I have only ever had one white Christmas as an adult, and it was truly magical. My family lived in a small country town in the eastern side of Finland, 60 kilometres from the Russian boarder, called Savitaipale. This is where my paternal grandfather’s side of the family is from. The town is so small,…
Tag: Precious Cherished Moments
Childhood Home
Written by Jaana Jokinen, told by my mother Mirja Anneli September 1949 in Kallio, Helsinki, Finland Slowly but surely, the days were getting colder and darker. School was back and autumn was upon us. I have always been a summer person, so even as an 8-year-old I wasn’t too happy about the changing weather. There…
Homesickness
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,…
Fabric of Life
When you think about the fabric of your life lived so far, what colour threads do you see? Which are the dominant colours? What patterns are evident in your tapestry? If every experience is a stitch in the intricately woven fabric of your life, then how have you been stitched together by the fibres of…
A Dying Art
Disney’s Belle is one of the best fictional bookworms around. When the Beast gives Belle her very own key to his magnificent library, cream-coloured double doors open to showcase paintings, a writing desk, a spectacular fireplace, spiral staircases, floor rugs, and some reading chairs on the colourful ceramic floor. But most importantly, the walls are…
Harvest Time
I grew up in Helsinki Finland. We were a typical Finnish family, having a winter and a summer home. When the end of May arrived, our family of six moved to our summer cottage where we lived until autumn time and school went back again, after the long summer holidays. My childhood summers were devoured…
This Moment
I got up before sunrise and hurried out the door. I could hear the birds; they sounded way chirpier than I felt. My mum is having surgery, so I am keeping dad company today. I made us some morning porridge, a cup of chai for me and a cup of coffee for dad. We sat…
Dandelion Puffballs
Have you ever gone for a walk with a small child, held their hand as they skip along next to you, the budding extrovert happily chattering, jumping from one subject to another like a small grasshopper? It’s like a tap of delight that has been turned on and joy is flowing out. Children look at…
Afternoon Tea
I recently had my grandson over for a couple of nights during the school holidays. I don’t know what came over me, but I got a bit soppy, hugging him as he left. One moment he is little, with his cheeky smile that always reaches his eyes, his think blonde hair and that never-ending energy…
Something to Smile About
What makes you smile? When you go about your everyday life, of visiting a supermarket, or driving a car, what makes you smile? Do you notice those small little details in your day, or do you rush past them, missing the very essence of the day? Children tend to make me smile. Today I was…
Apples of Gold 