London has been baking in a heatwave for weeks now, so I thought I'd share my tips on how to survive the sweltering temperatures both above the ground and in the Tube, which, it was reported this week, had temperatures of over 40C...Wear comfortable clothes. Loose … [Read more...]
Helsinki shopping
When in Helsinki I rarely miss a visit to Stockmann's department store. This shop is a bit of a Selfridges of Helsinki, and you'd be pushed to want something they don't stock. Especially the food hall downstairs is so moorish, I have to be really careful not to buy it all up! (Suitcase issues are … [Read more...]
My new Marimekko umbrella
I didn't have time to do much shopping on my last visit to Helsinki, but I did make one particularly excellent purchase out of sheer necessity. This awful rainy weather we've had here in London has also affected the Nordic countries and although we were lucky in that it only rained once during the … [Read more...]
Marimekko at Helsinki airport
I had a few hours to kill at Helsinki between my flights recently and although many of the shops were shut due to a refurbishment of the terminal, Marimekko was still open for business.I've written before how I love this label more now than I ever did living in Finland, so whenever I'm back at home … [Read more...]
How I came to be in England – Part 40
The last leg of my train journey across Europe in February 1984, from Harwich to London Liverpool Street Station, seemed to take forever. I was dead tired from three days of travelling and I'd not slept a wink during the Channel crossing. By the time I'd got to the train at Harwich it was full, with … [Read more...]
Marimekko-land
We Finns like our Marimekko prints. In Helsinki you can hardly move for shops selling the brand, which for over 50 years has been considered a national treasure.But here's something strange: when I lived in Helsinki I wouldn't be seen dead in that print. OK, I had a few of their handy canvas bags, … [Read more...]
