Welcome back to Heikki’s Outdoor Advertising Adventures, where the poles are tall, the ads are fresh, and the technician (me) is slowly melting.
It’s summer now. The sun is blazing, the asphalt is sizzling, and my car’s air conditioning has decided to retire early. Every drive between poles feels like a sauna on wheels—except with more traffic and fewer towels.
This week’s ad swap marathon featured the stylish Laattaleevi, the classy Aalto2, and the ever-reliable Jyvästaksi. That’s right—your favorite local taxi service is now proudly displayed on lightpoles across town, reminding everyone that you don’t have to suffer in a hot car if you just call them instead.
Changing 15 ads a week sounds simple—until you’re doing it in 30-degree heat, on a ladder, with the sun aiming directly at your forehead like it’s trying to grill a sausage. I’ve started rating poles by shade coverage. “Ah, Pole #7—partial tree shadow, 4 stars.”
At one point, I tried using a frozen water bottle as a neck cooler. It lasted 12 minutes. Then it became a warm water bottle. Then it became a very sad memory.
Still, the job gets done. The ads are up, the poles are proud, and I’ve developed a tan that’s 80% farmer, 20% raccoon (thanks to the safety goggles).
So if you see a slightly sweaty guy on a ladder this week, give him a wave. Or better yet, toss him a cold drink. He might just be the reason you know where to get your tiles, your culture, and your next taxi ride.
