What could be better than topless and barefoot enjoying warm weather, beer and sunshine, nobody in sight. I guess nobody. If some perv is hiding in bushes, then I am not aware of it. May he have a nice day, may he enjoy the view, the forbidden fruit:) . Or, at least the sight of the forbidden fruit!

Mentally preparing for Midsummers, which here is also a National holiday. So we will have five days off. For some folks it means heavy drinking. For most people it means concerts, huge fires and seeking for love. There are many legends connected to the Midsummers here. Most common, obviously, is that single people will find love in the Midsummers night, which is the longest day in a year and therefore shortes night of the year. In fact it meas just that it doesnt get dark for many hours as usual, just some 2-3 hours dark and then the sun comes up again. I remember, with some help of the booze, that there have been occasions that felt as if the sun never went down even. But that was when I was much much younger. Last such party, when we danced and drinked til 7 o’clock in the mo was probably some 15 years ago. That was so much fun, my friend and I went to Amsterdam to see tulips, more precisely the endless tulipfields and park Keukenof. For me that was some 6th or 7th trip to Amsterdam. That was the best trip ever. I had so much fun, I laughed so hard, we had long days and even longer nights and the funniest thing ever – not her nor me saw a single tulip during this trip! 😉

We still think dearly of that trip. Sitting in streetcafe on the Dam, 10 o´clock in the mo ordered already first bottle of wine. By noon we had already ordered lunch – another bottle of wine. We were so busy all day long, by the time we stood up to go to hotel it was 1.30 at night! Passers by came sat at our table, had a chat, shared a glass, they went on, we remained. I dont know what they thought of us, nobody ever went to anyone elses table…. Maybe we looked odd or …. really dont know. Hilarious. What museum, what paintings and sunflowers, lets do it tomorrow!! And so we smoothly and extremely lazily decided to postpone every day. Even worse – we forgot about the tulips the moment the plane landed!

All of our trips have been similar, no matter if in homecountry or going further. We have a blast always, without us the party doesnt even start. We are always the last standing. There were a few occasions when we were invited to a corporate outing of some 2000 people only to get the party started. Total strangers found us by calling around describing us, until they found out our names and called us. It was a bit strange, but today I think it was like primitive standup (it officially ocurred here only some 5 years ago) we made. We just sat, drank beer, yapped, laughed loudly. And all the rest laughed my laugh. I am not joking here. First I thought its odd, but then my friends said my laugh is highly uncommon and extremely funny. Well, they see from the side, so I have no say in it. 

I only once heard my own laugh, it was not video. I was in some public event. It was the beginning of mobile phones, our lovely neighbour Nokia made such phone where you can record and set the ringtone as you wish. Some put New Kids on the Block song or Sandra or… It was recess and people chatting and then I heard it. Someone, total stranger, had it as a ringtone. I was horrified, it was horrible. It was so incredibly horrible I had to leave the event. The only good thing was this guy did not know it was me, and he seemed really loving it. 

I have now supported local village shop for many a hundreds euros, buying all drinks and food for a week or so. I am the main supporter for this small shop :). They have just two types of beer, two types of icecream, some sausages for BBQ and ofcourse strong alcohol. The last I have not bought since Xmas as thats when it gets extremely cold here and every now and then shot of Stroh 60 is actually a medical treatment. With the cold, snow and darkness we are one of the leading country of depression. Sharing the first places with Finland. We also share the highest amount of strong alcohol per capita. We train well at least 10 months a year, ofcourse we became pros. How else would that turn up then. The only problem is the life expectancy is not as high as everywhere else. First reason is the body will give up – when there is not enough blood in your veins that is. Second reason is your car gives up – especially when driver is totally drunk, not unusual to have full car of casualities. And third – you end up helping yourself to end this misery by going to swim drunk as hell. What a horror when 17 years old, five in one car, going 140km/h in 70km/h and find substantial tree and end up all dead in 3 seconds. It has been our trademark every year exactly this time of year. Wonder who wins this time. We have 2-3 days to go…..

Now heatwave, a whole 24C all day long. Promises some 30C on weekend. Thats the heat when most hide under tree and actually can not dring beer even. We then have new diet – breakfast, lunch and dinner – icecream. And all day long mineral water. Its the seasonal weightloss program. Which means at about Xmas you gain all back again, because to keep warm you need some fat. The longer I live the better I see this phenomenon. I have 8 kilos dissapearing at summer. By the time of February I am literally unsinkable due to the fatroll around my waist. And I have been hearing the same is happening to several of my friends. So I figured its time to move to Tenerife or California or so, I would be size S and remain so for the whole year!! Dream on.

Again, note for Johnny: themaddesthattereverseen@gmail.com

For leisure, 

For love,

For fun, 

For anything good,

XOXO