Autumn is here

I don't think it's ever been so long between posts here. For that I am sorry and I hope you still pop by once in a while. Here, things are getting autumnal. I am contemplating my life and wondering whether I am going to forever be restless or if a settled life is actually what I want. I am figuring things out, thinking about threads in my life, wondering about what can happen if I let it. I am also doing other things, and a few of them are here:

In late August, I visited my grandparents' house in north Jutland for the last time. It was a strange thing; they have lived in that little town for 50 years and it's been the single constant place in my life. And I have been thinking a lot about it lately, how strange it is that we won't be going back there anymore. Now they live in southern Sealand and while it's great to be closer to them, I will miss our time by the golden fields and the far stretched plains. When I flew back to Copenhagen from Aalborg, I looked down on that scenery from above and couldn't help but feel a little sad.

In the beginning of September, I threw a housewarming. It was a good night and NP and Anna came all the way from Aarhus to be there. Despite having to catch a bus back home at 9 in the morning, they were the last to leave and I felt so grateful. And just look at those two!

My mom and youngest brother came by for a sleepover and we had brunch in the morning. So. Much. Cake!

Copenhagen was gracious with the light in September where summer finally came around for an Indian Summer. So needed.

In late September, I spent a day in London interviewing an Australian author and wandering around the city. That's when my 'crisis' started as I was suddenly reminded of how much I miss living outside Denmark. It sounds so spoiled but I miss the adventure and I feel as if my life is going nowhere and everything is the same everyday. First world problem I guess, but I haven't been quite happy since I came back.

Except for my apartment. How I love the light and the feeling of being at home.

This weekend I visited my mom in Jutland. I decided to go early and spend Friday in Aarhus. I saw friends for lunch and caught up and it was so great. In the afternoon, I met up with NP and Anna for a coffee before we took the train to Herning.

La Cabra is by far my favourite coffee pusher in Denmark. I wish they would open up a branch in Copenhagen!

On Saturday, we were supposed to go to Skagen as neither Anna nor Signe have ever been, but there was a marathon so we changed plans and went south to Ribe. I've never been there and what a beautiful little town. So quaint with little coloured houses and cobbled stones.

It rained and felt so autumnal. I can't really grasp that the light is disappearing more and more each day and that everything is so cold. I wish I were in a better mood and I could cope better. Have to do something to take my mind off things. Anyone willing to swap apartment with me for a weekend somewhere?

A few weeks back

There was a long summer break on this little site so I'm behind on things. Because there were good times between June and Italy as well. Some of them are here in visual form;

I had lunch with my uncle at Dyrehaven. I love their food; simple, good and very reasonably priced.

My aunt, who lives in Israel, came to visit for a few days in the end of May. I took her on a little sightseeing trip around Copenhagen and we started off with a trip to Christiansborg's tower. I love the view from up there.

Apart from a few days, the summer hasn't exactly been generous with the sun...

I did get a tan though, because I spent those few sunny days on the rooftop (btw, snapchat is kseberlin)

I love Nørrebrogade. Also in rain.

Another rainy day in Vesterbro. But the houses are lovely.

In the end of June, I went to North Jutland to do a story and stayed a few days at my grandparents' house. It rained (surprise) but made for a lush visit to Lille Vildmose.

The next day I flew to Bornholm for another story. I have never flown in a propeller plane but it turned out to be quite enjoyable.

Malmö looks alright from above.

I crammed in a lot of work in June to be ready for holiday in the beginning of July. I love the view from the office.

In July, I got the keys for the apartment in Nørrebro and spent afternoons painting and organizing. Nearby coffee shop Heimdalsgade22 became my new go-to place. The guys there are so sweet and I love the vibe. They also happened to feature the poster for my brother's band (up in the left corner). That felt just right.

While the apartment was getting ready, I spent the month of July living at my father's house in the north. That meant spending a lot of time with the youngest brother who still lives at home. I can't describe how great it is to hang out with him. We have so many in-jokes and we laugh and talk and take trips in the car to Elsinore. It's the best.

But Copenhagen is pretty great, too.

A new chapter

Those who follow along on Instagram have probably noticed that I have moved. Yet again. A few weeks ago I wrote down all the places I've lived. I thought it was only 26 places, but it was 29. That's more than once every year I've been alive! Anyway, I bought an apartment in Nørrebro, and even though the purchase has been a long time coming (I've been looking for a year), it feels a little overwhelming to put your signature on something and seeing six digit numbers on contracts. However, I do feel very happy to be able to create a base. A place that is entirely mine and where I can stay as long as I want. I got the keys back in June and have been taking my time getting everything in order. Cleaning the wooden floors, painting the ones in the bedroom, deciding on new furniture and all that. I am 80% settled now and it feels so good. Here's a few glimpses from the whole process:

Before the painters came over, there were millions of holes in the wall. But one afternoon I got a preview of all the great light streaming into the living room.

The bedroom floor looked like this after I had cleaned it.

Cleaning the living room in my favourite huge t-shirt my father gave me years ago after a trip to Cape Town.

First layer of blue on the floor. I went for a light blue but got a much darker shade because I hadn't compared it to a white piece of paper. First lesson....

The sofa was the first piece of furniture to enter the apartment. I have never owned a sofa before and bought this off the Danish equivalent to eBay. It's from the 50s and can be made into a bed. One of the springs came up through the seat one afternoon. I guess it's an oldie...

It felt like I had a room under water so we went out and bought a lighter colour for the second layer.

It made a huge difference.

The table is actually made of two tables, the smaller one underneath can be rolled out or taken apart altogether. They used to be my parents' bedside tables and they're full of circles from old mugs and glasses. I love that and it makes me think of the tables' life back when my parents were still together.

I got a new bed and it was wonderful sleeping in it for the first time. Even though it was so warm I barely used the blanket and I had forgotten my pillow up north and had to use my cover as a pillow...

The kitchen was one big chaos.

Suddenly, all the furniture came up from the basement and I could get started on organising and decorating.

I bought the vintage lamp online and my brother brought it from Aarhus. The table is apparently Finnish design from the 50s, and I got it in 2011 when I moved into The White Castle. It's one of my most cherished things although it's very fragile. It is beginning to feel like a home here now. I only need to figure out what to put on the walls....