Snow, Substack, and a New Year Reset

A Wednesday Catch-Up

Jan 08, 2025

This email is too long to read direct from your inbox. If you click on "View entire message" or “Read in App”, you'll be able to view the entire post in your email app.

Hello, and here we are, the 8th of January 2025, the day after Serbian Christmas, and I’m finally back after a double holiday hiatus. Well, I say hiatus, but life in rural Bosnia had other plans.
My big idea of taking it easy, helping Tamara with Christmas preparations for the 25th and then putting my feet up, went completely out the window.
Why?
Snow.
And not just the pretty postcard kind. No, we’ve had snow that demands a shovel and more patience than I often feel I have.

We’ve been digging out daily, sometimes twice or even three times in a day.
I’ve always thought of myself as fairly fit for my age, but let me tell you, there’s something about shovelling snow that brings you face-to-face with reality.
My mind keeps insisting, “You’ve got this!” but my body has other ideas after the first hour or so.
And when you sit down to rest and try to gather the energy to go out again? It’s like peeling a Terry’s Chocolate Orange, little effort at first, then suddenly you’re out of steam.

Our Garden ⬆️

That said, I can’t deny how stunning it all looks. The snow blankets the landscape in a way that’s almost otherworldly, especially when the skies are that perfect Bosnian blue, completely cloudless.
I’ve sent some photos to family around the world, and the response is always the same: “It’s idyllic!”
And it is, from a distance. Up close, it’s quite another story.

Some Views from one of my morning walks ⬆️

I’m David, and Coffee and Rakija is a Digital Magazine about my life and experiences in a rural village in North-West Bosnia and Herzegovina. I’ll be giving you a unique look, through the eyes of an immigrant (me), of this much misunderstood country. My goal is to replace the many negative perceptions of both the country and its people, that you’ll be served by international media outlets. Thank you so much for dropping by.

Snow Blowers, Power Lines, and the Rural Reality

My daughter in New Jersey, has been on at me to get a snow blower. “Take it easy, Dad,” she says. Easier said than done, of course.
Snow blowers aren’t exactly common here in Bosnia, at least not in domestic settings. Still, after these last few weeks, I’m starting to think she might be onto something.
If she does send one over, or I can source one in Europe somewhere, it’ll probably only get a couple of weeks’ use a year, but at this stage in life, that sounds like a solid investment.

The snowstorms didn’t just keep us busy with shovels; they also wreaked havoc on the power lines. Rural infrastructure here isn’t the best, though I have to give credit where it’s due, electricity crews do an incredible job getting out to some of the most remote areas. Still, we had two days with only a few hours of power. It’s amazing how much that can throw off your routine.

Snow in Sarajevo ⬆️

Thankfully, we have a wood burner in the living room and a wood-fueled central heating system. It kept us warm, though when we have guests upstairs, the lack of electricity for the central pump can make things a bit tricky.
It’s one of those things you just adapt to.

A Quieter, More Intimate “First” Christmas

This year, I decided to keep “My” Christmas (25th December) small. 2024 was a rough year, we lost too many friends, attended too many funerals.
I just didn’t have the energy for a big celebration. Instead, it was immediate family, good food, and a lovely surprise from one of my Substack followers from the UK.

A toast for my “English Christmas” ⬆️

Mike has a long time girlfriend who lives in Banja Luka. He comes for a weekend once a moth or so. He’s planning to come and settle her as well.
He and Ivana, came by, and he brought gifts: two jars of Marmite, some mint jelly, and a box of Cadbury Dairy Milk for Tamara.
It’s little things like this, gestures of thoughtfulness, that really brighten the season.

Serbian Christmas Eve - “Badnji Dan”

On Monday I woke up to the sounds of tractor and car horns.

Time to get outside and wait for the annual Badnjak procession, which I always like to document if I can.

Here’s some background for you.

Badnji Dan, Orthodox Christmas Eve (January 6th), is one of those days that really draws you in, especially if you’re interested in traditions.

The name “Badnji Dan” comes from badnjak, the Yule log, and it’s the centrepiece of the day. Early in the morning, someone heads out to ceremonially cut the log, usually oak.

The log represents warmth, light, and life, welcoming Christ into the home and heart. In some villages here, it’s still very communal. Families or even whole neighbourhoods come together for this ritual. You can feel the sense of connection, not just with each other but with generations past.

There is always this sort of procession through the village where I live that ends with the badnjak being blessed and then ceremonially burned outside the church.

Walking, Talking, and Starting Fresh on YouTube

One thing I’ve been sticking to lately is walking. Nothing too strenuous, just 20 to 30 minutes a day, but enough to stretch the limbs and clear the mind. It’s during these walks that I’ve started recording “walk and talk” videos for my new YouTube channel.

Yes, new channel. After 17 years on YouTube, my old channel had become a bit of a mess. It lacked focus, and the algorithm didn’t seem to know what to do with it. So, I made the decision to start fresh.
The new channel is called “It Is What It Is”, a nod to the Bosnian phrase “Šta je tu je”
It’s a simple idea: my life as a 72-year-old in Bosnia, shared with an audience I hope will resonate with it, older people mostly, who might see a bit of themselves in my stories.

Two weeks in, and it’s going well. I’ve got 200 subscribers already, lots of comments, and, most importantly, a sense of community.
I’m not chasing monetisation or viral fame.
This time, it’s about authenticity, minimal editing, just me sharing my life.

Substack Sundays and Simplifying

Here on Substack, I’ve decided to scale back to one weekly post, published from now on, on Sundays. I really really like Substack, but I’ve been reflecting on how I use it.

It’s so easy to get caught up in trying to do too much. Videos, podcasts, text posts etc, all while managing daily life here in the village.

So, I’m keeping it simple for now. Some (hopefully) interesting weekly posts, with links to my podcasts ⬇️ and YouTube videos, and a continued focus on building connections.

A Year Without Resolutions

I’ve never been big on New Year’s resolutions, they tend to fall by the wayside after a week or two. Instead, I’m focusing on what feels right. Staying active, spending time with family, and appreciating the quiet beauty of life here in Bosnia.

Having said that there’s some celebratory fire in the neighbourhood at the moment.

This year though, I hope to visit my daughters in New Jersey and England, and maybe even see my son wherever he ends up after Singapore. And, of course, I’ll try to get back to visit my mum, who’s 95 now and, frankly, nearing the end.

In the meantime, I’ll keep enjoying the little things, like reading on my Kindle, which has replaced social media “doomscrolling”.

Thank You for Being Here

If you’ve read this far, thank you. Your support means the world to me, whether it’s a comment, a subscription, or just taking the time to read what I share.

If you’re interested in supporting me but not through a paid Substack Subscription, my Buy Me a Coffee page is always open.

And, I’d be thrilled if you’d check out my new YouTube channel. It’s not about chasing numbers anymore; it’s about connecting with people who get it, who understand the joys and challenges of this phase of life.

Here’s to a calm, healthy, and fulfilling 2025, that I hope will bring everything that you wish for yourself.

Videmo se opet (I’ll see you again soon).