The Finnish Tour. Day One.

Well, the first surprise we got when we arrived here was that the Finnish National Cricket Team were expecting to play a three-day match, rather than the usual one-day slog to which we are used. Fortunately, most of the team (and the supporters too, come to that) seem to have let themselves go over the autumn, and have sufficient layers of subcutaneous fat to see them through three days outdoors in Finland.

The second surprise was the light level. Isn’t it dark here? Finland only gets half an hour of sunlight in the whole month of December, you know. We knew that we’d have to play the match under floodlights - I just wasn’t aware that they would be giant sunlamps. Anyway, it’s clearing up my SAD nicely, thanks.

The third surprise came when we started to unload the tins of Quality Street that Carol had brought to nibble on during breaks. Phil had eaten the lot before he got off the coach.

Fortunately, our band of supporters have brought along plenty of turkey sandwiches, and lots of mince pies, so it seems that we will have enough calories to survive.

The fourth (and I trust final) surprise came when we were told that the match doesn’t actually start on Boxing Day, but will in fact be played from mid-morning today.

Yesterday was not a waste of time, however, as Taiga the Fox had made arrangements for us to sample the highlights of Finnish culture.

Vicus particularly seemed to enjoy the fish-slapping contest.

Sadly, we missed Sleepyhead Day, where the laziest person in the towns of Naantali and Hanko is thrown into the sea (I think we all know who would be the contender for the title in our team, don’t we?) and the annual wife-carrying championship held every July in Sonkajärvi.

I’m not sure that the rest of the team can remember much of what followed, as it appears that most of Finland’s ancient customs and cultural highlights involve drinking large quantities of alcohol. Our most recent (medical) recruit to the team particularly embarrassed herself. However, if the team over-indulged, they were nothing to our travelling band of supporters. I will leave it you your own imaginations to picture Ziggi and Cherrypie singing to a karaoke machine, and a room-full of their new (imaginary) best friends, at 4 am.

Your tee-total captain, however, kept a clear head, and was up with the lark this morning (actually, the lark itself failed to put in an appearance) and ate a hearty breakfast of piimä with musesli, purro with ligonberry jam and some tasty reindeer sandwiches.

As I write this, I am still waiting for the rest of the team to appear from their tents (I am sorry that Taiga only had one spare bed in the house for me, but I’m sure the others will enjoy the bracing country air).

Assuming that they do, I shall post a report of the first day’s play in the match tomorrow.