Thursday 28 February 2019

An early spring


I'm beginning to get that distinct feeling of time getting away from me again :). I mean, this month just went by so fast!! It really feels just like yesterday that we were driving through what felt like a blizzard to get to Hafjell at the beginning of the month :).


It's rapidly becoming something of a favourite of mine, Hafjell. Especially since this time we managed to get a cabin that allowed us to get on and off the slopes without having to drive! Not quite ski-in ski-out, but I'll not complain about a two minute walk! And the weather was gorgeous too! For at least two of the four day we were on the slopes.


So far that's been the only foray into downhill, but I'm not too disappointed really. It's strange, for the last couple of years I feel I've no longer got quite the same burning desire to clock up those vertical meters :). I'm extremely happy to have the chance to use my board, but quality, not quantity seems to be the thing...


Cross country skiing also did happen, right up until the beginning of February, and then for some reason we ended up in a big thaw :(. Temperatures in the high single digits during the day make for rather treacherous walking conditions! Ice everywhere, sometimes covered by the thinnest layer of fresh snow, which is even worse. Luckily things are getting better. Unfortunately, only because it's been warm enough for things to keep on melting. A bit more of a winter would be kinda nice, but I guess we shall see.


Last weekend though, was time to head back to the UK. This time to say a certain goodbye. What can I say? It is humbling to be in the presence of great emotion, I find. It is not always easy to climb out from under the weight of one's own, but if one is able, then sharing makes it all so much more bearable, joyful even. It was a lovely sunny day. More than just a hint of spring in the air.


Life moves on, and it takes us along with it. The trains, after being rather discombobulated by some heavy snow at the beginning of the month have, since, been more or less predictable. I had at least one day when the train I was hoping to catch got cancelled, because they couldn't get it defrosted enough to run! You've gotto smile, haven't you :).


It's taken me a bit over a month, but aided by a little bit of extra reading time on the flights over the weekend, I managed to get to the end of House of Chains this morning. The more I read, the more fascinating I find it. Not just the layers upon layers of the tales and histories. There's also such a variety to the telling. I don't think I've ever read a series where the canvas moves quite in such a way. The times and the places. To say nothing of the people. Well, when I say people, means all sorts of things. But then again, we are speaking of high fantasy here, so.


I have to say though, moving from one book the the next isn't an easy leap with the Malazan Book of the Fallen. It is almost as if the end of each book invites a certain introspection. A certain amount of space to gather one's thoughts. Before embarking upon a new journey. I must also say here that my first assessment of Steven Erikson vis-a-vis GRRM was probably a bit premature :).


I was also wrong, I have realized since, in thinking that I could read these books alternating with others! And since it would have been impossible to get my fellow book club members to read nothing but fantasy for the foreseeable future, I have taken a bit of a hiatus from it. For now.