Autumn

Such a cliche, I know, but I love autumn.  Mainly because it is the time when everything is being put away for the winter and I can be inside reading, embroidering and drinking tea, instead of putting myself under pressure because it's such a beautiful day for hang-gliding and I am not doing it, or some such random strenuous outdoor activity.  There is such a beautiful melancholy to the general dyingness of things that you just have to embrace or be overwhelmed. 

Bjurbäck kyrka

Up by us

To celebrate this year, I finally have crossed something off my bucket list.  Well, I say, bucket list, it's more like a loose collection of stuff written on the back of receipts and left in the jean pocket. We, Mr G and I with 2 friends, went to the Harvest Festival on Öland.

It's called Skördefestivalen and the whole island of Öland clears out the attics, empties the pumpkin patches and sells the contents on the road side\in the barn.  There are extra points if you have sheep, or ponies that give rides to small children without throwing them off or eating them.   The main road is jam-packed with cars, caravans and mobile homes, and huge, clean lorries.  I am not too certain about the significance of the lorries, but what do I know?    I have never seen so many mobile homes in one place, there were more than I knew existed. We stayed in a cabin, at least that way, I could fit in the shower. 

Generally milling about.  It's what you use tractors for.....

There were a lot of tractors, Ferguson's mainly..... no, I don't know, things with wheels and stuff.  One chap had even had an EU grant to do a proper exhibition of this tractor and other stuff collection.  That is dedication and oomph!

Anyway, nice place is Öland.  Possibly best to go in late spring, less mobile homes and pumpkins.  I have a feeling that nothing can be done about the loppis though.

 Hello! 

Yes, I am still alive, just. In the intervening years such a lot has happened, so I will just list things to wet your appetite and probably/maybe come back to them later. So, sitting comfortably? Then let us begin..

1. Cafe went very well, then Mad M, Cupcake Queen of Norway happened, and I decided to close. You can't work around Mad Cupcake Queens, sometimes you just have to cut your losses.

2. Developed a bad allergy to cat. Almost went into a coma, at the risk of sounding over-dramatic. So poor Psychokitty had to be put down.  She was a wild cat and would only graciously allow us to have any sort of contact, so there was nothing else for it.  I still cry now.

3. We moved. There is a special place in hell for the creators of the British house buying system and a whole blog of invective is coming.

4. Got a job as a country postman. Awesome job, absolutely awesome.  One day I will write a book called Underpants of Sweden - my life as a postman. 

5. Had a massive burnout. Therapy is brilliant, I think that a psychological health check up should be as standard as a physical health check up.  My one regret is not having therapy sooner, I would probably be better at it then...

6. Covid started and I got breast cancer. I am so thankful that I am living here and not in the UK. I also took the opportunity to start gaming instead of waiting until I retire. Marvellous decision, Dragon Age is the best, though have to rediscover keyboard controls. This is probably good for staving off dementia, though not monsters.

7. A slipped disc in my neck (mega ouch) showed bone spurs digging in the spinal column and radiating nerves (oucher)

7. I am still on treatment for cancer today and have had to give up my life as a postie, so technically speaking I am unemployed.  Though I have more than enough to do, societies to join and volunteer organisations to help with. So it is more like being unpaid community worker, combined with having to "listen to my body" (quite frankly, I hadn't realised that it lies so much, especially about the need for chocolate).

So here I am, shouting into the void and shamelessly practicing my writing.  

More to follow!