Category Archives: Uncategorized

I’m out on my rock, the sun is shining, sending beams to the waves, making the whole ocean glitter. At least from where I’m sitting. I came here, and I have all day, I was going to write. I’m working on a short story now, I’m calling it The Elephant Letters, but in Swedish, ofContinue reading “stories from Koster: The not getting started (6/8)”

Varje ord bär på hela universum – Göran Sonnevi Every word carries the entire universe

I met a birch. Weird, but incredibly beautiful. I wanted to photograph us together, but working with a self-timer is not easy. It took many scratches, bruises, sore muscles and even some bloodshed, before this was caught by the camera sensor. Totally worth it.

There was a piece on one of the radio programs that I listen to while climbing the cliffs of Koster. They interviewed Johan Rockström, the director of Stockholm Resilience Centre where I study, about ecological illiteracy, and then they talked with WWOOFers at an organic farm on Ekerö in Stockholm. Oh, it made me wantContinue reading “sore backs and blisters (5/8)”

The Ragnar and Sonja Smith clan, the two of their three daughters that are still alive, with their children, grandchildren, husbands, wives and girlfriends. Two second cousins and a baby missing, and me of course, being behind the camera as I am, but otherwise. There we are. A family tree in the flesh. And twoContinue reading “picnic with the extended family (5/8)”

Have you ever thought about the beauty of randomness? The cracks that spread across the bark of a living, growing tree. Patterns created by moss, light caught by lichen. Look, the pine has boobs!  

I was sitting in the high grass, waiting for a butterfly to show up. Uncle Terence was lighting the fire with dry juniper branches. The smell was so rich. He was preparing the proper Koster braai (to be true to his South African origin). Aunt Eva and dad came with two huge zucchinis and theContinue reading “stories from Koster: Family dinners (4/8)”

I walked over the cliffs today to my special crevice. I’ve been  going there since my early teens, hidden behind high cliffs on a headland is a crack in the rock shaped like an armchair specifically made for me. Protected against the most extreme Atlantic winds, but still with a view of the waves crashingContinue reading “stories from Koster: Finding my way back (4/8)”

The animals are taking care of the nature reserve, looking up in surprise whenever someone comes and interrupts their all-summer feast.

One of the cottages where some members of the families of dad and aunt Eva stayed was owned by Gunnar. A middle-aged man, a real Södermalm original, who lived in a small cottage on the same property. He had a cat. She would only come close to him. Pitch black. He called her Satan. TheContinue reading “at Gunnar’s”