The spring is very early and almost all the snow is gone. And it's only the beginning of March!
The days are longer and it’s still bright when Ken goes to his ceramics lesson. He has to take the van today, because it would be difficult to carry the creations home by bike!
Kaarna is cooking the bedtime porridge, when Ken comes home from the lesson with his creations.
- I had this ambitious plan of making a whole set of soup bowls, but the clay is just too difficult. These all look like a toddler has made them.
- This one is too narrow, that one is too low and the third one is simply ugly, Ken sighs.
- I’ll eat my porridge from the ugly one. But why did you make them blue and beige? I expected colors that are the same as our kitchen.
- There was no bright yellow, orange or red glaze. Only tons of boring colors.
Kaarna goes to the movies, but Ken wants to stay at home:
- This weather! I must do gardening!
Kaarna wonders if Ken is right. Is she wasting a perfect spring day inside the movie theater?
Well, she has no choice. They only show the good movies a couple of times, because there's hardly any audience. Crappy movies for imbeciles tend to get the theater crowded though.
Ken wants to create a paved area for the grill.
The ground is not melted yet, but that doesn't prevent him from placing stones.
He notices that being so lazy all winter has reduced his physical strength and when he goes inside in the evening, every single muscle hurts unbearably.
Kaarna is happy that she went alone to see "The Testament of Ann Lee" and can now stay silent and cherish the feeling she has. She thinks that if all the religious people were like that woman and her followers, the World might be a lovely place to live. She doesn't want to return to the reality with religious people like Donald the Asshole Trump and Päivi the Evil Räsänen.
Meanwhile at home Ken is suffering.
Kaarna is not pleased to see him with teary eyes on the kitchen sofa:
- What the hell now? How is it that every time I leave the house, you end up half dead?
- I think I have fever. I spent too much time outside wearing too little clothes. Can you bring me the thermometer?
- Stupid Ken. Even if the weather feels like it's May, it's not. You should know better. Stop being such an irresponsible old geezer. I'm not ready to be your caregiver. Not yet, and maybe never.
Ken didn’t get fever. His temperature was lower than normally, but in the next morning he was okay again.
- I can’t believe it’s only March. Even the lake is almost melted.
- And it will dry up completely if the winters keep being almost snowless. Look at that, the water level is maybe a meter lower than it should be.
- Widow's leaves and butterflies! Seriously?!
Ken comes home and Kaarna says:
- Yay, the Ukrainian drones apparently didn’t hit you. There’s a third one now. This time it landend in Parikkala.
- *sigh* I really need a new shirt that says ”Fuck the people”.
And you really need a new pair of pantyhose!
- If I have to choose between pantyhose and Easter chocolate, guess what I buy!
- Excellent choice. Did you buy mämmi also?
- No, sorry. Let’s hope it’s on sale after Easter.
The ceramics course ends, but Ken finally managed to make a set of bowls that he likes.
- And will you continue next autumn? Kaarna asks.
- Definitely not. One girl who also wasn’t very talented said that she will take mosaic lessons next, because she has created so much material for that! Maybe I should follow her lead!
- I also made this set of dessert plates for six people. I feel like inviting friends over for dinner! We could cook a delicious but cheap lentil soup and bake a cake! What do you think?
- No. No people. Fuck the people.
The weather stays strangely warm and sunny in April also.
So Kaarna keeps on taking her long walks daily. She tends to stay on the forest paths for hours.
With enough food in her backpack she has no reason to hurry home.
- I wish it would be possible to live in a forest away from the society.
Unfortunately also the frogs are thrilled about the spring and some of Kaarna’s favorite paths have turned into an orgy! There are dozens of these slimy creatures jumping all around and Kaarna is terrified.
On the other hand when the little assholes go to the streets and get smashed by cars, Kaarna can take pretty interesting photos!
Ken can start the sunbathing season. He hopes that the amazing spring doesn't mean a crappy summer. Still more than a month to wait until the nights should be warm enough for living in the van.
The gas boiler has been malfunctioning since the New Year. Ken is so tired of visiting the boiler room and rebooting the machine.
They have spent a fortune on the bills for the mechanic, who can’t find any cause for the problems.
Ken and Elisabet have to sit down and rethink the budget once again. The burner of the boiler must be replaced with a new one before winter.
- Look at the price… we have to pay thousands for a new burner now, and still we are forced to change the complete heating systems in a few years….
- The timing really is the worst possible… sigh…
Kaarna interrupts:
- Ken! We need a new van with heating! I can’t wait for the warmer nights and to get on the road!
- New van!? Who’s gonna pay for that?! You?! Be my guest!!!!
Kaarna is a bit shocked about Ken’s angry response and tries to be useful. Soon Ken comes to her and says:
- Sorry I yelled at you. This house makes me insane. So much stress. Something is always broken and eating more and more money. I will have to raise your rent.
- Again?! I can barely earn enough as it is.
- I know. Either we pay more or give our home to somebody richer, who can actually afford living here.
Of course the ones who never do anything, complain the most:
- Strong girl! You still haven’t fixed this loose handle! And there’s no hot water. Haven’t you fixed the boiler? When is the meeting of the housing cooperative? I have a list of things for the house government!
- Filia, listen… your monthly maintenance payment is late, as usual. Why don’t you pay it and maybe then we can see your list…
Both Ken and Elisabet can think of a million more interesting things to do on their free time than solving the technical and financial problems of the housing cooperative.
Especially right now, when the spring is turning into summer and Melukylä is showing its best side!
Elisabet is also a summer person, and full of energy when she gets to fill the garden with flowers.
But even if this would be the best time to stay at home, this also happens to be the best time to hit the road!