Partnering 4 Success - Sarah's diary
Sarah pictured at the Finnish accomodation
Saturday 4th June 2011
Not used to seeing 2 strange men in my kitchen arriving to pick me up at 4 am, one hell of a start to the day.
I was most impressed that I didn’t freak out too much from flying; however the other may beg to differ!!!
Landed in Helsinki and was surprised with the lack of people, I bored everyone about the amazing plants - very impressed to see Veronicas and Lupins growing on the verges.
Meet up with Andy, a friend from my Botanic Gardens in Cambridge days, who lives in Finland. Andy took us out for a few drinks first, as we had been travelling since 4 am, the affects of alcohol didn’t take long! We found a cracking pizza place and spent the night with Ian Fleming asking Andy interesting questions such as “Do the Finns have double yellow lines?” “Do you have to pay car tax?”
Afterwards we weretaken to a place that sells a spirit that can only described as liquid fire, and in little pottery saucepans. At midnight decided to throw in the towel - I was impressed by the amount of day light.
Sunday 5th June 2011
The first of the sausage eating marathons. Finland is not a good place to be a vegetarian.
Caught train, second class the equivalent to our first class, loved watching the world go by and bored the team with my plant knowledge. Also taught each other new card games.
Esa met us, and took us back to his home where we met his family and two customers. We were then fed Finnish delicacies, bread cake, and a dish of bread and rice that looked like a flat moccasin, tasty. Ian showed his skills with the guitar, attempting his rendition of 'Oasis' Wonderwall', No-one including the English knew what he was playing!
Esa took us to the chalet, going via the super market, apologising for the age of it. It was amazing, right on the edge of the lake, with not 1 sauna but 3!!! Essa lit up the sauna, and left us to it. So time to sit in the sauna and then in and out of the lake to cool down.
We got food ready for our Spanish team, but two were left on the train and were very late at getting to us. So we ate their sausages as well, around our little camp fire, watching the world go by, as we got harassed by midges we move inside for some cards and beer. Giving up about midnight.
Monday 6th June 2011
Early Start, massive breakfast. We found our Spanish colleagues and set off to first destination to eat a huge lunch about 1 ½ later, could barely move.
Given a tour of the laundry with more food, having difficultly breathing at this stage as stomach as being forced upwards and outwards!!
Once finished at the college, taken to the Finnish version of Trago mills.
Evening BBQ (more sausages) with the Spanish, another sauna, with birch twigs, not sure the reason behind them, hit both Ian and Mik with them - seemed to make little or no difference.
Spanish went to bed, so we had more cards and beer, using Michelle as the mosquito deterrent.
Tuesday 7th June 2011
Early Start, another massive breakfast. The plans for the day somewhat scuppered due to the Army moving in. Raquel using her diplomatic skills on big men with guns - left her to it!!
More food….. Starting to hit maximum density, jeans too tight. Had lectures in the local hotel / fitness centre, saw Esa play with his friends (good) and Mik dance (not so good)!! Then Esa had rented out a sauna so in we all go, loved it didn’t come out until I was a prune!!
Evening as for Monday,
Wednesday 7th / Thursday 8th June 2011
The start of a marathon journey!!!! Breakfast and chalet tidy, as we wouldn’t be coming back. We were then warned that the trains could be going on strike.
Back to the fitness centre, while between lectures found the table tennis and was thrashed by Mik.
The train journey on the way back we were all much quieter, very tired. 3 hours in the hotel, then to the start the plane marathon!!! Via a stop-over in Amsterdam for 5 ½ hours!!
Get to Bristol and my luggage has been left behind in Amsterdam (it joined me again on Friday).
A truly amazing time. Would do it all again.
