Meanwhile in Paradise

I’m back in Sweden and it’s spring! The weekend was super busy but now it’s finally time to enjoy the sun. Long, daily power walks coming up, along with exploration of a newly opened café with Alexandra, a former co-worker turned friend. Some people are too awesome to let go of. Here’s the view of our favorite hideout, the Grand Hôtel.

Before I left Finland, we celebrated mom’s birthday. I honestly don’t notice my parents getting older. To me, they’re just “adult”, which probably means… LOL ok, I admit it: I still feel like a kid, but in a good way. No matter how many challenging situations I’ve encountered throughout life, I’ve somehow managed to stay laid back and avoid becoming jaded. I’m still as excited about learning new things and finding new adventures as ever. Even the long pandemic slowdown hasn’t made any permanent damage. All it takes is a ray of sunshine hitting my face, and I’m already looking forward to an awesome future. 🤪

In other news: my waistline isn’t quite ready yet but the universe is already lining up promising love candidates. Just had a close call on the dating app. One of the guys was 90% right. Hehe, I just love watching my wish list taking shape in slow-mo.

I’m blessed with the best friends you could ask for. This week, I’ve been hanging out with my “little sis” Olga. Her kids are finally old enough to spend a few hours without her, and she’s thoroughly enjoying all the fun, non-mommy activities she was so fond of earlier. We went shopping and then had lunch at a charming rooftop café. This girl is such a delight to spend time with!

Our conversations ranged all the way from life and death to whether using medical-grade Retinol is a good idea for wrinkle prevention. Both Olga and I look at least ten years younger than our actual ages, so we’re not too worried about that kind of stuff. My personal formula for looking good is: eat quality food, get plenty of fresh air, and just be happy.

Yesterday, I caught up with another dear friend, Iia. She and her husband live in a charming old house inherited from his grandmother, and Iia has decorated it like a pro. She has managed to infuse it with an almost tropical vibe while still preserving the cozy ambiance of the ideal winter retreat.

The food… omg! Even my mom asks for the recipe every time I share what Iia has whipped up for dinner. She seizes each visit as a chance to try out something new, and so far we’ve not been disappointed. Yesterday’s treat was this delicious fish stew.

And then there’s the best part… Iia loves animals, and currently, she’s got two adorable cats that grace her home with their presence. This one was rescued after being abandoned a couple of winters ago. He nearly froze to death, poor thing. He’s about three years old and loves playing with me.

The other cat is also a rescue. Iia went to a shelter and asked for a cat that was the most challenging and aggressive. After she brought him home the “wild beast” spent his first night hiding under the bed. But the very next day, he jumped onto the couch, snuggled next to Iia, and even let her rub his belly. So much for being an impossible case. 😄

Next week, I’m meeting my oldest friend Konrad (we’ve been buddies since we sat next to each other in first grade) and also my ex, whom I still consider family and to whom I lend a hand with some office stuff. Fun times ahead!