365 Project – Blue Moment

Day 128: Just A Bit Better Food

June 24, 2026June 24, 2026Posted in Activities, Cooking, FamilyTagged 365 Project, Activities, family, Food, Summer CottageLeave a comment

According to my dad, my mum and I cook far too complicated food in the summer cottage. Then again, he considers anything more time-consuming than fried sausage or pasta too complicated. (Unless it is fish, in which case it is never too time-consuming.)

To be fair, we do occassionally go a bit overboard. Or rather, we like trying new things. And more often than not, one element doesn’t quite work out, so we end up improvising as we go.

Generally, though, we have fun.

And my dad has yet to refuse any of it.

So I would call it a win-win.

Day 127: Once You Get Soaked

June 23, 2026Posted in Outdoors, Festivals, Family, Finland, 365 Project, Water, People, Activities, nightTagged 365 Project, Activities, family, Finland, Holidays, SummerLeave a comment

I went to my first proper music festival in years – and it was pouring down for most of the day.

But once you get soaked, you do not really get wetter.

The gigs were fantastic, it stayed warm and the company – most importantly my sister, brother-in-law and parents – never let the rain get in the way of a good time.

Great day!

I did feel a little sorry for some of the bands on stage two, which was not exactly waterproof. Unbelievably, most of the equipment kept functioning even through the worst downpour.

Day 126: Late Arrival

June 22, 2026June 22, 2026Posted in 365 Project, Asikkala, nightTagged 365 Project, family, Summer CottageLeave a comment

The more firmly you intend to leave early on Friday, the more likely it is you end up putting out some random fire at work.

Even when we arrive at the summer cottage too late for the girls’ bedtime, driving out on Friday is always my preference. The weekend feels longer, when you wake up at the summer cottage on Saturday.

Being able to sleep in while the grandparents entertain the kids is just an added bonus.

Day 125: Another Fork

June 21, 2026June 21, 2026Posted in 365 Project, Everyday objects, HomeTagged 365 Project, Everyday objects, HomeLeave a comment

Work is busy at the moment. And with the girls on holiday, they tend to require quite a bit more attention in the evenings.

By the time they get to bed, I am usually ready for bed myself – and often, as tonight proved, totally out of ideas for a photo.

So, I gave up and dug out my faithful fork again. You can always take a picture of something in the kitchen.

Day 124: Sunset in Hannusjärvi

June 20, 2026Posted in Outdoors, Nature, 365 Project, Water, EspooTagged 365 Project, Espoo, Nature, Outdoors, SceneryLeave a comment

It is impossible to take a picture of a sunset without it looking fake. I still keep trying.

Day 123: Seaside Picnic

June 19, 2026June 19, 2026Posted in 365 Project, Activities, Alanna, Espoo, Family, Kiara, Outdoors, Stuart, WaterTagged 365 Project, Activities, Alanna, Espoo, family, Food, Kiara, Stuart, WineLeave a comment

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

June 18, 2026Posted in 365 Project, Activities, Alanna, Espoo, Home, Kiara, Outdoors, SportTagged 365 Project, Activities, Alanna, Children, Espoo, Home, Kiara, Learning, Outdoors, Sport, SummerLeave a comment

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

June 17, 2026June 21, 2026Posted in 365 Project, Europe, Travelling, WorkTagged 365 Project, TravelLeave a comment

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

June 17, 2026Posted in 365 Project, Architecture, Europe, TravellingTagged 365 Project, Architecture, TravelLeave a comment

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.