The Year is almost over

Ok, this became a much longer blogg than I intended and I do definitely not expect you all to read it so just ignore it and take it for the new years ramble it was meant to be.
Wishing you all a very happy new year!

And it has been a wonderful year. Just before Christmas I got to see my cousin Huginn Heiðar for the first time and it was great. I have been following his progess for months. The wee guy had to have a liver-transplant very early on in his young life and he has been patiently trying to get well. It was great to get to touch the soft little guy to see how warm and alive he is, his eyes following us everywhere and the toy we gave him greatly interested him as it made all sorts of funny noises.
My own wee niece has been a great source of fun comments and antics. The only way a four year old could be. Precious moments to be cherished indeed.
I have also spent a number to moments with my dear friends during the year, chatting and playing board-games (that are suspiciously addictive) but now near the end of the year, it was more marked by meeting of friends that have not had the opportunity to see each other for a long time.
My friend Guðbjört, who I have not seen since the beginning of January, came home from India in November. My friend Guðný Stella, went to South-America just after easter, so I haven't seen her all summer, she came home in November as well, so I was very happy to see her again.
But my friends Hrafnhildur and Guðmundur who I left home alone for the months I was away in Glasgow were very glad to see me again, and we have been spending every moment we get to play our addictive board-games.
We like board-games and they seem to like us as well, since they have started producing games that are sooo addictive to us, and on top of that also issuing additions to the games.
We have Catan (the Island) with the Seafarers addition and now Cities and Merchants. We also have Carcassone, which is sort of like an island, but not, and we have the Pubs and Churches addition and now Merchants as well. Both these board-games are addictive because, I think, they are forever changing, the board you play the game on is never the same so you never ever play the same game twice, and that way you never get bored.
This year has also been great in that mom is gradually always getting better and better, although on busy days it can become too much for her.
We all agree that we had a very nice Christmas here at home, and everyone was excited and happy about their presents. I got soo many that I thought someone had made a mistake, because I had not expected this. But the presents seemed to pour in from all over the world. I got loads of games, and even dvd's and cd's that I didn't own, imagine that! I even got a book, and you know how there can't be Christmas if you don't recieve a good book. I got Andlit norðursins (or Faces of the North) by Ragnar Axelsson a very gifted Icelandic photographer, from my brother, I was very pleased with it. I got wonderful martini glasses from my friends Hröbbu and Gumma and a bread-maker from mom and dad along with a coat. I recieved a wonderful blouse from my grandmother and a shawl she had crocheted for me (even though her eyes are failing her) I will cherish it always. I also got a pretty Swarowski crystal cross necklace from my mother. Two brooches from my friends Guðný Stellu and Claire. And the most wonderful sari costumes and shawl and necklace and Indian dolls from my friends Margréti and Guðbjörtu. I could go on and on. Thank you for everything and I love you all guys.

Gleðileg jól

Merry Christmas.
Oh, boy, this has truly been a very busy time, but wonderful. I have managed to do a lot of things that I wasn't even sure I would be able to finish. But then Christmas Eve (day) came and everything slid into place.
Last night mom and I were busy wrapping up all the Christmas presents, and we didn't even finish until 3 am in the morning. I went to sleep shortly before 4 am but woke up to begin the new day of last minute tidying up before Christmas eve begins.
This year, only Grandma will be joining us, so it's only going to be the four of us. Which is nice. The food is cooking in the oven and on the stove and the smell is wonderful.
I still have not managed to get all the Christmas presents out, but that's ok, some of the presents have been waiting for more than a few months to reach their owner, because I still I haven't been able to see my wayward doctor friend, recently arrived in the country again from South America, and she has a birthday/Christmas present waiting for her.
The Christmas tree is up and gleaming with wonderful decorations and presents adorning is base. The advent lights around the appartment light up the dark midday and give a wonderful festive glow to everything around.
Oh, I just love this time of year. When you are able to sit down and get completely absorbed in the excitement, the anticipation, the STRESS and incredible calmness that descends on you at this moment on Christmas Eve you sort of feel like everything you went through to be able to bring the small joy of presents to your friends and family that everything was worth it. Bruised heels from drivers with carts going nuts around the bends in the tiny isles of the supermarket, sore toes from everyone trying to get past you, no matter that you are not a part of the shops decor and you sore head from all the crazy shoutings and arguing over who is going to buy what for whom and who is not.
Well, I just wish you all a very merry Christmas Eve and hope the rest of the holiday season will bring you all that you wish for.

Gleðileg jól og farsælt komandi ár

The Yuletide lads - part 15 - The END

On Christmas night itself

- so a wise man writes

- the lads were all restraint

and just stared at the lights.

Then one by one they trotted off

into the frost and snow.

On Twelfth Night the last

of the lads used to go.

Their footprints in the highlands

are effaced now for long,

the memories have all turned

to image and song

By Jóhannes úr Kötlum / Translated by Hallberg Hallmundsson
Pictures/Copyright©Olafur Petursson

The Yuletide lads - part 14

Candle beggar
( Kertasníkir )

The thirteenth was Candle Beggar
- ´twas cold, I believe,
if he was not the last
of the lot on Christmas Eve.

He trailed after the little ones
who, like happy sprites,
ran about the farm with
their fine tallow lights.

By Jóhannes úr Kötlum / Translated by Hallberg Hallmundsson
Pictures/Copyright©Olafur Petursson

The Yuletide lads - part 13

Meat Hook
( Kjötkrækir )

Meat Hook, the twelfth one,
his talent would display
as soon as he arrived
on Saint Thorlak´s Day.

He snagged himself a morsel
of meat of any sort,
although his hook at times was
a tiny bit short.

By Jóhannes úr Kötlum / Translated by Hallberg Hallmundsson
Pictures/Copyright©Olafur Petursson

The Yuletide lads - part 12

Door Sniffer
( Gáttaþefur )

Eleventh was Door Sniffer,
a doltish lad and gross.
He never got a cold, yet had
a huge, sensitive nose.

He caught the scent of lace bread
while leagues away still
and ran toward it weightless
as wind over dale and hill.

By Jóhannes úr Kötlum / Translated by Hallberg Hallmundsson
Pictures/Copyright©Olafur Petursson

The Yuletide lads - part 11

Window Peeper
( Gluggagæjir )

The tenth was Window Peeper,
a weird little twit,
who stepped up to the window
and stole a peek through it.

And whatever was inside
to which his eye was drawn,
he most likely attempted
to take later on.

By Jóhannes úr Kötlum / Translated by Hallberg Hallmundsson
Pictures/Copyright©Olafur Petursson

The Yuletide lads - part 10

Sausage Swiper
( Bjúgna krækir )

The ninth was Sausage Swiper,
a shifty pilferer.
He climbed up to the rafters
and raided food from there.

Sitting on a crossbeam
in soot and in smoke,
he fed himself on sausage
fit for gentlefolk.

By Jóhannes úr Kötlum / Translated by Hallberg Hallmundsson
Pictures/Copyright©Olafur Petursson

The Yuletide lads - part 9

Skyr Gobbler
( Skyr gámur)



Skyr* Gobbler, the eighth,
was an awful stupid bloke.
He lambasted the skyr tub
till the lid on it broke.

Then he stood there gobbling
- his greed was well known -
until, about to burst,
he would bleat, howl and groan.

By Jóhannes úr Kötlum / Translated by Hallberg Hallmundsson
Pictures/Copyright©Olafur Petursson

The Yuletide lads - part 8

Door Slammer

( Hurðaskellir )

The seventh was Door Slammer,

a sorry, vulgar chap:

When people in the twilight

would take a little nap,

he was happy as a lark

with the havoc he could wreak,

slamming doors and hearing

the hinges on them sqeak

By Jóhannes úr Kötlum / Translated by Hallberg Hallmundsson
Pictures/Copyright©Olafur Petursson

The Yuletide lads - part 7

Bowl Licker
( Askasleikir )

Bowl Licker, the sixth one,
was shockingly ill bred.
From underneath the bedsteads
he stuck his ugly head.

And when the bowls were left
to be licked by dog or cat,
he snatched them for himself
- he was sure good at that!

By Jóhannes úr Kötlum / Translation by Hallberg Hallmundsson
Pictures/Copyright©Olafur Petursson

The Yuletide lads - part 6

Pot Scraper
( Pottasleikir )

Pot Scraper, the fifth one,
was a funny sort of chap.
When kids were given scrapings,
he´d come to the door and tap.

And they would rush to see
if there really was a guest.
Then he hurried to the pot
and had a scrapingfest.

By Jóhannes úr Kötlum / Translation by Hallberg Hallmundsson
Pictures/Copyright©Olafur Petursson

The Yuletide lads - part 5

Spoon Licker
( Þvörusleikir )

The fourth was Spoon Licker;
like spindle he was thin.
He felt himself in clover
when the cook wasn´t in.

Then stepping up, he grappled
the stirring spoon with glee,
holding it with both hands
for it was slippery.

By Jóhannes úr Kötlum / Translation by Hallberg Hallmundsson
Pictures/Copyright©Olafur Petursson

The Yuletide lads - part 4

Stubby
( Stúfur )

Stubby was the third called,
a stunted little man,
who watched for every chance
to whisk off a pan.

And scurrying away with it,
he scraped off the bits
that stuck to the bottom
and brims - his favorites.

By Jóhannes úr Kötlum / Translation by Hallberg Hallmundsson
Pictures/Copyright©Olafur Petursson

The Yuletide lads - part 3

Gully Gawk

( Giljagaur )

The second was Gully Gawk,

gray his head and mien.

He snuck into the cow barn

from his craggy ravine.

Hiding in the stalls,

he would steal the milk,

while the milkmaid gave the cowherd

a meaningful smile.

by Jóhannes úr Kötlum / Translation by Hallberg Hallmundsson

Pictures/Copyright©Olafur Petursson

The Yuletide Lads - part 2

Tonight the first Yuletide lad comes to town.

Sheep Cote-Clod
( Stekkjastaur )

The first of them was Sheep-Cote Clod.
He came stiff as wood,
to pray upon the farmer´s sheep
as far as he could.

He wished to suck the ewes,
but it was no accident
he couldn´t; he had stiff knees
- not to convenient.

by Jóhannes úr Kötlum / Translation by Hallberg Hallmundsson

Pictures/Copyright©Olafur Petursson

The Yuletide lads - part 1

Let me tell the story
of the lads of few charms,
who once upon a time
used to visit our farms.

They came from the mountains,
as many of you know,
in a long single file
to the farmsteads below.

Grýla was their mother
- she gave them ogre milk -
and the father Leppalúdi;
a loathsome ilk.

They were called the Yuletide lads
- at Yuletide they were due -
and always came one by one,
not ever two by two.

Thirteen altogether,
these gents in their prime
didn´t want to irk people
all at one time.

Creeping up, all stealth,
they unlocked the door.
The kitchen and the pantry
they came looking for.

They hid where they could,
with a cunning look or sneer,
ready with their pranks
when people weren´t near.

And even when they were seen,
they weren´t loath to roam
and play their tricks - disturbing
the peace of the home.

By Jóhannes úr Kötlum / Translation by Hallberg Hallmundsson

The Santa Clause is coming to town

Yes, tomorrow there are 13 days till Christmas and that is when the Icelandic Yuletide lads start heading down from the mountains towards the farmsteads below.
It struck me just the other day that, it is not easy to explain why the Icelandic Santa Clauses are 13 or why they are called so strange names. Understandably,names like Sheep Worrier (or Sheep Cot-Clod), Door Sniffer and Window Peeper might seem more intune with today's perverts than something well yes, perverted in a sense if you really give it a good thought, but it is tradition, and today it's just amusing.
But I decided to give my Scottish friends a treat and put on my website a in 14 installments, a poet by Jóhannes of (/from) Kötlum about the Yuletide lads, because no one gives a better image of these guys than him.
The first one comes tomorrow, so I will start with the beginning of the poet tonight, and for the next 13 days I will add the next bit of the poem so that in the end everyone will know about the Icelandic Yuletide lads.
(I got the translation by Hallberg Hallmundsson online).
Enjoy

Packed and ready to GO HOME!

Wow, this has been an incredible day. I woke up at 8am as usual, but this time I hurried to get dressed and out the door with final laundry before going home tomorrow. When I had finished making the bed with nice clean sheets and stuff it was time to head to Uni. I had three classes today, one straight after another, and then I finished at two. When that happy hour arrived, I flew out the door to meet my friend Árdísi outside the subway station and on we rolled into Buchanan Street Subway station where we lifted off to go to UGC Cinema to see THE CHRONICLES OF NARNIA. Ok movie, but dear lord, how long IS it! We managed to get into 2:20pm show but it probably didn't start until half hour later and we didn't get out of the screen room until 5pm. Thankfully the movie stirred a few good memories up from watching the BBC version of the Narnia Chronicles so I was absorbed in the movie and didn't really notice the time pass. But then reality intruded and I had to head home to START pack. Yes, at that time I hadn't even started packing and I am going home tomorrow. Well we got home just before six and I started packing for real. I finished packing quarter to seven. I hurried to tell my friend Árdísi, because she has been quite worried the past few days, that I hadn't even started thinking about packing yet. Then for about an hour and half I was cleaning my room. Now, I am sitting down for the first time in more than two hours and eating my dinner, that I ordered from Chow's. Probably the best Chinese place in Glasgow.
I am completely done in, but I am just soooooo looking forward to going home, I don't mind at all. But oh, dear, there will definitely be excess baggage on the move tomorrow and that does not include me.
Friends and Family ... see you tomorrow. Friend in Glasgow ... see you in the new year!

Day after tomorrow

and I'll be home for Christmas. I am looking soooo much forward to going home I can hardly sit still. I continually burst out in songs, singing a strange mixture of Christmas songs with unflattering shakes of my bod. My advent calander is almost finished, marking how many days are until I go home instead of how many are until Christmas, because when I go home, it will be Christmas for me. I went shopping to day, big surprise there, and finished my christmas shopping. Now it's just rest and relaxation until tomorrow when I start packing and then all hits the fan.
But before all that craziness starts I will be chillin' out in UGC cinema (or I should say CineWorld now) watching Chronicles of Narnia. Yes, envy me! Mwhahahahahah!

The Wild West ... End

This is not copy/paste, but what actually happened to me again today, when I was walking home today through THE GARDEN. That darn squirrel attacked again. I am starting to think, I either have an admirer here or a stalker. I just have this mental picture of him jumping on me and running up and down my body while I do that funky cartoon dance trying to get him off me. Spooky squirrel country.

Dilbert©1999 United Feature Syndicate, Inc