{"id":42391,"date":"2025-02-12T10:28:00","date_gmt":"2025-02-12T10:28:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/hrefna.com\/blog\/?p=42391"},"modified":"2025-09-13T12:05:49","modified_gmt":"2025-09-13T12:05:49","slug":"12th-birthday-increased-daylight-uk-winter-break","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/hrefna.com\/blog\/2025\/02\/12th-birthday-increased-daylight-uk-winter-break\/","title":{"rendered":"12th Birthday \/ Increased Daylight \/ UK Winter Break"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

[Photos taken 12 – 21 February 2025, posted online 13 September 2025. It’s bright but windy day, the leaves have begun turning although the air temperature has been unseasonably high.<\/em>]<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Emma’s 12 birthday finally arrived, much to her joy! We had a mini celebration at home on the day, and she invited a few friends over a few days later. Further celebrations had to wait as a) I got sick and, b) we were headed to the UK for a school winter-break visit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In the meantime, the days kept getting longer with the sun higher in the sky, which meant taking down yule-lights, and cleaning windows.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Wednesday 12 February 2025<\/h2>\n\n\n
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Gifts ready for when the birthday girl arrived back home from school.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n\n\n
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Freshly home from school, it was a chilly day out!<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n
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About to open her gifts. She’s now fully transitioned from toys to “other things”!<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n
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The birthday dinner was at Tokyo Sushi.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n
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With her salmon and cucumber pieces.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n
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Selfie attempt at the table.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n
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Ice-cream for dessert!<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n
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Photographing her monstrosity of a waffle plus ice-cream plus candy plus oreos.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n
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Happy 12th Birthday!!<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Thursday 13 February 2025<\/h2>\n\n\n
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The floor drain (that the sink drain uses) had clogged, and we discovered that the floor of the bathroom sort of leans towards the rest of the house, and not towards the safety of the window-wall. Thankfully we managed to stop the water before it got to the wooden floor.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n
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Arriving at work at 08:41 in the morning, and the sky was not pitch black. Yay!<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n
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A bit of sprinting on the rowing machine after work.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n
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Some of the fruit delivery.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n
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Progress.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Friday 14 February 2025<\/h2>\n\n\n
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I’d bailed out of hosting a sewing club that month due to lack of time and energy, but instead one of the ladies offered up her house on short notice, and I picked up some sushi for those who could make it. <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n
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Finnur picked up flowers for Valentine’s Day! This may have been the first time ever for as long as we’ve been a pair?!<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Saturday 15 February 2025<\/h2>\n\n\n
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Anna got an actual plant in a pot as her Valentine’s Day present! The other flowers were from her to him.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n
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Emma prepped goodie bags for a few class-mates she had invited over for her birthday. <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n
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She also made muffins for her guests!<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n
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I may have claimed one for quality assurance!<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n
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Hiding upstairs as the girls took over the house.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n
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They attempted an Oreo cake from the internet, but it probably needed more time in the freezer, as it was not a great success, but a good lesson in not trusting everything you see online!<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n
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The cuddly corner in Emma’s room.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n
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Cremes and scents slowly but surely taking over…<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n
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The sky was getting bright enough for long enough that it was time to take the yule lights down.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n
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Bye, bye!<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n
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Somewhat arty.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Sunday 16 February 2025<\/h2>\n\n\n
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Grumble. A few days before the car was supposed to get a new front sensor to replace a slightly damaged one, it had stopped complaining. After the appointment had passed the sensor started complaining again… sometimes. <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n
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February is when the sun starts actively shining through the living room windows, and you can see just how dirty they are. Here, the right-most window has not been cleaned yet on the inside, unlike the others. I can highly recommend glass cleaning cloths, they make cleaning window soooo much easier.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n
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I’d optimistically signed up for a hiking group, but missed a hike that was in my extended backyard. Using the Strava tracks I went to walk it by my lonesome self.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n
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Thankfully it was a bit frosty outside, or this hill would have been a muddy mess (like I think it was during the official hike).<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n
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Looking back down towards one of the newest neighborhoods in the area.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n
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The zone in front of the hospital was pretty flooded.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n
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Following a path well traveled. The area is all covered in lupines now.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n
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Proof it was me!<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n
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Found a very random observation deck!<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n
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Golf course hiding in the back-yard.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n
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Approaching the forested area.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n
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Nope, not going that way.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n
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The trees seemed to be sheltering the ice, and there were a few slippery moments.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n
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Pretty sky.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n
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Approaching the end of the forest, just down the hill.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n
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I found a path via the Strava heatmap that cut through the forest on the way back, as I’ve gone along the lower edge of it before.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n
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Making way for power lines.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n
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It was getting too dark to keep going inside the forest, so I exited it by a parking lot, and kept going back towards my car along the lower edge of the forest.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n
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The birches keeping watch.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n
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At 18:41 it was getting quite dusky.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n
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Made it to the car at 18:52, and felt silly for not bringing a headlamp.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n
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The Strava route recording. <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n
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Inching along, one row at a time.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n
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Phone camera picked out the northern lights that evening. The night-sight setting is really good at it!<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Monday 17 February 2025<\/h2>\n\n\n
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Bird food customers.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n
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The damaged front car sensor. Grumble. It kept being ok, then not ok. <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Tuesday 18 February 2025<\/h2>\n\n\n
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Getting to reawaken my differentiation muscles.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n
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Couch selfie, as I was feeling sorry for myself for being under the weather (aka, feeling unwell).<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Wednesday 19 February 2025<\/h2>\n\n\n
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The sorry state of the veggie boxes after a winter of wind and snow and rain.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Thursday 20 February 2025<\/h2>\n\n\n
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Pretending to be feeling better. But still pretty low on energy when not horizontal.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Friday 21 February 2025<\/h2>\n\n\n
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Packing our bags, about to take a flight to the UK late that afternoon for winter break.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n
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The lilies had bloomed!<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n
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Rainbow outside.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n
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It followed along on the way to the airport…<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n
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This one responds well to marketing!<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n
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Late lunch.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n
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This “northern-lights-esque” ceiling installation is getting somewhat popular.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n
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The “intellectual table” at the airport bookstore.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n
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It’s easy to ignore the big glass art in the ceiling, but it’s been there ever since the airport opened some decades ago (in 1987<\/a>).<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n
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It’s properly huge!<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n
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Anna on the photo-friendly bench.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n
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Waiting to board. Happened to see three teachers from the kid’s elementary school who still remembered Anna and Bjarki. There were a lot of awwwws.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n
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Our plane.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n
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Only two years until they can reuse this and change the 80 to 90, and 2017 to 2027!<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n
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The motors were so loud I decided to document the airplane type. Yup, the internet tells me “The 757-200 was designed with powerful engines that provide a high thrust-to-weight ratio, allowing for impressive takeoff and climb performance, especially from shorter runways. . This powerful engine design results in a unique, impressive roar, particularly during takeoff, which many aviators and enthusiasts appreciate. “<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n
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Off we go!<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n
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All five of us in a plane!<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n
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A hilarious bag at Heathrow.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n
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Nice to be able to walk outside in a t-shirt again.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n
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Found (grand-)dad!<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n
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Yup, on the wrong side of the road. We were really in England!<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

[Photos taken 12 – 21 February 2025, posted online 13 September 2025. It’s bright but windy day, the leaves have begun turning although the air temperature has been unseasonably high.<\/em>]<\/p>\n

Emma’s 12 birthday finally arrived, much to her joy! We had a mini celebration at home on the day, and she invited a few friends over a few days later. Further celebrations had to wait as a) I got sick and, b) we were headed to the UK for a school winter-break visit.<\/p>\n

In the meantime, the days kept getting longer with the sun higher in the sky, which meant taking down yule-lights, and cleaning windows.<\/p>\n

Wednesday 12 February 2025<\/h2>\n
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Gifts ready for when the birthday girl arrived back home from school.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n

Read more<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[142,17,9,18],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-42391","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-birthday","category-hrefnas-family","category-uk-traveling","category-us","post-container col-md-12"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/hrefna.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/42391","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/hrefna.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/hrefna.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/hrefna.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/hrefna.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=42391"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/hrefna.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/42391\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":42471,"href":"https:\/\/hrefna.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/42391\/revisions\/42471"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/hrefna.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=42391"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/hrefna.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=42391"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/hrefna.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=42391"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}