Scan Magazine | Issue 14 | December 2009 by Scan Client Publishing

SCAN

SWEDISH SONGBIRD AGNES: ON LUCK AND TALENT OSLO AND COPENHAGEN – ROMANTIC GETAWAYS GREETINGS FROM THE SCANDINAVIAN PRIME MINISTERS THE BEST OF SCANDINAVIAN WINE

PROMOTING BRAND SCANDINAVIA

ISSUE 14

DECEMBER 2009

M A G A Z I N E

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Scan Magazine | Contents

Contents COVER FEATURE 8

Agnes Carlsson | On Luck and Talent

DESIGN

12 We love this | The Hunting Season for the Perfect Christmas Gift has set in 14 Fashion | Yuletide Fashion Delights 16 Lindberg | Gives Your Eyes That Extra Sparkle

TRAVEL 18 Can I speak to Santa please? | Where Exactly Does Santa Live? 20 Romantic City Breaks | Oslo and Copenhagen

FOOD 24 Glögg, Glögg, Glögg | Bronte on Mulled Wine 28 Scandinavian Wine | Uncovering the Past, Present and Future

COLUMNS

30 38 38 41

Christmas Greetings | From the Scandinavian Prime Ministers Is it Just Me | Mette Lisby on Presents Carpet Love | Maria Smedstad on the English Carpets Scandinavian Charities | Spread the Christmas Spirit!

THEME 43 Private Hospitals | Your Health is Worth a Little Time and Travel

SCAN BUSINESS 46 Wikborg Rein | Expanding its International Scope 48 Hamilton Advokatbyrå | A Swedish Law Firm with London Links 50 Taking it a Step Further? | An MBA May Be the Way To Go

REGULARS & COLUMNS

54 54 57 57 58

A Rubbish Manager | Inger Buus on Management ‘Living Wills’ | Why You Should Make One Two Nations Divided by a Single Language | Annika Goodwille on Language How Was Your Day | Rosa Thurman Chamber News | Swedish, Norwegian, Finnish and Danish Chambers of Commerce for the UK

62 66 67 72

Scan News | Scandinavian Newsflash Scandinavian Music and Culture Prince Eugens Waldemarsudde | Stockholm’s Crown Jewel Culture Calendar | Your Scandinavian Cultural Events

Issue 14 | December 2009 | 3

Scan Magazine | Editor’s Note

Dear Reader, Welcome to our December issue.

the mother of questions: where is Santa Claus from? I hope the answer doesn’t cause a stir (page 18).

I am proud that a group of four busy and rather special executives have taken time out of their calendar to wish you a merry Christmas. On page 30 the Finnish, Swedish, Danish and Norwegian prime ministers all share their thoughts on 2009.

The Christmas break is also a welcome occasion for everyone at Scan Magazine to catch our breath and reflect on a year which has passed at some speed. Fortunately we did not experience economic meltdown or any of the other difficulties that many have had to face. For us it has been a year of progress. However we realise that not everyone has been so fortunate and on page 41 we feature a selection of worthy charities that need all the support they can get. Please give if you can.

Elsewhere, for wine lovers, this month’s issue packs some punch. We are introducing our new wine writer Ray O’Connor. He runs a regular wine class at Scandinavian Kitchen, which I attend with my better half. And it’s down to him that we have become wine connoisseurs. Ray was recently named Young Wine Writer of the Year and I am confident he can work his magic on you too. It’s great to be moving into that season where we can eat all the time and spend days with family and friends. Christmas this year will be particularly special for me because it’s only the second that I’ll celebrate with my son. He is just a year and three months old so he doesn’t quite understand what Christmas presents are about. But it doesn’t matter – he will get loads. And when we start singing and dancing around the Christmas tree I hope it will begin to sink in that even if his passport and his mother are British, his blood is still 50% vintage Scandinavian. Like his mum, he will be subjected to our peculiar Nordic traditions without end! And with families in mind, we’ve asked

We have become a strong voice for those who love Brand Scandinavia and we have expanded circulation by quite remarkable numbers. Although we have worked hard we would have not got anywhere without our most important asset, which is of course you, our valued readers. In 2010 you will see us continue to improve your favourite magazine. Stay on board because there is much more to come from us. All the team love doing this. I hope it shows. Merry Christmas and see you again in 2010.

Thomas Winther

Scan Magazine Issue 14 | Dec. 2009

Copy-editor Mark Rogers

Marketing Manager Helene Oxfeldt Lauridsen

Published 07.12.2009 ISSN 1757-9589

Contributors Signe Hansen Ian Welsh Linnéa Mitchell Emelie Krugly Bronte Blomhoj Annika Åman-Goodwille Nia Kajastie Mette Lisby Ray O’Connor Inger Buus Julie Guldbrandsen Christina Sanderson Karl Batterbee Maria Smedstad Anna Maria Espsäter

Sales Manager Cecilia Varricchio

Published by Scan Magazine Limited Design & Print Liquid Graphic Limited Executive Editor Thomas Winther Creative Director Mads E. Petersen Editor Signe Hansen

4 | Issue 14 | December 2009

SCAN

Graphic Designer Svetlana Slizova Advertising marketing@scanmagazine.co.uk To receive our newsletter send an email to newsletter@scanmagazine.co.uk To Subscribe subscription@scanmagazine.co.uk Next issue 8 February 2009

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Scan Magazine | Contributors

Regular Contributors Signe Hansen (Editor) has an MA in Journalism and has been working as a freelance reporter in London. She is now the editor of Scan Magazine. Having previously worked with television, radio, web and local news, the good story is always her priority.

Annika Åman-Goodwille is Swedish and has lived in London since 1983. In 1997 she started Goodwille Limited. She loves the challenges of assisting Nordic businesses in the UK and writes a regular column for Scan Magazine on related topics.

Christina Sanderson is an Anglo-Swede based in London. A Cambridge art history graduate, she worked for several years in the auction business. She now works as an art consultant, runs cultural tours in Sweden and writes on art for Scan Magazine.

Ian Welsh is a UK-based independent writer and editor with nearly 15 years experience in business publishing. With a background in corporate communications, Ian now specialises in corporate responsibility and supply chain issues.

Nia Kajastie was born and raised in Helsinki, Finland, and moved to London in 2005 to study writing. With a BA in Journalism & Creative Writing, she now describes herself as a part-time writer and grammar stickler.

Karl Batterbee is devoted to Scandinavian music and knows exactly what is coming up in the UK. Apart from writing a monthly music update for Scan Magazine Karl has also started the Scandipop Club Night and its corresponding website: www.scandipop.co.uk.

Linnéa Mitchell is a Swedish freelance journalist, who came to London in 2003 as a TV voiceover. Still here, with a fresh journalism degree under her belt, she writes for both Swedish and English magazines. Emelie Krugly has worked on a number of Swedish newspapers. After travelling extensively, she is now based in London and is responsible for Scan's news section. She can be contacted any time regarding an event or story: emelie@scanmagazine.co.uk. Bronte Blomhoj runs Scandi Kitchen in London, a Scandinavian deli/cafe. Bronte, who has studied in Edinburgh and has a background in investment banking, has lived in London for 7 years. She writes Scan Magazine’s monthly food column.

6 | Issue 14 | December 2009

Mette Lisby is Denmark’s leading female comedian. She invites you to laugh along with her monthly humour columns. Since her stand-up debut in 1992, Mette has hosted the Danish versions of “Have I Got News For You” and “Room 101”. Ray O’Connor is one of Ireland’s successful wine exporters and has lived in London since 2006. He is a regular contributor to many specialist wine publications and won the Young Wine Writer of the Year Award 2007. Julie Guldbrandsen is Scan Magazine’s new fashion and design expert; she has worked in the fashion industry for more than 10 years, and advised various Scandinavian design and fashion companies. Besides, Julie has a BA in business and philosophy and has lived in Copenhagen, Singapore and Beijing before settling down in London.

Maria Smedstad moved to the UK from Sweden in 1994. She received a degree in Illustration in 2001, before settling in the capital as a freelance cartoonist, creating the autobiographical cartoon Em. She writes a column on the trials and tribulations of life as a Swede in the UK. Anna Maria Espsäter, who does the magazine's travel features, is a native of Sweden, although based in London for many years. Anna is a freelance travel and food writer specialising in Scandinavia. Thomas Winther (Executive Editor). Originally from Denmark, Thomas has a background in Economic consultancy. He is now on a personal mission to take Brand Scandinavia to new heights. Thomas lives in Blackheath with his much better half and 1 year old son.

Agnes Carlsson: “I want my songs to inspire people to have fun and dance” By Linnéa Mitchell

8 | Issue 14 | December 2009

Scan Magazine | Cover Feature | Agnes Carlsson

five years time I might feel like “Insomething completely different. Things change ”

For someone who has enjoyed tremendous success in her home country and is only just embarking on an international career, Agnes Carlsson - or simply Agnes as she is known in the UK - is remarkably relaxed and down to earth. In fact, it is hard to notice her slim figure, tucked up in a huge armchair at the trendy London Hospital Club where Scan Magazine meets her. Quite different to what you would expect from someone with such a powerful voice, somewhat reminiscent of Whitney Houston’s. The Swedish 21-year old singer is just about to release her second single in the UK I need you now, shortly followed by her first UK album release with Dance Love Pop. The expectations are high after the screaming success of Release Me earlier this year, which reached number one in the UK radio airplay chart, number one on iTunes UK and number one in the US billboard dance chart. The smash hit also just picked up an award for song of the year in Sweden and it has had over ten million plays on You Tube. “I’m incredibly lucky it has gone so well on my first attempt,” says Agnes, smiling. It cannot all be down to luck though. Something else must play a part in the career of someone who only four years ago was completely unknown, living in the small town Vänersborg in western Sweden. Pursuing the passion Although music has always been an integral part of Agnes’ life it was not until she was 16 that she first sang a solo, one year before her break-through. “Before that I had only sung at home and in choirs, which I never felt was my thing,” she says. But with her first singing lesson came the first solo. “I was so nervous I nearly died,” she laughs. The day Agnes was more or less dragged by her friend to the Swedish Pop Idol audition in 2005 changed her life forever. Not only did she get in, she won the entire competi-

tion. Agnes herself mainly sees the time at Pop Idol as a “great school”. “I really learned a lot there, which helped not least my nerves,” she says. She still gets nervous though, but often when she least expects it. “I was recently in France where I was asked to sing in front of 200 specifically invited fans of mine and I was so incredibly nervous. But then the next day I sang in front of 200,000 people in Morocco and did not feel a thing! It is very strange.” The road to success After Pop Idol there was no going back. She was quickly signed by Sony BMG and released Right here right now, one of many hits to come over the next year, as well as three gold, platinum and double platinum selling albums. It was Release Me from her third and latest album that brought Agnes international success. Starting in Denmark, it quickly reached the UK charts and after that the door opened to the rest of Europe. Next target is the USA from where Agnes has just returned on her first promotional tour. What is different about her latest album is that it comes under a new record company, Roxy Recordings, and she has teamed up with producer and song writer Anders Hanson. “I am very happy with the change. Anders is very inspiring and this time I have really had time to sit down and properly work on the writing with him.” And the result speaks for itself, as Release me recently was awarded song of the year at the Swedish Music Publisher Awards. “It makes you so happy when you are appreciated for who you are and what you have written,” she says. Perhaps that is why she tends to stick to her preference for small record companies in Europe, such as 3 Beat Blue in the UK. “It is nicer when the entire team is enthusiastic and not just a few as is often the case with bigger corporations.” Dance Love Pop The title of the new album, released in UK on 7 December, is just what it says: up-beat pop tunes about love, which

Issue 14 | December 2009 | 9

Scan Magazine | Cover Feature | Agnes Carlsson

make you want to hit the dance floor. When asked where she finds inspiration she simply says “from life” and smiles. “Even though they can have a deep subject (such as un-returned love in Release Me) I want my songs to inspire people to have fun and dance,” she says. “But,” she adds, “in five years time I might feel like something completely different. Things change.” Agnes herself keeps things pretty quiet during her time off. Family and friends are really important. “I spend so much time performing in club environments that in my time off I would much rather stay at home with a cup of tea – which makes me sound very boring as I am only 21,” she adds with a bubbly laugh.

important and I’m glad it is so easy to take time off during that time in Sweden, because everyone else does!” She should enjoy the holidays as much as she can, as the following months, years and perhaps even decades will only get busier. And as we say goodbye it strikes me how this young woman has simply found her tune in life – with the world stage on her doorstep, she is ready to be released.

Dance Love Pop is released on December 7.

Quirky facts about Agnes

The future Agnes is already travelling most of her time and, depending on what happens with her recent promotional tour in America and ongoing success all across Europe, she might have to consider moving abroad. “That is something I would definitely do if it made my work easier,” she say, “but Sweden will always be home.”

What is the most important thing you have learnt so far? Always to trust my gut feeling. It is weird how right it is. Rumours say you prefer gay clubs? Haha, well yes. In Stockholm the club scene can often be so stale and boring. I’d rather go somewhere people let their hair down, dance and simply have fun. Who is your role model?

Before the end of the year she will have seen the UK release of her second single, followed by her first UK album release, as well as gone on an arena/club tour throughout England. Hectic times, but none of this will stop her from taking two weeks off to spend Christmas with her family in Vänersborg. “Christmas is very

10 | Issue 14 | December 2009

Whitney Houston and Beyoncé. What would you do if you were not doing this? That is a very difficult question… I think I would be a “bullfarmor” (roughly translated bun-grandma).

Scan Magazine | Design | We Love This

We love this... The hunting season for the perfect Christmas gift has set in. We have found not just one but six.

Epoch The Epoch President is Swedish design at its best. The watch retails at 9,250 Swedish Crowns. The Lady Chronograph Diamond is the female favourite from Epoch. The Chronograph Diamond watch retails from 9,450 Swedish Crowns. www.epoch.se

Bang & Olufsen A stylish Christmas present! BeoCom 5 is the latest home telephone from Bang & Olufsen. For the handset, speakerphone base and BeoLine 2 (the base unit) the price is £538 www.bang-olufsen.com

Dyrberg Kern Necklaces These three beautiful necklaces look stunning together as well as worn on their own. Starting from inside out: Lanq - satin necklace 40cms made with Swarovski crystals £125 Touraine – short necklace made with Swarovski crystals, resin and metal components £222 Sturgeon – satin necklace 40cms made from Swarovski and resin elements £168 Go to www.dyrbergkern.com to find your nearest store.

12 | Issue 14 | December 2009

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Scan Magazine | Fashion | We Love This

We love this… Yuletide fashion delights

By Julie Guldbrandsen

December is a month of festivities and bustle as well as homely cosiness. With the seasonal activities also come certain wardrobe requirements. Here’s a bit of inspiration for what to wear, gifts to buy and what to put on that wish list…

Won Hundred Gorgeous red line coat from Won Hundred. Wool, double-breasted and with the cutest button detailing on the back. Also available in black and navy. £285, at www.asos.com

Stine Goya Get ready for the Christmas parties in this super elegant and beautifully draped, midnight blue silk dress from Stine Goya. £349, at www.ninaandlola.com

By Malene Birger The perfect party clutch from By Malene Birger. Optional silver carry chain inside. Price £200. Call +44 (0) 208 969 4441 for stockists, or visit www.my-wardrobe.com

DAY Jewel beaded vest from DAYBirgeretMikkelsen will lift up any outfit. Use as a party piece, or dress up a simple white shirt. Price £200. Available worldwide from www.net-a-porter.com

14 | Issue 14 | December 2009

Rutzou Snuggle up in this comfy woollen, yet super stylish cardi from Rutzou. Price: £116. Call +44 (0) 208 969 4441 for stockists.

Make Up Store is one of Scandinavia’s top cosmetic brands with over a 150 stores in 20 countries worldwide. Make Up Store offers a wide range of color cosmetics and beauty products to the professional, as well as the quality conscious customer, we have something for everyone! Our vision is to supply every customer with top quality products, unique knowledge sharing, as well as a truly fun and rewarding shopping experience. To book a makeup course, find more information and store our locator please call +46 771-M AKEUPSTORE or visit our website; W W W.M AKEUPSTORE.SE GÖTEBORG Kungsgatan 48, Åhlens Kungsgatan, Åhlens Nordstan. HELSINKI WTC-Plaza, Citykäytävä, Sokos, KICKS City Center, KICKS Itäkeskus, KICKS Forum, KICKS Jumbo. LONDON Westfield Mall, White city, Shepherds Bush, 71 High Holborn. LULEÅ Gallerian Smedjan. SUNDSVALL Storgatan 25. TALLIN Pärni nmt 10, Kaubamaja, Solaris center. ÖSTERSUND Biblioteksgatan 11. AUSTR ALIA COSTA RICA DENM ARK ESTONIA FINL AND ICEL AND INDONESIA IREL AND LITHUANIA M AL AYSIA MEXICO NORWAY POL AND SINGAPORE SPAIN SWEDEN THAIL AND UNITED AR AB EMIR ATES USA UNITED KINGDOM VIETNA M

Scan Magazine | Design | Lindberg

LINDBERG – gives your eyes that extra sparkle By Signe Hansen | Photos: Courtesy of LINDBERG

Saying that the eyes are the windows of the soul may be a rather worn cliché but for something to become so, there has to be a grain of truth in it. Besides, your eyes are undoubtedly the first thing anyone notices, and who would not want this first impression to be the best possible? The Danish eyewear manufacturer LINDBERG certainly does and that is why they have dedicated their new luxury eyewear collection to giving your eyes that extra sparkle. Founded in 1985 by Hanne and Poul-Jørn Lindberg, LINDBERG’s typical Scandinavian, simple, light design have brought them much success, international recognition and many design awards. Of course, the company, which is today headed by the founders' son Henrik Lindberg, has no plans to move away from this design tradition, but with

16 | Issue 14 | December 2009

their new exclusive and prestigious international collection, LINDBERG Precious, they have taken the concept of glasses to a whole new level. The ones with 18 carat gold, diamonds and mammoth horn? “People today want to make an impression, why not make it the strongest when it’s the first thing people notice?” asks LINDBERG’s Global Communication Manager Christina Sunn Pedersen. “LINDBERG’s most exclusive line of eyewear is made to satisfy that exact demand. The spectacle frames of the LINDBERG Precious collection are handmade of solid 18 carat gold or platinum, with encrusted brilliant cut diamonds and temples made of buffalo or musk horn.” While glasses made of 18 carat gold and diamonds may sound a bit too heavy for a regular sized nose, there is no

Scan Magazine | Design | Lindberg

Henrik Lindberg

need to worry; even if you are lucky enough to have one of those petite ones it will not be exhausted. Because of LINDBERG’s minimalist and lightweight design, the small amount of metal used means that the frame never feels heavy, even though it is made of solid gold. But what if you want to add a little extra touch to your golden diamond entrusted frames? Well how about this? Instead of having the temples made of buffalo or musk horn you ask for million year old mammoth tusk. No, it is not a joke; this is actually possible and all horn, of course, comes in different colour categories. The same goes for the frame, which you can choose to have in platinum as well as red, white or yellow gold. The gold used has its own story; it originates from the Arctic north, in Greenland, where the raw ore is mined in one of the world’s smallest mines. It is then refined to the purest gold, which LINDBERG has the exclusive world rights to use as wire and plate for manufacturing spectacle frames. The end product is more like – well, like a precious and unique piece of jewellery than the necessary evil which many of us consider glasses to be, and this is, says Christina, exactly the point. “Besides the obvious fact that glasses help you see, glasses are a statement and today considered an important accessory in your wardrobe along with jewellery, purses, shoes, and watches. LINDBERG Precious gives men an opportunity to dress to impress in

a style other than simply wearing a beautiful watch that is often hidden behind the sleeve of the shirt.” Or just a regular pair? From the above it may sound like only last month’s lucky lotto winners will be able to surprise their family members with a pair of LINDBERG’s glasses for Christmas, but the wide range of the company’s products proves that this is not so. LINDBERG spectacles are sold in more than 90 countries worldwide; in the UK alone they are distributed through 365 selected shops. And while you will find many pictures of the Danish Queen wearing LINDBERG’s frames, you do not have to be royalty to do so. “LINDBERG’s many product lines and model variations target sophisticated and design oriented people of any age, sex, size and race. Many designers, architects and city professionals choose LINDBERG frames,” says Christina. Hardly surprising, the glasses are also internationally popular with celebrities. So no matter if you are looking to spoil your eyes with a little extra glitter or your nose with a little less weight, visiting one of LINDBERG’s dealers should be time well spent. I know I will be going – if for nothing else, I want to try how it feels to have a million year old mammoth tusk behind my ear. For more information visit: www.LINDBERG.com

Issue 14 | December 2009 | 17

Scan Magazine | Travel | Can I speak to Santa please

Santa Claus’s house in Santaworld just outside Mora.

Can I speak to Santa please?

By Signe Hansen

With its snow, mountains and reindeers Scandinavia perfectly fulfils the criteria for the perfect home - for Santa Claus that is. But where exactly does Santa live? Is it Korvatunturi in Finland, Mora in Sweden or is his home in Greenland? Scan Magazine set off to investigate! As I pick up the phone to call the Finnish Santa, I can’t help but wonder: does Santa really have a phone? It turns out he does (apparently even Santa needs to call his elves now and then) and he also has a very helpful PR Manager, Leena Mölläri. She explains that Santa does not actually live at Santa Claus’ Office in the Arctic Circle; he lives at the foot of the mysterious mountain called Korvatunturi. But as Korvatunturi is very isolated, Santa travels to meet his visitors and collect mail at his office everyday; it’s a good thing that he does because every year he receives more than 400,000 visitors and 500,000 letters. Well, back to the phone; Leena has managed to persuade Santa to give me his very secret phone number, but when I mention the controversy about him, his jolly voice turns a bit sad. “Oh no, we don’t care about that,” he says. “Santa is everywhere. As long as I can bring a smile to a child’s face, geography doesn’t matter.”

18 | Issue 14 | December 2009

Well there you go, this Santa is not up for fighting. Still, though the Finnish Santa seems very nice, I have to keep digging and next on the list is Santaworld just outside Mora. “Santa Claus actually used to live at the North Pole, where many people still mistakenly believes he is. But because the North Pole was so cold and so far away from the children he loves so much he moved to Mora,” says Santa’s helper Henrik Nordgren. When I ask if can talk to Santa, Henrik tells me that he is very busy preparing for Christmas. Though this sounds plausible, I still feel a little slighted and let out that I have already talked to the real Santa - in Finland. “Well yes I thought you might mention that,” Henrik quickly replies. “He is one of the biggest helpers Santa has, he has helpers all over the world.” Well, the Finnish and Swedish Santa actually seem quite friendly but, I cleverly

think, maybe they are just teaming up against Greenland’s Santa. However, I soon learn that Greenland’s Santa has actually been in need of his colleagues’ help very recently. A year ago something happened in Greenland: Santa was taken off the budget! As a result he was no longer able to send letters and gifts to the children and this would, of course, have been a disaster had the two other not been there. Luckily Greenland’s government soon realised that even with all his magic powers Santa still needed a little help and put him back on the budget. So while Santa in Greenland does not have an official home where we can call him (he’s actually a little shy and that’s why he chose to live in distant Greenland) he is undoubtedly up there somewhere; surely the government would not put him on the national budget otherwise. Maybe in the spirit of Christmas we should leave the fight about which one is the real one for next year…

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Scan Magazine | Travel | Romantic City Breaks

The Norwegian Royal Palace seen above is one of the many romantic destinations located right in the centre of Oslo.

Romantic City Breaks – Oslo and Copenhagen By Anna Maria Espsäter

A romantic winter break in the Norwegian capital, Oslo, often offers an abundance of the white stuff and there’s a whole host of exciting things to see and do here as well. The centre of Oslo is nicely compact and stroller-friendly, with most of the sights within easy reach of each other; the main thoroughfare of Karl Johans Gate, partly pedestrianised and full of shops, bars and restaurants; the curvaceous parliamentary building, Stortinget; the National Theatre complete with nearby outdoor ice rink; and finally the sleek features of the Norwegian Royal Palace. All this and more can be taken in during a nonetoo-ambitious morning amble – holding hands optional.

positive change and rebuilding in recent years. Aker brygge, a former shipping yard that was closed down in 1982, is now one of the best places to shop and grab a bite in all of Oslo. Its 70 shops and boutiques are perfect for romantic gifts, such as Arctic jewellery and the latest in Norwegian design, or make a stop for lunch for two at one of the 40 eateries – Lofoten fish restaurant is one of the best in the city. And if you want to get even closer to the fish, you can hop on a winter cruise; an old wooden tall ship which takes you by the brand new, state-of-the-art opera house, as well as Bygdøy island, housing some of Norway’s finest museums, including the Maritime and Viking Museums. Spending time on deck can get a bit nippy, so it may be best to retreat to the interior which is well-equipped with warm blankets, reindeer pelts and of course schnapps – only to be sampled with caution...

Getting out in Oslo

And getting outside Oslo

From the Royal Palace it’s only a short walk down to the City Hall and harbour. This is an area that’s seen much

Warming tipples of another kind are de rigour in Frognerseteren, a half-hour train ride north of Oslo. Get

There’s no getting away from it – snow is romantic. It’s cosy, it’s fluffy and it makes snuggling up all the more of an inviting prospect.

20 | Issue 14 | December 2009

Scan Magazine | Travel | Romantic City Breaks

on the tiny red train in the centre of town and ride to the very last stop of line 1. A short wade through the snow will take you to the large wooden ski hut that serves simply the best hot chocolate ever. Settle down to warm up hands and feet by the open fire, try some traditional Norwegian fare, such as smoked salmon open sandwiches, piled high with the pink stuff. You can also hire skis and try out some of the 2,600 km (1,600 miles) of made-up cross country ski tracks surrounding Oslo, 90 km of which are floodlit until 10.00 pm.

around Copenhagen there are all of six to choose from, with some, such as Amalienborg and Rosenborg Palaces, right in the heart of town. With castles come an abundance of gorgeous gardens and parks, giving the city some of its many green spaces, perfect for leisurely walks. If even walking seems too strenuous it’s possible to take a horse-drawn carriage in parks such as Dyrehaven, or alternatively, for the more energetic, renting bikes is a great option – Copenhagen is one of Europe’s most cyclefriendly cities – just make sure to wrap up warm.

Strolling in Copenhagen’s fairytale settings

Pampering yourself and your loved one

South a bit across the water the Danish capital Copenhagen has a well and truly laidback feel any time of year, always scoring high in the romance stakes. As we all know, there’s something undeniably seductive about castles, as featured in all those magical fairytales of princes and princesses and occasionally frogs. In and

Strøget is the place to go for shopping, whether walking or cycling and there are plenty of quirky and off-beat little shops and boutiques in the side streets as well. Shopping, even for fun and funky fashion, can take a lot out of you, so for the ultimate treat, try some wellness treatments at one of Copenhagen’s many spas, or go the whole way and turn

Frognerseteren Restaurant seen above is a popular destination

Rosenborg Castle which is one of many romantic fairytale

just outside Oslo. Photo: VisitOSLO/Nancy Bundt

castles in Copenhagen. Photo: John Sommer

Issue 14 | December 2009 | 21

Scan Magazine | Travel | Romantic City Breaks

Nyhavn is one of Copenhagen’s most popular areas. The Beautiful Christmas tree in front of

Photo: Jørgen Schytte

Copenhagen City Hall. Photo: Christian Alsing

the city break into a spa stay. There are some six different spa hotels in and around town, offering everything from yoga and meditation, to salt water pool swimming and a wide choice of massage and beauty treatments. Once pampered and refreshed, it’s surely time to start corrupting the body again with some indulgent decadence. Tuck into some top-notch Danish nosh and sample excellent wines at one of the city’s many gourmet restaurants – Michelin-starred Noma specialises in fish and seafood, while Restaurant Koefoed uses fresh produce from the small Baltic island of Bornholm. Save some room for popcorn later on and settle into one of Copenhagen’s three cinemas with “love seats” – cosy seats for two, or at a squeeze you could fit in three for a romance with an added twist. For further information about Oslo and Copenhagen: www.visitoslo.com or www.visitnorway.com www.visitcopenhagen.com or www.visitdenmark.com

22 | Issue 14 | December 2009

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Glögg, Glögg, Glögg... Ho ho ho, finally, it’s that time of year where you can get away with wearing patterned jumpers, silly hats and sport a red hooter and still expect to be taken seriously. December is the time to be jolly – as well as being the opportunist’s season: a month of eternal fluttering from party to party and kissing pretty people under strategically hung mistletoe. Most of us have at some point partaken in activities during the silly season that we have all regretted later on, whether it was dancing the crazy chicken dance with your boss, photocopying your bum on the office copier or telling the management accountant from floor three that you are, in fact, in love

24 | Issue 14 | December 2009

with her (and then watch her face beam with that “I’m your new stalker” look). Bring it on. Whatever your preferred way of celebrating the joyful season, you could do worse than accepting an invitation to a Scandinavian Mulled Wine party – or better known as a Glögg party. Glögg is the Scandinavian word for mulled wine. To those of you unfamiliar with the concept, it is a drink usually made with red wine, sugar and spices – heated up and served warm during the cold winter months. Back in the olden days, wine had a habit of going bad quite quickly and by heating it and adding spices, it became drinkable again. Across Europe, there are

By Bronte Blomhoj

many different types of warm wine drinks, from Gluhwein in Germany to Izvar in Moldova – and Glögg in the Nordic countries. In Scandinavia, the finished drink often has flaked almonds and raisins added, which sets it apart from most other ‘vin chauds’ around the globe. Scandinavians love nothing more than a Mulled Wine event, which is a potential party disguised as a calm cosy evening. Sometimes, you don’t really know if you’re in for a relaxed hour of chit-chat or set for an evening of boogie-woogie until you have assessed the mood on the day. There is a chance you’ll be on your way an hour later, having nibbled on a few ginger biscuits and been polite to Benny’s mother.

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Scan Magazine | Food | Glögg

There is an equal possibility that you might find it is one of the more evolving get-togethers where you end up dancing the salsa with a lamp post on the streets of Copenhagen at four a.m., your only memory from the evening being that Benny’s mother is rather fit. It is potentially disastrous to misjudge the mood, so bide your time. So as to avoid misjudging any moods and ending up in a sticky situation, you could choose to host your own mulled wine party and potentially avoid Benny’s mum altogether. To host a true Scandinavian Glögg Party you’ll need the following: • • •

• • •

Mulled wine Ginger biscuits Some other form of food – in Sweden this would usually mean Lussebullar (saffron buns) and in Denmark little pan fried doughnuts called Aebleskiver. We suggest you go all fancy and serve rye bread canapés to give the event a truly cosmopolitan Scandi feel. Some nice candles to create atmosphere (lit, preferably) A bunch of friends Snow (optional. Rain and darkness will do if in London).

Ginger biscuits must be served with the glögg, or else the party will be deemed illegal by the laws of the Yuletide Police in Scandinavia (and at some point, it’s likely that handsome blonde people will arrest you and put you in a little cell whilst forcing you to listen to Basshunter all day). So deep-rooted are the traditions that nobody ever dares to break them. The Scandinavian ginger biscuits are thin, crispy “pepparkakor” or “brunkager” – now, luckily, readily available in the UK, meaning less need for baking and Basshunter. As you greet your guests with mulled wine and biscuits, it is good form to offer something else food-like to help your guests from getting tipsy early on. What could be nicer than keeping the Scandinavian theme with canapés: mini-open sandwiches that can be eaten whilst mingling around the livingroom. From smoked

26 | Issue 14 | December 2009

salmon to pate and meatballs, these canapés can be as complicated or as easy as you choose to make them, but all can be made in advance, allowing you plenty of time to play the social butterfly, as well as finding time to wink at Benny’s mum (if indeed you dare to invite her after that incident last year).

Add extra spice to the event by revealing you own the entire back catalogue of ABBA and proceed to turn the volume to full for all the world to enjoy it with you, Scandi style. God Jul to you all, Bronte

A helping hand... How to make mulled wine Mulled wine is spices heated up in a saucepan with a few bottles of red wine and few cups of sugar. Heat to around 80 degrees (any higher and the alcohol will start to evaporate), turn off the heat and leave to stand for at least an hour. Strain the spices out of the mixture. Just before serving, you re-heat the wine and serve it warm in mugs with flaked almonds and raisins added. If your party is of the more hardcore kind, you can add a few cups of rum, vodka or cognac to the mixture.

Spice up the crème fraiche with a bit of lemon zest and dill, if feeling adventurous.

Roast beef with horseradish on dark rye bread Using dark rye bread or other sweet, dark bread, butter the bread and decorate with very thinly sliced, rare roast beef. Top with freshly grated horseradish (or use creamed horseradish if you can’t find fresh). Add a thinly sliced shallot onion ring and a sprig of chervil for garnish.

Pork or Chicken liver pâté on light rye There are hundreds of different recipes for mulled wine. The most common one is a mix of cinnamon bark, dried ginger, cardamom pods, whole cloves and dried Seville orange peel – if you are unsure of how to proceed, you can find Scandinavian Glögg spices in Scandinavian shops along with ready brewed alcoholic glögg of the heat-and-serve kind.

Scandinavian Open Sandwich Canapés Only your imagination stops you creating different kinds of canapés – here are a few ideas to get you started. You’ll need a round cookie cutter, around 4-5 cm in diameter.

Smoked salmon with crème fraiche and dill on sourdough bread Butter some really nice sourdough or white bread, add thin slices of a good quality smoked salmon and then use the cookie cutter to cut out the shapes. Add half a teaspoon of crème fraiche, a quarter boat of cherry tomato and a sprig of dill and grind a bit of black pepper on top.

A nice light rye bread or pumpernickel style bread works well with pâté. Using your cookie cutter, make little rounds of buttered bread and spread on a nice layer of liver pâté. Pork liver pâté works very well, but you can use a good chicken pâté also if you prefer. Top with thinly sliced, cooked mushrooms and crispy bacon (if using pork) or thin slices of gherkin (if using chicken). Decorate with sprig of chervil or very finely chopped parsley.

Egg & prawn on very light rye or white bread Use a lighter bread – either sourdough or light rye – and use the cookie cutter to cut out rounds of buttered bread. Use a slicer to get really even slices of boiled eggs and use the middle pieces to top your bread (one slice per canapé). Add a small amount of mayonnaise (around ½ teaspoon) and decorate with 2-3 nice prawns of good quality. Garnish with a sprig of dill. For a vegetarian version, omit the prawns and add a quarter of a cherry tomato and finely chopped chive instead.

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Scan Magazine | Food | Scandinavian Wine

Uncovering the past, present and future of Scandinavian wine

By Ray O’ Connor

How many of us can claim to have a king buried in our back yard? Swedish wine maker Göran Amnegård, for one, passes the burial site of the Viking King Blacke most mornings on his way to inspect his vines. After spending 17 years in Canada, Amnegård returned to Sweden to produce wine and has rapidly become one of the leading exponents of Scandinavia’s niche wine industry .

accummulator of energy to give the vines the extra two degrees in temperature they require for ripening grapes. “This area is one of the better ones in the entire country,” he explains. “In the south, near Denmark, they have a much higher humidity factor in the air, so when the grapes are ready for ripening by early October the days are shorter with higher humidity which leads to mould on the vines.” The Icewine law

Sweden’s best wine yards As with the best vineyards in the world, site selection is vital and Blaxsta Winery is no exception. Situated on the Langhalsen lake system, 130km South West of Stockholm, the mild winds from the nearby sea pick up warm air from this shallow lake and act as an

28 | Issue 14 | December 2009

Blaxsta winery grows Chardonnay, Merlot and Vidal Blanc, a thick skinned grape with high sugar and acidity that thrives in cold climates. It is from this variety that Amnegård produces his award winning Icewines which, as the price tag reflects, are a work of art in themselves. According to the German Icewine law which he follows,

Scan Magazine | Food | Scandinavian Wine

temperatures must fall to at least minus seven degrees Celsius or colder before hand harvesting the vines. A typical scenario in many vineyards producing Icewine would see temperature-regulated alarms sounding off at 2 am, dragging winemakers from their warm beds out into the snow to harvest. Amnegård knows better than to disturb his sleep patterns. He calls upon a wine club of around 25 people in Stockholm to come down the following day to get their hands dirty. The wine is then produced and aged in the sixteenth century cellar which was discovered by chance when clearing away a bush. What else is buried in this man’s garden – Atlantis? The history of Danish winemaking Denmark’s wine tradition is similarly steeped in history. Wine was produced by monks for over a thousand years until a small ice age in the 17th century that killed the vines. Situated in the town of Kolding, the ancient maps of Koldinghus Castle gardens portray the blueprints of a vineyard in the castle grounds which correspond to the accountant’s book of the same era, which notes the purchase of materials from Germany for growing grapes. Today, there are 63 registered vineyards spread across the country which have popped up since the EU regulations officially permitted Denmark to produce wine commercially in 2001. Since then there has been a dramatic increase in production from 20 hectolitres to 546 hectolitres last year. Situated 55 degrees north in latitude, Skærsøgaard Vin is the largest estate in the country and is owned by Sven Moesgaard who keeps up his day job in the pharmaceutical industry to fund the operation. Moesgaard relies on the expertise of a team of four to make the wine. He grows a selection of the lesser known hybrid grapes such as Rondo, Leon Millot and Orion which are suited to the local environment. Literally translating to bright light-lake-estate, Skærsøgaard vineyard benefits from the sunlight’s reflection off the south facing lake to ensure optimum ripeness for the vines. Moesgaard also attributes the wine growing potential of this part of the world to the long sunlight hours – two hours more than Burgundy which is at 47 degrees north in latitude. “In 50 years we will see

Southern European winemakers closing down their operations due to too much sugar in the grapes, giving alcohol bombs in the wine,” he claims. Scandinavian experiments With climate change Finland may benefit from the predicted rise in temperatures and perhaps expand from its current focus on berry wine to join its Scandinavian peers in conventional wine production. In Norway, Anne Enggrav has returned home from working in German vineyards to experiment with planting her own vines in Kristiansand, on the southern tip of the country. Unperturbed whether the plants die of frost next year or not, she considers it interesting at least to investigate the limits and opportunities that the predicted increase in temperature may bring us. Perhaps it’s time that the international wine companies planting vines in new regions like China and India should look North for new light on winemaking. DON's Orion Brut, Skærsøgaard, 2007, Denmark Here is a perfect example of a quality sparkling wine without the Champagne label. It is lemon in colour with a light citrus note on the nose. Nice and dry with fantastic crisp acidity, the palate is filled with soft and creamy bubbles. Once again there’s a lovely citrus character present in the mouth which is ideal for a casual aperitif with friends over the holiday season. Available from www.hjhansen-vin.dk for DKr 395 (Approximately £48). Blaxta Vidal Icewine 2007 A striking amber colour to the wine, aromas of intense sweetness of caramelised fruit on the nose. The intensity continues on the palate with demerara sugar, barley and honey. A nice piece of fresh goat’s cheese would be the best match to stand up to this sweetness.

Ray regularly hosts tutored tastings at Scandinavian Kitchen, Great Titchfield St.. For dates and more information, see www.rayoconnorwine.com or email info@rayoconnorwine.com

Issue 14 | December 2009 | 29

Christmas Greetings from the Swedish Prime Minister Dear readers, As Christmas is not far away and a new year awaits, many of us find ourselves looking back at the year that has been. This autumn, Sweden holds the Presidency of the EU. You who are reading this may be of Swedish descent living in London, a Londoner doing business with a Swedish company, an exchange student or none of the above. But what you and I both have in common is the globalised world that we live in. Within the European Union, cooperation across borders has given us the freedom to live, travel, study and work wherever we want. That is a gift

30 | Issue 14 | December 2009

that we share and treasure, and one that we wish more people around the world could enjoy.

â&#x20AC;&#x153;I hope we can all give

an extra thought to those who are less well off

â&#x20AC;?

give help and support, be it in our own neighbourhood or in another country. Christmas is a season of peace and joy. It is a time for reflection, for family, friends and loved ones. A time that invites us to look ahead, towards a new year full of promise. I wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

The world is now recovering from a financial crisis that has hit many individuals and families hard, in Sweden as in the UK. During the holidays, I hope we can all give an extra thought to those who are less well off; that we will do our best to

Best wishes Fredrik Reinfeldt Prime Minister of Sweden

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Christmas Greetings from the Norwegian Prime Minister Dear Norwegians and friends of Norway in the UK, Another year is on the wane and we are once again in a position to be looking back and taking stock. And as expatriates, you will of course also be looking ahead to the New Year and reflect on what it may bring.

“Norway shall be

a leading nation in environmental policy

”

The Norwegian Government has stated that Norway shall be a leading nation in environmental policy. We will press for a more comprehensive and ambitious climate agreement to succeed the Kyoto Protocol. We will follow up our commitments and reduce emissions nationally as well as internationally. In 2000 the eight

Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) were agreed to by all the world’s countries and all the world’s leading development institutions. We have made the decision to contribute in a special way actually to achieving the MDG No. 4 and 5 on reducing child mortality and improving maternal health by 2015. Regardless of the international financial situation, the year 2009 has been a good one for the Norwegian community in Britain. Norwegian-British ties are as strong as ever, and our political, trade and cultural interaction remains strong. There has been ample contact and much visiting between our politicians and our governments. Personally, I had the pleasure of visiting Britain as late as in November, when I met Prime Minister Gordon Brown. Trade between our two countries remains brisk, with Britain still being Norway’s main trading partner. About a third of Britain’s total gas consumption is supplied by Norway. We have

also enjoyed exhibitions and performances by visiting artists and musicians in both countries. Norwegian students continue to flock to British universities, and I am pleased some British students also find their way to Norway. The period of Christmas will be no less active, with a number of Julebord and other Christmas festivities being arranged. I would particularly like to mention our pleasure in seeing the Norwegian Christmas Tree go up in Trafalgar Square, the annual gift from the City of Oslo that marks the advent of Christmas in London. It gives me great pleasure to send my best wishes for 2010 to the Norwegian community in the UK. Best wishes Jens Stoltenberg Prime Minister of Norway

Issue 14 | December 2009 | 33

Christmas Greetings from the Danish Prime Minister Dear Traveller, I imagine you will be reading this Christmas greeting in an airport or onboard a plane, on either a business or pleasure trip, perhaps thinking about your journey, going over expectations and worries. And there is a good chance that while you are reading my Christmas greeting, I will also be travelling, sitting in an airport or onboard a plane, also considering expectations and worries. This December I am travelling heavily, working intensely to achieve the very best agreement possible at the Climate Change Summit in Copenhagen, in close cooperation with international heads of state and governments. Writing this I do not know the concrete result of our endeavours. But I know that

34 | Issue 14 | December 2009

leaders, grass roots and citizens all over the world have sent a strong message of hope for our planet. And without hope for a better world there is no basis for a sustainable agreement in Copenhagen.

“To encourage hope in

others is the essence of Christmas. We all have a common future

”

Hope is the basis of all major efforts. Hopes shape our future. If you deprive people of their hopes, you also deprive them of their lives. Hope is a strong survivor, but for those less fortunate, it may not always seem so. To encourage hope in others is the essence of Christmas. We all have a common future.

Danes are among the happiest people in the world. And with happiness comes hope even in times of trouble as in the current year of economic crisis. One out of three Danes find themselves more hopeful now than last year, while only one out of ten is less hopeful. And even more importantly: We Danes are willing to share our hopes. Let me end my Christmas greeting by encouraging you all to share your hopes with a fellow human being during the holiday season, for the benefit of him or her, yourself – and the world. I wish you all a hopeful Xmas! Lars Løkke Rasmussen, Prime Minister of Denmark

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Christmas Greetings from the Finnish Prime Minister Dear Readers, I wish to convey to you warm seasonal greetings from the government and people of Finland at the end of a particularly challenging year for us all. The economic difficulties of the past 14 months have been equally painful for Finns at home and the growing numbers of young professionals pursuing careers in the United Kingdom. Those affiliated to the City of London and the global financial markets have been particularly affected by the recession and loss of confidence, as too have the many UK-based Finns who serve the vast consumer markets. A walk down any high street provides evidence of Finland’s trade with the UK. Whether it’s the paper used to print the offering of glossy magazines or the cardboard that goes into the packaging on consumer products, you can be sure much of it emanates from Finland. Roughly a quarter of the P3.6 billion of goods imported by the UK from Finland in 2008, was paper and cardboard, although

36 | Issue 14 | December 2009

once transformed the origin is not always immediately apparent. The recession has also knocked these markets hard. Even the most visible of Finnish products in the UK, the mobile phone, has not escaped the squeeze. The success of the Nokia brand, which dominates in the UK as it does across the globe, was a key driver behind our exports success in Britain over the last decade.

2010 is, without doubt, “going to be an equally

”

challenging year

– and financial markets are again showing the kind of vibrancy we have come to know. However, a word of caution: in both Finland and the UK, we are still in stimulus mode and will continue to be so for a while. We must now prepare for the next phase of our economic rehabilitation: fiscal consolidation. This is going to require increased cooperation across Europe on unpopular measures such as the imposition of higher taxes to reduce public debt and painful cuts in government spending. These steps are vital for our future well being and competitiveness. As a result 2010 is, without doubt, going to be an equally challenging year.

In 2008, Finnish mobile phone goods worth P991 million were imported into the UK, but the decline in consumer confidence has had a negative impact on this market, and it is going to take effort and focus to regain these volumes.

For now though I am looking forward to enjoying a restful and peaceful time out with family and friends over Christmas. I hope you are able to do the same.

Yet there are signals that the worst of the pain might be over for the global economy

Matti Vanhanen Prime Minister of Finland

Best wishes,

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Scan Magazine | Columns | Humour

IS IT JUST ME... Who gets nostalgic as we speed towards Christmas? I particularly remember one December where my – at the time 4 year old – sister, showed us an unexpected definition of the concept “presents”. My Mom has a birthday in December and my other sister and I were prepping my 4 year old sister for Christmas, thinking my Mom’s birthday would serve as a nice introduction to the general idea of presents. We had instructed my youngest sister to find things that my Mom liked. Being the oldest I, of course, had performed my family duties and bought a present from all of us kids, but there was still plenty of room for my youngest sister to come up with surprise-presents of her own. And surprised we were. We had imagined variations of the familiar and always popular “I made it myself” gifts such as “handprint in clay”, “pearl string” or maybe even the always viable go-to-solution:

CARPET LOVE One of the first thoughts that came to me as I stepped off the plane from Sweden and entered my new home country, England, back in 1994, aged 15 with a monobrow and an ill-advised brown/ green bob was: what is that smell and where is it coming from? The answer was the stale smell of thousands of cigarettes mingled with taxfree perfume, pastries and mould, and it seemed to originate from the threadbare, chewing-gum-covered, puke-coloured carpet. This was my first encounter with the British love affair with the carpet. My next came as I walked into the house where we were to stay until my family could find a more permanent place of residence. It was a newly built, swanky house in Sevenoaks, way above our budget. (Dad

38 | Issue 14 | December 2009

By Mette Lisby “Drawing” – viable, that is for kids aged 2-7. Do NOT attempt to get away with this as an adult. Trust me; I learned the humiliating way. When we sat down at my Mom’s birthday breakfast table, a staggering amount of clumsily wrapped gifts were scattered all over the table, and we were duly impressed by my youngest sister’s level of productivity. Also we noticed that our salt and pepper cellars seemed to be missing, but we did not pay any further attention – there was cake. The mystery was solved when my Mom opened her first gift which turned out to be the salt and pepper cellars – the old ones that had been sitting on our dining table for the past 5 years. “Wasn’t that a great gift, Mom?” my youngest sister inquired with great pride, “I KNEW you liked them.” Apparently it hadn’t occurred to her that gifts are supposed to be NEW things. She had laboriously combed our house to find things she knew my Mom loved.

Having received the better part of her original kitchenware plus two CDs, both her own, my Mom couldn’t help smiling, sitting there surrounded by all her favourite things. Actually it was a huge setback when my sister finally grasped the idea of “presents” and each of us received a very generous quantity of “noodles glued to matchboxes” for Christmas that year.

By Maria Smedstad ended up renting it by mistake after failing to read the instructions on how to get to the house that we were supposed to rent.) I was thrilled to discover that I had my own bathroom (= every psychotically private teenage girl’s dream) and in here I came across it again. The carpet. In a bathroom. Yes, it felt nice on my feet but for the love of God, how was I supposed to step out of the shower without soaking the damned thing and how would it ever dry and how would I clean it and HOW did they imagine this ridiculous scenario would work if a careless boy, not particular about the art of aiming, were ever to use the toilet? The answer to this came quickly enough – you put another little carpet on top of the carpet around the toilet. This u-shaped, fluffy creation was an early sign that not only had I moved country, I had moved worlds. And

I hadn’t even seen my first carpet-covered kitchen yet.

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Giv forældreløse børn et hjem, en familie og en tryg barndom. SOS-Børnebyerne er verdens største private humanitære børneorganisation, og har gennem de seneste 60 år givet et trygt hjem og skolegang til forladte og forældreløse børn. SOS-Børnebyerne har i dag omkring 500 børnebyer verden over.

Bliv os fadder h yerne eb n r ø B S 0 S å p u n g n i R 0 4 0 3 1 1 70

I en børneby bor små grupper af børn sammen i en familie, og passes af en SOS-mor. Børnene vokser op sammen og knytter bånd til deres SOS-søskende. SOS-Børnebyerne driver også lokale børnehaver, skoler, lægeklinikker og socialcentre. Med over 1800 projekter i 132 lande får cirka en million mennesker hjælp gennem SOS-Børnebyernes arbejde. SOS-Børnebyerne er uafhængig af politiske og religiøse interesser, og arbejder ud fra FN’s Børnekonvention dér, hvor behovet er størst.

www.sos-borneby.dk

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Spread the Christmas spirit! By Signe Hansen

The temperatures are dropping, the days getting shorter and suddenly it has become time for the giving and sharing of Christmas. But increasingly we want to give more than regular Christmas gifts and in Scandinavia many organisations have been very successful in channelling Christmas joy far beyond their own boarders. Christmas is first and foremost the children’s festival, but not all children experience this and that is something the Scandinavian Children’s mission strives to change. Through the organisation, which carries out humanitarian efforts directed towards children, youths and families, you can, for instance, give a family in Zambia a goat. It may not be first thing on your wish list, but in Zambia a goat can change a family’s life. You can, of course, also just make a regular donation which is sure to bring joy as well. Another brilliant way of honouring the Christmas spirit is through the global organization Star of Hope. They aim to bring hope to children through education, nutrition, and healthcare, and at Christmas there are an array of ways you can help. For instance, you can send your own Christmas gifts to children in orphanages or donate

money to their Christmas party. You can also give one of your own friends an adoring gift card for a chicken or goat and the animal will then be given to a family in Haiti in your friend’s name. Changing more than one life Christmas may also be a good time to make a decision which will not only change the life of others but your own as well. By sponsoring a child through SOS Children’s Villages you not only help at a distance but will be directly involved in the child’s life through his or her letters just as you can write or even visit him or her. But what about the children of tomorrow? The future generations and the world we leave them may also be a good subject for reflection at Christmas time. Through donations to Naturskyddsföreningen (The Swedish Society for Nature Conservation) you can help make sure that there will still be Christmas trees, blue sky and reindeers for the generations to come. Here at Scan Magazine we definitely hope that many will help the organisations spread Christmas joy; you can find their details on the surrounding pages.

Issue 14 | December 2009 | 41

Support the Swedish Society for Nature Conservation for Christmas! Give presents that make a difference: www.naturskyddsforeningen.se/jul The Swedish Society for Nature Conservation is a non-profit environmental organisation. We spread information, monitor environmental threats, create solutions and lobby politicians. We need your support! www.naturskyddsforeningen.se/jul

This year’s Christmas present, buy a goat! Buy the Christmas Christtmas pr present esent tha thatt is b both oth fun and nd fulfilling fulffilling a vital function! functio on! For 200 swedish swed dish crowns crowns a poor poor family fa amily in Zambia Z amb bia will rreceive eceive a goa goat. t. can name n goat yourself yourself s – You can the goat we send a nic nice e ccertificate ertificate to to you! you! Pay directly ctly on online nline a att www.barnmissionen.se www.barnmissi barnmissionen.se onen se or call +46 40 689 9 30 40 and w we e will send d an invoice. invoice.

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BARNMISSIONEN BARNMI SSIONEN Strömgatan 14 Strömgatan 14, 4, 212 25 Malmö. Malmö. www.barnmissionen.se w ww.barnmisssionen.se

Scan Magazine | International Services | Private Hospitals

PRIVATE HOSPITALS Your health is worth a little time and travel If we could choose just one time when we could be really, really sure to get absolutely the best service, it would probably be when our health and wellbeing are concerned. This is why picking a private hospital may not just have something to do with location and prices, but also with the ethos of its practitioners, its approach to patients and much more. Finding the right practice may therefore be worth spending a little time and even travel on. To make this as easy as possible, Scan Magazine has looked into some of the different possibilities in Denmark, which is well-known for the outstanding service and professional level of its private practitioners.

By Signe Hansen

For expatriate Danes returning for treatment, the benefit of having the medical terms and treatments explained in their native tongue is obvious; however other nationalities will benefit equally from the high level of English spoken by almost all Danish health professionals. But language is, of course, not the most important factor; some people may prefer a hospital with specialists in all fields while others may favour a smaller clinic with just one speciality. In the same way, some may insist on having a private room, while the location of the hospital may be more important to others. On the following pages we have selected a group of hospitals and clinics in which you ought to be able to find the right solution almost no matter what you are looking for.

AAGAARD Gynækologi & Fertilitet – Easy access and security

The clinic was founded five years ago by Consultant in Gynaecology and Obstetrics Dr. Jørn Aagaard, who has more than 20 years of experience within his field. Accessible and comfortable Located just a short drive from Aarhus Airport, the clinic’s brand new facilities are easy to reach. “We do have a rising number of patients from Germany, Norway and the UK,” says Dr. Aagaard. He himself has years of experience from abroad, having worked at St. James’ University Hospital in the UK and Wisconsin’s University Hospital in the USA.

All patients are guaranteed zero waiting time, and accessibility and easy contact are some of the clinic’s core values. “We also value close relationships with our patients and aim to make them feel as secure as possible. But of course it is about the results as well; people come here to become pregnant!” says Dr. Aagaard. Specialised care While Aagaard’s staff obviously has more expertise in fertility treatment than those at more broadly oriented hospitals, the clinic also has an advantage compared to other fertility clinics only performing fertility treatment and inseminations. “We also carry out preliminary checks and treatments such as hysteroscopy/laparoscopy, e.g. removal

of cysts on the oviducts, to ensure optimal conditions before we start the fertility treatments.” Besides, the clinic performs all sorts of gynaecological investigations and operations.

Dr. Aagaard

At AAGAARD Gynækologi & Fertilitet (gynaecology and fertility) life changing events take place - or rather life creating events.

Location: Hedeager 35, 8200 Århus N. 103 km from Billund Airport 30 km from Aarhus Airport Accommodation: two beds in private bedrooms and a recovery room Specialist area: Fertility and gynaecology Website: www.aagaardklinik.dk

Issue 14 | December 2009 | 43

Scan Magazine | International Services | Private Hospitals

Heart Centre Varde – Reassuring expertise Heart Centre Varde is not just the only private hospital in Denmark specialising in the diagnosis, operation and medical treatment of heart diseases, it is also the largest centre in Scandinavia treating atrial fibrillation. The hospital treats about 2,000 patients every year and is constructing a new hospital with private rooms for all patients, to be opened in June 2010. Best in atrial fibrillation ablation Administrative Director Ricardo Sanchez explains that he receives patients from three different groups. “Some come for heart operations such as a bypass or valve repair. Others need balloon treatment of calcified heart vessels (PCI). The very interesting third kind of patients are those with atrial fibrillation or other heart rhythm disturbances,” he says, adding, “There are two kinds of

treatment: medication or heat treatment. Medical treatment is the standard, but it gives a lot of side effects, whereas heat treatment can cure patients.” The first group of patients have to recover at the hospital for around five days while all other patients often can go home the same or next day thanks to the smooth procedures.

Location: Frisvadvej 35, 6800 Varde Approx. 50 km from Billund Airport Accommodation: 22 beds in private, two- or three-bed rooms (from June 2010 only private rooms) Specialist area: Heart diseases

No signs of illness Varde Heart Hospital has the newest

Privathospitalet Mølholm

treatments together with an atmosphere which makes recovery as pleasant as possible. “It is a very relaxed environment; we try to remove all the things that make people think of illness. Our staff are extremely professional but also very relaxed and accommodating.”

Website: www.hjertecentervarde.dk/3/

– Specialist treatment in all areas

of them would recommend Mølholm to friends and family. Experience and a unique concept

If you ask their patients, Mølholm private hospital in Jutland is the perfect choice for anyone looking for a private hospital offering a broad array of 26 surgical and non-surgical specialities, highly skilled consultants, beautiful settings and first class care and service.

“We have a very unique concept here,” says Mølholm’s Medical Director Peter Bjerring. He adds: “We are the only private hospital in Denmark, which is owned by the doctors themselves. This concept not only makes it possible for the doctors to invest in the most advanced surgical equipment available for their own speciality, but it also leads to a high degree of commitment and loyalty. Doctors and staff alike enjoy coming to work – and the patients feel it.” High-tech with a family atmosphere

And Mølholm does ask their patients; a recent survey revealed that 99.22 per cent were very happy with their stay and treatment at the hospital – and that all

44 | Issue 14 | December 2009

Located on the outskirts of Vejle, Mølholm has recently inaugurated a new and complex expansion of the hospital, which sets new standards for private

hospitals in Denmark. High-tech operating theatres and wards in beautiful surroundings. Much has happened since the hospital opened in 1992, and Mølholm now spans several buildings in Brummersvej, still with the patients’ best care at heart. Location: Brummersvej 1 , 7100 Vejle Approx. 25 km from Billund Airport Accommodation: 30 beds in private or two-bed rooms Specialist areas: (see website) For more information visit: www.molholm.dk

Scan Magazine | International Services | Private Hospitals

Mammaklinikken Aarhus – Individual care For a woman there are probably few things more frightening than the thought of finding a lump in your breast, but there is no reason to go around dreading it: at Mammaklinikken Aarhus in Aarhus, Jutland, you can get a reassuring mammogram within three week days of making contact and if the worst should happen, you are guaranteed surgery with one of Denmark’s most experienced specialists in breast surgery, Joan Ravnsbæk, within a week. Highly Specialised Dr. Ravnsbæk is the founder of the clinic, which today, three years after its opening, receives patients from all over Denmark as well as from abroad. While many make contact because they have felt a lump or pain in their breast, some just come for a regular, reassuring mammogram. “We can offer completely integrated co-operation between specialists in breast sur-

gery, radiologists specialised in breast diagnostics and pathologists specialised in breast diseases,” explains Dr. Ravnsbæk. Besides, Mammaklinikken Aarhus has an affiliated physiotherapist and cooperates with a psychologist. Care and understanding The clinic has around 500 yearly patients for breast examination or surgery and their feedback highlights the warmth, care and professional commitment which patients/visitors experienced.

“One of the things we regard as very important is that patients feel well examined, well treated and well informed,” stresses Dr. Ravnsbæk. “We know and understand that everybody has their way of tackling health issues and prioritise having time to listen and to plan examinations and treatment regarding individual preferences.” Location: Brendstrupgårdsvej 21, 8200 Århus N. Approx. 100 km from Billund Airport Accommodation: Shares accommodation with Eira Private Hospital Skejby, located in the same building. Specialist area: Breast diseases including breast cancer Website: www.mammaklinikken.dk

Grymer Private Hospital – Safe cosmetic and plastic surgical procedures Visiting a hospital can be a way of improving your quality of life and this is exactly what the experienced doctors at Grymer Hospital attempt to bring about. The hospital specialises in cosmetic and plastic surgery such as reconstructive surgery, liposuction, facelifts and earnose-throat surgery, as well as microsurgical operations for slipped disk, osteoarthritis and constriction in the spine. Patients from all over the world Founded in 1992 by plastic surgeon Frants Grymer, the hospital offers operations ranging from minor cosmetic improvements to total reconstructions and it receives a broad mix of patients. “Just the other week I helped a lady from Dubai and before that a lady from the UK came here,” says Dr. Christian Bang,

Dr Grymer and Bang

who partnered up with Dr. Grymer in 2006. “We also have all kinds of age groups; my oldest patient last year was an 80-year-old lady who had a face lift.” Information and peace of mind One of the main characteristics of Grymer is, says Dr. Bang, the focus on information. “We are always available to our patients through phone and email and explain all procedures to our patients thoroughly; the most important

thing is that they feel safe and comfortable.” The hospital also offers follow-up consultations and this is, says Dr Bang, often very gratifying. “People are usually very happy when they come back here with their new self, it is a very grateful job.” Location: Tueager 5, 8200 Århus N Approx. 100 km from Billund Airport Accommodation: 10 beds in two- or three-bed rooms Specialist areas: cosmetic and plastic surgery as well as microsurgery Website: www.grymer.dk

Issue 14 | December 2009 | 45

Wikborg Rein is expanding its international scope By Signe Hansen | Photos: Silje Glefjell

As the world grows smaller and more and more businesses become global players, the need for law firms with an international scope grows the other way. Increasingly it is demanded that they safeguard any of their clients’ international transactions as well as their national ones. One of Norway’s leading law firms Wikborg Rein has chosen to embrace this development with a major extension of its London office. The demand for more international services has, however, not come as a surprise to Wikborg Rein. The firm, which was founded as a one-man business in Oslo by Erling Wikborg in 1923, opened its first foreign office in New York in 1956. Today they have about 185 lawyers divided between Oslo, Bergen, London, Singapore, Shanghai, and Kobe and have more international experience and expertise than any Norwegian law firm with their

46 | Issue 14 | December 2009

combination of Norwegian, English, Greek, Singaporean, Chinese, and US qualified lawyers. Tripling the legal team The seven-man team in the London office, which mainly focuses on shipping, offshore, banking and finance, currently includes three Norwegian lawyers as well as a Singaporean lawyer. They provide services for large and small Norwegian corporations conducting business in the UK or other foreign jurisdictions, as well as UK businesses involved with Norwegian law. Soon the legal team will be joined by three new English qualified partners. The extension is a huge step for the corporation, which will be the first Norwegian law firm to provide a full-scale English law service, including dispute resolution. This will, for instance, benefit the firm’s many

Scan Business | Business Profile | Wikborg Rein

clients in the shipping and offshore industry. “Many Norwegian ship and rig owners have ordered ships and rigs from yards in Japan, Korea and Singapore. Generally many of these contracts are subject to English law and when there are disputes, and that is quite often these days, we will be in a position not only to assist the clients in finding English lawyers to assist them in a court case or arbitration proceedings here in London, but also to undertake that task for them,” explains Partner Henrik Hagberg. He became part of the London team in August 2008. As both new and current partners will recruit new associates, Hagberg predicts that the London department will almost triple its legal team within a year or two. After official inclusion of the three new partners, it will therefore also be moving to larger and more modern offices in Cheapside, near its current location next to St Paul’s cathedral. Working around the clock But it is not just in London that Wikborg Rein is internationally minded. The firm has many global conglomerates in its portfolio and to provide them with the best possible service, lawyers needs to work across boarders and jurisdictions. “We have worked very hard on the cooperation between our offices and it is now as seamless as possible. To a large extent we work in integrated teams in-between the countries where our offices are located,” says Hagberg, who himself has worked at both Wikborg’s Oslo and Kobe offices, before returning to London for the second time in his career. “For me the job is not that different. My portfolio in Norway was fairly international with largely the same businesses as here and the same goes for my time in Japan where I was from 2002 to 2005.” The international alignment of offices and shared portfolios means that Wikborg is able to undertake huge assignments and work around the clock thanks to the time difference. But with this also comes an extensive network of legal expertise, explains Hagberg. “We have a huge network not only in the countries where we actually have offices but also the countries around them like Korea, Taiwan and Malaysia.” Wikborg will announce the official inclusion of the three new partners shortly and we will be sure to follow up on that and the other exciting new projects of the firm.

• Wikborg was founded back in 1923 by Erling Wikborg with a focus on maritime law and marine insurance business • From 1999 to 2002, Wikborg Rein expanded by fifty percent • Today Wikborg Rein has about 185 lawyers, of whom 58 are partners • Wikborg covers all areas of business law, with special focus on six business areas: shipping/offshore, banking/finance, corporate finance, natural resources, trade/industry/public procurement, and real estate. Litigation anddispute resolution services are provided for all core business areas.

Issue 14 | December 2009 | 47

Hamilton Advokatbyrå – a Swedish law firm with London links Swedish lawyers Hamilton Advokatbyrå have had a London outpost for nearly 25 years. It was established to help clients from Sweden to set up in the UK, but now the firm is helping companies from the UK that need advice on operating in Sweden. Christoffer Hamilton and Dag di Meo are two partners in the Stockholm-headquartered legal firm Hamilton Advokatbyrå who have a double (working!) life. While the firm has a number of offices throughout Sweden, Hamilton Advokatbyrå also has a London office, where Hamilton and Di Meo spend part of their working month. Christoffer Hamilton says that having a London presence demonstrates how seriously the firm takes continuing to “develop interest and experience in UK-Swedish matters”. Hamilton Advokatbyrå opened its London office in 1985. This was a time, Hamilton says, when many Swedish companies were opening and developing operations in London. “It was important for us to be there to help them make the first step. It was a key service for our Swedish clients.” Now, though, the firm’s primary emphasis is on

48 | Issue 14 | December 2009

By Ian Welsh Photos: Yiannis Katsaris

working with UK-based clients who need specifically Swedish legal advice. For UK clients, Hamilton Advokatbyrå’s network of offices across Sweden is a definite plus. “As well as at our Stockholm base, I have colleagues in Malmö, Växjö, Karlstad and Falun,” Hamilton says. This proves useful for clients who, for example, are buying another company based in Sweden. “If you are doing a process of due diligence on a company it is helpful to have a local base,” Hamilton says. Hamilton Advokatbyrå has assisted buyers and sellers of companies in a considerable number of transactions over the years. The firm has been instructed to provide advice regarding the sale or purchase of non-listed companies, as well as bidding for listed companies. It has particular expertise in advising private equity funds, and also assisting in management buy-outs or buy-ins. Strong M&A activity “Our large practice has significant experience in mergers and acquisitions activity, establishing businesses in

Scan Business | Business Profile | Hamilton Advokatbyrå

Sweden, Swedish employment law and other relevant matters,” Hamilton says. He highlights that mergers and acquisition activity is something that continues during an economic downturn. As some businesses struggle, it is an ideal time for companies in a stronger position to buy up competitors at an advantageous price. “When there is more liquidity available I sense that there may well be a useful window of opportunity for companies to pick up other enterprises,” Hamilton says. Coping with the intricacies of employment rules and regulations can be a sticking point when establishing or restructuring a business presence in another country. Hamilton points out that companies more used to the UK environment are frequently pleasantly surprised at the relative ease of operating in Sweden. He says: “There is a perception that Swedish employment laws are more complicated than they are. For example if a company has to make a redundancy, the employee is entitled to salary payments due under the terms of his or her notice period but nothing further.” This, he says, often comes as something of a surprise for UK-based companies. Debt recovery litigation An inevitable consequence of a difficult economic climate is an increase in litigation, and particularly in relation to insolvency and debt recovery matters. Again this is a point where Hamilton Advokatbyrå scores well with clients, including those from the UK, with its network of Swedish offices. As Christoffer Hamilton points out, when recovering debt a court appearance is often required and “having lawyers available on the ground is a significant benefit”. In fact, since the firm was established in the 1960s it has been a leader in the area of insolvency – so much so, in fact, that Hamilton Advokatbyrå’s lawyers have played a major role in developing Swedish legislation in this field. Another growing area is IT law. As companies are involved in significantly more cross-border trading they may need to take detailed advice about doing business in different jurisdictions. “This really is a business sector we have seen expanding – much more than 10 years ago, and it’s an indicator of how people are now doing business,”

Hamilton says. For companies hoping to open up the Swedish market for online sales, Hamilton Advokatbyrå is an ideal first port of call. More than that, though, as the firm has access to a wide range of lawyers around the world through membership of a widespread international network, ideal for clients opening up online business worldwide. There are also a number of Swedish clients with UK connections in Hamilton Advokatbyrå’s roster. Christoffer Hamilton highlights the large Swedish non-governmental school business Kunskapsskolan Education Sweden AB. “We have advised the company in connection with its planned developments in UK, where three schools are currently under planning, which will operate using the specific learning concepts developed by Kunskapsskolan,” he says. The schools Kunskapsskolan is developing are Holywells High School in Ipswich, Hampton Community College in Richmond upon Thames and Whitton School in Twickenham, both in southwest London. And despite 20 years of travelling to and from the UK and Sweden, Hamilton says he still enjoys the two-centre working life. Things have improved, he says, with better IT and transport infrastructure making the travelling easier. “I certainly don’t have to carry so much stuff now, and the quick rail links to the airports in London and Stockholm make the journey more pleasant,” Hamilton says. He does recommend avoiding London’s tube system during rush hour, though, but has the ideal alternative. “I like just being able to walk around in London – it’s very pleasant. And while it can take some time to walk right across the city, it is a very easy way to get around.”

Award-winning service Hamilton Advokatbyrå’s performance has caught the attention of the Swedish legal press. Business magazine Affärsvärlden recently ranked the firm equal top in the business benefit category of its law firm of the year awards. Overall Hamilton Advokatbyrå came a highly creditable fifth in the survey, conducted for the magazine by market analysts Regi AB.

Issue 14 | December 2009 | 49

Scan Business | Education | MBA

Taking it a step further?

An MBA may be the way to go By Signe Hansen

Recently, many people living and working in the UK have been forced to rethink their career plans because of the current economic situation. Some may realise that for them to be safe in a similar situation in the future experience is not enough; flexible and professional qualifications are just as essential. One of the ways to get these is by taking an MBA which will give you both the theory and practical skills needed to make advancements. A Master of Business Administration programme will typically prepare you for different aspects of business administration such as finance and management skills.

Most will combine theory and practical tools which should enable the students to take their current career to the next step or maybe enter on an entirely new career path. With the many ambitious people gathered from all over the world in London it is hardly surprising that the city boasts an array of MBA opportunities. Scan Magazine had a look at a couple located right in the heart of the city and with a high level of competence and aspirations among both students and lecturers. On the next two pages you can read the first-hand experiences from two professional Scandinavians who recently graduated from Cass Business School and Westminster Business School.

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Scan Business | Education | MBA

CASS BUSINESS SCHOOL – MBAs for individuals By Signe Hansen | Photos: Magnus Arrevad

If you are considering an MBA but are afraid of losing touch with the professional world, Cass Business School may be the perfect solution. Offering a one-year MBA the school ensures minimum absence from the job market and its location right on the doorstep of the City of London and professional lecturers ensure that you can network all the way through your studies.

the action is and it offered the opportunity to network with professors renowned in the financial industry,” says Refshauge. “One of them was Peter Hahn, whom I knew from his many appearances as a financial commentator on the BBC.”

MBA Kenneth Refshauge

A school for individuals

Cass Business School has what some may call a Scandinavian approach to learning, paying time and attention to Danish Kenneth Refshauge, a every student. “I found Cass much better than other previous Financial I felt that it was schools I visited because Planning Manager at Cass is very focused on Barclay’s Bank, has necessary to break treating everybody as just finished his MBA into the next level individuals. They have at Cass. “I had many of my career time to go through reasons to do this; most of all I felt that it was necessary everything on a one-to-one basis.” to break into the next level of my career,” he says, adding, “I thrived on Refshauge is now hoping to find a job the dynamic nature of the banking which can bridge his previous role in industry, but it was time for change the financial industry with the kind of and for doing something else and management consulting role which that is probably why most people do he took the MBA to attain. it; because they want change and For more information visit: want to further their careers. www.cass.city.ac.uk Professors with connections

“

”

Apart from being located in Bunhill Row right next to London’s professional heart, Cass also has a staff with continuing connections to the top of the UK’s financial world. “One of the reasons I chose Cass was that it was in the heart of the city where all Photo: Courtesy of Cass Business School

Issue 14 | December 2009 | 51

Scan Business | Education | MBA

Left: Director of Postgraduate Courses at Westminster Business School Jon Pike. Right: Kristina Nordström

WESTMINSTER BUSINESS SCHOOL – Professionalism from both sides of the desk By Signe Hansen

At Westminster Business School not only are the lecturers professionals, the students are too! The cosmopolitan school, which is located just near Baker Street, London, requires students to have at least three years work experience to do an MBA with them. Besides, as one of a select group of universities in the UK, Westminster is a member of the international, impartial authority on postgraduate business education, AMBA, which sets a global standard for MBA programmes. Real skills Director of Postgraduate Courses at Westminster Business School Jon Pike says: “Most people approaching us for MBAs have started work in a specialist area and are looking to move on to the next step. To do that they need

52 | Issue 14 | December 2009

An international profile

reputation in business studies. “I was accepted in more than one place, but the reason I chose Westminster was that a friend recommended it, and I heard that the university’s Business School was very good,” stresses Nordström. In some courses almost 90 per cent of students come from outside the UK and together with their various backgrounds thus create a hub for knowledge sharing, says Pike and Nordström agrees: “There were a lot of students from abroad in my course and I think that created a great atmosphere. Everybody was very serious about their studies and strived to do well, which is also evident in the high numbers who graduated with a first degree honours.”

When it comes to attracting the best students, Westminster not only benefits from its location in central London, but also from an excellent

For more information visit: www.westminster.ac.uk/schools/ business

knowledge about HR, finance, IT, marketing and management which they can obtain here.” Swedish Credit Analyst at Nordea Bank Kristina Nordström graduated from Westminster with a BA International Business (Honours) in 2007, and says she uses what she learned on a daily basis. “I was very impressed with the university. The lecturers were at a very high level, many had worked for some of the largest banks in the world and had real world knowledge. In my final year for instance we had a lecturer who had previously worked for Goldman Sachs,” she says.

Scan Business | Columns

A Rubbish Manager Last week I facilitated a conference for 170 executives in a global company. At this conference, their newly appointed CEO was interviewed on his vision for the future and on what type of leadership he was expecting from his senior leaders. The new CEO highlighted the need for leaders to have the best in class social skills, to be accessible to their people and be visible as a person. When asked for the keys to his own success, he stressed two factors: First, his ability to recover quickly from disappointment and stay positive even in the face of the most challenging situations and second, his determination not to become a ‘rubbish manager’. If you allow your team to become dependent on you for solutions to difficult problems, you will eventually end up as just that – the rubbish manager. He therefore advised leaders to force their employees to bring them solutions and not problems.

By Inger Buus

To like to fix problems for others is hardwired human behaviour – we like to feel needed and we get a certain satisfaction from helping others. The problem is that if we as leaders always do this, we do not allow our teams to grow and develop. We become rubbish managers and thus blocks or clogs in the system who prevent the next generation of leaders from gaining experience. The vast majority of people come to work to do a good job and to make a contribution. Our job as leaders is to enable that and to empower others to find their solutions. As the old proverb goes: ‘Give a man a fish: you have fed him for today. Teach a man to fish: you have fed him for a lifetime.’

Inger Buus is the UK MD of Mannaz A/S which is an international frontrunner in leadership development. www.mannaz.com

‘LIVING WILLS’: Why you should make one... “Living Wills,” technically known as lasting powers of attorney (LPA), are very much in the news at the moment and in order to protect your assets and your family, the case for making an LPA is a strong one. By doing this, you can decide who will make decisions regarding your care, property and financial affairs in the event you become mentally incapable due to illness or injury. We do not tend to think about what would happen in this instance, as we all have an “it won’t happen to me” mentality, but the importance of having an LPA in place cannot be underestimated, regardless of your age. Relatives who are faced with having to look after the affairs of an incapacitated relative who hasn’t made an LPA will have to apply to the Office of the Public Guardian (OPG) in the first instance to obtain a Power of Attorney. The OPG carry out vigorous checks and the process can take

54 | Issue 14 | December 2009

several weeks. In the meantime, bills pile up, mortgages might go unpaid, accounts can’t be accessed. The effects of this delay can be devastating and cause unnecessary anguish. The OPG then compiles its report which is passed to the Court of Protection for a decision. If they deem you “unfit” to act as attorney, they may take over the management of the person’s affairs themselves, charging high fees for doing so. The Office of the Public Guardian has featured heavily in the press recently, as a result of their extensive and far reaching powers and the substantial fees they charge. In some cases, they have been criticised for completely taking control of the affairs of vulnerable people, sometimes against the wishes of well meaning relatives. The stress of this process can be completely avoided by having an LPA in place.

By Elizabeth Johnson

Corren Troen have a number of Scandinavian clients who are living in the UK and many of those clients are simply not aware of the affects of not having an LPA in place. Even those who only intend to stay for a short period should ensure they have one in case they become mentally incapable, particularly if most of their family are not living in the UK, as trying to manage a person’s affairs from another country would be even worse. It’s all about protecting your future in an uncertain world.

For more information on how to make an LPA contact Elizabeth Kristensen from the Private Client team at Corren Troen on 0207 592 8900.

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Issue 14 | December 2009 | 55

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Scan Business | Columns

I was with English girlfriends, Jane and Jill and an American friend Anne when I happened to ask Anne if she had had as many difficulties understanding the English as I, a Swede, have had over the years. “Absolutely!” she said. “The word ‘quite’ for example is a much stronger word in American than English.” I turned to Jill and said, for instance, have you ever heard an Englishman say “no”? She paused and then said “Quite!” Doing business here, one of the mistakes I think we Nordics make is, because we speak fluent English, we think we understand everything being said. Yet what we hear is not always what is meant. A good test is to see if you understand the difference between the subtlety of the word ‘interesting’ and an Englishman’s ‘no’. An Englishman may feel it impolite to give you an outright ‘no’. He will feel he has been sufficiently negative merely by commenting “Mmm. Interesting.”

If you’re aware of this habit you’ll be able to steer the conversation so as to be able to elicit a more meaningful response. So often we think our proposition may be of interest when it’s not, it’s just “Mmm. Interesting.” To the English, conversation is the sustenance of life! Small talk is so important that when it goes quiet they don’t know what to do. Have you ever met an Englishman with nothing to say? We Nordics don’t have this problem. In meetings we like to be efficient, dispensing with small talk and getting straight down to business. The English feel it’s important to get to know each other first, especially in new business relationships. It may be something to do with population sizes. We are so few Nordics that most business contacts are just a phone call away. With 61 million Brits there is a greater imperative to know with whom you are doing business.

How was your day Rosa Thurman is the General Manager of the Finnish-British Chamber of Commerce. My alarm went off at 5.30am and for once it didn’t take me about six snoozes to get up. As this was to be a very busy and important day, I had to get to the office across the whole of London as soon as possible. I think it’s quite fair to say that this was my BIG day; after having been in my position for less than two months, today was my chance to show what this Finn is made of! I would first have a couple of meetings and then attend our Board meeting followed by AGM and then an Economic update.

Our Chairman was in town and after an interesting meeting with London TV (lesson learned: watch more reality TV to be able to recognise their star presenter with 200,000 Facebook fans!) we sat down to discuss next week’s Patrons’ Dinner at the Ambassador’s residence and some other plans for the rest of the year. We then got into a taxi with our interns Suvi and Kristian and drove to the Nordea offices in the City. At the board meeting I talked a bit about my past 12 years in London and presented some of my plans for next year. Also I was really pleased to tell them the good news: our membership was going up and we also confirmed a new Patron that morning. Half of the day gone and all well so far… The AGM went well; again, I presented some of my ideas for 2010 and answered a few questions from members. Then it was the time to leave the stage to the speakers that the audience had been wait-

By Annika Åman-Goodwille

Photo: Magnus Arrevad

Two nations divided by a single language

‘When in Rome do as the Romans!’ In English, organisation is spelled with an ‘ess’, not an American ‘zee’– and that goes for many other words. Lots of Englishmen are fussy about it – don’t trust your spellchecker if it doesn’t have an English English dictionary. ‘President’ on a business card is American. It doesn’t exist in the UK. As so often in life, details matter. Yet if you don’t know all the pitfalls you may still be OK. Just show you’re trying, turn on the Nordic charm and you’ll probably be appreciated. Works for me!

By Rosa Thurman ing for, two well-known economists Leena Morttinen and Geoffrey Dicks. Despite some shocking figures (especially for Finland) it wasn’t all doom and gloom and both shared the view that the worst is over and it’s time to look positively to the future. To celebrate this and the fact that we had lots of enthusiastic members present at the event, we stayed quite late discussing and enjoying some delicious canapés. I got home in good time, though, as I wanted to feel energetic for tomorrow’s event at the Ambassador’s Residence where some of the most innovative Finnish digital media entrepreneurs, including Lapland Studios – maker of the world-famous Nightwish video and friends of Lordi – would present their companies and share their views for the future of digital media. In Lapland, where people are outnumbered by reindeer, the imagination really seems to sparkle!

Issue 14 | December 2009 | 57

Scan Business | News | Chambers of Commerce

Danish-UK Chamber of Commerce To all Young Professionals out there! You want to be a business professional and you want to have fun! DUCC is introducing YP membership from January 2010, giving you access to a great network of ambitious, skilled and like-minded fun people! Get free entrance to exclusive venues, such as The Kensington Roof Gardens and Bijou, 34 times a year; get entrance to DUCC’s Annual Career Seminar; and enjoy member’s price access to DUCC AGM & Annual Dinner, Summer Cocktail Party and Christmas Lunch – the premier places for professional business networking! All this for only £50 per year! Sign up at www.ducc.co.uk. “Have your say” in January – bring your ideas for DUCC Calendar Fall 2010. If you, as a DUCC member, have a topic in mind which we have never touched upon or a speaker we all need to hear, please join us for brainstorming and debate on 18 January 2010

at 6 pm. A great place to meet your Chamber secretariat staff! Finally don’t forget the annual Christmas Lunch 11 December – we have few places left. Book online at www.ducc.co.uk or call 0207 259 6795.

UPCOMING EVENTS 3 December

Network Lounge in Leeds for Danish Business Professionals. 8 December Designing Organizations to meet 21st Century Opportunities and Challenges 11 December DUCC Annual Christmas Lunch JANUARY 2010 15 January 18 January 28 January

Young Professionals Party “Have your Say” – Bring ideas for DUCC Calendar 2010 Nordic Thursday Drinks

Danish-UK Chamber of Commerce | Phone: +44 (0) 20 7259 6795 | Email: info@ducc.co.uk | www.ducc.co.uk

Norwegian-British Chamber of Commerce NBCC’s Aberdeen Chapter is active in promoting Norwegian-British trade in the Aberdeen area. Through Wednesday drinks and other events in Aberdeen, NBCC underlines the importance of the region and the close links that exist between Norway and Scotland. The next one will be on 9 December and is kindly sponsored by Skene House HotelSuites. 10 December will see the exclusive annual Christmas Luncheon held at the Norwegian Ambassador's Residence in London. 10 Palace Green, Kensington, is one of Norway's finest and historically most interesting ambassadorial residences. During World War II, King Haakon VII held his Council meetings with his exiled government around the polished table that is even today in regular use in the present-day dining room.

2009 has without a doubt been a very challenging year for all, but NBCC has been working hard to stay relevant, facilitate business opportunities, connect and give members as much visibility as possible. The membership numbers have never been higher in regards both to corporate and individual membership, and there has been steady growth in Aberdeen throughout the year. NBCC would like to wish you all a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

UPCOMING EVENTS 9 December

Aberdeen Wednesday Drinks hosted by Skene House HotelSuites 10 December Christmas Luncheon at the Ambassador's Residence JANUARY 2010 21 January 26 January 27 January

NBCC Forum: Presenting SuperOffice NBCC Forum: Presenting Statkraft in the UK Nordic Thursday Drinks

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Issue 14 | December 2009 | 59

Scan Business | News | Chambers of Commerce

Swedish Chamber of Commerce for the UK The Annual Christmas Luncheon at the Dorchester has been sold out for some time and will attract over 500 people. Swedish Christmas food, entertainment and fantastic networking opportunities. Also, Cherie Blair, QC, will Chair our seminar on “Women in Business and Politics” on 2 February 2010, joining several high profile speakers and panellists.

It has been a busy year for the Swedish Chamber of Commerce. Recruitment of new staff and new member companies, hosting over fifty events, with more still to come, and putting a new strategy in place which aims to build on the past to shape the future. The Swedish Chamber is well equipped for the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead. In November, our Members listened to Lena Olving, Executive Vice President at Saab, Björn Wahlroos, Chairman, Sampo plc, Kajsa Bergqvist, former World Champion high jumper, and learnt about green business in the City. We aim to provide a diverse series of events during the course of the year, to satisfy our diverse network.

The Swedish Chamber of Commerce for the UK includes around 400 Member companies and hosts over 50 events every year. We are proud to have welcomed over 80 new Member companies over the course of 2009.

UPCOMING EVENTS 7 December 14 December

Lucia Luncheon in Manchester Lucia Concert in Birmingham

FEBRUARY 2010 2 February 8 February 11 February

Women in Business and Politics Welcome to the UK (in Stockholm) Fashion Event with H&M

Swedish Chamber of Commerce for the UK | Phone: +44 (0) 20 7224 8001 | Email: info@scc.org.uk | www.scc.org.uk

Finnish-British Chamber of Commerce Christmas time is fast approaching. On 10 December we are organizing a Christmas Lunch for our members at the Scandinavian restaurant, Madsen. After Christmas Lunch, we shall concentrate fully on the year 2010 and the interesting events the chamber is organizing. We have had a really busy autumn here at the Chamber with many changes already implemented and even more to come next year. Being a member of the Chamber in 2010 will bring you additional advantages. We are currently reviewing our Membership Benefits to make sure that all of you, irrespective of your membership status, will get the maximum benefit from your membership fee. Our goal is to provide you with the right tools to make year 2010 a success, despite still having to face the challenging economic situation. The Finnish-British Chamber of Commerce would like to wish a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to all of our members and partners. Thank you for the past year and we hope to see you at our events in the year 2010!

UPCOMING EVENTS 10 December 15 January

Christmas Lunch at Madsen Restaurant Joint Nordic Party at Boujis

JANUARY 2010 28 January

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+44 1962 858 790 uk@samtext.com Issue 14 | December 2009 | 61

Scan Magazine | Scan News

SCAN NEWS

Edited by Emelie Krugly

If you have a news story for Scan Magazine you can contact our news desk at scannews@scanmagazine.co.uk

Ambassador hosts EU presidency review The European Movement in London held an event in relation to the Swedish Presidency of the EU at the Swedish Ambassador’s London residence. Minister and Deputy Head of Mission Per Augustsson gave a talk on the priorities of the Swedish Presidency and its achievements so far.

Leena Morttinen: How do we clean up the mess after the crisis? The Finnish Chamber of Commerce held their Annual General Meeting followed by an economic update at Nordea, London. At the event Leena Morttinen, Head of European Affairs at Nordea, and previously Chief Economist in Nordea Finland, delivered a speech entitled How do we clean up the mess after the crisis? In this she emphasized that what was needed was to understand the reasons for the crisis. Subsequently, Geoffrey Dicks, previously Chief Economist at RBS and currently Chief Economist at Novus Capital Markets, shared his views on the UK economy and the outlook for 2010, saying that we are experiencing the worst recession since the 1930s, but that he was happy not to be in the Euro. “We are not recovering from the recession yet, it will be slow but it will happen; export and consumer confidence is much stronger,” he summarised.

i Nu ävenika! r e m a Nord

“Important challenges for the Presidency are the economy, employment and climate change. We are working to counter the negative impact of the crisis on growth and jobs with the aim of realising economic recovery as soon as possible. The outcome at the international climate negotiations in Copenhagen are also a priority,” Mr Augustsson said. Petros Fassoulas, Chairman of the European Movement in London opened the event by saying, “EM always strives to objectively inform public opinion on matters related to the EU and how it impacts us all. Unfortunately, the level of misinformation and unsubstantiated allegations against the EU is today higher than ever, so our role in the debate on EU membership is more important than ever.” The European Movement www.euromove.org.uk is an independent organisation operating across and beyond the political spectrum in the UK. Its mission is to inform the debate on European integration and promote understanding of what the EU does and how the UK benefits from EU membership.

SVT World – ditt fönster mot Sverige! Sveriges Televisions utlandskanal SVT World sänder nyheter och fakta. Musik, sport och natur. Barn- och nöjesprogram. Drama, debatter och kultur – dygnet runt och året om!

Fråga efter SVT World på ditt hotell – du får en naturbok! Notera hotellets namn och e-postadress samt om SVT World finns i alla rum, bara i lobbyn eller inte alls. Skicka uppgifterna till oss eller fyll i blanketten på vår hemsida: svt.se/svtworld svt.se/svtworld 62 | Issue 14 | December 2009

För abonnemang kontakta SVT World:s kundtjänst: ConNova TVX, +46 (0)141 - 20 39 10, svtworld@connova.se, www.connova.se

Nathalie Rykiel

Sonia Rykiel heats up the 2009 holiday season for H&M, and unveils colourful knits for spring 2010

The bridge that crossed the pond

Iconic French designer Sonia Rykiel will be H&Mâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s new guest designer for winter 2009 and spring 2010. The "Queen of Knits" and her daughter, artistic director Nathalie Rykiel represent the distinctive, modern and bold and brash spirit of Paris. This marks the first time that H&M has extended its designer collaboration to the world of lingerie and related accessories for women, with exclusive pieces to be launched in-store early December. The collection will be launched in 1,500 H&M stores worldwide and at the same time, Sonia Rykiel will make this lingerie collection available in Sonia Rykielâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s major boutiques around the world â&#x20AC;&#x201C; another first for H&M. H&M creative advisor Margareta van den Bosch says; â&#x20AC;&#x153;Sonia Rykiel is a true fashion icon who invented a signature style around femininity, Parisian chic and modernity, as well as functional, comfortable, wearable clothes. She has an attitude that inspires admiration among women of all ages around the world. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a wonderful highlight for our main collection.â&#x20AC;? The second collaboration, spring 2010, features an iconic knitwear collection for women and girls accompanied by playful accessories. It will be launched in around 250 H&M stores on February 20, 2010.

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â&#x20AC;&#x153;This collaboration fits perfectly with our philosophy. The Sonia Rykiel pour H&M lingerie collection is the ideal way to offer the essence of Rykiel to a great number of women around the world,â&#x20AC;? says Nathalie Rykiel, president and artistic director of Sonia Rykiel. Sonia Rykielâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s fashion story began in 1968; her signatures include inside-out stitching, a preponderance of black, lace, colourful stripes and, of course, the knit pullovers that have become synonymous with the brand.

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Scan Magazine | Scan News

Radisson SAS Hotels and resorts to change their name Radisson SAS has changed its name to Radisson Blu. This significant name change marks the latest step forward in the remarkable Radisson SAS success story and reflects the end of Radisson’s links with the SAS Group following Rezidor’s IPO back in November 2006. Rezidor President and CEO, Kurt Ritter, says: “We’re extremely proud to hoist the Radisson Blu flag. After many, very successful years with SAS, we are eager to start cruising high on our own. And we’ll fly the flag in an ever growing number of destinations.” Radisson Blu’s Senior Vice President and CEO, Thorsten Kirschke, explains that the change from SAS to Blu will be a gentle evolution through into 2010. “We currently have more than 200 hotels in operation or under development, so

the name change has been designed in such a way that it’ll avoid any unnecessary disruption but still create an impact.” Meanwhile Gordon McKinnon, Rezidor’s Executive Vice President of Brands, reveals that the name Blu emerged as the most natural choice from Rezidor’s intensively researched quest to find the right new visual differentiator to replace the familiar SAS ‘blue box’. “The name Blu started life as the project’s working title. But it soon became apparent that it was actually the most natural of choices. It’s simple, it’s short, it’s relevant and we’ve applied it in a way that adds certain modernity to the identity without taking it too far.” For more information visit: www.radissonblu.co.uk

SWEA celebrates 20 years The Swedish Women’s network SWEA London recently celebrated 20 years of cherished operations. The festivities took place at the Swedish Ambassador’s residence at Portland Place where Sofie Haag, president of SWEA London and Mr Per Augustsson, Minister and Deputy Chief of Mission at The Swedish Embassy, greeted all the guests from far and beyond. SWEA’s international president, Mrs Åsa-Lena Lööf, was also present and gave a much appreciated speech later in the evening. The evening was full of surprises; amongst them performances by the world class a cappella group Cantabile The London Quartet, the opera singers Catrin Johnsson and Lina Johnsson together with Rachel Fuller, piano, and singer and songwriter Mats Rösell from Sweden. In an excerpt from her speech Sofie Haag expressed her pride and joy over SWEA’s successful London branch: “We are continuing to grow and have welcomed 50 new members this year." She also thanked all the generous sponsors and friends in the Swedish community as well as all the members and the founder Anna Fagerström for their support over the years. “SWEA is what we make of it, and it is up to us to make the most of the possibilities we’ve got at hand." For information about SWEA: www.swea.org/london

64 | Issue 14 | December 2009

A Swedish pizza heaven opens in South London Having successfully run several restaurants in their home town, Umeå, two brothers have upped and left the snowcapped mountains of Northern Sweden to realise a new business venture in East Street, South London. Keivan and Majid Almasi’s new project, Basil, is a quirky restaurant and bar. Its Swedish-influenced menu offers everything from wonderful classic dishes such as planked steak with a heavenly homemade béarnaise sauce, Swedish-style pizza and a taco bar starting from £5.99. Basil’s Argentinean chef has 15 years experience with the Gaucho Grill and is meticulous in his preparations, so the rib eye steaks are always cooked to perfection. “We opened in August and customers keep coming back. The steaks and kebab pizza are very popular. Ingredients are carefully sourced, everything is homemade and cooked with passion; good service is also key for us. We’re hoping to develop a chain,” says Majid Almasi. The atmosphere is warm and friendly and the decor created by the brothers is tasteful with blonde wood, fish tank lights and fresh basil plants on all tables. Basil is great for corporate entertaining, chic cocktails, group dining and they welcome families and children’s parties. For more information visit: www.basilrestaurant.co.uk

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Scan Magazine | Culture

Motiv Stockholm – Bringing the Swedish Capital to you prints. Business partners Ylva Bengtsson and Annelie Karlsson have just launched their third shop at the F-pier at Arlanda Airport Terminal 5, where all flights to London leave.

A misty day by the Royal Palace or an alleyway in the Old Town, is one of the motives which transport you to the Swedish capital. These images are on sale at Motiv Stockholm, with one down-town shop and two airport shops offering black and white photographs and gifts with photographic

“We both do a lot of travelling, and Ylva bought black and white images from places such as South Africa and Ireland, and she thought ‘Stockholm is as beautiful so why shouldn’t it work here too?’,” Karlsson says. The company, which opened its first shop in 2006 on Karlavägen in Stockholm, initially sold framed images, but today anything from high-end coasters to chocolate and clothes can be purchased.

Flor Unikon Flower Workshop is a unique Scandinavian style Florist shop managed by Finnish Florists in London and Helsinki. The difference any visitor will notice about our florist shops is their homely ambience. Antique chandeliers light up our magical world of fresh flowers and plants, all displayed in vintage and contemporary vases and containers, resting alongside beautiful antique furniture. We offer both private and corporate services, whether this is decorating your home for Christmas with our hand-crafted wreaths and garlands or producing glamorous bouquets for your clients, friends and family.

Open: 44 Amwell Street London EC1R 1XS 020 7837 3233 ww.flor-unikon.co.uk

66 | Issue 14 | December 2009

Monday - Friday 8.30am - 7pm Saturday 10.00am- 6pm Sunday 11.30am- 3pm

(Sunday open until the 24th of December)

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“It all started on a small scale with a few images and no shop – instead we rented a wall on Arlanda airport and tested different target groups,” says Karlsson adding: “When we tell people about our business now, they go ‘Oh I’ve seen that store’.” Motiv Stockholm has a broad client list – there are business travellers and tourists as well as hotels and companies decorating their walls, but also for obvious reasons, Karlsson says: “Plenty of Swedes living abroad who want a piece of their home country.” You can find Motiv Stockholm at Karlavägen 44 at Östermalm and at Arlanda Airport Terminal 5 – the first store at Gate 3 and the new store in the F-pier right after passport control. For more info: motivstockholm.jetshop.se

Left to right: The main building of Waldemarsudde estate (Photo: Lars Engelhardt), The Flowerroom (Photo: Åke Eison Lindman). Below: Museum Director Elsebeth Welander-Berggren (Photo: Göran Olofsson/GU) and Prins Eugen’s painting Molnet from 1896 (Photo: Lars Engelhardt).

Prince Eugens Waldemarsudde – Stockholm’s crown jewel Prince Eugens Waldemarsudde is no ordinary museum, but rather “a unique combination of a royal home, exquisite exhibitions and enchanting gardens,” says Museum Director Elsebeth Welander-Berggren. Located on the island of Djurgården, this stunning estate was once home to Prince Eugen (1865-1947), the son of King Oscar II. The history of the estate is made the more fascinating by Prince Eugen’s lifelong love of painting, art collecting and gardening. The Prince chose his calling early on and pursued a career in arts alongside his official duties, and by 1890 he had become a renowned landscape painter. His works include Molnet (The Cloud) and Det gamla slottet (The Old Castle), both part of the collections at Waldemarsudde. The estate was acquired by the Prince in 1899, and in addition to keeping the original

manor house building (the Old House) intact, he designed a castle-like main building (the Mansion), a Gallery Building and developed a beautiful garden. Exquisite exhibitions In his will, Prince Eugen left both his home and art collection to the Swedish state, as well as requesting that his home be preserved the way he left it. Accordingly, the Prince’s Private Apartments can still be seen in their original glory, with fresh flowers provided by the museum’s greenhouses. In addition to the princely art collection, the museum hosts up to eight temporary exhibitions a year. Current exhibitions include portraits by Carl Wilhelmson and works from the Golden Age of Finnish painting.

By Nia Kajastie

host interesting exhibitions that keep attracting more people every year. We’re very fortunate concerning visitors. We had about 162,000 last year, and this year it must be around 190,000 already.” She also confirms that next year will see the opening of exhibitions by painters Roland Svensson and Anders Zorn, and sculptor Per Hasselberg. In the summer of 2010, the museum will collaborate with the medical university Karolinska Institute for its 200th anniversary. The event will include an exhibition of books with medical paintings and lectures on related subjects. The museum will also celebrate the 200th anniversary of the Bernadotte dynasty and the crown princess’s nuptials. For more information visit: www.waldemarsudde.se

Welander-Berggren is more than pleased with the museum’s achievements: “We

Issue 14 | December 2009 | 67

Scan Magazine | Culture

Discover the Scandinavian art gems in London London’s National Gallery is brimming with great works of art to be admired; if you are in the gallery over the Christmas break and find yourself amongst the Monets and Manets in the Impressionist rooms take time to pause at a gem of a Scandinavian painting, the Finnish artist Akseli Gallen-Kallela’s Lake Keitele, painted in 1905 at Keitele, north of Helsinki. Lake Keitele is one of Gallen-Kallela’s most sublime landscapes. The calm stillness of the lake, under a canopy of clouds in a brilliant blue sky, conveys all the beauty of Finland’s striking landscape and the glory of the Scandinavian summer. Finnish nationalism But Lake Keitele is more than just a beautifully painted canvas; Gallen-Kallela was fiercely nationalistic and at a time when Finns were feeling the burden of Russian

rule, he wanted to exert the Scandinavian soul through his painting. The unique Nordic light was to the artist an embodiment of nationhood and there is a distinct national symbolism in Lake Keitele. The arabesques that traverse the surface of the water are wind patterns; the Finns describe this phenomenon as ‘Väinämöinen’s wake’, the passage left by the boat of Väinämöinen, the hero of the Kalevala, the great Finnish National Epic relating the mythical origins of the country.

By Christina Sanderson

Voyage in which the Kalevala hero, clasping his kantele, travels in his boat together with a group of naked maidens. GallenKallela saw a deep spiritual quality in nature: Lake Keitele beautifully amalgamates the natural, the spiritual and the divine. The painting fuses realism with a pregnant symbolism, speaking to the Finnish people.

The natural, the spiritual and the divine Gallen-Kallela himself wrote: “The silver streaks on the still water shimmer as a harbinger and a herald of the coming passion.” He was referring to the end of the Kalevala, when Väinämöinen departs, symbolising the end of paganism for the Finns and the coming of the ‘new’ religion, Christianity. The silver streaks can be seen in Gallen-Kallela’s painting Väinämöinen’s

Akseli Gallen-Kallela’s Lake Keitele

N ew

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68 | Issue 14 | December 2009

JA JA JA is an exciting new monthly club night in London showcasing the best emerging talent from the Nordic countries. The initiative is supported by the Nordic Export Offices (NOMEX) and aims to provide an independent platform for new “export ready” artists. On the club nights, artists across multiple genres will be able to showcase their music to key British music industry professionals, media, tastemakers and punters alike. Each night will feature specially invited British curators who will program the final line-up. Artist submissions from the various Nordic countries will be reviewed by the respective export offices, who then produce a shortlist based on ‘export readiness’. The guest curator will then select his favourite three artists for the night. JA JA JA aims to draw attention to this hotbed of talent on a monthly basis. The central London venue will be The Lexington, Pentonville Rd, N1 9JB For more info: www.jajajamusic.com

Scandinavian Music

By Karl Batterbee

The last few weeks of the year are always ringing with the sound of new album releases in the shops, hoping to be snapped up by gift hunting Christmas shoppers. But this year, it’s really gone into overdrive!

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Yule Love These! Over in Sweden, reigning Queen of pop, Carola, has released her first English language Christmas album Christmas In Bethlehem. It’s mostly new versions of the tracks from her two previous ‘Jul’ albums, with a few high profile duets thrown into the mix, including one with Britain’s Got Talent winner, Paul Potts. For the younger crowd, though, the phenomenally successful boyband, EMD, have released their seasonal effort Valkommen Hem. It contains Swedish versions of classic Christmas songs, including last year’s UK Christmas number one from Alexandra Burke, Hallelujah.

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Internationally successful pop group Alcazar (who are as camp as Christmas itself!), have released a disco version of Wham’s yuletide staple, Last Christmas. It actually works really well too! However, quite ironically, over in Denmark, Aqua (yes, they’re still making music!) have put out a new single called Spin You A Christmas – which laments the fact that Christmas has been taken over by a false pop culture inspired by Disney and berates Wham’s Last Christmas as “that song which damages your head every year’’. Scandinavian pop has eaten itself with that juxtaposition!

t: 020 7379 0101

The Scandinavians Retreat! Finally, back in Britain, the heavy release schedule of new music has forced the Scandinavians to cancel their UK releases until 2010, in a bid to have more room to flourish. Last month’s cover star Erik Hassle has postponed Hurtful until March, and Darin has put back Breathing Your Love until the end of January. This month’s cover star Agnes however, wasn’t so farsighted. Her new single I Need You Now is competing with all the other pop music that’s around at the moment. www.scandipop.co.uk | scandipop@googlemail.com

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Scan Magazine | Music

It Rocks at the Pipeline Bar Swedish Thomas Evrenos has fulfilled his teenage dream and opened a rock club at 94 Middlesex Street, E1. The club, named Pipeline, is, says Evrenos, “soon to be known as the happiest place in London.” Having always had a burning passion for rock n’ roll, Evrenos took his chance after being made redundant as a city banker in London. “What, a rock club?” Many of his colleagues found it hard to believe that Evrenos was throwing himself into such a change of career, but Evrenos made his plans a long time ago. “As a teenager I made up the name of my place after hearing Johnny Thunders’s fantastic guitar solo.” So far Evrenos has had an overwhelming response with many regular customers who all say they have

By Emelie Krugly found a new home. “I think that a rock club of this calibre was missing in London,” he says. “The Pipeline is not trendy, but a timeless venue where I want my customers to feel at home and the Scandinavian influence is not to be missed.” Pipeline has Live performances twice a week, along with stand up comedy and quiz nights. The menu, which has had great reviews, tempts with a wide range of Swedish classics such as Beef Rydberg, a luxury hash fry, and Wallenbergare as well as traditional Swedish meatballs and hot dogs. It is very popular and Evrenos advises everybody to book quickly for the Christmas Buffet! For more info visit www.thepipelinebar.co.uk

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Issue 14 | December 2009 | 71

Scan Magazine | Culture Calendar

Scandinavian Culture Calendar – Where to go, what to see? It’s all happening here! DECEMBER

For further information about this show visit:www.loremipsumgallery.com

Earth: Art of a changing world (Until 31 January) Swedish artist Emma Wieslander will be showing her photographic series Black Mirror at the Royal Academy of Arts, London. The exhibition presents recent work from more than 30 international contemporary artists, all concerned with debates about the relevance of climate change. The exhibition is open until 31 January. www.royalacademy.org.uk www.emmawieslander.com Simultaneously to this exhibition, Emma Wieslander will be having a solo exhibition featuring new work, Orange for Autumn, at Horne & Harvey, 23A St. James Street, London SW1A 1HA.

Photo: Emma Wieslander

London Chess Classics (8-15 December) Norway’s most famous 18-year old chess Grandmaster Magnus Carlsen will attend the London Chess Classics in December, which will be the highest level chess tournament in London for 25 years. Carlsen became a Grandmaster at the age of 13, making him the third youngest in history. Spectators will hear live commentary and also be able to play themselves in an informal setting. Tickets for the event are free for children. www.londonchessclassic.com Uusikuu (11-17 December) The tango orchestra Uusikuu (New Moon) revives Finnish dancehall music from the 1930s to the 1960s. Possibly they do it to honour the pioneers of the age, such as the great orchestras Dallapé and Ryt-

Recognised Swedish painter exhibits in London Scope Basel in Switzerland and been part of seven group shows during October all over the world.

Swedish-born artist Johan Andersson is an extraordinary young man; at 23 he is the youngest artist to have been awarded third prize in the 2007 BP Portrait Award. Besides, he has won the Jerwood Contemporary Painters Prize, showed at

72 | Issue 14 | December 2009

“I’ve always been very interested in people and the creation of the human being. There is a story behind every person and that fascinates me. Each one of my paintings tells a story about life,” says Andersson. “The creative process is almost spiritual, and my faith as a Christian has, of course, a big impact on my work. It also drives me to use my work to support a good cause.” One of the ways he has done this recently was by donating a painting for auction at the Royal Institution in Mayfair for Victims of Torture alongside Sarah Lucas, Sir

By Emelie Krugly

Howard Hodgkin, Sir Peter Blake, and Cornelia Parker. The medium Andersson prefers is oil, something he discovered and mastered by the age of 14. At Central Saint Martin's School of Art and Design Andersson flourished as a painter and he has since received praise from national newspapers such as The Times and The Guardian. “My plan is to move to Stockholm next summer and to get into some galleries over there. One of my dreams is to be seen at the Frieze Art Fair.” Curious about Johan’s work? Don’t miss the exhibition Portrait Prize Winners at the ‘A Gallery’, Wimbledon, London until the 3 Jan 2010. For more info visit www.johanandersson.com

Scan Magazine | Culture Calendar

mipojat, unforgettable singers Laila Kinnunen and Olavi Virta and masterful composers Toivo Kärki and Georg Malmstén. Join Uusikuu for a musical journey back through time from hot deserts to the cooling breezes of the Finnish lakes, from dreams of distant countries to the intimacies of the human heart. 11 December Mäkkelä's Trash Lounge, Rising Sun Arts Centre, Reading. 12 December Finnish Christmas Event "Me Käymme Joulun Viettohon", St.Columba’s Church, Oxford. 15 December Mäkkelä's Trash Lounge, 12 Bar Club, London. 17 December Mäkkelä's Trash Lounge, Port Mahon, Oxford, 8.00pm www.uusikuu.com

European Union Baroque Orchestra (11 December) EUBO consists of three Finnish musicians Irma Niskanen (violin), Louna Hosia (cello) and Matias Häkkinen (hapsicord) and other Europeans. Programme: Handel’s Messiah, with the Choir of New College, Oxford. This concert is to be performed in the presence of HRH The Duke of Kent, KG. Sheldonian Theatre, Oxford. T 0870 750 0695

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Scan Magazine | Culture Calendar

Jukka-Pekka Saraste conducts the London Philharmonic Orchestra (11 December ) Finnish conductor and violinist JukkaPekka Saraste conducts Beethoven's Piano Concerto No.5, the Emperor. With the beginning of the 2010/2011 season, Jukka-Pekka Saraste will start his position as Chief Conductor of the WDR Radio Orchestra in Cologne.Royal Festival Hall, Southbank, London. www.southbankcentre.co.uk Christmas Carol concert (12 December) Finnish Christmas carol concert featuring Irma and Nina Tapio, Hanna-Riikka Siitonen and Marja Ursin.Tickets from the Finnish Church tel 020 7237 4668. Southwark Cathedral, London Bridge, London, SE1 The story of the Kantele and other northern tales(12 December) Dr Clive Tolley, an independent researcher specialising in comparative mythology and medieval Scandinavian literature, holds a story-telling event for children at Chester Library, Chester. The stories focus on familiar tales in the Finnish mythology drawing mainly on the national epic Kalevala. In addition, to accompany his storytelling, Dr Tolley will play a traditional Finnish instrument called the kantele. Chester Library, Northgate St, Chester, CH1 2EF

UK premiére of Jukka Tiensuu's False Memories (16 December) Conductor Robert Spano, pianist Jonathan Biss and the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra introduces two great works by Finnish composers: False Memories, a composition by one of the finest of the current amazing generation of Finnish composers, Jukka Tiensuu, and the sweeping and passionate Symphony No 2 by Sibelius. Symphony Hall, Birmingham. www.thsh.co.uk Osmo Vänskä conducts the London Philharmonic Orchestra (17 December) An evening of music devoted to Sibelius. While Sibelius’s First Symphony was taking shape, it seemed that Finland must face cultural suffocation at the hands of its Russian governors. The composer’s shimmering, voluptuous symphony did owe much to Tchaikovsky and Borodin, but it was unmistakeably Finnish, and unmistakeably Sibelius. Royal Festival Hall at 6.15pm - Hilary Finch talks to Osmo Vänskä: Miraculous Logic: The Music of Jean Sibelius. Admission free. Southbank Centre, London. www.southbankcentre.co.uk

Swanhunter (13 December) World Première of the new chamber opera Swanhunter from the composer and librettist of The Adventures of Pinocchio (2008). The opera is based on the Finnish folk tale Kalevala and is designed for a family audience: an ideal introduction to opera. Story: Lemminkäinen is on a quest to find a wife, but in order to win her he must hunt the Devil’s elk, ride the Devil’s horse and shoot a swan, while unseen danger lies in wait for him on Death’s river. Suitable for ages 7+. The Lowry, Pier 8, Salford Quays, M50 T 0870 787 5780 Susanna Mälkki Photo: Simon Fowler

74 | Issue 14 | December 2009

JANUARY Susanna Mälkki conducts BBC Symphony Orchestra (30 January) Finnish conductor Susanna Mälkki has very quickly become a much sought-after artist on the international circuit. She has conducted many prestigious orchestras including the Berliner Philharmoniker, the Royal Concertgebouw, the Boston Symphony, the Philharmonia, and Münchner Philharmoniker. Barbican Centre, Silk Street, London EC2Y 8DS. www.barbican.org.uk Conductor Osmo Vänskä and soprano Helena Juntunen (30 January) An evening of music by Sibelius with conductor Osmo Vänskä and soprano Helena Juntunen. In the wake of his rousing First Symphony, Sibelius crafted something altogether different: Hostkvall (Autumn Evening). This is one of the composer's most beautiful creations, chilling yet embracing, and desperately delicate against the full-blooded warmth of the Second Symphony. Southbank Centre, London. www.southbankcentre.co.uk

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