NORMAL LIFE: Shrove Tuesday / Pancake Day

Today is known as 'laskiainen' in Finland, the day when people eat buns and slide down snowy hills for fun. The British, the Irish, Canadians and Australians will meanwhile celebrate this day with Pancakes, if the Muslim's let us of course! With all the buns and pancakes you can eat, why do we celebrate Pancake Day? More to the point, what is Shrove Tuesday?

Bear with me as this is quite complicated. To start with, Shrove Tuesday is the name for the day before Ash Wednesday which marks the beginning of Lent. Lent marks the forty days (not including Sundays) before Easter. Lent is concerned with the preparations for Holy Week, which recalls the events leading up to Jesus' crucifixion. During this time, Christian's refrain from eating eggs and milk so the idea was to use these up to make Pancakes.

When I thought I would take five minutes to check this out, I thought I would find something interesting, but no! Pancake, anyone?

NORMAL LIFE: So Close To Victory In Olympic Ice Hockey!

So, the Swedes ruled supreme over their clash against Finland in the Ice Hockey Final yesterday with just a one point lead at 3-2. So close! After levelling in the second period at 2-2, Sweden scored the third point within a minute of opening the third and final period.

Finland did a great job thumping Russia 4-0 (see photo) in the semi-final on Friday night. In the other semi-final, Sweden beat the Czech Republic in a humiliating 7-3 result, bringing the two nordic enemies face to face.

It must have been hard for the Finns to accept this defeat, especially as they had triumphed in all seven preceding matches!

And then there was the Curling, led my Markku Uusipaavalniemi(see photo). Having defeated the all-Scottish team from Great Britain 4-3, Finland met - and lost to - Canada 10-4 in the final, settling for a silver medal.

And so the 2006 Winter Olympics drew to a close, with Finland coming 19th place with 6 silver and 3 bronze medals, and Great Britain coming 21st place with just one silver medal. Germany did amazingly well, wiping the board with a whopping 29 medals (11 golds, 9 silvers and 6 Bronzes), beating the USA who walked away with a overall of 25 medals. Check out the total medals haul on the right.

NORMAL LIFE: Service Ain't What It Used To Be!

Am I the only one who seems to think that service ain't what it used to be? When I was a kid and we went out for dinner as a family, staff would wait on you hand and foot, rushing back and forth to see if there was anything they could do to make your meal that little bit more of a pleasant experience. And don't get me started on the Chinese. They always seem to be in a rush in an obvious bid to increase table turnover. Fuck off! I am paying to have a nice meal so don't ply me with more food until I'm ready, bitch! I am not paying you to give me indigestion, geddit?

Recently, I had the most appalling experience when Bree and I were in a Chinese restaurant in London's ChinaTown. We were asked if we wanted to leave a tip so Bree left the standard 10% on the electronic receipt. When we left, I realised that the standard 12.5% service charge was already included in the cost of our meal and they had happily taken an additional 10%. Fucking capitalists! They only heated up some food and bought it to the table! God, whatever happened to treating the customer with respect?

It's interesting to see how services are delivered in different countries. For example, if you go to shoe shop in England, someone will eventually ask if you want to try on some shoes. In some stores, they will even fit them to your feet and tie up the laces for you. In Finland, you try on the single shoe you like then actively have to hunt down a sales assistant to find the matching shoe for the other foot. Before you know, the purchase of a pair of shoes becomes a one hour task. And when you do get the other shoe, you are left alone to try them on which kind of defeats the object of not putting both shoes on the shelves in the first place!

Recently, I've been amazed also by how the Finnish Tax Authority seem to love receiving my letters, but refuse to do anything with them other than to admire the lovely fonts and perfect formatting! And then there's this HR consultant who, commissioned by my last company to assist me in finding work, has sent me one lousy email (containing information I already knew) since our meeting in December.

Bree has been surprised by the fall in service standards. In Finland, one thing I admired about services is that tipping isn't part of the culture. Knowing this, you then have to question where the motivation comes from for service providers to even bother trying to deliver good service. In Spain and Italy, for example, tips form a large part of many salaries. Isn't it standard business knowledge that a salary is an overhead of the business and shouldn't this therefore be included in the cost of goods - or services - sold? I just don't see why organisation's should rely on the charity of consumers.

I know I sound like Victor Meldrew, but am I missing something here??

NORMAL LIFE: Tits In The Gym

Yes, I'm a member of a gym. To look at me, you would think I don't go often enough, but how can you take it seriously? Some of the vainest guys go to the same gym as Bree and I go to. They have shoulders wider than your standard door frame and chests bigger than Jordan's.

What these guys must be depriving themselves of in the pursuit for physical perfection saddens me; you never see these guys in the bar, getting bladdered with their mates. You never see them down a fast food joint, tucking into something greasy. Most likely, they will be sitting in front of the telly on a Saturday night, injecting themselves with all kind of hormones and downing milkshakes laced with protein in a desperate attempt to be bigger than that guy they saw at the gym a couple of weeks ago.

I thought I had seen everything, but no! Yesterday, a blonde Lara Croft made an appearance, complete with the most perfect pair of oversized artificial boobs I have ever seen. Just because I am gay doesn't mean I can't appreciate the look of a nice set of jugs, even if they are fake! Clad in bright red tight pants, the girl had a pout that said 'I love me!'. I felt like introducing myself to her as a Londoner and saying something like 'Nice tits, love'. Bree was beside himself with laughter when I shared this idea with him. I continued to amuse him with comments like 'Nice rack', 'Cor, cop a load of them!' and 'Ooh, they're so soft!'.

We were quite close to her at one point when Bree overheard her telling a friend that someone keeps looking at her boobs. What do you expect when you a) have breast implants then b) insist of wearing the most revealing clothing in c) a gym? Hello?! At the end of the day, she's a form of free entertainmnet and provides a nice change to the scenery of sweaty, testosterone-stinking meatheads!

NORMAL LIFE: I Hate Tax

Since returning to Finland last December, I have literally been hounded by the Finnish authorities for issues relating to tax. God, I hate taxes! In 2004, I had paid €2,800 to the the Department of Health & Social Security in the UK; I had chosen to remain in the UK Social Security system due to the temporary nature of my employment (e.g. it was a two year contract) and to ensure that I had access to services in respect of my hearing device.

In May 2005, I was sent a proposal for my taxes for 2004 by the authorities. Somehow I had underestimated my income for 2004 and owed the authorities €1,080. However, knowing I had €2,800 of social security costs to deduct, I wrote a letter in June (enclosing copies of the Social Security invoices) and forgot about it.

My work in Helsinki came to an end in September 2005 and I returned to the UK for a brief spell, before deciding to return in December. Within days of registering my return, letters from the tax office have flown through my letterbox, claiming I have not paid the outstanding sum of €1,080. Fortunately, I had kept my letter from June 2005 (the one with the invoices) so I faxed this through to the authorities. In order to withold payment, I would have to write a letter requesting the right do this. I wrote a letter and faxed it to them.

In the meantime, the authorities have checked my file and have discovered that the Company had paid my moving costs from Tampere to Helsinki in August 2003. Apparently, this constitutes a 'benefit in kind', even though I didn't receive my first month salary under Finnish taxation until September 2003! An additional €1300 (taxable value) has now been added to the liability. Shockingly, my employer didn't tell me that such a benefit would be taxable.

A week later, I received the bills again, this time with PENALTY charges for non-payment! They hadn't actioned my letter of June 2005 nor the request for withholding payment. I couldn't believe it! Last night, I paid the taxes (€1,080), but Bree and I also made a claim for the social security costs. In the meantime, the Company's lawyers are arguing my case concerning the relocation costs. Apparently, it could take a year for the authorities to decide on the outcome of each of the issues. Bastards!

Did I mention that I hate taxes?

STEP BACK IN TIME: Flashbacks 19 - 23 now online!

Click on AUGUST 2002 to read:-
- FLASHBACK #19: What Comes Out Of The Water!
- FLASHBACK #20: Helvetinjärvi And The Cuckoo
- FLASHBACK #21: Sausages At Midnight

Click on OCTOBER 2002 to read:-
- FLASHBACK #22: Flirting With Death (Literally!)
- FLASHBACK #23: McDonald's At The Kallio Monument

OUT OF INTEREST: Mustamakkara

Anyone who has lived abroad will tell you that sampling local food and rink is pretty much part of the territory. So, I introduce 'mustamakkara'. Directly translated, it's called 'black sausage'. Sounds harmless, doesn't it? Consisting of pork, pig blood, crushed rye and flower, the mix is stuff into the instestines of an animal and baked.

Traditionally eaten with Lingonberry Jam, it is considered both strange looking and strange tasting by those not native to Tampere. People in Tampere have been eating mustamakkara since the 16th Century. Having heard about it, I was very reluctant to go out and buy it myself, but when a friend of mine popped round one night with a huge bag of it, we spent the evening scoffing them down.

Between you and I, it tastes great with Tomato Ketchup!

NORMAL LIFE: Finland's Public Transport & Language

The daily commute to Malmi using Helsinki's antiquated commuter trains is always a pleasant experience. In fact, I am much happier with the fact that I now have to travel a bit to get to work. All in all, it only takes about 30-40 minutes to get to work, firstly with a short tram journey to the central railway station followed by a fifteen minute train ride; it kind of breaks up the day to see the snow white scenery on the way to work and to observe the other passengers.

Amazingly, it costs only €42 (£28) per month to use all of Helsinki's public transport which includes buses, the metro, trams and trains. What a bargain! And the various ways of getting around actually work on time! Even when it was -23 not so long ago, all of the trains left pretty much on time and the ones that didn't sparked a major outrage in the papers the very next day. You see, bad transport systems are not tolerated here.

After a hard day at work, there's nothing like reading the names of the stations to take your mind off the days tasks. Places with names such as Pukinmäki/Bocksbacka, Oulunkylä/Åggelby, Käpylä/Kotby and Pasila/Böle. The second name of each of these places is the Swedish word for those towns. 6-7% of Finland is Swedish-speaking, you see, so as a bilingual country it is law that place names should be displayed in both Finnish and Swedish.

By the way, there's no Finnish lessons this week, but I spent most of last night practising Verb Types 1, 3 and 4 and applying what is known as 'Astevaihtelu' (Consonant Gradation) to them! Don't ask! We don't have 'verb types' and 'consonant gradation' in English and it's a bitch to master. Still, I am determined to better my previous grade on this course - I have done exactly the same course before, but because I had stopped studying for a while, I thought it would be a good idea to refresh myself. And I am certainly doing that! I so badly want to better my grade of 68.5 points out of 118 (58%). 75% or more is my target!

NORMAL LIFE: Smoking Ban In All Pubs & Clubs

It certainly has been a week for the media. Finland has revealed details of a deal to create the world's largest passenger vessel and the Finnish governnment have endorsed a Fertility Bill granting single woman (including lesbians) the right to fertility treatment. Back home, in England, the government has finally banned smoking in pubs and clubs and about time too.

The result in the Commons was met with mixed reactions. While many claim that the changes will create a healther nation, some smoking groups claim that the government is denying freedom of choice to millions of people, forcing people to quit smoking by making is impossible to consume a legal product. Um, sorry, but why should my clothes stink of cigarettes everything I visit a pub? Some unbelievably stupid pricks even claim that there's no proof that passive smoking poses a health risk. I'm like 'hello, wake up and smell the tobacco!'

The only drawback of such a ban is that the government predicts that 600,000 people will quit smoking when the new changes come into force in 2007. Of course, this is a good thing, but that means the government will have to find something else to tax to make up for the loss of revenue.

Related Article:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/politics/4709258.stm

NORMAL LIFE: Fertility: Sensibility vs. Equality

Finland is a well managed and very efficient country. Considering its geographical location, and the harsh winters associated with that, and possessing one of the world's hardest languages, Finland has come a long way since its day's under Sweden and, later, Russian occupation.

People are highly educated, mostly to degree level. Nearly everyone under 40 years of age speaks perfect English. One drawback to Finnish society, however, is it's obsession with equality. Ironically, Finland is the only place where I have personally been subjected to INEQUALITY, but most likely that's because I am a foreigner in their territory.

Let me give you an example of how I think the government has taken equality too far. We turn to the issue of fertility treatment. Now, I am not against the provision of fertility treatment for couples who have tried to conceive, but have been unsuccessful. However, a band of women (including lesbians, apparently) have requested that the conception of a children should be assisted by the State.

Apparently, the Finnish government has endorsed a bill for a law on fertility treatment which does not consider the personal circumstances of the woman receiving treatment. As a result, single women and those in lesbian relationships are eligible for such treatment. When I read about this for the first time, my jaw dropped open in shock. I was shocked that a nation's government would even spend time engaged in such a debate which, in effect, encourages and supports single parenthood. Ah-hah, but therein lies the conflict between sensibility and equality. If married couples can receive such treatment, so should single people and lesbians apparently.

Most shocking is one Minister who suggested that such treatment be limited to treatment for 'couples consisting of a man and woman'. To an extent, I agree with this statement. However, he was voted AGAINST 9-3!!

I have spoken to two Finns about this and they both confirmed that, yes, it's an equality issue and that everyone has a right to have a child. A friend of mine in the UK didn't have an issue with lesbian couples getting such treatment, but expressed concern over single women having the right to get themselves pregnant with the support of the State with the possibility of claiming every possible welfare benefit as a single mother thereafter.

I'm like 'hello'? Encouraging single parenthood is downright wrong! Also, when you're gay like I am, you sort of come to terms with the fact that the likelihood of having biological children of your own is close to zero and that remaining childless is very much part of the territority. Bree expressed his concern for the offspring of such treatment, suggesting that bullying might be more likely for the child of parents who happen to be of the same sex.

If fertility treatment is be granted equally for straight couples, single women and lesbians, what rights do gay men have? Can I visit the doctor and claim that I'm a single man and would like to have a child to care for so, could you provide a surrogate mother with some eggs and I'll provide the sperm? Oh, spare the thought!

NORMAL LIFE: Finland To Build World's Largest Passenger Vessel

It came as a huge surprise to me too when the media revealed that Aker Finnyards, a shipyard based in Turku on the West coast of Finland, would be building the world's largest and most expensive passenger vessel.

The largest Finnish export deal ever and the most expensive ship order in the history of shipbuilding with a price tag of €900million, the vessel will be able to carry 5,400 people. Now, that's alot of people! The new cruise liner will be 360 metres long and will be delivered in Autumn 2009.

At the moment, the largest vessel is the 'Queen Mary II', but Finland is already building a larger ship, 'Freedom Of The Seas', which will be ready this Apri! Who would have thought that shipbuilding in Finland would be such big business, eh?

Related Article here

STEP BACK IN TIME: Flashbacks 17 & 18 now online!

Click on JUNE 2002 to read:
- FLASHBACK #17: My First Whiffy MidSummer

Click on AUGUST 2002 to read:
- FLASHBACK #18: European Adventure (Part 1) - Sweden, Denmark, Germany
- FLASHBACK #18: European Adventure (Part 2) - Germany, Austria, Lichtenstein, Switzerland, France
- FLASHBACK #18: European Adventure (Part 3) - The Cote D'Azur
- FLASHBACK #18: European Adventure (Part 4) - Love & Hate in Berlin & The Final Days

ANNOUNCEMENT: A Holiday Somewhere Warm!

Bree and I are going on holiday! Again! We just love our holidays! We are staying a bit closer to home this time though, opting for a one-week holiday in not-so-cultural Gran Canaria. Believe me, any break from the sub-zero environment we live in is welcomed! Just 27 days to go!

NORMAL LIFE: Nailbiting - Kicking The Habit!

I am particularly proud of myself. In the last year, I have managed to stop biting my fingernails four times. As a self-confessed lifelong nail-biter, I took stock last Summer when a colleague of mine came into my office and, while showing me some papers at my desk, I noticed how sore his nails looked. Realising that my nails were in fact even worse than his, I think seeing somebody else' bad nails gave me the impetus to do something about my own. In that very moment, I got the urge to stop.

However, four times I have 'fallen off the wagon', biting away at my ten digits. I know it sounds disgusting, but I liken it to smoking when, during especially stressful times, those who have recently stopped smoking get an urge to smoke. I guess the same is true for people who try to stop biting their nails after 20-odd years - it's just a gross habit which reveals that human beings have some bizarre weaknesses. Anyway, it's been three weeks since I bit my nails. I'm hoping that 2006 will the year when I finally kick this god-awful habit!

NORMAL LIFE: The Friends We Never See

In a recent posting, I questioned whether we know too much, suggesting that perhaps the internet has made us aware of too much of what's going on in the world. In this posting, I am going to praise the internet for how it has bought people together, helping us to remain in contact although we may be very much apart.

I met 'Bruce' online more than five years ago. He lives in Australia and we have never met. Over that time, we have exchanged photos, Christmas cards and shared memories, both happy and sad. While he lives on the other side of the world, ten hours head of me in Sydney, sometimes we just happen to be logged into MSN Messenger a the same time. We both live very different lives, but deep down he strikes me as an honest, fun-loving guy who would like to meet someone special. Having said that, he's certainly making the most of life in the meantime :-)

Then there is Wia, my dear friend in South Africa. Like myself, Wia has a Cochlear Implant and we met online in 1999 when I was researching cochlear implantation as an option for myself. She guided me through the process, introducing me to people along the way, helping me to put my mind at rest. She visited the UK during Summer 2001 and, in February 2005, we met again when I visited her in South Africa. We spent an amazing 16 days together. We haven't been in touch that much lately, but we both lead busy lives and both know that, despite the miles, we are thinking of one another.

The most recent addition to my online buddies is a witty chick who calls herself 'Blue' for no logical reason whatsoever! We met during our Masters in Marketing residential weekends and, since doing an assignment on Word of Mouth, have become avid Bloggers. Internet aside, we have a lot in common and, during out chats, we have bonded. We send email every day to add a bit of variety to our working days and I don't know how I would have got through the last few months without her advice and daily online presence.

At a time when people have a habit of coming into your life and taking the best bits before pissing off, it's nice to know that these people have remained, albeit at a distance. Perhaps this distance is what makes certain friendships last. While humans may be regarded as social animals, they are incredibly private; via the internet, we are able to control how much social contact we have with the world, albeit on a virtual plane and there's nothing better than spending hours online, especially during the Finnish winters, laughing and joking with my online pals.

NORMAL LIFE: Winter Olympics 2006

Did anyone see Turin's wonderful Opening Ceremony of the 20th Winter Olympics last Friday night? 2,500 atheletes from 84 countries paraded into the arena. Eight well known women, including Sophie Loren and Susan Sarandon, carried the olympic flag into the arena, followed by a speech for peace by Yoko Ono. The Ceremony ended with Luciano Pavarotti performing 'Nessum Dorma' which was followed by a brief, but magnificant fireworks display.

One thing I love about the Olympics is the coming together of nations for a respectable purpose - it is perhaps the only event which brings together all aspects of humanity in a peaceful way. It will be interesting to see how the Olympic Games in Beijing 2008 turn out and let's not forget the Olympics in London in 2012!

NORMAL LIFE: Do we know too much about the state of the world?

Sometimes I wonder if the Internet is a good thing - not only are there undesirable websites popping up everyday, but even the News websites are capable of striking fear into the very heart of you these days. Log on and, every day, there's a new story about a tragic natural disaster, the oil shortage, Iran's resumption of its nuclear program, the ongoing political correctness between Muslims and Western values. Not to mention coverage of the devestating Tsunami, last year's outbreak of SARS and the arrival of Bird Flu. Do we know too much?

I have all these theories about the state of the modern world in this 'information age'. I predict that the European Union will collapse within 50 years - the smaller countries will get sick of being lead by the larger nations, leading to the fragmentation of the Union and the European currency. A disaster in the Middle East is just waiting to happen, be it in Iran, Syria or Palestine. With HIV, SARS and bird flu, an epidemic of some kind is imminent with the experts claiming that one is long overdue.

Where does this leave people like myself who are living in foreign countries? If the EU collapses, what are the potential problems concerning residency? Would such a collapse result in a surge in nationalist pride give rise to deporations on a mass scale? If a nuclear disaster erupts in the Middle East, will the effects be felt in Europe? Similarly, if there is a bird flu outbreak on a mass scale, will all air travel be cancelled in a bid to prevent its spread?

Surely there must be people out there who share my concerns. I mean, instead of waiting for oil to actually run out, shouldn't we already be converting to alternative sources of energy? Instead of depending on rogue nations such as Russia for gas supplies (isn't it sort of wrong that WE are paying THEM?!), shouldn't governments be subsidising those sources of energy NOW to avoid an energy shortage which will no doubt become more expensive the more scarce it becomes? Only two weeks ago, Ukraine saw how dismal life could be when Russia cut off its gas supply during a snap of exceptionally cold weather. I could go on and on, but I won't!

NORMAL LIFE: Music As Memory

I was listening to a CD by Michael Ball (sad, I know, but he's gorgeous!) and there was this track, a live recording of a Medley featuring the songs 'The Way We Were' and 'The Rose'. Before he launched into yet another powerful performance, he gave a short speech, telling how 'life has a kind of soundtrack running through it, every major event having a piece of music associated with it. And when I hear the music,' he says 'it brings back the memories, brighter and clearer.'

I know exactly what he means! Sensitivity is a characteric very few people possess, or portray, these days. Even during the time when when my hearing was really bad (between the ages of 15 and 23), I took to feeling the speakers of my stereo system, determined not to lose contact with the beauty of the music. I would close my eyes and 'feel' the music. I recall how my old boss used to say that 'people who don't like music can't possibly have souls'. Knowing how much music can 'move' me, I guess there's some truth in that.

I have also been listening to Westlife's new album, 'Face to Face'. In my defence, I have never listened to any of their music before now and it was on sale! Besides, it had a duet with Diana Ross, singing her wonderful song 'When You Tell Me That You Love Me'. When Mark (apparently, he is gay) kicks off the second verse, oh-my-god! It puts a chill down my spine. Likewise, when Shane (the other dark haired guy in the group) leads in 'You Raise Me Up', I realised what I had been missing! Oooohhh!

Just as things were going so well on the music front, I had been given Rick Astley's comback album 'Portrait' as a Christmas present. It must have been somebody else's unwanted Christmas present because it is complete and utter shite! Don't buy it. You can have my copy. Why am I being so hard on him? Every song sounds the same and, to get the record contract in the first place, I'm convinced he must have drugged up everyone around the negotiation table.

KYLIE: Kylie Minogue

It's now been more than seven months since Kylie Minogue's diagnosis of breast cancer was revealed to a shocked public. If even a fraction of the recent press coverage about her is true, she appears to be on the mend - she's out and about with family and friends, having undergone initial surgery followed by a six month stint of chemotherapy. Currently in Australia, she is undergoing radiation therapy five days per week with the aim of reducing the risk of a recurrence of cancer cells.

Bless her, eh? Back in 1987, at the age of 11, I bought her single (is there anyone who didn't?), 'I should be so lucky', which was a huge hit. It was the first single I ever bought and she has been with us, as a nation, pretty much ever since. Over the years, she has released hit after hit and her concerts have got better and better with record companies pumping ever increasing amounts of money into her concert budget because she's such a sure thing!

Rumour has it that she is planning to return to work, perhaps completing the remainder of her Showgirl Greatest Hits Tour in Australiasia at the end of 2006 and recording a new album in 2007. Her tour was postponed in May 2005, having completed the UK leg of it - my boyfriend and I actually saw her show at Earl's Court last May and she was fantastic!

Great kylie websites:
www.kylie.com
www.kylie.co.uk
www.slokylie.com

ANNOUNCEMENT: Blog To Undergo A Structural Change!

When I started this blog, I didn't think it would get so confusing as I mixed FLASHBACKS from the past with topical NORMAL LIFE postings.

To make reading easier and more life-like, all flashback entries have been re-posted to the time in which they relate and 'STEP BACK IN TIME' entries will regularly notify you of the last five flashbacks that have been published, containing direct links to the five mentioned entries.

For all existing flashbacks, these have now been republished, in the past where they belong! However, you can link to them using the links below:

October 2001
- FLASHBACK #1: How it all started - let's go back four years!

November 2001
- FLASHBACK #2: My First Weekend in Finland!

December 2001
- FLASHBACK #3: English name on a door!
- FLASHBACK #4: Should I Stay Or Should I Go?
- FLASHBACK #5: Nights in Helsinki: two men on the platform
- FLASHBACK #6: Castles, 'support package' and sleeping in the sauna

January 2002
- FLASHBACK #7: Christmas 2001 in England

February 2002
- FLASHBACK #8: BBC Prime, Eastenders & Internet!

March 2002
- FLASHBACK #9: The New Resource called 'Thing'
- FLASHBACK #10: Ski fun at Kauppi & Himos

April 2002
- FLASHBACK #11: Slutty eyes on a dancefloor

May 2002
- FLASHBACK #12: Vappu Eve, another Salmiakki Koskenkorva incident and the police!
- FLASHBACK #13: Vappu Day, 2002, A toast to the summer!
- FLASHBACK #14: China & Charity (Part 1) - People, Trekking, Zip-lining!
- FLASHBACK #14: China & Charity (Part 2) - A Strained Friendship & Beijing
- FLASHBACK #14: China & Charity (Part 3) - Sightseeing, Adventure & the End of Friendship
- FLASHBACK #15: A Date with Kylie (& Fred)

June 2002
- FLASHBACK #16: Parents Visit Finland

NORMAL LIFE: Good News Followed By Bad

Having just arrived at the office this morning, I received a text message from an old friend of mine in London, telling me that her request for a Cochlear Implant had been accepted. Wow, what fantastic news! My friend is totally deaf and we met online more than five years ago when I was searching for advice concerning my forthcoming implantation in February 2001. Readmitted into hospital following post-op complications, she came to visit me. We communicated via lipreading and signing; she was great company and we have kind of been in touch every since. What great news to start off the day, I thought.

Later on, Bree called me to let me know that our new wardrobes, which we so badly need, will be delivered tomorrow and construction will begin tomorrow afternoon, continuing on Friday morning. This was great news and after my boss agreed to give me the time off work I emailed him back to let him know I had Friday morning's working hours covered.

My day was going quite well; not being overly busy at work and being on the receiving end of good news made a nice change. I decided to force matters when I called an employment agency to find out the outcome of a telephone interview I had had last week. When I got through, the woman explained that she was supposed to call me on Monday - it is now Wednesday - to let me know I had been unsuccessful.

One thing that has constantly frustrated me during my jobsearch in Finland is that I have to be so active. Why had is taken the agent more than 48 hours to notify me of a the Client's decision? And why did I have to call THEM when they should have had the common courtesy to update me on the situation? I really wanted the job so being unsuccessful was naturally a disappointment.

It's typical really that, on this exceptionally bright and sunny winter day, I feel depressed and can't wait for the day to end. Hope your day is going better than mine!

NORMAL LIFE: Men are under pressure too!

This is post is being created, having just return from my local gym. It's already February and I've only just started going to the gym after a six week long Christmas! Firstly, I would just like to point out that any man who says they wouldn't like to have a good body is in denial. And it's not to get the girls (or the guys, in my case!). It's more of a mental thing.

As my fellow blogger, Blue, quite clearly points out, women are under increasing pressure to look good. While the press doesn't target men in this respect, a lot of men also feel the pressure. I was in a straight nightclub recently and I was shocked as guys in their 40s actively pursued girls in their 20's - it was bordering on perversion and wasn't attractive, believe me!

I might be speaking for the gay audience here, but I have never felt as much under pressure as I do now to keep in shape. I'm a bulky, burly 28 year old in pretty good health, but when I look at a fitness magazine cover, I 'feel' fat (even though I am not) and they make me look and feel inadequate. The media has alot to be sorry for.

Check out Blue's post here

NORMAL LIFE: Master's Assignment Submission

Boy, was I glad to finally offload my completed master's assignment just now! I have just spend two months studying 'the claims made for both Word of Mouth and Viral Marketing', arguing whether or not it is 'simply word of mouth on a digital platform' (Hanson, 2002). At the end of my 5,000 word essay, I concluded that:

'VM shares many of WOM's attributes. However, WOM is a voluntary action among consumers whereas VM is an intentional message or campaign that originates from within an organisation with the intention of encouraging WOM external to the organisation sending the message. Therefore, I perceive Viral Marketing itself to be purely a tool that encourages WOM and is therefore not simply word of mouth via a digital platform. With computer technology the way it is, 'viral marketing now has it's place firmly set within the marketing mix and ... is an essential part of the 21st Century communication mix.' (Perry & Whitaker, 2002). And with no common definitions for either WOM and VM, it doesn't really matter what we call it. After all, the future of marketing success lies between knowledgeable, yet sceptical, consumers with marketers simply planting the 'seed' in the right place at the right time'.

Now, does that sound credible or not?! I have kind of surpassed myself, but I couldn't have done it without the input of one girl from my class - she's objective like you wouldn't believe, but she's witty and great company. We've been in constant contact since we started the Master's and I couldn't have got this far without her guidance! Thanks, Red! The assignment was a good exercise and was what actually encouraged me to set up this blog. It was also a good exercise for the upcoming dissertation where we have to write 20,000 words, 10,000 of which is a summary of reviewed literature. I've got some ideas already, but let's see how the results for the assignment are...

ANNOUNCEMENT: Frustrated first-time buyer/new blogger in our midst!

My friend from the Master's class has set up a blog to vent her frustration. She's currently looking to buy her first home and has set up a blog to document the trials and tribulations of dealing with what she calls the 'spawn of the devil'. Yes, she's talking about Estate Agents. If you're having a similar experience or want to offer advice or words of support, check it out on www.redgooner.blogspot.com/

NORMAL LIFE: House price madness

Bree is mega pissed off! Admitting that a bit of extra space would be nice, we recently went to view an apartment in the Etu-töölö district of Helsinki. Measuring 107m², the apartment had three large rooms, a spacious hallway and a kitchen with a smaller room next to it. The bathroom was in a bit of state and the wall linking the small room with the kitchen could be knocked through to create a lovely spacious kitchen-dining area. We both liked the place and were considering a joint purchase. I would take on a smaller share, as a first-time buyer however, as the apartment was on the marketing for €360,000 (approx £240,000).

We bided our time to see what offers were made on the apartment. Last week, we found out that the apartment had actually been sold for €440,000 (£295,000). How ridiculous, I thought, for 351ft²! Realising that the housing market has changed considerably since he purchased his own apartment six years ago, we decided that we would stay put, investing instead in professionally fitted wardrobes! This would address our problem of a lack of space.

It's clear how careless people are being with their purchase decisions these days and, especially, the state of house prices in Europe has been well publicised. According to a recent article on the BBC, the number of first-time buyers in the UK is at a 25-year low with the average person having to spend five years saving up an average deposit of £24,000. The average age of a first time buyer has reached 33. These figures are shocking and make you wonder what the point of buying your own home is - and therefore being responsible for all the maintenance - as opposed to renting. After all, the statistics prove that Britain's homeowners make up the majority of the nation's poor.

BBC Article: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/4657868.stm

OUT OF INTEREST: Juhan Ludvig Runerbeg (1804-1877)

Johan Ludvig Runeberg (1804-1877) is consider to be Finland's national poet. Born on February 5, 1804, the Finnish-Swedish poet studied first in the cities of Vaasa and Oulu before joining the Academy of Turku where he befriended Johan Vilhelm Snellman (an influential philosopher and Finnish statesman) and Zacharias Topelius (a prolific Finnish-Swedish journalist, historian and author). Runeberg's studies concentrated mainly on the classical languages of latin and greek.

Many of his poems deal with life in rural Finland. The best known of these is Bonden Paavo, about a peasant farmer (Paavo) in a poor parish of and his determination and sisu (guts) in the face of a harsh climate and years of bad harvests. Each year, he mixes double the amount of bark into his bread to stave off starvation.

Runeberg's most famous work is The Tales of Ensign Stal (Vänrikki Stoolin tarinat in Finnish). It is considered the greatest Finnish epic poen outside the native Kalevala tradition and contains tales of the Finnish War of 1808-1809 with Russia.


In the war, Sweden ignominiously lost Finland, which became a Grandy Duchy in the Russian Empire. The poem emphasizes the common humanity of all sides in the conflict, while principally lauding the heroism of the Finns. The first poem, 'Our Land', ('Maamme' in Finnish) became the Finnish National Anthem.

Runeberg is celebrated on 5th February each year with the consumption of delicious Runeberg Tarts.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Johan_Ludvig_Runeberg
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Johan_Vilhelm_Snellman
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zacharias_Topelius

NORMAL LIFE: Brokeback Mountain, go and see it!

When Bree suggested we go and see the gay themed movie, 'Brokeback Mountain', I was a little bit cynical, thinking that it was a cheap attempt at motivating gay people into recommending the movie to others. When the media reported that Brokeback Mountain has been nominated for 8 Oscar Academy Awards, I succumbed.

I just got back from seeing the movie and it was nothing short of sensational. The movie traces the lives of two cowboys who meet in 1963 while working as sheep herders. Herding sheep over the stunning scenery of Brokeback Mountain, Wyoming, the guys develop an unique affection for one another. It starts with the need to share a tent during a rather cold night. After a frantic moment, their bond was sealed. Over the weeks, you see moments of joy, happiness and romance.

Four years later, they meet again, having married and had kids in the meantime. Their meeting blossoms into a deceptive long distance relationship until tragedy of the most unimaginable kind strikes. It is the kind of event that most gay people fear and seeing it on the big screen had a profound effect on me. The tragedy confirms a haunting childhood experience Ennis reveals during the film and, later in life, this clearly impacts on his ability to accept himself.

This movie is a lesson to us all. Not only does love take many forms, it also tells of how life is too short. We really all should live for today and not the way society expects us to live. The movie explores the uniqueness of two individuals who genuinely love eachother from the heart.

As I left the cinema, a single tear rolled down my cheek. Touching, moving and tragic, the movie combines outstanding performances from all actors. Set in the 60's and 70's, the movie has a rather simplistic feel to it, but the performance of the two cowboys is as breaktaking as the scenery itself.

Go and see it!

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/4666112.stm
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0388795/

NORMAL LIFE: Allow me to introduce Bree, my 'wife'.

If you've been reading my posts, you'll know that I am gay. And that I refer to my boyfriend simply as my boyfriend. But no longer.

I have heard friends and family members talking about the American TV series, 'Desperate Housewives', alot so when I saw the series DVD on sales at HMV at Heathrow Airport, I thought I would see what everybody is talking about.

After watching the first few episodes together, my boyfriend suddenly declared that Bree, the ever-so-perfect obsessively clean one of the housewives, reminded her of him. After a bit of discussion, yes, they did share some of the same qualities, but thank god my boyfriend isn't as frigid as she is.

So, from now on, all postings will refer to my boyfriend as Bree, just so you know!

OUT OF INTEREST: Salmiakki Koskenkorva

Salmiakki Koskenkorva, also known as salmiakkikossu (or Gee's Linctus, my own personal name for it!), is a pre-mixed vodka cocktail which caused a major revolution in drinking culture in Finland during the 1990s.

Today, it is the Number One drink among locals and tourists and is a combination of Koskenkorva Viina (a white spirit made from barley mixed with spring water and a very small amount of sugar) and Turkish Pepper, a brand salty liquorice.

Inspired by an episode of 'The Simpson's', when Homer Simpson invents a new cocktail consisting of cough medicine among other ingredients, some Finnish drinking establishments started serving a similar drink make from ground ammoinium chloride (ie. salmiakki in Finnish) based candy. Amongst the Finnish youth, it is known as 'Teenager's Vodka'.

Disaster struck when tabloids printed stories claiming that a teenager had suffered a heart attack after consuming the drink. The story was considered strong enough to encourage the state monoplogy alchohol manufacturer from withdrawing the drink from sale throughout the country. Citizens, determined to continue enjoying the newly introduced cocktail, simply made the drink at home by crushing two bags of Fazer's Turkish Pepper and adding this to half a litre of the clear Koskenkorva. After tightly re-sealing the bottle, it is placed on the top tray of a dishwasher. After a wash cycle, the bottle is put into a fridge to cool down. Once cool, it is ready to serve.

Althought the heart attack rumour turned out to be bogus, the drink does have some dangerous properties as it is very insidious; the strong flavour of hot candy almost totally masks the presence of ethanol and the consumer may not realise he/she is consuming drink with almost 40% alcohol by volume (80-proof), leading to possible alcohol poisoning.

Source: Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopaedia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Salmiakki_Koskenkorva