Helsinki

I start today with a run along the Gulf of Finland by the Baltic Sea. Afterwards, I learn that Helsinki's early settlement in 1550 survived plagues, wars and poverty while overshadowed by its Baltic trading neighbors. It was not until Russia defeated Sweden in the 1809 Finnish War annexing Finland that the city began to prosper. Russia's influence remained strong and the city was eventually controlled by the Red Guard following the 1918 Civil War (German troops helped expel them). In WWII, aerial bombings of the Winter War (1939-40) and the Continuation War (1941-44) brought the Soviets who, at their worst in 1944, dropped some 16,000 bombs in and around the city. This trip I stay at the Hotel Kamp in the center of town.

Mask

Madeleine and I end our afternoon together. Today I am off to Helsinki for work, returning tomorrow. Yesterday Gordon Brown became leader of the Labour Party and will succeed Tony Blair as Prime Minister on Wednesday following a wait of ten years. There is speculation that he will hold a national election within twelve months to secure his base which has steadily declined following Iraq and the various scandals dogging Tony. Wimbledon begins today - it rains (of course).

Jelly

I take this photo at the Aquarium. Did you know that a jelly fish is 98% water and can be found in every ocean of the world? This little fellow's sting would kill you.

It rains today and I leave the house early to lift weights. The rest of the morning is spent doing a small computer chore which ends up taking all day. In the middle, Madeleine and I visit the London Aquarium catching the train to Waterloo- half the fun. She is enthralled by the sharks and rays and loves the "petting tank" where the fish come right up for a feel. Madeleine has her face painted and has no problem approaching strangers to discuss her condition. We return home and the kids compare their afternoons.

I ask Madeleine: "what time is it when Big Ben strikes six times?"
Madeleine: Five?

Me to Madeleine: "Do you know what month it is?"
Her: "One month until we go on holiday."

Playing twenty questions:
Madeleine: "Is it a boy?"
Me: No.
She: Is it girl?
Me: Yes.
She: Does she have straight hair?
She: Does she have curly hair?
She: Is her hair short?
She: Does she wear it in a bobbin?
She: Does she give me treats?
She: Is it Auntie Katie?
Me: Yes.

All England

Eitan and Madeleine yesterday, post-football. When I ask Eitan what he is thinking says he: "I was cranky because you are taking my picture." Madeleine scores a thumping goal that morning and is disappointed to learn that I did not see the action. She drags me across the pitch to her coach, to validate the score. "See, Dad! I did it!" (Madeleine has been known to create a goal or two).

Last night we have dinner with Scott and Cindy. Scott turned 60 in May and with my birthday we make up a Centaurian. A magnum of champagne is in order which I supply. Friday night we dine with Natalie and Justin beginning with a drink at Dukes. They too have something to celebrate: Justin's company (he is CEO) was sold last month to Allianz for €773MM. Cracking.

Solstice

This photo of Stonehenge taken from the side opposite the A303 highway, which is a travesty. The prehistoric monument is in the county of Wiltshire about 8 miles from Salisbury (famous for the Canterbury Tales). Archaeologists believe the standing stones were erected around 3200 BC and the surrounding circular earth bank and ditch, which constitute the earliest phase of the monument, have been dated to about 3100 BC. The site and its surroundings were added to the UNESCO'S list of World Heritage Sites in 1986. Every year freaks, hippies and tourists gather at the rocks to celebrate the summer solstice and the weirdness of being alive. Sonnet and I visited for the first time in 1998 with Mike and Gretchen Bransford.

Refreshment!

Eitan scores a Coca Cola at our new favorite bratwurst house Steinz. The restaurant is located on the River Thames in Richmond and presents a nice walk before a meal. On this particular day, the boy and I do some CD shopping and he picks out the new Gorillaz album while I choose something by Blur, Wilco and Feist. From Steinz we stroll to Richmond Square and sit in the sun for a while then ice cream and home.

Cardiff

Sonnet organises a Happy 4-0 where I celebrate my new life at a five star hotel and concert. She and I take Wednesday and today for ourselves, leaving London for room service and spa therapy easing my anxiety: can I really be this old? Normally I don't care about my age but somehow a new decade seems like, well, a milestone. When I visit Silicon Valley, one is assumed over-the-hill by 28. In London the hedge fund managers are in their early 20s. Happily, I think the most entertaining are ahead and certainly Eitan and Madeleine add to this fun.

Eitan has a play-date with school chum Harriet who says: "Lets do sums!" Eitan replies enthusiastically: "Mom! Mom! we want to do sums! May we have some paper please?" The rest of the afternoon is spent filling the white sheets with additions and subtractions.

Monkeys!

Paul and Lorena join us in Cardiff to see the Arctic Monkeys thanks to Christian Wright, who supplies us tickets God Bless Him to the sold-out concert. The Monkeys are a Sheffield phenom whose second album recently put 17 tracks in the Billboard Top 100 - the Beatles did not do that. The performance arena feels like a high school gym and is jammed with young people milling about drinking beer and smoking fags. The lads have perfectly mussed hair and stripy shirts while the girls are tarty- average age must be 22 or same as the band. The music is loud, fast and thumping and there is a crush towards the center stage when it starts. Sonnet and I dance wildly, looking at our youth.

What to do?

Bonus photo

Eitan loves the slide and with his pals makes um-teen runs down the shoot gleeful and vocal all the way.

Little Dancers

Our Fair earns about £16,000 ($32,000) which goes straight to the school. The community turns out in force and everybody seems to have a good time. At one point, I lead a parade of cowpokes and Indians on a rousing victory lap around the school grounds (oh, pied-piper I) then tell an on-the-fly story of Kit Kat Cowboy and Jesse James indoors as the rain falls. We have the fancy dress competition which goes to two well costumed and wide-eyed five year olds. Personally I am exhausted by day's end and glad it is done with so that I may now concentrate my time on .... work!

Cotton

Sonnet and the kids arrive at the fair and go straight for the junk food. They also pick up some junk including a bike, green stuffed turtle, hand-held pinball, tea cups (which Madeleine hides under her bed), and other various treasures. Overall and despite the weather we have a great turnout and good spirit- when the torrential rains arrive nobody bails (sorry). There is a scramble to the indoors school hall and me shutting down the sounding and electrics ordering the surprised kids to drop their electric guitars and other accoustics. Of all British stereotypes this one true: summer fair - England - June - RAIN.

Octopus

Worker bees arrive at 0700 yesterday morning to set up for the fair. On offer is one large bouncy castle, space-ball, cotton candy, shoot-the-goalie, jousting, 15 stalls, make-up, open bar, tambolee, BBQ, prizes, cakes, candies, good humour, various activities and this here two story giant octopus slide - pictured. Hanging over us are enormous grey clouds floating across the sky. We discuss the weather and everyone positive "no rain". The fate is opened at 12noon by Angie Best, who tells me she spent the better part of her life in Malibu. She speaks. It rains.

Fair Tomorrow

The Summer Fair which I am organising, is nigh and tomorrow represents three months hard-work by the school community. The mums, and some dads, are out in full force today setting up and installing their stalls, shows, dances, parades, games, stages and other activities. Angie Best will open the grounds at 12 noon Saturday and then it's a free-for-all. Today, in preparation, is a strangely named "Muftie" which is an English thing where the children don't have to wear their school kit. Instead, the kids arrive in cowboy and cowgirl outfits (some Indians too). Madeleine shows off her pink cowboy boots and pink western shirt from Colorado (all the mums coo over the boots) and wears her red bandanna train-robber style - I tell her she looks like Jesse James which she does not like (He's a BOY, dad!). Eitan sports his red cowboy hat and we all look fab. The program cover pictured selected from a school competition.

The Duck

Today I listen to a program on BBC Radio 4 about ducks. I learn that the fowl is considered the most amusing in Britain. Of all animals, mind you. Supporting the BBC is a scientific survey of 46,000 because this is Britain, after all. We love, for instance, Donald and Daffy while Jamima Puddle Duck has been a bed-time companion for many generations including Eitan and Madeleine. The favoritism, apparently, stems from the word: "duck" or "quack." When said, one is forced to smile. Try it. The sounds are forceful and resounding and quite silly and so suited for comedy the experts say. No other culture BTW values a duck.

Yoga

Here's Madeleine at Yoga Bugs, which she enjoys several early mornings a week before school. The class is led by local mum Peggy and attracts some dedicated yoga die hards - who bring along their kids. For the most part it is easy fun and requires Madeleine to concentrate for 45 minutes on herself, which I like. Usually I or Sonnet sit on the side-line reading a book or whispering to the other parents.

The Hague

I have dinner in Rijswijk (about 20km from Rotterdam) with Jos van Gisbergen who in 2000 founded MN Services which administers the pensions of more than a million people in the Netherlands with assets of €33 billion as at now. Jos and MN are some of the largest private equity investors in Europe. We share notes on the market and people and discuss how things have changed these last ten years (more money!). We also compare funds and talk about US venture and why it does not seem to work in Europe. An enjoyable evening spent.

Summer Fair

I am responsible for the school's summer fair, which is the largest money raiser of the year (in 2006 it netted $25,000). Our theme is Wild Wild West and the kids will celebrate with a Western-style dance, parade and costume competition while us dads drink Pimms at the bar (fully licensed, thank you). The Class Reps and volunteers have come out in full force and have done a marvelous job collecting prizes, selling raffle tickets and finding sponsorship from the high street. Angie Best, wife of now deceased football legend George Best, will open the fairgrounds. The neighborhood now anxiously watches the weather forecast as there is no Plan B.