Trudvang is the home of Sladden (a mix of Labrador, Dalmatien and Newfoundland) and Klaus (a mix of Norwegian and German). Þrúðvangur was the home of Thor in Norse mythology. Þrúður was Thor’s daughter. The same word means ‘strong’ in Icelandic. The word has given Þrúða, which means woman, girl.

"Torsjö" means "the lake of Thor" and was probably an actual place of worship for the vikings who lived in these parts of Southern Sweden for about a thousand years ago.

The house (39:7) was built around 1900 and belonged for generations to Torsjö Mansion (LiS=link in Swedish). At the middle of the 19th century the mansion housed one of Swedens largest libraries, with ca. 8.000 vols, a part of the Stenboch Archive.

Trudvang is located in the small village of Torsjö in Southern Sweden. Torsjö is the home of about 20 families. Directions: If you come from Malmö you should take the E65 towards Ystad. Get off at Skurup. Take the road to Skivarp. After about 4 km you come to Torsjö:

The address is:

Klaus Solberg Söilen, Trudvang, Torsjö, 274 93 Skurup, Sweden

Torsjö belongs to the Municipality of Skurup. The south-western municipalities of Sweden are known as "Söderslätt", as opposed to "Österlän", or as "Sydkusten" (Lis), the South Coast. There are three churches within a 10 minutes walk from Torsjö, Hassle Bösarp's Church, Solberga Church and Örsjö Church. The closest town is Ystad famous for its old buildings, monastery and magnificent theatre (Lis).

Local places which means something to me: First of all the cultivated landscape here. The painter Peter Winberg shows its beauty , e.g. Mossby Beach. There are many artists living in the area, and many art exhibitions, ex. Kulturkompaniet (LiS). Most local artists do not have a homepage yet. An exception is Geneviève Nicol. The yearly art sales for xmas at Svaneholm Castle. The xmas market and theatre at Marsvinsholm Castle, the lake walk at Häckeberga Manor . Abbekås Boat Club. The flower market in Skivarp at Gunnebo. For a real gym close by, HälsoPunkten (LiS). Other beautiful places in Skåne: Bjärehalvön, Österlän, Fyledalen (all LiS). Beautiful places just outside of Skåne: The Islands of Usedom, in particular the three kaiserbaeder, Rügen, Ven and Bornholm.

Other reasons to live in this part of the world: Inexpensive living, a well functioning infrastructure, a state that takes care of the poor and needing, taxes well spent and accounted for (especial locally), and a polite, industrious and warm people.

Other links: Conference at Hotel Mossbylund. Lunch at Skivarp's Inn. Golf at Abbekås Golf (LiS). To buy property in this area see Abbekås Villakonsult. The community college in skurup is known for it's education in music. If you are interested in Antiquarian books in Scandinavia. City search for Malmö, Copenhagen (both LiS). Closest international Museum is Louisiana. Ferries from Trelleborg directly to Travemunde and Rostock (LiS), Sassnitz, Gdansk. From Ystad to Swinoujscie. Airports at Copenhagen, Sturup (mostly domestic flights).

The Öresund Region is a Place of Learning. Within a two hour radius by car of Torsjö you can reach seven Universities: Lunds University, Malmö University, Halmstad University , Blekinge Institute of Technology, Kristianstad University, Copenhagen University, and Copenhagen Business School.

Biggest businesses in Skurup with more than 50 employees: Skanem, Postpac (LiS), Skånekött (LiS), and Lidbergs Grafiska.

Lokal information is all nice and well, but we now live in a global world where nation states are loosing atleast parts of their political power. We as individuals should join global movements against militarism and for social justice and the protection of the environment. See Ex. World Watch Institute and Red Cross. Or adopt a child today, at Plan.

If you want to leave a message you can E-mail klaus@trudvang in sweden, or sladden@trudvang (I don't think he checks his mail often). Link to homepage at work: BTH.

TORSJÖ

Under hög himmel,

mellan knölig Romelås

och havsblått Abbekås

fick vi vårt hem och vårt bo.

Här har vi vår rot.

Här fann vi ro

och framtidstro.

(Author unknown, in Nilsson, Elsa (1979). Nygammalt från Skivarp, v. Nöbbelöv och Solberga med Torsjö. Private edition).

Life is Always under Construction. As Kirkegaard reminds us we will always be left with the feeling that life never really started...