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.