Hello world!

Today the inhabitants of Siglufjörður in the Eastern fjords are having truckloads of pancakes to celebrate the return of sunshine to the village. The sun has not been seen there since november 14th, so every year they are really happy to see it again.

I am also really happy of course, due to the fact that just about a week ago I finished my PhD and had a good party involving a lot of champagne. Also the snow seems to be sticking for a bit. Last night I returned to Hella on the bus after a weekend in the city. Apart from me, the bus was occupied by children who were put on the bus by weekend dads, grannies or aunties. We had to pass the heath in a proper winter storm, seeing nothing but hail and snow all around us with high winds forcing in the bus windows. Behind me two boys of nine were chatting away and it seemed to me that they knew each other from their weekly trip on the bus. I enjoyed listening to their conversation:

Boy 1: "I am going to Africa, to Morocco this summer. I will see my granny and grandad"
Boy 2: "Is your dad from Morocco, and your mum?"
B 1: "No, she's Icelandic. I had a Playstation of my own when she was in the hospital"
B 2: "When did you first know she had cancer?"
B 1: "When I was 3. I only knew about the brain cancer later"
B 2: "So what sort of cancer was it to begin with?"
B 1: "Breast cancer"
B 2: "Is breast cancer contagious?"
B 1: "contagious?"
B 2: "Yup, can you catch if off someone?"
B 1: "No"
B 2: "How old was she when...."
B 1: "...when she died?...fifty"
B 2: "Jón Páll (Icelandic strong man and world's strongest a couple of times) was 26 when he died"

Life can seem so uncomplicated for children!