Relaxing days at home

It's December 23rd today which in Iceland is called the Mass of Saint Thorlak. On this day many people eat a fish called skate which smells like a cat has peed on it. I'm serious. Mom and dad swear it's yummie but I really don't believe that. I don't even go into the kitchen when this has been cooked at home. I eat pizza with the kids. This year mom skipped the skate. I'm really happy about that. It saves me from trying to mock everyone in the family.

Instead we're going to my brother's place for some smoked lamb which is considerably better food. After that I might go downtown as it's a habit of mine to go downtown on that day. Best is if it snows those huge snowflakes that everyone loves so much but it's way too hot right now.

When I came to Iceland it was fairly cold and the temperature dropped considerably in the days to come. Here in Akureyri it almost got as cold as it ever gets, which is around ten below. Yes I know, not so cold really. People in Canada keep asking me if it isn't cold in Iceland but I never experienced cold until I moved to Winnipeg. Now that's cold. Here we have the Gulf stream around the island which keeps it only slightly colder than England. 

Yesterday the temperature rose again and melted most of the snow we had but instead we have ice packs on the streets and sidewalks which makes it very hard to walk around. That's ok, I'm taking it fairly easy.

I'm sleeping to around ten each day (love it), crawl out of bed to get some breakfast and then go swimming. It's not enormous workout, I'm swimming 750 metres and then soaking in the hot tub. One of my favorite things to do when visiting Iceland. After that I've been visiting friends, either mine or my parents' friends to get some Christmas cookies and coffee. And then it's just little things here and there. Wrap presents, eat more cookies, play compter game (mom has a really addictive one that I had never seen before), chat with people, run to the store to buy whatever is needed in the house, etc. I need to go buy some knitting pins because I want to teach mom a certain pattern for scarfs. She taught me how to knit so I need to pay some of it back.

Went to a coffeehouse with Dora yesterday. She's a friend of mine from way back and we always get together when I'm in town. She and Helena are the two of my old friends who still live in Akureyri, or I should say who came back as both lived somewhere else for years. It's good to have some of the old pals back home.

Tomorrow is the big day for Icelanders. Unlike most Canadians that I know we celebrate Christmas on the 24th. Well, to be more accurate, Christmas starts at 6pm on the 24th. That's when we eat the big dinner and then open up our presents. The 25th is for more eating and then in my family for relaxing. In many other families it's time for Christmas parties. My nephew usually has to go to four or five that day. I, fortunately, have only one to go to and that's here at mom and dad's so I just have to crawl up the stairs. But I tell you more about that part of Christmas in a couple of days.

P.S. Am stoked about the Canucks win over Anaheim but sad that they couldn't take Chicago. I guess we really need to play our best game tonight to win San Jose. I saw the Canucks do just that in the pre-season and let's hope they repeat that. It would be a nice Christmas gift.