Heatwave puts Swedish bus driver in touch with his feminine side

AFP ^ | August 6, 2003

[Charles Henrickson]

UMEA, Sweden (AFP) - A Swedish bus driver slipped on a skirt after his request to work in shorts in the summer heat was turned down, local media reported.

Bus driver Mats Lundgren, in the northern town of Umea, asked for permission to drive his vehicle in shorts as temperatures reached 25 degrees Celsius (77 Fahrenheit), but was told by his company that he could not.

Determined to cool his legs in the inordinate temperatures for northern Sweden, he then decided to show up in a skirt, which is allowed by the transport company's dress code.

As Lundgren settled in to the driver's seat, the navy blue skirt slid up his thighs just above his bony knees, revealing a pair of hairy white legs.

"It's even better than shorts. It's unbearable driving a bus in long trousers when the sun is blazing through the windscreen, but with the skirt it feels just great," Lundgren told local daily Vaesterbottens Folkblad.

Rolf Persson, managing director of Umea's transport authority told the paper that he was a little surprised to see Lundgren dressed this way, but his hands were tied as even careful perusal of regulations produced no mention of rules about men in skirts.

[Charles Henrickson]

An elk cools down with water from a sprinkler at Skansen Zoo in central Stockholm, during another hot day. es Celcius. A Swedish bus driver slipped on a skirt after his request to work in shorts in the summer heat was turned down, local media reported.(AFP/Pressens Bild/Jonas Ekstromer)

[Charles Henrickson]

Hej! to the Swedish Ping List.

[Richard Kimball]

He should be wearing a skirt. Anybody who thinks 77 degrees is hot is a p*ssy.

[telebob]

Re: Men in dresses. I've already told my guys that according to our HR department, they can wear gingham dresses to work if they want. Bows need to be tied tightly. Safety reasons, ya know...

[Core_Conservative]

Sorry, but in Sweden - it just may be HOT. In the US it's a little different (just a slight defense for the poor man) plus, the fact that with the sun shining in on his pants at least half the day - temps there were probably more like 90-100 degrees F.

[I_Love_My_Husband]

Well. Don't forget Sweden is super cold most of the time. 77 is hot in places that are cold like Sweden. I live in San Francisco, and 77 is considered *very* hot here and people can't take it.

[Rennes Templar]

The bodys' hypothalmus acclimates it to perform in certain temps. If one is accustomed to cool temps over a long period of time, then yes 77 would feel hot. Northern Americans experience this every spring and fall equinox when their hypothalmus' reset. This is why a sudden spike to 50 in March feels like 65, or 50 in Sept feels like 35, for a while,until the body adjusts.

[Nachum]

Hey, if he had said it was a kilt, he would be a macho shmuck.

[nothingnew]

Anybody who thinks 77 degrees is hot is a p*ssy.

BWAHAHAHA! You got that right! Here in Durango, CO....98f by day...38f-44f by night. What a pussy.

FMCDH

[secret garden]

Hey Slippy, if he thinks 77 is hot, he would curl up and die just thinking about Arizona!

[secret garden]

Say, is that a cousin of a moose?

[Charles Henrickson]

Say, is that a cousin of a moose?

Yes, actually, it is. This Swedish animal is called an älg (pronounced like "elly").

[AzSteven]

Bwahahahaaa! I have two Swedes here in Tucson this week, from our home office in Linkoping. THey have not curled up and died yet, but I think it is starting to get to them.

[Slip18]

Thanks for the ping, SG.

We've had the hottest July ever recorded here in Arizona. Daytime average temperature was 110. And this woose things 77 is hot? Give me a break.

Today is only 108. Time to build an igloo!

[Slip18]

Heat is getting to me. "Things" should be "thinks."

[zygoat]

I agree. He'll be wearing a sports bra tommorow because its up to 79 degrees,and the first 80 degree day will be his excuse to complete his whacko wardrobe. He will appear in a pair of pumps to prance on the pedals to overcome the oppressive heat. The only thing that may seem puzzling to those who have swallowed the load up to this point is the fact that his earrings and pearl necklace clash.

[yooper]

Typical Swede. 77 Fahrenheit is child's play to a Norwegian or Finn. In fact, it damn downright cold.

[yooper]

Call me crazy, but isn't that a moose.

[SamAdams76]

Maybe the guy is a pussy for not being able to handle 77 degrees. But I wonder who of us would be able to handle -30 in Sweden come January!

[X-FID]

He should go all the way and wear a thong bikini.