Swinging contraptions and the all-organic experience

I aimed high today, and we ventured out to Rosenhill for lunch and hammock shopping. I´d forgotten how long it takes to get there, and even though I wasn´t driving its pretty stressfull to be a passenger when mum is the type of driver who sees a potential accident in every overtaking car; and week long spells of being completely lost, would she take even the slightest wrong turn.

But it was all worth the smell of burning clutch and it was a super day for being out in the country. With having ME I never know in advance how my crappy body will react to activities. Default is ofcourse in the negative, but sometimes, regardless how I feel before leaving the house, moving around outside feels ok, as long as the momentum lasts. Then afterwards I always collapse the minute I get home, for various lengths of time, but it still feels like it is worth it for a few hours taste of what life almost used to be like.

Luckily there are no far distances to walk (unless u want to botanise in the fields), and we tried pretty much all hammocks they had at Stora Famnen (big arms/hugs).

Mum really got in to the idea of having one, but gran was in doubt regarding the mechanics of getting in and out, and patiently left the joy of ungraceful wobbling to the younger generation. I really like the idea of having a Mexican hammock, the ones made with cotton nets. They shape better if you are more than one person (some has the size and strenght for 4 adults), and dry quickly if it rains while they´re out. But in the end I opted for a fabric type, mostly because they´re less sensetive to things getting caught in them (branches, keyes from a pocket, corner of books etc.) and they are the most comfortable if you lie long and can´t be bothered to put blankets in the bottom. Also it looks better would I ever want it indoors.

So here she is, my new Brazilian girlfriend Rio! White was the only colour they had, but she washes in the machine, and I´m planning on a colouring project when she start hinting on a permanent dirtier shade. I was thinking onion peel dye actually. Remember trying that at Bäckedals folkhögskola once, and it resulted in a deep red/brown shade. Only problem is that we´ll be havin onion soup for weeks to get enough peels going for something this size...

Now we just have to figure out how to hang a hammock without trees... While in Denmark we should manage, but unfortunately mum´s manicured garden at home has no time for pesky leaves falling all over the place.


Moving on to the café and shop, we did the all organic lunch experience. I wish I one day will get the chance to go to one of their bar and gig nights, because since the sunny summer days require that you sit out on the cozy poorch of this very rough and ready barn, you miss out on the fabulously cool inside of the lounge (today acompanied by just the right level of Johnny Cash).


Unfortunately we were too early in the season for their apple must (juice) pressing factory to be open, but there were still no shortage of spending opportunities in the shop.

So afterwards I now feel like the flu deluxe, and will probably be a permanent couch fixture for quite some time. Its funny how I have two settings for when my body gets knackered out, either my limbs get so heavy I have to put up even the slightest muscle exertion for later, or I get these flu like symptoms, when even my eyes ache as if I had a fever.

Anyhow, after today´s home-growing inspirations, I´m aiming to raid the rhubarb plants as soon as my ailment alleviate slightly (could be a few days, and if I´m really out of luck, a few months). I´m thinking marmalade with cardamom, or vanilla, or ginger...

Proceedings of the hammock society

I´ve been wanting a hammock since I was in Central America a bunch of years ago.
For Swedes, a hammock is something hanging down the back of the summerhouse, from the beginning bought by the book lover of the house with the illusion that they will have lots of "me" time during the holiday to contemplate their navel and snooze the days away with a 5 pound brick (think Crime and punishment) splayed over their face. But without fail the grass need cutting, the roof mending or you get dragged in to digging up the vegetable patch against your will (that is if you even can afford to fill up the car with petrol and even get out there this year).

So the hammock is forgotten by the adults, left to feign for itself in some trees, and only enjoyed by ice cream spilling kids, who forget how great it is when they get old enough to sneak away with the neighbouring farmer´s son/daughter on secret teenage ventures.

To sum up, the hammock culture of the Swedes is suffocated before it even takes off, and until a few years ago, I was not the one to oppose that holiday labour legacy of mine.

But after sleeping in hammocks on the Pacific coast of Mexico, in the jungle of Belize and porches of Guatemala, I realized that beds are redundant. Once you learn how to move around in it, there is no end to how it can please you.

So I see no reason to wait any longer. I had a look at the cheap places like Clas Ohlson and the likes, and they do sell hammocks. But they are tiny little ones that you couldn´t even share with a barbie, and they all stubbornly put a wooden bar in each end to "open up" the hammock. Well that might make them look more appealing to the Swedes, who just want something in as close similarity to their Ikea beds as possible. But you gotta think outside the box here, cocoon is good, and can open up to whatever you want it too depending on how you move in it.

A bunch of years ago I was out at wonderful Rosenhill on Ekerö outside Stockholm, and in the midst of all the trees the hammock shop Stora famnen had set out an out-door shop, and we spent ages trying out the entire range. They might cost a whole lot more, but they are all well made and since they actually behave like a hammock is supposed to, maybe more people than just me will be born again in to the world of swingin and chillin.

Now to the problem that might be one more of the contributing reasons why Swedes have such a crap hammock culture. In our vain obsession of tanning we don´t feel its really summer if we don´t optimize all opportunities of UV exposure, and subsequently demolish all garden plants reaching above the hips. I.e. there is nowhere to hang anything. Now some companies sell metal or wooden structures which allows you the choice to position yourself in the ideal Swedish position (in the sun), or the sensible position (in the shade), but the cost a fortune, and I´m not sure I trust them entirely. Of course is also the option of hooks that can be attached to anything from walls to inner roofs, but being an eternal rent-payer, that would reqire hefty discussions with the owners of said walls.

But again, shame on she who gives up. So watch this space for further proceedings in the search of the perfect hammock.