Yesterday was another up and down drive to Helsinki - left at 4 am from Oulu and returned at 5 am today.
One of the things I do to keep awake while driving is I eat Crisps - one at a time. I finish a couple of packets on my way up and down. The roughness of the crisp cuts into the palette and I can stay awake!!
There are so many flavour varieties of crisps available these days. In Finland they sell them in 200 or 300 gm packets. The most common flavours are Cheese and Onion, Cheese and Sour Cream, Paprika, Barbecue, Garlic and Onion, Salt and Vinegar.
Recently they launched one with a Tomato flavour. I thought it would reduce the need to dip the crisps in tomato sauce, but I did not like it. Not that I use tomato sauce°
Which flavour do you like? Which is your favourite and why?
I like some of the flavours better than others, but I discovered that the plain unflavoured crisps is what I like best.
This raise many childhood memories at the back of my head of visiting a small hole in the wall shop in Colaba, called Victory Wafers, where they were churning out the stuff reeking with oil. We used to but large packets of them in brown paper bags and even before we reached home the paper was soaking with oil. (Wonder what oil they used then and what they use these days - sine I like them, they must be dangerous for my health!!)
Or my mom would brng them home on her way back from shopping and there would be a mad scramble of all the kids and my dad to get to them.
They were hot and crispy and I always wondered how they cut them so fine. Anyone know if Victory Wafers is still in existence?
These days, I stick to the plain variety. If I really have to buy another, I buy them in turns!
Wednesday, July 28, 2010
Sunday, July 25, 2010
Swamiji's in Oulu
Staying at the Guest House in Oulu were two very learned Swamiji's from Palghat, Kerala. They have travelled extensively in Europe, and also Finland, over the last decade.
This was their first visit to Oulu as my personal guests.
The conducted 4 sessions. They were free.
I had opened their sessions especially to the Indians of Oulu as part of my intention to bring Indian culture here.
20 people responded, but the good weather, cricket practice and rainy weather kept them away. Only one turned up on each day.
There is usually a clamouring to do something for the community. But when I do, it usually gets ignored for other priorities.
But I do not give up, do I? Should I plan something for Independence Day?
This was their first visit to Oulu as my personal guests.
The conducted 4 sessions. They were free.
I had opened their sessions especially to the Indians of Oulu as part of my intention to bring Indian culture here.
20 people responded, but the good weather, cricket practice and rainy weather kept them away. Only one turned up on each day.
There is usually a clamouring to do something for the community. But when I do, it usually gets ignored for other priorities.
But I do not give up, do I? Should I plan something for Independence Day?
Thursday, July 22, 2010
Willis Conover and Jazz Hour
Willis Conover Host of Jazz Hour on VOA
I posted an entry on my Seventh Heaven Blog about Voice of America's Jazz Hour. I had replies telling me the name of the host and other details that had completely skipped my mind.
So I did some Google Searching and came up with some amazing facts.
Jazz Hour was stated in 1955 and was hosted by a guy with a deep baritone voice whose name was Willis Conover. The programme was not broadcast in the USA but it had over 100 million listeners world wide with about 30 million in the Communist countries. His way of handling the programme resulted in the Special English News Broadcasts that started in 1959!
Willis never mixed politics in his broadcasts, and as far as I can remember, it was an amazing programme of the best of American Jazz.
I was introduced to this programme by my dear friend 59er Ooky (Elias Elijah) in 1958 and listened to it as long as I could pick it up on my world band radio.
Willis Conover died in 1998 and the programme continued to 2003.
I am not a fan of "present day" music that passes as "Jazz". But that is Jazz - as it is non-structured but yet extremely structured.
One of the greatest pieces of jazz that I have heard is André Previn playing Bach accompanied by, I think, Shelly Manne, on the drums. My love for classical and Jazz merged with that!
Those were some days!
Peacocks
My beauty, inside and outside.
I was driving on my scooter to town yesterday when, coming in the other direction, was a lady on a cycle, with green hair, heavily painted eyes and lips, and with dramatic clothes.
I wondered why such a pretty young girl needed all this paraphernalia to attract attention. Or was she trying to attract attention?
I thought of our Indian National Bird, the Peacock, which spreads its beautiful feathers to attract attention of the opposite species.
I thought, that is what nature endowed it with. It did not need any external assistance.
Then I thought of myself, of what I do before I set out in the morning. I have a bath, brush my teeth, sometimes trim my moustache (mainly so that it is not a filter for my food intake, and also trim my beard, dress with the first things I see on my clothes shelf, comb my hair (why?) and set out into the world.
I feel confident and happy, immaterial of what I am wearing. I do not look to see whether others are disgusted or appreciative of what I look like.
But what about me?
I like to see people neat and clean, well dressed, and facing the world with confidence.
Did that young girl with her peacock approach appear confident to me?
I do not think so. I thought she looked desperate - maybe I am wrong.
People are naturally attractive. I do not believe that I have seen a person who was ugly, although, I must admit, some people appear more attractive than they really are because of what they may be wearing, or their stance, etc.
However, it is really only when you meet a person and talk to him or her, you really know whether they are beautiful, ugly, attractive or disgusting. That is the inner self reveals what a person is like.
I wondered what the peahen thought of the male after the initial spread of feathers?
Monday, July 19, 2010
Some things remind me of India
Indian Mangoes
After 26 years in the wilderness, a beautiful wilderness, there are some things that remind me of India but yet are not quite Indian.
Yesterday, after dinner, Annikki offered me a Israeli mango for dessert. It was so bad in taste that I had to ask her to take it away.
This evening, when I got home, there was a fragrant smell of a ripe mango, not overripe, but just right.
I looked at the three of the mangoes on the dining table and decided I would chance having one, despite my experience of yesterday.
I cut open one. It was obvious that this was the odd one out - it was delicious reflected in the smell, totally unlike yesterday's catastrophe.
But this got me thinking about Indian mangoes.
I have grown up on a diet of different types of mango - from the polymango at the school gate to the Banganapally, Mulgova, Langada, Badami, Raspuri and what they call the King of Mangoes - the Alphonso.
When we moved to India in 1969, for about a year we stayed in a small flat in the City Centre. Much against the wishes of all our family members we found a small house on the outskirts of Madras - Nandambakkam, where the colony was situated in a Mango Grove.
We had one ancient tree in our garden. It must have been a hundred years old. The old tree had a grotto facing the children's room. There lived a friendly snake who used to pop is head out and wish us the time of the day. It was too frightened to come out if we were around.
When Annikki's brother and his wife came to India for their honeymoon, we gave them that bedroom. Annikki casually mentioned our friendly snake - which was the cause of a disaster, as her sister-in-law could not sleep all night.
But the beauty of this old tree was the mango it produced. Each fruit was between 800 gm to a kilo. They were round like the Romany but bright yellow like the Alphonso. The fruits were jucier and sweeter than any other mango I have ever tasted.
Joanna, our younger daughter, was literally brought up on this mango juice, much to the horror of my older relatives who said that mango was too heaty for young children.
Joanna and all of us thrived on this tree for the time we were there.
The similarity to the Romany and this unnamed variety was how we ate it.
My dad had taught me that the easiest way to eat a round Romany mango was to cut it round the seed in the centre. Twist and the mango halves came apart and the seed ell away. One could spoon carve the mango out of the skin.
The mango I had today was nowhere near the taste of our Velacherri mango, but the smell was very close.
Oh for a good mango!
Yesterday, after dinner, Annikki offered me a Israeli mango for dessert. It was so bad in taste that I had to ask her to take it away.
This evening, when I got home, there was a fragrant smell of a ripe mango, not overripe, but just right.
I looked at the three of the mangoes on the dining table and decided I would chance having one, despite my experience of yesterday.
I cut open one. It was obvious that this was the odd one out - it was delicious reflected in the smell, totally unlike yesterday's catastrophe.
But this got me thinking about Indian mangoes.
I have grown up on a diet of different types of mango - from the polymango at the school gate to the Banganapally, Mulgova, Langada, Badami, Raspuri and what they call the King of Mangoes - the Alphonso.
When we moved to India in 1969, for about a year we stayed in a small flat in the City Centre. Much against the wishes of all our family members we found a small house on the outskirts of Madras - Nandambakkam, where the colony was situated in a Mango Grove.
We had one ancient tree in our garden. It must have been a hundred years old. The old tree had a grotto facing the children's room. There lived a friendly snake who used to pop is head out and wish us the time of the day. It was too frightened to come out if we were around.
When Annikki's brother and his wife came to India for their honeymoon, we gave them that bedroom. Annikki casually mentioned our friendly snake - which was the cause of a disaster, as her sister-in-law could not sleep all night.
But the beauty of this old tree was the mango it produced. Each fruit was between 800 gm to a kilo. They were round like the Romany but bright yellow like the Alphonso. The fruits were jucier and sweeter than any other mango I have ever tasted.
Joanna, our younger daughter, was literally brought up on this mango juice, much to the horror of my older relatives who said that mango was too heaty for young children.
Joanna and all of us thrived on this tree for the time we were there.
The similarity to the Romany and this unnamed variety was how we ate it.
My dad had taught me that the easiest way to eat a round Romany mango was to cut it round the seed in the centre. Twist and the mango halves came apart and the seed ell away. One could spoon carve the mango out of the skin.
The mango I had today was nowhere near the taste of our Velacherri mango, but the smell was very close.
Oh for a good mango!
Speed cameras - A DANGER
Yesterday, I made a quick trip to Tampere, about 500 km south of Oulu.
I chose a route which is the shortest, rather than the conventional one which is the major artery. Although it is only a few kilometres shorter, the time indicated in the Navigator was almost an hour longer than the other route.
Driving along the smaller country roads was extremely pleasant. Even moren to my surprise, was that there was not a single speed radar camera on the route. This meant that I, and other drivers, were not constantly looking out for the traps. The driving was smooth and easy.
Everyone was observing the indicated speed limits. I did see a couple of Police Vans prowling the route, but no incidents.
The time taken was actually slightly less than the Fastest Route because of the fact that we did not have to keep braking for the cameras.
More important was that my fuel consumption was considerably less.
Two days ago, the State of Arizona in the USA outlawed the use of Speed Cameras as an invasion of privacy.
I had posted a comment there which tackled some important points.
One of the most important points I raised was that while driving at around midnight before sunrise, if I had my headlights on, I was able to see all the road signs. But if there was an on-coming car and I switched to my dip lights, I was unable to see the road signs and the change of speed signs, which usually precede a speed camera, and hence it was a violation of the law to haul anyone up in the dark hours for breaking the speed limit when caught by a speed camera.
The most important aspect is that it does no good to road safety. In fact is more of a danger.
Tne only reason that these speed cameras exists is to collect revenue from the motorists.
I chose a route which is the shortest, rather than the conventional one which is the major artery. Although it is only a few kilometres shorter, the time indicated in the Navigator was almost an hour longer than the other route.
Driving along the smaller country roads was extremely pleasant. Even moren to my surprise, was that there was not a single speed radar camera on the route. This meant that I, and other drivers, were not constantly looking out for the traps. The driving was smooth and easy.
Everyone was observing the indicated speed limits. I did see a couple of Police Vans prowling the route, but no incidents.
The time taken was actually slightly less than the Fastest Route because of the fact that we did not have to keep braking for the cameras.
More important was that my fuel consumption was considerably less.
Two days ago, the State of Arizona in the USA outlawed the use of Speed Cameras as an invasion of privacy.
I had posted a comment there which tackled some important points.
One of the most important points I raised was that while driving at around midnight before sunrise, if I had my headlights on, I was able to see all the road signs. But if there was an on-coming car and I switched to my dip lights, I was unable to see the road signs and the change of speed signs, which usually precede a speed camera, and hence it was a violation of the law to haul anyone up in the dark hours for breaking the speed limit when caught by a speed camera.
The most important aspect is that it does no good to road safety. In fact is more of a danger.
Tne only reason that these speed cameras exists is to collect revenue from the motorists.
Friday, July 16, 2010
Google is amazing
At 4:20 (16:20) today, I put up my most recent blog entry and mentioned my experience yesterday with water plaining.
I was not sure whether I had used the correct word, plaining, as it is derived NOT from the words PLAIN or PLAN, but from PLANE! And there is no such word as PLANEING! The English Language does not allow this.
I thought I would check it out on Google. At 17:45, just less than 2 hours after I had posted my entry, the No. 1 hit on Google Search was my entry!
How do they do this?
I take my hats off to Google, an amazing company.
I was not sure whether I had used the correct word, plaining, as it is derived NOT from the words PLAIN or PLAN, but from PLANE! And there is no such word as PLANEING! The English Language does not allow this.
I thought I would check it out on Google. At 17:45, just less than 2 hours after I had posted my entry, the No. 1 hit on Google Search was my entry!
How do they do this?
I take my hats off to Google, an amazing company.
Two more days for registration
Many of you have asked how to do the registration for access to my blogs.
(Two comments on this subject as well.)
All you have is to send me an email telling me which blogs you want to access.
When I set up my settings, I will include your email address. That will enable you to access the appropriate blogs. No password will be required. You will get an email to the effect telling you that you have been registered to read a particular blog.
As there are over 10 blogs, I will only add you to the blogs you personally request.
I had an amazing drive to Helsinki yesterday. It was blistering hot on my way down. I drank many bottles of fluids, juices and water.
There was torrential rain when I left Helsinki at 5 pm. Im learnt for the first time what was water plaining. I lost control of the car as the water was rushing down the motorway. I got away without any damage and I drove at snail's pace when I was under the downpour.
When driving the last 300 km between 12 midnight and 2:30 am, I watched an amazing simultaneous sunset on my left and a sunrise on my right with an almost vertical rainbow at 1 am!.
What a wonderful world!
(Two comments on this subject as well.)
All you have is to send me an email telling me which blogs you want to access.
When I set up my settings, I will include your email address. That will enable you to access the appropriate blogs. No password will be required. You will get an email to the effect telling you that you have been registered to read a particular blog.
As there are over 10 blogs, I will only add you to the blogs you personally request.
I had an amazing drive to Helsinki yesterday. It was blistering hot on my way down. I drank many bottles of fluids, juices and water.
There was torrential rain when I left Helsinki at 5 pm. Im learnt for the first time what was water plaining. I lost control of the car as the water was rushing down the motorway. I got away without any damage and I drove at snail's pace when I was under the downpour.
 |
| From 2010 Kampitie |
 |
| From 2010 Kampitie |
When driving the last 300 km between 12 midnight and 2:30 am, I watched an amazing simultaneous sunset on my left and a sunrise on my right with an almost vertical rainbow at 1 am!.
What a wonderful world!
Tuesday, July 13, 2010
Orbituary of a friend
I was informed by the son, Venkatesh, of a dear friend in Chennai that his father had passed away.
Last year, on our Bharat Darshan of 2 months, I took time off to go and meet one of my dearest friends in Chennai, P. V. Laxminarayan. Our paths had crossed through Rotary and a common interest in Plastics. PVL or Laxmi, as he was known, used to work for Chemplast, a large PVC resin manufacturer in Mettur a couple of hundred kilometers from Madras (Chennai). He was the plant accountant. He really understood not only the process, but the entire economics of running a large resin manufacturing facility. It was not because he was interested in Plastics resin manufacture, but because he was genuinely interested in whatever he did.
Every time he came to Madras on a work or weekend visit, as his late father-in-law ran one of the most dynamic architecural and civil engineering companies in Chennai, C.R. Narayana Rao, we would spend the time at the Rotary, and then his wife, Sita would dish up some great vegetarian dosais or vadas or rasam or.....
Finally, he moved to Chennai and started his own Auditing practice. Besides helping him to join our local Madras South Rotary Club, he also became the Auditor and financial advisor to my Consulting Company.
He was never just my Auditor. He was my friend. He used to stay with me when I lived in Bangalore. He travelled with me and ate with me, even though he was a very strict vegetarian.
He came from the ultra-orthodox Madhva Community, but he never let it interfere in his daily life. He was conservative and yet progressive.
PVL had a tremendous sense of humour. He would have all in splits of laughter for hours on end.
But yet, he could be deadly serious and accurate when he did his accounting, helping me to stay well within the law.
When we were in Chennai, his sons, Venkatesh & Ramachandran, had organised a special event to felicitate their father. He was eager that I would attend, but unfortunately our time in India was so short that it was impossible to change our schedules. But, during the time I spent with him, his mind was agile and he was trying to help another of his clients with some export orders. He never forgot where his bread was buttered and did everything humanly posible to help all his clients.
His wife, Sita, has also been a dear friend. I was able to spend a few minutes with her also during this last trip.
I know that she will miss her husband every single hour of the day, just as I am missing him even at this distance.
Annikki and I convey our deepest condolences to Sita and her two sons, Venkatesh and Ramachandran, on behalf of all our children and ourselves for a dear family friend for over 3 and a half decades.
You will be missed PVL.
We remember you fondly with all your gaiety.
Let your soul rest in peace.
Last year, on our Bharat Darshan of 2 months, I took time off to go and meet one of my dearest friends in Chennai, P. V. Laxminarayan. Our paths had crossed through Rotary and a common interest in Plastics. PVL or Laxmi, as he was known, used to work for Chemplast, a large PVC resin manufacturer in Mettur a couple of hundred kilometers from Madras (Chennai). He was the plant accountant. He really understood not only the process, but the entire economics of running a large resin manufacturing facility. It was not because he was interested in Plastics resin manufacture, but because he was genuinely interested in whatever he did.
Every time he came to Madras on a work or weekend visit, as his late father-in-law ran one of the most dynamic architecural and civil engineering companies in Chennai, C.R. Narayana Rao, we would spend the time at the Rotary, and then his wife, Sita would dish up some great vegetarian dosais or vadas or rasam or.....
Finally, he moved to Chennai and started his own Auditing practice. Besides helping him to join our local Madras South Rotary Club, he also became the Auditor and financial advisor to my Consulting Company.
He was never just my Auditor. He was my friend. He used to stay with me when I lived in Bangalore. He travelled with me and ate with me, even though he was a very strict vegetarian.
He came from the ultra-orthodox Madhva Community, but he never let it interfere in his daily life. He was conservative and yet progressive.
PVL had a tremendous sense of humour. He would have all in splits of laughter for hours on end.
But yet, he could be deadly serious and accurate when he did his accounting, helping me to stay well within the law.
When we were in Chennai, his sons, Venkatesh & Ramachandran, had organised a special event to felicitate their father. He was eager that I would attend, but unfortunately our time in India was so short that it was impossible to change our schedules. But, during the time I spent with him, his mind was agile and he was trying to help another of his clients with some export orders. He never forgot where his bread was buttered and did everything humanly posible to help all his clients.
His wife, Sita, has also been a dear friend. I was able to spend a few minutes with her also during this last trip.
I know that she will miss her husband every single hour of the day, just as I am missing him even at this distance.
Annikki and I convey our deepest condolences to Sita and her two sons, Venkatesh and Ramachandran, on behalf of all our children and ourselves for a dear family friend for over 3 and a half decades.
You will be missed PVL.
We remember you fondly with all your gaiety.
Let your soul rest in peace.
Saturday, July 10, 2010
An important request to ALL our readers
Dear Readers of all our blogs,
It is with great sadness that we have to announce that we will now have to make all our major blogs accessible only to those who register with us.
The subjects we have covered over the years include the wrestler Dara Singh (probably the most popular and controversial blog entries, ever), St. Stephen's College, Delhi, Cathedral and John Connon School, Mumbai, Bishop Cotton School, Bangalore, the UN, talk Shows in the USA, politics, the Kandathil and Maliyakal families, Kampitie, Vesaisentie, Annikki's creative art, achievements of our children and grandchildren, CHAFF (Chamber for Assistance of Finns and Foreigners), Findians, our numerous friends, relatives, our travels, recipes, and life in general. Above all, t they contained the nostalgia the people love.
Due to circumstances far beyond our control, which affect the lives of many of our loved ones, we have to create the SETTINGS of our blogs so that only those whom we invite can read them. This is very sad as our blogs have reunited many friends across the continents.
With over 120000 readers around the world, some reading more than one of our blogs, for a decrepit old blogger and his wife sitting near the North Pole, this will prove to be a Herculean task, but one which has to be done for the safety, security and well being of many of our loved ones.
Please take the time and effort to send us an email telling us which of our blogs you want to be added to so that you can access them freely.
Our sincere apologies to each and every one of you lovely readers who have kept us going for almost a decade and a half by your readership, your inputs and your outputs!
Yours in great sadness as technology besides being a positive aspect of life can also be a very negative one.
Annikki and Jacob Matthan
Oulu, Finland
It is with great sadness that we have to announce that we will now have to make all our major blogs accessible only to those who register with us.
The subjects we have covered over the years include the wrestler Dara Singh (probably the most popular and controversial blog entries, ever), St. Stephen's College, Delhi, Cathedral and John Connon School, Mumbai, Bishop Cotton School, Bangalore, the UN, talk Shows in the USA, politics, the Kandathil and Maliyakal families, Kampitie, Vesaisentie, Annikki's creative art, achievements of our children and grandchildren, CHAFF (Chamber for Assistance of Finns and Foreigners), Findians, our numerous friends, relatives, our travels, recipes, and life in general. Above all, t they contained the nostalgia the people love.
Due to circumstances far beyond our control, which affect the lives of many of our loved ones, we have to create the SETTINGS of our blogs so that only those whom we invite can read them. This is very sad as our blogs have reunited many friends across the continents.
With over 120000 readers around the world, some reading more than one of our blogs, for a decrepit old blogger and his wife sitting near the North Pole, this will prove to be a Herculean task, but one which has to be done for the safety, security and well being of many of our loved ones.
Please take the time and effort to send us an email telling us which of our blogs you want to be added to so that you can access them freely.
Our sincere apologies to each and every one of you lovely readers who have kept us going for almost a decade and a half by your readership, your inputs and your outputs!
Yours in great sadness as technology besides being a positive aspect of life can also be a very negative one.
Annikki and Jacob Matthan
Oulu, Finland
Sunday, July 04, 2010
This makes me MAD!!!
On Friday afternoon, one of our Indian engineers called me at about half past two and said he was not feeling well. I rushed to his workplace and took him to his local health centre in Tuira, only to find it closed for the summer. I tried the main City Health Centre at Kontinkangas, but found it closed already by 14:00 hours because it was a Friday.
Reluctantly, I had to take him to the Oulu University Central Hospital (OYKS) Out Patients Section as that was the only place available. I warned my dear friend what was likely to happen as has been recorded in an earlier blog entry.
He was told to have some laboratory tests done and then wait to see the doctor. After a wait of about 45 minutes, we got to get blood and urine samples taken. At this point, the nurse was kind enough to tell us the results would not be ready for a couple of hours. She told us that we should inform the office that we would be back at 18:30!
We returned at 18:30 and informed the office we were back. Not much good as it took another two hours before we saw the doctor who prescribed an antibiotic and a mild pain killer. I was told to organise to take him to the Oulu City Out Patient Department on Monday for further investigations.
We went to Yliopisto Apteeki, the only Pharmacy open so late in the evening, picked up the medicines, and I then dropped off the young lad at his apartment. He was not looking comfortable, but I hoped that maybe he would get better by the morning.
Saturday was a very busy day as I was scrapping my Audi and adding a Opel Vectra to my rental fleet. The customer had arrived in Oulu from Amsterdam and was anxious to get the car. I always ensure that my cars are in good mechanical condition, so I after my morning work at the office I was in the garage supervising the car servicing. In the meantime I brought the lady and her beautiful 2 month old baby, Arvind, to the office to finish the rental paperwork. The lady is Finnish from Oulu, her husband is from india and they live in Amsterdam.
After that, we went back to the garage, but the car was still being serviced as my mechanic decided to change the timing belt - usually done after 60000 km. As little Arvind was getting restless, I gave my car to the lady to go home and I said that I would bring the Vectra to her when it was ready. Just when the car was getting ready to hit the road, I had a call from our engineer, who said the pain had increased considerably and was almost unbearable. I promised I would be there as soon as possible. I took the Vectra to the lady's home on the outskirts of Oulu, only to find, that like me, she has a problem about remembering to switch off the lights. The battery was dead in my VW Vento. So I rushed back to Ahmatie, picked up my battery power loader, rushed to pick up the engineer and his friend, took them to the hospital, checked him in, telling the nurse that he had to see a doctor immediately.
The stupid nurse did not want to understand why I was desperate and she was trying to send the boy back home. However, because I insisted, she finally gave in and asked him to wait.
I knew it would take an hour or so, so I rushed off, exchanged the cars and got back to OYKS.
The poor boy was in great agony. Unable to stand seeing him writhing I made a fervent plea to the nurse to get the doctor to see him immediately. When we had reached, this poor youngster hardly had any fever, but now he was boiling. The temperature had reached 102 F (39 C). I made a second plea to the office and this time after another 15 minutes (about 2 hours since we had originally checked in) the doctor saw him. She decided to run the tests again, but my engineer friend was quite adamant that he could not wait sitting there as the pain was above the bearable threshold.
So we got a bed for him, they gave him a infusion pain killer and they brought the lab equipment to get his tests done again.
At that point it was decided to admit him into the hospital for observation. We left the engineer in the care of the hospital for the night.
I was there at 8 am to see him. He was feeling better as he was being given antibiotics by infusion and also he was having the pain killer. It was nice to see him smiling.
What infuriates me is the inability of Finnish doctor's to make any diagonis without a full set of results. They have absolutely no deductive skills. They are inexperienced as they just do not see enough patients to make a holistic assumption.
Further to have an Out Patient Department where the priority is for ambulance patients and then for children is just plain stupid. They should do the first assessment as a patient enters the hospital and make sure the priorities are fixed based on the condition of the patient.
If action had been taken immediately, this young engineer would not have to go through hell before he was to get the primary assistance!
All of you know that Annikki and I have written about this, sometimes even in jest - but this is past jesting. But the experiences with an 85 year old lady has certainly made us mad.
If you are an Indian working in Oulu, please check with your company that you can be treated in a private hospital - as I do not like seeing my young friends being subjected to this form of Finnish torture!
By the way, this is how Raantel Oy in Oulu looks after is tenants! :-)
Reluctantly, I had to take him to the Oulu University Central Hospital (OYKS) Out Patients Section as that was the only place available. I warned my dear friend what was likely to happen as has been recorded in an earlier blog entry.
He was told to have some laboratory tests done and then wait to see the doctor. After a wait of about 45 minutes, we got to get blood and urine samples taken. At this point, the nurse was kind enough to tell us the results would not be ready for a couple of hours. She told us that we should inform the office that we would be back at 18:30!
We returned at 18:30 and informed the office we were back. Not much good as it took another two hours before we saw the doctor who prescribed an antibiotic and a mild pain killer. I was told to organise to take him to the Oulu City Out Patient Department on Monday for further investigations.
We went to Yliopisto Apteeki, the only Pharmacy open so late in the evening, picked up the medicines, and I then dropped off the young lad at his apartment. He was not looking comfortable, but I hoped that maybe he would get better by the morning.
Saturday was a very busy day as I was scrapping my Audi and adding a Opel Vectra to my rental fleet. The customer had arrived in Oulu from Amsterdam and was anxious to get the car. I always ensure that my cars are in good mechanical condition, so I after my morning work at the office I was in the garage supervising the car servicing. In the meantime I brought the lady and her beautiful 2 month old baby, Arvind, to the office to finish the rental paperwork. The lady is Finnish from Oulu, her husband is from india and they live in Amsterdam.
After that, we went back to the garage, but the car was still being serviced as my mechanic decided to change the timing belt - usually done after 60000 km. As little Arvind was getting restless, I gave my car to the lady to go home and I said that I would bring the Vectra to her when it was ready. Just when the car was getting ready to hit the road, I had a call from our engineer, who said the pain had increased considerably and was almost unbearable. I promised I would be there as soon as possible. I took the Vectra to the lady's home on the outskirts of Oulu, only to find, that like me, she has a problem about remembering to switch off the lights. The battery was dead in my VW Vento. So I rushed back to Ahmatie, picked up my battery power loader, rushed to pick up the engineer and his friend, took them to the hospital, checked him in, telling the nurse that he had to see a doctor immediately.
The stupid nurse did not want to understand why I was desperate and she was trying to send the boy back home. However, because I insisted, she finally gave in and asked him to wait.
I knew it would take an hour or so, so I rushed off, exchanged the cars and got back to OYKS.
The poor boy was in great agony. Unable to stand seeing him writhing I made a fervent plea to the nurse to get the doctor to see him immediately. When we had reached, this poor youngster hardly had any fever, but now he was boiling. The temperature had reached 102 F (39 C). I made a second plea to the office and this time after another 15 minutes (about 2 hours since we had originally checked in) the doctor saw him. She decided to run the tests again, but my engineer friend was quite adamant that he could not wait sitting there as the pain was above the bearable threshold.
So we got a bed for him, they gave him a infusion pain killer and they brought the lab equipment to get his tests done again.
At that point it was decided to admit him into the hospital for observation. We left the engineer in the care of the hospital for the night.
I was there at 8 am to see him. He was feeling better as he was being given antibiotics by infusion and also he was having the pain killer. It was nice to see him smiling.
What infuriates me is the inability of Finnish doctor's to make any diagonis without a full set of results. They have absolutely no deductive skills. They are inexperienced as they just do not see enough patients to make a holistic assumption.
Further to have an Out Patient Department where the priority is for ambulance patients and then for children is just plain stupid. They should do the first assessment as a patient enters the hospital and make sure the priorities are fixed based on the condition of the patient.
If action had been taken immediately, this young engineer would not have to go through hell before he was to get the primary assistance!
All of you know that Annikki and I have written about this, sometimes even in jest - but this is past jesting. But the experiences with an 85 year old lady has certainly made us mad.
If you are an Indian working in Oulu, please check with your company that you can be treated in a private hospital - as I do not like seeing my young friends being subjected to this form of Finnish torture!
By the way, this is how Raantel Oy in Oulu looks after is tenants! :-)
Sunday, June 27, 2010
The background to "Loma raha"
Many of you have been asking me as to the background to the "lomaraha" that many Finns receive. It is equal to a month's extra salary (but taxed at 50%). The translation means "Holiday Money".
In the old days, Finns would take the whole month of July of from work, to recover from a hard winter and to enjoy the summer sunshine. Work in the entire country would drag to an almost full stop as the Finns pushed off to their holiday homes, etc.
If the summer had been great and the look of August being an Indian Summer was a prospect, many Finns would not turn up for work on the 1st of August.
The Finnish companies had a real problem as this is a small country and every person's input counted.
To counteract this trend, the employers started an incentive called "Holiday Money".
If the people came back from their holiday on the 1st of August, they got a bonus of a month's salary.
This practice continued till finally it became enshrined as a worker's right.
Soon, everyone was getting an extra month's salary as "Lomaraha".
For 11 month's work the Finns got 13 month's salary.
I do not know if this system is still prevalent, but all through my working life I did enjoy the extra month's salary.
In my case, as I did not take my annual holiday in July, I got an extra week's holiday in December. Instead of 4 weeks paid annual holiday, I got 5 weeks. With one week off for Christmas and New Year, that made it 6 weeks. As I planned to give some lectures in India or UK, I got one week extra as a working week off from work - making it 7 weeks. 13 months salary for 10 months and 1 week work!!!!
Of course, this old man is now on a perpetual holiday! :-)
In the old days, Finns would take the whole month of July of from work, to recover from a hard winter and to enjoy the summer sunshine. Work in the entire country would drag to an almost full stop as the Finns pushed off to their holiday homes, etc.
If the summer had been great and the look of August being an Indian Summer was a prospect, many Finns would not turn up for work on the 1st of August.
The Finnish companies had a real problem as this is a small country and every person's input counted.
To counteract this trend, the employers started an incentive called "Holiday Money".
If the people came back from their holiday on the 1st of August, they got a bonus of a month's salary.
This practice continued till finally it became enshrined as a worker's right.
Soon, everyone was getting an extra month's salary as "Lomaraha".
For 11 month's work the Finns got 13 month's salary.
I do not know if this system is still prevalent, but all through my working life I did enjoy the extra month's salary.
In my case, as I did not take my annual holiday in July, I got an extra week's holiday in December. Instead of 4 weeks paid annual holiday, I got 5 weeks. With one week off for Christmas and New Year, that made it 6 weeks. As I planned to give some lectures in India or UK, I got one week extra as a working week off from work - making it 7 weeks. 13 months salary for 10 months and 1 week work!!!!
Of course, this old man is now on a perpetual holiday! :-)
Saturday, June 26, 2010
Midsummer Rose Blooms again
Every year, without fail, the Midsummer Rose at Kampitie, at least one, opens up and blooms. This year was no exception.
There has been a dramatic change in the front garden at Vesaisentie, where Annikki has used a novel concept of placing wooden pavings, to complement her stone ones.
They look unusual and great.
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| From 2010 Kampitie |
There has been a dramatic change in the front garden at Vesaisentie, where Annikki has used a novel concept of placing wooden pavings, to complement her stone ones.
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| From 2010 Kampitie |
They look unusual and great.
Friday, June 25, 2010
What a cosmopilitan mix
My Nordkapp Mini Bus trips are proving to be popular and quite a cosmopolitan mix.
Last week we had 3 Finns, 2 Indians, 1 Romanian and 1 Zambian (4 ladies and 3 gents). This week, we have 3 Chinese, 3 Indians, 2 Sri Lankans and 1 Sudanese (5 ladies and 4 gents). Next week....??
I was planning to make the trip this week with two friends. But, we had a last minute request from one of my Chinese tenants in Raantel Oy Furnished Apartments to accommodate her and two friends, so we moved aside to give them the chance to see the sight of a lifetime.
The route is the same as on the first trip. The pictures from Sandra are amazing. I am supposed to indicate my top 10, which has proved impossible at the moment. Each of her compositions is like a picture postcard.
I have, however, chosen one so far....
Saana Mountain, Kilpisjärvi, Finland. (Copyright Sandra Rugina, 2010)
This surrealistic picture of Saana Mountain, the sacred mountain of the Lappish people, the original nomadic inhabitants of northern Scandinaviaa and Finland, near Kilpisjärvi, is just one of her photos from the trip.
What composition, what detail, what an effect it has on you!
I will upload Sandra's 10 top photographs over the course of summer as I report on each visit to Nordkapp.
In the meantime, may I invite you to make this experience this summer!
Last week we had 3 Finns, 2 Indians, 1 Romanian and 1 Zambian (4 ladies and 3 gents). This week, we have 3 Chinese, 3 Indians, 2 Sri Lankans and 1 Sudanese (5 ladies and 4 gents). Next week....??
I was planning to make the trip this week with two friends. But, we had a last minute request from one of my Chinese tenants in Raantel Oy Furnished Apartments to accommodate her and two friends, so we moved aside to give them the chance to see the sight of a lifetime.
The route is the same as on the first trip. The pictures from Sandra are amazing. I am supposed to indicate my top 10, which has proved impossible at the moment. Each of her compositions is like a picture postcard.
I have, however, chosen one so far....
This surrealistic picture of Saana Mountain, the sacred mountain of the Lappish people, the original nomadic inhabitants of northern Scandinaviaa and Finland, near Kilpisjärvi, is just one of her photos from the trip.
What composition, what detail, what an effect it has on you!
I will upload Sandra's 10 top photographs over the course of summer as I report on each visit to Nordkapp.
In the meantime, may I invite you to make this experience this summer!
Monday, June 21, 2010
Is this THE Dara Singh?
As many of you may have noted, my blog entry about Dara Singh and the other wrestler's of the 1950s are some of the hotest pages that I have. The controversy rages, and even as I try to put it out, it flares up again.
Now I have an email from Mahabir. He has sent me some photographs of a person whom he says is the Dara Singh.
I cannot think that it is the Dara Singh that I watched!
Now I have an email from Mahabir. He has sent me some photographs of a person whom he says is the Dara Singh.
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| From Dara Singh |
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| From Dara Singh |
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| From Dara Singh |
I cannot think that it is the Dara Singh that I watched!
First Nordkapp trip travellers return
It was at about 00:30 am on Monday morning when I got the call from Hannah, the tour guide of our Nordkapp trip, that the Mini Bus was just leaving Kemi. I told her I would be at the office to meet them.
The Ford Transit 9 Seater which took the travellers to Nordkapp and back.
The tired group of travellers, 3 Finns, 2 Indians, 1 Romanian and 1 Zambian arrived at India House at 01:30.
Their journey, which had started on Friday afternoon at 14:00 hours, had been arduous, but as I understood, quite exciting. Although the cloudy skies prevented them from witnessing the Midnight Sun at the horizon, they certainly got a glimpse of the beauty of Northern Finland and Northern Norway. Two of the Finns were so experienced that our Tour Guide only had to translate what the two were saying!!!
I quickly glanced through the 300+ photographs that trip photographer, Sandra Rugina, had taken. There are some really great ones in the collection. She is a truly outstanding photographer. She can capture that moment that counts.
I will put up the best ones as soon as Sandra gets the top 10 to me.
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| From Nordkapp Tours |
The tired group of travellers, 3 Finns, 2 Indians, 1 Romanian and 1 Zambian arrived at India House at 01:30.
Their journey, which had started on Friday afternoon at 14:00 hours, had been arduous, but as I understood, quite exciting. Although the cloudy skies prevented them from witnessing the Midnight Sun at the horizon, they certainly got a glimpse of the beauty of Northern Finland and Northern Norway. Two of the Finns were so experienced that our Tour Guide only had to translate what the two were saying!!!
I quickly glanced through the 300+ photographs that trip photographer, Sandra Rugina, had taken. There are some really great ones in the collection. She is a truly outstanding photographer. She can capture that moment that counts.
I will put up the best ones as soon as Sandra gets the top 10 to me.
Am I a crazy dosai lover?
Many of you have asked me why I get so excited when I am served Masala Dosai in Oulu. You can get a reasonable dosai in every street corner in India. To an average Indian, my excitement will seem foolish.
Unfortunately, the availability of a dosai in many parts of the world is strictly limited. When one is served one, and after a lengthy period of not having even seen one on the horizon, the excitement knows no bounds as the juices start their work even before the first morsel is in the mouth.
Yesterday, Annikki produced a superb dosai meal for me with a tasty tomato curry. The filling was a spicy potato mix. I enjoyed three of them in one go.
The reason for the arrival on the table was that Annikki found that a good small coffee grinder can churn the Urad Dal into the right powdery consistency, something she could only do before with a heavy duty coffee grinder which we have left behind in our old home. Too heavy!
I hear that Nushrat and Arindamof the Indian Cuisine Restaurant are still in the planning stage of launching the Oulu Masala Dosai after they get a good South Indian cook.
Sorry, can't wait for that. My wife certainly learnt the right things from her 15 year sojourn in India - which shows all over me! :-)
Thanks, Annikki, for the Dosai. Thanks to you people out there for taking time to read this entry dictated by my pot belly!
Unfortunately, the availability of a dosai in many parts of the world is strictly limited. When one is served one, and after a lengthy period of not having even seen one on the horizon, the excitement knows no bounds as the juices start their work even before the first morsel is in the mouth.| From Annikki's Oulu Masala Dosai |
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| From Annikki's Oulu Masala Dosai |
| From Annikki's Oulu Masala Dosai |
Yesterday, Annikki produced a superb dosai meal for me with a tasty tomato curry. The filling was a spicy potato mix. I enjoyed three of them in one go.
The reason for the arrival on the table was that Annikki found that a good small coffee grinder can churn the Urad Dal into the right powdery consistency, something she could only do before with a heavy duty coffee grinder which we have left behind in our old home. Too heavy!
I hear that Nushrat and Arindamof the Indian Cuisine Restaurant are still in the planning stage of launching the Oulu Masala Dosai after they get a good South Indian cook.
Sorry, can't wait for that. My wife certainly learnt the right things from her 15 year sojourn in India - which shows all over me! :-)
Thanks, Annikki, for the Dosai. Thanks to you people out there for taking time to read this entry dictated by my pot belly!
Saturday, June 19, 2010
Our joy knows no bounds
It was on Wednesday that i reluctantly rang Joanna as soon as I reached home. Samu, as usual, picked up the phone and I asked to speak to Joanna.
Joanna was aggressive as she wanted to know where we both had been. She had been ringing to speak to us, but no one had picked up the phone.
Then she asked me whether I had seen Facebook. I told her I had been busy and I had not. Then she dropped the bombshell.
SHE HAD PASSED WITH MERIT! She was now a full DOCTOR.
10 years had passed. (She thought it was only 9. She had forgotten that first year where she studied the fundamentals!) It has now culminated into her being what has been her ambition from childhood.
Not satisfied with her Master's Degree in English Philology, and her cushy jobs with Nokia Mobile and Nokia Networks, she had become a single mother in Newcastle, had two more children along the way and struggled through all what a person can face, so ably assisted by a few wonderful people, especially her dear friend Ulla and a lovely young girl, Anni, to achieve her ambition.
She has paid a heavy price but the final result has made it worthwhile.
My mind flashed back to when she had been a bundle of joy for us in 1971. She was a quiet baby and gave us no trouble. (Not trhat our other kids gave us any trouble when they were kids!)
Joanna had been an outstanding student all through her school life. I used to enjoy reading her half yearly and annual school reports. She really enjoyed life the way I had wanted her too. Her friends and her hobbies were equally of great satisfaction to me. She was no bookworm, but yet she was always doing well in her studies.
When she finished her High School, both Annikki and I were thrilled to bits by her performance
And with all her burdens of single parenthood and 3 small beautiful children, Samu (13), Daniel (6) and Maria (2), she had achieved her life's first ambition - to be a Doctor!
I shouted with joy as she broke the news to me. Annikki grabbed the phone to hear the words from her daughter. We both were in shock with joy. I cried at the thought of all this poor girl has been through to reach this.
Well done, Joanna. Thank you Ulla and Anni.
I never had a doubt what Joanna would achieve. And I never had a doubt that she would reach there with nothing but MERIT.
Joanna was aggressive as she wanted to know where we both had been. She had been ringing to speak to us, but no one had picked up the phone.
Then she asked me whether I had seen Facebook. I told her I had been busy and I had not. Then she dropped the bombshell.
SHE HAD PASSED WITH MERIT! She was now a full DOCTOR.
10 years had passed. (She thought it was only 9. She had forgotten that first year where she studied the fundamentals!) It has now culminated into her being what has been her ambition from childhood.
Not satisfied with her Master's Degree in English Philology, and her cushy jobs with Nokia Mobile and Nokia Networks, she had become a single mother in Newcastle, had two more children along the way and struggled through all what a person can face, so ably assisted by a few wonderful people, especially her dear friend Ulla and a lovely young girl, Anni, to achieve her ambition.
She has paid a heavy price but the final result has made it worthwhile.
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| From Doctor Joanna |
My mind flashed back to when she had been a bundle of joy for us in 1971. She was a quiet baby and gave us no trouble. (Not trhat our other kids gave us any trouble when they were kids!)
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| From Doctor Joanna |
Joanna had been an outstanding student all through her school life. I used to enjoy reading her half yearly and annual school reports. She really enjoyed life the way I had wanted her too. Her friends and her hobbies were equally of great satisfaction to me. She was no bookworm, but yet she was always doing well in her studies.
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| From Doctor Joanna |
When she finished her High School, both Annikki and I were thrilled to bits by her performance
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| From Doctor Joanna |
And with all her burdens of single parenthood and 3 small beautiful children, Samu (13), Daniel (6) and Maria (2), she had achieved her life's first ambition - to be a Doctor!
I shouted with joy as she broke the news to me. Annikki grabbed the phone to hear the words from her daughter. We both were in shock with joy. I cried at the thought of all this poor girl has been through to reach this.
Well done, Joanna. Thank you Ulla and Anni.
I never had a doubt what Joanna would achieve. And I never had a doubt that she would reach there with nothing but MERIT.
Why was I quiet? Feeling India at Oulu!!!
It is quite common people that email me when I am quiet on the blogs. Late last week, I got a call asking about my health. I assured the caller that I was in peak condition, despite all what the doctors are saying. My blood sugar is raging high, my cholesterol is over the top... ...... But I feel fine as a fettle.
I did want some time to digest the event that was held last Saturday. In my short posting to the participants I expressed Annikki´s comment that this show was outstanding in that it was "from the people, by the people, for the people".
I thought to give you an insight about how this event actually developed.
Mani wrote an email to a few people asking whether they thought it was a good idea for our O-India Group to do something. Many, including myself, thought it was about time that we did.
Masterfully, Mani organised a brain-storming session. We had plenty of ideas. This was very cleverly filtered during the course of a few sessions into a "programme" which everyone thought was do-able.
Then started the hard work of writing the script, editing it (in which I contributed a very small part), and then organising a bunch of common people to bring out their hidden talent.
And talent we found in plentiful.
I am glad to say that India House was throbbing with activity. I was able to offer first the office and then an apartment which was free for a couple of days, as the practice venue. This was when Ville Victor was not available. Our special thanks to Shahnaz, Hassan and Tapsa who made it possible to enjoy those facilities to the fullest. Aruna chipped in by offering the Setlementti premises in the City Centre and Tuira when they were free.
But the over-crowded rooms of India House were humming with activity and the strains of music of all ages from all parts of India, as a group of youngsters took their own parts so seriously.
As the show developed, I was able to secure the YMCA Hall at a reasonable cost for the event and also get their powerful audio equipment for the show along with a excellent microphone input.
Mani was a gentle but hard task master. Starting with weekly practices, he then put the screws on till they were virtually every other day. Driving a group of people who have never done any professional acting in front of a huge audience certainly needs the skill of a "Slum Dog" Director - and we had that in Mani.
I know I am going to earn the wrath of both Pooja and Mani, as they shun publicity - but I feel credit has to go where credit is due - and it was this superb husband and wife team that made us be this GROUP.
Just as we thought we had it all organised, Arindam rang me and said he had a discovery, a dancer from Sri Lanka. This young and talented girl was injected into the group. It really gave the group an extra layer of gold polish.
Each participant became adept at what he or she was going to do. Nonchalance was driven away by the need to work as a team. And as a team they worked, husbands and wives, even to the point of their children being left to watch Walt Disney movies in the care of Karteek at India House.
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| From Fieel India |
The poster created by Mani was simply superb. It had a touch and feel of professionalism, which even amazed the creator. I managed to blow it up and create fliers which were then strategically placed in points where we could generate an audience, especially the Findians amongst us.
The first full practice session was on the 12th morning. I saw the production through for the first time, and I was really overjoyed to see the outcome. The music had been put together masterfully. the script was full of meaning and the diction was perfect. The dances were superb and the skits were done magnificently. We had a bunch of really talented actors on stage.
With the help of the younger crew, the hall was made ready and the performance which was to start at 17:45 and run for about 45 minutes.
Then we waited with baited breath to see how many people would turn up. By 17:30 we had "HOUSE FULL"!
The show commenced and ran without a hitch. It was as if I was sitting in an Indian movie theatre as the whistling and clapping at each performance showed as that it was being appreciated. There was everything - colour, beauty, brawn, and amazing talent plus humour. The show ended on a real high of the comparison of our Bharatanatyam with Michael Jackson! Who won? The audience rocked and laughed!
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| From Fieel India |
The cheers at the final curtain call showed the appreciation.
The event was followed by Nushrat and Arindam serving tea and coffee and some Indian food at a very affordable price. This helped people to mingle and meet and show their appreciation to the actors and all the people behind the production.
Then the team cleaned up and left the hall the way we should.
Thanks girls and guys for this. People are waiting for your next production!
Sunday, June 13, 2010
The secret of my NORDKAPP Trip
The reason why I am pushing my Nordkapp trip is that you may witness something that no one alive may never again see in their lifetime - TWO - YES, TWO SUNS.
The whole world is waiting for 21st June 2010 to witness a wonderful
vision which may appear next time this close, is in 2287 only.
21st June 2010 - TWO SUNS?
STAR ADEROID will be the brightest in the sky, starting 10th June.
It will look as large as the sun from naked eye.
This will culminate on 21st June 2010 when the star comes within
34.65M miles of the earth.
Be sure to watch the sky between 18th and 27th June 2010.
On 21st June at 12:30 pm it will look as if the earth has 2 suns.
NO ONE ALIVE TODAY will ever see it again. Don't miss it.
I cannot predict what it will look like at Nordkapp.
If you are one of the lucky ones to be there, you may have a set of
photographs which may be worth a small fortune.
That is why top photographers are going on my Nordkapp trip.
I will have copyright access to each of their top 10 photographs!
Don´t say I did not tell you! :-)
The whole world is waiting for 21st June 2010 to witness a wonderful
vision which may appear next time this close, is in 2287 only.
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| From 2010 Two Suns |
21st June 2010 - TWO SUNS?
STAR ADEROID will be the brightest in the sky, starting 10th June.
It will look as large as the sun from naked eye.
This will culminate on 21st June 2010 when the star comes within
34.65M miles of the earth.
Be sure to watch the sky between 18th and 27th June 2010.
On 21st June at 12:30 pm it will look as if the earth has 2 suns.
NO ONE ALIVE TODAY will ever see it again. Don't miss it.
I cannot predict what it will look like at Nordkapp.
If you are one of the lucky ones to be there, you may have a set of
photographs which may be worth a small fortune.
That is why top photographers are going on my Nordkapp trip.
I will have copyright access to each of their top 10 photographs!
Don´t say I did not tell you! :-)
Friday, June 11, 2010
Most pleasantly surprised
Yesterday, I visited an Indian software engineer who has not been very long in Finland, maybe a month and a half. Along came his friend who lives next door.
I was most pleasantly surprised to hear the conversation between them.
One told the other that eggs were only € 0.49 in one shop, but that when he went there, he did not find it. Then the other responded that tomatoes were just € 0.89 in another shop.
I asked them where they had got the information. They brought out a copy of the twice a week newspaper, FORUM, and they pointed to two advertisements, both from K-Sopermarket.
The information they had had gleaned was partially correct, but the niceties of their finds were missing because of their lack of knowledge of Finnish.
The two shops were differen. The dates on which these special offers were also restricted. There was also a restriction on the number of packets of eggs that could be bought at this price.
But it was a real eye opener to me that the guys had actually bothered to go through the newspaper.
Considering how I started the "Survival" system in 1984, I was really happy to see our cost conscious Indian software engineers using this approach.
Wish I could give a copy of the "Handbook for Survival" to each person who arrives. Sadly, it is out of date, having been published in 1994. Also, one has to have the energy to go through the entire printing and publishing process again.
I was most pleasantly surprised to hear the conversation between them.
One told the other that eggs were only € 0.49 in one shop, but that when he went there, he did not find it. Then the other responded that tomatoes were just € 0.89 in another shop.
I asked them where they had got the information. They brought out a copy of the twice a week newspaper, FORUM, and they pointed to two advertisements, both from K-Sopermarket.
The information they had had gleaned was partially correct, but the niceties of their finds were missing because of their lack of knowledge of Finnish.
The two shops were differen. The dates on which these special offers were also restricted. There was also a restriction on the number of packets of eggs that could be bought at this price.
But it was a real eye opener to me that the guys had actually bothered to go through the newspaper.
Considering how I started the "Survival" system in 1984, I was really happy to see our cost conscious Indian software engineers using this approach.
Wish I could give a copy of the "Handbook for Survival" to each person who arrives. Sadly, it is out of date, having been published in 1994. Also, one has to have the energy to go through the entire printing and publishing process again.
Sunday, June 06, 2010
Who in their right senses would...
I read with great interest how billions were being promised as new investment in Bangalore and how the Chief Minister had rode rough shod on the protesters.
Those of whom have been following this blog when Annikki and I were travelling through India, and especially when we were in Bangalore, would certainly be wondering what I thought of this!
Being a Bangalorean by birth and a lover of Bangalore when it was a "Garden City", what I saw was a unplanned, unmanaged growth where only the power of money ruled the streets. A filthy, unkept Bangalore where kids and garbage were brought up side by side, as the "investors" have no time for such niceties of keeping a clean healthy city, as it would affect their bottom line if they did anything about this.
I am unlikely to visit Bangalore again, unless I have to. It is "dead" city to me.
I refer to my many posts on this blog about Rural Urbanisation.
I wish those investors planning to invest their billions would show some sense before the "oil catastrophe" symptom of the Gulf of Mexico, in its land form, hits and destroys.
As I have said a couple of times - the only salvation will be when Bangalore dies and sees rebirth!
Those of whom have been following this blog when Annikki and I were travelling through India, and especially when we were in Bangalore, would certainly be wondering what I thought of this!
Being a Bangalorean by birth and a lover of Bangalore when it was a "Garden City", what I saw was a unplanned, unmanaged growth where only the power of money ruled the streets. A filthy, unkept Bangalore where kids and garbage were brought up side by side, as the "investors" have no time for such niceties of keeping a clean healthy city, as it would affect their bottom line if they did anything about this.
I am unlikely to visit Bangalore again, unless I have to. It is "dead" city to me.
I refer to my many posts on this blog about Rural Urbanisation.
I wish those investors planning to invest their billions would show some sense before the "oil catastrophe" symptom of the Gulf of Mexico, in its land form, hits and destroys.
As I have said a couple of times - the only salvation will be when Bangalore dies and sees rebirth!
Saturday, June 05, 2010
Dandia brings alive India House
Last Sunday, India House in Oulu was throbbing with the sound of Indian Music and Dances. The cultural group planning and preparing for the programme for Saturday the 12th of June in Oulu was busy, practicing.
As one apartment was free, I was able to allow them to use it for the practice.
But the ladies found they needed more space.
They moved to forecourt to practice the Dandia dance.
The sound of the the sticks and the rythym of the dance certainly had all the onlookers hearts throbbing. If it was any indication of what is to come on the 12th evening, it is going to be just great. We have so much beauty, brawn and talent in Oulu.
Yes, India house was really alive.
Thanks, ladies!
As one apartment was free, I was able to allow them to use it for the practice.
But the ladies found they needed more space.
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| From India House Garden |
They moved to forecourt to practice the Dandia dance.
The sound of the the sticks and the rythym of the dance certainly had all the onlookers hearts throbbing. If it was any indication of what is to come on the 12th evening, it is going to be just great. We have so much beauty, brawn and talent in Oulu.
Yes, India house was really alive.
Thanks, ladies!
Friday, June 04, 2010
Indian Buffet in Oulu
Yesterday, I decided to try the new Indian Buffet on offer in Oulu. I had promised the owner that I would drop in on Monday, and then Tuesday, but I just could not make it.
So yesterday, I went in a little late (after 14:00 hours).
The restaurant was not crowded, but it was obvious that they had had several guests in the early afternoon.
The buffet was good but not outstanding. There was a salad table, but I do not normally take salads. Rice and pakoras were on offer. The pakoras were cold. I like mine piping hot. There were three wet dishes - channa dal, chicken curry and lamb curry.
The channa dal was made for a Finnish palette, not for an Indian one. The chicken, which was cooked in curd, making it like a kurma, was a bit too sweet for me. The lamb was just about right.
The papadam's were freshly fried and great.
Being late, the nan's were cold and rather hard and crispy! I found a few soft ones.
I would have liked a dry vegetable, as we have so many wonderful dry dishes as accompaniments at all Indian tables. As I am allergic to cold or unwashed cooked rice, because of the starch, I did not try that. I stuck to cold hard nans!
Various sauces adorned the serving table, but I was not attracted to any of them.
The meal was followed by a small bowl of fruit salad served at the table. I had a Chai, after that.
The price at € 9.80, including the soft drink, is higher than what the Chinese restaurants charge (between € 7 and 8).
The Experience: Moderately good and a good starting efort. Probably a once a month visit will be what will be my schedule!
So yesterday, I went in a little late (after 14:00 hours).
 |
| From Indian Buffet in Oulu |
The restaurant was not crowded, but it was obvious that they had had several guests in the early afternoon.
The buffet was good but not outstanding. There was a salad table, but I do not normally take salads. Rice and pakoras were on offer. The pakoras were cold. I like mine piping hot. There were three wet dishes - channa dal, chicken curry and lamb curry.
The channa dal was made for a Finnish palette, not for an Indian one. The chicken, which was cooked in curd, making it like a kurma, was a bit too sweet for me. The lamb was just about right.
The papadam's were freshly fried and great.
Being late, the nan's were cold and rather hard and crispy! I found a few soft ones.
I would have liked a dry vegetable, as we have so many wonderful dry dishes as accompaniments at all Indian tables. As I am allergic to cold or unwashed cooked rice, because of the starch, I did not try that. I stuck to cold hard nans!
Various sauces adorned the serving table, but I was not attracted to any of them.
The meal was followed by a small bowl of fruit salad served at the table. I had a Chai, after that.
The price at € 9.80, including the soft drink, is higher than what the Chinese restaurants charge (between € 7 and 8).
The Experience: Moderately good and a good starting efort. Probably a once a month visit will be what will be my schedule!
Wednesday, June 02, 2010
One man Crusade
There is an interesting article in the New York Times of 31st May 2010 about the power of the internet and the ability to publish one's personal opinions critical of a business.
Venting Online, Consumers Can Find Themselves in Court is about how a young man posted the story of his car was wrongfully towed away by a towing company from his parking slot.
This subject has a very personal interest for Annikki and me. We have been internet activists for over 15 years.
When our company, Findians Oy, bought a portable computer from AST Inc. (Finland), the 5th largest computer company in the world in 1995, and we found it to be a total and complete dud, and when our grievances were not handled by the company, we started an international internet campaign. This brought in responses from across the globe and highlighted that we were not the only ones who had been conned by this company.
The Finnish legal system we found was weighted heavily against the small individual. We knew we would never get justice in the Finnish Courts - which situation exits even today.
Our internet campaign was an enormous success resulting in the closure of AST Inc..
They sold the brand name to SAMSUNG. But the public outrage we had created was so strong, the brand name never again saw the light of day.
When we started our "Oulu Best (Worst) Buy" blog and we exposed some of the practices of some Oulu businesses, we had enormous success.
We recently published the list of worst lawyers in Finland and especially Oulu. Recently, our blog was quoted in an application to the Finnish High Court when a plaintiff tried to get out of the clutches of Finland's worst lawyer.
Of course, the legal system is a complete farce in Finland. The Finnish Lawyer's Association (Suomen Asianajajaliito) has a process which is supposed to investigate any complaints from the public against lawyers. Our recent protracted experience showed that it does nothing of the kind. This organisation exists only to "look after their brother" and it has nothing to do with law or justice.
The main problem in Finland is that the media is also subservient to the authorities and those in power, so there is simply no recourse for the general public to get any justice from this twisted legal system.
We have many sleepy Ombudsmen all over Europe. In theory, the Ombudsman is an excellent system, but it has been usurped by those in power for their own ends.
The Police, especially the Oulu Police, are also extremely corrupt. We have seen this from our several personal experiences,. They go to great lengths to preserve their fear power base over the people. Legalities are not for them! And the rot is at the very top from where the orders come downwards!
But this corruption is different from the general corruption we have in India. That is for people to earn a wage to exist. Here, in Finland, it has nothing to do with the monetary return. It has to do with "POWER".
The local newspaper started "Free Speech Day".
My platform, from where I spoke on all the subjects that I had investigated the previous year, was a great success. So, last year, the newspaper changed the format so that I could not get a chance to speak! And this year it appears that they have decided against having the event altogether.
If it is not permitted to publicise the misdeeds of an individual, company, organisation or authority, then, by the same standards, it must also be illegal to publish "kudos" about them.
If this is so, it heralds the death of investigative journalism and also the end of democracy.
FREE SPEECH is already dead in Finland!
Venting Online, Consumers Can Find Themselves in Court is about how a young man posted the story of his car was wrongfully towed away by a towing company from his parking slot.
“There’s no reason I should have to shut up because some guy doesn’t want his dirty laundry out,” Mr. Kurtz said. “It’s the power of the Internet, man.”
This subject has a very personal interest for Annikki and me. We have been internet activists for over 15 years.
When our company, Findians Oy, bought a portable computer from AST Inc. (Finland), the 5th largest computer company in the world in 1995, and we found it to be a total and complete dud, and when our grievances were not handled by the company, we started an international internet campaign. This brought in responses from across the globe and highlighted that we were not the only ones who had been conned by this company.
The Finnish legal system we found was weighted heavily against the small individual. We knew we would never get justice in the Finnish Courts - which situation exits even today.
Our internet campaign was an enormous success resulting in the closure of AST Inc..
They sold the brand name to SAMSUNG. But the public outrage we had created was so strong, the brand name never again saw the light of day.
When we started our "Oulu Best (Worst) Buy" blog and we exposed some of the practices of some Oulu businesses, we had enormous success.
We recently published the list of worst lawyers in Finland and especially Oulu. Recently, our blog was quoted in an application to the Finnish High Court when a plaintiff tried to get out of the clutches of Finland's worst lawyer.
Of course, the legal system is a complete farce in Finland. The Finnish Lawyer's Association (Suomen Asianajajaliito) has a process which is supposed to investigate any complaints from the public against lawyers. Our recent protracted experience showed that it does nothing of the kind. This organisation exists only to "look after their brother" and it has nothing to do with law or justice.
The main problem in Finland is that the media is also subservient to the authorities and those in power, so there is simply no recourse for the general public to get any justice from this twisted legal system.
We have many sleepy Ombudsmen all over Europe. In theory, the Ombudsman is an excellent system, but it has been usurped by those in power for their own ends.
The Police, especially the Oulu Police, are also extremely corrupt. We have seen this from our several personal experiences,. They go to great lengths to preserve their fear power base over the people. Legalities are not for them! And the rot is at the very top from where the orders come downwards!
But this corruption is different from the general corruption we have in India. That is for people to earn a wage to exist. Here, in Finland, it has nothing to do with the monetary return. It has to do with "POWER".
The local newspaper started "Free Speech Day".
 |
| From Jacob's Blog |
My platform, from where I spoke on all the subjects that I had investigated the previous year, was a great success. So, last year, the newspaper changed the format so that I could not get a chance to speak! And this year it appears that they have decided against having the event altogether.
If it is not permitted to publicise the misdeeds of an individual, company, organisation or authority, then, by the same standards, it must also be illegal to publish "kudos" about them.
If this is so, it heralds the death of investigative journalism and also the end of democracy.
FREE SPEECH is already dead in Finland!
Wednesday, May 26, 2010
Customer service?
On the 4th of May, I received a letter from one of my Internet Service Providers, that a deposit of € 500 that they had taken from me a couple of years was to be returned to me. They gave several alternatives for me to get my money back.
The first was to fill up a form and post it back to them. The second was to visit a web page and fill in the details. (I tried this but the page was so complicated that I did not get past filling in my name and address!) The third, and simplest, was to ring a Customer Care phone number provided in the letter.
I obviously chose the third alternative.
On Friday the 7th of May, in the afternoon, I rang the number. The girl who answered did not know the existence of such a service at this number. Then she said her computer was down. She took down the required details and then told me that she would send me a text message.
I waited, and I waited.
On Monday the 24th of May, I rang again. The immediate response of the lady who answered the phone was that he computer was down. I told her that it did not matter that the computer was down but I wanted to get an answer as to why something the Customer Care person had promised was not acted upon. With great reluctance, when I told her that it was me to get some money back, she took down all the details and said she would ring me back.
Guess whether I got a call back?
On Wednesday the 26th of May, I rang again. I spoke to a gentleman who spoke excellent English. I posed my problem and when he looked at the computer, which was obviously working, he did note that my call and notes of the 7th of May were in front of him, but he could provide me with no answer as to why nothing had happened in the intervening 20 days.
I asked him some basic questions as, if I did not pay a due to their company, what would be the action? I asked him whether his company would pay the penal interest for not paying my dues on time. I also told him that the letter I had received was most interesting that there was not even a name or signature attached to the letter. I told him if anyone received such a letter purporting to be from my company without a name and signature, it would probably be thrown in the dustbin!
He was most apologetic. As a gesture, within his powers, for the trouble I had been put too, cancelled my last bill, gave me an ad hoc credit of € 50 and then said he would follow the matter through his supervisor.
I also told him that his Customer Care Division of his company had recently gone on strike to get substantial service benefits. I asked what should the Customers who they harassed by the inefficiency of their Customer Care Division should do? He told me that he was not one who had gone on strike, but acknowledged that the handling of my situation was certainly not correct.
Let us wait and see what happens before I reveal the name of this service provider! Stay tuned!
The first was to fill up a form and post it back to them. The second was to visit a web page and fill in the details. (I tried this but the page was so complicated that I did not get past filling in my name and address!) The third, and simplest, was to ring a Customer Care phone number provided in the letter.
I obviously chose the third alternative.
On Friday the 7th of May, in the afternoon, I rang the number. The girl who answered did not know the existence of such a service at this number. Then she said her computer was down. She took down the required details and then told me that she would send me a text message.
I waited, and I waited.
On Monday the 24th of May, I rang again. The immediate response of the lady who answered the phone was that he computer was down. I told her that it did not matter that the computer was down but I wanted to get an answer as to why something the Customer Care person had promised was not acted upon. With great reluctance, when I told her that it was me to get some money back, she took down all the details and said she would ring me back.
Guess whether I got a call back?
On Wednesday the 26th of May, I rang again. I spoke to a gentleman who spoke excellent English. I posed my problem and when he looked at the computer, which was obviously working, he did note that my call and notes of the 7th of May were in front of him, but he could provide me with no answer as to why nothing had happened in the intervening 20 days.
I asked him some basic questions as, if I did not pay a due to their company, what would be the action? I asked him whether his company would pay the penal interest for not paying my dues on time. I also told him that the letter I had received was most interesting that there was not even a name or signature attached to the letter. I told him if anyone received such a letter purporting to be from my company without a name and signature, it would probably be thrown in the dustbin!
He was most apologetic. As a gesture, within his powers, for the trouble I had been put too, cancelled my last bill, gave me an ad hoc credit of € 50 and then said he would follow the matter through his supervisor.
I also told him that his Customer Care Division of his company had recently gone on strike to get substantial service benefits. I asked what should the Customers who they harassed by the inefficiency of their Customer Care Division should do? He told me that he was not one who had gone on strike, but acknowledged that the handling of my situation was certainly not correct.
Let us wait and see what happens before I reveal the name of this service provider! Stay tuned!
Wednesday, May 19, 2010
Vegetarian Halal Beef?
I noticed that of one of our tenants in our Guest House had bought himself a cup noodle packet, Beef and Tomato. I had never seen this brand before.
When I looked at it carefully, I noted clearly that it was a Beef and Vegetable preparation.
When I looked still a little closer, I noted a small emblem showing that this product was suitable for VEGETARIANS.
I looked even closer at the next symbol to note that it was suitable for MOSLEMS who only eat HALAL MEAT.
I looked at the list of Ingredients. It read as follows (Emphasis is mine):
"INGREDIENTS: Noodle Cake: Wheat flour soft, palm oil, water, salt. Seasoning: Beef flavouring, wheat flour soft, sugar, maltodextrin, tomato powder, salt, monosodium glutamate (E621),citric acid (E330), caramel (E150c), I+G (E627, E631),silicon dioxide, (E551), onion extract, dried (chives, carrots, peas)."
'What a combination I thought -. Vegetarian Halal Beef Noodles!
You never know where technology takes us these days. :-)
 |
| From Vegetarian Beef |
When I looked at it carefully, I noted clearly that it was a Beef and Vegetable preparation.
 |
| From Vegetarian Beef |
When I looked still a little closer, I noted a small emblem showing that this product was suitable for VEGETARIANS.
I looked even closer at the next symbol to note that it was suitable for MOSLEMS who only eat HALAL MEAT.
 |
| From Vegetarian Beef |
I looked at the list of Ingredients. It read as follows (Emphasis is mine):
"INGREDIENTS: Noodle Cake: Wheat flour soft, palm oil, water, salt. Seasoning: Beef flavouring, wheat flour soft, sugar, maltodextrin, tomato powder, salt, monosodium glutamate (E621),citric acid (E330), caramel (E150c), I+G (E627, E631),silicon dioxide, (E551), onion extract, dried (chives, carrots, peas)."
'What a combination I thought -. Vegetarian Halal Beef Noodles!
You never know where technology takes us these days. :-)
Tuesday, May 18, 2010
The birch sap flow ends
Someone commented that the title of Lady Annikki was not just good enough - I agree! How can I make my Queen a mere "Lady"? :-)
Annikki's dramatic discovery of how to draw on the birch liquid (sap) brought her over 30 litres in a few days.
All good things must come to an end.
An overnight haul of precious birch sap from one small branch.
The sap, which was crystal clear for the first few days, slowly became cloudy and finally, as the first signs of leaves appeared on the branches, nature acted in its best interests and shut off the tap.
Strangely, the taste of this sap has a faint tinge of coconut water? I wonder what is the relationship between a coconut palm and a birch tree.
Annikki is ooking forward to the next year of tapping. I am sure she will devise some simple gadget to get the maximum flow from the broken twigs and branches! :-)
Annikki's dramatic discovery of how to draw on the birch liquid (sap) brought her over 30 litres in a few days.
All good things must come to an end.
 |
| From New Album 16/05/2010 06:40 |
An overnight haul of precious birch sap from one small branch.
The sap, which was crystal clear for the first few days, slowly became cloudy and finally, as the first signs of leaves appeared on the branches, nature acted in its best interests and shut off the tap.
Strangely, the taste of this sap has a faint tinge of coconut water? I wonder what is the relationship between a coconut palm and a birch tree.
Annikki is ooking forward to the next year of tapping. I am sure she will devise some simple gadget to get the maximum flow from the broken twigs and branches! :-)
Monday, May 17, 2010
What was this?
A few weeks ago I wrote about my experience of ordering a biriyani in one of the three Indian restaurants in Oulu. I regretted that day.
Last week I was tempted to have a biriyani in another of Oulu's Indian restaurants. This was what was served up:
What does it look like? (I won't answer that question as I dislike public use of foul language!) Where else in the world does one get a biriyani served up in this fashion? Where was the rush of colours from white to golden red? Where was the red tinge of Kashmiri saffron?
The only thing to be said about this biriyani was it had plenty of cashewnuts and well-cooked large mutton chunks, but with no smell or taste anywhere near what I consider "a biriyani"!
Look at what a typical serving, of what I think is a biriyani, should appear on a table (as I had posted on my last entry on this subject):
The fragrant smell of saffron, the beautiful colour layering of the rice, the burnt onions, are all a must in a biriyani - not a mish mash of a curry sauce and rice, in which are thrown large chunks of cashewnuts and meat.
Yes, I do yearn for a good biriyani in Oulu! Maybe I will have to cook it myself!
Last week I was tempted to have a biriyani in another of Oulu's Indian restaurants. This was what was served up:
 |
| From New Album 16/05/2010 06:40 |
What does it look like? (I won't answer that question as I dislike public use of foul language!) Where else in the world does one get a biriyani served up in this fashion? Where was the rush of colours from white to golden red? Where was the red tinge of Kashmiri saffron?
The only thing to be said about this biriyani was it had plenty of cashewnuts and well-cooked large mutton chunks, but with no smell or taste anywhere near what I consider "a biriyani"!
Look at what a typical serving, of what I think is a biriyani, should appear on a table (as I had posted on my last entry on this subject):
 |
| From Jacob's Blog |
The fragrant smell of saffron, the beautiful colour layering of the rice, the burnt onions, are all a must in a biriyani - not a mish mash of a curry sauce and rice, in which are thrown large chunks of cashewnuts and meat.
Yes, I do yearn for a good biriyani in Oulu! Maybe I will have to cook it myself!
Sunday, May 16, 2010
Cricket in Oulu takes a new turn
Yesterday we had a cricket tournament for local Oulu cricket lovers. For the first time we used the matting so kindly provided by Asheesh Kumar of Medipolis GMP.
There was a small problem of carting this large matting roll around and also fixing it to the ground. The use of the hammer was necessary on several occasions to keep the bowlers end firmly fixed down. Also some small adjustments will also be required to have the sides not curl up.
Three teams took part in the 10 over format. The teams were married, bachelors and University student players. The games were thrilling.
Venkat Reddy bowls while Rajesh backs up.
In the end the Bachelors walked away with a victory over the married players.
The official training session and season will start shortly. This was a good forerunner to what we can expect in the coming summer months. Some discipline as bowling less wides and no balls, etc. will have to be the outcome of the training sessions if the Oulu XI is going to make it big in Finnish National Cricket tournaments.
After the matches, we all adjourned to India House where we broke up into smaller groups, some playing carroms (on the only carrom board in Finland), others enjoying their new experience of cycling in Finland, some playing cricket, some playing shuttle, and a lot of people just gettng to know each other.
India House was in its element as we had over 40 Findians, men, women and children having a wonderful time. We ordered pizzas, kebabs and salads from Oulu's best and largest pizzeria, Goreme (owned by keen sportsmen Hasim and Kasim from Turkey) and everyone enjoyed sitting in the sunshine of 8 pm and just being friends. A few newcomers arrived to take part and generally the whole day was a rip roaring success.
Kudos to the organisers and hope we have several more just fun days this summer.
There was a small problem of carting this large matting roll around and also fixing it to the ground. The use of the hammer was necessary on several occasions to keep the bowlers end firmly fixed down. Also some small adjustments will also be required to have the sides not curl up.
Three teams took part in the 10 over format. The teams were married, bachelors and University student players. The games were thrilling.
 |
| From New Album 16/05/2010 06:40 |
In the end the Bachelors walked away with a victory over the married players.
The official training session and season will start shortly. This was a good forerunner to what we can expect in the coming summer months. Some discipline as bowling less wides and no balls, etc. will have to be the outcome of the training sessions if the Oulu XI is going to make it big in Finnish National Cricket tournaments.
After the matches, we all adjourned to India House where we broke up into smaller groups, some playing carroms (on the only carrom board in Finland), others enjoying their new experience of cycling in Finland, some playing cricket, some playing shuttle, and a lot of people just gettng to know each other.
India House was in its element as we had over 40 Findians, men, women and children having a wonderful time. We ordered pizzas, kebabs and salads from Oulu's best and largest pizzeria, Goreme (owned by keen sportsmen Hasim and Kasim from Turkey) and everyone enjoyed sitting in the sunshine of 8 pm and just being friends. A few newcomers arrived to take part and generally the whole day was a rip roaring success.
Kudos to the organisers and hope we have several more just fun days this summer.
Friday, May 14, 2010
Speaking with Bill
Yesterday evening I rang to Toronto, Canada, to wish my Physics teacher of 50 years ago a very happy 85th birthday. I also spoke to Pushpa, his wife, who had also been a teacher in our Mumbai school. My classmate, 59er Hasnain Chinwala (Chinnie), who also lives in Toronto was with Bill (prearranged) when I called as we, 59ers, paid our respects to a man who firmly shaped our lives.
That Bill and Pushpa attended our 50th year reunion in Mumbai last year was itself such a joy for all us 59ers. They lent their solidarity with a class of boys who have traversed the world and sought success based on the fundamentals of life that were instilled in us by our teachers. Not just our classroom performance, but our moral values were instilled in us by these wonderful Gurus!
(Photo thanks to the 64er Rajiv Ved when we took time off for a fee minutes to attend their reunion in Mumbai.)
In the olden days, as per the Indian Civilisation, the Guru was a man to be revered. All of us 59ers have revered all our teachers during the ensuing years. But Bill and John (who was our class teacher and our English teacher in 1959) are very special as they took the time to travel a long distance at great expense, many thousands of kilometres, to be with us as we reveled in our past last November.
In our conversation we talked about many things - including the greetings from other 59ers (which Hasnain had forwarded to Bill,) the loss of another wonderful teacher, Alberto Zavala from peru, our geography teacher, the exploits of Greg, our Chemistry teacher, and the whereabouts of many past Canadian Cathedralites, as Torontian 59er Narsys, but not just our classmates, as 63er Monty Wilson and 49er Peter and 51er Sheila (née Contractor) Vaney, and Peter's brother, 57er Herbert.
Now that Pushpa and Bill live right in the centre of Toronto, a stone's throw from Lake Ontario, I will make it a point to visit them soon as my grandson, Samu, an Ice Hockey fan, wants to visit that great city, with his Grandpa, to see one of his favourite teams play.
Happy birthday Bill - we love you!
That Bill and Pushpa attended our 50th year reunion in Mumbai last year was itself such a joy for all us 59ers. They lent their solidarity with a class of boys who have traversed the world and sought success based on the fundamentals of life that were instilled in us by our teachers. Not just our classroom performance, but our moral values were instilled in us by these wonderful Gurus!
(Photo thanks to the 64er Rajiv Ved when we took time off for a fee minutes to attend their reunion in Mumbai.)
In the olden days, as per the Indian Civilisation, the Guru was a man to be revered. All of us 59ers have revered all our teachers during the ensuing years. But Bill and John (who was our class teacher and our English teacher in 1959) are very special as they took the time to travel a long distance at great expense, many thousands of kilometres, to be with us as we reveled in our past last November.
In our conversation we talked about many things - including the greetings from other 59ers (which Hasnain had forwarded to Bill,) the loss of another wonderful teacher, Alberto Zavala from peru, our geography teacher, the exploits of Greg, our Chemistry teacher, and the whereabouts of many past Canadian Cathedralites, as Torontian 59er Narsys, but not just our classmates, as 63er Monty Wilson and 49er Peter and 51er Sheila (née Contractor) Vaney, and Peter's brother, 57er Herbert.
Now that Pushpa and Bill live right in the centre of Toronto, a stone's throw from Lake Ontario, I will make it a point to visit them soon as my grandson, Samu, an Ice Hockey fan, wants to visit that great city, with his Grandpa, to see one of his favourite teams play.
Happy birthday Bill - we love you!
Sunday, May 09, 2010
Gravity and Annikki
Sorry to have been of blogging for a time. I was recovering from my non-stop 4500 round trip drive to Amsterdam to drop Joanna and the grandkids at amsterdam so that they could catch the Eurostar train to London!
I have recovered, but am overworked as I am handling my Furnished Accommodation Service I run in Finland, without too much outside assistance.
I hope to be back at blogging regularly again, soon.
Today's question is what AWARD we should give to my better half?
Sir Isaac Newton got recognised because an apple dropped on his head.
How should we recognise this wonder "girl" because "birch syrup" dropped on her toe?
A look on the internet will find literally hundreds of entries on the best way to tap a birch tree to get the syrup, which is considered very healthy. Most of the methods require the tree is tapped by drilling a hole in the bark and then plugging the hole so that the flow is stopped.
There is possibility of considerable damage to the tree if this is not done properly.
The other day, Annikki was tidying up the garden. It was getting late. So she thought she would have a lie down as it was hot and the sun was still streaming through the branches of the birch trees at the end of the garden.
There were a few irritating birch twigs hanging around, so she snapped off one and lay down on her easy chair. A few minutes later, she felt a drop of something fall on her toe.
It was a sunny day, and no sign of any raindrops around.
This was followed by another drop.
Being a very curious cat, she saw that the liquid was dropping from where she had broken the twig on the birch tree.
She tasted the liquid and found it to be water like but slightly sweet.
She rushed inside, and using her creative genius, she got a plastic bag and tied it to the end of the twig.
As she lay down, she saw the plastic bag gradually fill up with a water-like liquid. She observed that flies were greatly tempted to this liquid.
Soon she was up and about breaking twigs on birch trees that annoyed her, and promptly attaching a plastic bag at that point.
She had a steady flow of birch syrup collecting in the plastic bags.
The important point of this method of collection is that no damage is done to the tree. Secondly, as the collection is at the end of a branch, this is the excess liquid, as the tree has already used its requirements. This liquid would probably be lost by evaporation.
The process of collection could be increased substantially with some scientific experiments as to which were the best twigs to break off.
That the value of the liquid was no worse than that collected by traditional means of tapping into the bark is proven by the great attraction flies had to the plastic bags containing the liquid, although there was no unusual or strong smell coming from the bags.
And this collection was being made in the first week of May!!!
Sir Isaac Newton discovered gravity because of an apple.
Tan Sri Dr. B. C. Sekhar became called the Father of the natural rubber industry when he discovered that application of ammonia to the bark of of a rubber tree allowed continuous flow of latex, making life of the tapper so much more easier.
Should Annikki be Lady Annikki or the Mother of Birch Syrup Industry?
The debate has commenced! I bask in reflected glory! :-)
I have recovered, but am overworked as I am handling my Furnished Accommodation Service I run in Finland, without too much outside assistance.
I hope to be back at blogging regularly again, soon.
Today's question is what AWARD we should give to my better half?
Sir Isaac Newton got recognised because an apple dropped on his head.
How should we recognise this wonder "girl" because "birch syrup" dropped on her toe?
A look on the internet will find literally hundreds of entries on the best way to tap a birch tree to get the syrup, which is considered very healthy. Most of the methods require the tree is tapped by drilling a hole in the bark and then plugging the hole so that the flow is stopped.
There is possibility of considerable damage to the tree if this is not done properly.
The other day, Annikki was tidying up the garden. It was getting late. So she thought she would have a lie down as it was hot and the sun was still streaming through the branches of the birch trees at the end of the garden.
There were a few irritating birch twigs hanging around, so she snapped off one and lay down on her easy chair. A few minutes later, she felt a drop of something fall on her toe.
It was a sunny day, and no sign of any raindrops around.
This was followed by another drop.
Being a very curious cat, she saw that the liquid was dropping from where she had broken the twig on the birch tree.
She tasted the liquid and found it to be water like but slightly sweet.
She rushed inside, and using her creative genius, she got a plastic bag and tied it to the end of the twig.
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| From Blogger Pictures |
As she lay down, she saw the plastic bag gradually fill up with a water-like liquid. She observed that flies were greatly tempted to this liquid.
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| From Blogger Pictures |
Soon she was up and about breaking twigs on birch trees that annoyed her, and promptly attaching a plastic bag at that point.
She had a steady flow of birch syrup collecting in the plastic bags.
The important point of this method of collection is that no damage is done to the tree. Secondly, as the collection is at the end of a branch, this is the excess liquid, as the tree has already used its requirements. This liquid would probably be lost by evaporation.
The process of collection could be increased substantially with some scientific experiments as to which were the best twigs to break off.
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| From Blogger Pictures |
That the value of the liquid was no worse than that collected by traditional means of tapping into the bark is proven by the great attraction flies had to the plastic bags containing the liquid, although there was no unusual or strong smell coming from the bags.
And this collection was being made in the first week of May!!!
Sir Isaac Newton discovered gravity because of an apple.
Tan Sri Dr. B. C. Sekhar became called the Father of the natural rubber industry when he discovered that application of ammonia to the bark of of a rubber tree allowed continuous flow of latex, making life of the tapper so much more easier.
Should Annikki be Lady Annikki or the Mother of Birch Syrup Industry?
The debate has commenced! I bask in reflected glory! :-)
Thursday, April 15, 2010
Solution for volcanic ash in airline engines
Although I am retired, and I do not indulge in designing solutions for technical problems, there is a simple solution to prevent the intake of harmful particulates from the volcanic ash into airline engines.
The solution revolves around a technique we use in plastics extrusion.
To ensure that large particulates do not get to the extrusion die, when the molten plastic is passing from the extrusion chamber into the die manifold, it passes through a screen filtering device. Most screen changers are static. The screen has to be changed periodically when the extrusion quality deteriorates.
There are continuous screen changers. With a slight modification in design, these could be designed to fit to airline engines!
The solution is the design of a continuous screen changer which will filter the ash as it is sucked into the airline engine. As the screen changer moves it could be designed to shows its reverse face at the back of the engine where the ash collected during the intake is blown clean and collected.
Any competent engine designer can rig one of these up in a few days.
It is obvious that the airline industry has to come up with a solution to this problem.
Without doubt, mine is the best possible solution. This will not in any way hamper engine performance but ensure safety from particulates.
Hope that someone takes up this idea and works on it!
It gives me confidence that my days as an innovator have not quite vanished.
The solution revolves around a technique we use in plastics extrusion.
To ensure that large particulates do not get to the extrusion die, when the molten plastic is passing from the extrusion chamber into the die manifold, it passes through a screen filtering device. Most screen changers are static. The screen has to be changed periodically when the extrusion quality deteriorates.
There are continuous screen changers. With a slight modification in design, these could be designed to fit to airline engines!
The solution is the design of a continuous screen changer which will filter the ash as it is sucked into the airline engine. As the screen changer moves it could be designed to shows its reverse face at the back of the engine where the ash collected during the intake is blown clean and collected.
Any competent engine designer can rig one of these up in a few days.
It is obvious that the airline industry has to come up with a solution to this problem.
Without doubt, mine is the best possible solution. This will not in any way hamper engine performance but ensure safety from particulates.
Hope that someone takes up this idea and works on it!
It gives me confidence that my days as an innovator have not quite vanished.
How has the volcanic eruption affected you?
In a way I am glad as I am getting more quality time with Joanna and the grandkids who are stranded here. They were supposed to take off tomorrow at 6 am, but Blue 1 has cancelled all flights. Blue 1 advised passengers that they must wait till they decide what to do.
Talks with the insurance companies revealed that travel insurance from anywhere is absolutely useless. The English insurance company told Joanna that, as it was a weather disturbance, they would pay a few Euro for the first 8 hours and then another few Euros for the subsequent 12 hours! That will not even cover the cost of a decent meal in Finland for a family of 4.
The Finnish insurance company said it did not know what was covered,. Knowing them, they will try to wrangle out of any financial commitment!
Not only is Joanna affected. I have one Indian engineer leaving Saturday for Banglaore and one Indian engineer family leaving Saturday for Delhi. The Residence Permit in Finland of the family expires on Monday! So we have another problem on our hands.
No way to get from Oulu to Helsinki by train, as a tree fell on the rail track at a crucial moment disrupting train services as well. In addition, Finnish airspace has been closed till further notice.
Another engineer is supposed to leave on Sunday. Maybe one friend is driving to Helsinki on Sunday in the hope of picking up his relatives due to arrive from Delhi. If so, he would be happy to give the engineer a ride. But what happens if they both go to Helsinki on a futile mission? Better to remain somewhere where you have a roof over your head!
Joanna has to get back to Newcastle. She is contemplating driving to England, but it is going to be tough with three kids of 2, 6 and 13 in tow.
Without a word from Blue 1, any solution contemplated is pie in the sky.
I am overjoyed at having my grandkids here for a few more hours or days, but certainly feel for Joanna and her desire to get back to Newcastle to normalise her life and her studies.
Let us hope the volcano stops spewing out ash and the air services normalise rapidly!!!
Talks with the insurance companies revealed that travel insurance from anywhere is absolutely useless. The English insurance company told Joanna that, as it was a weather disturbance, they would pay a few Euro for the first 8 hours and then another few Euros for the subsequent 12 hours! That will not even cover the cost of a decent meal in Finland for a family of 4.
The Finnish insurance company said it did not know what was covered,. Knowing them, they will try to wrangle out of any financial commitment!
Not only is Joanna affected. I have one Indian engineer leaving Saturday for Banglaore and one Indian engineer family leaving Saturday for Delhi. The Residence Permit in Finland of the family expires on Monday! So we have another problem on our hands.
No way to get from Oulu to Helsinki by train, as a tree fell on the rail track at a crucial moment disrupting train services as well. In addition, Finnish airspace has been closed till further notice.
Another engineer is supposed to leave on Sunday. Maybe one friend is driving to Helsinki on Sunday in the hope of picking up his relatives due to arrive from Delhi. If so, he would be happy to give the engineer a ride. But what happens if they both go to Helsinki on a futile mission? Better to remain somewhere where you have a roof over your head!
Joanna has to get back to Newcastle. She is contemplating driving to England, but it is going to be tough with three kids of 2, 6 and 13 in tow.
Without a word from Blue 1, any solution contemplated is pie in the sky.
I am overjoyed at having my grandkids here for a few more hours or days, but certainly feel for Joanna and her desire to get back to Newcastle to normalise her life and her studies.
Let us hope the volcano stops spewing out ash and the air services normalise rapidly!!!
Tuesday, April 13, 2010
Great buy at the Flea Market
This entry is posted on 2 blogs - my main Jacob's Blog and my Oulu Best (Worst) Buy Blog.
Annikki and I are Flea Market addicts. We have picked up some really great buys at the Flea Markets. Usually we find exactly what we need when we set out to find the item. Coincidence?
Last Sunday, as Joanna, who is visiting Oulu, had approritated my last adaptor for her English hair drier, I was desperate to get hold of an adaptor to use my Indian bought LG Computer screen.
When I said I was going to a Flea Market, Annikki, who has not been out for weeks, was ready to tag along.
We went to the closest Flea Market to our residenece.
We were shocked to see the number of cars parked around. It was as if all of Oulu had descended on this Flea Market.
As I wandered around, I saw this a really beautiful designed multipurpose adaptor set.
It was just the one I wanted.
And the cost, an unbeliveable, € 1.50!
I have bought less attractively designed adaptors for Euro 3 and 4 each!
This adaptor remain in my travel kit as it is suitable for most countries, even if I do not travel very often these days!
Certainly worth making a visit to a Flea Market near you if you want to get what you really need at a price that you can afford! (P.S. Annikki also got some good buys on this trip, including a flaming red coat!)
Annikki and I are Flea Market addicts. We have picked up some really great buys at the Flea Markets. Usually we find exactly what we need when we set out to find the item. Coincidence?
Last Sunday, as Joanna, who is visiting Oulu, had approritated my last adaptor for her English hair drier, I was desperate to get hold of an adaptor to use my Indian bought LG Computer screen.
When I said I was going to a Flea Market, Annikki, who has not been out for weeks, was ready to tag along.
We went to the closest Flea Market to our residenece.
We were shocked to see the number of cars parked around. It was as if all of Oulu had descended on this Flea Market.
 |
| From Oulu Best (Worst) Buy |
 |
| From Oulu Best (Worst) Buy |
 |
| From Oulu Best (Worst) Buy |
 |
| From Oulu Best (Worst) Buy |
As I wandered around, I saw this a really beautiful designed multipurpose adaptor set.
It was just the one I wanted.
And the cost, an unbeliveable, € 1.50!
I have bought less attractively designed adaptors for Euro 3 and 4 each!
This adaptor remain in my travel kit as it is suitable for most countries, even if I do not travel very often these days!
Certainly worth making a visit to a Flea Market near you if you want to get what you really need at a price that you can afford! (P.S. Annikki also got some good buys on this trip, including a flaming red coat!)
Success at last
After my return from India, where I saw my cousin, Bina, happily enjoying a morning with the newspaper doing Sudoku, I started attempting the three levels in my local newspaper, the KALEVA.
I started about the middle of January 2010.
I first took about 45 minutes to complete the EASY level. Slowly, this time reduced to about 15 minutes. The MIDDLE level was then achieved, again in about 20 minutes. I was never able to complete the DIFFICULT level, usually getting to about 30% and then giving up.
Today, after 3 months, I completed all three levels in one sitting. The total time taken was 75 minutes.
Now that my primary objective has been achieved, I realised that my brain cells were actually not functioning as they should. The confidence this has given me is so immense that I feel am not quite a doddering old man.
I will now try to achieve the higher level by trying to complete all three levels in 15 minutes. It may take me a year to get to this level - so stay tuned! I will shout it from the blogtops when I get there!
Thank you Bina!
Well done Sudoku, and whoever invented this!
I started about the middle of January 2010.
I first took about 45 minutes to complete the EASY level. Slowly, this time reduced to about 15 minutes. The MIDDLE level was then achieved, again in about 20 minutes. I was never able to complete the DIFFICULT level, usually getting to about 30% and then giving up.
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| From Sudoku |
Today, after 3 months, I completed all three levels in one sitting. The total time taken was 75 minutes.
Now that my primary objective has been achieved, I realised that my brain cells were actually not functioning as they should. The confidence this has given me is so immense that I feel am not quite a doddering old man.
I will now try to achieve the higher level by trying to complete all three levels in 15 minutes. It may take me a year to get to this level - so stay tuned! I will shout it from the blogtops when I get there!
Thank you Bina!
Well done Sudoku, and whoever invented this!
Saturday, April 10, 2010
Last bout with winter snow
The snow in the Vesaisentie garden, especially at the front gate, was far greater than I imagined.
I brought Kamu's Volkswagen Caravelle Van home one day. But it did not make it past the front gate. The front wheels got so deeply immersed in the snow, that they stopped turning.
Annikki and I had suspicions that the drive shaft was broken.
The following morning, I called the car removal service to take the van directly to the garage as I did not fancy having to tow it.
When we reached the garage, I tried the van and found that there was no damage whatsoever. What a relief as I got away with a bill of just € 80!
This winter has been expensive on several counts, especially the car and the impact of snow bound roads.
Hopefully we will not have a similar winter for the next 26 years!
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| From New Caravelle in Snow |
I brought Kamu's Volkswagen Caravelle Van home one day. But it did not make it past the front gate. The front wheels got so deeply immersed in the snow, that they stopped turning.
Annikki and I had suspicions that the drive shaft was broken.
 |
| From New Caravelle in Snow |
The following morning, I called the car removal service to take the van directly to the garage as I did not fancy having to tow it.
When we reached the garage, I tried the van and found that there was no damage whatsoever. What a relief as I got away with a bill of just € 80!
This winter has been expensive on several counts, especially the car and the impact of snow bound roads.
Hopefully we will not have a similar winter for the next 26 years!
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