It seems that almost all my wishes have come true this Christmas, although regarding the snow situation it has been pretty variable. We have had everything between +8 and -15 degrees during my visit, and at the moment it is quite slippery after having some rain last night. Still, I've had my white Christmas and experienced the traditional holiday season customs with my family.

All in all, my winter holiday here at home in Finland has been more beautiful and happy than I could have imagined. Full of good food, friends, family time and a little bit of winter activities, too. I let the following pictures tell more... Now it's only one week left! Back in Melbourne, Juha has told me it's +35 and sweating hot... it will be interesting to return. It has also been a long time to be away from my dear man, too.


Drinking 'glögi', hot red wine with ginger cookies after a Christmas Service in a 'log church without a roof' in Partaharju. The starry sky served as the ceiling that night, and the dozens of candles the only light. The Lucia girls sang very beautifully.


Christmas feeling on the marketplace of the town of Kuopio.


Christmas cooking and preparations with my bro Viljo and Noora.


There it is, our own little hiding place, Kantola. Our grandma's place serves now as our holiday house (the yellow house in the middle) and provides the right kind of Christmas atmosphere.

 
Kantola scenery. 1) The old sauna by the lake. 2) The outdoor toilet with 3 holes. 3) A detail from the toilet door.


Christmas Eve and the dinner after sauna. Santa came to ask if we had been nice... and apparently we had, such nice presents were given.
From left to right: Venla (sister), Noora (Viljo's girlfriend), Viljo (brother), Veera (sister), Jari (husband of Veera), Pentti (Venla's partner), and Irmeli (Mom).




A beautiful sunset (around 3 o'clock in the afternoon!) near the cemetery where our grandparents rest.


Icicles melting.

A little bit of exercise between the indulging. Viljo used the motorsaw and we all helped to carry to logs to the road and further to the shed. It took us a few days to carry them, but boy it was a lot of wood to burn in the fireplace and sauna oven!



Thank you the spirits of Kantola for letting us to have such a peaceful and nice time during the Christmas 2006...

THE NEW YEAR

We decided to relax our muscles after the 'hard work' in the forest in a 'Nokian Eden' spa in Tampere. I, Noora, Viljo, Jari, Veera in the bubbles.


The name of the drink? 'Sex on the beach' of course :) Viljo is fooling around as usual...


On the New Year's Eve the air was full of smoke from fireworks and laughter... The rest of the pics have been censored by a mutual decision... :) Let's just say, that the Old Brick's Inn pub encountered an invasion like no other... 'Yatzy, Yatzy!'

Have a happy and prosperous New Year, my friends!

Vilma*