We arrived in South Africa at 1pm on a mid-summer Saturday in January. My cousin/bonus sister Judy and her husband picked us up at the airport. After a quick stop at their home to drop off our cases and change into cooler clothes, Juds took me to have a manicure and pedicure. I had my nails painted in a sunny yellow and hers were red. We sat and chatted and laughed while being pambered. It was the first time I had seen her in 15 years. Before she moved back to South Africa from the UK, I used to see her three or four times a year in London. Judy and her family the only members of my family relatively close to me and I missed them desperately. It was so comforting to have family ‘close by’ in my first ten years in Sweden.
It was so nice to spend time with her family, wear cooler clothes (no gloves or heavy boots), and have pretty nails. Aren’t they pretty?
Once back in Sweden, it was back to heavy boots and thick socks. I have not removed the polish on my toes because I wanted to keep it as a happy memory of a wonderful time with someone who is very dear to me. Today though, it is sandal weather in Sweden so I am removing this last remant of sunny polish and repainting my toenails turquoise. I am really sentimental…
