Mumimmama has returned...

God has answered our pray...

This morning after getting up, I started Mumimmama hunting again. For some reason I looked again the same places I have been looking for many times. Suddenly, at the slot behind some dust I found Mumimmama :-) JIPPII!!!

(Mumimmama was found...)

(Family & friends portrait)

Bring you a eary Happy Moon Festival!

Reminded by Susan, then realized the Chinese Moon Festival is coming soon AGAIN...

I almost forgot it :-( It's said and pity to tell, in last ten years, I had never spent a single Moon Festival in Shanghai with my parents.

However, bring a early wish to all of you:

Happy Moon Festival!

Where are you Mumimmama???

"The story of Moomin valley" was created by Finnish author Tove Jansson. It took her 25 years to finish the whole book. In 1966 the book received the Andersen Award.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moomin
http://www.muumimaailma.fi/englanti/

Moomin valley lives Moomin family and their dearly friends. There is a meaning behind every Moomin story. It's not only for children but also for adults.

Moomin look like hippo, but they are not hippo. Children love Moomin characters, Bobo is no exception. At the beginning, I was not that interested in them, perhaps it was Bobo's influence, I started to like them too.

Bobo's grandma has been buying many Moomin books for Bobo. Thanks to Niuniu's mammy, she copied Moomin DVD.

Bobo has a set of Moomin characters. They are Mumimmama, Mumimpapa, Moomintroll, Little My, Sniff, Hemulen, Snufkin, Snorkmaiden, Snork. Because Little My is too small, Sniff has too sharp ears and Snufkin has a hat easily drop. I only allow Bobo to play all Moomins and Hemulen.

Bobo used to request Hemulen while she brushes teeth each day :-) Then there was occasion, Snork was missing. He was finally found under the carpet when I was vacuuming. Last week, Mumimmama disappeared as well, so far still no sign of her ;-(

Where are you Mumimmama? We MISS you....

New rain boots

There is nothing better than coming back to home and hugging my princess Bobo :-)

(bobo wearing new rain boots)

Haikko Manor

From Tuesday to Thursday I attended project manager training organized by the company. The training was held in famous Haikko Manor, which is 50 kilometers east north of Helsinki.

It was my first time stayed over night else where than at home after Bobo was born. I truly missed her :-)

The first known reference to Haikko Manor dates back to the year 1362, when it was owned by the Dominican priory of Vyborg. It was totally burn down on New Year Day of 1911. After a determined search the original drawings by Professor Armas Lindgern were found in the Museum of Finnish Architecture. The current Manor House was rebuilt since 1913 and completed on 1965. Today Haikko Manor functions as spa, hotel and conference center.

(Haikko Manor)






(famous yellow room)


(beautiful flowers)


(calm Gulf of Finland after rain - not lake)

(pond)

A special treatment Haikko Manor offers is the Super Cold Treatment -110C. Me and few of male workmates gained bravery to under take this treatment. We stayed there for 3 minutes. The world record was held by an Estonian for 18 minutes.

The best...

Imagine one day someone asks Bobo "Anniina, who makes the best cake?" Bobo replies without any hesitation "Of course my Mammy!" :-)

(mammy's cake)

In our family, there is a "Pulla Hiiri". A Finnish joke, translated as "Sweat bum mouse". Tuomo doesn't like other Finns love coffee, instead he drinks tea with milk. Whenever he drinks tea, there always be some cookies, pies , sweat bum or cakes. I made pies and cakes more frequently before Bobo was born. Now there is hardly enough time for this hobbie of mine.

After a busy week, finally today I have some time of own.

(beat egg with sugar)

(beat flouer with baking power)


(bake in oven 175C for 20mins)


(leave it cool)


(cut the cake to 3 layers)


(moisture the cake add fruits fillings)


(layered with cream)


(repeat for the second layer)


(add top layer)


(coated with cream)


(more cream)


(put decorations on top)

Bye bye my leisure time...

I started my International Business Acumen evening studies this week. IBA will last till next May. With everyday work, house work and Bobo, it won't easy to manage this study. I already feel exhausted this week with 2 evening sessions and today's full day workshop.

Tuomo had to stay at home of caring Bobo, which turns out to be an excellent experience for him. Bobo has strengthen the bound with him :-) Pity for our house construction.

Next week will be another busy week, I will be out of town 3 days for company training :-( I will miss Bobo, this will be my first official business trip after Bobo was born. I feel bit "jealous" that she turns to Tuomo more often lately ;-)

Here comes soup!

Susan recommended this soup. It is easy to make and tastes good too...

(egg sheet, prawn with vegi soup)

Ei ei ei

Before babies start to speak, you often wonder when they will do so. Once they do open the mouth, you often "complain" that they speak too much :-)

Bobo just learned to speak not a while ago. To recent, she was able to speak mainly some simple 2 to 3 words. Living in a multi-language envirnoment, babies do take bit longer time to get used to, digest and learn what to speak. Since Bobo goes to daycare, she has used to hear and speak Finnish in the daytime. Therefore it makes bit more difficult to learn Chinese. The only way is through me.

Matias's mum noticed that Matias is interested in Chinese TV ads, since then she turns the TV on very often. She found Matias understand way better Chinese recently. Well I guess the only trick is to practice everyday.

This morning Bobo was playing with Tuomo in the living room. Suddenly she discovered there is a little hole on Daddy's sock. She immediately said "ei ole Anniina sukka riikki" (not broken Anniina's socks). I realized that she just has said perhaps her first 5 word sentence.

After getting up in the morning, Tuomo brought Bobo to wash teeth. Bobo knows that I don't like her bring teddy to the washing room. She handed over her favorite sleeping teddy and said "nalle katso" (teddy watch).

During the daytime nap, Bobo was jumping in her bed and saying "nalle läntää, nalle läntää" (teddy fly, teddy fly). At the same time, she was waving the teddy up and down like an airplane :-)

Daycare lady recently mentioned that Bobo has entered so called "No" period. Which means, she most time replies only No for every request.

"Anniina let's change dipper." - Ei (no)
"Anniina let's go to eat." - Ei (no)

Even when I go to pick her "Anniina let's go home. " - Ei (no) Bobo replies.

Heheee, she is developing her own strong will now. Since she is able to express herself step by step, at the same time she noticed people around her can also understand her.

(little friends of Bobo)

What to cook and what to eat

"What do cook and what to eat" has always been a headache issue for me :( For me and Tuomo, it is bit easier. Now Bobo is aboard, I have to think all the time what to cook for her. Thank GOD, she goes to daycare, which saved 2 meals in a day ;-) Finland has so few Chinese, therefore there is no such thing called China town. Really envy Susan, my best friend who lives in Sydney. She says there is a little Shanghai, where you can find almost all the foods you can find in Shanghai...

There are plenty of Chinese restaurants in the capital areas, however most of them have lost original Chinese flavor. Their tastes are more or less Finnish Chinese style. For me a person loves sea food, it has been tough life living in Finland where people love eating meat and potatoes. Of course there are plenty of fish here as well. Most of them I hardly can call their names, the most famous is Salmon. But I feel it's too oily and fatty for me. I miss the sea foods in Shanghai, Hongkong, Penang and Barcelona...

This morning I dragged Bobo and Tuomo to visited the Asian shop in Helsinki downtown. The owner of the Asian shop comes from Malaysia, she used to have a small warehouse type of shop in nearby city Espoo. Till recent years, the business has been so good that she opened today's shop in downtown.

Saturday's Asian shop is packed with customers. After spending over 100euros and querying for 15 minutes at the cash counter. We were able to leave with full loads of shrimps, squids, shells and vegetables. Luckily today I even found famous "Zhejiang Shaoxing rice wine". Due to Finnish law, only special alcohol shop ALKO can sell any alcohol is stronger than beer, Aisan shop can only sell it "off the shelf". Now Tuomo can not laugh me using Koskenkorva (Finnish well known strong viina) cooking any more.

While Bobo is taking a nap, I rushed to start cooking. First is barberque shrimp, then some local Shanghai dishes. While almost everything is done, Bobo is awake too. It is time for lunch.

(barbeque shrimps)

(some Shanghai local dishes)

After Bobo eating two and half strings of shrimps, I have to admit Chinese food is the best in the world.

(Bobo eating barbeque shrimps)

Lunch after, the same question popped up "What to eat tomorrow?"...

Fruit cake

If I am going to change professionals, I would like to be either a painter, a chef, an interior designer or a zoo keeper :-) Saturday's party cake "forced" me to make one of mine own.

This fruit cake differs from usual cake, it doesn't require any baking. Instead it is mainly formed in the fridge. The process is not complicated, just takes few steps. We need following items:

Bottom

• 200g wheat cookies (kokojyväkeksejä) 麦子类的饼干
  
• 100g melted margarine (sulatettua margariinia) 溶化的黄油
  

Filling

• 4 agar (liivatelehteä) 洋菜
• 2tlk quark/curd cheese (rahkaa) 凝乳
• 1/2dl sugar (sokeria) 糖
  
• 1tl vanilla sugar (vaniljasokeria) 香草糖
• 200g white chocolate (valkosuklaata) 白巧克力
  
• 2dl whipping cream (kuohukermaa) 奶油
• 2rkl lemon juice (sitruunamehua) 柠檬汁
  

Top

• 4dl berries (marjoa) 浆果
  
• 3dl any suitable reddish juice (punaista sokeroitua ja sopivaksi laimennettua mehua) 红色的果汁
  
• 5 agar (liivatelehteä) 洋菜

Put agar into cold water, let them fully soaked. Add one piece of baking paper at the bottom of cake module.

Crash the cookies, put melted margarine, mix throughly. Lay the mixture into the module, press to a flat and even surface layer. Place the module to the fridge.

Melt the white chocolate with low temperature. Squeeze agar to remove unnecessary water. Put them into melted chocolate. Add few table spoons of hot boiling water, slowly mix with chocolate and agar. Once finished, leave it cool to room temperature.

Beat the whipping cream to foam. Mix throughly with sugar, vanilla sugar, lemon juice, curd cheese, and chocolate mixture. Insert the filling to the module. Remain in the fridge for few hours.

(berries on top)

Finally place berries on top of the filling. Boil the juice with agar leaves, leave it cool. Pour the juice mixutre onto the filling. Place the cake into fridge for another few hours.

...
...
...

Whuallaaa... Here it comes!

(final result)

If you have done any cheese cake, the process is pretty much the same. Hmm, I believe I will put bit less berries or more fillings next time.

It's time to have a cup of tea!

Perhaps one of the last summer parties...

Summer is quietly fading away... We can sense the chillness of autumn mornings and nights. Time to time, it falls bit rain. Such days are just so typical for Finnish springs and autumns. Soon darkness and coldness will follow, it will be until next May sun starts to shine warmly again...

We went to perhaps one of the last summer parties of the year. Bobo's step cousin has finished university study and becomes a psychology. Enjoy the nature...

(good to be out)


(through the kid's cottage window)


(plum in hand)


(this is better)

(pretty flowers right?)


(nice to meet you)

10 years on...

Exactly the same day but 10 years ago 22.8.1997, a young girl stepped onto Finland this unknown land.

Time dashes like flash! She wouldn't think that she will spend next 1/3 of her life span in this Nordic country.

Yes, that girl is ME :-)

Potty training

It has been continuously few days for Bobo to pee in potty before taking shower. She is very excited and happy for it. It's another step forward. In the daycare, kids are put to potty each time after the meal. It's said to be quite effective. I was told that it's baby's nature instinct to know to hold the pee. When the time comes, it will come. Still many parents suggest to start potty training at latest of age 2. We haven't been intentionally training Bobo, usually she demands to go to use potty by herself. And most of time, there is nothing come out :-)

We start to have bed time reading for 3 weeks, Bobo loves it. I have been telling myself to read more books, but failed to keep this promise. Perhaps I should cut the time spending on the net. Reading is important...

(Bobo reading)

Today after a rain shower, the sky turned blue. We went to the lot. I decided to walk to check nearby stable, luckily horses are outside.

(check horses)

Very disappointing bean harvest year, I was only able to pick very few of them. I miss the year before that I got over 3 kilo of them.

(poor harvest)

Garage is ready for outside wall, it might take few more weeks before Tuomo is able to continoue working on the main house.

(garage is ready for wall)