This time last week we were still on our road trip, and now we’re settling into life in Helsinki.
- Modern travel is wild.
- The world is temporarily our proverbial oyster.
I feel much more content now that we have some logistics sorted. I can navigate to the nearest tram stop without GPS directions and using the washing machine no longer feels like a big deal.
A DRINK TO WARM MY HANDS
Today was frigid. I started the day with coffee at our apartment, moved on to hot chocolate at the famous Cafe Regatta, and am ending the day—chilled to the bone after hours outside—sipping a small mug of hot chocolate.
There’s something comforting about a warm drink, doubly so when I have cold hands!
A TASTE OF HOME
I made waffles last night for supper (I forgot to take pictures) and they were delicious. We usually have waffles a few times a month back home, so it was fun to finally make them on this trip. I have a feeling this meal will be on repeat now that we have all the ingredients.
HOT SHOWERS
I’m not the biggest fan of European showers (such weird configurations), but the one in our Helsinki apartment is AMAZING. It has the temperature automatically set to the perfect point, it’s a dream to turn on and off, and it has two different shower head options.
Oh, and I almost forgot. The bathroom has in-floor heating which is delightful! Our home back in Canada hails from the 1970s and most certainly does not have in-floor heating, so this makes it feel very luxurious (especially to someone who always has cold feet).
THE WEEKEND IS COMING
After a busy week on the road, we moved right into a hectic week in Finland (John had two big meetings this week so he’s been leaving relatively early in the morning and not getting back until the evening).
This weekend, I’m looking forward to sleeping in… and having John take the kids for a few hours. It’s been 24/7 togetherness since we left Vienna and I’m ready for some solo time. I’m realizing that being with the kids around the clock, navigating places, managing all sorts of logistics… is like a full-time job. I get to tag along and see/do cool stuff but it’s WORK!
So I’m contemplating taking myself to the public library for a few hours…
PLENTY OF THINGS TO CLIMB
Finnish people love nature and that is very apparent here in Helsinki. Everywhere we look there are families outside with their kids. Parks are around every corner, and it feels like there’s a truly limitless number of things to climb, much to Indy’s delight.
He has been climbing and jumping and scaling ALL THE THINGS.
It’s also interesting to see how “dangerous” playgrounds are here. Things seem objectively more risky than I’d expect to see in many North American structures and kids seem to be very independent. I see small kids navigating streets alone on their way home from school, and big groups of young kids playing together at parks without any adult supervision.
BONUS HAPPY THINGS
- My Kobo! For so many reasons. The most recent? It fits in the side of our bed frame. The bedroom is a bit tight in this apartment and my side of the bed is up against the wall. I was fretting about not having a bedside table, but the bed frame has a lip and I can slide my Kobo down beside the mattress when I’m finished reading at night. It’s perfect!
- All our warm layers. I’m so glad we brought hats and finger gloves and warm coats from Canada. After 25°C in Monaco and Venice, we’re back to 6°C in Finland. Womp, womp.
- Last night I made chicken caesar wraps for supper with pan-fried potatoes on the side. I’d been outside walking for most of the day and these tasted SO GOOD. I boiled the potatoes (skins on, they were baby potatoes) until they were fork tender and then heated them in a bit of butter in a frying pan right before we ate. I understand why Nordic cultures like potatoes so much; they really stick to the ribs after a day outside!
- Dishwashers. I am so thankful these devices exist. Ditto washing machines. Can you imagine life before these modern conveniences? I can imagine hand washing dishes because I grew up that way, but washing clothes by hand is a hard pass!!
- Toothpaste. Aside from the dental hygiene, it’s such a great way to reset and mark the start/end of the day.
- Hearing from people back home. In the last two days I’ve had multiple unexpected emails from friends that I don’t regularly hear from checking in to see how things are going. Some have included newsy updates from their lives and it made me feel loved and appreciated (and now I owe them responses)!
- Very random, but NYX The Face Glue Primer. I don’t wear much makeup, but this is an inexpensive and very effective primer. I’ve been using it since we left Canada and will definitely purchase another bottle when this one runs out.
- Family time. Yes, all this time together can be a bit much. But it’s also really special. Sitting around the dinner table laughing about inside jokes is fun. It feels like we’re freezing time in a way, probably for the last time before Belle leaves home. Once we get back to Canada life will go back to normal. The kids will have school and routines and birthday parties to attend and activities most nights of the week.
- After fretting a bit about lack of structured schooling, Indy’s teacher posted several math assignments he was able to complete yesterday morning and, as I’m typing this, Belle is finishing an assignment for English class!
It’s only 9 pm on Thursday night, but I’m going to call it a wrap on Happy Things this week and go get ready for bed. I am tuckered!
Now it’s your turn.
- Tell me some Happy Things.
- What’s your preferred hot drink?
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I think life is the most ‘normal’ right now for John, right? He still goes to work and so on. For you and the kids, everything is topsy turvy. I remember my mom coming to visit for a week once, and I loved it, but vacation time is not the same as living together time when we all had our own things to do. It’s kind of beautiful that you’re having this experience for that reason. And also…time at the library alone will be DELICIOUS.
Also, I am never not grateful for running water and washing machines. I’ve lived without a dishwasher, but having clean water at any temp I want is magic, and washing your own clothes by hand? HORRID.