Tuesday 26 March 2013

The Swedish Moose Test

Yes Moose's (maybe that's Mice?) can really fly it seems so maybe all that bit about Santa may be correct 


A moose test is a type of vehicle safety test designed to simulate the effect of a collision with an animal. The moose test
originates in Scandinavia, where large ungulates, or hoofed mammals, often roam the road, posing a serious hazard to
motorists. Not all car companies use moose testing, although many Northern European car companies including Saab
and Volvo do. Some companies refer to the test as an elk test, due to the greater frequency of elk in the region.

Collision with a large animal can cause serious damage to a car and its occupants. Especially if the animal has horns
which penetrate the windshield, the collision could potentially be deadly for all parties. At the very least, a vehicle that
collides with a moose will need serious body work on the front end. Most drivers in rural areas have the dangers of
animal collisions drilled into them from an early age, and will therefore go to great lengths to prevent collisions.

Swerving to avoid an animal can be as dangerous as hitting the animal itself, especially if the car is heavily laden
with people and cargo and the road is slippery. The moose test is designed to account for both animal collisions
 and swerving to avoid them, and is usually performed on a closed course with a professional driver, although
 some car companies use automated safety testing systems to perform a moose test
 
  Personally I think I'll give our furry friends a wide berth!

Thursday 14 March 2013

What are Swedes like?




What are Swedes like? Well rather than just rely on Mr Dresch here's something I found online.
Every country has its own distinctive characteristics. What you find most peculiar about Sweden will obviously depend on your own cultural background. Sweden has long been an open and accepting society and international influences have shaped and enriched Swedish culture.



As in all cultures, however, many old customs and usages remain; foreigners may at times find these unusual, puzzling or even amusing.
Swedes are generally held to be punctual, law abiding and respectful of rules and regulations.

Smoking, for instance, is not permitted in public places such as restaurants, banks, post offices or in shops. These restrictions are respected. When Swedes wait for something they form queues.
Queuing systems have been installed in many larger shops and most banks and post offices. Customers take numbered tickets from a dispensing machine and wait until their number comes up on a display. Bank clerks will simply ignore you if you don't have a queue ticket. If you're in a large store and there is no queue, look for tickets and a number display. This may seem strange at first but it usually ensures quicker service.

The habit of forming queues may in part stem from the importance attached to egalitarianism in Swedish political thought and practice which, in turn, has permeated most aspects of Swedish society. This is reflected in the large number of women represented in parliament and government but is also apparent in everyday occupations.

For example, people are normally expected to pay for their share when eating out with colleagues or friends, and tend to calculate the exact amount they owe. As a foreign woman you may be surprised to find that your Swedish date does not offer to pay for you. By the same token, Swedish women may insist on paying for themselves. However, many Swedish women still respond positively to a bit of old-fashioned courtship. On the other hand, it is not unusual for men and women to form friendships without being romantically involved.

At first, you may find Swedes a bit difficult to get to know. They may seem distant and reserved. But they can also make loyal friends once you get to know them. As a student living in a student dormitory with access to various student activities, you will have ample opportunity to make friends.
Swedes generally like hobbies and activities and pursuing them together with others is probably the easiest way to meet and get to know new people. If invited to someone's home it is customary to take off your shoes, especially in winter. This custom is upheld more strictly in smaller towns and rural areas. Nevertheless, to be on the safe side, it may be a good idea to ask. It is also customary to be on time when invited to a dinner party. Eight o’clock means eight o’clock.

Most people moving to a new country usually find many things confusing or strange at first. This will probably be true of your first time in Sweden. Remember, however, that if there is anything you are unsure of the best thing to do is to ask someone. Swedes are informal and willing to help. This is especially true of young people and students, many of whom have traveled widely themselves.


 

Saturday 2 March 2013

Denham SHEB

Well, we all managed to-hook up in the tiny village of Denham on Sunday. In hindsight, having been there only a couple of weeks previously and having noticed how bijou the place was, I should have suggested somewhere else with a car park! Having once before arranged a SHEB at what looked like a very nice village pub, it was on the assumption that they would have a car park. Wrong. There were Marlins dotted all round the nearby roads and we all had fun and games squeezing into places that we probably shouldn't have!

They all had puddings but still wanted to see what mine was! 
Anyway, as Pete says, the pub was very accommodating and we had a good lunch and a natter.
Keith and Margaret Howell. Our token couple on the Sweden trip.

John Brice showing patriotism (!)
Peter had a 1940's newspaper picked up from one of his boot fair scavenges and we had some fun and games reading the quaint articles. Note the headline!


Well done to Dave Elphick for coming up from Curry Rivel in Somerset. It was great to see you and I was impressed, nay, horrified, that you came all the way up in that cold with the hood down!
Dave Elphick wearing his sheep
I would have suffered frostbite if I'd tried the same thing. In fact, even if I wanted to, which is unlikely in this life and the next, I had the hard top on anyway so that was that!

 Don't worry. I will have the soft top on by the spring and I will partake in topless driving in Sweden. They're very broad minded over there so I'm sure it won't cause a riot....

Sue