A birthday has gone by again; it's just a year since the previous one after all. And almost a year till the next one.

On my birthday proper I had a small, 2 dl, bottle of sparkling wine for myself, and real vanilla ice cream - completely different from the stuff that usually passes by that name and really should be called vanillin ice cream.

The next day I bought myself a present: a selection of Japanese incense from Lisn. An acquaintance had been very enthusiastic about it, so I thought I'd try it myself although I'm not an 'olfactory' person. It really deserves all possible praise, and a little more. I'm not sure I liked the actual scent of the stick I burned yesterday, called Among Stars, but it created a very peaceful and relaxed space.

I haven't felt such peace for years.