Monday, December 4

Ten days ago I decided that I should have a 30 day travel card, and it has made a big difference to the whole business of leaving the house. Whereas before I used to ask myself what I should leave (“do I really need to spend 6,50 going to see that?”) now I find myself asking why I should stay (“why did I get a travel card if I don’t intend using it?”).

Today I went to the library to return some books and get another one out. I then went to Hakaniemi to see the refurbished market hall (Hakaniemen kauppahalli) which reopened earlier in the year when we had left for India. To my delight it looks exactly the same as it did before, except that the escalators, lifts and toilets have undergone renovation and someone has added a new tunnel between the market and the newly refurbished metro station.

I spend a long time wandering around and then photograph the restaurant Kirsikka on the upper floor which, I learn later, only opens for Christmas lunch from Tuesday to Saturday. It looks very nice.