Hi! Sorry it’s been so long since I’ve written. A lot has happened . . . I pause as I hold a pen to my lips, then put it down and carry on typing. Old habits die hard. So here I am. A whole new chapter. No one could be more pleased to see the spring than me. Here on the farm there is huge excitement as most of the reindeer move back to their summer grazing in the mountain and the calves have started to be born. Robbie is like a jealous older sibling, intrigued by the new arrivals yet wanting all the attention. Rocky is now teaching him how to be a sled-pulling reindeer and he accompanies him on outings with our guests. Here’s a picture. I upload it from my phone.
And we have new arrivals of our own . . . all my family are coming out to visit. They’re staying in our lavvus. Testing them out for guests this winter. I’m not sure what my sister is going to make of that! But they’re warm and cosy and great for taking in the sky at night. And the restaurant is going from strength to strength. Click here for this weekend’s menu, but be quick, it’s booking up fast.
‘Come on, we’ll be late!’ Björn sticks his head through the farmhouse front door, letting in a draught. I pick up my phone and press camera.
‘Smile! It’s for the blog.’
‘How many new subscribers?’
‘Another thirty overnight.’
‘Not bad for someone who didn’t want to show anyone what she was writing.’
I smile modestly. ‘They love the pictures of Saturday night’s secret supper. Loads of people want to know when the next one is. There’s even a couple of reviewers who want to come.’
‘Tell them they’ll have to come as customers. I’m cooking for me now, not because of what I think reviewers want to eat.’ He grins. ‘Now come on!’
I look at the screen and sign off: Until next time, love Halley, reindeer herder and part-time musher. Then I take a deep breath, remembering how Björn persuaded me to set up a blog of my own and let the world see my words. But how could I not want to write about the life we have here? There’s the reindeer that people come and visit, the dog sled team, and of course, every weekend, Björn cooks with fire as nature intended and people come from miles around to eat his food.
I press send.
‘It’s snowing!’ I hear the voices before I see them. And when I do, I throw myself into their arms, into the heart of my family, as they emerge into the airport lobby. They’re all here and it feels like Christmas at last.
‘Of course it’s snowing! You want to see some reindeer?’
‘Yes!’ My nephews jump up and down and my heart fills to have them all here with me, at home.
‘Mum, this is Björn,’ I say shyly.
And Mum seems lost for words and just hugs him instead.
‘Come on then, let’s get back and make a snowman!’ And my nephews cheer again.
‘Hey! How’s your new house?’ I ask the boys.
‘We love it! We’ve got a room each!’ they say.
‘Thank you,’ says my sister, kissing me on the cheek. ‘The house is perfect. Just what we needed. I just wish you’d let us buy it from you instead of living there rent-free.’
‘The house is yours,’ I tell her. ‘I’m having the paperwork drawn up. I want you to have it, enjoy it like Griff and I planned. A house full of kids! It’s no use to me now.’
‘But what if you want it back?’ she says, worried.
‘I told you, I have everything I need right here. I won’t be going back.’
And we hug each other, knowing that no matter how far apart we are, we’ll always be there for each other.
I check the computer when I get home and the boys are happily feeding the reindeer left behind in the corral with Pappa.
There’s a message from Lars and Holly, on board their cruise liner, their home for the next six months, travelling life’s path together wherever fate may take them. I smile and send them all our love. I look out of the window at my family making friends with my new family, the reindeer and the Lapp dogs bounding around.
Who knew that fate would bring me here? Lars’s grandmother did for sure!