Finally home for a few days at least..

SO knackered. Went to germany then came back and went straight to Warwick folk festival, had an amazing time, came back on the worst train journey of my entire life (the last 15 mins anyway) but am happy i made it in one piece.

It was really nice to see everyone at Warwick, but was sad to say goodbye (for a long time) this morning, i'll miss them all so much, but hopefully some visits to Sweden will be arranged next year.

Cath's just gone to pick Rowan and Marit up from sheffield station which is exciting and relieving as I was worried about them flying to Estonia.

I must sleep now, for a long time.

Home from Sweden..

(click pictures to make them bigger)

Shit me. This is going to take a while..
So I finally got home yesterday at about 1pm, without my massive bag as it was still in Copenhagen, but is being delivered here which saved me having to carry it home (whey!). Was nice to see Cath again who I'd not seen for ages, and we watched a bit of the Federer-Nadal tennis match and I went to bed at half 3, to wake up at half 9 absolutely sure it was the morning. I was so confused and tired! So went to bed again, and woke up this morning slightly more refreshed (but still sad and missing everyone terribly). I hadn't slept in a bed since Tobias' house on thursday night after ethno (which was amazing, we got to stay in his guest house in his massive garden, of his massive house). His parents cooked amazing food for us and were so nice, thanks Tobias! So it was nice to have a couple of days relaxation in Rättvik, which is probably one of the most beautiful places i've been to. We went swimming and sunbathing by the lake for a long time.. i've gone a bit brown! The bridge over the lake is about 900m long, and each plank has a name on it (people who have contributed). We spent many nights there at ethno.

hehehe sorry rowan!

On friday we got the bus to Boda for the Spelmansstämma (festival) and met up with a few ethnoers which was nice, and we played and ate and had a nice time, until we realised there were no buses back to Rättvik the next day in time for our trains, so we had to take the tent down, and hitch a lift with some strangers at 4 in the morning back to Rättvik. We were literally crammed in like sardines, and I was lying on a russian girl i'd never met, but we managed to survive it in one piece (thanks strangers!).

haha sorry Marit!

We then ended up pitching the tent round the back of the school, trying to be inconspicuous, although it's bright red and says 'fältält' on the side. Anyhow, we managed to get about 4 hours sleep. On saturday it rained, so we cafe hopped for a bit, until we decided the library was the best place to go. It really was, I found a wooden igloo in the children's section packed with pillows and fell asleep for a good 3 hours which was brilliant, maybe not for the kids wanting to play in it though. I positioned a book just incase I got caught.

So eventually me and Rowan got our train to Arlanda Airport, where we then slept for the night (barely, because of many loud pissed people) and got up at 4am to check-in. We flew at 6 and changed at Copenhagen, and I slept the whole way without even noticing take-off or landing (even though I was squidged between two fat men reading newspapers) which made the flights better as usually my ears hurt alot, but this time they didn't.

Rowan enjoying the children's play area:

I'm still tired and sad, as I met some certain special people at ethno, and don't know when or if i'll see them again... but here are some pictures..

Me Joe and Matty!

Croatia at the concert!

India and Nepal at the concert

Turkey at the concert, and us playing on the radio

scotland and england in the concert, and africa..

Everyone

It's impossible to sum it up in a few pictures, but there are more if you click here: (link to come)

A sad Anna xxx

Still in Rattvik..

So briefly, while I can keep my eyes open, ethno has ended and me, Rowan and Mårit have stayed in Rättvik for an extra two days. I am extremely tired and emotionally crippled for the moment, and an awful lot of stuff has happened in the past week (which I will write about when I get home), without much quiet time so I shall need to recover. Today has mostly been spent in Rättvik's bibliotek (as it is raining and we basically had nowhere to go) and have to wait around to get a train at about half four to Arlanda airport where we get to hang around for about 10 hours (let's get pissed!)... Although i think i may go to sleep as we didn't get much after last night's frolickings at Boda spelmansstämma (?) and a very crammed car journey with strangers at 4 in the morning back to Rättvick, to put up the tent for about the 3rd time that night in a 'discreet place in the woods somewhere.
I have to go, the library is closing and I am not making much sense, will blog later x

Well..i'm back and tiresome, having had a nostalgic and bizzare day at hope valley college. We even ended up getting the school bus home with lots of annoying kids - the whole experience! It was really nice to see some teachers though, and they all seemed suprised to see me and Rowan, ll grown up. The elastic band is really good, there's about 20 kids at least who seem to enjoy it, much better than back in my day. Then we came home, and I ended up doing henna tattoos on everyone. Marit has 'shakira shakira!' on her leg. Tonight, we are playing 'Anna's Salon', in which I will cut people's hair, and do their nails...and then probably yet another 'girly night in'!

xx

Long overdue

Hello!
This is something i've been meaning to do for a long time, but have been far too busy. But after finishing my exams on wednesday I'm doing lots of new things (learning swedish, eating loads of crisps and chocolate, drinking coke, chilling out) and some old things I have time for now (watching telly, sleeping in, reading and playing music although i have been doing those too, but now i can do them alot more).
The past week has been alot of fun, the house has been full of fun people, and Rowan is home. And there was a crazy night of post-exam celebrations on wednesday, involving tunes, beer, the most amazing bottle tunes, and more beer, and staying up very late indeed. Yesterday we (me, Rowan, Marit and Jenny) went to town and chilled in the peace gardens and got pierced (some of us).
Today me and Rowan are going to Hope Valley College (!) to help out with the elastic band at lunchtime, or something, and then there's a ceilidh in the evening. It will be the first time I have been back there since my last GCSE exam (15th June, 2006). I have kept meaning to go back and collect the amazing dress I made for textiles but havn't made it in 2 years (I am lazy). So that should be fun. I'll wear extra jewellery and massive piercings just because i can now (I got suspended for it). Fun!
Tomorrow me, Rowan and Marit are going to Beverley Festival which I'm looking forward to. Then we are coming back on monday, and on wednesday we are going to ethno in sweden, which is not only exciting because it is, but also because I can practice my swedish. I need to do this because I am moving there next year! (excited, nervous)
So, I am in quite a good mood for once, which I hear my family are happy about. I suppose I would be, it must have been hell to be around me for the past year. I have to say I am glad to be a little happier after, possibly, the worst year of my life so far. Exams being over is one weight lifted off my shoulders. The next thing I will worry about will probably be exam results on August the 14th, though lucy will be with me (and whoever else wants to come!) and I just don't really care anymore.
So i'm off to get ready for school (ha!)
xx

P.S. I just watched Jeremy Kyle - depressing stuff, The Magic Key - amazing, didn't know it was on, oh the memories! (Biff is a girl!?), Science school programs about friction - pretty good, and Berlie Doherty on an English school program filmed about 5 years ago, (I know her!).