Friday, December 29, 2006

on the road

Well, a week ago I actually aced my written driving test. Caught me by surprise. I went to the test fully prepared to fail since I was still failing my practice tests. But I figured it was too late to cancel, I could afford the lost 180kr and it would be good practice (plus a painful reminder to kick my butt to take studying more seriously)

In the end I got 62 of 65 right. I should have got 63 but I went against my "knowledge" assuming the law had changed yet again and I wasn't aware. That particular question was about a blinking child sign on a taxi/school bus. The blinking element through me off. I knew that in Sweden the law said you didn't have to stop for school buses, but with the blinking I thought maybe they had amended. Plus the "right" option sounded infantile "Go by really slowly." I would have expected wording like, "Go by at a safe speed prepared to stop."

Oh well. Point to me.

I've signed up for my driving test. It's scheduled for 2 February. There is a last-minute option that I might exercise if I get a practice driving session in early enough.

I called today to get a skid pan course. As luck would have it, they had just had a cancellation and the first available time is/was 2 January at 7.45. Ugh. But one hinder out of the way.

Ironic that last night coming home I was nearly pulled over in a random police check. We were coming over Västerbron beyond any point of return when I saw that the police were flagging cars over. Heart in throat. What could I do. I was comforting myself by trying to convince myself that I was "nearly" legal. After all, I do have a permit and my prescribed "co-driver" was present in the car.

The glitches in the legality clause were:
  • the co-driver was in the back seat
  • he was intoxicated
  • no "övningskör" sign
Now wouldn't that have been peachy. So close and they "banned" for a year or so because of driving illegally.

Can't wait until this is all above board.

Sunday, December 10, 2006

swede in space, lauriates in place

Anders Fugelsang made it into orbit. He's officially the first Swede in space. Apparently he's be a part of a number of countdowns, but this time it led to blast off.

Headlines of Aftonbladet and Expressen proclaimed the liftoff. Other than that Stockholm seems relatively unthrilled by the galactic event. The hubby kind of audibly smirked when I told him. Whether it's the understated Swede in him, or that it's not that big a deal I don't know. I'm happy for both Fugelsang and space cowboys around Sweden. They're officially out of this world.

The Nobel Banquet will be in full swing within a hour or so. The City Hall has been in preparation phase for a few days now. Each time I've biked by on the Södermälarstrand side I've taken a little look. What I'm more curious about is the mysterious "pipeline" that seems to be headed directly into the Blue Hall.

It's not very secretive, so I can't imagine it's subterfuge.

Tonight I won't be biking by to see the gas flames and mini Hollywood set since it's Sunday. Next year I won't be headed this way home from work, so I suppose my observations across Riddarfjärden of Nobel Banquet have come to an end.