Activities – Blue Moment

Day 218: Comics and Animation

September 28, 2026September 28, 2026Posted in 365 Project, Activities, AlannaTagged 365 Project, Activities, Alanna, Black&White, Home, LearningLeave a comment

Alanna started a comic school this fall. She is beyond excited. Comics are her obsession. And more than just reading them, they are also her preferred way of expressing herself. Alanna has a very observant drawing style, and she tells a story with every image she draws.

The course also goes through the basics of animation. This has been a totally new discovery for Alanna, and it has been interesting to see how she has already learned to adjust her drawing style. Her animations are – by necessity – much simpler than her other drawings.

Where are the beginner comic book courses for adults?

Day 212: Soukka Day

September 22, 2026Posted in 365 Project, Activities, Alanna, Espoo, KiaraTagged 365 Project, Activities, Alanna, Children, Espoo, Fall, KiaraLeave a comment

Finns are not very good at building neighborhood communities. In general, Finns are not very good at casual socializing. Having lived in our current house for five years, only now – through Scouts – have I realized there is actually any community activity at all.

So today was a Soukka Neighborhood Day. The girls participated in a Scouts skill trail, which rewarded participants with a free crepe and jam.

Grassroots participation.

Day 211: Office Party

September 21, 2026Posted in 365 Project, Activities, Helsinki, night, People, WorkTagged 365 Project, Activities, Helsinki, SceneryLeave a comment

A good night out is a good night out.

Not much more needs to be said.

Day 205: Design for Kids

September 16, 2026Posted in 365 Project, Activities, Alanna, Helsinki, KiaraTagged 365 Project, Activities, Alanna, Children, Helsinki, Kiara, LearningLeave a comment

Somewhat by accident Alanna, Kiara and I ended up in Design Week’s kids’ workshop.

The girls got to design fashionable outfits, new houses and a – best of all – a mascot that they could then program to make sounds, flash lights, or show images.

An accident to repeat.

Day 194: Books and Play

September 5, 2026September 5, 2026Posted in 365 Project, Activities, Architecture, FinlandTagged 365 Project, Activities, Architecture, Children, Espoo, LearningLeave a comment

I love some of the new libraries in Finland. They are a far cry from the stereotypical dusty, dark rooms with a librarian angrily shushing every sound.

The library in Lippulaiva, the nearby shopping mall, is full of color, sounds and running children. There is a playground with a slide and a real car, a pool table, a few 3D printers, and a loom. There are soft armchairs, cushions on the floor, and several soft nooks tucked away in corners. And there are books that people (kids especially) actually want to read.

I sympathize with people who feel it is too much; that libraries should be quiet and calm, with a focus on education.

But I think reading should be fun.

Day 191: Bicycles and Baquette

August 31, 2026September 1, 2026Posted in 365 Project, Activities, Alanna, Espoo, Family, Kiara, Outdoors, Sport, StuartTagged 365 Project, Activities, Alanna, Espoo, Food, Kiara, Outdoors, Sport, Stuart, SummerLeave a comment

Cycling slightly longer distances is easier when you have a fun destination. Even if it is just a picnic in a park.

I nearly craned my neck keeping an eye on the rainclouds. The forecast promised rain only later, but the 6km back home would feel long in the rain.

We made it with at least 4 minutes to spare.

Day 190: Fight for Relevance

August 30, 2026August 30, 2026Posted in 365 Project, ActivitiesTagged 365 Project, ActivitiesLeave a comment

Just like everyone else I know, I rarely go to a movie theater nowadays. The last two times I remember going were to see Oppenheimer with Stuart and then Emilia Perez with my sister. But I”m sure I’ve been since then… at least once.

It is hard to justify the cost, unless the movie is one that “should be seen on a big screen”. And even then, not really.

But as I go so rarely, I’m surprised by the experience every time. Theatres come up with all kinds of innovations to justify the cost and effort: big comfy chairs, snack delivery to your seats… All standard nowadays. But not sure it’s working

I went to see Odyssey. With eight other people.

Travel diary: Saaremaa

August 18, 2026August 18, 2026Posted in 365 Project, Activities, Alanna, Animals, Europe, Kiara, Nature, Travelling, WildlifeTagged 365 Project, Activities, Alanna, Animals, Holidays, Kiara, Nature, TravelLeave a comment

The real post for this day (day 181) was about the fountains. However, I just had to include a “bonus post” for the rest of the day, due to the pure momentousness of it.

The girls met – and even petted – capybaras.

All little girls go through phases. Our girls, especially Kiara, are going through a major capybara phase. Her school bag, pencil case, favourite shirt, eraser… all feature capybaras.

As luck would have it, they are one of Saaremaa Zoo’s main attractions.

Kuressaare, the attractive capital of Saaremaa, was cool. But only “next level” cool.

Whatever that means.

Day 180: Blue Fox called Katri Helena

August 16, 2026Posted in 365 Project, Activities, Alanna, Architecture, Europe, Kiara, Outdoors, Stuart, Travelling, WaterTagged 365 Project, Activities, Alanna, Architecture, Children, Holidays, Kiara, Outdoors, Stuart, Summer, TravelLeave a comment

Lotte is not a character I was familiar with. So we approached Lottemaa with some trepidation, especially as we knew everything would be in Estonian.

But children have an amazing ability to throw themselves into the parts of the story they understand – and just ignore the rest. The park had sufficient things to do, even beyond the story itself, especially as (totally out of character) I actually looked at the website beforehand and knew about the hidden adventure trail…

And everyone told us about the Finn in the village, the blue fox called Katri Helena.

The “quick stop” to cool ourselves off in Pärnu beach took a lot longer than expected. Mostly because even the girls had to walk about 100m in to the sea before the water reached their belly buttons. The shallow water felt above 30°C, though, so I didn’t mind a bit of splashing.

Day 176: Washing Rugs

August 12, 2026August 12, 2026Posted in 365 Project, Activities, Alanna, Asikkala, Kiara, Outdoors, Traditions, WaterTagged 365 Project, Activities, Alanna, Children, Finland, History, Kiara, Learning, Summer CottageLeave a comment

Washing rugs on the summer cottage pier was fun as a child. Mum would throw buckets of water on my feet as I scrubbed as hard as I could. I still love the smell of Mäntysuopa (pine soap).

As we cleaned the wendy house today, the girls tried the traditional method of cleaning a rug.

Their comment was a dry, “Clearly kids in the old days had a different way of having fun”. Apparently, it was hard work.