Midsummer party.

Actually, I started to wonder why this happening is called *midsummer* party? The summer just started!?!

Picture taken from Vääna-Jõesuu, West-Estonian beach, where we celebrated the beginning of summer with grill and homemade food.

Visitors from around the globe.

Hello! Long time no seen, eh? Well, it´s been extremely busy days and you problably know the reason why. But there have been also some good days - once in a while I leave room for social life and see my friends! :)

I updated my postcard collection with three pictures of three visitors -friends whom I know from Umea Institute of Design. Up there you´ll see Johan (BA Product Design 2007, now in Helsinki) with his girlfriend. They visited Tallinn during Easter, this April. On May Sten (MA Transportation Design 2007, now in Gothenburg) invited me to visit his second home in Vormsi, small island close to West-Estonia - where I ate first time in my life this little "green inside and glowy" fish called Garfish. And at the end of May Annika (MA Interaction Design 2008, now in Seattle) was here in Tallinn for five days. I´m very happy that I had a chance to show her not only the city but also a life outside of Tallinn. She continued her trip to Umea to see this year´s degree exhibition.

Those were the moments of my life worth mentioning here :)
I look forward to see other Umea schoolmates, while I go to Gothenburg this July.

"You are cute!"

Interesting view in old town. Someone has written repeatedly "You are cute!" on the door - obviously that girl felt touched :)

The Hannes Memorial Tour.

So, what has happened on this March? The most important event must be The Hannes Memorial Tour - when Terje went back to Umea, Steen and Pete showed her the school. "This is where Hannes slept.. and ate... and work". As you can see on the second picture, Terje brought some "Swedish nostalgy drinks".

Umea Institute of Design will celebrate its 20th birthday on this fall. All alumnis, students and teachers are welcome - see you there then!

Shoppers.

Dear friends from Sweden - I wouldn´t recommend you to come Tallinn to buy footwear and cloths. Why? Because they´re much cheaper in Stockholm!

That´s what we discovered last weekend while we enjoyed 3-day cruise to Stockholm and back. Even when the prices in Tallinn have dropped, they´re still not competitive with Swedish price tags!

History.

For 10 years now I´ve been collecting every 100th issue of estonian weekly newspaper Eesti Ekspress (Estonian Express). Today I bought the number 1000.

Why? It´s just exciting for me to see, how every 100th number reflects the life, values and people of its time. For a example, see the topics of every issue:

● 500. (1999.07)
"Car dealer´s rough times gives an opportunity for the customer"

● 600. (2001.06)
"Why should we join European Union?"

● 700. (2003.05)
"Danish gangster in Estonian business heaven"

● 800. (2005.04)
"Where to invest the money from selling the Hansapank?"

● 900. (2007.03)
"Appartment in Tallinn costs more than in Brussels"

● 1000. (2009.02)
"Seven reasons, why Estonian crown will be not devalued."


Quite logical progression in happenings, eh?
Today I am not so fond of reading Eesti Ekspress, because I feel it lacks contents. I need something more...

Be better.

Since last Autumn I felt I need to improve myself as a entrepreneur and take part in positive changes happening in our society. One way is to become member of JCI (Junior Chamber International) - I´ve been follower since end of October and at the moment preparing my own project, which will need a lot of team work. "You learn by doing" - as they say :)

Quess who?

What would be better than seeing two Umea friends here in Tallinn during the holiday season? Yesteday was just perfect - my schoolmates Sten (MA Transport Design 2007) and Maria (MA Transport Design 2006) came to town! :)

I made a promise, that we´ll meet again - next time at their place, Gothenburg! :)

Lifetime commitment.

Last friday me and my colleague Jarmo Lehtonen from Provoke Helsinki (on the picture) went to see Eero Aarnio´s exhibition in Design Forum Finland, Helsinki. Eero is like living Alvar Aalto, he won this year´s Kaj Franck design prize for his lifetime work.

Exhibition featured all of the 796 articles written about Eero and his work - see one of the "article walls" on the background. Eero made a joke, that all the money he won went into printing those posters! :)

Never again.

Do you see this? This caused my day-long tiredness, Terje´s tonsils removal and feline asthma to two cats. Same aspergillus mushroom is being used to make chemical weapons, that affect on central nerv system.

Owner of the appartment did not see any "mould problems". We disagreed. And found a better home.

Design Thinking.

Hello folks! If you feel that I´ve been too quiet here, maybe you should check Provoke´s blog: http://provoke-news.blogspot.com. I try to express my design related thoughts there and leave this space for personal experiences.

Especially in January I´ve got many good news to share and discuss with you there! :)