ANNOUNCEMENT: I'm back in Finland

Greetings from Helsinki (that's in Finland, if you didn't know already!)

It's December 21st (the middle of candle-lighting season in Finland) and it's -10 degrees outside, but at least it's bright!! It's 11am, the sun is still low and, soon, the process of night will come once again. Despite this daily ritual, I know in my heart that returning to Finland was the right thing to do.

I got back in the earlier hours of the 20th and, yesterday, I got all my official stuff out of the way; I set up a bank account, registered as unemployed with the authorities, visited the social security office etc. What a day it was, walking around the city in -10; a contrast from the lovely weekend I had just spent in London, although it was surprisingly chilly there too!

Today, I have started applying for jobs. There's suitable jobs in Nokia, Uponor and Altia, all very large Finnish organisations. Fingers crossed, a job will come soon. One new strategy of mine is to send a CV to every company who advertises a job in Helsinki's largest Sunday Paper, the Helsingin Sanomat. Can't hurt, can it?

Anyway, Christmas is fast approaching. I have decided that, between Christmas and New Year, I'm going to spend time settling in and catching up on my second Masters Assignment - I can spend the forthcoming Finnish winter being very productive!

I will take this opportunity to apologise to those of you who didn't receive Christmas cards from me this year - the last two weeks have been so busy that I've had no time to do even the most basic of things.

I wish you all a wonderful Christmas and a fantastic 2006!

Your pal in the North!

ANNOUNCEMENT: Moving Back!

I've got some fantastic news. As you know, I have been in the UK now for more than three months. I have been studying my Masters in Marketing whilst looking for work. Time has told me that my time in Finland isn't up yet!

Yes, it's a cold country and it's taxes are extortionate, but there's something about the Finnish way of living that appeals to me; I have great friends in Finland and I have missed them enormously.

So, I have decided to return to Finland on December 19th. For those I am leaving (again!), I just wanted to thank you for your continued friendship and support. I'm only three hours away and you're more than welcome to visit. To those of you in Finland, I'll see you soon! Here's to the next four years and beyond!