Travelling across the North of Finland by train - passing through the forests, fields and occasional towns - many evergreens but overall a patchwork of oranges, yellows and shades of greens as the autumn colours shine - they are ahead of us up here, though I noticed chestnut trees turning when I was out with my Mum a couple of weeks ago - so when I get back I am sure the park and trees will have well started to change. Autumn.....
There are many, many lakes here - small and large and at the moment the sky is bright blue with some white feathers of clouds. The sky seems to change very quickly. Finland is very beautiful and showing off to me as I travel through her splendour!
Yesterday we went to an island and I loved the sea and the endless horizon. We do live in such a truly beautiful earth. I have seen several flocks of swans and yesterday big groups of grey cranes - huge birds - special to see............
Today I will meet old friends and I am very happy to be travelling - train journeys are much more restful that planes, especially with views like I am experiencing.............
I am also aware that this is the first anniversary week of my Father's death and the sixth of Chris's.... that feels quite emotional, but also OK. Both of those lovely men loved me - and how special and joyous to know that - and I do know it deep, deep in my heart. I also know that I was given such a huge gift to be born to a man who loved me - I smile as I feel his love around me..... and then to have the second gift of being loved by a truly wonderful man for so many years - again I can feel Chris's love deep in my heart - but I don't actually feel as close to him now.... maybe it's the passage of time - or maybe he is busy - I laugh as I write this - but in some ways I love to think of him being busy - he was a truly huge man - a huge hearted, powerful, beautiful man - who loved and treasured the small things in life..... my blessing is to have these two men in my life.
So here I am surrounded by people chatting companiably to each other in the extraodinary sing-song Finnish language. I'm probably the only Brit on the train - listening to music, Sigur Ros, admiring the shining world I am travelling through and giving thanks.... Thank-you, Thank-you, Thank-you for giving me so many blessings - how lucky am I???????
