Well, I'm back

I am in Halden. I am seriously happy to be here.

The customary stress of the day-I-leave was compounded by a few things... I didn't start planning early enough as I was out gallivanting around York and Leeds with Mum (as well I should have been, and very nice it was too). But on Sunday night when I was going put all our pictures in a blog-post and then pack my bags, we had a power failure. It came on again around 11:30, and I woke with a start as my bedside light glared into my face and all the house alarms in the district jumped into action. They gradually quietened, except the one across the street, directly opposite my window. It kept going all night and most of the next day, till about 2pm. This was more than horrible.

Anyway, we made it. On Monday night I had dinner with my parents and my cousin and his new girlfriend in London, and headed towards Stansted bright and early Tuesday morning. My Dad seemed to have had a great weekend in London - he was dressed for a safari with a water-backpack (you know the ones with the little tube you suck the water from) and a compass dangling over his shoulder. He said it had proved necessary on several occasions. Only the backpack had leaked all over a couple of bus seats... They've got a few more days in London, and then a week in Finland and Sweden, before meeting up with us here in a week and a half. I can't wait to show them our little world here. Mum says she's looking forward to climbing the legendary fortress!

In the confusion I forgot the little usb thingy I need to upload photos to my computer. This seriously annoyed me all the way down to London. Apparently there's something at M's work I can use, but after working hours...

I cried my eyes out in Stansted airport as I read the end of The Book Thief, and now I've started Murakami's Kafka on the Shore, which I'm in love with already. Reading it makes you feel independent and brave.

Here the birds are happy and the trees are bright and gleaming. We climbed up the fortress last night to see their new dresses, and a spirit of the forest was there to greet us. When I can upload the pictures, I'll show you. My thesis is at a point where I need to start thinking about the introduction, which is exciting. Spring is everywhere, and best of all, I'm here.