The Isle of Wight has been invaded by Swedish librarians! Only for four days, but boy, did they make their mark! After combing the shops in Newport and Cowes certain items are now out of stock, cheese for example ... Funky T-shirts and tights are other items now in shortage, and a certain shop assistant selling walking boots is now looking for a few days off to recover...! The pool table in our 'local' was temporalily taken over by two of these bookish ladies, leaving the young contingency, normally gripping the cues, huddling in the corners, unsure what to do while waiting for these determined dames to finish their game ...!
But all this has been a small price to pay for having them here. A visit long planned for has finally taken place. Since I moved here in 1999 it has been on the cards. However, we have met at least twice since then, at various places in Sweden. This is all part of a tradition which started when leaving Library school in 1986, and seven of us have continued to meet up every other year or so at different places in Sweden, depending on where work has taken us.
Starting with a day in Lonon, apart from combing the shops on the Island we have also been walking Tennyson Down, and along Cowes seafront, enjoying the lovely garden at Afton park and the delicacies of their Apple Tree Cafe, early morning motorcycle rides and peaceful dito walks down to Newtown creek ...
And then they were off, after four full days, and the house went very quiet; four empty chairs on the patio, a pile of dirty sheets and damp towels.
It was lovely to have them here - all the catching up, such good laughs, such good talks, such good friends. Perhaps doubly appreciated now that I live here.
Perhaps next time (2009) all seven of us will be able to make it, to Orust ...!!
But all this has been a small price to pay for having them here. A visit long planned for has finally taken place. Since I moved here in 1999 it has been on the cards. However, we have met at least twice since then, at various places in Sweden. This is all part of a tradition which started when leaving Library school in 1986, and seven of us have continued to meet up every other year or so at different places in Sweden, depending on where work has taken us.
Starting with a day in Lonon, apart from combing the shops on the Island we have also been walking Tennyson Down, and along Cowes seafront, enjoying the lovely garden at Afton park and the delicacies of their Apple Tree Cafe, early morning motorcycle rides and peaceful dito walks down to Newtown creek ...
And then they were off, after four full days, and the house went very quiet; four empty chairs on the patio, a pile of dirty sheets and damp towels.
It was lovely to have them here - all the catching up, such good laughs, such good talks, such good friends. Perhaps doubly appreciated now that I live here.
Perhaps next time (2009) all seven of us will be able to make it, to Orust ...!!
No comments:
Post a Comment