I've developed a new philosophy... I only dread one day at a time. ~Charlie Brown (Charles Schulz)

 I have been extremely slack with the blogging - but my excuse is that work has been particularly hectic.  GST for farmers is due tomorrow - I have one file with me here at home to do tonight, but then procrastination took over.

 We had a bit of a dinner party last Saturday night, I made sushi and did some tempura prawns, sweet potato, capsicum and scallops.  I think it went down rather well.  A few bottles of wine went down well as well... nah - a good night and a nice way to get my mind of the panic that was ensuing because of work.

 Also, am having a bit of an internal flux because of the trip to Aus, but that is only because there is so much to do before I go and so little time - but that is probably a good thing.

This weekend will be spent getting over the work stress and also cleaning out both my junk and some of mums.  This is the second to last weekend in Iceland... again... so little time.  Snotra is missing mum dreadfully, but I keep her happy with tinned tuna.  Problem is I can't be nice and cuddle her as my allergy to cats is getting really bad.   At least I know that Freyja will be happy up at Árni's - even though Árni is not as happy getting all that hair into his house.  (I think that she will begin malting whilst I am in Aus... fun times ahead).  This morning she snuck into his bed when we were eating breakfast - a taste of things to come!

boring I know

Looking forward to seeing all my friends and family in Aus!!!!  Looks like the 24th will be the day for a really big catch up in Kings Park!

To think too long about doing a thing often becomes its undoing. ~Eva Young

Like the way that Freyja is stretching such has been my un-blogginess of the last month or so... Just so much happening, so little time, so much to do and the added fact that I am the slackest person in this area of the universe.

It snowed as I walked the dog last night - the first snow in over a month... however, the big snow hills still exist - especially between my house and mums - it's still an obstacle course.

The town always looks that much nicer with a touch of white.

 Yep the Þorra season is almost over.  The family took it a day early and had a bit of a get together - mainly so that we could give Nicko, Mary, Mum and Unnur a bit of a farewell get together with dad's side of the family.

 Rúrik the latest member here in Iceland was the centre of attention!  A cutie of course!

 Unnur was a brilliant help - as always.  I don't know how I do stuff when she is not here... I am extremely blessed  - love her to bits!

 Ingvi took Mary to check out ambulances in Iceland after this encounter!  love my family...

 Awww - me thinks that these two will make pretty fine parent folk.

 But this guy is the best!

 So nice.

 as I said Rúrik sort of stole the show - as he should - such a good little boy - but then the gene pool that he has is quite a good one.

 Such gorgeous women, again.. am very blessed.

This one in particular is a favourite!

Well, mum has gone so life has changed quite a bit - the old routine is no more... am actually not cooking as much as I used to.  Now am being invited to dinner at the blokes house and at Bjössi skipstjóra.  Freyja is also feeling the difference and is becoming extremely demanding - especially on the nights when we are "at home" - then she takes on the alpha dog role and tells me what to do.  Not good, but then what did I expect - I hardly deserve better for not having trained her better as a pup.  We reap what we sow as they say.

Less than a month now before I go to Aus. Must admit that I am feeling a tad apprehensive, maybe apprehensive isn't the right word.  I always said when I left that it would be at least 10 years before i ever went back now it's 12... the timing is right and I am really looking forward to seeing friends that I haven't seen since I left - but at the same time I have such mixed feelings.  So hard to explain.  Thankfully a lot of my friends and all of my family have been to Iceland since I moved here - so the time since I saw them last isn't as long.  A highlight will be meeting my new grand niece Olivia, a cutie if ever there was one.   It's a big pity that I won't be going to the east coast - but I will save that for the next trip - which hopefully Árni will take with me.

I find in old age that it's possible to revisit the past, the one requirement being that you come as you are. ~Robert Brault

No pictures this post.  I forgot my camera...

So much has been happening in the last week or so.  Mum and Unnur have gone - are now on their way to Perth WA.  Nicko and Mary are probably getting ready or have already started their dog sledding tour of northern Sweden.  I went to Rvk on a visit with the minister for the environment, visited parliament and waited whilst the signing of the new agreement for flights to Sauðárkrók was taken care of.

This last weekend was a mixture of highs and lows.  Saying goodbye is always hard - even if one knows that we will be seeing one another in just a few months time.  Then there was a Þorrablót á Skaga... twas mighty good fun.  It's also the time when I get to sleep under a 100% eider down duck doona... so so so good. (ah lotto... it has to happen soon...  where we stay is a nesting ground for the eider duck so they collect feathers and create the most amazing doonas)

Going to work today was good, plenty of work to be done and deadlines looming - just how I like it.

Political life is getting into a higher gear - election year for the Parliament, lots happening on the local level as well.  So life will certainly be busy for the next few months.

In other news, I booked my flights to Australia tonight...  Am leaving London on the 17th of March, arriving in Perth on the 18th.  Coming back with mum on the 8th of April.  Who would have thought that it would be twelve years before I went back..  When I left I had thought yeh, maybe ten.... but now due to changes at work and general circumstances in life - the timing is perfect.

Oh and yes, Iceland got a good decision from the European court... we don't have to pay extra for the ICESAVE fiasco.... it seems though that all will get their money - they just won't get the interest that they were demanding.   It will be so nice to know that this won't be news fodder for years to come.

take care folks... and if you are in Perth at the end of March, beginning of April... get in touch!

Year's end is neither an end nor a beginning but a going on, with all the wisdom that experience can instill in us. ~Hal Borland

 Yes, I know - it's been a while.... the above photo was taken on New Years Day!  or shortly thereafter.  Happy New Year folks, hope that the start of 2013 has been as good for you as it has been for me.

Árni and I went to Reykjavik to help his daughter move into a small apartment - she is finishing her hairdressing apprenticeship - has a few courses left at school to do.  Ofcourse, we weren't alone in this - her mum and brother were there as well as an aunt and uncle (mother's side) were there to give a helping hand.

We used the opportunity to enjoy what Reykjavik has to offer - ie another choice of restaurant.   We went to Hereford with Árni's sister, brother-in-law and mum.

 Twas very nice.

 After dinner we did what you do in Reykjavik - a pub crawl... at the last bar we caught up with some old friends of Árni's....  it was actually really really informative - the girl/woman/lady (none of those terms is right... what do you call a person of a certain age who is no longer young but more interesting than just "woman"??) anywho... she is an Icelandic/Bahama mix - her Icelandic is so much better than mine - my excuse is that she was here most summers!  Anyway - a lovely person!

 Here is Henry in his lang lang afi's hat (great great grandad Jón owned the hat - Henry really likes it)

 And then he told his mum all about how big something was... or how much he loves his amma!

 The highlight in the last couple of weeks is that Nicholas arrived with his lovely girlfriend / partner Mary....  So nice... more photos (from Unnur at the end of this post).  My brother Hilmar ... no actually all my siblings have the most wonderful children... they were great as kids but even more stupendous as adults.   I feel privileged to be a part of their lives - a maiden aunt is a good thing to be.

 Henry and the hat..... So good!

 Last weekend was spent in Akureyri with the cousins - the daughters of Bjössi, Olga, Unnur, me and Eyrún - Bjössi's daughter in law.  Talk about a relaxing and enjoyable time - if you consider shopping relaxing - no seriously - shopping with these guys is FUN.... (again more photos to follow - or on Flickr or fb)

 We spent some time on skype the other night with my brother Hilmar - he is no longer on fb... so he depends on this blog for updates - silly him!  Still twas good to catch up with him - face to face via the interwebs

 The "summer" house that we had in Akureyri had a hot tub... a must!  My cousin Gugga and Unnur - enjoying the warmth after the shopping expedition.

 The "summer" house. and Olga

 Me and sis - ready for our night out in Akureyri.

 Unnur and Olga - the bestests of folk!

 We went to our Aunt Auður's place - she turns 92 in April.... I think all of us are in agreement that we want to be just like her in our old age!  (she is amazing... totally not 92 in mind or spirit!)

 Going home... such great weather... but hey folks it's not over... Unnur's photos to come:

 A family photo... from the back left... Þórunn (Aunt Auður's daughter), Jóhanna, Gugga, Sigga, Olga, Unnur, Guðný and front Auður and mum

 Don't know what was going on here...

 Nicholas and Mary went up to Tunga to visit my uncles..  Andres was in Reykjavik but Þóri was home.

 Had to have a Henry photo.... this one shows just how much he loves his amma Unnur.

 The riding trip... all on board and ready to go... see fb for the video.. (sorry himmi - you will have to ask Jacqui to show it to you!)

 All out of order... but here we are about ready to leave the house in Akureyri.

and here they are returning from their riding expedition.

So that's it folks the last three weeks in a nutshell.  Fun, hectic, lots of catching up with the nicest people.  Today was spent at home meeting with the political party folk, tomorrow work, meeting then þorrablót with the family... (yep that time of year again).  Thursday meeting in Reykjavik with the Minister for the Environment, Saturday mum and Unnur and Nicholas and Mary leave us for Rvk... Sunday they fly in different directions.. mum is going with my sister to Aus and Nicko and Mary to Sweden to go on a dog sledding tour.  Looks like I will be coming to Aus folks... mid March - leaving 8 April with mum......  Stay tuned.

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

 Hope that you have all had a fantastic Christmas time, I have!  It begins as usual with a trip up to dad to leave a candle on his grave on Christmas Eve.  I miss him so much, it seems amazing that next year it will be 20 years since he left us.

 Had the Aussies over for Christmas Eve dinner - Vicki, her sisters Kerry and Donna, Kerry's man Steve, and Donna's daughter Bella - along with ma, Olga, Ross and the main man Henry!  I think that they enjoyed themselves - I know I did.  The day started with the rice pudding at 4, then mum and I went to church at 6 and then the meal just after 7 and then

 Presents!.... Henry helped in handing them out - did an excellent job!

 I went for a late evening walk with Freyja - there was not a soul on the streets.  So peaceful - so beautiful.

 The last few days have seen a massive storm hitting the west coast of the country, the westfjords have been particularly hard hit - with some homes without electricity for the last 40 hours, hopefully this will be fixed before tomorrow night.

 But the snow makes the town even more beautiful.

 All the fishing trawlers are home for the holidays - something I think is so important - that the family has this time together.  That the fishing can wait till after the new year.

 So as the fisherfolk are home they have a mini Christmas do.  I got invited this year - twas a good night - but I do not have the stamina that I once had.  Andri Kára and Gísli Þór provided musical entertainment whilst Eiki was mc, main music man and stand up.

 Tonight - or rather today is Olga's 29th B´day, she invited us all over for curry - yummy!!!!  Nina was delightful - as usual. Henry was almost edible in his sweetness and cuteness - made sure that we all got a little bit of Henry time.

 So good, family - it's the best....

And to top the evening off - my sister arrived!!!!  No photo as the camera battery had died - promise to post again very soon!
Love and hugs to you all!  and a joyous New Year.