Wednesday, October 29, 2008
The Cold
It’s now starting to get colder than I was ever used to it being in winter in Tassie. The roads were super slippery on Monday morning, as they also were yesterday and today. The thing that stood out about today was that the puddles were frozen over. This isn’t uncommon and I’ve seen it plenty of times already (to a degree). Except that today they didn’t all melt during the day.
Monday, October 27, 2008
Negotiation, Norway and Winter Tyres
Choices have been made and discussions are in progress. It looks likely at this stage that I’ll be in Finland for longer than initially planed. We’re at an agreement internally and it just needs to be confirmed with Baltic.
It took a little longer to get there after a night in Helsinki, but it was great to get away from Finland for the weekend and see some very contrasting landscapes. Finland is flat, but Norway didn’t seem to have a flat surface in the place, except maybe the runway we landed on. An advantage to my flight being delayed meant that I arrived in daylight as opposed to after midnight, this made making my way from Ålesund airport out to Hareid much more pleasant and easier. Oli meet me at Hareid and we then drove back over to Ulsteinvik, where he dropped me at his place and went back to work. I spent the afternoon wandering up the hill to check out the view and then met Oli back out at work. We had a pretty chilled evening with some beers and pizza, and general catching up.
On the Saturday we drove out to Runde, we picked up one of Oli’s Friends (Anne) and Tim (Another AMC graduate whom I met in Italy last year) who was staying with Anne for the weekend. Runde is a little island further from the mainland than Ulstien. We crossed at least 5 or six islands to get out there. The bridges varied in complexity, but were mostly single lane with a passing lane at the top. Oli commented that they have too much money in the area, spending lots to build bridges and tunnels to connect small numbers of people with smaller numbers of people. I think it was less than 15 people live on Runde throughout the year (it’s a holiday spot) but there is a bridge that cost god knows how much to get there. We walked up to the top of the island in the howling wind. We were very glad that the wind wasn’t blowing the other direction, as the gusts easily made you lose your balance. In Summer apparently there are birds nested up the top, but they had all already headed south. The rain set in on our way back.
In the evening we went out from some drinks and also caught up with Noel (another AMC graduate). It was quite odd sitting in this small town bar on the coast of Norway with 4 guys who had all studied in Launceston.
Sunday saw patches of clear skies but none big enough to get out in and do anything. We spent the day watching repetitive TV and movies.
On Monday morning I got a lift back to the Ferry at Hareid from Anne with Tim. Tim and I spent a while walking through Ålesund in the rain trying to find some breakfast. I then spent the rest of the morning and early afternoon exploring, mostly in the rain which did eventually stop.
On Tuesday after my very late flight in I was tired but happy to have had the long weekend. I was surprised when Eurpocar came and collected the Polo and then returned it with Winter Tyres. They are a bit noisy but I’m thankful for them.
It took a little longer to get there after a night in Helsinki, but it was great to get away from Finland for the weekend and see some very contrasting landscapes. Finland is flat, but Norway didn’t seem to have a flat surface in the place, except maybe the runway we landed on. An advantage to my flight being delayed meant that I arrived in daylight as opposed to after midnight, this made making my way from Ålesund airport out to Hareid much more pleasant and easier. Oli meet me at Hareid and we then drove back over to Ulsteinvik, where he dropped me at his place and went back to work. I spent the afternoon wandering up the hill to check out the view and then met Oli back out at work. We had a pretty chilled evening with some beers and pizza, and general catching up.
On the Saturday we drove out to Runde, we picked up one of Oli’s Friends (Anne) and Tim (Another AMC graduate whom I met in Italy last year) who was staying with Anne for the weekend. Runde is a little island further from the mainland than Ulstien. We crossed at least 5 or six islands to get out there. The bridges varied in complexity, but were mostly single lane with a passing lane at the top. Oli commented that they have too much money in the area, spending lots to build bridges and tunnels to connect small numbers of people with smaller numbers of people. I think it was less than 15 people live on Runde throughout the year (it’s a holiday spot) but there is a bridge that cost god knows how much to get there. We walked up to the top of the island in the howling wind. We were very glad that the wind wasn’t blowing the other direction, as the gusts easily made you lose your balance. In Summer apparently there are birds nested up the top, but they had all already headed south. The rain set in on our way back.
In the evening we went out from some drinks and also caught up with Noel (another AMC graduate). It was quite odd sitting in this small town bar on the coast of Norway with 4 guys who had all studied in Launceston.
Sunday saw patches of clear skies but none big enough to get out in and do anything. We spent the day watching repetitive TV and movies.
On Monday morning I got a lift back to the Ferry at Hareid from Anne with Tim. Tim and I spent a while walking through Ålesund in the rain trying to find some breakfast. I then spent the rest of the morning and early afternoon exploring, mostly in the rain which did eventually stop.
On Tuesday after my very late flight in I was tired but happy to have had the long weekend. I was surprised when Eurpocar came and collected the Polo and then returned it with Winter Tyres. They are a bit noisy but I’m thankful for them.
Wednesday, October 8, 2008
Decision Time
Well I knew it would be coming, but now its arrived I have less time than I expected to deal with it. After a couple of brief discussions this week it has been established that I have perhaps done too good a job while I have been here.
Baltic would like me to stay for another six months. Gurit has made me an offer to sweeten the deal but stressed that there is no love lost if I choose to head back home as 6 months was the original agreement.
The main part of the sweetener is essentially a month to soak up the Aussie sun before returning to Finland for 5 more months. Which is very appealing, but I’m not convinced that it is enough. I’m not confident that I’ve found enough things to do here to keep me occupied for another six months. Although there may be more things to do when it gets cold (Skiing, visit a Snow Castle, Ice Skating, Ice Climbing, Ice sailing, Snowmobile & Husky safari’s). I have spent much to much time already over here thinking about sailing.
Anyway, I’ve been given till Tuesday to come up with a discussion. At least I have a long weekend to think about it. I’d better get packing so I can enjoy it. Off to Norway tomorrow after work to visit some mates from Uni.
Baltic would like me to stay for another six months. Gurit has made me an offer to sweeten the deal but stressed that there is no love lost if I choose to head back home as 6 months was the original agreement.
The main part of the sweetener is essentially a month to soak up the Aussie sun before returning to Finland for 5 more months. Which is very appealing, but I’m not convinced that it is enough. I’m not confident that I’ve found enough things to do here to keep me occupied for another six months. Although there may be more things to do when it gets cold (Skiing, visit a Snow Castle, Ice Skating, Ice Climbing, Ice sailing, Snowmobile & Husky safari’s). I have spent much to much time already over here thinking about sailing.
Anyway, I’ve been given till Tuesday to come up with a discussion. At least I have a long weekend to think about it. I’d better get packing so I can enjoy it. Off to Norway tomorrow after work to visit some mates from Uni.
Vaasa in Daylight
After having visited Vaasa twice now (briefly) it was nice to go and see it in the daylight (perhaps before there is none). It’s a bigger town than Pietarsaarie, roughly 3 times the population, and defiantly seemed to have more shopping to be done, which disappointingly for me was what we spent most of the time there doing (not that I bought anything). I got a lift there with Jonas, a friend of Gabrielle & Mariona (sorry if my spellings are wrong, please correct me) whom I met recently.
We spent a short afternoon wandering around in the stores of Vaasa until they all closed before 5pm, much to the girl’s disappointment. We had a bit of a walk through town and eventually had an early dinner (it was late to Jonas, but he is used to eating at Finnish times). We checked out a local beach and then drove home.
We spent a short afternoon wandering around in the stores of Vaasa until they all closed before 5pm, much to the girl’s disappointment. We had a bit of a walk through town and eventually had an early dinner (it was late to Jonas, but he is used to eating at Finnish times). We checked out a local beach and then drove home.
Friday, October 3, 2008
In Need Of Colour
I made no plans over the weekend (exciting I know) but after catching up on some sleep and doing some mundane housework on Saturday morning I set out into the day armed with a nice warm jacket, my discman and my camera. I wanted to catch some of the colour that I’ve seen before it all disappears. With the majority of the time here starting to look dark or grey, or both, it may get a little bleak.
Once or twice last week as I was driving to work and the sun was rising, in between the patches of green were some magnificent yellow highlights of everything that was note a pine tree. Unfortunately I haven’t got a photo of it (yet I still have hope). But I did wander around in the small public garden in town and took some photos of a lot of the flowers before they started to wilt (some I was too late for).
To ease myself back into the grey world I walked around in the cemetery for a while (nothing sinister going on), there were a couple of very simple graves, but they were mostly of a similar (middle class I guess) standard. Simple inscriptions, and most featuring at minimum a lamp with some including birds as well. There were a couple of quite impressive family plots, and some war memorials as well. I believe one large plot is remembrance of the civil war in the early 1900’s. Six names all passing within about 6 weeks, the majority over a couple of days, and the inscriptions ‘Freedom’ & ‘Gratitude’. Another I assume is for WWII but I am unsure what the inscription means, perhaps it is one man? I’m not sure but would be interested to find out.
Once or twice last week as I was driving to work and the sun was rising, in between the patches of green were some magnificent yellow highlights of everything that was note a pine tree. Unfortunately I haven’t got a photo of it (yet I still have hope). But I did wander around in the small public garden in town and took some photos of a lot of the flowers before they started to wilt (some I was too late for).
To ease myself back into the grey world I walked around in the cemetery for a while (nothing sinister going on), there were a couple of very simple graves, but they were mostly of a similar (middle class I guess) standard. Simple inscriptions, and most featuring at minimum a lamp with some including birds as well. There were a couple of quite impressive family plots, and some war memorials as well. I believe one large plot is remembrance of the civil war in the early 1900’s. Six names all passing within about 6 weeks, the majority over a couple of days, and the inscriptions ‘Freedom’ & ‘Gratitude’. Another I assume is for WWII but I am unsure what the inscription means, perhaps it is one man? I’m not sure but would be interested to find out.
Thursday, October 2, 2008
Good Cutlery
I don’t like crappy utensils. So when I had to buy cutlery when I arrived I made sure I got solid stainless steel, no plastic included. They didn’t cost that much extra, and they are just so much nicer to handle. Plus I found it very useful the other day when I found I had accidently purchased a can of coconut milk that was not a ring pull (yes that’s right I have not bought a can opener). The knife did quite a good job at the can, I’m sure the little extra iron in my food wont hurt me.
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