Jobuffey Buffey

I have only just discovered Danny Robins brilliant portrayal of a Brit trying to adjust to Swedish family life (Cold Swedish Winter through BBC Sounds RAdio 4). What a brilliantly comedic but also very accurate and poignant production for which I whole heartedly congratulate Danny and all the actors who took part. I was a young English teacher posted (alone) to smallish town, Norrkoping, in the late 1980’s for 3 years. I overcame the overwhelming loneliness by finding a Swedish boy friend and through him, encountered virtually every scenario, attitude and strange customs and cultural norms that Danny so accurately depicts. Listening to the series was like reliving those years to me in minute detail, some painful memories but mostly now in hindsight, hugely funny - the Eurovision obsession, the lack of chit chat, the largom concept, rule abiding, alcohol laws etc etc. thank you so much Danny, I hope you were richly rewarded and applauded for your talent - thanks too for such authentic performances by the others. Of course, perhaps it meant much more to me because I could relate to it so well through my own experiences but honestly one of the best pieces of radio comedy I have ever heard. BTW, I finally left Sweden after 3 years without the boyfriend. I felt I was probably too much of a rebel to live in such a well ordered and well meaning society but through living there, I learnt an awful lot about the chaotic and often cruel one in which I now live - UK. Jo Buffey