Here are a few unusual events from recent days:
I use a sleep app, Sleep Time Free, to wake me up when I am not in deep REM sleep. Sleep science indicates that waking up when in a light mode of sleep allows the body to be awakened in a more refreshed state. It will wake me up in a 20 minute range when by sleep in light, but it will sound the alarm regardless at the end point! The free aspect means that I have to dismiss ads every now and then. Here’s one to encourage people to leave the Church of Sweden in order to get out of the automatic 1% tax that is deducted from one’s salary–IF one is a member, which I’m not. (All salaries are automatically deposited in one’s bank.) This is the one and only time I’ve seen this ad in 2.3 years.
On a more serious note, earlier this week on my bicycle ride to work, I approached the little square by Johannelund to see police tape preventing people from crossing into the shopping and restaurant area. There had been a shooting there last night, and one person died. I haven’t heard details, but these tend to be drug and gang related. No one connected to the school was there at the time, but some were freaked out. There has been a bit of increase lately with gang shootings in Sweden, a country where it is illegal to carry a pocket knife around town–unless it is work related.
On Friday evening, there was another unusual event–I cooked. Well, cooked might be an overstatement; I made tapioca pudding. Food without Anya is now pretty basic: cereal for breakfast; sandwiches for lunch, sometimes ham or a fried egg sandwich for some protein; simple fare like pasta, fried rice, or a frozen pizza for dinner. The Asian grocery has some rather decent frozen Dim Sum (Cantonese Chinese brunch) items that make a tasty and meal. My favorite cha siu bao (barbecue pork buns) are made in the Netherlands! Some fruit supplements lunch or makes a snack.
This morning, the other unusual event was that I played drums for the Sunday morning worship. The church has a set of drums. However, I couldn’t find my sticks and brushes. I thought I knew where they were, but in over 2 years, I haven’t played. Fortunately, another drummer (another woman at church) was called and came with hers to loan me.
A little more usual events were taking in a free-will-offering concert on Saturday afternoon at the cathedral. I was there early enough to get a seat up front. It is great to watch hands and feet go!
I arranged to meet a woman from church at the concert, and afterwards, we went for fika.
Fortunately, fika isn’t one of the unusual things in contrast to the theme of today’s blog post. I still bring fika treats and meet with Lennart on Friday afternoons to practice Swedish. I think we discovered two more mutual missionary friends.
Off to more grading in Swedish!!!
With blessings,
Beth