Comments on: Christmas in the shadow of the kreppa http://icelandweatherreport.com/2009/12/christmas-in-the-shadow-of-the-kreppa.html Tue, 07 Feb 2012 15:07:04 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Halli S. http://icelandweatherreport.com/2009/12/christmas-in-the-shadow-of-the-kreppa.html/comment-page-1#comment-11640 Halli S. Thu, 24 Dec 2009 14:37:34 +0000 http://icelandweatherreport.com/?p=3004#comment-11640 Concerning the hamborgarhryggur, thought I'd mention that while it's a Danish tradition, it arrived from Germany (Kasseler), see http://www.visindavefur.is/svar.php?id=6463 Happy holidays. Concerning the hamborgarhryggur, thought I’d mention that while it’s a Danish tradition, it arrived from Germany (Kasseler), see http://www.visindavefur.is/svar.php?id=6463

Happy holidays.

]]> By: Melissa http://icelandweatherreport.com/2009/12/christmas-in-the-shadow-of-the-kreppa.html/comment-page-1#comment-11631 Melissa Wed, 23 Dec 2009 20:21:08 +0000 http://icelandweatherreport.com/?p=3004#comment-11631 What a contrast to my own Aussie Christmas. Australia often bills itself as 'the lucky country' and certainly at the moment, it's living up to that moniker. It is one of the few, if not only, developed nation to avoid a recession, unemployment has peaked (yes, peaked) at 5.8% and the Australian dollar is strong. The only impact the financial crisis has had on Christmas is slightly more sensible spending, instead of the usual credit card binge. Rather than worrying about snow falls bringing planes and trains to a halt, I'll be hoping the temperatures stay below 40 degrees celcius. We'll roast our ham and turkey in advance and eat cold meat on Christmas Day so that no-one has to slave away in a hot kitchen on the main day. There'll be backyard cricket, parents chasing after their children to slather them with sunscreen and a never-ending task of swatting flies away from the food (which will, of course, be eaten outside on the veranda). But it's not all paradise. Bushfires have already destroyed dozens of homes this summer. The nation, collectively, will be hoping there's no repeat of the devastating fires that ravaged my home state of Victoria last year. There will no doubt be some horrific road crashes as people drive marathon distances across this enormous country to be with family. I'm sure this year will be no exception. So, I guess each country has its own troubles. As long as we've all got something to be happy about as well! Merry Christmas, Happy New Year, thanks for a great blog.It's always entertaining and informative - and a great escape from other side of the world. What a contrast to my own Aussie Christmas. Australia often bills itself as ‘the lucky country’ and certainly at the moment, it’s living up to that moniker. It is one of the few, if not only, developed nation to avoid a recession, unemployment has peaked (yes, peaked) at 5.8% and the Australian dollar is strong. The only impact the financial crisis has had on Christmas is slightly more sensible spending, instead of the usual credit card binge.

Rather than worrying about snow falls bringing planes and trains to a halt, I’ll be hoping the temperatures stay below 40 degrees celcius. We’ll roast our ham and turkey in advance and eat cold meat on Christmas Day so that no-one has to slave away in a hot kitchen on the main day. There’ll be backyard cricket, parents chasing after their children to slather them with sunscreen and a never-ending task of swatting flies away from the food (which will, of course, be eaten outside on the veranda).

But it’s not all paradise. Bushfires have already destroyed dozens of homes this summer. The nation, collectively, will be hoping there’s no repeat of the devastating fires that ravaged my home state of Victoria last year. There will no doubt be some horrific road crashes as people drive marathon distances across this enormous country to be with family. I’m sure this year will be no exception.

So, I guess each country has its own troubles. As long as we’ve all got something to be happy about as well! Merry Christmas, Happy New Year, thanks for a great blog.It’s always entertaining and informative – and a great escape from other side of the world.

]]> By: BRADSTREET http://icelandweatherreport.com/2009/12/christmas-in-the-shadow-of-the-kreppa.html/comment-page-1#comment-11615 BRADSTREET Wed, 23 Dec 2009 00:22:56 +0000 http://icelandweatherreport.com/?p=3004#comment-11615 I know that compassion is cheap, but I really hope that things start to improve for Iceland soon. With inflation running at around 10%, it must feel like the walls are closing in for a lot of people. To lighten the mood--I recently read an article about people holidaying in Iceland nowadays. An American was talking to an Icelandic playwright, asking him 'What's the deal? Where are all the breadlines?' 'Breadlines?' replied the writer. 'Did you expect Rekyjavik to be full of bakeries?' I know that compassion is cheap, but I really hope that things start to improve for Iceland soon. With inflation running at around 10%, it must feel like the walls are closing in for a lot of people.

To lighten the mood–I recently read an article about people holidaying in Iceland nowadays. An American was talking to an Icelandic playwright, asking him ‘What’s the deal? Where are all the breadlines?’
‘Breadlines?’ replied the writer. ‘Did you expect Rekyjavik to be full of bakeries?’

]]> By: Sam http://icelandweatherreport.com/2009/12/christmas-in-the-shadow-of-the-kreppa.html/comment-page-1#comment-11614 Sam Tue, 22 Dec 2009 19:35:46 +0000 http://icelandweatherreport.com/?p=3004#comment-11614 Alda I have a question. Considering that the krona was highly overvalued during the boom period, would you say that your food bill is now higher or lower than it was before the bank privatizations? I know you're busy with Christmas and all, so I wont die of disappointment if you can't answer, but I'm just curious. With all the way-too-easy money being tossed around during the expansion, I'm going to guess that in real terms, it would have been lower. Just a guess. Alda

I have a question.

Considering that the krona was highly overvalued during the boom period, would you say that your food bill is now higher or lower than it was before the bank privatizations?

I know you’re busy with Christmas and all, so I wont die of disappointment if you can’t answer, but I’m just curious.

With all the way-too-easy money being tossed around during the expansion, I’m going to guess that in real terms, it would have been lower. Just a guess.

]]> By: kevin o'connor waterford ireland http://icelandweatherreport.com/2009/12/christmas-in-the-shadow-of-the-kreppa.html/comment-page-1#comment-11611 kevin o'connor waterford ireland Tue, 22 Dec 2009 10:58:18 +0000 http://icelandweatherreport.com/?p=3004#comment-11611 Interesting your reflections on stuff doubling in the shops ie imported stuff, as a wannabe icelandic tourist, I am interested in the price of things and I note that it has taken the halving of the currency to make Iceland kind of normal for the price of things ie 100,000 krona for a months rent on a flat, 1 euro thereabouts for litre of petrol etc etc,before this currency collapse it must have seemed to the Icelanders travelling round Europe how everything was half price compared to back home due to the strength of of krona brought about by the high interest rates which led them into the trap of the foreign currency denominated home loans which has now closed on them unfortunately.Plus also the gasps from poverty stricken German,British,American tourists when they attempted to buy a restaurant meal or a beer You can see the exchange rate to the Euro since 1999 here http://www.tititudorancea.com/lib/fx/iceland_eur_to_isk_all.png. Some of those guys must be doing it tough now as you look at that chart even if you were renting you might be in danger of losing your home as the landlord cant pay his now doubled investment loan. So yes Alda I can see that all things being equal the price of olive oil should have doubled by now as the lag of previous imports at the old rate wears out. The Icelandic economy might be in for lean times as we are in Ireland peak to trough we will have lost 20% of ou GDP, Plus the small matter of that Icesave thing exporting all that cash euros from Iceland, definitely import substitution going on in Iceland over the next few years. PS Please dont mention that Icelandic VAT rate in a public forum again I dont want you putting Ideas into our Governments head ha ha. Apart from that Merry Christmas from Ireland. Interesting your reflections on stuff doubling in the shops ie imported stuff, as a wannabe icelandic tourist, I am interested in the price of things and I note that it has taken the halving of the currency to make Iceland kind of normal for the price of things ie 100,000 krona for a months rent on a flat, 1 euro thereabouts for litre of petrol etc etc,before this currency collapse it must have seemed to the Icelanders travelling round Europe how everything was half price compared to back home due to the strength of of krona brought about by the high interest rates which led them into the trap of the foreign currency denominated home loans which has now closed on them unfortunately.Plus also the gasps from poverty stricken German,British,American tourists when they attempted to buy a restaurant meal or a beer
You can see the exchange rate to the Euro since 1999 here

http://www.tititudorancea.com/lib/fx/iceland_eur_to_isk_all.png.
Some of those guys must be doing it tough now as you look at that chart even if you were renting you might be in danger of losing your home as the landlord cant pay his now doubled investment loan. So yes Alda I can see that all things being equal the price of olive oil should have doubled by now as the lag of previous imports at the old rate wears out. The Icelandic economy might be in for lean times as we are in Ireland peak to trough we will have lost 20% of ou GDP, Plus the small matter of that Icesave thing exporting all that cash euros from Iceland, definitely import substitution going on in Iceland over the next few years.
PS Please dont mention that Icelandic VAT rate in a public forum again I dont want you putting Ideas into our Governments head ha ha. Apart from that Merry Christmas from Ireland.

]]> By: The Fred from the forums http://icelandweatherreport.com/2009/12/christmas-in-the-shadow-of-the-kreppa.html/comment-page-1#comment-11609 The Fred from the forums Tue, 22 Dec 2009 07:52:03 +0000 http://icelandweatherreport.com/?p=3004#comment-11609 I had just been thinking that I missed reading about Polly. I wish her a speedy recovery! I had just been thinking that I missed reading about Polly. I wish her a speedy recovery!

]]> By: sigga http://icelandweatherreport.com/2009/12/christmas-in-the-shadow-of-the-kreppa.html/comment-page-1#comment-11608 sigga Tue, 22 Dec 2009 00:50:00 +0000 http://icelandweatherreport.com/?p=3004#comment-11608 Gleðilég Jól Alda og farsælt komandi ár - takk fyrir það liðna. Look forward to your future blogs and hope that next year will be a better year for all of us. You know that panic that your talked about - I got it at 5pm today, on leaving the hairdressers.... hence I am still up trying to sort out the mess that this house is before the Aussies invade tomorrow - at least it's snowing here so it means they will get a white christmas... was getting a tad worried there for a while. Gleðilég Jól Alda og farsælt komandi ár – takk fyrir það liðna. Look forward to your future blogs and hope that next year will be a better year for all of us.
You know that panic that your talked about – I got it at 5pm today, on leaving the hairdressers…. hence I am still up trying to sort out the mess that this house is before the Aussies invade tomorrow – at least it’s snowing here so it means they will get a white christmas… was getting a tad worried there for a while.

]]> By: sylvia hikins http://icelandweatherreport.com/2009/12/christmas-in-the-shadow-of-the-kreppa.html/comment-page-1#comment-11607 sylvia hikins Mon, 21 Dec 2009 23:49:12 +0000 http://icelandweatherreport.com/?p=3004#comment-11607 Oh my, that unusual shift in climate! You are having a 'red' Christmas. Here in north west England we are having a white pre-Christmas bonanza with all the usual accompaniments- snow on the runway (cancelled planes), snow on the line (cancelled trains) and out come snow ploughs that look like relics from the second world war! Without rubber lumps on our tyres, cars and lorries adorn the motorways. But the kids love it and even old cronies like me get playful, build snowpeople, throw snow balls and put food out for the birds. So if this year we are getting your snow, then thanks for a lovely Yuletide gift. All of your Pink Footed Geese and Whooper Swans who are over-wintering in the northwest join me in wishing you a happy Christmas Alda and thank you for all the thought and work you put into this blog. Both the birds and I can't wait to fly back to Iceland in 2010. sylvia from viking wirral Oh my, that unusual shift in climate! You are having a ‘red’ Christmas. Here in north west England we are having a white pre-Christmas bonanza with all the usual accompaniments- snow on the runway (cancelled planes), snow on the line (cancelled trains) and out come snow ploughs that look like relics from the second world war! Without rubber lumps on our tyres, cars and lorries adorn the motorways. But the kids love it and even old cronies like me get playful, build snowpeople, throw snow balls and put food out for the birds. So if this year we are getting your snow, then thanks for a lovely Yuletide gift. All of your Pink Footed Geese and Whooper Swans who are over-wintering in the northwest join me in wishing you a happy Christmas Alda and thank you for all the thought and work you put into this blog. Both the birds and I can’t wait to fly back to Iceland in 2010.
sylvia from viking wirral

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