Season's Greetings...

My thanks to all of you who have been reading this blog. I can't believe that it is now over six months since I moved to Finland, the time has rushed by.

According to Google Analytics, 105 people have visited the blog over the past month, the majority are repeat visitors. I have enjoyed writing it and appreciate the feedback received, more is always welcome. As an aid to my Dad (and anyone else who wants to) in printing out new posts, I've added HP's blog printing widget to the pages. If you only want to print a single post, open it first by clicking the headline, otherwise it will print all the posts on the main page. I am interested to know what you think of this facility.

I'm now back in the UK after a few days with my eldest daughter in Helsinki. We visited the Christmas Market on Esplanadi (on the third attempt, as I didn't get home from work early enough the first two times), went to the Orthodox and Lutheran cathedrals and visited Porvoo, all of which have been covered in previous posts. It was good to take her to some of the sights I've visited with her Mum and little sister.

Colleagues in Helsinki were disappointed with the weather for Christmas, particularly the lack of snow. Over the last week, temperatures in Helsinki have been similar to home. In fact, walking to St Mary the Virgin parish church in Old Alresford for yesterday's carol service, I was colder than I have been for the last week. We were warmed afterwards by mulled wine (a change to the Finnish Glogi) and Mince Pies.

Now I am wrapping the last of the presents, looking forward to an evening with friends and a (hopefully) peaceful Christmas Day tomorrow. Wherever you are in the world (in any of the twenty countries from where visits to this blog originated last month), I wish you Happy Holidays.

Christmas traditions...

I was invited this week to a special event, tasting Finnish Rice Porridge, a traditional dish enjoyed before the sauna on Christmas Eve in Finland. Sadly, because of work commitments I could not go, but decided to find out more.

The Finns enjoy a wide range of porridges for breakfast; back home we tend only to see Oatmeal, a favourite of my wife in the winter. Here, you can get Buckwheat, Rye or even Semolina (which just brings back awful memories of school lunch for me). But at this time of year, Christmas Porridge is served. From the recipe, it sounds much like Rice Pudding at home. One blanched Almond is added to the pot and whoever gets it is in for good fortune in the coming year.

This reminded me of one of our Christmas traditions, involving a silver sixpence in the Christmas Pudding. Also alleged to be a harbinger of luck, I have often wondered how many of those who found it unexpectedly in their portion end up with a trip to the accident & emergency department as a result. That doesn't seem very lucky to me, unless you prefer hospital food to Christmas lunch at home. I don't fancy it.

I've been sharing Mince Pies with my colleagues this week. A slight misunderstanding with a vegetarian in the team resulted in her avoiding them as, although they say "mincemeat" on the ingredients, they are in fact stuffed with dried fruit and orange peel. I shall continue my missionary work here undeterred.

There is nothing like a dame ...

It's pantomime season in the UK (oh yes, it is) and as I was at home for the weekend, I got to see my wife playing evil Queen Fester in Snow White. She was brilliant; strong character acting and possibly her best singing yet in our village amateur dramatic group show.

Pantomime is a Christmas holiday tradition in England; some of my overseas readers know about it but for the rest, I recommend http://www.its-behind-you.com/ as a starter where you can learn some of the basics. "Principal Boy" is played by a girl and traditionally the matriarchal role, called the Dame, is played by a man. For the last few years, I have been lucky enough to have that role, last year playing the eponymous Mother Goose.

Being part of TOADS (The Old Alresford Dramatic Society) has been one of our family's pleasures over the last few years; we have made great friends and had a lot of fun. Moving to Helsinki this year meant I could not take part in person but, through the magic of digital recording, I was able to be the voice of the mirror telling the evil Queen that she was not the fairest in the land. It was probably just as well that I wasn't in the country for most of the time that Stephanie (and Helen, who she was role sharing with) was hearing it!

The BBC is reporting that even Hollywood stars such as Mickey Rooney are queuing up to play in panto. I am not surprised, it is sheer escapist fun (and for them, not us, a nice little earner).

State of Independence ...

My congratulations to my friends and colleagues in Finland, who celebrated 90 years of independence and democratic government on Thursday. According to Finland Relocation Services, the company which managed my move to Helsinki: "The national festivities of Independence Day begin by raising the flag in Tähtitorni hill, in Helsinki. This is then followed with the festive divine service at the Cathedral of Helsinki, where by tradition, the President is also present. In the evening the President receives guests for the gala occasion which is held at the President's Palace in Helsinki. Approximately 2000 people are invited to this banquet every year, and war veterans attend as the guests of honour. The event is broadcast on television, and it is a very popular happening which collects millions of Finns in front of the TV every year. Independence Day is an official flag-raising day, and in every home, candles are normally lit in the windows to honour the day. This day is also a public holiday and stores will be closed then."

I spent Independence Day in the UK with my parents and then in the evening with my former Round Table colleagues. Though I did not see the range of dresses, which I am told is the subject of considerable discussion on TV broadcasts in Finland (they must have a Terry Wogan equivalent commentating, surely), I did have a good time and enjoyed a certain feeling of independence, rudely broken when the emails summoned me back to work this morning.

Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow ...

How exciting. I woke this morning to a beautiful white carpet over the yard behind my apartment block, four or five centimetres of snow had fallen overnight, following a cold (-4 degrees) and clear day.

A couple of kids from the apartments built a snowman and Dad was then summoned to capture the image on his camera. Sadly, before I could get mine, the sweeper which had been clearing the road and pavements also drove into the yard and moved all the snow, including the short-lived Frosty.

The view is from my balcony after the sweeper had been. Gunther (my Audi) is the fourth car on the left. I flew this afternoon to Amsterdam for a business trip and decided to take a taxi rather than drive to the airport. Of course, I have my winter tyres on the car already, but my suitcase has wheels rather than skis!

Last night, I walked back from the city centre in the dark. In the square (Senatoori) in front of the cathedral there is now a Christmas tree. The photo shows the view from the centre of the square looking up the steps of the cathedral. It felt very cold; I even had the ear flaps of my hat down - my daughters would likely have disowned me, had they been there!