Spring has sprung

The Finnish flags are flying. And there are a lot of them. There's a jolly big one outside my window in fact. Most flat groupings seem to have one. And every other business building.

There is also a squirrel outside the window, high atop the trees, so high I'm thinking that part of the tree won't hold him, but it does, while he shakes his little paws and removes his mittens and basks in the day's warmth. (Ok I lie about the mittens)

There are daffodils in the ground. They're not exactly budding; they've been shoved in overnight by some optimistic gardener, bulbs and leaves and petals and all as if to defy the snow and frost to come back.

The Koff tram is running. Koff is the name of one of the country's biggest selling beers. Koff is also good for curing one. The Koff tram is a bright red tram that takes you round the city and plies you with, wait for it, Koff beer. I'm not sure why this only happens in spring and summer as I thought the Finns more than anyone would realise you can drink Koff while going in circles on a tram at any season.

The fountains are running again. At the main fountain opposite the market square, where the ice has long melted away, the grit cleaned, the debris cleared from the seals mouths. I saw them today spouting at Amanda, the famous fountain maiden, who looked quite elegant and poised for a naked girl in the middle of town, until a seagull sat on her head.

The boats are pushing across the harbour like in children's books. They are shiny and coloured and pootle (there really is no other word!) from the market square to the zoo and other places.

Of course, the students are coming out to celebrate May Day, known here as Vappu. Dressed in boiler suits emblazoned with badges and white sailor type hats. There were two lounging on deck chairs drinking Koff in the Esplanati today aside a pile of beach like sand. Soon the city will be full of them, like the Doozers in Fraggle Rock...

It really is spring.