These pictures were taken yesterday. The sun showed up for a brief moment, and Miss M. took these cute Morty pictures.
The boy is enjoying himself. And this fun does not cost anything, or does it?
My answer is, that all this has cost a lot.
Living in Finland is a privilege. We live in a free country. Our parents and their parents fought to leave their children an independent country.
This inheritance can´t be measured in money.
It has taken our family soon 38 years, to reach this point, where we have a country home and a stable, horses and a dog.
As a part of the property has a fence around it, we can keep at least one horse loose on the grounds, as well as the dog.
Living in a northern country, has lots of advantages. We get to see the rest of the world from a far. We have enough perspective to observe things, happenings around world. To be able to communicate with people, we have learned to speak different languages ( Swedish and English are nearly our native languages ). People over here speak German, French and many are able to communicate in Russian.
The climate in Finland has four definite seasons.
As you can see from the pictures, the winters are usually snowy and cold.
However, there are some disadvantages as well. One of the disadvantages of our northern location is, that life is quite expensive, partly because keeping the " system " going on, is expensive. We need electricity, which is expensive. Building houses is expensive too, due to the high building standards.
Living in an old villa like our´s, has really opened our eyes. The bill for electricity is the largest separate bill we pay. Insurances are expensive too. Not to mention the taxes! Food, and the everyday essentials are costly as well.
Money does not grow on trees, and therefore a certain amount of frugality is a part of our national identity.
I can only hope, that we will never forget it. In order to afford something, we must be willing to refuse of something else.
Today, March 1. 2012, Sauli Niinistö, became our new president. As I am writing, the festive ceremonies are going on, and Finland starts a new era in her history.
For the first time in my life, we have a president, who shares my political affiliation.
Wow! I am happy. I am proud to be a Finn, proud to live in Finland. I am happy, that Finland is a part of the European Union ( despite all the financial difficulties going on over everywhere )!
I am proud to be able to stand straight and look people in the eye.
Hurrah for Finland!
25 kommenttia:
Hoorah for Finland, and hoorah for you! Your post is wonderful today. So insightful. So well thought out. And ALL of us need to be thankful and know that with our privileges comes a responsibility. Thank you for making my day!
Wonderful post. It's good to remember what those before us have worked so hard to create, and that we need to make (sometimes hard) choices so that the world we hand down will be a better one.
Congratulations on your new president. It is good to take time to remember what each of us has to be thankful for where we live, and to remember how it has not always been easy for those who lived before us. Good to remind our children of that as well.
In spite of your cold weather, Morty always looks like he greatly enjoys being a dog in Finland.
Mette,
Your post today is lovely; full of your sense of respect and gratitude for your beautiful life, and your country.
You help me to remember the value of these things in my own life, too.
I'll cheer for both Finland and free fun:).
I toast to fun, Finland and Happiness!
I am amazed at that path with all the snow, it's beautiful and I can understand why you have a high electricity bill now more than ever.
I can feel your joy...it's made my day start with a smile.
What a lovely post. I'm so happy for you that your guy was elected! And yes, "free fun".
Congratulations on your new president and hurray for your country. Gratitude is a lovely sentiment and so is working for freedom and the privileges you are enjoying. I love these pictures, especially Morty walking through the snow tunnel. xx
Morty looks so happy to be playing outdoors.
I enjoyed your tribute to Finland and hearing the reasons you have for being proud of it.
Darla
What a beautifully written post Mette, and of course the lovely pictures of Morty made me smile too.
As I commented on an earlier post, the travel writer from our U.K. Telegraph newspaper could not praise Helsinki and the people from Finland highly enough... I hope to visit one day to find out for myself :)
Did you go to Helsinki today? You seem to have had more snow! x
I like this post. And the pictures. Morty looks so playful and happy I can't help but smiling.
Beautiful post and congratulations on getting a president whom you really like and trust ! We could use a bit of that in France ! Maybe a country gets what it really deserves !
As Abby said your country is held in high esteem with many articles on Finland especially in the Telegraph..it mentioned you are the Design country 2012....not at all surprised after reading your posts.
Your blog is a great ambassador for Finland...you all have much to be proud of.
The 'boy' is certainly having fun in the snow. Great photos' from Dr M. Ida
Sorry Mette, I am so tired that I thought today was Wednesday when I wrote my earlier comment... that is why I asked you if you went into Hki today! My husband just reminded me it was Thursday today so I am having an eary night to catch up on my sleep :)
aww adorable pictures of doggie!! just came across your blog..really nice
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Glad to hear all is well with you and beautiful Finland. I really enjoyed this post, Mette. It put me in a positive mood too! And thank you for reminding me that there are certain wonderful things about living in a northern country!
Dear Bloggers,
Thank each and everyone for your lovely comments on my post.
Sincerely, I had no idea that it would be received so warmly. I´m wordless.
Therefore, my warmest thank you to you all : )!
What a great positive post - someone who is proud of their country. It is so good to read a blog about a country I know so little about. Thank you ( I should like a little of that snow over here - just for a week end!)
I was supposed to go to Finland in 2007, but I got sick while still in Stockholm and we had to cancel that leg of the trip. Boo!
Best wishes for the new era in Finish politics.
I concur with your sentiments. A certain amount of frugality and restraint should be a part of all national identities. Material and financial greed has led to the undoing of many individuals and economies, especially of late. Foregoing something in order to afford something else breeds gratitude, patience and tolerance.
Bon weekend.
Morty looks so happy and lovable :-)
It pleases me that you are pleased with your new president. I find that when we have a president in the USA of my same political persuasion that I tend to feel more patriotic.
Terri, same goes with me!
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Mette, I have missed you! Morty is so adorable. I love it when you post pictures of him. And you must be very proud of what your family worked hard to accomplish.
We've been home from our trip two weeks but I've not been visiting my usual blogs. Instead I've been researching/reading on writing pedagogy and preparing/singing choral music for a lenten concert Friday and for this week's Holy Week services. I wish there was more time for everything!
Btw, if you'd like to see photos from our trip I posted them here:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/44810275@N08/sets/72157629293604454/
I should have invested in a more stylish trench coat but otherwise was happy with what I wore.
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