Moomins and Things

WEEEE!!!! Moomins in New York! Finally!!

2007-07-05T12:25:00.000Z

I know it is only books but still it's a start. Couldn't find any other sign of Moomins- lots of Hello Kitty. My boyf is off to LA on Thursday so I will get him to look out for Moomins!!

Hard Week.

2007-06-24T17:34:00.000Z

Have had a very busy week. Won't go into too much detail but my Nanny passed away Wednesday the 20th of June. She had been fighting lung cancer for the past 18 months. I was just happy that I could be there with her at the end and that she did not go alone. She was convinced that we would meet again...

So Moomins have not been in my thoughts very much recently. My friend Geoff is off to Finland this weekend and he is going to try and buy me the new limited edition summer mug.

I am off to New York on Wednesday so I'll look out for any signs of Moomins over there!

Will continue when I get back- still have not linked my computer at home to my internet... bit silly but I am not very technically minded!

My New Pet!

2007-06-24T17:26:00.000Z

adopt your own virtual pet!

Moomin Puppet Episodes

2007-06-17T19:50:00.000Z

Hey- I have just finished watching my first installment of episodes from the puppet series made by Film Polski. I will be writing about each episode.

Picture shows Moomin and Snork Maiden with the Hobgoblin's hat.

1- Hobgoblin's Hat.

During Winter all of Moomin Valley goes to sleep. Moomin (first seen in bed) wakes up after sleeping for 100 nights and 100 days. He is surprised to find that Snuffkin's bed is empty and sets off to find him (it seems Snuffkin and Moomin share a room).

Moomin follows Snuffkin's footsteps. He finds Snuffkin playing a song on the bridge. They decide to go and find their friend Sniff. They call out to Sniff, who is still asleep, he appears in the window. They all decide to climb to the top of the Lonely Mountain- where they find the Hobgoblin's Hat!!

Snork

2007-05-25T17:23:00.000Z

Snork- Snorkin.

Snork is Snork Maiden's brother. They both come from a far away land to live in Moomin Valley when a comet threatens to hit.

Snork is a keen inventor and his big passion is trying to fly. He also likes to be very organised and loves planning, plotting and keeping records.

Snork is not a main character and does not hang out with Moomin and his friends. I think he is a bit older and too busy to have adventures with them.

Stinky

2007-05-25T17:09:00.001Z

Stinky.

If anyone can be called a 'bad egg' in Moomin Valley then it is Stinky!

He is a big hair ball on spindly legs- as you can see in the picture. He will steal anything that isn't nailed down (such as Snork's wings- that were given to Moomin) and he bullies anyone he considers weaker then him.

He is seen at his meanest when bullying Ninny. She is a very nervous and scared girl who stays with the Moomin family. At one point Stinky tricks her into going into a dark cave and then seals her in with a big boulder.

Moomin and Little My aren't scared of him and often chase him off.

Moomins at Eurovision!

2007-05-15T22:12:00.000Z

Finland (home of the Moomins) hosted the 2007 Eurovision on Saturday. I was hoping to see some mention of the Moomins and was not disappointed.

Between two of the acts a short film was shown of the Moomin house and Moomin Mama playing chess with Father Christmas!!!

I just did a search for an image and found on Wikipedia that someone had posted that he was playing chess with Moomintroll!! Not true- you could clearly see Moomin Mama's apron and handbag (have since edited the article).

Will have to add an image later.

More great Moomin news- my sister and her boyfriend went to Finland for a long weekend and brought me tons of Moomin goodies. I was more then pleased!! Treasures included: tea-towel, post cards, pillow case, biscuits, wrist band, phone charm, Fillyjonk bowel, Moomintroll plate, cookie cutters, teaspoon set.... I will take some photos and post them up.

Also well jealous she brought herself a Moomin bath towel and a Moomin hand puppet!!! I will see if I can borrow them to photograph- they are very cute and not available in the UK... yet!

I know it has been ages since I last posted- I do have a few lined up that still need some tweaking.

RIP Jasper my gorgeous cat who passed away on the 2nd of April aged 15+ Love You xxx

Back from Holiday!

2007-03-05T17:12:00.000Z

Have been back for a couple of weeks- but it has taken me that long to recover!! Miami was nice enough but Orlando was cold and I was unprepared so ended up with the worst cold of my life!

I was so cold at Disney's Magic Kingdom I had to buy myself a big Mickey Mouse hoody. I filled the pouch with tissues burying myself under it and a pair of sunglasses for the rest of the holiday- very sexy!

Had a great time overall got a sun tan, saw Cinderella's House, had some good food and discovered how great kaluki is (thanks to my bf and his two sons). I kept my eyes open for anything Moomin (even tried toy shops)- but could not find anything! Maybe Moomin Mania has not yet hit the US... yet. This was my first trip to America so there was lots to see.

I had to buy all my chums Hello Kitty stuff instead! Will get on with my blog now I'm back. Most of my energy is going into worrying about Wednesday when I'm having a brace fitted to my teeth- no it's nothing to do with Ugly Betty (though I'm sure that will be my new nickname at work!).

On Holiday!!

2007-02-10T12:59:00.000Z

I have made a massive list of all the posts that I need to do and ones that I want to do- including:

My Moomin Collection: photographs of my items, friends items, where they were from, who brought them, where you can buy them etc..

Moomin Abuse: The 'practical jokes' taken at the expense of Moomins (some people actually find them funny!).

More in depth character reviews.

Reviews of Moomin books and television episodes. I almost won six of the books on ebay- but got jipped right at the last second... it drives me mad when people do that. The PR manager at work has said they are going cheap on BookWorld.

So much to do! Unfortunately (well not really) I'm off on holiday until week after next- so my plans will have to wait. Promise to do much more when I get back!

Oh! More good news- my blog has been mentioned twice on my boyfriends blog! (don't look unless you are over 18- it's called SexToyInsider and it can be quite rude!). He seemed to think it was funny that I was so pleased at being top of Google- he's even more pleased now that his blog is third for 'moomins and things'!! MEANER!

Google

2007-02-05T17:06:00.000Z

HURRAH!!!

Just a celebratory post for being top of Google when searching for 'moomins and things', 2nd for 'moomins things' and 4th for 'moomin things'!!!!

Well I'm pleased anyway- even if all my work colleagues find it hilarious!!

Sniff

2007-02-01T18:51:00.000Z

Sniff (Sniff, Nipsu)

Sniff is probably Moomins 3rd or 4th best friend (between him and Little My!).

He looks very much like a Kangaroo or even a very large mouse- I'm not sure how this relates to Tove's life in Finland!

In this image, from the puppet series, he is grey but he becomes brown in later animations.

He is the coward of the group, often electing to stay home and look after the house. Occasionally he is the voice of reason trying to save his friends from themselves- but they rarely listen to him.

Sniff can find courage if there is a treasure to be found or gold to be had. He cares more for the finer things in life then the rest of the inhabitants of Moomin Valley.

The Hemulen

2007-02-01T18:39:00.000Z

The Hemulen: (Hemulen, Hemuli)

The Hemulen is an avid collector and is always pursuing his hobby. He asks Moomin and his friends advice on what to collect next- Snorkmaiden suggests shells but he ends up choosing flowers.

The Hemulen's Aunt raised Moominpappa in an orphanage. The image above is taken from the puppet series.

I like this character because he can get so passionate about a subject becoming 100% focused: oblivious to the dangers around him.

My Back!

2007-01-30T17:44:00.000Z

Hi,

I have not been able to do much on my blog lately due to an accident at work-

well not really an accident- more me being a muppet. Borrowed the pallet lifter from next door's warehouse- then decided to lift it up some steps!

My back clicked twice and I ended up in A & E! The most painful experience of my life- I literally felt paralysed. The logo to the left is from the company that I work for: http://www.lovehoney.co.uk/ (don't look unless you are over 18!!).

That was two weeks ago and I'm still having trouble bending and walking without pain. Saw the Doctor this morning and they gave me more pain killers!

On the way home, to cheer myself up, I stopped off in the Shannon shop

and brought myself two new Moomin mugs to add to my collection! Will update the page when I have an image. I do intend to photograph all of my Moomin collection one day...

Bye

The Groke

2007-01-29T17:36:00.000Z

The Groke- Marran, Morko

Where the Groke goes cold, frost and ice follow. Nobody wants to get too close to the Groke of they might freeze up and die like Moominmammas rose garden.

The Groke chases Thingumy and Bob to Moominvalley looking for a stolen treasure. The Moomins and their friends have to defend their friends and their home.

Nobody is exactly sure who or what the Groke is, she is very mysterious and lonely.

Lttle My

2007-01-20T14:00:00.000Z

Lttle My

(Lilla My, Pikku Myy)

She is a small, determined and

fiercely independent Mymble.

When she wants something done she does it straight away. She always wants to be at the centre of things and does her best to be involved in any adventure (especially the dangerous ones!).

She is very aggressive, totally disrespectful and can't help speaking her mind.

Although she has a very brash personality she can be a very loyal and good friend.

She is Snufkin's half sister. Always seen in a red dress with her hair in a high ponytail.

Little My makes her first appearance in The Exploits of Moominpappa chapter seven.

Maps of Moomin Valley

2007-01-20T13:40:00.000Z

The map above is of Moomin Valley with details of the Moomin house floor plan. As you can see the sea is quite close. Several adventures take place on board a boat that the Moomins find and on the Hattifatteners island that they later discover.

The map at top right is Moomin Valley in Midwinter coated in snow- no wonder the Moomins hibernate all Winter!

Snufkin

2007-01-20T13:26:00.000Z

Snufkin (Snusmumriken, Nuuskamuikkunen)

Snufkin is Moomintroll's best friend, while the Moomins are hibernating Snufkin travels south every Winter and returns in the Spring.

He is the son of the Mymble and Joxter, and is half-brother to the Mymble's daughter Little My.

Snufkin always wears a green outfit and hat with a feather in it, which he has had since birth.

He lives in a tent, smokes a pipe and plays the harmonica.

Snufkin is a vagabond and an adventurer. He also follows a philosophy similar to a Buddhist Monk: keeping as few worldly possessions as possible, seeing them as a burden and being happier keeping the memory of a thing then the thing itself (in contrast to his friend Sniff).

Snork Maiden

2007-01-19T16:39:00.000Z

The Snork Maiden

(Snorkfroken, Niiskuneti)

Moomintroll's vain lady friend and admirer. She does fall in love with other characters sometimes (as does Moomin) but she always returns before things get too serious.

She wears a golden ring on her left ankle and a golden earring in her left ear (only in the Puppet animation). Her pride and joy is her beautiful blond fringe.

She is a very patient and empathic moomin who is always prepared to listen to people in trouble.

Snork Maiden lives with her brother Snork and is first mentioned in Comet in Moominland chapter six with her first appearance in chapter seven.

Tove Jansson

2007-01-19T11:20:00.000Z

Tove Jansson was born on August 9th, 1914
into a finnish-swedish family and grew up in Helsinki.

Her father Vicktor Jansson was a sculptor and her
mother Signe Hammarsten-Jansson was an artist
and illustrator. Tove studied at the universities
of art in Stockholm and Helsinki and at the Ecole

des Beaux-Arts in Paris.

In the beginning she wrote short stories and worked as an illustrator and cartoonist / caricaturist for several magazines. When she was 31 Tove wrote the first the books, which would later make her famous, 'The Little Trolls and the Great Flood'.

Her actual breakthrough as 'Moomin Mother' was most notable in 1953 with her job for the British Evening News, in which a comic strip about the Moomins was printed daily. Soon this comic series was sold world-wide and captured the hearts of children everywhere.

In total Tove wrote and illustrated eight Moomin novels and three picture books and wrote the text for the picture book 'An Unwanted Guest'. The Moomin books had been written in Swedish before the first Finnish book was published in 1952. All the Moomin books written between 1960 to 1980 had been published in Swedish an Finnish at the same time.In total the stories had been published in 34 languages.

For her literary achievement Tove received some 50 awards and nominations, including the Nils Holgersson prize in 1953, the Hans Christian Andersen medal in 1966, the Order of the Smile Polish children's award in 1975 and the title of honorary professor issued by Finland's president in 1995.

She died on 27th June 2001.

Moominpappa

2007-01-17T13:04:00.000Z

Moominpappa

(Muminpappan, Muuminpappa)

Probably my favouite character as he is always full of great advice, adventurous and very kind.

My boyfriend brought me a soft toy Moominpappa so he gives me a hug every night!

He always wears a black top hat which features heavily in several Moomin adventures.

Moomintroll

2007-01-16T18:45:00.000Z

Moomintroll (Mumintrollet, Muumipeikko)- the main character in all Moomin adventures.

He is the teenage son of Moominpappa and Moominmamma.

Always looking for an adventure he has many friends to join him in Moomin Valley.

Moominmamma

2007-01-16T18:14:00.000Z

Moominmamma

(Muminmamman, Muumimamma)-

The mother of Moomintroll and wife of Moominpappa. However she takes care of anyone who needs her help.

Moominmamma is very calming, rarely getting cross and taking even the most distressing circumstances in her stride (such has her son being turned into an ugly creature).

Moominmamma is almost never seen without her black handbag which is always full of useful things. She is often seen wearing a red and white striped apron.

She is very prepared and likes to pack for all eventualities. She is also an excellent cook who can brew-up magic potions to cure all kinds of Moomin problems.

Moomins on Screen

2007-01-16T17:42:00.000Z

Moomin stories have been made into various television series and a feature-length movie, below is a list of these:

-Augsburger Puppenkiste (1959-1961 German)

-Moomin (1969-1970 Japanese)

-New Moomin (1972 Japanese)

-The Moomins (1979-1982 German / Polish)

-Moomin (1990-1991 Collaboration)

-Tanoshii Moomin ikka: Bouken Nikki (1991-1992)

-Tanoshii Moomin ikka: Muumindani no suisei (1992 movie)

I have copies of the German /Polish Puppet animation and the Japanese-European animation collaboration- as I watch these I intend to review the individual episodes and go into some detail.

Moomin Home

2007-01-14T12:36:00.000Z

Hurrah! I have managed to post my first picture!

The Moomins home is situated in Moominvalley and is an integral part of any Moomin adventure. Moominmama and Moominpappa are always there ready to hand out milk and cookies or offer a bed for the night.

The image shown to the right is from the animated series. As you can see it is not really a windmill or a light house- I'd describe it as a windmill without... arms!

Moomin Books

2007-01-14T12:11:00.000Z

Below is a basic list of the Moomin books. My sister used to have copies of all the paperbacks which she would buy from jumble sales for 5 pence each- unfortunately she no longer haves them.
I have never read the paperback books but I shall try and buy them on eBay or somewhere so that I can review each one- may take some time! I do have the picture books and comic strip so will start reviewing those.

PAPERBACK BOOKS:
The Moomins and the Great Flood 1945

Comet in Moominland 1946

Finn Family Moomintroll 1948

Moominpappa's Memoirs / The Exploits of Moominpappa 1950

Moominsummer Madness 1954

Moominland Winter 1957

Tales from Moominvalley 1962 (short stories)

Moominpappa at Sea 1965

Moominvalley in November 1970 (Moomin family are absent)

PICTURE BOOKS:
The Book about Moomin, Mymble and Little My 1952

Who will comfort Toffle 1960

An Unwanted Guest 1980

COMIC STRIP:
Moomin: The Complete Tove Jansson Comic Strip 2006
This is a collection on Tove's original comic strips four more volumes are planned.

Blog Plans

2007-01-14T11:45:00.000Z

Ok- Hello! Just going to see how this looks on my blog. Despite working for an Internet company I have no idea how these things work-hoping to learn as I go along- so apologies for any boring bits early on...

I hope this blog will be a giant collection of everything and anything Moomin- featuring anything else that I may find interesting (guess that's why I added the 'and Things' to the title).

Maybe it will turn out more like a diary- though I might wait until I get Internet at home before I do that- I am writing this at my boyfriends.

Yes- so there it is a muddled plan of 'what to do'! Main thing I need to learn is how to get pictures on my blog- guess you'll know when I succeed.
Anyway going to start with Moomins and see where it leads me...