SMOKING AND EATING 1936

"AMERICAN"

In 1976, the most popular sweater in Sweden, was a sweatshirt with U.C.L.A on it.

They were tremendously popular.

BUT: Hardly anyone knew what the letters meant. They had no idea that they meant University of California, Los Angeles. So why did all these Swedes, who knew nothing of U.C.L.A, wear those sweaters?

It was just a trend. The sweaters seemed American and that was good enough. Ever since, clothing manufacturers have produced clothes with American words, grouped into something that resembles something very "American".

A Swedish manufacturer GANT produces what appears to be American clothes.

Pillows, sheets and bed spreads are manufactured inspired by American stars and stripes.

I wonder how much Americans know of this?

LONDON IDYLL

This looks more like a country village lane. But we are in a "mews", in central London!

In the heart of Kensington/South Kensington.

Kynance Mews is my favorite mews in London.

Today the small houses are very desirable, but once they were "hidden" as best they could, behind arches such as this. This is where the servants who worked in the fine houses lived, usually on top of the stables. More info.

Today, these houses cost millions and are bought by wealthy people from all over the world.

What other capital has such rural charm right in the center?

The mews houses do not have gardens (the gardens belonged to the fine houses).

Some mews-houses have roof terraces.

PROMISING UNDERWEAR (1919)

Click picture to enlarge.

MIDSUMMER MAGIC

Read all about it. Click here!

REAL BREAD

There is an enormous satisfaction in making your own bread.
And it so easy.
Maybe people think that when they bake their own bread, they have to put in what is found in commercially produced bread such as:

Enriched wheat flour (flour, barley malt, ferrous sulfate (iron), “B” vitamins (niacin, thaimine mononitrate (B1), riboflavin (B2), folic acid)), water, sweetener (high fructose corn syrup or sugar), yeast, wheat bran, whole wheat flour, wheat gluten, molasses. Contains 2% or less of: soybean oil, salt, sweet dairy whey, butter (cream, salt, enzymes), maltodextrin, honey, corn syrup, calcium sulfate, soy flur, dough conditioners (may contain: dicalcium phosphate, calcium dioxide, sodium stearoyl lactylate, ethoxylated mono and diglycerides, mono and diglycerides, and/or datem), yeast nutrients (may contain: ammonium sulfate, ammonium chloride, calcium carbonate, monocalcium phosphate, and/or ammonium phosphate), cornstarch, wheat starch, vinegar, natural flavor, beta carotene (color), enzymes, calcium propionate (to retain freshness), soy lecithin

No need to worry, all those chemicals need NOT be in the bread you make yourself.
Use organically grown flour and use various kinds of rough grains and brans and you will enjoy the kind of rough bread your ancestors grew healthy on.

I AM THE CAMERA

Here at Gotaplatsen in Gothenburg, Victor Hasselblad proudly stands with the world famous camera he invented. The sculpture by Ulf Celen is called "I am the camera" taken from the reply Victor Hasselblad gave to an American passport officer who asked: "Does your name have to do anything to do with the camera"?
Victor Hasselblad answered: "I am the camera".

AFTER THE RAIN

One of the many delights of spring are rhododendron and azalea bushes. They belong to the same family.
It is sad to see them go. After two nights of heavy rain it is definitely over. It also means that spring is moving into summer, that the long lovely period of flowering trees and shrubs gives way to other delights such as roses and annual and perennial flowers. Their splendor, charms and comforts, should you happen to think of the long and dark Scandinavian winter days that inevitably will come. But somehow, seduced, one thinks, oddly enough, that it will always be like this, that there will always be flowers and flowering bushes and these strangely long bright Scandinavian summer nights.

MAKING YOUR OWN WOODEN SHOES

Once upon a time in Sweden (before the industrialization) 80 percent of all people were engaged in agriculture. Having leather shoes was a sign of wealth and ordinary people had to make do with handmade wooden shoes.

This film from 1923 shows how wooden shoes were made. The film also shows how you make a wooden spoon and a simple chair. To see the film: Click here!

LISEBERG TULIPS

Tulip frenzy at the Gothenburg Funfair and park LISEBERG.

For more pictures, click here.

IS EVERY WOMAN REALLY A BORN ACTRESS?

It is interesting how absolutely inappropriate this advertisement from 1938 would be today. 

Horlicks is a peculiarly English product and it is still sold. 

It supposed to help you sleep if you drink it before going to bed.