things ... what

things happen
life goes
people wonder
sometimes souls
are happy
sometimes not
no matter
what
__
by Katrin in October 2010
art by 5-year-old Mari Lee - nine tunnels

Armastus #2

Another version of the previous regilaul, no translation this time:

Armastus tuleb aegamööda
astub aia ääri mööda
Eile eelmine eemaldus
et ei ehmuks hellakene
Ise ihkab ihaleda
ilma ilut imesteda
Ootamatuid ootamisi
uhkes ulmas uneleda
Õeke õisi õnnisteleb
ämma hälli äiuteleb
Öösel ööbikul ööjutud
üle kõige armastus
___
by Katrin in November 2009
photo by Ian in Wales (?)

Armastus #1

After searching and listening a lot of ancient Estonian folk songs (regilaul) made one myself.
Left it be for a year or so and then decided to try and translate:

Armastus tuleb arutades
- Love comes considering
arutades arvestades
- considering figuring
arglikult ja aegamööda
- timidly and slowly
astub aia ääri mööda
- steps by the edges of the fence
 
Eile eelmine eemaldus
- yesterday the previous withdrew
et ei ehmuks hellakene
- for the brownie would not be startled
ise ihkab ihaleda
- oneself craves to desire

ilma ilut imesteda
- to admire the beauty of the world (or weather)

Ootus lootus ohkab ihkab
- Expectation hope sighs craves
oivalisi ootamisi
- marvelous waitings
unes näeb ulmas unistab
- sees in dreams daydreams in a vision

uusi uhkeid ulakusi
- new proud naughties

Õde õhkab venda vihkab
- Sister sighs hates the brother
ämma äiutab väetit
- the mother-in-law lulls the puny

öösel ööbikul ööjutud
- in the night the nightingale's night chats
üle kõige armastus
- above all the love

the point in the Estonian version is the alphabethical alliteration - the words in rows start with A, E, I, O, U, Õ, Ä, Ö, Ü...

___
in Estonian and translation by Katrin
art by 5-year-old Mari Lee

Finland - #16

I struggled through
the deep snow
with more following fast

I struggled through
the bitter cold and
with more following fast

I struggled through
hunger and tiredness
with more following fast

eventually arrived at Walhalla
and what's this to say about my journey
it was closed!

poem and photo by Ian

Finland - #2

(Posting poems about snow in summer doesnt seem right so I have posted them now even though I wrote them months ago)
Out at Sea
Bracing against the wind
defying the beating waves
a fortress in the sea

Snow all around
Sun is blinding
a mix of hot and cold
I must guard

So I stand here
against incoming armies
against incoming tides
and against the deep loneliness
until the snow melts and flowers bloom

photo and poetry by Ian

Iceland #8

there i sit
on a stone
like an elf
when no one is
around
i admire the
landscape
and peacefulness
but when someone comes
round the corner

I am gone!

poem and photo by Ian

Nature Photo Contest in Rakke School

Take a look at http://www.rakkeg.ee/lfv_2010.php .

The Nature Photos Contest electronic voting until Dec. 6.
You can vote once in 12 hours from one external computer for one photo.
Vote by clicking on the button 'Meeldib'.

___
ad by Katrin
photo by Ian in Wales (?) (note from Ian: "Yes that is the Welsh moon :)"

Iceland #23

and she sleeps tonight
and she dreams of love
of the beautiful sky
of the golden silence
of the one true person
of that moment that it all came together

when the fire burnt
and the moon met the mountain

poem and photos (photos from same night of bonfire) Ian

Iceland #21

Lava burning
sweeping
fast
like love
racing through your veins

Glacier
cool
slow
like someone important in your life
leaving a longing impression

Written on a walk near Landmannalaugar looking over at the Lava fields and remembering the Glacier at Skaftafell.
Poem by Ian and photo of Glacier near Skaftafell by Ian

Iceland #17

the earth
rumbles
all through the valley
like a troll
roaring
marking out its territory
beware of its bite!

photo and poem by ian

Iceland #16

like saving an ice cube
in the sun

youth and beauty
may melt away

but the important part remains
like the life giving water

photo and poem by Ian

Iceland #14

How can one place
make you feel so homesick
that drives you
to all the silly things
you miss
like
the flower in your garden
that you usually ignore
yet somewhere else
that flower just feels
like home?

Photo and Poem by Ian

Iceland #12 - Me

I spy
with my little eye
something
beginning
with
I

Photo and Poem by Ian

Iceland #10

Why volunteer?
it seems so much hard work!

yes it is I agree!

lying on rocks

sleeping after a lunch throwing
small stones at a bucket

in the hot sun

i agree its hard!

Photo and Poem by Ian

P.s. you can volunteer on such hard working trips at:
www.btcv.org
http://www.elfond.ee/

Iceland #7

Trip trap trip trap
goes the troll
crossing the wooden bridge
over the deep valley

Splish Splash Splish Splash
goes the troll
having a shower in the waterfall
using moss for a towel

Slurp gulp slurp gulp
goes the troll
having a long cold refreshing drink
from the little windy stream

Stomp Crunch Stomp Crunch
goes the troll
avoiding the hidden holes and valleys
over the glacier face

Bang Clatter Bang Clatter
goes the troll
Jumping down the hillside
and starting little rockfalls

Rumble grumble rumble grumble
goes the troll
thinking of his next meal
that he will surely find soon

Then shhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh

as he waits...

round the next bend

for...


YOU!


Photo and Poem by Ian

For people who do like Trolls.. and like puppets (maybe one for the kids)
I have seen it recommended to go to the Estonian State Puppet theatre (although never been myself)
Anyway they do the troll boy which is described here :)

Iceland #6

Around every bleak corner
every random peak
every rock fall
every untouched place
behind every waterfall
in every shadow
under all the ice
there are monsters
Poking out through the centuries
and they will live on
through the sagas
the stories
the songs
and if you belief they do

Poem and Photo by Ian

Iceland #4

Like a written page
slowly and silently
shifting down
the valley
The Glacier's meaning
only seems to make sense
at the end
with its dropped boulders

poem and photo by Ian

P.S. :) Yes this was another conservation (not conversation as Katrin pointed out) holiday, this time in Iceland. Involving fixing paths and pulling Lupin. Details of BTCV holidays can be found at www.btcv.org.uk

Iceland #2

#2
Is it worth chasing
from side to side
from point to point
always just quite missing
what was to be seen in the crowd
when you can sit patiently and wait
and see a magical moment?

poem and photo by Ian

Iceland #1

Poems and Photos from Iceland trip 2010...
In 1991 (just over 19 years ago), "Iceland became the first nation to recognise the newly restored independence of Estonia" - wikipedia . In fact there is an Iceland Square (Estonian: Islandi väljak ) in Tallinn ... anyway back to my Icelandic poetry...



#1
The sun dips down
but never sets
on the night life
which only seemed to start
when the sun flirts with the horizon

poem and photo by Ian

Star Haiku

If you concentrate
the dark sky will show Venus
and two shiny stars

by Ian, written in a tent in Iceland.... see following posts over the next weeks for more Icelandic poems

Similiar ideas are explored here by Katrin

Misserfolg

I was told
how she was failure in life
Miss Erfolg
The receptionist at the local hospital
How her mother was upset that she wouldn't be a proud grandmother
no child to continue her line
no grandkid to coo over
How her father was disappointed
that she wasn't a doctor
a daughter with a great career
and something to boast about
How her colleagues looked down on her
saying that she must know so little
being in the position she is
her thoughts can be just dismissed out of hand

But all the names
they wanted to give her
and all the sections
they wanted to place her
did not mean they defined her

As Whilst others earnt more and in large debt
she saved so had more money then them

Whilst others had kids
she knew this was not for her

Whilst work colleagues ignored her
she stood up and spoke her heart to willing audiences

Whilst others stayed inside blocking out neighbours
She volunteered and helped society

Whilst others were to judge everything
she was willing to listen

Whilst some people called her Miss Erfolg
I know her name was Erma Erfolg

As she was not a failure
She was herself

by ian
__
picture by 5-year-old Mari Lee

1st Anniversary

It all started here a year ago!





I thought it would be fitting to have an Estonian Poem here. A poem I found about the Emajõgi river. A river that flows from one lake (Võrtsjärv) to another (Peipsi). It flows through Tartu and past Palupõhja (which is where we were based for our volunteering).

Betti Alver was born in Jõgeva and live from 1906 to 1989. She is one of Estonia's notable poets and more information can be found
here.

I have included both the Estonian and an English version of the poem.

Korallid Emajões - Betti Alver (from a collection of the same name)

Ikka meenuvad minutid
millal
viras vikerkaar
üle vee.

Me seisime raudsel sillal.
Sinu ees oli
raudne tee.

Aeg raputas aardeid mu ette.
sinu ees oli
raudne tee.

Raudsillal
viskasin vette
ma punakorallidest
kee.

Kõik mu aegade aarded on hallid.
Jumet
pole ka jumalatõel.

Veepõhjast
vaid punakorallid
vahel vilavad
Emajõel.


English version
(From Tuulelaeval valgusest on aerud. Windship with Oars of Light. Estonian Modern Poetry, Huma, Tallinn 2001)

My own note here is that the translator decided to say "Ancient River" whilst the original text specifies Emajõgi which means Mother River. Ema being mother and jõgi being river. The Emajõgi is mentioned in the title and also on the last line.

Corals in an Ancient River

A shimmering rainbow’s high ridge
arched over the river that day.
We stood on the cast-iron bridge;
ahead lay your iron-paved way.

Time’s treasures have all lost their lustre,
God’s truth has a dull, lifeless glimmer;
but the river flows stronger and faster
where the beads of coral still shimmer.


This along with other poems by Betti Alver can be found at the Estonian Literary Magazine.

Gustav Suits - Estonian Poet: Identity and Independence

 

Gustav Suits – Estonian Poet: Identity and Independence. by Ian F


Here is a speech I did for the Brownedge festival 2010 on a night titled "Poetry From Around the World". I chose an Estonian poet as I thought no one else would choose this. I knew I wasnt going to say anything new but gathered all the information I could to try and tell a story of Identity and Independence. There were a couple of comments at the end saying how it was interesting and they didnt know about such things... so it did its job.. hopefully it will do the same for you...

Gustav Suits was an Estonian poet born in 1883. He is considered to be one of the greatest poets of the country.

First I think I should explain the place he came from. Estonia is a country that lies south across the Baltic Sea from Finland. Finland is also considered to be one of the closest neighbours in consideration to the language. On the Eastern border of Estonia is Russia and on the south border is Latvia another Baltic state.

The Estonian landscape is very flat with the highest peak (Egg Hill) being around 318m, which is smaller then the size of Rivington Pike, Lancashire. The area of Estonia is about 45,000 Km2 which is bigger then the size of Wales, however its population is about 1.3 million people. This means there is a lot of room for nature and nature reserves including forests with wolves, bears , places to pick blueberries and hundreds of species of birds. As well as a lot of nature there is a room for a lot of little towns.
Gustav Suits was born to a village teacher in one of these tiny towns called Võnnu in the late 19th century. During this time Estonia was part of the Russian Empire, having in the past been ruled by countries such as Germany and Sweden. Twelve years later Suits moved to Tartu. Tartu is the second largest city in Estonia, smaller in population then Preston, Lancashire.

Suits had his first poem published when at the age of 16 and a couple of years later he was involved in a literature circle of school children. They were called The friends of Literature and included A.H. Tammsaare who would become, as some would see, Estonia’s greatest novelist.

Suits was then involved in with a group called Noor Eesti (which translated is Young Estonia). Young Estonia followed on from the national movement in the late 19th century in literature. (In the late 19th century Kalevipoeg the national epic was written, which was composed of various folktales of Estonia. This epic along with other poets and writers could be seen as a pre-cursor to Young Estonia.

Suits wrote the phrase in one of their publications saying “ Let us be Estonians, but also become Europeans”. Which may give an indication of the viewpoint of Estonians at the time.

Historians have varied views on Young Estonia group. Some say that is started a new Era in Estonian Literature, however others say that it just continued on what was started in the 19th Century. Anyway Young Estonia tried to extend literature influences to France and Nordic Countries. Although some people criticised the group for being alien, that they imitated other nations and other criticisms the group was essential in Estonian literature development.

After spending some time in Finland Suits was offered the position of Professor at the university in Tartu. This was in 1921 and just a few years into independence for Estonia. At the university there was some development in the fact that he was the first professor of literature to teach in Estonian, and his work as a scholar and professor as groundbreaking. He wrote papers on older Estonian work and made contacts and lectures through Europe.

However independence did not last long, only lasting 22 years from 1918. Estonia only seeing independance again in 1991. In 1941 Suits house was burnt down and his many scholarly papers were lost. He fled to Stockholm via Finland , along with many other Estonians. He did manage to continue his scholarly work and produce more poetry before he died in Stockholm, where he is now buried.

He is an important figure in Estonia and one of his poems is quoted on a monument for independance in Tallinn.


I have found two poems of Suits to try and show some of the themes I tried to pick out in my talk. His poetry had various themes including militant and romantic.
He had a collection of poems called Land of Winds. Some people suggest that this was his name for Estonia, others that it was about himself. The two poems I chose were "My Island" and "Under Quivering Aspens". Both of these can be found here to read along with two other poems.



I know I have said nothing new here but I hope this has inspired you to find out more!!
You may struggle to find some information on Estonian Poetry. So here are some resources that I used for my talk:
Estonian Literary Magazine and Article on Gustav Suits
Wikipedia entry for Gustav
Suits
__
speech by Ian
art by 7-year-old Laas Hendrik

Baturin ... pray ... request ... please ...

at school did a research
about Nikolai Baturin
who is still one
of my favourite Estonian poets.

He has even a homepage
even partly in English,
but no translations of poems.

Some examples of his poems in Estonian
can be found by link 'Luulekogud'
(collections (kogud) of poetry (luule))
on http://www.baturin.pri.ee/
(the first one in a really old version of Estonian language
that is quite difficult to understand
for young Estonians too).

One example (nicely translatable):
Kui oskaks (if one could) palvetada (to pray)
nagu (like) valetada (to lie),
paneks (would put) käed (hands) kokku (together),
paluks (would request) mäed (mountains) kokku (together).

ok - the last 'kokku (together)'
is quite untranslatable.
it's not like
'would ask the mountains to come together'
but more like
'would ask huge mountains of everything i'd ever want to be mine'.

similarity of the words 'palvetada' (to pray)
and 'paluda' (to ask/request
(in the poem the form 'paluks'
with the -ks ending as 'would')).

the first form of the word 'paluma'
is 'palun' (direct translation 'I ask/request')
that means also the English word 'please'
and is one of the two most important words
to teach to polite children
- the other on is of course
'tänan/aitähh' (thanks).

The word 'palun' is used mostly in 2 kinds of situations -
when one wants something ('please give me')
and when one gives something to someone
(like 'palun anna (give me) ...'
- 'palun' (when giving the thing asked)
- 'tänan' (when taking the thing given).

I'm not sure
whether in English
'please' is used when giving sth
or then rather more 'here you go/are' or sth like that.

and also I don't know
what are the old roots
of the English word 'please'
but in Estonian
it is obviously connected with the
in-English-differently-sounding words
'palvetama' ('to pray' like 'God please give me...')
and 'paluma' ('to ask/request' like 'anyone, please give me...').

and 'paluma' (to ask/request) is often used
instead of 'palvetama' (to pray)
- some people say 'palvetama' (to pray)
some people say 'jumalat paluma' (to ask/request the God).

but we don't say 'palvetama' (to pray)
in situations
not connected with God
and we don't say 'jumalat palvetama',
but we sometimes say 'palvetama Jumala poole'
(to pray towards the God).

well, I'm really amazed
that English people have invented
3 absolutely different words (to pray, to request, please)
for the concepts
so closely connected
in Estonian :)

and I think you are very right
that in Estonia
singing/lyrics/poetry/literature
has been a way
of showing
identity
and independence.

could never put it
in words
so simply
myself :)

___
poem by Nikolai Baturin

translations ... explanations ... contemplations ... by Katrin
photo by Ian in Wales 2010

The Poem on Eesti Vabadussammas

poem identified :)

The first part of the poem on the monument :

Tõsta lipp! Las aja käänul
lehvib tõotus tuulte väänul
üle mandri, üle vee:
tund on tulnud vannet vandu,
ei iial enam andu
ikke alla rahvas see!

quite untranslatable
word by word.

the main idea
that this (see)
nation (rahvas)
will vow
(in the poem 'tund (the hour)  
on tulnud (has come)  
vannet (the oath in 3rd form)  
vandu (to vow)')
never (iial)
to be occupied
by anyone
any more
('andu ikke alla'
- really old
and poetic
way to say
'not be occupied').

probably there is
some translation
somewhere
in the world
or even in Internet
but no idea
how to find that...

and would not
help much in learning
Estonian
i guess :)

don't know much
about Gustav Suits.
but u post on blog
everything u find out,
would be really interesting,
really :)

___
poem in Estonian by Gustav Suits on Estonian National Freedom Monument
translation-explanation by Katrin
photo by Jenn in Palupõhja 2009

alliteration - algriim

alliterations - words  same letter/sound. It is used in very old poetry and Scandanvian type poetry like Beowulf...) :))
___
alliterations are in Estonian old songs too. the Estonian word is 'algriim' - 'alg' as the beginning of the word 'algus' that means 'beginning' and 'riim' meaning 'rhyme' that usually means the same sounding of the ends of the rows but in 'algriim' the rhyme is in the beginning instead of end. in one word - alliteration :) some examples of Estonian old songs (regilaul) here http://www.folklore.ee/UTfolkl/loengud/poeetika/2alliteratsioon.html
___
explanations by Ian and Katrin
picture by 7-year-old Laas Hendrik in 2010

What is 'Best Wishes' in Estonian?

parimate soovidega,

now a bit of Estonian grammar:
parim - the best
soov - wish
parim soov - the best wish
parima soovi - 2nd form of the best wish (makes base for most of the other 14 forms)
parima sooviga - wish the best wish (ending -ga meaning with)
parimad soovid - the best wishes (ending -d meaning plural)
parimate soovide - 2nd form of the best wishes in plural (still making base for most of the other 14 forms in plural)
parimate soovidega - with the best wishes (combining the plural ending -d (that in parimate changes to t) and with-ending -ga that adds only to the last word)

___
language explaining by Katrin
photo by Ian of Michelle and Jenn in Wales 2010

#39 - 2010 - on ferry back

On ferry back

Subconcious hears and learns

"Kiitos!"

... automatically becomes thank you!

O hang on... thats not right

Is it not

Aitäh?

by Ian
___
photo by Ian of the House with the Picture in Tartu 2010

#37 again - 2010 - shall my life...

shall my life
be told
and retold?

like Kalev
and Kalevipoeg

shall I be an inspiration
a starting place
for some

or maybe at least some
character helping him on his tasks

by Ian
__
photo by Ian of a Man made of Tree Roots looking like Kalevipoeg in Emumägi 2010

#37 - 2010 - so I stand...

So I stand waiting
for the ferry to Helsinki
and the rest of my life
no promises this time about
when coming back
but promises that I will
and hopes that others will visit
I wait and try to write
the perfect poem for Estonia
but o well...


will wait for next time


by Ian

__
photo by Ian of the Closed Walhalla To Be Seen Next Time in Helsinki 2010

#35 - 2010 - and here I am...

and here I am again

and again

again


maybe another day

we will seeeeeeeeee...


by Ian
___
photo of a Part of a Duck by Ian
(check also the photo here http://palupohja2009.blogspot.com/2010/04/why-am-i-here.html :))

#34 - 2010 - hit by friendly fire...

hit by friendly fire
in the back

one person

then the next

luckily just a snowball
and a look around

a friend
Revenge!

... will come later...

I shall wait... :)

by Ian
___
photo by Ian of the National Flag Lowered with the National Anthem while they had a Snowball Fight in Tallinn 2010

Conservation Holidays in Palupõhja in August 2010 - Estonian Registration Opened!

This summer there will be 2 different Conservation Holidays in Palupõhja both with 6 Estonians + 6 British participants.

Estonian info and registration pages here:
#1 - Aug 3.-6.(11.) - http://www.talgud.ee/talgud/2010/alam-pedja-1
#2 - Aug 17.-20.(25.) - http://www.talgud.ee/talgud/2010/alam-pedja-2
See www.btcv.org for british entry - ian
___
info by Katrin
photo of the 2009 group from the #1 Conservation Holiday page, taken by ... Allan

#13 revisited - you make your own...

You make your own luck
maybe fashion it
out of some haphazard plan
like some crazy pattern in a rock

You make your own luck
maybe keeping that promise
and it coming back
to pay you two fold

You make your own luck
even if thirteen is all around:

the thirteenth stop,

13 on the book

on the Tallinaa Leivake

and on the row of the Plane

embrace your luck and it will embrace you

by Ian
___
photo by Ian in Tallinn 2010

adventure #3

adventure is
when your head aches
as much as your feet..


it takes a few days
before you can
tred either path

by Ian
___
photo by Ian of the Moon next to Town Hall Tower in Tartu 2010

#32 - 2010 - Loyalty

Loyalty is like the trusting of the sun
After a long snowy winter
with a glimpse of melting
before the sun
shows its loyalty
and it comesback and the snow melts
and so like the sun
I come back
chasing a wintry path
following a promise left last summer
but somehow I was warmed
more then I warmed others

by Ian
___
photo by Ian of the Sun in Helsinki 2010

Estonian Recipes on BBC and elsewhere!

The Hairy Bikers are two cooks in Britain. One from The North East and the other from Cumbria I believe. They are very entertaining and do do variety of recipes. From Raw Fish (Gravalax) from Norway to Estonian Kringle
Their new Mum's know best book is currently out, whether you want to buy this is up to you :)
However there are a few links to Estonian recipes and things are here
from facebook :

and a link here to the bbc page with a video (if it will allow in your region) and a pdf of some recipes (which appear in book)
which include lovely pork recipes and some nice desserts (probably :))

Please note that the hairy bikers dont appear in the video on the page..(which is why no one looks like their description :))

but other recipes can be found here

and their own page can be found here

So enjoy your Estonian Cooking!
___
post by Ian, title modified by Katrin
photo by Ian of a Wolf looking at Food in Helsinki 2010

#30 - 2010 - There once was

There once was a man from Tartu
who didnt know what he could do
maybe travel to Tallinn
with a le coq and a gin
but walking back be to far to Tartu

A Tartu limerick by Ian

___
photo by Ian in Tartu 2010
another photo of the same place in 2009 here http://palupohja2009.blogspot.com/2009/11/quick-tour-of-estonian-music.html

Estonia Quiz until 31 May - Win a trip!

Take a quiz and win a 6-day-trip for two to Estonia!
http://quiz.mfa.ee/quiz_2010
___

photo by Ian of his First Sight of Estonia in 2010

#28 - Summer house (my title :))

It was strange
in the summer house
not because the house was strange
not because the company was different
not because it wasnt summer with snow being all around
but because it was summer inside
with butterflies awake
trying to escape
into the cold and probably last days
They should have enjoyed
like me
the summer house more

by Ian

Photo in summerhouse of butterfly looking out to the snow

#26 - 2010 - Pedja river

Pedja river,
        long and wide
              winding river
   Never seeming to end,
but must slowly
   meet the sea.
        Never seeming to 
                  have a start
          like the universe
   an intriguing mystery.
Except we found
   the river source
           in a
             hut. 

by Ian

photo by Ian in Simuna - the start of the Pedja river - the river that ends near Palupõhja...

#24 - reprise

Train to Preston
Much snow now gone
and a small chimney on my house
near a small bus stop
friendly family
seemingly foreign language
but my own
personal questions
drive to Leyland
the place of low lands
flatish land
Many tales to tell once again
of flatlands
but for now

sleep ahead
and then I agree is the rest of my life

by Ian based on Katrin's
__
photo by Ian of the Start of the Pedja River in Simuna 2010

#24 part 4 - Tallinn

Finding Hotel
through melting snow
change shoes over again
they look a mess
o well
just a little late
finding Virge sat
at city hall
Piret arrive later
Another mini tour
Here you might remember this - Our hostel of last year
"Yes that's where I saw you last" I said
"You saying see you sometime"
Then over to monument
that I couldn't remember
and crossing over to steps
for Moscow Olympics
Then 2 snowballs in back
and HELLO HELLO
from Piret
Discussion of Stalker film
Then back over around town
Past Hotel Queen stayed at
and finally up to Toompea for lowering of flag and anthem
But Virge shouts REVENGE!
and throws a snowball at Piret
and a snowball starts
one narrowly misses my head
Virge sounds dissapointed
Finally we stop and the flag lowers
although the anthem was some snippet which wasnt so good
better in the morning
Can be heard all around!
Pancake place
which was busy last time
my pancacke with longnameicouldntpronounce but recognices had Juust
in it, was mushrooms and blue cheese
Ate whilst asking about Siim
Then off to find music in music festival
went to see Jazz
but Virge wanted to see Brainstorm
too expensive for both
So Bus
and bus ticket
which Piret pinched and punched for me
No Katrin this time

Insteresting Latvian bands
singing pandas
but Virge not translating this time :)
but I know that all songs are about the same thing
bopping Estonians
Screaming Latvians
Saku to drink
whilst we sat
then stood and bopped
and avoided the cameras
hopefully
Brainstorm on
good tunes
Never seeming to finish
even after encore
we leave with one tune playing on
Virge Taxi come first
Goodbyes and hugs
and once again "see you sometime"
Taxi with Piret
asking about Palupõhja
not this year
but one in future
and rememebering
a Kalev Chocolate
that Siim had asked to give me
finally hotel
Piret out for a hug
and taxi going off
but luckily she stopped it again
me saying hope she gets home
off to sleep if i can

but waking early trying to
catch sunrise but wasnt
when expected so back
and some more sleep
before off back to Helsinki
Bye Estonia for now

by Ian
___
photo by Ian in Tallinn 2010

#24 part 3 - Kadri

Alone again
wander and walk over bridges
one was 68 steps over
but later only 62 steps back
I write silly verses
until I think Kadri is back
from Grand Canyon
A nervous call
Right number?
right person answering?
Tere? Hello?
O Hello is this Ian?
Before I could really say
Yes
A cocoa, definately not hot chocolate
and fish soup with useful translation
A talk of travels
some photos of summerhouse
invited to Kadri home
Son playing new game from London
A drink
and some potato porridge
A look through brochures
from the Canyon
with some stories
No photos as with husband
now in Mexico
Talk of nature photos
what is nature
a talk of British Competition with wolf jumping
which was disqualified

Old book of Tartu                      

      1980
Interesting, as not sure whether its  promoting soviet or Estonia
Then to a page with old black and white photo
Again a deer
with her Bambi
Exactly the same
I laughed

Then
See you tomorrows and lift back

In the morning
Wondering if Kadri
was Sleeping off the flight
Another nervous call
Hi!
And then and impressive Tere hommikust
in car
as practised the morning before to Katrin and Teet

Shopping Centre
with Ice Hockey Pitch
and look for dad's present
hopefully a leaning flass
with leaning building
from Tartu
in past explained by Katrin
one side based on wood
the other on stone wall
I just hope the glass
survives
Anyway a postcard bought
and sent with Tartu Bridges
Also Tallinna Bread bought for train
Back to house
off to National Museum
This time no one paid for me
was free on Fridays
Kids camp inside
playing stringed instruments
and then someone with Estonian bagpipes
Different colour dress
different tools
different ways of life
timeline through ages
timeline through personal stories
which got to a Kadri's kids favourite pizza place
across the road
maybe not so good looking
but pizza good tasting
pizza all gone this time
A look around another hidden art gallery
This one scary
some distorted comic then distorted pencil drawings
of some nightmares
with a video playing with sound track of some other one
I said I hoped not to sleep on train
Then off to Train
with Kadri saying
I hope this was as expected
Yes it was
Good to see again
with tales of adventures
and stories of Estonia
and friendly times once more


So a quick good bye and off to train
but not before wanting to see photos of Grand Canyon and all

So on train I travel to Tallinn and eat my bread

by Ian
___
photo by Ian in 2010

#24 part 2-2 - Next day

Next day
Church only seen from bus by Katrin
and saw the statue of person
who made my pronounciation of Emajõgi all wrong
then
Zoological Museum
exhibits the same as when
Katrin was a child
butterflies
with many colours
the first determining the summer colour
a peacock butterfly stands out
a stork taking and bringing souls
An Australian Bird
An actual peacock
Then a deer
with bambi; I thought
and memorised.
Then the exhibit
she always liked to see
two wolves attacking an
elk or moose we could not decide
the moose looking likely to lose
but hasn't for all these years
The rock museum                      
metorite from Simuna
pointed out by Teet
a guestbook writing
of a great museum from me from Great Britain
a cafe
like museums
would never have found alone
cafe mix of soviet and new
paying for food again
2nd  hand bookshop
üks Kroon Kids book for Katrin's Kids
convinved 2 books for myself
Uni library
Money trip to ATM
not allowed in library unless we
pretend to be in a conference
Tartu University History Museum
In the ruins of a church
History abound
Katrins  intwined
Names mostly starting with K
 Prince Charles' signature
A view of the arches of the ruins
back way through university
Art Museum
our names spelt in Greek
Main hall closed
Someone's office from Katrin's Uni days
closed too
John's Church
This time up the tower
Although had to get unlocked
Disoriented
Bells of Peter and Paul
Uni finally spotted
Walles inside still leaning
Organ in wrong place

Many things remembered
Many forgotten

A walk back to the bus station
"You should walk over this bridge and count the steps"
 before some more bad good byes  by me
but a hope of maybe seeing English music
and visiting England
and maybe or not seeing in Tallinn
a hug and Bye..for now

As I have to go home sometime to fill the blog

by Ian (waiting at terminal for the ferry)
___
photo by Ian of the weathervane of St. John's Church in Tartu 2010
links by Katrin mostly from Google Search

#24 part 2 - Train to Tartu

Train to Tartu
Place of Good thoughts               --- :)
but unfamiliar part of town
past national museum
University Corporations
University Colours
"Was that the one that created the Estonian flag?"
Student residence to drop off things
A cooker in  room
but no time to cook
but swapped wet shoes for dry
Off to meet more Estonians
over a viking bridge
Katrin on the swing
then another
I was right that Estonains like swings
But not meet others here
A Chinese restaurant
they always go
but was too bust this time
An Italian restaurant this time
"Did you joke about paying?"
It wouldnt have been very funny
Pizza too big
Rest for a bit
Meet even more Estonians
on way to Oscar Wilde
Interesting conversations
on music
well in English
In Estonian
Schools
Off to Big Ben
Phonebox the wrong shape,
Winston Churchill portrait hanging on wall
Pub is not really more English then England
feel tired
but thought too rude to leave
no concentration on conversation
beer
or football
Finally after a fun but tiring night
set off my way
up Riia Street
did not want no short cuts offered
and right at Cinema
or else might end up in Riga

by Ian
___
photo by Ian in Tartu 2010

#24 - aptale :)

train to Rakke
much snow again
and a big chimney
near a small bus-station
friendly people
foreign language
personal questions
bus to Väike-Tammiku
the place of the small Oak Forest
talk with a neighbour
a phone call
walk over a small hill
to Kaasiku Talu
the Farm of the forest of birch
much snow
warm house
ancient way of living
candle light
and big big quietness
specially after the
radio has been shut down
potato soup
instead of a porridge
Baltic herring
and home-made bread
not much room left
for pancakes
and snowing more and more
more pancakes in the
morning
and a porridge cooked
through the night
a wet walk
on another hill
until the path ends
with more snow
a friendly car
to Simuna
the start of the Pedja river
a story of the spring
with the name of a disease
maybe curing water
taking water
small house on spring
and a swing
on the other side
walk by the church
parking by school
another house
not so ancient
drums and guitar
making music
in a cold room
through Käru village
to Emumägi
the hill of the
Australian bird
running fast and far
"Enter here with clean thoughts"
a funny hut
of the roots of trees
watchtower
and pancake picnic
in the sun
no way to the
other hut
to be seen the
next time
Rakke again
a silent cat
another hill
Rakke Linnamãgi
or Town Hill
with a song festival ground
and a ski-jump tower
another view
back through the snow
the place of a church
burned down
years ago
walk through Rakke
that has everything
Limestone factory
Post Office
Youth Center
Elders' Center
on top of the Youth's one
shops closed and open
railway and bus stations
library
pharmacy
apteek in Estonian
school, Kindergarten
pupils' house
museum
doctor and dentist
even a hairdresser
internet in library
nothing on Tartu
waiting for the train
no arguing about the tickets
and here comes the train
good bye my 24 hours
in Rakke
Tartu ahead
and so is
the rest of my life

by Katrin in train from Rakke to Tartu
___
photo by Ian of the Chimney of the Old Limestone Factory in Rakke 2010

a decent book to help learn Estonian?

no idea about decency but the only ones I found:

http://www.raamatukoi.ee/cgi-bin/raamat?166793

http://www.raamatukoi.ee/cgi-bin/raamat?157080








Does anyone know any possibility to learn Estonian online? Or a decent book? Or a good Estonian bookstore to ask?
___
photo by Ian of the New Arched Bridge over the Unpronouncable Emajõgi in Tartu 2010