Happy Holidays!

New Book

My partner Riitta published a book last evening: check it! I am making a video work about portraits and depression.

We haven't given up -even tough everything takes much more time- and we feel sometimes quite thin and weak...

Full Moon: At Sea Again, old stuff with a new camera

I did spend about six or seven hours in my tent, reading a thriller in candlelight (who cares about time or watches at sea). Accidentally, it was Halloween!

Paddling about 53 kilometres and spending one night out did good to me, though I am not in my best condition... a new camera added some fun to this trip. I managed even to get my tent dry in the morning, though humidity inside was quite high. The night temps dropped into +/- 0 Centigrades during the night, and I heard it was about -6 C at the mainland.

Autumn and Shelter #3

Yes, it was Mommy again! A new shelter made from autumn leaves (I got Lumi's tasty sand-cakes when visiting) and she got also luxurious 30 litres of mushrooms... Lumi loves to smell the mushrooms, she is quite helpful when Riitta is cleaning them. They can spend hours together.

More summer memories: Shelter #2

This time, in August the shelter was made with old bedsheets... it was warm and we had a brilliant apple harvesting season.

Summer memories: Grandfather's Old Cottage & Shelter #1

Mommy built this little gauze fabric shelter during late summer heat waves. I think she took also the most fascinating images of Lumi and me, ever.

flu and a flu and an ear inflammation

... we have our second week going on. Such a sh*tty time...

Harvesting time, again...

At the Baltic Sea...

Finally, my first r e a l holidays after one and half years of taking care of our little family with Riitta!

I felt stiff, sometimes a bit unsecure at the open waters -and I have to admit that I spent few first days sleeping my tiredness off... no early wake-ups and long days. So did 'Auntie' Alli, my long-time paddling buddy. For me, whose longest expedition was 700 kilometres before Lumi was born, 350 kilometres and two weeks was extraordinarily lazy time. Vilma 'the Body', my other good friend paddled half of the trip with us. Her nickname comes from her obscure habit of participating body-pump excercise at local gyms...

We arrived Kaunissaari harbour accidentally at the very same day, when they had a local celebration, and turned back to west. Fortunately, weather was fine so we had lots of opportunities to admire the huge Suursaari at the horizon. Unfortunately it has been part of Russia since 1945.

Offline

...for a few weeks. Season's Greetings to everyone!

Wish a better summer

...than last year. This spring was exhausting and wearing me down.

About sea and the noblest craft...

"However, as ocean paddlers, we journey upon the sea in what is the smallest and noblest of craft. We are all at the mercy of Neptune's whim. The sea is king and the wind rules across it's surface. Listen to it's every breath, sense it's pulse and be cautious." (Jeff Allen: "Expedition Essentials", Ocean Paddler issue 14, 2009)

I'm missing the sea again... desperately... the shitty times are not over [image: 'Auntie' Alli in Hanko during the Easter holidays]

Labour Day (2)

Well, the other day when I was watching them sleep, I got this heart-breaking anxious thought that I do not want anything to happen to this small family... ever. Lumi has been practizing with a spoon for a week.

Labour Day (1)

I love the glimpses of her growing personality, whether it shows in her eyes or in her first words, or in her reactions. Never mind the porridge or snivel in her face!

It has been difficult and moods are low. It is difficult to get some help for taking care of the kid - Riitta can't carry her because of the crutches and she got direct orders to not to walk with her left foot. I am taking care of so many things, that I am occupied 16 hrs every day. Considering my lectures, these are the busiest weeks of the spring. My deepest respect goes to the single mothers, for obvious reasons!

Aww... sh*t. Bad luck.

Riitta broke her ankle during the Easter. She walks now with crutches and does what she can, but I am trying to take care of maybe too many things: daughter, lectures, a workshop, reading essays, a course about web design for ourselves, dirty laundry, dirty dishes and dinners. Our house is a mess: we gave up cleaning for this week, because there is not enough time. I hate this... if only the next week would came quickly!

More shots from the sea