Telqui

...is the plural of telco, which means "leg" in Quenya.

Had a rather efficient day. Also, accidentally found The English Shop here in town. They had... they had... so much! Poppets! Boost chocolate bars! Thornton's fudge and even better, EDRADOUR fudge! And Bunnahabhain, and, and.... And lots of shortbreads. And those awesome crisps. And best of all, of all in the small store... they had IRNBRU. Pronounced IronBrew, this stickily sweet, neon-orange soft drink is thoroughly Scottish, and I must confess to liking it exceedingly.
I managed to avoid spending too much.

Am avoiding writing certain things concerning work here. It's safest that way. There are, after all, people from the Stockholm area reading this.

I had something of a shopping spree today. You know, Ellie-style, which means I spend roughly ten times less than anyone else going on such a spree, at the very least. I accidentally, oh forgive me world, went into H&M. Why I generally don't, is because some of their stuff tends to wear out quickly, and also, I was treated very, very, very rudely once and a few more times in different stores.
But I did. And despaired, at first, but then found the good bits. A really, really good pair of trousers for 50 SEK? Yesplease. Especially since they fit real well and show off my marvellous behind.
Was smoldering hot today, too. Electric Cabaret-bought trousers, that awesome green tanktop and lace gloves. And a certain black shirt, when it happened to be less warm. And I wore makeup, yay. I don't do that during weekdays much these days, because of iai practice. It would be wrong.
But, back to my girly shopping. Found the L.O.G.G. stuff. Good, basic stuff. A v-neck t-shirt! Yaaatta! And a spaghetti-strap top. And sheer stockings. I figured I'd have to cut back or something, but to my surprise, everything together added up to less than the trousers had originally been costing, not that they'd been expensive. Highly appreciated.

Practice was good. Like Priest-san and I mused, koryu is like dessert or candy, while Seitei is broccoli and spinach - very healthy and nutritious, but boring. One wants the candy and the dessert, especially when it's really so much healthier than Seitei.
Met a random guy on the way to practice, who asked if I practiced Katori (Shinto Ryu). Well, not really, but iai, sure! He was Filippini, but from Holland, and now lived here. I gave him the adress for Swedish Kendo Federation and such, since he wants to take up iai and aikido again. I got his number if I wanted to try shiatsu for my knee, but I don't know. It's worth trying, I suppose.
Once again, budo connects good people. He knew some key points of budo, that I find very important, and I find he seems fairly trustworthy, as much as I trust anyone at all, I suppose. Which, with one notable exception, is generally "not really". But still.

Then, on the way home, some random man decided to start talking to me. He saw the clothes, and asked if I do aikido. I was nice and did the whole positive-coach-explain thing. Until he started talking about his sword. Which, according to him, is a bronze sword from Iran, about 800 BC. And suddenly I could have cut him down on the spot.
"How'd you acquire it?" "Naah, it was easy, an auction!"
Yeah. Figures. He had a collection of "sandstone statues". "Do you know the sword's provenience?" "Well... Iran." "Aye, but where? Iran is big, you know!" "Umm.. this or that culture, I think. 900 BC!" "Well... but more exactly. I mean, it's just a pretty bronze stick unless you know more of where it came from, how it was made, whether it was from a grave or a deposit..."
I think I made him think. I can't stop the looting, but I can damn well make the buyers more aware. I made some offhand remarks on forgery and stuff, and he looked concerned. "But this IS genuine." I told him just how ingenious forgers are, with a laugh of course. Wouldn't do to have him see just how furious I was. It wasn't personal, it was general. But I told him to get back to aikido, and then I had to get off.

And that was my day. Warm as a summer's, and now, I'm in a curious mood.

See, practice had me thinking. My knee is my greatest weakness. It dictates what I can and cannot do. It is a nearly invisible pain, unless I choose to limp, yet it is there almost constantly. It has me feeling weak, frustrated and helpless when it keeps me from doing as much, as good, as everyone else. I have booked train tickets for one more go at getting help, though. It's worth a try. A lady specialised in knee injuries that are related to physical excercise. Will be going there immediately after my grading. Won't tell quite yet where I am going, I'm as usual when I'm away going to be on a tight schedule, but if I could I'd nae mind having a cup of tea or somesuch with a few friends and acquaintances.

But the main thing was this:
It was a very, very fresh breath to be among the lowest graded in the hall! We were five today, with Henry-sensei, and I was next to lowest graded. Well, one is actually also nidan, but he is more skilled than me, and older. He has sandan skills. That is, third dan. San = third.
I could get used to this. I've become so used to being highest graded, one of the trainers, or at least among those higher graded, that this was very nice. Henry-sensei even commented on some things I did right or wrong. Often, those lowest graded do get a bit more attention. This is usually very good, and I am happy I got such an opportunity. Without taking undue attention, since the two higher-graded don't have the opportunity to get to practice as much in that dojo as I do, so, it was also very rewarding to hear Henry-sensei's comments to them.
Well... it is a budo thing, I suppose. It was relieving. It hasn't happened for forever. Except the iai camp a few months ago.

I can see that I am prattling. It's really time I get to bed. 'night, all.

“Wherever I go, everyone is a little bit safer because I am there. Wherever I am, anyone in need has a friend. Whenever I return home, everyone is happy I am there.”