Who Killed Kenny?
Oh, my God. They killed Kenny
“So do you think I’m really going to be really, really, really cold?”, I asked a colleague today.
Oddly enough, I work with two women who both have Swedish fathers and Australian mothers, and who were both raised in Sweden.
“Honestly?”, she asked. “Yes, Stockholm is pretty awful in March. Malmo will be much better. It won’t be as cold, but it will be wet”, she added. She then told me the town where her parents live in the far north of Sweden experienced minus 34 degrees this week.
Along the way she offered some good advice such as, “try and keep inside if it goes below minus 15″, and “long johns will save you from just about anything”.
My other half-Swedish colleague gave me advice about double-tying a scarf, about how to protect my shoes from salt and snow, and even suggested – jokingly – I might consider taking up smoking.
Over the last few days I’ve become really quite apprehensive about the weather, especially as I’ve read online stories about the record snowfall, how the government was considering bringing the army in to clear the snow from the train tracks, and how buildings have been collapsing under the weight of the record snow.
I’ve been wondering if a young lad from Northern NSW – and who considers Melbourne far too cold for his liking – may have bitten off more than he can chew in seeking to visit Sweden during March.
But then tonight I got home from my usual Wednesday night at the pub with friends, and went online and looked at the photographs posted by Sandra, and thought, “bring it on”.
Honestly it looks so magical, I just can’t wait to get there… even if I will end up spending most of the month looking like Kenny from South Park.
damien and 4 others are discussing. 
h2, and 
Sandra in Sweden 3:38 AM on 25/02/2010 Permalink |
First of all, hilarious photo! Secondly, thanks for the link. Thirdly, repeat after me: Stockholm is beautiful, Stockholm is beautiful, Stockholm is beautiful. See, now it’s a mantra. You will be fine. Yeah it’s cold, but you’ve got the Kenny parka. What more do you need?
Mark Jones 2:06 PM on 25/02/2010 Permalink |
Hi James. My friends in Sweden tell me it is the first proper winter they have had for 20 years. My advice (many winters in Sweden) is plenty of layers, a good hat and gloves. Hope your Swedish is going well. All the best for the trip.
Mark Jones (from your first year at Swedish classes).
James 6:53 PM on 25/02/2010 Permalink |
Mark, great to hear from you. Hoping all is well. I checked the forecast today and next week is virtually summery, being just below zero. Pffft. Cheers, James
James 6:54 PM on 25/02/2010 Permalink |
Have a great holiday yourself. I hope all goes well. It’s warm. Well, Sydney’s warm. No guarantees about Canberra.
damien 9:49 PM on 25/02/2010 Permalink |
The Kenny Suit will keep your upper body nice and warm – it did me fine for temps colder than -20 in China last year. But make sure you’ve got your legs and feet covered properly too, as it’s easy to think the jacket will be enough if you’re not experienced in the uber-cold!
James 11:08 PM on 25/02/2010 Permalink |
No worries. I took some advice today from a former Moscow Correspondent I now work with. Keep your feet warm was her advice.
Peter 5:19 AM on 25/02/2010 Permalink |
Ha en bra resa! Or… have a good trip! [I've no idea if Google translated it correctly] only 5 days to go, enjoy it!
James 6:52 PM on 25/02/2010 Permalink |
Hi Peter, I could be wrong, but I think you’re more likely to say “semester” (holiday) than “resa” (travel/trip) in such circumstances, but thanks anyway. Hoping all is well with you.
Tom 8:20 AM on 25/02/2010 Permalink |
Friends were in Stockholm last weekend and their photos show white snowy landscapes merging into bleak grey skies. It’s going to be cold!
But you’re not going to the Arctic. Swedes are human too and feel the cold so they’re well equipped to deal with it. Unless you’ve been especially frugal with your choice of accommodation it’s going to be toasty warm inside.
In fact I predict you might find the northern hemisphere winter a bit too warm, stuffy and airless for your Aussie tastes and you’ll be going outside for a breath of fresh air at every opportunity.
Bon Voyage!
James 6:54 PM on 25/02/2010 Permalink |
Thanks for the wishes Tom. The apprehension about the weather has given way to genuine excitement about a brand new experience.
Dina 7:35 AM on 27/02/2010 Permalink |
I know Texas winter is NOTHING compared to a Swedish one. But we did have a record snowfall, and it made part of my parent’s lake house collapse.
Anyway, I hope you manage to keep warm!