I said I might post pics. Unfortunately they are not WILDLY exciting, and I'm sorry to say there is not one of the Haga Bulle ( Cinnamon bun ) as I never made it to Haga Parken but ended up going food shopping and cooking dinner.

Was able to make salad from lettuce grown on my balcony and add a few rocket ( ruccola ) leaves which are still a bit tiny but add a spicy peppery taste.

Dinner ? garlic and chilly prawns with home made bread to dip in and mop up the sauce , creamy wild mushroom risotto and mixed salad. Icecream and strawberries for dessert by which time A-S and I were singing songs in English Swedish and Latvian . I despises singing and being sung at most of the time ,which just shows how tipsy I was.

After that out came Leonard Cohen 's " Like a bird on a wire , like a drunk in a midnight choir , I tried in my way to be free " By this point I was wishing there was more red wine , but sadly there was not . I walked A-S to the train , as we sometimes do in Miraland returned home and slept soundly ...I've been feeling dozy all day

Enjoy the pics .... oh yes .. it rained too ....

Had breakfast on my balcony to day, shared these days with the Pidges. but we have an agreement. They are here during the night and I reclaim this space during the day , esepcially when it is warm and today it is warm, hot even - the rusty old thermometre shows 38C I'm sure that's not to be trusted though

The petunias, I think they are petunias , that I planted yesterday smell gorgeous . They have a delicate sweet scent that tickles my nostrils and are the deepest bluey purple. A bumble bee is doing its work among the snap dragons. I can see swallows and hear the chatter of magpies and the cawing of seagulls. Last night I could swear there were bats flying overhead.

I can also hear the neighbour's little Tim laughing and playing on their balcony which is below mine . Earlier he was running and running around pitterpat pitterpat..very hiyper at times , he is, though quite and sweet most of the time .

Going to Haga Parken later to meet A-S.for a walk and Haga Bulle - a huge cardemon bun and pot of tea. Will post pics later.

Tarra for now

I love lavender.
For the past 10 years or so , I've bought some in the summer and have NEVER succeeded in getting it to survive the winter.

I've tried big pots and smaller pots.
I've brought it indoors for the winter - no joy
I've tried adding crushed eggshells to the soil as I read somewhere that it liked that.

My balcony is sunny and warm and I water my plants regularly.

Any more advice ?

I'd really like to see this film. There are snippets on You Tube , but the DVD would be better

"A movie with no conventional plot: merely a collection of expertly photographed scenes "

A spiritually uplifting film , touching heart and soul

Met Rami yesterday at Medborgarplatsen. Come to think of it , it was amazing that we did meet. Medborgarplatsen is quite a big and busy place and we'd arranged to meet there at 5 pm. There are two exits to the tube station and I could have taken the pendeltåg which meant that I would have arrived from another direction. Rami had already told me that he'd lost his mobile. Anyway , by some fluke I chose the right exit , which is one that I don't normally take and there he was , at the top of the stairs , waiting. Right on time !

Rami and I met through blogging about 3 years ago and it's two years since we last met. He'd just returned from Jordan and brought me an insense burner and some sachets of inscense powder with strange Arabic writing. Once lit , Rami then went round my flat a few times swinging the insense burner and blessing my flat.

This time Rami wanted to show me Stockholm's Bohemia - the South Bank , known as "Söder " I remember taking Nick,Shipscook and MrsF there and getting lost a bit. We actually passed Rami's flat near Katarina church , though we didn't know it at the time. This part of town is worth exploring ; dotted with small boutiques, ethnic shops , cafes and bars with cheap ( cheaper ) bear

We had tea and a delicious panini grilled sandwich at a small cafe sitting outside and watching life go by. My panini was delish ... dark country bread , cheese, tomato, mustard and onion and it was absolutely mouth watering yummy.

We always have lots to talk about, travelling from one topic tp another...questions ...observations.... thoughts arising, some with answers some without.

Rami wanted to show me where he lived , all 20 square metres, and for me to meet his lovely wife, Petra . I wanted to bring a bottle of wine so we stopped by the Systembolaget , but unfortunately it was closed Instead we drank more tea, Rami played some beautiful Arabic and Greek /Turkish music on the guitar and I was introduced to BARAKA , an amazing inescribably fascinating film !

The title Baraka is a word that means blessing in many different languages. I want to post a link here , but something is amiss in cyber space right now .. still, the whole evening yesterday was a blessing.

:wave.

Watching the Pidges is very Zen

I am learning a lot.

They are teaching me about being in the present and being in the now.

Nothing is complicated; it is what it is.

If someone puts a snowball in the middle of your nest; build round it. Be creative and deal with it. You know you can.

If at first you don't succeed , try , try and try again.

Persistence pays.

Absence makes the heart grow fonder. Even a day or so apart can make a big difference on how you feel when you return.

Relationship. Be sensitive to the needs and wishes of those around you, while staying true to yourself your own integrity.

I love this blaze of flamingo pinky yellow orange tongues and wings
I feed off them.
Nourishment for the soul.
As I look at them and breathe in the colours , my heart sprouts wings and flies away.
My spirits soar and my soul rejoices 

Placing the glass ball in the middle of the nest didn't work. They simply carry on building , regardless. Stubborn feckers. Persistent. I have to admire their tenacity.

No sign of them yesterday and I began to miss them, but then , I think it was Mrs Pidge who arrived this morning , on her own , and started cooing and pacing up and down on the balcony rail a few times before flying off. She returned later with Mr Pidge ." It's time now " she says " I just has to lay these eggs now " and has been sitting there ever since.

There's a whole lot of building going on.
She is sitting on the nest, laying eggs , while he flies over with sticks for the nest.

He pauses, stick in mouth as I approach and then flies in to her and places the twig on top of her. I expect he will rearrange later. It's one step at a time with these birds.

They're allowing me to come close too to take pictures. They must be desperate. *sighs*

Getting rid of the "welcome " mat didn't help, and neither did the " closed " sign or " Sorry , no room at the inn" sign

It's on to plan B now
Shhhhhh .... the eggs will somehow disappear , I think

Yesterday I wrote about something that been puzzling me : why choose to push a closed door open when there is already one open ?

http://miramaze.blog.co.uk/2008/06/24/something-that-has-been-puzzling-me-4357940

Today I read this Zen story , and I am wondering if the closed v open door puzzle and this are related.

A Zen Master asked his student, “Why are you rushing so...what is your hurry?” The student replied, “I am after enlightenment, there is no time to waste.” Said the master, “And how do you know that enlightenment is running on before you, so you need to rush after it? Perhaps it is behind you and all you need is to stand still.”

We are programmed by so many unconscious beliefs. Some serve us , others do not.

" it's too good to be true "
" no pain no gain "
" there's got to be a catch somewhere "
" you have to work hard to get anywhere "
" you can't get anywhere without effort "

My mantra for the past ten years or so has been " Everything I need comes to be with love and ease ". I like to believe this is true as opposed to " no pain no gain "

Thanks to all of you who commented on this post. I do enjoy pondering on these things sometimes and appreciate alternative ways of thinking

:http://miramaze.blog.co.uk/2008/06/24/something-that-has-been-puzzling-me-4357940

I enjoy being in my body and I nourish it each day.
I am connected to the earth and the safe foundation it provides for my future growth.
I believe in my abundance.

and so it is !

I take the tube into town and get off at the end station and then up the escalator to the exit and these 4 doors.

Time and time again I've noticed people exit by the first three doors , which are always closed.

Me.. I  use  the open door.. saves having to push ... makes sense to me , but not , apparently to the majority of others.

Why is this ?

I've only ever seen one or two people using the open door .

Odd.

tgo me

Saw this outdoor photo exhibition on the way home

So I goes off today today on the 69 bus to the Embassy to pick up my new passport 15:40 ( they close at 16:00 )

I arrive at the same time as two Indian chaps- a man and his father. The son is fed up of Sweden now that Swedish love has expired and children grown and left home...wants to ask a few questions about relocating to the U.K.

As I'm first , I get to ring the bell , state my business and wait for the security guard who arrives a few minutes later on the OUTSIDE of the building carrying my passport.

" please check the details " saith he .. which I do ... and notice that they have not changed my middle name as instructed Go one .. take it back and fix it !

For 159 Euros you EXPECT them to get it right
So back it goes..bionic chip and all (the new one has a BIONIC chip , it has !!! )

And , I get on the number 69 bus again and head for home

Physio is going really well. My ankle is practically healed now and the muscles in my legs are getting stronger. My right leg is the weak one because of a ski injury 30 years ago - 15 cm scar and 7 cm screw with nuts and bolts !!! < Impressive

Fredrik is fantastic. He was the patience of a saint . He draws diagrams of the knee for me and explains why a particular exercise is beneficial, which is great , because I hates exercise , but now I feel more motivate. Must do to get stronger and prevent more problems in the future.

The cartiledge has been eroded and the synovial ( sp ? ) fluid in the knee has deteriorated so what have at the side of my knee is what hey call " artros " in Swedish , and I believe it is osteoarthritis

I got about half an hour more this time as Fredrik's next patient didn't turn up. We sat and chatted for a while about how to handle these situations. A physiotherapist sees 40 patients in a week and if some fail turn up , he pay is deducted - about 700 SEK . One or two cancellations are fine , but if people make a habit of simply not turning up without phoning or cancelling properly , it is not acceptable.

Made me think : We teach people how to treat us don't we ? Sometimes we have to be firm to be kind. ... and that applies to Pidges too

wonder if they will get the message ?

Flippin eck .. I'm beginning to behave like Inspetor Cluseau in the Pink Panther hahahaha ... must get a life ;

I have to laugh. They are smart little feckers, those Pidges.
Thought I was being clever by placing a plantpot where the new nest was being built but instead I think I must have made this more comfortable for them

You'll be sick of hearing by now , and if so ... stop reading now
I really don't mind them nesting BUT , they do make one heck of a mess and it's my neighbours that suffer and complain as the poop drops through onto their balcony - and there is a lot of it. I've covered the gaps with plastic bags which should help.

Anyway , birds should be making their nests in the woods or in the fields. Am I encouraging dysfunctional behaviour ? They must be confused by now. This used to be their home . They grew up here and now they are evicted and shooed away No longer welcome. What have I done ?? Lackaday .. what do now ?

I was planning on getting an Oyster card to use while I am in London beginning of August. Apparently someone has cracked the oyster card security

http://uk.news.yahoo.com/vdunet/20080623/ttc-researchers-crack-oyster-card-securi-6315470.html

Three pigeons on my balcony this evening; two big lovebirds , Pidges 1 and 2 ? and one smaller one. The two lovebirds keep seeing the other one off.

Pnm closer inspection of the balcony , I noticed the beginnings of a nest in the only possible place under one of the pot stands.

What to do ?
I 've now covered the spot with a plant pot. Surely now they will get the hint , unless of course they choose to make the nest in the plant pot itself.

Sorry Pidges,Please forgive me, thank you , I love you .... off to a lovely spot in the woods with you ! One round of nesting Pidges was delightful , but enough now . Too much poop

Off into town in a minute to meet Hans for lunch and housing consultation. After that might head off to the British Embasy to pick up my new passport

It's cloudy and cool here , rain during the night has messed up my balcony a bit tsch !! I hope it gets warmer soon.

Today's affirmation :

I am guided by my higher power and wisdom. I am awake

" Every step you take should be a prayer. And if every step you take is a prayer, then you will always be walking in a sacred manner."

Oglala Lakota Holy Man

Toodle pip

Innit strange .. that miles away and still so close , certain rock stars are sipping ouzo and watching the glorious colourful sunsets in the heat ...oh for 35C ?

*takes a sip of glass of chilled Kir ( not Royale , but just as good ) and munches on freshly popped popcorn, before dinner.

Lotta and Peter were supposed to be joining me , but Lotta's mother has just had a stroke and they phoned to cancel at last minute. I shall be dining alone tonight with Leonard Cohen for company and maybe a film. Pity that. Poor Lotta , poor Lotta's mum.

Toodle pip ...will check in later after dinner

A message out of the blue from Rami

http://www.ramiswall.blogspot.com/

"Helloo Miraaa! Wishing you a happy midsommar, now that the rains gone and the sun is up again... I am just about to finish (your copy) of the celestine prophecy - time for some tea maybe ? :-) "

I love these surprises

Tea sounds nice . It's been two years since I saw Rami. I wonder what he's been up to . I want to hear all about his adventures.
So I wrote on Rami's wall ( Rami has many walls to write on )

" and she feeds me tea and oranges that come all the way from China .." a la Leonard Cohen echoes in my head. Earl Grey Green is my favourite tea of the moment....which leads me to

http://www.globalpoet.com/cohen.htm

" And she feeds him tea and oranges that come all the way from China ..." and the next thing I know is that I find this gem , this Leonard Cohen treasure . Brill !