twolands

''...hello!..is anybody in there..?''

2008-03-09T20:35:00.002Z

...and so the musical theme continues with Toti busy setting up his own business and Joanna trying not to get too turned-off with all the talk about amps, desks and pro-tools programmes because as any self-respecting rock-chick knows it is the handsome bass players that are the attraction,not his tools ;-)!!!
So, it has been a long time since my last entry-I continue to work hard, study hard(yes, just can't seem to give up on that successful combination) and am feeling more and more settledat work. Funny how I have found my niche in in-patient services after all the years as a community nurse. My skills have developed, my HR expertise has quadrupled and my skin has grown thicker! I continueto fight for justice and stick my head above the parapet (usually involving senior managers!) but as T said 'that's one of the things that made me fall in love with you' so it can't be all that bad and it doesn't seem to be doing my career much harm on this side of the pennines!
Jolly-one continues to play in his beloved fiootball team although as T mentioned in his last blog also continues to cope with the fall-out from our stay in Iceland, as his self-confidence and self-esteem took such a bashing that he struggles to reach out to people for fear of rejection. We are here for him and help him as much as we can but it is still heart-breaking to see his daily struggles. He is not particularly happy with his current teacher either and will be glad to move up in September-I have to agree that i don't like this teacher's approach either. J benefits from a more nurturing style of teaching and not an old-school private type. But as i keep telling him we all had to cope with somefavourite teachers and some much less favourite ones!!!
EBB is loving it at school and is desperate to go full-time, so in september will be going 5 days rather than 4. He is always the first to sit down to start work, has built great friendshps with lots of children but finds it a challenge to get over his naturally reserved approach. A lot like his daddy he is-and his mummy too at that age..(ah! how people can change!!).
So we are all potterring along but as T put it a few weeks ago-the pieces of the puzzle don't quite fit..I am so keen to be back in Iceland and struggle every day with the compromise I have agreed to make for my beautiful boys..I am happy at work, happy within my family but probably as socially isolated as i was back in Iceland...T's parents are visiting this weekend and brought me lots of icelandic papers etc..''it just makes me homesick'' I commented to T..the irony of that statement was not lost on either of us..home is definitely where the heart is (and the sea and the mountains and the fresh, crisp air....).
Hopefully T's business will allow us to spend more time 'at home'...and as we are about to embark on yet another adventure I will remind him to keep you all updated via the blog...if there truly is anybody still receiving? (do let me know!!).
Take care one and all, Lots of love J and 3 boys (2 asleep) and one currently on stage in red and black flares, blue flowery shirt and huge afro..:-) xxx

"... Happy New Year ..."

2008-02-17T09:10:00.003Z

Well ... better late than never! Let's just go straight into the news update ...

Since you last heard from us Toti has decided to go into business for himself doing what he loves ... music! He is opening a recording studio (www.soundonsite.co.uk) with capabilities to do location recording as well as on site recording, mixing, mastering, editing and will work with graphic designers to design the CD covers for their recordings as well as providing clients with as many copies of their CDs as they want. This will also give Toti the oportunity to write and record his own music for (hopefully) TV, film, websites and anything else.

He will also be hiring himself out as a sound engineer and producer, working both in his own studio and other studios in England. Alongside this the business has the equipment to hire Toti out as a live sound engineer with the option of recording gigs, confrences, lectures and whatever else.

Last but not least, Toti has taken on funky bass duties in a 70s band/show called 70s express as well as playing in a band (with the same people) called Pure Fantasy. As you can gather, these are mainly private functions, holiday camps etc. so that will keep Toti gigging about three times a week and is a useful source of income for the business, as well as being something Toti loves doing ... although he is still trying to come to terms with having to wear makeup on stage ... not exactly the outgoing flamboyant type, really!

Joanna is enjoying work but the shifts that Toti is currently doing are making life harder for her as she is having to do alot of the work at home with the boys in the evenings and in the mornings.

Joanna is also working hard at her work related studies (made more difficult by group members who don't hand in their work on time and certainly don't meet Joannas standards when it comes to committment). Those high standards are exactly why the Freysson-Burton household works well despite the Freyssons being quite out of touch with anything to do with organising and time managing :-)

Jolyon is still loving his football and has just come back from a 3 day sports trip to Wembley in London with school. He now fancies trying some cricket as well. Football will always be number one though!

Scouts are also a great source of fun and energy release. Toward the end of August Jolyon will be going away, along with 5 other scouts and some scout leaders, on a 10 day camping trip in Holland. We are hoping that he will come back having built up even stronger friendships with his scout friends and neighbours because he still struggles to make friends, although we are making headway.

Elijah is blossoming at his new school (he started at Wakefield Independant Nursery in January). He looks really cute in his uniform and now tells us "I'm a school boy," very proudly! He and his brothers find daddys shifts very hard as well as mummy and daddy and we can't wait for daddy to be self employed so he'll be at home in the evenings and for the school runs! It's taken a toll on us all emotionally, more than we expected it would!

As for our future dreams, Joanna wants to live in Iceland and Toti wants to live in England. Due to, amongst other reasons, Jolyon slowly finding friendships here in England we don't want to uproot the boys again. So, we'll be staying here until Elijah finishes Wakefield Independant in ... 15 years time approximately. In 15 years Joanna will also be able to take early retirement (because she'll be 35 then ... won't you babe ;-). Until that happens we're planning:

1. For Totis to successfully make a decent living being self employed in the music industry, therby freeing him up to move between countries fairly freely!

2. To have purchased a nice second home in Iceland which will become our first home once the boys are grown up!

3. To have two happy and content young men who can enjoy the positive experiences they have in life and build on the negative ones to become stronger persons!

Not too much to ask for we think!

Until next time (in 2022) ...

Love,

Toti, Joanna, Jolyon and Elijah xxx

2007-12-05T21:46:00.000Z

Well, Joanna keeps asking me to do a Eurovision blog so here goes ...

Me and Elijah flew over to Iceland on the Friday night and as always Elijah was a great traveller. On Saturday he spent the day with his amma Kristin and afi Freyr whilst dad was in TV rehearsals etc. I got to see him before bed though. I had a great Saturday evening with Menn Arsins playing my song in the pre Eurovision selection thingy and although we didn't win in the end and went away with nothing we all aggreed that we had stayed true to ourselves and left with our integrity intact. I know, I know ... that doesn't get you anywhere in life and it's a common exuse when a musician doesn't get what he wants but I still believe it's true. Anyway, if you want to watch Menn Arsins and myself preforming the song on the TV programme just click on the link below.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TAHPSoBxSiA

Elijah is also looking forward to the fact that after father christmas has come and after we've been to Iceland for new year he will be going to 'normal school'. That is to say, he is going to be joining the nursery at Jolyons school and he is really looking forward to that 'cos he's a big boy now.

Jolyon is still enjoying his football and after a small spell of loosing his place in the first team, as we were away in Malta, he has regained it and is, rightfully so, very proud of himself. Him and dad went to Old Trafford last monday and watched his team, Manchester United, beat Fulham 2-0. For someone who isn't into football, his dad certainly sees a lot of games.

Joanna is enjoying work more now and has some colleagues to work with that have really taken the pressure off. She used to be doing two jobs on her own but the other post has now been filled and all is looking good.

Anyway, time to blog off for now. We'll try and write more frequently but I make no promises.

''...it's been a while...''

2007-11-06T20:11:00.000Z

...so sorry for the lack of entries..I was hoping T was keeping up-to-date with the bloggin' but when you're a eurovision master I guess it's hard to keep your feet on the ground :-0.
But we have all just got our feet back on the ground after a quick holiday in sunny Malta...the four of us and by bestest pal Deb (yes, she actually survived coming on holiday with us all!). I last went there 20years ago and it was defintely more built-up than I remember it. I can't say I loved or hated it..T fell in love with the place however and is now hoping my next dream job will come up in their slightly under-developed mental health servcies so we can settle out there and he can lounge around in the sun, composing more eurovision masterpieces!We had a great time though and T enjoyed meeting up with an old friend from his days in the USA-they had both been there as children whilst their respective parents studied-they had had no contact in over 20 years. It seems like a friendship was resumed however , with lots of memories and trips around the non-touristy parts of the island.
So we all returned to work, school amd nursery on Monday..I have just started yet more studying...a management course at the local Uni..I'm afraid it is rather tedious and not quite of the standard I was expecting but I am trying to keep going, in order that I can acheive the certificate next year and move onto bigger, better and brighter things!My new team leader started this week though so hopefully, my job may become a little easeier...?
J was nervous abut school as he has been struggling a bit..we have recently found out that this is probably due to literacy issues, as a reuslt of his year out of the UK system when we were in Iceland. But a bit if extra help, some hard work and a few more tantrums and we should get there!!
EB is teething again..last ones but big ones at the back...he and his Daddy were stuck together like a rock and a limpet when we were away and he was a bit teary at nursery yesterday but Amma and Afi are visiting this weekend so he is counting the sleeps until their welcome visit.
And T continues with ths climb towards eurovision success...what more can I say??!!
Oh! and by the way Jo-it was great to see you in York..the wine went down very well, but not as well as your company and some ol' friends times! Hope to see you soon?!
Take care one-and-all..stay in touch..
Lots of love J and boys xxxx

"...Eurovision residential football language ..."

2007-10-06T20:51:00.000Z

For a few years now my mum, Kristin, has rung me up around August time and said, “how do you feel about sending one of your songs in to the Eurovision song contest?” She did the same this year, except I think she said, “I’m going to send one of your songs into the Eurovision song contest.” I had nothing against that and signed the papers. About three weeks ago, I got a phone call from Linda at RUV (the Icelandic equivalent of the BBC). She informed me that my song had been chosen to enter the Icelandic song contest to select the song that will represent Iceland in Eurovision.

The way the competition works is that RUV gets 9 well-known songwriters to write 3 songs each. That’s 27 songs entered. Then they choose 6 songs from the unknowns (like myself) and enter them in the competition. Mine was one of those 6, chosen from 146 entries. I’m quite proud of that.

Unfortunately, as I am not living in Iceland and have just started a new job, I won’t be able to perform the song myself. Instead, I have hired the amazing ‘Menn Arsins’ (Men of the Year) which is the band I was in when we were living in Iceland. They will record and perform the song and I can’t wait to hear what they do with the arrangement. Halli, the pianist in the band, has had copious amounts of emails from me and is probably sick of me already ;-)

So, this is your mission … if you choose to accept it …

On Saturday November the 24th 2007, everyone I know in Iceland needs to sit down in front of their television and watch the song being performed by these amazing musicians. They then need to pick up their phones and vote! Thank you for your co-operation, this message will self-destruct in five seconds … Stick that date in your diary!

As I mentioned above I started my new job this week and I am loving it. It’s great and fun and the people are good and I’m the boss-ish and it’s cool and I look forward to going to work in the mornings!

Joanna was on residential training this week. That means that she was away from Tuesday until Thursday … well that was the plan. But the residential was actually at a hotel in the next village so she spent the Tuesday night here with her boys but stayed over on the Wednesday. We really missed her and she missed us. She has another residential, this time in York, in just over a week’s time. Hmmm … should I start getting worried … ;-) We’ll miss her again and she’ll miss us … She’s enjoying her role although, as you would expect in such a demanding job, there are days when she comes home shattered and fed up. It’s because she works so hard that darling!

Jolyon is enjoying his football. In a very short space of time he has worked his way up from being in the third team to being a first team sub, which usually means he plays at least half the game. This is purely down to his enthousiasm and hard work. He struggles with his organisation and academics at school but when it comes to sport, he excels!

Elijah is starting to realise that he is learning two different languages. A typical conversation:

Elijah: “what is breakfast?”
Daddy: “Breakfast is morgunmatur.”
Elijah: “Mummy say breakfast, daddy say morgunmatur?”
Daddy: “Yes, well done.”
Elijah: “What does Elijah say?”
Daddy: “Elijah can say breakfast or morgunmatur.”

Nine times out of ten he’ll choose the english word for himself, which is normal as he is growing up in an English speaking environment. But I am now using every oportunity to teach him that he has a choice. He knows that amma and afi say like daddy and grandmum and pops say like mummy. Sometimes, like with car (bill) he’ll choose to use the english word but will use the Icelandic word when speaking to daddy. I guess it’s more important than ever for me to stick to speaking Icelandic with him and I admit, I am not as good at this as I should be but I do try.

So the sentence of they day is ‘Eurovision residential football language’ … and that is that …

"...Toti got the job ... but ..."

2007-09-18T12:40:00.000Z

Toti was offered the job of bass player in a professional function band. Unfortunately due to Totis recent success in getting another job, which involves shifts, he can't commit to the amount of gigs that this band plays. So, sadly, he has to say 'no, thank you'! Maybe family life, shift work and music just don't go together and one of them has to be left out ...

Question of the day: Where's your happy place!?

"...At the Car Wash ..."

2007-09-17T09:59:00.000Z

We had such a fantastic weekend. A great family day out on Saturday which was only supposed to be a few hours walk but ended up being a long walk around Saltaire, near Bradford, then pottering about the Saltaire Festival which we didn’t know was happening this weekend and then topping it all off with tea at Frankie and Benny’s. Both boys were worn out afterwards. Jolyon still managed to fit in a visit at Harrys new house afterwards though and then had a nice walk home from there with his dad. He is struggling a bit with his organisational skills at school and his parents are trying to tread the fine line between telling him off for forgetting his homework and supporting him in getting more organized. Oh, the joys of parenting! :-)

Sunday we had a stay-at-home day which was also great fun and very chilled. Toti and Elijah did sneak out though to go to the Kite Festival in Heath Common for an hour and Elijah had great fun. There were ‘doggy kites’ and ‘fish kites’ and ‘car kites’ and all sorts.

Joanna has hired her band 6 (a bit of nurse talk there ;-) and by the end of the week she’ll have someone acting up on a temporary basis until the new person is in post so that’s someone to share the pressure with. This is of course great news for our family life, which I have no complaints over anyway!

Toti has got a ‘job interview’ tonight. Well … he’s going to meet a guy who runs a semi-professional function band to jam with him. This guy looking for a bass player and after hearing one of Totis old CD’s the guy decided to halt all auditions and get Toti to play! Now Toti just needs to do’ his thing’ properly tonight and he should be in. That will mean regular gigs and some more cash coming in to the household. We will let you know tomorrow how that goes!

"...Just another blog entry..."

2007-09-05T14:32:00.000Z

Hello all and everyone,

Everyone here is doing a-okay. Jolyon started school on Thursday and he really likes his new teacher, Mr. A (I can’t remember how to spell his name … I’m sure Joanna can stick in a comment :-). He’s doing well but has got a lot more homework this time so no slacking. He’s still enjoying his football and has actually got a game tonight. He’s also getting used to wearing his braces regularly … with some prompting. Life is great fun!

Elijah has grown out of his cot and has got a new ‘big boy bed’ which him and daddy built … well, it came flatpacked. It is a bit higher then we liked but that is due to the drawer space underneath. Unfortunately he fell out of it last night for the first time and banged his chin (we think on the radiator) so we’ve moved the rail further up to prevent this happening again. Fortunately his pillow fell with him and (quite literally) cushioned his fall. When daddy asked to see if he was okay he wasn’t interested … he just wanted to get back into bed to sleep. A bit swollen this morning though but fine. His parents feeling suitably guilty for their negligence!

Joanna is busy being … well … busy … at work. She’s doing the job of three people in the space of four days a week and is worn out. This is thankfully not long term and she will be recruiting some staff to work for her shortly. That should make life easier. She is going for some residential training which leaves daddy in charge at home (that’s a scary thought :-/) Just for a couple of nights each time though so I think three boys will be fine.

Toti should be starting his new job on the 1st October … he will at least be leaving his current one the Friday before that. Looking forward to it indeed. A couple of Totis friends are coming over from Iceland to see a Man U game and go to a Rush gig. Toti will be going to the gig but we’ve yet to see about the football. Depends on if he can get tickets for him and Jolyon as well as his two friends. We shall wait and see. If not it will be a visit to an Manchester pub to watch the game … they’d better stock up on the lemonade for the ever-sober Toadster.

We had a great bank holiday weekend in Iceland and it was so nice to see everyone. Amma and afi are now trying to fit in a visit some time this autumn as we won’t be going to Iceland now until end of December … yup … we’re spending Christmas in England and New Years eve in Iceland. Looking forward to that.

So, love to one and all …

Toti, Joanna, Jolyon and Elijah

''...keeping on, keeping on...''

2007-08-18T08:07:00.000Z

...for no other reason than EB and I (and Pops) have been struck down with a nasty viral infection that is plagueing us to differring degrees. I am feeling nauseous and lacking in energy, our littlest Burton has 'spots..on cheeky belly' and my Dad has given up and gone to bed (except when EB was visiting yesterday...amazing how little ones can brighten up your day?!).
I have kept going to work..on principle really as we don't have a fantastic sickness record and I wanted to prove that I am not a lightweight where abscence comes in! I have to say, however, that since A and I have been working together our team's sickness levels have improved dramatically :-).
Speaking of which..A, not sickness...he is now winding down before going onto pastures new in deepest, darkest Calderdale.I am so going to miss his professionalism, his skills and knowledge and his humour...we have been a strong management team and I am now hoping to emulate that when we appoint by band 6 sucessor...lots of strong applicants which is reassuring but may prove challenging when it actually comes down to selection...
T has discovered that his CRB check is in its final stages and I don't know whether that's a coincidence or not but he has noticeably cheered up! He is looking forward to starting his new post, new challenge, new shift patterns and I am looking forward to him being happy and fulfilled at work again...
And our 2 Best Boys? Well, J is off to play at a football tornament today, staying at his friends tonight, home tomorrow, off to stay with another friend on Monday, home on Wednesday, off to Iceland (with us all) on Friday..,you get the picture!!
And EB is practising being a Big Boy, with potty training coming along leaps and bounds...nursery being a big help with this as he gets the prompts from those around him. He will be starting at nursery 4 days a week in September..all good preparation for moving onto school etc...
So, apart from a guitar amp under the piano and a guitar case under the dining table (they might be homeless T, but they surely don't need to set up camp in my newly decorated dining room?!), everything keeps on, keeping on, here in our transcultural and all embracing household....
Love to you all from us all...may get chance to catch up with some of you soon...J and 3 Boys xxx

"... Nothing to report ..."

2007-08-15T12:19:00.000Z

Hello Icelanders, Englanders and any other landers that may happen to read this little entry … it’s one of those entries that are written because it’s been such a long time since we last wrote one … not because there is anything new to report! I guess that’s a good thing though, no news is good news with us at the moment.

Elijah is busy using his potty ‘need wee-wee … no need wee-wee … wee-wee in pants … wee-wee on mummy new carpet … ha, ha, ha …’ It’s a great joy but I wonder why we put down the new rug in the lounge. He’s actually doing really well and spends his time at nursery running around in his pants … most of the time managing to tell someone before he has an accident.

Jolyon is busy with school holidays. Last week both boys went away with their grandmum on ‘new holiday’ as Elijah called it. They had an excellent time and all three were worn out afterwards … especially grandmum. Jolyon is going to stay with his friend Adam (who he met whilst we were in Great Yarmouth) on Monday for two nights but before that football season starts again with extra long training sessions tonight and a tournament over the weekend. That reminds me … me and Jolyon went to see Manchester United vs. Inter Milan at Old Trafford the other day (‘Dad … would they have arrested that man that ran onto the pitch if he’d been wearing clothes?). The little boy behind us asked his dad if the man had done it ‘cos he was on drugs? Hmmmm …

I’m still waiting for my police check but not panicking yet … it can take up to 8 weeks! Joanna is enjoying her new role but is absolutely shattered by the end of the day … We did manage to paint the lounge, dining room, stairs and hallway and it all looks really nice. Although Joanna won’t be happy when she comes home today to find the guitar amp I’ve left under the piano in the new dining room … sorry babe!

Then we are of course all looking forward to our bank holiday weekend in Iceland later this month … We’ll get to see amma and afi and various friends and family members!

There we go … not bad for someone who’s not got anything to report.

Love to all …

Toti, Joanna, Jolyon Isaac and Elijah Benedikt

''...a steep learning curve...''

2007-08-04T07:56:00.000Z

Hiya...just a quick update on my first full week in my new job....
In short...well, you work at Band 6 for ten years and think there won't be too many surprises when you finally step up to ward manager level...and soon discover how naive one can be!!!
My fab boss A makes it look so easy and I am hoping that in 18 months time I too can appear to be the all seeing, all knowing oracle of the MW ward. So, yes a steep learning curve but one that I am enjoying..as I said to Deb last night it is good to have a challenge again!!
And Deb will soon know this challenge at first hand, as yesterday she was also offerred and accepted a band 7 post...well done you!!
All boys ok...J and E are going away with my Mum on Monday and EB is a bit nervous (''no new 'oliday'') but I am sure they will have a fab time.E will be sleeping in a big bed for the first time ;-) and sharing a bunk bed with his big bro' J...I am sure Grandmum will sleep for a week on their return...
And what are us grown-ups doing during this brief period of freedom and deliverance?...out on the town? romantic liaisons? cosy nights in?...well... of sorts...if you count painting the lounge quality time together!!! :-/.
Off to have some real quality time with my favourite boys now..love to all..J xxxx

''..the Big 1-0 meets The Apprentice...''

2007-07-29T07:47:00.000Z

...on Friday our biggest bestest boy reached double figures and his Mum spent a lot of time reflecting on the preceeding 10 years. How our lives have changed...from 2 to 4 and all that inbetween! I am proud of him; his resilience, the way he has faced difficult odds and come out the other side a better, stronger person...and one who is growing up so fast...I felt a little bereft at one point on his birthday-usually we spend the day together but J decided to go and spend the day with a friend from school! He did manage to fit his brother and his Mum into his busy social diary though and we managed to go shopping and have tea at Pizza Hut! T didn't get to see much of our growing boy either...but then they are going to Old Trafford to watch a ManU match next week ;-).
I started my new job (officially!)and frequently go from ''I can do this'' to ''can I do this?''..but part of that is the fact that my fab boss Andrew is going to pastures new and we currently don't have anyone else in a managerial role..a temporary state of affairs I am assured:-/.
EBB went back to nursery as if he hadn't been away..his language skills amaze us on a daily basis and I know F and K will be stunned when we make our flying visit to RVK in a few weeks time...
And T?..well today he has gone to put some of that training from Sir Alan Sugar into practice and is trying to sell our stuff at a local car boot sale..''You're fired?!''..I sincerely hope not!!!
Oh! and I almost forgot..the sun is shining...for the 2nd day in a row!!!!!! :-)
Love and sunshine kisses to one and all.....from J,T,J and E xxxxxx

"...Moving up in the world..."

2007-07-25T14:12:00.001Z

Hello,

Things are all going well here with us … we had a great holiday in Great Yamouth … they only dry(ish) place in the country. Jolyon met a great new friend who lives in Lincoln and we hope they can soon meet up again. They’ve exchanged e-mails and all that. It’s also Jolyons birthday on Friday … the BIG one-oh … that’s 10 … two digits …wow! How time flies. We’re all looking forward to that.

Elijah loved his holiday. The day we got home he said ‘heim buid-meiri holiday caravan’ It’s a mix of Icelandic and English and basically means ‘home finished-more holiday in caravan’. How great is that. He’s stringing together sentences like there’s no tomorrow. Life is good.

Yesterday Joanna officially ceased her role of Clinical Team Leader (band 6) and started her new post of Ward Development Manager (band 7). Congrats babe!

I have also been successful in applying for a new job as a Deputy Manager for a Supported Housing Unit, just around the corner from Joannas hospital. I should be able to start that toward the end of September … depending on police checks … ha, ha, ha … they’re always efficient ;-)

Things are looking up professionally for both of us … the boys are happy at their allocated schools and nurseries and all is well …

Love,

T, J, J and E

''it's been along time since we rock-and-roll'd...''

2007-07-24T20:27:00.000Z

...but boy, havn't we been busy again in our trans-cultural household...since the last entry made on 27th June, the following has happened..
1) T and I have celebrated our 5th wedding anniversary ('wood' for those of you out there, still interested to ask!)..our first few anniversaries involved romantic wekends, champagne and chocolates...this time it was an indian takeaway and a lack of card from a certain someone (Toti ;-).
2) I have been promoted..today I officially started as ward development manager (Band 7, for you nursey folks). Same ward, same staff, same issues, more hard work!
3) T has got a new job- deputy managers post within a rehabiliation unit run by a registered mental health charity..he awaits his start date and is envious of my quick beginnings..his wages have increased more than mine though!
4) We have all been on holiday to Norfolk on the East Anglin coast..originally we were meant to go to Cornwall but interviews scuppered that and we had to change our plans at the last minute.It was fortuitous really-we had a week of glorious sunshine whilst the rest of the UK (including Cornwall) suffered torrential floods. EBB loved being ''on 'oliday..in car-van''. We all did. And J made so many great pals, especially Adam-we hope to see you real soon.
5) I had a night out in Mcr, salsa-ing with the 'old' (no pun intended) girls from work..it was great and it was fab to see you all :-)..couldn't salsa though..sorry Erika!!
And still to come...
1) J reaching the big 1-0 on Friday..how time flies. We love him to bits and are so proud of what he has achieved this year, especially this year after his rough time in Iceland. But as one of T's clients said today..''ahh, yes! 2 is a wonderful age..at 10 they just think they are 20...believing they know everything..in fact knowing nothing!!! ;-). '' We love you loads soon-to-be Birthday Boy (and baby brother).
...So, all this and we still had J's success at sports day, the unexpected loss of Amma Sigga (R.I.P), EBB's language skills improving by the day, my having to move my aunt and uncle to another residental home together with sell their house etc, J starting to wear braces (you have been fab, Jolly-One), Grandmum and Pops loving their recent trip to Iceland..ohh! the list is endless...
..it may have been a long time since we rock-and-roll'd..but we just havn't got the time to do such things!!!
Love, Peace and Kind Thoughts to one and all from us all....
Best Summer Wishes From J,T,J and E xxx

“… Back from sunny Iceland to utter English chaos …”

2007-06-27T15:05:00.000Z

Well, we’re all back and despite the sad events surrounding our unplanned trip to Iceland we all had a good time. My dad commented that it made a weekend, which could have been a melancholy one, a very enjoyable one. The positive attitude our two boys injected into their surroundings was a good distraction for one and all.

Amma Siggas funeral was lovely but I found it really hard. As soon as I looked at the coffin, which was beautiful, it all came over me. I started crying before the service even started. Afterwards, I wanted to sit on my own with the coffin to say a private goodbye but instead I said a private goodbye in my head whilst laying my hand on top of it at the church. Walking back down the isle I just hid my face and then Joanna gave me a big hug outside whilst I cried and cried. There was coffee and drinks at amma Siggas house afterwards with about a hundred people which is just the way she would like it, as she lived in a big house which was open to anyone at any time and it was quite literally the centre of hers and my fathers generations social life for many decades.

Whilst we were in Iceland it was nice and sunny. We sat outside in the garden drinking our coffee and some people even got sunburn. Due to the lack of coverage of the English weather we were completely oblivious to the massive flooding that was going on. (The first news item on it was yesterday … too late for us to plan around it.) Therefore, we had our own little adventure during our trip back home yesterday.

All was well until we set off from Stansted on our planned 3 hour journey north to Yorkshire. We drove happily on the A1 and it wasn’t until the traffic news came on that we realised that our trip might not be so easy after all. We had three options. Continue on the A1 and get stuck in traffic (in fact they closed it later on). Head for another route on the west side of the A1 toward home. (No way of doing this without hitting Sheffield or Rotherham, which didn’t sound good at all.) In the end we drove east of the A1 for a tour of Lincolnshire through so many villages and so many diversions and traffic stops that I lost count. We saw fields that had literally turned to lakes and at one point were turned round by the police as the road had been drowned and they were expecting a flash flood. I even drove past a live fish struggling for its life on the road … not your usual roadkill (not meaning to be insensitive or anything …) In the end, our journey took us 8 ½ hours and we had all been up from 4am in the morning until 10pm, when the boys finally got to bed. Me and Joanna got to bed nearer to midnight.

On top of all this, our only remaining cat, Joy, was nowhere to be seen. She didn’t come in to eat and this morning we still hadn’t seen her. Joanna had just gone out to look for her when she strolled in, quite oblivious to all the worry she had caused.

But … we’re all here safe and sound … at last … but all very tired today. So, with love,

Toti, Joanna, Jolyon and Elijah

"...again, we say goodbye ..."

2007-06-24T14:34:00.000Z

Well, we arrived in Iceland last Friday and amma Siggas funeral is tomorrow (Monday). Despite the circumstances, it is nice to see my parents and the boys have really enjoyed their visit. Elijah has got amma and afi wrapped around his little finger, as it should be, and we hardly see Jolyon due to all his social engagements. Small people are struggling a bit with the 24 hour sun and getting up extremely early. Big people are taking the morning in shifts to solve that one. We will be heading back on Tuesday morning, really, really early and then it will be back to the old routine.

More unfortunate news. Last week our siamese, Penny, had been very poorly. After two vets visits and some consultations we had to have her put to sleep. She is a great loss the the Freysson-Burton household and our remaining Joy doesn't quite know what has happened. We have buried her in her favorite spot in our garden so she is resting peacefully. Such is life.

The weather in Iceland is lovely, as opposed to the wet in England, and we hope it will stay that way for tomorrow and for Joannas parents when they come over next weekend. So, until next time, as Jolyon would say ... asta la vista, baby!

Toti, Joanna, Jolyon and Elijah

"...My Amma Sigga..."

2007-06-14T14:05:00.001Z

I am the oldest grandchild of amma Sigga. I have lasting memories of going to visit her as a child. I would run into the kitchen where she would pick me up and call me ‘her little lamb’. I would hide behind the sofa in the front room when it was time to go home because I didn’t want to leave. Amma Sigga would never wake me up when I spent the night at her house and I could stay in bed as long as I liked.

Amma Sigga let her grandchildren play in the kitchen where we would make a mess of the flour and eggs. Afterwards amma would get the hoover out and hoover the flour off our clothes. Amma Sigga made the best pancakes. For many years I went swimming with my dad and my granddad every Saturday and afterwards we would go to amma Siggas where we had a hot dog party.

As a budding musician of 13 amma Sigga let me and my friends rehearse in her basement. There would always be milk and Danish pastry for the whole band when we were tired of trying to find songs with no F chord in it (I couldn’t play the F chord because my fingers weren’t long enough).

In later teenage life me and amma went through a phase of watching films together (mostly Woody Allen films). I would go and rent them from the video shop and then we would make popcorn. I would make her coffee and she always said I made the best coffee. I was always welcome at amma Siggas house, whatever state I was in.

I had the pleasure of bringing amma Sigga her first two great-grandchildren, whom she adored. Amma also got on great with Joanna. Similar personalities in many ways. Tough ladies who know what they want and there’s no way of convincing them otherwise. Amma Sigga has smoked filter free Camel cigarettes as far back as I can remember. About 10 years ago she was in hospital for some reason or another. At some point she simply left, IV in tow. She had left the hospital and walked home. Her children found her sat in the garden. ‘I wanted a cigarette!’ was all she said. That’s amma Sigga in a nutshell.

Yesterday morning, the 13th June, my amma Sigga died in her sleep. I will forever miss her and her endless and unconditional love. Her love of knowledge and her love of music especially is something I’ll never forget. Amma Sigga will always be my amma Sigga.

RIP, I don’t think I ever said it, because we didn’t need to, but I’ll say it now.

I love you amma Sigga, we all do …
Toti

"...time for an update..."

2007-06-07T12:15:00.000Z

Hello folks, I guess it's time to update you all on where the Freysson-Burton clan are up to in life. One person at a time me thinks ...

Jolyon went camping with his scout group, and 3000 other scouts, over spring bank. It rained most the time but he really enjoyed it. 4 days and 3 nights away from his nosey parents ... that can't be bad. On the Sunday he went for a lie down at lunchtime because he wasn't feeling so great. He woke up again 20 hours later, on Monday morning. I think maybe he was ready for a sleep after many, many late nights. This week is exam week at school and he's been doing really well. I think he'll be glad when it's over though ... only one more day to go! He's also glad that the hols are over because his friends are back and he's out playing all evenings. He got caught swearing yesterday and ... oohhh ... what a telling off his mum gave him. He's growing up so fast that his mum struggles to keep up and his dad missed the train a long time ago. I always had visions of him strolling into teenagehood but he seems to be zooming there instead!

Elijah is also growing up far to fast. He can now count up to five (most the time in the right order) and has twice managed to tell us he needed a wee and then use his potty. No, I'm not talking about Toti, I'm still talking about Elijah. He loves nursery ... in fact ... he loves Caroline at nursery ... in fact ... it's not called nursery anymore, it's called Caroline! Caroline is his friend, no question there. He's got other friends too, like Sam. Caroline and Sam. He's due a haircut again.

Joanna is looking around for professional development options but at the same time really enjoying her role as Clinical Team Leader. Her bosses are really nice and supportive and would, I think, like to see her develop where she is. Joanna also wants to see through what she started. Two years ago Joanna wouldn't touch management with a ten foot pole. She now wouldn't even consider a role that doesn't involve management. She's taken to it like a duck to water. But then, that's no surprise to her husband, who knows she's a born leader ;-) In fact, I don't think her bosses are really her bosses ... I think Joanna is really the boss!

I got the below mentioned letter the other day. I sent a three page letter back to them saying what I thought about their recruitment procedures, how I felt that their practices had an air of discrimination and that I was sure their was more valuable things to do with their time and money than to lead people up the garden path. Prior to this letter arriving I had been given a preliminary start date, signed the terms and conditions and told who to speak to to have the uniform sorted out. That is after having passed all verbal interviews, assessments, physical fitness tests, medicals etc. etc. The letter I sent went to the head of personnel and the Chief Constable. I recieved a letter back from both confirming that the matter is being looked at.

That said ... I have moved on. Certainly physically and 99.9% mentally. I am applying for full time management posts within the care sector. That's where my future will now lie and that is what I will concentrate on. Once a full time post is secured then attentions will be turned to more education. Definately an NVQ IV, and an A1 assessors thingy. That makes one more employable. After that we'll look at the degrees ... taking one step at a time ... planning many years ahead.

So, that is us ... for now ... until we meet again ... alfie dalfie da scroomy loomy ...

Love you all,

T, J, J and E

"...We're not out of the woods yet, officer ..."

2007-05-22T22:22:00.000Z

I sent my application to the police from Iceland in October 2006 ... yesterday I received a letter:

Dear Mr. Freysson

I refer to your application for appointment in this Force.

Unfortunately, we are unable to proceed with your application as you do not meet the vetting requirements in that you have not resided in the UK for the past 3 years.

I really wish they'd have realised that the address: Framnesvegur, 101 Reykjavik, Iceland meant that I wasn't living in England at the time of applying. It could have saved them alot of time and money and myself alot of time, money and dissappointment.

Toti

''...Cinderella..you shall go to the ball...''

2007-05-12T15:15:00.000Z

...T and I have a night out today..not your average night out for a meal or to the movies but one which involves tuxedos, posh frocks (well, trousers) and sitting at big tables with a lot of people we have never met before! Yes, tonight we are going to the school summer ball and it will be an experience to say the least! T got himself into lots of debt after buying himself a dinner suit ('£209? it wasn't that bad!') and I umm'd and ahh'd about whether to buy a posh frock or not...but as my Mum says you can't wear the same one every year and I'm not sure I will get to wear it in downtown Wakefield ;-). So watch this space for news on our first formal engagement of the year!!
It has been a bit of a social month..Deb stayed last weekend and we watched a film called 'The Painted Veil'..Edward Norton, fantastic script, beautiful scenery and a long-lasting reflective impression..everyone should watch it!
And yesterday EBB and I met Fiona for lunch..although it was nearly tea as Fi got lost and turned up an hour late (I reckon that even beats your record JT!). I have had a good few days with my littlest boy and thats been great..we had such a lot of time together in Iceland and yet I am so busy now that we seem like ships that pass in the night, stopping only for breakfast, bath and bed so our time together has been fab :-).Last weekend I had a good time with J too, so all boys catered for!
Other things? Well,as T said I am loving work..lots of difficulties but ones which I can cope with and ones which only go to prove that finally, after all these years of nursing, I can actually manage other people and look to move up into the higher realms of nursing...modern matron here I come!!!
T is still waiting for his letter from the police..I regularly tell him 'I'm sure the letter will come today!' and then I regularly follow it up with 'oh, well..we'll just have to wait and see..' It will be a relief for all when we actually know what is happening..difficult to plan holidays, trips, lives etc when the west yorkshire police know more than we do!
So, better go now and find my favourite glass slippers, pumpkin and white mice (carriages at 1am..what will I do after midnight?!)...love to one and all from us all..
Joanna, Toti and boys xxxx

"...Just a quickie/quicky?..."

2007-05-10T14:08:00.000Z

Got tired of waiting for Joanna to have time to write an entry so I decided to do it myself. Let’s see … now … Since the last blog our smallest, bestest boy has turned two! Not only that but he has been promoted from Toddler room to BIG Toddler room! This involves walking up those steep steps to the first floor. He’s really enjoying it but he seems so small compared to the others now. Some of his friends are going up as well though so it’s okay!

Jolyons hormones are all over the place which makes all of our lives much more interesting. He’s enjoying his scouts and during the spring bank holiday he’s going on a camping trip. He’ll be away for three whole nights … without any family members … I think his parents are more worried about it than he is, to be fair. In fact, he’s not worried at all!

Joanna has really got into her job and is incredibly busy, which is why I’m writing this one. She’s definitely settling down in the role of manager and is building a good reputation for herself within the trust … a well deserved one as far as her three boys are concerned.

I’m still waiting for that letter from the police … no not the arrest warrant! … the one that says ‘welcome to work, your start date is …’ The only thing left is for them to finish all the security checks so hopefully that should be sorted soon. Mind you, seeing as they have to check my history in two different countries it might take a while. Icelandic red tape and all that … It might not be till the end of the summer that I start so we’ll see.

Anyway, love to you all … we’re looking forward to my parents coming to visit at the end of this month and I do believe they are looking forward to visiting. Right, I’m going now … bye!

''...a colleague sorely missed...''

2007-04-21T07:48:00.000Z

...a little over a week ago we all returned from a positive and fulfilling trip from our other 'home' in Iceland...positive and fulfilling for J and I, fun for EBB but not so good for T. He enjoyed seeing family but our trip reaffirmed his desire not to return to live in Iceland. Now I always wanted to do that at some point but T finds that the Icelandic lack of manners and poor attitude towards ones fellow man is an unpleasant and unwelcoming experience for those going to live or visit such a calming and beautiful country. Now don't get me wrong, this does not apply to our own family and friends but was certainly one of the issues J had to struggle with whilst at school in Iceland.I find it difficult to cope with the lack of censorship...Iceland only legalised alcohol some 15 or so years ago but it is happy to advert products using inappropriate gestures or words.And not just after the 9pm watershed!
So upon reflection a trip filled with positivity and reflection...but one which only strengthened my resolve to take the boys over again in the future..paradoxically by the end of our trip T could see why I keep talking about taking a career break in a few years and moving over for 6 months or so..I feel it would be good for both boys, good for family and good for intercultural cooperation
;-). I would like to make it a year-long trip but J and I decided if T was not able to come with us 6 months would be good. Yes, J is very much up for this and I think this is indicative of the positive experience he had this visit...thankfully not marred by the very drunken football fans we had to contend with on the flight home..I tell you, it gave T some early hooligan-management experience !!!
As you see, T is now only awaiting for the dotting of the i's and crossing of the t's and he has been given a provisional start date for his police training :-). We are not celebrating just yet..not until his formal letter (and uniform, girls ;-o) arrives so keep watching this space!
Which brings me onto the less joyous title of todays blog...upon my return from our trip, I had to receive some extremely distressing news...my colleague D had not turned up for work one shift and the following day he committed suicide. Now I had only worked with him for a short while but I had the utmost respect for his professional and personable qualities and for the support he was giving me (and others) in a difficult and stressful role. My manager A had worked with him for many years and had to inform each member of staff on an individual basis over the course of a week or so. We attended his funeral on Thursday. His daughter shared a note her father had left for her...'suicide is not a choice...but the only path available when pain overcomes joy'. This week it is depression awareness week. Please take time out to reflect upon this illness that is still so hidden but which affects so many of us.
Rest in Peace our much respected and sorely missed colleague.
Love and peace to you all
J,T,J and E xxxx

"...a confusion of emotions..."

2007-04-10T08:42:00.000Z

Today I was going to write solely about the conflicting emotions I have been experiencing since our (temporary) return to Iceland..I feel so at home here and miss it all so very much...and T can´t understand that. He only remembers J and I being unhappy here but as I point out to him that was not always the case, especially once I started to make friends, get out to work etc. He cannot believe that I would love to move back and the irony is that everywhere we have gone this week, I have met someone that I know..a turnaround from the days when we couldn´t walk down a street in RVK without meeting one of T´s friends.T has also reminded me that he would have lost his job had we stayed and certainly looking at house prices this morning suggets that we would not have been able to buy a house here..but that doesn´t make it seem any clearer :-/. Deb said this trip would be difficult for me and she is not wrong and she is probably right again when she tells me that she doesn´t think we will feel settled in any country for a good few years yet..However, its been good for J who has spent all week renewing old and trusted friendships and good for EB to spend time with his beloved Amma and Afi but oh, oh so confusing for yours truly. Not for T-he is still so sure we made the correct decision and is busy cycling, playing football with J and generally being full of holiday energy ( we undergo a total role reversal when on our holidays..T is up and about and full of beans and I am constantly sleeping and lacking in energy..a different way to recharge the batteries I guess?!)
Anyway, my emotional confusion aside, here is the other subjetc of the day... you may not know this but hideous things are happening in the south Gulf and these are not connected to any invading armies..I ask that you read the following and go to www.ifaw.co.uk and register your support for their annual campaign againt seal hunting. Canada continues to beat seal pups to death or skin them alive..not the calm, serene sight that should meet one when visiting the ice floes but one of death, destruction and mankinds pure greed..
This is an issue of which I have been passionate about for many years...it makes difficult reading...but please do not log off now...we need your help...

"IFAW monitors observing a sealing vessel hunting harp seal pups on the opening day of the Gulf seal hunt witnessed the cruelty of seals being shot in loose ice.
The sealing vessel had to search out small pans of ice to find a few lone seals. Sealers fired at seals on slushy, moving ice. Seals were seen in agony after being shot at and injured, but not instantly killed. One seal was hauled alive onto the deck of the boat with a steel hook before finally being beaten to death.
Tell the world in your own words why such cruelty to animals is wrong!
The lack of ice in the Southern Gulf has led to a mortality rate for baby seals estimated to exceed 90%, yet sealers continued to wipe out the last remaining survivours. They can do this because, despite the tragic effect of global warming on seal breeding habitat, the Canadian government has given sealers permission to kill 270,000 seals.
Visit www.ifaw.org/eu/sealhunt today to read the latest diaries from IFAW monitors on the scene of the hunt. See the latest footage from the scene of the hunt and listen to IFAW monitors describe in their own words the cruelty they are documenting firsthand.
It takes just a few seconds to add your comments and personal profile to our global community. Find out what others from around the world are saying about this ongoing tragedy for seals."

Thankyou for your patience and for your support..
With much love, peace and kindness from
Joanna and her 3 boys xxxxxx

"...gledilega paska..."

2007-04-08T09:50:00.000Z

...we are here in Iceland again and today is Easter Day..chocolate from two countries surrounds the house, Jolyon and Toti are trying to control unnaturally strong sugar rushes, I have come to the end of Lent and am waiting to share our favourite supper this p.m (the thing that Toti makes with tortilla chips and guacamole..the snack you fell in love with last year Erika) and Elijah is wondering what all the fuss is about..until next year perhaps when the significance of all those eggs becomes clearer :-).
Yesterday, we had an open house and got to see lots and lots of our family and friends and we thankyou all so much for coming and making our Easter that bit more special... sorry if we didn´t get to spend enough time with everyone but the memories of our special times with you all remain very close to our hearts and minds. I got the chance to catch up with my girly friends and Letetia and I discovered that we both went to Manchester Uni..as did her her husband Sturla, who lived in the same area of Didsbury that Toti lived in when he was studying in Manchester and (coolest factoid yet) Jolyon and Chanelle were both born in the same hospital..what a small world this Icelandic society turns out to be...
Kremena bought her Mum and baby Yulia, who is now ´cruising´along the furniture and smiling at every passing person. She will be one year old on Friday (Yulia not her Grandma!) and as I just missed her baptism so I now will miss here birthday party
:-(. Lovely to have 3 generations of ladies from one family in one joyful space and with 4 languages shared between them (bulgarian, icelandic, english and french). How cool is that?
Great to finally meet Kate´s partner Oli too..they seem to have both survived their whisky tasting trip back to Kates home country of Scotland ;-)..Kates research post comes to an end this summer but it looks like she will be staying here in Iceland..all the more friends to see when we return to our other home on a more regular basis...
So, all in all, a really lovely time to come back..I still love it here, miss Iceland and would love to move back but Toti refuses to even consider it as a future option..surprising perhaps to some but I was always the one who pushed the move and was reluctant to return to the UK..Toti feels that we have been too scarred as a family to consider living here again and indeed, it is fab to see J so much brighter, happier and calmer. But, hey! never say never thats what I say ;-). I quite fancy T in an Icelandic police uniform in 10 years or so...!
Happy Easter to you all
Lots of cross-cultural love and best wishes from Joanna, Toti, Jolyon and Elijah xxxxxx

" ... An police update ..."

2007-03-28T13:46:00.000Z

Hello all,

I just wanted to brag a bit. This morning I passed the police fitness test! That means I am well on the way to becoming the world famous PC Freysson. Just need an eye test, hearing test, medical exam, security check, GP letter ... okay ... so I'm not quite there yet. But another big step closer.

Everyone is fine here. We are just looking forward to our week in Iceland. It'll be good to see everyone and spend some time with the viking side of the family.

Love,

Toti

''..just time for a quickie ;-)..''

2007-03-26T13:14:00.000Z

...we are online, oncourse for police fitness tests and living with yet another man-of-the-match!
Yes, its all going positively swimmingly...T spent hours sorting the internet and made the rather astute observation that if you don't actually have some additonal computing knowledge, it really would have been nigh on impossible. His year at Decode Genetics helped us all in more ways than one. So its great to be able to to blog, email and get stuff sorted. J had a great football match yesterday and played the whole of his 3rd team match (he prefers it in 3rd team rather than in 2nd team goal, which he finds rather boring) and we all got to watch as it was a home match..lovely to just be able to walk down and surprise him. We then went to Grandmum and Pops' house for Sunday lunch..which was great and tasted even better as we didn't have to cook it :-). Deb and I are busy planning a week in the sun so I am now going to have a quick scout around on the ol'web (see, I told you it was useful;-)..all before going back at work tomorrow for 2 weeks, prior to our trip to RVK again...complete with Schwarz somerset pork mixes for my friend Letetia who is craving a pork casserole!Nice to be able to help out...
Got to go now..the sun is shining and school and nursery finish soon (although not as soon as in Iceland!).
Love to one and all from Joanna and boys xxxxxx

''...beaten to it..!''

2007-03-21T14:29:00.000Z

..thought I'd actually put fingers to keyboard and update you all with our news but I see Toti did that yesterday...
..except that (1) T did not manage to get us online last night and I am getting a sense of cross-cultural deja-vu as we are once again paying for services that we cannot actually access :-/ and (2) my management of aggression course was actually quite good and despite the instructors being male, they were not macho, they did actually feel pain and they didn't make us do any role-play :-). I am quite happy now to attend my annual updates!
All round, my new job is not trteating me too badly..I have been given lots of opportunity to do the things I enjoy such as practice development and service user/carer involement work, I seem to be doing ok at this leadership bit and I have discovered a knack for off-duty (write it, sneak it onto shelf and finish shift very quickly!!!).
So, whilst I am still looking for a more challenging job and promotion I am no longer desperate and happy to do what I am doing 'til the right post comes along.
And as T may soon be taking an entirely new career path(fingers crossed for the next part of his police application) my job may need to be nearer home or fewer hours so its good to stay where I am, build up trust and reliability and see what the future holds. We are all very proud of T for getting this far so soon and as he doesn't find it easy to get up in the mornings I reckon he deserves to pass the physical test purely on the basis of those 6am starts on cold, cold mornings!
As T said EBB is doing well, happy at nursery, bi-lingual and toddling along into childhood.
J is doing good too although defintiitely not there yet and we do still have some behavioural issues that rear up from time to time but nothing we can't cope with (unless you are his Dad who struggles with the practising teenagerdom!). Great to see him out and about with friends though and having a more fulfilling and happier life. He has been picked for the school football team too :-).
I am off now for a few days..all those extra days leave courtesy of agenda for change (we get more than the police you know?!) and I am hoping to get down to some gardening at some point. I sorted the garage the other day too and we only have a few boxes left to unpack..impressive hey? The mark of a well-travelled woman!
Speaking of which, only 2 weeks until we visit Iceland...hope to catch up with some of you then and there...
love to you all fromus all..J and 3 boys xxxxxx

"... Just sneaking one in ..."

2007-03-20T09:52:00.000Z

Hello folks,

Toti here, just sneaking in a quick update for you all. Joanna is enjoying work more and more and really enjoys the vibe in Dewsbury, which is great! She's not enjoying today though because it's the first day of a two day 'Management of Aggression' course. Too much macho role-play for our Joanna.

More good news. I've passed the police assessment centre! Phew ... that was some non-macho role-play. I've got my fitness test a week on wednesday so I'm busy getting up at 6 in the morning to get some training in before the breakfast-getting-dressed-and-going-to-school routine starts. If I pass this I still need to pass a medical and an extensive security check. All those skeletons are coming out of the closet now :-). Once all this is done, probably in a few months time, and if I am successful ... I'll become a fully fledged (probationary) Police Constable ... PC Freysson ... it's got a ring to it, hasn't it? ... Chief Inspector Freysson ... woah ... one step at a time, matey boy! I've also joined a local rock band so that's good fun and healthy for the soal.

Jolyon is making plenty of friends on our lovely estate and we're meeting the neighbours. Elijah is loving nursery so everyone is more or less very happy. Anyway, I'll say goodbye now ... goodbye. We're not online at home yet but I hope to sort this out tonight. Then the blogs should become more regular.

Love,

The Freysson-Burton anglo-saxon vikings.

''...home, sweet, home..''

2007-02-25T12:35:00.000Z

Hi y'all...it's been a long time since my last blog but times have been a changin' here in God's country (Yorkshire, to the uninitiated!). Briefly (cos I currently have a poorly little boy who wants only to sit on Mummy's knee) we had to move out of my parents approx 3 weeks ago (so as to maintain relationships), we moved into my Grandads but then had to leave as it was too disruptive for him and spent the last week of our homelessness in a hotel..but it was all worth it as we are now proud homeowners again and if you look at the link for the family photos you will see some pics, from when Freyr and Kristin visited last weekend..they arrived to a sea of boxes and left to the sight and smells of a finally-clean kitcehen (thankyou Afi F!). My parents also helped and we have all spent the week off work and school with T and I emptying boxes, filling landfill and making gentle inroads into the pile of things still in the garage.
My dear friend Deb visited too on Friday and that was way cool..lots of girlie natters and snuggles for her from EBB. Nobody has seen much of J but that's cool too, as he in engrossed in football, sports schemes and making new firends :-).
Workwise, T and I plod on but both know we will not be staying in our current posts long-term..T has his big police test in just under 2 weeks and if he gets in I will be looking for a part-time post nearer to home..I really fancy leaving the NHS and doing advocacy or something similar to my Icelandic 'work'..just watch this space...although it may be a bit ad-hoc for the time being as we are having a sense of deja-vu and having problems getting our phone connected and of course, without good ol' BT, we can't get new and shiny broadband and..you know the rest..
We are off to visit Island in 6 weeks and in 7 weeks Joy B is released! We can't wait to see eveyone in our other home-country and can't wait to have a pussy cat wandering around our new home...
Love to you all from us no-longer-homeless folks..Hope to see you soon..J, T, J and E xxxxxx
PS apologies for the terrible construction of my sentences in this blog but I am having to work at warp-speed here!xx

''...still waiting...''

2007-01-21T10:49:00.000Z

Hello everyone and I'm sure the know the feeling...waiting for other people to do what you need/want them to do (like me actually putting an entry on the blogsite?!)..but that is what the Burton-Freysson family is well and truly stuck with at the moment..and it won't surprise you to hear that it is solicitors we are waiting for..and our lovely new house. T has been really great and is regularly mithering the solicitor, as we really do need to be moving at the end of January (for practical aswell as emotional reasons!) but we have not quite given up hope and are dearly hoping that my birthday present for the 1st Feb will be lots of packing boxes in our new and shiny home.
I especially feel that this is what is needed to help us settle again..I am very unsettled, mood up-and-down, lonely and unfulfilled and I really do need a base to put down some roots and relax and reflect upon what has gone and what is to come.Whilst I enjoy some days at work, there are others that I don't and I swing between agreeing to stay where I am for a year, to being desperate to leave asap.I know that in-patient care is not for me but I also know that this is good management experience..but it is easier than I expected and I am better at it than I imagined so perhaps it isn't turning out to be the professional challenge I anticipated? And whilst Band 7 posts beckon, they are so far removed from clinical work that I am more and more reluctant to consider them.So, what it has helped me to do is realise that I would like to move into either practice development or service user/carer involvment work (still my professional baby!) and I think that come later in the year I will probably be looking to move out of the NHS and into advocacy or charitable organisations..something I have thought of for a long time, but have never felt strong enough to do. The NHs comfort zone is not needed anymore..especially as the NHS isn't the safety blanket it used to be where long-term careers are involved?
T is enjoying his job and I am envious of him being out and about and working directly with carers.But he has got through the first part of his police application and will attend an assessment centre soon for the second part (probably the most psychologically demanding). He is still struggling with his knee though so I am trying to help him to get it fixed (we need your help Adrian!). I am tryng to get back into a fitness routine too..ahh, for a set of weights and a yoga mat..as with most things, packed in a container awaiting the removal date...!
So full circle...yep, that move really does have so many positive implications for us...keep your fingers crossed...it will be great for the boys too but J and EBB are really settling at school and nursery and that is such a relief. J did well in his exams and E has stopped crying when we leave him in toddler room, so at least 2 boys doing well..they need their own space tho..I'll second that..!!!
Best Wishes to every one of our regular and occasional readers..hope to see some of you soon..lots of love from J and 3 boys xxxxxx :-)

"...desperation, isolation and personal space..."

2007-01-06T17:39:00.000Z

...it's been a while I know, but I returned to the land of the employed on Christmas Day (!) and have been working fulltime, finding little opportunity to actually reach the PC (it is in the boys bedroom, unfortunately..)...so the entries may be few and far between for now but I don't intend to resign like my ex-blogging husband!
So now we are all trying to adjust to yet another change in routine, made that bit more difficult by the fact that I am now working shifts for the 1st time in 10 years..J is finding that bit hard to understand, as is his baby brother and my body is now so confused that it spends most of the night looking at the clock...
..but I have a very understanding ward manager and modern matron and they are helping me find that work-life balance and whilst my new role has been a bit of an eye-opener after working in the same NHS Trust for the preceeding 10 years, I am starting to settle down and enjoy it.
It's strange being back in a ward environment but the leadership/management experience is proving a challenge and that is what I needed to work on developing, in order to finally move on within my profession and achieve (at least initially) that elusive band 7 post.
The sale of our house is moving well too and we seem to be oncourse to move at the end of the month which is what we all need...we are all struggling with not having a home and base of our own and, unfortunately are tending to take it out on each other- although I am relieved to say we are getting on fine with my parents. J needs his own friends and his independence, as do we all, but it was good news that J went back to school on Thursday and made a new friend...who has just started at his school too. So a common bond was forged and 2 lonely boys happily built a bridge across the sea of lost souls ;-).
EBB is enjoying nursery although is finding it hard to understand where Mummy is sometimes (3 early shifts this week, so I was up and gone before the boys were even stirring) and that makes me feel guilty.So I am not sure how long I will continue to work shifts..but that is at least a year down the line yet...
Lots more to settle, sort and rectify in the mean time...so keep watching this space and I will try to update as often as I can...
Love to all in Iceland, England and the rest...we think of you all often and miss our happy times and our friends out there near the Arctic circle...
With best wishes and lots of personal space from J and 3 boys xxxxxx :-)

"...So here it is Merry Christmas, everybody's having fun ..."

2006-12-25T13:24:00.000Z

Yuletide greetings to one and all from the anglo-saxon/viking family. And here's hoping father Christmas brought you everything you wished for. My wishes included more peace and love in the world so I'm still waiting to see if that arrives next year. As usual, it's been a hectic week. One with a definate lack of personal space for all. It is very strange for me to be back in the same village as I grew up in. It was comforting and reassuring to go to midnight mass last night. Toti asks me what I pray about ...

Up to Christmas we've had a sprained ankle (Jolyon) we've had a delay in confirmation of our mortgage approval but best of all, amma Kristin and afi Freyr came up for the day on the 23rd. It was especially nice to see that Elijah hadn't forgotten his grandparents and everyone was heartbroken when it was time to leave. Toti recons Freyr and Kristin should have a years career break and live in England. It brought home to us how hard it is having loved ones in two different countries. I am now obsessed with booking a holiday in Iceland.

Yesterday we celebrated the Icelandic Christmas which includes singing Icelandic Christmas song (Toti singing solo), dancing around the Christmas tree (Elijah spun in circles) and opening the presents afterwards. The boys got a present or two each to open. At 05.45 this morning, when two boys were bouncing on our bed shouting 'Merry Christmas!' Toti commented that in Iceland, all the kids would be asleep at this point. Maybe we'll head towards the Icelandic tradition in the future(!) Elijah is making us feel very youthful falling in love with his new tri-cycle and Jolyon is making us feel old, falling in love with his new mobile phone!

I get little surges of excitement about starting work on Wednesday (I'm actually employed as of today) and we look forward to Jolyon getting back to school and meeting other kids and likewise with Elijah and his nursery.

This blog is actually a communal blog by Toti and myself ... yes, Toti is the one walking all round the street with the families new digital video camera, courtesy of Freyr and Kristin, determined to follow their instructions and get plenty of pictures of our two best boys. That, and Jolyon filming on his new mobile (which is posher than his parents) means that nothing in the household gets missed ... nothing!

Anyway, a Happy Christmas to all our friends and family, near and far, and may next year be the best one ever ...

Lots of love,

Joanna, Toti, Jolyon Isaac and Elijah Benedikt
xxxxxxxxxx

''...just hear those sleigh-bells jingle..''

2006-12-18T14:02:00.000Z

...'cos it's Christmas soon and it looks its going to be a white one again in Iceland and a wet one again here in Yorkshire..some things don't change ;-).
Its been a hectic 2 weeks, with everything hurtling along at breakneck speed but I think we are getting to grips with things slowly..T has started work today and I am starting on the 27th Dec, J is at sports scheme at school for 3 days, which will help him continue to bond with his new school-friends and EBB is starting to get to know his new nursery in Wakefield..it must have been strange for him at his first visit, as he is of an age where he is more familiar with hearing Icelandic spoken, esp at nursery. But everyone welcomed him with open arms and the room leader impressed me by starting to use sign-language with him too.
We have also had a offer accepted on a house we dearly want to buy and so we are keeping all our fingers and toes crossed that it will all go through with few hitches, and we can move in January?
Emotionally we are all up-and-down..J is struggling and I am struggling and T is strugling with us both struggling which is why we dearly want the house buying stuff to go through asap. But it is early days again and a new start for us again so we don't expect it to be all roses around the door immediately.
But we do want some Christmas cheer and we are all looking forward to Toti's parents visiting for the day on Saturday (they are in London for the festive period) and celebrating my mum's 70th birthday on Christmas Eve and Toti reaching the gradn ol' age of 33 on Boxing Day!
So it should keep us busy..I normally start my Christmas shopping in August (really!) and finish it by October (yes! really!) so I am especially proud of the fact that I have started it and completed it in the 2 weeks since our arrival.Amongst everything else that we have had to sort...
Love and festive cheer to one and all..from J and 3 boys xxxxxx :-)

"...I don't think we're in Reykjavik anymore, Toti...!"

2006-12-08T12:54:00.000Z

Hello one and all, from near and far, from Iceland to the UK and beyond...
It's been an even more hectic fortnight than usual as we have (very casually said, I'll have you note..)... moved out of our RVK home, had the removals guys in and out again, moved to Freyr and Kristins, flew out to the UK, moved in with Grandmum and Pops, Jolyon started school, Toti got a job that he is really looking forward to, Joanna still awaiting her CRB check, Christmas do tonight with the 'girls from the office,' James' party for Jolyon tomorrow...phew! need I say anymore ;-)....
So it is a real trip down memory lane for me, as I explore the places where I grew up, went to school, kissed certain boys ;-)..together with the places that have changed almost beyond recognition..and trying desperately to familiarise my husband with his new home area, albeit with absolutely no sense of direction for one of us at least (Toti!).Its fun and it is definitely a different pace of life over here, on the right side of the Pennines and as Deb said, maybe we will find what we were looking for when we moved to Iceland, only a little closer to home.
Jolyon has settled really well into his new school in Wakefield..back in uniform (and in a duffle coat ..hands up all of you who had to wear one at school too!) and so much happier and more chilled. Toti and I also feel really positive re the whole vibe of the school and everyone is clearly part of one big family, where everyone cares for each other and everyone enjoys going to school each day. In fact, on Jolyon's first day one of the girls from year 7 realised we were new, waited for us and told us so many positives about the school that she should be employed as their head of publicity :-).
And to continue with the positives, Toti had an interview and was offerred a part-time post working with a charity which supports carers..a new challenge for him certainly and one that he is really looking forward to. In fact, he had another interview for a post in supported housing and decided he much preferred the one he has taken. The post will involve assessing carers needs in order to design a support package to meet those needs and the management of the carer support workers.He actually starts in just over a week as he can work in the office until his CRB check comes through..
...which is where I am upto..still awaitiing my own CRB check, 6 weeks after my job offer and I can't start until that comes through..I keep waiting and waiting and my new boss keeps hoping and hoping...
Which brings me to our littlest Burton..who is confused by all this upset but is doing OK. He had T and I almost in tears yesterday as he talked about Huldar and Isabella, so we are hoping to find a nice nursery for him asap so he can start to make new friends. Also, as T and I both have job offers we can now start to house-hunt seriously, as we so want to get our boys settled and happy in their new and permanent home asap.
So, off I go now to check out on those very nursery places, prior to preparing for my night out..T will be kept busy helping Father Christmas and wrapping presents..so that should keep him occupied until J and I get back from Lancs tomorrow p.m ;-)
I hope you all continue to read and enjoy my blog..looking forward to seeing you, talking with you and remembering you all..
Lots of love and festive greetings from Joanna and 3 boys xxxxxx

''..on the road again...'''

2006-11-29T10:13:00.000Z

..but currently sitting with my feet on the ground, grabbing time for a quick blog...
So, yes, we are on the road again and seemed to have covered quite a lot of miles..Deb was here over the weekend and I showed her the Golden Circle..it is a long drive but worth it to see a different part of Iceland and Gullfoss and Geysir..it was sooo cold at the waterfall (Gullfoss) that our faces were actually painful to touch..it made me smile despite the discomfort, as it was a zillion times colder than when Erika and Derrien visited in May and Erika couldn´t stand the cold then...your face would have been a picture at -7 degrees (+the wind-chill factor!) girl ;-).
Deb then proceeded to lead me astray (well it was mutual really!) and we had a whole hour doing a really girly shop at the geyser centre and I came away with a fantastic coat..now I have been to this shop several times but am usually with small and growing people so don't get to do such luxuries..it was fab and we even managed to squeeze in seeing the famous sites too!
So Deb left for the UK on Monday and the removals guys arrived and have whizzed along with the packing as I knew they would..I have been a tad anxious re Joy but she seems to have got here bounce back today and has made friends with the new, temporary residents on Framnesvegur.She flies out to quarantine on Friday :-(.We took EBB to the house yeserday to help him understand what is happening and to let him see Joy as they are great pals and he was very upset afterwards which upset Tóti...he finishes with Huldur tomorrow too,which will be another upset and all this is making us grown-ups feel a tad guilty as we are uprooting our boys again and won't even be moving our own home in the UK... but we are a strong four-some and I know we will all be ok...
So it is a week of saying goodbyes again..I finish my teaching on Saturday, Tóti finished work yesterday, Jolyon finishes school tomorrow...and so many lovely people to miss...
..and then another new beginning...I am still awaiting a start date for my new job as the CRB lost some of my information (grrr), Tóti has 2 interviews next week and is really up for these ones so we are hoping we get a positive result and Jolyon starts his new school on Tuesday..incidentally everyone is saying how different J is now and we are sooo proud of how he has come out of the other side of all this a stronger and happier person...
Strength and happiness to you all..lots of love from Joanna and 3 boys xxxxxx

''...all going swimmingly..''

2006-11-22T11:02:00.000Z

(except of course its a bit too chilly, a bit too snowy and a bit too windy to actually go swimming....)
Yep, as my gorgeous husband says on his blogsite (as he beats me to it each and every day), the Burton-Freysson household is now all feeling positive, happy and organised..I have my lists so am soooo happy, Toti has his list and is soooo ?!!!??**? and the boys are enjoying having no lists, no cares and feeling jolly setteld..which is a bit of a shame as we will be uprooting them again..but hey! we've done it once, twice, thrice..we will survive!!
I am feeling better after yet another stomach bug (got a good telling off from Deb-Joanna style- about making sure I get myself sorted properly once we are in the UK) and am just about eating again..the old Jolyon has returned with the comment ''the other Jolyon didn't have this much energy''...Toti is mourning the passing of The Beast (actually I did like it, thankyou-very-much!) and the Littlest Burton has discovered the joy of snow and sledges and doing a really coool impression of a WW2 airline ace in his snow-suit...
So nothing much else to say, except that my list and my growing feelings of contentment are calling...
see you soon..lots of love from J and 3 boys xxxx

''...a time for reflection...''

2006-11-12T13:34:00.000Z

..we have been back in Iceland for just under a week and we all seem to be experiencing a whole range of much more positive emotions, tinged with the inevitable sadness of leaving those people and things we do actually like and love here ;-) !...
I know I keep going on about it but I will soooo miss the fantastic swimming pools in Iceland...on Friday pm T and I attempted to go swimming but the wind had been so strong the previous 24 hours that huge rocks had been blown from the beach onto the seaside walkways and we had been warned not to travel unless absolutely necessary, so even I admitted defeat and T and I went home (the boys were staying at F and K's), looked at houses for sale near Wakefield and got up ridiculously early on Saturday morning and went swimming under the light of the full moon, surrounded by the darkness and the snow..it was out-of-this-world and I will have to say it again..I will soooo miss the Icelandic swimming pools!!!
After our early start I was teaching and as I walked back home afterwards, I reflected upon how much I have learnt and gained from this experience..I will sooo miss Ann and Letetia (my fellow teachers) and I will sooo miss my class and I will sooo miss not continuing next term..all this after I spent my first week dreading the lesson and convinced I was absolutely rubbish afterwards! I tell you, after teaching a class of practising teenagers, student nurses seem like a doddle!!!
Which will be good as I will no doubt be doing a bit more of that in my new job...I'm looking forward to being back in the nursing world and really looking forward to be able to focus upon the clinical aspect of my role (the bit I really enjoy) and I am really looing forward to doing more 'hands-on' as us old hands say!
We are trying to find a part-time job for T so he can have more time at home and help keep our collective work-life balance..he is even keen on doing night duty (something he's always avoided before!!).
It will be good for him and good for the boys who see far too little of him..J has been seeing a doctor to help him cope with his experiences and feelings over the past year and she recommended he and T spend more time together..she also said how well J had done with all his sessions and the techniques he has been taught..apparently this is the age when all the synapses etc in our brain start to grow and learn, so coping mechanisms etc that are established now are the ones which remain with us throughout our lives..this is also the most difficult age for children to move, for that same reasson..ahhh, hindsight..what a wonderful thing? So we are all working to help J to practise and grow coping strategies that are of a clalmer and more positive nature and I must say he is definitely happier, calmer and more tolerant. Interestingly, the lady who has helped us said that the fact we are moving back to the Uk has just about held Jolyon together and without it he could have really struggled to recover from his recent experiences. So reassurring news, both from one doctor and from one practising teenager, that we have made the correct decision in returning to the UK. And J is even seeing our move to Yorkshire in a more positive light...he enjoyed seeing his friends in Mossley but acknowledged that people change, as he has and so can now see that a new start near Grandmum and Pops is not such a bad thing afterall ;-).
So another positive entry with not too much focus on the people we are sooo going to miss when we leave..as J and I walked to Kristjan-Geirs this afternoon we both agreed that we now know more people, feel more like real family and actually have friends here in our adopted homeland...positive experiences all round then and many more peole to love when we return as often as we can in the future (just for holidays mind!).
Going to chill with my gorgeous (did I just say that??!) husband now...
Love and peace to you all...did you all remember Remembrance day? I was sooo proud that my class respected the 2 minute silence, even after only learning about it an hour before..how cool is that?
Stay in touch dear friends and family..Best Wishes from Joanna and 3 boys xxxxxx :-)

''...two outta three ain't bad...!''

2006-11-08T11:34:00.000Z

Hi everyone!
Do you remember the song with the above title, as sung by Metaloaf on Bat out of Hell? Well, I have decided that that is the soundtrack to our Yorkshire trip...and one that we won't forget as I bought his greatest hits and started to introduce Jolyon to his music (''I like Rock music Mum, not Heavy Metal''..so I guess he meets the criteira...!)
So as already divulged on Toti's blogspot we landed at 9pm Monday night and I was in deepest, darkest South Yorkshire at 9.30 the next morning for probably one of the hardest interviews I have ever done..I didn't particularly like the vibe and came away really very demoralised and convinced I wouldn't get any job, ever..so was most surprised when I was informed that I had impressed the panel anmd it was down to references etc..later, I had some treatment from Adrian that afternoon and he did some guided imagery together with my reiki and reflexology etc and it helped sooo much..thankyou Adrian :-)...so the following day (after a welcome curry with girl-friends) I went off to 2 more interviews...
...they were both in-patienty posts..something I havn't done for 10 years since becoming a CPN and I was really up for the second one..and then I went to the first one, had traumas with the IT equipment for my presentation and remained cool, calm and impressive, loved the vibe and decided I really wanted it..the second interview went well too but i don't think the job would have been as much of a challenge for me and it was a long way from where we plan to live...so here I am..clinical team leader on an acute admisison ward for older people with mental health problems..really excited and ready for the challenge..I feel that I can really use my community experience to work to enhance the in-patient journey and it will be good management experience too..ideal for my next career plan which is a community team leader in a few years time ;-)..now it is my turn to have a career and it feels great!!!!!
I met with more office girlies the following day ('hi! girls..see you at the Christmas do!') and Jolyon went to his new school and was really positive about both his new school and his current one so that is a good sign..I really liked his new school too..interestingly I was talking to his geography teacher who was talking about glaciers, volcanoes and killing whales...we have now sent 50,000 messages of protest to the Icelandic govt and many of us have received that eml with so many inaccuracies..you remember, the 'sustanable' one..we are aiming to send 100,000 messages so if you havn't already done so, go to ifaw.org.uk (the International Fund for Animal Welfare) and give your support...
Off to catch up with job stuff for T now..he had a bit of a shock when he didn't get any of his jobs but as he writes on his blog its been a good learning experience..also its snowing here and it was very strange driving down Reykjanesbraut fron the airport to RVK..didn't feel like coming home but didn't feel like being on holiday..also sad to be leaving family and friends again too..so a stange in-between time for us all at the moment, but not long until we start on our new chapter of our life-journey and I am employed...a proper nurse once again!!!!
Take care dearest friends and family
All our love from J and 3 boys xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

"...ever met a politician you can really trust...?"

2006-10-27T09:51:00.000Z

...hmm...I can't actually think of one can you -although I'm sure Toti's grandfather was a sincere soul :-)...but if you read the entry below (a letter I received about Icelands resumption of commercial whaling) and if you read Toti's blog (which actually seems to offer facts about this abhorrent practice, rather than political sleaze) it may make it even harder to trust these people whom we hand over such power too..long live democracy? well, at least without sleazy political spin, thankyou very much....
....on a more mundane but no less emotional note (cos I am always full of positive emotion for my Best Boys) you may soon see EBB on Japanese billboards and hoardings..under the title "cutey boy photographed in Iceland!". You see, yesterday Eli B and I decided to go and walk to the very famous pond in the centre of RVK so we could feed the ducks ("quack-quack..brahh-bradhh!") ..we have bi-lingual ducks in our household I'll have you know ;-)...and as we crossed the road near the council offices, we became embroiled in a coachload of Japanese tourists heading for their next stop..EBB stood for ages just watching all these people milling around him and a very nice japanese gentleman noticed him watching everyone and absorbing the events unfolding around us and asked if he could take Elijah's photo...and there we stayed for about 10 minutes whilst the littlest Burton was very gracefully passed between a whole coachload of visitors taking his photo and being given lots and lots of cuddles and kisses!! Eli B handled himself very well (not afraid of the limelight this musician's son!) and the coach driver was very patient too!!! So another star is born in the Burton-Freysson household..but we knew that lready! :-)
On another positive note Jolyon went to see a lady yesterday to help him talk about his feelings and it clearly did him a world of good and he was very chilled and jolly for the rest of the day..he has to work on positve thinking and getting rid of bad thoughts with good ones and he will see her again after our trip to the UK. It was really good to see (and somewhat of a relief). I am glad I suggested this course of action..sometimes one just needs to talk to someone other than ones parents doesn't one?
Anyway, must be off now..if I was my gorgeous husband I would now whitter on, in the cutest terms ;-) about a possible break in blog-transmissions whilst we are vsiiting the UK..but then you, dear readers, are used to that from this side of the blogging fence...and even better, I will be seeing most of you next week so I can blog in person over girly currys and pub lunches! (sorry for the people I won't get to see :-(..hope to see you all soon?)...so blog off and have a great weekend all of you!!
lots of love and peace to you all, from Joanna,Toti,Jolyon and Elijah xxxxxx

"...the man protesteth too much..?"

2006-10-26T14:54:00.000Z

Thank you for your correspondence concerning Icelands policy onwhaling. I wish to assure you that Iceland has no intention of catching any ofthe endangered species of whales, killed on a large scale by other whaling nations in the past. Icelands resumption of sustainable whaling only involves abundant stocks and is linked to Icelands overall policy ofsustainable utilisation of marine resources.
Several countries catch whales, most of them on a much bigger scale than Iceland. The biggest whaling countries among the members of theInternational Whaling Commission (IWC) are the United States, Russia,Norway, Japan and Greenland. The whaling operations practiced by all those countries, as well as Iceland, are sustainable and legal and in accordance with the rules of the IWC. Iceland fully appreciates the need for careful conservation of marine resources. Our economy depends on those resources as marine products constitute around 60% of Icelands revenue from exported goods and almost 40% of all Icelandic exported goods and services. Disruption of the ecological balance in Icelandic waters due to overfishing or other reasons could have catastrophic consequences for the livelihood of Icelanders. As you may know, Iceland was among the first countries in the world to extend its fishery limits to 200 nautical miles in the year 1975, in order to put an end to the uncontrolled fishing around Iceland by trawlers from other countries.
Since then Iceland has taken great care in maintaining balanced and sustainable fishing in Icelandic waters by enforcing an effective management system for various fish species including cod, herring and capelin. Iceland takes pride in its pioneering work in this field, which has been emulated by many countries in the world wishing to avoid unsustainable practices. The annual catch quotas for fishing and whaling are based on recommendations by scientists, who regularly monitor the status of the stocks, thus ensuring that the activity is sustainable.
For a number of years, Iceland has acknowledged the need forscientific research on whales to gain a better understanding of theinteraction between the different whale stocks and other marine species andthe role of whales in the marine ecosystem. Therefore, Iceland beganimplementing a research plan on minke whales in 2003. So far, 161 minkewhales have been taken and we look forward to the completion of theresearch plan in 2007 when the sample size of 200 minke whales has been obtained. Whaling quotas will take into account the number of whales that are taken in the implementation of the research plan, ensuring that thetotal number remains well below sustainable levels.
There are many different whale species and stocks in the world's oceans. Some are in a poor state and in need of protection. However, many whale populations are far from being threatened or endangered. The totalstock size of Central North-Atlantic minke whales, for example, is close to70,000 animals. Of those, around 43,600 live in Icelandic coastal waters.Fin whales in the Central North Atlantic number around 25,800 animals. Both estimates have been agreed by consensus by the Scientific Committees of theInternational Whaling Commission (IWC) and the North-Atlantic Marine MammalCommission (NAMMCO).
Icelands decision to resume sustainable whaling involves takes of 30 minke whales and nine fin whales, during the current fishing year which ends on 31 August 2007. This will bring the total catches of minke whales in Icelandic waters during this fishing year to 69, including the minke whales taken in completing the research plan. These takes equal less than0.2% of the number of minke whales in Icelandic coastal waters, an even smaller fraction of the total stock, and less than 0.04% of fin whales inthe Central North Atlantic. Both are considered to be close to pre-exploitation levels and estimated sustainable annual catch levels are 200 and 400 fin and minke whales respectively. As the catch limits now issued are much lower, the catches will not have a significant impact on whale stocks. A responsible management system will ensure that the catchquotas set will not be exceeded. The catches are clearly sustainable andtherefore consistent with the principle of sustainable development.
Icelands resumption of sustainable whaling is legal under international law. At the time of the re-entry of Iceland into the IWC,Iceland made a reservation with respect to the so-called moratorium on commercial whaling. As a part of that reservation, Iceland committed itself not to authorise commercial whaling before 2006 and thereafter not to authorise such whaling while progress was being made in negotiating theIWCs Revised Management Scheme (RMS), a management framework for commercial whaling.
At the IWCs Annual Meeting in 2005, Iceland went on record expressing its regret that no progress was being made in the RMS discussions. At this years IWC Annual Meeting, Icelands judgement of the situation was reconfirmed as the IWC generally agreed that talks on an RMS had reached an impasse. As a result, Icelands reservation has taken effect. Therefore, Iceland is no longer bound by the so-called moratoriumon commercial whaling. In this respect, Iceland is in the same position as other IWC members that are not bound by the moratorium.
Iceland was one of the first countries in the world to realize the importance of a conservation approach to whaling. As signs ofoverexploitation of whales emerged early in the last century, Iceland declared a ban on whaling for large whales around Iceland in 1915. Whaling was not resumed until 1948, except for limited catches 1935-1939. Strict rules and limitations were applied to whaling in Iceland from 1948 to 1985 when all commercial whaling was halted again following a decision by theIWC.
Iceland has been a leading advocate for international cooperation in ensuring sustainable use of living marine resources, including whales. This has been the position taken by Iceland within the IWC, based on theInternational Convention for the Regulation of Whaling from 1946. The stated role of the IWC, according to its founding Convention, is to provide for the proper conservation of whale stocks and thus make possiblethe orderly development of the whaling industry.
I hope that this information will be useful to you in understandingIcelands position on sustainable whaling. You may rest assured, that the desire to ensure the conservation of the whale stocks around Iceland andelsewhere is fully shared by the Icelandic Government.
Sincerely yours,Stefán Haukur Jóhannesson
Ambassdor of Iceland

''..whale-watching..you'll be lucky...''

2006-10-23T18:54:00.000Z

...its been a positive day for me mood-wise (I was even singing to the radio, which I havn't done in ages)but my mood gets seriously angry when I see photos of slaughtered whales all over the front of the 2 biggest Icelandic newspapers..if you don't know, Iceland has defied the IWC and starting commercial whale hunting and everywhere I look I see whalers and politicians hacking at bodies of these benign and beautiful creatures...its all money orientated and it just defies belief...the wonderfully intelligent and sensitive whales have been on this planet far longer than any of us humans and yet we continue to persecute them, so their dead flesh can go onto the plates of a few misguided tourists and a few more misguided Japanese businessmen. Everywhere one goes in RVK, one can see the sea and as I enjoyed a cycle this p.m, all I could envisage was blood and destruction...I have campaigned for animal welfare issues since I was first given a membership to the RSPCA for my 7th birthday, so now I have to say...don't visit Iceland on your holiday, hit the politicians where it hurts cos all they and the whalers care about are their bank balances, protest in whatever way you can...
...as you can see, this issue creates great emotional conflict inside me..I want to share this beautiful country with as many paople as possible but I want everyone to respect this beauty...dams destroying bird breeding grounds, men (and I use the term loosely) murdering whales with steel harpoons...is Iceland going backwards? We have been the unfortunate victims of such prejudice and short-sightedness, but at least we can speak up...a politician recently said Iceland is now the North Korea of the IWC membership committee...I think that says it all....
Protest Icelanders, Protest Potential Visitors...I, for one, want to share this land with my children and their children..we are part of this community...I don't want to leave my descendants a land of desolation and destruction, do you?
Peace and love to all, Joanna x

''..disease and desperation!...''

2006-10-19T13:20:00.000Z

..its been a while..again, I know..but my body and psyche are getting to the end of their tether and have been telling me for a while to give it all up and go back home...so what happens?..well, I keep fighting it, suffer from chronic coughs and sore throats, fall prey to a nasty tummy bug, which only affected others for a few days and landed me in bed for a week...suffer from having poor quality sleep, little appetite, low mood etc etc...but I finally gave in and we are going home on the 3rd December and I can't wait!!!
It may be back to my mum and dads house and back to unemployment and our cat in quarantine and ridiculous removal costs but hey! its all relative and I will be near friends and family and have a Christmas 'do' to look forward to with 'the girls from the office'and we won't have to worry about how to ship the Christmas presents over and, hopefully, our boys will settle and our biggest bestest boy will be happy again...
Jolyon is still anxious re our return as he really wants to live in Mossley but I am sure once he is settled at his new school he will feel some sense of belonging again.I am looking forward to getiing back to work although this is proving a tad difficult as some Trusts will offer telephone interviews and some won't even change the day of a face-to-face interview but I keep applying and have a couple of interviews set up so far and hopefully at laest one in the pipeline. I'm even looking in the private sector and at staff nurse posts on the wards..a regular job is all I desire at the mo...just so we can get a mortgage... wish us both luck!!
Jolyon has just phoned and has had a really good day and Elijah and i are off to the intercultural centre this p.m so I can tell all the mums how to look after themselves..not sure I'm a great example of health at the moment but I can talk-the-talk even if I can't walk-the-walk at the moment;-)!!
So better go and get organised..its absolutely freezing here so can't wait to get back to the English autumn!
Love to you all from us all..hope to see you all soon..J,T,J and E xxxxxx

''...forgiveness and patience...''

2006-10-04T14:39:00.000Z

...yesterday was an exceptionally difficult day for J...and for his principal, who basically had to speak to each member of her school and finally get to the bottom of what has ben happening between Jolyon and some of the girls in his class...its a long,lonely story but involves Jolyon being teased and picked upon and his responding in a manner which is quite alien to him...and as it transpired, it all was a bit more deep-seated than just classroom conflict and was spread throughout the school. So all the children got together and said their piece and apologised and today is (hopefully) the start of a period of forgiveness.
I don't envy J's principal for having to deal with this-we have been dealing with just one unhappy, angry young man and not an entire school-full and its wearing us down..but I do wonder if the more relaxed icelandic educational system is partly to blame for what J has experienced? There is very little supervision at breaktimes-when most of the conflict occurs and physical boundaries are not as strict..at J's first icelandic school there appeared to be little if no understanding of the bullying he was experiencing..at his school now at least the teachers have acknowledged the problem and started to address it..it doesn't always fill you with confidence though, when Jolyon tells you he has actually learnt to roller-skate in his extra icelandic lesson (really)..we have not explored that one any further!
We have to remind ourselves sometimes that J is back in the private school system..its still not strict enough for J-he needs firm, clear boundaries and that is why I made the decision years ago to keep him within the private schools system. Toti and i both agree that both boys will receive a better standard of education in the UK..for EBB too, the focus here seems to be on play (remember children don't go to primary school here until they are 6) which is fine at the moment but he is a bright little boy who picks things up in the blink of an eye..and that means that he too will soon need more of a challenge -one which the english education system (certainly in the schools we have used) achieves with a gold star...
...and as an aside...come to think of it, the ol' NHS ain't too bad either..remember when we were charged for my attending A+E?..well, yesterday T went to the dentist for one filling and repairs on 2 more..the cost??only an amalgam-free £220
:-0 ..neeedless to say I have cancelled my appointment for now...at least until after next payday!Makes your private dental care seem a bargain doesn't it Erika?!
Anyway..off to more lesson planning...love to one and all...love J and 3 boys xxxxxx

''...that monday-morning feeling on a sunday night...''

2006-10-02T09:28:00.000Z

...and thats never a good thing...but thats how I feel on a sunday p.m...I start to get all anxious and unsettled and I know it is because our weekend family time is coming to an end and the next day everyone will go off to their respective work, school etc and I will be at home with little to stimulate or interest..
don't get me wrong..I do have things to do, such as lesson planning and sorting things for our move but its not the same as nursing and experiencing the challenge of an unknown day..I miss caring for people and am really looking forward to getting back to work and helping look after older relatives too..my aunt was moved into residential care in the summer and my uncle is struggling without her, not to mention my grandad who celebrated his 98th birthday last week ;-). It will be good to be around and do more and feel needed..I know Toti always says to me that I am needed but it doesn't quite feel the same..?
Jolyon is much more settled now and I worry sometimes that we have made the wrong decision but then I remind myself that part of the reason he is calmer (and he has told me this) is knowing that things won't be the same forever..he is looking forward to going to wakefield independent school and is already planning what extra-curricular clubs he is going to join. He is back into his football now and regularly plays out in his shorts and football socks..despite the increasingly autumnal weather..:-0
We drove out of town yesterday and enjoyed the countryside and felt loads better for it..we have packed a lot of things into this weekend..Toti helped with my lesson on saturday and it was good..I'm getting better but will still be relieved when I have survived ny first term..I will miss everyone and it has certainly taught me alot re teaching and young people..and yes, all the positive discipline stuff that Toti talks about on his website is good both in the classroom and at home :-)
Still applying for jobs..still house-hunting..still wondering what it will be like to live in Yorkshire again after all these years..still do get anxious re return to the UK but I try to keep things in perspective...by reminding myself how nice it will be to pick up a newspaper and actually understand it!!
Stay safe and happy everyone..hopefully we will see some of you very soon..lots of love from Joanna and boys xxxx

''..ahh!..brumm!..ring-ring!..''

2006-09-27T09:53:00.000Z

..the soundtrack to our daily lives per chance?...well, it certainly is now...
Elijah is quite simply following his Daddy's obsessional lead (:-/)and is now so obsessed with cats and vehicles that our daily trips out are chararcterised by many, many ahh's (at any passing cat) and brumm's (at any passing driving, flying or stationary vehilcle that catches his eye)..it really is very cute although this morning when I took EBB to his dagmammas house, he was clearly in a major dilemma..cuddle with Huldur?...stroke the fluffy cat on the doorstep?..cuddle with Huldur?..nope! the cat won..albeit temporarily..he loves Huldur just as much...and of course, these obsessions come nowhere near to how much one small Burton worships our very own jolly Burton :-)...
..and the other soundtrack?..well, yes, we now have the phone and the internet (albeit not at the same time as the router that has been working quietly and efficiently all the time we were connection-less packed up the day the phone started working!)..so its no broadband at the mo'..but hey! you can't have everything ;-)..
Take care all you happy, fluffy folk..lots of love from J,T,J and E xxxx
PS enjoy the picture of our 'Ahh'..sorry..I mean 'Joy B(urton)', who not only keeps Elijah and I company on our daily walks and meets us when we return from any trips out with a very jolly and joyful walk and miaow, also endures all those cuddles from a certain EBB..he couldn't reach her this morning and she very kindly put her head down so a cuddle could be had..ahhh!...

''...girl, interrupted...''

2006-09-20T09:25:00.000Z

...or a life, interrupted maybe?...thats certainly how it feels to me at the moment...
..as tóti writes in his daily blog its been a rough few weeks for us all, added to a rough few months since our arrival in Iceland and at times it just gets too much...
we are in a state of flux again..planning a move back to UK, hoping and praying that this is the right move and my almost constant worrying about everything and anything..primarily the safety of my children but also about teaching, work, isolation..in short (and as my dear friend Deb pointed out to me yesterday) I simply have too much time on my hands and little quality of life to enjoy...and all this in a land where we felt we could thrive and our children blossom in a safe and supportive environment...which makes me feel as if this year will have been a failure, despite the rational side of me being able to recognise all the positives..
..but Deb is right..my quality of life here is not one of fulfillment and whilst the safety of ones children is of paramount importance, a happy, secure, content life ultimately breeds emotional security..I want to be able to use the skills that i have worked so hard upon...I became a community nurse when Jolyon was born (actually securing the post when I was very pregnant) and went back to a new job with a new baby, new house and then started studying again, which was no picnic... completing my Batchelors degree in a year was certainly a challenge..I was a single mum working full-time, with a full caseload and studying and working over 5 days per week (JT said she didn't see me smile at work for a whole year!!) and then 2 years later I set off on the study trail again..still a single mum with a Master of Philosophy degree on the horizon...pleasantly interrupted I might add by meeting my future husband :-)...but a challenging and fulfilling time...giving birth pain-relief-free twice (!!), raising 2 happy children, completing that Masters degree, working with a great team (hi! girls!)...and that is where I want to be now... this girl, interrupted wants so desperately to be back into a life of family, friends, gym, happy children, happy marriage, challenging career...and that, I guess, is what Deb helped me to clarify yesterday...so not a failed year but one where we have been able to become a true and genuine part of our viking family, where my children have made all sorts of achievements, from learning a new language to surviving without satellite tv (!)and where tóti and myself have realised that we truly are each others best friends...
...girl, interrupted 'tis true...but this interruption has been one of challenge and achievement and, upon reflection, it will be always be good to look back on this time and remember all the things one has learnt about oneself when faced with adversity...take care dearest ones...we love you all...from J,T,J and E xxxxxx

''...any Westlife fans out there...?''

2006-09-14T09:58:00.000Z

..cos, I know one who would never actually admit to taking his wife to one of their gigs (and enjoying it) but also who burst into song this morning when Boyzone came on the radio...funnily enough, this same person then promised his wife lots and lots of money if she didn't tell anyone about this..but hey! whats an overdraft between loved ones ;-)...
its been good for the said husband and wife to spend some time together over the past week and my dodgy knee has certainly had some positives..my knee is slowly mending and I am going to try to walk home today as I feel its strong enough now..I have to wrap up though as the winter has definitely arrived in Iceland now..funny how in the UK we often talk of indian summers at this time of year and enjoy long sunny days until well into October, whereas move that bit further towards the arctic circle and it is getting dark in the mornings and rainy and cool..its been an eye-opener to see how different the seasons really are between two geographical neighbours...
..good to be able to report that Jolyon has had a better week (although still struggles endlessly with looking after his belongings) and he is looking forward to saturday school starting this week..his teacher, on the other hand, is a tad nervous :-o...and EBB is starting to excel at tantrums, often charaterised by throwing himself around and then glaring at the perpetrator of such terrible things as putting on his shoes or changing his nappy..for those of you in the viking clan, let us know when you are next party to these outbursts and tell us who EBB takes after with his cute-but-grumpy face..my lips are sealed!!..;-)
Anyway, off to practise my walking soon..hope you are keeping well and happy..lots of love from J and boys xxxx

''...hands up who remembers Jake-the-peg...?''

2006-09-11T10:45:00.000Z

...cos' I know what he must have felt like...5 days on and I am still struggling although not quite as much..have to wear the tightest elastic bandage ever and have finally had to give in and take massive doses of brufen as directed by doctor on Friday (hmm)...the swelling is slowly receding but I am spending the day at Freyr and Kristins as there are no stairs here..still can't drive and climb too many stairs but we have had a breakthrough..I can now wear socks as my toe is slowly healing..J gives me a daily update on said big-toe..it is not a pleasant sight...
Now I know all us Uk nurses moan about the NHS but my experience with the Icelandic NHS was a eye opener, even for the unitiated like Toti ;-)...a woman with some sort of infection was not allowed into the dept but was quite happily treated in the open reception area, notes were left at the nurses station with names and injuries for all passing traffic to see and nobody asked me if I could be pregnant despite having countless X-rays (I'm not, by the way!)..Oh! and they dressed my leg in the waiting area for all to see...and the nurse had the cheek to ask me if I'd bothered to clean my knee??!All this and then we actually had to pay, despite Toti paying 40% taxes..it has been a learning curve...
That aside, we all had a nice, chilled weekend-J saw his friend Kristjan-Geir and we all went to Helgas house for chocolate cake yesterday and had a great time..which was good after the difficult week J had had at school last week..fingers crossed he is now back on the right path??
We all miss Kleopatra but have some great memories to recall-her adopted sister Joy has now assumed the favourite feline evening position..this involves laying on my chest as I lay on the settee..with about an inch between feline and human noses..no respecter of personal space these 2 ladies ;-)..
hope you are all well and happy in the UK-we think of you (and the free healthcare system!) often..lots of love from Joanna, Pórarinn, Jolyon Isaac and Elijah Benedikt xxxxxx
PS ...it was a song by Rolf Harris for you youngsters out there (Tóti) xx

''....what a week...''

2006-09-09T13:29:00.000Z

...phew! one to remember for all the wrong reasons (except for finally getting to know about Ali's newest addition to her family of boys...congratulations!!)...
...if you read Totis blog (click on Consistently Inconsistent on the right of this page) you will know what happened with Kleopatra over the weekend..by Tuesday we had to take her to the vets as she was really struggling but despite our prayers and hopes, she died peacefully on Wednesday. It is a relief to know she is no longer struggling although she is sorely missed by all of us, including her adopted sister Joy. We buried her in Amma Siggas garden, under a tree that Toti planted as a boy, so she is in a safe place now.
This was all happening at the time that I managed to fall onto our stone path, breaking my fall (unfortunately) with my right knee. I've been largely immobile since and gave in and went to A+E yesterday (couldn't believe I actually had to pay for the privilege?!). The Dr diagnosed lots of fluid but decided against sticking needles into it and I think all his poking and prodding has helped to get the fluid moving and I feel finally on the mend..altho' J tells me its embarrassing when I limp around the shops, in his prescence ;-). T has had to keep the house and family moving and he has been my rock (an expression I've always felt is a bit cheesy before but one that describes how grateful I am, to a tee).
J and I start saturday school next week so am a tad nervous!!
EBB is happy at Huldurs and will remain so for the short-term as she isn't going to quit..hooray!He adores her and her cat called Knusi (which means 'big, tight cuddly-snuggle'!!). He has also been looking for Kleo, signing with his 'where' sign and looking for her basket and her tray..ahhh...
..so thats all the updates for now..Ts blog has been inconsistent cos hes been playing Flo Nightingale for me and I've been inconsistent cos I've been looking after poorly cats :-(
take care all..its always great to know how many of our dear friends and family read our blogs...makes it all worthwhile :-)...love from J,T,J and E xxxx

Happy September everyone!

2006-09-04T14:18:00.000Z

Hello,

Joanna unfortunately still has limited access to the internet so I decided to write a little entry here ... don't tell her ... :-)

Day to day we plod along, weekends are best because we get to spend time together. Jolyon got some nine year old boy time with his parents as Elijah stayed with nana and grandad this weekend. Weekdays go a bit slower, especially for Joanna as she has discovered that being a stay-at-home wife is definately not for her ... but she is due to start her teaching in a couple of weeks, that'll be good ...

Other than that, don't worry too much about us, we're a tough anglo-saxon-viking lot and as long as we've got each other, we'll get by ...

Love,

T Freysson, J Burton, J I Burton and E B Burton as well as our pets Z Burton, J Burton and K Burton (that'll be Zack the hamster and our two cats Joy and Kleópatra)

PS. I think the Freyssons are seriously outnumbered in the household ...

"its a land of confusion..."

2006-08-29T09:32:00.000Z

..who sang that song, does anybody remember cos its just signifies where we are all upto at the moment?
On Friday T and I had a lovely night out-we had a very posh (and very long-and-drawn-out) meal at Hotal Nordica and then we went to see Sixties play. And not only did T get up on stage with his old band ("this song is written by one of the founding members, Þórarinn Freysson, who can´t actually remember how to play it!") but he also danced the night away with his wife..much to the amusement of his former band members. And we didn´t to bed until 3am and even managed to squeeze in a lie-in and a walk up half a mountain the next day, before doing more family stuff with our 2 Best Boys (phew!).
And then we all started with varying degrees of colds, coughs and throat/chest infections :-(
J went to his friends house after school on Friday and brought Sebastian and Robert home yesterday which was good and he met his friend from Greenland too, who lives nearby so J was feeling much more positive yesterday. E is growing up, loves his new red boots (Mummy rescued him from the boring navy blue ones that Daddy had chosen!) and loved hanging out with the big boys yesterday.
And as for yours truly?Well..I just want to go home and be with family and friends and go to work on a regular basis and go to the gym and have a more demanding and fulfilling lifestyle in general...as much as I love my boys (all 3 of them) I also love meeeting friends, working-out and doing things of my own chosing. At the moment all I do is fill the day until everyone comes home :-(
T feels bad about this as he is enjoying being around friends..J is up and down about the whole thing (on Sunday he said "I'm just fed-up of the whole thing" but is preferring life in RVK compared to Garður) and E is a happy and jolly little soul :-)
We still don't know wehere we are upto with residence permits..according to the website we need to provide copies of a custody agreement but we have never had one and never needed one..and the icelandic authorities tend to interpret things in a very black-and-white fashion...so just watch this space...
And so from this land of confusion to everyone we know and love, we send you all our very best wishes...lots of love J,T,J and E xxxxxx
PS have a click on the mother tongue link and you will see me under 'teachers'.xx

''...3 easy stages to sure and certain insanity..''

2006-08-25T10:57:00.000Z

1) Icelandic bureaucracy
2) Icelandic bureaucracy
3) Icelandic bureaucracy...

Its not easy going here in the land of black-and-white..sorry, that should read fire-and-ice...J and i continue to be regarded as almost-illegal aliens and most-definitely foreign ones..you can read on toti's blog the palaver with the icelandic authorities..it is getting too much and we have just about had enough..we may have kennitalas now but we are still only on the 'pending' list so if anyone actually searches for us we will still not be found..
...on a happier note, the mother tongue association stuff is really good and we all enjoyed a positive and productive board and teachers meeting yesterday. I'm really looking forward to getting on with the actual teaching but feel like I still need at least 23 years to prepare my 12 weeks programme!
..and T and I are actually going out tonight..to dance..and stay up late..no! really! we are off to see Sixties play...I have asked for a special request..please start playing before 3am!!!!
Still no phone, maybe no childminder after september, no residence permits..but hey! we still have each other :-)
Love to one and all...and please will somebody tell me if Ali has had her baby yet-the suspense is almost driving me to insanity..(oh no! I forgot..its icelandic bureaucracy thats doing that;-).
Take care and much love from J and boys (of all ages and all legal status!) xxxx

'' ..loneliness is a crowded room..''

2006-08-22T09:41:00.000Z

...things we like (and loathe) about Iceland...
... we love the fantastic scenery, the chance of exploring a whole new country, the fact that the rush-hour is a 6-car strong queue at a set of traffic-lights in Gardbær, Toti realising how great it is to have friends around and his being able to play music again, Elijah growing up in a bilingual environment...
...we loathe the feeling of sadness and isolation, being unable to see friends without taking a plane journey, being regarded with suspicion because we are foreign especially for J who is surrounded by kids in our new area who won't even say hi, being unable to use my skills and knowledge in my chosen field when there is a shortage of nurses...
Its not a great time at the moment and we don´t currently know how things will turn out in the end. J is back at school today and is pleased because he will actually have friends to play with...but he may not get the extra icelandic teaching he is entitled to because of bl***y icelandic bureaucracy. And he so needs to learn the language..the key to integration apparently??
So not a positive entry I'm afraid...tell me good news...has Ali's baby arrived yet???
Stay in touch dear friends and family.
Love to all from J and boys xxxx

Sorry for lack of entries ... again

2006-08-21T13:52:00.000Z

Vodafone have seriously messed things up for us so we haven't had a phone or access to the internet since approx the 1st August and we have no idea when this will get sorted, if ever, as Tóti sent them a not-so-friendly e-mail telling them where they could stick their ideas of customer service ...

Other than that, Joanna and Jolyon are finding life tough at the moment, very emotional regarding friends and lack of ... Jolyon starts school tomorrow so hopefully things will be looking up for him which should make it easier for everyone.

More later ... again, sorry TwoLand fans. Tóti tries to keep his page updated with whats going on and you can read that by clicking here. Joanna will blog anytime she can ...

Love to you all,

Tóti, Joanna, Jolyon and Elijah

..'' we are coooll.. and that's official...''

2006-08-08T10:54:00.000Z

..and the reason being?..our new trendy abode in trendy 101...photo to follow once phone thingy reconnected...
yep! just to let you know we are shattered but happy in our new house..all worked hard over the weekend-thanks to all family and friends who helped out in their own different ways..it was good to have an extra day at home yesterday (it was bank holiday) and we used it to explore vesturbae ('west-town'), enjoy some culture and company and generally have a lovely day together...
more info soon when internet set up at home (found the list of boxes, found the box, found the phone-point, found the PC...couldn´t get the connection from vodaphone)..well, I guess even the best systems break down at some point..
love to one and all from J,T,J and E xxxx
Ps check the comments left on our blogsite-we had a lovely one from a lady who came across us by accident..in a similar position...made us feel all warm and fuzzy inside..! ;-)

not much to say...

2006-07-31T13:37:00.000Z

..except that entries may be a bit sparse this week as I am busy packing..I learnt a lot off the professionals but they seemed to do it a tad quicker than yours truly :-(. We get the keys tomorrow but move on Saturday, which is bank-holiday weekend (the only icelandic bank holiday to always be on a Monday) so we are hoping that some kind friend will still be in RVK to help us out, otherwise T and I will probably still be moving furniture by the time our lease is up in 11 months!!
Yesterday was spent packing and the boys had a lovely day with their grandparents. T is in one of his 'I-must-change-my-lifestyle-or-I-will-be-pearshaped-forever' moments and is on a health kick..which meant that he did his usual obsessional bit, came swimming with me and was almost crippled by bedtime. He is interested in joining the police or paramedics (just as he was in UK) so he is hoping to prove to himself that he can keep the fitness, in order that he could apply. I would love him to achieve his ambition as it is far more him than sitting infront of a PC so watch this space and T's own blogsite for updates.
Tomorrow I actually have a busy day as I am doing my counselling bit and then I am meeting the administator of the mother tongue society as I am going to be teaching english to 9-12 year olds (which should be fun) and then I'm off to meet the nurse who looks after the foreign nurses at the hospital to see how much the icelandic system can insult my professional background..oops! sorry, to find out the terms and conditions of this new job on the dementia ward (which doesn't seem anywhere near as much fun). The battle to be recognised and respected is ongoing....
Oh! and I forgot to say that Jackie arrives with her clan tonight so we are hoping to meet up. Don't forget folks..we may be moving to a tiny house but our big hearts are still full of love for anyone who wants to visit ;-).
Take care all..love J and boys xx
PS keep an eye on the photo album as pics of J's birthday on their way x

''..some things y'do..and some things y'don't..''

2006-07-28T22:07:00.000Z

..get used to that is...
A particularly relective (and rainy) hour spent in the swimming pool today, thinking about all the adjustments one encounters in an alien environment...open-air pools (complete with inclement weather and seagulls on the wing) are really cool-literally..having to shower naked before one swims (and I mean a proper shower, with soap, large diagrams of naked bodies pointing out the bits to attend to and lots of other ladies of all ages, shapes and sizes doing the same around you) is really refreshing and makes one wonders what unpleasant bacteria float around in British pools ;-)...getting job offers because somebody you know speaks to somebody they know is not much less than a phenomena (especially after the treachery of NHS interview panels)...little babies growing into little people and being able to walk (..finally!-well done Elijah Benedikt) and little babies growing into even bigger people ( and not only being able to walk and talk but to slam doors and tell their dads that their clothes are not cool..mums are though, apparently)...but being unable to understand the conversation that the 2 little girls swimming at the side of you are having..now that...you never get used to ...it doesn't stop you feeling as if your IQ has deteriorated overnight, it doesn't help with your self-esteem and it doen't stop you from feeling like a legal alien..I tell you, Sting was right when he wrote that song (although the bit about having toast done on one side..now that-that is just weird man.. but hey! at least I can understand the lyrics ;-)..
Love to one and all..don't forget to think about us when you next go swimming!!
Lots of love from J and boys xxxx

''...now then children..anybody know what they were doing 9 years ago today..?''

2006-07-27T22:55:00.000Z

...(voice from the insular island somewhere in the Atlantic ocean)...'' please miss! I know! I know!Ask me!Ask me!''...
...yep -9 years ago, I was celebrating the safe arrival of my very precious Jolyon Isaac Burton and 9 years on, there are 4 of us celebrating a happy day for our very special practising teenager.
Happy Birthday Jolly-one...I'm glad you've had a great day. Sorry you have felt lonely at times and missed your friends..I am praying that you will meet some special friends once we have moved to our new home.
Wishing you a peaceful, fun-filled, happy life..
All my love from Mum (and from Dad and EBB too) xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
PS We love you. :-)

''..sorry..what was the address again..?''

2006-07-24T19:16:00.000Z

...well, not the one I wrote about yesterday, thats for sure..for as usual, things took an unexpected twist in the Freysson-Burton scheme of events...
Picture the scene..Joanna on the phone to Debs on Friday for ages, debating the rentable assets of a 3 bed house with garden in Gardbaer (too isolated..swapping Gardur for..well..Gardur with trees) vs a 1-2 bed house in downtown 101...and a conclusion was reached by all parties involved in this decision and we awaited a phone call from the owner of the little green and white house in one of our favourite spots in Reykjavik (not far from where you knocked on somebodys house to check whether it was made of wood, Erika)..anyway..we waited and we waited and we emld and by saturday morning were all disappointed again and went off to see the basement flat in Kopavogur (new on the rental scene). And we decided to take it and ..whhaddya know..Sunday night, the same lady owner of lovely little house in 101 rang and said ''yeah, sounds great..you seem really nice people and the sort of people I would like in my house..and no problem with my taking out the furniture etc etc'' and once again it was dilemma time in the F-B household.
Anyway..our hearts have ruled our heads (and our bank balance) and we have decided to go for 101. It is a good opportunity to test-drive the area we would chose to live in if we stay in Iceland. So I am keeping all digits crossed and hope that the children T saw as he walked around the area were not just passing through on their way to see their many friends near a basement flat in Kopavogur.
So now we just have to pack (the boxes would be very useful Toti..if they were in our house and not decodes' warehouse) and try to find E a nursery place..which is even more difficult than finding a place to live, as the Icelandic govt has clearly not had many cosy chats with T.Blair and G.Brown Esqs and have yet to provide sufficient day care places for their countrys' children??? (take the hint Mr PM..your oppo in the Uk may not always get things right...Afghanistan, Iraq, John Prescott etc etc..but at least one has a choice and one can usually get ones child into nursery without waiting 6 years or until said infant is 26 years old-whichever is reached the sooner??).
So fans of twolands, we move soon to little house in trendy 101 (where I can walk to work in about 2 minutes..after I've driven 6 miles to take my child to nursery..if only it was that easy...Oh! I'm sorry, it won't be you say? no thats because I will have to drive 15 minutes out of town to our existing childminder as all the waiting lists for all the nurseries in RVK reach into the next millenium..got the hint? Yes, it is such a sore point today :-/ ).
..sorry I got distracted there for a moment..farewell to fans of twolands ..love to one and all from all of us...from J,T,J and E xxxxxx

...''a move to a basement flat in a suburb? surely not Joanna ..?!''

2006-07-23T18:51:00.000Z

Hi y'all!
Just to let you know we will soon be on the move (again) as we hand over our lovely house in this very picturesque fishing village on 7th August. We are renting a tiiiiny flat in the RVK suburbs...all the elements I originally said 'no' to.. in a basement, in Kopavogur (sorry Suafnir, I know you love it there), with only 2 bedrooms and no garden (well, there is according to the landlady but she clearly is not a gardener!). However, it is available on 1st August, cycling distance to school and to work, there is a small play-area on our doorstep (literally), the sea at the bottom of the road, lots of places to walk to (including to one of our favourites spots, Perlan), lots of children, cats no problem and..the clinching factor really (apart from the lowest rental we'd seen)..T went to secondary school with the landlady, who lives upstairs:-).
So very clearly a very temporary move but I'm sure we will be fine (if a little cosy..although not as cosy as the current tenants who are moving out because baby number 5 is on its way ;-). We have struggled to find anywhere to rent because 80% of places won't accept pets. We did see a couple of very nice houses with all the space, garden etc but the areas were devoid of children and further out in the suburbs, which would have meant buying a second car etc etc.
And, if nothing else it will prompt us to make some decisions in 6 months as we won't be cosy in a big house with a nice garden etc. Also, I guess with winter not that far away (hey! school starts the winter term soon..in August!), it will be dark anyway and we will relish that cosiness!
We all remain positive...I'm trying to gather more info about this job I've been offerred..like an Assistant Practitioner role and clearly a stop-gap to get me out working again and get some more money coming in..many foreign nurses then go onto extra training at Uni to achieve their Bsc but not me..already got one (and the rest) and an insatiable appetite to challenge the system, which I am still trying to do. Now taking legal advice re my nurse reg and have been told the nursing board should be looking at where I fit in rather than where I don't. Suddenly all my years of saying what I think and upsetting all those managers in various nhs trusts doesn't seem such a major issue, when one can go straight to the top and do the same to a countrys' government!!!;-)
Anyway, off to enjoy our 5th day of sunshine and rest my muscles after swimming and mowing the grass (think...Lords cricket ground for a picture of the size of our lawn)...and hey! at least I won't have to mow the lawn for 6 months (hadn't thought of that one..promise someone will remind me of it when I'm bemoaning the fact we are falling over ourselves in our bijou liitle pad?!).
Hope all good in the hot and sweaty parts of the world...keep in touch y'all..
Love from 3 Anglo-Saxons and a Viking in the land of fire, ice and a bit of sunshine! xxxx

HI!...remember me....?!

2006-07-20T10:41:00.000Z

...yes, ´tis I...Joanna journal-keeper..who has..err...been ridiculously busy to do such fun things...but now I am back-in Iceland-house hunting..again!!
Its been a strange ol´time..first we put our house on the market, expecting it to take ages to sell. therefore leaving us with llooaaddsss of time to make new plans...and then we sold our house in 2 weeks to a couple who wanted to move in before August..and suddenly we felt under even more pressure to make new plans and we were feeling all unhappy and emotional and..well, you know the rest ;-).
So here we are making those news plans, still in iceland and looking at renting a property in RVK so we can get more of a feel for this place and (hopefully) Joanna can get a job. I am persevering with that one and we have a few (expensive) houses to consider. J has regained his sparkle and its still shining now we are back in the land of the midnight sun (well, technically the land of the midnight sun is Finland but it is still light here at midnight, so we could always share the title, I guess). And E has gone back to his childminders today and had to get up at 7am!! well.actually we all did and as I told T, us Burtons are on our summer hols and we don´t do anything before 9.30 these days..the only time T will be allowed a lie-in and we had to drive to RVK ;-).
Today, I am being interviewed (again!) for an article in the intercultural centres newsletter. The next issue is focussing on education and the skills that immigrants bring to Iceland..and then don´t get to use (!)..which reminds me..I have now decided to challenge the ministry of health/board of nursing re my registration, with the assistance of a lawyer. Never one to give in quite so easily..if I´m going to stay here I may aswell make the most of all my spare time!! And I am going to meet a nurse manager in the dementia care unit at a RVK hospital today too. I have also advertised my skills in mbl as a personal care nurse or ´counsellor´.
So all keeping busy...no rest for the honorary Vikings...hope all good in the land of scorching temperatures (it was great coming home to Iceland and having to put on a jacket again!!)
Love to all family and friends far and near... from Joanna,Toti,Jolyon and Elijah xxxx :-)

Tóti starts a personal blog

2006-07-17T12:17:00.000Z

Have a look at Consistently Inconsistent

The winds of change ...

2006-07-14T15:32:00.000Z

Hello all,
In true Freysson-Burton (or is that Burton-Freysson, Joanna?) style we've changed our mind again. We feel that four months is not long enough to be able to really see what Iceland has to offer us and have decided to stay a bit longer. We are, however, going to be moving to Reykjavik but this time renting a place, which means we're a bit more flexible in the future. Hey, why do things the easy way when there are more exciting ways of doing things. Joanna and the boys are back in Iceland after the weekend and then we will start some serious house hunting, cos weez gots to be outs of ze casa by the 7th August ... plenty time then :-They are forming a new political party here in Iceland which has the working title 'The New Icelanders Party' and will fight for the rights of not just foreigners moving to Iceland but all minority groups, i.e. pensioners, disabled people etc. But as this is being started by foreigners in Iceland that was the emphasis at the first meeting yesterday. Tóti turned out and offered his services and told Joannas story regarding her nurse registration. That prompted alot of other people to tell similar stories of themselves or someone they know. One lady, for instance, is a lawyer educated in England who does not get her law degree recognised by the authorities. *** There was a sentence in here about the President of Iceland and his education. The fact is he studied Political Science at the University of Manchester, not law. Apologies. (Edited by Tóti) ***
So, aside from the wind, rain, lack of sun and storm warnings yesterday life here is treating Tóti okay ... just missing his three best people ...
Lots of love to you all,
Tóti, Joanna, Jolyon and Elijah

Confusion is a fusion of con and fusion ...

2006-07-10T12:16:00.000Z

Just to keep you all updated about our ever so mixed up life! We had a great two weeks in Bellagio, Italy toward the end of June which included a trip to Switzerland. Joannas' parents were there with us and everyone really enjoyed the time together, despite the apartment being on a busy junction during a motorcycle festival, the biggest annual festival in the Como area and the World Cup all at the same time! Yes, there wasn't much sleep due to traffic and constant Italian celebrations. I don't think any italian cars, trucks, motorcycles or scooters actually have an exhaust system (which otherwise tend to help reduce the noise level). Jolyon went with Grandmum and Pops to England and Tóti, Joanna and Elijah went to Iceland, then Joanna and Elijah went to England leaving Tóti all alone in Iceland and this is the situation until next week. I know, we never do things the easy way ...
We'll keep you updated on moving and house issues as we go along but it was strange to go to Italy and step back, emotionally, from the whole situation. We are even more confused now about what to do!
One thing we're not confused about though ... and that is that we love you all, wherever you may reside ...
Tóti, Joanna, Jolyon and Elijah ...
PS I got the English sense of humour Adrian ... uhmm ... after Joanna explained it to me ... :-)

''..and now the end is near..and so we face the final moving..we hope..''

2006-06-17T08:52:00.000Z

Hello friends, family and all..you will have noticed a lack of entries these past few weeks..and the reason for all this secrecy...well, we had to tell some of you folks out there that we are packing up and heading back to Blighty....(pick yourself up off the floor, Adrian!!)..
Its a long story punctuated by no employment prospects, no money and not enough to live on, the thought of having to work in pizza hut (J was impressed by that one!), a very unhappy biggest boy and a very quick house sale (we accepted an offer on it within 2 weeks).
So we made the decision and are heading back to live in West Yorkshire, near to my Ma and Pa (well, sooo near initially, in fact, that we will be sharing their house!) and are both busy applying for jobs and winding things up at this end. It is disappointing and I am more disappointed than T-he is rather (understatement) angry with his home country and the way Icelandic society in general treats immigrants..its a long time until Iceland can call itself a truly multi-cultural society in his opinion. T say he was never made to feel a 'foreigner' in the Uk and as he always felt more at home there, he is pleased we are going back-J too. We will miss dear friends and family and I'm anxious re jobs..been a while since all that interview malarkey but everyone keeps saying we will be fine. :-)
So, just to put the pressure on-we have to leave our house on 7th August and we are off to meet Grandmum and Pops in Italy on Monday and we are soooooooooooo excited..especially as its been raining non-stop for days here ;-).
Oh, and I forgot to mention thats its Independence Day here today-another bank holiday that falls on the weekend!!
Have fun and keep smilin' everyone..more blogging upon our return from the Lake Como cosmopolitana..
Love from 3Bs and a T xxxxxxxxxxxx

I forgot ... I'm allowed to write here too ...

2006-06-04T20:52:00.000Z

Apparently we're going through a heatwave here in Iceland (the locals call it the Icecube). The temperature has gone all the way up to 12 degrees celcius and we're all running around in our swimsuits ... maybe ...
Things remain the same here aside from cleaning the house even more for prospective viewers as it is still on the market. Spent last week going backwards and forwards between Reykjavik and Gardur but thankfully J has finished school and E has finished at his childminders for the summer so there will be fewer early mornings and fewer long trips.
We are currently enjoying a long weekend as it is bank holiday on Monday. Then the next bank holiday here is independence day, 17th June ... yippee ... except it falls on a Saturday and in Iceland, that's just tough luck ... next year its on a Sunday but you can have the day off in 2008.
Toti and Joanna actually got an evening out the other day and went to see X-men 3. That Wolverine guy has let himself go a bit (says Toti, cos he's jealous ... Joanna definately disagrees). We spent the next morning cleaning the house for a prospective buyer, as J and E were staying at Nana Kristins and Grandad Freyrs. After the viewing Joanna decided they would relax by going for a romantic stroll to the beach. Joanna calls it walking, Toti calls it ralking (as it is actually much more like running). They met up at the beach half a day later (when Toti finally got there, dehydrated and in need of a shave). Joanna had at that point finished her warm-up. Sunday has been spent at home as the swimming pool was closed. Its always best when the four of us are all here. Love to all, near and far ...
Toti, Joanna, Jolyon Isaac and Elijah Benedikt

Buying and selling houses..getting a sense of deja-vu here?...

2006-05-28T19:48:00.000Z

Hi all!
Hope you are all happy and not too disheartened by the rain. We are still enjoying the sunshine and today it was a definite bonus as we had our open-house, in order to try and sell the house and the sun definitely helps show Gardur in its best light. It was like a picture postcard and J and E made the most of the sun and the hot-tub being filled and dived in. We will definitely have to make good use of our hot-pot (as the natives call them) and as school hols start next week...
Yesterday, as we were all fed up of going between Gardur and Rvk we compensated by going to the zoo park. J disappeared with Kristjan-Geir..how they are growing up now. We were definitely surplus to requirements. E really enjoyed looking at the animals too, esp the cows and had a great time climbing on the pirate ship. He is going to be an expert climber like his big brother :-)
Toti Troubadour has been really gigging hard and is now shattered, so no gigs til next week. And the music community seems to get smaller and smaller in this country ... T met the estate agent who is organising the sale of our house..and-what-do-you-know? They were both playing bass guitars around the same death metal/grunge period. I tell you, it must be really hard to keep skeletons in the closet in this country..you can guarantee someone will open the door and recognise it ;-) !
Off to chill now-still brilliant sunshine as it will be until 3am. Derrien and Erika said it was really strange setting off from manchester and it being dark and then actually flying into the sunrise!Its just a bit of a nuisance actually..your body always wants to wake early, esp if you are 1 or 8 years old!We still dream of having lie-ins again...
Photos will be on the way soon but the photo-master is away in italy at the mo'. Can't wait to see those 'artistic' ones that Erika took last weekend (did she get up to something that we didn't, Derrien..apart from the sneaky fag of course ?!!). By the way, how is the non-smoking going girl??
Love to you all from us all
J,T,J and E xxxx

the question on everyones lips...did iceland survive erika then...?!

2006-05-24T11:52:00.000Z

..and the $64000 answer is..just (I think). And erika even survived the cold, albeit with a pained expression on her face especially when we made her walk for miles too!!
Seriously tho´girls..didn´t we have a fab time and didn´t we keep busy? We showed the girls Reykjavik and its history..no shopping as all the shops close at 4pm on satudays!..and the golden circle (who else in the Dementia team can claim to have actually looked into a crater of a real volcano!) and of course, the Blue Lagoon.
And erika walked for miles and got told off by mother joanna as she should and as derrien said she would. and we laughed and snored(!) our way thro a great weekend. I´ve missed you girls!
And of course I´ve become a huge celeb in Iceland (not) having had a whole page devoted to telling my story in the biggest daily newspaper in the country. And yesterday I went to the ambassadors residence..which was as you would expect and not somewhere I will be going again but hey! you have to do everything once (particularly as it didn´t cost anything!!).
And yesterday i started my voluntary work and that is good. house goes on the market tomorrow too.We are all fed up of living between houses and towns. J and E both finish school and childminders for the summer next week. 6 weeks holidays? Oh Nooo! they don´t do less than 12 here..I´ve yet to work out what working folk do during such long breaks as childcare is not all that consistent for out of school stuff.
So off to collect my boys soon and back to gardur before being back in RVK on fri..phew..
Love to all..still sunny here but it did snow yesterday!
Love from Joanna,Toti,Jolyon and Elijah xx :-)

a nice sunny day al´round today...

2006-05-19T14:14:00.000Z

Hi folks...been a difficult few weeks what with really early starts for my 3 boys and having to put house on market and trying to work out how we can stay in Iceland and live in a more expensive area on only 1 wage. (We still havn´t worked that one out yet.) And I have to send my comments to the ministry of health re my registration..people who have been thro´a similar process talk of it taking 2-3 years...which is where the economic hardship button is pressed and everything becomes even more stressful...
On a happier, sunnier note, Adrian and Maureens comment on our blog was great and thanxx guys. And derrien and erika arrive this pm (will Iceland ever be the same again?!). And I went to my 1st mums and baby language group (I offerred to volunteer as it is run at the intercultural centre) and elijah and I met a lovely group of people, all sharing similar experiences and difficulties, all english speaking (2 from UK, 1 from Canada and 1 from Iceland), all married to Icelanders and all ready for getting out and about and learning the language in the real world!You never know, this time next week I might actually be able to order a drink in a cafe and actually remember all the words the next day!
All 3 boys are keeping well-J is finding really early starts hard but is much happier, E has taken to waking earlier and sitting in his cot and reading his books all on his own (both boys take after their Mum and are real bookworms). And T is playing every gig that is sent our way..back to the ol´economic crisis again (groan!).
Still we keep each other smiling and happy and in the words of J´s favourite song ´its better when we´re together´.
Stay together and happy folks, lots of love from 3Bs and TT. xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

its a funny ol' world isn't it..?!

2006-05-11T19:25:00.000Z

Hiya everybody!
Its a funny ol' world or at least, a funny ol' meeting..I went to meet my new colleagues at the intercultural centre and met a man who described himself as being 'in the media'. He asked if I would agree to be interviewed as we had been discussing my battles with the nursing board. I said yes, not thinking anything would come of it. And later on that night as i was telling T, it transpires that this person is (probably) only one of the biggest people in Icelandic TV. I bet it must have been really refreshing to him when i asked what he did for a living??! T and I now have to check that it is the person we think it is..either way I am now going to be interviewed by the biggest daily newspaper in Iceland!!Tomorrow!!Eek!!
J thinks its cool, T is disappointed I am not going on TV and I am just nervous!;-0
On the nursing front-I continue with the appeals process-the ministry of health has so graciously said that my training meets the criteria for a registered mental health nurse (!) but the Icelandic nursing registration system only has one category-'nurse' and i don't fit into that. So now I have to submit nore comments again and tell them I don't want to be a 'nurse'..I want to a fantastically specialist mental health nurse! The saga continues..
On a musical note T has his first Toti-Troubadour gig tonight. Just he and one of his fellow band members, 3 hours and a lot of singing!Thats really fab cos T's singing really is coool..hope he remembers the lyrics better than he remembered where Bar Hresso was a few weeks ago (''its moved'' were the immortal words..we were walking past it at the time and that building didnt look like it had moved in a very long time!).
Off to have tea now-have fun in the spring sunshine everyone. We have finally got daffodils out here now!Oh, and our house goes up for sale next week...
Lots of love from Joanna,Toti,Jolyon and Elijah xxxx:-)

' Didn't we have a lovely time, the day the girlies came to Gardur'

2006-05-08T20:20:00.000Z

Hello all and apologies for lack of entries..
..its been an emotional few weeks as Jolyon has had to change schools because of bullying. He is now going to an independent Christian school and is so much happier-so we are having to sell up (again) and move nearer the capital as his school is in Reykjavik. I won't be particularly sad to leave this house as our life has seemed to be more focussed towards being 'in town' but all that hassle is a bit of a pain (as is the ongoing DIY!).
Still it will be worth it in the end-we will have to buy a smaller house at a bigger price as houses are much more expensive nearer RVK but we will save a fortune in petrol bills so it will all balance out in the end.
And it is worth it to see our biggest boy happy at school again.
All the sadness and worry was put aside for a weekend though when Deb and Jackie came to stay (and yes, I cried at the airport-both arrivals and departures!). It was fantastic to see 2 of our fab friends and we managed to pack a lot into 2 1/2 days..the sights (and shops) of RVK, the sights (and lava fields) of Mount Keilir and the sights (and sea) of Gardur. And the moment when my 2 dear friends became largely nonsensical?...that first moment when they stepped into the Blue Lagoon..it was priceless and they (we) loved it! Derrien and Erika-Deb and Jackie can't recommend it enough! We all had a fab time; laughed alot, talked alot, ate loads of chocolate and the girls fell in love with Iceland..(so when you moving over then??!!)
Not long now til we go to Italy with Grandmum and Pops..we are all excited. Eli B is not yet walking so I wonder if he will find his feet when we are over there?
Our 2 new cats are settling in, after a big scare with Kleopatra who had to spend a few days in the animal hospital. Her adopted sister 'Joy' (named by Jolyon as she is such a happy cat) are such characters and its great to have feline friends again (altho' I could manage without the return to cat litter trays!!).
So all in all, as promised, a hectic few weeks but we are still smiling and looking forward, as always. :-)
Hope all you folks are enjoying the sunshine (Iceland was hotter than Mallorca yesterday!)..
Take care of yourselves and each other..all our love from the Anglo-Saxon Vikings, 3Bs and a Freysson xxxx
PS more photos on web sooonn-I promise!

A Happy Birthday for us all to share... :-)

2006-04-27T21:17:00.000Z

Hello all and wasn't yesterday such a special day as our Littlest Burton reached the grand ol' age of 1! We all had a lovely chilled day and Toti's parents came over in the pm and we all feasted on chocolate cake (dipped into yoghurt, for some of us!). Luckily, just on time, Grandmum and Pops present arrived from England too and Jolyon received a few presents also, to celebrate his first year as the very best Big Brother.
And this was good for J as he has had an extremely difficult week, which started by him finally telling me how unhappy he is at school and how he feels bullied and as if he 'doesn't belong in Iceland'. We have tried to sort this and other difficulties with school but to no avail so today J and I went and looked at 2 private schools in Reykjavik and tomorrow he is to spend a few hours at the Christian school. So the 3 of us have decided that this will be better for our Biggest Boy but that it will be worth it, despite having to put this house on the market and move to the capital. It is almost an hours drive to this school so it is not practical to consider commuting and, indeed, J feels socially isolated here anyway and we don't feel that will change. So it will be all move again..and just after I've unpacked all the boxes and Toti's disposed of them at the bloomin' tip!!! As Fiona said earlier this pm though, it'll keep me busy!;-)
Today has been positive for another reason too as we are now sharing our little life with two feline friends..Kleopatra (a 7 year old Siamese) and Joy (an 18mth old ginger-and-white lady). T collected them from the cats home this pm and they are the most chilled cats I have ever had and it is fab!And they have definitely cheered up J, when he really needed it.
Tomorrow Deb and Jackie arrive too and we are all looking forward to their visit-luckily I managed to convince JT that Deb really did need that extra large suitcase as we Burtons really do need those essential supplies...ready brek, sudoceme,cheap-n-cheerful wrinkle cream etc etc!!
So off to put ladies of all varieties to bed..assuming, of course, that a certain newly-growing tooth doesn't cause too much wakefulness this pm? I hope Eve eventually settled Fi (we were comparing levels of said wakefulness only a few hours ago and Eli B was still awake until half an hour ago...mind you, if the UK is an hour ahead of us, does that mean that newly-growing teeth in England have been growing and causing grief for an hour longer...?hmm...)
So love and peace to all of our dear friends and family across the world..hope to see some of you soon. Take care everyone. With love from Joanna,Toti, Jolyon Isaac and Elijah Benedikt.xxx

summer arrives in Iceland complete with snow, wind and hail..

2006-04-24T12:25:00.000Z

hello all! Last Thursday was officially the first day of summer in Iceland and it was very sunny for that day at least..T says that the day after was the first day of winter and as I look out at the snow that seems a little less of a joke than one would imagine! On Sunday J and I had to get out of the (outdoor) swimming pool as we were being attacked by rather sharp hailstones!!Apparently, so I'm told by Helga, who is Toti's aunt, this is an unusually cold winter... ;-)
We are all doing fine despite the rather changeable weather-J spent Friday pm with his Amma K and Grandad F and the two boys went to see Ice Age 2 and ate popcorn, nachos,sweets, fizzy pop etc etc. It was good for J as he is missing his time with his Grandmum and Pops and wanted time alone with T's parents. We had a nice lie-in on Saturday as Eli B def has the Freysson genes and was quite happy to sleep until 8.45am!!(only when his big bro is not around).
And I am actually going out tomorrow as I have been invited by the aforementioned Helga to an english-speaking book club. I am really looking forward to getting out and meeting people and am busy reading the chosen book, which is Lady Chatterleys Lover. Amazing that it is famous for all the adult-bit but that it is actually a great story about social and economic change.
Book club aside..of course the biiiggg social event of this week is our littlest Burton and his first birthday on Wednesday. We are all looking forward to seeing Jolyon's little brother turn 1 year old-how time flies..only a year ago and I was busy redesigning our back garden in Princess Close, awaiting impending arrivals..and now here we are, four of us enjoying a new life and me having to start again with another garden!
Anyway-J will be home soon (he finishes school at ten past one!!) so will be off now. Love to you all and see you on friday Deb and JT.Love J and boys xx
PS will put some leaving pics on family album this week xx

the sun is shining..and the wind is no longer blowing..(at least for the moment!)..

2006-04-18T12:14:00.000Z

Hiya!
just a quick and sunshiney hello. Hope you are all ok-we enjoyed a happy day yesterday pottering aroung the house and garden in the sunshine. T took down the wall that has blocked off the terrace at the back of the house. It has made the lounge much brighter and we will have another lovely spot to sit in, once T has built steps (so little people don't fall over) and put up the new fence (so the neighbours don't spy on us or teenagers take a shortcut thro to their house behind us). It finally feels as if we are making our new house our new home and that is a good feeling.
J has gone back to school today and T back to work. But Thurs is officially (in Iceland anyway) the first day of summer and it is a bank holiday so an even shorter week for those working or studying in the Burton-Freysson family. And it is lovely and sunny again today which always make you view things with a happier disposition. I miss the daffodils and spring flowers tho! I have the plants pots-now I just need the gardening tools, soil and plants and I will be able to introduce some plants inot this bare garden (can you believe that the man who used to own this house, used to drive his cars around the lawn??!!..yes, really!). Not gardening people then??!Luckily the garden has survived, much to our amazement.
Anyway, off to get the chores done before J returns home.
Lots of love and sunshine to you all on your little island from all of us on our sunny and wind-free (almost) island. xxxx

The snow fell, the wind blew, the sun shone...

2006-04-14T20:51:00.000Z

Hello again and welcome home to us Anglo-Saxon Vikings from our lovely break in 'Whale fjord'. As we had intended, our holiday came at the right time and it was a wonderful opportunity to relax, enjoy the countryside and spend lots of chilled time together. We stayed in a wooden summerhouse in 'real' Icelandic landscape...hot tub at our own personal disposable, the snow-capped mountains around us and the deep blue sea to the front. The view changed everyday and as each day passed Toti and I fell more in love with the place, Jolyon fell more in love with the tub and Elijah fell more in love with the dishwasher!We have all returned much, much more relaxed and sharing an even stronger feeling of togetherness.
Good Friday has been a chilled stay-at-home day..a relief after last night for we returned home from our break and were getting Eli B ready for his bath when he fell backwards from the step by the bath. T and I both caught him but it was a few minutes before we realised he had fallen onto a radiator pipe and burned himself. So a mad dash to hospital but, thankfully, nothing too serious and he is recovering well.It has not stopped him making a beeline for the dishwasher each time it was opened or crawl around on the floor with a spoon tightly clenched in each hand.
J has enjoyed playing with Johann and and I am on the 4th load of washing today..beats cleaning the kitchen tho, so thats still T's job..phew!
I have been asked to help out with a new group being run at the Intercultural centre..it is a language/social group for parents and babies, something I asked about a while ago.The editor of the newsletter saw my eml and asked for my help and I am really pleased. Still not paid work but I am really looking forward to it. I an going to have to chase up my nurse registration application..I was asked by the Board of Nursing if I would go back to Uni and train as a general nurse (?!!), in order to become recognised by the Icelandic authorities. No surprise that I refused and my case went onwards and upwards to the dept of health a while ago..
Stiil frustrated by my very poor language skills-all my group work should help with that tho..but you know what I'm like-I reckon I should be studying at Masters level after only 2 months in the country!
On a bit of a sad note..the sale on our little house in Mossley was completed yesterday. It is a relief and we had no plans to return of course but don't you always feel emotional about your very first house? We ended up selling it for a ridiculously low price (don't ask?!) but it needed some structural work doing and it really was too much of a worry and too expensive to have it done and put it back on the open market. But I shall always remember it with fondness..I moved there with my Biggest boy, fell in love with my gorgeous husband whilst living there and gave birth to the Littlest Burton in our bedroom there. Cool memories or what??..
Don't forget to click on the link on the right hand side of this page, entitled family album in order to see some photos. I will try and post some of our holiday soon.
Take care and Happy Easter dearest friends and family.
All our love from Joanna, Toti, Jolyon and Elijah xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

ready for a break...

2006-04-07T12:22:00.000Z

Hello again to all family and friends..this will be the last entry for a week or so as tomorrow we go off to the country to spend a week chillin' in a summerhouse. It is on a working farm, by the sea and looks lovely..especially as it doesn't have any DIY that needs doing! T is going to be practising new songs on the acoustic guitar as he is going to be playing all alone when we return home-still playing with Menn Arsins (the band) but needs must and needs mean more gigs please!!And I am hoping to get up to date with my Icelandic practise..there won't be much to do in the evenings and hopefully we will have 2 tired boys in bed and a little time to ourselves(whats that then?).
The weather is pretty rough here at the moment-lots of blizzards and this morning I really was afraid of being blown over when out walking. For potential travellers, don't forget a hat and gloves, windproof coat and sensible shoes (Erika). Its all very beautiful but even Jolyons friend Johann commented on how cold it is so even Vikings are struggling with the elements..those hairy hats with horns on would be good at the moment..speaking of which, that hideous hat that my wonderful colleagues bought me when I left work is proving a really effective draught excluder for the letterbox. It has found it role in life clearly and is going nowhere near my head (Erika).
Still missing my friends very much and looking forward to everyones visits. I am longing for a chippy tea with a Hollands cheese and onion pie and have decided to have one every night for my tea when we come to England in July!! T is missing indian takeaways and J is fed up with pasta, curry (homemade) and chilli-can't afford to shop at the healthfood shop yet I'm afraid.
E just eats everything that is placed in front of him but burns off the calories with being on the move constantly. He often stands up without holding on when in the bath and immediately falls over when he realises!But he keeps practising and those chubby legs really are sooo cute!
So take care as always folks and keep those emls etc coming...We will be back on Good Friday so don't forget to buy enough easter eggs ready for the choc-fest..
Love from the Anglo-Saxon Vikings, Joanna,Toti,Jolyon and Elijah xx :-)

It's good to be wanted...!

2006-04-04T17:19:00.000Z

hello again..good news to start the day...today I went to the intercultural centre and agreed to work with them on helping other immigrants deal with 'culture shock' and maintaining good mental health. I am going to be offerring 1:1 sessions and running a group (on an educational-cum-support basis) and perhaps in the future running more (paid!) training courses. I am going to be in their newsletter so have to pull something together fast-I am looking forward to it and relishing a new challenge. It felt really good to have my skills recognised and valued and its a really cool place to 'work'. T also had his appraisal at work and his role is going to develop and enable him to use more of his management skills, so he feels more positive too. And J had a good day (''as hard as at Trinity!'') and E had his 10 month check (a little late) and passed with flying colours..and no injections til August!
T took annual leave and it was nice to potter around Reykjavik together-we met his Mum and we went shopping (thankyou, Kristin) and had lunch at one of the vegi cafes-it was great being able to choose what I could eat again and it was lovely!
Kristin bought me a lovely hat-I have realised that hats, gloves and rain/wind-proof suits are necessities, ralther than chosen luxuries here. The bitter northern wind has dropped (gone over to england I believe) but it is still cold and wet and snowy in the capital today.
We have new plans re a business opportunity so have more detective work to do..keep watching this space. We both still want to work for ourselves and continue to make plans. I want to do that and still work in my voluntary role and maintain my nurse registration (if I ever get it). It took one clinical psychologist 3 years to have his qualifications recognised!!
So all feeling good this p.m..the house too! Hope you are all keeping well, keeping warm and keeping in touch with each other. Lots of love from Joanna and boys xxxx
PS note the picture of our new home and my old car-very new and very nice but us honorary vikings don't drive anything with less than 32''tyres-thats much too girly!! ;-)

Deb would have been proud of me...!

2006-04-01T21:17:00.000Z

Hello y'all...hope you are all enjoying the spring weather and not been 'had' by too many april fools??
Its windy here (nooo!) but the sun has been shining for the last few days and suddenly the wind doesn't seen half bad. I think Jolyon may disagree there, as it was a tad chilly walking thro' Keflavik this morning..we went exploring and had a chilled day altogether. And I got all excited because not only did I find disposable dishcloths last week, today I found a proper floor mop-the type where you can attach wet and dry cloths (Deb, you have trained me well!). So whilst Mum coped with all this excitement, J then played with Johann and Elijah helped Daddy with DIY and cleaning (no comments about gender-orientated tasks please!). The spare room is now finished and awaiting its first guests. And tomorrow we receive our first (non-resident) guests when Toti's parents visit.
We are also hoping to have 2 cats very soon-hopefully after we return from our week in the summer house..a house always needs a feline prescence to make it into a home and we are going to rescue 2 ladies (probably) from the cat sanctuary. I miss my 2 ladies very, very much altho I know they will be enjoying the life-of-riley at my parents. J is also patiently awaiting his promised rodent...
We are still thinking of going into business and Toti and I have agreed on the next steps..we both know that whatever we decide to buy or start, it is our way forward, especially important for oneself, currently out of the employment-loop. And whilst not nursing and not using all my skillls does bother me at times, I am hoping to continue to work with people in other areas, especially with people who are also coping with the culture shock that Iceland presents.
So, we are all doing ok, which is always good-J enjoyed talking to Cameron on the phone today and I always enjoy all your emls and texts, altho Erika's jokes often leave a lot to be desired! (Derrien, you need to crack the whip that bit harder and keep her under control..take lessons from Jackie-Deb tells me she has got right bossy in her Joanna-free age!!). And Fiona, sorry for lack of phone calls- but you are always in my thoughts and I will try harder from now on, especially now we are all much more settled. We miss you all but..
Love to you all, as always, from us all. Take care, Love Joanna,Toti,Jolyon and Elijah xxxx ;-)

Well, I understood it..but only because it was an abstract piece!!

2006-03-28T21:05:00.000Z

Hi..yes, I appear to have actually enjoyed the theatre more than Toti as it was more my thing than his and I could interpret it anyway I wanted because I understood about 3 sentences in the whole play! It was about the domestic and emotional situations women find themselves in and was based on some short stories written back in the olden days (which according to T's 8 year old cousin is the 20th century!!). It was lovely to go out and we got to visit both Amma's too, which is always good.
Eli B has been stuck at home with Mummy again today, as our childminder has been poorly this time. He is practising his walking at every opportunity now and has finally mastered the art of pushing his little trolley and not falling over as soon as he takes the first step and pushes it too far, too fast !(he looks really cute!). J has been enjoying theme days at school and they have all been trying different healthy activities and Daddy has been working hard in the 'big city' (to us out-of-towners). The wind is really strong here at the mo' so I have been battling with the weather, which is about as challenging as I get at the moment. I am meeting with the intercultural centre next week, to talk about doing some voluntary work to help other foreigners like myself. It will be good to get out and into a new routine. Especially as I have now unpacked the final box, we have put up pictures on the wall and the spare room actually looks like a bedroom.
Tomorrow my mum and dad will have been married for 48 years..congratulations!!J is going to stay with them in July so is looking forward to catching up with all good friends. And we are too.
Off to more internet stuff now
Love to you all from us all, Byeee! xx

not much to report..!

2006-03-24T11:32:00.000Z

Hi again..just a note to let you know we are still here coping with all life throws at us.
J has a new friend called Johann (not sure of the spelling) and this has helped him cope with interpersonal difficulties between himself and a few girls in his class. He has learned to ignore them and hey!what-do-you-know..they´ve stopped teasing him, which is really good news. As Derrien said in her recent eml, the same girls will soon be beating a path to our door, for other reasons!
E has has a rotten cold and teeth problems so hasn´t been to his childminders this week. We have been stuck together like glue-walking alot, in the absolutely freezing cold winds. He has started to cruise along the furniture now and practises his walking, with a lot of encouragement (I think he´s quite happy to carry on crawling).
I am still pursuing work but nothing to speak of yet. I have unpacked nearly all the boxes tho!!T and I are thinking of starting our own business in Keflavik but it is still in the thinking, talking and perusing stage.
Our house sale in Mossley is going slowly still-typically our solicitors sent off contacts 2 weeks ago and they never arrived!Why can´t things just not go smoothly for once??!
Still a lot to do in our new house and seemingly little time..the electrics are still a nightmare and drive me to distraction on a regular basis. Its not that they are unsafe..more that half the sockets don´t actually work. We are still plugging everything in with the one adaptor that travels around the house on various appliances!
Off to the big city tomorrow for our night out at the theatre..lets see if I understand more than I did when we saw Cabaret last summer??
Have a lovely weekend everyone and don´t forget mothers day!!
LOVE Joanna and boys xxxx
PS still no pics or webcam stuff..wireless router not working with our PC!!!sorry!xx

just another quickie..hello, that is!!

2006-03-21T19:02:00.000Z

Hi and hello to you all..the reindeer rocking horse is now complete and Eli B is not in the slightest bit interested in it! He has been into his books in the last few days, which is always a good thing. Jolyon started scouts last night and is ready to go again next week. I have emld lots of people and T has out me in touch with his old GP who is involved in a mental health charity..keep watching this space! I have decided to carry on with my language course once this one finishes in 2 weeks, so T and Jolyon will have to cope with me saying "oh!do I have to go again?" for a few more months. But I always enjoy a challenge and it is good for me (and never as bad as I imagine it to be!!).
This is what my Pops said (says Jolyon who has just returned home)..if you are reading this Pops, it will be a laugh!"Put the dog in the oven..see those..they are called white cabbages". We will never forget that one Pops!!
Off to do more unpacking and more DIY..T and I are actually going out this weekend..not sure I remember what that means..will be fine if I have a piece of bubble-wrap to snuggle and T brings his tools!!
Take care and love to all from Joanna, Tóti, Jolyon and Elijah xx

PS..the answer is 3..

2006-03-18T21:59:00.001Z

..one to attach a vital piece the wrong way..one to repeat "I have done woodwork you know, Dad" and one to unpack yet another box and think "thankgoodness, thats not my job"...xx

how many Burton-Freysson´s does it take to build a reindeer rocking horse...?

2006-03-18T21:34:00.000Z

Hello everyone and welcome to one of our more frequently written blogs..all down to Toti chaining himself to the vodafone counter, so it is claimed...I reckon its because he has plugged his other woman in and she is mithering him again, at long last..(she is called hewlett packard..funny name if you ask me but all support in the fight against faffing is welcome.)
So today we have all finally had a day at home together..Jolyon took us to the swimming pool. It is very nice but I am greatly perplexed by the lack of rooves on Icelandic swimming facilities. Elijah too was a bit baffled, especially when it started to rain. Toti reckons it is all quite normal and us anglo-saxons don´t know we are born, swimming in the warmth and under cover..hmm..Later, Jolyon and Toti squished hundreds of boxes and I unpacked another. Aside from the ones staying in the garage, we are now down to the final 3. I don´t think that ís bad going after 10days and 185 items. So our house feels more like a home-albeit one with a lot of DIY lists.
The work situation is frustrating for me at the moment..Reykjavik is just starting to set up community mental health services so I am hoping to make contact with the movers and shakers and actually influence practice. I am hoping to do some voluntary work at the intercultural centre too, but everything moves sooo slowly in Iceland and it is disconcerting to know what one could do and not always be able to create the opportunities to fulfill it. And I have to remind myself that we have only been here 4 weeks. But watch this space-I am not destined to be a housewife for too long, I sincerely hope. ...
On a travel front, we are all looking forward to friends and family visiting and ourselves returning the compliment. Jolyon had a nice chat with his friend Josh this pm..stretched out on the floor, with the phone pinned to one ear..a teenager in the house!!There was even talk of girls at one stage but I had better not go there for fear of recriminations!!...
So keep smilimg :-) folks..we miss you all, as always. Lots of love J and 3 boys xxxxxxxxxx
PS will post some photos soon and will eml all those farewell ones that I have promised everyone..however, everything has the wrong plugs on, the electrics are a bit strange and we have only one electrical adaptor-I´m sure you see my point...! xx

Hopefully it'll stick ...

2006-03-17T15:48:00.000Z

We've got the equipment fixed. The phone company asked Tóti to leave it with them over the weekend but Tóti refused and chained himself to the counter ... after that it was sorted in 10 minutes. We should be connected by tonight. We're all looking very much forward to a quiet weekend together at last and plan to relax, try the pool, go exploring etc. We'll let you know how it goes.
Tóti, Joanna, Jolyon and Elijah

This isn't funny anymore

2006-03-16T16:30:00.000Z

We're offline again I'm afraid. The equipment that the phone company gave us broke down so Tóti has to go tomorrow (Friday) and get it replaced. Hopefully we'll be back online by Friday night. This is actually quite funny ... isn't it ... Keep those e-mails coming though.
Joannas' interview yesterday was all very positive. Although she won't start work yet they recognised the knowledge and experience she had to offer and have arranged to keep in touch as well as giving Joanna more contacts to get in touch with. With it being a government funded University, money is tight and things need to be planned well in advance so we're hopeful to have some more news on that front at the start of the next (academic?) year ...
Love you all,
Tóti, Joanna, Jolyon and Elijah

Welcome to the 21st century, folks ...

2006-03-15T07:22:00.000Z

Yippee, we're connected ... only two hours after the last diary entry, we were finally connected to the net. That simply meanst that these diary entries should become more frequent and you can all start sending e-mails again, safe in the knowledge that they will reach there specified destination ... over and out ...
T, J, J, and E

Still no internet ...

2006-03-14T13:20:00.000Z

Oh, it all goes so smoothly. Al least the unpacking is going well and we've all got our bedrooms sorted. There will however be at least 368 trips to the tip with empty boxes and used bubblewrap.
Emotionally we're hanging on in there, it's not always easy though. Joannas got an informal job interview at the University of Iceland tomorrow so lets all keep our fingers crossed. Jolyon sometimes gets frustrated by the fact that he doesn't yet speak the language (he's got very high standards for himself ... I wonder which one of us he gets that from ...?) and also that things like maths he's way ahead in, so he gets bored. The teacher is going to give him some harder stuff, though.
Elijah is enjoying childminders and doing very well, no language issues there ... ba, ba, ba, da, da, da and ma, ma, ma is apparently universal as well as eeehhhaaa goo goo dat dat ...
We got our beloved Citroen Picasso yesterday but Joanna says Tóti can have it, she's taking the Beast.
A million things to do and another million things to pay for but we're getting there, one step at a time.
Love to one and all,
Tóti, Joanna, Jolyon Isaac and Elijah Benedikt.

the IT famine continues..but hey!at least we have a kettle!

2006-03-09T13:52:00.000Z

Hello one and all..as T said on the last entry, sorry for lack of communication but we are still internet-less..much to our collective annoyance. We are promised it this week?
It has been an emotionally draining 3 weeks..at times I have cried and been desperate to go ´home´, at others happy and content and at others, I have how-did-I-get-here moments?. This usually happens when I drive back from my language class, sitting in The Beast, driving towards the Garður sunset and having only understood half (if I´m lucky) of my class.
But it is reassurring to see the boys settling. J is making friends but has tended to stick with the same ones so we need to expand his social circle. E is enjoying his new friends at Huldur´s (our dagmoður/childminder) and enjoyed an impromptu visit to daddy, grandad Freyr and Amma K, at various venues in Reykjavik today. T was very stressed yesterday-in fact, his evil twin Toti took over for a short while. Thankfully he only appears once every few years so we shoved him back in the box (along with all the packaging material we are now surrounded by). And as for me? well more ups than downs this week and looking forward to getting the house sorted, settling 3 boys and getting out to the gym, work etc, etc. And emls, texts and phone calls from everyone have been fab and really helped me keep going..thankyou!
As indicated, our stuff arrived yesterday. It was a usual bizarre Freysson-Burton moment. I went to collect Eli B from the childminders, filled the car with fuel, the garage wouldn´t accept my card so I had to call T from work. At which point, the removal company rang to tell us they were on their way!And we were 30minutes drive from home, with spare room to empty etc etc etc. Stiil, we did it..and the only minor trauma so far has been the temporarily-disappeared fittings for my beloved glass dining table. They are in a box somewhere..one of 173!!!!So if you plan to visit next year sometime, we may have located them!!Everyone else will have to eat off your knees.
So, there you have it folks..an intensive update but one of many in the future. Take care everyone, in the cold and snow and -8 degrees. We had lovely sunshine yesterday..after the horizontal hailstones of 3 inches in diameter! Lots of Love, J and 3 boys xxxx

'Bout time we kept you all informed

2006-03-06T14:00:00.000Z

Things have been a bit hectic and we've not had access to the internet for a while, so we've not been able to do as much as we would have liked on the web and e-mail front. The move itself went well, aside from forgetting the screws to hold the cot together in Reykjavík so Elijah slept on a cot mattress on the floor surounded by suitcases and Tóti slept in the room with him to make sure all was okay.

Practically everything is plodding along, a bit too slowly though. That said, our container has arrived and is on the dock, waiting for customs to process it ... hopefully we'll have our own furniture and Joanna's beloved Citroen Picasso by the end of the week. It has felt a bit like living in a holiday home for the time being (boiling water in a pan for cups of tea etc. We've also bought another car, an Isuzu Trooper, which we have named 'the Beast' due to its size. It will fit seven people which is what we wanted for when guests arrive etc.

Emotionally things are up and down, as expected, maybe a bit more than expected. Jolyon is settling down well in his new school, has made friends and cycles and walks (runs) all round the village. Elijah is starting with his childminder tomorrow (as we can't get him into nursury until he is two years old ...!). That should give Joanna a bit more time to herself 'cos she and Elijah have been glued together for the last week. Tóti plods along at work which unfortunately means we don´t all get as much time together as we would like. The weekend was good though. On Saturday Elijah stayed with Nana Kristín and Grandad Freyr whilst Joanna, Tóti and Jolyon had a 'grown-up' day out at the shops. It was good fun. We also had a great day on Sunday with Joanna and Jolyon cycling to the lighthouse and climbing up, then playing on the beach for ages. It was good to have this weekend together. If the stuff arrives this week the boys will both spend the night at Tótis parents house whilst Tóti and Joanna unpack all 73 boxes and put together furniture.

From Iceland with love,
Tóti, Joanna, Jolyon Isaac and Elijah Benedikt

moving day..at last..!

2006-02-24T07:45:00.000Z

Hi and how is the snow in England? We finally had a dry day yesterday, which was a relief as the 3 Burtons were suffering a severe case of cabin-fever. We all wanted to ´go home´ yesterday and I felt very isolated and very alone, so it was a relief to get up to our new home and actually move furniture in. (On weds pm, I commented that I needed Deb and Erika..Deb because shes the only person I know who actually enjoys cleaning and Erika because she would have all the cleaning fluids we needed at the point I was scrubbing the shower for the third time..!)Garðbraut now feels like ´home´ and Toti and I are really looking forward to it being the 4 of us again. I felt we had a bit of a reassurring sign on the drive home at 1 o´clock this morning as the Northern lights came out to play and it was absolutely fantastic. Like spirits in the sky..T said you rarely saw them move so fast. It was a good feeling.
Antway, off to feed all Burtons on this particular island. Take acre everyone..Lots of Love Joanna and 3 boys xx

day 2...

2006-02-21T11:29:00.000Z

hello again friends and family..its the second day and Toti has gone off to work. That was hard-I really didn´t want him to go as it made me feel isolated and very alone, especially as I have no car and it is a lovely (but longish) walk into Reykjavik. Still, the Burtons braved the wind and the rain and had a blustery walk near the sea. Didn´t have to practise my language skills then.Toti and I went to the house together last night-T was very nervous and said it felt as if I was a surveyor as we walked around the house in my usual systematic way. Everything was smaller then I remember, apart from the front garden but, after having spent a few hours there, it began to feel good and the nice vibe we first felt when we viewed back in August returned. We have a busy few evenings but are on course, at present, to move at the weekend. Jolyon will visit his class tomorrow but I don´t know whether he will want to view our new home then or wait (he keeps saying he wants it to be a surprise). Elijah is struggling to stand on the wooden floors and has lost his confidence in standing so needs a bit more encouragement and a few good rugs. And yesterday I drove on the ´wrong´side of the road (in the dark and wind and rain) and that was fine-except for the fact I was driving an automatic and felt out-of-control. We are now looking for a manual, 4 wheel drive with 7 seats (to accomodate lots of visitors?!) and a high drivers seat (for dodgy backs etc). It will be good when my favourite citroen arrives in the country along with all our belongings. Its amazing what you use on a daily basis and never even think about..bye for now. Take care and love from the Anglo-saxon branch of a viking family xx

finally here..

2006-02-20T10:46:00.000Z

Well, its been a while since the last entry but we have finally arrived in our new home country. It seemed a long journey, with one practising teenager and one independent crawler but we made it and are having a chilled day today. We are having to stay at Toti´s parents for a few days but are aiming to be in our new home by the weekend. This p.m we will go up to the house and I will see our new home for the 2nd time!! Jolyon and Elijah are enjoying a weeks attention from both sets of grandparents (we all enjoyed our few days in Yorkshire) and are coping with the change, despite some worries. If you would like to see pics of the house in varying stages of decorating then go to www.einmitt.is/gardbraut. We will try and update it soon (complete with furniture).
Love to all from the newest branch of the Viking side of this cosmopolitan family.
We love and miss you. J.T.J and E xx

Oh Blimey!

2006-01-24T12:44:00.000Z

Hello Vikings..just a quick entry as I may have to attend to bodily fluids from smallest Burtons. Its been a busy few days! But I think he is on the mend and J seems happier at school now. Don't seem to get time for photos so apologies there too..have spoken to estate agents again and we should have an answer by Friday. The purchaser is supposed to be getting her ref from tescos today. I will ring back then. Am looking forward to our move esp as we seem to be moving at a time of many festivals..what is the winter lights fest?
Looking forward to having you back home too, in 2weeks and 2 days.
Love to everyone from 3Bs xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

House update

2006-01-19T00:36:00.000Z

Hello one and all. Here's a quick house update. We've got the bath in, Svenni is coming to help me with the door (or lack of) either Friday night or Saturday and even though it doesn't look like I'll have anyone painting with me on Saturday, I should be able to finish painting the house this weekend ... at the very latest one evening during the week.
Work plodding along fine, the pressures on to finish our project and that's always good fun. There is nobody there that can't handle the pressure and people are immensly calm despite it all. Got invited to a colleagues 29th birthday party. He says 29 is a big birthday as it's a prime number ... then the next big one is 31 and then, mummy, it's 37. Isn't that interesting!?;-). I've just realised today that despite having two homes, I live in neither of them ... I live with mum and dad. Not only have I got two homes but I've got a wife and two children ... and I live with mum and dad, albeit temporarily ... some people would say that's a bit strange but I ain't complaining, 'cos I got so many people to love and so many people that love me. I miss you guys loads and I'm glad everything is going well at your end. I can't find the thing to plug the camera in the computer but as soon as I do, I'll put some pictures of the house in the snow on the net. Goodnight folks,
Daddy, Tóti xxx

always things to learn..

2006-01-18T21:24:00.000Z

Hi everyone..forgive us mossley mice for few entries but the pace here is increasing too and it doesn't stop at 5pm like someones routine does..(only joking as I have ensured your other woman keeps you busy out of hours!).
Our biggest Best Boy has been struggling with bad dreams, poor concentration and schoolwork worries but I think we have turned a corner and J has worked hard to put all our problem-solving into practise.
Eli B is practising more mobility and looks like a baby hedgehog when we waddles along behind you.
And T- I am sooo proud of your studies..feel like I'm missing out somewhere..(no, don't panic..will have lots to learn in the Icelandic university of life in a few weeks time).
Our house sale hangs in the balance but I'm not getting stressed about it-am really looking forward to seeing our new one.
Must dash-washers etc to peruse.
Love to all vikings X3Bs xxxx

Hello, I'm back

2006-01-15T11:23:00.000Z

It's been a busy weekend here on the snowy island we call (for no apparent reason) Iceland. Couldn't go swimming in the sea 'cos the guy was poorly at home. I think he was at home shivering with the thought of getting in that water personally, but had a good day at work anyway. The project we're working on is coming together slowly but surely. I was sent down to the computer room (it was more like a computer ballroom) where they keep the main computers. They are about the size of Jolyons bed and there's loads of them. I was told to go and start the server, and I didn't really know what I was doing but went down there with another guy and got it going. Another lesson learned, eh ...
Friday night me, nana and grandad all went up to the house and prepaired it for the weekend of painting, which was handy. On Saturday I went up and then Nanna and Thor came to help so we've got some more paint on the walls. Today me, nana, grandad and Doddi are going to paint loads up there.
On Saturday evening I was going to go out for tea with my friends Árni and Svenni. As it turned out another two of my friends, which I've not seen since I moved to England in 2000 were there as well. They were the manager and guitarist from 'In Memoriam'. Apparently the drummer, Stjúni, who lives either in Indonesia or America somewhere, is also moving back. Yes, there was talk of a reunion gig ... that's right folks, you heard it here first. Hey, if Metallica can do it at 42 then surely In Memoriam can do it at 32-ish. It would only be a one off for fun. I said I wouldn't do it till I've finished moving my family into our new home. They all offered to help with the house but in honesty we've got plenty of helpers for what's left. Svenni is going to help with the door though. You folks should be the next people to see the house.
That evening I went and played a gig with Menn Ársins and it was good fun. I found that old 'I-actually-love-playing' feeling. That's one I've not had for a while.
I know you all had a busy weekend two and hope you all enjoyed it. I'm off to do some more painting here and hopefully get some good pictures of the house in the snow. I love you all.
xxx Daddy

Ten whole minutes!?

2006-01-13T01:02:00.000Z

Jolyon dared me to stay in the ocean for ten minutes tomorrow. I was aiming for ten seconds, to be honest. Certain parts of my anatomy might permanently disappear, you know ... But I'll certainly give it a go. I must remember my swimming trunks cause otherwise I'll have to go in my AcId PaNtS, man ...

ungh-gah-tsh, ungh-gah-tsh, ungh-gah-tsh, ungh-gah-tsh!

Had a lovely evening with Árni, Fanney and Gunnar Franz. Fanney is pregnant and due toward the end of May ... must be that time of year because two people at work are becoming parents in that same month. Let's see now ... I do recall a power-cut in Reykjavík sometime last August ... hmm ... What do you do on a stormy night with the power out? Oh .. oh ... I know, pick me teacher ... pick me ... I know ... You party until you're purple with the AcId PaNtS in the Atlantic ocean!

ungh-gah-tsh, ungh-gah-tsh, ungh-gah-tsh, ungh-gah-tsh ... Brrrrr ... ten minutes ...!

Right folks, I'm off to bed now. I love you all very much ... and I miss you all very much ...
xxx
Tóti 'AcId PaNtS' Freysson ...

You can't help but dance,
no, you don't stand a chance,
as if in a trance,
when your wearing ... mummys' socks!?

Swimming with sharks

2006-01-12T00:35:00.000Z

Hari, who I work with, asked me today if I wanted to go swimming in the sea. I thought it was a threat at first but it turns out some strange folks at work are planning a quick dip in the Atlantic ocean, in January, from the coast of Iceland (that's right on the arctic circle for those of you who don't know). People must be mad ... so, of course I said, yes!
Sváfnir also e-mailed me today and said we'd been offered a gig, for a bit less money than usual. I said that under normal circumstances I would rather spend my time with my family than gig for that amount of money but this is hardly normal circumstances ... so mine and Sváfnirs vote is yes (funnily enough, both of us are renovating our houses). We've yet to see what Halli and Diddi say ... it might be a draw ... in which case, George double-you Bush would have it! It's nice being in a band where democracy rules!
Anyway, I shall love you and leave you my dears.
xxx Daddy

Ich bin eine kugelschreiber ... computergestutzt

2006-01-10T23:05:00.000Z

Yes, I am a ball point pen ... computer aided. I am also clean and shiny, lean and tiny, mean and blimey ... what a load of gobbledygook.
I went up to the house today and it isn't white like it looks on the pictures. It's nice and the colours are warm. That's enough sense now, let's talk some nonsense ...
A story of up ...
The mouse ran up the elephants' leg, the elephant kicked up a fuss, so the mouse flew up into the air and landed up on the roof that the farmer had given up on putting up as he did enough putting up with the pigs up on the hill.
I'm sorry, I just can't think straight and don't have a clue what to write about. It's nice being back in work and I'm enjoying it and enjoying sorting out stuff before you guys come over. That said, I miss you very much and love you very much. If we think that I left on the 23rd November last year, we're much more than half way there.
Yours truly,
Dad xxx

Here, fishy, fishy, fishy, fish, fish, fish ...

2006-01-09T22:57:00.000Z

Hello,
Back in Iceland. Wen't to work today which was good and everyone is still as nice as when I left. Booked us a summerhouse for Jolyons' school holidays, yippee! Got in touch with lots of people that I haven't spoken to for years, they've all got little babies now, that's quite cool. Great to hear that Jolly-one can tie his shoelaces now ... it is something to be proud of, darling cos it's not easy at all. And great to hear that Elijah is crawling too. Shame I missed both of these historical moments. At this rate, by the time I get back, Elijah will be walking and Jolyon will be driving.
Went to amma Siggas' this evening and she gave me the keys to the car. I tried to start it but, unsurprisingly, the battery was dead. Sooo ... I'll come back to it and get it charged and take it from there.
I love you all very much my dears ...
Tóti - Daddy xxx