"Hell is where the cooks are English..."

There's a funny anecdote about cultural differences. I'm sure you've heard it before, but I'll write it down here anyhow:

"Heaven is where...

the cooks are French,

the policemen are English,

the mechanics are German,

the lovers are Italian,

and it's all organized by the Swiss.

Hell is where...

the cooks are English,

the policemen are German,

the mechanics are French,

the lovers are Swiss,

and it's all organized by the Italians."

Even though this text is filled with generalizations and stereotypes, it still says something about people in different countries, their characters and habits.

I visited England again about a month ago, and I must say that there is some truth to the belief that the English cuisine may not be the best in the world. It's actually fine by me, since I'm not a 'food enthusiast' myself. I'm satisfied if there is enough healthy food on the plate; I don't crave for culinary experiences all the time. Naturally, sometimes it is nice to spend an evening enjoying good company and a good meal at the same time, but like I said, I don't need new, exotic dishes in which the cook has invested huge amounts of time and effort. The "naked chef -philosophy" appeals to me; simple basic ingredients, easy recipies, full stomach.

Eton mess; my kind of dessert. Easy recipe, easy to make, delicious!

That is why it is such a relief to go to England! I don't have to pretend that I am interested in spices or sauces or different kinds of meat. Fine dining is not mentioned, thank Goodness! Eating is just something that has to be done, and it's perfectly okay if you just want to get it over with. In Finland cooking is veeery much in fashion these days, and it seems obvious that everyone is completely into food and cooking and everything related to it. With my not-so-passionate relationship with food, I feel like the odd man out when this topic is concerned. That is why for instance Eton mess is a brilliant dessert in my opinion. Just whisk and mix and put them in a bowl and that's it! Who says cooking or baking has to take hours and require dozens of pots and kettles and boiling and cooking and frying and baking?!



Sarcastic people, bring them on!

This time I thought about contemplating about humour. Lately I've come across with the fact that humour is actually a very difficult and delicate matter. Things that are extremely funny to some can be incomprehensible, or even in some cases, insulting to others.

Take Monty Python, for example. Or The Fast Show -one of my favourite BBC comedy sketch show programmes. The humour in both of these series is so unique that I guess it divides people sharply into two categories: you either love them or hate them. Understand them fully or not at all. Laugh all the time or just don't get the jokes. It's the same with comic strips, stand up comedy, and -naturally- the most difficult forms of humour, irony and sarcasm.

I myself am prone to both sarcasm and irony, although I am fully aware of the risks they entail. Irony can be misunderstood, and sarcastic people are often perceived as mean and intimidating. That is why one has to bear this in mind, and use these fine forms of humour sparingly and only in selected company. I have a small poster on my office wall saying: "Sorry! The lifestyle you ordered is currently out of stock." I've noticed that most people don't get the joke. Those who do make it instantly to my 'A Potential Candidate' -list. Those who make it this far have a good chance of getting to my 'Favourite People On The Planet' -list. Needless to say, this list is not terribly long (quality over quantity!), and all the people on that list have gained my friendship, access to my thoughts, as well as my utmost respect.

The same type of sense of humour is not a bad criterion to choose friends, I think. Like I mentioned, I like sarcastic and ironic people, and I've noticed that almost always these people are like me; sarcastic on the outside, but sensitive and vulnerable creatures on the inside. Usually these people also know how to handle other people like them, and don't use their sarcastic wit to hurt their friends. It takes one to know one, and with sarcastic people it's "us vs. the inequality of the world" or "us vs. stupid idiots", but not "you vs. me". In that sense, it seems funny that even though sarcastic people are often seen as scary, I always feel safe around them. It really does take one to know one.

To conclude, I just want to say that yes, I realize that someone having just read this text might feel irritated about my listing people in my mind. Well, you might wanna consider the possibility that maybe this was just sarcasm on my part...

My thoughts about ballet

I went to see The Nutcracker yesterday with my Mum and sister. This was the first time I've ever seen a live ballet performance, and I must say that I'm impressed.

We discussed the experience afterwards, and we all agreed that a large part of the allure of ballet has to do with the impression of ease, lightness and grace of movement the dancers are able to create.

The truth, however, is something quite different. Ballet is a very demanding form of art, and there are numerous ballerinas and male dancers who have to give it up at some point, simply because the physical demands are just too high. I just read an article about a female ballerina who said that being a professional ballet dancer means that there is always pain, you just have to learn to live with it. The stories of bloody ballet slippers are not just urban legends, and quite often the dancers' feet ache so much that every step hurts.

 That is why I can easily understand how only the most dedicated and motivated dancers are the ones that remain in this form of art, and that in turn might have an effect on the competition between individual dancers. Theatre groups and dance companies may be wretched places to work, and back-stabbing is a trick of the trade. This of course applies also to other performing arts, where the leading characters and soloists get the most applause and fans' attention. This is another reason why I admire the physical and mental abilities top ballet dancers have; not everyone could endure  both the physical pain and psychological stress the way they do.I have one daughter, and if she told me she wanted to become a ballerina, I would probably have mixed feelings about it. On the one hand; if you can make it, it is a fine and elegant career, but on the other hand, there are many easier ways to make a living!

Turning forty

                                 

I had a special day last Sunday; I turned forty. I guess this age is a kind of a milestone for many people: you cannot really convince yourself  anymore that you're young, and you just have to accept the fact that your life is just about halfway through. This acceptance -thing is actually easier said than done, and I know many people my age who have been very distressed about this particular birthday.

I have to admit that I had mixed feelings about my upcoming birthday, and I didn't really know what to do with it. Somehow it was obvious that I didn't want a big celebration, but I knew that I wanted to do something special or to go somewhere special to celebrate this unique day. For a long time I was puzzled and couldn't figure out what that 'special something' would be. But then it hit me: maybe I could fulfil my dream and buy myself a painting from a renowned artist I've admired for a long time..?! First it seemed impossible: could I, would I, should I...? But the more I kept thinking about this idea, the more intriguing it became.

After having this notion, one thing led to another, and in short: now I am a proud owner of a Soile Yli-Mäyry original! I had an opportunity to visit a showroom filled with her works, and fortunately I was able to afford one that I particularly liked. Now I have to admit that it feels good; I was able to fulfil a dream, I have a long-lasting memory of my 40th birthday, and I don't feel nearly as bad as I did before that I turned forty!

A painting Jälkiä hiekassa by Soile Yli-Mäyry

Greetings from Tallinn!

My family and I visited Tallinn during our summer vacation. Many Finns go to Tallinn for a very spesific reason: to get their nails done, to go to a hairdresser or to buy a new pair of specs, just to mention a few. The reason for this is the fact that for instance these things and services are cheaper in Estonia than they are in Finland. Finns also have a questionable reputation for exporting huge quantities of cheap alcohol from Tallinn to Finland, which has caused queues and  traffic congestions in the port of Tallinn. The scale of this alcohol traffic is so large that the Finnish authorities have been trying to find ways to reduce it.

Anyhow, all of this has led to the unfortunate situation that many Finns don't really see Tallinn as a cultural capital that has a lot to offer. For instance, there are many fine restaurants in Tallinn, and different forms of arts and crafts have long traditions in Estonia. We for instance went for a coffee in
Maiasmokk (which means sweet tooth in English), which is the oldest operating café in Tallinn and entire Estonia. It has been open at the same location already since 1864. It offers a large variety of different kind of pies and cakes, and they also sell delicious handmade marzipan candy.

 According to Internet sources,  the origins of Tallinn date back to the 13th century, which makes Tallinn and its historic centre (or Old Town) genuinely old. There are beautiful, old buildings that have been restored, and some hotels are also located in very old buildings. For instance, the Three Sisters Hotel dates back to 1362. Originally there were three buildings owned by wealthy merchants, and later on they've been joined together and restored. Now the building functions as a five-star hotel.

The Three Sisters hotel in the Old Town of Tallinn.

All in all, we had a very nice time in Tallinn, and I can honestly recommend it to people who appreciate and look for more than cheap booze for their holiday. The Old Town is also small enough to manage on foot, which is why it is possible to wander around with children. In Finnish we have a saying "Matkailu avartaa", which means that travelling broadens your mind and gives you a new perspective to things. I have been to Tallinn a few times, and I must say that my view of this charming city has improved. Let's see when I will go there again!