found the actual story! From 2011 www.thelocal.se/20110801/35272

It turns out that it's because overhead power lines and mylar don't play well together and it's an enclosed space so evacuation is tricky. I reckon non-helium latex ones are probably safe, though.

also can we have a moment of appreciation for ballongförbud, because that is such a great word.

Visiting @wordweave.bsky.social who is doing writer-in-residency in Skara, Vastergötland.

oh! @wordweave.bsky.social has a residency there at the moment. It is spectacular lakeland country and I hope to do more than just a flying visit sometime soon.

That is an excellent reason to go to Stockholm.

That sounds like a brilliant way to spend a few days.

Skara, a very small cathedral town in Vastergötland. Were in Stockholm for anything in particular or did you just feel like having a trip there?

ooh, nice. Any particular reason or did you just feel like having a wander about?

the last competent PM we had was Gordon Brown, for goodness sakes.

there's been too much redevelopment and one section confused me, so it took me 2. am mortified by that.

oh, without a doubt.

it's literally stolen from Iain M Banks, pretty much word-for-word.