Going Underground in Sveeden!

I awoke early having my usual breakfast whilst catching up with Masterchef. The phone buzzed, I had a glance and it was my calendar saying "Andy in Stockholm". 

Get in! 

I tidied the house, packed, did last minute coaching stuff (never a day off from that) and then headed off to the airport! My usual travel stresses started..... "Is the iron off, have I got my passport, wallet, camera..... Check...check...check...I've got everything, oh...did I see my passport". All happy. Then I phoned Rosemary to say everything was going to plan. "I hope you picked up the map" she said! Arghhh...my bag had been checked in.

I ended up beside a posh young couple on the plane. The chap had slightly disheveled thinning hair and salmon coloured Rohan slacks. The female, with a slight ski-jump slope nose, pristine 'naturale' makeup and a roll of the eyes that can only be attained by the privileged few,  talked too loudly about her horse! I put my headphones in! 

The SAS airline staff were cool.... slightly beyond middle-aged and without a debt the size of a small country because of their cosmetics purchases. They didn't patronise or as you to get naked so that they could see your seat belt was fastened. 

I transferred at Oslo airport..... an immaculate place, all pine, leather and functional architecture. I  was dying for a pee so the toilet was my first stop! It was designed like something out of the posh lady's interior design magazine that she had been reading on the plane. I couldn't work out how to get the tap to work! Ahhh. The thing was designed by a mother.......you must dispense soap before water will flow! The design dispenses with the need to shout "I hope you've used soap". 

It was good to get to Stockholm and to meet Rosemary as planned. We were soon on a bus to the centre of the city, then on the metro to our wee apartment in the suburbs. 

Our host, a small greying lady, immediately told us of the "important Swedish tradition....we don't wear shoes in the house" and that the shower was something that should be used sparingly. 

Luckily we had picked up some food at the supermarket as the thought of going back into town was traumatic. I was asleep relatively early.