It’s Roskilde week. Everyone goes to Roskilde (the Scandinavian answer to Glastonbury), and everyone goes not just for the four days of music starting today, but for the days preceding known as ‘the warm up’.
Everyone, that is, but me. Friends managed to score jobs at the festival, which meant they acquired entrance for free, with provisions and a stay in the ‘nicer’ employees’ camp included. They tried to find me a job too, though alas, to no avail. My only option was to pay and go as a punter. Weighing in the balance, with my friends all in separate camps and the very real threat of a hefty bill at the end of five or so days of ‘anything goes’, I decided to abstain and ride out a quiet week on my own. Boring? Sure. But I believe the compromise will prove worthwhile in the end and meanwhile, I’ve been determined to make the most of this time on my own.
Being one of maybe two people left in Copenhagen, I’ve passed the time peacefully in the company of my thoughts (and also Konrad, our house cat/new bff). I have reminded myself of how privileged I am to have some peace and quiet. Time to breathe and just be.
Wimbledon fortnight has kept me entertained. RG is a fan. But with some very nice sunny days of late, I’ve been keen to get away from the tv when the day’s tennis is done and get outside to enjoy the last remaining light with a cruise-y bike ride about town.
Let me just say…I love my bicycle. A friend of S’s kindly sold me a second-hand Dresco ‘damecykler’ (in black!) for a bargain price. It has new tyres and an old basket. The fenders are slightly askew and there is a bit of wear and tear, but altogether, this little baby rolls perfectly. It gives me just enough bounce to over curbs and cobbled streets, and that upright stance that allows one to take in the view and parade the dorkiest grin for all to see. I added a bell adorned with a skull and cross bones because RG’s bike bell ought to be a little bit punk (and it helps to identify one’s bicycle when parked amongst dozens of similar-looking bicycles). It also jingles a little when I hit a bump. I like that.
There are few things I can think of that invite the same blissfully intense feeling of freedom and contentment I get from whipping along the side of the lakes on a warm summer evening amongst the people chilling out with friends and beers (and they're always there), on benches or bridges, as dusk begins to fall. To RG, THIS IS HEAVEN! There’s nothing but left or right, here or there or anywhere! Stop almost anywhere spontaneously and just sit and wait – for nothing - and what the hell else would I rather be doing?? I would have this bike surgically attached if I could. An hour or so of just cruising around with nothing but an impulse to guide you is truly a pleasure – as simple as it comes.
Yesterday, I made the most of the clear-blue-sky day by cycling down to Islands Brygge where the harbour swimming area more than suffices as a sun-bathing mecca for locals. Ah, this is where the other non-festies are!! I put on my headphones (to invoke my own inner festival) and bikini’d the day away, watching people jumping off the high platform into the water, the skaters trying new tricks and the basketball boys running to and fro. This was a good Wednesday! I chilled there for hours without a care in the world. Later, I would discover a red point upward and another downward between my breasts revealing where RG neglected to sufficiently factor 25 up. Nev’mind. Who hasn’t had a funny sunburn to laugh at in mirror? (Meanwhile, my friend K at Roskilde posted a photo of his newly acquired, and it must be said, rather severe-looking Roskilde ‘redneck’, despite his own claim to have used factor 30. Who knew the Danish sun could burn so badly!?)
Solidarity then. It may only be a touch on all the festival die-hards who are out there, doing anything and everything they please and having a great time of it, but in my own small way, I feel I am doing the same. Sure, it’s just a rebellious bike bell, and a rebellious late night bike ride, and a rebellious mid-week beach out, but I am still free and doing as I please, when I want to. A week in Roskilde to do what I want? I’ve got a whole year!
I’ll admit that there is definitely a part of me that knows I would be having a blast at Roskilde too, if I could have gone. But I made a decision and stuck to it and have taken ownership of my time to use. It comes down to what you make of it, and even if I’m missing ‘the big event’, the events of my own life have still been most enjoyable: for the peace, the freedom and sure, even the pointy sunburn. I feel I’ve earned it all.
Random Girl
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