I was struck by a feeling of homesickness this afternoon. Most of the time I go about my life without feeling it, yet every now and then it hits me full force.

Being Finnish-Australian, I do add a touch of Finnish into my everyday life in any way I know how.

I have moomins, Marimekko, iittala, aarikka and Pentik adorning my home. I bake pulla, Karelian pies and Finnish coffee cakes. Every now and then I watch Finnish movies and listen to Finnish music. When I get my hands on Finnish Fazer Blue chocolate or salmiakki, I buy some.

But there comes a time when even all that is not enough.

So, I dream. I dream of the beauty of the shores of lake Saimaa, of the fresh earthy smell of its forests. I dream of its winter landscapes and autumn colours. I dream of the hissing sound water makes as it hits the sauna rocks.

I dream of the endless summer nights and the peace of the countryside. I dream of berries eaten straight from the bush, of a bowl full of mämmi, and the taste of archipelago malt and honey bread loaf.

I dream of everything familiar and beautiful that comes from my country of birth. I dream of happiness.

Sometimes all the dreaming is enough to make me smile, but today it made me sad. It filled my heart with homesickness.

The dictionary defines homesickness as: “A feeling of grief and discomfort that is experienced when we miss a familiar environment”.

I realised today, that the country of my birth and all my loved ones there are further away than ever before. They are beyond my reach. I can only hope that next year I will be well enough to travel there again. Until then pea-soup and rye bread will have to do.