Yes, I am a proud grandfather!

I have three grandchildren, and many grandchildren who have adopted Annikki and me as their grandparents - so we are proud of the achievements of all of our grandchildren. We are also very sad when something goes awry with any of them.

Kannan dressed as a "superstar".

Last weekend, our very good friend, Kannan Balaram, who lives in South Finland in a town called Rauma, visited Oulu to meet our daughter Joanna and her family. She too, loved him just as we love this amazing young man. When we visited her home, Kannan was very busy with his camera. I downloaded the pictures to my computer.


One of the shots of Daniel from Kannan's collection.

I have set up a separate web page called Daniel meets Kannan which is a fascinating study of an evening with one of our grandchildren.

Hope you enjoy it.

On to another topic....

The world is very very small.

Joanna is leaving next Wednesday back to Newcastle for continuing her medical studies. Unfortunately, Tony, her husband cannot travel and be there continuously as he did last year. So Joanna was on the hunt for an au pair, a young Finnish girl wanting to study English who could help her look after the two children - Samuel and Daniel.

Through a friend she met a young girl, Anni. Joanna and her family were to meet with her family on Monday to finalise the details.


Kannan's friend, Anna-Maaria Lukka.

On Sunday morning, before Kannan met Joanna, he went to visit a classmate of his, Anna-Maaria Lukka, from the Business course that he had attended in Oulu last year.


Anni with a younger brother and sister.

Guess what? Yes, Kannan's friend was the young girl's cousin and they live together in a small commune in south Oulu

Kannan met this lovely girl who loves children and finds looking after them totally natural.

Both Annikki and I are so happy that Joanna has such a lovely girl to be with her and especially one who loves children and is experienced in looking after them. We hope she will spend her time improving her English, as that is the primary reason for her taking a year off from her high school to go to Newcastle with Joanna.

Thanks to Kannan for the nice photograph of Anni who will go to England next week, one day after Joanna (they could not get tickets for the same flight).

Bon Voyage to all of you.

Both Annikki and I are already awaiting their speedy return in a year's time.