Oldest Estonian Arved Tamm celebrates his 107th birthday today

Estonia's oldest citizen Arved Tamm celebrated his 107th birthday in Tallinn today.  He is one of thirteen children and remembers Tzarist and Soviet times, the birth of the Estonian Republic as well as the first and second World Wars. When asked what was the most important event in his life, he replied 'marriage'.

To read more about Arved Tamm on his special day (in Estonian), please click here:
107. sünnipäeva tähistav vanim eestlane Arved Tamm: elu tähtsaim tegu oli naisevõtt!

Skier Kelly Sildaru Wins Gold at X-Games in Aspen

Kelly Sildaru just became the first athlete to win two gold medals at the X-Games before turning the age of 15. She's only 14 years old! Congratulations! Fantastic result!

Watch Kelly's performance here: Kelly Sildaru - Jeep Women's Ski Slopestyle Final

A look inside the Estonian Seaplane Harbour Museum / Lennusadam Meremuuseum

During my recent trip to Tallinn I set aside a few hours to visit the Estonian Seaplane Harbour Museum. This museum has an excellent reputation and often appears in travel guides as one of Tallinn's  'must-see' attractions. The Seaplane Harbour Museum opened in 2012 and has indoor and outdoor exhibitions. 

The Estonian Seaplane Harbour Museum is one of Tallinn's best

interactive museums. There is lots to do for people of all ages.

Go on-board and explore the Lembit submarine.

Built in England in 1937, the Lembit submarine is one of the few

submarines to have survived intact from the pre-WWII era.

The lighting sets the nautical mood. 

The museum is extremely informative.

Have fun dressing up in naval attire.

Estonian Naval uniforms.

Estonian boat ruins.

Learn about old Viking traditions.

Key attractions.

List of exhibitions.

The Estonian Seaplane Harbour Museum will be closed for renovations from 30th January - 28th February 2017.  

The museum is located at: Vesilennuki Tee 6, Tallinn. Website: The Estonian Maritime Museum

Normal opening hours are 10.00–18.00 (Tue–Sun). 

VIDEO: Estonia in the 1930s

I love viewing these old films depicting life in Estonia during my grandparents era. Much has changed since those days...

Legendary Estonian composer Veljo Tormis has died aged 86

Estonia lost a class act today. Veljo Tormis was an Estonian composer who was deeply in tune with his country’s vital tradition of choral singing and ancient folk culture. He was born in Kuusalu in 1930 and studied in the Tallinn and later Moscow Conservatories before going into teaching. (Arvo Pärt was among his students). During his career Veljo Tormis produced over 500 individual choral songs. Tormis was internationally regarded as one of the greatest choral music writers, and one of the most important composers of the 20th century in Estonia.

Many of Tormis’ works are written for choirs and based on an ancient form of Estonian folk song called regilaul. He once said: “National music can also convey religious feelings; it often represents pre-Christian forms of spirituality, which should also be important and meaningful in our integrating world. Old Estonian runo songs certainly communicate the nature worship and rituals of prehistoric times.”

'Forgotten Peoples' is one of his most famous works.

For those unfamiliar with the work Veljo Tormis, here is some additional background information. Veljo Tormis - Biography

Estonian Winter Festival of Lights

Tonight spruces across Estonia will be set ablaze in the annual Winter Lights Festival. This is a long standing tradition where old Christmas trees and other sculptures made from spruce and straw spectacularly light up the night sky.   This year there will be a Guinness World Record attempt and people are encouraged to share their photos on Facebook. Many parades are due to take place at multiple venues from 6 pm.

For more information (in Estonian) click here: Pühapäeval toimub Tallinnas talvine valgusfestival

Increase in oil prices breathes new life into Estonia’s oil shale industry - ERR NEWS

Both Enefit Kaevandused, the mining subsidiary of state-owned energy group Eesti Energia, and VKG Kaevandused, the mining subsidiary of shale oil and chemicals producer VKG, are planning on increasing output this year.

The Estonia mine has switched over to a seven-day workweek, which means that mining is now underway there 24/7. On Thursday, journalists were given an overview of the longwall mining technology which will allow the company to reduce mining costs, reported ETV news broadcast "Aktuaalne kaamera."

Ahti Puur, chairman of the board at Enefit Kaevandused, explained that the new technology would allow for a one-third reduction in the number of employees working a mine compared to previous technology. As output has increased, however, the increase in mining efficiency has not meant a reduction in the number of jobs.

"We believe we will stick with the current workforce at Enefit Kaevandus, which is approximately 2,300 employees," said Eesti Energia board member Andres Vainola. "If we compare with the most difficult period, i.e. during 2015, when we laid off nearly 350 people in the mines, then we have hired just under 100 to replace them yet have achieved pre-market decline production capacities. We do not currently plan on hiring more employees, however no layoffs are planned either."

As a listed company, Eesti Energia will publish the mining volumes of its mines in its annual report at the end of February. According to Vainola, however, last year’s mining values were approximately 10 percent greater than in the year before. In 2015, the company mined 15.5 million tons of commercial oil shale.

VKG’s Ojamaa mine is switching over to a six-day workweek as they are seeking to increase output from last year’s 2.3 million tons of commercial oil shale to 3.9 million tons this year.

A total of 500 people currently work at the Ojamaa mine, but the increase in production volume will allow for them to hire an additional 35 employees in February. The company hopes to create a total of 65 new jobs at the mine this year.

"We have never had so many employees working at the mine and we are indeed increasing our output," noted VKG board chairman Ahti Asmann. "When we reopened Kiviter, then it was largely those we had been forced to lay off that came to work [there], but there are also new people involved and more young people are entering the sector as well."

Source: ERR News Increase in oil prices breathes new life into Estonia’s oil shale industry