torstai 3. tammikuuta 2019

A short story about the long Christmas 2018


Before Christmas I was quite exhausted after so many activities at work and other places. I even got ill during the last week in spite of my normal biological state. So I worked at home to get the rest duties done - even had a seminar online.


Our children announced no one is around during the Christmas so we decided to choose a sort of do nothing strategy. It included the Christmas time at a Spa in Rakvere, Estonia. There we had almost five days to avoid any obligations: Only breakfasts, dinners and massages and beauty cares were scheduled. Otherwise we concentrated in walking in the town, swimming in different kinds of pools and do some gym - or just relaxing.



After the Christmas Eve dinner










This pool was even too warm

Exercising 
Having a pedicure


The worst thing in the hotel Christmas was you just couldn’t hide from various versions of Christmas carols in uninterrupted chain.  However in the Christmas evening I also played some of my versions, not very easily identified, though...


Improvising The Jazz Sparrow in the Christmas Morning... 

Rakvere is is a town of 15 000 inhabitants situated in the North East part of Estonia. The district is mostly populated by Estonian Russians but Rakvere is mostly Estonian speaking. Actually it is an old Estonian German city Wesenberg, founded in 14th century. And of, course, there is an old German castle that is blown up by Peter the Great – a very usual story in Estonia. The ground of the area contains oil shale and therefore there are some mines for that smoking stuff.

Rakvere Castle


Some parts of the city have remained the pre war feeling with well off houses along the streets – nowadays only partly renovated. Of course there are the Soviet layer and also the modern layer of buildings.   




At the Trinity Church of Rakvere

After coming home we finally had our own Christmas preparations because our children and grandchildren came for Christmas dinner. When we went shopping to get stuff for it we noticed many Christmas things was quite cheap – we even got some orchids for free!


Making my wafels...

...and different ways to enjoy them


We had two sittings, one for my and the other for my spouse’s offspring. The regime varied a little but in both cases my nettle buckwheat wafers with Smetana and smoked whitefish were included.


Incorruptible opinions on my biscuits


The year changed between the two sittings. I hope the new one will be as happy as the last one was to me - and I hope it for everyone.



My toast to the New Year




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