identities, journeys, fictions away from the roots
It's a new year, and the same me. Still the worries and faults and uncertainties. But also, in this northern part of the world, light and happiness. The old year ended in the company of family, and the new year begun with a new love. The days between Christmas and New Years are called 'the... Continue Reading →
It’s the longest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere, and I’ve just finished what I know will be the best book of 2022: Open Water by Caleb Azumah Nelson. “You stroke each of the dogs’ heads and watch them cower at your gall. You’re descending at a hellish pace but there’s no fire... Continue Reading →
After watching Life After Life, the TV adaptation of Kate Atkinson’s novel, I’ve been thinking about death and the circularity of time. I live in both the past and the future, as well as savouring the now. I’m back in Wendover for a couple of weeks. This means no swimming, but instead there’s the cat... Continue Reading →
I've been going to Riga almost every year since 2016 (pandemic excluded). The first time I hoped for a sense of inherited belonging, that I'd feel at home in my ancestral city. It wasn't without disappointment that I realised that I'm not Latvian, but Swedish-Latvian, and don't belong in Riga, but belong where I create... Continue Reading →
Using my old mechanical pencil for the first time in years. I bought it at the very high price of 87 SEK in 2002. My old school friend Sofia Eriksson was shocked that I spent so much money on a pencil, but I was thinking that I'd keep it forever. And I used it for... Continue Reading →
A travelling craftsman is staying in my house while they work at a fair nearby. We share stories in the evenings over food and wine, and discuss the state of the world over tea and chocolate. The traveller is from an Eastern European country which gets headlines in the west for its far-right, pro-Putin ideology,... Continue Reading →
Today I went on a march for peace for and solidarity with Ukraine. It was organised by Ukrainian scholars and members of the public with the intention of raising awareness of the severity of the conflict, and collecting funds for the aid effort. It was a sunny day and felt great to be out. My... Continue Reading →
On my skin, in my dreams, and through my breath I start to see signs of repressed anger. It might actually be so repressed that I'm not entirely sure what I'm angry over. Which makes it very difficult to know how to unrepress it, let it out, and get rid of it. The main source... Continue Reading →
It's lunch time on Thursday, and I've had four weeks of thoughts, feelings and events condensed into four days. Work isn't going well this morning; I'm just watching the Olympics and avoiding emails. Noon hits, and in one second I've Ctrl+Alt+Deleted my laptop shut and am heading downstairs hungry, tired and grumpy. Only cheese can... Continue Reading →
I'm scared and sad because my father is in hospital. The blood around his heart is running slower than normal, which means he is at high risk of blood clots and a heart attack. It's been discovered very early, and he's receiving excellent care at the Academic Hospital in Uppsala. Thanks to this discovery he... Continue Reading →
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