Snow face

I managed to catch Ruby in between her sledging and on her way to the fire side to thaw out and warm up with some reindeer soup. In the background you can just see Kari, the most impressive alpha male I've ever met who practically lives outside, he's the one wearing the Davy Crocket hat and alongside him is Jyrki who has been our host for the week and is one of the coolest and friendliest guys I've had the pleasure to meet.

To get there we went around 3km past Kuvansi. It wasn't so cold today, in fact it seemed almost balmy as it was only around -20C!

Once we arrived at the lake and were welcomed by Anne we walked down onto the frozen lake and were shown a hole that had been drilled by Mika (no, no that one) Mika explained how the ice is so much thicker than normal this year. We measured the ice that had been brought out from the drilled hole and it was 67cm thick!

After this we walked from one lake to another. We arrived at Sami's house, and the scene that greeted us was amazing. There was a roaring fire, next to the lake, with reindeer soup being cooked by Kari. As we sledged down through the trees to the lake, Mika showed the kids three different snowmobiles, and explained that they could all be taken for rides on them, in groups of four, sitting in a trailer being towed by the snowmobiles. I think for most of them that was the highlight of the week! Me too.

We ate, drank, ate more and drank more.

Then, at around 2.30pm, we left for the spa hotel in Varkaus, after saying goodbye to the penpals, and we spent the afternoon swimming, enjoying the flume rides, lounging in jacuzzis and warming up in the saunas.

As if that wasn't enough for one day, in the evening we were then treated to a really fantastic meal at a restaurant in Varkaus, where Jari the headteacher from Kuvansi, along with Jyrki and Marjo the teachers, joined us. Everyone learned to sing Auld Lang Syne in Finnish and Jari gave out gifts to each of the children, and we finished off with a quiz, set by Jari and Jyrki. A really great end to a most amazing week.

I have never experienced such hospitality. The Finnish people we have met this week have been incredibly friendly and generous with their time and the kids have all experienced a week I am sure they will never forget.