The neighbours diagonally across the crossing have sold half of their plot, for another house to be built there. Today the new owners started work. Trees are being removed and I guess they’re evening out the ground. The first photo is from two days ago, the second is from today.

The two large oaks are protected, though, and will remain.

There’s not much space there. I’ve seen the drawings from when the whole thing was approved by the municipality and I know that it is technically possible to fit a house there, but they’re going to be very close to their neighbours. I get it – if you can earn a few millions by giving up half your garden, then it’s probably hard to say no. I’m kind of glad that it is impossible to do so with our garden.

Gardens always shrink with time, and houses always grow. Nobody buys their neighbour’s house, only to tear it down and extend their garden. And nobody ever knocks down the extension to their house.

I’ve barely left the house for the last week due to feeling unwell. Went out yesterday for 15 minutes to empty the plastic recycling, and came home with a headache. Today was better. I’m still coughing occasionally (especially talking triggers it all the time) but as long as I keep my mouth shut, I feel better. I even went out walking with Adrian for over an hour.

I’ve been watching the icy streets with curiosity to see when they melt. The icy street had a wide clear streak already, so I’ve missed the breakthrough moment there. In the park, though, the ice fields still covered the entire path a week ago, but now there is a fresh new almost ice-free channel in the middle.

It doesn’t look very appealing, and it is in fact harder to get past than the actual ice was, but it makes everything feels like spring.

It’s been sunny and above zero for days and days now, and the ice and snow are quickly melting away. Except on the streets that have a forest just to the south, blocking the sun. In those places the asphalt is barely even visible in small patches, and most of the ground is still covered in a thick, dirty, slippery crust. I feel kind of sorry for the people who live on those streets.

Nearly undisturbed snow early in the morning – or at least early for a Saturday – before cars and feet.

February is supposed to be the coldest month of the year. Instead of a thick blanket of snow, we have +5°C, and snowdrops are blossoming.

The neighbours have apparently bought new string lights and hung them on the fence between their garden and ours.

I’m normally a fan of string lights. We hang up many metres of our own, every winter. But these are an absolute monstrosity. The light they cast is very cold and incredibly bright. When they switch on, it’s like a flash. I cannot not look. They feel brighter than any other lights around me, although I’m sure it’s not quite as bad as that in reality but just my subjective experience, due to the contrast and the colour temperature. They pull at my attention, even though they’re far away in my peripheral vision, even though I’m looking at a well-lit screen in front of me as I’m typing this.

They’ve only been up for two days. Perhaps I’ll get used to them.

I’m getting used to occasionally working in offices again. Wednesdays at Urb-it and Fridays at tretton37. It’s really nice to see old colleagues face-to-face again, and new ones I’ve never physically met. The commute is my least favourite part but I get through it by reading all the way.

I went back for more cherry trees. Today with less rain and wind, and more sunshine.

Yes, that branch of blossoms was literally hanging there against an evenly overcast sky, like it was posing for me.


The blossoms in these photos belong to two different varieties of cherry trees. The ones with the lighter double blossoms and green little leaves line the main street in Spånga; the ones with simple blossoms and dark leaves are a trio of trees off to one side. And soon the trees in our own garden will be flowering as well. What a luxury, to have all these wonderful trees around me!