hoa phong lan

 

Strange-looking arm I've got there:)

 Mama's going away for the weekend so I made her take me to my favourite Vietnamese, Hoa Phong Lan. Possibly my favourite restaurant. My two regular dishes are pork in tomato sauce and pork in sweet-and-sour sauce. So good! And the deep-fried banana with ice cream is heavenly:)

It's been so hot all this time I've been back in Finland. After Scotland the heat is really something I'm not used to. Anyway, it's great that you can just wear a light dress etc. Even though I've stayed inside more than I should 'cause I just can't bear the heat for too long. Now I was planning to go for a wee swim. Haven't been swimming in the river yet but suppose I'll have to do it some time! And there won't be any better time coming than this.. So long!

 

 

 

I look like I was about to greet. But I wasn't that sad to leave the restaurant.

sound

 

I found these photos a while ago and they're completely amazing! The idea of taking these "then and now" pictures is so great and I totally enjoyed looking through the photos. Several times. It's funny how some of the places have changed so much and some are just the same.

When people ask me what's my favourite band/artist, it always takes them by surprise that it's The Beatles. Don't know what they're expecting though! I started listening to them when I was about 11 and they just can't be replaced. The variety of styles, songs and everything. Ah, I can't even express myself! :) The Beatles = love♥.

beautiful girls, all over the world, i could be chasing, but my time would be wasted, they got nothin' on you, baby

 

 

 

 

 I was a bit worried that Cleo might not remember me after a year or that she'd be really mad at me for leaving her. The first days were more than confirming what I had feared. If I took her to sit on my lap, she'd walk away. If mama was in the same room with me, Cleo would go to her. However, Cleo can't stay mad at me for too long. Now she's already sleeping in my bed and being my best mate. I love my cat more than anything♥

    

 

Top - H&M

Skirt - Self-made

 

  

 

 

 

 

home is where your heart is

 

 

 

 

Shirt - 2nd hand

Skirt&Bikini top - H&M

Watch - Grandpa's old

 

I've just been chillin' and getting used to this place again. From my syblings I'm the only one who has enjoyed living in the middle of nowhere. I still do. You have your own peace, no-one's staring at you if you're in your bikinis in the front yard (Yeah, we have a yard, not a garden. It's too big and untended that it really isn't a garden.), you could have big parties/gatherings outside. And I've always been the one who gets to decide what we grow outside, all the flowers, trees, vegetables, berries. Inevitably there's a lot of work but it's worth it. Mama and I don't do as much as we could or should, but I like our house as it is. It's a bit like the secret garden; no-one's been there for decades and it's untended yet beautiful. Apart from the fact that someone's always been living here..

 

 

 

then you'll call me a bitch

  This is me. People just love to say "smile!" etc. to me. But I don't mind, I actually like talking to strangers. During the past year I've learned to smile a lot more than I used to. It's not my normal face but it's worth making the effort. I've been told I have a nice smile so suppose I could use it. Everyone looks nicer when they smile after all.

Picture from here.

semper

 

 

Shirt - Mama's old

Tights - My sister had bought them too small..

Belt - Sister's old

Hat - Grandpa's old

 

 

Watch - Probs grandpa's old

Rings - Mama&daddy's

 

 

 

 

 

While I was in Scotland, the rest of my family had sorted out all the inheritance things. Mama had saved nearly everything for me to go through. (Not that I made her swear she wouldn't throw anything away before I've seen what I want..) Now I have loads of boxes full of things belonging to my grandparents. Everyone else has taken an item or two and the rest is pretty much mine if I want it. I think it's so sad that you should throw away everything one has collected all their lives. 90 years worth of belongings and everyone would be ready to burn the stuff, or sell them.

I've already taken that green hat, it's lovely. It's a tad too big but I think I'll keep it anyway. No-one even knows to whom the watch belonged to but I'm taking that to be fixed. I never wear a watch but now I'm going to! I think my granpa's father has made the strap and anyway I like the rather masculine look of the watch. I've been wearing my parents' wedding&engagement rings for a few days now. Mama hasn't noticed yet so I'm enjoying them as long as I can. She won't be that excited about me having them, she'll think I'll lose them and she couldn't give them to me even if she wanted as my sister would be dying of jealousy.. But I'm hoping to get my grandparents' rings! :)

I'm rather excited (and sad too) to see what is in all the boxes. All the old things are so interesting, especially when they've belonged to someone you love.

botanics

 

 

 I've been home for a little more than a day now. I feel somewhat like these lyrics from Kings of Convenience: "Homesick. Because I no longer know where home is." I've lived here in the same house all my life, yet it doesn't feel like home now. Edinburgh doesn't feel like home anymore than Finland. I just feel a bit lost, not belonging to anywhere. This feeling will probably fade away soon enough..

 

 

We spent a couple of days in Helsinki with my sister, then travelled to Tampere and finally up north to Keminmaa. I've always wanted to visit the botanic garden in Helsinki so it was nice to go for a picnic there! I love the big glasshouse and the waterlilies.

 

 

 

Top - H&M

Shorts - New look/Diy

 Shoes - Topshop