The girls are at scout camp for the weekend. As a rare treat, it’s just Stuart and me for two days. So, obviously, we clean…
But once the house is clean and the spring sun shines through the window slats, it’s time to relax.
Day 35: Just us
Category: 365 Project
Day 34: Homework
With 2/3 of first grade behind us, the elation of the first days has settled into a steady routine. Luckily, both girls quite enjoy school and are doing well in their studies – although homework is still quite an unpleasant chore.
I have been most impressed with how differently first-grade maths is taught compared to my own school days. The girls have studied how to visualize data in charts, estimate prices, solve verbal equations, measure distance, build 3D models… all this before ‘formally’ even learning how to write the number 10. It is all about challenging problem-solving skills, not learning by heart.
I’d quite like to go back to first grade myself.
Day 33: Humble but Mighty
A long day in the office means I am getting back to photographing my favourite kitchen implement: the mighty fork.
Day 32: Showering
One thing I miss from South Africa is a bathtub. Finland has an estimated 3.3M saunas but bathtubs are quite rare. Don’t get me wrong; sauna is amazing. But sometimes I would just love a bath.
When we moved to Finland, Alanna and Kiara were 3 years old and had never showered in their lives. Bathing a toddler is easier – and more fun. A bit of a culture shock.
Day 31: Two Young Wildcats
Most of the time (well… a lot of the time) Alanna and Kiara get along well. They play together often and still share many of the same interests, hobbies, and friends. But like any siblings, they also fight. Loudly! Usually at the worst possible moment.
Alanna was born about two minutes before Kiara, but they have both silently (and sometimes not so silently) agreed that Kiara is the big sister. She is often the one who takes responsibility, apologizes and consoles her sister.
Most often after first goading her into a furious rage.
Day 30: The Law of Inertia
Over the years I have realized that the only way I exercise regularly is to have everything I need ready at home. I actually enjoy going to the gym. But after a long day, or facing a cold early morning, getting there just takes too much mental effort.
Instead I just step into my shoes at home for a “quick 10 min stretch” and 90% of the time, once the initial friction is beaten, I keep going. Law of inertia.
And when I really can’t be bothered, that’s fine too. Ten minutes of stretching is still better than nothing.
Day 29: Oil and Water
Here it is. My first “intentional” photography project in over 8 years. It’s not much – but I did have to dig out my dust-covered tripod, set out the lights and spend some time getting the settings and colors right.
It was fun. What next?
Day 28: Music or not
I’m not big on music. I occassionally listen to something in the background, but more often I listen to books or (much more rarely) podcasts. The only exception is during exercise. You really need rythm to motivate yourself to run or lift weights.
Stuart plays guitar and I’m glad girls have inherited some of his enthusiasm. At this stage (with no training at all) it is too early to judge talent. But they play every music instrument they have with gusto!
Kiara especially likes to listen to music while she draws or does crafts. I’ve been surprised to realize she enjoys classical music too – and for one whole summer her favourite song was a Swedish choir rendition of Santa Lucia (a reference that probably makes more sense to anyone from Scandinavia).
Day 27: Long Night
South Africa and Finland are in the same time zone (+/- an hour). It’s 20h+ travel, but it is basically one badly slept night…
Telling this to myself was much easier, when I did not have to keep peace between two 7-year olds who have both slept less than 4 hours the night before.
Worth it, tho.
Day 26: Muizenberg Beach
Cape Town faces the Atlantic, so the water is pretty chilly even in summer. Muizenberg Beach is a popular surfing destination because of the good waves it gets, but any sane surfer wears a wetsuit.
Despite the cold, Kiara and Alanna squeezed every bit of fun out of the waves, sand, and sun in the last hours before heading to the airport. Since they were soaked to the skin and covered in wet sand, we had luckily scheduled time for a shower before starting our trip.
Blue Moment 