Just back from a wonderful weekend with the Gothenburg Brass Band. I had the wonderful opportunity to spend the entire weekend together with the band and it made me feel again as a part of this wonderful group.

We did three sold out concerts and a late night party, not counting the rehearsals and good times together. Although I was thorn apart by not playing in the band (did a few subs though; euphonium, baritone and percussion!) I immediately felt the warmth and spirit of the band.

The weekend also celebrated the 25th anniversary of the band and a lot of the celebrations was, with due right, directed to Bengt Eklund - the founder, director and inspiration for the band during all these years. By now everyone knows that Bengt is ill and it felt very good to be able to do such a good show and party for his...

We had the Vasa Christmas Concert last night. It was a great night with full hall (200 persons) and band, gospel choir and soloist in great form. All in all we had a wonderful time and really felt that the Christmas is on the way.

Today at 13,30 I am leaving for Gothenburg and the Lucia concerts there. It will also be good but in a completely different way. Those concert a much more professional in style and order. We’re also doing the concert three times which also is a bit special.

It will be fun though!

I will be presenter at a concert in Gothenburg this weekend. It’s the Gothenburg BrassBand Lucia-concert that is taking place this weekend each year.

I am really looking forward to this - part to meet the band again (so many friends) and part just because it’s fun. A bit scary though since i rather play and speak than just speak. The expectations seems to be raised when you only speak. If You stand up from the band and then say something people always thinks it nice but if you just come in as a presenter they seem to expect you to be good. But - I’ll run my old race and that’s it.

It will be great either way. Gothenburg - here I come.

Oh yes! Looked for it for about a year now but now it’s found. Use CTRL+M, CTRL+M to toggle the showing and hiding of regions.

This command works anywhere within a region. So nice!

It’s a very busy time right now. The band is in the midst of our long list of December engagements. So fun and good it has been so far! Last night we played at the annual Lucia-coronation at Skansen. A bit cold but the band played well and we had great fun.

So this week contains a Christmas-festival at our corps and a gig in a Church… And then there are only two things left! Phew! But I like it.

Yesterday morning we had an Advent-service at our corps and the commissioner of Sweden Victor Poke spoke about the different parts of the time up to Christmas. Made my think about bringing some calmness into this the most busy of times. Why is that? Why not lower the ambitions a bit and enjoy a lovely time of the year? It will be my motto for this advent-times.

After a few weeks of trying to keep the happiness in top all by myself I am stopping now; it seems as if that is not possible. And also as I wrote in another post I’ve got a resource who can help me and also has promised to be there for me always. That’s Jesus - so from now on I’ll spend more time praying and thanking him for taking care of me although i haven’t cared to much about him at all times…

A strange calm comes over me when I think about that - I can just rest in the knowledge that Jesus cares about me.

One of the Swedish TV-channels is reprising Seinfeld-episodes over and over again and is on the third (fourth?) lap round all the seasons now.

But there are still some great stuff in there. In this episode George pretends to be a marine biologist to impress a girl and of course get into trouble. This is the end of it. It so great.

I ordered my glasses yesterday. They look something like the ones on the left. So you understand that I avoided the china man-look and went for the German terrorist instead.

Man - those things are expensive! My only hope now is that:

1. They will make a difference. Headaches almost every other day now…
2. I won’t drop them
3. I won’t be so scared of dropping them that I need a string around my neck to keep track of them

Just noticed that after the Dreidel-song there were some people exposing themselves before the camera on the top list.

The Dreidel-video was from another site called myspace.com and after the video had run to the end a list of the most watched videos was shown. Apparently some of the top videos for people to watch were some other people taking their clothes off.

I have now removed the file. Sorry about that.

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My band, the Vasa band of the Salvation Army, is really taking off right now.

We have had a year when we have lost a lot of bandsmen, so right now we’re only about 17 in the band. However, the feeling and fellowship in the band have always been great. And during the last few months, we are also starting to play better and better.

In the spring, we will be reinforced with some more cornets—so (you know I like to look into the future) I predict that the spring will be great.

I just love to play in the band! It’s so fun and we have a great time—thank you, guys!

If you are in Stockholm, you’re more than welcome to our Christmas concert, 6 Dec, 1900.