Today, it's St Patrick's Day. He's the patron saint of Ireland and the one said to be responsible for driving the snakes out of the emerald isle.

In lands with large Irish populations (or those descended from Irish stock) it is a famed day of revelry: the wearing of something green, drinking of copious amounts of green beer, singing loudly in not-so-harmonious Irish accents, a bit of fighting in the street, a lot of public urination, and eventually loss of consciousness. It's grand!

In Sweden, I guess the Irish pubs will be doing a roaring trade and several of the expat crowd are joining in the fun. I believe that there will even be a St Paddy's day parade in Stockholm tomorrow afternoon. There is not a huge Irish population here, but I'm sure they will be vocal.

It's starting to thaw a bit outside and has been mostly sunny for a couple of days, but the world is still blanketed in snow and ice. When you live so far north, you really have to get used to the idea of a 6-8 month winter every year, no matter how much you may like it to be otherwise. Summer lasts a month or two and spring and autumn are both short and intense as well. It's winter that dominates.




Soon however, it will be time to forget the cold, to welcome the sunshine instead and let it all flow through me! I sit in the light of day and feel my breath frosting in the air and dream that the sun is warm. My face turns to the light like a sunflower and I smile.

Winter is lasting much too long this year. I can't wait to shed these heavy clothes and put on something breezy and bright. Perhaps one day my feet will once again hear the clip clop of my sandals, I will smell the beautiful aroma of freshly cut grass and the welcome tinkle of icecubes in my tall glass of gin and tonic. Not to mention the sound of the wind in the sails and the gentle swish as our boat plys the waters of the Baltic. Bliss!




...please don't wait too long! I can't stand it much longer.

Happy St Patrick's Day to all of you. Don't forget to wear green!