In all the years I’ve been working in the University, the best thing to have happened to me is the chance I’ve had to work with some top-rate scholars, and yes, strong personalities! Eino Jutikkala, Yrjö Blomstedt, Matti Vikari, Matti Klinge, Heikki Ylikangas, to name but a few. I have the deepest respect for these paragons, as well as the right to disagree - not always an easy circle to square. But what an unbeatable school for thought!

The best has been the opportunity to cross disciplinary boundaries through unanticipated teamwork and friendships: the now famous Pam-Pam seminar which back in the 1980s got together scholars of history, sociology, philosophy, jurisprudence and mathematics. It’s a pity that that kind of arrangement seems to be pretty much ruled out these days. Efficiency + effectiveness = dullness!

Another, more positive, plus has been the good fortune to be constantly in touch with young people: teaching and supervision are the academic spice of life - when the interaction works and the taught learn, that is!

My most beautiful and touching moment however was when my students and colleagues sprung on me a magnificent 60th birthday festschrift Viapori – linnoitus, lähiseutu, maailma/Sveaborg, fästning och omvärld (‘Suomenlinna –the fortress, the locality, and the rest of the world’) and a seriously enjoyable party in the new student house in Mannerheim street.

A blog of the Sveaborg-Viapori project, an Academy of Finland project 2010-13, is available here.