How to survive the Finnish winter

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  • Опубліковано 4 січ 2025

КОМЕНТАРІ • 88

  • @chelamcguire
    @chelamcguire Рік тому +8

    Thank you, Nigel. I loved this video. My family hail from Sweden and way back when my parents married back in the late 50's, they built a 'Swedish style' family home on our farm. It's still standing today and looking just like new. The wood is treated every few years to keep it in tip-top condition and looking pretty. Apparently, it was quite the thing back in the 50's to cavity fill the walls with an expanding sort of foam, I believe, so I do know that it was correctly built. In fact, my parents said that they laid the foundations themselves and built the fireplaces and then the house arrived in sections on the back of two trucks. It was erected in three days and they moved in within the week. Not bad! There are two toasty warm log burners in the house plus an AGA range in the kitchen that runs all the radiators. I've never once felt cold at home - never. When my sister was engaged to be married, many years ago, she too went down the route of having a similar property built and I, next year, will be following suit. I presently live in an old Victorian property in the middle of nowhere that is mighty chilly! So, of course I'm looking forward to my home arriving on the back of a couple of trucks. Thanks again, Nigel for your informative presentation. Stay safe out there and have a lovely day. Many blessings, my friend to you and yours.

    • @Ian.Gostling
      @Ian.Gostling Рік тому +2

      In the interest of balance it's the history & character remaining in its housing that “made" England great, God forbid houses are pulled down because of a bit of mould. Interestingly half price electricity costs also help but why?

    • @nigelwatson2750
      @nigelwatson2750  Рік тому +1

      Thanks Chelam. Brits turn their noses up at wooden houses. As you know, they are very common in Nordic countries and are incredibly warm in the winter. Give me a wooden house over a draughty damp Victorian brick built English house any day of the week. Also the standard of the UK new builds is shocking. There are some great YT videos showing this.

    • @nigelwatson2750
      @nigelwatson2750  Рік тому +1

      Ian, you have summed up the British approach. The Finns are more practical, and have no problems at all in innovating. They have very high standards too. Recently a perfectly good-looking day care centre for kids was demolished in our village because somebody spotted a small damp patch on a wall. The village now has a new day care centre. Finns are more investment orientated, whereas the UK is more consumption orientated. @@Ian.Gostling

    • @Ian.Gostling
      @Ian.Gostling Рік тому

      @@nigelwatson2750 OK Nigel rub it why don't you!

    • @nigelwatson2750
      @nigelwatson2750  Рік тому +1

      Yes, but the other side of the coin is that Brits love their history to the point where they put it before all else. @@Ian.Gostling

  • @viljanov
    @viljanov Рік тому +13

    Finnish houses, particularly modern ones, have excellent insulation. I frequently feel warm in January wearing only underwear, while recalling with horror my stay in a damp, cold London flat.

    • @nigelwatson2750
      @nigelwatson2750  Рік тому +2

      It is the damp that is a problem in most British houses. The climate is a problem over there because even when it is not raining, the humidity is still normally very high. As you know, buildings with even a hint of mold get pulled down and replaced in Finland.

  • @SaoirsenahÉireann1
    @SaoirsenahÉireann1 Рік тому +9

    Love this Nigel..thank you..from a very upset Ireland ♥️♥️🇮🇪🇮🇪

  • @davesmith-rs1yo
    @davesmith-rs1yo Рік тому +2

    It's the dampness in the UK for sure. On a frosty day when it's cold but the air is dry it's actually warmer inside as exposed to camp days when the temp is higher.

  • @tmajor6406
    @tmajor6406 7 місяців тому +1

    Oh wow! I actually went to that very school in the early 90s. What a crazy coinsidence I stumbled on this video. It's a lovely neighbourhood.

  • @harmonicresonanceproject
    @harmonicresonanceproject Рік тому +3

    I lived in a bad situation (old dilapidated mobile home) over many UK winters some time ago. It was paradoxically easier to stay warm (wood burner) once it dropped below freezing and stayed there, as that finally took all the damp out of the air. The temp range of up to +5 in the day and down to 0 at night was the worst, the wind chill combined with the wet - around Feb - March.

    • @nigelwatson2750
      @nigelwatson2750  Рік тому +3

      You're right. Another thing that I should have mentioned is that in Finland houses are heated 24/7, i.e. the heating never goes off. I think in England the damp comes in when the central heating is off and the house gets cold.

  • @aeb200
    @aeb200 Рік тому +7

    Nigel your NIBE unit is a ground source heat pump not and air source heat pump. They are more efficient in cold weather as the ground is generally more stable than the outside air.

    • @summerisonthursday5239
      @summerisonthursday5239 Рік тому +1

      What would UK people do if there's a powercut and they're relying on this?

    • @cornishhh
      @cornishhh Рік тому

      @@summerisonthursday5239 A well insulated house stays warm for a long time.

  • @fatfrreddy1414
    @fatfrreddy1414 Рік тому +2

    Thanks from here in the UK...very informative and uplifting..

  • @saide.-_
    @saide.-_ Рік тому +1

    Liked this wee talk and walk through, thanks:))

  • @pea-dub
    @pea-dub Рік тому +3

    Great video,I would love to be able to live somewhere like Finland,I snowboard but mostly indoor being in the UK,your living the dream my friend

    • @nigelwatson2750
      @nigelwatson2750  Рік тому +1

      Thanks. It's horses for courses my friend. Many Brits would hate being close to nature. They prefer shopping and Instagrammble restaurants and flashy leasehold cars. Finland isn't status or ego orientated either - so many would miss the keeping up with the Jones culture

    • @pea-dub
      @pea-dub Рік тому +1

      @nigelwatson2750 stop please hahaha, It really does sound like a utopia. Luckily I moved out of a main city(Manchester) over 10 years ago now but sadly I'm still I'm seeing a society that I cannot stomach,with people so far removed from my wave length and the things that really matter that I often wonder if they are capable of anything independent of what you described above.I think we know the answer to that question.

    • @nigelwatson2750
      @nigelwatson2750  Рік тому +2

      To be honest, I was also disgusted by how people behaved in England in 2020 I just all confidence in the judgement of my fellow Englishmen. I seem to have more in common with Finns these days. They are straight-talking, no nonsense types who respect each others privacy and independence @@pea-dub

    • @pea-dub
      @pea-dub Рік тому +1

      @nigelwatson2750 yes,I feel the dumbing down process has been successful with many in the UK. Keep up the good work mate and thanks for the pearls of wisdom you bring us,much appreciated nigel mate👍

  • @khine2424
    @khine2424 Рік тому

    I am also planning for a short stay in nordic region ( 🇳🇴/🇫🇮 / 🇸🇪) before deciding further migration to those countries from UK 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿🇬🇧

  • @thesheepman220
    @thesheepman220 Рік тому

    I have fat bike 5 inch tyres great in the snow ❄️, by 4x4 has intermediate 50-50 tyres with the three peaks winter snow rating , I also have rescue boards in the jeep for mud snows and sand only cost me 55 quid delivered, the trouble is people in uk get stuck because the tyres , they don’t understand that these winter tyres work in temperatures below about 8 degrees Celsius than normal tyres ,they think winter tyres are for just snow they’re not , as the saying goes prepared for the worst hope for the best many thanks Nigel 🙏👍

    • @nigelwatson2750
      @nigelwatson2750  Рік тому

      Good points. Contrary to what people say, ice on roads is a thing in Britain. I also know sensible people who have winter tyres (non-studded) on their cars in Britain.

  • @martybucko8976
    @martybucko8976 Рік тому

    Very good video Nigel, it's cold here. Nice to see you out and about.

    • @nigelwatson2750
      @nigelwatson2750  Рік тому

      Thanks, Marty. I'm sure that you would enjoy it. However, for many people, Finland wouldn't be for them. They would hate it. Bragging about stuff you own and Instagramable holidays / restaurant visits, etc is really frowned upon here in Finland. In contrast, I think many Brits enjoy living in a highly materialistic society where conspicuous consumption of status symbols is the done thing - what people aim for in life. The British class system & the keeping up with the Jones's phenomenon - some people like this, and are not interested in nature. They're more interested in trying to create a fake image, which they hope will impress other people.

  • @Mangomesh
    @Mangomesh Рік тому +2

    Fascinating, I really enjoyed the video. Snow is forecast for the UK this Thursday, I'm hoping to go out with my camera and get some winter shots.

  • @ImForwardlook
    @ImForwardlook Рік тому +2

    Granted, I'm an old fart so things might different now but back in the day in Turku we were not allowed to stay inside during recess unless it was colder than -15C (5F)...

    • @nigelwatson2750
      @nigelwatson2750  Рік тому +1

      It's the same today in Finland, and it's a good thing. Kids should be outside during their breaks getting some fresh air

  • @kiwiscribe
    @kiwiscribe Рік тому +1

    Heat pumps are widely used here in NZ. They are good because they do heat and cold. The problem is, sometime the outside units can be noisy if cheap or badly fitted, and I can imagine there would be a hell of racket with one or two outside a row of terraces. People here also supplement heat pumps with wood burners, especially in the colder regions. Our houses are often badly insulated, so that in itself is not necessarily a problem. Do you have issues with the 'dew point' when the unit switches off at a certain temp? I hear Canadians complain about it.

    • @nigelwatson2750
      @nigelwatson2750  Рік тому

      No problems with that

    • @kiwiscribe
      @kiwiscribe Рік тому

      Maybe because of the sophisticated set up in the separate room. I'm sure the Fins have it sussed. @@nigelwatson2750

  • @timboharty7325
    @timboharty7325 Рік тому +1

    Great video Nigel , it’s not as cold here in southern Austria, now sign of snow yet at our altitude ( 1050 metres) looking forward to winter and the start of the ice hockey , my motorcycles are tucked up for winter so it’s time to get the quad bike out
    Have a great winter , best regards , I’ll raise a Gosser to you 😃

    • @nigelwatson2750
      @nigelwatson2750  Рік тому +1

      Good beer in Austria. I liked Gosser, Kaiser, Otakringer, and Stiegel (of course)

    • @timboharty7325
      @timboharty7325 Рік тому +1

      @@nigelwatson2750 if you ever get this far south again, the kettles always on and there’s always cold Gosser , keep up the great work

  • @fairplaynowTim
    @fairplaynowTim Рік тому

    Thanks Nigel, very interesting. I always wondered how people cope in these mega cold countries or indeed in mega hot ones in the summer! Cheers.

    • @nigelwatson2750
      @nigelwatson2750  Рік тому

      People adapt, including their interests and hobbies.

  • @daywalker6847
    @daywalker6847 Рік тому +1

    Great video. Thanks

  • @MrChazzyf
    @MrChazzyf Рік тому +1

    My sister tells me that If I had watched 'Grand Designs' 25 years ago, I would know all this! 😂 However I haven't had a TV for 30 years so I hadn't! Very interesting and informative!

  • @andymatts8010
    @andymatts8010 Рік тому +1

    Thanks Nigel, great video really interesting . Wouldn't suit my job I'm a gardener😊

    • @nigelwatson2750
      @nigelwatson2750  Рік тому +2

      It's a shorter, but more intense growing season due to the long summer days where the sun doesn't really set.

  • @dahlconway3843
    @dahlconway3843 Рік тому +4

    Any Brit remember that statistic that all the money spent by Tony Bliars government invading Iraq could have superinsulated every single home in the UK?

    • @nigelwatson2750
      @nigelwatson2750  Рік тому +3

      And still fools keep on supporting the big government model. Mindblowing.

  • @necuz
    @necuz Рік тому

    It's finally looking like the temperature will stay below freezing for a good while in Turku now, so we get to enjoy some proper winter weather after a straight month of ~0C and rain. I bike to and from work 5 days a week and the cold is a nice pick-me-up, either for waking up in the morning or getting some extra energy later in the day.

    • @nigelwatson2750
      @nigelwatson2750  Рік тому

      It's amazing how different the weather is in Helsinki and Turku - more like a British-style climate

    • @j-p.alanen
      @j-p.alanen Рік тому

      @@nigelwatson2750 cdn.fmi.fi/documents/climate/vertailukausi_9120_www/vuodenajat/kasvu_pituus_9120.png
      Pori and Turku belong to same South-West Finland climate zone. See the link above regarding the length of a growing season in days in a year. Usually Pori has milder end-of-autumn and early winter weather, and Meri-Pori is one of the last areas to get a snow cover in the continental Finland. But this year the strong North-East winds brought the arctic winter here.
      For Pori region North-West winds kills the summer heat, and in winter North-East winds give us the worst cold temperatures. This cold November is like a once in a twenty years scenario.

    • @j-p.alanen
      @j-p.alanen Рік тому

      And now that we started to talk about climate, I think you’ll find it interesting that Meri-Pori is one of the most Northern point in the planet that still belongs to the Warm-Summer Humid Continental climate zone according to Köppens climate type system. (I think in Norway there is still one area that is a tad more in North).
      en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Climate_of_Finland#/media/File:Finland_Köppen.svg

  • @gw6056
    @gw6056 Рік тому

    Damp and dry cold environments, need different heating solutions as well as the fact that clothing plays a huge part as well as a house is not supposed to retain 24ç all the time.

    • @nigelwatson2750
      @nigelwatson2750  Рік тому

      Finns hate being cold. You won't find Finns wearing jumpers inside their houses. The other thing that I should have mentioned is that the heating is on 24 hours a day.

  • @caravaggiosaccomplice7841
    @caravaggiosaccomplice7841 Рік тому

    I agree about dry winters. The Australian Alps are similar. The real danger is sunburn!

    • @nigelwatson2750
      @nigelwatson2750  Рік тому +1

      I have not got into the habit of wearing sunglasses in the winter - but many do, especially the stylish women LOL

  • @summerisonthursday5239
    @summerisonthursday5239 Рік тому +2

    an outdoor icerink!

    • @nigelwatson2750
      @nigelwatson2750  Рік тому

      And why not?

    • @j-p.alanen
      @j-p.alanen Рік тому +1

      Most schools outside cities in Finland have one. And the city schools have a communal ice rink nearby. So, all kids have an access to an ice rink.

    • @nigelwatson2750
      @nigelwatson2750  Рік тому +1

      In Pori we have two indoor rinks as well as local outdoor rinks - two in our village in Meri-Pori. The other thing Brits would find weird is the Finnish culture where kids are allowed to roam about outside in the evening unsupervised by their parents. @@j-p.alanen

  • @laurenced2916
    @laurenced2916 Рік тому +3

    Feel sorry for the German and Soviet soldiers in WW2 who were sent to the front during the Russian winter with no warm gear.

  • @billyt9921
    @billyt9921 Рік тому +2

    What is your main source of income for u in Finland? Are u teaching out there?

    • @nigelwatson2750
      @nigelwatson2750  Рік тому +2

      What's your main source of income? Do you want to know what colour underpants I am wearing?

    • @billyt9921
      @billyt9921 Рік тому

      😂 no. I'm just wondering what job you do out there. I used to teach KS3 to KS5 science a few years ago in the UK, but left teaching and took a different career path. I'm looking for a way out of the UK and was interested in how u had managed it. Didn't occur to me that I was prying.

    • @nigelwatson2750
      @nigelwatson2750  Рік тому

      What are you doing now to earn an income?@@billyt9921

    • @billyt9921
      @billyt9921 Рік тому

      ​@nigelwatson2750 construction industry. Plasterer by trade but I mainly manage small developments and self builds now.

  • @medwayhospitalprotest
    @medwayhospitalprotest Рік тому +1

    UA-cam ate my comment. Try again. 12 deg in my house today. When the kids come home, we have a choice of open fire, or freestanding calor gas one. Only using the boiler for hot water for a bath, and we share the water. Still £400 a quarter. I have to charge my mobility scooter as we can't do without that. This isn't fun, it makes my arthritis bad.

    • @nigelwatson2750
      @nigelwatson2750  Рік тому

      For what it's worth, you have my sympathies. The damp climate in England won't be helping you either. What about burning wood that you have collected & seasoned yourself? That would slash your heating bill.

    • @medwayhospitalprotest
      @medwayhospitalprotest Рік тому

      The trouble is storage, we live in a very typical Victorian terrace, there is only room for what we store for Winter. Believe me, I have thought about it. Then I wonder how long we will be here, because the landlord has started making noises about his wife is ill, and he's not too good, and I'm thinking we will yet again face a "no fault" eviction. We seem to have to move every 5 years, nobody wants to rent to disabled people and I can't get a Council house for reasons I have never been able to fathom. If you know you are staying somewhere its worth doing all this stuff, setting up storage for seasoning my own wood etc. And to do it properly I really need to make it lockable because my scuzzy neighbour is having his chimney renovated, so he will probably be stealing my wood soon. Its a good time to be a chimney sweep, seen a lot of them around! @@nigelwatson2750

  • @nickwrxsti
    @nickwrxsti Рік тому

    Thx. Most interesting. Here in Germany, the government is trying to bully/scare people into switching from gas to electricity for heating. Many (more wealthy and/or more gullible) have spent big money to install heat pumps. Heating engineers are overworked, as are manufacturers, so probably anyone installing now is paying over the odds. I'm extremely sceptical about all the sense of this electrification, so it's interesting to see that the heat-pump is working for you. How long have you had your pump for? Does anyone around you run electric cars or have solar panels? Greetings, N

    • @nigelwatson2750
      @nigelwatson2750  Рік тому +1

      Heat pumps have been popular in Finland for about 15 years. Electric car ownership is probably lower than the UK. Some solar panels about

  • @gw6056
    @gw6056 Рік тому

    When the KW charge goes up your in trouble

    • @nigelwatson2750
      @nigelwatson2750  Рік тому +1

      Google how Finland generates most of its electricity

    • @gw6056
      @gw6056 Рік тому

      Nuclear 35%

    • @nigelwatson2750
      @nigelwatson2750  Рік тому

      Read it and weep yle.fi/a/74-20032308 @@gw6056

    • @bertibear1300
      @bertibear1300 Рік тому

      Basically Britain is a shithole.I agree.can you go swimming in summer in Finland? It looks amazing.We are knee deep in mud in Cornwall.Its been raining for weeks.Chemtrails all the time, do you get chemtrails?

  • @Christ_in_You-theHope_of_Glory

    Finland declared independence, during the Russian revolution, in December 1917AD.
    The 2 tribed Kingdom of Judah's punishment started when they were taken away captive by the Babylonians and ended after 7 times(2520 years) when British and Allied forces delivered Jerusalem (Judah) from the grip of the Ottoman Empire in December 1917AD and when Iceland (Benjamin) secured its sovereignty during the breakup of Nordic region, which commenced when Finland declared independence, during the Russian revolution, also in December 1917AD.
    The 10 tribed Kingdom of Israel's punishment started when they were taken away captive by the Assyrians and ended after 7 times(2520 years) in 1798AD when a general of Napoleon's (named Berthier) entered Rome with his French army. The Papacy was abolished, the pontifical ring was removed, and the sitting Pope--Pope Pius VI was sent to France, where he died in exile. Around this time the new nation of the USA (Manasseh) was formed and the British Empire (Ephraim) was at the height of its power forming the United Kingdom and Commonwealth Nations.

  • @graemedevine9651
    @graemedevine9651 Рік тому +4

    If you're not careful at this time of year you could end up having a vaccident, becoming a real problem these days all because of climate change.

    • @nigelwatson2750
      @nigelwatson2750  Рік тому +4

      You mean Global Climate Boiling Change, comrade?

  • @johnabbott9431
    @johnabbott9431 Рік тому

    Very similar too Canada where i lived for 35 years before it went socialist communist!!Yes sun over rain any day and only been back 3 years andthe rain is getting to me as i do like to go for a walk every day.! Canada has changed for the worst and i was in the 50% tax bracket for year and sale tax 17 on all goods.house price ahve gone through the roof and wages down and i am waiting for the buble in real estate to clasp as they are trying to bankrupt work class Canadians so the will accept digital money.God bless and off out for my walk before the rain come!!

    • @nigelwatson2750
      @nigelwatson2750  Рік тому +2

      Taxation in England is ridiculous - not just the income tax and national insurance, all the other BS taxes and charges (parking!)

    • @johnabbott9431
      @johnabbott9431 Рік тому

      @@nigelwatson2750 Yes a carbon tax for the climate hoax!!lol

  • @stevetaylor1904
    @stevetaylor1904 Рік тому

    When you video by the water, is that a lake or the sea?

    • @nigelwatson2750
      @nigelwatson2750  Рік тому

      The sea (the Baltic), lakes, and a huge river, are all local