Leisure time
The location of the former Kadriorg Amusement Park in autumn 2007. Photograph: Paul Kuimet
“But Emil was rich now; his hat was full of money. So he went instead and bought a whole load of sandwiches, buns, cakes and juice. Emil had never driven a merry-go-round before; he had not even known that something so wonderful existed in the world. “Well, now am I having fun,” he thought, circling on the merry-go-round, with his curly hair waving. “I have seen a few pretty things in my life, but never anything like this.” Then he watched the sword swallower and the flame eater and the bearded lady, and after that he had only two öres left.”
Astrid Lindgren, That Boy Emil
When we get a day off, it may seem that we can do anything with it. However, this idea of leisure as pleasure is deceptive. We spend most of our time in a commercialised space where every cup of coffee, every meal and every fun ride costs money. Leisure time is for the wealthy: those who do not have the money to ride a Ferris wheel have to stay home and play board games.