Eight and half hours journey to Oulu

As I have told in my previous post, I was so excited about the long road trip to Oulu with Gagan. On Thursday I came back home around 14:30. Yes, the plan changed a bit. The previous night we decided to start the journey together from my home. It took us some time to prepare everything and start. Finally we began at 16:00. The weather was a bit gloomy but quite ok. Unfortunately we caught by the rush hour and it caused us few extra minutes to get out of the town.

As we came out of the town and fall on highway, Gagan started to drive at highest speed limit. It's awesome to run that fast. We played music that Gagan put on few CDs particularly for this trip. Both of us sang to our fullest voice. Because of that shouting we had sore throat at the end of the trip :P

We took two breaks during the journey. In the first break we stopped in a road side parking beside a lake and had our snacks. The other one was in a gas station. We took sufficient gas and then took dinner. The last four hours was without any break. Finally we reached Gagan's home at 00:30. Shanila was waiting for us, obviously with nicely prepared food :D

The whole journey was a bit tiring but I enjoyed every bit of it. Let's have a look at some pictures of that day :)





The car is waiting for the long run :)





Last minute checking.





On the highway, it was raining a bit at that time.





Taking the first break.





Having snacks beside the lake.





Now me, I was talking about something funny I guess.






Preparing for the next run.





The journey began again.





Stopped for gas and dinner.





At night, at the end of the journey.



Programming Solution

Waiting for the long drive

For last few days I have been waiting so eagerly for the long drive that we (Gagan and me) are going to have tomorrow. I decided to spend my Easter holiday in Gagan's place in Oulu and we planned to go there by car this time. It's around 650 kilometers drive which will be my longest car ride so far.

Gagan and Shanila went to visit London 10 days back. They came to Helsinki by car, left it here and took ryanair flight from Tampere. Shanila came back 3 days back and is in Oulu now. Gagan just came to Helsinki today, 3 hours back and now is in my home, sleeping and snoring I guess :P We will start our trip tomorrow around 3 PM. I will still come to work tomorrow. The plan is, I will prepare everything tonight, come to work tomorrow morning and in the afternoon Gagan will pick me up from my office and we will head to Oulu. I think it will be a memorable trip :-)



Programming Solution

Ericsson Badminton Doubles Championship

Today I participated in Ericsson LMF badminton doubles championship. I missed the singles championship due to illness. This time I was so eager to participate and I made it. And you know what? Me and my partner became the champion :D

Only four teams participated today. The partners were put together by lottery. I was really lucky; I got the best player among us as my partner :P Each team had to play against all other teams and then best two teams would play final. We won all the matches in round robin league and secured our place in final. At the end we managed to win in the final as well. As a matter of fact, there was no trophy, rather each of us got a box of victor shuttlecock which is really good to me as an award.

I played 11 games in total within two and half hours. I was totally exhausted and I feel pain in many parts of my body right now. But I enjoyed it very much. This championship turned my boring Sunday into a great enjoyable day :)


Programming Solution

I dreamed of you

I dreamed of you last night
After a long time.
It was a nice one
Full of happiness and smile.

You were even laughing,
Talking in Bangla
With other people.

You looked nice;
Fresh and cozy.
Exactly how I wanted to see...



Programming Solution

70 years old guy surprised me

I had a badminton match today at 1630 and my opponent was a 70 years old guy. He had been working in Ericsson for 27 years and retired 13 years back but he is still playing badminton as a club member. At first I didn't know any of these information. Seeing him I thought he is around 55. While playing the first game I had to work hard to win. After the game I asked him, while panting like hell, how old is he. At that moment I came to know about him. I was so surprised, such an old guy competing with me quite well. I managed to win the match but I had to work hard for every point I achieved. He played with me for the whole hour and it seems that after an hour I am more exhausted then he is. How can he be so strong in this age? :-S I wanted to know more about this guy but he can't speak English at all. I had to extract all the information with my very little knowledge of Finnish language :-)


Programming Solution

Peter's last day at work

Today is Peter's last day at work. We had a farewell party for him. Around 25 people came to the small arrangement. Peter came with 20 balloons of different colors filled up with Helium. He gave one balloon to each of the first twenty persons who came to the party. There was champagne, a big cake and coffee. We had funny gossip, well it's always funny when Peter is around. We spend almost an hour there. All the people passing the terrace was looking at us because we were holding colorful balloons in our hands. Everybody put his/her balloon in own team space. In our team we put it with our high table. I didn't miss the chance to take picture with peter standing behind that table. I will still see him either in his home or my home or outside but for sure I am gonna miss him during office hours :(



Programming Solution

Going to start with a new team

Last two weeks was really different at work. Many changes took place - people were leaving, organizational structure was changing, teams were being restructured and so on. I was also inside the scope. In the end I have been offered an opportunity to work with another team. The new team is going to work with Radio Network. I still don't have the big picture but everybody said it's good to work there because it's the main focus area these days. So next week I am going to shift to the new team and from the beginning of April I will start working there. I would obviously miss my old team mates. Good that I would sit near by, so I can visit them quite often :)



Programming Solution

Survived from getting sacked

It's been two months now that Ericsson is negotiating with the union about the possible lay off of employees in Finland. The negotiation ended last week. It was a successful negotiation from employees' point of view in a sense that the number reduced to 37 from 90. Today was the big day to let all the employees know the final decision.

The environment was very awkward since this morning. People gathered in small groups in the terrace and were talking to each other. Everybody was tensed what was going to happen. The bosses started talking with people from 10 O'clock. I got call from my boss around 1 PM. Luckily I survived means I didn't get sacked. Unfortunately two guys from our team has been sacked and one of them is Peter :( I am not worried about Peter. He is competent enough to find a good job within few months. But I feel really bad about it. Peter has been my closest friend in the office for several months now. We used to work together, have fun together and most importantly share the events of our lives which is very unlikely for a Finnish guy. I can't be happy today because Peter is leaving and I am gonna miss him terribly in the office. I am loosing another very good friend. People I like are getting away from me one by one. It doesn't matter whether it's intentional or inevitability, the fact is I am loosing them :(


Programming Solution

Steak night

I just wanted to make some steak in home and I gave a try. I bought the beef for steak. It was already marinated. I just had to fry it home. It looks quite good but not very tasty as I expected. Nevertheless, a late night supper with this steak was nice :)


Programming Solution

Events from home: part 2

So here goes the second part of the home events. It was a long overdue plan. Finally this time we were able to execute it. We gathered on one of our friends roof top, cooked biriyani and grilled chicken for dinner. We had great chit-chat and fun. Most of us stayed in our friend's home on that night. We had almost whole night of playing cards and gossip. Let's have a look at some pictures of that night :)





Start marinating the mutton





Processing going on :)





Preparing the stove for cooking





Necessary stuffs for grilling





The stove is ready to use :)





Razib is preparing the chicken to grill





The mutton is being cooked





Marinating the chicken with spices





The burning coal for the grill





The chicken pieces are placed





Two guys preparing salad





Half cooked chicken





Gossiping in the middle





The chicken is ready





Close shot, Looks yummy :D





Having adda





Me, cooking the biriyani





Everything is done, just gossiping before start eating





The dinner started :)





Looks good, right?





Busy with delicious food :D





After dinner lighting cigarette in a funny way :P



Programming Solution

Events from home: part 1

This is going to be the post for the events during my stay in Dhaka for 4 weeks. I don't know if there will be a part 2 but let's see. On 14 January we went to Baliati Jomidar Bari at Manikganj. The trip was sponsored by Razib as a celebration of his cheque from Google Adsense. We were 12 in number. It was a nice trip. I want to share few pictures here. Let's have a look at the pictures :)




Inside the car, the journey started :)





Sitting in the front row, me and Shishire





Nice highway





The Sponsor and his girl friend. Well that hat is mine :P





I short break on the way and having tea from road side shop





Baliati Jomidar Bari, from outside





Another shot from outside





Yet another shot :)





In front of the main building





The main building





Another shot of the buildings





Yet another shot





A small pond in the middle





3 IUTians, Me, Shishire and Tasnim. why do I look so sad? :-S





Ora 10 jon :)





Now, ora 11 jon :)





Couple-1, Tunnu & Munni





Couple-2, Rana & Shumi





Tuuki :P





3 IUTians again





Looks like hallway





3 Statues :)





We are together





Another one





Fun :)





I don't remember what exactly happened at that time. But look at the grins in everybody's face :D



Programming Solution