torstai 28. marraskuuta 2024

PAAVILAISTEN JOULUKIRJE 2024


 Jouluinen tervehdys Ahvenanmaalta! 
(in English below)

Muuttaminen saaristoon vuoden 2024 marraskuussa tuntuu erittäin hyvältä. Elämä on toisinaan tyyntä, toisinaan myrskyä, hyvin usein kaikkea sitä samanaikaisesti. Maailma on murroksessa edelleen kuten jo muutaman joulukirjeen aikana olen ehtinyt kirjoittaa. Vuonna 2023 myllerrykset olivat sellaisia, että joulukirje jäi julkaisematta.  Nyt kirjoitan taas, mutta nyt omia ajatuksiani. Tämä on joka tapauksessa kirje perheemme vuodesta 2024. 

Kun minulle tuli mahdollisuus työskennellä jonkin aikaa virkamiehenä Ahvenanmaan valtionvirastossa Maarianhaminassa, tuntui luontevalta muuttaa saarelle, tyvenen ja myrskyjen (myös geopoliittisten) keskelle. Demokratiatyöläisen elämä ei sammaloidu. 

Vaikka läheiseni eivät ole kaiken aikaa täällä, he ovat whatsap -viesteissä, ajatuksissani ja sielussani. Peukutuksissa, sydämissä ja auringoissa. Pienen lautta- tai lentomatkan päässä. 

Jorman kanssa suunnittelemme puutarhapalstamme tulevaa kautta. Kesän 2024 sato innosti jatkamaan. Saamme Paulalta ja Maijalta hyviä ideoita viljeltäviksi lajikkeiksi. Nyt kun maa lepää, tuntuu, että vain mielikuvitus on rajana. Kun maa taas herää - tiedän, että rajana ovat myös voimat. Aari on iso ala käsin hoidettavaksi. Mutta toisaalta - siinä näkyy käden jälki, myös sen puute. 

Jorma ja minä seuraamme ilolla nuorten aikuistemme, kummilasten ja eri-ikäisten ystäviemme elämää. Yritämme pitää yhteyttä pysyäksemme mukana siinä, mitä tapahtuu puutarhapalstamme (peura)aidan ulkopuolella. 

Maaliskuussa isäni Ilmarin kunto romahti. Hän ehti sairastaa Parkinsonia yli 15 vuotta. Sen aikana kunnon romahduksia oli ollut kymmeniä jollei satoja. Aina isä ja äitini Kaisa jaksoivat etsiä uuden normaalin. Viimeisen neljän vuoden aikana siinä olivat apuna Puistohelmen tehostetun hoidon osaston lämminsydämiset ammattilaiset, erityisesti omahoitajat Heidi ja Elena. Kun saattohoito alkoi, meistä kaikista tuntui, että näin pitää tapahtua. Sitten laskeutui rauha. Puoliso, elämänkumppani, isä, vaari, opettaja ja purjehtija pääsi viimeiselle matkalle.    

Syksyllä saattelimme viimeiselle matkalle Jorman Telle-tädin, Paulan ja Maijan isotädin. Tänä vuonna on menehtynyt myös hyviä ystäviä, yllättäen. Heihin kaikkiin ajatus palaa usein.   

Tänä vuonna mielessäni on edelleen soinut Kaija Saariahon (1952-2023) HUSH, sävellys Verneri Pohjolalle ja trumpetille. Se jäi Kaijan viimeiseksi sävellykseksi ja sen ensi esitys elokuussa 2023 Helsingin Musiikkitalossa oli ikimuistoinen. Radion sinfoniaorkesteri, kapellimestari Susanna Mälkki, trumpetti, Verneri Pohjola. HUSH päättyy merkitsevään taukoon. Sen aikana laskeutuu rauha, jota ei haluaisi menettää. 

Tähän vuoteen iloa ja energiaa ovat tuoneet ihmisten lisäksi liikunta ja kirjat. Juoksemista vasen polveni ei kestänyt, mutta lihaskuntotreenit salilla, uinti, pyöräily ja kävely ovat edelleen arjessa mukana. Syksyllä pyörähti käyntiin toinen talviuintikausi. En uskoisi ellen itse kokisi, että hermostoni kaipaa alle 6 asteista merivettä. Mutta niin se vaan on. 

On valtavan vaikeaa valita siteeraanko tähän Eeva Kilpeä vai Carina Karlssonia. Ehkä siksi, että saaristoon muuttaminen on vaikuttanut kielimaailmaani ja ehkä siksi, että olen viettänyt maininkien äärellä, seitsemättä aaltoa laskien, elämässäni tuhansia tunteja, valitsen runon Karlssonin Marconirummet -kirjan luvusta VII: 

Jag räknar inte längre vågor, jag simmar på rygg med ansiktet mot solen. En dag ska jag  sköljas upp på strändernas strand, helt stilla när ljuset flyter genom kroppen. Var stilla när tiden flyter genom kroppen. 

Hyvää ja rauhallista joulun aikaa 

Marika

Runo kääntyy mielessäni näin: 

En enää laske aaltoja, uin selälläni kasvot aurinkoa kohti. Jonain päivänä huuhtoudun rantojen rannalle, aivan hiljaa valon virratessa kehoni kautta. Olla hiljaa ajan virratessa kehon kautta.  


Christmas greetings from Åland!

Moving to the Finnish South-West archipelago in November of 2024 felt very good. Life is at times calm and at times stormy, often both simultaneously. The world is on the brink of change, as I have also written in previous Christmas greetings. These events altogether resulted in that Christmas letter 2023 was not being published at all. Now I write again, but my own thoughts. This is either way a letter of our family’s year of 2024.

When I received the opportunity to work for a time in the State Department of Åland in Mariehamn, it felt natural to move to the island, into the midst of a calm and stormy (including geopolitical) environment. The life of a worker for democracy never slows.

Though my loved ones are not always here, they are in Whatsapp-messages, in my thoughts and soul. In likes, hearts and suns. A small ferry-ride or flight away.

With Jorma we plan the next season of our garden plot. The harvest of summer 2024 encouraged us to continue. We receive good ideas from Paula and Maija for different kinds of plants to farm. As the ground now rests, it feels as if only imagination is the limit. When the soil wakes again, I know energy proves also a limiting factor. An are is a large area to work on by hand. At the same time you see the fruit of your labor, but also the lack of it.

Jorma and I follow with joy the lives of our young adults, our Godchildrens’ and friends of all ages. We try to keep in contact to stay up to date on what goes on beyond our garden plot’s (deer)fence.

In March my father Ilmari’s health decreased significantly. He has Parkinson’s disease for over 15 years. During that time these decreases in health had happened tens, if not hundreds of times. My father and mother, Kaisa, managed to find a new normal each time. The warmhearted professionals of Puistohelmi’s unit for intensive care helped with this for the past four years, especially nurses Heidi and Elena. When terminal care began, we all felt that it was inevitable. Then peace fell. Husband, partner, father, grandfather, teacher and sailor could finally begin his final journey.

In autumn we lay to rest Jorma’s aunt Telle, Paula’s and Maija’s great-aunt. This year good friends have also passed, suddenly. My thoughts return often to them all.

This year Kaija Saariaho’s (1952-2023) HUSH has played in my mind again, a composition for Verneri Pohjola and the trumpet. It would be Kaija’s final composition and its premier in 2023 in Helsinki Music Centre was unforgettable with the radio’s symphony orchestra, conductor Susanna Mälkki, trumpet, Verneri Pohjola. HUSH ends in a meaningfully long lasting pause. During it a peace descends. Peace that you would not want to lose.

Alongside people, exercise and literature have brought joy and energy to this year. My left knee does not yet stand running, but workouts at the gym, swimming, cycling or walking remain in everyday life. In the fall, the second winter swimming season kicked off. I wouldn't believe it if I didn't experience it myself that my nerves crave seawater below 6 degrees. But that's just the way it is.

It is very difficult to decide whether to quote Eeva Kilpi or Carina Karlsson here. Perhaps because moving to the archipelago has affected the languages I am surrounded by, and perhaps because I have spent thousands of hours in my life by the sea, counting the seventh wave, I choose a poem from Karlsson’s book Marconirummet, chapter VII:

Jag räknar inte längre vågor, jag simmar på rygg med ansiktet mot solen. En dag ska jag  sköljas upp på strändernas strand, helt stilla när ljuset flyter genom kroppen. Var stilla när tiden flyter genom kroppen. 


Wishing a joyful and calm Christmas time,

Marika


My translation of the poem:

"I no longer count waves, I swim on my back facing the sun. One day I will be washed up on the shore of the beaches, completely still as the light flows through my body. Be still as time flows through your body."

I thank Paula for the translation of the letter <3



keskiviikko 1. marraskuuta 2017

Katedraali

Katedraalia on vaikea ohittaa. 

Eikä sillä ole mitään tekemistä sen kanssa,
että joidenkin käsitysten mukaan katedraalit
on rakennettu Jumalan kunniaksi,
tai että edes on jotakin jota kutsutaan jumalaksi.

Katedraalin pysäyttävä vaikutus tulee
tunnelmasta, joka rakentuu kaikista katedraalin osista,
pienistä ja suurista kivistä ja järkäleistä,
taontatöistä ja laseista maalauksineen, kristalleista,  

jotka ovat järjestyksessä. 
Jokainen osanen, pieni ja suuri, on oikealla paikallaan
pitämässä rakennelmaa pystyssä,
luomassa tunnelmaa.

On vaikea jatkaa matkaa ja 
jättää taakseen, jotakin, jota 
katsomalla tajuaa, 
että se, joka on sijoittanut ensimmäisen kiven,
on jo nähnyt korkeuksiin,
sinne minne viimeinen koriste joskus tullaan asettamaan, sitten 
joskus - hartaan miehen iän kuluttua.

Sellaisia miehiä ei enää ole
eikä heidän vaimojaan.

Katedraaleja on.

Minä jätin ne taakseni.

maanantai 5. syyskuuta 2016

Eating and hearing in Brussels - Le Corrége

Le Corrége is not perfect from hearing point of view, but it is wonderful as all normal tricks work. Therefor it deserves “4 ears” out of five and can be warmly recommended also for customers with hard hearing.  http://www.lecorrege.be/index.asp Let me explain why. 

Restaurant Le Corrége is just behind the corner if you work in Finland's Permanent  EU Representation in Brussels. Many hesitate to go there because the lunch time often is an hour and this restaurant has a “slow food” announcement at the door. When you decide to enter the place, first you have to ring the doorbell. Quite likely Madame will open the door, and ask impatiently: “Eh?

The place is open for lunch every week-day only between noon and 2 pm. At 1:59 pm  you cannot order anymore but you have plenty of time to finish your meal in peace, slowly. On Thursday and Friday evenings the restaurant is open from 7 pm to 9 pm. Closed on Saturdays and Sundays.

Le Corrége is cosy. You can almost see the busy kitchen from the longish dining room with many tables.  You always receive a glass of sparkling wine before you have had time to glance the menu. 

The room is furnished like grand-mother’s or aunt’s dining room. And this how you decorate  with carpets, hangings, paintings etc almost all unpleasant echo away. As the restaurant is normally packed with people during the two lunch hours the noise level can be disturbingly high for anyone, especially someone with hearing aid. This annoyance can be overcome with the normal tricks, luckily. – Try to come early so that you and your ears have time to get accustomed to the place. Sit your back to wall, so that you can also see all sources of voice. If you can adjust your hearing aid to “position for noisy places” that normally is very functional at Le Corrége.  Four ears to Le Corrége. 



sunnuntai 24. kesäkuuta 2012

Armenian trip in 2012

                                                         Day 1

The wake-up call was at six a.m.
We drove to the airport in Helsinki/Vantaa. 
We bought some Moomin and Marimekko gifts for our friends in         Armenia.
Then waited for the plane which took off from Finland at half past nine.  Now we are waiting in Moscow for our second flight to Yerevan.  The first flight took about one and a half hours!  The second flight will take four and a half hours! There´s still three more hours to take a look at this Russian airport. Interesting.


                          Day 2

Last night was exciting.
We arrived at our guesthouse in Nazervan at 22:00!
Laura ( guesthouse keeper ) was waiting for us at the terrace, she gave us a warm welcome!
We had a homemade breakfeast today.
We went three times swimming.
We saw how Lavash bread was done.
We got to see 3-4 days old piglets.
+ Laura said she will come swimming with us tomorrow!

Mum´s adds:

The lavash bread was made in a neighbouring house in a traditional way, in an oven digged in ground...baking is women´s job and at the same time usually 50 litres dough is baked. Ladies talked and laughed, formed the dough fit to the oven, we talked with the words we had, in English, some Russian, little Armenian and lots of international smiles. We also met Marianne Tillman, the lady behind all our connections to Nazervan. 

The Swimming pool at Laura´s place is wonderful. We were able to rest and refresh ourselves after the long journey. 

Today I also heard many stories more about Armenia and living in Armenia. 

This picture was found by Paavilainen Family from Google Pictures. It might have been taken by artist Jaakko Heikkilä.  
She is from the neighboring village.  




                                Day 3

We drove early morning to lake Sevan. It´s the big lake on the map. Can you find it?  :)  






     The holiday season hadn´t  yet started. Though, we found a beach, and rented a pedaling boat. Fun.
Later we drove to north, behind a 2 km long tunnel began a new world. We saw many mountains with forests. This area is called Armenian Switzerland. We stopped in a city called Dilijan. We had BBQ lunch with salad. We also visited a monastery called Hagartsin monastery.  

                              Day 4

Finally some shopping got done! Lake Sevan again this time the peninsula and the Sevanavank monastery. In a small city we found a Turkish bazaar. I, mum and my sister bought some clothes, but my dad said he does not like to buy Turkish clothes in Armenia, because Turkish and Armenia have unsettled issues in history, which effect even the lifes of people today....



Our private driver Armen is very skillful when it comes to bumps, he drives so carefully that we would not hurt ourselves.

Day 5

We left Lauras guesthouse and drove to Laura's daughter´s guesthouse. ( Nelly´s guesthouse )
Then we drove to the chesshouse, my dads great intrest. ( He is a world champion in solving chess problems. ) It was so boring!'
Then after that we walked to Neptune, a childrens restaurant. It was cool!!! We met Hasmik and her daughter Donna who had got a battery in her nose, but is ok now. We also met Nina Niva. My mum works with them both in Armenia sometime. In the evening we took a taxi to a small restaurant with Armenian musicians that played Armenian music ("My Village").

Day 6

Armen came to Nelly´s house and took us to another trip. And this time we went to Geghard monastery. It was old. We got to go to caves man made. After that we bought Doodooks. Armenian  national instrument, like a flute. Mine broke , some how.....Or I´m not sure how to play it properly, thought, I got the sound at the monastery. 

Suddenly as we were having our lunch, a heavy storm struck....

Day 7
We ate breakfeast and left to Vernissage. Witch is a kind of bazaar near the public square. There was an old man who helped us to understand how to play our new doodooks. We baught a couple of extra reeds (the part to which you blow). They are very sensitive.
At Abovian street we also did some shopping!!
In the evening we had a party, Nelli and her mum Laura came, Hasmik and her daughter Donna came, me, mum, sister, dad came, Marjanne Tillman came, Nina Niva came, and with all these quests we had a lovely time.
In the evening-night I did my last second packings. I did some just before we left to the dinnerparty.

Day 8

Sunday was sunny. We sat in the balcony of Nelly´s house and talked. We also backed. Soon after noon Armen drove us to the airport. Dad, I and Maija took a flight to Helsinki via Moscow. Mum will stay another week in Yerevan and work.

New law says that in check-in a copy of the pasport of a child under 12 years has to be given to the officer. We ofcourse did not know that but luckily at new Zvatrnots everything seem to work and we got the copies needed. Nobody told what this was for. There must be a reason. Maybe even a good one.

When Jorma and the girls had gone to the security check and I did not anymore see them, I found the Huyr driver who took me back to Yerevan to a rental apartment just behind the Republic Square. The flat is brand new, terrible "clean" and functional. Living-room window gives to the Ararat over the roofs of the other houses. I like sitting on the sofa and looking at the huge mountain which seem to change its color and shadows all the time.  

In the evening there was a party at Nelly´s house for her son, Hrayr, because he came back form the 2-year-long military service. This is truly worth celebrating since all the young men do not come back. There is an NGO which task is to raise the problem into the public time to time. We saw a demonstration on this on saturday in front of the governmet´s building. Women holding pictures of young men in military suite. What happens? There are occasional shooting in the area of Mountainous Karabagh and sometimes also in the boarder area between Armenia and Azer. Boys in the military training have been sent there. 

In the Party Nelly, Laura, Marianne and Rosanne sends there regards to Maija and Paula and say kindly that it is nice that I am in the party but they had wished that also the girls could have been with. We ate, had lots of speeches - and danced a lot. Laura was the best, absolutely, and Nelly the happiest because her son was back.

Jorma sent a message that they had arrived at Helsinki ok. 

Day 9

was Monday and my working day in the Ministry of the Economy. I met Nina and Hasmik at the office. There was also Anneli from Finland, Ieva form London (Latvia), and Paruyr and Albert from the Armenian regulatory impact assessment team. We had a meeting, started the work, had lunch at My Lunch and coffee in the Park. It couldn´t have started better.

Nelly called me and told that Armen can come and drive me to Khor Virap, Novarak and Areni on Thursday, which happens to be a national holiday, "the Constitution day". 

Jorma´s message told that he and the girls, hamsters and the fish in the aquarium are fine...

Day 10

The Morning was sunny but there was rain showers quite often and once a thunder storm with heavy rain. Even then the rain was warm. Well, the local people tell that this is highly exceptional at this time of the year. Normally there is sunny and the temperature about 40 degrees. I am quite satisfied with the weather as it is now. It is a bit warmer as Finland right now...

In the afternoon we had a meeting with an expert in the Ministry of the Nature Protection. Hasmik interpreted in Russian-Armenian-English fluently. After that Ieva and I sat for a while at a park restaurant beside the Vernissage area. 

The day is ending. I have not yet sent the postcards to friends from here. 

I like the Republic square in the evening. Especially the music-light-color -show. 


I heard that the government buildings around the square have been sold to a private company. They probably change the Prime Minister´s office building to a hotel...