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Påfjellet 9.nov. 2015 But the weather has been dårlig/bad: it's +degrees, roads are icy as hell and clouds keep us even more in the dark that we would be now usually. This low pressure is making me feel low too! Stop the global warming already! 

Another total Grinch is the ... or was..  Estonian Air, airtravel company that from friday announced bankruptcy and there went our holiday flight-tickets to home. We'll probably get the money back freaking next year, but when we buy new ones, we'll have a nice big hole in our wallet for christmas. Oeh. But we're not the onlyones, so be strong, figure things out, keep it positive!

On an other note: we went to the theatre today! I know. Since living in Longyearbyen has made me think that norwegians either hate theatre or they just don't know what it is, it was a wonderful surprise. We went all together to this childrens play of 45 minutes and im so proud of how the boys enjoyed and endured; the darkness, the loud voices are quite scary. Remembering my own attempt as a child going to a play; Redridinghood, was it? I screamed so hard when the wolf appeared (like in 5 minutes after it started) and ran towards the door. End of story.

Oh my! tomorrow is thurday already! 

Bisous!

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Godt Nyttår! Happy new year! Head uut aastat!  

Bonne année!

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This year i got my christmaspresent early, on the 23th december. Around 9 in the morning we were sitting in a landrover, dressed in enourmous(/-ly warm) jumpsuits and riding direction darkness with Svalbard Husky, which was recomended by a finnish friend and everything she said to be pleasant, was indeed so. We arrived in a dogyard like so many here. There was a reindeer outside the fence, my first one to see.

The alaskan husky is so very friendly: our guide told us, that these dogs were historically the ones who would keep the babies warm during colder days, meaning that only the friendly, calm ones could survive.

As the dogs were chosen, we had to get them ourselves and put them infront of the sledge.It was not easy in the cold and we had to take our gloves off in this freezing weather to attach everything safetly. The leading dogs were the first. We had a boy and a girl in the front, and this guy was trying to pee on me, when that didn't work out, he thought he'll just lean on the lady instead. But it was so much fun. We got to know the names of the dogs and a bit about their charakter. And then ... into the darkness we went!

The dogs were so beautiful, it's sad i can't photograph in the dark yet and the flashlight kind of makes everythig fall flat. 

After we got back we got every dog back to its place and feed all the 50 dogs, then enjoyed some aurora lights, that were unusally red and yellow on tuesday. And after that we were again in the landrover driving back to town, where we were still in deep awe for the whole day. 

There was this momend during the ride, when we switched our headlamps off. We were moving through time and space and yet it felt we were not moving at all, everything just felt like a blanket was being laid over us. Forgetting the existance of time and only taking in this enourmous space of endlessness. Scary and majestic. 

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Oh, i love days which start with good news. :) Greetings to new parents!

This weekend we realized our Christmas-present: a weekend at Värska spa. Värska is known for it's sparkling springwater, sanatorium and (healing) mud-baths. The sanatorium was established in the 70es and it still carries that vibe (building, food, interior), but feels probably comfortable for the older generation, who otherwise in too fancy lounge-rooms with white couches would feel awkward and out-of-place. Since 2009 a water-centre joined the sanatorium and formed Värska spa. It's the only one in Estonia where you can swim in springwater. The water-center has various swimmingpools and is .. well, more modern. It's also a popular dating-place for the local youth.  :))

Martin wanted to give the family a present, that would make each member happy and it was a success: he got to swim every day, the boys enjoyed the water and the salt-chamber, i got a massage and was freed from cooking and cleaning for the weekend. Perfect.

Now it's back to house-chores and drving-school. Can do it!

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January came with mild temperatures and a cruel wind. In no time the streets were covered with glass, making the pedastrians move like pigeons and penguins. On monday the last film of last year will be developed. Since shortly winter has shown her beautiful but harsh side again, the people who ski rejoice. The developed film has to wait prehaps, because Juss's cheeks are too precious and the wind here likes to bite them.

Today we went to Kaur's birthdayparty (by car, altho it's maybe 20 minutes walk from here, but it was too cold for the little men). Kaur is now one year old. Awesome! Here on the photo he's just a month or so old, and with his Papa Leno, who by the way is the best cook ever (think i sat the whole evening behind a plate with rice and beans and salad and lamb and chicken... ) and also a cool painter. Kaurs mom recently translated a book of verse into estonian by Humberto Ak'abal. Such beautiful and capable people. Ak'abals poems were our christmaspoems this holiday and i think we turned some heads. 

Happy birthday to you and your precious family, little Kaur!

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Joyeux Noël!

Frohe Weihnachten!

Häid Jõule!

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Oo christmastree!

A few weeks ago i was busy making these little crochet snowflakes. It was a bit addictive :) but im fine now. Our tree came on friday from the supermarket, but it is never the less amazing. We have never had a whole tree in the house before (at our parents places yes, but not here with us) so it's extra great! I hope i can have a better photo of it soon.

My nose is still not better, neither is Juss's, but we're still on the xmas-rollercoaster... like it or not. But yesterday was actually nice, my great-aunt had her 85th birthdayparty in a pub :) I try as much as i can to ignore my health and just enjoy being with people. Im not sure if it's a good idea. In the long run. Still, im hoping for the best. Drinking a lot of tea and water, eating garlic (mmm!) and ginger, keeping my legs warm in woolsocks.. the usual routine :)

Wish me luck! Stay healthy! And enjoy the holidays!  

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