How Scandi are you? Our highly scientific quiz can tell you
Here at The Simple Things we are big fans of all things Scandinavian, from their simple but healthy lunches to their stunning scenery, stylish design, fascinating culture and indomitable sass. But how Scandi are you? Pretty sure you know your hytte from y
Getting to know you
What’s your name? A Anne B Agnetha C Agnethasdottir D Mind your own business. We Scandis don’t owe you a spelling lesson every time we introduce ourselves
Work and play
It’s snowed! What are you going to tell your boss when you call in claiming your snow day?
A Can barely get out the front door. Reckon we’ve had six inches here. I’ll see you next week. By the way, what was that Scandi drama you liked on BBC Four? Just wondering…
B I’m on my way. Will probably be late. Get the biscuit tin out, the huskies will be starving!
C There’s no such thing as bad weather, only bad clothes. This is the perfect opportunity to get out my garish taped-seam Norrona Lofoten Gore-Tex onesie
D What snow? Is it still snowing? I hadn’t noticed
What’s your ideal holiday destination? A
Soaking up some rays somewhere really hot. Maybe the Canaries B A cool city break: lots to do, lots to see and lots to eat C Somewhere peaceful. I usually hit my hytte for Easter with family and close friends. It’s great hygge D Soaking up some rays somewhere really hot. Maybe southern Sweden
Culture
What’s your desert island Scandi book? A Um… I’m a Jeffrey Archer fan generally… But I enjoyed Mamma Mia. Is there a book of that?
B Pippi Longstocking. How can you beat a book about a girl who can lift up a horse?
C Definitely a Jo Nesbo. Can’t beat curling up with Harry Hole and a bag of salted liquorice
D Desert island, you say? Why I won’t be reading anything. I will have fashioned most of the books I was allowed into a small hut and will be reforming the pages of the remaining books back into rustic logs to burn. Sitting around navel-gazing is not how we raiders and traders survived!
What do you go to Ikea for?
A The free childcare. I leave them in Småland and go and have a coffee in peace B The tealights and Daim bars. Isn’t that what everyone goes for?
C The Billy bookcases. There’s no storage like them. And the meatballs, of course
D All my furniture. Apart from the stuff that’s visible, which I get over the road in Ilva. But I usually head back to Ikea afterwards for a hotdog (at least that’s one bargain after Ilva have fleeced me for my life savings)
What’s your typical night out with friends?
A Pub, food, bar, club, possibly a kebab on the way home
B A nice restaurant with my closest friends, catching up on good times
C Something active – maybe a good walk or an activity getting some fresh air, then home for warming drinks
D Staying at home! A little good food, a couple of drinks and a lot of hygge – we can’t afford to drink in the bars round here anyway
Food and drink
How often do you fika? A How dare you? I thought The Simple Things was a quality magazine B After lunch C With coffee D With coffee twice a day. And more often if there’s more coffee on offer. And cinnamon buns. But just one, mind. Don’t want to ruin all the good work I did cycling here
What’s your favourite sandwich?
A Bacon. With Ketchup. Heinz B Some lean meat on soda bread with a glass of wine C Smoked salmon with pickles
D Cheese. With lingonberry jam on top. Yes, jam on top! And for heaven’s sakes don’t ruin it with more bread on top of that. Maybe a hard-boiled egg on the side, if you must
Strictly Scandi
What is lagom? A Is it the surname of that woman with the jumpers in The Killing? B A lake in northern Norway C The art of living a cosy life D Goldilocks-style frugality. Not too much, not too little. Just enough What are Northern, Southern, Skolt, Inari and Lule? A Ingmar Bergman’s cats B The members of ABBA C Ikea armchairs D The five languages spoken by the Sami people in Lapland
How would you frighten away a troll?
A Apply Immac to its feet B Show it moonlight C Put it in a Dreamworks franchise D Ring church bells
And finally…
This has been so lovely. Would you like to come round on Saturday for some fermented herring and smoked sheep’s head? A Sorry, I’m busy B Sorry, I’m busy C Sorry, I’m busy D I’d love to! I’ll bring the salted liquorice!