It has been an emotional week. In part because I am realizing how difficult it is for me to think about moving again. The man I rent from came and “staged” the apartment and took down 90% of my things and brought in some more appropriate items. It is completely devoid of color. Monochromatic and neutral which is the Scandinavian style but all the things I have collected and cherished are tucked away. Feels like a completely different place and I don’t like it! I have to keep it this way until they sell it. Afterwhich I have 3 months to decide what to do. Should be about September if it works the way I hope.

They took pictures of the apartment yesterday. It got pushed back because the photographer was sick and they wanted to show the apartment this weekend but I will be out of town and it is not possible. I did put up a few things just so it feels more like mine but not too much since it is mine only until next weekend and I have to put it back how they want it again. They traditionally do a showing or two where people come to look and buy. Not the same as home, I don’t have to be ready for it all the time, is my understanding. I was going to pack up my things but I do pack to send them home or pack to move to a new apartment? Some things I know I wouldn’t be bringing back with me when bought them, other things I will donate Too much just now and I was hoping to decide later.

I did the full Body Pump Choreography for the new release yesterday and made so many mistakes. I practiced and practiced and in the end, I said I have to rely on my brain but I did not do as well as I hoped. I still think they got a good workout. I taught half the release on Monday and the full 60 minutes on Tuesday. It was a tough release but very good and not as sore as I expected today.

Been resting and trying to take care of myself by eating a little better. I think the medication is decreasing my appetite which is fine by me. I made myself chicken curry but without the sauce….not so good. Added sauce tonight and a bit better but the seasoning is off somehow. Still, it was food. Then I binged on some sweet and sour candies but only 1/2 the bag and a twix bar because I got a little stressed out.

The past weekend was incredible and so beautiful. I asked my neighbor if she wanted to tag along to the beach. Yes, we have a beach within 30 to 40 minutes of here. A beautiful sandy beach too with water that was pretty fantastic, although I only went up to my ankles. A very long shelf of sand before you get to the part you can swim and nice gentle waves. Absolutely an unexpected find. I had heard stories but did not really believe them. Felt like I had gone to Florida.

I said I asked her to tag along but she actually ended up driving us and took along some snacks and we ate sand with our chips and lounged in a dune. We both got a bit sunburned but we had a fun adventure. We discovered a little alcove with these little cottages. They were all individual places where people housed their lawn chairs, kyaks and maybe even a place to sleep now and then. Public toilets were just down the path a bit. I was absolutely intrigued. How do I get one of those little places on the beach?

After our day out in the sun, we met up with my friend’s partner and ate some dinner. On the way in I spotted the cottages by the beach I had seen in a photo. I was so excited but too tired to walk all the way around so I took the photo from afar. A fair amount of people out because it was so gorgeous. On Saturday inmet my longtime friend Nathalie at the Garden show. We walked and talked and had lunch together. It was over a 2 hour drive each way for her to come down. Loved seeing her.

Monday was a holiday. It was Swedish National Day which I did not go out for at all. I just stayed home feeling very tired, practiced for my class, and then went to the gym. It rained most of the day anyway so I did not feel I was missing out and everyone I talked to said they were not doing anything either so another missed opportunity to experience the culture? Maybe or maybe not? It appears to be what they do…stay at home.

I did see people having gatherings but that could also be because the kids are finished with school now and graduation is here. Here the students graduating get white hats and they walk around town together with whistles and make a lot of noise, the more people the better, some get driven around in fancy cars, and many groups parade around town. One young woman I saw was dressed very smartly in a white pant suit with her white hat perched on her head. She was lovely. Young men in suits or dressed up, young ladies dressed up. It is fantastic and very special.

New flowers are starting to pop up. Poppies, daisies, lupins and others getting ready for the 7 flowers you need to pick on Midsummer eve so you can dream of your true love. That is an event I am looking forward to. I am heading up north to be with Susanne for Midsummer in Dalarna and hopefully get to meet a relative from my father’s side, who has done a lot of genealogy. It has been so great having that connection, I appreciate it so very much. We have been missing each other when I have been up there he has been elsewhere but soon, very soon.