Puttin' on the Fritz

Last weekend, we moved to our third apartment since arriving in Stockholm four months ago.

Our Dining and Living Area

We are now fully ensconced in our apartment on Götgatan at the southern end of Södermalm.  The yearlong lease gives us an opportunity to settle into Swedish living.  It also gives Per and Monica, the apartment owners, a sense of carefree relief that the apartment and their pet cat Millie will be cared for as they set out on a year long sailing adventure in the Caribbean.  A win-win situation.

Change, however, does not come without its challenges.  

We once wrote a blog while in India entitled “Why is Everything So Hard?” that chronicled our trials and tribulations performing life’s mundane activities.  Thankfully, Stockholm is no Bangalore.  There is an orderly and predictable nature to activities here…but still there are surprises.

Moving to our new apartment introduced a wave of things, simple things, that just refused to work.  The first to rise in protest was the apartment door key.

Blue Fob on Reader
Street Side Door

Stockholm apartments typically have a multi-layered security system. Street- facing doors have a security keypad or as is the case for our new apartment, an electronic reader.  When placed nearby, the reader detects a small, flat, blue fob that hangs from our ring of keys.  Interior apartment doors have two locks.  

Offending Key that Would Not
Open the Lock

One lock, we discovered, has a mind of its own.  Helen struggled for 20 minutes alone and with the aid of new neighbors before the key – lock combination finally cooperated and the door opened.  After a second episode of the key refusing entry until some unseen miracle occurred, we opted to feel safe using only one lock.  Check.

Stove and Oven

Next was the stove and oven.  The stovetop units had previously heated meals and the stove baked a casserole, so when misbehavior started it was a mystery.  The oven was first.  Our baked chicken dinner was ready, but the oven door would simply not open!  Okay plan B for dinner.  Heat something on the stovetop.  No deal.  Not a single unit would generate heat. 

Per Repairing the Oven Door Latch
(a playful pose)

We found the owner’s manual and slowly translated Swedish instructions and determined a child safety lock system had been engaged.  A few instructions guided twists of knobs and the sliding of a tiny lock and the stovetop returned to full operation.  Next, our most handy apartment owner, Per, arrived and with confidence only a owner has, removed the entire oven latch system.  Check.

USB Data Stick for Mobile Internet Access

In the midst of this mechanical mayhem, our access to the world wide web stopped when our USB mobile wireless data stick failed.  Egad!

We fortunately have wired Internet access as we await the installation of wireless configuration in the apartment, so we can still share with friends and family that no matter where you are, “things will be hard.”