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!