Out of the way

Finland turns 90 today. Happy Birthday! It's a day I have celebrated with dafin, and then in memory of him, for quite a long time. It was already a day to celebrate, because it was Granny's birthday, although she never made it to this one (and it was a bit of a surprise that she made it to the last one). So while she is a year ahead of the finns, they'll catch up and take over.

Today's celebrations are pretty muted. I sat up too late, sang the finnish anthem, had a toast and played a few songs. But I have to work horribly early tomorrow.

This week, on Monday night, something happened to me for the first time. In 37 years I have always either been in Australia or held a ticket to go back there. But the ticket I had held, hoping to use it when I had some time, has expired and I am now floating in the big world in a way I never did before.

I have a temporary residence permit in Norway, and I am at home in Spain with Miel, but I have always had one little reserve line. Now it's gone.

It's not such a big deal really. It isn't that hard for me to get to Australia if I need to and it would be nice to get there and see my family and friends more (hello all you Aussies! I do miss you). And the ticket was for travel from New York (it was effectively free as the leftover end of some travel or other that turned out to be most economical as a round-the-world ticket). It's just a moment that arrived.

Vale finn. A little history, a little mystery,