Another hymn written in the '30s also uses this tune: "We Would Be Building" by P. Eugene Deitz. That was my introduction to Finlandia. Its words are also pretty decent.

We were based in the village of Crépon, liberated by the Green Howards on 6 June. Only near the end of our stay did we discover Crépon's own war memorial and the two RAF graves in the churchyard. All the Commonwealth graves were so well kept; the US ones looked quite bare in comparison.

Have my favorite pictures of Russell (investigating the fish fingers in the freezer the minute my back is turned) and Lucy (doing her "draw me like one of your French girls" pose).

Ditto. Here you have them, with bonus cat tail.

Why I follow @infinitescream.bsky.social

Does a cat count? This is Russell going after the frozen fish sticks the minute my back was turned.

Lucy says the same

Hey, a few new followers! Time for some fresh cat content. Left is Lucy wanting to be drawn like one of your French girls, right is Russell in the freezer as soon as my back was turned.

And the very next day...

Le Parisien reported last week that the city had received 86% less sun than normal in November, so this is a sight I've not seen in weeks! My phone cam doesn't really capture how vivid the sun's glow is on the stone of the buildings.

Post a picture you took (no description) to bring some Zen to the timeline.

Some cat content for new followers! Lucy, on the left, is expressing her unhappiness at being so close to her foster brother, Russell. Such proximity between them is really rare.

As this is way oversimplified, I have a bit of boilerplate I keep on hand for whenever someone uses it.

Oops. (NYT headlines email)

Hard to believe it got up to 29°C/84°F just last week in Paris. I've finally had to turn on the heating for the first time this season. Lucy is pleased.

Just to confirm, this feed will occasionally feature cats.