Robert Birming

birming.com · American English

[Stockholm, my hometown]Hi, I’m Robert from Sweden 🇸🇪Welcome to my corner for everyday stories, small adventures, and thoughts that linger long enough to owe me rent. The photo above is...

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Last post: Sep 21, 2026
Posts in 24 h · 7 days · 30 days: 0 · 2 · 8
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Pika photo gallery
Sep 21, 2026 · original
The Pika blogging platform has some nice things built in when it comes to photos, like a lightbox for easy navigation and loading="lazy" so images load as you scroll instead of all at once. It also comes with a variety of variables that let you customize what content to show on specific pages. This makes it a perfect match for creating your own “self-updating” gallery of photos. This is what my photo page looks like, and it’s easy to make your own. Create your gallery Add a tag like ‘photos’ for relevant posts. Create the page where you want them displayed. Add a variable like {{ posts_in_stream tags: "photos" year: 2026 }} . Add the styles below to the page. Save, enjoy, and keep snapping photos. Custom CSS /* Photo gallery */ .site-stream-of-posts { display : grid; grid-template-columns : repeat (auto-fill, minmax ( 220px , 1 fr)); gap : 0.75rem ; margin-block : 1.5rem 3rem ; } @media
The joy of just doing
Sep 20, 2026 · original
Bird house collection. I used to be a full-time blogger in another life. I did it for a couple of years before having a mental breakdown. No surprise, looking back at those crazy times. Even though my love for blogging never went away, it took several years before I dared to get back to it. I was afraid of getting too consumed by it again. This was back in early 2023 and so far I’ve managed to keep it at a hobby level. No obligations, just something I love doing without a means to an end. But every now and then, I do find myself thinking that it needs to lead to something more. Like the joy of just doing isn’t enough. As if the “doing” must generate “something” tangible. That’s not a bad thing in and of itself. Some people manage to do this while still being connected to that unconditional source of inspiration. It’s a beauty to watch. But for me personally, it doesn’t work. My mindset g
Unfiltered Swenglish
Sep 14, 2026 · original
A Swedish forest i visited yoday. My native language is Swedish. We get to learn English early on in school, and I would say my vocabulary and grammar skills are about average for a Swede. When I started blogging in English, I wrote in Swedish and used a translation tool. Then proofread and edited the text before publishing. It was time consuming and the end result often felt like a washed out version of the original piece. After a while, I started writing in English from scratch. I tried various proofreading tools to fix grammar and Swenglish expressions. It worked ok, but it also made me feel like a “bad writer” seeing all those errors. Then a tool came along that some of you might have heard of: AI. I went from Gemini to ChatGPT to Claude, fine-tuning my prompt along the way in an effort to stay true to my original. This is what the latest version looks like: Act as a copy editor, not
Bursting our bubbles
Sep 11, 2026 · original
Tunnelgatan, Stockholm I’m part of a small group at work that focuses on making our house inspection protocols read as clearly as possible for the clients. We’re spread out across the country and submit our suggestions in a shared document. Then we get together every other month and agree on what the final version should look like. When I was reviewing the submissions today, it struck me how differently the same thing was expressed depending on who wrote it. Someone used technical language, another one casual. One person explained things thoroughly, another one short and simple. The texts weren’t good or bad, right or wrong. Just different. Human. That’s what we human beings are. Different. We look different, we like a variety of things, and we have various ways to express ourselves. It’s a beautiful thing, but it can also lead to misunderstandings when we forget that universal truth. We
The secret
Sep 8, 2026 · original
When I arrived at one of the house inspections today, the owner was doing work in the garden. She showed me around outdoors. The house was old, but everything looked like new. So much care had been put into everything. Same thing indoors, not a single detail left to chance. She told me about all the precautions when it came to burglary, fire, and water damage. I didn’t have anything to add, everything was done by the book. When we got upstairs, she demonstrated her loom and some of her creations (here’s a video ). I was amazed. So impressive! Next, it was time for the attic. Before I knew it, she had opened the hatch in the ceiling, brought out a ladder, climbed up and was waiting for me. I could hardly keep up. When we got back down again, I just had to ask. — How old are you, if I may ask? — 81, she said with a calm smile on her face. If someone had told me that I’d get a million dolla
A lagom life
Sep 6, 2026 · original
My work environment the other day. “Haha, now I’ve done it again. I’ve been hard on myself. I’m so good at that, right?” The words, freely translated from Swedish, are from the band Bob Hund and their song “Tralala lilla molntuss, kom hit ska du få en puss”. It came on today when I was out walking. It struck me how well the lyrics describe the feeling that keeps haunting me. Maybe that’s why I always restrict myself so much. Believing that the less I have, in one way or another, the less chance there is of me feeling that I’ve done something wrong. There’s always this sense of having to pick one thing or another, never both. Yoga or weight lifting, reading books or watching movies, this or that blogging platform… It’s stupid, tiring, and doesn’t help in any way whatsoever. On the contrary, life becomes very complicated. I wish I had some “whatever” in me. On the other hand, I prefer bein
Opposites attract
Sep 5, 2026 · original
If I pretend to be my own psychiatrist, the diagnosis would be that I have a mild form of bipolar disorder. The manic highs and lows being creativity . Periods of being very creative, followed by spans of “delete everything”. The same pattern repeats again and again and again. I create stuff like a maniac, blog posts, events, themes, add-ons, etc. Then it all stops in an instant. Not in a moody kind of way, more like a surrender. I retract like a tide going out. The ocean is still there, unchanged at depth, but withdraws on the surface. I used to think there was something wrong with me, something that needed to change. Nowadays, I just see it as part of who I am. Not good or bad, not right or wrong. Just me being me. Maybe you’re the opposite. Maybe that’s what makes the world go round, the attraction of opposites.
Successful mistakes
Aug 31, 2026 · original
When the Swedish comedian duo Stefan and Krister started gigging together, it was as musicians, playing mostly covers at small clubs and events. One night when they kicked off the first song, the guitar was out of tune. It sounded terrible and they started blaming each other on stage, while the audience was laughing at the situation. After the show, a man came up and said he loved the gig. He wanted to book them, and added: “Please do more of the opening act, it was hilarious.” Everyone had thought the untuned guitar accident was part of the show. The misstep was a step forward, and they went on to become one of the most well-known comedians in Sweden. Sometimes the wrong note is how you find your own kind of music.
How do you know that?
Aug 21, 2026 · original
When the Swedish dance band Arvingarna got together, the founder told one of his friends to play the drums. When he explained that he didn’t know how to play the drums, his friend replied: “How do you know that?” It’s a funny story, but I also think there’s something to be learned from it. Who says he can’t play the drums? He does, since he’s never done it before or is comparing himself to others. Does that necessarily mean he’s not up for the task? Sure, he won’t be able to play as well as Buddy Rich or Eloy Casagrande. But that’s not what this band needed. Also, why try to become someone else when you can simply be yourself? Buddy and Eloy are both awesome drummers. They are also totally different from each other. People wouldn’t admire Eloy the way they do if he were an imitation of Buddy. If you’re ever in doubt, stop comparing yourself to others. Be yourself, play it to the beat of
Look how far you’ve come
Aug 17, 2026 · original
Today a new guy at work tagged along on my home inspections. He’s where I was when I started doing this job eight years ago. To him, I’m an expert, just like I considered everyone to be when I got employed back in 2017. That’s not something you think about yourself, no matter what line of work you’re in. You just do what you do, and you’ve done it for a long time, so you naturally get better at it. We might even feel that we’ve hardly accomplished anything in life. Just treading water, while everyone around us is effortlessly floating downstream. But if we look back on our lives, a whole different reality unfolds. It’s quite amazing what we’ve achieved. You might not be where you want to be yet, but you’ve definitely not been standing still. You’ve made it all the way here, and that magic adventure continues...
What’s stopping you?
Aug 15, 2026 · original
I’m sitting at my favorite coffee and coding spot in the part of Stockholm where I live. One of the guys on the staff told me that it’s his last full-time shift today. When I asked him why, he told me he wants to commit full-time to making music. Even if it’s not enough to make a living off yet, and maybe never will be, he wants to give it a shot. I love hearing stories like that. People following their heart, even if there’s no guarantee that they will succeed. And when you think about it, what guarantees do we really have in life? It’s not the end of the world if things don’t work out. Life’s too short to suppress that inner calling by playing it safe. What are your dreams? What’s stopping you, honestly? Fear? Afraid of looking like a fool if you don’t make it? Those are feelings and beliefs, not arguments or facts. That’s the voice in your head, not the voice of your heart. Don’t deny
Hedgehog Week
Aug 14, 2026 · original
It’s Hedgehog Week here in Sweden. The number of hedgehogs is almost down to half of what it was 12 years ago. To get a clearer picture of where they live and where they don’t, WWF launched the Hedgehog Week project back in 2024. Anyone can report a sighting, or the lack of one, and the data goes to a species database for researchers to work with. The plan is to keep running it every year for at least five years, so the same week each year gives more reliable numbers over time. Some reasons hedgehogs struggle Roads. Traffic kills up to a third of hedgehogs each year and splits up their habitat. Intensive farming. Monoculture fields and pesticides leave little food or shelter. Modern gardens. Tidy gardens mean nowhere to nest or hibernate, plus hazards like robotic lawnmowers and netting. In short: we humans are to blame. Our never-ending hunt for speed and simplicity, money and comfort.
Bad communication
Aug 13, 2026 · original
“I have a bad experience with the company you work for.” That’s one of the first things a client told me today. I sat down and asked what had happened. Early on, it was clear that it all came down to one thing: Bad communication. After having straightened out all questions, I did my job. Nothing special, the same thing others had done in the past. His reaction, though, was quite different this time: “Now I will recommend you to my neighbors.” Same job, totally different outcome. No magic, no special skills required. Clear communication, that’s all there is to it.
Share your stories
Aug 11, 2026 · original
Last client today was a photographer. Since I myself love taking photos, even if I wouldn’t consider myself a photographer, we started talking about the joy of taking pictures. How the world around us is filled with opportunities waiting to get put in a time capsule. The discussion also led us into the fact that it’s not so much about the skill of photographing, but more about being watchful. Simply noticing the surroundings. Both zooming in on the details and taking in the whole picture. There’s beauty, fascination, and mystery hiding in even the most mundane of everyday experiences. It’s all out there, available for free. We don’t even have to look for it, we just need to be alert. There are stories wanting to be told, moments deserving to get shared. It’s up to us to frame them, whether it’s in pictures or words. Keep sharing your stories.
Day by day discipline
Aug 8, 2026 · original
A song I’d never heard, by a band I’d never heard of, popped up in my earbuds. The title was “Overture” and the band’s name, Show Me the Body. Can’t say the music got me hooked, but the lyrics kept me from skipping to the next song. So I continued listening. Halfway in, I hear these words: Train one day, gain one day Skip one day, lose three days That’s exactly how I feel. And not only feel, it’s also what happens when I miss out. It doesn’t matter if it’s physical or mental training. Doing it regularly, sticking to the routine, makes all the difference. The beautiful thing is that it’s not really that hard. Once you’ve established it, whether it’s lifting weights or typing words, it becomes a natural part of life. To once again quote Show Me the Body: Day by day, discipline It’s all about how you do it
A flexible mind
Aug 6, 2026 · original
When I was about to park my car for a house inspection, all the spots were taken. I asked the homeowner if it was ok to park on the lawn. She didn’t mind, and then added: “We need to be a little flexible in life.” Imagine how many of our so-called problems would vanish with a little flexibility. Simply adapting to the current situation instead of resisting it. We might even make some new and interesting discoveries by being open-minded and curious instead of stiff and stubborn. — I’ll have the usual. — It’s sold out. — Ok, let’s try something new. A little flexibility. A huge difference.
The weight of waiting
Aug 5, 2026 · original
One of today’s clients had to cancel the house inspection at the last minute. With about six visits a day, this happens every now and then. Sometimes it’s possible to do the next job earlier, sometimes it’s not. Today it was the latter. Being in the middle of nowhere, I couldn’t wash my car or tend to any of the other duties outside of inspecting houses. All I could do was wait… Waiting got me thinking about waiting itself. The time span between where we are and where we want to be. Does it really need to feel as frustrating as it often does? Only if we consider this to be inferior to that . Seeing the present moment as something that shouldn’t be here. As soon as we let go of that idea and accept this for what it is, frustration is more or less gone. It all came from the notion that there’s something wrong with where we are. There isn’t. In fact, it’s the only place we can be right now.
Still here
Aug 4, 2026 · original
One of today’s clients was a person whose house I’ve inspected in the past. It happens every now and then, and I’m appreciating those meetings more and more with each passing year. It’s not so much about the actual person. It’s more about getting a sense of progression. A story unfolding instead of just a snapshot. Maybe it’s age. A feeling of gratitude for having been able to stick around for another year. Still here. Thank you.
Every day has a story
Jul 31, 2026 · original
I often recommend starting to write even though you don’t know what to write about. It usually helps. A few words, a sentence, and then you’re off. But sometimes it’s just a complete blank. Not a single word wants to get written. There’s one thing I find helpful in those situations: thinking through the day (or the day before, if writing in the morning). Where was I? What did I do? Who did I meet? What was said? What did I see? The idea is not necessarily to write about a specific event, but simply to ignite something. A little spark that starts a train of thought. One thing leading to another… You might remember holding the door for an older person, who is grateful in return. The memory leads you to start thinking about how nice it feels to give without wanting anything back. Then you realize that maybe this is what you want your blog to be about, giving for the sake of giving. Before y
What digital can’t quite reach
Jul 29, 2026 · original
During a house inspection yesterday, I spotted a collection of old slides: Bali, the Seychelles, Tahiti… all labeled by hand with the year. Travel slides The lovely old homeowners told me the photos were from many years of traveling around the world together. They started talking about how digital media will never be quite the same as physical media. Even though they were almost twice my age, I fully agreed. There’s a different kind of bond when it comes to real objects. A connection with the past in ways that the intangible cannot quite match. It takes you to places in the same way that walking barefoot on dew-wet grass in the morning can throw you back to childhood. In my case, that was a childhood when digital photography was pure fiction. Is that why I feel so much more strongly about the tangible? Maybe, but I hope not. I hope that touch and feel will always add an extra sense of wh

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