Hello out there, dear people of the blogosphere. Have you missed me? I missed you but had to take it easy last week. However, I still kept sending out my blessings to you daily, and hope you and yours are well.

I am a little more than halfway through the first cycle of chemotherapy and am feeling much better than last week. After I got my non-lady-like side effects back under control I started to help a little in the garden and did some housework too. That seemed to have brought my energy levels back up, and prompted me to start blogging again.

Still, I can only do things for a short while and then have to rest. That is now fine by me. In the first week after chemo, I felt rather useless. Now I think, that’s just part of the parcel. I feel incredibly grateful for the NHS and its staff. They are doing an incredible job in these strange times and have been there for me whenever I needed them.

So far, my hair is still on my head. I have no mouth sores just my gums are sort of rough. I wash my mouth with a light salt solution a couple of times a day as I clean my teeth after pretty much every meal or snack I have. The inflammation that stopped me from starting chemotherapy in April is gone, but I am still taking antibiotics. So all in all I am grateful that there are not too many side effects (yet). More is for sure to come but I deal with it when it arrives.

So, shall we get away for a little to Latvia?

Latvia is the middle country of the three small countries on the Eastern side of the Baltic sea. It is bordered by Russia to the East, Estonia to the North and Lithuania in the South. According to Wikipedia, it has a very high standard of living and its governments take democracy seriously.

It was ruled by Russia, Sweden and Poland over many centuries but German aristocracy seemed to have executed the rule. In the late 1980s the so-called “Singing Revolution” gave way to the modern democratic state of Latvia. So strange I can’t remember hearing about it then. But I guess Germany was pretty occupied with its own throwing out of communist rule. I can remember though the human chains all along the little Baltic countries. Sigh. Where is all that hope gone from those days for a better world?

I’ve found you a couple of videos that give an overview of Latvia. If they do not play on the blog, follow the links underneath to their YouTube location.

The band I have chosen today is not entirely unknown to the West. Prata Vetra or BrainStorm as they are also known were the first Latvian band to take part in the Eurovision Song Contest. I think they did quite well. They also won some accolades at the MTV Music Awards and even played at Glastonbury some years ago.

The reason I chose them are the lyrics to this song:

In the dawn/ Na Zare

via LyricsTranslate

No-no, I know already, I know that my youth is gone. Now I can only recall. And I remember: then, in youth, I didn’t feel happy. It seemed vice-versa: everything was difficult, they didn’t understand me, they didn’t hear me, but now I know that I was happy then and there. But I didn’t know it then. I wanted so much! I was waiting for something! And it seemed to me that I heard something calling me… The voices are calling me in the dawn! The voices are calling me in the dawn! What was I waiting for? I was waiting for the amazing destiny, unique life. I wanted to feel everything, to try everything as soon as possible. I could walk down the street, see my reflection in the shop-windows and hope that I would be loved anyway, that I am awaited for. Also I could dream till morning and feel tremblingly that it will happen soon, this morning, very soon… very soon… And there, in my youth, when I looked at the morning mist above the river while coming back home through the sleeping city, it seemed to me always, or more exactly, I was sure that they called just for me… just for me… The youth is gone… But life goes on… It gives us the happy moments, but sometimes tries to destroy us… Many-sided, many-faced life… Ten years later we’ll realize again that we were happy, but didn’t notice that… It’s necessary just to appreciate it here and now as it is… Life is a happiness itself..

This song just expresses so much of how I feel recently.

Find out more about Latvia on the Camels & Chocolate Blog. And Image Earth Travel offers some stunning photos not only from Riga.

Come Away With Me 2020 Musical Challenge Country for Monday May 25th, 2020

I am taking a rather random route around the world, but sometimes it makes sense. Next week we are going to visit the Netherlands. Find out about interesting musicians from the Netherlands on the Culture Trip Page: 10 Dutch Musicians You Should Be Listening to.

As for the suggestions to take part:

1. Join in! No matter where, when and with what. You missed the first week? Don’t worry. Just jump in when it suits you.
2. Send us the link! The ping-back option does not always work so please leave a link in the comments of the post on the day you take part. Or leave it at the “Come Away With Me 2020 FB page“
3. Tag your post either with ” Come Away With Me Musical Challenge”/ #CoAwWiMeMuCh” / “Come Away with Me 2020 Musical Challenge” o/“CoAwWiMe2020MuCh” / . You can also use these as hashtags for Twitter and other Social Networks to give your post more exposure. If you add #blog and #music with your hashtags it will get you more readers.
4. No matter which music or country the prompt favours you create with it whatever you please. This is supposed to be a fun challenge and no chore.
5. I post a prompt for the next week with every “Come Away With Me 2020 post” I write.
6. If you like, use this picture for your readers to find the posts.

Just one more thing before you go: The hospital that is treating me is fundraising for a dedicated breast cancer unit which would allow same-day diagnosis and better premises for patients and staff.

Please, if you can spare a little money hop over to their Just Giving Page and give as little or much as you can. Or share the page on your social media. Your support means a lot to me! Thank you very much.

Thanks my dears, for staying with me until the end. I appreciate your presence. Please stay safe, stay kind and remember that you rock!