Friday, 19 June 2015

In Finland, summer is the best day of the year - Taught by Finland

Wednesday, 17 June 2015

Celebrate Scandinavian Midsummer in London 20/6/2015

Midsummer Party – Juhannusjuhlat with the Finnish Church Bermondsey, London Saturday 20th of June from 5pm.

Celebrate Scandinavian Midsummer in London

June 10, 2015 by Scandinavian mum

A complete guide to Scandinavian Midsummer Celebrations in London 2015. What, where and when. And a basic guide on how to celebrate the longest day of the year like a Scandinavian.

What to wear? Informal and summery, white if possible. Flower crown, preferably fresh wild flowers.
What to eat? A light picnic, do a barbeque and lots of ice cream.
What to do? Dance, sing, make flower crowns, dance around the bonfire.

Where to celebrate Midsummer in London? We have listed four major events below.

Scandinavian Midsummer Party Sankthans, with the Danish Church Regent’s Park, London
Sankthans means the ‘Eve of St. John’ and the celebration includes lots of singing, a large bonfire and the tradition of burning a ‘witch’. A night filled with magic and myths!
There will also be a cafe selling Danish hotdogs and Pimm’s on the night. Read more at danskekirke.org
Celebrate Midsummer at the Danish Church by Regent’s Park on Saturday 20th of June from 7pm.

Midsummer in Millfield Park organised by ForestKids in Hackney
Bring yourself, food, drinks and picnic blankets and come and celebrate with laughter, music all afternoon. There will be a midsummer pole and midsummer dance with music midsummer flower wreath making for those who want to take part and also other activities for the children. You are very welcome to bring an instrument or game to share or why not sit and relax in mother nature with good company on one hopefully beautiful sunny midsummer day. Saturday 20th from 1pm an onwards. Sign up on Facebook.
midsummer_millfield_park

Midsummer Party – Juhannusjuhlat with the Finnish Church Bermondsey, London
Saturday 20th of June from 5pm. The church is located in Bermondsey, in 33 Albion Street, SE16 7HZ London.
The invitation (translated with Google translator, which makes it a bit funny!):
Come and enjoy a traditional Finnish Midsummer cottage in the heart of the big city! There scent of Midsummer birches, Midsummer saunas, a wonderful barbecue food and drinks Finnish. Just a bonfire and mosquitoes missing! Responsible for stellar live music in the church’s own Sea Cucumbers choir and arriving in Finland juhannusorkesterimme And Kajaani Rosso, who call us the best Finnish music Laila Kinnunen Scooter. Celebrations is free of charge. Welcome to celebrate the nightless night and mid-summer feast with us!
In other words: Don’t be a mosquito – go to the Finnish celebration! Sign up on Facebook.

Lisa’s Portobello will be hosting a Swedish Midsummer Party in Notting Hill
Also on the evening of Saturday the 20th of June. Not a family event, but in case you wanted to get a sitter and enjoy a truly authentic Scandi night out. Tickets and more information on our sister blog, ~~goscandinavian.com~~
© Lisa’s Portobello

Please share if there is a event that should have been included here, by leaving a comment below or email us on post@littlescandinavian.com

Let’s get ready for midsummer! x

http://littlescandinavian.com/2015/06/10/celebrate-scandinavian-midsummer-in-london/

Tuesday, 16 June 2015

Kimmo Timonen - The Finnish Stanley Cup hero/Sports Yahoo

Kimmo Timonen will retire a champion with Chicago Blackhawks

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CHICAGO (AP) -- Kimmo Timonen got the Stanley Cup from Jonathan Toews and raised it high above his head, unleashing a cathartic roar in concert with the raucous United Center crowd.

In the final game of a 16-year NHL career and a lifetime in hockey, the 40-year-old defenseman became a champion at last.

What a big finish for the smallish Finn who overcame every obstacle to the grandest of finales.

Timonen fought back tears and conflicting emotions in the final minutes leading to the best - and the last - moment of his playing days.

''It feels empty,'' Timonen said right after he raised the Cup for the first time Monday night.

''It's been a long journey,'' he added. ''There's been good moments, bad moments, tough moments, ups and downs. I was dreaming about this moment for a long time, and it's right here. This game has given me so much, and I'm relieved, happy, ready to leave this game, and I'm leaving this game as a Stanley Cup champion.''

Timonen affirmed his determination to retire this summer after squeezing one more magical season out of his career, bravely coming back to hockey after health problems due to blood clots that forced him to contemplate retirement.

Traded from Philadelphia to Chicago late in the season specifically for this chance, he never scored a point for the Blackhawks and played sparingly in the postseason - but his name will be etched on the Stanley Cup.

After Toews accepted the Cup from Commissioner Gary Bettman amid the celebration of Chicago's clinching 2-0 victory over Tampa Bay, the captain swiftly handed it to Timonen, who looked bewildered and overjoyed simultaneously.

''I didn't know what to do with it,'' Timonen said. ''I didn't know you could go around the rink with it. It was my first time. I played this game a long time and battled hard for years. I've been on the losing side of the story so many times that I know guys realize that.''

Indeed, Timonen has four Olympic medals with Finland, but no golds. He reached three World Championships finals, losing every time.

He was the captain of the Nashville Predators during his first eight NHL seasons with the club, never making a lengthy playoff run. Timonen got close to a Cup in 2010 with the Philadelphia Flyers, but the Blackhawks rallied past them in the Stanley Cup Final to claim the first of their three titles in six years.

Timonen easily could have walked away from hockey last summer when he was diagnosed with blood clots in his lungs and leg. After seven seasons with the Flyers and with his 40th birthday on the horizon, everything was in place for Timonen to transition into post-hockey life, and he didn't put on skates for eight months.

But Timonen also kept talking to doctors about a way to safely play one more season. He felt unsettled and uncertain that he should walk away without taking one more shot at the Stanley Cup.

''Doctors have their own opinion, and they were probably right,'' Timonen said. ''But my desire was so deep. If there was any chance I could make a comeback, I'd like to do it.''

When Timonen felt confident he could play without risking his health, Philadelphia general manager Ron Hextall managed to trade him to Chicago for two draft picks. He went scoreless in 16 regular-season games for the Blackhawks, and he has struggled at times during 15 scoreless postseason games, dropping in and out of Chicago's lineup.

Timonen's wife, Johanna, even attended Game 6 after staying away earlier in the postseason, too nervous and worried about her husband's health and fortunes.

''She might take those blindfolds off,'' Timonen said with a laugh.

He played just 3:39 in Game 6, taking only seven shifts.

He's still a champion forever.

Toews hands the Stanley Cup to Timonen