The 2008 Goat

The Gävle Goat (known in Swedish as the Julbocken i Gävle or Gävlebocken) is a giant version of a traditional Swedish Yule Goat figure made of straw. The goat has famously been the target of frequent arson attacks andvandalism, so much so that over the years they have been guarded by the police, webcams, soldiers, volunteers and dogs; whilst the city officially discourages the attacks on the goat, they have brought it recognition and tourism from around the world.
The first goat was built 1966 and since then it has only survived 11 times. It's been burnt down 22 times.
The tradition sais the goat is built and is inaugurated on the Sunday of The Christmas Fair which is most often the 1st of Advent. This years goat was built on Thursday and will declared "open" this afternoon. The plan is that he will stand there until New Year. We'll just see what happends.

This year he has no fire proof, so we'll see how long it takes til he goes up in flames!!
The tradition sais that if he is put on fire before Lucia (13th Dec) he will be rebuilt. I don't know what they have said this year.

The 2008 goat is dressed in straw coming from the barley used at the local Whiskey Distillery, Mackmyra!

Some Goat facts:
Total weight: 3,6 tonnes (of which straw is 1,3 tonnes)
Total height: 13 meters
Height of back: 7,6 meters
Length: 7 meters
Red Ribbons: 79,5 meters
The Goat's legs: 2 meters in diameter
Lights in the horns: 24



Unfortunately all the lovely snow we got in the ned of last week and the beginning of this week was taken away by the rain and high temperatures we got a few days ago. The poor Goat has to do with a gray rainy day on his big day!!
I went there this morning when it's still "light" to get some great pictures of him for you.



If you wish to read more about the Worlds biggest Christmas Goat and keep an eye on him through the webcam please visit the following links.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gävle_goat
http://www.gavle.se/ - press the english flag and find "The Christmas Goat" in the meny to the left.

Happy 1st Advent!

Hello - I'm back..... again!!

Tell me, why is it so hard to keep this blog going!? I really enjoy writing here about everything and nothing... things happening to me during the day, thoughts I get, dreams I get during the nights or the days... As I said - anything and/or nothing!

I must say, I don't know!

Maybe that's a good resaon to get my self together and get back to the keyboard!! 

I've had an interesting time this fall. After the summer it all started. My first adventure was a businesstrip to Canada. I did Toronto, Calgary, Edmonton, Montreal and back to Toronto in five days.. Seven meetings and lots of flying!! An interesting trip that resulted in an agent for our Elk!! The trip ended with a stop over in Reykjavik, Iceland. A rainy day with Whale watching and a dip in the Blue Lagoon.

I wasn't home long after my trip to Canada when I left for Beijing and the Paralympic Games!! What an experience!! Had a lovely time there! Before the Wheelchair Rugby started I got to climb the Great Wall, visit the Summer Palace, visit the pandas, do some shopping and much more. 

When I got back home a friend at work told she wanted to go on a trip to the sun and warmth during this fall. What a heck - I'll come!! =)

So last weekend we got back from a 7 days cruise in Western Caribben! We boarded the worlds biggest vessel, Liberty of the Seas!! (Ok, before someone tells me, I know they are three sisters of he same size). What a ship!!! And what a trip!! Very intersting and luxurious! Best of all - relaxing!! 

Just one thing - now after I got back I have caught a nasty cold... There has to come something bad out of something good I guess??!

OK! Now you are updated... I will now TRY to keep it up!! So, hopefully I'll see you soon agin - if there is anyone out there that haven't given up!! =)