The blue TBana line splits into the Akalla and Hjulsta branches at Västra Skogen, home of the longest escalator in the Stockholm metro system. Unfortunately theres not much else there, just a bunch of flats, a wasteland of motorway junction and the main post sorting office.
Beyond the Kista Akalla park lies another string of urban expansion from around the same era as Kista, served by Rinkeby and Hjulsta TBana stations.
As well as the runestone by the station there is one in Torekällbergets museum.
At the top of Bjorn Borg Promenade in Södertalje is Torekällbergets museum, a baby Skansen.
In a little park outside Södertalje station is another runestone, this one larger than most of the others I have seen, so I didn’t recognise it at first.
“Holmfastr (and) Hróðelfr had the runes carved in memory of … … Ingifastr, their sons. They were in the east(?). And Œpir carved.”
[Hardback – read aloud to Adelle]
Lords of the North [wikipedia] is a historical novel by Bernard Cornwell. We have previously read another of his books, I think one later in this series, War Lord, which I found myself bogged down in – that was just shy of a thousand pages. This was a much more spritely 300 pages, which I can cope better with.
The setting brings some history alive, with the action taking place in the late 800s mostly around the north of what is now England.
The protagonist having been ostracised from Bamburgh Castle finds himself in London seeking to return to Northumbria. There is enslavement, making of kings, relics, escape from nunneries, shadow walkers and raids on castles.
There are some fairly gruesome accounts of brutal acts which seem to correspond with the historical setting – I’m no expert on the times or locations but it gives the air of being reasonably well researched.
The writing style doesn’t sit well with me, there seems to be an attempt to use what we might consider archaic language, especially place names, but the majority of the writing is in modern English. I would prefer to drop the pretence of old language. I would respect the skill involved in writing the whole thing in words that originated in the language of the time, but I don’t believe that is the case. I also find the first person narration style a little inconsistent, there seem to be some sudden unpredictable surges of emotion.
This is not my style of fiction, there’s not enough future in it, but if you like history with a bit of (mostly fictional) detail in it, this wouldn’t be a bad read for you.
The town of Södertalje lies some 30km to the south of Stockholm. There is a canal passing through the town, joining Lake Mälaren with the Baltic Sea. It is also the home town of Björn Borg. The town itself is a fairly small and unexciting place, though some of the views along the canal give it a little interest.
Another wander around Kista in the snow – previously.
Trying to find my way out of Arlanda Airport upon return from my travels over the holidays I found theres a rune stone on display in terminal 5 – it was found, if I remember correctly, during the building of the road from Stockholm to the airport and moved to its current place of display.
“Gunnarr and Bjôrn and Þorgrímr raised this stone in memory of Þorsteinn, their brother, who was dead in the east with Ingvarr, and made this bridge.”
Nearest to Långholmen on the island of Södermalm is an area called Hornstull. This is where Högalids kyrka is. Among other things. The waterfront here looking toward Liljeholmen is beautiful, with The Street market nestled under the road bridge and a pair of railway bridges in the distance.
