Rewarding day of meeting the locals (Niki)

Dragonbane diary
Tuesday, August 23rd, 2005
Åsen, Sweden

Arriving in Älvdalen by a filled car from Stockholm on the night before, we didn’t really have time to do more than say ‘Hi!’ to the building crew of this week and get to bed. So, first thing Tuesday, we were off to Cinderhill. And what an absolutely breathtaking experience that was! As I’ve been working with Dragonbane PR from Stockholm, I’ve been following the progress of the building through the pictures and diaries of the workers on location. Pictures are naturally all good. As a journalist, I’d naturally second the saying that a picture can be worth a thousand words. But the experience ..? Well, that’s worth even more.

Standing on top of the watch tower in one of the longhouses, images of Cinderhill flash before my eyes. Here the peaceful dragon worshipping Cinderhillians will go about their everyday chores; living, breathing, cooking, baking, making paper. My imagination soars free ignoring of the fact that the four longhouses still lack their roof and that some wall aren’t yet covered. The village is still there, beneath the rugged surface of the sawn planks. In just one year …

With my mind filled with the vision the shopping squad heads back to the town of Älvdalen. Stopping and talking at the local paper and the commune office takes some time. It’s very rewarding to meet all the local people that believe in the project as firmly as we do, also donating their time to make a dream come true. The warmth of everyone in this little town surprises the big-town-girl I’ve become.

Although the website work I had envisioned for the day was non-existent we’ve now met the people and got a feeling of the town. What a place!

Niki Bergman