things happen - all positive of course

Hello.

Been a long time since I thought about writing something here. All that I think about nowadays has something to do with war, Lebanon, Israel, war, Lebanon, Israel, war, Lebanon, Israel. Do I need to explain more???

WARNING: the following text includes rude words, bad intentions and criticism against a certain Welsh university. If you suffer from an illness that makes you love Swansea, please look away now. If you do not give a **** *** * ****** ***** **** ****************** then please read on...

Back in Swansea again after about two weeks in Tampere. I was amazed to find out this morning that food does not appear inside the fridge like it does at my parents' house. Perhaps the bloody Brits again have some sort of model that is not compatible anywhere else in the world. It wouldn't be the first. No matter how many times I opened and closed the fridge door, the amount of food did not increase inside. All I got was the light, but you can't eat that, surely not??? Anyone been that hungry? Just curious to know how it feels to digest....
Hmmm.... Anyway, it was quite nice (do not tell anyone) to be back 'home' for a bit. Worked my arse off doing research for my dissertation at Tampere University and enjoyed the food they offered to students. For 2,50 € you could eat a big plate of food, which you could fill yourself (imagine the size of that mountain!), a salad side plate and then bread along with that. I was well impressed and even the food tasted like it was cooked by someone who knew how to cook. Now I am back in Swansea, my so called 'home university' and I was not that excited to be back. Perhaps its just by cold black Nordic heart that is incapable to love, but there was no spark. Everything looked grey. The place looks like a bad B-side movie made in the Soviet Union about some small industrial town in Siberia that has nothing going for it. Perhaps I am being too kind. Went to the canteen and thought about having something to eat, but quickly changed my mind. The woman, who reminded you of one of those East - German shot put 'women' who had a thicker five o'clock shadow than many men in their twenties was serving some pile of shit, that actually looked like shit. Perhaps it was, I did not hang around to get a whiff of it. Fucking dump.
Not much love lost in this place, is there?
However, when you are on the beach on a sunny warm day and the waves hit your frozen ankles, it looks and feels like you could be anywhere. Anywhere where you want, just not here!!! Kidding, I love this place, I want to get one of those houses on top of Constitution hill, which is painted bright red or pink or horrible green and grow marijuana in my back room. SUPER! :)

I do actually think that this place can be quite lovely on sunny days. So the people I am expecting to come over and see have no excuses, as it is always nice, happy, fun fun here. And sunny. You know who you are.

On to other things now. I was told by someone that I am boring. 'Old and boring' was the phrase I think. Actually, I have been told many times this. I deny everything. I am happy and lively as a pig in shit.

I read in the tabloid paper Iltalehti today quite an interesting story. About how the people with diplomatic immunity, who drive the cars with 'CD' numberplates terrorise other drivers on the road. As the police cannot touch them, only issue a 'polite reminder to obey the traffic laws' they can drive and park as they want. I think there was a story about some prick from Lithuania who parked his car on the main street in Helsinki, literary in the middle of the road, blocking the tram tracks going both ways. The traffic was blocked for a good hour while he was shopping. Apparently the dude was not schooled in the art of parking. This story, however, is about Poles. In this area called 'Kulosaari' in Helsinki most of the embassies are situated. The driving speed is set to 30km / h as the road is narrow, there are a sports field nearby used by school children and some sort of school as well I think... but the main thing is that its a very posh area. When in a posh area, one must drive through it slowly either to look at the wealth of others or to show your wealth to others. The Pole did not understand that not everyone has a brand new Mercedes in Finland. Anyway, he had nearly driven over people standing near the sports field (not on the actual road), he had overtaken from the wrong side of the road and had been very rude in his usage of the horn. Finland is not like Italy where you use the horn for everything. Listening to music - use horn, nothing to do - use horn, seeing a beautiful woman - use horn excessively, driving on the pedestrian part of the road - use horn. In Finland, you use the horn very carefully as you might get beaten up for your trouble. As you attract attention on someone by honking, either because they drive badly, they drive too slowly, they have not noticed the traffic lights changing - all negative publicity. Sometimes people react to your honking and rip out your side mirrors or something. So pick your targets with care. When you do use your horn after finding a good and easy target, make sure you accompany the honking with an international sign or perhaps an encouraging phrase of 'move your arse you fat motherfucker'. The phrase may vary. Basically, people don't take kindly to the excessive use of the horn, so this Polish clown had driven down the road, at break-neck speed clearly in some sort of physical or emotional pain with his horn blazing. The police very kindly offered some driving tips after they caught up with him.

So this was one of the main stories of 30 March 2007 in Iltalehti. Wow, shit happens in Finland.

Be nice to people and as one good friend of mine kept chanting like a skipping record - 'let go of the past'

Peace on earth.