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Wednesday 24 June ~ Friday 26 June
I can't believe how lucky I am with this wonderful weather. They have promised it will stay like this for at least another week. This week I have started writing again, back to my short stories. I have not done so for a couple of months now- which is of course not very disciplined - but then again, my mind was preoccupied with other things. And to be able to write, anything the least worth reading, you need to be relaxed and focused. The interesting thing about travelling is that you can feed your mind with so many characters and settings, it leaves you searching for a good combination with of course, an interesting plot that will bind the reader to your pages. But of course the biggest challenge is to write something that sticks and makes sense. I really want to take this writing thing further and more seriously. But I also now there are a few things I need to do before I can give all to this ambition of mine. Finishing my MBA for example. I'll be going back to the final few lectures and paper writing in October until early February, after which (yay!) thesis time will start. I am and I am not looking forward to it. I am because it is challenging to the brain and interesting to dig yourself into a topic a bit deeper than you may normally do and I am not, because I know it will cause unnecessary yet unavoidable stress for at least a half year as of October. I have pondered about what my thesis will be on, made a half-hearted start talking to Willem of RvdB some months ago, then changed my mind again, then read back my old thesis proposal, got enthusiastic again, then not…
Ay ay, I will lay off thinking about this until I'm back, shall I?
I think the thing I have learned the most about my ambitions these past few years is that there were too many of them. I just have so many interests! Oh, I can remember at one point, in my first year of the MBA program (which was not long after I got divorced which tends to leave you a little less stable, they say), I took singing lessons, a photography course, private lessons in Italian conversation, and I think some other things. All: simultaneously. This, while working fulltime, attending full evening lectures two nights a week and having to produce a paper every one/two months, buying a derelict apartment and having a terrible time at my (then) work. No wonder I was exhausted. Still, out of a bad thing sometimes comes good, I've learned. After that killing year I decided to quit my job and start my own business. With success until now, due to the help of good contacts and friends in the business.
But to get back to the writing, my dream would be to be able to live off writing stories. I haven't got a clue whether I will ever be good enough but I definitely want to give it a try. Well, may be a couple of years from now you will be reading my collection of short stories in stead of my travelblog! Or not. I'm glad I'm a realist ;o).
Now it's Thursday and here I am, with my morning caffe latte at my favourite camping spot until now, still in Strömstad with a breathtaking view over a lake. Just made a few calls, my parents, my friends who are looking after Blom and Olive (who don't seem to be missing me as much as I miss them). Yesterday I had a bit of a drive around the place and found a diving school about half an hour's drive from the campsite. I've planned to go diving this Friday - Sunday if the weather holds out. Today for the first time there are some clouds in the otherwise clear blue sky so I am getting a little worried. But that's not what's worrying me most. A couple of days ago I got word that my grandmother (who will turn 93 in September) was in hospital but that she was ok. Now I found out she had a stroke. She is back home again and recovering slowly and I spoke to her just now. I am a bit unsure as to what to do. Will I return? She sounded tired but I guess that's normal after such a shock to one's body.
I was thinking of driving to the city and have a bit of stroll and a think before I decide what to do. Or may be just stay here in the quietness of this place and rest my body and mind. Yep. I think I will choose the latter.
Well, I have spent my day wisely, doing absolutely nothing worth mentioning except may be improving my tan, finishing another book, staring across the lake and falling asleep while listening to music. It was a good day, though I did feel a bit lonely.
[I have no contact with other people here except the usual hello there or: Hej hej! but most of them are older couples whose English is not very good (as if my Swedish is perfect, but that's besides the point.) I guess that's what you get avoiding the big popular campsites.] A couple of nice sms-messages got me over that soon enough! Today I am going to try to download the software I will need to try and get my internet set up again. Can't wait to skype!
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