# 343 Verkstad – Workshop (282/365)

3 oktober, 20153 oktober, 2015 / Leya / 13 kommentarer

Thursday Thoughts – A breathofgreenair

1 oktober, 20151 oktober, 2015 / Leya / 26 kommentarer

I have taken a year off, and tomorrow is, once again, my birthday. So, Time is a tiny bit more on my side this year…even if in fact time is more on the ”running out” side…

Life is difficult, strange and wonderful. You never know what is waiting around the corner – no matter what your plans are. My intention is to use Thursdays for writing down some reflections made the current week…on anything that comes my way. I hope you would like to join me!

A whole year off – or forever? I don’t know anything but the need for slowing down. Maybe searching for the woman I once was… I used to paint and write poetry before the wheel started spinning too fast. Could I find my way back to… anything of what I once was? Maybe i don’t know what I will find. I will know more in August next year.

I read two posts on Seonaid’s blog this morning – breathofgreenair. Her posts always lift my spirits. She has that effect on me (and many others) – It’s the harmony, her way with words…and magical photography.

We met up in August last year, and in August again this year. From the start, I came to see the Tattoo, but deep in my heart I knew that for me, it was mostly to see Seonaid and her family again. To my great joy, she could have us for one day and one night.

Edinburgh is a great city, and I dearly love everything about it. Even in festival times, even if I’m not a real festival person…I used to avoid big happenings like parties and events. Somehow, as years go by, you are more or less forced to get used to them.

An hour or two is great fun, especially as Edinburgh city has got – Harry Potter!

I had two wishes, where the first one was a day out – to some of the beautiful places Seonaid weaves her stories around. Just to feel the atmosphere, letting her words come back to me. My second wish was to meet her lovely dogs again. My Bearded Collie, Amanda, left me in the year 2000, but I will never forget her. She was in colour just like Maisie and Willow. And her coat flying in the wind…

The fresh air against my skin and the joy of the dogs running free with the winds and waves…make me come alive and remembering.

I think we all enjoyed this, and I’m forever grateful to Seonaid and her girls.

It wasn’t that easy to get all three of them in the same picture – but here they are! Maisie, Willow and Molly.

Seonaid told me that on all beaches in Scotland, dogs are allowed to run free anytime of the year! Oh, the joy! In Sweden dogs are only allowed during winter time and for the rest of the year only on special ”dog beaches”.

Just before leaving Scotland, Edinburgh and this lovely family, we made a quick visit to the green oak forest as well. Of course the dogs found their way to cool water. This time floating in a river of sunny spots.

I cannot thank you enough for having us and giving us some of your precious time, Seonaid! I found a piece of my old self again, and I left a piece of my heart with you, your family and Scotland.

# 332 Uppvaktning – Congratulation (279/365)

30 september, 2015 / Leya / 15 kommentarer

SL-WEEK 13: Ecology

29 september, 20158 oktober, 2015 / Leya / 9 kommentarer

A very good choice of theme – ecology! Visit Sylvain Landry for more of this.

I’m now back from Riga, Latvia, where I met this young man, Janis, at Baltu Drava. He is a passionate bee keeper and sells his own healthy and totally ecological products. Not only honey, but for example bee bread too.

He also makes bee hives out of tree trunks, as of old. (To the left in the picture you will see one of them.)

# 220 Pendling – Commuting (276/365)

29 september, 2015 / Leya / Lämna en kommentar

4 Million Books, but…Where are they?

29 september, 201529 september, 2015 / Leya / 16 kommentarer

Riga is the capital of Latvia, and situated on the river Daugava. Inhabitants about 707 000, a third of the country’s total. Riga is also the biggest city in the Baltic area. Together with Umeå in Sweden it was the 2014 European Capital of Culture. More: USA Today’s readers voted Riga as Europe’s most attractive city and CNN Travel and Lonely Planet also give their praise to the city.

We visited for three days and fell in love with the mix of green areas, old and new, worn, dilapidated, beautiful houses, Russian style ”boxes”, the massive Jugend areas and the restored gems. And the people. The span is refreshing and we enjoyed every minute.

One of the newest buildings here – which you cannot miss when you arrive – is the National Library. Gaismas pils, or The Castle of Light, at Mūkusalas iela on the river Daugava opposite Riga’s Old Town. Latvian architect Gunnar Birkerts, was inspired by Latvian folklore in his construction.

The building is 40 000 m2, built in 13 stories, where the two on top is only meant for cultural arrangements and for rent (having a party? I didn’t ask the cost…) There are approxiamately 1000 study seats in several rooms, and storing room for six million books.

The Library opened August 29, 2014.

Already in the entrance, I loved it…but with a strange feeling in my stomach…

We had to put all our things in lockers and you were not allowed to bring any drink or food – not even water. You had to get a visitors’ badge too and display it clearly. Then you had to pass the gates and a sighing lady…who looked like ”it would be really nice here… if it weren’t for the visitors.”

Large empty spaces and mirrors called for a selfie first…

As we went searching for the books, suddenly there was a marvellous display right ahead – up in the air.

Beautifully displayed – we headed for them immediately. But, being there, we realized that they were locked in behind glass – only eye candy…

We entered stairs and elevators, slowly becoming more and more desperate…where were the books? And the people? Students? Children?

We tried every door on every floor, but no. They were all locked. We saw the children’s books department – but only through a tiny window…the door was locked.

Finally we managed to find one door open. Some students were sitting there, studying. You could hear a needle drop…And, there was something strange about the room. Not the artsy furniture….not the silence…but – look up in the right corner of the photo: There Were Some BOOKS. In a LIBRARY ?- WOW.

In fact, these were the only books we saw and were able to touch in this building…But the view of Old Town was not so bad.

Giving up on the books and about to leave we saw another open door and peeped in. No people of course, but a beautiful aula.

We decided for a last try to reach the uppermost rooms on level 11 and 12. Found an elevator, and a cleaning lady on her way up. No admittance except for guided tours…She agreed on her being our guide and up we went.

This was only for special guests – and no panorama view was possible to photograph because all windows were filled with giant black dots.

As we went down again in the elevator, passing corridors after corridors after corridors…

…we talked about how much this reminded of North Korea and the library in Pyongyang. My husband’s pictures in my head, and he could confirm the feeling…

Leaving through the entrance, we agreed on this: What you can do here is enjoy the architecture and the fine materials used – and fiddle with your phone – there is no joy in books or reading visible here…