The final nail in the coffin......

[scottswede]

Since living here and slowly realizing it was nevvvvvvvvvvvver going to work. Made the decision to move as soon as is possible.
I have somehow become less irritated, sad, annoyed, angry, bitter, resentful (you get the general theme...) just try and get through the days now.
I have affectionately renamed my big shop as my reconn mission ( get in-do what I have to do-don't make eye contact with the natives- get out without anyone getting injured)
I am hoping my sense of humor will not desert me, and see me through this.
Anyhoooooo dh and I took the 2 kids to the cinema last week, then treated ourselves to fish and chips with some sticky toffee pudding at a British themed pub.
£180.00
I am not a skin-flint by any means but come on Sweden. It completely took the enjoyment out of the day.

I guess four film tickets here could be about £30 and a Pizza Express for four could be about £70, so yes, massively expensive in Sweden, but pretty expensive here too.

Sorry you are having a rough time. I might be going to Sweden for my hols this year, so I'm sad you don't like it.

When are you due back?

I'm sure you will have a lovely holiday here, especially if you get the weather. There is a great Fun-park in Öland if you are on the east coast side.
Moving ASAP, probably next year though. Having made the decision to move I am a little impatient to get going, but we have sell a house here first.

Shine a light 180 quid! British theme without the British prices eh.

Good Luck with it all scottswede, I for one am rooting for you

I am trying to think of something positive about it! ... No that's huge money!
Sorry not a pro Sweden house either. One sweedish au pair and a family close who have had one sweedish au pair too. If they reflected sweedish people.. No not our place!

This is why I could NEVER live in Denmark and I think Sweden is the same. They are such kill joys. Its like they like the pain of having no money and don't want anyone else in this world to have more than them. I have found so many people there to be very negative in their mindset. Stay positive!

One of the things I like to do is smile at Danish people. Its so funny because they have no idea how to handle it. If someone asks why I am smiling I tell them its because I am happy. They look at me perplexed! Its quite a fun game when you are surrounded by misers.

Want2b You will get similar reactions if you start grinning like an idiot on the tube.

A smile isn't a grin. Lived in London and took the tube a lot. Never had to deal with so many miserable people as I have done in Denmark. The PiL live in a nice 2 bad apartment. It wasn't built for 6 so we go out a lot. The day trips are so expensive. We pay for it all as DH's family can't afford these outings. Over a two weeks period we drop around $10k doing things that would cost us may be as much as $4k in England or the US. We are lucky we can afford it but the expense does take away from the experience. I see this as something similiar to what the OP is describing.

OP - I hope you are able to move soon. Keep your sense of humour! Last summer I had a really bad day when I was with the 2DC (aged 2 and 5 months) trying to take the train from Copenhagen to Jutland. I found myself thinking 'Just be thankful you know there is better than this.'

I am convinced that anything considered remotely enjoyable is Baaaaaad so it must be taxed so high that people don't do anything.
They have mastered taking the joy out of most things.
Hence the misery.

It is expensive, but not unusual on the Continent. You can have very similar experiences in the Netherlands with crap service to boot. Another high tax country.

Scott I came to the conclusion that the reason people sleep around so much is because its the only thing they can do that is affordable!