When I asked about visiting the Terwaviikko (Tar Week) event in Kuortane, I was quickly introduced to Michael Hutchinson-Reis, a fellow Londoner in Finland, who is now firmly involved in the Lions Club of Kuortane that organises the weeklong tar-making event that takes three years of preparation. Michael invited me to visit the tar pit in Kuortane a few times across the week, to learn how tar is made and to witness different stages of the tar-making process, during an event that has great cultural and historical importance to the village of Kuortane ..read more

Episode 54 Myself and Glenn Murray were invited by Päivi Nurmikoski, to visit SF-Camping-Kalajärvi in nearby Peräseinäjoki. She introduced us to the caravan park itself and all the facilities, activities and entertainment for her family, that make them return here almost EVERY weekend, all year long. They love it here, maybe you would too. Show Notes & Links Caravanning in Finland As you drive through the open plains and forests of South Ostrobothnia, it can be difficult to notice holiday resorts. You will occasionally see signs for campsites and caravan parks, but they are often located a ..read more

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Episode 54 Recorded back in summer 2019, I was welcomed to experience my first sauna festival by the organiser of Kalajärven Saunafestarit, Tero Knaapila. Tero talked me through the origins of this event and what one can expect from a sauna festival. He then took me into his converted motor home sauna (which is still road legal!) before a cooling dip in Lake Kalajärvi. Watch & Listen To This Episode Show Notes & Links Kalajärven Saunafestarit 2019 I’d been aware of the concept of the sauna festival early in the life of this podcast and blog, but I’d never quite managed to experienc ..read more

Episode 52 In this episode, I revisit the subject of Pyhävuori, an area overlooking Lake Lappajärvi, that is full of geological interest and historical mythology, featuring trolls, hermits and a “sacrificial stone”. From the ice age to modern days. Following this recording, Glenn Murray and I went out to explore (and as you can see in the video) get slightly lost on) the holy mountain, Pyhävuori. Show Notes & Links A Pilgrimage to the Holy Mountain Back in episode 36 A Tour Around Lappajärvi, Europe’s Largest Crater Lake, Craterologist Teemu Öhman introduced me to the Geo Trail project tha ..read more

Episode 31 Brewmaster Jyri Ojaluoma takes me back in time to the re-birth of Mallskoski and their Kuohu beer. We discuss brewing techniques and tricks and review the 1st Lakeuden Panimojuhlat (Beer Festival) in Seinäjoki. Guest: Jyri Ojaluoma, Brewmaster – Mallaskoski Panimo Download an MP3 file of Episode 31 – Beer tasting at Mallaskoski Brewery Show Notes Situated on the banks of the river Seinäjoki, on the outskirts of the town of Seinäjoki, is the Mallaskoski Brewery, Bar and Restaurant, or Mallaskoski panimoravintola. It was reopened in 1998, and saw the rebirth of a previously ..read more

Episode 42 In part two of a two-part episode, I speak with Kalle Valkonen , Co-Founder and Head Distiller at Kyrö Distillery. He gives me a personal tour of the distillery, taking me step-by-step through the distilling processes of both Kyrö Rye Whisky & Kyrö Napue Gin and answering questions, such as: What is malting? And what are the ‘heads and tails’? Download an MP3 of A Guided Tour of Kyrö Whisky and Gin Distillery Kyrö Distillery Tour Malt storage and milling Mashing and fermenting Whisky distillation Whisky barrel storage Gin distillation Bottling room Finnish Wo ..read more

Episode 41 In part one of a two-part episode, I speak with Miko Heinilä, Co-Founder of Kyrö Distillery. He gives me selected highlights from the history of the village of Isokyrö, including the bloody Battle of Napue. Bringing things into modern times, he explains the origins of Kyrö Distillery, the ups-and-downs of a start-up company and their future plans to become the biggest rye whisky producer. Download an MP3 of The Bloody History of Isokyrö Village & the Origin of Kyrö Distillery Finnish Words Jauri – Lake (in Sámi language) Sisu – stoic determination, tenacity of purpose ..read more

Episode 37 Recorded in 2016, I speak to Marjo Matikainen-Källström, Satu Hallonberg and Markku Pulli about Karjalaisetkesäjuhlat; the commemoration of the evacuation of 430,000 people from Karelia after World War 2 and a celebration of continuing Karelian culture. I then speak to Satu (now Mrs Wiltshear) who shares some of her family’s memories as evacuees from Karjala. Download an MP3 of Preserving the Culture of a Lost Karelia Map of ‘Lost Karelia’ (Luovetettu Karjala). Image courtesy of http://www.hiitola.fi/ Finnish Words in the Episode Karjala – Eastern region of Finland (Kare ..read more

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