Day 7: Särkänniemi, Näsinneula Observation Tower, The Aquarium

Its good to get some perspective, after me and Naoise difficult day we decided to have a FUN day. Purely based on FUN.

Whilst riding on the number 80 bus into Tampere I had a look at the newspaper, first time I had done in a week. I read about the plan to build a 1.9 million pound four metre high wall in Calais to stop refugees boarding lorries. 

Its good to get some perspective. We are so so privileged to be able to move between countries. To be able to come here, to make a temporary home, to play, explore, to make art and then go back home to our safe and secure life with our family in Todmorden.

I was so thrilled to travel with Naoise to Finland. To spend this special time just with him. To shower him with love and attention. To land our maternal bubble here, a place that I have only ever been to before through the words of Tove Jansson. I find myself apologising for Brexit. I say how ashamed I am of my country, that its not what I wanted. I am told that there is a right wing government in power in Finland too. I am told that funding to the arts has also been slashed here. That the wonderful education system and public transport system is under threat. So we are all in the same boat. I still feel ashamed about Brexit. Its so important that artists can work anywhere. That we can exchange our languages and cultures that we can respect difference and find commonality. As my quaker grannie would have said we are citizens of the world.

She would have liked Finland, the trees, the peace, the quiet, kind  confident reserve of its people.

Building walls will not stop people from being free. There is always a path or a way around a wall. I thought that we had broken down the wall. Why do we need to re-build it. Fear, mistrust, anxiety.

I build a den. I take a den down. I will build another den. Maybe I could build a den with others. My den is an art den. It has no function other than art. It does not need to be a shelter. My den is a moveable sculpture. A thing.

You could hide in my den.

You could play in my den.

My den can blow down in the wind.

Naoise loved the Näsinneula Observation Tower, and we had a peep of the revolving restaurant at the top, and ohhh the view and the magic of the off season deserted amusement park. In the aquarium the rather naff  simulated thunder storm every 30 minutes was a great joy to Naoise. He thought that one of the turtles did not like the storm which is why he tucked his feet under his shell when it came.