Sunday, January 29, 2012

Black humour...

I trust you can take this - and if not, please change the channel!

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The current plight of the Costa Concordia reminds of a comment made by Churchill. After his retirement he was cruising the Mediterranean on an Italian cruise liner and some Italian journalists asked why an ex British Prime Minister should chose an Italian ship.

"There are three things I like about being on an Italian cruise ship" said Churchill.

"First their cuisine is unsurpassed. Second their service is superb. And then, in time of emergency, there is none of this nonsense about women and children first".

Saturday, January 28, 2012

The Presidential Battle is ON!

We ended up for the second round at the Presidential election in Finland. Two candidates, both with spouses over 20 years younger. One a comm's director of the candidate's party, the other male hair dresser. And candidates both agree the spouses should be left out from the discussions...

I have not voted yet, will most likely leave it for the actual day next Sunday - and most probably voting for the same candidate I voted at the first round.

...and now for the sports day, unfortunately indoor game for this beautiful winter day. Have a good one!!!

Sunday, January 22, 2012

Good evening Mr President of Finland!

Today is the election day in Finland, we are selecting for ourselves a new president. The title claims that the two female candidates would be out of the game - and to be honest, I don't see a realistic chance for them to make it even to the second round. I am a bit afraid they will be in the bottom three.

That makes Finland will join the majority of democracies with male president, while for the past 12 years we've had a female president.

One of the candidates, Paavo Lipponen, has got a perfect CV in politics up to prime minister career. He has never ran for the presidency, mainly due to strong candidates from the same party. Now the gallups say he is on the weak side.

Another Paavo, Väyrynen, has ran for the office several times - always failing. His explanations have been various, best one being that he lost due to media game. Now he has taken a self irony approach with confidence. No one else would have even thought to make a coffee mug with his and his spouse's picture. The royal style...

We also have a candidate that is a bit different from the main stream. Like one public figure said on an article, if this man wins, we will have as the first "lady" a gay man from Ecuador.

One candidate, Member of European Parliament, is also a World Champion and European Champion in track & field. It is one of the female candidates, Sari Essayah.


There is also a man, who was in the middle of the zunami in Thailand back at 2004. Barely survived. A man who's wife died years ago in a car accident. Now he is again happily married.

Three candidates have spouses who are +20 years younger than the candidates. One of them from Ecuador. Another the Communications Director of the party of the candidate. I wonder what they talk about at home. Third one is married with a lady younger than his daughter.

Still, let's not forget it is about politics and let the best candidate win!

PS For the ones interested, you can find some info from here.
PPS There is no reason for anyone to be offended, no sides taken here and I tried to describe what I can see and hear. Eli ei pitäisi olla syytä loukkaantua, tässä on vain muutama palanen siitä mitä olen kuullut tai lukenut...

Tuesday, January 17, 2012

Let it snow, baby!

I gotta say that the snowing in the past days has made me feel good - even though I have not had a proper chance to enjoy it other than while driving. Yep, I know some say "oooh, it's horrible to drive when we have snow and slippery roads..." while I love it.

Except perhaps tomorrow when I will drive about 400 kilometers. Luckily it seems the weather will be good and the speed can be kept at good level. The limit on the highway is at winter time 100 km/h so I'll set the speed control for ~110 to avoid speeding tickets.

Finally it seems to be a good winter for the Lapland area too. This one is on the southern part of Lapland at Kuusamo, ~850 kilometers North from Helsinki;
Weather forecast over here and the resort info with online camera and pics you can check from here.

At home we still got some way to go to the previous winters.

Saturday, January 14, 2012

Oh man, I forgot to...

...post this on Christmas but why wouldn't I share what I was thinking then.
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Tonight is THE Night - Hyvää Joulua!

Joulupukki - Santa Claus - Father Christmas - Père Noël - Julgubbe comes tonight at our place for a visit!

The real one. Let's hope he can make it inside this year, as many years he has left the presents outside in a sack. As you can see from some pics from the past, a I'll-do-my-best-as-Santa's-helper has stepped in and has taken the role of a Santa.

This Christmas we are sooooo lucky to have in Southern Finland, Helsinki area where I live, the traditional Belge winter weather! That means Bing Crosby and the guys have re-written the words for a song that is nowadays "I'm dreaming of a grey Christmas..."


Just remember, be aware of the fake Santa copies that try to cash in, instead of carrying on the true Christmas spirit...
For a certain reason, I have myself worked way too much during the past two months. Hence I am extremely happy to welcome a little break and get to relax enjoying the time with the family. I love it a LOT!!! And them too...

Hyvää Joulua kaikille!!!

Sunday, January 8, 2012

Sunny winter day in Espoo, Finland

As I said, I will do my best to enjoy the little snow we have. Both yesterday and today long walks in different environments. Here are some flavors of today.

Aurinkoisesta kelistä ja vielä hetken päällä olevasta talvesta nauttien, tässä on muutama makupala Espoosta.


You have seen this earlier too.

Ice art.

More ice art.

The marina was frozen.

This pic was taken at noon. Yes, the sun is pretty low...

No, this is not the D-Day at the Canal in front of Normandie. They are ducks, sorsia in Finnish, Anas platyrhynchos.

More ice art.

Rose bushes getting into winter mode.

Also the sun participated in making the pics better.

Soon the sky came closer - or the clouds to be exact.

If you fancy a swim, here is an option to get in.

These guys found their way in.

Back to the office tomorrow.
Have a fabulastic week you all!!!

Saturday, January 7, 2012

Untold stories, scenery & silent hosts

Most of us have visited a cemetery for one or another reason. Some do it more regularly than others - until it becomes a bit more permanent visit. I am lucky enough to live nearby two family graves, both of them on the same cemetary - Hietaniemi in Helsinki, Finland. Or Hietsu, as most from Helsinki area tend to call it.

It is located in quite a focal point in Helsinki peninsula, covering a good area of what would be considered a valuable land to build on. Hopefully we will never see that to happen...! It is an old area in Finland scale: the oldest year of death I spotted was 1875.

I think this pic by ilmakuvat.com shows quite well the area with Helsinki city centre at the background.

Most of the times we aim to go to the graves, leave flowers, candels or so, and leave. Today we decided to have a long walk and stroll around on top. It would be fantastic to be able to hear some stories around the names we can see there. Quality is again the same that my mobile cam camera serve, sorry!



I feel a bit sorry for the one/-s under this pile.


It seems in some parts the space had ran out and that had led into no-corridor areas.

In the middle, the tree had made an art of it self.

In the past, it was common to post your title on the grave stone. In this one, "Fröken (a.k.a. Miss) Clemetine Marie Lögren" and many others from military or salvation army ranks into "a master painter"!

This is something a camera just can't catch, you should go there to check it out!

The sea keeps the area cool all year long.

I love this one, Family Sumelius has got a stone bench to sit down and have a chat with the loved ones. I just wonder if this is the same family as my former colleague.

Here is a qualified example of the results from the former storm.
C'mon guys, we are talking about an area where rests people who have fought for the freedom of Finland. How about a little respect and keep the area accessible also during the winter time? "Ei talvikunnossapitoa" or in Swedish "Ej vinterunderhåll" means somewhat "No winter maintenance".

The ones who understand Finnish, this is clear. At 1918, right after Finland got independent from Russia, we had a civil - sisällissota, vapaussota, kansalaissota - was where the our status was tested big time. Here rests some of the victims.

I guess someone had made a bit of cultural trips to make a call for this one.


I tried to figure out what this was about. I guess it's a woman's head without a face. Reminds me about one cartoon strip figure from Donald Duck. Sorry!!!

I absolutely loved this one:
A piglet made of straws. I guess this is an option for a ham!?!

 This was not the only beautiful geometric set.

Also art can be brought to the cemetary.

When you are around, turn your head around.


Strange, but also the Lithuanian people had made a contribute.


Respect to the veterans.







Also outside of the gates, keep your eyes open...


Few ones still after we went back to the "old" side. I bet there is a reader who will recognize this!

At one point we saw a young lady videotaping the area and then doing something from the snow. Afterwards we made an effort to check out what she did and this was part of the result. On the snow, there was also a mark of the bum/pants where she had sat and - I guess - chatted with the loved one/-s. The latest one had come there at 2010.

Oh boy, it would be interesting to hear her story too.

Let's not forget the stone workers who have made a remarkable work with the walls. At our home corners, we had a "stone man" who has made some fancy stuff a while ago. Let's see if I'll get them posted for you some day.

Zacharias Topelius, I'd say one of THE.

No, it is not a lighthouse.


And as a last one, another marker from the previous storm. 

To finish off, here is a pic from the same place we have been before, this time with a winter swimmer. She is the black spot at the end of the peer...!

Have a great weekend!!!