26th May to 3rd June 2015 In Stockholm

 Saturday
We started our stay in Stockholm with simple chores I had to buy a new multimeter so I could wire the mast instruments correctly, we did some washing and stayed indoors in bitter wind and rain which mainly affected the Stockholm Marathon. In  recent year on one bridge, runners suffered a -16C wind chill factor with many suffering hypothermia.
Sunday
To Biological Museum close to Wasahamnen. This is in fact a display of stuffed animals from the 19th C, housed in an impressive Viking style building. We went there mainly because Kristin noted that the background paintings were by Bruno Lillefors.  On the ground floor are two dioramas featuring respectively  a walrus and a polar bear. A gigantic musk ox head hangs in the entrance hall. Both walrus and musk ox are genuinely impressive. The first and second floors are a single case. We stood on one of two central circular platforms reached by two spiral staircases. The paintings covered all the internal walls. The displays here were impressive but many of the animals pelts had faded. Lillefors paintings of rock, sea and sky were excellent but he'd been rushed over the woodland scenes and these were just sketched. Regrettably the whole display is old and some of the canvas has become detached. There is no budget for restoration - rather sad.
We went from there to a Lebanese restaurant for a very large lunch of cold meze dishes, warm meze dishes and grilled meats following, all washed down with wine. The result was that we staggered on board a tram to get back to Badger and collapsed. We did emerge later for drinks with Ian on Starburst in return for drinks on Badger on Friday evening.
Monday
Wet and very windy. To Gamla Stan, anxious about Festival tickets, nothing happening, ate at Stadtsmission, which is very good value with super salads then to the English bookshop which was about move to Sodermalm.
Tuesday
To Gamla Stan again for good lunch. We were first in the queue for tickets like last year. the main organiser, Anna Katarina, commented that we, who had come furthest, arrive first. The Festival passes had no marked places which proved distinctly irritating. We then went off to the Science Fiction bookshop.
Wednesday
Wednesday
To Moderna Museet for very good lunch and then the exhibitions. The permanent collection has been rehung and some old favourites are back but we did not like the new hanging much.  Good temporary film and video exhibition on the hitory and horros of Lebanon unde Israeli attacks.
Back to Badger to rest then early evening for 1930 start to Stockholm Early Music Festival. Meetings with old friends, Derk Dam our expert on music, Duncan a distinguished consultant medical scientist and our elderly friends form Sundsvoll also enthusiastic attenders of the festival.
We had great problems with seating and finally sat in the wrong seats.
Usual presentations, remarks by distinguished guest and at last the first concert.
This was by La Fenice (international) and Vox Luminis (Belgian) of masses for the dead by Charpentier. A really lovely concert with superb singing. Afterwards to La Castagna with Duncan and Derk for a bottle of wine and cheese and bread as Duncan had not eaten all day due to an intense work programme at the Karolinska. The musicians ate there too and we thanked them briefly.