IKEA

The day started early, earlier than usual compared to being on holiday. We got up to get the car which would take us out of town, all the way to Sweden. It was a shopping trip day driving a borrowed car. I was concerned all the way that I wouldn’t make it to the car, that I would be left behind and when Lili said that no, she couldn’t be bothered to take any bears to Sweden my hear sunk. But it was Ok because Gabor smuggled us into his bag. There was just enough room in there for Moses, Ted, me and a wallet with some essential plastic cards in it.

Before all of us set out though he spent some time cruising around Oulu, getting the feeling of the car as he said and picking up some commodities. Buggy, Sawing machine, a cup of coffee.

We left eventually and after a long and tiresome 1.72 hour drive we arrived. Nobody is used to sit in cars anymore. Not in this family. I was ok, but you should have heard them all moaning. It was tiresome.

IKEA was exciting and the hot-dog tasted just the same as it does in Glasgow. Or so I was told. Rubbish yet magnificent. A few items however which were on the priority, the top of the shopping list were out of stock and we were advised to get back in a couple of days. Ha-ha.


On the way home I thought something was different. About the car. It’s inside felt fuller than before and it wasn’t due only to the shopping. I sensed something in the boot but couldn’t put my finger on it. I fell asleep and I slept for the rest of the journey dreaming of magnificent fierce firey dragons, ancient places and pits someplace Indochina, the Carpathian basin.

I woke hours later, it was already dark outside, I mean that twilight dim what we call dark these days around 00:30. I was petrified with fear for I have never seen a real dragon in my life and now I woke because there was one right there much closer than I would appreciate during a first encounter. It was licking my face. My nose and gently chewing on my arm. ‘Hello’ she stopped on noticing I was awake ‘I’m Hava. Pleased to meet you!’ and a small puff of smoke left its nostrils. I tried to sit up, moving a bit away when another monster landed just behind me its enormous claws only millimetres from my delicate ears. ‘I apologise for her manners’ he said in a friendly tone and added ‘BythewayIamTobi’ he added in a quick breath then sneezed turning away quickly, sending a small fireball towards the kitchen sink. It was skilfully spanned landing in the steel tub, harmless. ‘You must be Lenard, I’m pleased to meet you, this is my daughter, Hava.’

Birthday

There is something peculiar about birthdays. I have been to a couple and some more since I came to Oulu and while participating in fascination I always came to realise that I do not understand this ritual.

On Friday for instance, last week it was Jen’s turn to officially turn a year older. Although I cannot see she has ‘grow’ in anyway in that one day.

Gabor and Lili kindly woke her with yummy orange juice, breakfast and some small presents. Surprisingly there was no card involved which seemed odd to me only because card, greeting cards especially for birthday seem to be a European minimum for such days. After an easy morning everyone got ready, bag packed and we, we set out. I was most surprised to get in the bag but of course I didn’t object.

We cycled to the museum of modern arts downtown Oulu where we spent some time fascinated. Especially Lili who probably thought in every room at first that whatever was there was truly interesting. For about 25 seconds. By then Jen and Gabor caught up with us and we were bored of the exhibits so we started playing catch. I flew higher and higher towards the ceiling and apart from a couple of occasions Lili caught me with skill. Once or twice only she managed to poke my eye but fortunately they made of hard plastic.

Our fun lasted until the receptionist who apparently was spying on us came upstairs and stormed into the room. Our anticipation has ample time to rise while she reached us at the middle of the room. She had about 8 meters to cover. Which may not sound much to you but should you be only a foot tall it would look very different.

She had a problem with us having fun at the museum. She thinks people should not enjoy themselves at museums and anyway, kids should just ... or it seemed she said as I was reading between the lines. Gabor and Jen got upset and also stunned with the rudeness of the lady. And her stupidity. We left shortly and saying that I just realised I have been straying of the subject.

We had a picnic in the park. Gabor had the wonderful idea of crossing a stream using the stepping stones rather than the bridge. I stayed out of it, so did Jen and was the better for us. The other two got soaked. Lunch was nice and the birds were fairly polite. With a full tummy, and I mean full here, Jen decided that there would be nothing better than walking across town in the warm sunshine, being very really pregnant an’ all. There was a shop there which might have some fun stuff to sell. After walking so long of course we all felt obliged to buy something. And eventually it was wonderful to get home.

So there went the day and it was nice. Appreciating the importance of a person in one’s life, celebrating the life of that person and being happy for her. Noble gestures they are but doing so such while reminding the celebrant that ‘hehe, you are older now!!!’ I think is a bit cruel. Loose the numbers, the candles on the cake, the fixed date next time people and just throw a party or have a nice day with loved ones on any random day. I bet they would feel more special that way.

And one more thing! If you live in Oulu eat out at the Persian restaurant! I heard it is amazing!

In the Forest

Shortly after midsummer it was time for me to take off for a while. I decided that I am old enough and I think I was much inspired by all the other young learning peoples around Oulu. Buggering off for the summer. I left against all of Gabor’s recommendations. No matter how vividly he recounted me our first encounter... I thought and I still think I am a lucky bear, especially because of our meeting so I was sure, and I was sure rightly it would be just fine. I felt invincible!

Answering the calling of the wild I hopped off the train at Rollo, Rovaniemi on its official name, and hitched a ride with a friendly reindeer farmer further north into the wilderness. I spent the night in the barn and early morning set out to find them wild bears. Eventually I did and my joy was great but it came to a quick surprise. Wild bears at first are never so friendly as grumpy old Moses or Theodor Junior. In fact they gave me quite a harsh welcome. An ice cold one in fact as I quickly landed in the river.

Eventually I learnt to swim and becoming friends with Jaakko and Leonid – who is an illegal immigrant by the way so I am not using his real name here – at the end proved easier than expecting after their surprising welcome. They don’t have TV you know. In fact they don’t really have much of anything out there so sitting around our imaginary campfire in the evenings they listened endlessly to my stories from the south, from the amazing, great cosmopolitan metropolis by the name Oulu. Of course I must say that I may have gotten carried away and my recounts and description became a bit tall. I think at certain parts they begun to suspect but fortunately neither Leonid nor Jaakko cared much. It was a welcome change of scenery.

Maybe you should wonder about one thing; why imaginary campfire? But the explanation is simple. I am mostly made of slightly flammable and meltable fabric so I prefer not to handle fire as such. While bears in general are not so much into making campfires for usually they are not cold meanwhile this time of the year it doesn’t really get dark unless it’s really rainy. If cold Bears I think usually reach for a crude form of geothermal heating. Environmentalist from whom we shall learn much.

At the end I realised that I am who I am. A bear. An urban Bear who was not created for life in the wild. Simple as that and who helped me to learn that? Mosquitoes. Millions of them. Although I have not the blood to suck they tried and tried and tried and circled around my head till I had enough. One could ask if I feel defeated and I would have to admit that yes, I do. But one could ask also have I learnt anything from this trip about myself, my place or better said aspirations in this life and I would answer hell yeah! It was wonderful coming home, seeing those familiar places and telling the stories from the wild. Some gotten a bit more colourful I guess but they, Lili, Gabor, Jen and Itchy didn’t seem to mind. Moses is convinced that one day I will grow to be a great story teller. Maybe he is right. It will be for the benefit of you who are reading these lines.