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Check out the latest news for the Finnish community in and around Bristol!
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Moving to / from Finland
20/02/2008
Some information from Laura Saila on moving....
Dear All,
As I have been finding out about different moving possibilities in the last few weeks, I thought I would share some of the information I have learned:
1. Using a freight/cargo company
This is obviously the cheapest way of getting your furniture and other belonging to (or from) Finland but as a private person its virtually impossible to get your things ensured by an UK insurance company if you use this option. However, if you have been a customer of the Finnish insurance company Pohjola while living in Finland, they will offer a moving insurance that covers your belonging during the move (both loss and damage, providing you pack them properly). The price is also cheap (actually cheaper when using a freight company than a moving company, as the price you pay for the move affects the price of the insurance) and I have been assured that the insurance will be offered if you use any 'kuljetusfirma' or freight company (or indeed a normal moving company).
However, if you have not been a Pohjola customer and want to send your things with a freight company, it might be impossible to get an insurance (although I have not asked all other Finnish insurance companies). But if you decide that is not an issue (or have been a customer of Pohjola and can get an insurance), the freight best companies I have found are: Finnlines (for whole containers) and RH Freight (for sending smaller items as you pay either by loading meters or cubic meters) as both travel between Finland and UK very frequently and are good value.
2. Using a UK removal company
I actually think this is not a good option, as they seem to charge a lot for a similar service as the freight companies, as you belonging will be packed into a contained in most cases and they won't insure you against breaking or damage if you won't pay them for actually packing everything. You can get quotes online easily but like said, they are expensive.
3. Using a Finnish moving company
It seems to be a lot cheaper to use a Finnish company, as you're only covering the UK-Finland (or the other way around) bit, as they'll combine the trip with someone else moving the other way. The cheapest quote I've got is from M. Kähäri Oy (they come to the UK at least once a month) and the second best is from J. Puljula (they come more often). Both offer door to door service, insurance and will carry the boxes into and out of the truck.
I'm sure there are other ways (like driving a car yourself) and companies that offer good service, but this is just my own experience and I hope it will help someone else when they need to move between Finland and UK.
Sincerely,
Laura
Pampered Chef evening
04/04/2007
Pampered Chef evening at Leena’s on Wed 4th April @7.30. hosted by Katri Healy. pls ring leena 01454 612357 for directions or email nick for information social@finlandinbristol.co.uk.
Katri will be preparing so much fantastic food that I would advise you not to eat anything after lunch! hope to see as many of you there as possible.
Pampered Chef evening
04/04/2007
Pampered Chef evening at Leena’s on Wed 4th April @7.30. hosted by Katri Healy. pls email nick for further details - social@finland inbristol.co.uk.
Katri will be preparing so much fantastic food that I would advise you not to eat anything after lunch. hope to see as many of you there as possible.
n.
Holiday Accommodation
30/03/2007
My family (2 adults and 2 mini adults (16/15yrs) and I will be here from 16th to 30th June for a holiday but also sorting out our move to Bristol in Sept 2007. Does anyone know of a place in Bristol that we could rent for this period? Unfortunately our place in Espoo is not available for exchange as it will be full of moving boxes. If you have any ideas please contact me on domjane@gmail.com Thanks! Dominique Töyrä.
deZine.fromfinland.com now online
02/02/2007
I've recently launched an English language blog/ezine which is partly a personal view of Finland (I've lived here for 33 years!) and a magazine with a bias towards culture.
It is early days yet but I would be grateful for any comments and/or story ideas.
Although it's a commercial venture it's free to view and register. I am relying on advertisements and sales of books etc., to help pay for it.
Look forward to hearing from some of you.
Kind regards, Lawrence Bojkovic
editor
deZine.fromfinland.com
Pikku Pearce !
04/01/2007
Sirpa & Chris Pearce are delighted to announce the arrival of their baby boy !!
Nico Albert was born at 10:35 today and weighed in at 3.44kg / 7lb 9oz.
He is 53 cm tall with quite a lot of dark hair !!
All the family doing really well.
We Did It !!!
16/09/2006
Iiris Pursiainen and Neil Hazell were married at St. Andrew's Church, Clevedon, in the presence of a crowd of friends an relatives from several countries. The bride, with her daughter Ellen, travelled to church in style by horse-drawn carriage. After the ceremony, the same carriage took the bride and groom to a reception at Walton Park Hotel on Clevedon seafront. The jolly festivities included live music (harp, violin, accordion, kantele), singing by friends, dancing to traditional and disco music, and over £1000 was raised, instead of wedding presents, for a charity helping the Roma Gypsies of Bulgaria. The day was a truly wonderful, happy and memorable one, especially for Neil and Iiris. Note: whilst Iiris is more than happy to be now known as Mrs. Hazell, she is nevertheless "officially" hanging onto her own original name.
Pub night! Sat. 9th Sept, Watershed
09/09/2006
impromtu first pub night of the term at the Watershed on Bristol harbourside.
Meet at about 7pm for food, or after then if you just want to come down and have a few drinks!
email nick: social@finlandinbristol.co.uk
n.
picnicn and pesapallo, blaise castle, tomorrow
24/06/2006
Sunday 25 June, 12.00.
Bring something to sit on, somehting to eat and drink, and join in with the pesapallo!
hopefully we'll be on the grassy bit near the car-park...
see you there
nick h
Bristol students are winners!
22/06/2006
Three students of the "advanced adults" class of our School, Susan Wilson, Rhys Evans and John Ward, won prizes in the recent Finn-Guild poetry competition to write new lyrics for Maamme-laulu (Finnish national anthem).
The entries were published in Horisontti and the winners will be invited to London on an all-expenses-paid VIP trip to visit the Finnish Ambassador, Jaakko Laajava. A report and photos of the visit will follow.
IN MEMORIAM
26/04/2006
IN MEMORIAM
Aila McEwen, a key figure among the Bristol Finns, died on 22.03.06 at the age of 66 after a short battle with ovarian cancer. The Funeral on 4 April, at Memorial Woodlands in Bristol, was lead by Pastori Kari Kanala from The Finnish Church in London. The beautiful service and reception were attended by many of Aila's friends and colleagues.
Aila was a founding member of the Bristol Saturday School, where she taught an adult class for more than 10 years, was the Chairman for several years, and a member of the Committee for most of its existence. In the 1980s she was one of the first area representatives of the Finnish Church Guild and later, until her death, a member of the Finnish Friendship Network.
In the early 1990s, Aila was the Chairman of the Finnish Church Guild (now Finn-Guild), which she successfully steered through a difficult period. Thanks to Aila and her team, the Finn-Guild survived and is now a vibrant organisation representing the interests of Finnish people in Great Britain.
After her retirement from social work six years ago, Aila joined the Finnish ladies' luncheon group, the “Mirri-kerho”. We meet informally at the Little Harp pub on Clevedon's sea front most Fridays at 12.30. Aila's vivid descriptions of her travels and the cultural events she had attended always gave us fresh ideas and provided depth to our discussions. Aila was also a valued member of our book club (meeting twice a year); her insight to any book we read was always interesting and worth considering. She was also a good listener.
Aila's calm acceptance of her own illness and the knowledge that her life was nearing its end taught us how to live our lives to the full. We deeply miss Aila’s beautiful, friendly smile and her enthusiasm for life and are forever thankful for the friendship we shared.
finland football shirts on sale
03/03/2006
finland national team home football shirts are currently on sale for £25 (+p&p), from www.subsidesports.co.uk
sizes: m, l, xl
very comfy they are, too.
nick h