30th March- 5th April, -5- 0C, Snow, Cloudy, Windy, Foggy

Apologies to all my blog readers for not being able to blog for one full week!:...( Sometimes I have to work a little later than usual... visit bars with Antti, Johanna etc, perform my favourite hobby (Grocery Shopping- I never FAIL to buy something I dont need!!:D), do some exercise, laundry, iron my clothes and so on!!

This week was by far the WORST week of my life! Work was great as usual, after having known them for at least two weeks now, we are definitely starting to get comfortable with one another:) The main pathetic crap ass potato shit problems came from my dear old BICYCLE. every single darn day, this bike never cooperates. It presents me with a very unique and complex set of problems I couldnt solve.... WORST THING IS: at the WRONG TIME! Allow me to state a few examples so that I can get this boiling heat off my head!!

On Monday, I woke up early and prepared myself for work, which starts at 8 am... With my bicycle it usually takes me around 20 minutes for me to get to my workplace, and I usually leave the house at around 7.25am. While cycling to work, halfway at Kekkola neighbourhood, the chains just gave way and flew off ... IT GAVE WAY AND FLEW OFF... I stood there thinking for one minute...HOW IN BIRD'S CAGE CAN THIS CHAIN EVEN FLY OFF THE BICYCLE?!?! I was almost late for work, as I hurriedly pushed the bicycle back to my home to fix it. My hands were black and greasy when I arrived home and I was MAD!! Fortunately those Ang Moh Aunties never fail to make my day hahaha:D

I went back home... and the EXACT SAME BLOODY THING HAPPENED... I was really boiling... but having no choice, I walked and pushed the bicycle 3km back home! (I only sat on the bicycle when going downslope he he he:) As I walked, people were zooming past me on their dear old bicycles... Then I thought to myself again: WHO ON THIS PLANET PUSHES A BICYCLE INSTEAD OF CYCLE THEM!?!?!?" Arrived back home 30 minutes later then usual:( I could have killed everyone around me man!!! As i didn't know how to repair bicycles, I simply tightened some bolts and knobs. And everything was back to normal:)

On Tuesday, after work I was supposed to meet Antti for a game of badminton. Halfway while cycling to the Hospital campus, 4 kilometres away, my bicycle chains gave way AGAIN and it got stuck. It took almost 30 minutes to fix it and considering that my hands became black and greasy, I couldn’t wear my gloves and my hands were freezing! Worse still, I cycled towards the wrong direction and got lost! By the time I arrived, I was already 30 minutes and couldn’t play as a result. I felt really bad that Antti had been waiting for me, and was burning at my bicycle... so much so that it could have MELTED before me!!! I cycled all the way back with fury and OF ALL TIME AND PLACES, my rear tire punctured, RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF A ROAD! Fortunately there were no cars. I then pushed my bicycle to one corner of a block, AND KICKED THE HELLISH CRAP OUT OF IT. IVE NEVER FELT SO SHIT PISSED ALL MY LIFE!!

I was laughing myself as I walked back home as this was the unluckiest day of my LIFE! What a day, SERIOUSLY:D I was going to Helsinki the next day and I had no choice but to take the public transport:....( 6SGD just for one ride on the bus... its INSANE!!

Wednesday was a great day as I was invited by Haaga-Helia AMK to do a presentation on Singapore for the incoming exchange students. Guess what happened???:) The public bus didnt come on time... my train was at 7.30am... and the bus only arrived at 7.20am...I arrived at 7.35am... The train left... I guess you get the point! Fortunately I met one guy who happened to have missed the same train as I did! His name was Jenne. He lived just next block to mine and we had great fun chit-chatting on the train.

As this was my first train ride to Helsinki. It was definitely one Hell of a ride:D The trains were travelling at at least 120km/hr and I managed to stop by at a few cities, notably Tampere! The scenery was beautiful and GORGEOUS! And it became warmer as I approached Helsinki (further south). Arrived at Pasila station three hours later!

The presentation went all well, as I was helped by an Eurasian Girl called Stella. We clicked almost immediately as we started communicating in Singlish! At first I thought she was Finnish... then she said,"You from Singapore arh??" It sure was great fun! Managed to arrive home by night fall to join Antti and Riku for dinner at a pizzeria. Arrived home at 11pm.

I had to take the bus to work the next day. After work, I walked 10 kilometres to Prisma Supermarket to buy a new rear tire and tube I was thinking about the bicycle melting down and being thrown into the lake of fire as I walked. Managed to purchase my bicycle tube and walked another 3 kilometres back home to realize that I had purchased the wrong type...¤%&?!#%&%!?!&%&!??#%¤... Fortunately, Jaakko, the great guy who gave me his bicycle, came over to help me! He was nice enough to drive me back to the supermarket and we had to purchase a new tire as the old ones were in serious condition. We nearly got ripped off by one guy who tried to sell us a 17 Euro tire. As it was way beyond my budget, we took a gamble and purchased a 6 Euro tire… and it Fitted PERFECTLY!! It was tough work as we had to fix the thing under freezing rain. I owe Jaakko one big favour! He saved me from the killing transport costs and lots of time!

Cycled to work again the next day... AND ANOTHER NEW DAMN PROBLEM!! THE PEDALS GOT STUCK EVERYTIME I STEPPED ON IT... And AGAIN... for the 4th TIME, I had to push my bicycle and walk to work:(:(:( ...... and BACK!! For almost the past week, I arrived at my work place ANGRY... and arrive back HOME FUMING... Fortunately the problem is solved for now... But I certainly hope this bicycle wont give me any problem in the future:(

Also... Considering the expensive rental of apartments + grocery costs here. I have written a letter to my manager Eeva for a training allowance... I certainly hope she will grant me the money:) Fingers crossed people!!!

That’s all for week 5. Spring is definitely as 90% of the snow has melted away, really quickly! Im definitely looking forward to summer! Oh yes oh yes... I have a small little box on my balcony for little birds to grab a bite... I have placed grapes... leftover bread... (all expired) into the box and they seemed to LOVEEEEE IT:) as they always disappear so fast... even bread slices the size of my PALM!! Then I realised who the greedy rude culprit was... Some HUGE flying penguin bird has been grabbing all the food and leaving those poor hummingbirds with nothing... SO RUDEEE!! But if im not wrong... that bird lives just one tree away and has little kids... so i think its all cool:D I also believe this bird is the national bird of Finland... so better give way if not it will bite me hehehehe!! Thats all folks... And OH YES OH YES.... Im going to lappland this Friday... Northern Lights and Santa Claus Village here I COME:D

Kovski

alone in the snow...2:24 PM