Firewood

One of the things I love about living in Somero is the fact that I have great neighbours. During the winter months its harder to socialise because everybody stays wrapped up indoors, but I was lucky enough to meet some of my neighbours at the end of the summer before we all started hibernating for winter and now we have become good friends.

The weather is much milder now and the sun is out, so people are  gradually starting to come out of hiding again...and this morning my neighbour Olavi Turunen was out chopping wood for his fire.

I can't help being impressed by someone who at 70 years old can chop down a tree from scratch on his own and then cut the whole thing into firewood.

He just laughed when I told him that.

I'm used to it!" he said.  "I've done this all my life. I started chopping down trees and making wood planks for building in the 50s.  We didn't have all those machines then, we travelled around with horses and chopped everything by hand...so this is just a way of life for me!"

That's what I love about the Finnish people. For the most part they don't waste time whining about things. They just get on with it. But anyone at 70 years old who is able to produce all of this by hand has my full admiration and respect. 

 I'm off to Jämsä today..but when I'm back I'll tell you about the English Club last night and their views on the differences between the sexes.  We certainly laughed a lot. Have a good day!