Sunday, February 24, 2008
It's a wrap!
This should have been published February 4.....
In Sweden, as in many European countries, it's quite typical that shops will offer to wrap a gift for you, no matter the size or cost. They don't usually use boxes but simply wrap the item with a festive paper and tie it with a ribbon. The grocery, toy, and general merchandise stores will have tables located at the end of the check out where you can wrap your purchases with paper and ribbon provide for free. That, however, is changing. The people who own a grocery chain here (ICA) apparently decided they were missing a chance to make some money. I stopped in at one of their Maxi ICA stores last evening and saw that in addition to a free generic brown paper (with fall leaves) they had a vending machine which held a roll of bright pink floral paper that, with deposited money, will dispense a specific length of paper! I guess I shouldn't have been that surprised that Swedes were now charging for paper since it is the norm to use coin deposits for your grocery carts, pay for your shopping bags, and spend 5 SEK (about 75cents US) to use the WC (bathroom). (I've gotten very good at keeping coins handy!)
I confess I've been consumed with wrapping. I spent yesterday and today wrapping my purchases, not with fancy paper but rather bubble wrap and corrugated cardboard as I readied my paintings and mirrors for shipping. The container should ship out some time later this month and I will fly out tomorrow. What can I say? Good bye Stockholm, it's a wrap!
In Sweden, as in many European countries, it's quite typical that shops will offer to wrap a gift for you, no matter the size or cost. They don't usually use boxes but simply wrap the item with a festive paper and tie it with a ribbon. The grocery, toy, and general merchandise stores will have tables located at the end of the check out where you can wrap your purchases with paper and ribbon provide for free. That, however, is changing. The people who own a grocery chain here (ICA) apparently decided they were missing a chance to make some money. I stopped in at one of their Maxi ICA stores last evening and saw that in addition to a free generic brown paper (with fall leaves) they had a vending machine which held a roll of bright pink floral paper that, with deposited money, will dispense a specific length of paper! I guess I shouldn't have been that surprised that Swedes were now charging for paper since it is the norm to use coin deposits for your grocery carts, pay for your shopping bags, and spend 5 SEK (about 75cents US) to use the WC (bathroom). (I've gotten very good at keeping coins handy!)
I confess I've been consumed with wrapping. I spent yesterday and today wrapping my purchases, not with fancy paper but rather bubble wrap and corrugated cardboard as I readied my paintings and mirrors for shipping. The container should ship out some time later this month and I will fly out tomorrow. What can I say? Good bye Stockholm, it's a wrap!
Labels: Swedish Antiques
Saturday, February 2, 2008
It's a dogs life!
This cozy creature was one of two resident dogs at an auction house we visited the other day. He's wearing a studded collar and might be fierce...if he'd wake up! He was asleep on a sofa when we arrived and, at some point, moved to this chair. (His chair)There was also a cute wire haired Jack Russell Terrier who would inch his way out of his crate to say hello to us and then scurry back in when we approached. These are just two of the many dogs we've seen on our Stockholm trip. It's not unusual to see Dogs on the train, or in a restaurant, and there are always dogs being walked... often people will have two or three on a leash!
I'll always remember the time when Peter's cousin on his mother's side was coming to visit us at the house of his cousin (Epp) on his father's side. Epp drove Peter in her little Peugeot to fetch the cousin and her son from the train station while I waited with David in the back yard. A short while later Epp's car pulled up and as she was getting out she yelled to me "They've brought their damn dog!" (All her years of amateur theatre came flowing back that moment!) Sure enough, there in the back seat squeezed between Peter and his cousin was a big, happy, golden retriever! Ahh to be a dog on a visit to a Swedish country house or luxuriating in a Stockholm Auction house!
In addition to the pups we also saw and purchased some fabulous items which had been up for auction (we missed it) but didn't sell and were now available. Watch our website for photos of some Grandfather clocks (not the traditional Mora shape but marvelous nonetheless) a fabulous curved sofa, small antique table top trunks, and terrific chairs! But not the one the dog is sleeping on...that's his!
Labels: Swedish Antiques
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