So what is it like living in Stockholm?

The second most common question I get asked by my friends is: So what is it like living in Stockholm? (The most common question is: How are you?)

It led me to have a think, job and personal life aside, after six weeks, what do I like about living here, what don't I like and what do I miss? I wonder how this list will change over the time I spend here.


Things I love about living in Stockholm

• They love kids over here. There are so many parks and children groups it is much easier to keep Sam entertained.
• Every tube station has lifts. If I don't fancy lifting Sam's pushchair up or down some steps, I can take the lift. None of the tube stations I used in London had lifts which was a pain at times. Although it annoys me greatly when I get off a tube and some fat lazy Swede (they aren't all blonde and slim) nicks the lift that I was going to take because they are too lazy to walk 20 metres and get an escalator. If you walked 20 metres, perhaps you wouldn't be so fat!
• Due to the very generous Swedish maternity / paternity system (18 months off at 80% pay, so long as the Dad does at least 6 months of looking after the kid) there are many more males with their kids in the park. Often in Clapham on a week day I would be the only Dad in the park. On Monday Dads outnumbered Mums in the park. This only ever happened in Clapham on a Sunday morning. It is nice not feeling like the odd one out.
• Not that my life in London was particularly complicated but in Sweden it is even more simple. Having no social life ensures that I never worry about what to do at the weekend. I just look after Sam. I think I am good at that, and I like doing it too, it gives my life meaning. Given the year I have had, simple is good right now. I promise to try and complicate things next year though (see point 1 about what I miss most about London).
• The eye candy. Yes, London has lots of good looking women to look at it. And I don't think the ratio of good looking women to ugly women is particularly greater in Stockholm than it is London, but there are definitely more beautiful women here. Every time I go out, I could stop and applaud some lucky lady who won in the genetics lottery of life. And for the ladies, I would have to say that Stockholm men are far better looking in general than Londoners. There is something for everyone!

Things that annoy me about living in Stockholm

• Systembolaget. The Swedish government does not trust its natives to buy alcohol whenever and wherever they like because if they could they would all beat their wives (domestic violence has dropped since they brought this law in, so I am not mocking it). Therefore you have to go the government's alcohol shops between 10 and 6 Monday to Friday and 10 to 2 on Saturday (closed all day Sunday) to buy alcohol. Maybe I should grow a thicker skin but this makes me feel like a whino everytime I go (as a result of the people in the queues who do look like whinos). And you have to be more organised (will I fancy a beer tonight? Better get some in). When you then go to the effort of going to a seperate shop for your alcohol you are more compelled to drink it. I felt less compelled when I could go to Sainsburys by a box of 12 beers (you can only buy beer or wine by the bottle here, and there are no such things as special offers) and leave them standing in the kitchen.
• Having to start every sentence to strangers: "Do you speak English?". Of course most DO, but you don't want to assume that because a few Swedes don't.
• Swedes that smoke seem to think that this entitles them to spit on the street. Sure smokers in London did this too, but not in the numbers I see in Stockholm. It really isn't cool and it totally grosses me out.
• Excuse me, but when I am trying to get off the tube train with a pushchair it would be really nice if you could wait for me and Sam to get off before you get on. There are lots of seats, I have only ever been on one packed train, and even that was nowhere near as full as the Northern Line was at Clapham North in the mornings. Where are your manners? (I know this happens in London too, but it is much worse here).
• The price of everything. I still divide prices by 10 to see how much it is in £'s. £2.50 for a loaf of bread! Two chicken breasts for £5.50. A single tube journey lasting two stops costs £3. Childrens clothes are nearly double the price. How does anybody afford to live here (when I am continually told wages are much less than London)?
• Renting a flat. See my previous post on this. But seriously, how have they gotten to a point whereby it is nearly impossible to find a flat you want, at a price you can pay, in an area you want to live? And don't get me started on the buying process. Those I have spoken to have told me it is a nightmare!
• Sam's nursery is on top of a hill. A big hill. The highest point in Solna (the area he lives when he is at his Mammas). Everytime I get to the nursery I am a sweaty mess. How will I get him up the hill in his pushchair when it snows? I asked this once to one of Sam's teachers and they laughed at me as if I was making a joke. Maybe they will have a ski-lift?
• Cash machines. Apart from everything being in Swedish, they don't give balances, and I cannot change my pincode. Throughout the life of your card, if you get your pincode wrong three times (not three times in a row but three times at any time) your card gets stopped. I am on card number three.
• The memories. I said this before, but it is hard living here as it is Sam's Mamma's city. Everywhere I go there is a memory of something we did together. It can be difficult.

Things I miss most in London

• My friends. Social lives are not overrated. If you have one, love it and embrace it. I think I took mine for granted. Never again. If you are reading this and have nothing organised for this weekend, phone a mate and sort something out. Friends are brilliant, trust me on this.
• Newspapers. Now that I dine alone every evening, I miss having a newspaper to keep me company. Yes, I could read them online whilst eating but it is not the same.
• The weather. It must be bad here if everytime I look at the London weather it is a great deal warmer. And it has rained a lot here too.
• Sainsburys. How I miss going round a supermarket, knowing where everything is (I spent 10 minutes the other evening looking for creme freche, poor Sam was getting very bored being wheeled around and around and around (there was no-one to ask)) and what everything is (I thought I had bought milk last night, but instead I got a litre of natural yogurt). Not to mention the special offers (half price chicken etc). The supermarkets here are like those in France. No competition = lousy special offers (5p off... you spoil us!)