Michael at the helm of Kittiwake
Originally uploaded by Greygriffin.

Michael & Helena joined Eve & me for an afternoon trip on our sailing boat. The wind was rather strong and the boat was pounding through the waves and heeling over at 45 degrees most of the time – lots of fun for me, but on this occasion rather too much for Eve. We dropped her and Helena off at Suomenlinna and sailed back to Merihaka, where the girls joined us for a picnic (having come back from Suomenlinna by ferry after having a couple of beers at the pub there).

La Sagrada Familia
Originally uploaded by Greygriffin.

At the start of June we had a holiday in Catalonia – first a few days in a villa near the small village of Begur, then a few days sightseeing in Barcelona. I’ve finally got round to uploading the photos.

Platja de Sant Sebastià
Originally uploaded by Greygriffin.

More beers in Barcelona, this time at the beach. The sand is fine and the sea is blue, beautiful views in every direction. Next we’ll see if the queue to the cable car is not unreasonably long…

Beers at Park Güell
Originally uploaded by Greygriffin.

Eve & I are having beers at Gaudi’s Park Güell, in the hills surrounding downtown Barcelona.

more beers
Originally uploaded by Greygriffin.

We’re having more beers at Park Güell in Barcelona. We just listened to a small band called Aereo who were playing under some of Gaudi’s ‘Gothic’ arches – they were good, a warm and mellow sound, so we bought their CD.

Peratallada
Originally uploaded by Greygriffin.

We’re in the medieval village of Peratallada, having a very fine lunch. Here Eve is enjoying her dessert: strawberries in Muscatel wine.

Sunbathing in Spain
Originally uploaded by Greygriffin.

We’re having a quiet morning at our rented villa in Begur, Catalonia. It’s 24 degrees in the shade, but I’m the only one in the shade – the other are all sunbathing by the pool. Wonderfully quiet and relaxing.

Kittiwake at home
Originally uploaded by Greygriffin.

We’ve finally got our little yacht to her home berth in Merihaka. It was great to be out sailing, and she goes guite fast (nearly 7 knots without really trying).

At the helm of the Lady
Originally uploaded by Greygriffin.

I’m in San Francisco for the JavaOne conference and some meetings next week, and this weekend I’m just being a tourist.

Something I hadn’t planned on was going sailing – at Pier 39 I noticed that it was possible to go sailing for 90 minutes on the Lady J, and signed up straight away. It was a lot of fun, and a good warm-up for the Finnish sailing season.

Bunny Eve
Originally uploaded by Greygriffin.

Eve in bar Rotterdam