S.O.S work

An exhilarating day ... I am dead.  I got a call today from my old workplace, begging me to come to work.  Since there are so few that know how to do the job, they phoned me, because one of the girls was home sick today.  And since I am as good a person as I am, I couldn't say no, so I ran back home from the store we were at got ready and got the keys to the car from dad and ran out.  Got to work just after 2 o'clock.  I had brought comfortable shoes and my mobile charger with me, because my phone went dead, but as soon as I came in through the door at work, I was busy.  Couldn't even change shoes and couldn't start charging my mobile until just before six.  I didn't even get the chance to say hello to people before five o'clock and then not everyone.  And the few others that I passed on the way, barely noticed me because they were so busy, and others were so busy they didn't stop to think that it was a bit weird that I was there.  But it was soooo coool, being back there.  Seeing allt he guys, my boss couldn't stop hugging me for coming to their rescue.  And I didn't even do that much or so I felt, but no matter that because I feel beat tonight.  I met Þorgeir, Helga, Björk, Halla, Ásu, Ingibjörgu and my good old buddies Siggu and Brynju, it really was a reunion of old friends.  Loads of fun, and maybe I will get to experience it again if possible.  And even better I got a prezzie when I left, because I had been working there.  I did open it up when I came home but I can't say what it was because I don't want to ruin the surprise for others, but my advice, if you are not going to open it when you get it, put it in the fridge before Christmas Eve.

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 crossbeamin

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

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

I look like a lamb and I got shot

Yesterday I got a perm, so now I look as cute and curly as a lamb.  But I like it, it's all bouncy and nice, and give's me a kind of stupid cherub-y look as well.  And now, today I got shot ... well, I got A shot.  I went to see my orthopedic surgeon about my knee and he gave me a shot in an attempt to delay further surgery.  It should help but he felt that it would be inevitable that I will be having surgery possibly sometime next year.  The issue is to postpone it as long as possible for me to complete my year at Uni and gratuate before it becomes an issue.  My leg is a bit numb now, around the knee, it is to be expected and it is also a bit sore, which he told me it might, but that it was a good indicator that the medicine was working.  Hope so, because getting a shot underneath your kneecap, is not the most pleasant experience, am just thankful there weren't more shots, although I should be accustomed being treated like a pincushion.  But I am willing to do anything if it helps.

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

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

Home

I arrived home on Friday, but I am sick. I woke up early on Friday morning with blocked nose, coughing and feeling rahter poorly. But I was going home, and nothing could stop me. My bags were heavier than hell, but I managed to bring them down the two flights of stairs by laying the bigger and more heavier one on the stairs flat and dragging it down. I arrived at the airport at 8 am, and luckily there weren't many checking in before me and it later turned out that there weren't that many on the flight either. My two luggage bags were in all 53kg and I also had to check in a smaller one that was almost empty, so a few extra kgs can be added. My flight was delayed but only for a short while, and I arrived home just a few minutes later than originally scheduled. I was so glad to be finally home. It was amazing, and I fell asleep shortly after arriving at the flat. A few hours later I was woken up by my niece, she was sooooo happy to see me finally. She didn't let me go anywhere she didn't follow. After they left I unpacked my suitcases and then I just left everything where it was and went to sleep, the rest could wait until I felt better.
So for the last few days I haven't been doing everything I planned. So this is me trying to make it all better.
My dear friend, Claire. Wish you all the best for your birthday ... that was yesterday.
And I am going to start my Yule tide lads program again, because of popular demand ;)
Well, happy holidays to you all, and rest assured you will be hearing from me again soon.

Coming home for Christmas

I am coming home tomorrow, in less than 12 hours my flight leaves.  I am soo looking forward to it.  I finished school just before four o'clock this afternoon and came home to pack my bags and tidy my room.  Dear God, it was difficult.  I actually had to re-pack at least twice, because I had to take stuff out, so that I could get more important stuff home for Christmas ... like Christmas presents!  That still wasn't enough I still had to pack a parcel with stuff for my friend Árdísi to ship home for me, because there was no way in h$%& that I could take it all with me.  This comes from letting me loose at a shopping mall.

But who cares, I am coming home weather Icelandair likes it or not.  I really think they should give me a blank card when it comes to baggage allowance, since I fly so often with them.  But anyway, I am getting tired, have to wake up at 7am tomorrow and I will be seeing some friendly faces around twoish tomorrow.  See you then.

Cinema blog continue

I am coming home the day after tomorrow.  So Árdís and I used the opportunity to go for a good meal, a cocktail and a movie.  So I want to add to the list of movies I have been to see at the cinema since october 26th.

27/10/2006 - Don.  A Bollywood film with my favorite actor Shah Rukh Khan.  It was amazing, thrilling and surprising.  Can't wait to get it on DVD.  And it was quite fun to go see a Bollywood film at the cinema, firstly you get loads of strange ads, about matchmaking websites and how to transfer money home to India and secondly, it's not easy to sit still in a cinema when you want to go boogie with the music.

22/11/2006 - Casino Royal.  Hadn't meant to go see it, not because I didn't believe it was any good, but because I just didn't feel compelled to go.  But since plans changed for my friend Árdísi, we decided to go see it.  It was really good, surprised me how good it actually was.  Liked it, and recomend it.

26/11/2006 - Pan's Labyrinth.  In Spanish, which I don't think many realised, but it was very good.  But I am a person that when it comes to something looking gruesome I tend to laugh out loud at the absurdity of it and I don't think it was quite appropriate with this film.  But it is very .... undescribable, I just have to tell you to go see it, then you know what I mean.

29/11/2006 - Stranger than fiction.  What do you expect when you see the name Will Farrell as lead act in a movie.  Something spoofy.  Not this, it was a very sweet movie in a quirky sort of way.  So you get this lovable goofy Will Farrell, but he doesn't over-act like so many other 'comedians' when trying to do more serious roles.  Seriously good, go see it before Christmas, it might just surprise you.

6/12/2006 - Flushed Away.  Who doesn't love cartoon.  Well, this is from the creators of Wallace and Gromit, and I just love them.  This isn't the plasticine characters but a computer animation but they still manage to retain that sort of plasticinie-y feel to them.  And the humor just cracks you up every time. Scrabble!

There was a tiny period where I didn't go to the movies, because I was busy with Uni work and also there wasn't anything that special I wanted to go see.  But this means, that I have gone to see eleven movies in the three months I have been here this term.

Good girl!

Shipwrecked

Can someone explain this to me?

A submarine is called a boat, but other boats are called ships.  Why?

Confusing!

Television is dangerous

Be careful; Watching QI while drinking coke at the same time can be leathal, you could drown.

Note! I could have said water, but then you would think I'd be lying, because you know me.

The Merchants of Bollywood

It has been a while since I have really blogged, but that is because I have been swamped at Uni, and not had much of what you could call a social life. Had my nose burried in books for three weeks or more. But yesterday I looked up out of my books and I got a visit from Iceland. A friend of mine, Hrafnhildur arrived in Glasgow on Thursday with a couple of her friends and they came to see me and spend the day with me. I showed them my school and my neighbourhood, then we went out for a wonderful dinner at Ashöka, before going to SECC to see The Merchants of Bollywood, a Bollywood musical, portraying famous Bollywood scores from films.


For two hours I had terrible time of sitting still and not break out in a sing-a-long. I knew almost all of the songs by heart. It was amazing, and so thrilling, and my shoulders were going crazy along with my head swinging back and forth to the beat of the drum... not advicable though, because now my neck and shoulders are inflamed and they hurt.
I bought the cd with the show's music, just for the hell of it. It was really funny at times and really cool and wonderful to watch, most of the time my head was swinging from left to right, up and down, because there was so much to be seen and notice. With all the hand and finger movements that were at times really difficult to see, it was just so mesmerizing.

Why don't you people grow up!

ps. Árdís manaði mig í þetta!

No chocolate covered bananas ... yet

I felt it was time to let people know that I haven't kicked the bucket yet.  You might consider me to be a basket case but otherwise I am fine .. mostly.  My stress levels are up by a few hundred percent, I have never felt myself under as much stress in the last three years as I do know.  I blame the dissertation for that mostly.  And this month seems to be taking my stress levels through the roof (although since I am on the second floor it hasn't a long way to go).  I am hoping to be going to see Cats at the King's Theatre tomorrow.  The only cats I can tolerate and am not allergic to are the theatrical variety.  Then I have to finish my work on a presentation I am giving in Medieval Welsh Literature for Thursday.  I will be talking about the oral tradition and how the views of Kenneth Jackson and Sioned Davies clash on their interpretation of the oral tradition regarding the Pedeir Keinc Y Mabinogi (or the four branches of the Mabinogyon).  Lost of fun stuff there.  Then I have to start my essay, that I have to hand in on December 4th, but I want to get it out of the way as soon as possible.  Especially since I will be getting a visit from my friend Hrafnhildi and a two of her friends as well with her.  I will be going with them to see the Merchants of Bollywood on the 24th, a very colourful Bollywood musical, the first of its kind.  For every Monday morning I have to translate from Old Irish a page of Fingal Rónáin (or Rónan's kinslaying) for the Advanced Early Gaelic texts course and I usually have a translation assignment from Middle Welsh to contend with as well before Monday or Thursday in the latest.  The funny thing is that I am actually quite enjoying this all.  On top of this I am doing my best to strenghten the economy of Britain with my christmas shopping.  The good news is that this week the St. Enoch's square Christmas fair opened up, and I went to take a look at it today.  It was a bit windy and rainy today so I didn't take a very good look at everything, found the most exciting part in seeing one of the vendors trying to eat a croissant while holding onto the tent over his stall from blowing over.  Who says men can't multitask.  But I will definitely be going back and taking a better look at the wares.  I am also waiting to see if I will be getting any chocolate covered bananas again.