Alexander II

Poles are regularly surprised that Finland has maintained a statue of Tsar Alexander II in their main square - Senate Square. In fact, it would seem that Finns have a complex relationship with the period of their history when they were a Grand Duchy within the Russian Empire, as this also marked the beginning of what one might call the period of modernisation.

Superb weather today greeted attenders at a conference I was at all day. I took a couple of colleagues out the main entrance of the University building at 6pm, and we were greeted with this wonderful view.

Dinner was off. It was good to get back and check on Mr A, who is still alive, but hasn't had the energy to blip.