Right now my little boy has the slightly less hot parts of numerous viruses wandering around his body and jump starting his immune system, yep, first vaccination day. So we've got the possibility of fever and sickness to look forward to tonight which is a little complicating as we're supposed to be out for dinner - we shall see.

I remembered a couple of things whilst we were at the surgery which I meant to blog about earlier.

Firstly, candles. When the winter months come the Swedish fight back against the dark and have candles everywhere. Not just the little tin foil ikea jobs either but great tubs of red wax burning outside most shop exits. It was really cool over Christmas as there were massive metal frames decked with candles throughout the town centre. But is does not stop there. When I go into the driving school theres candles burning on the desk and when we were getting blood flow scans in hospital there was a little nest of candles burning in the corner of a room. A lot of candles. Lots of wax. Wicks, in excess. Snuffers, probably very many.

Secondly, shoes. The Swedish style is to take your shoes off as soon as you enter someones house which seems to me pretty sound. In actual fact this is something which I believe the English aspire to but can't quite manage. A few years ago I remember someone sayin that they were impressed by a visitor to their house because 'he took his shoes off', but heres the catch - leave your shoes on in an Englishmans house and everyone's too polite to say anything. Its only later as they are scubbing dogshit, diesel, and used condoms out of the carpet that they will say (in typically whispered tones) 'we won't be inviting them again!". Whats ironic is that in Sweden leaving your shoes on does less damage, given the Nordic propensity for wooden floors, whilst the English love for shag pile means that they effectively have a fluffly magnet for night soil. Its easy to visualise an old carpet as a very large flat dogs arse, peppered with dangle berries (clinkers or whinnets). I remembered this today as before you enter the kiddies surgery you have to take your shoes off - to prevent the rug rats feasting on all the goodies you've trodden in.

Incidently, clinkers...wonder if Cadburys actually know. Perhaps they should be told.

strange Walter Mitty type story from India.....Anil's Doublespeak: The boy who topped NASA but didn't..