Text and images Britt Arnhild Wigum Lindland
First of all: THANK YOU from the deepest of my heart for the comments you left yesterday. I have read them all, several times, thinking of you and our friendship while reading. I know about such lamps several of you mention, but I don't think I will buy one. My main problem according to winter is the cold, not so much the light, or lack of light. Yes, we have a wood stove, we have electric heathing and we have a hearth. But we also have a huge, open house, so on the coldest days it will take time to heath it all. I will manage though....right now it is more the thoughts of so many winter months ahead.........
I do have a lot of things going on to keep warm though. Like celebrating the 9th birthday of a nephew. As a birthday gift we gave him a backgammon I bought in Damascus, and after eating the birthday cake, he sat down to play with Torgeir (our oldest son)
I collect chess games from travels. In Syria there were some amazingly beautiful handmade ones. If I play chess? Yes, I do......a little. Last year our nephew, Benjamin, got a chess game from us which we had bought in Krakow, Poland. Benjamins grandpa has taught him to play chess. A few weeks ago Banjamin slept over with us and before going to bed he came to me: "Aunt Britt-Arnhild, do you want to play chess with me?" Of course I did. When the game was over I was tired and wanted to go to bed. It was way past bedtime for Benjamin, but he went over to Terje with his most charming smile: "Uncle Terje, will you play chess with me?"
Can you guess Terje's answer?........... Well, I can't because I went to bed.......
I could have bought several chess games in Syria, but restricted myself to one handmade box and a set of figures. The box was made in Syria, the figures came from India and are pieces of art, every single one.
Long, dark and cold winter nights, perfect for celebrations, being together, eating, playing games.......
