Let’s Go Outside
[Photos taken 16 – 22 May 2020, posted online 14 November 2020. Covid-19 is on a steady decline in Iceland, the ground is white with frost, but little actual snow yet this fall.]
We kept being careful, and not meeting that many people, or at least we tried to make sure we let some time pass between meet-ups.
I kept working from home, Anna’s school came to a close, and the music school ended with a bit of a whimper as all school concerts were canceled. But the weather was good, and I explored new walking grounds. (50-ish images total)
Saturday 16 May 2020
Meeting Other People Post Wave #1
[Photos from 08 – 15 May 2020, posted online 08 November 2020. Biden has been announced as the next US president. Covid-19 seems on a decline in Iceland.]
For the first time since March, we made plans to meet other adults! Our friends Ragnar & Agnes came up to house #2, which was sort of a neutral ground, virus wise, as we hadn’t gone there since February. We topped the weekend off by attending a birthday PARTY.
Other than that, life just sort of muddled onwards with the usual spring-tasks, and weather that oscillated between muggy and bright. (45-ish images)
Friday 08 May 2020
Homebound Walks, Gardening & Schoolwork
[Photos from 15 -30 April 2020, posted online 18 October 2020. Bjarki and I spent all of last week at house #2, in quarantine, as a teacher at his school got Covid. On Friday he tested negative, along with all his teachers, so he’ll be returning to school on Monday. We’re knee-deep in Covid-wave #3, two weeks of rather strict restrictions are behind us (20 people max in a room, 2 m apart, salons, gyms, bars, etc closed) and have 2-4 weeks to go still.]
The second half of April was a mixed bag. Emma kept going to school and aftercare, which made our lives easier. The rest of us worked and learnt from home, and aside from that all I did was go on walks and garden apparently. As the days got longer, the kids began going out to play with other kids and Anna got her practice driver’s license, and we tried to remember to let her drive. (80 images total)
Wednesday 15 April 2020
Easter Day 2020
[Photos taken 12 – 13 April 2020, posted online 04 October 2020. Covid-19 refuses to go away, so restrictions are being tightened tomorrow: max 20 people in a space, 1 m minimum distance, gyms, pubs etc shut down.]
Finnur’s parents have always hosted an Easter Day feast, but this year they spent the day in self-isolation. We therefore spent the day at home.
To lighten the mood, Finnur made an egg treasure-hunt for the kids, and then he hosted a social-whist tournament of sorts online for his side of the family. The day ended with us overdosed on chocolates, and stuffed after a fancy meal (40-ish images total)
Easter Sunday 12 April 2020
Snow-People Day
[Photos taken 05 – 06 April 2020, posted online 26 September 2020. Covid wave #3 is in progress, but contact tracing and quarantine being used more than strict restrictions which are still at 200 people per space, strangers 1 m apart at minimum.]
We woke up one April morning to the results of a massive overnight snowfall. It turned out it was perfect snow-people making material. (40-ish images)
Sunday 05 April 2020
Figuring Out a New Normal
[Photos from 22 – 31 March 2020, posted online 23 August 2020. We finally brought out the wood staining stuff, and got to work during this gorgeous weekend, me at house #1 and Finnur at house #2.]
It was weird not meeting any friends or family, it was just us for weeks on end. Emma met kids at school, but no such luck for Bjarki. We therefore let Bjarki hang out with 1-2 friends after his schoolwork was done, but that was about all the socialization that was on offer.
We ended up doing a fair number for workouts to let off steam, especially to begin with, but interest waned as the weather improved. Anna claimed the kitchen for epic baking sessions, I went on lots of walks to get out of the house, and scooters and bikes were brought out as the snow finally began melting properly. (55-ish images total)
Sunday 22 March 2020
Bowling, Skiing & Furniture Building
[Photos taken 01 – 13 March 2020, posted online 13 August 2020. We’re dog-sitting!]
March was a bizarre month. Due to the looming Covid-19 threat my birthday and our 20-year wedding anniversary were relatively quiet affairs.
I somehow managed to take the kids skiing during the 2-day winter school break (Finnur had injured a finger in February, and wasn’t up to hazardous adventures) a couple of weeks before the ski lifts were shut down. Anna also began learning how to drive.
As more and more covid cases were diagnosed as Icelanders returned from ski-and football trips from abroad, my workplace began dividing up areas to reduce the number of people needing to quarantine. The call also went out for people to work from home if they could, so I set up a small home office. (65-ish images total)
Sunday 01 March 2020
Colorful Art & Costumes on the Eve of Covid-19
[Photos taken 21 – 29 February 2020, posted online 04 August 2020. Currently in Borgarnes, over half-way through our vacation.]
The last few days of total freedom before the first Icelandic case of Covid-19 was diagnosed on 28 February.
We visited the library, dropped in on a couple of museums, visited house #2 with friends, made cream puffs, enjoyed Ash Wednesday/Halloween #2, and even joined more friends for dinner! (60-ish images total)
Friday 21 February 2020
Emma Turns 7 Years Old
[Photos taken 12 – 16 February 2020, posted online 31 July 2020. No more lovely weather, as a deep low pressure area will be visiting over the weekend. Most weekend events cancelled anyway as a result of Covid-19 reappearing.]
Our Emma is now 7 years old. She got a mini-celebration on her actual birthday, and a proper party a few days later. Little did we know that would be the last family party for a long while. (35-ish images total)
Wednesday 12 February 2020
Snow Play & Spring Signs
[Photos taken 01 – 11 February 2020, posted online 30 July 2020. Covid-19 is rearing its ugly head again, and authorities have just announced increased restrictions as of tomorrow.]
February began with snow, and then trended towards spring. We did manage to use a sled, go bowling, attend a birthday party, let Emma try taekwondo, get Emma’s hair cut, attend an IT show downtown, and gather gifts for Emma’s upcoming birthday.
Underneath it all, the Covid-19 wardrums began pounding, but they were still far away. (45-ish images total)
Saturday 01 February 2020
