I am a non-commercial December blogging genius (no, I'm not, but I now have two December posts, which is cool)

My friend Rebecca Clamp, of whom I've written before, is releasing a song 'Paper Boats' from her album 'Nocturnal Leap' as a special downloadable Christmas single on i-tunes. Rebecca describes the song and releasing it thus: "The song was written for my friend's unborn baby (who is now three!) and is about protecting the little things in life and being optimistic for the future despite life's setbacks. In the spirit of the season, the song and the times that we live in, I promise to personally donate any money I make from sales of this single to Greenpeace, Finland.

I would like to add that she is one of the nicest people you're ever likely to meet, and I feel privileged to be her friend. Also, she and huzz (behind the camera) have managed to pick a day for the shooting when wintery Helsinki looks less suicidal-thought-inducingly hideous than is often the case. I can't quite place the location, though - is it somewhere in Viikki, or something? Guys?

Hei from nmj

I thought I'd hijack Anna MR's blog since my Finnish is so bloody good. Hei hei. Moi moi. Kiitos.

I'd never met Anna until a few days ago, but it's like we've known each other for years.

She met me off the bus and took my case and rolled it into the hotel. There are trams and cafes literally on the doorstep so it has been possible for me to experience some of this truly beautiful city.

Anna is kind and lovely and funny. Which is great as there has been some gruffness from some of the Helsinkiites. I believe Anna is writing an account over at mine right now of my encounter with a tram driver. He was SO gruff, I only stayed on the tram for three stops, then I got off at the harbour. I got on a boat, it was just leaving. I hadn't planned this. It toured all the wee lovely islands, and I saw big ferries leaving for Sweden, which made me think of my step-dad.

You've got to love the Americans: I heard a few of them today on the tram. They were talking loudly and cheerfully about all the sights they'd seen. They'd bought sweaters, they'd had reindeer sausage, they'd had daytrips to Tallinn. One guy bellowed that he'd gone to a restaurant where they'd marinated the hell out of the reindeer.

Okay, the credits are running out. Time to go.

Moi moi (nmj in helsinki)

Another non-commercial commercial break (it's been a while since the last one)

My friends Rebecca Clamp and huzzporter have joined forces to bring you a song (by Rebecca) about St. Wilgefortis, bearing her name, complete with an animated video (by huzz).

Come to think of it...why don't you watch this one, too - Rebecca's song Space Girl. I wish to claim my fifteen minutes of fame by letting slip I was her wardrobe/hairstyle/makeup/set assistant during the shooting. And I used to fit into the white dress she is seen dancing in.

One more thing: a non-commercial commercial break

If you are (lucky and privileged enough to be) in the Greater Helsinki area, go and see Here Speaks Elektra, Theatre Naamio ja Höyhen's current production. I did, last night, and am still lost for words. It is good. For stunning visuals of the production and the process that lead up to it, see happeningfishes or keltanen's flickr sites. Above image is one of keltanen's - sorry man, I don't know why your site doesn't allow for direct linking to it?

Butoh saved my day

Last night, straight after seeing the shocking news about Anna Politkovskaja, I went to see my friend's theatre group Naamio & Höyhen (Mask & Feather) perform Hana to Shi - Kukka ja kuolema (Flowers & Death), a Japanese butoh show. Do click on the link and follow up with clicking "pressikuvat", press photos. You won't regret it. I knew just about nothing whatsoever about butoh so didn't know what to expect, and ended up feeling I'd seen every story ever told, in less than an hour: cavalcades of people from throughout the history of man, distorted, suffering, elated, in love, dying, ugly, beautiful, going through every human emotion, heightened and expressed physically. I am quite, quite blown away. They had a great review in Helsingin Sanomat, the biggest daily, which is no mean feat for an independent fringe theatre group. They deserved it wholly. Go see it if you're in town. I cried afterwards.