After the breakfast we were shown around the house and farm. On the first day we learnt one major difference in households between Iceland and (pretty much) rest of Europe. Here it was okay to leave hot water tap running. The hot water (about 40°C) in many Icelandic households comes straight out of a mountain, runs through the pipes and goes back out into a creek. They are more conservative about clean cold water, which may be scarce in some areas. We have been brought up in households where hot water was considered a luxury and were not allowed to let it run for too long. It was more like - turn it on whilst soap up dishes, turn it off, and turn it back on to rinse them. Thus, it was something to get used to.
Iceland did not stop surprising us. It did not strike us (and most of people) as a place for growing much; therefore, it amazed us to see how many various veg and fruit were grown in their greenhouse. We were able to pick fresh salad for every meal every day. When the cherry and strawberry season started, we were just spoiled..
The house was located in the east coast of the Westfjords, far from famous tourist spots, so it had much more Icelandic feel to it. Low lying hills with dark gray rocky outcrops surrounded the valley. The dark colours of the hillsides were broken up and fissured with light yellow streaks of dead grass and silvery glints of trickling waterfalls. The wide fjord opened up and gradually flattened out towards the ocean. A fast flowing, powerful river cut its way through the middle of the valley. There was not many mammals to be seen around; however, plenty of birdlife thrived among the birch thickets and bogs.
Many Icelanders utilised the washed up driftwood. It was naturally preserved and ready to use. Anyone who could lay their hands on a bit of driftwood, would use it. The wood had unique set of colours, a golden, rich brown tinge when cut that faded into a graphite like silvery gray shade if weathered and exposed to the sun. There were a few smaller driftwood pillars on the front porch and one huge round larch pillar in the living room. Several cracks ran up it, however, it did not seem to weaken the strength of it, but added some character. Halla liked to take a few trips a year along the coast and look for unique and interesting pieces of driftwood, which were used as piece of furniture, dish or ornament. Her husband Loi was a carpenter, and had a big workshop. He said it was big enough only for one person, but you could find there anything you needed from the smallest chisels to a great wood lathe. We were waiting for a rainy day off when we could go and try to carve some spoons or use the lathe.
Some calm evenings were spent by sitting in the swinging hammock chair on the front porch and looking out towards the estuary and listening to seasonal bird calls.
The house usually was very lively, full of people. Family members living near and far came and went. On our first day at the farm, some of the Halla's children arrived for dinner. The atmosphere in the house was relaxed and light. Every family member was really easy-going and friendly. As they made dinner after 18:00, I was unable to join in (I stopped eating after 18:00 over 8 years ago due to my health issues). Something that astonished me after excusing myself from the table - no silly questions nor requests to remain at the table followed, which was often experienced in some other households back in the UK. No one seemed to mind if you sat at the table, regardless whether you were eating or not. Over the next month and a half we became the part of the family..
