Friday, December 21, 2007

Copenhagen







We went to Koben and had a marvellous time at the Tivoli! Christmas is coming, get in the mood! We had a lovely time with Erla, Bragi, Rikke and Mr J - thanks very much for looking after us !

Itinery

ICELANDAIR - FI 450 SAT 22DEC REYKJAVIK IS LONDON GB 0830 1130 KEFLAVIK INTL HEATHROWNON STOP
TERMINAL 1 DURATION 3:00

SINGAPORE AIRLINES - SQ 321 SAT 22DEC LONDON GB SINGAPORE SG 2205 1845 HEATHROW CHANGI 23DECNON STOP TERMINAL 3 TERMINAL 2 DURATION 12:40

SINGAPORE AIRLINES - SQ 285 SUN 23DEC SINGAPORE SG AUCKLAND NZ 2100 1145 CHANGI AUCKLAND 24DECNON STOP TERMINAL 2 TERMINAL INTL DURATION 9:45

SINGAPORE AIRLINES - SQ 282 MON 14JAN AUCKLAND NZ SINGAPORE SG 0110 0640 AUCKLAND CHANGINON STOP TERMINAL INTL TERMINAL 2 DURATION 10:30

SINGAPORE AIRLINES - SQ 318MON 14JAN SINGAPORE SG LONDON GB 1250 1855 CHANGI HEATHROWNON STOP TERMINAL 3 TERMINAL 3 DURATION 14:05

ICELANDAIR - FI 455MON 14JAN LONDON GB REYKJAVIK IS 2100 2355 HEATHROW KEFLAVIK INTLNON STOP TERMINAL 1 DURATION 2:55

Dads Address in NZ

2 Sinclair Road
Ararimu
RD3 Drury
Auckland 2579
New Zealand

+ 64 (0) 9 292 4459

Tuesday, December 18, 2007

Brussels



I went to Brussels to attend a European Union Funding Conference. I was mainly in the Conference hall, as you can see.


The other thing is that although Brussels airport is only 15 mins from the centre, it has very long corridors.
I also met Martin Hahn, who I haven´t seen for ages and Philippe G. from the Indonesia days. We don't look a day over 40 !

Monday, December 03, 2007

Sunday, November 18, 2007


Winter and frost has come to Rekjavik, after days and days of rain and wind and wet and damp and blahhhh. It was a beautiful and clear day and a good day for a walk in the valley and up to the swimming pool for a soak in a hot pot. We all set off and took a good walk, just stopping every once in a while to throw stones on the frozen lake and watch them skip and skid.

The pool was good and hot. Kids had a good time splashing around. It was coming to a beautiful sunset as we walked back down the hill, still and clear and frost nipping at noses. Which meant hot chocolate and cakes as soon as we got in, before getting down to the business of homework and trumpet practice.

Tuesday, November 06, 2007

Hot salt beef on rosemary bread, mustard and pickled cumcumber eaten at selfridges in london stopover. Very tasty !

Monday, November 05, 2007

We had Bangers and Mash for supper......with gravy lakes........ what a blast from the past !!!! I am now thinking of doing "Toad in the Hole".
If anybody needs translation then ask Eirik : -)

Saturday, October 27, 2007

Thursday, October 25, 2007

Hot in Jer. Lots of sunshine. Said hello to AmCol. It has a beatiful garden.
www.americancolony.com

Monday, October 22, 2007

On the way to Ramallah

Long stop over in LHR. But luckily or prehaps not, if you consider the visa card, departure is from terminal 4. Terminal 4 is more like a shopping mall than a departure lounage. So far have resisted the expensive silk ties, mon blanc pens, stationary and BOOK shop!
Starbucks is my friend... I have got to know him well.

Saturday, October 20, 2007

The Peace Light

We dropped off to see the Fríðar Súlan on the way home. It´s really quite special.

Wednesday, October 17, 2007

A lull......

John Cleese's Letter To America

To the citizens of the United States of America:
In light of your failure to elect a competent President of the USA and thus to govern yourselves, we hereby give notice of the revocation of your independence, effective immediately. Her Sovereign Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II, will resume monarchical duties over all states, commonwealths and other territories (excepting Kansas, which she does not fancy).
Your new prime minister, Gordon Brown, will appoint a governor for America without the need for further elections. Congress and the Senate will be disbanded. A questionnaire may be circulated next year to determine whether any of you noticed.
To aid in the transition to a British Crown Dependency, the following rules are introduced with immediate effect:
1. You should look up "revocation" in the Oxford English Dictionary. Then look up "aluminium," and check the pronunciation guide. You will be amazed at just how wrongly you have been pronouncing it.
The letter 'U' will be reinstated in words such as 'colour', 'favour' and 'neighbour.' Likewise, you will learn to spell 'doughnut' without skipping half the letters, and the suffix "ize" will be replaced by the suffix "ise."
You will learn that the suffix 'burgh' is pronounced 'burra'; you may elect to respell Pittsburgh as 'Pittsberg' if you find you simply can't cope with correct pronunciation.
Generally, you will be expected to raise your vocabulary to acceptable levels (look up "vocabulary"). Using the same twenty-seven words interspersed with filler noises such as "like" and "you know" is an unacceptable and inefficient form of communication.
2. There is no such thing as "US English." We will let Microsoft know on your behalf. The Microsoft spell-checker will be adjusted to take account of the reinstated letter 'u' and the elimination of "-ize."
3. You will relearn your original national anthem, "God Save The Queen", but only after fully carrying out Task #1 (see above).
4. July 4th will no longer be celebrated as a holiday. November 2nd will be a new national holiday, but to be celebrated only in England. It will be called "Come-Uppance Day."
5. You will learn to resolve personal issues without using guns, lawyers or therapists. The fact that you need so many lawyers and therapists shows that you're not adult enough to be independent.
Guns should only be handled by adults. If you're not adult enough to sort things out without suing someone or speaking to a therapist then you're not grown up enough to handle a gun.
6. Therefore, you will no longer be allowed to own or carry anything more dangerous than a vegetable peeler. A permit will be required if you wish to carry a vegetable peeler in public.
7. All American cars are hereby banned. They are crap and this is for your own good. When we show you German cars, you will understand what we mean.
All intersections will be replaced with roundabouts, and you will start driving on the left with immediate effect.
At the same time, you will go metric immediately and without the benefit of conversion tables. Both roundabouts and metrication will help you understand the British sense of humour.
8. The Former USA will adopt UK prices on petrol (which you have been calling "gasoline") -roughly $6/US gallon. Get used to it.
9. You will learn to make real chips. Those things you call French fries are not real chips, and those things you insist on calling potato chips are properly called "crisps." Real chips are thick cut, fried in animal fat, and dressed not with mayonnaise but with vinegar.
10. Waiters and waitresses will be trained to be more aggressive with customers.
11. The cold tasteless stuff you insist on calling beer is not actually beer at all. Henceforth, only proper British Bitter will be referred to as "beer," and European brews of known and accepted provenance will be referred to as "Lager." American brands will be referred to as "Near-Frozen Gnat's Urine," so that all can be sold without risk of further confusion.
12. Hollywood will be required occasionally to cast English actors as good guys. Hollywood will also be required to cast English actors to play English characters. Watching Andie MacDowell attempt English dialogue in "Four Weddings and a Funeral" was an experience akin to having one's ears removed with a cheese grater.
13. You will cease playing American "football." There is only one kind of proper football; you call it "soccer." Those of you brave enough will, in time, will be allowed to play rugby (which has some similarities to American "football", but does not involve stopping for a rest every twenty seconds or wearing full kevlar body armour like a bunch of nancies).
Further, you will stop playing baseball. It is not reasonable to host an event called the "World Series" for a game which is not played outside of America. Since only 2.1% of you are aware that there is a world beyond your borders, your error is understandable.
14. You must tell us who killed JFK. It's been driving us mad.
15. An internal revenue agent (i.e. tax collector) from Her Majesty's Government will be with you shortly to ensure the acquisition of all monies due backdated to 1776.
Thank you for your co-operation.

Saturday, October 13, 2007

Strange and Horrible things happening in Indonesia

Airline meal ‘used to kill activist’
The former head of Indonesia’s national airline faces 20 years in jail over the killing of an outspoken human rights activist whose in-flight meal was laced with a massive dose of arsenic. The poisoning of Munir Said Thalib in 2004 silenced one of the most ardent critics of Indonesia’s military, a lawyer who, at 38, had spent much of his life exposing the corruption and human rights abuses wrought by its officers. Before his agonising mid-flight death shortly before landing in Amsterdam, Mr Munir had been preparing a report on human rights abuses in the provinces of Aceh and Papua.
Indra Setiawan, the former head of Garuda Airlines, and his deputy, Rohainil Aini appeared in the Central Jakarta District Court yesterday on charges of conspiracy to commit murder. Their trials follow the 2005 conviction of Pollycarpus Priyanto , an off-duty Garuda pilot found guilty of Mr Munir’s murder but acquitted on appeal to the Supreme Court last year. The murder, claim Mr Munir’s supporters, may ultimately have been the work of Indonesia’s spy agency.
For the human rights activists still fighting Mr Munir’s cause, the case provokes grim memories of the 32-year dictatorship of President Suharto – an era in which the state effectively killed its opponents at will and its agents were above the law.
The trial is under close scrutiny as a test-case for the independence of Indonesia’s justice system nearly a decade after the fall of Mt Suharto.
Since her husband’s death, Mr Munir’s wife, Suciwati, has reportedly received death threats. She was also sent a decapitated chicken in a box and an accompanying warning not to connect Mr Munir’s death with the Indonesian military.

Wednesday, October 10, 2007

Green Fingers


Winter Gardens




On Sunday we got a whole load of new shrubs put in to the garden. Kids helped with the autumn leaves.

Good News for Pet Lovers, Bad news for Woolly lemurs

Animal lovers in UK with a penchant for exotic pets can now keep sloths, raccoons or even emus after the Government relaxed the regulations on owning wild animals.
A total of 33 new species can now be owned without a licence after a review of the Dangerous Wild Animals Act deemed them not to be a risk to the public.
They include a number of wild cats, North American and crested porcupines, hyraxes, sand snakes, mangrove snakes and the Brazilian wolf spider.Woolly lemurs, tamarins, night (owl) monkeys, titi monkeys and squirrel monkeys also no longer require a licence under the Dangerous Wild Animals Act but are still covered by Cites, the international conservation legislation which regulates the trade in threatened species. And there are some new additions to the list of animals for which animal owners do need a licence, including the dingo.

Sunday, October 07, 2007

B’day weekend.





This is the big weekend of Birthdays, kicking off, of course with Sandra Kristin who reached the big 9. Only one more and she´ll be into double figures. Her Dad on the other hand is aiming for a steady half century in a few few years. Sandra had her school friends round at Hringbraut for party and face painting. Beks and Dad did all the faces up as exotic mammals and it was big fun. Then we went of to Rafstöð to continue the fun with cozy evening card games. Early in the morning, Sandra got a second helping of pressies from all over the world.
Then, it being Sunday, it was over to Dad, who went back to bed for a quick kipp, to be woken a short while later with the smell off coffee and the sound of singing. :) Dad was treated to breakfast in bed plus pressies. More breakfast was waiting downstairs and also cake. We had visitors on the afternoon and then we went to the movies, (sandra´s pick) and for there on to “Ruby Tuesdays” where Rebekka joined us for Dinner. A totally brilliant weekend !!!!

Tuesday, September 25, 2007

Purdy-est song in the World..... chekkitt

Comme si je n'existais pas,
elle est passée à côté de moi
Sans un regard, reine de "Saba",
j'ai dit Aïcha prends tout est pour toi

Voici les perles les bijoux,
aussi l'or autour de ton cou
Les fruits, biens mûrs au goût de miel,
ma vie, Aïcha si tu m'aimes

J'irai où ton souffle nous mène,
dans les pays d'ivoire et des baignes
J'effacerai tes larmes ou tes peines,
rien n'est trop beau pour une si belle

Aïcha, Aïcha écoute moi,
Aïcha, Aïcha t'en vas pas
Aïcha,Aïcha regarde moi,
Aïcha, Aïcha réponds-moi

Je dirai les mots les poèmes,
je jouerai les musiques du ciel
Je prendrai les rayons du soleil,
pour éclairer tes yeux de reine

Aïcha, Aïcha écoute moi,
Aïcha, Aïcha t'en vas pas
Aïcha,Aïcha regarde moi,
Aïcha, Aïcha réponds-moi
Refrain

Elle m'a dit: "Garde tes tresors,
moi je vaux mieux que tout ça
Des barreaux sont des barreaux, même en or
Je veux les mêmes droits que toi
Du respect pour chaque jour,
moi je ne veux que de l'amour "

Comme si je n'existai pas,
elle est passée à côté de moi

Sans un regard, reine de "Saba"é,
j'ai dit Aïcha prends tout est pour toi

Aïcha, Aïcha écoute moi, Aïcha, Aïcha écoute moi
Aïcha, Aïcha t'en vas pas, Aïcha, Aïcha, regarde moi
Aïcha, Aïcha réponds moi, Aïcha, Aïcha écoute moi
Aïcha, Aïcha t'en vas pas, Aïcha, Aïcha, regarde moi
Aïcha, Aïcha répond moi, Aïcha, Aïcha écoute moi
Aïcha, Aïcha t'en vas pas, Aïcha, Aïcha, regarde moi

Friday, September 14, 2007

Urban Myth ?

This tickled my funny bone, I have to share it with the world !!!!!!

Blogged by: Andrew Stroehlein

Though normally a news junkie, I do try to dry out a bit during holidays with my family -- which of course leaves me catching up on events somewhat when I return. I find it hard to believe, however, that it took me until the end of the first week of September before I learned about what is probably the most important story out of Iraq since the invasion and easily the best conflict-related news quote of 2007 so far.
How could I have missed UK military spokesman Major Mike Shearer saying, "We can categorically state that we have not released man-eating badgers into the [Basra] area."
That’s right: for a brief moment back in July, badgers -- the other white meat -- were believed to be the British military’s secret weapon in and around the southern Iraqi city. Perhaps they’d been genetically enhanced to seek and destroy insurgents. Maybe it was precisely because the ferocious furry beasts were in place that the British felt their forces could withdraw from Basra safely.
In fact, local rumours grew beyond all rationality after indigenous "honey badgers" had apparently become more numerous around Basra, perhaps driven towards the city after the reflooding of marshland to the north. As the Director of Basra's veterinary hospital told AFP: "Talk that this animal was brought by the British forces is incorrect and unscientific."
Still, for the UK, the rumours highlighted a problem. I mean, you really have to start reconsidering your position if the local population suspects your forces of attacking them with imported badgers. Doesn’t say a whole lot for the old hearts-and-minds campaign, eh?

Friday, September 07, 2007

Kapa O Pango Hakka Versus South AFrica 2005

Just to get us in the mood for the world cup!!!


This is picture is a little late coming to the blog but better late than never, as I have often said. Sandra is following in her uncle Kieron´s footsteps !!!!

Maturklub pictures




Adda and Hakon hosted the Food Club with style and finesse. It was the peak of perfection. Thanks, thanks and thanks !!!

Wednesday, September 05, 2007

Back to school, which is a great feeling ! If got loads of books to read, two plastic bags full. The first course is accounting....upps.

Priestly United’s season kicked off on Monday. No broken bones but some sore muscles. It was good to meet the guys again.

Sunday, August 26, 2007

Reykjavik Marathon

Team Red Cross take the 3km Fun Run, mash it up !





We did the Reykjavik marathon again, everybody did 3km, running in the Red Cross team. Then afterwards we went for a walk in the town to enjoy the Culture feastival events. Eirik got involved in an inpromtue Hip Hop dance lesson and Sandra did some Scottish country dancing with her dad. We also ate hotdogs, had ice-cream and went on a ship. A great day.

New Home



Its fairly obvious that I haven´t been blogging for some time, but I have an excuse !!!!!!! We have moved house and have been busy with boxes and things. The best part is the terrace and the gardens, which catch the sun and are real little hot pots... Thats just the thing for my thin blood. I really enjoy having a morning coffee in the garden, pure heaven. Can also practice my golf swing by clipping into the garden. The kids like the place and often dissappear to play with friends next door and build dens.

A plague of boxes has descended but we will overcome.....

Friday, July 27, 2007

We went to see Harry Potter the Movie, all together. It was a good day and a good way to round it off. This has to be the best HArry Potter Movie to date....absolutely tremendous special effects and a cleverly told scarry story.
Looking forward to reading the newest book, Deadly Hallows.

Thursday, July 26, 2007

"A" Team at work !!!





Father and son at work renovating the fence at Alfaheiði. This was serious DIY, measuring, sawing, painting and drilling. Hey presto, the fence is as good as new :))))))

Thursday, July 19, 2007

Wednesday, July 18, 2007


Bekkas has come home and that´s great. By all accounts Beks had a great time, ate lots of chili, made friends and learnt Spanish to boot. First stop on the way home was for a hotdog !!!

Welcome back to Rebekka :)

Visit to Flatey and Grundafjörður




Great weather and fun company and an amazing island. Still Painting !!!!


Nerds of the world unite and play the football. It was Swedes against Icelandic nerds. It was great fun to see. We enjoyed it alot. Thanks for eirikur for letting us have the tickets.

Monday, July 02, 2007

The first week of gymnastics camp is finished. Everybody had made progress with somersaults, head-over-heels and cartwheels. The kids have also work on the balance beam and the rings. There is also plenty of outdoor stuff, so at the end of the day everybody is tired, hungry and happy. This week has been exceptional with regards to the sun, clear skies and some suntanning. On Saturday we went out to the summer house under Esja mountain for outdoor hanging out.
Friday was a big a kind of a big day. The first thing was that I had to sit the last of my exams in Project management; an oral exam. I think it well well and now it’s over for a time. Then straight on the say goodbye to Anna Inga who is having last day at work. She and her boyfriend are on their way to live in Danmark for a time. We had a special lunch at work and relived fun past times. We will miss her at work.

Up coming marriage

Camilla Lynch is going to get married on 28 July :)

see www.orchardleigh.net

Wednesday, June 27, 2007

Heat



Everybody is going totally mad about the weather in Iceland, and why not ? Finally summer, really clear skys and hot hot hot (relatively speaking!). Get it whilst its there....... use it or lose it I say........see you in the garden.

Kids have started their summer school activites. Theya are doing a gymnastics/sport summer day camp at Gerplar. There are lots of trampolines, mats and foam cushions to jump into and then room for outside activites and access to the pool. Sandra and Eirikur enjoyed their first day, slept like logs and in the morning discovered muscles that they never thought they had.

Saturday, June 23, 2007

Wednesday, June 20, 2007

Tivoli Girls

Anna amd Iris are having a great time scaring the b'jeezus out of themselves on the rollercoasters of Copenhagen´s Tivoli gardens. Go girls!!!!!!

Tuesday, June 19, 2007



Dora and Gummi have twins, born last night ; a boy and girl. Many many congratulations to y'all

Monday, June 18, 2007

17 June National Holiday in Iceland

Sunday was 17 of June and the National Day of Iceland; parades in centre of town, flags and all. Sunday was also exam day, which I did in the morning. Four hours of frantic typing can make your fingers sore and I wish that I was able to touch type. I have been wanting to learn for years but have never managed. Is this dog to old to learn a new trick?

In the afternoon I went to visit hafnafjorður with Gugga for a coffee and a chat. Then it was and evening of competition. The Icelandic National Handball team beat Serbia in an exciting match. Afterwards I went to watch Real Madrid beat Mallorca. , Beckham and co and Tom Cruise in the crowd. What’s not to watch?Evening was topped of with some more reading and then sleeeeeeeep

Saturday, June 16, 2007

Exam time


These days are so taken up with reading for exams. Read, read, read, read ! The first of the four exams was this morning, another tomorrow and two more in the week. But men has to eat, and that is a good thing especially when he is invited to a B-B-Q in the countryside. Did get an invite to the Atlanta Girls reunion bash in Kollo.



Yesterday I drove Anna and Iris junior to the airport. They are off to vist Erla and Co in Danmark and I hope they have a super time.

Saturday, June 09, 2007

Carmen and Cake

Last Sunday we celebrated Anna´s birthday with chocolate cake and cake and more cake ! On Thursday, as a birthday treat we went to listen to Carmen at the Icelandic Symphony. I have been humming “Toreadore” since and can´t get it out of my head.

3BT - tea in bed, listening to the dishwash and knowing that the kitchen is clean, and sunny mornings.

Monday, June 04, 2007

Vorhátið

Eirikur and Sandra performed beautifully in their school´s spring show. Then Eirikur went on to be master hotdog chef and Sandra got herself inside the dragon for the parade.

Rebekka is on her way to Mexico. We got a blow by blow account of the various take-offs and landings via SMS. Way to go, Beks.

Saturday, June 02, 2007

The White Sunday weekend










Playing mind games with the fish..... and it works.....











We went with friends to stay over in a summer house and enjoy some country air. There was a trampoline, cross country croquet and fish to eat. The sun allowed for breakfast on the deck which was gorgeous. The good weather carried over so that the boys could enjoy a good round of golf on the local golf course and enjoy the veiw of the snow covered mountains. What a lovely weekend!