FLASHBACK #28: Christmas In UK & The Perfect Gift

A week after my sister left Finland, it was time for me to fly to the UK to spend Christmas with my family. It was a short visit, arriving on Christmas Eve and returning on December 29th to spend the New Year period with Bree.

Christmas in my family is always manic, especially the week before the big day. Normally, I spend around £500 on Christmas and my parents are even more generous. It's my Mum, you see. She just loves to spend!

Anyway, Christmas 2002 was particularly difficult for my sister who would - and should - have been celebrating her first Christmas with her child. As usual, there was a big build-up to Christmas, but at the same time, there was a sense of foreboding in that Christmas was a family event and yes, somehow, the family hadn't been completed with it's first grandchild.

Christmas Day came with a frenzy of presents and I received perhaps the best gift ever: a digital camera. In the three years that followed, I took over 10,000 photos from all over the world so it was definitely a good purchase!

My sister had managed to pull herself together, putting aside her grief on this special day, to create a wonderful feast of turkey with all the trimmings, complete with a flaming Christmas pudding! Yummy! I do love a British Christmas Dinner, but it's the concept of Christmas that I have a problem with. Why, oh why, have we made Christmas as commercial as it has become?

And why oh why to we buy into it when we all know that the person we are celebrating could not possibly have been conceived immaculately? I discussed this alot with my religious colleague in the office, but it seems that religious people have an answer for everything. Answer this, then: If Adam and Eve truly were the first humans and had two sons, Cane and Abel, then we're all inbred offspring as Cane and Abel would have had to procreate further with their own mother. Eugh!

Anyway, without going too off-topic, the rest of the holidays went without a glitch. After several days of visiting my immediate family and watching too much TV (why do they insist on putting Return of The Jedi on every Christmas?), it was time to return to Finland. As a family, however, we wouldn't be apart for very long as I would be flying to Tenerife to join them on January 6th!

As I returned to Finland, the New Years Eve celebrations were gathering pace. We met up with two friends of ours then made our way to a nightclub in Helsinki. The atmosphere was a bit naff with people lolling around here and there. The place was half empty, but I was still surprised there was as many people as there was. One thing I noticed was that many people were there alone which went to show just how many lonely people there were out there.

To me, the spirit of Christmas is all about having an opportunity to spend time with your loved ones. On that note, Bree and I welcomed in the new year with a kiss and champagne!

FLASHBACK #27: Sister In Finland - Sliding, Nasineulla & Walking On Water!

As the weeks in December passed by, my sister paid a visit to Tampere. After her arrival at Pirkalla Airport, I handed her a scarf and some lip balm to guard her against the cold. When we got to my place, my neighbour popped by with her dog, we opened some beers and had a nice cosy night in!

Over the next couple of days, we stayed local. On the first day, we visited town, checking out the stores. I introduced her to Hesburger, Finland's own fast food hamburger chain, followed by a trip to Näsineullä. At the top of the tower, we looked down at the etched ice now blanketting both Lake Näsijärvi and Lake Pyhäjärvi. From here, you could see my apartment and the hills of nearby Pispala and Nakötorni.

That evening, we paid a visit to the recently opened 'London Pub' in town and marvelled at it's naff-ness factor! The only thing that was 'London' about it was a picture of the late Queen Mother putting away what resembled a pint of bitter. Otherwise, the place was littered with American brands on the walls and on cardboard coasters! Phrt!

The next day was a Friday, with lot's to see and do! In the morning, we drove to Pynikki, one of my favourite places in Tampere. Set in the grounds of the huge Hotel Rosendahl, Pynikki has it's own beach in the Summer which, in the Winter, turns into a lake of ice. To put the theory that you can walk on water to the test, onto ice we strolled!! My sister was very reluctant at first, fearful of falling through. Out on the lake, you could look all the way to the other end of Lake Pyhäjärvi, which stretches all the way to Nokia City, some 20km to the West.

After the little stroll on the ice, we headed to some nearby hills and, like two very grown up children, took part is what is known as Sliding. Sledging with a difference, Sliding involves sitting on a circular plastic dish just big enough to cross your legs on. Because it's plastic, solid and light, you travel much faster. You would never have thought that two people in their late twenties could have so much fun sliding! It was cool!

Having forgotten to bring gloves to Finland, my sister nearly got frostbite in her hands so we retreated to the nearby warm supermarket to buy some beer and other supplies, before heading to Helsinki; finally, my sister would be meeting Bree for the first time. My sister has always known about Bree - I came out to my sister a few years back during a very emotional night out.

The two hour drive to Helsinki went very quickly and, when we arrived, Bree had prepared a wonderful meal. They got on like a house on fire and it was such a relief! We spent the evening in while my sister and Bree got to know eachother. The next evening, however, the three of us went to a gay bar and my sister met some of my other friends. I think my sister really enjoyed being in an environment where she didn't have to worry about being hit on. There certainly wasn't any danger of that, although it was amusing when my sister noticed a lesbian staring at her boobs!

It was -17C when we walked home at 3am the next morning! For my sister, this temperature proved to be a bit too much and, upon entering Bree's warm apartment, she sighed with relief. The next day was spent relaxing, drinking coffee at Cafe Ursula on the seafront, before Bree kindly drove my sister to the airport.

FLASHBACK #26: Qualified At Last

Once again, we were zooming towards Christmas and all the usual plans were being put in place: flight back to the UK for Christmas, office parties, last minute meetings with friends before departure etc. And, of course, the customary Christmas Shopping (yawn, yawn!).

The days were very dark and very miserable, but when I got home from work one day, I froze when I saw the letter from the Association of Accounting Technicians (AAT). I overcame my fear of what lay inside, literally ripping the envelope apart and, YES!, I had passed my final Accounting Exam. I was now a Member of the AAT! Whoo!

It had taken me five years to do the three year course because of personal problems relating to the my hearing and the move to Finland; I actually found it very difficult to master the production of financial statements, but it didn't matter anymore. I had got confirmation that I could do it!

Straight away, I got onto the phone to my parents. During the call, I wept with relief. When Bree and I got together in Helsinki that weekend, he had a bottle of champange at the ready!

www.aat.co.uk