40-year-old Marko lives in a rental studio in one of the biggest neighbourhood units in Turku. On the documentation day Marko had been laid off for six months. He has divorced from the mother of Niko and Noora, but as he lives in the building next door the father and his children are able to see each other daily. Although life has been difficult, the children bring strength and joy to Marko.

Marko participates in his children's daily life for example through their common interest, football. He also coaches Noora's team. In addition to football, Marko rides his bike a lot – whatever the weather.

Marko says his days mostly consist of "hanging around and surfing on the net", but the children's hobbies and taking care of his friends' dogs bring about pleasant change. Spending time at the summer house with the children is the greatest.

Marko's lay-off lasted until the spring of 2011, after which Marko returned to work and life has continued pleasantly.

Wednesday 2 February 2011

The morning broke bleakly for Marko, his grandmother had been hospitalised and the junior football league had money problems. Still, he had to get up. After his morning coffee and shower Marko called his children in the neighbouring building to wake them up and then took the dogs out. They went for another round when Marko and the dogs walked Noora to school at 7.30 a.m.

Back home Marko read the evening paper's site on the net and listened to the radio.

Before noon Marko took the dogs out for another walk. The route went to the skating rink via the cashpoint. Marko wanted to check the condition of the ice, because Noora's practice would be held there this evening. In the evening they were also going to grill some sausages for the players and their parents.

On his way home Marko stopped to have a chat with the children who saw him and the dogs from the fence of the nearby nursery.

The fresh air did him good and back at home he no longer felt the bleakness of the morning. Yesterday his father had brought him some lunch made by his mother. Proper homely fare was a welcome change to the convenience foods Marko normally eats.

"…when the children come here I go get four of them ready-to-serve pizza bologneses there, they'll do fine for the day, and are satisfied as hell, too."

In the early afternoon Marko walked to school, where he met Niko and Noora. Niko's school day was over already and he went his way, but Noora still had her shop class. Marko waited for her class to end and then walked home with his daughter. They stopped at the grocery store to buy the sausages and juice for the evening.

At home, Marko looked for his ice skates in the cellar but couldn't find them, so he rung his ex-wife to ask whether they were still in his old home. He finally found the ice skates in his own closet. Before the evening practice Marko watched TV and planned with his coach colleague when they would get the barbecue.

"Well normally, if I don't watch the telly, then I lie down. If I do watch television I lie down on that sofa. So in principle, if I'm not cycling at the moment or then out with my mate's dogs, then I'm on that sofa and watch the telly."

Come evening the coach colleague arrived and together they went to get the barbecue from the building next door and took it to the skating rink. Before the barbecue they had the practice in which the parents could participate as well. Sausage and juice tasted delicious after the exercise in fresh air.

What's it like to be a father?

"It's the best thing in the world. – especially now that, with both of them playing football, I'm even coaching one of them, the daughter's team, it feels damn fine."

Thoughts about everyday life

"Yeah well, so I have my mate's two dogs here with me every now and then, quite often actually. So of course I take them for a walk basically three to four times a day out there just you know along the bicycle paths."

"Sure after the divorce, so because of the children I wanted to move here as close to them as possible."

"Yeah and then they are, they're like happy, if they forget their keys then I'm here at home."

"And me, like I could forget every other thing in the world but my children I'll never forget."

"As long as there's food in the fridge and a roof over my head I'm all right. – But it's just that, it's the ready-

"Well, the difference between everyday and holiday to me is that, well I'll take off – if I get a lift – then I go to the summer house. And that's one big holiday for me when I get there."