Hectic Saturday

(Cross-posted on the Best Buy Blog and the CHAFF Blog.)

What a hectic day. The Saturday puzzle will appear tomorrow!

Here are some pictures that Joanna sent me today of Samuel and Daniel. The last one made me cry as Daniwel went down with gastroenteritis and it really shows in his face!

Daniel with flowers


Samuel, Daniel and Merran


Daniel is poorly

I left home at 6:30 am. I went to check out the discount at the SPAR Kaijonharju for my Best Buy Blog readers. When I arrived at 6:45 am, right across town, who should I see standing for the doors of the shop - Ilari and Ildikó.

They were a bit diasappointed as the discount was still only 30%, which is generally not good enough to merit a visit. Watch the Best Buy Blog so that you do not go on a wild goose chase. I do all the hard work for you!

The 50% discount at this shop will start at 7:00 am on Monday morning and by 8:00 am, the shop will be cleaned out. There will not be much to buy as most of the general goods are over already.

I went on to do my regular shopping, starting at Cassa in Rajakylä. I was there just before 8:00 am on saturday it opens at that time. (On weekdays Cassa opens at 7:00 am.)

Standing a few ten metres from me, as I waited for Cassa to open, there was a group of 4 men and they were drinking beer at that early hour.


Beer at 8:00 am!

Was I surprised?

Not really, as this is quite common behaviour among certain sections of the local population in Finland.

On my way back from Cassa I passeed this Bus Stand at Toppila.


Vandalism - Smashed Bus Stand

This is a degree of vandalism which is quite unusual for Oulu, Finland! Grafiti, yes; Smashing bus stands, No.

Today was such a beautiful day, I decided it was time to change from winter to summer tyres. I spent most of the morning cleaning the insides of the cars, vacuuming them and washing the carpets, etc,

Later in the evening I went to Reijo's Garage with the Kannan's SAAB. My back is too weak for me to attempt changing tyres.

Reijo changed the tyres and I had the car washed.


Reijo changes tyres on the SAAB


SAAB being washed

The best part of Reijo's work is that he even washes the tyres that he takes off, with high pressure water, making it easy to handle them at home without getting your hands or clothes dirty.

I then took the SAAB home and took the Ford Escort to change the tyres.

One look at my summer tyres meant that I had to change all of them. Reijo came to rescue and sold me 4 new radial tyres, for just Euro 215 for the set.


Reijo fits my new tyres in the hub

Reijo fitted the new tyres in the hub and balanced all of them, changed the tyres, and then washed the Ford. Reijo's good friend, Jussi, washed the tyres of the Ford.



And all that work of changing tyres on two cars, fitting and balancing the new tyres in the hubs, washing the two cars and washing the tyres - all for just Euro 40 with a smiling face!

Could there be a better BEST BUY?

A tough and long day with me returning for a great dinner of curry and rice followed by a long talk with Samu in Newcastle about the Chelsea - Liverpool FA Cup semifinal game and an even longer talk about the World Cup.

Samu has got a fabulous book with all the details of players, fixtures, officials of the World Cup. I am going to have a great time watching the World Cup with Samu here in Finland. I can refer to the expert grandson to get all the details!

My letter appears in The Nation

(Cross-posted on Jacob's Politics.)

The Nation is America's most respected Liberal magazine.

Recently they published an article "Lap Dogs of the Press" by Helen Thomas, the famed 86 year old journalist who is in the White House press Corps.

I wrote this letter to her, care-off The Nation which published her piece.

Dear Helen,

I have not emailed you for a long time but your stand in the White House and your powerful articles continue to inspire me almost daily. I did not want to wait till your next birthday to send you this one!

Way back in the early 50s, I learnt my basic journalism, when I was less than 10 years old, in the arms and at the feet of my grandfather, the doyen of Kerala, the late K. C. Mammen Mappillai.


The late K. C. Mammen Mappillai

Your recent article "Lap Dogs of the Press" certainly took me back to the days when he, and many other journalists, had to spend time in jail under trumped up charges for supporting the Indian National Congress and the Freedom Movement in India.

Gandhi, Nehru, are the well-known "journalists" that may spring to mind, but it was the small fearless newspaper editors and their journalists, like my grandfather, that had to undergo much hardship to educate their readers. Without them and their locally "respected" words, the messages of the freedom fighters would never have been heard by the masses.

Today, this 118 year old newspaper (THE MALAYALA MANORAMA) is the largest circulating one in India since some of the present editors are committed to the well-being of the people who make up its readership.

Thank you for this article which, to me, really raises the primary issue of where our journalists learn journalism, and how they practice it.

Let us hope that a few "journalists", like you, are produced in the years to come!

Best regards

Jacob

I was informed yesterday that The Nation had published an edited version of this letter in their May 8th 2006 issue, which was released online yesterday.

Unfortunately, you have to be subscriber to The Nation to read the letter online.

If it were not journalists like Helen Thomas, who fearlessly question those in power, the world would be headed for a totalitarian fascist society!

Asha and Susanna return to England

Annikki and I were very sad to see Asha, our granddaughter return to England this afternoon with her mother, daughter Susanna. We enjoyed Asha's company very much.

I enjoyed doing some of the things I had done over the years with grandson, Samuel, with Asha.

The last day was only spent at home as after packing. Susanna made sandwiches and other food to carry on the flight with them, as no food is offered on Blue1.

I managed to get a Marimekko shirt for Jaaako along with some of the things he likes from Finland - Rye Crisp bread, tar shampoo, Jordan toothbrushes, etc.

His friend, Ilari, sent a beautiful sweater for Jaakko. Susanna, however, refused to carry a packet of Indian bidis (spelt on the packet as BIRI) which Ilari wanted to send to jaakko. (A Biri is the paperless cheap Indian "cigarette" which the poor masses in India smoke.)

Packet of 50 Indian BIRIs

We went to the airport in real comfort as we used Kannan's SAAB. It really is a great car.

Susanna, Asha and Annikki after loading
the boot of Kannan's SAAB

At the airport we got a couple of snaps.


Susanna and Asha check in


The goodbye

Both Annikki and I are waiting for Asha's next visit.

Car Museum, Shopping, Chinese Food in Oulu

Ildikó and Ilari when they visited us on Tuesday evening
to see Asha and Susanna before they returned to England.

Wednesday was a busy day for all of us. I took Asha to the Oulu Auto Museum. It was cold in the museum so we had to go around seeing the cars, buses, fire engines, trucks and other vehicles at quite a rapid pace as Asha was not wearing a jacket.

The unfortunate part of the museum is that although it has many interesting and antique pieces, it is so poorly presented. There appears to be an intent to pack the vehicles so close to each other to get more vehicles intothe museum, that the visitor really does not have an opportunity to appreciate all the details of all the vehicles.

I found it almost impossible to explain the details to a 9 year old girl by just standing in front of a vehicle as if it were just a painting.

Susanna was at that moment doing some shopping for clothes for Asha sports at a store near the Museum. We joined her and then picked up some sports clothes which are not available in regular shops in England.

We picked up Annikki and went to Michelle's Chinese Restaurant, The Royal Garden, for lunch. This is undoubtedly the best Chinese restaurant in Oulu. I was not expecting Michelle to be ther, but she was, and she stayed and chatted with Annikki, Susanna, Asha and me, right through the meal - but she runs that restaurant like clockwork.


Asha with Michelle


Annikki & Susanna

The meal was simply superb.

After that we went shopping again, and Annikki had a regular jaunt to a couple of Flea Markets.

The evening was spent getting ingredients for Asha and Susanna to carry some food on the plane as there is lousy and expensive food aboard Blue1.

We then went to try and find some Marimekko shirts for Jaakko, but we did not find anything which he may like.

Woollen socks and Poppy seed cake

A few weeks ago I wrote about Annikki's sister visiting Oulu where she gave us presents of woollen socks.

Our elder daughter, Susanna, from England, was quick to contact Anneli and ask her to make her a pair.

Woollen socks for Susanna by Anneli

Susanna is now visiting us with her daughter, Asha. Yesterday, the post brought her this absolutely divine pair of woollen socks from Anneli, who lives in Masala just outside Helsinki in South Finland. We all ooed and aahed over the beautiful use of colours and the lovely little hearts knitted into the socks.

Yesterday, Asha, Soda and I went on a "quick" visit of the Geology Muesum in Oulu University. I am never bored to make visits to this outstanding museum. Sadly, we were the only visitors yesterday and looking at the Visitors Book, I was not really thrilled to see how little this beautiful presentation of stones and rocks from all around the world is being promoted.

Annikki and son, Jaakko, are rock and stone crazy. Susanna confessed that, like me, she cannot locate a gem when rumaging around the seashore, like they can.

This is a picture from almost exactly to the day 16 years ago, when Annikki, Joanna and I were holidaying in Lapland, thanks to some very nice teachers from Oulu who gave us the holiday as a present, for services rendered. (Joanna acted as their personal guide when they went on a visit to India. Annikki and I gave them the pre-visit talks of what to do and not do, and the essential introductory briefing.)



Annikki is at the signpost of the goldmine in Lapland. Joanna and she rumaged around for a long time looking for stones, while I watched.

Late last night Idikó and Ilari dropped in to share a bowl of soup, and meet up with Susanna and Asha.

Like me, Annikki thinks that Ildikó and Ilari are a really lovely couple. Annikki finds so much of her own past youthful dynamism in Ildikó. The difference is that Annikki is not a public person, myself being her alter ego presenting her viewpoint publicly. Ildikó does that herself with much poise and diplomacy, something I lack! I have little patience with people who deliberately ignore the facts.


Hungarian Poppy Seed Easter cake by Ildikó

Ildikó is so thoughtful as she came to share some absolutely delicious Easter Cake with us. It was made Hungarian Style, with real Hungarian Poppy seeds, and no flour whatsoever.

Why Oulu can never be a City of Culture

Yesterday was Easter Monday, a holiday.

I have my granddaughter, Asha, here from England. I wanted to show her some of the cultural highlights of Oulu!

Our first stop was the Auto Museum - Closed!

Our second stop was the Botanical Greenhouse which is part of Oulu University and normally is open to visitors - Closed!

Our third stop was the Geology Museum which is part of the Oulu University - Closed!

Finally, I settled on an Open Air Children's park near the beach - none of the snow from the park had been cleared, even though we are in the middle of spring.

Asha Nallikari Park 1


Asha Nallikari Park 2


Asha Nallikari Park 3

We visited the house of a Zambian friend, Kamurtaza tembo, where a Zambian Football Star was visiting, so that Asha could meet Zeddy Sailetti who plays football for Rovaniemi.


Asha and Zeddy

Finally, we went to a Turkish Pizzeria and then to Thai Restaurant to meet friends and get some food. I knew they would be OPEN.

It seems that only foreigners work in Oulu on a holiday!

European City of Culture - BAH!!!

The Ogre - A different face

Let a 9 year old loose with a comb and a camera on her grandpa - and this is what you get!













Later we had an evening stroll. The little young lady has boundless energy!







We are enjoying our granddaughter and desperately missing our grandsons!

Happy Easter, Chinese style...

(Cross-posted on the CHAFF Blog.)

I woke up late, not because it is Easter Sunday, but because, last night, we enjoyed a great Chinese meal, cooked by a dear friend, at home.

So, a belated Happy Easter to all of you.

Tingting is just 21 years old. She is a personality whom, once you meet, you will not forget. She has a brain which works like a computer - items get saved onto it like a hard disk and it churns away to get the right result.

I met Tingting about six months ago at a CHAFF meeting. We have become fast friends. She Skype's or Gizmo's me whenever she wants to discuss something to get a bit of information from my experience. And she processes the information she gets very wisely. As she says, she is an "old (Ed: mature) brain on a young frame"!

All this time she has been wanting to meet Annikki. She had brought her two lovely gifts from China, but yet she was unable to meet her.

So, yesterday, she Skyped me and said she wanted to cook us a Chinese meal. So, I went and picked her up in the morning and we chose the ingredients.

As Susaana and Asha are here with us, we had to observe some rules - no pork, prawns, dairy products, etc.

But that was no problem for Tingting - as her mind works like a register - it just processed that information and when we went shopping, it was so unique. She knew exactly what to buy. We were in and out of the shop in less than 15 minutes.

Asha and I picked up Tingting at exactly 18:30 in the evening. When she entered our home she brought a brightness which was so enthralling. Both Susanna and Annikki took to this young lady, who speaks everything from the heart. She tells it like it is and maybe, in time, she will have to learn that diplomacy may require her to keep some of her deepmost feelings hidden. But for Annikki and Susanna, who love people who speak the truth, this was quite an experience.

After a little chit-chat, including telling us how some Chinese eat monkey brains directly from a live monkey place in the centre of a table, a practice she thought repulsive, Tingting wanted to get to work.

Tingting cooks

It was amazing how this youngster took charge of the kitchen, where even the big boss of the JM family, Susanna, was reduced to being a kitchen helper. Annikki took care of producing the rice in the upstairs kitchen while Tingting worked with our limited cookware. Susanna was busy chopping vegetables and scrubbing pots and pans, while I laid the table with Chinese bowls and glasses, found the chopsticks, and before I knew it, I was moving the cooked food from the kitchen to the dining room.


Soup hits the table

Besides the rice, in a matter of a few minutes this wizard had produced a delicious Chinese soup, and four separate dishes - each one a masterpiuiece, and knowing that Asha could not take too much spice, each dish was tailored to the exact spice level that even Asha would be able to eat it.


Delicacies


More delicacies

When all the dishes were on the table, I was under the impression that we would have a buffet. But Tingting quickly pooh-poohed that idea. She had the dining table cleared of the chess set and other paraphenalia and said that when you have a Chinese meal, you have to eat it Chinese style, sitting around the table and helping yourself directly from the serving dishes placed in the centre of the table.


Tingting doles out her specialities

As I glanced around the table, I saw such faces that showed that all the participants, including Asha, were really enjoying the food as much as I was. And the talk around the table went from one topic to another, showing that Tingting was one of our family.

Tingting was amazed as to how we had brought up four children. She is a product of the Chinese one-child policy and could never imagine anyone having more than one offspring. She looked at Annikki in wonderment. I must say, as I was an errant father in India, as I was away almost two weeks on the road every month, I, too, am amazed how Annikki managed to raise our four kids in a strange country and manage it so well.

Tingting had already adopted me as one of her fatherly guides in Finland many months ago. Now, she won the hearts of all my family who sat around the table.

After such a superb meal, which ended with Annikki serving a portion for Mika, Tingting and Susanna chatted till it was time for Tingting to go home.


Susanna and Tingting with the cleaned out food plates!

Asha and I dropped her back to her flat and we thanked her.

This young girl had brought a different and meaningful Easter message to our home in her own quiet way - and for that we ever remain in her gratitude.

Saturday puzzle and some more photos

As Asha is here with Susanna, I have been rather irregular in my blogging.

Here is this week's puzzle, which is one which is from time immemorial. I first encountered it in an MRF management Seminar in Madras (Chennai) in 1972 when a Management Consultant put this picture to the group. It was in black and white, but many years later I got the color version.



Here are some more pictures from the Songkran (Thai New Year) Celebrations of a couple of days ago. It coincides with Vishu, Tamil New Year's day and many other festivals in India.

Asha enjoys and loves a new product
The Pailin Chicken Wrap


Soda takes a snap of his family


Asha washes Annikki's hands


Asha & me


Annikki, Asha and Pailin


Soda, Asha and Unnop


Soda, Annikki, Asha and Unnop


Pailin and Asha stand in the shadow of the Thai Royal couple

Thanks to Unnop and Pailin for these photographs.

A new culture becomes part of us in 2549

(Cross-posted in the CHAFF Blog.)

Yesterday, was the Thai New Year taking us into the year 2549.

Annikki, Susanna, Asha, along with me, were invited to dinner by Pailin, Unnop and Soda.

The occasion was not only an eye-opener in terms of culture, but Annikki and I now have two more beautiful children and two more wonderful grandchildren, except that one was sadly unable to be present on this occasion.

We were late, as Annikki and Asha had some shopping to do, and after that, Asha had to speak to her dad, Chris, in Billinghay, just to make sure that all was OK.



When we arrived, we saw a beautifully laid out table before us, with a decorative tray of carved fruit and a plate of delicious rice noodles.

Unnop is a master carver of fruits and vegetables. Annikki is certain that the Finns would flock around to learn this art from him.

The rice noodles are a Thai speciality. It is similar to the Idiappam that we have in Kerala. It is served with a fish sauce and can also also be eaten with a curry.

Soda taught Susanna to eat rice noodles with spoon and fork

Soda was eating with us at the table. He guided us through the meal.

Although only 14, nearing 15, Soda is a not only a handsome and loving boy, but also a thorough gentleman. An outstanding footballer and a naturally talented musician, he has also picked up Finnish and speaks it fluently, in just 6 months. His English is excellent and he also reads and writes Thai. But he confessed he was having problems with his Maths!

That is of little consequence for a boy so gifted in so many ways and one who will be a wonderful personality and a true Ambassador of the rich Thai culture and heritage he has brought with him to Finland.

Looking at the picture above, I can see how he has become more powerful in his physique than when I met him 7 months ago. He is growing to be a very strong young man, whom I hope I will be very proud off, just as my four other children.

The rice noodles were eaten in the soup bowl with the fish sauce. Then we ate Satay Chicken roasted on sticks with a delicious and mildly spicy nut sauce. The Spring Rolls were eaten with Thai Sweet Chilli sauce. This was followed by Jasmine rice served with absolutely delicious green curry which is made with plenty of coconut milk.

Knowing that Annikki, Susanna and Asha have a few food restrictions, there were no pork, shrimps, and dairy products in the items served. Yet the meal was tasty and it was Pailin's cooking at its best. (Pailin is a double graduate from Thai Universities - in Home Science as well as Science Education.)

All of us gushed, not only at the quality of the food, but also the beautiful way it was served with both Pailin and Unnop in their Thai robes.


Pailin greets us with a great feeling using the Thai Namaste


Unnop, a wonderful personality

Asha started with the Spring Rolla and the Satay Chicken, which had been made by Pailin for the very first time, but found the fish sauce and the green curry a bit too spicy. Pailin rustled up Asha's favourite, fried rice with chicken and fresh vegetables. It was truly mouth-watering, and I stole a bit from Asha's plate to see what it was like. The taste was even better than what it looked like.


Asha amongst the tulips

We then attacked the fruit bowl, especially the grapes and the carved honey melon.

As the meal came to an end, there appeared a large empty bowl on the table and another bowl filled with fragrantly smelling water.

The time had come to partake of a bit of Thai culture.

We learnt that it is Thai custom to celebrate the New Year with Water. They spray each other with water - something Samu enjoys, as he usually chases Grandpa around the Kampitie garden with the garden spray gun.

But this time it was slightly different.



First, Unnop washed my hands into the bowl and I wiped the cooling fragrant water over my face. I wished him all the best for the future. Then he washed Annikki's hands. This was followed by Pailin and Soda washing our hands. Asha and Susanna also washed our hands. We in turn wished them all future prosperity and happiness. (Silently, I also wished all our absent family members all the very best in the coming years.)

This custom is one that the Thai people show to the people they love and respect.


Annikki, the most wonderful daughter, wife,
mother and grandmother to many

Annikki and I were deeply touched. Pailin and Unnop told us they value us as their parents and love and honour us as such.


Susanna, the eldest, so far, of our brood

Annikki and I are proud to know this couple and their children. We, also, consider them as part of our family. As Pailin and Unnop, we have a few other friends who consider us and value us as their respected elders, but this was the first time we went through a ceremony which publicly stated the love and affection some people have for us.

It made us feel very humble that people can show their love and affection for us so outwardly.

Mika was unable to join this family occasion, so Pailin packed an enormous meal for him.

Our thanks to Pailin, Unnop, Soda and Sodium for becoming part of our family. I am sure those not here, Joanna and family (Samu already considers this to be his best French fries place, just as Asha considers this to be the very best Chicken Wrap place) and Jaakko, also welcome them into our family as loved members.

We wish them all prosperity in the coming years. We hope that Soda and Sodium will grow into being the same loving people as their parents.