I really liked Michael’s suggestions for the use of that odd looking hut I posted a picture of yesterday. Sadly enough, it IS a shelter for smokers, and the headline is in reference to a Swedish trait. Namely, our want/need to please everyone…
The stores are not allowed to sell tobacco products to persons under the age of 18. Smoking is banned in all public buildings, restaurants, banks, trains etc – I don’t even think there is such a thing as a smoking section anywhere these days. There are constant ad campaigns against smoking – we have contests in school to encourage children to remain smokefree. In other words: society is really trying to discourage the use of tobacco every which way they can. The absolute majority of people do not allow smoking in their homes either and anyone that does is almost stigmatised for it.
And yet:
The county builds a special little hut so that teachers (and students) at Senior High won’t get wet when the light up! Until the beginning of last summer there was even a small, heated gazebo outside the County Seat for the same purpose… (In all fairness, it also encourages smokers to get away from the entrance area and will lessen the amount of cigarette butts on the ground.)
Yes, I know I’m beginning to sound somewhat sanctimonious – what with being a former smoker myself – but the contradiction in actions from the authorities shouldn’t be lost on anyone.
Even the soccer goals look pretty in their winter covering.
The camera can’t reproduce the intense pink of the sky exactly as I would like…
…but the trees are beautiful during those precious few moments the sun shines on them.
Tomorrow I’m off for another day of interviews at the Migration Board with my other teenager. On the way down there, we’re going to stop off at my Dad’s place for a quick visit and to collect some parcels I’m to bring to Canada. There will also be time enough for -H- to visit the indoor swimming pool for an hour or so. It’ll be a full day, no doubt but hopefully worth it.
