Snowing this evening here in Sweden. Fascinating place – not that I have seen much of it – about as much as if I had flown into Edinburgh and gone to a conference in Cramond. It reminds me that most of us have a mental map which is orientated southwards – it was always ‘turn right at Stranraer and head south from Calais.’ Scandanavia is both cold and expensive so not good for camping with small children. But there are all these people up here – living in what feels like a most stable and prosperous society – moving around between Sweden, Norway, Iceland and the Baltic Republics – all speaking perfect English in addition to their mother tongue. I must find an excuse to come back and have a look around.