Being Happy...

I've been thinking a lot about the meaning of the word happiness recently. We all claim to want it even though a lot of the time we are not quite sure what it actually means. And most of us don't even take the time to think about it properly.

Even if we do, how much of our own individual happiness is within our own control? Of course some things in life happen as a result of our own decisions, but a lot of the time we are just reacting to things we have no control over at all. It's because of this that the concept of happiness can often seem illusive.

A wise person said to me recently that the trick was to distinguish between those things we could change and the things that we can't. Once we have done that, happiness can best be achieved by learning to accept the things we can't change and doing something about the things we can. At the very least it's a good starting point.

I've also learnt that being wise does not mean being old. This evening I encountered true happiness right next to me at the kitchen table. It involved Minttu, a chocolate ice cream and lots of mess. And that's all. Which means that sometimes the solution can be a lot simpler than at first it may seem. Ice cream anyone?

Spring Arrives in Somero

At last. After what seems like a millennium, we can see the grass again. And the roads and the rooves and the hills. Hurray. The snow is finally melting.

And to celebrate the beginning of spring, our very own squirrel is back to party in the garden. (don't take any notice of the date on the photo...I'm using Cameron's camera and the date was set wrongly).

Only one thing for it. Heat up the sauna, get some cold drinks and go and sit outside. Just because we can. My neighbour Anne and I have decided to sit in the sauna and put the world to rights. I'll let you know how we get on...

Somero Seikkailu Two

It poured with rain most of today, but far from being a bad thing, almost the whole of Somero is happy as it means the end of the snow. Finally.

I have to admit that when you have lived more years abroad than in Finland, April can be a very tricky month to come to terms with. My good friend Jane, who lives in Strasbourg, says that this week it has been 25 degrees there. We are up to about 8 degrees, but it would be a lie to pretend I'm not jealous of Jane. I am.

By the way...a date for your diaries. Somero will hold the second "Somero Seikkailu" (like an Amazing Race around Somero) on Saturday 8th June. It is open to anyone who would like to join in. Participants arrive by car and are given a passport in which to collect stamps from different destinations around Somero. At each place there is an activity to complete and there are several pitstops offering coffee and cakes or a place in which to eat a picnic.

At the end of the day all participants who have a certain number of stamps in their passports can enter into a draw to win various prizes. It was great fun last year, and the event is expected to be bigger this time round, so if you are already in Somero, or planning to visit some time, this would be a great weekend to join in.

Unfortunately Luca (now a big boy at five years old) decided this week to steal my camera and then "drop" it, the result being that it no longer works, so no picture for today, but I hope to have the camera back to working order asap.

Wishing you all a happy end of the week. The weekend is on the way.....