Tarantula-la-la

Sandra and Erik are staying over the weekend and we are in heavy chilling mode due to coughs, sneezes and other end of winter disease´s, all except Sandra who is going a million and winding herself up for the big ballet show. Its going to be great!

The Joy of Rugby

Erik and I went to watch the match at Players, down the pub, so to speak. It is a Boy and Dad time. A chance to hang out, drink coke, munch nachos and discuss the game. Wales lost by a hair´s breath to Italy. Erik´s verdict “Wales is a good team, but they don´t think enough.” Absolutely right, my boy.

The Last King of Scotland. My verdict, for what it’s worth, a master piece of acting from Forrest Whitaker. He soooo deserved the Oscar, and the doctor´s complex character, were sensitively portrayed. There appeared to be little room for other characters to develop, which is a shame. I would have liked to see a deeper and more rounded African characters emerge beyond the central role of the character of Idi Amin.

Catch up and Brain Joga

I have to confess that my nose has been tickled by the occassional sunbeam and its promise of spring. Well, more of a wink and a nudge. But, it was enough to drag me out for a walk by the sea with Bekka, of the younger generation. It´s still cutting cold in the pale sunshine. However, this up-side position is leveraged by hot chocolate in Saltfelagid, a new design, chic centre, raw concrete floors kitted out with modern sofas and fasjion magazines. Very productive to revive the body and tickle the culture buds at the same time.
Also this week, the brain buds have been tickeld big time, because I am learning to make simple computer programmes. The younger generation says “ and so what ?” and I say, for someone is so rubbish at maths and also addled in the brain house, this excursion so stretches the brain´s hamstrings.

Rugby Fiesta

Now is the time of the 6 nations rugby competition, actually it is already half way through. I have been able to check into Players, the sports bar, and catch a couple of games. Now the bar tender has recognised me and I have a little spot tucked away in a corner, with my own screen and comfy leather chair. This weeks matches are timed so that they don´t clash with the F.A. cup matches. This means that the bar is virtually empty when the rugby comes on. Hopefully, some people will get to be abit curious and a crowd might develop in time for the world cup.

The weekend again

Great sunshine with no wind although cold. Is spring around the corner ?
We went to see the new kids film “Bridge to Tarabithia”. A very beautiful story and great to see the hero of the film as a drawing guy!

I also have to recomend another film “Death in Gaza” a harrowing documentary about kids growing up in Gaza. The conflict is engraved on their faces and they are sucked slowly and surely into the mad logic of the struggle.

Meanwhile here in Iceland, we are able to go for an innocent walk on the bitter mountain. Out of the wind, in the secret wooded spots the pale sunshine warms the brittle grass. This is a good place to pause and warm up with hot chocolate. Games to play in this weather are to watch the mesmerizing patterns of the water flowing under the inch thick layer of ice. Even more fun is to smash the ice with rocks. Today on the bitter mountain, the ice smashed the rock.

Reasons to be cheerful

Jogging on Sunday morning.
A decent cup of tea.
Chatting on the phone.
Solving an excel problem : )
Finishing the laundry

Horses

Horses

Kids came to stay and that is always fun. Saturday is busy with extra school programmes, and all is well that ends well with home made pizzas, á la Eirikur. Sunday on the other hand was alittle more laid back, a slow breakfast then a visit for a birthday party with waffles and cream. Then towards the end of the day we went out to the country to visit some horses and let the kids go for a little ride. Chilly but fun! The evening was rounded off with a nice supper and a Disney Video. Everybody went to bed happy.

Three birthday parties, a trip to IKEA and dinner at the Saga Hotel Grill Room. A busy bee weekend. Its started snowing again and I tried the new coffee shop which has openned next door to the Red Cross offices.

Bekka´s birthday meal

On Wednesday, Bekka and I went out for a birthday celebration and a nice meal. We choose Lækkjarbrekka, which is right in the centre of town, very close to Rebekka´s school. We got dressed up to the nines, me in suit and Bekka in new black and white check power jacket. We were lucky enough to get a table by the window and we could look out on to the street and see if we could recognise any of the passers by. (Statistically speaking Bekka has a much higher chance than me, because of her extensive social circle, you see). The food was really very good, rich and satisfying, just the thing for a cold and rainy night. I had lamb and Bekka had steak, nam, nam enough meat to feed a lion pride. I could only manage a coffee for dessert; Bekka went for the chocolate dream – a wicked chocoholic assortment of four, yes four, chocolate mini desserts!!! We had great chats and a lovely evening.

Oh the snow is gone

Oh the snow is gone and the puddles have come back.

Yesterday, I tried to adjust the squirters on the bonnet of my car. I wanted to adjust them so that they squirted the windscreen washer fluid to on to the centre of the windscreen in such a manner as it would effectively spread across the glass and wipe away the accumulated muck and grime. Also, one of the squirters didn’t squirt so much as dribble in the direction of the windscreen. For now is the time of muck and grime on the windscreen since there is a thaw. I feel better driving with a clean wind screen. It is better to see where you are driving. So, I tried to adjust the squirters on the bonnet of the car. I used a pin. I stuck it down the tube and wiggled it about whilst trying to imagine the changes in trajectory that I was making with this manoeuvre. It is not an easy thing to adjust the squirters on the bonnet of one’s car, I have found. I apologise to pedestrians.

Bekka´s Birthday SUMMER mandela by Sandra

Today was a great day for chocolate eating and lasagne making and birthday having. The maker of this mandela is Sandra and Dad ('cos he helped too.)

Snow Fireworks and New Year

Merry Christmas Everybody

Vroom´s Expectancy Theory

The big exam day is over for me and was great to have the fun of that challenge.

Mind you, I am not the only one with end of exam joy. Bekka finished her exams today and she had many more than her ole Dad. Congrats to High School girl and aspiring Postie.

The Magnificent Performing Lynches

Eric was playing drums in his end of term concert with the school band. Eric had practised so hard and I think our main man will admit to a few pre-performanace butterflies. It´s not easy being the drummer in the band, they have such an important role keeping the beat, everyone hears them and there is only one!!

There can be no hiding -) But Eric did really well and gave a good performance. I enjoyed listening to the band, and then there was a nice coffee and cake afterwards. Nice one!

Then it was Sandra´s turn to sing in the School Choir at the Cathedral in the centre of Reykjavik. There was lots of preparation. The kids learnt the words off by heart and everyone dressed up. They were lovely Christmas Carols and got everyone in the Christmas mood.

Afterwards, we went to celebrate by having lunch at a nice Italian café. Nice one!

Blog catch : from the journey : on the way

Ouch! its early, and windy and snowing and cold brrrrrrrrrrrrrr. Rebekka agrees and is a alittle bit awake. We hope our luggage gets to go where it should. HKG or AKL or is it the other way around ; we are worried.
We managed to get to London okay. Hurrayyyyy!
And guess who we meet on the train into London….. Roland H. We went to have a very pleasant lunch and a decent glass of red wine together at the Frontline. London was warm and sunny. Took a taxi around Hyde Park and Buckingham Palace to show Rebekka the sights and then into the National Gallary to see the Veslasque exhibition.We walked Picadilly in the evening looking into Fortnum and Masons and the Ritz.

The flight was fine with plenty for share seats so that we could spread out. Still totally dazed as we transited through HK. Great airport though, and Rebekka bought a new phone, very funky.

In Hong Kong, Bekka amazed at all the expensive shops; able to confirm to the “girl posse” back home that there is civilised shopping south the equator. (Who knows what Auckland will be like though.)

Last hour of the flight and we are getting quite disoriented. We have managed to watch all the inflight entertainment, congrats to us! John Tucker must die, The Little Mermaid and lots of C.S.I. So now Rebekka is blasting J.T.and Dad is doing paperwork. We can’t wait to take a shower and eat real food but otherwise this trip has been quite uneventful; a very good thing.

Stella´s Birthday and good meal at Brachu.

Thistle smiting and other country pursuits

Got Fruit ?

On arriving in New Zealand officials in green hiking gear will salute travellers.

“Got Fruit?” They say.

Sometimes the Fruit dogs will sniff you…

… just to be sure.