09.02.07
Isle of the Sheep!!! Ohjelmallinen iltama
Boy (Girl??), what a night!
I wasn’t going to go. People called me, even tried to extort me 
(”My younger brother would like it, if you came”) … but I wasn’t in the mood. After the numerous attacks I gave in, and wow! Did I have a good time! After a laborous hike through the marsh and high-growing rush on wooden walking boards, after coming into close contact with native Finnish abusers of canned heat (= deekuja) along the way, we arrived at this romantic red wooden hundred-year-old villa, that was built by and for a sobriety society called Koitto.
The “Isle of Sheep” event, the title being inspired by the island of Lammassaari outside Helsinki shore in town district called Arabia is this amazing evening of odd music, well-played, though, happy people and – strangely enough – booze at a sobriety society, and NOBODY is drunk. Not at least according to Finnish definitions. No rähinäviina, mean drunk people, only happy faces. Totally unbelievable. I wish I’d find a photo of the small boat they had filled with cold water and ice cubes, carts of beer and cider… What a neat way to improvise a refrigirator. Next year: Be there.
Vallilan Tango, probably the “best” ensemble in the social dance scene in Helsinki at the moment, ensured aching abdominal muscles from laughing (out of joy, not, say, shared embarrassment or to ridicule the band. The band was without rival, as odd as it were. Everybody had a rage, and We, the Dancers, we promised to be there again next year. More pics by Jungle / Arctic
The place is so beautiful, the atmosphere so unique: the old villa is jammed with young, happy people, interested in dancing regardless of style or “level” – the band vocalist, Hans, singing in English or his wonderfully broken Finnish calling for some input on belhalf of the spectators – everybody rushes to the dance floor once Hans asks us to join in the Jenkka (a rowdy dance) and everybody knows at least the basic steps – and almost nobody is a serious dancer. Cool! This is how it should be, basic dancing skills are a part of common good manners. (IMHO) So we more serious dancers tried to keep our feet to our selves, not kick anyone, and not ruin the reputation of partner dancing enthusiasts. Hopefully we succeeded :-0
If someone finds more pics I am most definitely interested. Keep me posted. Bäää (that is bleating in Finnish: baa-baa) and see you there next year.
The walk home (or at least to the nearest street) was fascinating in the dark – yes, fall fell early this year – and we almost fell, too. The planks of the walking board crossing the marsh and swamp had frozen, so they were extremely slippery. Luckily someone had read the instructions and brought a flashlight. Otherwise we would have been forced to crawl back, on our hands and knees, feeling the way.
No buses in the desired direction, so a shared taxi home, and sweet dreams of a party to remember!
