Our holiday started on Friday morning after my birthday when we drove in freezing temperature towards middle of Finland.  Stopping only to get more petrol, the arctic quality which works still in -40C.  Girls stayed at home, or on Friday still at school.  Our first goal was to check in to Lakomäen Metsäkartano where we were staying the first night.  We changed clothes to be ready for my brother's 50's birthday.  The official reception was from noon till 3pm and then the party was supposed to start at 6pm until Saturday.  Good party it was.  We orginised a quiz about my brother, great laugh :)  Then there was real karaoke equipment also.  Of course lots of good game for food, moose, wild boar and something else too.  And booze..  But I promised to be the driver so that we got some sleep before the trip to Lapland.  We left at midnight, Jouni and me and Hanna-Lea and Jaakko.

Saturday morning in Lakomäen metsäkartano:

Managed to get some sleep before wake up and our long drive.  H-L and Jaakko drove back to southern Finland as they had flights booked to Ivalo for Sunday.  We had 10hours drive.  Somehow I feel that it was good, arriving slowly gave us time to settle us down to holiday mood.  We saw Northern lights just when arriving to Saariselkä.  Wonderful scenes, white fields and lakes.  Clear road and not many other cars on the way.

Cottage was well equipped and situated.  H-L and Jaakko came with Jaakko's children while we were making breakfast on Sunday.  They had booked the other end of the cottage.  Well actually there were three appartments in the building, never met the people on the third if there was any.  Routines set quickly so that we had a slow morning, getting up around 10am, long breakfast and then to the slopes or skiing tracks for 4-5 hours.  Dinner at the cottage cooked either by us or next door.  Having wine, playing Uno or Trivial Pursuit and just chatting.  Late sauna before going to bed.

Temperature was quite mild -14 to -19C all week but wind made it really difficult.  One day they could not open the lifts in the slopes because of the wind.  That day spent at the slope for small children (pulkkamäki) and shopping.   Cold was just bearable when having all the layers right under the jacket, I had maybe 4 different underware and face covered totally.  But fun altogether.  Don't know if all the chocklate with Stroh had anyting to do with the good feeling.  Basicly we had a break in every third or fifth way down when feeling coldest.

Our neighbours left home on Friday evening and our 1000km trip started on Sat morning.  Weather was fine and driving easy.  We watched movie, King's speech on the way, one at a time while other was driving.  One lunch stop and one technical to fill the tank.  Took 12,5 hours to get home.