The summer's last post

Resandes ensak: in medieval province laws, it was stated: "biter so taska av, resandes ensak". It means blame yourself for trespassing. Nowadays, trespassing is allowed by swedish law, as lands belong to everyone, as long as they show respect for the local residents. However, the expression is still used, but it has a different meaning: if you do a stupid thing, then it is your own problem.

The last part of this summer has taken me further north, to new places, to see new faces and to experience different things. It has taken me to events of smaller scale, but deeper impact. After a few excursions in Dalarna, the home of the Swedish wooden horse, the warriors of the stockholm bloodbath (vasaloppet), I went down back to narke, for a little taste of music again.

A small home-bred festival called 'where the action is' brought together neo-rock n' roll swedish bands such as Backyard babies, hellacopters, millencollie (from orebro), the soundtrack of our lives (UK) and the accidents (Orebro). During this time, two local bands that I knew a member or two of, signed record deals. My life was filled with music, at least for that time being-, during the same week, I was recording the drums for my band's forthcoming album 'Shadows of the ever-dark wood', which will be out in two weeks, hopefully.

After a heavy doze of distortion guitars, indie haircuts, leather and spikes, I went with anna to her friends' son baptism party. It took me 8 hours in total to get to Iggesund, a small town on the northeastern coastline, close to Hudiksvall, close to Sundsvall. There the town was kind of disappointing, as it smelt horrible because it has a very large paper factory, which keeps the air stinking at all times.

Luckily the baptism party took place away from the odor in a nearby 'vik' (a small bay/penninsula). In Sivik, the grandparents of the soon-to-be baptised Karl prepared a big feast, only big by swedish standards, containing one type of salad, 2-3 types of meat, and different pies. No alcohol this time.

The baptism was interesting, knowing that the vast majority of swedes are athiests, although the country follows the swedish church, a very very open-minded and mellow church. Here so far in the north, church is no more than a party place, used occasionally for weddings and funerals.

The baptism took place in the front garden of Karl's grandparents, there were some 30 people holding papers with some ceremonail lyrics, but refuse to sing. The baptism is merely a formality and didn't seem to have any spiritual significance at all. Which is good, actually. The priest had a pony tail, and the organist had a foldable organ, the baptism was over in a few minutes, but the party lasted merrily long.

Back to orebro, (penny-bridge, if you want the direct translation). A few weeks have passed in total household laziness. Then off to dalarna again, last weekend, for summer's last party, the crayfish party.

Anna has been hosting this party for the last 4 or 5 years, and its friends that come from across sweden, for one night of real heavy drinking, preceeded by a crayfish meal. The party takes place near Gagnef, in her grandfather's childhood countryside house.

The crayfish was quite something, one has to learn a certain technique to dissect the red animal to be able to suck its meat out of the inside of legs and tail. So little meat for so much effort. One was enough for me, as a friend of mine made sure he fills me up with grogg (homemade strong spirit), after every sip I take. The drinking starts as early as people wake up in the morning, and ends when they pass out. For the first time, I couldn't keep up with them, I passed out much earlier than the most, and woke up to a very severe hangover.

Bad morning.

Rainfall was good, it cleaned the whole area and gave me a bit of refreshment. The summer's last party is over with, and winter depression is starting to kick in. Less and less sun, more and more clouds. Rain is falling down. I am preparing myself better this time for the winter's hibernation, hoping to go home, hopefully via amsterdam, during christmas holidays.