Midsummer is upon us.
Well, not quite yet, as the longest day will be on Saturday, but Friday is midsummer eve and that is the day to "celebrate" the spiritual start of summer. And for once, the weather looks like it might actually be sunny and warmish, which is rare. Quite often, it is pretty miserable.
So what we are going to do is head into the country to my sister-in-law's summer cottage to grill some burgers, have a sauna, and lose the winter fur coat. That doesn't mean shave the privates - rather, take a dip into the lake for the first time after the winter. The water is pretty warm in some places now, but that doesn't mean that warm. Still, with a sauna a few steps from the lake, it is a nice way to cool off between rounds.
Normally more drinks would be involved, but since I am driving, it will likely only be a glass of champagne with lunch, and a cider in the sauna. I am not a big drinker anyway, but it would sometimes be nice to get tipsy. It is rare.
I don't know what the rest of the plans are for the day, but I am hoping that either we get home early-ish or they are willing to put the AUS-USA game on, because I would like to watch. It is very likely that it is going to be a blowout game in USA favour, but still, perhaps the underdogs will come good and get a surprise win, to silence a few critics.
But, I guess if I can't watch it, it isn't the end of the world, though I know that a couple of the family are into football and they might be keen to kick back with a beer and tune in. I am sure if Finland were playing, it wouldn't be an issue - but they don't qualify. I could also watch it on my phone - but it is not quite the same.
We will be off by lunch time, so I have no idea if I am going to be online much at all, or if I will just resign myself to eating and pretending to listen to whatever conversations they have in Finnish - nodding occasionally, and making some sounds as if I understand.
It would be easier if drinking.
Lots of northern European countries celebrate midsummer in some way, because summers are so short and require taking advantage of. Any reason to grill and have a drink too - just like the pagans did it.
What I will try to do throughout the day and evening is take some photos and put them into a short post to show what it kind of looks like. I probably won't write much in that, unless we are home and I can do it at the PC, but pictures are nice too.
Oh, and on the longest day of the year, the sun will be up for 19.5 hours, and it won't get completely dark where I am. Further north, the sun won't set at all.
Any plans in your neck of the woods?
Taraz
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