Season’s Greetings to All
– Equally and Warmly!
What a year it has been again. The end of last year was a time of intense writing. By March, we had to submit a project application to the Ministry for Foreign Affairs – and this time, failure was not an option.
We spent Christmas quietly with our family, embracing its message and honoring the celebration of light. Elves, gnomes, and other magical creatures joined us to bring good fortune for the year ahead.
Our Christmas fish was caught under the ice in Karhusaari with nets, accompanied by Eva, Elsi, Hofi, and later Maka and Kimi. Our old Tapiola friends enjoyed winter outdoor activities and the functional exercise it offered. Antti’s Achilles tendon injury, which had been slow to heal, limited his movement. However, ice fishing trips became part of his rehabilitation, combining humor and determination.
This year, we welcomed the New Year in Espoo, attending the Tapiola New Year’s event with Mixi, Annmari, Sirkku, and Pekka – a refreshing change from our usual tradition of celebrating with bonfires and a toast at our Houtskari cabin.
Returning home meant months of intensive work. Charlotte from the University of Wisconsin joined us for an internship, guided by Eva alongside Valtteri, Aleksi, and Kasperi from Sakea Oy. Charlotte’s mother also visited Finland, and we had the pleasure of getting to know her. Our global network grows stronger every year.
Preparing the project application, with countless meetings, steering sessions, and research, was a monumental task, especially for Eva, who bore the main responsibility. Thankfully, Aino from FSE’s board, Chairperson Kirsi, and the entire board brought their expertise to the process. After a tremendous effort, the application was completed on time and submitted well ahead of the deadline.
To keep things lively, we also organized a fundraising concert at Matinkylä Pirtti on March 9th. The evening featured the Nöykkiö Choir, alongside the brilliant Siboné and her husband Antti. The concert was not only a financial success but also a delightful evening, for which we remain deeply grateful to everyone who participated and supported us.
We celebrated our friend Pekka’s 70th birthday at Restaurant Petiscaria, enjoying an evening filled with friends, stories, fantastic food, and music. Truly, good parties are among life’s finest spices.
In April, we honored our long-time family friend Jussi and his wife at their urn-laying ceremony. The fleeting nature of time was on our minds, along with the realization of how important meaningful encounters are. We resolved to cherish and prioritize these connections while we still have the strength and ability.
Europe 2024
We had decided to embark on one more grand journey – one to remember for a lifetime. Our travel companion was Tellu, our camper van, which became our home starting in early April. Before departing, we managed a brief visit to the archipelago and prepared our home for Airbnb rental. Our grandson Vilho took on the responsibility of managing the property, and everything went smoothly – except for one tenant who managed to defrost our freezer!
On April 10th, we boarded a ferry in Vuosaari with Tellu, saying farewell to Finland for a while. We chronicled our journey in a blog, still available at https://evantti.fi/en. After arriving in Travemünde, we visited our godson Jonatan in Germany and then traveled swiftly to Porto, Portugal. There, Pekka’s wife Maria hosted us, and we explored Porto by bike.
From Porto, we visited Sines, where our goddaughter Anu and her husband Hannu were living in their camper van, embracing the surfing culture of the renowned coastline. The local wines were exceptional and budget-friendly – we might just return!
Next, we journeyed to Spain to visit Olli, Manni, and their children. The warmth and joy of their family made it hard to leave, but the road called, and we continued to Velleron, near Avignon, where Eva’s former colleague Auli awaited us. Along the way, Tellu’s alternator failed, forcing us to drive non-stop to reach our destination. Repairs took a week, which we used to visit Antibes and reconnect with our godson Rasmus and his mother Heini.
With Tellu fixed, we set off for Switzerland, only to return to Velleron due to concerning engine noises. Another week-long repair pause allowed us to explore Switzerland and Austria by rental car. During this time, we visited our friend Hannu in Geneva, Chris, Ulli, and River in Fußach, Austria, Eva’s cousin Merja in St. Gallen, and Eva’s cousin’s son Jero in Basel, Switzerland.
From Normandy, we traveled by ship to Britain. Our goal was to reach Jette, who lives in Selby, near York. Jette joined us on our journey to Ireland. The Emerald Isle was perhaps the central destination of our trip. We explored various parts of the island quite thoroughly, especially Achill Island, where our old Tapiola acquaintance Outi guided us. Outi and her friend Marie took excellent care of us, providing accommodation and introducing us to the island’s culture and history. The film “My Darling, the Captain” was filmed on Achill Island. What a magnificent experience it was, and I wouldn’t be surprised if I found myself there again! The atmosphere in the local pubs was so delightful – and the scenery wasn’t bad either!
When Tellu was finally roadworthy, we traveled through Normandy, visiting historical sites commemorating the D-Day landings, before heading to the UK. In York, we picked up our friend Jette and set off for Ireland. Achill Island became a highlight, with breathtaking landscapes and warm hospitality from our friend Outi and her companion Mary.
Crossing into Scotland, we explored the Isle of Skye and its famed whisky distilleries. As homesickness crept in, we returned via the Netherlands, Germany, and Sweden, reconnecting with friends and family along the way.
On the ferry back to Finland, we received wonderful news: our project “Arusha, Especially” had been approved for funding! A celebratory toast was in order.
In Turku, we met Eva’s cousin Minna, along with Visa, Mirkka, Jouni, and Jouni’s parents. We enjoyed a relaxed coffee break in their garden. Feeling the strain of our travels, we decided to drive straight home to Espoo. A touch of illness started to creep in, so the first few weeks back home were spent mostly resting.
At the end of June, Tom, Aleta, and Joanna Laine arrived in Finland. Tom’s family has a remarkably close bond with us Finnish relatives, and that is truly wonderful. They visit their ancestors’ homeland to breathe in Scandinavian air and culture – and they never seem to grow tired of it. Thank you, Tom, Aleta, and Joanna, once again for the wonderful moments shared with you.
On July 11th, just before my brother Juhani’s birthday (July 13th), we took my friend Aki’s beautiful wooden fishing boat to lay Juhani’s ashes to their final resting place. There, beside his father, we placed the ashes of my brother, weary from his journey. It was a beautiful ceremony in its simplicity, with the gray rain casting a melancholic yet comforting atmosphere over those present.
In Houtskari, we stayed for a shorter period than usual. During our time there, we managed to build a detachable gangway for our pontoon dock—a custom construction of our own design, which, at least for now, seems to work like a charm. Even Mirkka can raise and lower it by herself. The pontoon also seems to attract fish, especially roach, in astonishing numbers. Kata and Samu’s children had their fill of fishing, enthusiastically pulling roach up one after another. Jonatan and the rest of us were kept busy unhooking the fish and rebaiting the lines.
Elsi and Vilho came to the island for a “Grandma Week.” The Bunny Café was on all our minds—and it worked splendidly! There was coffee, pastries, and plenty of island visitors enjoying the atmosphere. We’ll surely do it again next summer! Football was also played in a lighthearted spirit, thanks to Eero and Saana, who took on the role of field managers. Several world-class solo performances were seen during the game. Antti wisely stayed on the sidelines, as his last encounter with football resulted in an Achilles tendon injury.
Island activities always include visits from sailors and other boaters. This time, Timo and Pike moored at our dock. Their impressive vessel fit perfectly with our new dock construction. It was a pleasure to spend an evening with old high school and football friends.
We were active ourselves, taking a trip to Maskinnamo to visit Eva’s cousin Anna and her two charming daughters. During this trip, our engine stalled right next to Anna’s dock, and Jonatan had to come fetch us with Kulkuri back to the cabin. Later, we discovered that a loose wire was the culprit behind the malfunction.
As part of our summer plans, we had marked—and already purchased tickets—for the Nabucco opera in Savonlinna. It was a spectacular experience, both visually and musically, and we also had the pleasure of meeting Hannu and Merja, who, as far as I know, are regular visitors to Savonlinna.
On our way back from Savonlinna, we drove to Suomenniemi to visit Yki and Satu Pursiainen. Their Shukokai training center and its leaders seem to play a central role in the local community. I realized this when I went to a local bakery to buy some coffee bread. The shopkeeper immediately said, “You must be Antti, the one helping deaf children in Tanzania!” It turned out that Satu and Yki frequently shop at the bakery and had shared stories about our project and activities there. I was genuinely surprised by this recognition. Thank you, Satu and Yki, for spreading the good word about our work.
We enjoyed a traditional särä meal with the Pursiaiset, followed by coffee and pastries and a tour of their training center. Yki has built an impressive career in his field, and the honorary title of Sports Counselor is well deserved. However, the most significant thing for us is the long friendship that began in the early 1960s, a bond that has only deepened and grown stronger over time.
In our younger days, Yki and I skied, did athletics, boxed, and played football together, eventually ending up in karate. I had to give up the sport due to back problems, but Yki continued and experienced success as a competitor, coach, and referee. It’s been an extraordinary career for an extraordinary friend.
Nossim in Finland
At the end of July, we welcomed Nossim, the FSE country coordinator from Tanzania, to Finland. It was her first-ever trip abroad, arriving in the Nordic summer with the goal of familiarizing herself with our culture and education system. She also joined Eva and the FSE board in planning our 2025–2028 project and, of course, took some well-deserved vacation time.
Nossim proved to be incredibly adaptable and hardworking. She even spent part of her vacation picking blueberries with our association’s chairperson, Kirsi, in Pihtipudas. Kirsi provided Nossim with a wonderful experience, complete with lakeside saunas. Nossim quickly became a sauna enthusiast and earned the title of a true sauna addict!
While Nossim was in Pihtipudas, we made our traditional trip to Lapland. Eva traveled with Liisa, and Antti joined Seppo, Pekka, and Kyösti. Both groups had a fantastic time. Antti even managed to eat more Arctic char than Eva! Once again, Lake Somas proved generous.
We also introduced Nossim to the reality of life in the archipelago. The experience of fishing with nets was unique for her, but she fearlessly embraced the challenge and skillfully helped lift the nets from the water.
We held the FSE work seminar in Kesäniemi, and it felt like a great success. We made significant progress in planning the project’s implementation. Preparations continued right up until Nossim returned to Tanzania at the end of September.
During her visit, we spent school days together at Päivänkehrä and Kuitinmäki schools. Nossim proved to be insightful and approachable, earning the admiration of both staff and students. In fact, students at Päivänkehrä have continued to ask about her and hope to see her again.
For one week, Nossim also worked as a sign language interpreter at an Abilis Foundation seminar in Helsinki, which was attended by Rafiki and Winniel from Abilis’s Arusha office. We had the pleasure of hosting these friends for lunch as well.
Nossim turned out to be a true nature lover. She had little interest in city life and preferred spending time outdoors, so we made sure to take advantage of every free moment. We went mushroom and lingonberry picking in Porkkala and Hirsala, where Nossim’s energy seemed endless. Thanks to her efforts, our freezer is now stocked with mushrooms and berries for the entire upcoming year!
We also reunited with the Sakea Oy team—Valtteri, Jenni, Aleksi, and Kasperi—to reminisce about our shared experiences in Arusha. They are an incredible team with whom one could tackle almost any challenge. Nossim fit right in and enjoyed her time with them immensely.
All good things must come to an end, and so did Nossim’s time in Finland. During her stay of just over a month, she became a cherished part of our family. After her departure back to Tanzania, our home felt a little emptier.
But, of course, it was time for her son Eliah to have his mother back home. Safe travels, Nossim, and see you again soon!
Celebrations and Projects
After Nossim’s departure, the next phase of our project preparations began. At the same time, we decided to celebrate our joint 70 + 70 birthdays on January 11, 2025. Organizing the party added another layer to our already busy schedule. The most challenging part of hosting such an event is the limited capacity of the venue, which meant we couldn’t invite all our friends. The selection process was incredibly difficult, and I sincerely apologize to those who couldn’t be included this time. A friend once described Antti as “fiercely social,” and there’s certainly some truth to that. When drafting the guest list, we exceeded the allowed number by a couple of hundred names—it was quite the task to narrow it down!
Antti managed to squeeze in a fishing trip to Lammi with Pekka from Lahti and Seppo from Soilampi. The same group, now joined by Kyösti from Mäkitalo, later headed to Houtskari to celebrate Antti’s 70th birthday. Alongside the festivities, they fished for whitefish, did some forestry work, and enjoyed long, traditional sauna sessions.
Eva’s choir activities culminated in a concert by Tapiolan Laulu at the Kauniainen Church. The venue was packed with people marveling at how this former children’s choir has maintained its distinctive sound and joy of performing together. A nearly 60-year shared journey is something many could envy.
On November 22nd, we laid to rest our dear friend, Jussi Talasniemi, who was also Antti’s wedding and confirmation pastor. Jussi played a significant role in the early years of our lives and remained a warm and cherished friend until his final days. We are not the only ones in our circle who remember Jussi as a multi-talented musician and a warm conversationalist—occasionally a rather passionate character, especially when playing volleyball. Rest in peace, Jussi.
The end of our year has been filled with a good balance of work and meaningful encounters with people. We spent Independence Day on the island. The fishing nets provided us with enough whitefish and herring to keep us well-fed. However, after a few days, a seal discovered our nets, emptied them, and left them tangled. We decided to pull the nets ashore for the season.
Unfortunately, Eva caught COVID-19, so the last few days on the island were spent resting. After preparing our cabin for winter, we returned to Espoo to start our Christmas preparations.
During this season of light, we light candles, bake gingerbread cookies and Christmas pastries with Elsi and Vilho, do some light holiday cleaning, and try to spend as much time as possible with friends and family. As we remember friends who have passed away, the value of these moments with loved ones grows even more precious.
With gentle Christmas thoughts, we think of you and wish you a joyful and peaceful Christmas. Despite the unrest in the world, we also wish you success and happiness for the coming year. Let us hold on to the hope that peace will come to Ukraine and Palestine as well.
That’s how grandchildren grow up: Otso, 18, Sampo, 16, Hilla, 8, Elsi, 10, and Vilho, 17.
All photos:
