Soon the 24th of December. I mention it because I like this time of the year, and it is important to slow down and enjoy. It is dark. Rather chilly. My cheeks feel the wind when walking. As usual, I prepare myself for Christmas, and I do everything I can to get into the right mood. Maybe because I know that I need this December energy for the months after New Year. January, February, and Mars are unfortunately unavoidable. My little project this week is to make ginger cookies. It takes time but it brings a lot of tranquillity and to not forget, the flavour of Christmas.
I have shared quite a lot of music, and I missed the last time. I love the piano and I found this improvised INXS song. No Christmas music yet, but some beautiful piano.
These last ten years I have been working, writing, traveling and also done some photography. And I have also found out that work and spare time cannot be separated. 24 hours. Through work, I have made a lot of friends, and perhaps some of you may read this! I am not sponsored since I prefer the free word. But tonight I get out of my comfort zone of writing. When I worked in Norway, the pharmacies had been bought by various chains, and I worked for Boots Pharmacies. It had been a change from privately owned pharmacies to pharmacies owned by various corporations. The availability of pharmacies increased. The same thing has happened in Sweden. Pharmacies owned by the government have been sold to different corporations. A switch, rather similar to Norway. This was a political decision. Politics meet the industry. And the industry must meet politicians. Whether they like it or not. Also in Sweden, the availability of pharmacies has increased.
I have always been interested in international relations ever since the times I studied at the university. I have now been working for Lloyds Pharmacies for quite a long time, and they have pharmacies in different countries. I like Lloyds, perhaps because my sweetie dog is called Lady. Stupid. I know. Lloyds Pharmacies are owned by McKesson, an American pharmaceutical company and they are now leaving us in the hands of a new company CEPD N.V. I have been several times to the USA and therefore I feel a connection. And I know that America is now celebrating Thanksgiving – the last Thursday in November. So this evening I bought some ingredients for turkey with sweet potatoes and brussels sprouts. Yammi! I liked this photo from McKesson supporting vaccination, and I share it below.
Through this change from governmental pharmacies to privately owned pharmacies, there has also been a change in working. Today it is more like European pharmacies. People travel. People learn new languages and this photo above is from a pharmacy in Rome, Italy. To end this writing I would like to say that it has been nice to get to know the American McKesson. Thank you for supporting vaccination!
Time passes rapidly, and soon, another COVID year has passed. It has been an intense year. The Corona virus has forced me go cycling. Rather often I pass by a stable with horses, and I remember I was introduced by Cecilia Wijnbladh to these beautiful English Shire horses when I had moved to Stockholm. I remember Oden, and I had a photo of his cute paws on the photo below. Such a calm and peaceful horse, and it seems like Oden is retired today; see: https://www.hippson.se/artikelarkivet/hippsonnews/oden-tackas-av-for-sin-tid.htm.
At that time, I had been working for a few years in Norway, and it had been exceptional with the Swine flu. Today, 10 years later, we are fighting COVID-19. The pharmaceutical industry has developed vaccines against COVID-19, and currently the third vaccination is ongoing. We need to boost immunity.
The pandemic is posing a lot of questions, and it is indeed interesting. Also from a philosophical point of view. I was very surprised to learn that there actually are young medical doctors who are against vaccinations. I have been thinking about this and I cannot understand. What needs to be proved? Immunology is of course very intricate. Blood cells, interferons etc do exist. It is true, we do need a microscope to make them visible.
I have mentioned it before. This is a political virus, because everybody has an opinion. Moreover, it is an invisible enemy as President Macron said in the very beginning of the pandemic. This song is by Moby, and it is dedicated to all elderly people who have suffered so far in this pandemic.
I read newspapers when I have the possibility. Sometimes I find inspiring headlines like this one above. Even though a pandemic is ongoing, life continues. And lately, there has been a lot of focus on climate change throughout the world. Small steps. Various countries have to make agreements since the air we breath is universal. No borders. Remember the disaster in Tjernobyl. Charcoal should be phased out and replaced by new energy sources, less harmful for the environment. The industry has to make changes to adapt. Little steps. Day by day.
Lady & Molly are right now having great times. I walked a lot with them earlier this autumn. They are spoiled. They are having dear for dinner since hunting season is ongoing. Lady likes bones, and due to her preferences, she is constipated. Dog problems.
I continue to share music, and I found a nice tune with the Rolling Stones “Sympathy for the Devil” – a Halloween song 🎃
Yes, gang-related violence seems to be accepted, and I feel upset about that. I am thinking about the tragic passing away of Einár. This is where politicians should act. But perhaps they don´t dare. They are afraid of losing votes. Youngsters need role models, and I think Einár did the very best he could in his life. I was hit by the thought that when Prime ministers and Presidents pull back from their posts, they should be committed to some kind of charity work in society.
I recently found some about previous American president Obama. He has given a speech thanking Chancellor Angela Merkel for contributing to world stability. See this tweet:
But next, what is Obama doing? He is getting some support from Bruce Springsteen. Politicians need to reach out to ordinary people like you and me. I think that we, voters, should demand more from post-politicians. They can do a lot in society by just being there. The young generation needs support and Obama should for example join Eminem.
Svenska
