Goodbye 2023 / Hello 2024!
[Photos taken 31 December 2024 (and just after midnight…), posted online 21 June 2024. The lava from the current eruption has toppled over one of the lead-walls keeping it from the Svartsengi power/hot-water station. Crews are onsite pushing up a second lead-wall. Thankfully the eruption seems to be dying down…]
Finnur’s youngest sister repeated hosting the new year’s eve party, much to everyone’s delight.
Sunday 31 December 2023
Goodbye 2022, Hello 2023!
[Photos taken 31 December 2022 – 01 January 2023, posted online 3 August 2023. The weather is possibly changing… it’s been about the same for a month, hardly a drop from the sky, and pretty warm.]
This time around, the annual New Year’s Eve potluck party in Finnur’s family was hosted by his youngest sister and family. They’ve recently moved into a much bigger house, and it so happened that the town’s bonfire would be essentially in their backyard!
Saturday 31 December 2022
Goodbye 2021!!
[Photos taken 31 December 2021, posted online 07 May 2022. Went to see Trevor Noah last night in a packed auditorium. Been a while since I laughed so hard!]
We all tested negative on PCR tests for Covid, so the New Year’s Eve party at Finnur’s parent’s place was ON!
However, as the day wore on, I began feeling more and more poorly, and in the end I decided to stay home, reading a book in bed, only venturing out at shortly before midnight to join with the others for a few photos and some fireworks.
And thus endeth 2021, may it never come back! (30-ish images)
Friday 31 December 2021
Goodbye 2020, Hello 2021!!!
[Photos taken 31 December 2002, posted online 22 May 2021. Attended an actual gymnastics competition this morning, there were people there. Yes, masked and sitting far apart, but still, people!]
As per instructions from the Icelandic authorities, the new year’s eve party at Finnur’s parents was a lot smaller than in past years, but good fun was had nonetheless!
We were all excited to say goodbye to the general shit-show that had been 2020, and the annual comedy hour that evening (see youtube with English subtitles, recommend 11:57, and I identified so hard with 33:52) was the best it’s been in years, in my humble opinion. (35-ish images total)
Thursday 31 December 2020
New Year’s Eve 2018-2019
[Photos taken on 31 December 2018 – 01 January 2019, posted online 08 July 2019. As this is being written, we’re formally on summer holiday, yay!]
New Year’s Eve was a customary one, with us hanging out with Finnur’s family at their big party. (I just checked, and apparently I spent the day blogging about Bjarki’s 11 year old party, which is funny as we just celebrated his 12th yesterday!)
The evening was fun as always, and all talk of fireworks being a silly waste of money drowned in a shower of fireworks…! (45-ish images total)
New Years Party
[Photos from 2 January 2016, posted on 3 January 2016. Newsflash!]
It’s become an annual tradition in one of my sewing clubs that one member hosts a fancy sit-down dinner for all members and their spouses. This year it was finally our turn, and that meant a lot of head-scratching as to how we were going to fit 15 people into our relatively small living space.
But, it all worked out somehow, and a great time was had by all! It is entirely possible the last guests departed around 4 am… (Photos added 24 January, now there are 6 photos total)
Dinner about to begin!
New Year’s Eve – 2015 Edition
[Some photos from New Year’s Eve 31 December 2015, pre-and post-midnight. Put online on 24 January 2016. The snow seems to be retreating a bit, I can see grass.]
We spent this past New Year’s Eve with Finnur’s family, as has been our habit lately. This year, Finnur’s uncle and his wife hosted a lovely party, a hop and a skip away from us, with tons of fantastic food.
Shortly before 9 pm, I dragged a few people (mostly kids) with me on a short walk to check out two ‘proper’ fireworks-displays. They’re hosted by the ICE-SAR units in Kópavogur and Garðabær, respectively, and always feature the big-bada-boom fireworks. It so happens that if you stand on the ridge that separates Kópavogur and Garðabær, you can watch the two shows.
Back at the party, we chatted more, ate more, and watched the annual comedy hour, which was somewhat meh this year. Then it was 23:30 and we went outside to shoot up some fireworks and witness the neighbors go bonkers with theirs.
All pretty standard stuff, but it was fun anyway! ALL THE PHOTOS ARE HERE, if anybody’s interested. Here are a few as well: (28 images total)
The five of us! In one photo!
A ‘This Too Shall Pass’ Night
Warning: Discussion of stomach bugs, i.e. vomiting. This past night was of the ‘This Too Shall Pass‘-chanting variety. After Bjarki vomited at the dinner table, I put him to sleep in our bed, intending to follow him there shortly. After everybody had left, and Anna was in bed, I had a change of mind andRead more
New Year’s Eve
We spent the last day of the year 2011 in pretty standard fashion. We began by attending The Annual Dinner With Finnur’s Family (and a couple of their friends) at the lovely adobe of Finnur’s uncle and his wife. After eating far too much, and playing with fireworks, we hightailed it to Hrefna’s family where we hiked up to the hill shortly before midnight (also an annual tradition) and attempted to see the crazy amount of fireworks being fired up at the new year.
Finnur's family and friends at the annual family new year's eve dinner.