So it seems I found the answer after all!

I wasn’t going to write just now because I am exhausted after so much fun today but I didn’t want to let the thoughts drift and soften by morning.

I know I describe this is a pilgrimage but never really expected quite the level of happiness experienced while being hugged by Moomintroll today.

In the absence of driving lessons today, I’ve learned a few different ones.

First of all, sometimes if you make an enormous plan, get really excited about it, put lots of pressure on your destination being just as you expect; it actually works out! I didn’t have crazy expectations of Moominworld. I knew there was a lot of wood, that it was in a pretty location, but it was pretty simple, and that the likelihood was that it would be raining.

Team unicorn did some excellent work on the weather and it was perfect. The rest of it was all in my head. It’s a place of pretty coloured buildings, actors who seem to enjoy the job and beautiful surroundings which include the islands where Tove Jansson wrote and was inspired to write the books.

I choose to allow the Moomins to come into my life and impact me positively with their wonderful love of nature, exploring and friendship a few years ago. Much like the Care Bears, they encourage you to speak your mind and feel all the feelings.

Moomintroll didn’t come up to me today, I asked for my hug. That’s lesson number two, if it’s important to you, go get it. You can see from the pictures what a difference that made to me today, happiness in its purest form 😃.

They are a wonderful example of how to be a family, giving each other freedom to roam (not in that way 😂) and keeping each other close at the same time. Valuing each other over the things that you own. Knowing that certain things are replaceable, but the people you love or not.

I learned that you don’t need to do a live video on Instagram, it works just as well if it isn’t live and then you don’t worry that you’ve lost it forever (which I probably have 😬). However, I will never forget the feeling of today and that’s all that matters.😎

I was reminded that I am never safe in a shop 😳.

Tomorrow, another full day here in Naantali, I will begin the task of planning the remaining days of my return trip, which I have extended by four days to reduce some of the driving pressure and allow me to enjoy the camping a bit more.

I have also observed over the last two days that Finns really like rules 😍.

No strawberry sauce if your ice cream is in a cone. Breakfast finishes at 10.30am SHARP (we will vacuum around anyone still eating at this time). No basecoat on toenails if you’re having a pedicure (it’s unhygienic – what?!) and absolutely no clothing if you plan to go in the steam room or sauna. Which I don’t. Obviously. Given that rule. This last one is apparently also about hygiene which makes absolutely no sense to me. If anyone else can explain it please let me know.

Let’s see what happens tomorrow!