Today - there is snow

See the mountain on the left - Snow time.... all the puddles were frozen.
Mixed feelings about this. Love winter - hate the dark...

HMM not dog related

I got tagged by Maja

Players- you must list one fact, word or tidbit that is somehow relevant to your life for each letter of your first or middle name. when you are tagged you can write your own blog-post containing your name facts etc.at the end of your blog-post you can choose the amount of people that your name has to tag (i.e.- 6 letters, 6 people to tag). don't forget to leave them a comment telling them they have been tagged and to read your blog.

Maja sent me the above - so being the good sport that I am I will try and give it a go.

S - toss up between Strong and Sensative - one day I am one and the next day I am the other. I feel that I have a very strong personality and a pretty tough exterior, but the interior is mushier than Völu buff (a super sweet super soft Icelandic marshmallow coated in chocolate and coconut)

I - independent - easy one that one. Taught by my father to always be able to do things for myself or at least attempt to do it - but also to realise that sometimes you just have to ask for help.

G - gregarious... I love people (most of the time) and there is nothing that I enjoy more than having friends and family over for dinner or just hang out.

G- gastronome - according to this definition: a person devoted to refined sensuous enjoyment (especially good food and drink). I love food, especially - I love a good wine... what more can I say

A-ambivalent - uncertainty or fluctuation, esp. when caused by inability to make a choice or by a simultaneous desire to say or do two opposite or conflicting things. Thats me to a tee - which is all caused ofcourse by the absorption of Linda Goodman at an early age, believing that being a Libra made it inherantly impossible for me to come to a quick decision or having made a decision wondering whether the other alternative/s may or may not have been a wiser move.... Hence, to over come this I now try to live by the motto "No regrets, EVER"

I will not inflict this on 5 others... so it ends

Don't accept your dog's admiration as conclusive evidence that you are wonderful.

So the dog gives me the look - isn´t it time to go outside now... Well, today is a typical autumn day with a rather large low pressure system moving over the country resulting in extremely stong northerly winds and what can basically be referred to as rather "shitty" weather. Nevertheless, she won (again) and we went for a walk.

The above photo really doesn´t show the extent of the wind force, however, it is one of my favourite shots of the town, looking down from the path up to the cemetary towards the church and old part of town.



If you look carefully you can see the waves at the southern end of the fjord, you can just barely see the mountains on the other side of the fjord. We made it up to the top of the path, with a few doggy stops on the way.



Freyja has such a lovely butt don´t you think, all this long hair - its all a part of her "virgin" queen image.

The new zealanders are in town again for slaughter season, which means that the social life is slightly improved. Funny how when living in a small town, one knows that the microscope of community opinion is on all the time, so going out as a single woman, no matter what the age often incurs a feeling that everyone is looking at you. Being just shy of 45 I have decided that this is something I need to overcome, because surely people have better things to do. Added to that I have been here for 3 years and have felt at times totally invisible, so thinking that I am under a microscope is so utterly far from the truth. Just last week someone asked me whether I was here on holidays. - which basically proves the point. No more hanging at home or being dependent on the relatives to accompany me out. Mind you as I said it helps that the kiwis are here - at least I know that I am bound to see a friendly face.

It´s my nieces birthday today - she turned 30. Strange how her birthday affects my aging more than my own.

The mountain sheep are sweeter, But the valley sheep are fatter. We therefore deemed it meeter To carry off the latter. - Thomas Love Peacock

Just a quickie

Survived the sheep round up - part 1.

We started off at 6:30 in the morning - rode for a few k´s to meet the rest of the round-up people. Here we divide the hills and valleys between the different crews. We take a valley that runs parallel to the mountain pass.

It was raining - which meant mud and lots and lots of water logged land.. not much fun for horse and rider. However, it did get nicer at around midday. The sheep herding went quite well and we made it down to Kálfadal by 3:30 and then to the main rétt by 5pm. Twas a long and weary day - but very enjoyable - as usual all the pre-roundup jitters were for naught and although tired and sore today I am glad that I did not pike out this year. Am even wondering whether to volunteer for part 2 next weekend - which really is just a nice ride in the park - not so many sheep and just horses that basically follow you home.

Will try and get some photos from Maggi - I think I saw him there with his camera - he was a "hero" rode with sheep over his saddle....

Biting and scratching is Scots folk's wooing.

Glennfinnen Monument:
Just down the road from the house we were renting. Apparently this is where Bonnie Prince Charlie arrived and raised his standard in order to gather the clans to take over the throne for his daddy who stayed behind in France... well we all know how that ended don´t we. Anyway, Glennfinnen is a beautiful place and apart from constant drizzle we had a wonderful time there.


This is the house that we stayed in - twas great the greatest and bestest bit though was the stove:

I was in kitchen heaven. they could have had a few more utensils and serving dishes. I cooked every night bar one - when we attempted to eat out - third hotel we went to was able to serve us - remember when going to Scotland to either make a reservation or never go in groups of more than 4....

More later

"A collie has the brain of a man, and the ways of a woman."

This was not the only dog I saw in Scotland but it was the first one I saw!

Have just returned from 9 days away from Freyja - I don´t know who is feeling worse about me being away - I think that it may be me...

Still had a great time. Saw heaps - but not enough! A beautiful country with lots and lots of places where you can lose yourself completely.. Am now seriously thinking about buying a crofters cottage in some forgotten glen and lose myself completely. However, it will have to wait..
The house we were in "the old school house" was perfect. Such a great warm and welcoming house - with three bathrooms. Which is what you need when there are eight of you. Also, the best bit, it had an amazing kitchen. And as I was the cook for the week I had a wonderful time, I am now thinking seriously of turning my whole house into one big kitchen. Forget sofas and making people feel comfortable. After shelter comes food (maslov???) So I figure a house with a kitchen and a bedroom is really all that man needs.

Will post more on Scotland soon

"You do not own a dog, the dog owns you." - Unknown

Borrowed this photo from brother Jon, he took it when he and Loa came to visit Holar a few weeks back, now Jon is back in S´krok. It´s been really special having him here and hanging out. Yesterday we went to Laxárdal - the valley where mum was born. He took me, mum, Þóri and Freyja with him and we went and had a look at where the old farm house once stood. Had a great packed lunch with lots and lots of coffee. Jómbi let me be the camera man, hopefully I did ok. I tried as hard as I could to get as much footage of Þóri whilst he explained the old names of different landmarks. We did some berry picking both in the valley and also on the way home, which meant that we had blueberries and cream for dessert.

Today Jon and I painted the windows at the front of the house.

This is what it looked like last week, hopefully I will soon have an image of how it looks after our painting....

The weather was so good and the dog - being so spoiled by yesterdays outing demanded a walk, so I talked Jon into going with me up to the berry fields above town. We picked for about 2 hours. There are so many berries up there, not all ripe but there were enough for us to bring home another couple of litres for more berry dessert.

Once we got home I checked on mum, who was working at the minjahús - the local museum.



While we were there my cousin Sirrí showed up with some fresh trout that her brother had caught that morning... so guess what was for dinner tonight. Even me the non pink fish eater found the meal just fine.

After dinner I took out the slide show projector and we had a look at the old slides that mum has. there are some classic photos there that really need to be updated to another medium. Either scanned or even better printed on paper. I am becoming such a traditionalist - best to have things preserved in the old fashion way.

One thing I forgot - after our big outing yesterday to Laxárdal, Freyja was so tired that when Jon and I went for the evening walk she left us - totally took off and went home. At first I had not realised that she had gone - thought that she was just sniffing behind one of the sand hills. So, initially we just started to call for her, no response, then I asked a guy that was there playing with his remote control truck on top of one of the said sand hills if he had seen her. "Yeh, she went that way...!¨" so we keep yelling, still no response. then I noticed that the guy across the road that had been outside while we were walking was moving towards us... So I ask him - did you happen to see where the dog went? "Yes, she went back that way ... pointing towards town ... pointing towards home. So we go back to my place and there she is lying in front of my front door... what a wuss.....

The dog is the god of frolic.

Another perfect day! Unfortunately I am back at work now so not able to enjoy the sunshine as one should. Mum, JB and L are on their way to Akureyri today - should be a nice day for it - hopefully the weather on the other side of the mountain range is as nice as it is here.
I just tried to find a webcam from Akureyri - but it is really blurry so not worth posting.
I really need to get myself a digital camera and to take photos for this thing... Maybe next trip.
New tyres on the car yesterday, hopefully the car will last as long as this set does. Tell ya, owning cars is a pain.

"When you feel dog tired at night, it may be because you've growled all day long." - Unknown

Holiday time!

Yes I am having a week off work! Yippy!!

I have noticed over the last couple of weeks that I lose the plot quite quickly and have had a tendency to snap at those around me - especially when they say something inane or are asking me any number of silly questions. So I have decided to do the right thing by my co-workers and remove myself from the equation for a week, thereby, giving both them and myself a little downtime. I have also decided to paint the hallway, buy skirting boards and generally try and reduce some of the rustic shed aesthetics that currently permeate my home.

Whether or not I continue with this blog journal thing is yet to be seen, but hey audience of one... I have to admit that it is quite good therapy.

Mum is going south this weekend with Maggi - b´day party for Aron Ingi, I am staying home with the animals. So hopefully mum will catch up with the folks of Maja - I am really looking forward to JB and Ó coming to S´krók - more people to feed!!!

"If you are a dog and your owner suggests that you wear a sweater. . . suggest that he wear a tail." - Fran Lebowitz

It´s a grey and miserable day here in S´fjörður. I am looking out of the window at the archeologists, who are busy at the dig and in the distance the mountain behind is completely covered in mist.

Was it only a few days ago that my face was being burned by the sun?

If you let a pack of dogs loose in a museum, they'll probably tamper with the fossils.

Yesterday was museum day in Iceland, which meant that most museums and exhibitions funded by the government were open free to the public. Our local museum at Glaumbæ puts on a bit of a show and this year Sirrí got mum and the sisters to come and sit in the baðstofa and do some "kveðskap" Icelandic rhyming - I guess you could almost call it rap music from the past. Mum and the sisters looked great and did a splendid job - they were even filmed (for what purpose I am not sure - but great that there will be a record of it for posterities sake).

The highlight of my day was the fact that I could pretend to know something - you see I was in charge of making the butter.

This is a lot harder than you would imagine and tremendously satisfying - especially when it works! According to Sirrí all the butter was eaten (I take that as a sign of a job well done!). Added to this I had the chance of working with Herdís in Áskaffi - love that place!

The museum had a record number of visitors - close to 600 and Herdís had a huge day in the coffee shop too. I think she was down to the last bits of cake and bread and went through 15 litres of hot chocolate!

Life is GOOD!

When dogs leap onto your bed, it's because they adore being with you. When cats leap onto your bed, it's because they adore your bed."--

Let me introduce you to my bed... it is Swedish, made by lots of lovely blond people in the cleanest factory you have ever seen. Before you buy the bed they give you a dvd and an inch thick catalogue to help you make your decision.. I took 6 months to decide whether to invest of not.. but in Feb I took the plunge and bought the bed (on visa terms.... and hence am still paying for it).

http://www.hastens.com/is/Beds/Frame-beds/Superia2/

The web site is also quite amazing... its not a wonder that it is so expensive... nevertheless I can say it is the best bed EVER - and according to Freyja all dogs should have one.

“One dog barks at something and a hundred bark at his sound” chinese proverb

http://frontpage.simnet.is/hvanndalsbraedur/

The above band had a cd launch here last night. Quite an interesting evening. I am not sure if its the music I like or the "look" nothing like lopapeysur and felt hats......

Is it foolish?

The great pleasure of a dog is that you may make a fool of yourself with him and not only will he not scold you, but he will make a fool of himself too. ~Samuel Butler, Notebooks, 1912

So apparently I have "been tagged". Being the useless blogger and not at all so savvy with the nature of these things I will amuse my niece and do it - but only this once - thanks Maja http://fortheloveofrocks.blogspot.com/

Apparently I need to present some rules:

Rules:We have to post these rules before we give you the facts.Players start with eight random facts/habits about themselves.People who are tagged need to write their own blog about their eight things and post these rules. At the end of your blog post, you need to choose eight people to get tagged and list their names.Don’t forget to leave them a comment telling them they’re tagged, and to read your blog.

Eight random facts/habits

1. I had my first ever pedicure this morning. Twas very nice - also had a facial - not as nice - far too many black heads!!

2. I have to walk my dog at least three times a day - If I don´t I get the following emo message from her

We are going for a walk aren´t we, aren´t we......

3. I don´t really blog, I have never been able to consistently keep a record of any of my doings ever.

4. I enjoy having people for dinner... not eating them ... but feeding them. Currently I enjoy the company of my mum and my nephew.

Mum and dog

5. I´m Icelandic so I have eaten horse, whale, pickled rams testicles, sheeps head, blood and liver sausage/haggis, cured shark and variety of other things that most people would find disgusting - believe me though when I tell you its actually "food culture" and is becoming the next big tourist thing.

6. I have now lived for 3 years in small country town in North Iceland pop 2,500 previously I lived in Hamburg pop 2.5m, Sydney pop 3-4m, Melbourne pop. 3m, Perth pop 2m. You could say I am scaling down.

7. the house I live in was the one I lived in before we moved to Australia.

8. My bed is made from Horse hair...and my bath is a big wooden tub that looks like a barrel.

As I don´t know how to tag anyone I won´t - it also reminds me too much of those chain emails and I don´t think that my not tagging will cause me to loose all my limbs and have bad luck for the next 77 years.

Cheers folks

Acquiring a dog may be the only opportunity a human ever has to choose a relative."

Well, so much for summer being on the way. Today we had "Christmas snow" at Holar, very strange given that we should be experiencing spring. Lambs are being seen on all the fields on the way to work and you can´t help but feel for them. Can´t be a nice introduction to life, cold north winds and snow flakes.
Off to Denmark in June see A off. Now just need to work out the logistics of the whole thing. We will probably fly from Akureyri and then I will come back via Reykjavik. Still, I love Köben, so should be sweet.

"[London] is sentimental and tolerant. The attitude to foreigners is like the attitude to dogs: Dogs are neither human nor British

"[London] is sentimental and tolerant. The attitude to foreigners is like the attitude to dogs: Dogs are neither human nor British, but so long as you keep them under control, give them their exercise, feed them, pat them, you will find their wild emotions are amusing, and their characters interesting." - V S Pritchett, London Perceived Harcourt, Brace & World 62

We had a great time in London, as you can see the sun was shining the day we took the boat back from London town to Greenwich. We had walked quite a bit that day - most enjoyable.

All knowledge, the totality of all questions and all answers is contained in the dog." - Kafka

Three days since we got back from London. I think that generally a good time was had by all. Narelle outdid herself as always as host. Lots of walking was done, as was some drinking of the beer and wine. Funny though how I really really really don´t like travelling all that much anymore - it all just seems like such a hassle, much better just to stay at home.
It snowed this morning.. and there I was thinking that summer had arrived, instead it´s freezing - which is really a blessing in disguise as that means that I can veg at home on the weekend and won´t have to feel too guilty about it.

A dog is one of the remaining reasons why some people can be persuaded to go for a walk. ~O.A. Battista

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Well, the weather in Skagafjörður has been just amazing.. It is the end of April and summer is definitely in the air. The grill was used for the first time this year yesterday. Some lamb chops and lamb fillet burnt just the way I like it... with soggy baked potatoes, salad and coleslaw. This was followed with fresh berries (blue berries raspberries and strawberries) and kjörís vanilla icecream.

So needless to say concentrating at work has been difficult. Thankfully I have some minutes of meetings to type up and can let my mind wander outdoors to the mountains and the valley below.

According to the weather station just outside of town the temp had reached 19.6°C sometime since 9 this morning. It is now 13.4 - this is probably due to the cool north wind thats blowing at the moment. However, anyone that has been here knows that the temp out of the wind is often a lot higher than that reported officially.

I even think that I managed to reduce the glare that reflects from my skin yesterday - we walked the dogs to littliskóg (took Tara with us). Twas lovely!

Scratch a dog and you'll find a permanent job. ~Franklin P. Jones

Thankfully it´s Friday, only one more day of meetings to go before weekend fun and frivolities. Brother H has officially renewed his Icelandic citizenship - I finally remembered to send the paper work and it only took a week. Sometimes the Icelandic bureaucratic machine works really well. Other times it resembles Freyja... it´s all just too much. The bishop has lost his internet connection - so best for me to go and be ms fix - it - can´t have him not being able to communicate with the powers that be

Summer time

another wonderful day in Skagafjörður