Cats are smarter than dogs. You can't get eight cats to pull a sled through snow

So it´s snowing ... must be Christmas time.

Regular as clockwork (in my mind anyway), if it´s snowing it must be Christmas! This Christmas has been quite strange, in a mostly nice way. Mum, the dog and I have spent the last five days quietly enjoying the time off from the usual activities whether they are work or in mums case - red cross volunteer duty, home visiting, choir practice, etc etc. The downside was (or perhaps too it is an upside), mum had a bad tummy so the eating has been kept to a minimum. We´ve both been "off" our food, which for us foodies is very strange, especially at this time of year. Nevertheless we did sit down to two meals..



This is the day before Christmas eve, now this would put most people off their food, having the dog sit at the dinner table - but actually she has better table manners than mum and I, she does not talk with her mouth full, does not bite her fork and never ever puts her elbows on the table. Here she and mother are enjoying some chicken breast, the wine is a fine rosemount semillion chardonay.
Here she is waiting for me to sit and join in on the festivities

Now here is mum and our feast for the night (Christmas Eve - the main event here in Iceland) We had lightly smoked rack of lamb, twas quite nice, we ate the left overs last night. As you may or may not see the usual condiments made their way to the table, green peas from ORA, yellow peas (or corn to most people), red cabbage and a salad of beetroot and apple in cream.. Oh and ofcourse malt og apelsín

the wine, this time, was from chile, I am actually branching out.

Mum not feeling too good.. no rather I think she is watching something tragic on the tv.

When I look at these photos I realise how cluttered my house looks, strange that to me in reality it seems rather minimalistic.

I think I may need help.

To Maja, Gosia, Maria and TSDuff, (my readership), I wish you all a very happy holiday time and that 2008 brings you all and more, you guys all deserve it! As do I!

I hope to be the kind of person my dog thinks I am. - author unknown

a little wind map for you.. 30m/s is around 108km/h - here in the north its a fairly gentle 9 to 15 m/s so around 30-55 km/h.

What can I say - it is windy...

Warning: A strong gale warning (more than 20 m/s) is in force for all parts. Forecast: Southeast 18 to 23 m/s but 25 to 30 by the west coast.
see www.vedur.is

Other than that it is Friday, the weekend is almost here and I am feeling extremely slack today... (what´s different). Need to get sorted this weekend and write christmas cards - so that they make it to their destination before the end of January. I don´t think that I have ever been this late with them.

Enough - to work with you woman!

When a dog runs at you, whistle for him.

Out walking the dog in the snow... for Maja

It was -7°C today, I took her for three walks and still she looks at me like I am the biggest letdown in the world..

"To err is human, to forgive, canine." - Unknown

OK. so this week I am on my own and so the dog has taken charge and is now considered a perfectly acceptable member of the dinner table... and basically she has better manners than many a folk I have met.

Today is the 1st of december - surprise surprise, not only is it the anniversary of home rule in Iceland, it is also the day before the first sunday of advent, which means that throughout Iceland trees are being lit and the jolasveinar are coming down from the hills. Before the festivities began I took the dog for a run... she was happy

then went down to town to watch the lighting of the tree.

not lit... lit

´twas cold, but nice, it's one of those things that I like about being here, the town does go out and listens to the speeches, joins in on the songs and basically enjoys the traditions and ensures that the next generation does the same. It was soooo cold.. but everyone was happy, good thing the bank was also serving hot chocolate...

Some days you're the dog; some days you're the hydrant. author unknown

OK so advent is not until next weekend... it came early here today, having done the obligatory clean I decided to use the excuse of darkness to brighten up the house.
Unfortunately I am not digital camera literate so my shots are not that great, but it provides an idea - although blurred - which is probably the correct one to have if you have had a red or two

However, in order to lighten things up I thought I should add this shot of the "chair" that is the mount of our town. Hopefully soon we will get more snow so that the folks that like skiing can take a few runs down its slopes.

There was a terrific moon tonight and tried to take some photos but again digital incompetence took over so am unable to deliver the view. Hopefully it will be suffice to say that it was BIG - almost round and orange in colour. Looked truely amazing with the fjord in the foreground... all it needed to complete the "painted" image was a few streaks of aurora.. but it wasn´t cold enough...

When a man's best friend is his dog, that dog has a problem. ~Edward Abbey

Its a dreary dreary day today, and the forecast does not seem much better. According to the weather bureau:
The weather forecast in Iceland until tomorrowSoutheast 10 to 18 m/s and rain or sleet, mainly in SA-part. Turns to southwest 10 to 18 m/s with rain- or sleetshowers in the south parts, first in the southwest part. Decreasing wind and precipitation in the north in the afternoon. Becoming northeast 10 to 18 with snow in the north by evening and tonight, but clearing in south part. Lighter wind tomorrow, occasional snowshowers in the north, but mostly fair in south part. Temperature 0 to 7 °C. but frost in most parts tomorrow. Forecast made 23.11.2007 at 10:52
Weather forecast in Iceland the next few daysOn Sunday and Monday: Easterly wind, 10 to 18 m/s with sleet or rain, but mainly dry in the northeast part. Becoming warmer. On Tuesday: Westerly or variable winds and snowshoweres in the west part, but rain in the east part at first, but clearing later. Frost inland. On Wednesday and Thursday: Easterly wind and intermittent sleet or rain. Temperature around the freezing point. Forecast made 23.11.2007 at 09:51
The reason for obsessing about the weather is that I have been deserted by my mother and nephew. Nephew is off to Australia tomorrow, if it were possible for me to transport myself ala stargate or star trek I would definitely be tempted to leave the darkness of the north for some summer sun. However, the long long long plane trip is something that I have come to dread - so when I will ever go there again is anyones guess.
Ma on the other hand has left me for the city lights of Reykjavik followed by a few days in Heidelberg with her womens group (kvenfélag). This trip will no doubt be a shopping orgy!

I took this photo of mums the other day just after we had some snow... Now that mum and Maggi have gone I will no doubt be buying pizza and hamburgers from the blue house on the left - their delivery car is on the right of the photo.
Enough rambling....
time to start the christmas letters...

Who loves me will love my dog also - St Bernard of Clairvaux

Oh the dark... the dark

Yep, its winter, although tonight there is no snow. This pic was taken a couple of nights ago, now we are going through the lows, one low pressure system after the other is going over the country resulting in very changeable weather going from -8 to +8 in 24 hours.. Which also means that cold and flu season is upon us.

I left work at 5 today, and mine was the second last car in the car park, I think that the encroaching darkness is having a serious effect on productivity....

My favourite nephew went to IKEA for me whilst he was in Rvk and purchased some christmas stuff for me - the usual, paper, gift cards and a light for my window

So now my window to the world has a little light shining on it... give me a couple more weeks and the rest of the house will be lit up like a christmas tree..

All knowledge, the totality of all questions and answers is contained in the dog, Franz Kafka

Last week i was in Finland, to attend the final meeting of a project that the uni was involved in. I went as the project person from Iceland is pregnant and not able to travel. The project involves food, outdoor recreational food to be exact. Like many such European projects it sometimes goes a little of the track, but for those involved - it comes as a bonus, not only did we eat food that you enjoy on recreational activities outdoors, we also enjoyed a myriad of foods that one can enjoy in the great indoors, indoors in some rather nice restaurants. The location of the final meeting was Kajaani in the mid north of Finland. I unfortunately did not see to much of the place, one - it was raining, two- when we did have a break - I really needed to sleep off the last meal.

The above is my little exhibition from Iceland, a bit naff, but hey I had no idea what I was doing there in the first place. The meeting was held in a vocational college and students from Finland and Scotland were there doing a "cook off". What I liked about it was that they mixed the teams, two from Scotland and two from Finland in each team, which meant that there was a good flow of ideas between the two, regarding ingredients and cooking methods and other things. I think that the students had a really good time.

Here are the Finns (in black) and the Scots looking at some of the results, as a total amateur I found it all extremely good.

I was told that the above soup had split - I didn´t notice - it was yum nevertheless - a cream of mushroom variant.

The above is reindeer - totally melt in the mouth, on garlic potatoe mash and red wine sauce - so yum.. (I need to find another adjective). Here the Scots advised the Finns not to over cook the meat and I think that they were extremely surprised as to how good it was.

this is taken during another meal - we had at least 6 three course meals over the three days - it was not a diet tour. this was a pancake wrapping berry cream and now my mouth is watering again.

This was at the hotel we stayed for the last two nights. Rather extreme - a pool in the centre - restaurants above and surrounding it. ´twas rather lush. I bowled for the first time in twenty years... which was fun.

Lunch on the last day. Salmon cooked at the side of a roaring fire inside a Lapp hut. So amazing. We also did axe throwing, reindeer lassooing (however that is spelt). there was a smoke sauna there and also ofcourse a meeting room (after all we were there to hold meetings!)

This was the little pond and jakuzzi area that was next to the Lapp hut.. very nice.
All in all it was a really nice week, and although it seems like it was a bit of a junket I think that it was actually a good venue for the exchange of ideas and information. Sometimes you wonder whether all this european money is being put to good use, and I must admit that I am not convinced that this was really justifiable, however, being a recipient I feel that justification is sometimes in the intangibles, the networks and friendships that are formed. I made some good friends that hopefully will come to Iceland, and I will visit in Finland and Scotland, I also dropped a few euros in local shops so I did my bit for the local economy - got some great boots! Which ofcourse totally made the trip worth while!

It often happens that a man is more humanely related to a cat or dog than to any human being. - Henry David Thoreau

As the heading indicates this is a family post, with pictures for the relos down under - to any other happless reader. Stiff


It was my 45th birthday last week, and my true and trusted nephew Maggi was oh so generous and took the family out to dinner, that being me, mum, my brother (his dad) my sister in law, my other nephew Gunni (Maggi's brother) Þórgunnur (Gunni´s wife) and their son Aron - my grandnephew... Makes me feel old typing that. Anyway, we had dinner at Kaffi Krók, one of the two restaurants here in S'krók. Jón the chef did a special meal for us - his instructions being make it fish for main. So we had raw smoked goose with mozzarella and balsamic YUMMMMM, followed by monk fish - totally amazing fish which is a lot like lobster in substance and taste - truly delish, with a creamy mushroom sauce and for desert Jon´s famous chocolate cake - that contains no flour - just choclaty goodness - probably some eggs and it is heavenly - served with whipped cream and strawberries. Needless to say none of us lost any weight that night!

Aron, my grand nephew and his dad... He was such a good boy - ate his fish and the biggest bowl of icecream I have ever seen served up for a 3 year old.

Mum bought me these lovely yellow roses that are still standing one week later - they even smell! or should I say have a fragrance!
After the meal and all the good folks went home and to bed, Maggi came to my place as did a couple of other friends and we went down the road to the local where Papar were playing - this meant DANCING and a general good good time.
This weekend was also action packed last night a good friend had her 30th birthday to which she invited me and mum and Maggi. Her parents were also there, her two sisters, boyfriend, brother in law and my cousin Sirrí and. For her birthday Maggi was sent on a shopping expedition to Ikea's kitchen ware section where he proceeded (with some help from me) choosing all those things that we all know we need but always forget to get, small hand grater, garlic press, teflon utensils, baking dishes and most importantly red wine and beer glasses.
Today, it was the monthly family feast day, where the relos in the village on my dads side get together and do what we like doing best - eat!

Mum, my aunt, mums friend Magga and Maggi

Eating, Ingvi, Kristófer, Eyrún and Guðný

the desert - a classic, berries on top of kokós bollur - heated gently in the oven - served with vanilla icecream. the people from left - Finnur Alexander, Jóhanna, Steina and Rúna

The best shot of the night - Freyja, mum and my uncle Bjössi - see how they love that dog!

So all in all it has been a good week in S´krók, despite the fact that the clock let another digit fall.
Oh yeh, on the menu tonight (apart from the berry desert). Red, green and yellow Thai curries, satay chicken, sweet chili chicken wings, marinated lamb fillet, sweet and sour chicken stir fry, cucumbers in sour cream an amazing fresh salad that Jóhanna made (with sweet peas, baby corn, sesame seeds, cashews, lettuce, riccola, capsicum and loads of other yummy stuff) Twas not bad - even if I say so myself - total present 14. Next month its at mums, as we are having it to remember ourgrandfather who was born on the 17th of November and our grandmother, who died on his birthday... (mum lives in their old house), so family - if you happen to be here - the more the merrier.

His faithful dog salutes the smiling guest.

It was such a beautiful day in S´Krók today that I had to share it, and seeing as though I am taking to time to write a blog I thought I would add a few more... Last weekend was the weekend of Laufskálarétt - where they get the horses down from the mountains and thousands of people decend on this little town and cause havoc.... and what would have to be the social event of the year. This first shot is taken from my place of work - between the church and the tower - far in the distance is the Laufskálarétt. The "leaf bowl coral"

The picture below is of horses and riders coming down the hill - nowadays its more horses and riders and less of the horses being brought down. This has become a major tourist attraction for Icelanders, local and reykjavikites as well as a few foreign tourists that are attracted to Iceland because of the breed.

This pic shows some of the horses that have come down - as you can see there are probably just as many people already gathered around the coral. This is probably the main reason I never actually go to the rétt.

After having been at work (hence my being in the area at the time) I came home to a woeful dog - no edit that - to a dog demanding a walk. Seeing as though the weather was superb we went to the beach

She is so happy when is gets to run free.. Anyway - as I said this IS THE social event of the year for me, so it has to start with a good dinner. This year I was the host and a few people popped over for chili mussels, roast fillet of beef and the best berry dessert ever created (cousin Herdís has all the honours for creating it)

My table seats 12 - just. I think we managed 15 bottles of wine between us - which just tells a little of the story. Anyway, not all headed to the dance, Maggi, his two friends from reykjavik Guðný and myself went in a taxi to the equestrian centre (the only place big enough). Needless to say I did not take my camera (having learned the lesson from Maja). It was a terrific evening - lots of dancing, meeting up with folks and general "loss of time" type evening, which meant that I was home in bed at 5am. Needless to say Sunday was very relaxed.

Since then the snow came again. The window on this photo is my "window to the world", as you may or may not see it has a lot of little souveniers, the top shelf has pewter models from different places that I have been to - you can sort of make out the Brandenburg gate, a knight, and a tower. the bottom shelf has replicas of houses - most of these are from Iceland, but Prague is there, Amsterdam and Skye. This would have to be one of my favourite views in the house because everytime I look out of this window so many other memories and thoughts come flooding through. The point of the shot though is obviously the fact that the trees outside are coated with snow. I suppose I don´t need to add that this window will never have curtains

Today, as I said, was a perfect cold winters day, snow on the ground, still and clear. So I could not resist the whining coming from Freyja, so first we went up to the cemetary where I met up with Huginn and Muginn, the crows that report back to Odin. By the time I got my camera out Huginn had taken off with only Muginn leff to check me out.

Tindastóll was looking his best.

Later in the afternoon, Freyja decided that we needed to check out the Northern end of the town, so we went down to the harbour and the area where they hang the fish to dry

Drangey can be seen through the wooden poles where they hang fish and fish heads. the fish is used for local consumption but the fish heads are all exported to some place in Africa (I really must become more knowledgable on these things)

this though is what it is all about - clear blue sky, chrystal clear blue water.. I do so love this place.

Today - there is snow

See the mountain on the left - Snow time.... all the puddles were frozen.
Mixed feelings about this. Love winter - hate the dark...

HMM not dog related

I got tagged by Maja

Players- you must list one fact, word or tidbit that is somehow relevant to your life for each letter of your first or middle name. when you are tagged you can write your own blog-post containing your name facts etc.at the end of your blog-post you can choose the amount of people that your name has to tag (i.e.- 6 letters, 6 people to tag). don't forget to leave them a comment telling them they have been tagged and to read your blog.

Maja sent me the above - so being the good sport that I am I will try and give it a go.

S - toss up between Strong and Sensative - one day I am one and the next day I am the other. I feel that I have a very strong personality and a pretty tough exterior, but the interior is mushier than Völu buff (a super sweet super soft Icelandic marshmallow coated in chocolate and coconut)

I - independent - easy one that one. Taught by my father to always be able to do things for myself or at least attempt to do it - but also to realise that sometimes you just have to ask for help.

G - gregarious... I love people (most of the time) and there is nothing that I enjoy more than having friends and family over for dinner or just hang out.

G- gastronome - according to this definition: a person devoted to refined sensuous enjoyment (especially good food and drink). I love food, especially - I love a good wine... what more can I say

A-ambivalent - uncertainty or fluctuation, esp. when caused by inability to make a choice or by a simultaneous desire to say or do two opposite or conflicting things. Thats me to a tee - which is all caused ofcourse by the absorption of Linda Goodman at an early age, believing that being a Libra made it inherantly impossible for me to come to a quick decision or having made a decision wondering whether the other alternative/s may or may not have been a wiser move.... Hence, to over come this I now try to live by the motto "No regrets, EVER"

I will not inflict this on 5 others... so it ends

Don't accept your dog's admiration as conclusive evidence that you are wonderful.

So the dog gives me the look - isn´t it time to go outside now... Well, today is a typical autumn day with a rather large low pressure system moving over the country resulting in extremely stong northerly winds and what can basically be referred to as rather "shitty" weather. Nevertheless, she won (again) and we went for a walk.

The above photo really doesn´t show the extent of the wind force, however, it is one of my favourite shots of the town, looking down from the path up to the cemetary towards the church and old part of town.



If you look carefully you can see the waves at the southern end of the fjord, you can just barely see the mountains on the other side of the fjord. We made it up to the top of the path, with a few doggy stops on the way.



Freyja has such a lovely butt don´t you think, all this long hair - its all a part of her "virgin" queen image.

The new zealanders are in town again for slaughter season, which means that the social life is slightly improved. Funny how when living in a small town, one knows that the microscope of community opinion is on all the time, so going out as a single woman, no matter what the age often incurs a feeling that everyone is looking at you. Being just shy of 45 I have decided that this is something I need to overcome, because surely people have better things to do. Added to that I have been here for 3 years and have felt at times totally invisible, so thinking that I am under a microscope is so utterly far from the truth. Just last week someone asked me whether I was here on holidays. - which basically proves the point. No more hanging at home or being dependent on the relatives to accompany me out. Mind you as I said it helps that the kiwis are here - at least I know that I am bound to see a friendly face.

It´s my nieces birthday today - she turned 30. Strange how her birthday affects my aging more than my own.

The mountain sheep are sweeter, But the valley sheep are fatter. We therefore deemed it meeter To carry off the latter. - Thomas Love Peacock

Just a quickie

Survived the sheep round up - part 1.

We started off at 6:30 in the morning - rode for a few k´s to meet the rest of the round-up people. Here we divide the hills and valleys between the different crews. We take a valley that runs parallel to the mountain pass.

It was raining - which meant mud and lots and lots of water logged land.. not much fun for horse and rider. However, it did get nicer at around midday. The sheep herding went quite well and we made it down to Kálfadal by 3:30 and then to the main rétt by 5pm. Twas a long and weary day - but very enjoyable - as usual all the pre-roundup jitters were for naught and although tired and sore today I am glad that I did not pike out this year. Am even wondering whether to volunteer for part 2 next weekend - which really is just a nice ride in the park - not so many sheep and just horses that basically follow you home.

Will try and get some photos from Maggi - I think I saw him there with his camera - he was a "hero" rode with sheep over his saddle....

Biting and scratching is Scots folk's wooing.

Glennfinnen Monument:
Just down the road from the house we were renting. Apparently this is where Bonnie Prince Charlie arrived and raised his standard in order to gather the clans to take over the throne for his daddy who stayed behind in France... well we all know how that ended don´t we. Anyway, Glennfinnen is a beautiful place and apart from constant drizzle we had a wonderful time there.


This is the house that we stayed in - twas great the greatest and bestest bit though was the stove:

I was in kitchen heaven. they could have had a few more utensils and serving dishes. I cooked every night bar one - when we attempted to eat out - third hotel we went to was able to serve us - remember when going to Scotland to either make a reservation or never go in groups of more than 4....

More later