An important request to ALL our readers

Dear Readers of all our blogs,

It is with great sadness that we have to announce that we will now have to make all our major blogs accessible only to those who register with us.

The subjects we have covered over the years include the wrestler Dara Singh (probably the most popular and controversial blog entries, ever), St. Stephen's College, Delhi, Cathedral and John Connon School, Mumbai, Bishop Cotton School, Bangalore, the UN, talk Shows in the USA, politics, the Kandathil and Maliyakal families, Kampitie, Vesaisentie, Annikki's creative art, achievements of our children and grandchildren, CHAFF (Chamber for Assistance of Finns and Foreigners), Findians, our numerous friends, relatives, our travels, recipes, and life in general. Above all, t they contained the nostalgia the people love.

Due to circumstances far beyond our control, which affect the lives of many of our loved ones, we have to create the SETTINGS of our blogs so that only those whom we invite can read them. This is very sad as our blogs have reunited many friends across the continents.

With over 120000 readers around the world, some reading more than one of our blogs, for a decrepit old blogger and his wife sitting near the North Pole, this will prove to be a Herculean task, but one which has to be done for the safety, security and well being of many of our loved ones.

Please take the time and effort to send us an email telling us which of our blogs you want to be added to so that you can access them freely.

Our sincere apologies to each and every one of you lovely readers who have kept us going for almost a decade and a half by your readership, your inputs and your outputs!

Yours in great sadness as technology besides being a positive aspect of life can also be a very negative one.

Annikki and Jacob Matthan
Oulu, Finland

What a cosmopolitan mix

My Nordkapp Mini Bus trips are proving to be popular and quite a cosmopolitan mix.

Last week we had 3 Finns, 2 Indians, 1 Romanian and 1 Zambian (4 ladies and 3 gents). This week, we have 3 Chinese, 3 Indians, 2 Sri Lankans and 1 Sudanese (5 ladies and 4 gents). Next week....??

I was planning to make the trip this week with two friends. But, we had a last minute request from one of my Chinese tenants in Raantel Oy Furnished Apartments to accommodate her and two friends, so we moved aside to give them the chance to see the sight of a lifetime.

The route is the same as on the first trip. The pictures from Sandra are amazing. I am supposed to indicate my top 10, which has proved impossible at the moment. Each of her compositions is like a picture postcard.

I have, however, chosen one so far....

Saana Mountain, Kilpisjärvi, Finland. (Copyright Sandra Rugina, 2010)

This surrealistic picture of Saana Mountain, the sacred mountain of the Lappish people, the original nomadic inhabitants of northern Scandinavia and Finland, near Kilpisjärvi, is just one of her photos from the trip.

What composition, what detail, what an effect it has on you!

I will upload Sandra's 10 top photographs over the course of summer as I report on each visit to Nordkapp.

In the meantime, may I invite you to make this experience this summer!

The Secret of the Nordkapp Trip

The reason why I am pushing my Nordkapp trip is that you may witness something that no one alive may never again see in their lifetime - TWO - YES, TWO SUNS.

The whole world is waiting for 21st June 2010 to witness a wonderful vision which may appear next time this close, is in 2287 only.

From 2010 Two Suns

21st June 2010 - TWO SUNS?
STAR ADEROID will be the brightest in the sky, starting 10th June.

It will look as large as the sun from naked eye.

This will culminate on 21st June 2010 when the star comes within
34.65M miles of the earth.

Be sure to watch the sky between 18th and 27th June 2010.

On 21st June at 12:30 pm it will look as if the earth has 2 suns.

NO ONE ALIVE TODAY will ever see it again. Don't miss it.

I cannot predict what it will look like at Nordkapp.

If you are one of the lucky ones to be there, you may have a set of photographs which may be worth a small fortune.

That is why top photographers are going on my Nordkapp trip.

I will have copyright access to each of their top 10 photographs!

Don´t say I did not tell you! :-)

Summer Trips to Nordkapp

I have pleasure in announcing regular summer trips in June and July to Nordkapp to see the Midnight Sun and all the beautiful sights along the way. Maximum persons per trip is 7 passengers.

The drive up is along the western border of Finland with Sweden, leading to Kilpisjärvi, a few kilometres from where the borders of three countries meet - Finland, Norway and Sweden. Stop for the night is at the foot of Saana, the sacred mountain of the Lappish people.

From Blogger Pictures

Saana Mountain, Kilpisjärvi
The drive down to the narrow gorge to Skibotn in Norway is breathtaking.

The road to Nordkapp is is a slow and picturesque one.

From Blogger Pictures

Midnight Sun at Nordkapp
The idea is to reach Nordkapp at about 11 pm to witness the Midnight Sun hitting the horizon and climbing up into the sky again. An unbelieveable experience!

From Blogger Pictures

Lake Inari
The transport will leave Nordkapp around 2 am and return to Oulu via a different route passing Lake Inari and also stopping at sights of interest along the way.

The vehicle will reach Oulu around 2 am on the third night.

The price is all inclusive including two nights and food (only vegetarian) and drink - no alcohol. For prices and booking, contact JACOB at +358 41 720 2850.

KiA with 7000 km

I will be offering a one year old KIA Estate Vehicle, with just 7000 km on the speedometer, for rent in a couple of weeks.

Those who want to test drive this car should contact me, pronto.

Special terms for this newish vehicle.

All other cars are booked.

Contact me with your requirements and I will try to locate a good OLD vehicle in excellent condition for you to rent at very economic rates.

Errors in my table

Thanks to a couple of friends with sharp eyes, I have corrected serious errors in my rates sheet which I had posted day before yesterday.

Cycles are not petrol driven - I confused my old table which contained mopeds, which I have now taken out of service.

Also, the weekend rate for the Van had been given at a much higher rate, the rate I had quoted being one with an experienced bus driver to drive.

Also in the brochure I forgot to add that Raantel clients will get a 10% discount on the quoted rates.

I was surprised to learn that AVIS is offering very competitive rates. But be wary of hidden costs.

Here is an example of the "extra costs" from one of the market leaders. The list is endless, and is only after you have signed on the dotted line you get to experience these costs!



A GPS costs € 14.64 per day, while mine costs € 3 per day, and if you are a Raantel Tenant, it will cost you nothing. (Hertz charges € 12 per day!)

A baby seat would costs you € 30 whereas it costs my customers nothing if you are a Raantel tenant.

Also, they do not have an Uncle Jacob to look after all your personal needs!

I am the AVIS of today, in that I strive harder to please! That was the AVIS logo many many years ago when they used the fact that they were second to Hertz in the Car Rental market!



This is the picture of my 1988 Audi. It is in superb condition. I used it today and took it for a spin. Touched 140 kmph with ease. After my personal 1992 Volkswagen, this is probaly the best car in my collection. And after Jussi has worked on it, the tuning is just perfect.

A friend asked for a newer car. Sorry, but I specialise in economic rentals. That means I use older model cars in EXCELLENT condition. As I say in my brochure, these are cars that I would drive. I am finicky!

My latest pamphlet about VRS

After returning from India, I have just released our new pamphlet.

Sadly, all our cars are booked at the moment. And there is a waiting list.





It is worthwhile to pick up the pamphlets of any of the other Rental Services operating in Oulu and see how our rates compare with theirs!

I mean companies such as Avis, Budget, Europcar, Hertz, National, Sixt or Thrifty.

I do not think they have a chance against us as we are catering to the very low budget consumer.

Other companies also do not offer scooters or cycles.

Ours is a total service with GPS systems and also children's car seats especially meant for the child's age and weight!

I do not think there is any comparison.