Sporadic sausages

via mtv3

Posting here seems to be getting more sporadic and sparse as time goes on, partly because we are well into the repetition zone as we get closer to kaksi vuotta (what is there to say about Vappu that wasn't said last May day for instance); and also because staying at home sitting in front of the computer trying to design kitchens/extensions/invitations doesn't throw up a lot of insightful or exciting moments. Also I have realised that a lot of my posts are picture led - i.e. an excuse to show off whatever randomly appeared in front of my camera, just be glad you don't have to see the full slideshow. So if I haven't been out somewhere with my camera I don't seem to come up with much to post about.

Not to say nothing is happening. Since the last blog post we have bought a flat, had our 4th client/project, bought a bonsai tree, had a name day and killed my Xbox360 (the dreaded red ring of death). The latter is probably a good thing as will stop me being tempted to play Fallout 3 instead of looking at Finnish building regulations. Now I will have to talk to the bonsai tree instead. (It's called Bernard).

About the most interesting thing going on here just now is people panicking that they won't be able to buy nakkia and perunasalattia for their vappupäivä picnic due to striking/locked-out food sector workers - I imagine if the 'Suomi sausage shortage' goes on much longer the Finnish government will have to declare martial law to prevent rioting when Finns realise their summer barbecue will have to be vegetarian.

Boy interrupted

[Not sure if I'm ever going to manage to post this, as Safari (newly upgraded to 3.2) keeps crashing on me. There it goes again. Anyway...]

As it is now week 12 of my 16 week language course, this means it is already time for test number three this Tuesday. In the the last 10 weeks I've got into a bit of a routine for my days, being pretty much undisturbed all day after Hiiri and Konna go to work at some unholy hour of the morning.  Sitting at the kitchen table to do my homework and watch the squirrels in the yard. Leaving to go to the course at 4:30 as everyone else is coming home from work.  This routine has been disrupted by Hiiri hurting her leg, and being off work all week, so I've retreated to our room to work while she talks on the phone, smokes on the balcony, watches 'The Bold and the Beautiful' or drinks black coffee in the kitchen while reading the Finnish equivalent of 'Hello'.  There are occasional halting conversations in Finnish (usually ending with me saying 'en tiedä' or 'en ymmärra' - I don't know / I don't understand).  Hiiri is also probably at a bit of a loose end during the day, having gone shopping and to the kirputori (fleamarket - selling not buying) by the time I have got up and had my breakfast in the morning and keeps helpfully doing things for me ... and as I wrote that she has just brought me a stack of clean, dry laundry - so now I feel bad for not taking it down before doing this!  

The second day she was off, I was eating my muesli (honest, I don't do fry ups every day you know) when two friends turned up, warmed up with a bit of coffee and gossip, and started to give her a home perm and hair cut in the kitchen.  

The third day she was off 10 friends came round at 3pm and they had some sort of 'tupperware party' thing about health food in the lounge (not entirely sure, as I blundered in and froze before escaping early to my course at 4pm, only thinking there was a couple of people there). 

On the 4th day, being a Thursday and on which I had got into a habit of going shopping and cooking an evening meal - as my contribution to invading the spare room, and as a prelude to our weekly sauna and swimming slot - I discovered that Hiiri was cooking kaalilaatikko, a 'box', meaning a casserole (the size of a vat in this case) of cabbage and mincemeat.  'Huomenta minä teisin ruokka' (Tomorrow I could cook) I said thinking that way I could buy some of the groceries as well, 'oh-ko' she says then rummages in the now groaning fridge and freezer and shows me two packs of cubed pork and a fridge drawer full of vegetables - ah, forget the shopping then, but what can I make with that I wondered.  Anyway she is back to work tomorrow, so I will be able to relax and not worry about getting in her way anymore... it is her flat afterall...

I wonder what the squirrels have been up to?