Another Fine Day in Sweden

Friday, 3 June, 2016:

Up early to head down to Stockholm Central to buy train tickets for my trip to Hässleholm in Sweden's Skåne region.

To my dismay, all the trains leaving in the early afternoon were sold out so I had to settle for a 4:21 p.m. train that would get me into Hassleholm at 8:02 p.m.

Part of the problem traveling this is a three day weekend as Monday is Swedish Flag Day, a national holiday on a par with our Fourth of July celebration.

Thus, I unexpectedly had to find something to do for about seven hours.

What to do?

Why meander about the Swedish capital of course. 

New Money In,

Old Money Out

On June 30th, Sweden goes 100%

to more counterfeiting proof bills

I'll have to be sure to get rid of all my old bills before I leave on July 1st.

S:ta Clara Kyrka

Time can weigh on a person

"Run Forrest, Run"

S:t Jacobs Kyrka

Unknown Luminary

Arkansas Razorbacks fan?

A quite courtyard fountain

The "Taste of Stockholm" festival

was this weekend

  

 Food Trucks Galore

 This looks interesting

 Wacky Californians were at

a "Tastes of Stockholm"

 Serious Statue

 California Golden Bears fan?

 Stockholm Opera House

What?

Pro wrestling icon Classie Freddie Blasie's home is just a left turn away?

 Noir Trees

Peaceful, Small Harbor

Time for some Art Appreciation

at the Prins Eugene

Waldemarsudde Museum

 Empty Canvas

 Soon to not be empty

 Hercules

 Auburn War Eagle fan?

Refreshing Fountain

 Winged Victory

 Beautiful Garden

 Water Nymph

 1899 Winter in Stockholm

 Artist's Tools

 Paris

 Sunny Fountain

 Skogskyrkogården Cemetery

Why here, you ask?

Because film legend

Greta Garbo is buried here

Finally, it was time for the trip to Hassleholm to visit good friends.

THE BIG GAME - Södervikskolan at Runby Skola

Thursday, 2 June, 2016:

After weeks of preparation, it was finally time for the much anticipated . . .

BIG GAME!

Yes, Upplands Väsby, it was time for this year's renewal of one of the biggest rivalries in all of Swedish sport, Södervikskolan at Runby Skola. Kickoff was set for 3:00 p.m.

Las Vegas had installed Södervikskolan as a solid two TD favorite.

 A Runby Colt ready for action

 Runby Colt showing his

GAME FACE!!!

It was time to get all of

the boys and girls into gear

Warm ups on a HOT day

were short

 Wäsby Warriors Head Coach

Thomas Andersson explains the rules

Runby Skola is in the white jerseys while Södervikskolan donned their traditional greens.

The rules were simple, full contact tackling was allowed and we would play two 30 minute running clock halves.

Thomas also made it crystal clear that no guns, knives or Afro combs would be allowed on the field.

All players were searched.

Let the BIG GAME begin

Rough and Tumble Action

Runby had a good run game plan

Runby stalk blocking WR

Södervikskolan definitely was the

bigger of the two squads

They also suited out 13 players compared to the nine Runby Skola players in uniform.

At the half, Södervikskolan led in Touch Downs, 4 to 0, including one on a pick six play.

Runby Skola moved the ball but could not punch it in.

  

Uh-oh, Södervikskolan got

to the edge

  

 Runby Skola on Defense

Runby Skola broke the ice with a fine TD bomb on the first play of the Second Half.

It was with the score on the Jumbotron listed at 5 TDs to 2 TDs in favor of Södervikskolan that one of the players from Runby Skola asked me "Coach, what's the score? Are we winning?"

It was a classic example of a kid just enjoying the fun of competing for his newfound love of the great game of American football!

The final score saw the spread betting group from visiting Södervikskolan defeating Runby Skola 7 TDs to 3 TDs.

Post BIG GAME group picture

It looked like the kids had a lot of fun today. Now we have to hope that some of them will sign on to become our newest Wäsbay Warriors.

In the evening, it was time for U11, U13 and U15 practices. The staggered starting times meant that we would be in full blown coaching mode from 6:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.

All in all, it was another GREAT day for American football in Sweden!!!

Tomorrow, a train will whisk me away from Stockholm to Hässleholm in the southern Skåne region of Sweden to see the home town Hurricanes play the Ystad Rockets on Saturday. It will also allow me to visit with several good friends that we made here when I coached the 'Canes in 2010.

It's been six years? Really?

Last BIG GAME Practice and Music Trivia Night

Wednesday, 1 June, 2016:

I'll be home with Laurie and our family one month from today.

I used the morning to do a large batch of laundry before heading out for a 6.43 mile, 14,900 step stroll.

Animals stay behind the fence,

Humans come on in

But why?

So that the humans can get

a better look at this rune stone

The accompanying sign pegs this stone carving at being about 1,000 years old.

 I WANT ONE OF THESE!!!

 At 3:00 p.m., a light workout

for the Runby Skola team

Tomorrow, on this very field, Runby Skola will host the BIG GAME against Södervikskolan at 3:00 p.m.

It will be a game using our U11, seven man/woman American football rules.

It should be interesting . . .

 Historic Site

No, there is no historic rune stone to be seen but this small park near Icelandia II was the site of the first ever Wäsby Warriors practice about five years ago.

As a sign of the team's growth, last night at a meeting involving some of the team's Board of Directors and Upplands Väsby city officials, an agreement was struck to allow allow the Warriors to play our home games at the Vilundaparken Sports Complex in the center of town.

The Vilundaparken Sports Complex includes a pristine natural grass surface, covered stands, a snack bar and convenient restrooms.

Vilundaparken

This was a significant pact, we're moving on up!

While I was being wined and dined at my temporary home by Janne, Aiki was at the historic meeting.

People often ask me what I like best about this interesting retirement that I have had the chance to live. Is it a particular city like Rome, Prague, Paris, London or Barcelona?

No.

Is it a particular site like the Colosseum, the Eiffel Tower, the Venice Canals, Gaudi's Sagrada Familia Cathedral, the Tower of London or Drottningholm Palace perhaps?

No.

What I have come to like the most is when one of those unplanned, magical moments occurs with other people that become memorable as they cross cultural lines.

Tonight was one of those nights starting with about two hours of music trivia with Janne and his extensive playlist playing on his first rate sound system. The fun continued when Aiki arrived home and announced the Vilundsparken decision.

Aiki and Janne

Talk about a FUN couple!

Aiki had one more surprise for me as she presented me with my official Wäsby Warriors hoodie!

AWESOME!!!

What a GREAT day!

EuroBall Game Day Posters

I have always enjoyed the often ornate Game Day posters that the clubs that I have coached produce for the internet.

Here are some examples from my former clubs.

From Italy,

Last weekend's Catania game was

 a 42-22 playoff propelling victory

Go Elephants GO!

From Switzerland,

The Tigers next game on June 12

Go Tigers GO!

From France,

The Falcons National DII semi-final

playoff game is this Saturday

The Falcons are at home and are the only undefeated team in DII. They face a tough opponent in the Nîmes Centurions who they conquered 31-28 during regular season play.

Go Falcons GO!

 From Spain,

The Cobras are playing for the

Serie B National Championship

on Saturday at home

The Cobras are also the only undated club in Spain's Serie B (DII). I would love to be there to support them but financially it was out of the question.

A win would automatically move the Cobras into Serie A, Spain's top American football league, next season.

Go Cobras GO!

From Sweden,

A regular season home game

for the Hurricanes this Saturday

Combine a duty free Warriors weekend with an inexpensive train ticket to the Skåne region in Southern Sweden and voilà, I'm going to see a game and old friends in Hässleholm!

Go Hurricanes GO!

Reading Is FUNdamental

  

More Nordic Noir

I bought this book by an Swedish author that was new to me in the Visby Tourist Office on Sunday.

Mari Jungstedt's novel, at least I hope it was a novel, is set in Visby.

It was a well written, page turner that was typically dark, especially the last few pages when the motive for the murders committed in the previous 355 pages was revealed.

This was a chilling book which, if I had read it before last weekend, would have made me think twice about spending those glorious three days in Gotland's main city.

Funny, I saw no signs of crime when I was on the island.