Frankie reads 2014

[frankie]

Wow, no I didn't know you had worked in a library .

Yes I suppose it was before your time on here It was a whole lot of fun, and that's where I learned that it's my real calling in life

 

I'm sorry to hear about your two crappy years, though, I hope the next two will be a lot better .

No worries, we all have crappy times, unfortunately And it's not crappy anymore. Things are looking up I don't need to have completely amazing years now, I'd settle for normal, routined life with a job and small joys of life

[Athena]

Yes I suppose it was before your time on here It was a whole lot of fun, and that's where I learned that it's my real calling in life

Ah !

 

No worries, we all have crappy times, unfortunately And it's not crappy anymore. Things are looking up I don't need to have completely amazing years now, I'd settle for normal, routined life with a job and small joys of life

This is very true .

[frankie]

I now have a CD tower, a bookcase and a few shelves for this charityshop to pick up, but when I called they said their week's been booked already so I should call them later this week to make an appointment for them to get the stuff out next week. No worries, there's plenty of time. It did inspire me to look at my books and now I've decided on 19 books to give away. They are mostly Wordsworth or Penguin classics, cheap editions. Books I've been meaning to read for ages but have never got around to. I think I can always find those classics at a library and borrow them to read, and if I should later want the books, I could buy them cheap again  

[Athena]

That's a good idea, Frankie .

[Anna Begins]

 

 

Thanks Anna! Dishwasher is a total luxury item, I think it's such luxury that I'll be afraid to use it, I'll only just stare at it in awe (Sorry about your marriage... But don't you think 'Marriage Prolonging Dishwasher' would make a great name for a band, or a book

 

I've had two rather crappy years behind me and I guess that's why I'm also partly wondering if this move is too easy, everything seems to go too well and things are looking up too much. I wonder if it's all going to backfire. But then I've now started to think, maybe it's my time to be finally happy about life again And that maybe I do deserve a bit of happiness

 

ROTFL and I'm outside, thanks Frankie

I was just going to say maybe you should just look at it like it's meant to be and you are on the right path, then you wrote something similar.  Sadly, you could never make a living working in a library here.  I'm not sure about other states, but library's struggle here.  Librarians hardly get paid and most of them are volunteers.  Bookshops too, struggle a lot and close often. 

I rarely see people read around here too.  Although, the other day, I was at the doctors and saw two guys pull up in their car.  One goes into the doctors, the other gets out with a book and leans against a post while reading a book- but the funny thing was, besides the reading- he was all decked out in all black, piercings lol couldn't have been more than 20.  It was just nice, seeing someone younger and different so engrossed in a book.  Wish I could've seen what he was reading!  I was dying with curiosity!

[frankie]

ROTFL and I'm outside, thanks Frankie

Oh yes I know it's over but I was just commiserating it was bad.

 

I was just going to say maybe you should just look at it like it's meant to be and you are on the right path, then you wrote something similar.  Sadly, you could never make a living working in a library here.  I'm not sure about other states, but library's struggle here.  Librarians hardly get paid and most of them are volunteers.  Bookshops too, struggle a lot and close often. 

 

It's not the best career option over here, librarians are underpaid and it's difficult to find a job, but we do have a strong library culture in Finland. Finland is one of the leading countries in borrowed material per person per year. There are still jobs out there, but one has to fight for them.

 

I rarely see people read around here too.  Although, the other day, I was at the doctors and saw two guys pull up in their car.  One goes into the doctors, the other gets out with a book and leans against a post while reading a book- but the funny thing was, besides the reading- he was all decked out in all black, piercings lol couldn't have been more than 20.  It was just nice, seeing someone younger and different so engrossed in a book.  Wish I could've seen what he was reading!  I was dying with curiosity!

Oh I wish you could've seen what he was reading! I wonder what it was. Maybe a Harry Potter novel

 

[frankie]

I wanted to post pics of the new flat to Kylie but after the latest upgrade, one can't send pictures to people via PM, so I thought I might as well post the pics on here. 

 

Kitchen: fridge/refridgerator 

 

 

Kitchen: sink/dishwasher/space

 

 

The view from kitchen to dining area

 

Bedroom

 

 

[frankie]

Livingroom

 

 

 

View to balcony 

 

 

 

Bathroom: sink + washing machine

 

 

Bathroom: sauna + shower 

 

 

 

View from livingroom to small dining area 

 

Edited August 5, 2014 by frankie

[Athena]

Wow, it looks like a really nice place !

[frankie]

I think so too!  

[Anna Begins]

 

Oh I wish you could've seen what he was reading! I wonder what it was. Maybe a Harry Potter novel

 

It looked big and black- I was thinking The Stand   Or by the look of him, The Anarchist Cookbook  J/K

Edited: I had a kitchen that looked just like that once!  I loved that little apartment and that time in my life.  I wish you happiness!

Edited August 5, 2014 by Anna Begins

[poppyshake]

You lucky girl .. what a great looking apartment! Sauna and crosstrainer and everything (will you get time to read now? ) 

I'm so happy for you   .. it's brilliant. Hope the job works out too ... my oh my ... what a lot of changes to cope with! A new city too to find your way around .. very exciting. A new chapter for you lovely

I'm glad that there will be someone you know nearby ... he can give you the lowdown on the area etc.

First thing to find out .. where's the nearest chippy store   

[poppyshake]

I know Tessu is more accomplished than me, she's in a book and I'm not, LOL! I wish I'd known her, I think I wasn't born before she passed or then at least I was so little that I don't remember her. Bless her!

I will write you into my toast book

I really need to find a copy of my own to have and hold and admire! Grandpa would've been really pleased about the whole thing.

Yes .. that'd be good .. get your own copy to keep within the family .. for all the future Karjalainen's to see.

You really need to get Molly going around in the neighborhood. You should write a note in her collar, saying this is Molly and belongs to the lovely [poppyshake's last name, don't know if you want it published here] down the road, please feel free to add her in your books!

Think I might get some abuse instead ... about cat poo  .. though Molly always uses her own toilet    .. there are some less scrupulous kitties in the neighbourhood and she gets the blame sometimes which is unfair as she hardly ventures further than our garden. If next door every decide to write a book then they might well kick off about the cat hairs on their picnic blanket   They will leave it out all the time and Molly likes lying on it ... when I see her I try and coax her in but not even cheese sticks will get her to move .. it's mortifying. I think she thinks that they put it out for her. She is totally unadventurous but when she sees that blanket ..  she makes a break for it   

There was definitely more community feeling back in the day. But it also helps that Nurmes is a small town, we had maybe 11,000 inhabitants when I was a kid, but we've now gone under 10,000. The street I lived on, it is sort of 'separated' in two, because it goes across a hill, so it's broken in half by the Church Street at the top of the hill and then there are the two sections on each side of the hill. My street's name is Ridge Street in English. We have 7 houses on each side of the road on our part of Ridge Street. I didn't know the people on the house on top of the hill, we were the second house from the top (although we only lived on the top floor, there were two families living on the first floor), and then there were our neighbors further down the road, then there was the house where my Mum's parents lived, then there was the house where another doctor lived with his family (a safe road, having loads of doctors and relatives), and then there was the red house that I know as the house where the optician lives, and that's the house where the doctor and the author of the book lived. My Dad's Dad and his step Mom used to live in the apartment downstairs from us at one point, but I was so little back then that I can't remember it. So basically I had all my grandparents on the same street, which I think is a bit unusual. And I used to play with the doctor's daughter (the doctor living next door to Mom's parents) when I was a kid, and we would sometimes play with this boy who lived across the street. And we would go sledding on the road, riding right over different people's lawns, and they were never bothered! I was a happy kid, and lucky to live on a hill, never had to walk far to go sledding, wohoo!

That's nice ... it's a very secure feeling when you have family living nearby. When I was little I lived practically in the same road as my Nan and Granddad and also Aunt and Uncle and cousins. My other Nan and Granddad lived there too for a time so I know what you mean .. we always got together and my other cousins were always around. We're still close as a result but the next generation hardly know each other .. they all live far apart now.

I can see you now sledding down that hill with your hair streaming behind you  We did have a hill nearby but opportunities to sled were few and we weren't equipped .. Dad had to hastily put something (lethal ) together for us to be able to sled. 

I had a brilliant Wendy house though as Dad worked at Shepperton film studios and he made me a little house and painted bricks on it and everything .. I had a director's chair with 'Yul Bryner' written on it =) When we moved though we couldn't take the wendy house with us and my cousin got it  

My first home was taken away from me    

I only read the first 19 pages of the book so I don't know if there are further mentions of my grandpa (one or the other!), but I'm definitely going to try and get my hands on a copy soon and read it =)

Good plan .. Tessu might have had more adventures =)

Edit: Kay! I just remembered the leaflet about Nurmes I sent you and you might actually see the doctor/author's house's pic on one of the pages. Let me check... Checked! Hehe, there it is on page 16! The two pictures on the bottom, on the left. The red house that has a sign saying 'OPTIKKO' (optician). That's the house where he lived with his family!

Oh I see it =D You can just about make out the sign as it's in shade. Lovely looking houses .. his in particular =)

Oh poor love, you haven't gone mad!  I have read the book, but when I saw a copy of it at a charityshop sort of establishment that was run by the unemployed of Nurmes, and as it was cheap too, I had to get it. I also bought two skirts from there, so now you will know me as black skirt Sari, too, and not just jeans Sari.

Oh phew .. that's alright then. Skirts!!!??!! Blimey! Look out world! =)

They were happy days, and I'm only saddened that they are over, but you know, you never appreciate them as much if they are always there. I swear, you would've loved the Portishead gig. I hope we can go together to see them sometime!

Wouldn't that be the best .. we would probably still wet ourselves but this time with excitement =D I'm sure I would have adored seeing them. Oh well .. something to aim for =D

[Kylie]

Ooh, how lovely! It's so clean and shiny and filled with light! I love all the windows. I like those tall, thin windows. It's going to look so great once you move in and add your Frankie touch.

[Devi]

Fantastic place you will have there Frankie! You must post pics once you fill it up with your glorious books.

 

Now all we need to do is invent water proof books so you can use the sauna and read at the same time!

Edited August 6, 2014 by Devi

[frankie]

It looked big and black- I was thinking The Stand. Or by the look of him, The Anarchist Cookbook J/K

Edited: I had a kitchen that looked just like that once!  I loved that little apartment and that time in my life.  I wish you happiness!

 

Or maybe it was Necronomicon!

 

 

http://www.soul1.altervista.org/img/the-necronomicon.jpg

 

 

You lucky girl .. what a great looking apartment! Sauna and crosstrainer and everything (will you get time to read now? ) 

Oooh I hadn't even thought of that: first crosstrainer, then a nice relaxing sauna! I'm not the biggest sauna enthusiast, and I've never lived in a house/apartment with an electric sauna so I'll have to study how to turn it on. It won't be the same, really... But it'll be nice to have the option I might ask a few lady friends over some night and have a nice sauna night!

 

 

I'm so happy for you   .. it's brilliant. Hope the job works out too ... my oh my ... what a lot of changes to cope with! A new city too to find your way around .. very exciting. A new chapter for you lovely

I'm glad that there will be someone you know nearby ... he can give you the lowdown on the area etc.

It's now two weeks and two days till the move and I can't believe I'll be gone then. It hasn't really sunk in. But I'm dead excited!

 

 

First thing to find out .. where's the nearest chippy store   

Exactly! Although I know already... There are at least three different grocerystores in the nearby shopping mall so I know where to get me chippies

[frankie]

I will write you into my toast book

Oh yay!!

 

Think I might get some abuse instead ... about cat poo  .. though Molly always uses her own toilet   .. there are some less scrupulous kitties in the neighbourhood and she gets the blame sometimes which is unfair as she hardly ventures further than our garden. If next door every decide to write a book then they might well kick off about the cat hairs on their picnic blanket. They will leave it out all the time and Molly likes lying on it ... when I see her I try and coax her in but not even cheese sticks will get her to move .. it's mortifying. I think she thinks that they put it out for her. She is totally unadventurous but when she sees that blanket ..  she makes a break for it 

 

Do the less scrupulous cats come to your yard to get all mischievous? Does Molly give them run for their money? =D Or have you had complaints or heard people talk about them. I bet Molly thinks the neighbors are laying the blanky on the ground for her comfort You'd think that if they disliked her being on it, they would've learned by now to not leave it there. 

 

 

That's nice ... it's a very secure feeling when you have family living nearby. When I was little I lived practically in the same road as my Nan and Granddad and also Aunt and Uncle and cousins. My other Nan and Granddad lived there too for a time so I know what you mean .. we always got together and my other cousins were always around. We're still close as a result but the next generation hardly know each other .. they all live far apart now.

 

It was so comfy and secure and nice, wasn't it? The world was such a smaller place back then in other ways, too. I think we were rather blessed to have such a secure childhood! And you're right about the next generation. The cousins have scattered around the country by now so it's hard to keep close tabs. Luckily my cousin with the 5yo daughter I sometimes talk about still lives in my hometown, she and her husband have just bought a house too and it seems like they have no plans to move anywhere else. So it's nice that there are still some to go back to to visit =)

 

 

I can see you now sledding down that hill with your hair streaming behind you  We did have a hill nearby but opportunities to sled were few and we weren't equipped .. Dad had to hastily put something (lethal ) together for us to be able to sled. 

 

=DI can imagine him waking up in the morning to hear you kids moan about not having a sled and how there was all this snow on the ground, and I do wonder if he was even allowed his morning cuppa tea before he went to build a sled for you guys  

 

I had a brilliant Wendy house though as Dad worked at Shepperton film studios and he made me a little house and painted bricks on it and everything .. I had a director's chair with 'Yul Bryner' written on it =) When we moved though we couldn't take the wendy house with us and my cousin got it

My first home was taken away from me 

 

I didn't know those were called Wendy houses, but I got what you meant from the context. I bet you were pleased to bits when you got it! Do you have any pictures? I'd love to see it. Does your cousin still have it? I hope it's still somewhere and hasn't been destroyed. I bet you were gutted when you had to leave it behind. Bimbo had his hands full that day, trying to comfort you   

 

Oh I see it =D You can just about make out the sign as it's in shade. Lovely looking houses .. his in particular =)

 

I prefer the blue house, I love the color! It used to be different color though, it was only painted blue like ten years ago. Gosh, I make it sound like ten years ago was just yesterday!

 

Oh phew .. that's alright then. Skirts!!!??!! Blimey! Look out world! =)

And you in spotty jeans?!? 

 

Wouldn't that be the best .. we would probably still wet ourselves but this time with excitement =D I'm sure I would have adored seeing them. Oh well .. something to aim for =D

 

I think it were easier to aim if one was a man...   

 

Ooh, how lovely! It's so clean and shiny and filled with light! I love all the windows. I like those tall, thin windows. It's going to look so great once you move in and add your Frankie touch. 

 

Frankie touch I'm taking my shower curtain because I can't bear leaving it behind. And the dangly hippy curtain from the livingroom. And my Dwight picture. 

 

 

 

(Although mine only includes the pictures. 

 

 

Fantastic place you will have there Frankie! You must post pics once you fill it up with your glorious books.

 

Now all we need to do is invent water proof books so you can use the sauna and read at the same time! 

 

I wonder if a ziplock bag would do.... Hm!! 

[frankie]

Update on the move: I called a charity shop to have their men come to my house and see if they wanted any of my furniture. They took my bed (I'm sleeping on the mattress), my bookcase, a table, a drawer (yes, the Rory drawer for books!), and a CD tower. They didn't want the old and crappy bookcase that I bought from them two or three years ago I have to figure out what to do with it. 

 

I've also gone through my old desktop computer and gotten all the files I want onto my new computer and deleted everything from the old computer. I'm not taking it with me, I have to figure out what to do to it, too. 

 

I've gone through my books and have found about 50 books I could get rid of. 

 

And Dad called me yesterday, he'd bought a van! A week ago we talked about how to move my stuff to Espoo: if we needed to rent a van or use some moving company. But Dad had found someone who wanted to sell his van, and because Dad is someone who needs to haul this and that here and there every now and again, he said he had been thinking about getting a van anyways, so it was all good. Now I don't have to worry about that! We can fit all my stuff in the van for sure and it'll be easier and cheaper to do the whole move. Relief! 

[Athena]

Oooh I hadn't even thought of that: first crosstrainer, then a nice relaxing sauna! I'm not the biggest sauna enthusiast, and I've never lived in a house/apartment with an electric sauna so I'll have to study how to turn it on. It won't be the same, really... But it'll be nice to have the option I might ask a few lady friends over some night and have a nice sauna night!

I think we have an electric sauna, ours is not that hard to turn on. There's a button switch for off, just lights, lights and sauna, and I think one other option but I can't remember what it is. You can set how hot you want it, too (I normally don't put it that hot since I can't deal with that). It takes about 15 minutes for it to warm up, but personally I just go in anyway and that way gradually get used to the heat. There are stones in the corner that you can pour water over as well as if you want a scent / sauna oil.

 

It's now two weeks and two days till the move and I can't believe I'll be gone then. It hasn't really sunk in. But I'm dead excited!

This is very exciting ! 

 

Update on the move: I called a charity shop to have their men come to my house and see if they wanted any of my furniture. They took my bed (I'm sleeping on the mattress), my bookcase, a table, a drawer (yes, the Rory drawer for books!), and a CD tower. They didn't want the old and crappy bookcase that I bought from them two or three years ago I have to figure out what to do with it. 

 

I've also gone through my old desktop computer and gotten all the files I want onto my new computer and deleted everything from the old computer. I'm not taking it with me, I have to figure out what to do to it, too. 

 

I've gone through my books and have found about 50 books I could get rid of. 

 

And Dad called me yesterday, he'd bought a van! A week ago we talked about how to move my stuff to Espoo: if we needed to rent a van or use some moving company. But Dad had found someone who wanted to sell his van, and because Dad is someone who needs to haul this and that here and there every now and again, he said he had been thinking about getting a van anyways, so it was all good. Now I don't have to worry about that! We can fit all my stuff in the van for sure and it'll be easier and cheaper to do the whole move. Relief!

That's great that they took some of your stuff ! I hope you can figure out what to do with the things you're not taking. If the computer is not too old, isn't there a friend or family member that could use it, perhaps? I don't know how old it is, though, maybe they all already have better computers.

 

Are these books you've read and didn't like, or TBR books you don't feel like reading anymore?

 

That's such exciting news about the van! It'll be very easy and cheap to do the move. We recently rented a van to get my boyfriend's things here from the UK (my dad drove), so I can sort of understand what you're going through.

 

I wish you lots of fun in your new apartment. If you feel comfortable with it, I'd love to see some photos of the new place once you've moved in (ie. of your book shelf, I always like looking at other people's books) (but of course only if you feel comfortable with it).

 

Happy moving !

[frankie]

I think we have an electric sauna, ours is not that hard to turn on. There's a button switch for off, just lights, lights and sauna, and I think one other option but I can't remember what it is. You can set how hot you want it, too (I normally don't put it that hot since I can't deal with that). It takes about 15 minutes for it to warm up, but personally I just go in anyway and that way gradually get used to the heat. There are stones in the corner that you can pour water over as well as if you want a scent / sauna oil.

I believe I only said I've never lived in a house/flat with an electric sauna, therefore I've never had to or had the privilege to turn an electric sauna on. Of course I've been to electric saunas and I know how to go about my sauna business in them. And I know that turning the sauna on is not rocket science, it's a few switches and that's all. I'm a Finn, after all

 

 

That's great that they took some of your stuff ! I hope you can figure out what to do with the things you're not taking. If the computer is not too old, isn't there a friend or family member that could use it, perhaps? I don't know how old it is, though, maybe they all already have better computers.

No one would want my more than a decade old desktop I think it's funeral time for good old big comp!

 

 

Are these books you've read and didn't like, or TBR books you don't feel like reading anymore?

They are a mix of books I've read and books that are on my TBR

[Kylie]

Great news, hun! I'm glad you've decided to take your shower curtain. I had meant to ask why you originally weren't going to, because I've always liked it!

[frankie]

Great news, hun! I'm glad you've decided to take your shower curtain. I had meant to ask why you originally weren't going to, because I've always liked it!

 

Because shower curtains are like one of the most bacteria infested things in one's apartment. I kinda thought that one ought to buy a new one every now and then. I posted my good byes on FB but then a few friends told me I could put it in the washer I thought holy heck, maybe I could! But then I checked the info bit on the curtain and it had this sign of handwash only and I thought holy crap  I mentioned that in the FB thread and then friends told me there's usually a handwash program in a washer... It had never occurred to me!    

[pontalba]

Put a few towels in with the shower curtain, works a treat.

Happy moving!

[frankie]

Put a few towels in with the shower curtain, works a treat.

Happy moving!

 

I must be really thick but I don't know what you mean Do you mean when I pack the curtain, or do you mean have towels hanging next to the curtain? 

 

 

I have a cold/flu at the moment. Nothing too sinister, I don't have a fever and my throat is not sore anymore after I went and bought these cough candies or whatever they are called. I'm just very weak and feel bad and I'm sweating my skin off. The worse is, my friend whose hubby is driving us to Espoo tomorrow is also sick and she's actually running a fever They are still determined to leave tomorrow, they have bought tickets to a music festival and have booked a hotel and all, and don't want to miss that. They are giving me a lift to Espoo which is on their way. We'll be leaving in the morning and will be in Espoo maybe at 3 PM. I will then get the keys to my new apartment and can take a look at it and sign the lease. After 5 PM I will meet with a prospective flat mate, so keep your fingers crossed! She's a reader, so that's good  

 

After that I don't know what I will do. I'm packing a towel and sheets so I can stay at my new place for the weekend if I like. I might be too tired to do anything else! Usually when I go to Helsinki I really, really want to meet my friends, but it's beginning to dawn on me that I'll be living there in two weeks and I will then have all the time in the world  for the rest of my Espoo living days to meet them whenever I want, so this weekend I will do what feels best. (And that's probably to rest!)

 

What I'm now suffering with: what to pack?? I fear I will forget some very basic, needful things (King pun not intended). Luckily I remembered the towel and the sheets (there will be a bed), and I will probably want to take my laptop ... They have internet and I think this laptop has Wi-Fi or something so I should be able to come online. What else...

 

And then I thought I might as well pack a bag of something to take with me! I thought maybe I'd take a bagful of books... But which ones! And how shall I find them, because I've had to shove all my books in the cupboards, having given away one of the bookcases on Monday. Blimey! 

 

It's just getting really real right now. It's actually happening. 

[Janet]

I must be really thick but I don't know what you mean Do you mean when I pack the curtain, or do you mean have towels hanging next to the curtain?

 

I suspect she means when you put the shower curtain in the washing machine to put some towels in too, to cushion the impact of the drum... but I could be wrong. 

 

Sorry if I've missed it (I'm a bit woolly headed today) but when do you actually move?