I was woken at around 2am this morning by the tippy tappy sound of Freya’s paws on the wooden floors. There was an odd light in the house. I dragged myself out of bed and couldn’t find Mirinda. The strange light was coming from outside. The house was quiet.
Having made a slow circuit of the house, I unexpectedly found Mirinda sitting in the glassroom with her binoculars. She was watching for a badger that was, she said, currently under the car.
Apparently, she had been disturbed by Emma barking – I didn’t hear her – and she let her out to go to the toilet and walked around to the front of the house with her. Emma stopped when she reached the car and was interested in something under it. Mirinda said it was as if whatever was under there told her to go away because she suddenly and with great stealth moved away.
Mirinda said there was a hissing so she moved off as well.
By the time I joined her in the glassroom, there was silence and darkness. But then, like a flash, this little badger burst out and headed for the end of the drive. It stopped, momentarily, in order to make sure it was safe to turn onto the road, then sped up the hill, it’s little legs pumping like something mechanical. It was as if we were watching a cartoon.
The excitement over, the household returned to bed.
A little later, at a more civilised hour, I woke up again and proceeded to enact the new Writing Schedule. And, I have to say, it was highly successful. I managed to work through the first few chapters of the second draft, as well as indulging in a bit of a workout in between edits. I felt quite enlivened for the rest of the morning.
Sadly, the same cannot be said for poor Freya. She spent most of the day swaddled in a blanket on Mirinda’s lap. She was clearly in discomfort, a bit unsteady on her pins and not eating.
Late in the day I emailed the vet to ask if I should re-establish the painkillers. Following her advice, I forced a tablet down Freya’s throat and, in very quick time, she improved and was suddenly more hungry than tired: trotting around the house rather than curled up somewhere warm.
We are to see how she is in the morning.
Here she is enjoying the sun on the deck, buried under a blanket with Mirinda.
I unexpectedly ran into, the very tall, Kevin this morning. I was at the ICA checkout, chatting to Sara who was scanning my groceries, when he appeared, instantly recognisable, walking towards me. He is a bit difficult to miss which was why, I imagine, he was the angel on top of the Christmas tree last May. Anyway, I haven’t seen him since, yet I knew who he was at once.
And, he recognised me.
We exchanged pleasantries, firstly in Swedish then in English. I told Sara to serve him nicely because he was a top fellow.
I then had a bit of a giggle with the woman at the prescription counter at the Apotek. I was ordering Emma’s eye gel. This is always a bit of a palaver to achieve as it has to be ordered before it can be picked up. There was more palaver than usual because the stocks are low, and, apparently, this makes it worse.
After we’d finished with the ordering palaver, the woman tried to guess my phone number. She was right with the ’07’ but then guessed ‘3’. I had to tell her she was terribly wrong to which she admitted it had been a guess. I said I’d like to say it was close but, alas, it certainly wasn’t.
It was all bit of a laugh, and made the palaver a little more palatable.
Back at home, Mirinda continues to improve while Freya seems to be at a stand still, both healthwise and just generally…err…standing still. Emma, of course, is just fine if somewhat overfed given she keeps finishing off Freya’s food as soon as my back is turned and Freya decides she’s had enough.
Girls aside, Mirinda and I spent some time on the deck discussing our plans for the future. Mirinda’s are to do with uni, environmental business and language classes, mine, I admitted were mostly to do with writing. And so, to make this possible, we worked out a schedule so I could manage to get some writing done.
My new plan begins tomorrow. It was a very productive chat.
Then, after lunch, all four of us hopped into the car and headed around the area, stapling Riksteater posters to the many boards dotted around the countryside. We even managed a couple of new ones. But, as usual, the most picturesque one was the weird round pillar down near the harbour. (Our poster is the black one with The Lovebirds written on it.)
It’s a pity the posters are so big because it’s like all the poster people are fighting for a bit of real estate that is getting increasingly difficult to find.
In a depressing realisation, today marked three years ago since I made a pledge that I would begin writing again, in an attempt to actually complete a second draft of my Suki Baines novel. That didn’t amount to much apart from the pledge. This on top of saying at the last Other Book Group meeting that I aimed to do the same this year and force Nicoline to critically read it. Given my continually advancing age, I better start soon.
I didn’t restart today. Maybe tomorrow.
Mind you, I did write something: A press release for the next Riksteater production. Not that it will ever be printed. Having written it, I realised the performance date will arrive before the printing happened. I better start writing a press release for the production after the next one.
Still on writing, I also have to write something for the local paper regarding our time in Trosa and why we love it so much. Though that will have to wait a bit because I have yet to start writing my next Letter from Sweden which is due this week.
All of that makes it look like I’ve been busy, but it’s more the lack of motivation than the lack of time. Of course, I fill in time doing other things but just not always the things I enjoy most.
Mind you, I did walk down to the OSP HQ today to pick up some printing – posters for the next production which we will, possibly, put up around town tomorrow. Possibly at the expense of writing.
Something more enjoyable I did do today was to take the girls as far as the second bench. After the effect the long walk around the mountain had on Freya on Saturday, I thought it wise to return to the short walk. And she loved it. Emma thought it was too short but then she had a second, longer walk with Mathilde later in the day.
Of course, the weather wasn’t particularly nice though the rain held off for our walk after lunch.
In recovery news, Freya seems a lot better. She actually ate her meals at her normal rate and her tail was up and wagging more than it has been for a bit. That could be because her course of tablets has stopped which means I no longer force things down her throat. That makes me very happy too.
In other recovery news, Mirinda seems better today as well. She went to uni and made sure not to sit for too long at a time, something which helps with back problems.
I was very tired today. In fact, at times, it was almost impossible to keep my eyes open, especially during Reading Hour. It was because I woke up an hour earlier than I thought. I looked at the clock on the bedside table and then at my phone. Only one was correct. Damn that daylight saving.
So, yes, the clocks went forward while I slept, meaning more sun for the afternoons. Pity then the child that lost their sunglasses.
Hand for scale
Isn’t it odd that it is a pair of sunglasses, when there’s clearly only one?
And the day remained beautiful. So much so that Mirinda went down to the harbour for her, now regular, Sunday bird watch and count. And this week, the general avian population soared. For instance, there were 35 cormorants and over 60 ducks.
The walk to World’s End helped her back no end and she feels she is on the road back to normality. Hopefully, she’ll be able to go to uni tomorrow.
The other patient, Freya, was much more lively today. She ate the especially bland boiled chicken I prepared for her in the morning (though she didn’t like the blood pudding) and was rather sad when she was left at home while Emma accompanied Mirinda for the bird counting.
It would have been far too much for Freya given how much I wore her out, taking her round the mountain yesterday. She was much better today, but I have to be careful not to wear her out and make life painful for her.
As for me, my exercise consisted of cooking a Sunday roast (pork with green butter) and walking to the ICA for supplies.
Passing the cemetery, I noted that the trees in the lower section, the bit where Inge is, had been pollarded.
And, when we had dinner, we didn’t really need to light the candles but did anyway. We’re not quite ready to dispense with hygge just yet.
I think I wore Freya out today. Rather than just walking to the second bench and back, I took her around Mount Trosa. I kept a close eye on her, making sure she wasn’t struggling. And she seemed fine. Her tail was up and wagging, there was almost a spring in her step. But then, once home, she slept, didn’t eat and was back to being somewhat wobbly.
To be fair, it was my first time round the mountain in ages as well. I can’t remember the last time I did it. I know it was before the big snowfall in January and, prior to that, I was all a bit gouty.
Today, once I’d completed my equivalent to a marathon, my legs were aching. A long sit down was the order and it was fulfilled to satisfactory completion. I know this is the result of not exercising. I have been nursing my pain rather than fighting it. I must do better.
Emma, of course, took the longer walk in her stride. After all, it’s nothing compared to the miles she generally walks with Mirinda. Emma is, as Mirinda said this evening, the healthiest and fittest in the family. Mind you, while she’s all bounce and ready for a bout of chasing at the drop of a tennis ball, her eyesight is deteriorating again. I noticed, today, that she is once more having problems working out how to jump onto the furniture.
Then, this morning, Mirinda woke up with a bad back. While not a new affliction, it’s been a while since she was last struck down. Subsequently, she missed Swedish class again.
So, it seems, the entire household is not fit at present.
While the day was spent being somewhat physically static, we did finally start planning for our trip to France in May. We also discussed Mirinda’s plans for the garden. Late on, before starting dinner, I made a start on writing something for the local paper.
Freya snored on, no doubt dreaming of the tortuous journey I took her on.
There was a bit of filming going on at our house today. This followed a bit of furniture moving in order to accommodate said filming. Mirinda wanted to use the yellow wall in the kitchen/dining room which meant moving the table and glass cabinet. Not an onerous job by any stretch but our dining table has a wobbly leg so it’s a job that requires some modicum of care.
The filming was for the summer acting classes that KSP and Mirinda are planning to run at Stensund folkhögskola. If they get the numbers, that is. The Powers That Be asked everyone conducting summer courses to make a short film and this was to be one of them.
They roped me in as camera operator. The three of us had a lot of fun. We filmed a few times, one of the attempts making a seriously funny blooper reel contender. It was deemed funny enough for KSP to post to her Facebook account.
Anyway, we eventually managed to get an excellent version in the can and KSP, having sent, hopefully, the right one to the person who will post it for the school, took up her chickens and left.
I should explain.
KSP has hatched a few more chicken eggs and the resultant fluffy babies were taken to the school today as a sort of teacher show and tell. She couldn’t leave them in the car so they sat in the Glassroom while we were busy with more humancentric activities.
It turned out that Louise, our strawberry blonde, newish neighbour and her two young boys were playing outside at the same time of her leaving so, KSP, never one to miss an opportunity, raced over and asked if they’d like to see some baby chickens. After introductions and questions, Louise invited us over for fika on Easter Sunday morning.
While that was all going on out the front, I was running around the kitchen making a paleo loaf to have with dinner. I haven’t made one for ages but it is ideal when I make chicken and red pepper stew because, otherwise, we’d have to buy a loaf of bread to mop up the juices. Being very lo-carb, the paleo loaf is way better.
Earlier, and apropos of nothing else in this post, when walking to ICA, I managed to get a photo of the continuing fence work around the cemetery.
And, I should also add that it was a stunningly beautiful day though, in full weather disclosure, KSP said it was a bit chilly.
In 2022, Jojje Wadenius lost his wife to cancer. Then, in 2023, Lotta Hasselquist Nilsson lost her husband to ALS. Together they created and perform a show in which they tell the stories of their relationships along with a slideshow of memorable images. The show is called Livet är mer än bara musik (Life is more than just music) and is quite special.
I saw it tonight, performed at Skärborgarnas hus and, although I didn’t understand any of it, the general gist and emotional impact were both clear as a bell. It was all great love and amazing music.
Wadenius is quite well known in Sweden. He will be 80 next month and has been performing for years alongside Cornelis, Blood, Sweat and Tear, Steely Dan, Luther Vandross, Robert Flack, Aretha Flack and Diana Ross. He has been an exceptional and much employed session and recording guitarist.
Nilsson, on the other hand, is not so well known for her work. Rather, her husband was the very famous composer and pianist Stefan Nilsson. But, I tell you what, she is one hell of a pianist.
The songs and music in the show were beautiful and emotional. I enjoyed it very much.
Unfortunately, Mirinda missed out. She had a conversation class and decided she’d be the one to sit with Freya. We’d already attended the Riksteater AGM and felt that Freya needed one of us to keep an eye on her.
The AGM has to rank as the most casual I’ve ever attended. Also, possibly, the smallest. There were only six of us at the end – Irene joined late so for most of the meeting we were only five.
Essentially, we talked about the finances and committee membership. We also all left the committee to then join the new committee. Sadly, we were it. Jari and Thomas have both stepped down and we have never seen Yessica.
The meeting drifted to an end before the audience arrived and the show started.
I was very happy to see Mårten attending along with Anita and Anneka from Lagno. Poor Mårten has not been well and looked very tired. He did vow, however, that he will definitely be attending the next BookBusters meeting in May.
First thing this morning, Emma and I walked into the kitchen and surprised a deer on the deck. It was the Compost Thief. I only caught a glimpse as it took off, down the ramp. Emma didn’t go mad so I figured she hadn’t actually seen it. Even so, I waited a bit before letting her out to go to the loo.
In other exciting news, I finally saw the doctor today.
Mirinda dropped me off on her way to zumba and I sat and waited. The Vårdcentral is very strict when it comes to being there for your allotted time, but it doesn’t work both ways. I had quite the George Costanza moment as I watched the clock drift beyond my appointment time. Not that it mattered. I just read.
There were lots of other people waiting to be seen. Most of them were there for some sort of injection. And, given it was just gone 10am on a weekday, there were quite a few walking aids being utilised. Obviously, I include myself in this.
It seemed that I was the only one with a book to read. The others were either talking to the people sitting near them or just staring into space, raw-dogging, Puddy-like, their minds either blank or somewhere else.
Eventually, though, the doctor called my name and I followed him into his room.
I had four distinct gout related questions and he, sort of, answered them all. However, before he could give me anything definitive, he said, I had to have a blood test. I had figured this would be case. It is to measure the uric acid levels inside me. Hopefully, I’m riddled so he can prescribe me something super powerful.
Unlike Freya though, the testing isn’t done straight away. No, I’ll have to wait for my results and then, diagnosis.
The blood test was interesting.
My name was called, and I entered a small room which contained an interesting chair, lots of medical stuff and five beautiful, chattering nurses. At first, I was concerned that I had entered the beginnings of a less than wholesome movie. But, no, I was asked for my personummer then told to sit and give up my arm.
The needle went in and drew forth three vials of blood. And I was a very good boy. I didn’t cry or anything. So it came as a bit of a shock when I didn’t get a lollipop.
I did get the biggest ever bandage placed on the pinprick hole in my arm though.
I really wanted the little cartoon bandaid with the bears on it.
A little while ago, in an effort to find something interesting to do, I discovered that the V&A in London, has regular sessions, both online and in person, on subjects that I might find interesting. Wanting to discover more, I booked onto one dealing with the Nō (or Noh) Theatre of Japan. It was on today and I sat learning about it for five and a half, very enjoyable, hours.
Given I was also supposed to see the doctor today, I was a bit worried that I’d miss the discussion of Japanese theatre but, because of my idiotic brain, I had the doctor day wrong. I am, in fact, going tomorrow. Fortunately I checked on the medical site before we left the house.
And so, comfortably relieved, I took my seat and learned all about the enigmatic theatrical form called Noh.
There were five people teaching us about Noh. First up was Ashley Thorpe (he’s on the left in the photo above). He is very knowledgeable having not only studied but also learned Noh. After telling us about the history of Noh, which begins somewhen in the 14th century and lasts up to the present day, he was joined by the two women above and they took us through the music and dance of the theatrical form.
Ashley is not only a practitioner. He has also co-written, composed, directed and choreographed, an English language Noh play called Emily. It is about Emily Wilding Davison, the English suffragette who, in 1913, ran in front of the King’s horse at The Derby, and was killed. The Noh play was from the point of view of the jockey, Herbert Jones.
I should say that Emma, who was sitting on my lap for one part of the lecture, was not enamoured of the strident flute emanating from my laptop at one point.
Honestly, I didn’t think it worked, being in English. This opinion was reflected in a question from the audience regarding the difference between the two languages. As a distinctly Japanese form of theatre, it lost something.
Anyway, it was most enlightening and, dare I say, enjoyable. Possibly, my favourite bit was Ashley’s excellent quip about the leading actor of Noh plays. He had a slide up on the screen when he pointed out that the main actor was called the Sh-tay but spelled Shite, which had nothing to do with the quality of the performance.
Next came Anna Jackson, the head of V&A south-east Asian textiles, to show us three Noh costumes that the museum has in its collection.
Anna took us through the weaving process behind the making of these amazingly intricate outfits. She also told us about meeting the amazing Yamaguchi Yasujirō who started weaving when he was 16 and didn’t retire until he was 96, living until he was 104. She put a photo of him up on the screen and I have to say, he looked a very jolly chap.
I wouldn’t have thought I’d be as fascinated with Japanese weaving as I was. The process is laborious and super fiddly. The results are extraordinary. For instance, to create gold in the silk, sheets of very fine Japanese paper are painted with gold leaf which is then cut into thread thick strips which are, ultimately, woven in. Now that is amazing! It also explained why Anna was wearing gloves to handle the outfits.
Finally, the highlight of the day, for me anyway, was the wooden mask carver whose name I, unfortunately, did not get. Although the presenter said it twice, it wasn’t written on the big screen and, not being Japanese, I was left bereft. Which is really sad because he was brilliant.
He showed us how he makes his masks, what they are used for and how long they take. Most important, he told us, was the wood, Hinoki. Actually, that’s not entirely true. He believes that long, detailed discussions with the performer ordering the mask is super important. It gives him the almost spiritual lead-in to what the mask must be.
He involves the actor throughout the entire mask making process which he also demonstrated for us. He sat, cross-legged on the floor and started chiselling, sawing and generally chipping away at a block of wood. He stopped after a while, explaining that he wasn’t going to complete the mask because we’d all be there for about three days.
He was as entertaining as he was informative. A master craftsman and a most excellent and entertaining teacher.
Incidentally, the oldest extant Noh theatre is on the magical island of Miyajima. We visited the island back in 2017 but, at the time, did not know about the theatre. This, of course, means we have to return.
Obviously, we also have to return to see a Noh play in performance. After all, we saw Kabuki in Tokyo and we saw Butoh at Ytterjärrna. Noh on Miyajima is obviously the next step.
Mirinda returned to uni today while I took Freya to the vet for a check-up following her medical issues of last week. Of course, the gout that had returned to my right ankle wasn’t going to let me walk very well so Nicoline was asked if she could drive me there instead. Very generously, she said yes.
So, after lunch, we went.
Before we left, I noticed a big change in Freya. She seemed to be back to her normal self. I’d run out of the sweet tasting medicine and had given her just the one painkiller with lunch but she was almost boisterous and, best of all, she actually had a poo.
Of course, she may have heard me say I was taking her to the vet and, given how much she hates going, she may have deliberately improved in an effort to avoid it.
But, of course, we went and, as usual, when we entered the vets, she was petrified, shaking from head to tail, struggling to leave.
After an examination, the vet was happy with her progress, although she felt that Freya still had an issue in her rear end.
She took some blood and, at the end of the day, she reported that “Her CRP is now normal, but her blood count shows anaemia, low blood sugar and some effect on the GI tract and/or her liver enzymes.” She went on to say that this could be caused by all the drugs she’s been taking. I also think that the low blood sugar could be because she hasn’t been eating properly.
CRP stands for C-reactive protein. It is produced by the liver in response to inflammation and can be reliably measured in dogs and may be used as both a “…prognostic indicator and a management tool in routine companion animal practice.” Which is good. Basically, it means her organs are not going to explode any time soon.
Also, GI stands for gastrointestinal and the ‘effect’ could be as a result of her being constipated.
Anyway, the upshot is that the vet wants to look at the results of the tests taken at the hospital last week, something I’ll have to locate among Mirinda’s stuff. I feel confident that Freya is almost back to normal because she ate her lunch and dinner and her tail was raised rather than horizontal. She also ran to meet Mirinda when she returned home.
Next it’s my turn as I head to the vårdcentral tomorrow to see the doctor about my gout which seems to be haunting me with greater regularity than usual. Maybe I’ll get a blood test as well. Presumably my CRP will be far from normal though my GI tract will be just fine. But, of course, there will be far too many uric crystals present.
