Do You Need Some Light Today?

the first thing I saw this morning

Many times  on this blog I have complained that when the sky is grey everything can seem dull. Both literally and emotionally. The start of the autumn can be a challenging time for many of us in Finland. It is difficult to say goodbye to the summer and few people look forward to the sleet and the dull days before the snow properly settles.

As a person who loves the sunshine myself I understand those things very well. So imagine my delight this morning when I woke up after a restless night to see the sun shining on the leaves outside my bedroom window.  It looked so inspiring that I had to take some pictures outside of the way the rays of sun were casting shadows on the ground and the trees.

These few moments in the garden got my day off to a really good start, so I wanted to share these pictures with you in case you are also in need of some light today.

It seems to me as though a lot of people are feeling a bit lost at the moment one way or another. If you are one of them, remember you are not alone. Maybe if we put our resources together we can help each other find out where we should be going. Here's some light from Somero to get you started on your journey!

Introducing Oskari

I thought I would introduce you to the newest member of our family. Oskari.

We were very sad to have to say goodbye to our cat Caroline this summer, and for the first time since I was a child there were suddenly no pets in the house, which I didn't like at all. So last week we visited the home for abandoned pets in Somero and adopted Oskari, who has made himself very much at home. We don't know too much about him except that he is about two years old.  He is also very confident and has had no trouble at all in settling in with us.

The first couple of days did not look too promising, as Oskari decided to celebrate his arrival in style by weeing on three of our beds. Lovely.  Thank you very much.

I am someone who tries always to look on the positive side of things, but come on - however hard you try, WHERE is the positive in having cat wee in your bed?  I challenge you to find one if you can. I tried and failed. Still, we decided to give Oskari the benefit of the doubt, and after a week of washing sheets he now seems to have stopped that little habit. Thank goodness.

There are still more than ten cats looking for homes in Somero, so if you are thinking of adopting a pet, consider getting one from there. We are certainly very pleased to have found Oskari. Now let's just hope he can put up with us.

Oravatupa - The Story so Far

The Somero English Club reunites after the summer break

Those of you who have followed this blog since the beginning will know the story of the Somero English Club. We started off meeting in rented premises in Kiruun Tila in the middle of town and stayed there until the end of May. We had a lot of fun during the spring, and Kiruun Tila was a great place to start, but over the summer break I felt strongly that it would be better if we had our own"home." This way we would have a place we could use at any time and where we could leave things that belong to the club. But the idea just kept getting bigger. The more I thought about it, the more it became clear that the project did not have to stop there. With the right place, we could really make something special in Somero, something which perhaps has not existed here before.

My idea was to create a place which feels like sitting in someone's sitting room, surrounded by things from the past. Somewhere comfortable and welcoming where people can meet each other and where no-one would feel in a rush to leave. So, without any more clarity than that, I started collecting things from markets and auctions.  Each occasion I saw something which I thought would "fit" I took it home with me. Then I took it home tothe garage and waited.

"Before"

I have already written about my frustrating search for a new home over the next few months. As you now know, eventually luck was with us and we were fortunate enough to end up in the old gymnasium situated in Nuppulinna, a former school building on Vanha Härkätie in Somero.

I have had the keys now for just a week, but the place is slowly coming together and I feel sure that we can make it something really special. The Somero English Club met for the first time again on Tuesday (at short notice!) and we are due to have a busy night next Tuesday too as people are back after the summer.

"Before"

In any event, the idea is to expand our "home" so that it can be used for the whole community. I have a whole bunch of ideas but more suggestions are being made all the time, so nothing is yet caste in stone, and nothing is impossible. These are my preliminary thoughts as to how we can use the space.

• Somero English Club, of course.
• French and spanish conversation groups.
• Finnish for foreigners conversation group (thanks to Luke and Stephanie for this initiative)
• Conversation group and friendship network (in Finnish) for retired people
• Letterbox club, to introduce children to the art of writing letters and postcards
• Holiday English group
• Language camps for children
• Sunnuntai Kahvila (Sunday cafe) with all proceeds going to charity
• Shoes for Sri Lanka project (more about this later)
• Well-being courses for all ages

Starting to look like home

These are just some of the ideas floating around at the moment,but I feel certain that the place has lots of potential and that we can make it into a valuable and really enjoyable resource for the whole community. All we need is a little bit of imagination and creativity, and the sky is the limit. I want Oravatupa to be a place open to everyone in the town (and from beyond), so if you have any ideas as to clubs/activities you would like to see there, feel free to get in contact.
 
Our first information session will be held on SATURDAY 15th September at 11.00. Everyone is welcome to come, from near or far.  I can guarantee hot coffee and a warm welcome. Help me make the Oravatupa a place we can all enjoy. Look forward to seeing you there!