The antidote for fifty enemies is one friend. ~Aristotle

Twas an interesting weekend this weekend  - a good one - started on Friday with a day off from work to do some politicising in the fjord, went visiting farms and friends on the other side of the fjord as well as meeting with the staff at Holar and the primary school.  Must admit that I had a great time.  Drank lots and lots of coffee, tea and water, discussed the issues of the day and what people really want to see in the fjord.  Most of the folk that I visited are not going to vote for me - but thats ok.  All great people that I know will stand me in good stead when I need advice on what the real issues are.  Friday night my friend from when I was five took the flight north into the unknown to spend the weekend with me.  This is Bergþóra mín, She is exactly one year older than me and apparently as kids we were unseparable, just like then, she is half my size and a lot more demure than me.  A divorced mother of two she is making the best of the trials and tribulations of her life.  Now studying nursing and working and a full time mum... Got to admire that!.

We had a quiet night on the Friday, went to the shops on Saturday - dropped her off with an old friend in the afternoon and then we had dinner with Guðný and ma.  Twas a good night, even though the picture above would indicate otherwise... 

We went to Mælifell, where all the kids were celebrating their graduation from college, there were also some oldies there (actually older than me! celebrating something else...) Bergþóra gave up on us - umm yes, perhaps I wasn´t behaving as a politician should... However, as I said twas a good night.  Next day we went for a bit of a walk up the hill, through the little forest on the hill.  The picture below is at the "bowl" where all kids of this part of town have had as a hide out - a viewing platform for the town below.  The current generation has actually built a shelter there with old tin, fence posts and moss.. Very impressive.

On the Saturday mum and I went to the graduation coffee being held at my sisters best friends house - her two children both graduated - she is a very proud mum!  More photos on flickr for the family in Aus to check out.  But I thought this one was great - two very proud ammas.  Herdis' mum Ása and my mum.  They are two amazing ladies that have produced amazing offspring for which they can both be very very proud!  Love 'em!!!

Today was a public holiday, so ma and I went to visit friends at Sævarland just north of the town at the base of Tindastóll, they were in the sheep sheds doing the lambing thing.  I took my camera but forgot to take photos!!! bad me... We also went to Tunga and all is well there.  I needn't say that the weather this weekend has been just superb.  Freyja got to come with us - we let her run free where there were no sheep and lambs - she had a very very good day and is very happy with me - and quite tired.    

So tomorrow is work again and more election stuff... the election is on Saturday - at this stage it looks like there is a lot of apathy in the area, folk really can't be bothered voting - even my uncle said he wasn't going to vote.  Although I did comment whether he wouldn't make the effort for his niece - he smiled and asked whether the election was on Saturday.... so maybe he will go and do his bit for me... mind you I can't blaim him.  I so understand this lack of interest... so it will be interesting!  Will keep you informed.

Volcano: A mountain with hiccups

Southerly winds today meant that some of the ash from the eruption headed north.  According to some reports there was some ashfall in Varmahlið - just 20mins from S´krók.

There was a lot of cloud cover tonight and there was also quite a bit of rainfall here today.  The temp during tonights walk was 12°C which made for a pleasant long walk with Freyja to make up for todays meeting madness.

I think I have mentioned this before - the light here at 11pm is just so amazing.

During the walk I noticed that someone has donated 2 pairs of skis to the red cross.  Anyone need any skis?

A good traveler has no fixed plans, and is not intent on arriving. ~Lao Tzu

Went on an excursion with fellow members of my list in the upcoming elections.  Was introduced to places that I did not know existed.  Twas a very good day.  Again was reminded of what a spectacular place I live in.  The photos here are taken from Reykjahóll which sits above Varmahlíð just 20mins south of Sauðárkrók.

The views are amazing and as on man said on the trip - this is the ideal location to view the midnight sun.  So now folks next time you come here I have a new place to go to have a look at the beauty that the fjord has to offer.

Every direction provides an amazing view of the landscape that is Skagafjordur.  Just so amazing.

We also visited the mink farm - talk about amazing.  Not as dirty or smelly as you would imagine and the animals all seemed rather content with their lot.  This amazing animal has I am told the most sort after colour, poor dear. However as the farmer pointed out - they know nothing else - they are born and bred in these conditions, have good food and as he pointed out - if they weren´t happy they wouldn´t continue to procreate.  Their natural nature in nature is not to have kids if things are tough or if they are feeling at all stressed.  Here they are very very productive - as you can see from the photo above.  

It was a very good day.

Mental As Anything - Live It Up (1985)

This You tube thing is going to be another time stealer I can tell.. However, I need to share yet another favourite... I still get a tad weepy with this one.  Twas a major favourite of mine when I was feeling not so good about myself - but it always made me smile - as was Berserk Warriors  the tale of Bjorn and Anna the Vikings.  Such a great band.  Ah the Mentals!  Ah Youth! where are you now...


How can you see looking through those tears 
Don't you know you're worth your weight in gold
I can't believe that you're alone in here
Let me warm your hands against the cold

A close encounter with a hardhearted man
Who never gave half of what he got
Has made you wish you'd never been born
That's a shame cause you got the lot

Hey there you with the sad face
Come up to my place and live it up
You beside the dance floor
What do you cry for let's live it up

If you smiled the walls would fall down
On all the people in this pickup joint
But if you laughed you'd level this town
Hey lonely girl that's just the point

Hey there you with the sad face
Come up to my place and live it up
You beside the dance floor
What do you cry for let's live it up

Just answer me the question why
You stand alone by the phone in the corner and cry

How can you see looking through those tears
Don't you know you're worth your weight in gold
I can't believe that you're alone in here
Let me warm your hands against the cold

If you smiled the walls would fall down
On all the people in this pickup joint
But if you laughed you'd level this town
Hey lonely girl that's just the point

Hey there you with the sad face
Come up to my place and live it up
You beside the dance floor
What do you cry for let's live it up

Let's live it up,
Live it up
Mmm live it up
Hey yeah you
With the sad face
Come up to my place
Come up to my place baby

Hey there you with the sad face
Come up to my place and live it up
You beside the dance floor
What do you cry for let's live it up

You with the sad face
Come up to my place and live it up
You beside the dance floor
What do you cry for let's live it up

Skyhooks - Why Don't You All Get Fucked (1978)

It's all Guðný's fault - she has been looking at you tube for old favourites so here is my favourite band of all time saying it like it is.

Love it.

There are far too many men in politics and not enough elsewhere. ~Hermione Gingold

You know it's funny.  I self edit alot when I write this blog, you don't want to be ranting and raving about stuff that might offend someone.  Now that I have decided to go into local politics I am even self editing the quotes that I use.  Not that anyone in the fjord - apart from close family - know that this thing exists.  My sarcasm is starting to suffer and I am not happy about this.  I really need to re-check this self edit mode that has established itself in my psyche.  But that is an aside.  As I had also previously promised not to write about the local elections, but.... it has taken over my life so it really leaves little else to write about except the tax returns at work, and hey we all know how dull that subject is.

As I am writing this the remake of the Poseidon Adventure is on... I remember the first movie so well, particularly that damn song - there's got to be a morning after... even now I know that this will be going through my head as I try to go to sleep.  Had to check imdb. the original came out in 1972 - I was 10... it must have been the first big budget movie I went to see.  Pretty sure I went with mum and dad, can't remember though whether it was at a movie theatre or the drive in.  I remember crying when Shelley Winters went for the big swim.... oh what memories.  Now this movie - is, to say it in one word, Dreadful!  Bloody Brian Brown, such a stiff - but what was Rutger Hauer doing there? he must have been hard up for cash.

On other news.  The clever Freyja now knows how to open doors, so no longer can the house be left unlocked whilst she is inside... In the process of opening the door to my house she ripped down the crocheted curtain.... she was in the sin bin yesterday.   Now she is lying sleeping peacefully on the sofa, all forgiven and forgotten.

Mum has now cleared the potato patch ready to plant potatoes.  The strawberry patch has been thinned out, manure from Tunga placed in it along with new soil.  She is amazing.  I don't have her energy now, so I doubt if I will be like her at her age.  Also, yesterday was the day of the aged in Iceland - also a public holiday as it was resurrection day (when JC went up to the heavens), so the old folks choir first sang at the church service at 11 and then they had a concert at 2pm.  I gained mega points by actually waking up before midday and attended church, which meant I could skip the later concert - which according to all reports was very good.

Last night the youngsters in the political party that I am now a part of had a social gathering where they subject the pollies to be to certain tests of well.... hmm.... lets see.  The first competition was eating lemons - I won... Hey lemons are good - even without the tequila and salt... then the men had to put a condom on a banana - condom placed in mouth - you know the drill.  Had to eat milk arrowroot type biscuits... talk about dry... eat cocosbollur and then a glass of pepsi (thankfully I wasn´t in this one - recipe for bad reaction), then be fed skyrr by someone blindfolded... the joke here was the the guy that is no 1 on the list was fed by someone not blindfolded hence ended up covered in skyr, then there was a quiz and chirades type deal - we won ofcourse - oh us Jonssons we are sooo good at Geography and Madonna impersonations.  Twas a fun night overall... bit strange but OK.  (ps the modern Shelley Winters survived her swim...)

Well as you can see no photos today - have not taken the camera out for a while - but I really should as now it is 23:37 and it's just sort of twilighty... not light but not yet dark..

Have I told you how much I love summer time in Iceland??????

The only mothers it is safe to forget on Mother's Day are the good ones. ~Mignon McLaughlin, The Neurotic's Notebook, 1960

Yep it's Mothers day tomorrow so I figured that on behalf of myself and my siblings... Good looking lot don't you think... (maybe not) anyway I figured my mum deserved a bit of time on my blog.  Mum and dad were quite productive in terms of producing genes for future generations.  I, unfortunately, did not full fill my role in adding to the gene pool but figure that my brothers and sisters have done a good enough job that there was no need for me to try and add to that.  Between the four of them they have produced 11 rather wonderful 

looking people... this photo does not do them justice, in fact - Maja the hero is missing....as are ofcourse the Icelandic contingent as - well they weren't in Perth that Christmas.  I just love this photo hence it is being posted again...

Mum was born on the 23rd of August 1927, in a turf house in a valley not far from here, which now has no inhabitants.  Life was tough in those days, her happiest memories are of getting material for a dress... she didn't have dolls to play with or a room of her own, her schooling was limited - a few weeks a year until she was about 12, then she started to work for herself, first as an au pair here in town and then when she was 16 as a house servant in Reykjavik.  Obviously this was during the war years when Iceland was occupied by the allies.  At this time a lot of young women were involved with the soldiers stationed here, mum was a naive country girl and thankfully she mixed with the Templers,  The advocates of non drinking and smoking, so although it was all happening around her and she has told me many a tale of the girls that she knew in Rvk, she somehow managed to avoid most of the temptations or remained blissfully unaware of them.  She had some bad experiences but those she overcame and came back to Skagafjord and somehow let dad into her life.  Her one proviso being that if he wanted to have any chance with her he would have to stop smoking and drinking... He did.  Boy am I glad that he had more will power than I have.  They got married on mum's birthday on the 23rd of August 1947, she wore a red dress.

This photo was taken on the day that we arrived in West Australia,  She was 41 years of age, still on board the ship that had taken 4 weeks to get there, she had with her 4 children from the ages of 5 to 18, you can only imagine the thoughts that had been going through her mind.... but does this image reveal any of those - to me it looks like someone ready to take on the challenges of what she was about to face and smiling...  Amazing.

This was the life she knew - snow, cold, barren landscape  - but the smile is always there.

I think that a lot of her inner strength came from her mother.  She too had had it rough, I think that I have already blogged about my amma before.  She too always had a smile on her face, no matter how tough things were.  I am privileged to have these women as my forebears.  Strong, happy, resourceful women that took what life gave them and made something of it.  They instilled in us a belief in ourselves and our own true worth.  They laughed and they cried and they cared - not for themselves but for everyone that they came into contact with.

I am twice blessed as my amma on my dad's side was another woman of steel.. Unnur amma, she too had a tough time as a kid.   You can see behind that smile that there is a private joke going on.  The only regret in my life is that I did not get to know her better, I think that she could have taught me alot.

I had to include this photo- it's my brother Hilmars wedding, her lovely boy was getting married - see how happy she is dancing with her darling...   I used to always be jealous of mums affection for him, but as I grew up I realised that it was totally understandable - he is just the nicest guy, (and forgiven for bad taste at the age of 21 and hey it was the 70's)

Today like always mum never sits and watches tv without having something in her hands, whether it be knitting or crocheting and more often than not her cat is sitting on her lap as well.  This is an old photo of mum with my brother Jon's cat Puss.  All animals love mum and mum loves them all as well.  Freyja and I would be totally lost without her.

This photo of Unnur's kids sums it up!

Y

The reason there are so few female politicians is that it is too much trouble to put makeup on two faces. ~Maureen Murphy

So some of the political stuff has begun, I had to go and get my photo taken - I thought to just put a dash of makeup on and show up.  No, apparently I needed more work done - so I was booked in for a facial - the works.  I showed up and said NOOOOO that's just too scary, so instead I got the eyebrows dyed (took some convincing) and some makeup done - I asked for a natural look.

See that look of a rabbit or kangaroo caught in the lights... yep thats me!

There has been so much happening in  the last week and a bit.. so. Tuesday was the picture taking day, after that work took over - it's tax time here, so was busy at work on Wednesday, Thursday was a day off - excellent - it was the first day of summer according to the Icelandic calendar and as there was snow on the ground and frost in the air there is a saying about winter freezing into summer. However, what this actually means I have no idea and google isn't helping.  I think though, that it is a good thing as the first day of summer was spectacular.

Freyja benefited from the fact that the weather was so nice... we took an extra long walk up the hill.

Such a great day.  My brother Helgi and his wife were here for a long weekend so it was great that the weather was so nice.

The weekend has been action packed, the local businesses, schools and community council set up an exhibition of all that is happening in the fjord.  There were 70 booths with over 100 exhibitors - not bad for a community of just over 3000!  I showed up at 10 on Saturday in my role as hopeful candidate for the local elections, then changed name tag to go to the booth that my work and the local farmers were hosting - to show local production in sheep, horse, crop, fur, milk and cattle farming.  As well as what I do there - book keeping.  The atmosphere was so good, everyone very positive and at the same time surprised at what is actually happening in our little fjord - so much diversity - I think that this exhibit was a major boost to morale here.  Am so glad to have been a part of it.  Just found a link for you http://www.feykir.is/archives/22599 some photos from the exhibit - including a nice one of mum.

Also on the Saturday, there was a party for Bjarni Har - he turned 80 a few weeks ago but invited everyone to his birthday party on Saturday, for a while there he was worried that no one would show up - as the exhibit thing was happening - however, am so glad to report that the turn out to his little birthday bash was very very very good!   Which was wonderful he really deserved to have a good day.  For those that don´t know who Bjarni Har is - he is a local store operator - he works in the shop that his dad set up 90 years ago.  If you can´t find it - Bjarni will have it - it´s a general store that sells everything (so long as it's not fresh ie no milk or perishables - but everything else - he is also what used to be the local BP - British Petroleum - now Olís)  He also had the privilege of taking mum to hospital when I was born, and the 5 times after that when I needed stitches to my head - so all round great guy and I probably owe a bit of my life to him.. He is now my major supplier of vitamins as he calls them (cigarette supplier)   He stopped drinking many years ago have said that he had filled his quota.   I really must remember to take my camera to his shop to share his image and his shop with you. 

At four there was a funeral that I attended, a very very good friend of the family passed away - Dista,  Before we went to Australia she was our neighbour across the way,  Her children were our friends as we were all born at similar intervals.  Her eldest Valgeir is still one of the best friends of my elder brother Jon, Steini - Unnurs friend, Soffia - Hilmars and Guðný mine..  It was a beautiful service with some of the nicest psalms I have heard at a funeral to date ( mind you I tend to avoid funerals whenever I can)   After the funeral mum and I went to the wake - Icelandic wakes are all about food, and there is always lots of it - savoury and sweet - usually more cakes than you can deal with and talk about choice anxiety.  It's not about the food though is it.... however, I think that it's a part of the grieving process and good that it is institutionalised in it.  It also gives people an opportunity to meet and reminisce. 

After that we went straight up to Maggi's for dinner - well, we had half  an hour or so to let some food go down.. There we had a grilled leg of lamb, done superbly!  

The night ended up being a long one -  cousins met up and had a few beers and sleeping time on Saturday night was ummm.... 5 hours.. as I had to show up at the exhibition on Sunday.

So I turned up looking probably not so good at my political posting.. .which happened to be opposite my old workplace's booth Holaskoli - which was good as I could cross the walk way and no one thought anything of it.   I went and got mum at around 1 as she had to sit in for the red cross from 2 to 3, met lots and lots of folk that I had not seen for a while and tried my hardest to seem semi acceptable as a local poli.  We left just on four as we had another appointment.... the kammer kór - chamber choir was having a concert at 5 and as their number one groupie I just had to be there!  They sang like the angels that they are - I thought about, and should have, filmed on my crappy camera at least one bit.... but I knew that it would not do them justice.

After the concert we rushed home as we had dinner and theatre tickets.  Not knowing how good Ólafshús would be in their dinner service we went straight to dinner, we needn't have rushed as we were finished with our three course (wonderful) meal by seven thirty.  Had a lie down at mums for 15 minutes and then we went to the local theatre - It was the first night for the production - called "the people in the block". Surprisingly about people living in a block of flats, that get together to create a musical - so given....  the play is a musical and it is about people that live in a block of flats in Reykjavík.  It was good, actually very good, given that this is amateur theatre in an area that has a population of 3000.  I really have to keep reminding myself of how small the community is here and how rich it is of talent and ideas.... So lucky I am to live here.

That last sentence was influenced by the fact that as I write this Star Wars episode 4 (ie the first Star Wars) is on TV in the background.  Once upon a time I never realised how bad the acting was - and boy do I wonder how much wine old Sir whatshisname was drinking when he agreed to this...)  Chewy so far is the best actor of the lot!

So, even though I had an action packed weekend - I did miss a major event - the Tekið til Kostana horse show which was apparently AMAZIJNG.  one of these days I will make it to see it.  

Tomorrow night is the first of the community meetings to try and create some sort of political agenda for the coming elections.. Whoooppeeeee............will report later much later

What we have done for ourselves alone dies with us; what we have done for others and the world remains and is immortal. Albert Pike

Today's quote is in memorium of the wife of my uncle Kári (dad's youngest brother), her funeral was here in Sauðárkrókur on Saturday and as a result there were quite a few relatives here that we don't get to see that often.  Eva was a wonderful woman, she travelled to New York to study music in the 50's, something that not many people in Iceland had the opportunity or the willingness to do.  She spent three years in New York, came back to Iceland and married my uncle, helped set up the music school in town and later became head master of the school.  I know my nieces and nephews that lived here all have fond memories of studying at the school.  I remember her from when I came here with my friend Tracy - we were naive 17 year olds on a big adventure.  Eva and Kári were so good to us and I will never forget the warmth of the welcome and the conversation - she always spoke to us as adults, never making any remarks about how young we were to be travelling such a great distance.  I loved her for that.

All of Bjössi's (dad's eldest brother) children were here for the funeral, and on Saturday night I got a really nice surprise - they were all out for a walk together and decided to drop by my place - I ofcourse took the opportunity and invited myself and Freyja along for the rest of the walk

It was a really lovely night for a walk, hardly any wind and really rather warm (for an Icelandic spring).  As you may all have realised by now this is like my second family,  

Freyja loved it - Rúnar took over the leash as soon as we left my place and by the time we got to Bjössi's she new all about "heel".  On our walk home she even managed to stay with me... today, however, was another story.  

Today (apart from leash arguments with Freyja) was another family get together - this time to celebrate the birthday of Atli Björn, he turned 2 on the 15th.

Ofcourse there was a feast.  - with all the family there 

So tomorrow another week begins, hopefully not as eventful as the last one, I think most Icelanders are of the opinion that last week seemed like one of the longest ever, starting with the publication of the black report, then the volcano erupting, floods and evacuations and then flight disruptions.  

Lets hope the volcano stops dispensing the bad ash and quietly bubbles and lava flows out without further disruptions to flights.  But as we know nature does what nature wants and we will all be subject to her whims, whatever they may be.

A democracy is a volcano which conceals the fiery materials of its own destruction. These will produce an eruption and carry desolation in their way. Fisher Ames

The quote above seems to be apt for the last few days in Iceland.  The Black report was published - all 8  or was it 9 volumes which looks at the financial collapse here in Iceland, it's build up and the fall out.  Including naming names and giving opinions on what could be done and what issues need to be looked at by prosecuting authorities.  Needless to say most Icelanders are feeling angry and depressed.  The politicians and bankers are playing the blame game... yeh what happened was wrong - but it wasn´t my fault etc etc.  As always I defer to the Icelandweatherreport for a more detailed and informed discussion on the issue.

In other news a volcano underneath the Eyjarfjalla glacier started erupting this morning resulting in a lot of melted ice moving down the river and taking out roads and flooding large areas of land.  www.ruv.is the news site has links in English for those that can´t read the Icelandic...  The ash is going 22000 m up and the prevailing winds are sending it towards Norway and Russia, which means that air traffic in Northern Europe will be affected.  For a change I am quite happy for the winds to continue to be from the North or the West... blowing the ash away from the island.  Yes, even after the report, I am still guilty of worrying about self interest.

The best thing so far out of the report is the ethics report which talks about what so and so did up to and during the banking collapse, here they point out things that certain people in positions of power or influence did that were not exactly illegal or criminal but were ethically just wrong.... it´s definitely causing a lot of discussion in the general community - and raises the question - what has happened to honesty and integrity???

Thats all for now folks.  Let´s hope the island survives this latest crisis - moral, intellectual and now physical...

The only rock I know that stays steady, the only institution I know that works is the family. ~Lee Iacocca

Well,  it's been a wonderful week and weekend, we had heaps of snow which has now all but disappeared.  The political life has not yet started - so life is quite relaxed - work is getting busier and I have a small job doing some translation work on the side - which is a good thing.  As this means that I will actually have to read some Icelandic, which in turn means that I may take some grammar and spelling rules in subconsciously.  We shall see.  So here is a shot from last weekends family dinner - this is the latest in the family - Steina and Sorins son Halli.  He is such a cutie... what eyes - what a smile!  Ofcourse the question of my maternal instincts came up and the biological clock - mine has expired... hence so nice to borrow someone else's if only for a few minutes¨!

















So this weekend was another mini family get together - this time mum's side of the family - my cousin Brynjólfur's daughter was confirmed today - this is a big deal in Iceland - a right of passage from childhood to adulthood.  We did not go to the church but went for the meal and cakes - yummmmmm I drove mum and my aunt Maja over to Húnaver (the next valley to the west) there we met up with the oldest of the sisters (it was her granddaughter being confirmed) and my wonderful cousins Sigga, Kristín and Ólína (and Brynjólfur ofcourse)














Don´t you just love the look on mums face!  Mum (83) is behind - Guja the eldest (89) is wearing green (by the way this dress was the dress that she wore at her daughter Ásdís's confirmation - some 40 + years ago - still fits! still looks great!  Maja on the right is second youngest of the sisters (77)... look good don't they!

This is Kristin - she is a classic!  Her dog had puppies recently - she has a British Bulldog sooo cute but ugly at the same time!  She absolutely dotes on her dog/s and told me today that the young pup that she is keeping from the litter has a chrystal collar Schwarovsky  ofcourse while mummy dog has one made of snake skin... Ah poor Freyja - she has so got to get her act together  -  maybe if she provides me with offspring I will upgrade her collar.... from hippy to bling.

This is my wonderful cousin Ólína and her daughter Eyrún... they are both just soo beautiful - both inside and out.  Eyrún is such a gorgeous kid, smart, happy and they have such a wonderful relationship - they are friends as well as mother and daughter!  Oh dear oh dear - does this sound like a woman with regrets about not becoming a mother... no, no regrets... am just so happy that other members of my extended family have procreated and have such wonderful kids.

To end:  some shots from the snow days that we had during the week - like I said - it's all gone now!

The horse statue in town that really looks nothing like a horse except when it snows!

Those who are too smart to engage in politics are punished by being governed by those who are dumber. ~Plato

I am using Plato as my inspiration for this next faze of life that I am going into.  For those that haven´t been in the loop I made the big step last week of agreeing to be placed on a list for the local elections.  All Icelandic elections are based on preferential voting so you actually vote for a list of people (usually belonging to one particular political party although sometimes the lists can be based on a mutual interest / opinion).  There are 18 people on the list and in the local elections there are 9 seats on the council that you are going for.  Here there are 4 political parties competing in the elections.  The number of seats a particular party gets is based on the total number of votes as a percentage - and the people then that get on the council is based on where they are on the list.  I am in number 2 spot on the party list that has usually had between 2-4 seats on the council... so basically I have a lot of work ahead of me.  Why do this? Why not... I think that I guess it's time for me to continue to grow in life and experiences and this will be an amazing one.  Also, I think that at some stage it had to come to pass that I try giving something back to the community that I have chosen to call home, I just hope that I will stick to my principles and will do the best job I can.  It is going to be tough I know that.... but I will not make this blog a political one, so this will be the first and last time that I mention this - except of course for those occasions where something happens that I just HAVE to share... hopefully they will only be fun times!

In other news - we have new neighbours.  The house at number 13 on the main street has been sold, the owner is going to use it as a summer house.  He has a dog!!!!

So this is where Freyja has spent most of the weekend... checking out the neighbour... She is NOT happy with this turn of events and takes every opportunity to go and check things out.

What else... winter is back - with avengence

It was beautiful tonight on our walk, no wind, big flakes of snow and so quiet....

It has been a wonderful Easter weekend, I do love these five day weekends, still one day to go...  Unlike other weekends there were no nights out on the town, even though on both Saturday morning and Saturday night there was good entertainment on offer at Mælifell, Von and Matti from Pappar on Saturday morning from midnight till 4 (cover band .  but good value) and Páll Óskar on Saturday night (DJ, Eurovision star and the best known gay in Iceland).  I think I am either realising my age or just basically becoming a boring old fart.... hope not.... no can't be... Will try to make this up at the next available opportunity.

There was a family gathering on Friday which we couldn't attend as I had the honour of having Guðný's folks over for dinner... however, there will be another one tomorrow as my cousin Steina has invited everyone over for coffee and cakes - I do love how this family likes one another!!! Again, so blessed.

Trust that everyone had a wonderful Easter and that life is as good for everyone else as it is for me.

Of eruptions and other such things.

http://mila.is/um-milu/vefmyndavelar/eyjafjallajokull-fra-thorolfsfelli/

As I am totally computer illiterate as far as how to add in links I will just put the whole thing in..  The above is a  link to a web cam near the eruption site.. well not near but close enough.


The eruption as it is at the moment is quite harmless, in that so far it is not violent and the ash from it is not full of shit that will harm livestock..... but..... the volcano next door Katla has been known for its devastating effects on life in Iceland.  Also, it has been the usual thing that once the eruptions happen next door then Katla will awaken and unleash her devastating force.....   Who knows...  it's all a part of what the earth or if you like mother nature can unleash.  

Of family and food

Another wonderful family dinner - this time hosted by Steina and Sorin, Sorin was chef and we had a wonderful chicken soup a'la Romania.  So nice and tasty, in addition to this was a wonderful chicken and green olive casserole served with rice and oven roasted chicken pieces.  Steina was dessert queen as usual and made two wonderful chocolate cakes - one white and one dark, yummmmmm... needless to say I am suffering from that well known Icelandic feeling of I am so sad I could spring...   (söd in Icelandic means full and springa means ready to explode).   It was a 100% turnout as well well 99% as  Smári is at sea at the moment somewhere east of Iceland trawling for cod and other goodies.  However, his lovely wife Jóhanna was there and his amazing kids Atli Björn and Odný Sara

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Jóhanna and Atli Björn... isn´t he the cutest!


There was a special kids table which was then moved into Victoría's room - so they could have "space".  

This is Finnur, Odný Sara and Kristófer.  All just wonderful kids, and the great thing is they are all so different and yet get on so well.  I love cousins, wish I had had more of them in Aus.

Mum and my cousin Guðný... Oh yeh big news, Guðný, Stebbi, Jóhanna and Finnur are all going to Australia this autumn, so they can be my stand ins at Maja's wedding... See she gets four for the price of one!! Lucky her.  Mum still hasn´t made up her mind as to whether she will go or not.  It's a long trip and she feels that if she does go she will then stay for Dorian's wedding, but that means 5-6 months away from home.... still as she says, she will make up her mind when the time draws nearer.  

There were so many of us that two tables were set (plus the kids), Steina suggested that we invest in a dinner set for 30 that can be passed around the family for use at the family meals.... See how light it is outside.... yay... the sun is coming back - just a few more months now and it will be over 20 hours a day!!!

Ingvi, Þórdís' husband has bought himself a motor bike, in Iceland this means you need to get the full body suit as well.... He was almost poured into it... hardly comfortable.  The moustache is because of male cancer awareness month, in Aus its Movember.... in Iceland it's múffu mars or something like that... a lot of workplaces are taking part and they have a web site where all the teams post photos of there facial growths.... I myself hate upper lip hair - can´t abide it really, so I try not to make any comments......  



Apart from that the last week has been pretty uneventful.  Oh except I bought myself a pilates for dummies dvd and did the work out tonight - I now remember that there were some muscles somewhere under the stomach flab.... I also bought a beginners pilates dvd from the UK which seems more to my liking.  Will try that tomorrow, then there is a dvd yoga for dummies.... leaving that till last 'cos I know that will be the one that stays in the dvd player - much more into breathing and relaxing and stretching when the mood takes me.


Guðný is having the next get together at Easter - her daughter will then be joining us from the south (and family), which will be great.  I put dibs on May for when Nicko is here.  


As we left mum and I talked about how extremely blessed we are having this extended family here, and knowing that they consider us as part of their inner family circle.  

'm tired of hearing it said that democracy doesn't work. Of course it doesn't work. We are supposed to work it. ~Alexander Woollcott

It was a grey day in the fjord today, still beautiful but strong southerly winds and bitterly cold.  Today is my nephew Magnus' birthday.  I should really do a post about him - he will obviously not be pleased... 

To other matters first.  Yesterday was the referendum about the legislation that went through parliament about the Icesave agreement.  I am not going to waste any energy talking/writing about this as so many others have done it already and done it better than me - see Icelandweatherreport for one.  However, the outcome was as expected - an overwhelming majority of the over 60% that voted voted No.  well, what else was possible - you certainly don't say yes to a law that is already no longer applicable - a new deal is on the table and I think that the turnout was largely due to the fact that other Icelanders like me just really needed a platform to vent their frustrations about the whole thing.  At the same time there are so many other issues going on.  The people that owned the major companies that put the country in its current position are still in charge.  The debts accumulated have been written off and it seems that they will get off scot free.  This is what is pissing me of the most.  Now on tv is the documentary "draumaland" - dreamland.  It was made before the crisis - when Iceland was just thinking about heavy industry and creating more and more hydro power stations in order to feed the aluminium factories.  Stuff nature and tourism potential - just put it all under water and make a power station to feed energy hungry industry.  An industry which is well known for its destruction and ability to manipulate transfer pricing, thereby leaving the countries that it has pillaged without the benefit that should be due them.

Again, there are folk in parliament now that say that heavy industry is the only way out of the current crisis - will we never learn.

ENOUGH!!!!

Now back to Maggi

Here he is with his little brother Gunni.... 

Maggi is probably my best mate here in the north, he is one of those special people that you have in your life, not only a relative but a friend.  Without him I would not have gotten my house in the state that it is today - he worked tiredlessly for me when I was renovating.  He has skills beyond accountancy - he can also put down parketry, do plumbing, paint walls and roofs, take down walls and do minor electrical work.  

He has also been, and is, a great friend to his cousins in Australia, even though they have grown up thousands of miles apart Maggi has always been there to help them with their transition into life in Iceland or to show them what living here is all about. He has also been to Aus to visit twice now and I know that he loves the place... he can see why it is a good place to live - not as good as S'krók but almost!

I won't go on too much as those that know him know what a great guy he is and there is no need for me to rave on here.  So have a wonderful birthday dear nephew - thank you for EVERYTHING!  You are a truly amazing and wonderful person and I am blessed to have you as a nephew and a friend!

In other news I continue looking for new ways of making food for those that choose to come and eat with me and to use the raw materials available in KS (believe sometimes it is a challenge).  So last week it was lightly salted cod cooked in the oven with vegies and mashed sweet potato.  

Mum and I actually managed to finish most of this - for once there weren't leftovers in the fridge to be thrown away in the following week.

So for a final view of the shitty weather that has been this weekend:

"Til að skilja lífið þarf maður sennilega að lifa því" Tómas Guðmundsson

The quote above is "To understand life, one probably needs to live it"

Another beautiful day in the fjord today, so nice.  Went for a fairly long walk with Freyja this morning and then took her again in the car down to the harbour.

The sun was amazing.  Maggi did the right thing and went skiing, while mum and Disa went to some choir thingy.  Disa leaves us today - goes to Maja's and then back to Rvk on Tuesday.  It has been really nice having her here.  Always good to have visitors and someone new to cook for.  We had foal curry last night - yummy.  

Next weekend sees the referendum on the Icesave legislation - it is almost 100% certain that everyone will vote no.  Afterall it's a referendum about an agreement that has already been superceded by another offer by the Dutch and English which has also been rejected by the negotiating committee.  again check icelandweatherreport for a more succinct and detailed explanation of what is happening here.  I have become one of the apathetic ones, you just get to the stage that when another bit of corruption is uncovered you just aren't surprised - just angry and disgusted and really just don't know how much worse things can become.

Luckily I live in a beautiful small town that is quite removed from the financial crisis in the south, we will however, be just a liable if the government agrees to the demands being made.  Maybe it is time to take self sufficiency seriously...

And then when things get really bad remember those that were here before us and the hardships of the lives that they led, this is my great grandfather, 6 years younger than me when he died.....