Longings

I am finding myself in a sunshine of 13 degrees.
I met a friend from the North, who was sitting outside in a t-shirt, I have to admit I played it cooler and wore a woolen scarf. However, I have to admit there is something within me that is longing for a dark, gloomy, crisp and cold winter.
I long for the Autist in me, I long for an autistic moment. Perhaps the hermetic life in Scotland has made its mark, perhaps my Icelandic genes are strong, but I don't really agree with this sunny, happy winter, where you want to be outside.

For a long long time, I have been wanting to see the dual films of Ragnar Bragason - Börn and Foreldrar (children and parents). I saw bits of Börn after a dinner in Iceland over Christmas. I think I had made it up to be really really really good, which it wasn't, but it wasn't bad. People I trust talk well of Ragnar and my experience is positive.
Tonight I will finally have the opportunity to watch Foreldrar. It looks funny.
Think it is filmed in Breidholt, a place, which could be said to be the "ghetto" of Reykjavik. I like the area though, the blocks and blocks of flats are at least different and colourful.

The film that I really really long to see is Brúðgumann, a film by Baltasar Kormákur, a half Catalan/Icelandic, just like me. :)
It is filmed in Flatey, an island I have mentioned often.
You can see some pictures here:

http://flateyjarblogg.blog.is/blog/flateyjarblogg/


This is the hat I really want. My mother made it for a friend, I do think it looks nice.

Missing

After only a week, I am finding out what I am missing here in Barcelona.
Stuff. Food. More food and more food.

My favourite things, that I find increasingly hard to be without.

My vegetable brush - to clean vegetable and fruit - one of those things, you never thought you would use, but no - I can't live without it.

Iranian Dates - If you have tried out Iranian dates, there is nothing like it.

Tomato Paste in tubes - I have been to several shops, but they are all in cans, which makes it difficult to keep it, you know, in a can it becomes moldly quickly.

Valvona & Crolla's black and white pepper corn. The best of the best. The so called Rolls Royce of black pepper.

Black eyed peas - The peas I used to make the Turkish black eyed pea salad (Jimmy boy and Dudu's salad).

Iranian Saffron

Good chicken stock - Not the Knorr type, which is full of chemicals, but one which actually contains chicken (is sold at Marks and Spencer in Edimburg)

Beef Stock - Sold at Marks and Spencer and is not full of E products, salt and sugar.

Vegetable Stock - A real one, sold in health shops.

Valvona & Crolla food bag - Good to save one from using all those plastic bags.

Barberries - To make Iranian Saffron

Sumac - A necessary "thing" for Turkish breakfasts, chicken and more.

Whole Allspice - Another necessary spice.

Turkish Coffee (think I can probably find that)

Preserved Lemon - is proving slightly difficult to find

If you know any place where I can find these things, let me know. If you want to be good and send me things, let me know. I am open to presents and human goodwill.

- Soon I will write something on Bobby Fischer, who died a few days ago.

From Up There

Here are some pictures form up there. I wanted to use some of them for watercolours, although it is very difficult to paint snow, I think I might now the method in theory, but it is a different matter in practice.

Iceland was very good, I like the place, even if there are certain things about the society I find a bit disturbing.

I like its maniatic behaviour, perhaps I can even identify with it.
Soon, when the time is right I will do some more anecdotes. It will have to wait.

I am going in the opposite direction for now though.



This is just north of Reykjavik, on the way West. It was freezing, and even taking your hands to take the photograph was extremely painful.



In the middle of nowhere. I really like the landscape around Keflavik, or Reykjanesbaer as it called nowadays. There was a snowstorm, on a certain spot and one could only drive 1 metre, extremely slowly and then wait for it to clear for a second, then one metre, and so on. I was driving the car of my favourite Parliament member, who I trust for the improvement of one of my countries.



My favourite cafe in the whole wide world. Not just due to memories, I used to go there with my mother for a hot chocolate and waffles after my clarinet lessons. Every time I am in Iceland I go there. Just to sit and watch. This time I went there about four times and each time the same man was sitting in the corner table by the door and another man on another table. Regulars you see.



I laughed out loud, when I saw these pictures, when I went to collect them from the developing shop (yes that is the advantage of film, rather than the immediate format of digital photography). I also admit I did find it a bit strange and I was scared by that paw, who made no attempt in making me comfortable.