“The wonderful dexterity of Hannu Mikkola, makes me want to shake hands with the whole of Finland”
– Architecture and Morality Ted and Alice
So… what do we know about Finland?
The A to Z of HMHB
The A to Z of HMHB
“The wonderful dexterity of Hannu Mikkola, makes me want to shake hands with the whole of Finland”
– Architecture and Morality Ted and Alice
So… what do we know about Finland?
bobby svarc
Jari Rantenan, massive centre forward for Leicester, split his shorts 3 times in a night game againsr Plymouth, scored twice though, Had to have special sized shorts made at Admiral, couldn’t hit pigs Arse with a banjo after that though, went back to Helsinki, my mate said “what as? a fookin glass collector” …….Helsinki was nightclub in Leicester
23 November 2014
BrumbiscUit
Has a sizeable Swedish-speaking minority; the left-overs of the ruling classes when Finland was a Swedish domain. My ex was one of them and was forever pointing out famous Finns who were Swedish speakers: Tove Jansson (author of the Moomin books) and Dick Quax’s nemesis, Lasse Virén, for example. Has a language that sounds like its speakers have swallowed a Gatlin gun. Cold and dark this time of year. Maudlin bunch, by and large.
23 November 2014
peter mcornithologist
A land ,which according to an old Monty Python song,is largely ignored. However,often cited as having one the planets best education systems and was once described as the best country in which to live.
23 November 2014
Dr Desperate
Finnish, like some other Uralic languages, exhibits vowel harmony and an agglutinative morphology, which probably goes to explain the swallowed-a-Gatling-gun sound.
23 November 2014
dickhead in quicksand
Swedish is an official language, which doesn’t half save translation money when filing official documents.
Finland has a rather unfortunate resemblance to something or other on those Euro coins which only show EU countries. If you find yourself near the Kiel Canal, don’t drink the yellow water.
23 November 2014
Mattkin as-is
If I remember rightly, they decided not to use those silly 1 and 2 cent coins when the Euro was introduced.
23 November 2014
BrumbiscUit
Like most of the Nordic countries (Finland isn’t Scandinavian), the sale of most alcoholic drinks is very tightly regulated. The ferries from Finland to Sweden are often packed with semi-comatose people who have made the most of the cheap(er) alcohol available on board. I am almost ashamed to admit that I did as the Romans did and got bladdered on the ferry from Umeå to Vaasa and led a chorus of ‘Shit on the Villa’ by the taxi rank upon arrival. Got quite a few joining in, as it happens. Obviously Bluenoses up there.
23 November 2014
liquid len
>DICKHEAD IN QUICKSAND
Bollocks
23 November 2014
peter mcornithologist
Not often in the news as Her policemen do not murder 12 year olds. Also they don’t whinge and sob when they have a covering of snow.
25 November 2014
BrumbiscUit
Finns don’t whinge? Crikey, I’ve not met a more downbeat, glass-half-empty bunch. And that’s including Hungarians!
25 November 2014
peter mcornithologist
@Brumbiscuit. If they are more miserable than those morose Magyars,then Finland is henceforth removed from my places to visit.
25 November 2014
peter mcornithologist
Holds an annual wife carrying competition.The winner receives his wifes weight in beer.
10 January 2015
BrumbiscUit
The Coventry City F.C. owners/blood letters are called Sisu, which alerted me to a possible Finnish connection and indeed there is one.
Sisu is a Finnish trait that names an inner resolve they say they have to keep going whatever the obstacle. Hard to translate, but a combination of stubbornness, courage and inner resolve. Indefatigability is the closest I can get. All in all, sisu is easier to say, don’t you think?
11 January 2015
peter mcornithologist
While delivering presents in Finland, Santa parks his sleigh and rides upon his pet goat, Ukko.
20 March 2015
peter mcornithologist
Finland hosts The Annual World Mobile Phone Throwing Championships.
6 April 2015
peter mcornithologist
Koskenkorva. Only drink in moderation. Just arisen. Did Mr. Brumbiscuit partake whilst working in Finland?
17 December 2015
EXXO
I once spilt some of the 60% on my bare foot and it burned a hole into me flesh.
A Finn I one met in Iceland carried a packet of Fishermens Friends, made in Fleetwood, for grinding up and mixing with vodka. Not a personal peculiarity but a common drink there, and apparently that’s what you will get if you ask for a ‘fish’ in a Helsinki bar.
Anyway you seem like a happy drunk – liked the Magritte quote and can see its relevance to the HMHB ethos.
17 December 2015
Brumbiscuit
I was working in Umeå, Sweden, just over the Gulf of Bothnia from Vaasa in Finland. As it happens, the school I was at was teetotal, although…
17 December 2015
Peter mcornithologist
First country to encounter Kosovo in a World Cup Qualifier. Not concerned about medals for riding bikes.
5 September 2016
Peter Mcornithologist
If ever a land did not warrant ?
18 August 2017
peter mcornithologist
Only European Nation in which homelessness decreases.
10 July 2018
brumbiscuit
BBC4 documentary on tonight about Nokia & its effect on Finland…
10 July 2018
peter mcornithologist
Holds an annual hobbyhorse racing championship .
5 July 2019
Bobby Svarc
Qualified for Euro 2020, their first major football finals. ‘shake hands’.
17 November 2019
PETER MCORNITHOLOGIST
Finland has won the ice hockey gold medal at the Olympics for the first time .UPEAA !!!
!
20 February 2022
FEATURELESS TV PRODUCER STEVE
UPEAA indeed! (I had to look that up, of course.)
While the vast majority of my fellow North Americans will look at Finland’s gold as largely meaningless, what with NHL players not participating, I for one was overjoyed. The Finns have been slowly developing a world class hockey program, especially at the junior level, where they’ve won more golds than anyone except Canada at the IIHF World Juniors. And whilst this was their first Olympic gold, they’ve taken gold at the World Championships three times since 1995, along with seven silvers. Amazing accomplishments for a country of less than 6 million people. UPEAA!
And, I don’t know, as I’m no historian, but maybe beating Russia for the gold was especially rewarding for them?
21 February 2022
The Bullet of Escobar
Always observe a 3 second rule when you finish a sentence. They’re just processing what a dumb comment you’ve made and they haven’t had the alcohol yet for conversation.
11 August 2023
Brumbiscuit
For an example of Finnish humour, seek out the film Leningrad Cowboys Go America by Aki Kaurismaki. Bone dry is not the word, but if that’s your thing, side-splittingly funny. I was most amused.
11 August 2023
Transit full of Keith
Havent seen that for years but a good film. As if Spinal Tap had been directed by Jim Jarmusch.
11 August 2023