Santa gave me a call
Hi everyone and dear Rachel
I had a phone call from Korvatunturi. It was Santa Claus himself and he was not very pleased with me. Why not? Well I told you on Sunday that Korvatunturi was about 600 kilometers from Oulu, but as Santa pointed out, that the distance between Oulu and Korvatunturi is only about 400 kilometers.
I can well understand Santa´s annoyance, I have such a grand audience all around the world and I told his whereabouts incorrectly. I am sorry!
Rachel thank you very much for your kind advice, I am very pleased that you point out my errors. It is precisely what I wish you would do. I am not here to be told how well I am doing (although some praise form time to time would be nice); instead I hope to get advice how to do better.
Rachel we don´t use article in Finnish, and here is my home work:
I am rather an impatient person…
The reason for the above is
Someone knew that a couple of songs…
As far as lacking of something: I am waiting for your advice.
Everyone thank you again for your very interesting replies, I read them all twice. They were all very interesting, I was particularly interested about the water ways and related subjects matters. Just a few quick replies for some of the questions you put forward. First of all horse riding is very popular here in Finland and mainly with females. My daughter Katri is a horse riding instructor, and yes Ana Paula the film you asked about is familiar.
About Sauna, it is a place we Finns can not be without. I will talk about sauna later on in length.
You also talked about our paper industry. The pulp and paper industry has traditionally had a strong significance in the Finnish economy, as many of you well knew. I live near the pulp and paper factory that was founded 1937. When the site went through moderation work in early 1990´s, it was considered the most modern paper making factory in the world.
Some of you asked me about my views on subject matter in Uruguay, well I am not an expert on this issue and from were I am sitting it would be impossible for me to say, but I can say that our Oulu paper and pulp factory has never caused me any harm and further more our environmental regulations to my knowledge are very strict (as they should be).
Which reminds me of you: hello_loc from Vietnam; I agree with you that national resources are utmost importance when building a wealthy nation. If I understood correctly we both agree that the wealth of nation relies on natural resources as well as on people (know-how, wisdom, education, good governing and equal opportunities to all). Perhaps the uprightness of the people is the base for using the resources in a responsible way.
Rachel mentioned Guy Fawkes; I can well understand why you fell nostalgic about it Rachel. Here in Finland we have just celebrated so called “Saints Day”, during this day we remember those who have passed away. You may remember that I mentioned yesterday that we are entering the dim light period.
Well we have a custom to light candles on the graves of our dear ones. As it is dark outside the graveyards look so beautiful with hundreds of candles burning (Rachel I am not happy with this sentence, this is what I mean when I say I would like to have more looseness in my writing). And as it happens the 5. of November was also our wedding anniversary. All and all a memorable day!
Rachel was talking about election in Australia. Well politics are always a good subject to talk about. We have a fairly new government, and as a result Finland has 20 ministers; 12 women and 8 men. Our President is also a woman. I was listening news the other day and I heard that Finland is a world record holder having female majority in political power. I don´t know if that is something to boost about.
We have a multi-party system with tree major parties (Centre Party, National Coalition Party and Social Democratic Party) and several smaller parties (Left Alliance, Green League, Swedish People's Party, Christian Democrats and True Finns). Most executive power resides in the cabinet (the Finnish Council of State) headed by the Prime Minister.
The parties in power for four years as from end of April 2007 are: Centre Party, Conservative National Coalition Party, Green League and Swedish People´s Party. Other parties are in opposition.
Unlike the Scandinavian countries, Denmark, Norway, and Sweden being constitutional monarchies, Finland has a republican form of government. The 200-member unicameral parliament is called the Eduskunta (Finnish) or Riksdag (Swedish). Eduskunta is the supreme legislative authority in Finland. The President of Finland is the Head of Finnish state, the President is also the commanding chief of the army.
No more tonight, tomorrow I will continue to write about issues you put forward; global warming etc..
I wonder if celebrated something special just now?
Comments
Hi Leila Would you tell me about farms and farmers in your Country?
Hi Leila. It seems women will rule the world. We have a woman as President too. Her name is Michelle Bachelet and she won the elections with a wide advantage. But nowadays her popularity has fall and only 38% of the people support her goverment. Anyway, our neighbours in Argentina recently choose a woman as President too, Cristina Kirchner. As you can see, women in the power is not a peculiarity anymore. Bye
Hi Leila It seems women will rule the world. We have a woman as President too. Her name is Michelle Bachelet and she won the elections with a wide advantage. However, her popularity has fallen recently and nowadays only 38% of the people support her government. Anyway, our neighbours in Argentina have just elected a woman as President too: Cristina Kirchner. As yo can see women in power are not a peculiarity anymore. Bye
How are you Leila? I'm very impressed with Katri that she is an horse riding instructor. Oh, before going any further, I would like to wish you happy wedding anniversary! My parents also got married in the month of November which is on 16th. As for holiday in November in Pakistan, it is on 9th. This day is celebrated in memory of the Poet Of The Nation Sir Allama Iqbal. Naheed
Hi, Leila. Did you wonder if something special was celebrated in Finland on 6 November? It's a gneral flag day to celebrate the Finnish Swedish Heritage Day. Up there in Oulu you might have flagged between the sunrise at 8.10 and the sunset at 15.28.
Hi Leila, I remember going on foot from Rovaniemi, not to Korvatunturi, that is not possible, but to the nearest Santa Claus’ Office somewhere above Napapiiri. (Rovaniemi surroundings) The sun raised at past eleven and the sunset was just two or three hours late. That year, on that trip, I could observe something that I had never seen before and I have never seen again. It was the year’s eve, late in the evening. It wasn’t a green winter but it wasn’t too cold neither, only minus sixteen degrees (I was psychologically prepared for minus thirty) Suddenly it started snowing but not the usual snowflakes but tiny snow, or ice, stars. For me, a Mediterranean man, it was something quite amazing. I have experienced too at Christmas’ eve what you mentioned about the candles in the cemetery. It is something touching to see those wispy, trembling, lights on the snow, on the graves, in the darkness. I have very good memorabilia of these days. We spend Christmas with Finnish friends I even became for the rest of the night the “Joulutonttu”, bringing presents to the neighbourhood and being received by the children with songs and by their parents with something to drink ….Well, I am going to stop here otherwise I could spend the night remembering.
Hi Leila!!! Last Friday, November 2nd, it was a public holiday in which we celebrated 'Finados'(The Day of the Dead) in Brazil. It´s similar to the Saints Day you celebrate in Finland, and in this day we also remember the dear ones who passed away. Ah, by the way Leila, you thought that one of Marianna´s comments was mine. Actually, she was the one who has sent a very interesting comment about a Ingmar Bergman´s film. I enjoy very much his films. I´ve bought recently The Seventh Seal and I´m looking for Cries and Whispers and Autumn Sonata. So Leila, do you have any Bergman favourite film? If so, could you please tell us? Well, it was very interesting to know about politics in your country. Here in Brazil women are still the minority in our government. Oh my gosh, it´s late! Oh I´m afraid I have to bid you farwell now Leila. Tomorrow I´m going to wake up earlier :-). I´m looking foward to reading your next blog. See you tomorrow, Ana Paula.
Hi Leila, It’s nice to know that women are dominating Finland ministry. Even though constitution has given enough opportunity to women representative in the elections, there are thin number of elected representatives in the assembly and parliament in our country. Only recently the women representatives’ numbers are increasing in the gross route level system, that we called Panchayat. It is a good sign. It will take more time to come like your country. Nov1 is all saints day and Nov 2nd is all souls day. we visit graveyard and remember the souls of near and dear ones. the cemetry was decorated with flowers.
Dear Leila you'r very informative, thank you. Please talk a bit about religious beliefs in Finnland. I suppose that you have speech's freedom in your country. take care
Hi Leila!Was your wedding celebration sweet enough? What is going to be celebrated here? Well, it is very local celebration helding in diffrent time in each village linked with a church. The day when the church in the village was sanctified is going to be celebraten in Bojnice on 11.11. It was named after St Martin, which is the name of the first granchild of my parents too. There are markets with stalls on the square and a feast at families. This consist in ours mainly from some caces now. Father is always very anxious about not being short with his sweet teeth. Look forwards to the next interesting reading!
Hi, I wonder what kind of religion you confess? In Poland almost everyone are Roman Catholics. Recently we celebrated All Saints' Day (1st of November). We also have a custom to light candles on the graves of our dear ones and we bring flowers ( chrysantemum)as well. This church holiday is very important for us. We be able to come back to our homes from all the world in order to meet with family. We have free day from work. Regards Majka
Hei Leila...Happy wedding anniversary!...In Argentina we celebrate the 1° of November "All the saints' day" and the 2°of November "the dead's day", this day some people go to the cemeteries with flowers, but no special ceremonies are held...By the way our elected president is a woman! For the first time in Argentinian history a woman will be the president fom December on. Best regards!!
Hello, Iam Daniela and I have known this web recently. My english isn´t good but I will try to talk. Thank you very much
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