Tampere

A couple of weekends ago, I took a train to Tampere for a few days of good food, friends and SAUNA. Tampere is a beautiful city. These are pictures of where we stayed (The Aarnio Home - about 15km outside the city) and the sauna by the lake. And yes, I jumped into the Avanto ("hole in the ice") again!

Speciation Workshop - England

January 10-16 we had our latest research meeting at Losehill Hall in The Peak District, Derbyshire, England. The taxi ride from the airport was a bit scary, due to the fact that they had received more snow and had colder temperatures than they had experienced in decades. But it didn't stop us from enjoying an afternoon walk to the top of the hill!
I listened to some interesting talks, gave a presentation, met some great folks and had some good meetings about my research plans.

Home for Christmas

Home is where the heart is. After a month with my girls (all three of them!), we have a new energy. Rejuvinated and re-motivated, we are ready to press on. Lillian and Edith are both getting on beautifully and Janee has been strong, coping with the changes in our lives and managing to take care of two happy, healthy whippersnappers.

Both girls got a violin for Christmas from Daddy, and the scarf that Janee made me has already come in handy. This morning, on the way to work here in Finland, the temperature was -25C (-13F). I walked in with frozen beard, mustache, collar and scarf, although my neck stayed warm.

Here are some recent pics of the girls - growing like weeds (beautiful, strong weeds with rosey little cheeks)...










Updates coming soon...

CHEERS

Halloween 2009

Here they are: Our little witch and "titty tat" (as Edie says)...