In rural Sweden, junk lovers can rummage through pre-loved treasures in people’s sheds, barns and even sitting rooms. It’s called a ‘loppi’, and keeps our writer off the local moonshine

Christmas at my Swedish in-laws is not for the meek. Every year I stand trembling like a penitent monk as my father-in-law uncorks another bottle of the home-brewed fire water he keeps stored in his wood-panelled booze bunker. He always succeeds in getting me to join in his drinking songs with increased vigour.

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There are two main diversions from the consumption of weapons-grade spirits here in Halland County in the south of Sweden. One is a trip to the gentle seaside town of Varberg for a sauna, followed by a vertical drop into the icy broiling ocean beneath. Actually it’s fun, in the way wrestling a hungry lion is fun. The second appeals strongly to my hoarding instincts: a trip to local loppis, or flea markets. The Swedish countryside is a bit like a pastoral car boot sale, in venues ranging from barns to people’s front rooms. You can lay your hands on everything from the bizarre (a deep-sea diving suit) to the practical: our smoked-glass 1970s decanter is the centre of attention at cocktail parties. The website loppiskartan.se lists loppis by area and, helpfully, has an English language version.

Last year I settled in for some hours at the home of Hans Eliasson, whose loppi in the small town of Veddige is called Antikt & Annat, and has a bewildering selection of vinyl. Though it required patience and a few frantic calls to my friend Andres for guidance through the Swedish underground musical oeuvre, I went home with a fine selection and a hefty excess-baggage bill. I’d already been there for four hours when Hans turned to me and, pointing to a shed next door, asked: “Do you like 12-inch singles?’’

Looks like we’ll be back again in June for the Midsommar festival …

• Justin will DJ at the Electric Elephant festival in Croatia from 9-13 July (electricelephant.co.uk, £130 for five days)

