Austmarka | -5 degrees | sunny & cloudy
saturday morning – sleep till 8
awake in sweater and socks
there’s no one around
a hard frost is on the ground
make soup to last a few days
catch a bit of the news
troubles in Brussles
scrabble around for a map
go to Joker (village shop)
for milk, chat with the owner
who arrived here via Egypt & USA
like home, talking about the weather
breaks the ice – ha ha
take a walk along the river
it’s swirling dark brown water
froths and foams around boulders
it’s darkness is compelling
ice crystals are forming
on grass blades
on the handrail of the bridge
small rectangular crystals
stand on end
I photograph the turbulant water
the ice crystals
the upsidedown houses
there’s not a sound
my fingers are raw and red with cold
I film in 30 second bursts
down from a minute !
how long does it take for frost-bite
to take a hold – I wonder
miss a turning on the way back
and head our of town – quick panic
but find a way back and
I pass a car or two
saturday afternoon is cold
a whiling away time with a heater
a pile of Astrid’s books
loose a few hours looking at
photographic journals
(a few ideas here noted)
at stories of nordic women
living as farmers,
scientists, sauna therapists
of bone chilling poverty
and institutional harshness
the owner arrives
gets ready for her first christams party
not keen to do the fancy dress thing
she leaves with a split paper bag
over her head – with torn eye holes
worn under a floppy hat
