I missed making note of the fifth anniversary of my physical arrival in Sweden on February 21st. Yesterday, meanwhile, was the fifth anniversary of my official arrival—which is to say, the date on which I was formally registered as a resident in the bureaucratic machinery of the place. That means I’ve been here long enough to apply for citizenship, and indeed I’ve already done so.

Based on the experience of friends, it could take anything between two months and two years for my application to be decided on; I’m hoping for something near the shorter end of that range, as my case is (I think) fairly simple and clear-cut.

In the meantime, I’ve plenty to keep me busy. Those of you following along at Worldbuilding Agency will be aware that, after a worrying fallow period in the last months of 2024, I’ve got paying work to be getting on with, and have been quite successfully and happily getting on with it. March is getting a bit crunchy, thanks to last week being spent on the rails and in the UK, but a bit of juggling (and maybe some weekend work) will make it manageable.

The days are lengthening quickly, and Malmö is doing that thing it always does, wherein the cold and the damp indulge their esprit d’escalier before the lighter, warmer weather slams the door in their faces. The high side of the year will be here soon.

I am ready.