Vacation: a period of travel and relaxation when you take twice the clothes and half the money you need. ~Author Unknown

So today the sun shone and boy did it shine.... such a lovely day... and such a good day - I can now go on holiday without too much guilt, finished the last tax return that I had all the information I needed (have two to do - but because the clients haven't provided the necessary information there was no way to do them... not my bad), I think that I have done most of the payrolls that need to be done before the 8th, the rest can wait till I get back, I mowed the lawn... yawn.. walked the dog, and packed my bag.

 On the walk with the dog the temp shown downtown was this... may not seem a lot to those that live in warmer climes but strangely enough in Iceland once the temp is over 15 it almost seems like a heat wave.  I wore a shirt and jeans on my walk (granted with scarf around my over sensative neck) and loved the fact that there was a breeze - otherwise it would not have been as pleasant as it was.

 The brook that is Sauðá - sheep river (from which the town gets its name - SAUÐÁrkrók - sheep river hook....)

Not a cloud in the sky....  so nice.  To top the day Olga, Ross and the dude (Henry) came over for dinner as well as my brother Helgi and Sigga and Maggi.  Mum and Árni were here as usual ofcourse...  the lamb was brilliant (am feeling a tad bad as my brother had to bring and cook his own meat..... will make it up to him in the not too distant future I hope).   

The bottom of the day was saying goodbye to Freyja... she is staying at Árni's while I am away - except for a day or two whilst the seamen's celebration is happening in town.....    She seemed fine when I left - I think she knew that this was about to happen..... this is the look I have been getting since I drew out the travel bag.

So in case you are interested this is the Rhine river... our trip starts in Strasbourg and heads north to Amsterdam...   Am so looking forward to catching up with my niece Kristín and her boyfriend Reynir in Frankfurt... added bonus Amanda and Matthias are coming up from Erlangen to meet us on the Friday and are staying in the same hotel as us on the Friday night.  Saturday is when the trip starts from Frankfurt airport - where we take a bus down to Strasbourg to join the boat/ship... what's the correct term for a river thing... I think it's a boat... Anywho - another added bonus is that the boat stays overnight in Nijmegen the home of one of my very good friends from a long time ago.... Evelyn - we worked together in the British Embassy in Reykjavik way back in 1987-1989.  We have remained in touch - sometimes sporadic - but whenever we meet it was just like yesterday... twill be good to see her and Gregor again!

So, I don't know when the next post will be.... maybe they have internet on the boat and I can borrow a pc off someone who could be bothered to take it with them.  Otherwise you will have to wait till the weekend - 9th / 10th June to get the latest plus perhaps some pictures and stuff...... (unless Hafnafjörður erupts... yep, there seems to be some volcanic activity happening in a suburban area in the greater Reykjavik area.... stay tuned)

I may not have gone where I intended to go, but I think I have ended up where I intended to be. ~Douglas Adams

 It's spring in Iceland, which means one day it's lovely - a balmy 10°C great walking weather......

 My cousin Runar's wife Eyrún, dropped in and asked if I was interested in going for a walk - given that the weather was amazing and I had been extremely slack I said yes and I must say the dog was very happy...

 Although she tries hard not to show it.

 Saturday was also Árni's birthday and he had invited his closest friends over for dinner - all those friends that have hosted us during the eating of the rotten food time in Iceland (see Þorrablót)

 Three courses were planned - first seafood grill - yummy langoustines, prawns and monkfish, basted with garlic infused olive oil, followed by young foal steaks, really really tender and then my first attempt at Chocolate mousse.

 The weather started to turn nasty last night, very grey skies and rain.

 The birthday boy and Ebba, wife of Bjössi Svavars.

 Ebba and Bjössi

 Árni and Elín (the daughter of Ebba and Bjössi - who came to drive them home)

 Jói á Hrauni relaxing, it was getting rather late - but was a good good night.

 I think that the boys by this time were planning the next cruise.....

 Then this morning, the snow came....

 and stayed.....

Today is mothers day.... and also the birthday of my late grandfather Helgi.... mum made pancakes, so I drove her up to Tunga,  I should have taken some photos as the house up there has had a facelift - new windows and doors, next will be a new bathroom and fixing the cracks in the house.  The plan is that Andres and Ásdís move there in the not too distant future.....  a super good move.  Beta was there with Beta III, sleeping peacefully in her pram (although due to the gale force winds the pram was inside).

My love and hugs go to the mothers out there - you are brilliant!

I could be Christmas - and not the 13th of May!

A baby is born with a need to be loved - and never outgrows it. ~Frank A. Clark

 We had a bit of a dinner for Kristinn at my place on the eve before his departure to Rvk and to the big big city called New York... I love this photo - see how both of them are deep in thought about something.... Me thinks that Uncle and nephew will have lots to discuss when Henry matures to be as lovely a young man as Kristinn is.

 Henry is .... and will be for the next few years... the centre of attention at all family gatherings.

 And when you see this face, you know why.   I have been extremely slack in posting, work is busy, home life is busy, life is busy - but that is just an indication of how good life is.  I am so blessed.

 I need to pull my finger out and get the tax returns done, but I also don't want to rush them.... that's when I make mistakes.... really really obvious mistakes.  Local politics is pretty busy too, again, am spreading myself too thin, but hopefully all will be well and all will be well in the end.  Another thing that I am constantly being pre-occupied by is the imminent arrival of the first grand niece..... Olivia is biding her time and making us all wait - I know it will be worth it... but hey!!!  (mind you... it's Maja that has to bear the major brunt of the waiting game.....)

 Some good looking chaps, mind you the one closest seems like he is about to fall asleep - not the best picture.... but ....

 Olga is always covered in sunshine - it's a reflection of her personality.... have I told you how great it is to have her here!

So in other news..... we are getting ready for a major snow storm on Sunday.....(yep, you thought that summer had arrived - think again)....  Will post photos of the aftermath.

 OK so now I am a little sleepy

 So are the rest.

Henry and his uncle/second cousin once removed.....  who really knows how those things work....

So there is your dose of Henry for the week... (sister dear)....   three weeks and mum and I are off for our Rhine river cruise and short stop in Frankfurt..... will be interesting to see if I remember any of my german....