mickan in world

A week home yesterday evening and it has been lovely. Absolutely lovely. Only dissapointment: No snow, but a fair bit of frost and temperatures below zero almost made up for it. It's cold enough I assure you. One thing I've been pondering this last week is how ever did I stand spending, what is it? 4 months of the year in that big eskimo coat? It is clumsy and huge and uncomfortable;but a necessity of course if warmth is the aim. My grandma sais I'm spoilt, complaining about the cold; I should be used to it, after all this is where I spent almost all my life. I grew up living through loooong cold, dark winters and I recall I actually liked it. As a matter of fact I still do. Discussing this with my wise sister she asked me if you ever really get used to the Swedish winters, or if you just get used to it over and over again; every year as autumn grows colder. I think she is right. Winter is a state of mind, something that comes over you when you least expect it. Having a date booked for winter, for the flight I mean, doesn't easen the chock the least, still I get surprised everytime I step outside the door and the cold hits my face. But five minutes into the walk, when I've gotten the steam up I always end up loving it. The colder the better, with the sun reflecting in the frost. Glovs on hands, hat on head, scarf around neck; bring winter on. I am ready!

This last week has been dreamlike. Like the hallucinations I suffered after ten hours of studying. I have finished two books, I've also finished my embroidery and drunk excessive amounts of coffee and tea and beer and glögg and wine with excessive amounts of friends whom I've missed so (fucking) much I didn't even realise until I got home. Having coffee I have discovered is the Swedish eqivalent to having a pint; it's funny, of course I knew that before but coming home always makes you look at the old everyday stuff with new eyes. I have had A LOT of coffee this week!
Also I've seen Djurgården lose in ice hockey, which was a bit of a set-back and I've hung out with my family, made christmas candy, gone christmas shopping with my mom and sleept long lovely full nights. And then more coffee.. I went to the old town's christmas fair and bought roasted almonds with Clara and Vici, that tradition goes back to good old school days together.

Now I will sleep; it's not even eleven o'clock.. and then early tomorrow morning me and dad will go ice skating, can't wait!

Natti Natti