Bronko's BBQ Sauce - This is GOOD STUFF...!

Imagine going to a supermarket at a local mall up North in Finland, the country of reindeers and Santa Claus - the REAL Santa, locally called Joulupukki. From the store you find a GIANT size of a man, real deal American with cowboy hat, sun glasses (indoors, of course), and a gitar behind the counter. Is this Finland or what...?

Ladys and Gents, it was Mr Bronko at the counter with a BIG smile and full of good spirit!

In the pic you can see also Bronko's mother, on a sauce bottle named after Momma Dee. I have now tasted all 3 sauces available in the shop, the sweet, smoky and spicy, and man I can tell you they are indeed worth this post!

Get to the shop, at least the Citymarket at Iso Omena shopping hell in Espoo had them. More about Bronko at his site www.bronkosbbq.com .

Bon Appetit - Hyvää ruokahalua!!!

PS My Kingsford did again great deeds with the BBQ stuff, today using the Smoke House. Believe me or not, the branding on the arm is genuine Bronko's BBQ branding - I was reaching for something...

On the Road

In my Friday post I estimated the number of deaths in Finland for the Midsummer weekend to be 10. I'm sorry to say I was wrong: according to Iltalehti, the number is 15 at the moment, 7 in traffic, 7 on water and 1 killed. The return traffic is still on so the numbers might still go up... Let's be careful out there!!!

Here are few captured moments from the road. Too bad I didn't have a camera available when I passed an electronic car with a licence plate "CO-2", but I found a pic of it on www.eltelnetworks.com;

I wonder why these guys were not driving the one they were carrying...

Is it Bond?

James Bond?

No, it's triple-o'-seven!

Smoke on the water?

Well, too bad I didn't take a pic: it was a female member of romani people in full costume and as always one that takes good care of the car...

I want my money back!

Then again, what have I paid...?

Promise for today's weather:

Delivery:

Now we are in the afternoon, and there is a glimse of a potential for a better weather. Let's hope it will be at least close to what we had yesterday, the Midsummer eve.

It was the first time ever that I saw the famos Helsinki area Midsummer thing, bonfire a.k.a. kokko at Seurasaari museum island. No, I didn't pay the 18€ per adult to get on the island and sit on a crowded rock, drinking coffee and singing folk songs. I'd say I had the VIP seats!

Well, there we some others at the back row...

C'mon baby light my fire!

Loistavaa Juhannuspäivää

**

Have a Great Midsummer Day

Olutta on...

Kohta Kustavissa on...

...olutta. Jonkun lasissa. Sen jälkeen olutta on kustavissa. Minä en ole siellä.

Translation for the ones with a bit weaker Finnish skills;

• SIGN: "Men, sit while peeing! Regards, Cleaning Lady"
• COMMENT: "Again women's logic... And this should reduce the need for cleaning?"

Hauskaa Juhannusta meille kaikille

-

Happy Midsummer for us all!!!

PS My unfortunate guess is that due to our habit for unwise behavior and alcohol consumption, 10 people will die in Finland this weekend, drowning, in traffic, or killed by a "friend / family member". I hope I'm 10 heads wrong...

Horror Story Part 18 - The End(kö)?

Dear Friends,

There is a good chance that the horror story is getting closer to the end. Or is this only a kick for a new begin? The main character of the story will be behind bars for 60 days if there are no surprises in second level of legal process.

http://www.seiska.fi/Viihdeuutiset/Johanna-Tukiaiselle-ehdoton-vankeustuomio/1005725

Please be aware that you open the link at your own risk - it contains material that can change your image of "glamour girl" forever...

PS Kiitos jälleen Ts., olet hyvin varmistanut, ettei minulta mene näitä elämää suurempia uutisia ohi!
PPS T, sinä kaipasit uutisia ja tässä sitä on - toivottavasti tämä ei murra luottamustasi naiskauneuteen...

Rock @ Helsinki Tonight -

If you are at Helsinki tonight and want to listen to some rock - in fairly down-to-earth authentic environment, check out the Classic Cars Café at Jätkäsaari. The first band starts apparently at 9ish and the Texas Oil that plays apparently Hurriganes stuff starts at around 1030 pm.

The place is open also at daytime so pop in for a cup of coffee, beer, shot, pinball or what ever is you choise!

Football Art

Too bad I didn't have a proper camera with me and on the other hand I wasn't able to get into preferred position to take the picture...

The Heat ... and Tourism

The heat ... is GONE! Perk...e!

Only 12,5 C outside. Let's hope it will come back. Before next summer...

If you are in Helsinki as a local or tourist, there are heck of many places to go. One of them is Jätkäsaari, the same hoods where Madonna was performing I-guess-2-years-ago. There is a shop that is fairly innovative, www.verkkokauppa.com, selling all their stuff both online and in shop. Best it is known from computers and related stuff. They've made the shop a bit of an experience on top of the goods, or how would you describe things like a MIG fighter plane on the roof, and a Computer & Game Consol museum.

Another go-to-place for us locals is at Tapiola, Espoo - my hoods;
The landmark pool is not the same at the moment.
Before;

Now;

After; ???

Check out www.tapiolankeskus.fi for more info.

The Heat is...

ROCK!!!

The Heat is ON!

Today in the shadow. Not bad for Finland - and very surprising is that up in Lapland it has been even warmer while down in Malaga, Spain it has been colder. If you can call +24C colder...!

At this point I do not envy the guys in Central Europe, it looks like a disaster with the water. Keep you head up and toes dry!!!

Welcome, the Sultan of Brunei!

I only last night noticed that the Sultan of Brunei has visited the site - I'm so proud of myself!

Or am I?

To check out how the flag of Brunei looks like, click the box with the flag list at the left side of the page.

Sorry...

...for the silence! I claim that I've been too busy to stop and write. Of course I would have had the time if I would have taken it, while still I'd say it's been quite hectic. Since the last post I have been twice out of the country, been fan in 2 football tournaments and watched other games - perhaps ~14 all together, worked almost normal weeks, played basketball several times, cycled some tens of kilometers, BBQ's quite a lot, been lazy, hosted and visited friends. The normal stuff.

Today I had a bit bigger BBQ set than normally;

This pic does not even include all, as I took out the halloumi cheese only at the end. Last night the set was almost as big, but with less different options. Today I had a vegetarian in the table so it did have a small impact...

As we are on the topic of food, I've got a tip for anyone who is in hoods of Tallinn, Estonia either with a car of is able & willing to take a taxi for a bit longer distance. Longer...? ~25km.

http://www.hyyruveski.ee/
It is a short drive from Tallinn and what you can do is to hunt your own food :o)
They have a small pond with trouts and you get to fish your own food.

For me it took about 15 minutes and 4 shrimp baits. Our meal was 2.070 kilos.

After the smoking, it was veeeery nice.

Check out also the wooden tool.

So if you are up to a bit different meal and experience, check out the Trahter Hüüru Veski Forelligrill at Paldiski maantee 351, Hüüru küla, Saue vald, Harjumaa, phone (+372) 607 143. You better hope you are as lucky as us with the weather, it was fantastic to eat outside by the river!

Hyvää ruokahalua - Bon appétit!

PS What did I say about Team Switzerland in the Ice Hockey games? They got silver...!!!