For more than 12 years, Karsten has been dreaming of star-gazing. And although he normally did not hesitate to order the things he wanted, he never dared to buy a telescope.

During his studies, he checked out telescopes online. Professional ones, big, expensive. Too expensive.

Two years ago, a telescope was again one of his Christmas wishes. But we were living in a flat in the city, without a garden and without a car. No environment for star-gazing, no chance to use a telescope. And the ones he looked at were still really expensive.

At the beginning of this year, while we were in Turku, his friend told him that he got a telescope for Christmas. An affordable one, for beginners, but a good one. They met and gazed at the stars and Karsten was hooked. He noticed that it would make much more sense to get a cheaper telescope for beginners rather than a professional one as it is actually not that easy to gaze at stars. So for this years birthday, he wished for exactly the telescope that our friend has.

Two days later he checked an online shop for astronomy and saw an even better telescope which was on sale because it was an exhibit and might have some scratches. He wrote me an email from work and I said I will check with his family how many of them will join the gift and whether we can afford it or not, but one hour later the telescope was already gone. That evening he was a bit miffed – if you see such a bargain you shouldn’t wait for too long, otherwise someone else will snatch it from under your nose! That’s the big difference between us – I hesitate buying stuff, he buys it right away.

Anyway, he knew he would get the other telescope for his birthday. It is out of stock right now, but will be deliverable at the beginning of May again.

What he didn’t know was that it was me who snatched the better telescope. I bought it immediately after I checked with his family. It was delivered to his parents place. His mother brought it to Switzerland on her last visit. I hid it in the basement of our neighbours. And made a nice gift coupon for the cheaper telescope.

Yesterday it was Karsten’s birthday. On his birthday table was, among others, the coupon for the telescope. He asked when it would be delivered (and I said I hadn’t checked but I guess at the beginning of May, as planned). After he had opened all his presents, I said there was a gift from the little one as well, she hid it in the bedroom. Karsten went to the bedroom, expecting a full diaper with a ribbon, and there it was….

One of the best birthday surprises ever. Finally for someone in this world his childhood dream came true!

Birthday afternoon – coffee, cake and kubb….