Tomi the Tonttu

For my Irish and UK friends, may I introduce you to the wondrous world of the Tonttu. We have been accustomed to tales of Santa's little helpers, without ever knowing what a Santa's little helper looked like. All we ever had were vague descriptions put forward by, mostly, American TV.

Well, since arriving here in Finland, which is after all where Santa lives and not at the North Pole or Dallas or anywhere else, I have been endeavouring to find out about these little guys. Turns out they are called Tonttus and at long last I managed to photograph one this morning.

We went to our new house to welcome the plumber and there was Tomi, a little Tonttu lurking in the woodpile. The trouble is that these little guys are full of mischief and I think he has followed me home. I hope he doesn't cause any trouble between now and Christmas.