ramblings – 2nd Avenue

My Favourite Reads of 2025

Scrolling through covers of the books I read in 2025

I read a lot in 2025, more than I do in a typical year. I put that down to the aimlessness that often accompanies a relocation, plenty of time in transit, and a wealth of waiting.

Looking through the 98 books I finished last year, I can’t say I’m pleased to have spent time with all of them. About a dozen stand out as ‘meh’ or worse — and that’s on top of the eight titles I did not finish (or DNFed).

My aim for this year is to quit books earlier and more often, all in pursuit of making more space for books I really enjoy — like the dozen or so below.

Season’s Greetings from Steveson

For the first time in over a decade, I’ve spent the holiday season in my hometown. It’s been a very special Christmas and we’ll arrive back in Denmark just in time to celebrate New Year’s Eve — or, more realistically, crash into a jet lagged sleep.

The Great Round Pancake Taste Test

Pre-made æbleskiver (round Danish pancakes served at Christmas) in a baking dish

If you’ve been in Denmark around Christmas, you’ve almost certainly eaten æbleskiver. These pancake-like globes are ubiquitous at Christmas markets and frequently paired with gløgg (Scandinavian mulled wine).

Using a buttermilk batter, they’re cooked in spherical pans and flavoured with cardamom and lemon zest. For those of us without the necessary cooking equipment or desire for home-baking, they’re also widely available in supermarket freezers. Inspired by Epicurious’ Taste Panel series, I decided to taste-test (and rank) as many premade æbeskiver as I could get my hands on — with surprisingly uninspiring results.

The drama and routine of Danish elections

Tuesday was election day in Denmark. Across the country, 2,432 municipal council seats and 134 regional counsel seats (representing 98 municipalities and four regions) were decided — with thousands of candidates standing for office.

Seriously, the ballot for our municipality (kommune in Danish) was massive. Very different from ballots in Canada or the UK.

Selected short reading (vol. 8)

My consumption of short pieces has dropped substantially since completing my Post-Graduate Diploma in Creative Writing a couple years back. Makes sense as I’m no longer required to keep a reading journal and critically evaluate short-form pieces. I’ve also slowed (maybe even halted?) my own fiction writing, meaning I’m no longer prowling publications I might want to submit to — and seeing other people’s writing.

But I have collected a few short bits to share over the last few months. There’s no theme tying these together, just pieces I’ve liked.

It’s just like riding a bike

Laura with her first (and only) race bike on Vancouver’s Lions Gate Bridge

Like most suburban kids, I grew up riding a bike (photo of Little Laura and her big glasses below for proof!). Then periodically cycled to friends’ houses and school and things as a teenager. And promptly forgot all about all things bike-related after moving to Edmonton for university.

When we lived in North Vancouver, Tony and I counted several strong cyclists amongst our close friends. Those friends and a truely awesome bike shop (shout out to Obsession: Bikes) prompted me to get a serious bicycle, complete with clip-in pedals (which proved to be the bane of my cycling existence) and proper kit. (If you look closely the jersey in the photo of me and my Trek on the Lions Gate Bridge says “North Shore Triathlon Club”, which is how we were introduced to the aforementioned strong cyclists we still call friends).