Apples of Gold

Untangle Me

The need to get away is not merely a desire for physical distance but a quest for mental respite, a longing to breathe in the fresh air of simplicity and serenity. It is a recognition of the profound importance of finding space — space to rest, space to reflect, space to reconnect with the rhythms…

Good Morning

I long to share this tranquil place with you to articulate the splendour of waking up amidst the countryside. I yearn to convey the delicate melodies of the Australian bush, the fragrance of gardenias mingled with the dampness of morning dew. The serenity of the landscape unfolding outside our bedroom window, accompanied by the jovial…

A Dream

As the warmth of the summer sun enveloped my husband Peter and me in the cosy embrace of our favourite café’s backyard today, we found ourselves immersed in a conversation. Amidst the gentle hum of chatter and the aroma of freshly brewed coffee, a question lingered in the air, waiting to be acknowledged: What would…

Nineteen- Fiftysix

In the gentle rhythm of 1956 Helsinki, my grandfather, a man of meticulous habits and refined taste, commenced his daily journey. From my grandparents’ snug home on Näkinkuja, he embarked on his morning routine, preparing carefully for the day ahead. Then a vibrant 15-year-old, my mum filled their home with her youthful exuberance, and it…

My Pink Ribbon Day

Despite the overwhelming fatigue from tending to my elderly parents in the past weeks, I found myself wide awake in the early morning hours today. Melbourne was lit with flashes of lightning as a rapid rainband swept through, accompanied by sporadic thunderstorms. Attempting to dismiss the vivid flashes behind my curtains, I struggled to return…

Roots & Wings

As Finns living overseas, our identity is a delicate dance between the past and present, a symphony that resonates with the echoes of our homeland while embracing the richness of foreign lands. The Finnish term “ulkosuomalaiset” encapsulates those of us born in Finland but living overseas, each of us sharing a common thread despite our…

True Beauty

During my visit to the hospital to see my mum today, I shared an elevator with an elderly couple. They got off one floor before me. Witnessing the elderly gentleman gently take the lady’s hand and leave the lift together made my world pause. Holding the lift door open a bit longer, I observed the…

Good Morning Twenty Twenty-Four

I find myself waking up, or should I say, grappling to rouse myself into a new year. It’s a struggle between the allure of sweet dreamland, which persistently tugs me back, and the desire to rise and savour the very first chai of twenty twenty-four. Although the temptation to slip back into a deeper sleep…

Bless Your Heart

At the moment, our home is like a linguistic smoothie, blending accents from around the world! You see, our friends from Florida are currently enjoying an extended stay with us throughout the entire month of November. Within the confines of our humble home, there’s not just the delightful blend of Finnish and Australian accents echoing…

Cardamom Spice

In my cherished childhood memories, there exists a place sweeter than any other—the quaint kitchen of my grandma. There was no place on Earth I’d rather be than in my grandmother’s warm and welcoming kitchen, learning the art of baking pulla, a sweet and aromatic Finnish cardamom bread. The 4th of October is here, marking…