Emma and Peter Källström

Emma & Peter, Fliseryd

It is a rainy day in early November when I knock on the door at the Källström family's home in Fliseryd. In the living room, a fire crackles invitingly and there is full activity in the house with autumn break children. I am here to talk about Fliseryd with Emma and Peter. One of them has lived here their whole life and the other moved here because of love. The couple are well-known figures in the village, largely thanks to their great commitment to community life as well as the place. This is a couple who are not afraid to step in and help with both big and small matters.  

Emma and Peter Källström are truly community people to the fingertips. Emma, who grew up in Oskarshamn, began to engage early in the scouts, the basketball club, and the Swedish Church. Peter, who is a native of Fliseryd, has, on his part, been involved in practically every association in Fliseryd. He has engaged in everything from the construction of the sports hall to being the announcer at the annual Fliseryd Day (for a full 25 years, in fact). Nowadays, he is the chairman of the Fliseryd Community Association, which advocates for and works towards the development of the Fliseryd area. When Emma moved from Oskarshamn to Fliseryd, she immediately became involved in community life here as well. It started with her joining the church choir and since then, she has taken on both church political assignments and engagements as a youth leader for, among other things, children's gymnastics.  

”I would probably say that getting involved in the local community life was crucial for me to quickly integrate into the village's community and get to know people. When I moved here, I didn't know anyone. Admittedly, I got a bit of a bonus since Peter has a large network, but it is important to find your own social context,” says Emma.  

But how come the move went to Fliseryd specifically? Well, the culprit in the drama is, as for so many others... love. Emma and Peter met in the early 00s when they both worked in the restaurant industry in Oskarshamn. From 2003 to 2008, they ran the nightclub La Scala, which for a period was the place to be. If you belong to the Millennial generation and lived in the areas around Oskarshamn at that time, there is a good chance that one or another evening was spent here. Emma often stood at the bar mixing cocktails, while Peter made sure the dance floor was filled with people. Peter is, in fact, a DJ and many will surely remember him as ”DJ Peter Carlsson”. ”All good things come to an end,” they say, and the couple's career in the nightclub industry came to an end when La Scala went up for sale in 2008. 

”We actually had plans to buy the business, but for various reasons, it didn't happen. In hindsight, maybe it was for the best, even though it felt disappointing at the time,” Peter recounts.  

Instead, a new chapter began, with completely new careers and – for Emma's part – a new hometown. At the end of 2008, both Emma and Peter got jobs at the nuclear power plant OKG and in 2009 Emma moved to Fliseryd. Peter already owned a home in the area, but initially, it was not obvious that they would settle there. ”No, it was actually not a given at all,” says Peter. ”We weighed different parameters against each other and thought a lot back and forth.” 

”Yes, we looked at some houses in Oskarshamn, but what became decisive was the economy and the time to jobs and schools,” continues Emma.  

Emma and Peter explain that they concluded that the best choice for them was Fliseryd. Partly, the economic aspect played a role, but above all, it became a time-saving decision. ”We calculated it, and even though the actual distance might be longer to work than from, for example, Oskarshamn, we still saved time in other areas. For example, we avoided extra time for pick-up and drop-off at school and preschool, since we have these so close to home. Then, the E22 is nearby, and it is quick and easy to commute,” Emma explains. 

”It is definitely affordable to live here too. You get a lot of house for the money,” adds Peter. 

Emma and Peter share that they are thriving in Fliseryd. When asked to do an ”elevator pitch” for the place, there is no shortage of points. 

”I think the absolute best thing about Fliseryd is the proximity to everything. Close to the store, close to the school, close to nature, close to historical places to discover and close to jobs,” says Peter. ”That thing about proximity is of course relative, but for us, it feels close to the most important things in our lives anyway.”.  

”I must of course advocate for the community life,” continues Emma.
”There is so much to do here. We have shooting, football, floorball, sport fishing, horseback riding, motocross, a gym, and much more. The associations here are so good at collaborating and working together to benefit the village. Fliseryd has a good community, and the people who live here are nice and helpful. People really support each other.” 

”And we must not forget that we have a really good service offering here too. The municipality has really invested in the area. Now we have a newly built school and playground. In addition, we have a nice store that is also an agent for the post office, pharmacy, and Systembolaget. Everything you need is here,” concludes Peter with a broad smile.  

Text and image: Jenny Svendsby