Jazz and Sundays

Korpo Sea Jazz, last summer by the Smuggler King's house, now the Hjalmar's Restaurant

People gathered to listen, enjoyed the sun and company and ice cream.

Then last night Korpoström archipelago center, stormy evening, lights flickering and everyone preparing for a power cut. Niklas Winter was driving from the continent with Jani Moder from Slovenia wondering: - Where on earth are we going to? 

Soon-to-be-winter-jazz 

Sea and waves outside behind the dark pier

And Sunday morning and the moon that had forgotten itself

And home-work...

but not for Elissi! She was planning something quite different.

Happiness

...are the weekends at home.

Our favourite waste of time this autumn...

when the sun was setting...

...but you would like to wander around the silent garden.

And of course when the extra hands to help at home...

it was time to take up Pellas Flickan.

 What has been the high-light of your autumn?

Almost One of Us

He really spent two summers here, Sibelius, the most famous Finnish composer whose Finlandia always manages to raise hair in my neck and lift my eyes far to the horizon. 

Near the Korppoo Mansion his family had rented a cottage to spend some summer weeks in the archipelago.

From mansion Sibelius and his familymembers found a kindred spirit, the lady of the house and together they then played what Sibelius had composed during the precious night.

And that is why every summer we remember him on our island, Korppoo and especially last summer when it is 150 years of his birth. Sibelius Week means classical music performed in the archipelago by musicians who know their task - to raise both the hair and the sight.

So last summer we attended a late evening concert at the Korppoo mansion. The main house painted rosy was lit by candles at the window shelves and the lovely rooms shimmering in the light of the sun set.

Finlandia was composed as a part of a larger work from the time of Russian opression in the end of the 19th century. That evening we listened to his early music from the time when he was still a student and could hear the tunes of old folk melodies. It felt amazing that a group of Australian musicians Flinders Quartet could find the way to play that I felt it sounded Finnish - and they managed to raise my hair, sight and tears. 

We resently visited the home of Sibelius, Ainola we learnt that he saw the tunes as colours, for example f-dour could be a special green. The tree tops of the summer night outside grew dark green while we sat and listened sitting in the same room he was said to have played himself.

http://www.sibelius.fi/english/ 
http://sibelius150.org/en/ 

Humanity

Grand titel. I have been thinking about it a lot. What is it? Some defend it by demanding fenches and spreading jealousy, missbelief and accusations. 

I found the answer when someone was trying to defend the rights of the animals. When you treat the animals like you would like yourself to be treated, it can be called humane. I wish we could treat the human beings the same way, too.

Pupils of our islands had an opportunity to try how it feels when you are fleeing like the animals are fleeing a great fire. På flykt!

The workers of The Red Cross played Somalian authorities that were the first to meet the poor refugees seeking for help.

We teachers played the assistant roles of guards, soldiers - or nurses from Mogadishu.

The long journey took them finally over to Finland, but it was after hundreds of kilometres and many dangers.

At the camp of Red Cross they met the first people with a heart to help. They were exhausted.

One of ten could stay.

The others started their journey back.

How did it feel? Lucky it was only a role-play, not the real life. We could all return home. 

When we look back we shall realize how special this was, a change is happening now and here.
I wish we could read the history books with proud, not ashamed.

Notre solidarité, Paris

My thoughts are in Paris and everywhere where people enjoy their Friday evening after hard days at work - like we did few months ago. Innocent pleasures.

The charm of worn-off tables and people bent over their café

Step from the archipelago peace to  metropol liveliness

Cosy views on Saturday mornings

A memorable lunch at Chèz Alain...

Ordinary people on an ordinary weekend à la parisienne

Precious

Creativity

Joy of life

Old couples in love

Children and echo of tears

So sweet

Time and place to sit and chat

Encounters

Peace over roofs of Paris

Something we were not used to - do we have to?