It is impossible to take a picture of a sunset without it looking fake. I still keep trying.
Day 124: Sunset in Hannusjärvi
Category: 365 Project
Day 123: Seaside Picnic
Food tastes better when eaten outside.
The nearest “beach” to us is just a quick hop away. It’s a secluded little strech of sand, and you can’t get there with a car. Consequently, it is often pretty quiet.
With the weather being great, we went for a picnic on a whim. We grabbed whatever we fancied from a store and cycled to the “beach” for a few hours of games, snacks and scenery. The girls even waded to the water, but it was still way too cold for a swim.
Best night of the week.
Day 122: Finnish Baseball
As a kid, I loved Finnish baseball (pesäpallo). It’s quite different from American baseball – most notably, because you pitch the ball up, not across.
So, when I came across a set of used pesäpallo equipment for kids at some sale or another, I did not hesitate for a second.
The girls’ success rate of actually hitting the ball is still low enough that we can practice in our backyard. I do not expect that to last long.
I would still love to pick the sport back up myself, but unless you are part of a fairly serious team, you can only really play in summer. And in summer, there is so much else to do.
Day 121: Conference with a Drop of Gin
The main conference day.
It was pouring down the whole day, so I did not miss much by sitting inside and trying to learn something new.
I came to get more practical ideas of advanced AI in ecommerce. It’s a good thing that this is what I wanted. Every presentation focused on the topic, whether the title said so or not.
The weird thing about AI is that I have yet to meet a person who does not feel behind the curve. Cowork launched four months ago, and already everyone feels they have missed the boat.
Or, this is what I tell myself – while quietly feeling I have missed the boat.
A trip to gin distillery helped.
Day 120: Cool Side of Tallinn
I returned to Tallinn, Estonia, today for a conference. As I had the evening to myself, I popped over for dinner in the newer part of the city center. It has several industrial buildings renovated into restaurants, little shops and galleries. What makes it cool, though, are the murals.
Day 119: Herbarium
When it is not homework, it is fun.
As a summer activity, we are collecting flowers with the girls to press them. With my mum, they are also catching bugs to inpect and draw.
Anything to keep them engaged in reading and writing.
Day 118: Yes
We had a very relaxed office afterwork today. The weather was fantastic, so we ditched some other plans, headed to the park with picnic blankets, and ordered pizzas. To top it all off, the coworking space we work in had some beers that were about to expire. We were happy to dispose of them.
After several shorter nights, I was planning to leave early. But it was pretty easy to convince me otherwise. Again.
Day 117: More Rail
Another day, more trains. Again to Kokkola.
So, I continue my series of images from Helsinki railway station. The Lantern Carriers outside the front entrance are often dressed and decorated to reflect whatever is happening in the city. For now they are back on their basic clothing.
Day 116: Pop the Cork
I enjoy sparkling wine in any occassion, but still it remains the drink I most associate with my mum. And, to a slightly lesser degree, to my sister.
We’ve drunk it together on many occassions over the years, but I think the connection was born in Luxembourg. Stuart and I lived there for a few years, and my entire family came for a spring visit. We spent a whole day in the Mosel wine region, walking, eating asparagus dishes and drinking wine – both sparkling and not. My mum, Noora and I bought a magnum-sized bottle to take home and top the weekend off. If I remember right, we ended up giggling a lot.
Day 115: The Last of First
The last day of first grade: report cards received, flowers given to teachers. We all even survived singing Suvivirsi (you need to be a Finn to understand that).
Done.
Ten weeks of summer holiday deserve a celebratory pastry.
Blue Moment 