PW_2_2023

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Northern Lights Phil Neill, Greater Belfast Secretary “For as long as I can remember, I have always been interested in Scandinavia. Particularly north of the Arctic Circle in Norway, Sweden and Finland. The scenery, the mountains, the snow, the people, the history and most of all the Northern Lights.”

I first became aware of this IPA house in Akaslompolo , Finland two years ago, shortly after I became Secretary of the Greater Belfast Branch. The pictures on their website hooked me immediately, and I contacted Michael, a colleague from Dublin who had been there. He told me all I needed to know, and I decided, “right, we’re going”. After speaking with Eija, the extremely helpful house manager, I made my reservations and booked flights. I checked the temperature in Akaslompolo for mid-December, and learned that it would be around minus 25 degrees Celsius. This prompted me to pack an extra sweater or six! We flew from Dublin to Helsinki on December 16th and then a connecting flight to Kittila. We landed there at 6pm to minus 21 degrees, a tad nippy but stunningly beautiful. It was then a 45 minute drive to the house, which is located in a forest, and is very easy to get to. On arrival we were greeted by Esa, who had everything ready for us, coffee on heat and a roaring log fire burning. Over the next six nights, we spent our evenings beside the fire, looking out the window at the magical snowy forest outside. I was up early one morning and stepped out the front door to see three young reindeer walking past. They looked at me, decided I was not interesting and continued on their way. Excited by this I went and told Esa, who was unimpressed by my discovery, saying “oh yes, they walk around here every day.” The house has everything anyone could want during a stay. Two saunas, ski’s, mountain bikes, sleds, a washing machine and drying room. My eight year old son Tom, soon conscripted me to snowman building, which was great fun.

There is an ice hotel nearby which we visited. This was amazing, built every winter, it melts in the spring and a new one is built again the following winter. There were some kids playing football outside the hotel and Tom promptly joined in. Playing football in minus 25, above the Arctic Circle, now there’s something you don’t do every day. We visited Santa Claus himself, since he lives nearby and it would have been rude not to pop in and say hello. This was the main reason for going there to be honest. The old fellow did not disappoint. The reindeer sled ride through a forest guided by elves, to reach his little cabin was truly magical. Santa brought us in, chatted for 15 minutes and gave Tom a little gift. Back at the house, a very tired and excited little boy soon fell asleep. I grabbed a beer and stepped outside for a walk at 11pm. I looked up at a completely clear sky filled with stars. But within minutes, it morphed into an array of colours, the Aurora Borealis had come out to play. I like to think just for me, but probably not. The whole sky was filled with green and purple dancing curtains and ribbons, constantly moving and changing. I called Patsy, my wife to come out and see, in case it disappeared again but I needn’t have worried. This lasted for two hours. We were completely in awe of such an experience in the freezing cold silence of the forest and stood watching for ages. My words can’t express how amazing and beautiful this was to behold. The photos will give you some idea, I hope. We had a truly fantastic and memorable trip to the IPA house in the Arctic Circle. I hope this inspires and encourages you to pay a visit. You will definitely not be disappointed.

POLICE WORLD Vol 68 No.2, 2023

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