A bunch of incoherent thoughts and factoids

We now have a new year. It’s called 2007.

Pollution levels in Reykjavík surpassed all records on New Year’s Eve, on account of the excellent weather we were having. There was hardly a breeze, which meant that all the shooting up of fireworks [a fifth more than last year, which was a record year] created smoke that was like a thick fog and pretty much obliterated our view of the sky above the city. Which proves that the only thing worse than having really crappy weather on New Year’s Eve is having really excellent weather on New Year’s Eve.

Nicelandic regulations on the taxation of alcohol [whatever they are] make Champagne only around three times more expensive than sparkling wine at the liquor store. Which means it’s definitely worth buying Champagne, because you laugh three times as much. One of the few things that are less expensive here than elsewhere. Whoo-hoo!

The liquor stores here are always dubbed ‘Ríkið’, meaning ‘The State’, on account of the state monopoly on the sale of alcohol. No attempt at image enhancement or the recent name change to ‘Vínbúð’ – 'Wine Store' – has managed to alter the moniker. Icelanders go to ‘The State’ to shop for booze.

We had an excellent New Year’s Eve. On the menu: Shrimp and lobster tartalettes, wine: Gewürztraminer [appetizer]; Filet of venison; potato gratin; spinach/arugula salad with candied pecans and fresh Parmesan slices, wine: Malbec from Argentina/Châteauneuf-du-Pape from, er, France [main course]; ‘Year-end cake’ from Jói Fel, Iceland’s premier baker [and sex-symbol], coffee: espresso served by our very own Magnifica [dessert]. At midnight: one bottle Veuve Clicquot, one bottle Moët & Chandon. In attendance: our bevy of beauties, and EPI’s father. We laughed. A lot.

In spite of our lazy-ass neglect in throwing a proper wedding celebration [to be amended in the new year], our nearest and dearest persist in giving us wedding gifts. During New Year’s dinner, our darling daughters presented us with a gift certificate for a night in a certain four-star hotel, with breakfast and pampering at the in-house spa, and dinner at the excellent hotel restaurant which is one of the best in the city. Was there ever a more wonderful bunch of girls? I think not.

EPI and I will have our hands full arranging romantic getaways this year. In addition to the above, we have, as you’ll recall, gift certificates to any of Icelandair’s European destinations, plus a gift certificate for a night’s accommodation at a certain four-star country hotel. Oh, it’s so hard being us!

Despite having consumed innumerable calories this holiday season, including regularly imbibing some seriously rich food right before bedtime, I have actually lost weight. How?

OUR WEATHER HAS REMAINED EXCELLENT AND IS NOW SMOKE-FREE
Although this afternoon I went an exceedingly treacherous run, as there was a thin sheet of ice over everything. The path along the seashore was covered in a veneer of black glass. It’s been perfectly calm and relatively mild, temps currently 2°C and sunrise in the capital was at 11.18, sunset at 15.44

PS: thank you, dear readers, for all your warm and delightful birthday, Yule and New Year’s wishes. You are the best!