Helen of Headingley

 

   It is with great sadness that I write this blog, the wonderful Helen, overseer of The Headingley lodge is getting ready to leave.

Helen is a wonderful person and has the patience of a saint ( well she did when I was in residence and my god she had to ). 

She is the smiling face, the great laugh and the bubbly  person that made the Lodge  a great place to stay.

Nothing was too much for Helen, as I know from moaning about the heat in the bedrooms ( summer sun in those rooms is relentless and tiny windows making them baking hot), she moved an industrial air con unit into my room on one occasion.

On another occasion she gave Sophie and I a corkscrew, how she knew what we were asking for is totally beyond me, we'd had far too much wine to start with, luckily the corkscrew wasn't used.

Over the years, Helen has been to me the face of  the lodge, and although the hotel will go on , I for one do not think that it will be the same with out her.

I wish her all the best in her next venture and want to say thank you for being such a lovely and wonderful person and a great Ambassador for Headingley.

I am sure I am not alone in saying how much I will miss her.

Helen of Headingley go well.

Iceland debrief

 It takes you to get home to realise what a brilliant holiday you've had..........although to be honest from day one I knew I was having a brilliant time.

Saturday saw TLML and I up and out to get on the coach to visit the unusual things on this totally unique island, namely, the rift valley ( Eurasian/ North American tectonic plate), the awesome and  breathtaking Gulfoss water falls and then finally the geysers.

Great to witness except with cold, sideways falling rain hitting you , and a coach that was unable to sort out the heating  between 'menopausal sweat mode' and ' freeze your what nots off'. Needless to say when we were dry and feeling excited on the way out we were subjected to the former and on the way home, cold tired and wet to the skin we sat on a freezing cold coach blasting out more cold air!!!

So things I learnt on this trip, 

remember your waterproof trousers they are no good on the shelf in your bedroom.

Never complain about heat on a coach!

And seriously who knew that bus stop sex was not actually a thing!!!! it is the bus stop after five in Icelandic! tad disappointing! however never made it to bus stop 16 which in Icelandic sounds like 'Sex town'

You live and learn. 

Saturday night we headed out for some typical Icelandic fare, smoked puffin and minke whale were on the taster menu, however after a recommendation from the hotel and a wander off  to the recommended restaurant, we realised just too late that it was Saturday and we should have booked!

We wandered back towards the hotel and ended up in the lovely Cafe Rosenburg, round the corner from the hotel for a toasted sandwich and salad, followed by fabulous cake. I even got the lovely hydrangea plate that my cake was on.

It wasn;t puffin and whale, more Croque Monsieur avec gateaux, but hey any port ( country cuisine) in a rain storm.

This was all washed down with Icelandic ale which I raved about last time, and I have to say did not disappoint this time. Bondi being a fave of mine and TLML.

Sunday saw us off for  a walk and then to the fleamarket, I picked up a stunning Italian wool fedora and so I guess you will be able to spot me at Headingley if I an wearing it.

And then we headed off for an afternoon at a geothermal lagoon. Not the Blue lagoon I hasten to add, which sadly is far to touristy for me. so a very civilised afternoon of gazing out into the Atlantic ocean whilst floating in fabulously heated water, then being saunaed, scrubbed, misted, steamed and showered, before back into the lagoon with glasses of fizz and stunning views.

could this day get any better......................well of course it could, we headed out of the city and along the coast to try to catch the Northern lights, and we did, and what a show they put on for us!

As TLML said  'If Carlsberg did days...'

Before we knew it we were back at Keflavik and on the plane home.

The talk of ' this time next year' was not said lightly.

This unique and amazing island has stolen my heart and I know that there is one more visit ( at least).

It may not be everyones taste, but I know that 2 ladies had a blast there last week.

Have a great Wednesday 

Greetings from the Northernmost Capitol City

 Well after 4 months,I am back in Iceland and this time I've dragged along TLML.

And as expected its been eventful.

4.30am  Thursday arrived at Leeds /Bradford airport. Cases through and queuing to be scanned 4.45am.

5.45am finally get through!!!!!!

Result though as  managed to get through without underwires causing a problem.

On plane, drink beer had a nap, land at Keflavik.

All the numpties jumping up to get coats, bags , duty free. Only to be told that we were unable to exit the plane as due to wind, they couldn't attach steps to the plane!!!!!

We sat on the tarmac in a plane that was rocking from side to side  with more gusto than a trawler on the North Sea.

I've had some hairy plane experiences but this topped it.

Eventually they had to tie the steps to the plane whilst we were nearly blown off our feet, trying to get off.

Get on the coach to the city, seriously zero visability and following a snowplough!

Arrive at hotel and get checked in and given drinks vouchers (perks of being a returning guest)

Drop off our cases and then head to the Phallus museum for lunch.

If you've never had a duck filled willy waffle, you've never lived.

Look round the museum, spotted a couple of job opportunities and then headed off for a walk round the pond which is a huge lake in the centre of the city.

This was where I got chased by geese  last time. So after heading down we suddenly spotted a small child about to step out onto the ice.

TLML and I both ran shouting to anybody listening as the child went through the ice.

The little girls grandparents turned round (they'd  been admiring the view) walked over and dragged her out. Then walked way.

TLML and I were just stood rooted to the spot, totally shocked.

I was still in shock as I walked through a gaggle of geese without even flinching.

Went back to the hotel for a lie down after that.

We then had a scary moment as we were standing at the full length windows and saw a plane heading straight for us. 

We both were looking at each other in horror, as it  passed over the city and headed to Reykjavik airport a mere cock stride from the hotel.

Later we found a lovely little restaurant/bar round the corner from the hotel, a litre of Icelandic ale and we headed home and were tucked up in bed by 10pm.

Up with the larks (or Icelandic Redwings ) and down for big Icelandic brekkie, then off down to Harpa (national concert hall) and picked up the hop on/hop off bus for a tour of the city.

Amazing to watch a group of 5 people take up 10 seats rather than double up !!!!

Walked up to the Lutheran Cathedral and listened to the organ music, took the lift to the top of the spire and got deafened twice by the clock chiming the quarter hours.

However the views were astounding and definitely  a must do if you ever come here.

Walked down to the 'Sun voyager ' and then made our way back to the hotel.

All of this was interspersed  with bought on hysterical laughter as we waddled over the snowy paths.

Good news though I do know what is going on my headstone now !!!.

After having cocktail hour which involved lots of plane spotting ( the windows in our room are so big) we headed off to the local restaurant/bar for food, beer and a few games of Mastermind.

This was my favourite game when I was young and spent manner hours playing it with Dad.

A huge thank you to Jack for sending me this.

And today we are off to see geysers, waterfalls, and straddle the tectonic plate 

Happy Saturday.

(Apologies for any typos I'm doing this on my phone )