Sailing, Brazil and Windows

Back in April the members of the Somero English Club all went out for a meal at Jussi's Baari, and one of the topics of conversation were things we would love to do that we had never done before. Kirsti told us that she had dreamt of going sailing all her life and hoped one day that this would be possible. I thought this was a great dream to have, and found out that it would be possible to charter a ship to take us sailing for the day in the Turku archipelago on 1st July.

The ship can hold twelve people. A few people who were going to come orginally are now unable to make it next Sunday...so is there anyone who would like to join us for the trip?  Let me know if so, it should be a fun experience and would also help to make Kirsti's dream come true!

Three other things for this post.

The first is a message to anyone who has tried to get hold of me by phone over the last few days. I managed to lose my phone whilst in the UK, so I have not been reachable on my normal number. Sorry if you have tried to contact me. I now have a new sim card and can be contacted on my normal number.

The second is HELLO TO BRAZIL!  This blog has had regular readers from Brazil over the last couple of weeks, and I love the idea that there is someone so far away reading about the little town of Somero in Finland. Whoever you are, hello to Brazil from Somero, we are delighted to have you with us!

And the third is this. A couple of people close to me are going through a hard time right now (believe me, I know the feeling...). I can't fix those issues, but please remember you are not alone. I was standing at a bus stop today and saw these wild flowers by the side of the road. They are humble flowers, but beautiful nevertheless....and they are for you.

When things are really tough all any of us can do is take one day at a time - and as Marja-Leena said to me the other day, some doors may close, but a new window will open soon, sometimes when you least expect it.  I hope that the rest of the summer is full of new windows for all of you.

with love,

Jody

Juhannus at Zoolandia

To celebrate Midsummer's Day we went to Zoolandia, which is an amusement park close to Turku. We had a nice day despite the fact that it wasn't very hot. There was lots for the children to do and Luca kept himself very busy going on all the rides with his big brother Charlie who is visiting us from the UK this week.  Here are some pictures of our day.


Luca shows us his train-driving skills

Minttu finds it all very funny

Cameron and Luca go shopping

Cameron learns to fly

Luca and Charlie go for a ride

A view of the rides at Zoolandia

What are you looking at?

Luca weighs some apples in the children's shop



Luca and big brother Charlie go rowing

Hello from Whitby!

My Dad will be 90 in September

I have just got back to Somero having spent the last week in England.  I was hoping to update the blog from there but it turned out that I had no internet access all week. Because of that I am doing what many of us do after a holiday...bring the postcard back home in our luggage because we didn't manage to post it.

Luca in front of Whitby Abbey

The town of Whitby

As usual, the weather in England was dull. This time they are saying that it is now set to be the wettest June since records began. It seems to me they manage to set a new "worst weather record" every time I go there. Still, there was one sunny day, and I took Luca and Minttu to Saltburn beach.  Saltburn by the Sea is a small seaside town in the north east of England.  I have never lived there but I have happy memories of going horse riding there every Sunday morning and I was also involved in the local theatre productions when I lived in the region.

Richmond in North Yorkshire

We stayed in another seaside town, Whitby, for a couple of nights too. The news headlines were full of the Olympic Torch which was being taken around the country in the build-up to the Olympics next month.

Healthwise things have been difficult recently so in all honesty the week was quite a difficult one but the highlight was seeing my Dad who will be 90 in just three months time.



I had the sad news that my Uncle Pentti, who I was very close to, passed away suddenly this week.  It highlighted even more the importance of seeing the people we love while we still have the chance. I feel very sad he has gone, but I'm glad I told him that I loved him the last time we met a few months ago.

Anyway, greetings from a dull UK and Happy Midsummer to you all. If there is someone out there who is important to you then make sure you let them know this weekend. It might be the best Juhannus present they could get.

Somero Seikkailu Pictures

The Miss Marple team at the start of the Somero Seikkailu

Saturday 9th June was the first ever Somero Seikkailu. Cars arrived at nine in the morning at the Nuppulinna building and the members of each team were given a "passport" containing nine destinations around Somero. Teams had to find each place on the list and then complete a task at each one in order to be given a stamp on their passports.

Elvi starting her self-portrait at the Kivimeijeri Art Gallery

Once the passports had nine stamps in them, participants were able to enter them into a draw for a selection of prizes, the top one being a voucher for 100 euros for use in any Somero business.

Tasks ranged from making up a hospital bed, making a rose out of marzipan, finding two bunny rabbits on a farm and drawing a self portrait!

Our car included Elvi, Cameron, and Luca and all in all the adventure was really enjoyable. Big congratulations go to Tanja Alenius who organised the whole event. The plan is to repeat the Seikkailu next year in the eastern side of Somero.  We're looking forward to it already!

Here are some pictures of the day.

Making marzipan roses at Koulun Konditorian Kotileipomo

Yli-Eskolan Talonpoikaismiljöö

The sheep at Witkan Tilapuoti

Making up a bed at Majatalo Myötätuuli



Counting the steps at Nummijärvi

Pancakes at Yli-Eskola

Elvi identifying some old objects

Cameron feeding his new friend

Sari Witka showing us how wool is made

Stunning view of Nummijäri

Today is The Somero Seikkailu

Tanja Alenius at the start of  the Somero Seikkailu

So if you are in Somero, make sure you are outside the Nuppulinna building by 9.30 at the latest if you would like to join in.

The idea is to have a bit of fun locating destinations round Somero and completing tasks at each one, in order to get a series of stamps on a Somero passport. You can't do this without the use of a car, and teams can include as many people as (legally) fit in one vehicle.

There is absolutely no restriction on an age basis...and my own car will include members aged from 2 to 80 to prove the point!

It is not a race, so teams can take their time anad stop for a picnic somewhere on the way. All the completed passports will be entered into a draw at five o'clock at Lamminiemi Rehablitation Centre in order to win various prizes including a 100 euro gift voucher.

The weather is predicted to be a bit unsettled tomorrow so it's difficult to say how many teams will turn up, but fingers crossed we have enough to make the day enjoyable for everyone.

I'll let you know tomorrow how the day turned out!

thank you....

...to everyone for your messages following my post yesterday. Apart from the comments on here I also received messages by facebook, email and text. The result was that even though I went to the appointment on my own, it felt like I had a bunch of friends there holding my hand.

A word of advice though...anybody who tells you that a colonoscopy doesnt't hurt, well either they are not telling the truth or they have selective memory. It was second only to childbirth in terms of painful experiences.

It was a difficult day and the news I received was not entirely good. The doctor was able to make a clear diagnosis, and said that I have a condition that can be controlled but not cured, which means I will have to try and find a way of managing it for the rest of my life. But at least it is nothing life-threatening, and at least I now know what it is.  So thank you again to all of you for your kindness and support. I have always said that reaching out to someone when they need a friend can often make a bigger difference than you anticipate... That is exactly what happened to me yesterday and I am more grateful than you know. Sleep well everyone.

Difficult days

Kirkkojärvi Lake in Somero

We all have difficult days from time to time. Today is one of mine. I seem to have had a thousand health problems over the last six months, so for someone who has always been healthy in the past it has been a difficult time.



This rainbow was over our house yesterday evening

This week I have spent every day going backwards and forwards to hospital as they are doing various tests to find out what is wrong. This afternoon I am booked in for a colonoscopy and I am not looking forward to it at all, even though others have told me it is not too bad.

Prior to the examination you have to drink two litres of a liquid which is designed to clean out your entire digestive system. It tastes disgusting, and has made me feel sick, if nothing else!  Luckily I have managed to drink it all and am now waiting nervously before driving to Espoo for the test later today. I haven't been able to eat any solid food for two days now so I am also hungry... but at least I can properly fit into my jeans now as I have lost loads of weight. I guess there is a positive side to everything...



I found this shadow beautiful

Anyway, often when I am feeling worried about something or particularly alone, I go out with my camera and try to take pictures of anything I see that reminds me of the beauty in the world (and particularly in Somero!) It is still there even on the days when it is hard to notice. Doing this doesn't solve the problem but at least it can help to remind you of other things for a few moments.
 
I thought I would share three pictures I have taken in the past two days for those of you who may be facing challenges of your own at the moment. Know that whatever you are going through, you are not alone.

As they say in France on difficult days "Courage" to you all.

Summer is here

Graduates of Somero Lukio 2012

One of the most definite signs that summer has arrived in Finland is the end of school. On Saturday both Cameron (11) and Lucie (15) finished their first term at a Finnish school. Up until January of this year, the children had always been educated in either English or French, so to put them in Finnish schools was quite a big risk, and a big challenge for the children.

Kari Luoto giving out reports

I am happy to say that both of them have been really happy. Cameron is at Joensuun Koulu and Lucie at Somero Lukio. On Saturday both schools had celebrations to mark the end of the school year and the official start of the summer holidays.

At ten o'clock all the primary school children attended a church service. The church was absolutely packed, with all the seats taken and people standing at the back. The atmosphere was warm and friendly. Unfortunately the weather wasn't.  the plan had been for the children to receive their school reports outside the church right after the service, but the weather was horrendous. There was very heavy rain, so the reports were given out inside the church, after which everyone ran as fast as they could to their cars.

Minttu wearing her best dress at church

Cameron with his report in the rain

 














At the same time the Lukio was full of students celebrating their graduation after passing their high school exams (the equivalent to A levels). Forty-four students received their official ylioppilas hat in Somero this year, and this high school graduation tradition is something that Finland should really be proud of. In the UK most schools don't have any sort of gradutaion ceremony until university level, and I think this is a real shame. Every house in Finland has at least one picture of a student wearing a graduation hat and hopefully we'll have one of Lucie wearing hers in two years time (although she'll need to work hard first).

Somero church

Both celebrations were full of proud children and parents, all looking forward to their summer holidays. It was a shame that the weather was not kinder to all those people who had parties planned that day, but hopefully there is still lots of sunny weather ahead. In any event it is a full nine weeks before the start of the new term, and that can't be a bad thing!