Winter Break Trip to the UK – Part 1 of 2
[Photos taken on 26 – 28 October 2017, posted on 19 29 June 2018. It’s been a VERY cloudy June so far, and Finnur’s just landed in arrived back from Russia to attend where he attended two World Cup games.]
We used the opportunity of a two-day long winter break to skip on over to the UK to stay with my dad and Shirley for a few days. Finnur had set out the weekend before, and used that week to work at the Google office in London.
On the first whole day we visited the local ski center and tried the toboggan run, and on the second I took the big kids up to London to see family! (63 images total)
Thursday 26 October 2018
The kids by the departure gate in Keflavik.
Emma being excited.
… and slightly concerned.
Anna looking forward to the trip.
Bjarki feeling chuffed. The trip was uneventful, and (grand)dad picked us up at Gatwick.
Friday 27 October 2018
Bjarki really wanted to go on a roller coaster, but since there are no such beasts close to where we were, granddad suggested visiting the local Toboggan run at the ski center. Yes, the ski center.
Emma in front of the ski slope, made of stiff brush bristles.
Hrefna by Emma.
The toboggan run starts by you getting hauled up a steep hill on a small sled. Then you slide down via gravity on a bendy metallic slide, and control the speed with a handbrake.
Bjarki coming down on the other side.
Anna and grandpa Gunnar arriving at the base station.
Waiting in line to go again.
Emma was too small to ride by herself so Anna and I swapped taking her.
Finishing my solo run. It was fun! Leaning forward was key to navigating the bends successfully.
Bjarki being patient in line.
Emma giving me a strong hug.
More line waiting. This was also a school holiday in England.
Two planes “close” together.
Still in line…
Finally our turn again, this is Anna going up.
Bjarki coming in for a landing.
Mother and daughter coming down.
The line was getting ridiculously long, so we decided to call it a day.
There was no leaving without getting ice cream.
Granddad and Anna. Behind them on the left you can see the brushes that the ski slope is made of!
That afternoon, Anna and I went shopping at the Bluewater shopping center. This is Anna taking a quick refueling break.
Anna by the undercarriage of a Tesla. Impressive!
Saturday 28 October 2018
Anna, Bjarki and I made the trip up to London to visit my brother Pétur, Signý, and Fannar, and as luck would have it, my mum! We began by taking the train up to St. Pancras/King’s Cross Station.
Once there, we bought something to eat. It was hit and miss.
We decided to visit the Harry Potter store at King’s Cross, how could we not?!
We decided against standing in the long line for a memento photo. Maybe next time…
There were a lot of tempting things on sale.
The shop is relatively small, and the tight lens on my camera wasn’t really up to the challenge.
Impressive Hogwarts model.
Bjarki enthralled.
Anna making her way through the throng of people. This shop is apparently always busy.
Happy siblings.
Meanwhile, Emma went on her own train adventure with the rest of the grownups.
“How do you look normally?”
Fun wrangling tickets for everybody!
Emma getting a sugary snack.
Meanwhile, the rest of us took the Northern Line further up north.
Bjarki with his grandma Ásdís, and his cousin Fannar in Pétur’s and Signý’s backyard.
Anna with Pétur and Signý in their tiny living room.
Signý with an ILM staff-poster. Yes, she’s on the credit list!
More cool stuff!
Moar cool stuff!
Pétur in his bedroom.
More computer time!
We decided to go out for a short walk downtown.
Walk-reading.
At a local Starbucks.
Anna.
The boys.
Bjarki trying out Fannar’s scooter.
Saying goodbye to Granny Ásdís for now.
Sunset approaching.
Walking back.
So. Many. Wires!
About to take the next southbound train.
We found some sushi to eat at King’s Cross Station. Their patience with their photo taking mother was wearing a bit thin at that point.
So cool!
Evil old me took out Bjarki’s homework during the second train ride, and he humored me by actually doing a bit of work.
