I know this has been out for a long time. I just barely saw it the other day. I really liked it. So, because of the difference between the film starring Gene Wilder and this new one, I decided to finally buy the book. Of course, I enjoyed the book. I bought the edition with the whole story. As I have never read The Chronicles of Narnia, I bought that, too. I am still reading about Jali ja Viili, though.

Way back in May, my immigrant class went on a trip to Suomenlinna. Instead of knocking out the film during the summer, I sat on it. So, it was stuck in post production. Last night, I finally worked it out. Watch the video, here. It may take awhile to load. I'd say you're better off right clicking and saving it. It is wmv and 133MB.

This is one of my favourite Finnish bands, The Rasmus. There was some world music awards aired on the telly the other day where they said that they were the top selling 'Scandinavian' band. Today they released their latest cd, "Hide from the sun". I can totally understand that. In fact, I spend much of the summer with its way too many hours of daylight, hidden in the darkest room of my asunto. You can check out MTV where you can listen to songs from the new release, or click here. If you are viewing this with an adblocker you might not see the images. Voi, ei. I use Mozilla but if I want that thing to play, I have to open explorer.

Music Video Codes By VideoCodeZone.com

This is Tessa. She is as normal and healthy as can be. She was trying to take a nap on the balcony. In fact, she is laying around here somewhere taking a nap. 

This is just because my cat, Skviiki, is so cute. She has been having some episodes. They might be epilepsy. She was tested at the University Hospital and pronounced healthy. So, we can only continue with some neurological tests.

Sometimes, if I am dragged out of the house, we will be walking around this airport field area and I will hear this strange buzzing. I always thought it was crazed kids on scooter just about to run me and my dog over. However, as I was driving around this area, I came across this race track. This is what that buzz was all along.

I just saw in the paper a picture very similar to this but it was taken in Sudan. This is Finland. It was so Sanford & Son. I was gagging. Anyway, I had been in town and I left the lights on my auto. So, when I got back to the shopping centre my battery was dead. Finally, these boys came and as they passed I asked them if they could give me a jump start. I think that was their first time because they were really shy and putting the wrong cables to the wrong parts. Oye. Anway, I drove around awhile to get my battery charged when I came upon this area near the Malmi airport.  

Last week,my Finnish language brush up course ended. It was right up from this. The Ritarihuone. There is a plaque on the front that calls it the Nobility House and it was featured in the Helsinki Sanomat ont August 6th. It read, "Ritarihuone on Suomen tarkein uusgotiikkaa edustava rakennus." It is Finland's major new gothic typic building. Or it is a building that chiefly typifies Finland's new gothic style. Something like that. Anyway, Finland used to have four estate system of government. They were from four different classes, the Nobility, the Burghers, Clergy, and Peasants.So, this is where the Noblity met.

This is my favourite view as the train pulls into the station at Helsinki Central Railway. It is the Elaintarhanlahti which means zoological garden bay. So, along the left is the Tokoin ranta to the right is Kaisaniemenlahti, ranta and puisto. 

The famous Savoy Theatre. Is it Paris, London, New York? No, it is Helsinki's decidedly modest version. You won't find pretentious stretch limos or hummers in front of this place. We keep it on the down low, way down low. 

This was in Helsinki's central railway station. It is the entrance to the metro. Apparently, this was taken when Batman Begins was released. See on the floor, that indicates North. 

I was in Mantsala (How rude, this doesn't show the a with the .. on top, a umlaut) dropping T off for work and decided to drive around. I ended up at the highest point in town which was the church. I went in had a look around but was most intrigued by the activity in the graveyard.There was a multitude of people roaming about armed with rakes and watering cans. What in tarnation were they doing? They were actually tending the flowers and plants that were planted directly in front of the tombstones. Seemingly, these people were volunteers. There were watering spouts everywhere and little rake sheds.

Here is where the rakes are kept and there is where the water comes from. 

See you can see the plants growing right there. 

This is St Henry's cathedral. It is a catholic church. It is in the area where the embassies are. 

I was taking this Finnish History course earlier in the summer. It was by the observatory. I saw this on an electrical box near the Russian embassy. 

Porvoo0605 (20)

Porvoo0605 (20)
Originally uploaded by gema fova.

So, I was standing on this old time train platform listening to the whistle blow and smelling the suprisingly pleasent smell of the smoke when I just felt like Loretta Lynn in that scene from the movie where she is standing there with her daddy before she moves away from home.

Porvoo0605 (86)
Originally uploaded by gema fova.

The other day I had to drive to Porvoo to take T to work, to catch her short bus. After that, Tessa and I took a walk around the town. I ended up at this train museum which had all kinds of old steam technology machinery and I saw the steam train pulling away.

It was Juhannus (St. John's Day) here the other day and I did not do anything. Well, right around midnight, I managed to walk outside and to take this photo of my building illuminated by the midnight sun. Big suprise, I hate going outside in the sun. This is supposed to be the longest day of the year. No cottages, islands, beers or bonfires for me. Also known as midsummer, the solstice, etc. The next day I had an idea that I could have actually went to some christian bonfire where people wouldn't be so out of control. I think I can pass for a christian, no? Well, if I was asked anything I probably couldn't lie about being one.

I am so behind. I have two or three short films in post-production and I have been too lazy and busy to finnish them. I just ran out of steam. This is from the Suomenlinna film, I am working on.  

I just wanted to inform anybody that has been viewing my short films that this is the camera I use. So, I made a mistake with many of the clips I shot because the settings I had were changed and I didn't notice. However, as you can see, my camera is pretty insignificant and limited. 

On Sunday, I managed to get it together and make it to the world village. It was this thingy right next to the train station in the city center. Well, it was in Kaisaniemi Park. Anyway, Varttina played there. There was a big-ass tent with people representing from around the world. There were booths with folks making their home countries grub. I ate some pancit (noodles) and banana lumpia (fried in a wrap) from the Malaysian booth. Then, we grabbed a regular lumpia (spring roll) from the Cambodian booth. I was stuffing my face, when the totally hot, Johanna Virtanen (from Varttina) passed by pushing a baby in a stroller. Actually, all three of the singers were right there walking by. It was a nice laid-back event. It looks like she is looking at me in this picture, though. Doesn't it?

Friday was our last day of school before summer vacation. As it happens, that weekend was World Skills Helsinki. Apparently, all of the schools in Uusimaa are given free entrance to this event. Well, I was there with my class, when I saw two chicks from my old school. I ran to say hi to them and when I went back to join my group, they were gone. That place was so packed. I never found my group. I did see those two chicks again, later. I think it was quite inconceivable that I would see them again but not my class, especially when my teacher stood out in her bright orange and red clothing. Highlights of the event for me, were getting pins from the representatives from Brazil and Portugal. Obrigada.

Last Thursday, my classmates, teachers, and I went to Suomenlinna. I was late for the ferry with everybody onboard. So, I had to wait for the next one. After reaching the island and trying to locate the museum, I found my group.They were waiting to get into the museum to watch the multimedia presentation of the island fortress' history. Next, we walked to a cafe and had sandwiches and coffee. Then we climbed up and down an embankment. Later, we settled below and had a meeting. It seems that now, another group from the other campus will be merging with my group. Unfortunately, it seems only myself and one other chick will be returning from my group. This is us from left to right; Milja (student aid), Natalja, Irina, Raja, Taleb, Shahin, Me, our teacher Riitta.

Well, I have spent a few good hours revising my vlog. I went back and corrected and clarified a few things. For instance, I just had a lot of click heres, which was silly. So, I just typed the name of the film. Additionally, I had just posted photos when there was a video. I had tried to use Hello to capture a screen shot of the film playing in Windows Media Player, but it didn't work. I used Photoshop to simulate a screen shot.

This film, Dervish Ceremony, documents the whirling dervish ceremony that I witnessed at Helsinki University. It was very cool. It has been something I have always looked foward to seeing.

This short film begins at Hietalahdentori where my work practice was and chronicles my journey to Malmi. The title is Keskustasta Malmille which means from the center to Malmi.

Her eye is steadily improving.