Summer 2011 - Part 2

Elk's Street spent this summer in Finland, which disappointed one member of the gang. Luckily, Finland had another warm and sunny summer.

After the trip to Morton, the next highlight was Miljazz. This annual tour by the bands of the Finnish Defence Forces included Lappeenranta this year, so we were able to attend. We were present for the more traditional big band performances but the more pop-oriented part of the concert was after our bedtime.

One of the MilJazz bands.

Then, it was Thomas's birthday.

For a quiet chap, Thomas is a bit of a party animal, so he insisted on having a birthday bash. This was a traditional children's party, arranged at our house (more precisely in our garden) with your correspondent organising the games - an orienteering/quiz game, badminton, and the like. The party went well; we only needed the ice bag twice, which is not bad considering there were nearly a dozen highly-charged little boys running around.

One end of the birthday table...

... and the other end of the birthday table.

This summer, as last summer, Thomas took part in the Pesä Ysit 'Finnish baseball school'. Thomas had a lot of fun and was very active. In the end of course games he played both in-field fielder and pitcher - the video below shows Thomas in action.

Thomas, in the red T-shirt and yellow Malaysia cap, as the pitcher (bowler).

Meanwhile, Henry had been invited to his friend Matias's family's summer cottage. The two boys had fun doing the usual summer cottage things. Both of them are keen fishermen, so fishing was the highlight. On their trips Matias caught a big pike-perch (a very tasty fish) and Henry a big pike (less tasty but more of a fighting fish).

Henry and a pike.

(Photo courtesy of Matias)

The next event was a trip to Hyvinkää to visit the 'Piglets'.

The Piglets are Chinese friends, but where does the name come from?

There is a Chinese superstition that small babies should be given 'bad' nicknames so that evil spirits are not interested in causing trouble for the newborn. As a newborn, the Piglets' son was called Piglet, until his rather sensible grandfather found out, but somehow the name has stuck, at least with Elk's Street.

Thomas and 'Piglet' playing a computer game.


Mrs Piglet and some key members of Elk's Street

The Piglets's rather fine new house.


Mr Piglet hard at work in his restaurant kitchen. .

The beginning of August marks various Elk's Street members' birthdays and the start of the blueberry season - and the second summer cottage week, this time in the cottage, Lauren. We were again quite lucky with the weather, as the photos below show.

View to the jetty.


Lauren - a rather luxurious cottage.


Thomas's armada.



Thomas and Henry rowing and fishing, respectively.


H-M looking for missing sailors.


A pebbly beach.


A 'laavu' shelter.


A 'laavu' is a shelter for people hiking or fishing. It is normally quite small, c.8-10 square metres, unheated, and the fourth side is left open.


A delicate flower.


Tiina, Hippo and Thomas on the terrace.


H-M, another delicate flower.


H-M reading.

Elk's Street has now tested three of the cottages belonging to Mikonsaaren Loma-Asunot; Mikko, Morton, and Lauren. And what is the verdict?

We would like Mikko's little sandy beach, Morton's fantastic location, and Lauren's comfort.

At the risk that others may book the cottages and stop us going there again, we'd like to say that they are fine places to stay and the owner, Marketta, has done an excellent job. Oh, and anyone thinking of booking a Finnish summer cottage, please remember that you are responsible for cleaning after your stay, ensuring that the next guests have a nice place to go to.

Good night!