My post-lockdown commute back to work

[Saint Willy]

A Stiffy maybe?

[lom]

It's shit here. This is why I like to be offshore... meals provided, everything cleaned and made up, no worries.

That's not the tune you sang last week.

Straight across... a refinery?

Loads of them, Shell is/was the biggest.

And to the right, inland... I guess 'Göteborg' proper is up past that bridge. I'll be heading about 5km past that bridge this weekend just to get some cash and a box of wine!

Yes you are on the right side of the bridge but your walk is less than 2 km to Jaegerdorffsplatsen where there should be both ATM (in Swedish, Bankomat) and Systembolag (wine shop).

[Mendip]

your google translate app will work if you select camera and point it at the writing

and the electronic paying is common throughout the technologically developed world - and even better during the virus times

get a local debit card - you can probably do all the application online

I've got the app as well... completely forgot about it.

This young traineee I'm sitting next to says that I'm just being stubborn wanting cash (mind she also thinks I'm stubborn not wanting to go on one of those death trap scooter things) and reckons I should get a Revolut card. Anyone had any experience with one of these... must admit it looks like a good idea...

Have you showered or shaved recently?

I think lom called it...

A Stiffy maybe?

Yeah... that 8 week on a boat look... I'll get some tight underwear.

[Mendip]

There are ATM's in shopping centers and in every bank office front wall but bank offices are prolly rare nowadays.
I would have thought that a seasoned traveler like you had sorted that in the airport arrival hall ATM machine..

Yeah I know... schoolboy error, but I kind of thought a big city in Sweden would have ATMs...

Yes you are on the right side of the bridge but your walk is less than 2 km to Jaegerdorffsplatsen where there should be both ATM (in Swedish, Bankomat) and Systembolag (wine shop).

Yes lom, you've done it again... Jaegerdorffsplatsen has already come to my attention as having both a wine shop or 'Systembolag' and a 'Bankomat'. They look to be about the same distance the other side of the bridge as we are this side... I was looking at the feet measurement, not the metres, and they are about 2000 metres away. On Saturday I will make the 4km round trip to get some cash and a box of wine.

Wish I'd brought Coco along... she'd have loved it and given me some company, and imagine a 'Coco in Götebotg' thread, that would have been something.

Anyway, sorry to criticise your home city based on two days bad experience, but look at my toilet... you have to be a limbo dancer or dwarf to use it... it'd be at home in Thailand. I've already lost count of the number of times I've twatted me head on the ceiling.



It looks as though the flood was caused by me leaving the fridge door open over night... so I've gone quiet about that!

It is a nice office location though... I love docks... there's always something to look at instead of doing work...



Just fit!

[Shutree]

reckons I should get a Revolut card. Anyone had any experience with one of these... must admit it looks like a good idea...

I am not familiar with Revolut although I recently applied for a similar card from Transferwise in London. It is a prepaid card, which doesn't bother me because my UK bank debit cards are essentially the same - cash sitting in the bank and earning no interest. The difference comes with a better exchange rate when I use it.
I haven't used it yet because my first one was lost or stolen in the post from UK, also not a big problem because it was not activated, it was easy to ask for a replacement and the opportunities for fraud are few. Maybe it would suit your peripatetic lifestyle.

[katie23]

@mendip - glad to see that you arrived safely in your new digs.

How long is your contract for that job? If it's more than 4 weeks, you could make your own wine! So that you don't have to carry heavy bottles of wine/ beer across 4 km. Just buy juice & bottled water (1.5L) in your local 7/22. Buy yeast (baker's yeast will do) and sugar during your next grocery run. I don't know how pricey alcohol is (I've heard it's $$$ in scandi countries) - having your own wine might be cheaper too.

Recipe: 1L of juice (grape, apple, cranberry work best from my experience), 1 cup sugar, 1 tbsp yeast. (Thanks to happynz & tomcat for the recipe. ) Put all of those in a 1.5L water bottle. Give some gentle shakes/ inversions to dissolve the sugar. Cover loosely with the bottle cap (so that air can escape). You may add more water but leave some "head space" on the bottle. Leave in a cool, dry, dark place for 4 weeks. For more details, see the "I made wine" thread in The Kitchen.

[Saint Willy]

Leave in a cool, dry, dark place for 4 weeks.

I doubt he can afford to wait 4 weeks for a drop...

[Headworx]

Is it just me hoping Mendip tells us more about this young female trainee.. 🤔

[nidhogg]

..more to the point, why did Mendip not grab a bottle or two at Duty Free?

[Saint Willy]

..more to the point, why did Mendip not grab a bottle or two at Duty Free?

I think he did.
https://teakdoor.com/the-teakdoor-lo...ml#post4164086 (What are you drinking today?)

But it wont last 4 weeks.

[nidhogg]

^ I stand corrected. And yes - most definately will not last 4 weeks!

[Saint Willy]

And yes - most definitely will not last 4 weeks!

or even one week at the apparent rate of evaporation. that's what he gets for drinking a decent whiskey out of a pint glass.

[katie23]

Mendip could buy beer/ wine in the meantime. But if he starts to make his own wine this weekend, in 4 weeks he'll have lots of cheap wine! (if he's impatient, he could drink it after 3 weeks, if he can bear the taste)

He could also make ginger or apple beer - it takes about 5-7 days only. But I don't know if he has the implements for that - knife, cutting board, etc. (I made ginger beer during the early days of lockdown, then I leveled up to making wine. Heh)

[Saint Willy]

He could also make ginger or apple beer - it takes about 5-7 days only.

Now, that is helpful for him.

But there is still going to be a gap when that whiskey runs out and the apple beer becomes available.

[David48atTD]

..more to the point, why did Mendip not grab a bottle or two at Duty Free?

Good point!

Mendip ??

[nidhogg]

Here you go Mendip, you can order on line with home delivery (charge is steep 120 kroner, about 4,000 baht)

http://www.systembolaget.se/


Do it through Google, and use the translate option.

[lom]

Here you go Mendip, you can order on line with home delivery (charge is steep 120 kroner, about 4,000 baht)

It is much easier for him to take a walk to the nearest shop.
The online shopping account is checked for name and address congruence with the Swedish Register of Citizenship from which they then also can get your age.
Without that check you would see teenagers ordering booze for their weekend parties.

[Saint Willy]

Here you go Mendip, you can order on line with home delivery (charge is steep 120 kroner, about 4,000 baht)

http://www.systembolaget.se/


Do it through Google, and use the translate option.

delivery charge?

holy heck, he doesn’t want to but the business, just a few bottles of plonk

[Mendip]

Well, I see there's been plenty of discussion while I've been hard at work for the day...

Transferwise in London. It is a prepaid card, which doesn't botherated, it was easy .....

Shutree, I would like to say I'd look into it, and into this Revolut card my (I mean the) trainee has told me about... but I know myself well enough that it won't happen. But who knows...

Many thanks anyway and your small Chang in Bangkok is very safe.

How long is your contract for that job?

Katie... I can't thank you enough for your concern as to my alcohol intake... but as for Shutree, I'd like to say I'll start a home brewing empire but I know myself... I'm doing 11 hour days in the office and I'm pretty knackered at night... I should have had more than 2 days off after 8 weeks of nights. To be perfectly honest it's rare I make it past the sink at night on my way to the toilet... especially since I twat my head every time I take a pee. But please know I raise my game a bit in female company!

But yeah... at least a month I'd say, maybe a lot longer if my head holds out. It really changes your outlook when you can't go home... may as well keep working.

Bloody Covid.

Is it just me hoping Mendip tells us more about this young female trainee.. 樂

Ha... that had to come from you. She's mid twenties and she comes from Devon... perfect really if I was 20 years younger... OK then 30... I was hoping to purlion her to help with my project, but a staff guy sneaked in before me... I think they were worried I'd teach her bad habits

But... she's already sharing my PG Tips... slowly slowly...

or even one week at the apparent rate of evaporation. that's what he gets for drinking a decent whiskey out of a pint glass.

Absolutely no idea what you are talking about mate...

He could also make ginger or apple beer

Sorry Katie, I may pee in the sink but I've still got some self respect!

Good point!

Mendip ??

I was all over it... just hope it lasts until the weekend...

Here you go Mendip, you can order on line with home delivery (charge is steep 120 kroner, about 4,000 baht)

Many thanks for the effort Nid, but as lom says I'd need to be a bit more permanent. And 120 Kroner is 400 Baht...you have a zero extra. But it still ain't gonna happen... to be honest I think a weekly wine run of 4km will be good for my health. This will be a very sedentary few weeks...

[Mendip]

I've had my second full day in the office now and am settling in.

I've spent many years on and off working in Norway, but this is my first experience of Swedish office culture...

It's nice and friendly... the Swedes have embraced remote working and my project boss is on the west coast of The States and my immediate staff boss (female) is 'stuck' in the Caribbean due to Covid... yeah right... and my main office staff lead is also female, and works around 6 hours a week due to children issues (her twins are 5...)

Most Swedish managers and bosses seem to be female, which is unusual for me, but I appreciate that is my problem, not theirs.

I've spent many years on and off working in Norway and the difference with the Swedes is striking...

The Swedes are even more laid back... and sorry lom but the Norwegian oil company clients are gonna eat them for breakfast. I can see it... go in cheap to win the work and the likes of these huge oil companies will draw them in and then fvck them over. The 'hill monkeys' as Helge calls them are way more business savvy. (by the way, where are you Helge... are we going out for a pint?)

But on the good side lom, the Swedes are way more office toilet hygienic. The Norwegians leave the pan in a worse condition than the Scots, but here it is all very clean, maybe because they have 'mixed' toilets in the office and that helps the guys keep their shit together... boom boom...

Anyway... as I was searching for a 'Systembolag' and a 'Bankomat', I struck gold on Google Maps. Only a bloody 'Red Lionomat' in the area, and it's just a walk away!

My plan now is to do a wine and cash run tomorrow evening, and then a Red Lion run on Saturday, late afternoon. This could make the weeks more bearable.



I put mu itinerary together... Coco has it all in order.

Maybe I'll even get a steak and kidney pie... The Red Lion's gotta be English. Lom... any experience?

Who knows, maybe the trainee fancies a pint...?

[Chittychangchang]

Maybe I'll even get a steak and kidney pie... The Red Lion's gotta be English.

Who knows, maybe the trainee fancies a pint

Things are looking up mate, Coco will be proud!

[fishlocker]

... I'll be expected to know what I'm about and sound vaguely intelligent... so I at least want to look the part!

That's it! That's how I'm going to sell myself! Wrapped in cellophane on a polypropylene plate.

The fish comes home for dinner.

Just a bit of fun, I trust as is well with you and yours. Sounds like quite the adventure. Best wishes, the fishes.

[Saint Willy]

Maybe I'll even get a steak and kidney pie... The Red Lion's gotta be English. Lom... any experience?

Who knows, maybe the trainee fancies a pint...?

That's a plan!

[katie23]

@mendip - if you start making 2L of wine this weekend, you'll have lots of cheap wine for your going away party in 4 or more weeks! Glad you're settling in nicely. Cheers!

[lom]

The Red Lion's gotta be English. Lom... any experience?

Sorry, it wasn't there when I last was in that part of town 20 years ago
Facebook reviews are good and they have 16 taps of independent ales to waste your hard earned on..
Apparently you have to book a table by phoning them or by their facebook page (left column, Boka Bord)
Especially important for Fridays and Saturdays (Swedish drinking nights) or footie game days

When walking up Älvsborgsgatan you should take a look at Restaurant Silverkällan which was one of my favorite lunch places, I was surprised too see that it is still there. Ask your Swedish work colleges what they think about it today. Swedish home-cooking, was aroi maak.

A bit higher up, at the corner of Älvsborgsgatan-Mariagatan, is Ölstugan Tullen (Bierstufe BeerCottage) with
a good assortment of bladder fillers. I've been to their old place, here was a good Italian Restaurant before.