Plans in life

Hope you are all enjoying your day. I took the girls to dagis and then I have been sitting by the computer working with a few tours today, but before I tell more about that I have something else to share...

I have taken a few days to think and plan my future, what way to go and what to do. It is good to sit down and do that at some point in life, maybe this is the time for me as Im soon turning 40years old:)

As we decided not to travel to South Africa anymore 4-5 months a year , it opened other doors, I started thinking what will I do here in Finland that keeps me going, as the tours I will keep as a side thing, a fun thing to do, but not build up my whole life around it...so I decided I will carry on with my studies. Before I went out in the big world over 10 years ago I was studying developmental psychology, and somehow it feels like Im ending up at the same stop again with a lot of new life experience, I want to study again. I don´t have too much left to study and I think in future I will be able to combine my studies and my knowledge I have gathered trough my years in Africa in a way that makes me feel has a purpose. This is a process that can take time, as Im not so good at sitting and reading for exams/ sitting on lectures, but once I can implement things into real life it gives a meaning. So, the tours will carry on but in a way that suites my life ,family and plans, and I will start as a part time student. Feels good to make these decisions in life.

Today I have put in a new grouptour on my website, the program is only in english at the moment, it is to Namibia in November 2011, have a look at it :) here is the link: Namibia November 2011 More tours to follow in the next few days.

Our weekend was once again relaxed, we visited our very good friends Katcha& Anssi and the girls enjoyed playing together with Aina, she and Liina are best friends, soon they are going to start having sleep overs:) And Elias,who is now 5 months old and to whom we are godparents, is like and angel, smiling, sweat and so happy. As we where not here for his christening, we had not yet bought a present, so what we did, we named a star after him in the sky, so now when he looks up, there is a star always following him:) Here is the rhime to go with it:

`Elias, när du lyfter din blick och tittar upp i skyn

din stjärna tittar ner och mot dig ler

Elias heter stjärnan, Elias heter du

och vart du än går, din stjärna följer med´

As I still have a few hours until the girls are coming home, and the sun is shinig outside, Im going to go for a nice long run:)

Enjoy your day everyone out there!

Hugs,

Jannika

Pictures from the ocean

Here follows a few pictures from the Indian Ocean, it is so beautiful along the coastline north of Durban. I really enjoyed my time there, the ocean has a calming effect on me:)

In the background the hotel Salt Rock.
A tidal pool to swim in:)




In a zulu village
Try to carry a pot on your head and see how far you an walk. In zulu culture it is natural for unmarried girls/women to not hide their breast.
On our way to Bongani Mountain Lodge
Baby Nyala antilopes playing. I watched them for a while and managed to slowly move very close without scaring them off, it was such a enjoyable moment.

Love,

Jannika

A new week

And new energy:) What a wonderful weekend, the weather has been wonderful, the best spring has to offer. Yesterday we went to Öjberget, a small skiing resort close to our house, and the girls loved sliding down the hill with their sledges `pulkka´. I looked at the slopes and really felt I need to do some donwhill skiing still this winter, maybe I get Nico to try also:) At least I think it is time taking Liina down the slopes soon. And after a great afternoon outside we went home and baked pizza with the girls.
On friday our nextdoor neigbours came over, had a lovely evening with a few glasses of wine. On saturday I went to my hairdresser and got a new short style.Like it, so easy to live with , just wash & go:) In the evening my dad came over for dinner and we watched a movie a bit later. So overall a very relaxed weekend.
Me & a college at work made an agreement that in 6 months we will be in top health&shape.....so last week I had some good work out hours, it helps to have goals, makes many things in life easier to accomplish...lets see how this one works out.
I have been planning some new grouptours that I will put on my website in a few weeks, for the season 2012-2013, Botswana, Namibia, South Africa....I will let you know when it is up running:)

Have a lovely week and sunny days!

Jannika

Monday morning

Life has a slower pace here in Finland, I dont have too much to write about but I will try to update at least once a week.

I have been planning a trip to SA for 4 people, they are going in April, starting with Cape Town, flying to Vic Falls and then to Kruger Park, a nice package:)

My group tours for next season are out there on the market now, 2 tours for Aurinkomatkat and then 1 tour for Lomalinjat and then I have a privat grouptour to Namibia in November. It feels good to do all based from Finland, it is easier for me to travel over to South Afica for a few weeks when needed..and then I also get a bit of a break from the winter:)

On saturday evening we met with friends, Franz& Heli , Kira& Jukka, thanks to you all for a enjoyable evening, we will do it soon again.

Liina had a fever on saturday morning, but then it went away again towards the evening, and yesterday Viivi had a high fever, but no other symptoms, and today they are both home from daycare. After being healthy all the time in South Africa, they start catching up on all bugs here instead, but daycare is like a bugfactory, if one child has something everyone gets it. But it is said that it just builds up the immune system for future to be sick as a child, so probably good they are sick and getting used to all the bugs flying around:)

Have a great start to the new week. Let the sun shine, if not outside, at least inside:)

Jannika

Wednesday morning

Almost a week is gone since we came back. It has been easy to get into life here again, feels like we never been away.
Last week we took everything step by step, packing up, organzing, and met up with friends, enjoyed the snow.
Liina&Viivi got ice skates from ´mormor=santaclaus´so on saturday we went to try them on the ice in Sundom...of course we realized we had no helmets, so qucikly into town and buy, with girls sitting ready with skates in th ebackseat of the car:) And first Viivi, her feet where going everywhere:) but Liina learnt very quick and could skate almost on her own by the time we left, amazing how quickly children learn!
The days here have been sunny and mild, around +3. Girls started daycare on monday,so we are back to old routines again. I work at the gym a few days a week, plan tours inbetween, and Nico starts working next week, so life is good:)
Have a wonderful rest of the week wherever in the world you are, in the sun or in the snow!

Jannika

Back in Finland

This time I write from our home in Finland! We arrived last night after 24 hours of travelling, from leaving Johannesburg airport until we where at our front door. And what a wonderful feeling to be at home again, to open that door to our house, sleep in our own beds, of course Liina& Viivi also slept in our bed:)

Our flights where on time and everything went smooth, girls where real angels all trough the trip, who would not after sleeping trough a long flight occypuing 4 seats, that means girls slept on us and all spread over the seats on the long flight between Jburg- Heathrow....leaving me without space & sleep, watched 3 movies trough the night instead:) Black swan, Due date and Social Network, so at least I had something to do....no woner I slept like a baby last night:)

Today we got our missing luggage delivered to our door, 2 suitcase+pram, and then we where outside playing in the snow for a while, it is a sunny day +5 outside,very clean snow o the ground, best winterweather one could wish for:)

Soon Im going to the gym to help out for a few hours, maybe I also get into a routine again, better pack my gymbag with me, just incase:)

Love to all of you from someone who is so happy to be home again!

Jannika

Goodbye South Africa!

We are leaving for the airport, time to say Goodbye to Africa and see you end of the year again:)
Finland and the snow is waiting for us, girls very excited, tomorrow they can play in the snow:)

Next time I write it will be from Finland.

Love,

Jannika