Wednesday 8 June 2011

New Dynamics of Language Learning: Spaces and Places - Intentions and Opportunities

I ordered my poster long ago early May, it didn't arrive on time, still haven't got it. Eero to the rescue while he was coming to fetch me from the airport he stopped off and had my poster printed on page that I could cut out and stick together to make a poster. So that's what I had to do, all my business bard handouts arrived in time too and I put those out with my make shift poster.

First night, there was a big meal. Jenni, Jenny, Annika, Marlen and myself sat and talked all night, nothing new there. Jenni won an Ipod nano for the achievement award!


Annika, Jenni, Marlen


Jenni and the ipod!

The second night after another whole day of conference was the city's turn to host an event in Keski Suomi Musueo, was a lovely night, hot, no one I knew went so I socialised alone and had a really good night, I talk to much but it was very interesting and gave me much more motivation for learning my Finnish and ways to present my works in presentations when the audience is not native English speakers.

This week is heatwave week, 26-30C and of course everywhere by bike, it's so hilly here and the 4km back home is always uphill!

Wednesday, today was our presentation day, which was fun, after the 150 people presentation, I find nothing puts me off now. Tonight, there was a cruise but it was too hot to bother with so I came home instead!


My poster and handouts

Thursday is the last day of the conference so it is busy and thankfully, only until 2pm!

I will upload a few more photos later when I get chance to put them on the computer

UK trip

Eero, dropped me off at the airport and it was such a lovely day to be leaving on. The flight landed 30 minutes early and the weather was sunny and hot in the UK, so I sunned myself waiting for mom and dad to pick me up.

Most of this holiday is a blur of vets, emergency dentists, building and gardening when I wasn't cooking.

First to the vets was Ebby the day I came, then her sister who is never ill. Maisy improved but the last few days I was there she took a turn for the worst and was so hot, went off food and drink and even her legs. We took her to the vets who politely said she is very ill you should prepare yourselves in case she needs to be put to sleep. She was admitted to the vets and I didn't get to see her before my departure, few days in the vets and few more at home and she is recovering from a very bad virus.

Then a few days in, I got bad pain in jaw, thought it was the remaining wisdom teeth playing up but a few days later, and many painkillers later, I discovered it was the tooth I have had nothing but trouble with since it was filled in the UK, that was the filling that ended my UK dental treatment but alas, in pain and stuck in the UK, I had to go back... the first filling hadn't been put in right and needed to be removed. Painkiller injection did nothing as the nerve was too irritated so I felt everything, and had a swollen face for a week. But it's good again now so that's something, I suppose.

Dad and me went shopping for garden and tortoise garden flowers and I planted those and the hanging basket for the front garden. Then dad and me started to build the car porch and replaced the old cat flap with a new one and scanned in the cats, apart from little Maisy who was at the vets.

Part of the tortoise garden


Days, were spent shopping for anything that was too expensive here and some new clothes for Eero and some new jeans for me! I then packed shipment boxes and ordered there collection and delivery to Finland!!!

We had a jewellery party, just a small get together and a chance for Don, to get the word out for her new business! so much lovely stuff! Take a look some funky stuff! I brought the kids a backpack each and Libby a small stuffed toy for her 1st birthday! The boys loved their bags and they are most likely wore out already!

Saturday, Pete and Laura came to see me at the pub was a lovely evening. Pete has lost 6 stone!!! He's half the guy he once was and looks great for it! keep it up Pete! Laura, has filled me in on all their wedding plans which made me sad that I have to give up being a part of these things living so far away but I am excited about going to their wedding next year with Eero!!

Little Laura, also came to see me and some me her new bit of stuff =P and we went to Simone's and Gaz's new house and saw baby Ethan! Was such a good afternoon of catching up and gossiping, oh how I miss that with old friends! Later that night, mom, dad and me were invited to Ishy's house for dinner! Was gorgeous and mom is still going on about it now! Was a great day for catching up but so busy.

I spent a few days with my niece Eden and was allowed to style her hair without complaint from her (weird!! hehe) The day we took her home dad took me and mom to France and Belgium as I had never been, we just stopped for some photos and went back home! Really was a pointless adventure just to explore but I loved it!!

The horse on the hill!


France


My new allergy cake was too popular, I made 12 of them in the end they were 1kg cakes.

Lisa and Ian's engagement party was also an exciting event! Though Lisa hasn't planned the wedding yet, she's letting the side down!! hehehe xXx Spent it with Ishy too so we had a good gossip about love, life and the world!!!

We also went out for a few meals with family which was nice!

It was such a busy trip, I need a holiday to get over it!!!!