These photos were captured using the Sony Mavica MVC-FD91 Digital Camera. All images are © TomSettle.Communications.
Wednesday 12 July
I packed up my stuff (again!) this morning, did some housecleaning and walked to the grocery store to get a few things.
In the afternoon, Antti and family picked me up and we went downtown to run a few errands. After returning to their place for dinner, we packed up the car and headed for Raija and Ville’s summer cottage in Savitaipale.
Our original plan was to leave around 4, but we actually didn’t get on the road until 7:30PM. We passed R&V on the way (they were returning to Helsinki for a few days) and got to the cottage around 10.
After unpacking the car, I walked around and took some pictures (Lotta by the girls’ playhouse and moonlight on the lake). Later we had some sandwiches, watched a little TV and went to bed.
Thursday 13 July
Despite some heavy rain and strong winds this morning, it wound up being a pretty decent day. We went into town to buy groceries and a case of beer, then came back and grilled chicken. It was a mostly sunny afternoon with a few passing showers.
Took this “still life” photo from the beach. I went swimming in the lake during the day and to sauna in the evening…lake temperature was about 19 degrees Celsius, sauna was around 50.
After Minna and the kids went to bed, Antti and I had some smoked salmon and watched a stupid movie on TV…a forgettable 1994 flick called Doomsday Gun.
Friday 14 July
I must confess this is one of my favorite places to visit. Raija and Ville have a terrific view of the lake from their cottage. Gotta love it!
A momma duck and her little ones came to visit today…here’s Ella checking them out by the lake. I went swimming again while Antti went windsurfing and Minna and the kids watched.
Some friends of Antti and Minna came to visit with their families. We had afternoon coffee and a late dinner…Antti washed the dishes outside. We heated up the sauna again but I was the only one that went tonight. I watched another stupid movie on TV…this one in Spanish. You know, its probably better I didn’t understand what they were saying!
Saturday 15 July
Antti got up early to go grocery shopping, Raija and Ville arrived from Helsinki. Ville smoked some fish for dinner…it was quite tasty. After dinner, Antti, Minna, Ella and I rowed across the lake to visit a neighbor’s farm.
The neighbors and their family came back to Raija and Ville’s cottage for Ella’s 5th birthday party. It started raining so we had to move the party inside…18 people including 11 kids!
After the party we heated up the sauna again and went swimming. Later we cooked makkara on the grill. Of course I watched another movie before going to bed…this one was called
The Naked Prey.
Sunday 16 July
Today was a much colder and rainy day. After dinner, Antti’s family and I left Savitaipale. They were on their way to Minna’s parents’ summer place in Puumala, so they dropped me off at Harri’s house in Lappeenranta.
Harri and I had some coffee and planned to take the boys to see Mission Impossible 2 at the local movie theater. Unfortunately, that didn’t work out so we wound up buying some movies at Euromarket. We came back to Harri’s and watched the classic Clint Eastwood western Pale Rider.
Monday 17 July
My cousin Harri and I have a similar warped sense of humor. We’re always joking (?) about torturing and killing each other…this is what I saw when I exited the bathroom this morning. Yes, my cousin is a crazy man!
Despite all of that, I went with Harri on another ship tonight…the Dutch freighter Elise. This was a quick trip…there was no cargo so the ship traveled much faster than usual.
Tuesday 18 July
Another good day for movies! The boys and I watched Dumb and Dumber this morning.
After Harri and I went shopping downtown, we came back and watched another Clint Eastwood movie: The Good, The Bad & The Ugly. I stayed up late talking (and drinking a little!) with Mirja…finally turned in around 4AM.
Continue to Week #6
