Sunny Days

During a very wet summer there have been a few sunny days. Below a few photos of what we have been up to when the sun has been shining.


Thomas and Hwei-Ming washing mats. Finnish homes generally have wooden floors decorated by mats, which need to be washed once in a while. Traditionally, this is done in a local lake and the town provides outdoor facilities where mats can be washed and dried. For children, it is great fun.


Thomas and Henry paddling in Sammonlahti. After the "hard work" of washing mats, the boys got to spend some time enjoying the lake.


A few days later we were invited by some Chinese colleagues to a sauna and barbecue at the university's "beach sauna". Below some more photos.


Our hosts around the barbecue. The menu was very Finnish and included potatoes, grilled courgettes, grilled mushrooms and the ubiquitous Finnish "makkara" (sausage).


Henry practising his rowing.


Meanwhile, Thomas is in shallower waters.


The final photo is at the request of Hwei-Ming, who wishes to provide evidence that I can indeed be persuaded to make contact with cold water.


Luckily there is a warm sauna nearby. Brrrr!

Watercolours

Hwei-Ming, Chairman of Elk Street Ltd., decided recently to try her hand at watercolours. This was a new medium as previously she had done oil-painting. She joined a course at Joutsenonopisto, an adult education institute, and below are some results of her efforts.

Swans

Orchid flowers

View from the veranda of the school

Visit to Suomenlinna

When Elk's Street is visiting Helsinki, I am sometimes given a couple of hours off to "go and do something" (quote: Chairman). One of my favourite ways of spending some free time is to take the ferry from the marketplace and visit the Fortress of Suomenlinna. Suomenlinna, in Swedish 'Sveaborg', is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of Finland's main tourist attractions.

Below are a few photos taken when Finland is showing its sunny side.

The ferry to Suomenlinna leaves from the marketplace. The photo shows the red "Koff" beer tram passing the marketplace. The tram has been converted into a bar and tourists can hop on board and enjoy a beer while looking at the sights.


It's difficult to believe that this is in the heart of Helsinki.


A Silja Line vessel setting out on a cruise to Stockholm, Sweden.


A small bay on the island of Länsi-Mustasaari. This is a part of the fortress complex that is ignored by most visitors, who tend to stay on the main island of Susisaari, where the main attractions are situated.


The view from Tykistölahti (Artillery Bay?) looking towards the straight of Kustaanmiekka.



The Finnish flag. Those with sharp eyes will notice that it is a little different from the 'normal' Finnish flag. The swallow-tailed state flag, or 'war flag', is flown on Suomenlinna.


When I returned on the ferry to the marketplace, there was a rather handsome sailing vessel, Sea Cloud II, moored in front of the Palace Hotel. This is a luxury cruise ship, Helsinki being a popular stop for many cruise liners.


Another view of Sea Cloud II. To find out more go to the Sea Cloud Cruises website.


One attraction on Suomenlinna deserves to be mentioned, an attraction that brings me back to the start of this post; Suomenlinnan Panimo. This is a small restaurant that brews its own beer. I usually have a glass while waiting for the ferry back to the mainland and it's much better than the insipid brew 'Koff'. So, next time you are in Helsinki, skip the beer tram and get the ferry over to Suomenlinna. Unfortunately, the Suomenlinnan Panimo website is mostly in Finnish but click on the 'Oluet' link to see the beer labels and the 'À la carte' link to see what I can't afford to eat.

Missing Members of Elk Street Ltd.

Those of you with insider information about Elk Street Ltd. will know that there are some members of the business who, despite their key roles, have Greta Garbo-like tendencies - their shunning of publicity becomes part of their mystique.

So, here, from the Elk Street archives, are a few more photos.

Tiina - "The Godmother"

Lilli - Senior Adviser


Uncle Stephen - Chief Technical Officer (Computer Technology)


Hwei-Ming - Chairman of the Board

A Trip to England - Part 4

The last couple of excursions were to Liverpool and the Fylde coast, Lytham-St. Annes.

The Liverpool trip gave us time to test different modes of transport:
Preston - Southport by car.
Southport - Liverpool by train.
Liverpool to Birkenhead (Hamilton Square) through the Mersey rail tunnel.
Woodside Ferry Terminal to Wirral Transport Museum by replica double-decker tram.
Wirral Transport Museum to Woodside Ferry Terminal by replica double-decker tram.
Woodside Ferry Terminal to Liverpool Pier Head by ferry.
Liverpool Central to Southport by train.
Southport - Preston by car.

But the highlight of the trip was the Shore Road Pumping Station, where we were treated to a tour of "The Giant Grasshopper", a steam engine pump used in the past to draw water from the rail tunnel beneath the River Mersey.

After having visited the excellent Museum of Science and Industry in Manchester, we'd really been spoilt with steam engines.

Below are a few more photos.

Ferry 'cross the Mersey. (Liverpool city skyline in the background, with the Liver building.)

Oh, and for those of you who have forgotten, the song was by 'Gerry & The Pacemakers' :

Life goes on day after day
Hearts torn in every way

So, ferry 'cross the Mersey
'Cause this land's the place I love
And here'll I stay

People they rush everywhere
Each with their own secret care

etc. etc.

For engineers, and would-be engineers, a diagram of 'The Giant Grasshopper'. Note the size of the people on the right.

The Wirral tram, a copy of a tram from 1948.
(Apologies for the poor quality of the photo, the battery ran out on the camera, so this is courtesy of Nokia 5500 Sport.)


The boys standing next to one of the 'Super Lamb Bananas'.

As part of Liverpool's celebration of being the European City of Culture, there are over one hundred of these statues around the city, all decorated in different colours. The 'Super Lamb Banana' is a lamb at the front and a banana at the back. It was created by the artist, Taro Chiezo as a warning about the dangers of genetically modified food. For more about 'Super Lamb Bananas' go to the official website. While many people may hate them, Elk Street thinks they are pretty cool, especially as there is even an Everton F.C. version, the 'Super St. Domingo Lambanana'.

A former London Transport bus, now plying its trade between Lytham and St. Annes.

"That big six wheeler, scarlet-painted, London Transport, diesel-engined, 97-horsepower omnibus"

Hold very tight, please! Ting-ting!"

Oh, and for those of you who have forgotten, the song was by Flanders and Swann and is called "Transport of Delight."

The boys on Lytham-St. Annes beach. As you can see, the tide is most definitely out.

Back home in Elk Street - our garden has flowers, too.

A Trip to England - Part 3

A couple of days were spent with Catherine and Andrew.

A picnic with Catherine, Andrew and some ducks.

Thomas caught in a cattle grid on Beacon Fell. (And experience shows that it is easier to get caught in a cattle grid than to get out.)

View over towards Pendle Hill (but no witches in sight).

Lunch was at Ye Horns Inn, Goosnargh. This is where Sarah and Ben had their wedding reception. It is a small countryside pub and hotel. The staff are friendly, the food is good and it's all sourced locally.

And in this photo you get to see some of the much-maligned English food. So, who ate what?

Andrew - Steak pie and chips.
Catherine - Lancashire hot pot.
Peter - Fried plaice and chips.
Thomas and Henry - Fish and chips (with extra Tartar Sauce)
Side dishes include: picked red cabbage, pickled onions, cauliflower, carrots and peas.


Here's cousin Jonathan (a demon at Wii golf and bowling).

A Trip to England - Part 2

After a couple of days in the white-rose county of Yorkshire, it was off to the red-rose county of Lancashire. Below some more photos.

A slightly better-kept garden than the one at Elk Street. Well done, the gardeners! But whatever happened to the football field with the two apple trees as goalposts?

Time for tea (Mum/Grandma).

Time for tea (Dad/Grandad).

In the Lake District. Danger! Sheep crossing!


Henry climbing in Hurst Grange Park, which many years ago was the home of Penwortham Hill Rovers.

Reached the top - no sweat!