Construction micromanagement

I've tried to highlight the good sides of Espoo whenever possible. But now Espoo deserves few words of criticism.

A new hospital will be built in Jorvi. The construction project is worth 200 million euros. According to yesterday's Helsingin Sanomat (the paper version), Espoo city council were not convinced by the competence of the project lead. Therefore the council decided that a member of city council must be involved in leading the hospital construction project. In my opinion this is either a very stupid decision or the decision was really poorly written.

• Being a member of city council is more or less of a hobby. Folks are doing their city council duties in the evenings, besides their "real" work. 
• 200 M€ construction project is huge. To give some perspective, the construction of the largest leisure time activity center in the Nordic countries is worth 100 M€. Helsinki music hall was a project worth 150 M€. The planning and construction costs of Guggenheim museum in Helsinki have been estimated to 150 M€. Länsimetro is a project worth 700 M€.
• Leading a construction project worth 200 M€ is not a hobby. 

As a tax payer I'm disappointed to the arrogant decision. Leading a large scale project is challenging for any professional - why on earth would anyone (31 members of city council to be precise) think that appointing a random amateur into lead would be the solution? The one who orders and pays the project has his role in the construction project - but the role is not positioned in the lead of the project.

The election of the city council will be arranged next fall. You don't need to be Finnish citizen in order to vote, anyone having permanent residence in Espoo for long enough is entitled to vote. I urge you to ask from your candidate, what did he/she vote for on February 27th - and more importantly, why.

Proposal

Girls, get ready, tomorrow is the leap day, which means that it's officially ok for women to pop the question. And if the guy is not willing to marry you, he will need to purchase you fabric for your skirt. If that happens, better make it a maxi skirt with lots of layers.


Layers - check. Tiara - will do as well.

As they saying goes: never mind

Maansa myynyt. One has sold one's land.

If your friend has sold his land, he may have failed, and he could use some warm words to comfort - for example the following phrases:

Sattuu sitä paremmissakin piireissä. It hurts also in better perimeters, or it happens also in better circuits.

A sentence that you can use to comfort when something has gone wrong: it can happen to anyone.

Antaa piut paut. To give pius and paus.

You can give pius and paus to something, and it means that you don't let it bother you.

Viis'veisata. To five-sing.

You don't need to five-sing about the bad things, i.e. you don't need to care about them.

Viitata kintaalla. To refer with a glove.

In some cases it's ok to refer with a glove for the sorrows, in other words, it's ok to ignore the worries.

Häntä pystyyn! Tail upwards!

Cheer up!

Ei auta itku markkinoilla. Crying doesn't help in the marketplace.

You shouldn't get stuck into your sorrows and whine for too long time, because crying doesn't help in the marketplace.

Eteenpäin, sanoi mummo lumessa. Forward, said the grandma in the snow.

Get over it and move on. Grandma knows.

The mother of all the comfort and cheer up songs. The Finnish version is not as comforting at all.

Wedding

Weddings are wonderful! I can't think of nicer party concept than wedding: all of your dear friends and family gather to celebrate your love. Most of the weddings I've been to have actually been surprisingly traditional. Or let's say conventional. And I'm not saying this as criticism, I just recently realized that my parents' generation was much more radical what comes to wedding. I've listed some of the common features of today's wedding:

• The couple is in their thirties. They've been living together for quite some time already. This makes the gift side a bit tricky, because they most likely already have what they need.
• The bride is wearing white. Even though white dress is supposed to refer to virginity. Which luckily is not the case in reality, usually.
• No rehearsal dinners.
• There's the official wedding ceremony - either in the church or a civil ceremony. In about half of the weddings I've been to, the father has walked the bride down the aisle, in other half the couple has walked the aisle together. We don't do vows, simple "I do" will do.
• The guests are throwing rice on the couple as they step out the church. Except that in downtown rice is not allowed, because it gets mushy and it's not good for the pigeons who will eat the leftovers anyway.
• After the ceremony there's the actual reception. 
• Reception starts by shaking hands with the parents of the couple and congratulating the couple.
• Usually the food is at the buffet. 
• Modern couple doesn't like traditional games, such as highjacking the bride.
• Some DIY-stuff is included in the reception: wedding candies, decorations, placing cards - something is for sure self-made.

Wedding candies without the candies

• There might be a stack of firewood (i.e. hidden bottles) somewhere close by the reception venue.
• After the main course it's time for the speeches.
• The couple starts the cake. Whoever kicks the ground first right after cutting the first piece, he or she is going to "show the location of the cupboard".
• Then comes the dance, usually starting with waltz by the couple.
• In the end of the evening the bride tosses the bouquet. The groom catches the garter with his teeth.

Hurraa!

Yes, it's a royal tea bag.

My best imaginary friend crown princess Victoria of Sweden and prince Daniel got their first child yesterday. Today the palace announced that the baby princess is called Estelle Silvia Ewa Mary. Good names. Too bad that the names of the royals are no longer translated into Finnish. For example Victoria's dad, king Carl Gustaf is Kaarle Kustaa in Finnish. Queen Elizabeth is called Elisabet and all the king Georges are called as Yrjö in Finnish. Kate Middleton's full name is Catherine Elizabeth, and I must say I'm truly sorry for the future queen of England not having her name translated into Finnish (the fact that my full name is Katri Elisa has nothing to do with this issue).

Let's see if the popularity of Estelle picks up - since 2010 six little girls have been given the name Estelle in Finland.

As the saying goes: love

Finnish language is rich in phrases. Using phrases smoothly makes a hit, so let's go through some of the phrases related to love - with direct translations and some kind of attempt to explain the meaning. Usually these are doomed attempts, but let's try out:

Teerenpeli - game of black grouse
Vispilänkauppa - sales transaction of a whisk
If two people have game of black grouse or sales transactions of a whisk with each other, they clearly have something going on. But this is very early stage, nothing official yet.

Pihkassa - in resin
When you're in resin, you've fell in love. In a light, cute and blushing way.

Suu messingillä - mouth on brass

Obviously young love makes you just smile all the time, in other words, your mouth is on brass.

Purjehtia avioliiton satamaan - to sail into the harbor of marriage
And if things are progressing, one day you may end up getting married - sailing in into the harbor of marriage, that is.

Näyttää kaapin paikka - to show the location of cupboard
Eventually the one who's more dominant in the relationship is the one to show the location of cupboard.

It's spring. Officially.

The spring is here, officially. This morning I was exposed to many unquestionable pieces of evidence:

• It was light when I walked to office. I went to office a bit later than usually, though.
• Birds were singing.
• It was warmer. Feather jacket was almost too much.
• I saw a mosquito. A live one.

And if those were not enough, here's some more. Dear winter, you may go now, you've given all you've got to offer:

• The official snowstorm of the year (actually many of them) - checked.
• Sledding - been there, done that.
• The best and the last Runeberg's torte of the year - it was perfect until it lasted.