No Worries Mate!

Brisbane floods

2011-01-21T09:55:00Z

Brisbane floods

I haven't had time to write a lot but decided that I will now make a post so that I will later on remember what happened and what I felt. These are my experiences of the floods and certainly not as dramatic as for some people of which I am very grateful!

Last weekend with all the flooding in Northern QLD areas there started to be fears they might reach the South East corner. It had been raining for weeks. Don't remember how many weeks. It was raining during Christmas break and there was one or two clear days and then it started again. Here the rain is nothing like back home in Finland. When it rains, it pours...

In December it poured. It isn't unusual to get over 100 mm per day, but when it get to 220-250mm per day it normally is not a good thing. Here a few examples of around here from December

Highest total December rainfall for at least 20 years
	Total rainfall for December 2010 (mm)	Most recent December at least this wet		Years since wetter	Average for December
Archerfield Airport	354.6	444.0	in 1970	38	128.7
Redlands HRS	319.6	423.7	in 1970	38	140.5

The table is from www.bom.gov.au/climate/current/month/qld/brisbane.shtml website if you want more information.

Of course when it just keeps raining and raining and the soil is just too wet to take it and the water must go somewhere; here it must flow to the sea. I still don't really know why the 7-8 meters 'inland tsunami' hit Towoomba and Lockier Valley, but it wasn't pretty. Everybody stopped. All that water it must get to the sea and where does it go there... Through the Bremer and Brisbane rivers.

http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/photogallery/environment/weather/fatal-wave-of-water-hits-toowoomba/20110111-19li1.html

When all this happened everybody was starting to follow the news. It might actually hit Brisbane.

Why, what and how it happened?

On the 11th the water was already reaching Brisbane despite the efforts to let the water out from Wivenhoe dam. Ipswitch was already getting under. My colleague could not come to work and one colleague from Caboolture the North side, where we used to live too, said that if he leaves now he knows he's not gonna get back. Smart move Russ!

The morning at work started a little weary. Everybody was just watching news. It was grey and it kept raining. Pretty soon the news started coming in of the inundated areas and people started getting worried. I couldn't really concentrate on work as this all was so new and so unbelievable. Brisbane CBD flooding. Eagle street pier... It's just a few hundred meters away!

People left little by little as areas around them started to get flooded, or the road that they needed to cross to get home. Around 11:30am I decided to go home as Albion and Bowen hills were flooding, and as I was unaware of the situation at Kedron, I thought I'd better get home to Kaj and the kids while I can get past it.

CBD looked like normal when I left for the bus, but you could feel the tension. Everyone just wanted to get home to their loved one. I felt like a part of a disaster movie trying to beat the nature to get home.

As some of you know it was also Luka's 3rd birthday and I promised to bring a cake.

I got fairly easily to Chermside shopping centre (biggest in QLD and about 800 m from our house), but I had to get out of the bus there to get the cake for little Luka, like I promised. In the shop people were shopping like crazy, beans, water, food, food, food, just in case. I got my cake and went back to catch the bus, but busses didn't come. I read from the news on my iPhone that whole entire CBD is fleeing, and our office had closed just a little after I left.

No busses, so I decided to walk home. At least I would be able to walk the first 300m inside the shopping centre!! It was pouring so I was soaking wet when I got home. In Aspley at our house all was well and we finally had Luka's birthday cake with candles and all, with Emmy and Essi as our guests! Happy Birthday little Luka <3

Well back to the flood itself... We weren't affected by it as we live 15km from CBD and about the same from Strathpine, Pine river.

With Wivenhoe dam already full for several months and more water coming in they had to make decisions. When the dam was 140% full and rising they let water out. When it reached 189,7% at 8am on the 12th of January they let 674 megalitres of water out in to prevent the Dam of reaching the critical 225% when it would reach the point of possible structural damage. Note! normally the spillways are closed, always, no water is let out.

This lead to Brisbane river peak which luckily was lower than everybody anticipated. Every meter counts. When push comes to shove, I found out that there is 'Sisu' in Australia too. During the darkest hours waiting how high it will peak Queenslanders were bound together with this amazing speech by our very own Premier Anna Bligh

http://news.ninemsn.com.au/video.aspx?videoid=e9736960-f2bf-4688-b5f1-acccfe608b89

Few more pictures of the flood peak

http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/photogallery/environment/weather/flood-peaks-in-brisbane/20110113-19oid.html

More pictures of all around the area

http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/photogallery/environment/weather/the-most-striking-photos-of-the-floods/20110114-19qz3.html

We stayed home. Read the news and tried reaching our friends in affected areas. Luckily everyone was fine. Some had to leave their homes, but were OK. Our very good friends had their ground floor a little flooded but nothing more serious than that.

After math

After the peak the water went down 2 meters in just one day. Few more days and it receded from the flooded areas leaving a 'war zone' behind. That's when a new kind of army moved in. The army of volunteers wanting to help.

"Cr Newman said there were 12,000 registered volunteers on Saturday and 10,300 on Sunday and the numbers of unregistered helpers triple or quadruple those amounts.

Cr Newman said the CityCat ferry service terminals had suffered an estimated $60 million to $100 million of damage during the floods "

FULL story:
http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/environment/weather/heading-back-to-work-tomorrow-heres-what-you-need-to-know-20110116-19scf.html

I was proud to be one of them. On Sunday morning I got up early went straight to Bunnings as I had heard from Kaj that they had a fresh load of gumboots (couldn't find them anywhere else on Saturday) and headed to Boondall Entertainment Centre assembly point.

We were sent to Sandgate beach to clean up all the debris that had floated there.

In addition to the massive amount of trees, branches and wood, there was water boiler (left one) and big piece of plastic pipe was stuck up in the mud and guys went to get it out. 20 meter long pontoon (probably someone's pier), pieces of concrete pier or walkway (Riverwalk?), one huge water tank, massive amount of fruit, clothes, furniture and even a full bag of wine from inside those cardboard wine caskets. The smell was awful, but you got used to it.

A street sign. I wonder where it is from?

The beach strip is long but there was 6 busloads of us so we got it cleaned in about four hours.

Pictures:

http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/photogallery/environment/weather/army-of-volunteers-moves-in/20110115-19s0b.html

Downside; People started sightseeing the flood destruction which I find very immature. Roads were congested because of 'rubberneckers' wanting to see the flood affected areas meaning the volunteers and other people actually wanting to help couldn't get there. One in our bus said it took them two hours to get Darra the other day to clean up!

“And please if you are not directly contributing to the clean-up effort we ask that you stay away from flood affected areas. Don’t unnecessarily contribute to the traffic congestion; help your community by staying home.”

Rosalie resident Neil Aveling, whose home was one of the few in the suburb to escape flooding, said he had seen a steady stream of rubberneckers with cameras.

“There’s been a lot of traffic coming, up and down,” he said.

“People drive down and turn around, take photos and go.”

The practice attracted the ire of online readers, with commenters on brisbanetimes.com.au stories yesterday venting their fury.

“They should be ashamed of themselves,” commented one resident from flood-torn Paddington as reports of clogged roads emerge.

FULL story www.brisbanetimes.com.au/queensland/traffic-gridlock-hampers-flood-cleanup-20110114-19r3q.html

Getting back to 'normal'

Everyone started being a little positive after the clean up was progressing so well and little by little things started getting back to 'normal'. Like they would ever be 'normal' after this. Everyone will remember the 2011 floods and ask each other 'Where were you when it happened?'. But we're tough, we're the ones they knock down and we get back up again!

I've been working home ever since. Many CBD offices have suffered of various problems from lifts not working to electricity not being restored yet due to damage to main switchboard in the basements. Now on Monday we all can go back to office but we have timetables when to go in, to lunch and leave due to lift problems. I'm ok with taking the stairs. It's only 16th floor

Summary

I've always watched catastrophes from tv. I've always been lucky enough to have never been affected by them personally. For some reason I felt guilty of having everything 'ok'. I know it's not my choice, I don't know whose choice it was, but I am so grateful of the share we've been given. What I do know, is I could've taken a little of the pain they are suffering. I have my batteries full now and I am able to handle it. Who knows maybe I will be given something to handle in the future. I believe the saying is right 'You're not given more than you can handle'.

I hope you are all well <3

Blog is private

2011-01-14T11:48:00Z

I was getting spam and I don't feel comfortable telling my life story to the whole world anymore so I closed my blog. Now it's only with username and password.

I will put updates to FaceBook anyway with the user name and the password. I'd appreciate you not giving the password to anyone.

I will also try to be more active, but I've just had much too much going on in my private life and I've had to cut everything extra off.

Back in Brissy!

2010-12-19T05:48:00Z

I know this is a little late but I had this post almost ready so will post it

After the long travel through Beijing and Singapore we finally arrived in Brisbane, again. Taxi was full with all the suitcases we had!

And at 'home' finally and asleep.

Pop tops... =)

And other Australian wonders... this one was called Muikku

Swimming at Redcliffe. It was a bit chilly!

Aleksi and Laura starting school. Exciting!

BBQ at our friends house close to Story Bridge. Nice views to the river!

More natures wonders. Kids found this lizard behind the bins.

Next post wil finally have pictures of our house!

Singapore part II

2010-10-08T09:53:00Z

And even though it was raining the whole day it didn't matter since it was tropical over 30 degrees... good time for a visit at the local water park. NOTHING like GC waterparks, but served the purpose for the kids....

I just love this picture.... All three holding hands...The best ever thing I've accomplished in my life!

Hahahaha this was FUN waiting for the big splash... I took Luka there... see me holding him on the right side... the force of the water was so immense that I could hardly stand up with Luka in my lap.

FUN!!!

Not like we ended the fun there... We took the luge down at Sentosa island. It wasn't the first time. We were familiar with the luge since taking one at Queenstown, South Island, New Zealand during the last 'visit' to Australia.

MORE FUN!!

Laura on the luge. He managed to 'drive' the 'car' away from the path to the bushes LOL

Up with the cable car. Great views from up there!

After luge we headed to the beach to have swim. They had these little water fountain popping out of the ground. Kids loved to play with them.

The beach was really beautiful and it was good to cool off a little since it was a really hot day.

Siloso beach. Can you spot the kids?

Beach, palm trees, kids...

Kids overlooking at Singapore harbour. Wondering if their toys are somewhere there in a container waiting to start their last leg towards Brisbane....

Kids wanted to take pictures of these huge turtles.

Our neighbourhood food court that was just around the corner from our hotel. Kids loved watching the fish and crabs and food was good and cheap.

Three days passed really quickly and it was time to take yet another flight to reach our destination. Last flight was operated by Emirates and I can positively recommend them. Best service ever, excellent food, entertainment and things to do for the kids.

Singapore part I

2010-10-05T22:49:00Z

After the China Wall it was time to continue our journey. Next destination was Singapore and I understand why the tickets were so cheap....

The plane left very late and since it was only a 5,5 hour flight the plane was smaller, narrower and yes older... A little after take off the oxygen mask fell off from the ceiling. Sticky tape wasn't sticky enough LOL Everything was so old, faded, chipped from here and there. Air China... lovely!

Luckily the kids fell asleep fairly fast as there was no entertainment what so ever.

Right after landing it was time to go shopping! Singapore is one of the world's shopping capitals and you could easily see it on the 'Strip'

Gucci!!

Aaaahhhh Prada!!! PPP

Not that I could even enter the stores... I thought it was wiser to stay away )

We found a good and cheap locals shopping centre and decided that all three should have a cut. You know what happened... yes some of you might remember or guess what happened the last time Miss Laura was at hairdressers... You guessed it right... She fell asleep AGAIN

Some go to hairdressers to relax... well now I know what they mean. It surely must be a very relaxing experience! Little cutie <3

Singapore is filled with amazing architecture. This was one of the weirdest structure I've ever seen. A ship on top of highrisers?? What??? It's a Casino actually and yes you could go all the way to the front and pretend you're on Titanic! Unfortunately we didn't have time to go up there so we just admired it from distance.

CBD at the background. Aleksi took the picture.

And the famous Merlion!

More pics from the riverside... lovely in the evening!

There was this strip of riverside restaurants with delicious food!

But we just stopped by for a drink after a long walk and hot day.

The strip along the riverside.

They had heaps of seafood and crabs. Kids got to even touch them. No worries their claws were all tied up!

Ok we stopped for another drink too. Kaj wanted a picture with the Casino ship at the backgroud.

Singapore is a fine city LOL One sign would be enough

Clarke Quay... Lovely, lovely place. You could just wander there for the whole night and enjoy food and entertainment.

Would you like to be inside that ball??

The Great Wall of China

2010-08-27T12:50:00Z

After being in China for 24 hours... or less it was time to hit the road and visit the Great Wall of China! We had taxi booked in advance and OFCOURSE even though we had alarm our heads were tuned to European time and feel so fast asleep that once waking up we were already 15 mins late to the taxi...

Lucky for us the Taxi driver was waiting... told him we just woke up... gotta get dressed... dragged the kids out bed... well you all know what's it's like in the morning... + jetlag... oh bother...

We did get everyone inside the taxi fairly fast... Thenon the way out of the town...Once we got to the Wall... Breakfast... NOODLES at ... Hmmm 10 am LOL

I was so happy that we got there... My fault I fell asleep again and just was too jetlagged to realize anything...

We knew it was a walk.... or a climb... So we took the cable car up This is when we were coming down LOL

Blond kids are famous in China... Luka was constantly photographed even without permission. Here they asked to take a photo with Luka. Neither one of them seem too fond of it LOL

And yes we are there!!! Yet another dream come true!

I must say that I would prefer going there alone, hiking on the 'lost' parts or something. With kids even this one was pretty hard. Laura started saying that mummy my feet tremble.... it feels weird... So LOTS of climbing up there!! It was also very humid there. Everyone was sweating like pigs. I think it was about 36 degrees plus humidity. Good exercise for Brissy summer LOL

I loved it. It's been my dream to see the Great Wall of China and I did see it!!

All together China was a positive surprise. I loved China, I hated the traffic since they are CRAZY they drive on you and the only warning you get is horn even though you got green light!! Never been so scared going around with kids....

BUT more pics of THE wall to come LOL

Even though it was foggy I'm surprised at how good the pics turned out...'

Little ones <3

Down from the wall... no wonder so many million people died building it... It's high, humid in summer. freaking cold in winter...

Kaj on THE Wall

All together stopping in Beijing was definitely worth it and HUUUUUGE thanks to Tuomo and his family for letting us stay at their place. Thanks to Jiri for helping us out in navigating and finding food to eat (no English menus LOL).

I will remember this all my life. I can't believe I was in China!!!

Copyright Taskiset.com 2011

Beijing

2010-08-21T13:44:00Z

Us and our humble pile of suitcases (one trolley is not in the picture LOL). 5 times 20 kg and 5 times 7kg That's a lot of stuff!!

Arriving to Beijing was really easy since my colleague Tuomo had arranged everything ready for us. (Thank you Tuomo and family you are anytime welcome to Brissy!!!). It was really so great that we had all arranged since I can only imagine the hassle with us, pram, taxi, no-one speaks english at the airport...

Our view from the 26th floor... 'What??? 26th floor????' Kids were gobsmacked

The architecture of Beijing was really amazing. Just a few shots of strange building... this one was the Cheese house (our name for it...) A little bit further down the street and to the left was the Finnish Take 5 bar... pics of it to come later....

And the world's second largest outdoor srcreen.....

Ahhh, and the Scandinavian (Finnish) Take 5 bar. This is where the Finns meet I heard. Of course during the happy hour DD

They even had some real Finnish menu items... Hmmm where is my Rahtari card LOL

We had heaps of local (mild said Kaj) beer which I thought tasted really good!

And the local shopping centre.... If I missed some pictures is because I can't see them with this internet connection we have... I know I downloaded them but it just shows a res cross

I'll add explanations later... If even this post will be successful with this connection LOL

Copyright Taskiset.com 2011

Goodbyes and last days

2010-08-20T23:46:51Z

Before starting our holidays and heading to Beijing we of course had to visit some friends and stay at my parents house for a while. Naturally Linnanmäki was also one of the destinations. Here a few pics...

Hahhaha, Aleksi in the rollercoaster up up up, about to go doooown... Serious looking little fella

At my parents house we we're looking at old photos and next day I was going through some old boxes and found the exatcly same dress as my mother had worn years ago. In the picture below our Laura wearing the very same dress!! And it's still in perfect condition!!

Little cutie Laura <3

Also found lots of other old pictures and had to 'take photos' of them. Here me and my brother Timo who looks a lot like Luka at this picture actually

And me very serious looking, but I just love the 70's clothing... lovely!!

I also love the 70's prams!! Me at wintertime... Around 75-76 I'd say?

Back to this summer and just before leaving we were at our grandparents summer cottage and I finally took Aleksi and Laura out to lake.

Goodbyes are always hard, but now I somehow 'know' that we will see again and it's not the end of the world. One year goes by so fast and we have the rest of our lives to live. Few years of that is just small piece.

Before landing to Brisbane again we we're in for a lovely holiday via China, Beijing and Singapore!!

Copyright Taskiset.com 2011

Bye, bye box...

2010-07-23T20:30:57Z

I've been told that sometimes it needs a while 'back home' to realize what you really want. To us returning has been exactly that. I think we just needed to do this. Now I know what I am 'missing' from Finland and am much more capable to cope with it knowing that it's just momentary. It _will_ pass. I'm not so keen on 'Karjalanpiirakka' or 'Ruisleipä' anymore , BUT when you can't get them 'every day' you suddenly start to _miss_ them?? Why??

Well now I'm prepared. When the 'Karjalanpiirakka' hunger hits... I'll convince myself that I won't be able eat more than 10 anyway Or then I'll make 50 of them and eat so much that I won't miss them anymore. Sari V. you must teach me how When the heatwave in Australia hits, I'll remember the day after New Year when we were driving back from Juva and our feet were freezing in the car althought the 'heater' was full on. Well it was -32 degrees.

What I have learned is that when it's too hot, it's too hot no matter what you do, and when it's too cold, it simply is too cold no matter what you do. Brissy seems to be quite a good combination of not too cold and not too hot year round. I'd rather take 4 weeks of 'too hot' than 6 months below zero....

So much for weather There are other things that make a difference. Finland is not the same anymore. They say education is amongst the best in the world which I must wonder looking at the young people nowadays. Then again in Australia they say education sucks, but yet the kids are more well behaving, why?? Not to speak of the economical situation of Finland.

Not thinking of any of social, weather or other aspects Australia still wins. I only have this one life to live. It has been given as a gift to me and I will live it full power and do what my heart says.

In the pic Marja and me filling our humble plywood box... again =) THX Marja for help! <3

I do realize that this is not good for anyone of us. You do need to have your 'home' somewhere, long term. So if I even suggest moving back to Finland, please spank me!!

Finland is my home country. I will always miss it, but I do know that I don't want to exprerience winter again... Well I do, but when I decide so, not every year without asking 6 months in a row!!!

In the end it's not about the weather ,it's more, something deeper. I could live in both countries, but something drives me back to Australia. I don't know what. They say you loose your heart to Australia once you visit it.... It just might be true.... I can't wait to see the magnificent nature again!!

Copyright Taskiset.com 2011

Tired, exhausted

2010-06-18T20:37:03Z

I feel tired. My neighbor said today that you've had quite a year... and she doesn't know the half of it. Yes we've had quite a year, but I think we've had quite a life too since we met. I just realized that if someone is 18 years old they could be my children and that next 'big' anniversary for me will be 40. So where did the years disappear?

Do you remember the time after work when you had 'free' time the rest of the evening. You could just sit on the couch watch TV and do nothing. Well I don't remember that anymore. On the contrary I'm thinking how on earth did I make the time pass? What did I do during the evenings? Was I bored? As I don't remember the feeling anymore I can imagine I thought I was fairly busy and had 'no free time'. Everyone lives their lives the best they can and probably all the young people still think they are really busy and have no free time

The good part is, it's up to you. You can make your life busier or take it more slow. If there are children in the equation it's not that easy (or at least I hope it's not!!) to just let it go. You have a responsibility to take care of those children and sometimes the world around you makes it all very cloudy. You need to achieve so much in the modern world, and if you are blessed with ambition and aspiration for perfectionism, the vicious circle is there.

I have made the mistake of thinking I can handle it. Everything. There was no limit. Well there is a limit. Even for me. I realized the company has to go (yes I had a company for 5 years and even a store in Helsinki city center for a year) and I sold it. About the same time the house we build was sold. Going to Australia was set.

Third pregnancy with all the selling, visa applications and stressing was a lot to handle. My blood pressure sky rocketed at some point and they thought it might be better to begin the delivery with pills. Good choice since I was beaten both mentally and physically. Packing moving to Eastern Finland. The time there was actually one of my favorites since there was no rush... nothing just the birds, me, kids and packing. I loved the time there <3

The time in Australia was phenomenal, it was magic. I loved the way of life, I loved the people we met and the nature... there are no words to describe it. I wish the global recession would not have messed our plans. I wish I could've been stronger there in Australia, I wish I can be stronger this time.

I miss Australia, I really do. I'm just tired of this packing, moving stuff. It's not exciting anymore. My workmates ask are you all excited and looking forward to it. I answer not really, it's just another move.... Maybe I should get excited at some point?? And I might, but right now I just feel overwhelmed by the amount of things that still need to be taken care of and the amount of time left to do that. During the past 'two moves to the other side of the globe' I was on maternity leave and now I'm working full time so that makes me dead beat by the time I get home. No interest nor time for packing. LOVELY, LOVELY WEEKENDS!!

This means I got realistically only weekends to pack. As always, I'll pull it through, but sometimes I wonder what keeps me going on? Why am I still somewhat sane and can even crack a smile

To maintain my smile I hope this is the last move for us for a long time.....

New winds

2010-05-28T19:16:00Z

Time has passed since I've written about how we are. That may be because I haven't been so sure myself how we are, and what we want from our future. We have spent months thinking about what to do with that future. Some of you may have heard about the Australian visa procedures and terms, but for those of you who don't know what I'm talking about I'll brief you.

To be able to get Australian permanent residency (PR) visa you must be eligible to it and pass a certain mark in a test. This test is a set of your professional and language skills, age, your spouses age and skills and few other things. Once you get a certain amount of points you can apply for the visa. The older you get, the less points you get. There is also always the chance that your occupation might not be on the 'skills list' next year or so. Once granted the visa is valid for 5 years, before which you have to be in Australia, other wise you are not able to return as a permanent resident. You also need to enter Australia for the first time to 'activate' you visa in just a few months after it's been granted (within 6 months if I remember right). For those of you interested more on the visa terms and details please check http://www.immi.gov.au/skilled/general-skilled-migration/175/

So getting a visa to Australia requires a lot of luck and paperwork, not to mention it costs money to pay for all the medical examinations, and the visa itself. Regarding this we consider ourselves very lucky to have this opportunity and chance to have that visa. We also realize that it is very likely that we will ever receive this visa again if we were to let it expire. Which we have decided not to let happen

As this visa, and possible return to Australia before it expires, is in our thoughts constantly we have not been able to permanently settle here in Finland. I find myself reluctant to buy furniture, clothes, not to mention anything bigger like a house, thinking all the time about how I might have to sell it soon if we were to return. So we decided to stop wondering and make a decision.

We decided to give Australia another go right now instead of later just before the visa expires. Economic situation there seems to have picked up a little too, and last time I checked, there were more open positions on my search than when I first saved it in January 2009. I've used this search as a sort of indicator of the job market development and it has indeed taken a huge jump ahead.

I guess somehow it was good that we did spend this year here, although to some this might seem completely crazy to move around the world once a year ('Come on make up your minds', I can hear someone screaming in the background LOL). To us the move hasn't been that big since we did sell everything already when we left to Australia last time. We shipped only a box of 2 cubic meters and I don't think it's gonna be any more than that this time either. Still, of course there is stuff to be arranged but we're almost done with all that too. Only thing to do is to pack stuff, find a suitable crate/box to put the stuff in, arrange shipping, oh, and of course buy the flight tickets.

We are aiming to fly in the beginning of August so that we have a few months to look for a house to settle before new term at school starts for the kids. (Yaiks, yes Laura will be going to school too!!!). There is yet another reason for returning now. Aleksi would have started school here in Finland in August and we didn't want him to start it since it would be much more difficult for us to leave later once he gets friends from school.

We still have no idea where we want to spend the rest of our lives, but I do know that right now this feels like the right decision. Just like returning to Finland did. We are all very excited about returning, including the kids. They are looking forward to meeting their Australian friends and so are we. This time we are seriously aiming for the citizenship (4 years of living in Australia), but it's best not to make any definite plans. Who knows what next year brings? Or the next?

I do know I won't miss this..... kids' clothes drying after playing outside for just a few minutes during spring =) Good that we got Saunas where to dry the quickly for the morning!! Then again there will be many other things I will miss, just like there are a lot of things I miss from Australia....

I really look forward to this new era in my life. I honestly feel I'm stronger now as a person, as a mother and as a wife. This immigration is a test for the relationship. I believe if you pass that test, you can pass almost anything in your relationship (or in life for that matter)! I guess the saying is right; ' If it doesn't kill you, it can only make you stronger'.

So see you soon, everyone we miss in Australia, and I miss you already, everyone we love here in Finland. Be sure to visit us Down Under!!

Odd questions part I - Help me!!

2010-05-08T17:59:21Z

I think our family has reached the era of odd questions. Aleksi 7 years seems to have so many questions followed by a question. I used to be able to answer his questions pretty swiftly with a good, reasonable answer. Now I notice myself thinking, thinking, hmming, ummming and can't come up with an answer that would tell some what the truth, but not be too scary, nor too true. You all know what I'm talking about.

So I decided to be prepared. I'm asking you, my dear friends, to list here all those possible odd, scary, weird and most of all surprising questions that are yet to come. This way I can be better prepared when the time comes and will have in advance well thought good reasonable answer =) Answer suggestions to the questions are also very welcome!

Maybe, maybe

2010-04-10T21:27:00Z

Ok since I have nothing else more profound to say I'll just say that maybe summer is coming... maybe. A few pics of proof to go with that statement....

Snow is melting. Under it you can find peculiar things....

Ok a glove... these you find a lot of gloves and mittens under the snow. It's understandable.

A bike. There's surprisingly a lot of bikes to be found under the melting snow. Some what understandable if you have no other place to store them for the winter. Not good for the trunk though... rusting to be expected I think.

This though is kind of weird. Pants with a belt on? Hmmm makes you wonder where the guy continued his journey... or maybe they were thrown out by a jealous girlfriend!! LOL

And it's easy to spot your neighborhood smokers. You know there is a smoker in one of the floor above this spot! (and one that doesn't know how to use an empty bottle or jar to dispose these and reckons it doesn't make a difference where he puts it out! Disgusting!!!)

Not to mention the doggy poo... although they carry the bags it seems that they forget to use them when the winter comes. It's yearly phenomenon. Loads of doggy poo on the sidewalks frozen. I do understand the dog has to go when he has to go, but nobody wants to step on one of these mines (on the top in the middle of the pic).

And the sanding gravel. At times the asphalt is covered with it so you can't see it under it. They have been really fast in gathering it all away this year. I don't think there's been too bad dust coming from it. All this sanding gravel is gathered (along with the dog poo amongs it), washed and stored for use next winter. All pavements are also washed and brushed with a truck made especially for that.

Lovely to walk with high heels now!!

This is a definite sign of spring... even though there is heaps of snow around as soon as these little ones get some sunlight they start blooming. Don't even remember the name of these anymore... used to have them in my yard.

And they plant daffodils in town! Yes spring is here!!

Lovely!

Where am I, who am I?

2010-04-03T23:18:00Z

This moving between countries has changed me. I never felt at home in Finland. I felt almost right there in Australia, then I returned here to Finland and I felt SO out of place. People were so mean, rude, so unpolite. Now I find myself lowering my standards to that same level. When you never get ANY response you just turn to a vegetable, and don't respond at all when you see someone. You just go with the flow...

I'm so mad at myself for forgetting what it is to be polite even if it is just superficial. What is it? This darkness? Must be a part since after returning to Finland, sun going down and Autumn hitting I've been like a walking corpse....Vitamin-D helps but won't solve the problem.

Suddenly, I understand why Finns are so sad and moody. Come on!! With this weather, what can you expect?? Most of the year we wait for the summer... and the 'summer,' as we know it, might never arrive. If there are good summer nights, everyone goes completely crazy!! People are out partying, staying out all night as if they'd had a gallon of Energy drink. Then when the Autumn hits we hide inside our houses again.

I love Finland. I love my heritage. I love my family. Then why all this has never felt like home? I must've been tossed on the wrong side of the globe or then I was born somewhere warm in my previous life

Copyright Taskiset.com 2011

Waiting for spring

2010-03-20T18:04:00Z

This winter has been quite abnormal in many ways. There has been so much snow that it seems like it can't be true that last winter I was in Finland we had no snow. Well it is true year 2008 there was no snow in Helsinki and now we have had more than previous years combined.

Here a little collage of the winter in Helsinki 2010...

	From our bedroom window...
Just a view in the neighborhood. Heaps of snow everywhere!
Our balcony... No opening the door now... or actually we did have to open it one day when me and my friend were locked in the balcony chilling after Sauna with just towels on and had to escape through the piles of snow to fetch the key... lovely indeed! Well, better to get the key than to run with just towels on to the other side of the building to get in with the door code...
Cars are covered with snow, some if not used, are under a pile of snow. In radio they remind you to keep in mind where you left your car since if a snowplough passes by your car may not be visible anymore...
When there is enough snow they 'cut' pathways through it....
Sometimes it looks almost spooky when the snow sticks everywhere and it's dark....
Other times it makes lovely art like here a bike that has been left out for the winter and water has been dropping on the seat for a long time. Tyres and all are covered with little icicles.
When there is no place to haul the snow nor enough capacity to do it this might happen. Yep, crossing the road the Finnish way!
And when there is enough snow on the ceilings something must be done to prevent the ceilings from collapsing so maintenance companies of shopping centres, big shops, sports arenas and other residences have had to take the snow down before something happens. Few haven't done it in time and ceilings have collapsed or descended forcing to evacuate or close the building.
No to mention the hazard when the snow finally starts to come downwards from the inclined ceilings... Imagine the 'bomb' in the picture below hitting your head.... They put warning signs so people know to avoid walking right under there snow and ice flows, but accidents have happened and close calls. This winter has also been very cold compared to previous winters. The period under 0 celsius has been really long and it feels like the summer will never arrive. I remember when Laura was born and there was no snow (23.3.). When Aleksi was born (31.3.) there was no snow and we had had summer tyres on for two weeks already. Now there is no real sign of spring. Today is also the Persian New Year. One of Laura's friends father said they will be celebrating New Year today since the day and night are equally long. For us it's vernal equinox so the summer must truly be closer. I personally think the Persian way is not bad at all since this will be the beginning of a new life and year when flowers will bloom and blossom under the snow soon (hopefully soon LOL).
	It will still be a long way to this.... but I'm positive Summer will come =)

Changes in Blog

2010-02-25T21:22:00Z

There are some both visual and content changes going on my blog, but as you all know with three kids nothing happens in an instant... except making a total mess!

So be patient... I'm working on the CSS files and bg pics on my spare time =))) (hahhahahha unknown concept in our family I think LOL)

What if?

2010-01-31T15:58:00Z

Lately there has been things to remind me about how fast the time flies and yet how short our lives are. There is SO much you can fit into those years!!

These past five years have been very hard on us. Lots of changes and mental growth. Can't believe it's gonna be 10 years since we got married September 2011 !!!! That means we met like 15 years ago or something... comforting to realize that there is a reason why I feel like I look older....

So what is it? Is it that you can't keep up with time? Can't keep up with changes or can't keep up with the world around you? Suddenly you realize 10 years passed by like that. You start wondering what if??

What if I never would have gone to that restaurant in Erottaja (translation to English would be something like Separator... ) called Kerma (Cream was the name of the restaurant... come on how yucky... blaaah.... DDD). Well I did go there, so did Kaj although he never normally went to places like that. Sure we were the tallest people in the restaurant... easy to spot each other. I was gonna go and talk to him, but he was faster than me and came to talk to me first... rest is history...

What if we never would have had that first child? We tried... didn't know what was wrong. Nothing was found wrong... then when we kind of gave up.... and the rest is history

What if we would not have bought the two lots in the middle of nowhere....

We build a beautiful house by ourselves, our own hands!!! Really, we worked HARD... Thinking that later on we'd build another house on the other lot...

but halfway of the process the said not permit to build although it had kind of been promised before.... It was a time for a change.... Australia here we come!!

What if we had bought this house in Carseldine? Lovely, lovely house with great commuting and close to Bruce highway for Kaj to get to work and with a separate entrance and kitchen for a nanny or relatives visits..... It wouldn't have been so easy to get out of Australia......

But here we are now.... wondering about the future...

Can't help but thinking about the what ifs. How different things might have been? Not that I want to change a thing!!! Still maybe, just maybe... there was some higher guidance along? Or how come all these things happened when they did and had such an impact on our life?

I'll leave you to that thought...