Home from Home

 Over the past two years I've spent nearly all my holiday time in a city that has become Home, The saying goes Home is where the Heart is.. Nothing can be truer for me at least as this place and some of the people has stolen mine.. Two years ago I went as part of my college course to do a placement in Finland. A Cliff  College MA student who lives there was to be my placement leader and someone who had become a great friend.. it very quickly it felt like home and has become home.  

I don't know what caught me about a place where I don't speak either of the languages Finnish or Swedish ( and the few words I do now know are not always that helpful and based mainly on words used by my friends to the dogs.) I think the pace of life maybe part of it, the air that is fresher. Maybe it's because there I can stop and just be.. Just a thought 

The city hit the headlines in the Uk recently as David Beckham had surgery there. 

It has to be one of the most beautiful places I've visited, walking along (or on when it's frozen) the river Aura watching the sunset. And down to a favourite place for coffee and Pulla away from home cafe art :).. oh and after a nice walk  (Though walking my friends dogs with her mother in law is always an adventure!!!! ) or after supper there's nothing better than a sauna :)

This year Turku is the Euroopan Kulttuuripääkaupunki  (european capital of culture)..  the program is full and it's not just cultural things as you would expect that are happening.. theres something for everyone.. this weekend marks the opening in style wish I was able to go see..

“This Side, The Other Side” is one of the biggest shows ever seen in Finland

The spectacular opening brings fire and love above River Aura

Turku will open the Capital of Culture year 2011 with a three-day weekend full of events and activities on 14–16 January 2011. The opening performance “This Side, The Other Side” on the evening of Saturday 15 January is the single largest event of the year. Concerts and events for the entire family will draw the audience to the city centre

There are one or two things that I really would like to go and see and maybe I'll get I'd love to hear Turku Philharmonic Orchestra  play again I had the privilege  to go to the independence day concert on december 6th which was fabulous. A comment that made made smile during the speeches that day that Turku was the capital of Finland when Helsinki was still a small unheard of village.. 

So this isn't my normal type of post I know the thoughts were started by a message from Turku 2011 saying thank you for the hugh interest and they were sorry that the site kept crashing :) 

So if you thinking of a weekend away why not think about a trip to this years Euroopan Kulttuuripääkaupunki

Turku

This time last week I was in Turku. 

Turku was the capitol of Finland until it was moved to Helsinki. 

It is also the home of Moominworld airport not far is is the town of naantali 

I've had a fascination with these little guys for a long time... last winter I got to eat a picnic on the porch of muumin house :) 

For 2011 Turku will be the European capital of culture.. and while I was a way this weekend I got to plant a bulb at Ilpoinen school..

Photo By STF

It was a great morning lots of activities and lots of parents turned up to support what was taking place. 

I was told that I have a nose for coffee and pulla as yet again I found where it was being sold ( when on holiday in Tenerife  last year I found a church selling Finnish coffee and homemade pulla)

I also got to have a really nice bread with berries in it and sausage with apple juice 

Photo By STF school meal 

not only did I get to plant a bulb at the school I got to help in my friends garden doing a bit of pruning :) and gathering leaves. Living in a flat I really miss this side of life this weekend 3rd october is the harvest service in north lambeth. 

Photo By STF Pruning 

Ok so that may be a little pushing it for pruning, though cutting back can be very good for a plant : good job my friends hubby was away for the weekend...:)

part of the open praise of praise that we will use is 

God of the harvest we thank you for all those who represent us all in tending creation.

For gardeners and allotment owners

For foresters  and For farmers

For fishermen

That all might share from your garden

We thank you and praise you lord

and a couple of helpers with the leaves 

helsinki-vantaa

One of the redeeming things of coming back from finland on monday evening was a beautiful sunset over Helsink.i I was on the wrong side of the plane to watch it finally set but watching the colours dance over the city was special!

Take off, still climbing ....

Up over Helsinki. 2hrs 35mins to London