Dreaming of Freedom

I have arrived in Sweden and am now amid blue and yellow flags and red wooden houses. Gothenburg airport is very tiny and sweet. It’s a bit of a backwards time warp when you step off the plane for the first time. I could see red houses and fields of horses right next to the airport. The airport used to owned by the military and most of the control buildings were underground - you can see a tower next to a arch cave like entrance as you fly in.

The coastline of Sweden is very interesting. It’s a bit of a wiggly line and there are lots of rocky looking islands dotted with red houses along the coast. These tiny fishing villages look like children’s toys from the air so I’m looking forward to getting a proper look soon. According to the gentleman behind me on the plane there is an inlet/canal/river that starts at the coastline here and cuts straight through Sweden. You can sail through it on a ship apparently.

It’s not too far from the airport if you are picked up by hospitable friends and ferried back to their house - as indeed I was. Keyvan has spent the last two days cycling around the area and has fallen in love with Sweden - more later!

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It’s my last day in London. I’m getting a train to Norwich this morning and then next week I’m heading over to Sweden for a long holiday. I was so sad to leave my lovely job yesterday. I’m going to miss all the art galleries and museums so much but it will be nice to get into the country and breathe some nice fresh air!! Must dash to station - but one last thing - well done to all those teacher who where on strike on Thursday - go teachers go!!

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We arrived in Wales via Liverpool and Chester to find that the rugby is occupying everyone. The weather is of the wet drizzly kind that the UK is so famous for. As always the countryside makes me want to stay inside but it’s pretty nice inside because I can see geese, horses and little deer wandering around in the nearby fields. It’s nice to be out in the countryside after weeks of city smoke. We’re going to celebrate the Iranian New Year on Thursday so we’re going to spend the week up here holidaying and celebrating the beginning of Spring.

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We’re busy moving out of the flat so everything is in boxes. There is that sad sort of emptiness when you leave somewhere and you’re packing up all the possessions you treasure or need into little boxes and bags. We’re attempting to live a relatively possession free lifestyle but there seems to be a never ending amount of tat that needs to be dealt with. I’ve been so busy that I haven’t even been to my favourite gallery for ages now. I did go to the V&A with Eleanor and her partner on Friday night. They stay open late on a Friday so we went on the tour in the afternoon and then sat in in the cafe absorbing the culture from afar. Later on we got to be spectators in a fashion show put on by students from Wimbledon College of Art - some of which was beautiful and some thought provoking. After which we headed out to a nearby Thai restaurant where we availed ourselves of delicious food and bottle of rosé.

I’m heading back to Norwich next week to catch up with everyone and Keyvan off to Sweden to see how nice it is so we won’t be missing North London too much!

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I spent a lovely quiet weekend in Norwich. Did a spot of celebrating Will’s birthday via the medium of song and ginger cake. I’m now back in London for my last week at the summer school and should be frantically looking for a job but as yet my laid back attitude has won the fight and I’m still jobless. Must go and plan some lessons for this morning – I’m thinking autobiographies using Anne Frank as a starting point.

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It’s raining today and hopefully giving London a good wash as it certainly needs it. I’m in my second week at work and loving every minute of it. I’m staying at a cheapish hotel overlooking Hyde Park which nice for evening strolls and such niceties. The summer school where I’m working has rekindled my faith of working with young people and it’s a marvellous feeling to teach happy motivated kids. K got himself a job yesterday so big congratulations to him!! It means I could be moving to London if someone employs me!!

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I’ve just remembered TheyWorkForYou.com. It’s great: you can look up how MP’s voted, what expenses they got, etc. It lets you know through Hansard what is being discussed in the Parliament - not much at the moment because they are all on holiday! It also emails you whenever your MP speaks - if you want! What a service! And all for free! It would be lovely if democracy worked for us - but that is something we still need to argue for.

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Have discovered the joy of adding pages to my website! Who would have thought you could get so much fun from one little website! Find and check out my new pages!! It’s like ‘Where’s Wally’ only easier!!

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Stayed up late last night watching Almost Famous. Quite good actually. Have spent the rest of the weekend reading Bridget Jones. Dairy 1 and 2. Supposedly funny but actually quite sad. A good read nonetheless. Looking forward to lovely lunch with Ella tomorrow. The joys of part-time work!!

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It’s a beautiful sunny day outside and I haven’t left the house yet to find out how cold it is - so all in all it’s rather perfect! Keyvan and I are planning to go and see the work by Banksy and other artists that’s displayed on Oxford Street. The exhibition is entitled ‘Santa’s Ghetto’. Will tell all later. I’ve been watching a video about the Toxteth race riots this morning - very interesting and sad. It’s hard to imagine that in the year I was born people were rioting in 40 cities across Britain. It’s even stranger to think that there were race riots in England in 2001 and France and Australia in 2005. It’s a crazy mixed up world.

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