In Finland we have seen a lot of rain lately. Summer just won’t arrive in the Nordic countries.
The difference between Christmas and Midsummer is marginal. Everything is late this year.
On the other hand, the archipelago is greener than ever, the lilac bushes and the apple trees are still glowing in purple, white and pink. Gracious deer are daily visitors in our garden.
These naughty beauties, alas, are eating my geraniums, salad sprouts and the foliage of newly planted potatoes. I’m slowly losing my patience with them. Have to think of some kind of device to scare them away from my flowers and vegetables. Perhaps a scarecrow dressed in an old summer frock and a huge sun hat?
When writing this, it is Midsummer Eve in Finland. I’ve just fetched Hufvudstadsbladet (a daily newspaper aimed at the Swedish speaking minority of Finland) a lot of news on politics, economy, culture, events and entertainment. On the front page, there is an article on how much it costs the EU countries to deport immigrants trying to find a safe haven in the EU zone.
Since the year 2000, these European countries have spent 11 billion euros to deport tens of thousands of people who have been denied asylum. At the same time, it is calculated that refugees and immigrants spend nearly as much to enter the European countries. This number includes the nearly 30.000 people who have drowned in the Mediterranean. A vicious circle…
Another interesting piece of news is Russian President Putin’s view on Finland’s military status. During a visit to Moscow by Mr. Niinistö, president of Finland, Putin said that, in his opinion, Finland should remain militarily independent.
According to the paper, this is one of Putin’s clearest expressed views on the matter of Finland’s NATO-membership. Let’s see how the popular opinion in Finland will react to this, if there is ever a general vote on this issue.
On the economy pages I read that Finland’s economy is growing very slowly. A growth forecast of 0,3 % this year considers only measures taken by the Government to improve the situation, no ‘chocks’ included.
Our foreign debt is over 60% of our GNP. Finland is severely hit by the fall of Nokia, the decline of some of our basic industries like the paper industry and the diminished exports to Russia. Structural changes are called for. Sweden and Norway fare much better in this respect, with fairly balanced economies.
The newspaper further reports that a Norwegian hotel chain, the Nordic Choice hotels, will build a new hotel in Jätkäsaari island in Helsinki. The company will invest one billion euros on a 16 floor hotel with 425 rooms.
Nordic Choice hotels say that they have chosen to invest in Finland because they believe in Helsinki and its future, and that it is the right time to invest, considering in, the harsh economic situation.
And now to lighter reading: The paper also enclosed a leaflet containing the most popular schnapps songs to be sung at the Midsummer festivities, when toasting to the herring and gravlax in Vodka, Koskenkorva, O.P. Andersson or Bäska droppar. I will bring this leaflet over to Spain next autumn. It can come in handy at the celebrations of our Club Los Nórdicos.
Other news on the lighter side: Newly wed prince Carl Philip of Sweden and his princess Sofia will celebrate their honeymoon on the island of Fiji, and Princess Madeleine of Sweden has given birth to a healthy baby boy. His name will be Nicolas Paul Gustaf. Congratulations to the princes and to Sweden!
Now it’s raining again. Why don’t I celebrate San Juan on one of the beaches of Almuñécar, grilling sardines and having a good time?