365 Project – Page 2

Day 18: Meet the Penguins

February 19, 2026February 28, 2026Posted in 365 Project, Africa, Nature, Outdoors, TravellingTagged 365 Project, Nature, Outdoors, South Africa, TravelLeave a comment

Boulders beach, and its colony of African penguins, is one of my favourite spots in the world. On my first visit in 2006, I stayed in the hotel there and spent the night listening to a couple… fighting(?) under my window. Despite the poorly slept night, in the morning I had the beach all to myself and I spent a glorious few hours taking pictures.

With increasing tourism and reducing penguin numbers, the city is trying to protect the colony by enforcing stricter separation between penguins and people. So you rarely see them wondering along the streets anymore. But the charm is still there.

A walking penguin always looks like it is going somewhere with great purpose. Or at least it thinks it is on a Very Important Business.

Day 17: Heat and Wine

February 18, 2026February 28, 2026Posted in 365 Project, Africa, Family, Nature, Outdoors, TravellingTagged 365 Project, Children, family, Outdoors, Scenery, South Africa, Travel2 Comments

It was hot today… 35C at highest. I am not sure if I have just forgotten what it normally feels like, or if I have lost my heat survival mode after living four years in Finland.

We battled the heat with excessive time in the pool and relaxed walk in the (shady) forest. In the evening, when it started to cool down slightly, we headed out to a nearby winery with a quirky restaurant. Cold white wine and a frozed daiquiri improve any night.

Day 16: Moment of calm

February 16, 2026February 16, 2026Posted in 365 Project, Africa, Alanna, Family, Outdoors, TravellingTagged 365 Project, Alanna, family, Outdoors, South Africa, TravelLeave a comment

Braai is a fantastic South African word for bbq. It includes the act of cooking (braai master is a sacred – and respected – duty) but it also carries a strong nyance of coming together with friends and family around a fire.

Every time we have ever visited Cape Town Hayley and Craig (Stuart’s sister and brother-in-law) have hosted a family braai. Today was no exception. Great meat, family, hot sun, cold wine… it feels like we’re back home!

But with all that going on, it’s good to take a moment to yourself.

Day 15: Wild Ocean

February 15, 2026February 28, 2026Posted in 365 Project, Africa, Alanna, Kiara, Nature, Outdoors, Travelling, WaterTagged 365 Project, Alanna, Children, Kiara, Nature, Outdoors, Scenery, South Africa, TravelLeave a comment

Hermanus was windy today and the waves were majestic – and loud! It is almost hypnotic to watch them crash againsg the shore and seabirds fighting the wind (or hiding from it).

The waves carry shells, pieces of coral and other interesting bits and pieces onto the shore. We had to limit both girls to four treasures per beach to ensure our clothes will still fit into the suitcases for the journey home.

A good day to get out of the hospital.

Day 14: Sparks of colour

February 15, 2026February 15, 2026Posted in 365 Project, Africa, OutdoorsTagged 365 Project, OutdoorsLeave a comment

There is not much to photograph in the hospital. But the one thing guaranteed to always exist in South Africa is a sizeable parking lot. And in most places there is greenery located between car lots. And there is always something blooming.

Day 13: Not in the itinerary

February 13, 2026February 13, 2026Posted in 365 Project, Everyday objects, TravellingTagged 365 Project, Everyday objects, Travel2 Comments

Things don’t always go as planned. I, for one, wasn’t planning to spend the first three days of my vacation in hospital. Luckily, it’s all treatable, and I hope to get out of here soon. I’m fairly convinced I would have more beautiful things to photograph almost anywhere else.

Day 12: South African sunset

February 13, 2026Posted in 365 Project, Africa, Outdoors, TravellingTagged 365 Project, Scenery, South Africa, TravelLeave a comment

I love Cape Dutch houses. Together with the yellow and red African sunset, they are almost too picture perfect.

And if it feels too cliché, it helps to remember that the view follows another well-known South African phenomenon: the parking lot is just out of the shot

Day 11: Silence in the air

February 12, 2026February 13, 2026Posted in 365 Project, TravellingTagged 365 Project, TravelLeave a comment

Finland to South Africa is a long journey. You spend 14–15 hours in the air, but once you add travel to and from the airport, check-in, passport control, layovers and everything else, the total travel time creeps closer to 24 hours. A full day.

Even though I’ve done the trip many times, I always overestimate how productive I will be in these long flights. In reality, I get nothing done. I might manage to watch a movie from start to finish, but that’s where my efficiency ends. And that was true even before I had kids. Now, at best, I serve as a pillow.

Day 10: On the go

February 12, 2026February 12, 2026Posted in 365 Project, Alanna, Kiara, TravellingTagged 365 Project, Alanna, Children, Kiara, Nature, TravelLeave a comment

The girls travel well. They’ve had their fair share of long trips – partly because we genuinely love travelling, but also because they are half Finnish and half South African. Whichever half you live close to, the other one is a long way away.

Travelling is great – even if flying itself is mostly just a lot of waiting in uncomfortable seats

Day 9: Bookworms

February 8, 2026February 8, 2026Posted in 365 Project, Alanna, Family, Home, KiaraTagged 365 Project, Alanna, Children, family, Home, KiaraLeave a comment

Books are big in our family. Stuart and I read a lot. Luckily we both love Kindles, or the biggest room in our house would have to be dedicated to books.

We’ve also been reading aloud to the girls every day since they were just a few months old. We still read a bedtime story together every night, even though Alanna and Kiara are starting to read on their own.

At the moment, Kiara enjoys stories in chapter books, while Alanna loves comics. Both also enjoy good non-fiction. That part they get from their daddy.