Non Serviam

All the Season’s Greetings have been sent and received. All the gifts are ready for wrapping; The only problem is how witty I can be with the dedications. At least I had no problems with last minute shopping. I bought all my gifts earlier in India.

The first Christmas Holidays in my new apartment - Well, Christmas Eve I’m going to spend with my sister and her family.

It is twenty years since I studied particle physics at the University of Stockholm at the same time as Christer Fuglesang. It was so satisfying to see the successful landing of the Discovery last night, and to think how his ceaseless efforts finally paid off. Is the media attention hype? Well, yes. But he so well deserves all the celebrations, so why not!

We have a new government in place. For me - no surprise to the readers of this blog - I greet this with an ‘At last!’. I only hope they will not make a mess of their Alliance when it is put under stress, as it will be. In Sweden, change itself seems to be a threat.

This has been a mellow year when it comes to travel (other than for business) and culture. The visits by Grigory Sokolov and Evgeny Kissin stands out, and leaving this year with Bach’s Christmas Oratorio in the ears makes up for a lot of less inspiring moments.

We have seen threats against the freedom of speech - The reactions against the Danish Mohammed Cartoons, the murder of the Russian journalist Politkovskaya. Political violence and protests against any form of change in the western democratic countries tells the story of a system in decline. Not to mention the squandered opportunities in Iraq.

Maybe 2006 will later be seen as the year when the new world started to be formed! It’s just that we don’t see it yet!? Oh, well. I have my doubts.

I will try and look forward on a number of themes for 2007, but right now I’m winding down.

One day of the year, I am closing the door to the dreadful stream of information, demanding attention and emotional involvement, just to be with my closest relatives. This will be tomorrow.

Merry Christmas!