The best of all gifts around any Christmas tree: the presence of a happy family all wrapped up in each other. ~Burton Hillis

The big new of the week is that Maja and Jason arrived in the fjord and the tree was lit on the town square...

 Olga and mum heading down towards the tree celebration... it was a very cold day.  My toes were totally numb by the time I came home.

 Our Mayor Ásta Pálmadóttir doing the speech thing before turning the tree on.

 Not the best of photos of any of them....but the next one makes up for it...

 Such lovely people.

 Most of the town turned out for it - which was nice.... this is my cousin Þórdís wearing the most amazing hat... seal and fox - bought in Greenland... so nice, so warm.

 After the tree thing we had a roast lamb dinner at mine... so nice... Freyja so happy being pampered.

 Henry was ofcourse the centre of attention - such a sweetie.

 Love him to bits.

 Shoulda done something about the red eye... oh well.... his cuteness makes up for it.

 Tonight we had cod for dinner and again I was lucky enough to have them all over.... Henry getting all readied up to go home!

 Is he not the cutest thing ever.

Yep, this post was for my sister... I know she misses not being here with him.... 

No matter how carefully you stored the lights last year, they will be snarled again this Christmas. ~Robert Kirby

 The first of the lights went up on the weekend.... yep, Christmas is approaching, the first week of advent starts this weekend.... the town is starting to change, lights are being put up in windows and on balconies.  At this time of year it is so amazing what this addition of light in life makes. 

 Candles are an important part of Christmas tradition in Iceland, in the days when money was tight you could at least expect to get something new to wear (thanks to the tradition of the Christmas cat) or candles and cards.  Something to light up the darkness.


So tonight mum, my cousin Herdis and Maggi were over for dinner and as I was clearing up I noticed my cupboard was leaning to the right, which had to be fixed... as you do ... which lead to cleaning and bringing out the Christmas stuff, so here they are:

The "bad guys" of Christmas, leppa lúði, Grýla and the jóla köttur, leppa lúði is the husband of Grýla - she takes the bad kids in a sack and eats them (according to tradition) the cat comes to get you if you don't have any new clothes (he was created long before materialism took over the Christmas spirit).  I kind of like the fact that he was there - he ensured that even the poorest of the poor tried to make sure that kids got something new to wear, whether it be socks, jocks, or mittens.

Meanwhile in Europe St Nicholas became the symbol of Christmas.

 He took on other forms, usually with a white bushy beard and a nice jolly face.

 But for me Christmas is still about the "birthday" of a very special person, if only we actually all truly lived according to his teachings.  Love thy neighbor as thyself, don't judge others, be thankful for what you have and  if the wine runs out at the wedding, make sure you can provide the necessary...

 In other words, live life, enjoy, love all you can for as long as you can and basically - be nice!

The only difference between men and boys is the cost of their toys. ~Author Unknown

 Went for a walk with the dog on the beach today.... twas another great day in the fjord...

 She was really really happy with this as I had been a bit slack yesterday - had other things to do

 She so loves being out and about....  So what was I doing on Saturday... something that if you had told me a few years ago - I would have scoffed..... Well yesterday I was the designated driver for some men that needed to check out other mens toys.  This weekend in the equestrian centre they had a showing of the toys that belong to the men of the fjord.

 There were cars... lots of modified 4 x 4 vehicles.  They even had a mini theatre showing a dvd of their adventures in the mountains and on glaciers... looked like there was a little bit too much adrenalin for me (by the way I borrowed these photos from a facebook friend - who remembered to have her camera with her.... thanks Sædís)

 Then there's the snowmobiles or ski-doos...... these were of the racing variety..... also watched a video of some extreme ski-dooers that jumped off the side of cliffs on their ski-doos and managed to survive.... the bottom of me feet were tingling - my fear of heights is getting rather uncontrollable.

 In the foyer we had the gun collections - this is apparently only a small small percentage of the guns owned in the fjord.... so I reckon if we get invaded there is not a problem to arm the natives..... my goodness me..... 


Yesterday I proved how patient and loving a person I can be - I spent five hours (yes 5 hours) at the show.... wandering around - but at least these days I know enough people that I can stop and have a chat with just about everyone.  Then I continued on in my role as driver and went to a house just outside of town where I ate svið (sheeps head) - as I hadn't eaten anything all day - it really hit the spot and tasted quite yum... Still don't eat the eye though...


After dinner more and more folk arrived and a typical Icelandic party ensued - lots and lots of landi (thanks to moi driving back into town to pick up some more)  lots of singing and general frivolity.  Twas a good night - and knowing that I can be a designated driver and still enjoy myself amongst the drunk, very drunk and very very very drunk was an added bonus.  It was also good to see that Icelanders still do the old traditional thing and party at home and sing and talk and sing and talk.... 


The week that was, was a good one, I have moved desks and there are no longer 50 files on the floor - they are now in shelves and the whole office looks so much better.... I had created a pit of paper work all around me.  In EXCELLENT news my cousin Beta had a baby girl this morning.  Today was her first wedding anniversary and the birthday of her grandmother Beta, whom she loved dearly - good all round!  My niece Anna has booked her ticket and is coming in December - and my niece Maja is expected here in less than two weeks..... 


Love my life, love my family...... yep folks... life is brilliant as usual

What a wonderful life I've had! I only wish I'd realized it sooner. ~Colette

OK so my sister said that I would be better off not posting if I didn't post the boy... so here he is!  

and again...

 He really is an amazing little man... am extremely impressed in this genetic combination.. I would say that he is all from the maternal side.. but I think that this bloke had something to do with it...

I think that this is what is technically called his silly face... such a nice person.  My niece did well in her choice!


In other news life is good, lots to do both at work and in the local politics - meetings, meetings, meeting.  But, it's all good.  This is the difficult time of the year - doing next years budget, knowing that there is little money to do the things that you really want to do..  However, I did have a great day last week walking along the Sauðá canal that we want to try and re-invent as a natural river - by doing this we might be able to increase the  life in the river, had one of the politicians with us - who happens to be an expert in river ecology in Iceland, so I think that working together we will be able to make a great new environment for fish and sticklebacks as well as for the folk that will walk along the footpath near the river course... All good - well that's what I hope anyway.  This makes the politics worth while.  


Looking forward to the visit of Maja and Jason at the end of this month.  So glad that they are going to be parents too.  Life is good.... hope yours is too.

Babies are such a nice way to start people. ~Don Herrold

Am not going to do a big blog today - no photos no added bits and pieces... just lots of happiness!


My niece Maja announced that she and Jason are going to introduce a new member to the family next year.  I also know of another on it's way - not officially announced as yet - more distantly related, but just as close in the family sense here in Iceland. 


Life is so good at the moment, personally I have not been happier.  Work, politics and personal life all seem to be in a fairly good balance.   7 9 13 as we say in Iceland.. or touch wood according to the English.  


In other news, it snowed tonight.....  Winter is here.