Cycling through two feet of snow is really difficult. Even with 50 nails on each tyre, a balaclava, and heated gloves (courtesy of, like all battery-operated products in my life, the Most Beautiful Girl in the School).
Most pavements in Reykjavík are heated, which I know sounds completely ridick, but it's true. There's so much geothermal water around that they just pipe it under the paving slabs to melt all the snow. Though not the pavement between my house and my work, of course.
Bjarni asks me what a "balaclava" is. He googles it. "Oh, a ski-mask," he says. A ski-mask? I thought this was a "ski-mask". But now that I think about it, of course, they're ski-goggles. Which explains my perplexity as to why American bank-robbers are reported to wear them during raids. (But hey, this is nothing compared to when we first went out together and he told me my "fanny looks nice in those jeans").
Anyway, I like wearing a balaclava. Partly because it keeps the blizzard out of my face, but mostly because it makes me feel like a ninja. Which is a good way to feel when you're trying to get through the pitch-black Icelandic winter.
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Huh! I thought a balaclava was more like a long scarf draped over the head and wrapped around the neck. Looking back, I'm not sure why I thought that ...
ReplyDeleteAh - babushkas got all mixed up with balaclavas in my mind.
ReplyDeleteSorry Annie, bit late and off-topic, but what's the reaction in Iceland to the death of Magnus Magnusson? Is he a sort of favourite son? Or is he like Bill Bryson (much better known abroad than in his homeland)?
ReplyDeletePoor Magnus, I did a tribute to him, one of the good guys.
ReplyDeleteI've also done a post about the battle at balaclava, Blogjinx! I've yet to post it as I don't want to waste it at the weekend. Interesting about the pavements, I won't be surprised when I make it over to there then.
Heated pavements? Fantastic idea :)
ReplyDeleteOh, poor old Magnus. I got all excited when he died and immediately called up my Icelandic friends, "Magnus Magnusson is dead!" I wailed, as if I was breaking the news that Björky had pegged it.
ReplyDelete"Which Magnus Magnusson?" they asked, confused. There are a few of them.
"THE Magnus Magnusson!"
Yeah, I guess he's a bit of a Bill Bryson, as you put it. Which is unusual for Iceland because they're so proud of all things Icelandic. But I guess when you leave the country at a year old then nobody is going to know much about you. I mean, everybody here knows Björk not just because she's an internationally famous pop pixie, but also because they once went to school with her, or dated her brother, or babysat her, or met her in a bar one night.
Magnus was just some guy who was born here.
I tend to verbally confuse balaclava with baklava. One is a thing to keep your head warm and the other is a Mediterranean pastry.
ReplyDeletehahahahahahahah...'fanny' *giggles*
ReplyDeleteHey Annie! (Late) HAPPY NEW YEAR to you too!
ReplyDeleteI've been catching up on your posts and they are all very entertaining, especially the discussion about blow jobs.
HA ha!
No no no. Its a musical instrument - like a small, funny guitar.
ReplyDeleteNothing says I think you're sexy like "Your fanny looks nice."
ReplyDeleteRock on, Ninja. I have some sparkle ninja gum, but that's as close as I've come to kung-fu stardom.
Yeah, like Melissa I automatically pictured you cycling through the snow like an Russian babushka.
ReplyDeleteHad I met you with a ski mask on, I prolly would have ran. Fast.
Hi Annie, I'm the other Tim who left a comment about Björn/Bjarni (after I found your blonk from the Hangar Queens blog) anyway the Icelanders seem to be into their weather, or theyr.net as I discovered today, pity it costs money...I was in stitches about the "fanny in jeans" comment, appealed to my warped sense of humour. Cheers.
ReplyDeleteI ate my carrot nose
ReplyDeleteBecause I felt depressed
I sold my hat and scarf
And then just felt undressed
The money bought some matches
The matches made me fire
I lit one and was mesmerised
Then started to perspire
It wiped the smile of my face
And forced my twig arms down
They fell around two coal eyes
My face a snowy frown
The matches, dropped, ignited
I cursed fate's hand, as dealt
My arms went up (resigned?) in flames
As I began to melt
Hello there.
ReplyDeleteI wish it would bloody snow here. It just isn't winter without it.
Ps. Bizarrely, I got to your blog through Spinsterella via Andre's revolution at the exact same moment you were kind enough to comment on my blog after getting there via Alda's place.
There's a spooky six degrees of blog (ahem, blonk) seperation thing going on here.
Pps. Love your site; what is it about Icelandic blogs that makes them so very readable?
The balaclava is a staple of the ECW gear at the south pole and like Mr. Cope said, it's easily confused with the baklava. If you eat baklava, you can wear your balaclava and then smell pastry on your breath all day.
ReplyDeleteDamn it, I though this post was going to be about me. :(
ReplyDeleteI can relate.
ReplyDeleteThe respective officials in Reykjavík don't seem to give much love to pedestrians and the odd cycling people. A vast majority of my near-daily commute from 105 to Háskóli campus goes through these cutey-cute little alleys.
Back home in Finland these would be probably plowed when I wake up. In here clearing the smaller sidewalks seemed to take the folks five days. I'm glad that they eventually did it though, now I don't need to hop between the relentless Icelandic drivers any longer.
Well, not before it snows again, anyway.
your fanny probably did look nice in those jeans.
ReplyDeleteCycling in the snow doesn't sound like a very nice idea to me.
ReplyDeleteI did my back in cycling over a small patch of ice a few years ago, now shopping with girls causes physical as well as mental pain. I can't imagine the injuries people pick up in the snow.
hi there. i am trying to find 'there once was a girl' do you remember when she posted?
ReplyDeleteI didn´t know he had died. One less Magnus in Iceland, but the sad end of an 80´s show host that I never could stand - sorry Magnus!
ReplyDeleteAs for your fanny, very funny. I like it. Ha! Reminds me of when I revealed to a bunch of Canadians that on graduation I had "hoe-d for your University" (I spent my graduation summer at Aber as a gardener...to clear any confusion!) - er, maybe I already told ya that story? addled old brain. we talked a lot of talk and glugged a lot of glögg that w'end....
CMouse
christ - typos too. Can you edit my post Annie?!?!? Correction: "my University" - not so funny now is it.
ReplyDeleteI´m going back to work....
also remarkably incoherent this morning. Didn´t like Mastermind that is... thought Magnus was a great guy.
ReplyDeleteblogging is hard work for a simple mind and part-time blogger...
Hello Tim, I see, there are two of you. Three counting Timbo. Welcome to you both.
ReplyDeleteBald Eagle: no idea, sorry.
Helen: you are bonkers. And no, I can't edit comments. That would be far too much fun. Your blog seems fine now though, btw, I can see the mink.
Hi Annie,
ReplyDeleteThanks for the comment and the tip to look at your blog. As it happens, I'm taking my honeymoon in Iceland this summer, so I might come back for some advice!