Today Christmas is celebrated in most countries in the world. I know turkey is popular. It is a calm day in the countryside, I am relaxing, reading some news, and I am also thinking of the past year. I haven’t started to write on my next book yet since I still need some time to reflect on what I have written. In addition, I have been very interested in Swedish language, and also in the phenomenon in creating characters. I do understand that an author lives with its characters. Greten, one of my main characters, has been very close, and I have felt sorry for her. Also her innocence to life.

Instead I have written quite a lot here on this Diary. This year I have shared a lot of music. My music machine broke down this summer so I had to find a new machine. I got introduced to music in the air. When I read the news, I saw the headline above, and I asked myself if music is politics? Sometimes I have difficulties putting words on my feelings, and here, music helps me. I hope we can continue to live in a free world 2020, where it is allowed to express your opinions. If feelings and emotions cannot be expressed in a country, then it is a dangerous world.

I will continue to work for a free 2020. Where different values and opinions are not suppressed.

I have worked a few hours today. We were not open for so many hours, but it was a very busy day. A lot of customers wanted their medicines, and some also bought last-minute-gifts. Christmas eve is a special day. Calm and peaceful, and the customers were happy that we were open. I am now with my family, and Molly is having her first christmas. Lady and Molly got dog sweets, chips from a dog shop. They are very content.

When I grew up I often spent christmas with my family in Tärnaby, Västerbotten in north of Sweden. Those winters were often very cold. Up to -30 to -35 °C. There were very often very good movies that I watched. Among those I remember Bergman’s “Fanny och Alexander”. You could not do much since it was so cold, so movies were very good entertainment. But sometimes, sunny days, I put a lot of clothes on and went skiing. It was very easy. The hills were very close, especially Ingmarbacken.

To return to a christmas mood, even though I like thinking of sunny beaches, I share one of my childhood memories. One of those movies I watched during christmas.

December is a hectic month. Maybe that is also a reason why some people dislike christmas time. It is very common with eg heartburn due to a lot of stress. But this time of the year is positive stress for me. I am excited of this opportunity to think of the past year, put it in a box, and move on to a new, unwritten year.

I must, however, admit that every time New Year is here, I am in chock that a year has past. I think of all the things I would like to do. Like learning Italian for example.

I am looking forward to 2020. It is a “tabula rasa” and I hope it will be a year filled with new life experiences. Possibly also, a sunny and friendly year. But first, unify with families and celebrate christmas.

I like December a lot and spend quite a lot of time with “julpyssel”. Making cookies, buns, candy etc. I know that there are people who dislike christmas as much as I like christmas. Maybe due to a lot of pressure of social events, family and the turning to a new year. Questions like “what have I done this year?” may occur. And this year, my mother Elsa is no longer with us.

I like to write christmas cards because that makes me stop for a while and reflect on the past year. Really hope the post office will take care of my cards so they don’t disappear.

You know I like music a lot, and I have found this song, a very old – centuries ago – English song. With Sting.

Yes, education is on my mind – “For inspiration to education”. Encouragement is definitely needed when you are learning new things. I remember school when I had teachers more or less enthusiastic.

Over years, I have learnt to find inspiration from my self. To motivate myself when times are tough. Because it is true, sometimes I have absolutely no inspiration at all. But, on the other hand, I do believe that it is important to do nothing once in a while.

I thought of my time in Pau when I studied “Cinéma français” with films and famous French songs. I remember I loved the old movies with beautiful scenes. So, I share this song with Jacques Dutronc.