Rulla Kebab - Goreme Style

(Cross posted in the CHAFF Blog)

I was introduced to Hashim and Kasim and their Goreme Restaurant by a food connoisseur and outstanding sportsman, my colleague Janne Helttunen. Janne introduced me to their Sultana and the garlic butter.

Since then I have been hookwed on Goreme. Both Hashim and Kasim have become like my sons.

Hashim with grandchildren Asha and Samuel

Both Kasim and Hashim are great sports enthusiasts and also fine sportsmen. Hashim's favourite sport is handball, something he has not been able to play in Oulu. Kasim is a wonderful football player, as you can see from this action shot which appeared in 2000 in our local newspaper, Kaleva. They were playing in a tournament organised under my supervision, and the Goreme Team came second to the local Hercules side. It was a great performance with a thrilling last match which clinched them the second place. Other teams who played besides Hercules and the Turkish Goreme, were the sides Africa Oulu, Albania Oulu, H...PS, Slovakia Oulu, Team Finland and Vietnamese Youngsters.


Kasim in action on the football field

Hashim has been on at me that I have not posted a picture of the Rulla Kebab which is served at his Goreme Restaurant. He was also taking it as a challenge, as I had told him that the Rulla Kebab made by his younger brother, Mehmet, in the Goreme Restaurant in Oulu City Centre, was better than the one made in the Ranta Kastelli Restaurant.


Aku, Master Rulla Kebab Maker

Today, Hashim got me to the Ranta Kastelli Goreme and called his ace Rulla Kebab Maker, Aku, to make me what was, in the opinion of all, the very very best Rulla Kebab.

Here are some shots of the Rullal Kebab, as it was served to me.







Let me assure you that it is no small talk to say that the Goreme Pizzeria is the most outstanding one in Finland. The soft bread around the salad and the kebab are really delicious. The sauce, which was their own special blend is unique. Each bite was absolutely uniform in both texture as well as taste, with the right amount of spice for MY taste.

They know their customer!

The Rulla Kebab from Goreme is truly outstanding.

I know that all those who work with Hashim, not just Aku, are masters of the art.

But for the moment, Aku stands out to me as the Master of Rulla Kebabs!

May I also add that Aku is a very talented musician and a cellist. I am waiting for the day he will give me a private concert!

Baldy Boys, All

During his last visit to Oulu last November, Tony bought a barber's electric shaver.

Last week, Joanna was obviously enjoying her new profesion as the family barber, Tirupathi style. (Tirupathi is at the base of the Venkatachala (Venkata Hill) where the Sri Venkateswara Temple is located on the seventh peak. It is the sacred place for all religions. It is situated near Chennai, in the State of Andhra Pradesh. Many many millions of devotees climb the hill each year to reach the temple so as to shave off one's hair as an offering, penance or sacrifice. In the case of babies, it is much like the "Christening" functioning in certain Christian sects.)

Baldies after Joanna's travails!

Daniel seems to be especially enjoying his new style. He had such lovely locks, that it is hard to believe that Joanna heartlessly sheared them off!



Samuel is quite used to being in this state, so off he went on his pursuits - climbing a (banyan?) tree in Leazes Park in Newcastle!

'
Samuel climbing a tree at Leazes Park

Annikki and I do miss all three of our grandchildren. We are counting the hours for Asha to reach Oulu, and then we will be counting the hours for Daniel and Samuel to get back to their home!

Mainline: Geostrategy Feeds America's Oil Addiction

Cross-posted on all my main blogs -

Jacob's Politics;
Seventh Heaven for Mumbai Cathedralites;
Kooler Talk for Delhi Stephanians;
Oulu Chaff
Move The UN.

My topical article "Geostrategy Feeds America's Oil Addiction", which relates to the visit of Bush to India, has appeared in a major North American online journal Raise the Hammer in their fortnightly issue dated 1st March 2006.

Editor Ryan McGreal has really tidied up the article. Thanks.

What is original in this submission?

It is my long term speculations about:

1. The rationale for the attack on and occupation of Afghanistan relating to the Enron history.
2. Who most likely perpetrated the fraud of the Iranian election.
3. Why the Indian Industrial Community desperately want Bush and his malAdministration to stay in office for another 3 years!
4. Why the nuclear attack on Iran is imminent.

Many may wrinkle their foreheads in disbelief. But that is what political analysis is all about. I theorise and later people fit the facts to my theories.

Hope you enjoy it and would love to have your feedback - even if it is abusive!!

I love getting abusive email. I thrive on it as it drives me on harder to more fantasy! :-)

Thai Pailin Restaurant launches another new HIT

(Cross-posted in the Chaff Blog)

The Pailin Restaurant owners in the Kasarmi Area in Oulu are true food innovators.

Yesterday they launched a great new product.

Annikki and I were privleged to get the first public sampling. It was just great.

Annikki thought of a name - and she called it the "Pizza Flap". In Finnish it would be "Pizza Flappi".

The more traditional name for this type of product is "Calzone", but the Flap, is truly an original product from Pailin.

"Pailin Piza Flap" - "Pailin Pizza Flappi"

Another shot of the Pizza Flap



You can have any Pizza filling of your choice in the Flap. It is easy to carry and eat without the large Pizza Box. being wrapped in Aluminium Foil, it keeps the heat for a long time.

This product beautifully complements their other new hot product, the Pailin Thai Sweet Chill Kebab Wrap, which we wrote about a few weeks ago.

The Flap product developed out of an internet chat conversation between Pailin in Oulu and her good friend in Thailand.

The base mix is soft and very tasty. The normal three (or more) fillings of your choice can be put inside the Flap. You can eat it conveniently, even in the car as no messy droppings or crumbs fall out all over the car.

Here is the picture of the first Pizza Flap to leave Pailin. In the centre picture you see a very irritated Annikki's hands waiting for me to stop photographing so that she could get to eat the Flap.



Annikki's verdict - Outstanding product.

I also took a couple of Pizza Flaps to Kamutaza Tembo, who is true connoisseur of Pizza's, and he declared this to be an absolutely great product!

Change of photo at the top

Daughter, Susanna, said that as the two photographs at the top of the blog were taking up a lot of space up. The latest entry could not be seen when one came to the blog page. I have put the two photographs side by side (for March 2006) and reduced the size.

All those who got the calendar will recognise the photographs, which will change each month.

You can click on any photograph in the blog to see a larger version of the image.

The last set of Puzzles got quite a few guessing - no maths involved.

The "number of colours" question was solved by mainly artists, who could not see what the fuss was about! Pictorial answer will appear on Saturday.

I am giving here the answer to the photograph by Asha by printing both the cropped image and the full version, side by side.

Four people (Dan in San Paulo, Brazil, Richard in Kaula Lumpur, Malaysia, Ranjeet in Singapore and Annette in Lyon, France) guessed the answer right. Most gave up!

Answer to Asha Photo Puzzle

The photo which I published as the puzzle was a cropped image (by Susanna) from a photograph taken by Asha of the bonnet and windshield of their new car.

The whole photograph is also a great composition.

I was certainly confused, as there was no windshield wiper visible. I sort of guessed it was a reflection, but where?

Susanna told me that she had not noted this detail. She explained that the wiper mechanism is below the bonnet line.

In the full image you can see the wiper end bit protruding under the licence label on the right of the picture!

Great picture, Asha.

Your Grandpa and Grandma are proud of your photographic composition.

Fols, now give us the answer to grandson, Samu's photo puzzle?

Partial hint: "What do little boys like to do most?"

Tervarit Blacks win tournament

Soda has been promoted from the regular Tervarit 91 side to the Tervarit Black side.

There is a lot of competition to get into this prestigous football side.

The most important aspect of being in the Blacks Team is that it is built on teamwork.

If one does not turn up for practice, or even if one is late a few times, the player get dropped from the team,

This is about team work and the coaches insist on maintaining team discipline.

Coaches of the Tervarit Black Team

If anyone thinks that he is bigger than the team - after giving a person three or four opportunities, the coaches just kick the smart "guy" out of the side.

There are enough youngsters knocking on the door to get into the Black Team.

Yesterday, the coaches insistance on team work paid off as the Tervarit Black Team won the Training Tournament held at the Oulu Sports Dome.


Final table of Competition

The Blacks won the forst game by scoring their 3 goals in the first session. It was really a pleasure to see such good team work. Soda was not played in the first session. In the second session,when Soda was playing, the team was struggling, but just managed to hold off the opponents.

The final was again won by the regular members of the Black team who played as a great team.


Winning Tervarit Black Team relax after the tournament

I hope everyone has learnt a lesson from this tournament. Teamwork is always the winner!

Puzzle time

Because so many of you have asked me NOT to give the answer to last week's triangle puzzle - not a single correct answer to date, I am holding the answer over till next week.

This week I have three puzzles.

The first is a photograph taken by our granddaughter Asha (8 and a half).

I have appropriated the photograph for my puzzle album.

Can any of you identify what this photograph depicts and how it was taken? It is not two photographs stitched together - one single shot!

It is a truly artistic composition. Granddaughter following in the steps of grandmother, Annikki!

Susanna, Chris and Asha are not allowed to take part!

Asha's photographic skill

And here is a puzzle of a picture taken by grandson, Samu (just less than 9). Samu is also quite an outstanding photographer and he has added many great pictures to our collection.


Daniel and Maire in a twirl

How did Samu create the impression of the twirl?

The main puzzle is one something that should get you thinking about whether you are colour blind. I have called it "Printer's Eye" as it is a test that I used when employing a Printing Expert.


How many colours are there in this picture?
1, 2, 3, 4, 5?

Till next week, happy puzzling!

Easier days

Taking Hilja, Annikki's mother, out of the house had become a nightmare.

With the new frontage at Kampitie, it is a breeze.

Hilja and Annikki wait for the Invalid taxi to arrive

Five minutes later, they are out in the front waiting to be rolled into the Invalid taxi.


Waiting to be rolled into the Invalid taxi

Life did become a lot easier for all of us.

A letter that we treasure

In our archives there is one letter that we especially treasure. It is one from Mrs. K. M. Mathew, Annammakochamma, which we received in January 1987.

Letter from Mrs. K. M. Mathew, Annammakochamma
received in 1987 to Annikki and me

Here was one of the busiest women on this universe, running her own top woman's magazine of India, active with social work to help the needy, active with the community to the extent of doing the hair of almost every young girl in the community getting married, holding daily morning singing and music lessons for the talented young people of the city of Kottayam, producing mouth-watering recipes on a daily basis from her kitchen, and all that with only half her organs left in her body, and she took the trouble to write to Annikki and me to tell us how much she loved us and cared for us.

Little did she know that Annikki and I cared for her more than almost any other individual on this planet. We prayed for her well-being, knowing how much pain she was going through, but also knowing she never cared for her pain but always thought of the pain and suffering of others.

We were so grateful when we received not one, but two copies, of the book written as a tribute to her by her husband, K. M. Mathew, Mathukuttychayan, my mother's younger brother.


"Annamma" by K. M. Mathew

The first copy was sent by Mathukuttychayan and the second by his youngest son, Jacob Mathew, Chacko.

Annikki is a very slow but thorough reader. She hardly has any time to do any reading other than the daily newspaper. But she picked up the book about one of her favourite aunts the evening it arrived. When I saw her later that night she told me she was so captivated by the contents, that she could not put it down till she finished it. She said that the moving text and the wonderful pictures were an absolutely faithful recounting of the life of a lady she had loved, respected and admired ever since she first met her when she took the time to visit our humble home in the sixties.

The two of them, Annammakochamma and Annikki, were on the same wavelength on everything about life - their art, their creativity, their views about humanity and their views about their need to be of service to all their fellow beings.

I, too, could not put down the book once I started reading it, and I remembered many of the events as I was very much a part of them. The sorrow I felt when they moved from Bombay to Kottayam was so moving as I lost my best friend and cousin, Rajen, as I loved to go to their flat in Byculla and play hide and seek in that old rambling flat on the second (or third?) floor.

The relationship that we built in the few months we lived in Bombay at the same time is something neither of us have ever forgotten - right through to when we were in college in Delhi together and he worked tirelessly with his friends to get me elected as the President of the Students Common Room and the de facto head of all resident students of the college. That is something I can never repay him for as at that time I was going through a major crisis of my life, as having lost the use of my index finger on my right hand, I had lost my chance to be in the college and university hockey team.

It is the same dedication that Rajen inherited from his mother that has helped him to drive the Malayala Manorama to the very top of the Indian media scene. He was the most deserving recipient of one of the highest honour's given by the President of India, the Padma Shiri, last year.


Rajen receiving the Padma Shree Award
from President of India, Dr. A. P. J. Abdul Kalam

Thank you for this wonderful book which we will treasure, just as much as we treasure that letter we received from Annammakochamma in 1987!

Rolling in the graves

Many years ago when a young lady was used in the MM Foam ad, reclining on a foam mattress, IN HER NIGHTDRESS, wearing all her undergarments, there were many eyebrows raised in the family of the prudence of this form of "sexy" advertising.

With Malayala Manorama publishing seamy love stories in its hot selling Manorama Weekly, many of the older family members were wondering where this traditional newspaper house, which did not even have an issue on Sunday and which produced the free "Church Weekly", was heading.

When cousin Rajen (Mammen Mathew) wrote to me a few weeks ago that he would be sending me the first issue of a new magazine from the group callled "The MAN", I was intrigued.


Volume 1 Number 1, The MAN, Cover

The Volume 1 Number 1 January-March 2006 issue arrived. I was stunned.



Publisher: Jacob Mathew
Chief Editor: Mammen Mathew

The contents were racy and far beyond my wildest imagination. The production was top class - but the publication was wandering into dangerous territory for this sedate family image that backs this MM group. Where was the old fashioned conservative MM group heading with this form of seamy magazine?

There was an intriguing ad in the issue from another family company - the flagship company, MRF Ltd.

MRF Ad featuring Finnish Rally Driver Jussi Välimäki

The name of this top rally driver had been spelt completely WRONG.

Valimaki means nothing. It should have been spelt as VÄLIMÄKI.

The part Vali has no meaning. There are three meanings for the word VÄLI: Distance, Space and Stretch. Again, Maki means nothing but MÄKI means Hill.

Jussi Välimäki is a Finnish professional and international rally driver. He is well-experienced and has skills of rallying with rear-wheel, front-wheel as well as four-wheel turbocharged production and WRC-rally cars.

Jussi lives in a city called Tampere in south central Finland. He is the father of two children, Oskari (2001) and Veera (2005). He has his own website.

Väkimäki is aiming for the top in the international rally sport. Maybe MRF could help him on his way by producing some good rally tyres.

Obviously the powers that be in the Manorama organisation know what sells. Hence the launch of this new monthly magazine.

But some of those dear departed members of the family will certainly be spinning at top speed in their graves!

More reminiscences from 14 years ago

Click images to see enlarged images

I was amused to read a news item in the last Saturday issue of our local newspaper. Seppo Keränen of FinPro, Chief of the Indian Marketing Centre, was talking about why it was important to enter the Indian market.

There are presently 50 Finnish companies operating in India.

There were over 50 Swedish companies operating in India in 1992!

14 years ago, Finpro was one of the organisations that thought that my pushing India as a hot spot for Finnish industry was not much of an idea!

In the introductory letter, that I wrote in May 1992 for the organisation Findians Oy, just to companies in the Technology Village in Oulu, I said:

"This is the first circular letter from Findians Oy. It hopefully brings you interesting and informative news. We have enclosed the latest Corporate Notes from a leading Indian weekly called "The WEEK" dated 10th May 1992. Amongst other items it shows that Motorola is going into India with a bang. The metro cities in India, each with a population more than 2 times that of Finland, are very interesting to these multinationals - and also possibly your company......."

May 1992: Letter to Companies in
the Oulu Technology Village


Annexure sent with the
Introductory Letter

Within just a few days of my sending out these 100 or so copies of this letter, the visionary Managing Director of the Technology Village, Pertti Huskonen, wrote to Findians saying:

"I was very delighted to have your first circular letter some days ago in my hands. It's evident that this location here in Oulu Technology Park is a good place for you - and it's clear that you can help our companies a lot! All the best for you and Findians!

Oulu Technolpolis Ltd.

Pertti H 19.5.1992"

It was this introductory letter and the general response that I received from a few of the companies in the Technology Village that prompted the launch of "Findians Briefings" as a monthly newsletter.


Findians Briefings Volume 1 Number 1 1992

The free 8 page Volume 1 Number 1 was a great hit from the very first issue.

Before we knew it we were printing and sending out over 7000 copies worldwide - and that was a financial disaster for us.

So we converted the paper version into the popular web briefings with free access and no advertisements.

The readership sky-rocketed up to 120000.

But Finnish industry remained sceptical.

Although we did take out some Finnish companies to India, the general opinion remained that it was not the right place for business.

Finnish industrialists and managers were wrong. The world passed them by.

Now it is a game of catch up, and being behind means that the real cream of the opportunities may have been lost.

But there are still hundreds and thousands of new opportunities, if there is true understanding of how to approach operating in India.

In one meeting in 1993, where Annikki and I were explaining about India to a group of young entrepreneurs of Oulu, which had been organised by Raimo Kuismin of Acta Systems Oy, a manager of a Finnish multinational, Rautarukki Oy, explained how the whole process of getting to an acceptable situation in India could take as much as 5 to 8 years.

I explained that with the right contacts, this process could be down to less than a year!

14 years down the lane, Seppo Keränen is certainly right to tell Finnish industries to deal with people directly rather than through agents who are trying to make a quick buck from both ends.

But to find the right companies would still require someone with a depth of knowledge about that enormous country - a rare breed in Finland.

Thank God that I am retired from this rat race!

KALEVA follows us 12 years on..

(Cross-posted on CHAFF Blog)

Last weekend there appeared a little box item in our local newspaper, KALEVA, where they have started a reader forum which will award a prize of Euro 10 to any reader who identifies a best buy item available in the local market.



The book that Annikki and I wrote "Handbook for Survival in Finland" (out of print) way back in 1994 after 10 years of research was based around a game we played where we went about locating the daily best buys in Oulu.

"The question to which this book gives an answer is "How do ordinary Finns survive?" We present a method used unconciously by cost-conscious Finns of how to beat the Finnish system, live a decent life and even save some money."

Although much has changed since we wrote this book, especially since Finland joined the European Union, the game that we played, and continue to play, has been the lifeblood of our survival in Finland. We continued to beat inflation year in and year out using this system.

Now KALEVA is trying to use this system to attract its readers to a new column.

A few suggestions which may appear here, although helping a few readers, can never address the entire problem, which is exploitation of Finns by their cartels that run the Finnish retail trade.

Is it time to republish an updated version of our book?

You know which is the best buy you can make:

A copy of "Handbook for Survival in Finland" although we do not know where you can buy a copy for the love of all the money in the world!

Pentti Vuorinen get titled

I seem to have missed this big news which appeared a few days ago in all our local newspapers.

An old friend, Pentti Vuorinen of the English Club of Oulu was awarded the title of Vice Consul by the President of Finland, Tarja Halonen for services rendered to his country in the field of journalism.

I searched my archives and found a picture of Pentti and Raija Pohjanpalo with Annikki and me at a English Club festive occasion on the 11th of December 1987 - 19 years ago. Mika is sitting in the foreground with his back to the camera.

Annikki, Pentti Vuorinen, Raija Pohjanpalo with me
at the English Club International Gala in 1987

Pentti is now 80. He has been a friend from 1984 when Annikki and I met him when we were invited to join the English Club of Oulu. Pentti was young and energetic then, just as he is today.

I met him just the other day at the Stockmann Coffee Shop and we exchanged some memories. He is such a jovial person and a wonderful companion. He is a linguist speaking (alphabetical order) English, French, German, Latin, Spanish, Swedish and his native tongue, Finnish. And he is fluent in every one.

He had a long career in the media in Oulu. That was one of the reasons he took up languages with such great fervour. His complaint to me was that he does not get as much chance to practice his languages these days - and he promptly took out a Spanish newspaper from his bag and was reading it with great aplomb!

He is still an active member of the Tuira Rotary Club. Retirement does not seem to have slowed him down at all. To me he seemed the same gentleman that he was when we first met 22 years ago.

Congratulations Pentti on a well deserved award from the Finnish President.

Hold it folks...

The Puzzle (Optical Illusions) popularity has exploded. People have been poring over the profile of the face, some for hours to figure out the answer to what else the picture represented. Daughter Susanna wanted me to set up a separate blog just for these puzzles.

When I visited the Goreme Pizzeria today, my good friends were so intrigued with the first Puzzle that they demanded I not tell them what the answer was. the management group I was mentoring today literally went mad for 4 hours and still did not solve it! And when I gave the answer at the end of the session - they could not believe their ears!

But, Shalu and Samu were quick. The following puzzle at Samu's request was an EASY PEASY one. The average times people had to read the signboard to catch the error was 4, but several got it at the third reading. Not one has yet admitted getting it at the first reading!

Granddaughter Asha asked that the next one be only moderately difficult.

To keep this enormous wave of puzzle solving blogging rolling, I am disregarding Asha's request.

I am putting up below what is one of the more difficult of the puzzles.

That way I can get some rest.

I am reasonably sure that the first explanation will take about a week in coming!

Let us see from which part of the world the first right explanation arrives.

Click to see the enlarged image


There are no clues for solving this.

Happy puzzling.

Puzzle Popularity...

I was really overawed by the popularity of the first Optical Illusion Puzzle that I put on the internet.

Shalu Matthan (née Verghese), wife of cousin Anand, from Chennai was the first to send me the correct answer. Believe it or not, the second was our 8 year old grandson - Samu, in Newcastle.

Both were quick. Samu solved his in a few minutes! I do not know how long Shalu took.

Many gave up in desperation.

I understand some are still trying, so I am not going to provide the answer till Saturday!

Samu asked for an easier one, so here it the second Optical Illusion Puzzle.



What I want to know is how many times you read the text to get the answer correctly!

Send your HONEST comments to me directly by email.

Have fun.

Sweet Chilli returning to China

(Cross posted on the CHAFF Blog)

Chilli is one of the Chinese group of software engineers brought from China to work in Oulu for the American owned electronics manufacturing services (EMS) provider headquartered in Singapore.

Chilli took part in one of our Chaff meetings and all of us were endeared to her. She had already lived in Finland prior to this visit, having studied IT at Mikkeli.


Chilli, me and Bill

We were sorry to here that she is returning, prematurely, to China. Knowing her and her knowledge of Finnish Business Systems, I am reasonably sure she will be back.

As her farewell, the Chinese group who work at Flextronics Oulu had a dinner at the Pailin Restaurant.


Chinese group at Oulu Flextronics dined at the Pailin Thai Restaurant


Chilli, Pailin and Bill

Goodbye Sweet Chilli, and do come back to Oulu. You will always be welcome at our CHAFF meetings. And we hope you can start a branch of the spirit of CHAFF in China.

9 Steps to New Frontage for Kampitie

Annikki's mother, Hilja, was finding it difficult to use the front steps at Kampitie as the height of the step was too much. It took over an hour to bring her in the last time we took her out. So we had to resort to an Invalid Taxi and a wheelchair to take her in and out of the house.

Inside the house Hilja is still able to move around with her walker.

When we discussed this with the Social Worker in charge of Old Age Persons with Disabilities, the team of engineers and carpenters came and examined the premises.

They felt it would be easier to use the wheelchair if the front was broadened.

On Friday last, the carpenter came and finished most of the work. He then completed it on Monday. I recorded the progress of the work.

Old Frontage of Kampitie
It was difficult to turn the wheelchair twice
when getting in and out of the house

The new front was created in 9 steps. (Click to see the enlarged image.)


New front was created in 9 steps
1. Remove old front. 2. Put frame for platform.
3. Put support for platform. 4. Complete platform.
5. Completed platform. 6. Build steps.
7. Complete Steps. 8. Steps, front view. 9. Steps, side view.

And the complete frontage is truly unique after the handrails were put.



Kampitie has a great new front. It will now be possible to take Hilja out in the summertime to enjoy the garden and also take her for a walk in the wheelchair, something that has not been possible for a couple of years.

Now we have to wait till Annikki puts her fingers to making this frontage a work of art!

I can guarantee you it will be unique.

Culture Shock - Finland

Cross-posted at the CHAFF Blog.

A Friendship Day Special Blog Entry

Last Saturday, Ildikó and Ilari were early visitors to Kampitie to pick up our trailer. They were moving to their new home in Tuira, just north of the Oulu River.

They brought, for us, a copy of their book "Culture Shock - Finland" which has been published in German.


Culture Shock, Authors, Inscription, Cover

My spoken German is rusty, not having used it for several years, but my ablity to read German has not deteriorated too much. I did find several words that are new to the language, but I was able to derive the meanings.

The book was a good quick read. It contained all the salient points to introduce both a tourist and someone who is planning to be in Finland for some time to the intricacies of life in Finland.

It is not in the more confrontational style adopted by Annikki and me in our book "Hanbook for Survival in Finland". Like us, the authors provide a degree of balance, as Ildikó is from Hungary and Ilari from Finland. There is a balance in the views of Finns and Foreigners in what they have seen and experienced in Finland. The index is not too long, so it is easy to quickly find essential references in the book. I did a series of quick checks and I was able to get answers to many common questions that face foreigners when they arrive in Finland.

Both the authors are well travelled and they bring out their observation powers in their commentary about this lovely country.

I would have preferred the beautiful pictures included in the book to have been in colour, as Finland is such a colourful country, from the radiancy of the weathered old wooden houses, to the green of the forests, the blue of the lakes, and the fashion scene. However, being priced at just Euro 14.90 (in Germany) I think the publishers had to curtail the costs and stuck to black and white!

Chaff participants, Gisela Tauriainen, Kamu Tembo and me, do get a mention in the acknowledgements. I must confess I do not know why I got mentioned!! As far as I know I just enjoyed the conversations I had with two vibrant people who are so full of life and represent the youth of today.

Thank you, Ildikó and Ilari, for such a wonderful book.

P.S.: Believe it or not, I received a young German girl from Oulu Airport on Monday afternoon, Kerstin, who has arrived in Finland to do research in Microbiology at Oulu University, and she was carrying a copy of this great book!

New Series - Optical Illusions 01:

I start a new series to test your mental agility.

If you like the idea, do email me!

Here is a drawing to start with!



Hint: Something I use frequently which accurately describes Bush and Blair!

5 years on his spirit lives on...

Today is 5 years since Annikki's father, Matti Reinikka, passed on.

Matti Reinikka, 1916 - 2001

He was a wonderful man, full of life and full of his faith. He lived his faith in every way. Even though with a weak heart, he physically worked himself to the bone, every single day of his life.

Just yesterday, there was an article on the BBC website Finns open playgrounds for adults

At the Santa Claus Sports Institute in Lapland, a group of elderly Finns leap around on climbing frames, swinging on the swings and bouncing on a see-saw that is more of a people launcher than anything I remember from my days on the playground.

It is the latest Finnish wheeze to get people more active......

Someone like Matti did not need any playgrounds. He was busy from morning to evening, all through his life, doing things, active things, meaningful things, like going to the rubbish dump to collect wood on his little mopo with a trailer attachment, stacking it neatly in the garden all through the year, and then putting the right amount into the cellar, where he used his own creation, his wood splitting machine, using a motor from an old washing machine, to make the wood just the right size to go into the furnace.

He had the house at the right temperature with running hot water, all through the year. No automatic system for him!

In summer he mixed pleasure with essentiality - he would go fishing in a small boat and bring home a sack full of a variety of fish, caught by him. He would sit in the garden and clean the fish. Then he would smoke it in his own designed smoking drum, and then bring some up to us, happy to share his catch with his family members.

He really knew the art of catching fish.


Matti holds his prize catch -
the massive Salmon he caught

He was so happy when this picture of him, holding his best prized catch of the years of fishing, graced the cover of the book written by Annikki and me "Handbook For Survival in Finland". His life was the ideal example of a true survivor! He fought on the front lines right through the wars of the 30s and the 40s, and came through to understand what it is to love your fellow human beings.

Annikki inherited her father's faith and his skills of recycling everything, big or small.

The entire Kampitie garden was created by her out of all the waste materials that lay around the garden. These included the wood, an old cast iron bath tub, and a greenhouse which was on the point of falling down. She took one beam of the construction and created an art piece out of it.


Beam from the old greenhouse
becomes an art centerpiece

Old electric bulbs, aluminium candle holders, old aluminium food trays, nothing gets thrown away, but stored as Annikki develops her ideas and then creates what are most unusual products.


Matti with the women in his life.
Annikki is the second from the right

In Annikki, her art and Matti's recycling genes she has inherited, have become entwined.

The calendar of cakes, which has now encircled the globe, and with appreciation of her "Edible Art" pouring in from all corners of the globe, is just a tiny fraction of an example Annikki's artistic talent.

And to think Annikki does all this while she cares with love and affection for her 85 year old mother on a gruelling 24 hour basis, makes Annikki, in my mind, the most outstanding woman that I have ever known and a tribute to the life of her father. I am proud to be her husband just as I am proud to be the son-in-law of the late Matti Reinikka, a humble carpenter, just like his Master that he followed, faithfully.

Please pray for Dr. Samuel

May I request all of you to say a special prayer for the father of Rana Jacob in Calgary.

Dr. J. Samuel, known to all of us as Sam, is 76, and is not keeping too well in Ernakulam.

Dr. Samuel is the second son of Maliyakal Kurian Jacob, the youngest brother of my grandfather Dewan Bahadur Kuriyan Matthan.

Rana is his eldest son and is married to Beena. They live in Calgary, Canada.

Their daughter Nidhi was recently married.

Dr. Samuel had his 3rd heart attack and was in a bad shape last week.

But, the Grace of God was on him and saved his life.

He was in the Amritamiya Hospital and has now been discharged.

Since Dr. Samuel suffers from high BP and is a diabetic, further invasive treatments have now been kept in suspense.

Please join Annikki and me in praying for our uncle to keep him safe, and also for his children, Rana and Reena, in this hour of their need for comfort.

A bit annoying...

I must thank an Indian, Abhay Bulsari from South West Finland, living in the city of Turku, who runs a company called AB Nonlinear Solutions Oy, for pointing out this news item from BBC World 'lukewarm to India's role'.

This is a study of how different countries view other countries.



What drew Abhay's attention was the views of Finns about India. Only 27% of Finns view India positively and 44% view the country negatively.

Luckily, the business community in Finalnd today does not hold this view as there is rapid expansion now of Finnish companies starting to use Indian expertise and also use it as an outsourcing point. Two recruitment centres are expected to be opened in India to bring competent Indian scientific and engineering staff to Finland.

14 years ago this would have been unthinkable. When I first pointed out in the first issue of Findians Briefings, way back in 1992, that Texas Instruments had opened a centre in Bangalore with a direct sattelite link to Houstan, Texas, in 1984, not many Finns thought this was a good idea!

But the history of this bad image goes back much further. In 1975, I had identified Finnish technologies ideally suited for India. I approached a company and also explained to them, as engineering costs in Finland were high, maybe they could work with one of the larger and well established Indian Engineering Consulting companies, to capture the huge Indian market.

I was laughed out of the room - competent Indian Engineering skill?

India got the same technology from a French company.

Another example was when I asked the largest Finnish Sauna manufacturer to quote for the large volume of saunas required by the expanding 5-star hotels opening all over India. I got a negative response. I alerted a Swedish company. For the next 10 years almost every sauna sold in India was from a Swedish manufacturer.

A short while after this happened the Finnish company came running after me as to whether it would be possible to reopen the opportunity as their Brazilian market had suddenly dried up.

Prof. Ajeet Mathur, in his treatise "Finland - India Economic Relations - A Twinning Study of Trade and Investment Potential" published in 1998, pointed out the enormous potential. But again, the Finns have been slow to act and have missed most of the action, thereby not getting much of the deal as other countries capitalised on.

With Amma, Deepak Chopra and a few other leading Indians making waves in Finland, a few films and songs getting shown on Finnish television, the huge advertising campaign of "Incredible India" of BBC World, some inroads of a better perception of India is very slowly taking root amongst the general public.

But the business community realised that they have been losing out. They are desperately trying to expand opportunities in India, as otherwise their international shareholders may start asking uncomfortable questions.

Abhay was of the view that we should alert the Indian Embassy about this.

In my opinion, Finns are the losers if they do not wake up.

So let us not rock the boat.

Oulu Rotary Team in Kottayam

The Rotary Team from the Oulu District met up with Satish Abraham, a cousin of mine, when they were hosted by the Rotary Club of Kottayam.

Here are some great pictures sent to me by Satish. Satish is the one standing on the left in the first picture.

Satish Abraham, Heino Holappa, Katja Kalamäki,
Sini Peltokorpi, Ville Suomi and Kaisu Lehtomaa being hosted
by the Rotary Club of Kottayam at the Sailing Club on the
banks of the Vembanad Lake, Kumarakom

Satish's family owns one of the largest producers of Rubber Latex in India which is used to make thousands of things from rubber balloons, to condoms, footwear, gloves, mattresses, etc. Their company, which carries his family name, Padinjarekara, is a household name all over India.

His late grandmother, Annammakochamma, a wonderful dear lady, was the youngest sister of my grandfather, K. C. Mammen Mappillai. I loved her dearly. Everytime we arrived in our hometown, Kottayam, for a holiday, she would be over in a jiffy to greet all of us. She would invite us over to have a great spread at her home during our stay.


The Oulu Rotary Team boating on the
Vembanad Lake, Kumarakom

Satish has been close with our family for many years. He used to visit our home in Madras when we lived there. His wife, Vimla, is a perfect lady. They make a wonderful couple.

It is wonderful that Vimla's cousin's wife, Smitha, will be coming to Oulu as part of the return visit team. I am sure we at CHAFF would love to have this group spend time at our Sunday Club meeting with us!

Hilja comes home

We brought Hilja home today.

We used the wheelchair and an Invalid Taxi, which is subsidized for her.

To bring Annikki and her home it cost just Euro 2.40, whereas a normal taxi trip would haver cost Euro 21!

Annikki & Hilja waiting for the Invalid Taxi

The taxi has a lift attachment at the back, so Hilja did not have to be taken off the chair. She could be wheeled into the taxi.

The driver, who is experienced in handling wheelchairs, took the wheelchair into the house, with me just giving him a small helping hand.

Hilja does not use the wheelchair in the house, as she can manage with the walker. But to get out of the house or to come in, the wheelchair is now essential.

Hilja is in good spirits and glad to be home again.

Anniki is reenergized by the short holiday and especially by the wonderful messages about her cake designs as the 2006 Calendars are just reaching people around the world.

A picture that Annikki thought exciting

There are many pictures that are captured during a normal winter. But the one below is one that Annikki wanted me to capture.



This is a picture of a sheet of snow sliding off a plastic roof.

It happened because the ambient temperature rose causing the snow to melt at the interface with the plastic and start to slide down, slowly.

But then the temperature obviously went down sharply, freezing the sheet of snow - half slid off the roof.

With the Christmas lights still in place, and untouchable because of the snow sheet, this looks really exciting during the evening sunset.