New Years

Two friends from Japan came to visit over New Years: Ayako, who was one of the early members of the Japanese drumming group in Melbourne, and Rieko who I met in August at the Earth Celebration drumming festival in Japan. When you say ‘Sweden’ to the Japanese, the first thing they think of is ‘olola’, or the Aurora - the Northern Lights. So when they found out I was going to be in polar country in the winter, their annual holiday plans were made. Ayako and Rieko's first day in Luleå was spent going around the town and planning for their return trip: stocking up on ‘omiyage’, the small presents that are should/must be given to friends and co-workers when they get back.

For NY Eve, Rieko spent the whole day and night in bed, trying to get over a bug so she would be fit for the trip north to the Ice Hotel. Ayako and I went to Hasse’s flat for a NYEve party with some of his mates, arriving to find the men in the kitchen (a rare sight for a japanese girl), but in a surprise for me, most were wearing full suits, a bit more formal than I was expecting.

Meatmaster Magnus, and Stephan the saladman

Henrik, Magnus, Ayako, Johanm, Stefan, and Hanna

Blurry, but the only shot of the host Hasse, on the left

After dinner, which was mostly set to the dulcet strains of Rammstien, we went to town to watch the fireworks. Until they began, we playon on the reindeer slide.

The Reindeer Whisperer

Did you ask for permission before you tried to hop on?

Permission denied. Don't feel sad.

There was no countdown to midnight, not even The Final Countdown, just two overlong speeches and then the fireworks. Happy New Year!