Jerry week

View of my hut through the wild blueberry patch

So I've been in Stockholm this past week, out in the Värmdö forest at Lyell & Jan's place. Lyell is an old NZ friend of my uncle's, and we met when we all stayed together in a farmhouse in Siena, Italy, back in early July (a few pics are now here on my flickr site). When I learned that Lyell lived in Stockholm, I told him I'd heard about this great-sounding festival coming up, and he invited me to come and stay. So I did.

Apart from the disease-carrying ticks, it was a total paradise out there in the forest. From the house I walked past a hazelnut tree, up through the wild blueberries to my own little hut, borrowed from the neighbours who were away. Raspberries also grow wild all over the place. There are lakes everywhere:

the local

Another lake at the end of the road, where we went last night on 'beaver safari' - but to no avail - the beavers did not reveal themselves. We did see some osprey on their nest though...

...and this beautiful moss (this picture I took for Cassia).

So in addition to being birthday week this week, it was also Jerry week, according to Patti Smith, who I was lucky to see AGAIN at Stockholm Music & Arts last Friday. She declared it to be Jerry week because Jerry Garcia was born on 1st August and died on 9th August - so we were instructed to eat non-alcoholic spacecakes and listen to the Grateful Dead to honor his memory. It was a bit of an all-round Leo time, Lyell being one, and also his friend Mikael who was part of my festival posse. Speaking of, I've been taking pictures in each city of lions for Elvi, who turned 10 this week! - here they are.

So now, some festival pictures...

I just love this picture of Patti from the Stockholm newspaper. The best thing she said this time was to an audience member: "Are you laughing at me? You can ... I'm funny."

Anthony Hegarty the feminist, and the environmentalist, with the Swedish Radio Symphony Orchestra. SO GOOD to finally see him. He sang Beyonce's Crazy In Love!

Frida Hyvönen playing to a home crowd, in her awesome sparkly homemade cape and lycra bodysuit with ABBA style vest. (I got the pic from here where there are much better pictures that I was able to take).

Ane Brun from Norway, with guest José González - he also came out and played with Tinariwen.

Emmy-Lou! and her amazing hair.

Fatoumata Diawara from Mali was beautiful (pic from here again)

Bjork was pure nature

I was ambivalent about seeing Bjork, but gee whiz I'm so glad I did - she is a gesamtkunstwerk! She had a lightning machine above the stage, making lightning as part of the music sometimes. And I forgot how much a part of the trip-hop movement she was back when she started, and how much I liked that at the time. She rocked. There was serious bass. And her costume - incredible dress of hair that moved so well as she bopped around the stage. She lasted for about 3 songs in her crazy shoes then scooted around in her stockings after that. Her band consisted of two young guys, one on drums & drum machines, and the other on samples & effects, and a choir of girls from Iceland, also in amazing dresses. There was even fireworks. It was totally wow. To see her in a Scandinavian context was super cool too.

Better shot of the hair dress, and cool grandma wig, with choir (thanks again for the pic Sandra Johnson)

So there couldn't have been a better start to birthday week I think, than being at this wonderful festival, on an island in Stockholm with a picturesque view, with a lovely crew of Lyell's assorted friends. Maybe it will be an annual event now! who knows.

And then by the time I got home after seeing Bjork, I had turned 35. In the morning we ate croissants, from the bakery down the road that's been there since 1920 and is now operated by two guys from Brisbane. Lyell, Jan & their friend Timo sang the Swedish version of happy birthday to me, very sweet.

Here I am, really 35 years old now, in the Värmdö forest with Timo & Jan. There are juniper trees behind us.

Jan (the Swede), Lyell (the NZer) & Timo (the Finn)

The last 2 days I've spent exploring Stockholm a bit - was hard to extricate myself from the forest each morning, so didn't see that much, but did get to the excellent National Museum (some pics will be on flickr soon).

Giant swedish cameos at the National Museum

And today I have arrived in Paris! Staying at this super cute airbnb apartment in Pigalle for the next two weeks.

Fluffy Paris clouds.

Bonne nuit everyone!