It’s been a while…
Apologies for the radio silence but, with a new job in June, getting over Covid and life in general, my time management hasn’t been exactly exemplary!
Life in general is good, really! It’s the world around me I don’t always understand. To a certain extent I did not mind the last few lockdowns at all. The introvert in me found peace… and lots of it! Christmas last year was a lonely affair but it kind of prepared me for this year.
I’m writing this to you as I’m currently awaiting the results of a PCR test which will decide my fate for the next ten days. I’ve been feeling really rubbish over the past few days with a stinking (non-alcohol related) headache and a need to sleep practically for days. Unless you’ve been under a rock, these are some of the major symptoms for COVID delivered by the Omicron variant – the variant which seems to be breaking all the records in transmissibility.
Christmas has always been a tricky period.
Christmas used to be heaven until the mid eighties when my grandparents moved back to the north of Germany and the rest of the family fell apart. Since then I’ve been trying to make the Holidays my own – successfully… more or less. Christmas with friends? Always good. Return to the wobbly bosom of my family? Not so much. Christmas alone? Yep, been there, done that, bought the t-shirt and I even liked it.
I find myself turning off the radio more and more often in December for two reasons: Whamageddon and music of the generally festive kind.
If you’re unfamiliar with Whamageddon, where have you been for the past years?
Then there is the music played not only on the radio but EVERYWHERE that puts me right off even looking at a bauble! Whether it’s the saccharine or the controversial kind, I can’t wait for December 27th when the playlists finally change back to something resembling ‘business as usual’!
Having that said, this one is my favourite of all times:
Oh, and this (it’s in Swedish so please find a translation of the lyrics underneath):
WINTER HARBOUR
Winter harbor
Winter harbor
Here I can gather strength
You give me protection and peace of mind
Winter harbor
Winter harbor
Like the psalm in a church
Warms the heart during Christmas time
In your name
There is a note
Of ice and snow crystals
But more of spruce and candlelight
Winter harbor
Winter harbor
When the snow slowly falls
Christmas comes to my house
And with that a man- a godsend
And now we look forward to a great legend
It is every man’s
And ours is also his
Crown of thorns
Winter harbor
Winter harbor
The world that bothers and alarms
It is heard in the distance like a murmur
Winter harbor
Winter harbor
A soul with open arms
I hear the whistle of the angels’ wings
And with that a man- a godsend
And now we look forward to a great legend
It is every man’s
And ours is also his
Crown of thorns
In your name
There is a note
Of ice and snow crystals
But more of spruce and candlelight
Winter harbor
Winter harbor
When the snow slowly falls
Christmas comes to my house
Have a wonderful time y’all!
Happy Christmas and I promise it won’t be another six months to the next post!
Frank Loman 