Tag Archives: World Dog Show Helsinki

Farewell Finland

Photo Aug 06, 10 25 25 AM

August 10, 2014

Pilisi Kocos Jeles “Jelly” BOB at the Helsinki World Dog Show. Congratulations to Chris and Tom Levy and of course Holdampf Dora of Pilisi Kocos Kennel in Hungary.

This means that Pumericans finished on the top in Helsinki, Finland.

I guess the Finlandia ad was right and yes,  Finland has turned out to be the top of the world  for “Jelly” after all…

Kaffogo Agyag has finished 3rd in her class, ERI AVK3.

Thank you Marja-Leena Puranen for your friendship and hospitality

Thank you Marja-Leena Puranen for your friendship and hospitality

Finland, the country of thousand lakes, and the second most popular home of the Pumi...

Finland, the country of thousand lakes, and the second most popular home of the Pumi…

Thank you Finland for the fantastic time! Thank you Marianne and Jyrki Forsti of Fifikus Kennel  and  your friends for the wonderful hospitality during the Kuopio SAWO show.

Also thank you Helena Mattila for taking you time and meeting me  while in Helsinki.

A VERY SPECIAL THANK YOU goes to Marja-Leena Puranen for virtually adopting me and taking care of me and my super dog, Kaffogo Agyag in Helsinki.  Marja-Leena, thank you for your friendship.

Agyag enjoying her Cyndarella time. She will have have a hard time to become "just one of the Pumis" again when the clock will hit midnight at the end of the week and we return to the U.S.

Agyag enjoying her Cyndarella time. She will have have a hard time to become “just one of the Pumis” again when the clock will hit midnight at the end of the week and we return to the U.S.

We’ve had a fantastic run and great exposure in Finland.  Five shows with  strong consistent performance.  I’ve had the opportunity to meet and talk to  breeders, have seen some great dogs and learned a lot during my time in the country.

 

I was also lucky to be able to travel some and stay in the countryside as well as in the “big” city  so I could have a first hand experience of a country and its people.

SUOMI, KIITOS TAAS JA TULEN TAKAISIN…

The "Pumericans," Stacy, Taru, me Jon and Nina. You guys were the icing on the cake. I've enjoyed your company.

The “Pumericans,” Stacy, Taru, me Jon and Nina.
You guys were the icing on the cake. I’ve enjoyed your company.

Most importantly,  my trip would have not been complete without the company of Stacy  Lehman, her husband Jon, Taru Parvin and her daughter Nina.  They were the icing on the cake.  You guys rock, I have a fantastic time with you.

Unfortunately, all good things must come to an end, and the proverbial clock will hit midnight soon… and you know what does that mean…?

We are going home! Because, nothing like home sweet home…

Tourist for a Day…

August 6, 2014

Suomennia, the six-island historic fortress network of Helsinki

Suomennlina, the six-island historic fortress network of Helsinki

We took a short boat trip to Suomenlinna, a six-island historic fortress network yesterday.  The massive walls and buildings have been the nest of Finnish National independence and the birthplace of Finnish national pride and consciousness.  Today, it is a pupular tourist attraction and picnic park.

Of course, I took Agyag along, who was happily trotting off leash among the tourist, wagging her curly tail for a pat or a short cuddling. She is not your typical farm dog.  She is my farm dog… and like all my dogs and animals, she is friendly, affectionate and confident wherever she goes.

We also sampled some excellent food and brew when taking some breaks.  Agyag tried to hypnotize every bite out of our mouths.  Sorry dog not today…

say "yuusto..." I meant "cheese..."

say “yuusto…” I mean “cheese…”

 

one of the garrison buildings from the past massive structures to withstand the time of history

one of the garrison buildings from the past… massive structures to withstand the time of history

 

Rules are pretty relax around here... do you recall the signs back in the U.S.? "No shirt, no shoes, No service..." I think these people were not even tourists. They probably were the park rangers for the historic site in their summer uniform...

Rules are pretty relaxed around here… do you recall the signs back in the U.S.? “No shirt, No shoes, No service…” by the way, I think these people were not even tourists. They probably were the park rangers for the historic site in their summer uniform…

 

a wetering hole in sight for some refreshments (cool tables...)

a watering hole in sight for some refreshments (cool tables…)

Photo Aug 05, 1 51 01 PM

a WWII submarine built in the 1930’s. This tiny thing would be in trouble running into Spilberg’s great white shark from “Jaws”

 

The Three Graces and Cyndarella (Agyag)

The Three Graces and Cyndarella

 

if we keep eating with the same rate as we do and keep having this much fun as we do, in a few days, I have to post this photo as us "The Three Graces..."

Ok, if we keep eating with the same rate as we do and keep having as much fun as we do, in a few days, I have to post this photo as us, “The Three Graces…” (this is not in Helsinki I posted it for illustration only.  The artist is Niki de Saint Phalle of France and the title is “The Three Graces”…)

 

Agyag controlling traffic at the market. once in a while she gives a dirty loook to extort some food out of people...

Agyag is controlling traffic at the market. Once in a while she gives a dirty look at some people to extort  food out of them…

 

The walls of the fortress from the sea

The walls of the fortress from the sea

 

The modern day Viking raid. Anyone can participate while dining, wining and having a good time (soon we depart to Stockholm Sweden on one of these vessels)

The modern day Viking raid. Anyone can participate while dining, wining and having a good time (soon we depart to Stockholm Sweden on one of these vessels)

 

Welcome to the Scandinavian Welfare System. Even the mime is painted gold instead of the usual white or silver. Life is good over here...

Welcome to the Scandinavian Welfare System. Even the mime is painted gold instead of the usual white or silver. Life is good over here…

 

After the long day of island hopping we were happy to escape back to our hotel from the heat.

 

 

 

Shop Talk and and Some Fun in the City

August 5, 2014

The famous Helsinki Cathedral, "Tuomiokirkko"(spelling it correctly and pronounce it, should be a prerequisite for the eucharist...) on Senate Squre in the city center. It is an evangelic Lutheran Church. It can accommodate 1300 people. It is the most recognizable landmark of the city.

The famous Helsinki Cathedral, “Tuomiokirkko”(spelling it correctly and pronounce it, should be a prerequisite for the eucharist…) on Senate Squre in the city center. It is an evangelic Lutheran Church. It can accommodate 1300 people. It is the most recognizable landmark of the city.

Say, "cheese..." it does not really work in Finnish "juusto..." (one of my theories why English has become the lingua franca of the world...)

Say, “cheese…” it does not really work in Finnish “juusto…”
(one of my genius theories why English has become the lingua franca of the world…)

This WDS is also a study trip for me to learn about the mysteries, controversies and also trying to answer some of the open ended questions of the Pumi breed. Therefore,  it has been an especially lucky coincident that this global doggie summit has been organized  by “Pumi powerhouse” countries in two consecutive years.

strolling in the center of Helsinki. Nina took possession of Agyag. The spoiled opportunistic Pumi has enjoyed the extra attention

strolling in the center of Helsinki. Nina took possession of Agyag. The spoiled opportunistic Pumi has enjoyed the extra attention

 

Look at that delicious dinner plate. Fresh fish provided from the Baltic Sea.

Look at that delicious dinner plate. Fresh fish provided from the Baltic Sea.

Last year, I had a chance to spend time in Hungary, the home of the Pumi  and this year here in Finland.  Earlier, I’ve have talked to breeders, most importantly to the Forsti’s from Fifikus kennel at the Kuopio international show. Yesterday, I’ve spent the day with Marja-Leena Puranen here in Helsinki.  Marja-Leena also took me to meet Helena Mattila of Karvakorvan kennel outside of the City.

Thank you both for taking your time and meeting me.

After the Pumi protocol, the fun has begun. Finally, I could hook up with the “Pumericans,” Stacy Lehman, her husband Jon, Taru Parvin and her daughter Nina.  We also kidnapped Marja-Leena along for a good time.  We have shared our experiences, walked around in the center of the city a bit and finished the evening with a great dinner.

Niina, Jon and Stacy the wine in the forground of course is only for prop to enrich the phtograph...

Marja-Leena, Nina, Jon, Stacy and Taru (the wine in the forground of course is only for prop to enrich the photograph…)

 

 

 

from another angle

Tuomiokirkko from another angle…

 

Agyag enjoying her Cyndarella time. She will have have a hard time to become "just one of the Pumis" again when the clock will hit midnight at the end of the week and we return to the U.S.

Agyag enjoying her Cyndarella time. She will have have a hard time to become “just one of the Pumis” again when the clock will hit midnight at the end of the week and we return to the U.S.

 

It is all about the Pumi Marja-Leena, Ildiko, Taru with Kaffogo Agyag and Stacy

It is all about the Pumi
Marja-Leena, Ildiko, Taru with Kaffogo Agyag and Stacy

Back in the hotel, I called my husband Laszlo to tell him about my day.  We talked until my adrenaline level tanked and I fell in bed to recharge my body for the next day.