Carter’s blog: Svenska dagen 2010-05-11

Blog 4:

Hello to anybody that’s out there. I expect that you’ve all been on the edge of your seats with your mouse/finger hovering over the refresh button waiting for my latest update. Well it’s here and today’s blog is going to be about politics, a royal visit, homesickness and my very own election.

Politics: So the political landscape of the UK has shifted to the right of Genghis Khan. I don’t know, I leave the country for two months and you all go and vote for a Tory government (well almost). As I write this the Tories and Lib Dems look like they're going to seal a deal on a majority government. Now I’m not the most astute political commentator but surely a Tory/Lib Dem coalition is doomed to failure? Surely their political ideology is untenable in the immediate term (never mind the long term). I know if I voted Lib Dem I’d be mightily pissed off by Nick Clegg joining forces with the Tories. Surely Clegg has a responsibility to his voters and to the Lib Dem manifesto. Which as far as I can gather is completely at odds with significant portions of the Tory manifesto! One might hope that a Tory/Lib Dem coalition would temper the more right wing policies of the Tories but I really can’t see this happening. As far as the apparent Labour rejection of a minority coalition with the Lib Dems; it is probably the best decision the Labour party has made in a while, they lost fair and square. My hypothesis readers, and you read it here first, is that there will be another election in the near future leading to a majority Tory government. In a re-vote I believe more people will swing to the Tories to end the uncertainty. Ah well, the silver lining, last time we had a new Tory government Liverpool FC were good.

Royal Visit: Princess Sarah Wood made another visit, in between Eyjafjallajokull activity, to Stockholm since the last Blog. We were a bit more active during this visit going into the city centre twice. On the Saturday we had intended to do a bit of sight seeing but as Sarah took until 4pm to get ready we ended up going to an “Irish” pub and staying there all evening. We had a nice meal, beef for me and salmon for the lady. I kept it real by drinking Guinness where as Princess Wood went for the expensive cocktails all on me of course. On Sunday we had a trip around some shops. I was looking for a new jumper and/or summer jacket and Sarah was looking for a dress for an impending wedding (not ours!). As quick as she arrived she was off again back to Manchester. Our next rendezvous will be on the 21st May for said wedding in Stoke-on-Trent on the 22nd.

Homesickness: In addition to Sarah’s visit a couple of colleagues visited Stockholm from Manchester for a conference. We arranged to meet up for a few drinks. Again it was nice to see some familiar faces. It seems however that whenever I see some people from back home I feel a slight pang of homesickness the day after. Now I’ve narrowed this down to two possible explanations; 1) the thought of England and English people depresses me; or 2) seeing familiar faces reminds me of home and that I'm not there. I’ll let you decide which.

Vote Carter: Seeing as you lot back home are in the midst of some political uncertainty I thought I’d initiate my own election, where the worst outcome isn’t a Tory government but potentially significant embarrassment for me. My European neighbours are still not actively talking to me at home. For this to change I now realise that I’m going to have to take the initiative and I’d like you to help me with how I should decide to do this; so please vote on the options below and I’ll follow which ever “the people” decide is best, majority wins.

So until next time reader’s au revoir/adios/auf wiedersehen/ciao.