From next week I am working on the programme for Stockholm. I will be involved in several activities and will fixed the date and times for these events. R O W members in Stockholm can join most of these events but unfortunately it is just impossible to arrange these by continuing to ask members if certain days and times suit them, so I am doing it according to my schedule and any member can join those that suits his or her schedule in Stockholm.

ONE – HANDING OF GOOD LUCK MESSAGES
It is difficult for most ordinary members to attend the handing of the good luck message to the artists of 43 countries as those will be handed to the artists in the press centre during the first week when they come to the press centre for a meet and greet. Members who are in Stockholm during the first week and have P or F1 will be able to attend. The schedule is as follows:
Monday 2 May – those 9 countries in the top half of semi final 1
Tuesday 3 May – those 9 countries in the bottom half of semi final 1
Wednesday 4 May – those 10 countries in the top half of semi final 2
Thursday 5 May – those 9 countries in the bottom half of semi final 2
The handing to the big 5 and the host country will probably take place later when they come to the press center, maybe the Saturday or Sunday.
TWO – HANGING OF THE GIFTS MADE BY NIALL
The schedule is exactly the same as for the good luck messages as it is part of the gift package each country gets.
THREE – HANDING OF THE R O W AWARD TO IAN FOWELL
He will only arrive in Stockholm on the afternoon of Thursday 5 May and this can be done at any time during the second week when several members can be present. Ian will be assisting me from when he arrives so this is the most easy thing to fit in.
FOUR – HANDING OF COMPOSER AWARD TO THOMAS GSON
The idea Thomas and I have been discussing is that this should take place in the second week at either Euro club or Euro cafe and as he is there as composer for the Cyprus song. The idea is to have the group there as well to sign autographs and pose for photo’s, so this we will arrange at a time best suited to the groups schedule. There will also be press from Sweden.
FIVE – HANDING OF GIFT TO RICHARD HERREY
This was suppose to take place at the R O W lunch on Tuesday 10 May but now it is not possible as the HARD ROCK CAFE is fully booked for lunch that day by other OGAE clubs and fans as we waited too long to fix this date. Now it looks like we have to look at another alternative – maybe a morning tea/coffee. This is important to me, so even if it is just me present, I will fix this at whatever time Richard is available to see me during the second week.
SIX – VISIT TO ABBA MUSEUM AND HANDING OF STUFF TO THE MUSEUM OF ABBA ITEMS FROM SOUTH AFRICA
This will happen on Wednesday 11 May around 11 am and once again, even if it is just me, it is important to me to do this. It is items from my personaly collection and I think because it is not easy to come by, this will be more suitable for the museum so more people can see it.
SEVEN – MEETING BJORN AND BENNY OF ABBA
Not sure if this will happen, we need to still negociate and it will probably happen at the Greek restaurant Bjorn has opened. I do not really eat Greek food so for me it will not be a lunch or dinner,just meeting them and handing them special items
1 – An AFRIKAANS version of WATERLOO (if it is finished before I depart – this is out of my hands but the producers said I will have it).
2 – An AFRIKAANS version of Bjorn and Benny’s big hit in 1969 HEY GAMBLE MAN – this is finished and there are just 12 copies made, so this is extremely rare.
3 – Next week I get the AFRIKAANS version of the BRACELET song from the Danish selection which feature the two ABBA grandsons of BENNY.
EIGHT – MEETING WITH NICKY FROM IRELAND
I am busy getting SUNLIGHT covered in AFRIKAANS and this will be handed to Nicky during the second week at a time that suits him and the Irish delegation which probably will also be in Euro club or Euro cafe.
NINE – NOT AS GET CONFIRMED EVENTS
2016 see a lot of artists returning to Eurovision, such as Greta (Iceland), Kaliopi (Macedonia), Deen (Bosnia), Poli (Bulgaria) and Ira Losca (Malta). I have pitched the Eurovision songs of them from previous years to singers to cover and have it ready to bring to Stockholm for a hand over but I have no control over whether this will be finished. The artists or their record companies are paying so I cannot apply pressure to have it finished like I do on those items that I pay for, as the producers know if it is not finished by the time I go to Stockholm, then I do not want the items. 7th wonder of Malta – if the artist wanting to do it has not done by the end of the month, I will have it done by Cole and pay for it.
TEN – SPECIAL THING FOR WHOEVER IS THE WINNER OF THE R O W VOTING
Last year we had the HEROES messages for MANS who won the R O W voting for 2015, so whoever wins our voting for 2016, we will also have something for that artists – whoever it will be. This of course can be decided only once we know what song our members pick as their favourite.
Other members may organise events as well, like the lunch or whatever get-together. We may have again a karaoke contest like in Vienna although we have heard nothing as yet. Also not sure what other events OGAE SWEDEN will have up their sleeve for us at Euro cafe, and again once we have a programme of events, we will share it with you so you can plan your stay in STOCKHOLM around the events you would like to attend. There may also be special perforances at Euro village like in Vienna but again, we have absolutely no details.