Eating Muffins in an Agitated Manner: Squeaky Clean

Posted by jukkahoo

Been a while since I blogged. Sorry about that.

It's been kinda busy, work is currently fairly important and takes occasionally quite a lot of time, overtime that is. Hopefully that'll change, as I really like my personal time and hobbies as opposed to more money (which certainly is not a bad thing).

Went to Turun kirjamessut and interviewed Jukka M. Heikkilä about his new novel, Germania. It is a really nice piece of historical fiction, taking place in the year 20AD during the reign of caesar Tiberius (hence the man in the cover) and exploring the wilds of German wilderness, where Rome is just the name of the neighbour beyond the river Rhein. Good stuff, with more than a nod toward Joseph Conrad's Heart of Darkness as inspiration for the plot, but in a good way.

Heikkilä has written six novels of Ancient times so far and has really grown into a proper workman of the field. He's not going to be named a Nobel prize candidate any day soon, but he is a very good craftsman, knows his period and yarns a good story. Additional kudos for writing characters that feel real to the period. You can catch our double act at the Helsinki Book Fair the 23rd of October, at the Takauma-stage.

I spend the night at the house of fellow WH and my bloodbrother herra Koljonen, whose horsebrutality was (as always) excellent! Special citation goes to the 17-year old Glengoyne that we finished during the night. Slainte! Other highlight was the revealing of the Wonderful Library of Mr. Koljonen. Very impressive shelving!

Saturday was rather tiresome. No fault due to company, met most of the usual suspects (sadly missed busy master Roimola) and enjoyed great chats with Ipa, TeroY, Juri, TeroN, Anne, Boris, Harri, Insinööri, Markku and the rest. No, the reason for my tiredness was the day before, for I had woken up at around 4somethingAM and worked before hopping on the train and to Turku, where after the fair we went to Hannu's place and... well, ate, bathed and drunk quite a lot. Merry times. Good times.

I would've liked to spend more time in Turku (ah, the Olden Days when I was young and carefree and crashed with people... gone, but not forgotten), but opted for night bus and coming home to tend my fair - if ill - lady. And of course, Martti and Myy.(More dogblogging coming rsn, due to public demand.)

Sunday has been spent mostly recuperating. I needed that. I mean - this Book Fair business is fun and all, but also very demanding.

Some sad news, but more importantly, some really good news. I have decided not to attend Kontext, which takes place in four weeks in Uppsala. Both time and money, but mainly time, are to blame. Too little of both, I'm afraid. So, no fun Swefans, no Jon Courtenay Grimwood. Darn.

"But, alas!", he says triumphiantly. My doctor called and informed that as of this day (Friday to be exact) I am well and truly recovered from my NHL. It's done, it's over. No more.

Me like. I was a bit inconvinienced by my extra catscan, but if I understand correctly, it was only due to the misunderstanding of the original X-Ray person, who scanned just a fraction too little. Hence the need to scan my neck. I actually spoke with someone during the Turku Book Fair about him having to have gone throught the very same thing with another illness. Nevertheless, I was a bit anxious between the scans and the final call.

So, lymphoma over and done with. Yay! Hence the title.

Doesn't of course mean that I would never get another cancer in the future. I know and I will be keeping my eye on things. Like all youse people ought to! Any curious lumps or feeling too tired or painful or something? Go see a doctor and have a check-up. Doesn't matter how old or young you are. Do it anyway. You feel a lot better afterwards, when nothing is found. And doubly better, if something is found and the treatment can begin! Trust me on this.

Tero has already told (that is if you read Turu Mafia Zine)that we're guest-blogging on Ecstatic Days. Yikes! I'm already at the same time shivering with anticipation and utter dread and terror. Should be an interesting experience.

Now, more chilling and chocolate.

Comments

"I am well and truly recovered from my NHL. It's done, it's over. No more."

Congrats, old friend. This is happy news indeed.

Posted by: jovain | October 05, 2008 at 21:56

Excellent news, and very much looking forward to your guest stint chez VanderMeer.

Posted by: Cheryl | October 05, 2008 at 22:35

Congrats on crushing the NHL, I never liked hockey either!

I too am sorry to have missed you and all the other people (though I met some of those at the fair on Sunday). I had no idea so many non-local fans were coming to the fair. Might have tried to make some different arrangements if I had known. On the other hand there really was nothing I could do about the information studies course that I had to attend on Saturday.

But there is a new fair next year, and the fair in Helsinki before that! (Probably no Enhörningen-presence in Helsinki this year, though, but I just can't miss the Helsinki book fair completely.)

Posted by: Ben | October 06, 2008 at 10:04