December 2005

The Gift

December 31, 2005

A young man wanted to purchase a gift for his new sweetheart’s birthday, and as they had not been dating very long, after careful consideration, he decided a pair of gloves would strike the right note: romantic, but not too personal. Accompanied by his sweetheart’s younger sister, he went to Nordstrom and bought a pair [...]

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Up in flames

December 30, 2005

So. Here in Niceland we’re currently in the process of gearing up for the Mutha of all parties [and if you’ve been reading for a while, you’ll know that we have many over the course of the year], namely New Years Eve. Despite their crazy reputation, though, the New Years celebrations actually start off pretty [...]

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A bunch of photos…

December 29, 2005

First, we have rancid skate cooking out on the balcony [on account of the smell, obviously]… A steaming, heaping platter of rancid skate, mmmmmm…… Húrri the family feline was rather curious about the foodsmells wafting up from the table… AND NOW FOR SOMETHING COMPLETELY DIFFERENT… Our tree tada! [The string of lights near the bottom [...]

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Christmas rundown

December 28, 2005

It’s been business as usual this Christmas, with adherence to both personal and cultural traditions, plus indulging in some serious [and well-earned] laziness. Predictably, Yule chez YT begins on the 23rd, what with birthday celebrations and the much-anticipated rancid skate party. A short lie-in is allowed on Christmas Eve day, before gearing up for the [...]

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Wrapping up the Yule Lads

December 26, 2005

Pity the poor tourists that spent Christmas in Reykjavík and failed to realize that virtually everything is closed on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. A grand total of four restaurants were open on the 24th, for example – including one fast-food place. Lots of people eating fish and chips for Christmas dinner, apparently. Yowsa. HOWEVER!… [...]

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Merry Christmas!

December 24, 2005
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Some urgent business

December 23, 2005

First of all, today is my birthday. To those of you who have already jumped the gun – thank you my lovelies, it’s always great to get birthday wishes, on any day of the year. But today is the official one. Secondly, what I would love love love today, is if all you lurkers out [...]

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Putrid skate for beginners

December 22, 2005

So EPI’s brother and sister-in-law have invited us to a putrid skate party tomorrow. Putrid skate parties are without a doubt one of the more bizarre Icelandic traditions. Every year on December 23, Icelanders get together and eat skate [as in fish] that has been sitting in a closed container and allowed to ferment for [...]

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The Yule Lads. Cooler Than Thou.

December 21, 2005

At first I thought it was just me, but evidently it’s not: Birta [weekly magazine delivered free with Fréttablaðið] has the Yule Lads at the top of their trend-o-meter, accompanied by this reasoning: “They’re clad in those oh-so fashionable Icelandic sweaters, they enjoy the outdoors and have extremly macho beards. Plus they’re in much better [...]

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Return of the Yule Lads, Vol. I

December 21, 2005

Well, dinner at The Virgin may now be crossed off my to-do list. As can the Christmas prezzie thing, plus the kaffihús. Finally finally I find myself getting into the spirit of the season, what with all those jolly people waltzing up and down Laugavegur [not literally], those choirs singing [wearing Santa hats, yowsa], brass [...]

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