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...