Finally got around to tearing down our Christmas tree last night. Stripped it bare and then chucked it off the balcony, which is always a kick – although the short thud from the first-floor balcony pales in comparison to the tree soaring off the fourth floor in our last place. That was practically the highlight of the season, everyone gathering around for the sight of the Christmas tree skydiving to the ground.
EPI promised to go down and drag it out onto the street for pick-up, but appears to have forgotten because on getting up this morning, what did I see? A forlorn-looking tree still lying there directly beneath our balcony. Un-dragged out onto the street. You can guess what that means. No use in pulling the weaker-sex stunt now – YT will have to do the deed, as EPI has conveniently left for work.
So now our place looks empty as a cavern. However, happily some people have not taken everything down, meaning there are still the odd lights in windows shining through the midwinter darkness. Which is a relief, because at this time of year we need all the help we can get.
AND THE INGENUITY AWARD GOES TO…
The town of Ísafjördur, on the West Fjords, which has decided to raise a large igloo in the centre of town, to house events and various happenings. How brilliant is that? Doesn’t the idea of going to your basic theatre or community centre suddenly seem très passé? Personally I think this would be an excellent solution for the city of Reykjavík, which has been agonizing for decades over the construction of a new concert hall. This would solve all their problems! I mean, the concert season is only during the winter – the house could be allowed to melt come springtime and the space put to other good use in the summer. Like be let out to ice cream vendors or whatever.
FAMOUS PERSON ALERT!
This weekend saw the performance of a girlie pop-duo called Nina Sky, who AAH assures me are very famous. YT was not convinced as is remarkably out of it, being of the generation where one stares in stunned disbelief at the porno-esque, shake-yer-ass antics in music videos these days. AAH then hummed their flagship song, which YT had to concede had permeated the airwaves long enough to have been registered on the YT song-o-meter.
Closer to the YT reality was the sighting of Kate Winslet checking out Reykjavík nightlife on Saturday night. Which came as sort of a surprise, as Kate has of late come across as the as the domestic two-babies-and-a-husband-so-don’t-bother-me type. Which may account for the fact that she was here, since the rich ‘n famous appear to love this place because they are, for the most part, not bothered much.
THE WEATHER
Haven’t been out yet, but the forecast says it’s nasty and it sure looks that way. Dry, cold, windy and overcast. Temps currently –2 Celsius. Our free complementary subscription of Morgunblaðið, which was only supposed to last for a month but which has been arriving for the past three at least, may have finally run out because the paper ain’t in the mailbox. So no sunrise/sunset times today I’m afraid.
*Considers Igloo for back garden*
My Mum only ever puts up the tree on Christmas Eve and I have never really understood this. I had just assumed it was another case of doing everything at the last possible minute. Then again, I can hardly criticise – we didn’t put a tree up at all this year, though we were away, and I didn’t send any Christmas cards at all. Am I bad?
Mmm, dunno. Is bad the new good??
Hi Alda, even though I say hi to you every day whether you know it or not !
Im surprised you have a real tree in the land where topsoil is not a bountiful resource. But Even here in Alliston of 4000 people, tree sales were 40% less than last year. I think is is partly to do with the Canadian Tire store selling artificial trees with lights built in for $100. A big tree farm nearby sells em for $40 / 6 footer; Many die-hard real tree fans are succumbing, what with the cheap price and the environmental side as well. We had our town tree burning bonfire on friday with 40% fewer people and trees.
I was talked into the artificial one 10 years ago. I’ve saved $360 bucks, and I’ve gotten quite attached to it.
The only thing I miss is the fresh smell.
Have you heard about Quebecs’ annual Ice Hotel ? It’s been going for 4 or 5 years now. Made of Ice. Several Hundred dollars per night.
I love your writing style usually, something extra neat about todays. song-o-metre line! cool!
There’s an ice hotel somewhere in Lapland/Northern Sweden isn’t there?
They serve you vodka in glasses made of ice and you sleep on an ice platform with lots of animal skins. I’ve seen it on holiday programmes.
I just cannot understand why someone would want to sleep in a hotel made of ice! It must be sooo cold, I saw something about it on TV the other day and people were very well dressed and in sleeping bags. How undesireable!
Indeed, ice hotels are all the rage now in Scandinavia it seems, and according to Cliff, in Quebec as well. I agree with Auður, I’d take the cosy heated hotel version any day!
Cliff: yep, almost everyone here has real trees, imported from Norway, mostly, although some are grown here as well. I personally hate fake trees – they remind me of green toilet bowl brushes. Yuck!
Igloo? Sounds cool… (sorry,couldn’t resist)
We have a native tree here called a Pohutukawa, which is covered in red flowers at Christmas time (being mid-summer!) It is illegal to harvest them but lots of people grow one in a big container and just bring it inside for the 12 days. Sort of an elegant solution, having a living Christmas tree.
Louise
Very elegant indeed!
First of all, hi Alliston Ontario! I’m not too far off from you 🙂 Who would have thought I would meet up with a neighbour here in Iceland LOL
The Igloo sounds so amazing and if given the opportunity I would love to try one night in one or in an Ice Hotel. Hell, you only live once!