Last day of Christmas

In Finland, we have had a holiday today, as it is the last official day of Christmas. But I noted that all the guys here from India were busy working from home, as their contacts in India were not on holiday.

The Christmas sales, etc., should technically have stopped yesterday, as today is a bank and commercial holiday. But many shops still have loads of stuff left over from the Christmas season, so you should find plenty of bargains in the shops during the next few days.

As the days get longer and brighter, do not be surprised if it also gets colder, right up till the middle of February, when, if we are lucky, it should get warmer.

The skiing season will then start on a rotation basis, with the students in South Finland, the first to get their winter skiing holidays. The next week it will be the turn of those in central Finland, followed, the folowing week by those in North Finland.

Many head up to the Arctic where skiing conditions should be just perfect, both for long distance as well as down-hill skiing. There is plenty of sunshine and plenty of snow.

The Tar Skiing Compettion in Oulu (Tervahiihto) is very famous. It is held at the end of the second week of March.

I brought together a lot of foreigners in 1999 and we took part in the race. A friend of mine who worked in the same project gave us all elementary lessons on how to ski, but it was mainly how to get up when you fall down with long unwieldy flat sticks attached to your legs!

It is the one ski race I attempted 11 years ago, when I put on skiis for the first time in my life at the age of 56 and completed a 20 km ski course. It started on the frozen Oulu River and ended at the Oulu Sports Dome.

I hobbled in at the end of 20 km and got a certificate to prove I had taken part (and probably proudly come in among the last 10).

However, it proved that even at that age you may be able to start skiing, although, I must say that I probably tore every muscle and ligament in my body attempting this feat!

The following year I supervised the entry by the foreigners, while I stayed well out of harm's way! :-)