First thing’s first: we have a winner for the Big Time: A Simple Path to Time Abundance book giveaway.
Huge congratulations to Emily!!!!
I hope you get those 20 minutes of reading time!
RANDOM THOUGHTS
It’s 1:23 pm (in Helsinki) when I type this sentence and I am still in my pajamas. I’ve been up for hours (PLANNING! STILL PLANNING!), but the thought of putting on real clothes and admitting it’s a Monday feels like a step too far.
- We had a great visit with my brother and sister-in-law… and I am EXHAUSTED. Thankfully, my head cold—shortish but incredibly intense—seems to be over. We had a lot of fun but it takes so much energy for me to manage food and logistics for a group, especially after several nights of almost no sleep. Thankfully, they are very easy to please. I’ll get around to blogging about our adventures eventually but the highlights for me were: visiting Linnanmäki again, having a picnic lunch at the Helsinki Winter Garden, and heading to the Rock Church for another free concert, which ended with an incredible rendition of Finlandia!!!
- I’m excited to visit the Vasa Museum in Stockholm. It looks very cool and like nothing I’ve ever seen before. Plus, kids under 18 are free.
- Indy and I are heading to Scotland!!! I had to leave these logistics to the last minute and for good reason: turns out John needs to go to Paris for a conference and Belle is going to tag along. I had REALLY wanted to go to Scotland (my family heritage is Scottish), but it didn’t look like it was going to work with John’s schedule. Then he discovered he had a last-minute conference to attend. So, by the end of the day, I should have tickets booked! I’ve heard the views are spectacular on this train ride and I’m excited to meet Coree! And visit Scotland! I’m not sure if we’ll make it to Stirling, but that’s also on my radar…my maiden name was Wallace after all 😉
- I need to do so much laundry. And packing. I have to pack again. It’s not even that bad but still… *screams into the void*
- Yesterday, we left our apartment at the same time my brother and SIL headed to the airport. We went to visit one of John’s colleagues for supper and it was such a delight. Delicious food and three adorable kids (including a 9-month-old who was the primary entertainment source for my kids). None of their kids speak English (Finns don’t start learning English until Grade 2), so it was hilarious to communicate with them in the universal language of fun: fart sounds, peek-a-boo, and high fives.
- Very random: I cannot seem to spell souvenir properly. I always, always, always want to add another “e”… as in, souvenier.
- I need to visit a chiropractor. My neck is so out of whack from our bed in Helsinki.
Okay. It’s time to stop delaying the inevitable and get back to my to-do list:
Your turn.
- What’s a word that you struggle to spell correctly?
- Any random things on your mind today?
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Oooh have so much fun in Scotland! I am of (partial) Scottish ancestry too. Rob and Jake hiked the West Highland Way last summer and loved it! I hope you have the best time.
I’m excited! At the very least, the accents will be ON POINT!
Ha, I don’t want to admit it’s Monday either!!! Sounds like you have had a lot going on (even more than usual). How exciting about Scotland. This trip feels like a whirlwind to me- it seems like just yesterday you were in Vienna.
Congrats and happy reading to Emily! And… I CANNOT spell the word “boutonniere.” It kept coming up before prom, and even just now I had to look it up again.
Jenny, it is such a whirlwind! I am… tuckered, but packing is coming along and there is something satisfying about “closing out” one part of the adventure.
Oh my, boutonniere. Can you imagine getting that in a spelling bee????
You’ve been having some VERY busy days! I hope that a planning/laundry Monday will help you to reset a bit. And of course, hopefully a good night’s sleep.
BUT YAY for Scotland! I spent the first 8 years of my life there (I was born in St.Andrews). What kind of train ride will you be doing (no link)? And which city will you heading to? I’m so excited for you!!! Also nice that Belle gets to go to Paris with her dad!
We’ll be doing the GWR from Cardiff. We are headed to Edinburgh. I’d love to come back and do a longer trip to Scotland another time, but this will help whet my appetite, I’m sure.
Scotland, I haven’t been, but I have heard it is SO beautiful. My brother went years ago and said he couldn’t understand anything people were saying, so I’ll be interested to hear whether that is your experience as well. I guess with all of your traveling, you are currently used to not understanding things people say, so NBD.
I read an article a few years ago about the very rare but dire issue with letting chiropractors crack your neck. It can (very rarely) lead to stroke. I had neck issues a few years ago and went to a chiropractor, and he was able to help me without cracking my neck, though gosh he wanted to.
I love the conversation with the kids! LOL.
I am just excited to hear English regularly at this point! Though I LOVE Scottish accents, so I’m excited for that, too, knowing there will be times it might sound like another language 😉
I have heard some of those things about chiro, too. I’ve never had an issue (and definitely had neck cracks), but haven’t gone in years now since we no longer have coverage and it is pricey. But perhaps needs must. My neck is SO messed up right now 🙁
Scotland buddy trip with Indy- that will be a blast. Just keep him from falling into a loch!
I’m terrible at spelling. Accommodation gets me, and occasion- which letters get doubled? I even need to think about niece every time.
Wow, I’m glad it’s not only me that has issues with accommodation. I’m grateful for spellcheck which always sets it straight if needed.
I used to have to spell accommodation all the time for work and finally it clicked in my head that it’s double “c” and double “m” but it took me a LONG time. I struggle with occasion, too. I feel like there should be two “s’s”.
I can see niece (vs. neice) being tricky!
I’m of Scottish descent as well. My mom’s maiden name was McDougall! That’s awesome that you’ll get a bonus trip to Scotland with Indy. 1:1 travels are so fun!
I struggle to spell “misspell”. I am never sure if there are 2 s’s or one. Ironic, huh?
Misspell is hard!!!
Neither of our kids has had that long of a 1:1 trip before, so it feels extra special.
Bureaucracy and beautiful. SO HARD. And they come up a lot in my world. I also struggle typing the word THE. Probably 95% of the time I type TEH and it drives me ABSOLUTELY CRAZY.
Bureaucracy is TOUGH. Thankfully, I basically never have to use it. I would not do well on that in a spelling bee 🙂
Conusmer – consumer. And I use this a lot for work too, hah.
Souvenier is correct in Dutch though, so just tell other people that you’re working on your neighbouring language skills.
Enjoy Scotland! I took a proper trip with my now husband ages ago and loved it. We flew into Edinburgh and then took the train up to Inverness. Are you going to have haggis? And a proper Scottish breakfast?
I want to try haggis! It’s on my list. We don’t have a long stay, but will be in Edinburgh 3 nights/2 days.
I guess I’ve been channeling my inner Dutch spirit all along with my spelling issues 🙂
Isn’t it frustrating when words we need to use frequently trip us up!
Where are you going in Scotland?! So exciting! I spent a week in Edinburgh in 2013 (during the Fringe Festival), and was absolutely enchanted. I felt like I’d been there before in another life, like I was ‘home’. My anscestors on my dad’s maternal side came from southern Scotland and it truly feels in my blood, in a way other parts of UK I also came from did not. Anyway, I hope you have the best time!
We’re going to be in Edinburgh! It’s a quick stay: 3 nights/2 days, but I am really looking forward to it <3
“dilemma” is hard for me. Yup – I just got that red squiggly line and had to go back and correct it.
I also type my name wrong embarrassingly often. I can spell it right, but sometimes my left hand wants to get the letters out faster than my right hand and I end up signing my emails “Dane” Often work emails, which is a little mortifying.
How amazing that you can just decide to go to Scotland without it being a six month ordeal of planning and watching plane fares! I’ve never been to Scotland and would love to go. I would love to go all the places that you are seeing, let’s be honest.
I got a good laugh out of spelling your name wrong!
Words with double letters are so darn tricky.
I dithered about going/no going, but it is SO much cheaper/easier to go these places while already in Europe. I already know that 2 days isn’t going to be nearly long enough, but I’ll do some recon as I’d love to come back for a much longer trip to various parts of Scotland another time.
Oh yay, Scotland. That’s on my bucket list! I am super-excited for you. Where will you be going?
Edinburgh. I’ve never been anywhere in the UK, and so to tick off Scotland is such an exciting turn of events.
Ooooh, with a choice between Scotland or Paris, what would I choose? I don’t know!
I always struggle to spell “definitely”- 100% I rely on autocorrect for that one.