Well, it’s been a tough haul. The idea of holding the OD World Congress in Sweden was first put to me three years ago by Dr Don W Cole, the president of the Organization Development Institute based in Ohio. With three children coming in three years - our parental planning was very much thought through, but getting TWINS was a very unexpected and very, very wonderful surprse - I had to express deep regret at not being able to turn up in both Cyprus and Portugal, but made a choice that their first eighteen months came first. He approached a year ago and it was feasible. Thanks to Drusilla Copeland and Bengt Lindström of Anders and Lingström I had the support I needed here in Sweden. After looking at first the University town of Uppsala and then Stockholm and ruling these out on grounds of costs sights turned to Malmö.

The congress will meet at the Malmö Catle. I was fortunate to work with the Museum in 2001 for three months coaching English. The museum is based in a castle built to keep the Swedes out, (or the Danes in), when Skåne was a Danish territory - it then became a prison: all of which unbelonging makes it entirely suitable for work psychologists. The Kommandhuset, which was the small garrison building on the other side of the moat from castle proper is a is an excellent environment to create good conversations and give good presentations in. The museum was named national museum of the year in 2002 and though not large contains more surprises than many national collections. I won’t spoil the surprises for those who haven’t visited, but there are both live animals, and Delft china, rare Volvos, and royal chambers.

I look forward to posting more news on the congress as it progresses.