Day 28

Still feeling a bit crook so more cold and flu tablets today.  Had a meeting with Anders Planell, the IT Manager for Entrance Systems EMEA and Niklas’ boss.  He gave me an introduction to the Entrance Systems IT structure and his different roles within the global IT organization.  It was also the first time I’d had some one-on-one time with him.  

A number of company’s fall under the ASSA ABLOY Entrance Systems division, the biggest being Besam.  Like Lockwood in Australia, Besam started as a small company and grew bigger until being bought by ASSA ABLOY.  The company started in Landskrona and this is where the headquarters still is, although most of the manufacturing has been moved to low cost countries like China and the Czech republic.  

It’s amazing to think that all the Besam automatic doors – sliding, revolving etc – that we have in Australia were packaged and shipped from right here in Landskrona, Sweden!  When I went for a walk around the factory we saw boxes packed for shipping to Singapore, South Africa and all over Europe.

I was surprised to find I’d ordered chilli con carne for lunch.  It wasn’t called that on the menu, and it was described to me as a bean stew with mince meat and rice.  I guess that’s kind of what it is… just weird because the last time I had it, it was actually called chilli con carne.

It was Niklas’ birthday yesterday and I was touched when he invited me to his birthday party.  It was at his house in Ekeby, with all his family and close friends – I was the only work colleague there.  Had a great time.  Talked with his brother (a paramedic) and sister (a police woman), his wife’s parents and friends he’d grown up with.  There were about ten children running about the house as well.  They all sang Happy Birthday in English, which I found surprising.  Turns out they did it for my benefit, so I got them to sing it in Swedish as well.

Got home around midnight and went straight to bed.  Hope to make it to Copenhagen tomorrow.