An Update

I know, I know, I should write more often, and I mean too, but things are overwhelming. But there is some good news and bad news. Lets hope there is more of the good news in the New Year.

Good News: We finished the inside of the apartment. This is something that has been giving me nightmares forever, but now it is done, and it looks great. Also good news, we managed to find tenants who will move in February with a 4 year contract, so we will not need to worry about it for a while now.

Good News: The boys have been amazing considering how boring this visit must have been for them, mostly with us working on the apartment or being passed between family members. I am so proud of them.

Bad News: Thanks to inflation and resession we are actually losing money on our apartment every month, even renting it out. So many people have left the country that the market is full of empty apartments and not many people can rent. This means the prices are low, really low. We are renting our for ours for the cost of keeping the apartment and losing money on the tax of our new income every month. Guess you can not win them all.

Bad News: Well, we do not know for sure if it is bad news, but it is a little stressful. Davíð has a catscan appiontment here while we were in town. It was to check on his veins for a disorder that runs in his family. Turns out his veins are fine but they found 2 lumps or something. So he had blood tests, a lot of them, and so far there seems to be no answer. No one is saying anything. But he has to be in the lab up north for more tests on Friday. Naturally Davíð acts like a hero, like nothing bothers him. I can admit I am worried.

Small Rant: It is times like this that I wish I was in Canada. In this situation, the last thing on our minds should be the cost of health care. The catscan cost 16000 (maybe 160 CAN.), still havent received the bill for the blood tests and who knows what the next tests will cost. Davíð actually told the doctor he was not sure if he would go because he did not want to spend anymore money.
People have a right to health care and this makes me crazy angery.

So, on with the pictures:

Angery Kasper

Finished small room.

Living Room

Kitchen.

Entrance.

Big Room.

Door.

Star Wars playing house.

Party in the bathroom.

Christmas Day

Ah, Christmas Day! A day to relax, enjoy gifts, do a few more and stuff yourself with yet another huge meal.
And to think I was working so hard at the gym :)

This day everyone went to Stína's house, Inga brought tons of food, and all 12 of us ate far too much.

Here is Kristína with dessert, after midnight.

Stefán is so tired and so full he is really having a hard time eating this.

Clone Kasper

Stefán said Kasper hurt his eye, and here he is trying to show me where.
Tattletale.

Some of the gang, Rob, Inga, Már

I tried to make the whipped cream for dessert, it turned into butter.
Guess I whipped it a little too much and the milk actually came out of the cream and left butter.
Cooking has never been my strong point.
I did not know this was possible.

Clone Davíð.

A little tired Ulfrun.

Stefáns bestest friend and cousin to the boys, Garpur.

And again, with a balloon.

Már's mom and her husband were down from England.

They brought neato balloons.

Everyone was impressed.

And everyone had a try.

Lots.

Stefán was a little stressed about the lobster.

This feast had everything, I would not dare to try to name it all, but I htink you can guess from the picture.

Vala and Steve.

Davíð enoying a Christmas book.

And you always need at least one terrible shot - so here it is,
this is Kasper!

Before Christmas

So this is everything worth mentioning from the last few days - no, actually it is just the pictures I have from the last few days.

Here is Kasper in the mall, begging for money for the car. Just craziness.

Stefán loves the bears in Kringlan and every year we have to hang out with them for a bit.

Kasper coming from the library.

Rósa and her sister Saga. Best Friends Forever.

But this can change if some good food is involved.

Not exactly sure what Kasper is doing here, but I would guess he is yawning.

The boy and his dog, like it or not.

This is a typical holiday sight, what is Christmas without drinking and Chess.
Nothing I tell you.

Scusting! - with a big S

This is probably the grossest thing I have ever found on a shelf - so much so I was almost tempted to buy it, just to have as a conversation piece. But I am too poor.
The best part it that you can by it at Húsasmíðan, in the paint aisle.

Evidence

This was Davíð trying to fix the gas pump after driving away with it still in the car and breaking it.
Good times, probably the best way to start any good road trip.
He blames the entire thing on me because I bought him a hot dog and it was distracting.

Hanging out in Husasmiðan at Christmas

Because we are renovating, as usual, we are spending a lot of time in Húsasmíðan these days. A fabulous place for any holiday.
The equivalent to a Home Depo in Canada.
Here you see me trying to get a picture of Davíð and I.
Then you see me rather angry.
I thought the camera was not working, but I guess the flash was not on so it did take a lot of pictures with an array of emotions because I thought it was broken.

A trip and the beginning of a much needed holiday.

So lets start from the beginning, because I have much to tell.

Before we even left Þórshöfn the road trip of the season started with promise.

We stopped at the gas station to fill up the car and grab some Coke, then off we drove. While heading down the road people were pointing at the car.

The Davíð realized he forgot to take the gas pump nozzle out of our car.

We drove back feeling a little sheepish.

Then in front of half the town, including coworkers and Kasper's teacher, Davíð had to put the gas nozzle back on the hose.

A lot of laughter could be heard.

Lucky for us this happens to other people, somewhere, because there is a safety and gas did not leak everywhere.

Davíð looks forward to going back and hearing jokes about this for the next few months, or until something better happens.

The rest of the drive, taking about 12 hours with a supper stop, was relatively uneventful.

We arrived in mósó in good shape.

After a good sleep we prepared for a busy day in Reykjavík. So many things to do once you actually get to the city.

I realized I managed to lose my phone and am really hoping it turns up because I am lost with out it and do not have any phone numbers on my own. I also managed to miss a lunch date with the girls because I could not remember where it was, I was downtown, and had no phone numbers.

Another great event was the bank adventure, taking up more then a little time.

I have a new account in Þórshöfn with Spronisoðir (this might be spelled wrong). I thought this was the same as Spron in Reykjavík. They have the same symbol, same website - same bank? No.

I have a savings account with no debit card and a visa in plus for spending money. So I wanted to put money onto my visa for Christmas shopping and they could not help me? They said I do no I do not have an account with them. I have to talk to the people in Þórshöfn, because that is my bank.

Stupid stupid banking system.

I called my bank and they did everything over the phone.

I love my town.

I am also proud to be a part of the only bank in Iceland that has money - that's right! The Spron of North East Iceland is not bankrupt. Now why would you put your money anywhere else?

So that was my first day in Reykjavík - mostly spent panicking.

Inga and Rob watched the boys so Davíð and I went out to visit his friends. The look on the faces was worthy of a picture because the last time they saw Davíð he was with Monika so they were very shocked to see me and the girlfriends did not talk to me at all, although they did stare a lot.

There is a poker game Monday night I might go too - although I am also might drink some beer and for the courage to tell someone off if they give me funny looks.

Then again, I am not nearly confrontational enough for that.

Today we went to the mall - the crazy weekend before Christmas mall. Everything has gone up in price. It was too much. We went to Nexas and the kids each get one toy for Christmas.

Stupid worthless Krónur.

At 11-11 we saw a guy getting arrested for stealing a leg of lamb. He looked young so it was a strange site. I always thought that the kind of person who steal would steal a more instant food while the kind of person who would cook a leg of lamb is the kind of person who would pay for it. But I guess this shows how wrong generalizations can be.

Tonight Stefán is sleeping over at his cousins and most likely having the time of his life - Stefán is very impressed by his cousin and spends days planning the time they will have together.

Now I am just watching The Cat in the Hat, in Icelandic, with Inga, Rob, Kasper and Davíð - so I should get back to that.

I love being on holidays.