Day 1702 our food tour of Reykjavik 🇮🇸

When we decided to come back to Iceland. We knew that there were a few places that we wanted to visit. The main thing for us was to spend a bit more time in Reykjavik. we looked a doing a 3 hour food tour… it was over £100 each!!

‘Scuse the French but, stuff that…. We thought we’d do our own one.

That we have done. It’s 2pm and I can confirm 3 strong caffeine coffees have been consumed… I am buzzing 😆😆

I slept really well. Woke at 6.30am. it’s still dark. Obviously.

We headed out around 9.30am… look how dark it is. We are staying at Hotel Reykjavik Centrum. We are in a great location. It’s so central… obviously, given its name 😆

Reykjavik is so quiet. I don’t know if everyone is away on day trips or still asleep?! This is a main road and it’s empty.

This is Tjôrnin, a lovely, almost frozen lake around the corner from the hotel. The sky is lovely and the Lutheran Free Church looks great all lit up.

We head back to Rainbow Road. Hardly anyone around again. It’s so pretty.

This was a recommendation for breakfast from Lynsey… Braud & Sons.

We bought 2 filer coffees and a cinnamon roll, a Parmesan and ham croissant and a caramel and pecan roll, for £21.

I cannot tell you how amazing all of these were. I’m not exaggerating!

Even the coffee was god although it was pretty cool by the time I got round to it.

It’s very cold. The forecast says it was down to -6°C but feels like -9°C.

This is the stunning Hallgrímskirkja, the Church of Hallgrímur. It’s beautiful against the twilight.

We walked around and got loads of photos.

The longer we stand, the colder it gets, again, obviously, but it’s so beautiful. I managed to get video of the bells chiming which I posted on insta and FB.

I thought sunrise was 10.30… which came and went without any sun. We decided to head into the church.

Wow. NOTHING like I am used to seeing in Rome. It is very beautiful but very plain inside.

Craig is thawing out near the alter.

The organ is spectacular.

The pews actually turn very easily to look towards the alter and back to the organ at the back of the church.

I really wanted to go up in the tower. I’m so glad that my vertigo didn’t click in at all.

This was soooooo worth it. Spectacular. Breath taking. A massive life memory made, never to be forgotten.

What a view.

These are the bells……. Turns out they ring while you are up there…… obviously. 🙄 😆

They are loud!!

We are up these for 11am!

The sun is due to rise at 11.02… it doesn’t. 😆

It’s so cold up there that there comes a point we just have to go back down the 32 steps behind the clock face. It’s so warm in there. I don’t think I have ever been that cold. I was chittering.

We headed back down and over the road to Café Loki, the yellow building.

And the sun rose at 11.28am… we watched from the warmth of this loveky café.

We had a Swiss Mocha each which was a total of £10.84. Doesn’t seem to expensive considering that amazing view.

Mine was oat milk… Craig had regular cow 😆

We had to walk back to the hotel to add another layer to the legs and body!

The sun has barely risen about the Lutheran Church.

Our next stop was Bæjarins Bestu Pylsur for 2 hotdogs for £8.79. This little shack is famous on insta and YouTube. Bill Clinton has been there for a hotdog.

The hotdogs were really good. Crispy onions and lots of sauces… not that you can see in my photo!

We then took a walk down to the Harpa, Icelandic Opera House. no photos dammit… but the view over the sea is just stunning.

Next stop was Café Reykjavik Röst £15.87 for 2 x Maple Sage Lattes.

These are unlike a coffee I have ever tasted. The view of the harbour makes it very special.

Café Röst is our favourite place. We found it when we were here last year.

We took a walk back up into the Main Street and ended up in Einstök Bar

We had 3 beers and 2 alcohol free IPA’s for £32.82. It’s a lovely atmosphere and great for people watching.

Final stop was for dinner at the Reykjavik Fish Restuarant .

This is the view.

We has 2 x cod and chips for £55.87. The batter is super crunchy and the fish is lovely.

I think we’ve done pretty well on our self made food and drink tour!

I managed to eat all of that in one day!

We’ve had a lovely day today. Memories made forever.

Back in the hotel now. We’ve a big day tomorrow as we’ve booked the Golden Circle Tour! I’ve been so looking forward to doing this since we were here last.

I think our weather is due to turn tomorrow and if it does I’m so grateful for the last few days of snowy cold.

Hope you all have a great Saturday night.

Stay safe everyone 🇮🇸🫶🏼🇮🇸

Day 1141 the best catch up with a lovely friend in Beith, Loch Lomond & Loch Sloy Dam walk

I am exhausted!

I have not stopped talking since 18.44 on 22nd May 2023… precisely. My friend Helen has come to visit from Exmouth. We knew each other when we were teenagers!

We talked until about 23.10 which is WAY after my bedtime!! Sadly there was a MURDER (read with very Scottish accent!) during the evening, as Calaidh broke into Helen’s room, sniffed out a cuddly toy Highland Cow for Helen’s grandson Arthur…. And the cow is toast …. How bad did I feel?!?!

Then the Scottish Dog Behaviourist’s alarm went off at 5.30am…. 😳 and I finally fell back to sleep and then Helen actually woke me up at 7.45am…. On my day off?!?

You know I am joking about all that. I must have zonked back out due to the 4 hours sleep night before. 😆

We started talking again at 7.45am and I’m only silent now because Helen is on the phone home!

I am having a really lovely time.

Helen thinks I have to lie in the blog and say I’m loving it when I’m not really. Told her to shut up. 🤦🏻‍♀️😂

So let’s be clear… Anyone coming to stay will cause me stress. Cleaning, disruption to the routine, the lack of control will generate an anxiety or nervousness of the situation.

We haven’t spent any time together since we were 17 or 18 and we have totally picked up from where we left off. I don’t have to try, don’t have to think what to say next, don’t have to make any effort. I can just rabbit away and talk the hind legs off a donkey and just be me. 💜💜 that’s pretty special.

So itinerary for today….

The little gift shop
Tianna Falls
Auchengree Tea Room and Highland Cows
Inveruglas -The Den tearoom
Walk to Loch Sloy Dam
Walk back from Loch Sloy Dam 😂
Wander round Luss
Dinner in the The Village Rest, Luss
Finally feet up in the house!

Here’s a quick run of photos as it’s 9.30 already!

The coleslaw matches Helen!

My new T-shirt… a gift from Helen!

A really lovely day. Now bed!!

Stay safe everyone ♥️♥️♥️

Day 1130 Reykjavik Café Röst, Omnom Chocolate shop and The Sky Lagoon!

Oh wow we have had an amazing day. A day that dreams are made of.

As we sat over dinner in the Sky Lagoon, we remarked how this holiday is the kind of thing that happens to other people.

It really has been out of this world. I would kill for another one day but hey, it’s not to be and we are home tomorrow morning. 🇮🇸✈️🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

As I’ve done the past few days, I’ll post a few photos and then this will be a total write up in itself over the next few days or weeks.

We had an actual lie in this morning. I did wake at 5.30 but finally fell back asleep and didn’t wake until 8.30am.

There is so much of Iceland still to see but we have run out of time. We could have spent the day visiting the famous Golden Circle but neither of us had that length of drive left in us. We realised that yesterday’s trip was the equivalent of taking a day trip up to Ullapool and back home in one day, with stops along the way! It was a huge drive!!

So we decided to have another reccy in Reykjavík this morning and managed another 17k steps. (It doesn’t get any easier to spell regardless of how many times I type it!!!)

Our favourite Reykjavik eaterie where breakfast cost us £55. 😆 it was exquisite so you really can’t get too bent out of shape!

Sage and Maple latte….

Serrano ham and cheese platter for me and Craig had a smoked lamb sandwich. I mean the food really is as amazing as it looks.

Craig found a doggy in his favourite chocolate shop, Omnom.

So by this time we are stuffed. I should say I managed almost a 23 hour fast as I didn’t eat after our huge lunch yesterday as I was so full.

I actually love this next photo of me. It’s not often I see pure joy in a photo of myself. This is it.

We were booked into the Sky Lagoon this afternoon for 3.30pm. I will tell you all about it when I have more time. We booked the date night package which gave us use of the geothermal heated lagoon and a 7 step spa programme.

It was OUT OF THIS WORLD. We both feel so lucky to have been able to do that today. It’s definitely a day that we will never forget.

2 alcohol free beers as Craig was driving!

Followed by the Sky Platter for dinner. This plate was close to £30! Again… just exquisite food and perfect amount.

I can’t find the words to say how amazing this holiday has been. Everything has gone just perfectly. No stress, no drama, no pressure. It doesn’t feel like we have only been away for 3 days… we’ve done so much.

I haven’t even considered taking antidepressants…. Lots of food for thought when I get home.

I will miss these crisp, pure white bed sheets without dog hair. 😆

It will be good to get puppy cuddles though!

Stay safe everyone 🇮🇸✈️🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

Day 958 first real day of holidays

It nice to have a day off work. To have no plans.

We slept through the Fit Body Farm this morning. Think we’re both exhausted after such a busy weekend.

I didn’t have much voice this morning when I woke up after shouting over the noise at the party and singing at the top of my lungs and way to much talking…. But do not fear because it came back, Craigie hasn’t had the luxury of a silent day. 😬😆

We took Abbie the Campervan back to the garage at 9am and walked back home from Glengarnock.

It’s a lovely morning but bitter. Hat and gloves for this first time.

I have Freya, I’ve just hidden her 😂 it’s more a photo of Craigie’s ass 😂 and me wearing his hat. 😂

This next one would have been amazing except for the power lines.

Gloves were off by the time we got home but it was a cold walk.

I got vouchers for Gro Coffee in Irvine from my Auntie Marion. Strike while the iron is hot, we have spent them already!

We had a lovely wee lunch. Look how pretty the food was.

It was super tasty too! I also had my custom coconut milk latte and Craig had posh diet coke!

We did not have a cake. Check us. We still have a house full of cake and regardless of what you might think when you might want cake… you CAN actually have toooooo much cake 🎂 😂

Forgot to share a really cool card I got from Kate and Jamie who live in the village. I love it!

So I’ve actually handled all this turning 50 malarkey, quite well. Age is just a number but this doesn’t feel as easy as 40 did.

I have had the best time despite wishing we were in the Maldives for a fortnight. We’ve seen so many lovely people and I’ve made some very special memories of my 50th.

The HRT is going fine despite losing a patch and having to plaster one down. Craig is the key to a plaster sticking. Any I’ve applied end up falling off.

I’m off the progesterone just now as it’s 2 weeks on and 2 weeks off, but I have to go back on it on Wednesday night.

I’m a bit nervous as it made me feel so low a few weeks back, but I need to take it.

“If oestrogen is the feed you use to grow a lawn, progesterone is the lawn mower that keeps the grass in check”. So my eloquent Doctor put it.

I’ve spoken to so many people this weekend about menopause. There are 34+ symptoms that are now attributed to peri-menopause or menopause.

All of these can be helped by replacing the hormones that we lose at this time of life.

It’s no less natural than taking insulin when you are diabetic or even for humans to drive in a car. It doesn’t matter what age you are. There are benefits from taking HRT that will help on later life. If you’re not sure, read up on it. You might be surprised.

In a stark reminder of my new age bracket, I’ve just received my bowel cancer screening kit. Craig’s lucky I won’t get him to help with this. 😆😂

It’s not even 3pm and I have my feet up, I’m listening to my birthday playlist on Spotify as I write this. I never got much chance to listen on Saturday.

I may have a nap.

Yet the garage phone just as I settled down…. Abbie is still wobbling despite having the passenger side drive shaft fitted. They need her overnight. They’ll drive her up on the ramp tomorrow….. the saga continues.

We are just watching the last ever episode of The Walking Dead. The end of a blood thirsty, zombie era. Who’d have thunk the blog would ever say those words?!?

I actually cried…. Way more than I should have. I’m just tired 🥱 😂

Hope Monday was ok for you.

Stay safe everyone ♥️♥️♥️