Happy Vale.. errm day of frienship! - Hyvää Ystävänpäivää!
"The Valentines Day" has been branded here in Finland more as an day where the friendships are remembered. This might be because of we Finns might not be the biggest spenders on our beloved "significant others" - or just in order to sell more postcards in general.. 8-)
In any case all our friends near and far, please have a very very nice day! Remember that you are on our hearts and thoughs far more times that you could imagine.
-
Ystävänpäivää vietetään monissa maissa versiona jossa keskitytään oman "sydänkäpysen" muistamiseen erinäisin tavoin. Suomessa päivän merkitys on laventunut ystävyyden vaalimiseen. Ehkä tämä ero johtuu siitä että me suomalaiset emme panosta rahallisesti keskimäärinniin paljon omiin puolisoihimme/partnereihimme - tai ehkä se on vaan keino myydä enemmän postikortteja, kuka tietää? 8)
Joka tapauksessa kaikki ystävät niin lähellä kuin kaukanakin, toivottavasti tämä päivä on erityisen mukava! Muistakaa että olette sydämmissämme ja ajatuksissamme useammin kuin arvaattekaan.
Terveisin / With Regards,
Simo & Piritta
Monday, January 23, 2006
Cold winter came for a visit - Kylmä talvi kävi kylässä
Getting colder
Originally uploaded by shuopio.
The last couple of days it has been very cold, around -20 to -25 centigrade even here in southern Finland. At northern Finland it has been even worse, up to -35 degrees Celsius.
This has been the first contact to really cold wintertime after our move here. Actually it has been quite nice. Naturally, it limits a bit you can easily do outside. Otherwise it has been just ok.
Tähän aamuun asti oli todella kylmää. Parhaimmillaan täällä eelässä kävi -25:ssä asteessa, ja pohjoisessa jopa -35 asteessa.
Oikeastaan tämä on ollut ensimäinen kosketus kunnon pakkasiin Suomeen muuton jälkeen. Itseasiassa se on ollut ihan miellyttävää. Toki huurteinen sää rajoittaa hieman ulkonaoloa mutta muuten ei ole ollut sen kummempia vastareaktioita.
Monday, January 09, 2006
Some people can keep their new years resolutions.. Congratulations, Piirtta!
Jotkut pystyvät pitämään uudenvuodenlupauksensa.. Onnea, Pirre!
I almost forgot to mention here that Piritta succeeded to keep her new years resolution not to eat any candy in year 2005. Way to go! She has said that the absence of good licorice sweets in the UK did help her quite a lot. Anyway she did continue the "candy strike" for the whole autumn even with the salty black sweets luring all around! :-)
Melkein unohdin mainita että Piritta onnistui pitämään vuoden 2005 uuden vuoden lupauksensa olla syömättä karkkia koko vuoden! Hieno homma! Hän kyllä on myöntänyt että hyvien salmiakkikarkkien poissaolo Brittilässä helpotti alkumatkaa huomattavasti. Joka tapauksessa lakko jatkui myös koko loppuvuoden suomessa, vaikka salmarit vaanivat joka nurkalla! :-)
Jotkut pystyvät pitämään uudenvuodenlupauksensa.. Onnea, Pirre!
I almost forgot to mention here that Piritta succeeded to keep her new years resolution not to eat any candy in year 2005. Way to go! She has said that the absence of good licorice sweets in the UK did help her quite a lot. Anyway she did continue the "candy strike" for the whole autumn even with the salty black sweets luring all around! :-)
Melkein unohdin mainita että Piritta onnistui pitämään vuoden 2005 uuden vuoden lupauksensa olla syömättä karkkia koko vuoden! Hieno homma! Hän kyllä on myöntänyt että hyvien salmiakkikarkkien poissaolo Brittilässä helpotti alkumatkaa huomattavasti. Joka tapauksessa lakko jatkui myös koko loppuvuoden suomessa, vaikka salmarit vaanivat joka nurkalla! :-)
The holidays are over - Lomat ohi
To be honest the holidays were actually over almost when they started. Piritta did have the whole two weeks of but I did only take couple of days from here and there. In any case now the work dictates our weekly rythm until March. The mid-winter has not brought in the usual hint of depression to the backgdound despite it has been dark and really not much has been going on. The days will get more light and the springtime will be here sooner than we thing, yay!
Weatherwise it has been winterish. We did have a white christmas and new year, which was nice. We're are now really looking forward to start doing some (cross-country) skiing, lets hope the snow will stay on the ground for next couple of weeks!
--
Totta puhuen lomat tuntuivat vilahtavan ohi ennen kuin huomasi niiden edes alkaaneen. Piritalla nyt oli pari viikkoa vapaata mutta mie otin vain päivän sieltä, päivän täältä. Jokatapauksessa nyt työ määrää viikottaisen rytmimme ainakin maaliskuuhun asti. Keskitalven hetket eivät ole tuoneet taustalle ihan samanlaista masennuksen häivähdystä. Onhan toki pimeää ja työn lisäksi juurikaan mitään ei mahdu eikä ole päässyt tapahtumaan.. Kuitenkin päivät alkavat saada vain yhä enemmän ja enemmän valoa ja kevät on ihan kohta tässä, jip! (pakko ajatella positiivisesti! 8))
Sään puolesta on ollut aika talvista. Joulu ja Uusi Vuosi ovat olleet valkoisia, hyvä! Nyt odotamme tosissamme pääsevämme hiihtämään joten toivottavasti lumi pysyy maassa edes muutaman hetken!
To be honest the holidays were actually over almost when they started. Piritta did have the whole two weeks of but I did only take couple of days from here and there. In any case now the work dictates our weekly rythm until March. The mid-winter has not brought in the usual hint of depression to the backgdound despite it has been dark and really not much has been going on. The days will get more light and the springtime will be here sooner than we thing, yay!
Weatherwise it has been winterish. We did have a white christmas and new year, which was nice. We're are now really looking forward to start doing some (cross-country) skiing, lets hope the snow will stay on the ground for next couple of weeks!
--
Totta puhuen lomat tuntuivat vilahtavan ohi ennen kuin huomasi niiden edes alkaaneen. Piritalla nyt oli pari viikkoa vapaata mutta mie otin vain päivän sieltä, päivän täältä. Jokatapauksessa nyt työ määrää viikottaisen rytmimme ainakin maaliskuuhun asti. Keskitalven hetket eivät ole tuoneet taustalle ihan samanlaista masennuksen häivähdystä. Onhan toki pimeää ja työn lisäksi juurikaan mitään ei mahdu eikä ole päässyt tapahtumaan.. Kuitenkin päivät alkavat saada vain yhä enemmän ja enemmän valoa ja kevät on ihan kohta tässä, jip! (pakko ajatella positiivisesti! 8))
Sään puolesta on ollut aika talvista. Joulu ja Uusi Vuosi ovat olleet valkoisia, hyvä! Nyt odotamme tosissamme pääsevämme hiihtämään joten toivottavasti lumi pysyy maassa edes muutaman hetken!
Friday, December 23, 2005
Traditional christmas deco - perinteisiä joulukoristeita
Traditional christmas deco
Originally uploaded by shuopio.
Here are couple of examples of common Chirstmas decoration in Finland. Hyacinth and "Tuomaanristi" (Thomas' Cross).
Hyasintti ja Tuomaanristi ovat perinteisiä joulukoristeita Suomessa.
Our christmas tree - joulupuu
Our christmas tree
Originally uploaded by shuopio.
Today, after thorough cleaning of the flat we did set up the christmas tree. Here's a pic of it with its sparse decoration.
Tänään suursiivouksen jälkeen toimme joulukuusen sisään.
Thursday, December 08, 2005
too easy commuting? - liian helppo työmatka?
too easy commuting? - liian helppo työmatka?
Originally uploaded by shuopio.
Simo: For me the commuting is really easy and simple now, maybe even too much so.. I have the choise of less than 10 minute ride in a bus or a train (pictured). The time is so short that I have to keep myself from reading a paper too intensively, otherwise I might miss the stop - like today 8-)
Simo: Päivittäinen työmatka sujuu todella vaivattomasti, jopa liiankin.. Valittavana on alle kymmenen minuuttin pysähdykset joko bussilla vaikka paikallisjunalla (kuvassa). Matka-aika on niin lyhyt että minun pitää erikseen varoa syventymästä liikaa lehden lukemiseen etten missaa pysäkkiä - niinkuin tänään 8-)
Tuesday, November 15, 2005
Autumn continues - Syksy jatkuu
Last night the weather was very windy and rainy, however not nearly as serious as those massive hurricanes we have seen on the news happening around the world. No damages were reported in Finland, despite there has been some in Norway, Sweden and Estonia. The temperature seems to be almost stuck at +8 Celsius - so the autumn continues. It has been relatively so warm autumn we have been thinking will we get snow at all here at southern Finland?
Despite the weather it has been ok otherwise. We're already looking forward to the Christmas time and a moment of relaxation. Actually, we might have a possibility for a short weekend visit at the UK at the first weekend of December. Should we be able to come it will be veeery busy, but still better than nothing! At Mid-December there is also one-week work trip to India coming my way (Simo).
Viime yönä pyyhkäisi reipas myrsky- ja sadealue yli Suomen. Näitä skandinavian pikku puhureita ei tietenkään voi verrata suuren maailman hurrikaaneihin. Norjassa, Ruotsissa ja Virossa oli kuitenkin tullut jonkinverran myrskytuhoja, Suomessa niiltä vältyttiin. Lämpötila on jumittunut +8 Celsiusasteeseen. Syksy on ollut suhteellisesti niin lämmin että olen miettinyt että näinköhän tänne Etelä-Suomeen lunta saadaankaan..
Säästä huolimatta on muuten mennyt ihan ok. Selvästi on ilmassa jo joulun ajan ja sitämyöten pienen hengähdystauon odotus. Itseasiassa ennen sitä meillä voi olla mahdollisuus käydä Englannissa joulukuun ensimäisenä viikonloppuna. Mikäli se onnistuu se tulee olemaan erittäin kiireinen pyrähdys, mut silti! Joulukuun puolivälissä miulla (Simo) on myös tulossa viikon työreissu Intiaan.
Last night the weather was very windy and rainy, however not nearly as serious as those massive hurricanes we have seen on the news happening around the world. No damages were reported in Finland, despite there has been some in Norway, Sweden and Estonia. The temperature seems to be almost stuck at +8 Celsius - so the autumn continues. It has been relatively so warm autumn we have been thinking will we get snow at all here at southern Finland?
Despite the weather it has been ok otherwise. We're already looking forward to the Christmas time and a moment of relaxation. Actually, we might have a possibility for a short weekend visit at the UK at the first weekend of December. Should we be able to come it will be veeery busy, but still better than nothing! At Mid-December there is also one-week work trip to India coming my way (Simo).
Viime yönä pyyhkäisi reipas myrsky- ja sadealue yli Suomen. Näitä skandinavian pikku puhureita ei tietenkään voi verrata suuren maailman hurrikaaneihin. Norjassa, Ruotsissa ja Virossa oli kuitenkin tullut jonkinverran myrskytuhoja, Suomessa niiltä vältyttiin. Lämpötila on jumittunut +8 Celsiusasteeseen. Syksy on ollut suhteellisesti niin lämmin että olen miettinyt että näinköhän tänne Etelä-Suomeen lunta saadaankaan..
Säästä huolimatta on muuten mennyt ihan ok. Selvästi on ilmassa jo joulun ajan ja sitämyöten pienen hengähdystauon odotus. Itseasiassa ennen sitä meillä voi olla mahdollisuus käydä Englannissa joulukuun ensimäisenä viikonloppuna. Mikäli se onnistuu se tulee olemaan erittäin kiireinen pyrähdys, mut silti! Joulukuun puolivälissä miulla (Simo) on myös tulossa viikon työreissu Intiaan.
Sunday, October 30, 2005
Night at Leppävaara - Yö Leppävaarassa
Night at Leppävaara II - Yö Leppävaarassa II
Originally uploaded by shuopio.
A photo taken near our home during a late walk with my brother Kauto (in picture).
Öinen kuva kotimme läheltä Leppävaarasta kävelyltä Kauto-Veljen kanssa.
Grandpas special clock - Papan pahkakello
Grandpas special clock - Papan pahkakello
Originally uploaded by shuopio.
We got this very special clock from Pirittas grandpa as a wedding present last year. Finally we succeeded to carry it to our home.
Saimme tämän erikoisen hienon pahkakellon häälahjaksi Pirittan Papalta viime vuonna. Viimeinkin saimme kuljetettua sen omaan kotiimme.
Laughing haircut - Naurava hiustenleikkuu
Laughing haircut - Naurava hiustenleikkuu
Originally uploaded by shuopio.
We decided to cut at least my (Simo) hair once in a while ourselves. As you can see from the picture the process is fun. ;)
Päätimme leikata miun (Simo) hiukset itse ainakin silloin tällöin. Kuten kuvasta näkyy hauskaa on. ;)
Saturday, October 08, 2005
Sports day at school
Sports day at school
Originally uploaded by shuopio.
Tug of war was one of the activities at sports day at Pirittas school. Before that there was a track and field competition. The whole school had a lovely day.
Köydenveto oli yksi liikuntapäivän ohjelmanumeroista Piritan koulussa. Sitä edelsi perinteisemmät yleisurheilukisat.
Tuesday, October 04, 2005
Wednesday, September 21, 2005
Busy Start
As we expected, the September has been very very busy. The fact that I am posting this from Bangalore, India, could give you an hint. :-)
Anyway, I just heard from Piritta that the broadband connection is finally installed. As the out-of-work Internet usage becomes again possible, we will be reachable by the msn, skype etc. and even a simple things like replying a private emails becomes more likely. 8)
The moving of the stuff within Finland is mostly done now. That is, we have sofa, kitchen & coffee table, more than two chairs, TV (!) etc.. Back at our home-homes where we had stored the furniture, there is some work to do - the boot sales next springtime will have loads of stuff form us that we do not need anymore. Saying this means that we tried to stay firm not taking any items that we did not really need back to Espoo.
As there has been couple of spam comments appearing on the blog (done by some bots), I turned on bit more security measures for posting the comments. If the image verification prevents you from commenting please let us know by email!
As we expected, the September has been very very busy. The fact that I am posting this from Bangalore, India, could give you an hint. :-)
Anyway, I just heard from Piritta that the broadband connection is finally installed. As the out-of-work Internet usage becomes again possible, we will be reachable by the msn, skype etc. and even a simple things like replying a private emails becomes more likely. 8)
The moving of the stuff within Finland is mostly done now. That is, we have sofa, kitchen & coffee table, more than two chairs, TV (!) etc.. Back at our home-homes where we had stored the furniture, there is some work to do - the boot sales next springtime will have loads of stuff form us that we do not need anymore. Saying this means that we tried to stay firm not taking any items that we did not really need back to Espoo.
As there has been couple of spam comments appearing on the blog (done by some bots), I turned on bit more security measures for posting the comments. If the image verification prevents you from commenting please let us know by email!
Wednesday, August 31, 2005
We are now in Finland!
Today, Wednesday morning we arrived to Finland. The road trip over here went smoothly, despite the quite long distance - 2645 kilometers! On our way we did stop overnight at Amsterdam, Hamburg and Kopenhagen. The last night we did spend on the ferry from Stockholm.
We have already received the keys for our new home and start moving there during the next few days. In order to do that we need to haul our furniture that has been scattered throughout Finland. 8)
More updates and pictures soon!
Today, Wednesday morning we arrived to Finland. The road trip over here went smoothly, despite the quite long distance - 2645 kilometers! On our way we did stop overnight at Amsterdam, Hamburg and Kopenhagen. The last night we did spend on the ferry from Stockholm.
We have already received the keys for our new home and start moving there during the next few days. In order to do that we need to haul our furniture that has been scattered throughout Finland. 8)
More updates and pictures soon!
Friday, August 26, 2005
Earlier this week the removal guys came to pack all of our stuff for the move. So, couple of the last days I've been at Woking on rather simple surroundings.Tomorrow (Saturday) morning we're going to start our journey through Europe to Finland. I'll keep you posted, at least after we arrive to our destination!
Friday, August 12, 2005
Tuesday, August 09, 2005
Status Update
It has been a busy week and a half with all kinds of stuff going on. Here's short status update:
- Piritta decided to accept a teacher position at her old school at Pornainen, 50km north from Helsinki. As the school year for the teachers start already at Friday 12th August it means that she's leaving for Finland this Thursday!
- Mainly because of Pirittas absence we have decided to cancel the Saturday 20th event. I will contact those who had registered interest and suggest some alternatives - I will still be here!
- We still do not have our own/rental place to stay at Helsinki but the search is on! The rental market at Finland is hot which implies that inexpensive and decent is the combination that is hard to find. Its still two-three weeks to go.. 8-)
It has been a busy week and a half with all kinds of stuff going on. Here's short status update:
- Piritta decided to accept a teacher position at her old school at Pornainen, 50km north from Helsinki. As the school year for the teachers start already at Friday 12th August it means that she's leaving for Finland this Thursday!
- Mainly because of Pirittas absence we have decided to cancel the Saturday 20th event. I will contact those who had registered interest and suggest some alternatives - I will still be here!
- We still do not have our own/rental place to stay at Helsinki but the search is on! The rental market at Finland is hot which implies that inexpensive and decent is the combination that is hard to find. Its still two-three weeks to go.. 8-)
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