Peter Svenonius
was @Sweden (2012-04-23 to 2012-04-29)

I’m Peter Svenonius, 34 years old, and I work as a management consultant specializing in sales and marketing for B2B companies. I live with my lovely wife and two daughters in our house, an ongoing renovation project, in Stockholm.

When I’m not working with various projects I enjoy music (former DJ), design (web, furniture, gadgets, print), skiing (down hill), traveling, and cooking (and eating). Last year I tried a 3 minute routine as a Stand up comedian, which really gave me a adrenaline high and lot’s of fun. My earliest claim to fame is otherwise being the baby in a famous Swedish advertising campaign from the late 70′s to get more fathers to take advantage of the generous Swedish parental leave system.

Feel feee to follow and ping me @petersvenonius or connect with me otherwise, I’m quite active on the web and in various social media.

@Sweden April 29, 2012 20:25

I’ve tried to answer all your questions. But maybe I missed one or two. Send it again. I’m here for 35 more minutes.

@Sweden April 29, 2012 18:40

Wonder if tweet about “free passage” over private property will lead to misunderstandings. Always good to ask owner before setting camp!

@Sweden April 29, 2012 18:34

This has been such a wonderful week. All questions & feedback from so many followers. I’ve really enjoyed being Mr Sweden. Universe next!

@Sweden April 29, 2012 15:33

I’ll keep tweeting from this account until 9 pm (it’s 3.30 pm here now). My last tweet will introduce next week’s curator.

@Sweden April 29, 2012 10:12

Lake Vättern is the deepest and second largest in Sweden. It connects with Trollhättan (West) and Berg (East) coast through Göta Kanal.

@Sweden April 28, 2012 21:53

Tuesday, May 1, is a national holiday. On the day before, Apr 30, we celebrate that spring is here, “Valborg”, lighting bon fires & singing.

@Sweden April 28, 2012 18:03

@tdh don’t think it will be enough. The pr work behind this account is like any other celebrity account. Good tweets aren’t enough.

@Sweden April 28, 2012 18:02

@tdh yes. But I could adjust that. For instance tweet in english all the time. Wondering I that alone will multiply my following count.

@Sweden April 28, 2012 17:57

@tdh I’ll still be me and with so many followers being in Sweden I think main difference will be quantity. 40x my ordinary follower count.

@Sweden April 28, 2012 17:38

Love seeing all the cherry blossoms from all over the world. thinking about driving in to Stockholm for a live view before it’s too late.

@Sweden April 28, 2012 14:17

Waiting for my business partner. Time for business development. On a Saturday when the sun is shining. That’s either commitment or foolish.

@Sweden April 27, 2012 20:14

Swedish pancakes, crumplets, pikelets, patties, silver dollar pancakes, crêpes, fritelle, flapjacks, fritters, cakes. You guys are fabulous!

@Sweden April 27, 2012 20:08

The “things” were made of corn, onion, garlic, eggs, flour, beans, salt and pepper. Fried in some oil. About 0.5
Cm / 1/5″ thick.

@Sweden April 27, 2012 19:45

Ok. We didn’t have platelets for dinner. Stupid google translate. Anyone know what the accurate English word for small pancakes is?

@Sweden April 27, 2012 19:42

Thing I haven’t done this week: seen the cherry trees blossoming in Stockholm. Hope they are still there on Wednesday.

@Sweden April 27, 2012 12:11

In my standup routine I played on my resemblance to Swedish PM Fredrik Reinfeldt. Maybe I can get an official gig if he is double booked.

@Sweden April 27, 2012 12:10

art year I tried standup comedy through “BungyComedy”. It was a great experience and one of my biggest adrenalin rushes ever.

@Sweden April 27, 2012 12:09

Yesterday the minister dinner mixup went global. I have been told I look like Swedish PM Fredrik Reinfeldt. Maybe I can get a dinner invite?

@Sweden April 26, 2012 22:19

My day didn’t start the way I had planned. It’s been a real energy drain. I’m gonna try and shake it off with some sleep now.

@Sweden April 26, 2012 11:39

.@EMCP_ I also remember the national park we visited when traveling HW1. You could drive through a giant tree. And great water falls. Name?

@Sweden April 26, 2012 11:37

My cousin is traveling in Australia and New Zealand at the moment. Seems to have the time of his life, based on the FB pictures.

@Sweden April 26, 2012 11:28

I have visited my god parents in 5 cities in 4 different countries – one being Greenland. But not Singapore yet.

@Sweden April 26, 2012 11:26

I have been to Beijing in Chiina. For 56 hours. It was when my mother left the airline industry and we did many short trips.

@Sweden April 26, 2012 11:26

I’ve been to USA: New York, Florida (multiple), Boston, Atlanta and California (Drove HW1). Canada: Vancouver en route to Whistler skiing.

@Sweden April 26, 2012 11:24

I love to travel, really spoiled as a kid, since my mother worked at Austrian airlines and we got to fly virtually free on stand by tickets.

@Sweden April 26, 2012 11:24

One of the great things with being the curator is that you guys are following from so many different countries and cities.

@Sweden April 26, 2012 07:03

We talk a lot about the weather here in Sweden. It varies a lot during a year and especially this period. winter 1 day, summer warmth next.

@Sweden April 26, 2012 06:59

Good morning (or good evening/day/night depending on where you are). It’s 7 am here. Cloudy 6C and some light rain. Typical “April weather”.

@Sweden April 25, 2012 22:50

Now I’m gonna sign off and get some sleep. But all you that are awake can keep tweeting me. My phone is on mute!

@Sweden April 25, 2012 22:49

Earlier today I tweeted about our paid family leave in Sweden. Send any remaining questions you might have, and I’ll answer when I’m awake.

@Sweden April 25, 2012 22:19

> Of course she was allowed in. Since she has been interviewed by lots of media and is of course present on the official dinner photo.>

@Sweden April 25, 2012 22:18

> However the invitation was sent to one of the other Margareta Winberg, a 67 year old retired work therapist, who showed up for the dinner>

@Sweden April 25, 2012 22:17

> One was former Swedish minister for agriculture Margareta Winberg, a name she shares with only some 20 other Swedes. >

@Sweden April 25, 2012 22:14

Funny thing in Swedish politics this week Lena Ek minister for the environment invited 11 prominent people to a dinner to honor their work.>

@Sweden April 25, 2012 15:37

Ok guys, I’m gonna leave to pick up our youngest now. And then cook the Danish specialty “Krebinettes” for dinner. Talk to you later.

@Sweden April 25, 2012 15:30

Baking with sourdough is still very popular. In general there is a lot of talk about eating healthy, organic and from local producers.

@Sweden April 25, 2012 15:29

Today we get our bread from local baker Atilla and Solveig, who bakes fresh bread for their neighbors every Saturday.

@Sweden April 25, 2012 15:29

When I was on paternity leave during fall of 2005, I baked a lot of bread using sourdough from wheat and rye. Soothing, tasty, and cheap!

@Sweden April 25, 2012 15:27

I would have gotten paid family leave, but couldnt risk losing clients by being “gone” for six months. Sad. But true.

@Sweden April 25, 2012 15:26

Our youngest daughter was born in March 2007. At the same time I quit my job as a marketing manager and started working as a consultant.

@Sweden April 25, 2012 15:26

I missed out on that with our youngest, which I can regret sometimes when she still, at age 5, prefers to cling on her mother.

@Sweden April 25, 2012 15:20

Seems Wikipedia guidelines are not on my side in this case. I’ll just have to work on getting published or win a sporting event. :)

@Sweden April 25, 2012 15:18

There are two levels of paid family leave, the high at 80% of your salary up to 25k SEK or 1k/day. The last days “only” pay 90 SEK/day.

@Sweden April 25, 2012 15:13

Wikipedia admins said my page was “irrelevant”. Perhaps this week one of you guys can help me prove they’re wrong?

@Sweden April 25, 2012 15:12

I tried to make a sep page on me linked from Hoa Hoa’s on the Swedish version of Wikipedia, but it got deleted by the admins over and over.

@Sweden April 25, 2012 14:56

I have a signed 50×70 cm poster of me and Hoa Hoa in my office. Everyone was supposed to bring a picture of them self for the wall of fame.

@Sweden April 25, 2012 14:53

Since I’m not getting paid from visit Sweden to act as curator this week, I guess it is okay to tweet while Vabbing. But better not tell.

@Sweden April 25, 2012 14:48

Many thought Hoa Hoa was my father, which he is not. He was famous, and they needed a baby. Someone knew someone who knew my mother.

@Sweden April 25, 2012 14:44

The campaign photo with me and Hoa Hoa is well known in Sweden, and still used in articles and text books to illustrate paid family leave.

@Sweden April 25, 2012 14:42

“Vabba” doesn’t cut me totally from work. I can do most things via phone/computer. Harder for someone with a job where presence is required.

@Sweden April 25, 2012 14:39

We have a word for when you are at home with ill kids. It’s called “VABBA” abbrev. from “Vård Av Barn”, translates “Caring for Child”.

@Sweden April 25, 2012 14:36

Day care is subsidized w tax money but you also pay a fee. The fee depends on your income, but is never more than SEK 1260 (1 child).

@Sweden April 25, 2012 14:34

If you earn more than ~25k, then it is quite a big difference from working. Some employers offer a “top up” to 90% of your actual salary.

@Sweden April 25, 2012 14:33

While on paid family leave you get a grant from the government instead of your salary. Simplified: 80% of your salary, up to SEK ~25k.

@Sweden April 25, 2012 14:24

.@trinnybopper Kids normally go every day. Unless you are on family leave w another kid. Then 15-30 hrs max day care (depends on county).

@Sweden April 25, 2012 14:18

In 1974, when the paid family leave was introduced, fathers took about 0,5 % of the available days (6 months then).

@Sweden April 25, 2012 14:16

Lennart “Hoa-Hoa” Dahlgren is a Swedish heavy weight lifter who was chosen for the ad campaign that started in the late 70′s.

@Sweden April 25, 2012 14:15

Increased paternity leave (fathers) was the message in ad campaign in the late 70:s where I was the baby in the arms of Lennart Dahlgren.

@Sweden April 25, 2012 14:13

> Except for 60 days that are ear marked for each parent. There is an ongoing debate on how to increase fathers’ share of parent leave.

@Sweden April 25, 2012 14:12

Altogether we have 480 days of paid family leave per kid – until they are 8 yrs old. It can basically be divided as the parents choose. >

@Sweden April 25, 2012 14:10

We also have the possibility to stay at home with our kids on a longer basis, mostly used from birth until start in day care/pre-school.

@Sweden April 25, 2012 14:09

Taking care of ill kids is covered by the parental insurance, and I get compensation for lost salary from the government (tax supported).

@Sweden April 25, 2012 06:45

But first: open both my eyes fully, wake up the kids, get dressed and have some breakfast before going via preschool/school to my office.

@Sweden April 25, 2012 06:44

Today I thought I’d tell you a bit about the excellent parental insurance in Sweden. For which I have posed naked. Some 33 years ago.

@Sweden April 25, 2012 06:42

Good morning from another sunny day in Stockholm. This time of the year it often means just a few degrees above freezing point @ this time.

@Sweden April 25, 2012 06:40

Sorry if I spammed your feed (5 hrs ago) by adding “.” before all my replies. Stopped now. Was trying to give general info to all of you. :)

@Sweden April 25, 2012 01:03

The local time here is 1 am, so I’m gonna sign off now. Tomorrow I’ll leave the kids at school/preschool and then I would love further talk.

@Sweden April 25, 2012 00:51

.@JensJohann 349 elected parliament make laws. government runs the country, answers to the parliament. local governing in provinces & county

@Sweden April 25, 2012 00:49

.@etellurian there are big negotiations between workers/unions and employers every other year. and yes there is an index & inflation control

@Sweden April 25, 2012 00:19

.@richardksmith hard to say. Depends where you start, how long you plan to stay and your interests. Any more details?

@Sweden April 24, 2012 21:38

.@mansoorb96 depends where you are traveling from and how. The largest international airports are in Stockholm, Gothenburg and Malmoe. >

@Sweden April 24, 2012 15:11

New Swedish money includes Astrid Lindgren (author), Ingemar Bergman (director), Greta Garbo (actress) and Dag Hammarskjöld (UN).

@Sweden April 24, 2012 13:58

.@jerano visited Varberg a couple of times, some years ago. Lovely town, esp walking along the water. I worked for Koneo then.

@Sweden April 24, 2012 10:25

I’m on my way to meet a friend for lunch. She lets me use a desk at her office for a few hours before we eat. My office is in Soedermalm.

@Sweden April 24, 2012 10:22

I love taking pictures. Mainly with my iPhone and especially the Instagram App. Please send a picture from your part of the world!

@Sweden April 24, 2012 10:17

.@simont38 yes. Common in restaurants , hair dressers and when you use a handyman in your home. No receipt given. But decreasing now.

@Sweden April 24, 2012 09:52

.@simont38 Also handymen, but through a tax rebate to private customers, thus making black payment without receipt white.

@Sweden April 24, 2012 08:58

.@eleni_sson this is my favorite time of the year – everything starting to bloom and all of the summer ahead of us

@Sweden April 24, 2012 08:25

.@Hau_nS_E happy indeed. Managed to get a set. Hopefully I will make it in time for the seminar. Starts in five minutes.

@Sweden April 24, 2012 08:22

.@rarsson nope. The opposite. Only legitimate email marketing where recipients have opted in to receive news and promotions. Very effective!

@Sweden April 24, 2012 08:21

.@MaithaQayed not sure. We are meeting at a place called “Taste The Restaurant” which serves really good lunch. I’ll take a pic!

@Sweden April 24, 2012 08:18

.@auldzealand best tip for any curator is to mute your phone when you sleep, since followers are all over the world.

@Sweden April 24, 2012 07:43

Now I’m off to work. First I will attend a seminar on email marketing. Then write a proposal for a client. Finally lunch with a dear friend.

@Sweden April 23, 2012 22:10

I look forward to answering more questions and telling you more about myself, Stockholm and Sweden tomorrow. Good night!

@Sweden April 23, 2012 22:08

I’m sorry if I’ve missed answering anyone. Pls get back. Or if I’ve answered you twice. Trying to keep track of all mentions Keep’em coming!

@Sweden April 23, 2012 21:54

Tomorrow I will have more time to tweet during the day, although I start with a seminar on email marketing at 8-10 am CET.

@Sweden April 23, 2012 21:53

I think I have caught up with all lovely mentions/questions from you guys now. Thanks for your interest – and patience.

@Sweden April 23, 2012 21:01

.@Rav_Bunneh It was awesome. We just subscribed to a home delivered grocery bag. Got it yesterday. This was the first dish we cooked.

@Sweden April 23, 2012 16:22

.@MahmoudElsayed I’m fine thank you. Just finished 2 meetings and I’m now en route to pick up the kids from school/pre-school. Then dinner!

@Sweden April 23, 2012 16:12

I need to get a map so I can pin all different countries and nationalities talking to me! Any tips on digital maps I can use?

@Sweden April 23, 2012 13:54

Now I have to leave you guys. Have another meeting. Will continue answering questions & telling you more about me and my life L8ER. Cheers!

@Sweden April 23, 2012 12:49

Done with training at the gym. Now a quick lunch and hopefully time to answer you guys before my next meeting in 70 min.

@Sweden April 23, 2012 11:26

Done with my first meeting today. Tried to answer all the mentions from you nice guys. Soon of to the gym for a nice work out.

@Sweden April 23, 2012 08:51

My name is Peter Svenonius, I’m 34 years young (going on 35 in August) living with my lovely wife and our two daughters in Stockholm.