Addicted

Su doku is my new addiction. I love this Japanese game of numbers. I get up extra early in the morning to solve the daily su doku in the newspaper. Yesterday was a true disappointment. They had put in a level one su doku, resulting in me having completed it in 5 minutes. All of a sudden I had a lot of spare time in the morning. I barely knew what to do. Today was a whole lot better. The su doku was rated as a level four su doku. I finished it just in time to go to work. I have been addicted to this game ever since May. The day is not complete without solving a su doku. Is there a rehabilitation-centre anywhere for this kind of addiction?

A well of treasures

The key words are "picture books". Working at the local library I have had a fantastic opportunity getting to know picture books. I am truly amazed by everything there is, how much artwork is put into them and how wonderful the stories can be. At times I have lost sense of both time and place, being totally absorbed by the beauty and creativity I have discovered in those books. I loved reading about the man that painted zebra crossing all over town so that the old ladies shouldn't need to walk so far to cross the street. (Unfortunately he got in trouble with the traffic-police for doing so, but his idea was very noble.) Never have I seen anything sadder than a hedgehog only wishing to have a balloon, but due to his quills he would break them every time. The solution to this was found by the most inventive balloon-salesman, sticking corks to the hedgehogs quills. As from then, the hedgehog could happily run around without worrying about breaking his balloon. Another favourite of mine was the book about the gigantic turnip. I didn't even know what a turnip was before I read that one! My boss is absolutely right when she refers to picture books as a well of treasures.

Getting to know you

I'm so eager to get to know you. Learn about your life. Your country. See how you develop and grow up. I want to help you. I want to be there for you, although I cannot be in there in person. You are already in my heart. I think about you a lot. Wondering how you are. What you are doing. What you are thinking... Welcome into my life, little girl. Thank you for letting me be in yours.

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Bringing back the past

It's a bit weird going through your old things. Some of them you didn't even know were there, while others you remember having kept for a specific reason. Things can trigger a whole series of memories, that up until that point, had been forgotten. In a way, they can bring back the past. Sometimes it's nice. Other times it's not. It's amazing how many things some people seem to collect, store or just keep in case they can come in handy. I guess most of them never will be used again. They will just remain dust-collectors, and so keep on reminding whoever will find them of their past. Until they eventually get thrown or given away.

Seeing it with your own eyes is not the same as watching it on photos or on TV

This weekend, my dad and I went on our annual summer trip to one of the country's famous mountains. My dad had walked there several decades ago, as for me, it was the first time. Taking the boat out to our starting-point with 98 other hikers, I already knew it would be a spectacular trip. Nature sure was at its most beautiful. The sun was shining, the flowers in the lowland were putting colour to an already fascinating landscape. As we kept walking uphill, the track slowly turned from dry mud to stones. The higher up we got, the vegetation got less and eventually there was nothing to be seen but rocks, sand and snow. The mountain had a desert-like look to it. With every step we took, the view got more and more amazing. High mountains covered with snow in every direction. Our mountain had little, but we were doing our best sliding down on the snow still present (while giggling). At one point, the mountain was so steep we had to use both arms and legs to climb up. I rewarded myself with chocolate along the trail, something I think is essential on every trip to the mountains. We walked 17 km before we were done. Having finished our traditional trip, we were both satisfied. Many photos had been taken, but better still, we will keep nice memories of all the natural beauty we have been so privileged to see with our own eyes.

Happiness can come as a message in a bottle

"Happiness" by Linda Frances

Willow had been wandering around for several months awaiting an important message regarding Tito's future. The waiting made her both irritable and nervous, as it's a common fact that patience is not a strong virtue of hers... Tito did his best to calm her down by telling her everything would be all right. All they could do was to wait, as the decisions were entirely up to other persons. Walking down the seashore to one of Willow's favourite places, she saw something green floating in the sea. Driven by an incurable curiosity, she approached the green item. It was a green bottle like the ones her mother used to put homemade blackberry juice in. The bottle had no label, but at a closer look, Willow noticed a piece of paper stuck inside of it. Pulling out the cork, she managed to get the paper out. Unfolding it, she saw that it was a letter. A letter written to her. Reading it three times over, she could no longer hold back a sensation of overwhelming happiness. Tito had finally got the long awaited news, and they were exactly as good as the young couple had hoped for. Having no one to share her joy with, Willow ran up to the lighthouse. There she used the light to send signals of happiness to Tito, so that he would see she had received his message.

Books in, books out...

Today was my first day in my second summer job. It was also my very first experience working in a public library, and if I should describe it in one word, it would have to be busy. Very busy. I had to learn how to handle a new database and remember the location of the different types of books in no time. All I had time for in between taking books in and giving them out was putting a fraction of the incoming ones back on the shelf so that the floor behind the counter would still be visible. I have never seen so many people in a small, public library before. And almost before I had started, the day was over and I could go home. If every day is like this, August will be right around the corner and I'll be in my number one favourite place. And that would be right in Tito's arms, if anyone was in doubt.

Willow's weekend-resolutions

It's 11:25 on a Friday night, and I'm still sitting in front of the PC. My eyes are sore. My brain apparently stopped working a couple of hours ago without me even noticing. I could do with some sleep. I envy the people having a life. Will try do better tomorrow.

Notes to self for the weekend:

Get out in the sun.

Take a long walk in the forest.

Get important paperwork over and done with.

Call up best friend to meet.

Don't turn on the computer.

Don't turn on the computer.

And remember: don't turn on the computer.