Wednesday, October 31, 2012

The witches are out


It's Hallowe'en and there is at least one little witch who is planning lots of mischief this evening in Somero. I hope you are scared....

Sunday, October 28, 2012

No Words Today


I have sat here for the last fifteen minutes and tried to think of how to start and what to say. For some reasons the words won't come out today. So here are some pictures instead. These are some of the things I saw earlier when I went for a walk in Somero.  It is below freezing, the sun is shining, the sky is blue and there is a thin layer of white glistening all over town. The pictures can show you better than I can explain it. Wishing you a happy Sunday. J.





 




Saturday, October 27, 2012

Suomalaisuus

It's that time of year again. Tonight the clocks go back and it is the official end of summer. On the plus side though, at least we get an extra hour in bed. In fact bed sounds like a good place to be at the moment. It's incredibly cold outside - at one point today it was minus eleven. What is that all about?  It's only October for goodness sake.

The children and I sat this evening and wrote a list of positive things. Those little things that make us smile. On my list this evening is the fact that it's our saunavuoro this evening. We don't have our own sauna anymore, so I've been looking forward to our turn all week. I've always found the sauna to be good place to sit and reflect on everything. It's a calming place somehow, in the midst of whatever else might be going on.  And there is nothing more integrally Finnish than a sauna.

I had the opportunity this morning to talk with a group of women in Somero about what it really means to be Finnish. Suomalaisuus is a genuine concept. You can meet another Finn anywhere in the world and you know that you will share something in common with them. You know without even asking that that other Finnish person will also have picked mushrooms and blueberries, walked in forests, been skiing and ice-skating, complained about the weather in November, eaten ruisleipää and korvapuusti, spent summers in a mökki (summer house), swum in a lake, gone to the sauna, spent evenings in front of an open fire, chopped wood (special mention to Heikki on this one), and told people that they don't speak very good English, when actually they probably do.

Even though I wasn't born here, I will be eternally grateful that I my roots are in Finland. All cultures should be valued, their differences are what make the world so interesting, but it is also natural to be attached to the culture which you identify as your own. The one to which you belong. Right now I am going to the sauna, both to relax after a challenging week and also to reflect what it means to be Finnish. Enjoy the last evening of the summer everyone, wherever you are. The next one is just around the corner.

Friday, October 26, 2012

Angels

Market day in Somero
I had a strange morning today. I woke up feeling sad - but over the next couple of hours it was as though someone had sent me a series of angels.

The snow was back - at one point the temperature fell to minus five - so first stop this morning was getting the tyres changed for the car.

It took longer than I had expected. While I was waiting I got chatting to a lady I had never met before. She was called Merja.  We started off talking about the weather, but within five minutes I realised I knew who she was. A good friend of mine had told me about her just three days ago, telling me that she was the best friend she had ever known. And suddenly, there she was. Merja and I talked about various things, and I mentioned Saara Roto, one of Somero's priests. As soon as my car was ready I walked outside, and who was there in front of me... Saara Roto. She gave me a big hug and of course I cried.
Then I stopped by the market on the way home. Two parties were out campaigning for the Sunday elections and there were a few stalls, but it wasn't particularly busy anywhere. The angels theme continued.
Olavi
Within minutes I bumped into Saara's father, Matias Roto, (current "Somerolainen of the Year") and received another hug.

Then out of nowhere a man called Olavi appeared. Like Merja, we had never met before, but in the midst of the freezing cold market there he was. Another angel, who despite knowing nothing about me or my family, said exactly the right words at exactly the right moment.

As I have said before on here, I believe that sometimes you may be doing an angel's work without even realising it. I woke up needing an angel this morning and was sent four in two hours.  However you feel tomorrow morning, good or bad, keep your eyes open for your own angels. But also be ready for the challenge. You yourself might be just the angel that someone else has been waiting for.

Thursday, October 25, 2012

Nowhere I'd Rather Be

In the end the sky turned blue here in Somero, despite the misty start to the day. The snow has gone for the moment, but I am sure it will be back soon, maybe even tomorrow. Everyone is suddenly in a mad rush to get their tyres changed.
One thing is for sure, winter is almost here now, but the sun still cast some beautiful shadows, even inside our flat. 
MInttu getting squashed by her brothers
The best news of the day from my point of view is that Minttu has recovered after our scare with her on Tuesday. I am very relieved about that. As a mother of seven I do not panic easily about health issues, but this time I was genuinely worried about her. Thank goodness it seems to have been less serious in the end than it looked.
 I took all the little ones for a walk this evening and we took a couple of pictures, as promised. There are only the very last leaves on the trees left now, and the whole town is trying to rake them up before the snow comes for good. Several people stopped to say hello as we walked around town and I was reminded once again what a friendly town Somero is. 
Although the last few weeks have been challenging ones for our little family, I can genuinely say that there is nowhere else I would rather be.  
  

Snow in Somero

The view from my window this morning
I woke up early this morning to see that the first snow of the winter has arrived in Somero.  It's also very misty outside. The sort of day when you need to be sitting in front of an open fire drinking hot chocolate and reading a book.  

A couple of days ago when the sun was shining, the whole town and everything in it looked stunning. This morning the view outside is a little less inspiring, which makes it a great day to go out and look for something beautiful despite the mist.

My challenge for the day is to find something outside worth photographing, and if I succeed I'll post the results on here this evening. Wishing you a day full of sunshine despite the weather, Jody.

Wednesday, October 24, 2012

Cameron Says Thank You!

Last week I asked if people reading this blog would sponsor my son Cameron, who was raising money for Unicef through his school.

Both Cameron and I are really grateful for the support he received as a result. He managed to complete 16 circuits on his sponsored walk, and as a result of your kindness, he raised 123 euros for children in Africa. He will take all the money into school tomorrow.

You not only helped Unicef, but also made Cameron feel special when he needed it the most. So thank you to you all from Cameron, but an extra special thank you from his Mum.

Minttu and the United Nations

The flags are flying for United Nations Day
Just a quick post because the last one says that today is Tuesday, which it clearly isn't anymore.

I am exhausted having been up for most of the night with Minttu who became unwell yesterday evening. Something seems to be wrong with her left arm which is causing her a lot of pain. We had to call an ambulance last night and have just been for x rays this morning, but we're still not sure what the problem is.

Hope to have more news later. At least for the moment she is sleeping, thank goodness. Meanwhile, this is the view from my bedroom window. The flags are up today as today is United Nations Day. Cameron eventually finished his presentation for school on the United Nations, having at first told me "I can't find anything about the United Nations on the internet...."

How is it that 11 year old boys only ever seem to have problems finding material that is connected to homework? Perhaps I should call Ban Ki-moon and suggest that does a bit more marketing.  Anyway, happy UN day wherever you may be. With love from someone very tired....

Tuesday, October 23, 2012

Use Your Vote!

Today, Tuesday, is the last day of pre-voting in the local elections, prior to the official polling day which is next Sunday 28th October.

I took Cameron along to see how the voting system works here in Finland. Even though he is still only eleven, I hope he learns to appreciate how important it is for him to vote when he is old enough to do so.

Someone stopped me on the street this week and asked why I was standing. I got the strong impression that the person thought I should not be a candidate in Somero because I am not originally from the town. (I think my "foreign" name made it even worse!)

Well the answer to the lady's question is simple, irrespective of where I have moved from or where I was born. 

I am standing because I care about Somero and about what happens to it.  Somero is my home.  I don't believe that you achieve much simply by complaining about things, you have to be prepared to be involved yourself.

Most people in Somero, whether they are standing or not in the elections, want the same things for the town. They want it to remain independent, retain its own services, have incresed jobs on offer and be a safe and attractive place to live.  Those things can only be achieved by working together to find the best solutions for the future, and hopefully whoever is elected will do their best to make sure that happens.

The important thing is for us all to take part - so whoever your favourite candidate is, make sure that your voice is heard in these elections. Go out and vote!

Monday, October 22, 2012

The Good Thing about Shadows

Dawn breaks over Somero
Is that if you see one, you can be sure that there is a light somewhere behind you. 

After a weekend of greyness and rain, Somero woke up to bright sunshine this morning. Always very welcome of course, but especially so in the months leading up to winter.

Somero Town Centre
sparkling leaves

Shadows mean there is light behind you
It is always possible to find beautiful things if you keep your eyes and your spirit open, but this morning it was impossible to miss the colours and light of autumn in Somero Town Centre.

All the leaves and the trees were bright and the sunshine made the whole town sparkle. As I took a couple of photos, at first I tried to avoid my own shadown being in the picture. But then it occured to me that the shadow should stay.  It was only there because there was sunshine behind me, and in my view, knowing the sun is still there despite everything is something that we should all try never to forget.

Wishing you a great week, Jody.

Sunday, October 21, 2012

When Good Comes Out of Bad

We all know that life is full of challenges and situations that we don't always understand.

When my husband said three weeks ago that he was leaving me, it felt as though my world had shattered into a thousand pieces. If I am honest, most of the time it still does.

Since then, many people have said to me that I should remain positive as something good will come out of this eventually.  One day I will understand why this had to happen.

I guess this is our way as humans of dealing with difficult situations that we are struggling to understand.

As I write these words I am still feeling lost - if there is a meaning out there to all this then I have yet to find it, but I am holding on to the thought that something positive is waiting for our family out there somewhere.

At the end of each year I always look back on the last twelve months and write down the main events of the year. Both the highlights and the challenges. In a couple of months time, at the end of 2012, the "challenges" list is likely to be a long one.  At the same time though,good things have happened too, and in my view the trick is to concentrate on those. An example of this is meeting my friend Liisa, which happened because of our cat.

Caroline, who had been in our family for the last eleven years, became ill earlier this year and eventually had to be put down.

It was a horrible time and we still miss her. (If you are an animal lover then you will know what I mean). At the time it was difficult to see anything positive in the situation. But funny things happen. In those last weeks I had to go to the vet so many times, that Liisa (the vet), and I started to become friendly. In the time since then, although she has now moved away from Somero, Liisa has become one of my closest friends, and all because of our cat Caroline.

In the last three weeks she is one of the only people to actually make me smile. For me, this little story is an example of how good things can come out of bad ones. When we are facing difficult times, as we all do from time to time, it helps to believe that things will turn out for the best in the end. I am hoping this is the case for my own family right now, and also for anyone going through challenges of their own. Keep believing, you never know what good things may be waiting round the corner.  Jody. 

2.46 am

And once again I can't sleep. The rain is beating down outside and the noise of the raindrops against the window is somehow comforting. When it's cold and wet out there it's easy to feel safe and warm tucked up in your bed. I can hear the odd car passing by, the wind blowing through the trees and the creak of  the radiators.  But they are the only sounds in my world at the moment.

To those of you having trouble sleeping right now, I wish you a restful night and dreams of better things.  At least, if you are reading this in the middle of the night...you are certainly not alone. Let's hope for a few hours of rest for all of us, and a better day tomorrow. I am holding on to the belief that even on the darkest of days (or nights) the sunshine is always is never far around the corner.  Sweet dreams, Jody.

Saturday, October 20, 2012

Girl Power





 
I don't generally place much value on material things, except ones which bring back memories of particular times or places or people.

Russian dolls, like this one in the picture, remind me of when I used to visit Finland as a young child. Each year, before visiting my relatives in Lumijoki, we would stay one or two nights in Helsinki with friends of our family -Anja and Mauri - and their daughter Juliaana. They had a Russian doll like this one and I remember playing with it when Juliaana and I were very young, a memory which I will always treasure. Anja and Mauri are like another set of parents to me and two of the people, along with their daughter, whom I admire most in the world.

They are all the type of people who always make time for others no matter what difficulties they are facing of their own.

These days Minttu (another truly cool woman) often wakes up before the others in our family.  On these mornings she and I will sit on my bed and play with this doll together, before everyone else wakes up and our family circus starts up again.

This particular doll splits into ten. Looking at this picture, with all the different dolls which become one, it made me think that in some ways it represents what it is like to be a woman these days.

Women have so many different roles nowadays. We want to study, find fulfilling careers, be good partners or wives and also succeed as mothers, daughters, sisters, and friends. We try to maintain our homes and cook and provide and look after our children, as well as finding hobbies.  We try to do the things that women have always done but without falling into the stereotype of womanhood and limiting ourselves to an old-fashioned idea of what women should be. Which in practice means we do ten times more.

I like being a woman. I would not change that even if I could. But at times I have to admit I find it challenging to know how we are supposed to get it all right. I guess the truth is that most of us just stumble along doing the best we can. Sometimes we get it right, and sometimes we don't. I still hope that before I die, along with my other roles in life, someone will come to value me as a wife, even if I have to wait a long time for that to happen.

In any event, I have had the fortune to meet some really wonderful women in my lifetime, many of whom are still in my life. So to all you women out there, juggling with a hundred different roles and even more expectations....it may be complicated these days, but being a woman means being multi-facted and strong. Whatever happens in life, no-one can take your dreams away from you. This post is for you.

Friday, October 19, 2012

Niko Reports back from the Dentist

Niko outside the Somero hammashoitola (dentist)
One of the reasons I have always loved Somero is that people here are friendly. People have the time to stop and talk, which is certainly not the case everywhere else in the world.

Päivi makes Niko feel welcome
A couple of weeks ago at the Somero English Club we talked about places in Somero which we felt had really exceptional customer service. There were lots of suggestions, but in the end there were three which everyone agreed were all as good as each other. They were the electricity shop called Sähkö ja Kone, the Library and Somero's dental practice (hammashoitola).

In each of these places you are guaranteed to be greeted with a smile and receive good advice and helpful service every time. Today Niko paid a visit to the dentist for a check up and he thought I should tell you about the friendly people he met there.

Taina counts Niko's teeth
First there was Päivi, who sits at reception and greets everyone who arrives. Päivi always has a smile for everyone, and today even took the time to sit and do some drawing with Niko so he didn't feel too nervous.

Then Niko went in to see Taina, who went out of her way to make sure Niko wasn't scared and that he understood what she was doing. She made the whole thing feel like a big adventure.

Niko picks out a special sticker
Once she was sure that all Niko's teeth were where they should be, he received a new toothbrush and was allowed to choose his own sticker from her special sticker drawer.

Most people don't look forward to going to the dentist, but in Somero everyone who works there goes out of their way to make sure that their clients, whether young or old, feel reassured and happy.

Niko, (who is a big boy now at almost three years old), asked me to tell you that the dentist is not a scary place after all. He liked all the people he met and is looking forward to going back next year. He agrees that the hammashoitola deserves to win a prize for great customer service and says that in Somero at least no-one needs to be afraid of going to the dentist!

Thursday, October 18, 2012

Beautiful Lady at Lidl

You never know when or where you are going to cross paths with a beautiful spirit. I did today just as I was coming out of Lidl, and I wanted to share these pictures of her with you.

This is Emmi (her formal name is Angelica, but Emmi to her friends) and she had such a beautiful face that I had to stop to say hello. She growled a bit and tried hard to look frightening, but she didn't quite manage. She certainly made Cameron and me smile. Look out for her in Somero... her effect on your mood will be even better than yesterday's Ben and Jerry's ice cream, and even better, this therapy is calorie free. Thank you Emmi for brightening up our day!  
 

Wednesday, October 17, 2012

Some Light at Last...

There is one good thing about little steps. If you take enough of them, then you can climb mountains.

We took a few little steps today and our new flat is slowly starting to feel like a home. Thanks to our good friends Hannele and Kyösti, we now have some light for the first time in two weeks!

I keep staring at the ceilings just to make sure they are still there and I haven't been dreaming. It's amazing how much you learn to appreciate things that you have previously taken for granted when you are without them for a while.

Having lived in darkness for the last week, getting new lights today felt like winning the lottery.

Saskia and Lucie went to the shop and bought some toffee popcorn which was another highlight to the day.  Luca was full of smiles, Minttu gave the world a big thumbs up, and I have been reminded in a million different ways this week how lucky I am to have such good friends.

However big the mountain ahead of you might seem, you only need two things to conquer it. Small steps and good friends. I am convinced that with those two things, nothing is impossible. Jody.

PS. Just had a spoonful of "Half Baked" Ben and Jerry's ice cream put into my mouth. Pretty good :)

nothing beats toffee popcorn

Tuesday, October 16, 2012

Feel Good Music

Lionel Richie in Helsinki
Music means something different to everyone, but most people have a few songs that are guaranteed to bring back memories or to make them feel good on a rainy day.

For both me and my very good friend Eve Mantu, music is even more significant. We met many, many years ago when we were both Disc Jockeys (DJs)  in Helsinki, so songs from this period bring back tons of memories. Between us we must have DJed at every club in Helsinki, and we can tell you exactly which track worked at each place and which ones were guaranteed to clear the dance floor in a few seconds.
 

My friends Annya (left) and Eve Mantu (right)
One of the artists who will always being a smile to my face no matter what, is Lionel Richie, and he came to Finland for the first time ever this week. He comes across as someone who really loves life. He is also one of those artists who is even better live than on cd, and it is impossible to believe that he is 63 years old!

  Eve and I remembered the days when we used to play "All Night Long" and "Dancing on the Ceiling."  We both agreed that anyone who can listen to those songs without wanting to dance has really been born without a soul!
Minttu is only 15 months old and even she instinctively dances to Lionel Richie!

We also looked back nostagically on those times, as when we were younger e were totally free spirits who lived for the moment.  When we fancied doing something crazy, we just did it. (Our own Abba tribute band for example, or taking a ride in a helicopter, to name just two examples..)

The good news is that Lionel will be back in Helsinki in 2013, so anyone who has not yet experienced that Lionel feeling can go and see him then. And perhaps even more importantly, take a second to remember the last time you were ready to live for the moment. Life is full of challenges and none of us know how much time we have left, so I guess the only thing to do is to be grateful and to make the most of today.

On a final note, thank you to "M" for your lovely message a few days ago. And HAPPY BIRTHDAY to my dear friend MANU!  

Saturday, October 13, 2012

Never Give Up

Let's be honest. The last fortnight has been one of the worst I can remember.  I am someone who believes that there is a meaning to everything that happens in life, but I have struggled beyond belief to find anything positive in what has happened to us. Each morning this week I have concentrated simply on getting through the rest of the day.

But I know from experience that life is full of ups and downs:  When things feel impossible, as they have for our little family recently, the challenge is to try and find the positives in simple things.
 
Today I made a list of simple pleasures, things that I and the children have enjoyed doing in the past. One of them is making riisipuuroa and mansikkakiisseli (rice pudding and strawberry sauce) on Saturday morning with the children. So that is what we did.

Watching the little ones sitting in a row and munching away got the day off to a good start and reminded me how lucky I am to be a Mum to such wonderful children.

I would also like to say thank you to all of you who sponsored Cameron for his walk for Unicef yesterday. Knowing that people were encouraging him really cheered him up, and he has raised nearly 100 euros for children in Africa. So thank you on behalf of both of us. A couple of people have asked how they can sponsor Cameron. Anyone who would still like to contribute something can do so by paying into this account FI5544050010206020. This account is in my name and is currently empty, so anything paid into it will go direct to Unicef via Cameron. Thank you again.

For those of you going through your own challenges at the moment, I wish you love, laughter and the hope that you will find something to make you smile. Don't give up!

Friday, October 12, 2012

Please Help Me...

.... show my son that he is loved.

As I write these words it is just before four in the morning. I can't sleep.  There are many things keeping me awake at the moment, but one of the most important is my son, Cameron.

Here he is.  Cameron, who is eleven years old.

He is a really special little boy full of love, but who is feeling very sad at the moment as a result of the recent change in our family circumstances.  I am not good at asking for help, but this time I would be really grateful if you would help me show he that he is not alone, and that people out there care.

Today (Friday) Cameron is taking part in a walk at his school to raise money for Unicef.  The children have a maximum of four hours to walk or run as many kilometres as they can manage, and every kilometre they complete will raise money for children in Africa. Obviously this is a great idea for lots of reasons, but particularly because it is encouraging the children to do something to help others who are less well off.  Cameron has been very enthusiastic about taking part and is keen to participate in raising money for charity, an attitude which I am proud of.

He asked for my help to find sponsors, but this week I have been so preoccupied that I have not done nearly enough to support him in his efforts. Can you help me now to support him in trying to do something good? If you have a few euros to spare to support Unicef and at the same time give my son a bit of encouragement during a difficult time, then I would be truly grateful. If you want to help or know someone who might want to contribute, please either like this message on facebook or pass it on. You would be helping to make Cameron smile again, and I promise you he deserves it. Jody.

Thursday, October 11, 2012

Family Table

Minttu, Lucie, Saskia, Luca, Cameron and Niko
It's been a difficult week for our family, we are adjusting to a lot of recent changes and have been living in a flat without much furniture. But tonight we had a bit of sunshine when our friends Kari and Marja-Leena arrived with a table and chairs for us.

You always appreciate things more when you have been without them for a while.  Since we moved last week we have been without a table, so tonight we celebrated being able to sit and eat together as a family again.

For the little ones I guess the table was more about being able to reach their pizza more easily. For me though, our new table will always remain a symbol of friendship and family. I hope that as the children get older they will also appreciate these things and come to see the things that are really important in life.

Thank you Marja-Leena and Kari for your friendship.

As the Finnish nights start to get darker, may I wish you all much light, laughter and friendship - whichever table you find yourself sitting at.   

Wednesday, October 10, 2012

True Happiness...

...when you are a cat is being scratched by someone who loves you.



...when you are still a toddler it is dancing with your brother or sister in the kitchen....

And when you are a Mum it is watching your children and your cat enjoying life. And reminding yourself that life is there to be lived.