THE SMÅLAND COFFEE BLOG!

Part 2.

2009-05-10T17:03:00.000+01:00

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http://www.smaland.co.uk
http://photography.smaland.co.uk

This will be a summary of what we did! Part1

2009-05-09T14:28:00.010+01:00

iivii in South Africa
When we came over to South Africa, we brought this Land Rover book with us. As it turned out, we had good use of it, as we had to take the car through COR, which is simular to a MOT in the UK. As always with old car's they got a bit of temperament and we where able to fix the car up while we where over here. It turned out pretty good!

The Land Rover Book!

Kev is cleaning under the car!

I made Swedish Apple Crumble for the South Africans!

We visited Tala Game Reserv quite a few times, during our stay here!

These Guys are also repairing cars, we found some spare parts for ours in here!

One of the Townships

Cape Vidal!

iivii on the rocks at Cape Vidal!

Grazing Hippo & Waterbuck

South African Sunrise

Our camp in Mpila, Imfalozi Game Reserv

iivii our Game Ranger and Viiv

Elephant blowing dust!

South Africa is so beautiful, in the next update I tell you the next

Captain iivii, over and out!

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http://www.smaland.co.uk
http://photography.smaland.co.uk

Today we have had heavy rain and floods here in SA!

2009-02-28T20:58:00.005Z

Today we have had heavy rain and floods here in SA, our own car is being fixed to go through the MOT, and is in the garage, we hope to get it back Monday! The car above is therefore not our car.

We walked down in the valley and looked at a stream that normally flows calmly under the road, now have taken over the road totally. The stream is flooding down on the right, and the road has flooded high on the left.

Lots of water, and still raining and the now river is still raising.

There is a pick-nic spot about 200m down the stream, this has turned into a riverbed with flooding water pumping down and into the valley.

We walked a bit higher up, and in the background you can see the flooded river!

At the very edge, its probably a good 30m down.

You can see Kev, at the very edge of the cliff here, where we took the previous photo from, then you get an idea of the steep bank. It's still raining.

The water took the road away here!

The houses on the road up the hill are lucky, there is an other way out, although much longer.

We got home had a cup of hot chocolate, and listen to the rain that is still pouring down...

Captain iivii, over and out!

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http://www.smaland.co.uk
http://photography.smaland.co.uk

Shongweni Dam 21/02/2009

2009-02-28T20:42:00.003Z

Last weekend Kev and I went to Shongweni Dam, it was one of the hottest days here so far almost 40°C in the shade! Got some nice pictures of the Dam wall!

They Fishing below the dam

Fisherman!

Shongweni Dam wall

Captain iivii, over and out!

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http://www.smaland.co.uk
http://photography.smaland.co.uk

SA Weekly News!

2009-02-18T05:52:00.012Z

Wednesday last week a nice package came to the shop!
My mum is brilliant, not only did she post our Walking Boots over from Sweden, she also wrapped the box they came in!!! I don't have to tell you twice she loves presents, giving or getting doesn't matter.

The Mysterious Package in the shop!

We have landed safetly in SA, and our bikes have just been assembled from the boxes. I have since then given them a good clean, and they are now serviced and ready to go!

Saturday 14th, we took the first available opportunity to take our Car out! Last year when the Rand was strong, we where able to buy this Landrover Defender 110 TDi. It's quite an old model and needs some work, but it's in running condition at them moment, and we are preparing it to go through MOT or CRR as they call it here.

It did is Job in the Bush, as a 4x4 car its wicked! I need a name for the car however, I can't really call it Mr D, or the Defender... so any suggestions are welcome!

As we arrived in the middle of the Day to Tala Game Reserv, a lot of the animals had made the sensible thing to say hidden in the shade. We did however spot some nice Kudo here!

The 14th which was also Valentines day, as it turned out. Ended nicly in the Game Reserves Resturant, where we ate a Buffé, starter, main and dessert with Guava Juice for myself and Passion for Kevin!

The Locals having the right idea of what to do in hot weather, had a swim in one of the rivers we went past.

Sunday the 15th started with rain, but it cleared up and I where able to go Climbing Yay!

Megan and her boyfriend are climbing!

Megan belaying

Crazy South Africans!

Luke & Ray having a play fight up in the ropes!

Captain iivii over and out!

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http://www.smaland.co.uk
http://photography.smaland.co.uk

Long Time Coming...

2009-02-14T11:59:00.004Z

I haven't posted for a while, I'm a busy guy... Busy spending my time in he shop.
So since I'm talking about time and such things its fitting that my new Swedish phrase is:
"Vad är klockan"
This means; What time is it?
Speaking of time once again, Hope Iivii and Kevin have a great time on holiday!

I had to edit this post. Hillevi taught me bad swedish... Den hàr dagen àr så seg - this day is so slow...
Grrrr. Bad teacher! haha
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http://photography.smaland.co.uk

TEAMBUILD... the After Eight Game and more!

2009-02-12T17:59:00.015Z

So plan was to get together for a meal, all of us, before iivii & Kev are off to SA.

Everybody arrived promptly at 18.00, and we sat down for some hot drinks, Josh had brought home made muffins! They where great! We ordered some pizza, and in the meantime... Anna came up with some activities!

The After Eight GameHow does it work, After Eight?

You get a box of After Eight and create a duel, you get two people to put a slice of the chocolate on their forehead. Then it's time to get that chocolate to slide down your face and into your mouth! Well... easier said than done.

Fia was the humble winner in the end!

But the Party didn't end there!
Hills grabbed the guitar, and started picking, is sounded really nice... until we all recognized a lovestruck English ballad, from the Ronan from Boyzone... we thought before she started the lyrics that she composed it herself. Lisa then took the guitar and although we had no idea what she played, it sounded nice.

Hills = Concentration

Lisa = Concentration

The crowed is impressed...

Hills the Hulk

After this food had still not arrived... and although the After Eight game is good fun, we soon had finished the box, and Hills found something new to do!

When the pizza finally arrived, we where staving, as you can see. But hunger is an excellent spice to any pizza! And the company was great!

A glas of wine or two later, these two where cracking jokes like never before!

Josh is making faces to the camera.

The next Game is Guitar Hero
Everybody has a turn, but we already know the Guitar Heros...

Lisa = Concentrated

iivii = concentrated!

Hills = Concentrated

Guitar Hero ended our night, and we all went home as stars!

Captain iivii, over and out!

-------------------------------- http://www.smaland.co.uk http://photography.smaland.co.uk

Darth Wader's new Sith a la Hills!

2009-02-06T14:28:00.003Z

I don't know what we are fighting... maybe the snow, cause snow ain't good for business.

Hills says she is the new Sith, and looking at this picture... it might be so.
I'm not sure what Fia is up too here, but it seems she is trying to stay clear from Hills!

Love at Småland Coffee,
Captain iivii, over and out

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http://www.smaland.co.uk
http://photography.smaland.co.uk

No good deed goes unpunished.

2009-02-03T17:27:00.002Z

Ok, so the real reason that I try to keep my efforts at work to a minimum is actually not that I'm lazy. Not the sole reason anyway.
It's mostly because I'm kind of clumpsy. Today, for example, I thought I should go those extra few miles, since, you know, I normally don't. So, I took the grinder apart and gave it a extra good clean. And cut my finger. And that hurt quite a lot. Underneath that blue paper there's blooooood.
And did the boss suggest that I should close and go to hospital and be looked after? Nono. She just told me to put a plaster on so I wouldn't bleed on stuff. Sweet.

Tomorrow I'll be back to just slacking off. If I don't bleed to death, that is.

Tje!

(And don't worry. I have put a plaster on. There will be no blood in your coffee. I know that was your only concern.)

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http://www.smaland.co.uk
http://photography.smaland.co.uk

Lady in distress

2009-02-02T08:13:00.012Z

Fia arrived to work in a Taxi! She had been able to get herself to Bondstreet, and where lucky to find a Taxi to get herself to work.

Milk came one hour late, and bread came about 4 hours late. But Fia and I was in a good mood as it wa

s snowing. Snow fell in

big flakes

and made the world white!
We have already been helping a lady in distress!
She had been in the O2 arena, last night, and we could see she had been in the VIP area from her pass. Poor girl, got stuck in the weather and by 7.30am, she had already been trying to get home the past 6 hours!

She was dressed for a party, a cocktail dress, stockings

and high heal shoes or shall I say sandals. Not ideal clothings for the weather conditions we saw today.
Fia spotted her outside, and I went out to see how she was... She was just about falling into tears, and we got her into the shop

.
We ordered her to take off her shoes,

and put paper towel on the floor for her to stand on. The mission where then to find her a Taxi. And although there where taxi dropping off people by waterloo, they where soon picked up by someone else.

She was lucky, and she where able to get hold of a taxi firm after a while, and in the mean time, she warmed up with a cup of coffee.
The phone rang in her pocket, and I could run out and wave the Taxi in, and safetly get her into the car.

The good deed of the day, done!

Hills arrived walking but had thoughtfully called in beforehand to check if we where snowed in. She sounded so disapointed when we answered in the shop.

Snow!

2009-02-02T08:12:00.008Z

Its snowy, this morning, these are some of the roads that we saw early this morning!

It's quite weird to know that this snow is gonna stop the whole country running pretty much.

We will not be very busy today, but it's gonna be interesting to who are able to get in.

Considering probably only a few of the tubelines are gonna run today, and then only the deepest once such as northern line and victoria. The rest is gonna be interesting to see.

A lot of the drivers we saw this morning try to pull off as if this was a racer drivers!

They put to much pressure on the wheels, and the result is obviously wheel spin.

We had one or two occations where the car behind us seemed to think this was normal road conditions, and therefore only started to break as if the roads would be cleared. Anyone could guess (or so I thought) that the breaking distance is 4 times longer than on dry conditions. Especially as no one in this county got snow tyres!

Pictures taken with Cameraphone N95

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http://www.smaland.co.uk
http://photography.smaland.co.uk

Tidy Up!

2009-01-30T19:35:00.003Z

Tidy up the shop - my new swedish phrase of the week:

"Städa affären"

This phrase comes in handy if you are working with someone and it's quiet and you are lazy. Not that I am!

I have been finding some of the pronunciation really hard, the emphasis too. But oneday I shall have it right!

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http://www.smaland.co.uk
http://photography.smaland.co.uk

The musicmaster at work.

2009-01-28T16:03:00.002Z

Well, well, look at this! I'm updating for the second time today! Now, aren't you lucky?

And this isn't the only thing I'm updating. As you might know, one of my responsibilities in here is to take care of iTunes. When I started here the playlist was full of soooo much shit, you couldn't believe it. People had, obviously without thinking about that it might be a difference between what you can listen to at home or at a night out and what suits a shop, put days and days woth of music in there. So I took it upon myself to clean that mess up. We deleted about 9 GB and as long as I work in this shop there will be no R'n'B, no metal, no soulless pop, and no singer/songwriters with sticks in thir arses (yeah, that means you Lars Winnerbäck).
From then on we only play music I've chosen, and so far no one is complaining. Probably because they don't dare to, but nevermind. I might be slightly fascistic when it comes to that, but everybody loved Mussolini, didn't they?
I did let the captain keep her Thomas Ledin and Lisa Ekdahl though, which I think was quite openminded. Even though I usually change the song when they come up...

But anyway, it's been a while since I last updated, and even though there was over 24h of music, when you listen to it all day you get kind of tired of it. So I brought some cd:s in and have been copying music to the computer all afternoon. About 5 hours with new tracks, all great as well. Some Johnny Cash, some Lennon, Aretha, more Abba, more Queen, Stefan Sundström, Joan Armatrading, etc. Iivii, I'll tell you about who these people are tomorrow.

And the rest of you: just enjoy. We've got an excellent playlist. I've tried to make Iivii put the title Musicmaster in my contract, but so far to no good. But I suppose that I should be happy that I'm allowed to listen to my own music at work, and I am.
Tje!
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http://www.smaland.co.uk
http://photography.smaland.co.uk

Working from home.

2009-01-28T09:54:00.003Z

Today I'm getting a taste of the glourious world of parttime. I'm only working 6 hours today, so at 10am I'm still in bed, having breakfast. And yes, I have most of my meals in bed, which I think is perfectly normal, since I am still a teenager. In 4 months I may grow up, when I'll be 20 and all... old. But we'll see about that.
Anyhoo, my shift starts at 12.30, which is just perfect. Especially after two early mornings this week, and all morningshifts last week. We love a good lie-in. Yes we do.
Although, as you can see, I'm still taking care of one of my duties, and updating this halfdead blog. True commitment, friends, true commitment!

By the way, I'll have to excuse myself for any errors in the spellingdepartment today. The spellcheck doesn't work. Or it does, but just in swedish, I haven't figured out how to change that. So Josh, there's no need to be rude. My english is still better then your swedish.

But now its time for yours truely to get changed and all that. We don't want to scare any costumers away.

Tje!

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http://www.smaland.co.uk
http://photography.smaland.co.uk

Fire Regulations and Fire Exit!

2009-01-26T22:06:00.003Z

Josh, Anna, Hills, Fia and I where in the shop today at about 3.30pm. Bit weird having the shop crowded with staff (inofficial team meeting) when only 1 person is "on duty". But then we are all in love with this shop (we must be, since we are hanging around in it when we not even schedualed for shift).

Josh and Hills has discovered the Fire Alarm system, since Josh knocked his head on it, when leaning back against the wall. (He is tall, and likes to lean)
The discussion in regards to the fire unit had started.

According to the laws and regulations, we need to have a fire panel, a smoke alarm, a break the glass red box in the shop. We also have an emergency lamp! (Have you seen it? If not look for it!)

The emegency lamp will glow, if the electricity powers out, or the fuse to the light gets a blackout, or any other reason there wouldn't be any electricity and the shop would be left pitch black. (Not that we have a big glass window, and a glass door.)

But Laws and Regulations are a courious thing, as we had to have one of these emergency lights. It also need to be situated so you can see where the exit is. (And as you are all well aware of, the exit is hard to find in our 7,5 sq meter shop.)

We where however excused not to have one of those green signs neon lights with a man running for the door. Perhaps I should get one just for the fun of it.

We cracked quite a few jokes in regard to it, which ended with Josh putting up a post it note, with a man running for the door. In captial letters "FIRE EXIT".
This was put on the door, for a little while.

Don't we just have an amazing sense of Humour!

Captain iivii, over and out...

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http://www.smaland.co.uk
http://photography.smaland.co.uk

Im Back!

2009-01-23T20:23:00.003Z

After a couple months of frequent loitering I am back in the shop to actually work! Does that surprise you?
First day back was quite quiet, but made myself busy by cleaning and remembering stuff to do...
I am going to use this blog to chart my learning of Swedish! My phrase for today is...
"öppnar dörren"
This means... Open the door. Good to know when the shop gets hot!

Picture of the shop on a rainy day... :(

Hej då!

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http://www.smaland.co.uk
http://photography.smaland.co.uk

Friday!

2009-01-23T14:25:00.005Z

FRIDAY!
Hills and Fia has been running the shop today. This week they have been in charge of it pretty much without me. They are great!

Josh is back in the shop, he is closing today!
But he will be around much more in the future. Yay!

I think Hills and Josh is on a good way becoming great friends, for Life!

Here they are discussing books, isn't it sweet!

Lisa is still in Sweden until the end of the month.
But then she will be back, we miss her already...

"Hello and welcome to Småland Coffee",
says Lisa and smiles with a knife in her right hand!

Anna is around, she will be in again next week in the afternoon.
(Haven't caught her picture with her bicycle yet, but there are still time, don't worry.)

iivii has to finish the last bit of paperwork, suppose I should go back to that rather than putting another post in. Well, well....

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http://www.smaland.co.uk
http://photography.smaland.co.uk

It IS a hard job, and guess who's doing it?

2009-01-22T11:42:00.004Z

The energy level in here is at the moment somewhere at floor level. Or lower. I'm exhaaaausted after working mornings all week, and Fia is not feeling great, and if we'd had the space to do so, we'd probably collapse in a heap on the floor. But luckily this place is so tiny that we have no other choice than to remain standing. Or in my case more hanging over the counter. Would probably not look great if we were asleep. Bad for business and all that.
Iivii took off after her 4 hour shift, and now it's me and the Sailor in charge again. I wish I had Iivii's schedule, working 4 hours is seriuosly chilled. Too bad for me I've got rent to pay. And the plans of marrying rich is not going great. What I need to do is invent something that will make me a millionaire. Then I would work halftime as well. It sucks that all the good ideas are already taken. Google, lightbulbs, tetrapack, hairspray, etc, etc. There's really nothing left to discover!
Which is why I spend my days making coffee.

Anyhoo, we just realised that what we needed was some toasted white bread with butter and marmalade. GAH! Cravings! Give us! And etc. Sometimes sugar and fat is just what you need to keep on going. Today is so one of those days.
But as the good workers we are we agreed to finish some things before rewarding ourselves. In Fia's case sandwiches, in mine... ehm, blogging... And dishes. Perhaps.

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http://www.smaland.co.uk
http://photography.smaland.co.uk

Its a hard job, but somebody has to do it!

2009-01-22T10:57:00.006Z

iivii has been working in the office, and today I came back really rather confused, but happy!

But just to let you know, I'VE MISSED YOU ALL!

Good to be back in the shop, before I have to continue the paperwork.

I choose one of my favourite jerseys today, unfortunately I discovered it was made with wool! (Didn't think of that at 5.30 am this morning)
And I got a lot of comments, on my new "Hot" look as I had to take it off as it was too warm, and wore just a vest/top!

An other day full of comments, this time directed at me, but I'm quite happy anyway. I have to remind you that I am normally wearing a t-shirt when I am working in the shop. And no, I was not going out to a party.

Captain iivii over and out

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http://photography.smaland.co.uk
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http://www.smaland.co.uk
http://photography.smaland.co.uk

It's a girlthing.

2009-01-21T11:37:00.003Z

Good morning!
Or perhaps it should be good day, I have after all been up since 5am and worked since 6.30am. But, it I had a job with normal times I suppose it would still be morning.

Anyhoo, the morningrush is over and I now have some time for you blogreaders. I would of course, if I had a choice, neglect the costumers in favour of you, but I have a feeling I might get fired. Or at least a very serious look from the Captain. And we don't want that.

Today's big event seems to be mine and Fia's makeup. Yes, for real. Unintentionally we were very matchymatchy today, with red lipstick. And my goodness, have we heard about it... As you can see above, Fia's is quite striking, but mine really isn't that extreme, and I've worn it before without it beeing a big deal. It might have been the fact that we were both wearing lipstick, I don't know, but what I do know is that it obviously is sort of a big deal for some of the people coming in here. And by people I mostly mean guys.
The girls who said anyhing have all been positive and thougt we looked nice, etc. Which by the way is my opinion as well, I think we're very cute today. But the guys! Oh dear, one would think they never seen a lipstick before! It's been all "What's with the red...?", "Bloody hell!", "Is it dressingup day?", "Is it a swedish holiday or something?", and etc, etc. You get the picture.
And let me tell you, I'm not easily offended (or fine, I am, but still). But seriously... In Sweden, we have a saying, which goes something like, if you can't say anything nice, you zip it.

But we're not bitter. Nope. Not me and Fia. We know it's just another one of those things boys don't get (along with a thousand others, which I'm not getting into at the moment, because we'd get off track). Red lips are hot, and that's that.

But just let me finish with telling that there is hope for mankind. While writing this, we had a man in, who called me princess, which means he thought I was cute. Yes, it did.

Now I need to get on with the dishes, and the banking, and... stuff. Not all fun and games at Småland. We do need to work sometimes as well. But that's ok.

Tje!

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http://www.smaland.co.uk
http://photography.smaland.co.uk

New Photos on the screen in Småland Coffee!!!

2009-01-20T21:11:00.002Z

Things are happening!
As you may know, I spent Christmas and New Year in Sweden, Yay!

I have uploaded new photos to the screen in the shop and the cool thing is that the new photos are showing here as well!!!

What would we do without technology in our little coffee shop!

Captain iivii, over and out...

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http://www.smaland.co.uk
http://photography.smaland.co.uk

Low Fat Yogurt - First thing in the morning!

2009-01-20T19:43:00.005Z

Well, it was my responsibility today to get the Low Fat Yogurt for tomorrow... and I did get it but then I got Lazy. Been working hard on setting up the blog today, so where not soo keen on cycling in.

So I have decided to bring it in tomorrow, first thing in the morning. I think it is good to get back into routine.

Have had 2 fairly successful days in the office.
(Moving papers from one side of the desk to the other)

Captain iivii, over and out.

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http://www.smaland.co.uk
http://photography.smaland.co.uk

Captain iivii

2009-01-20T14:07:00.004Z

In the World of Småland
You may call me Captain iivii...

It's not to be offensive or anything, that's just how it is!!!

Today is a paperwork day, that is boring... so I created a blog instead.
It really is just so much more fun! And I am sure I can do the paperwork, after I have updated the blog.

Priorities my friends, priorities!

And for yours and our entertainment, let us present:
The Småland Coffee Blog!

Captain iivii, over and out...

Team Småland
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http://www.smaland.co.uk
http://photography.smaland.co.uk

My first contribution.

2009-01-20T14:01:00.002Z

Well, well. A real Småland coffee blog! Did you see that coming? I for one did not. But it's been a eventful day, and I can't say anything really surprise me anymore. And anyway, this just means that I'm allowed to blog at work! Not that I wasn't doing that already, but now I can motivate it. It's a part of my job now! Kaching.

Anyhoo, I should get back to the other part of the job (like making coffee...). I'll get back to you later, and tell you all about our eventful day, and probably other stuff as well. Yes, I know. You can't wait!

Until then: Tje!

Team Småland
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http://www.smaland.co.uk
http://photography.smaland.co.uk

Småland Coffee

2009-01-20T13:13:00.002Z

Welcome to a new started blog about Småland Coffee.
Småland Coffee is an independent coffee shop by Waterloo, London, we have a range of Swedish Inspired items in our shop with Swedish speaking staff.

We have a fun and efficient atmosphere, and one of our main objectives in the shop is to give our customers and friends a great start of the day. With an excellent cup of coffee, a friendly smile and a sense of humour to get you ready for the day ahead!

Småland Coffee, a great start of your day!

Team Småland
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http://www.smalanad.co.uk
http://photography.smaland.co.uk