I think this photo of my cricket-playing ancestor, Billy Bestwick, may have been posed.

I'm not a birdwatcher generally, but I saw a some of these bullfinches in Helsinki this morning and had to stop for a few minutes because they were so arresting in the gloom.

Photo by Erik Karits on Unsplash

Finnish icebreakers in Helsinki. I often talk about them when I’m introduced to strangers at parties.

At this time of year in Helsinki you have to grab every ray of sunshine you can. Winter is coming.

I see your foliage, and I raise you some berries.

My newly renovated local pub in Helsinki now plays jazz and serves illuminated beer.

If you were as famous as me, and were asked to pick 4 tracks for a jazz radio show, which ones would you choose?

More seriously, big thanks to Alban Low for asking me to contribute, and I'm looking forward to the show!

Woken up by a huge rain storm in Helsinki. No Bluesky here. (See what I did?)

Guitars are such aesthetically beautiful instruments.

It’s a beautiful early autumn Sunday in my Helsinki neighbourhood.