s 10-kilometer right away. Training requires discipline. No late nights. Two hours today, and I was in good shape, which means it was great fun. Not hard. In Norway, I went to Elixia after work on weekdays. On Sundays when we were off, I had an early, tough Sunday session. Four to five hours of exercise per week. I am searching for that focused Elixia Norwegian feeling. Tomorrow I’ll watch a bit of Vasaloppet and then Power Step before lunch. Attention is required to reach the level I was at before.

    For those of you who are wondering how the updated diary is going, it will be ready towards the end of March. I’m learning to navigate the new environment. It needs to be fine-tuned. Writing & Leisure will also be refreshed.

    Writing & Leisure

    I developed my writing in France, and in these times of the Ukraine war, it feels good that the French Marine is visiting the south of Sweden. Sweden is currently classified as a very unsafe country to travel to. Canada 🇨🇦 is saying “Exercise a high degree of caution in Sweden due to the threat of terrorism”, see https://travel.gc.ca/destinations/sweden

    Sharing some French music.

    Stay safe 🐾

  • Norway 🇳🇴, Oxford Street and Elixia.

    My friend Anu did her medical residency training in the UK, and I visited her when I was in Norway. I worked at Boots Pharmacy, and every year we did something together as part of staff development to become even better as a team. We traveled to London once and did a study visit to one of Boots’ flagship store pharmacies on Oxford Street in central London.

    I was in charge and had worked in Norway for a few years. When I spoke, it was Norwegian-Swedish. As a gift for Boots, we had a Norwegian flag that was placed next to a Portuguese flag in their office. I never had to use my prepared statement at the airport security check. A Swedish woman, with a Norwegian flag? My colleagues were happy.

    Currently, there are difficult times in the world. It feels safe to constantly carry the years from Norway with me. Many collegueswere military trained and worked as civilians in pharmacies. I trained at Elixia then and am now trying to recreate the same feeling.

    This Tuesday, I focus on training. In the countryside, I usually do my jogging and finish with a cool, slow dog walk. Lady is no more. Molly knows for sure that she is a source of inspiration for the next book. You can tell in the photo below. In Stockholm, I was lucky enough to find the dog Benno, who looks a bit like Lady. He lived in Switzerland for a while but has now returned to Sweden. He is always happy when he gets to devote himself to his `social media’ in Humlegården.

    Finally, I think we should definitely reconsider Pehr G. Gyllenhammar’s proposal that Norway and Sweden should merge. Gyllenhammar was stopped by Thorbjörn Fälldin, I remember.

    Stay safe 🐾

    Forward march!

    Forward march!

  • Two weeks after London 🇬🇧

    What could be more appropriate than Emily Brontë’s “Wuthering Heights (1847)”? Almost two centuries ago, and today, an exciting film adaptation of her literary classic. The same feelings then as now; with love, hate, envy, life, evil, and sudden death (see below).

    I love historical costume movies.

    Fantastic photo with wonderful classical music. Similar to the piano, which evokes feelings for the interplay of drama and action in a silent movie. Beautiful colours and contrasts like those of the artists Matisse, Picasso, and Chagall, whom I have followed during 2025.

    Biological reward systems that are reflected in the humanities.

    I have studied ‘cinema (film science)’ in France and was then taught about the development of the art of film. Something that led to this Dogma-Denmark-inspired diary. The film ‘The Party’ was directed by Thomas Vinterberg in 1998. Also, all my photos that I call Dogma photos. The camera in hand, with spontaneous photos.

    It was Valentine’s Day this weekend, and I took the opportunity to think a little more about my heart. Again, I follow my pulse, and yesterday it was tough spinning intervals that made my face as pink as my t-shirt. When I started taking Levaxin® for my thyroid, my max heart rate increased. Now I need to test again, and I’m guessing it is down to 190. How do you take care of your heart?

  • St James’s Park 🇬🇧

    Last Sunday I was in London. Spring vibes with green lawns and blooming daffodils. It was popular to walk through St James’s Park near Buckingham Palace. The birds were cute and curious, and there were even three green parrots in a tree. My friend Anu loves parks because they are so exotic. Her husband has gotten big birds for their garden in Colombo. Similar to St James’s Park. In Sri Lanka, it is as natural to pick fresh mangoes in the garden in a similar way I pick apples in the fall in the countryside. Contrasts make life exciting.

    Photo: Anu

    The streets around St James’s Park were blocked off due to ongoing demonstrations concerning Palestine. Similar to Stockholm. I wanted a break from war. It felt so much better to rest my eyes on the birds and laugh at memories together with my friend.

    Travel gives me energy, and it shows in my workout. During the pandemic years, I updated my sportswear, I remember now. I found some colourful hair twists in London that are intended for training. We always pay a visit to Harrods, and I couldn’t resist buying! Exercise requires discipline, and I am now in my little sports bubble.

    Photo: Anu

    When I started my doctoral studies, my supervisor was careful to say that everything takes time. `The dough has to rise. It takes time before you get to drive Formula One.’ We had a common interest in ordinary literature that I appreciate a lot in retrospect. My interest in language has taken a big place. So far, I have translated into English myself, so linguistic nuances are my own. Migration of my diary has gone well, and it is now on two webhotels. The new blog needs fine-tuning before it is released. Hope you will follow 😊. Right now, I am considering translation into Spanish because my Spanish-speaking friends want me to learn Spanish. I understand a lot, but I only know a few sentences.

    Why not end by sharing everlasting Robbie Williams? I love his lyrics.

  • Photo vibes

    Posted on 

    My passion for languages started at Uppsala University. I was asked, ‘Are you studying humanities?` A little question that has shaped my life. Anu, my friend with the cake, is now working at a London hospital as an MD. She reminded me of times in Gothenburg where we met through science. I had arranged an early breakfast for PhD students at a French café, with croissants and coffee. Languages need to be constantly updated.

    I had some photo glimpses in London that I am sharing. Suddenly, I have a special vibe about something I’m trying to catch. Below, I am sharing some sweet photo moments. My camera had to work some. I found a photo from 10 years ago in London. It really is before and after the COVID pandemic. I have, for the most part, worn sports clothes these past few years and not cared so much about looks. I need to change. At least I have changed to high heels. I bought a VOGUE magazine for inspiration.

    Today is devoted to the power step. My favorite training. Lots of coordination, strength, and fitness. Aiming for that before the COVID feeling.

    Stay safe 🐾