Reykjavik Online

Hello listeners! Service has been resumed following a long period of e-drought during my rural isolation in iceland. I'm back in the land of the city-slick and am relishing everything that urban icelandic life has to offer, including exceptionally convenient free wireless internet access all across this fine town. I love it, and I feel very connected again.

Iceland life has been trating me well. Apart from a couple of things. I have a large gash in my leg following a lava incident on the 1980 flow on Mt Hekla. It is healing nicely now and I think I will have a handsome scar to proudly show off to demonstrate my manly explorer-like lifestyle. I have also had a few too many hangovers following generous drinking sessions with new freinds in Hella. I can't remember most of your names, ladies, but I will never forget your faces! So, fieldwork in the name of Geoscience really has proved to be the rather extreme experience I had always imagined it would be.

Highlights from the last few weeks include trips to see the iceberg-filled lagoon Jokulsarlon, visiting the puffins and cliffs of volcanic Heimaey (Westman Islands), taking a trip to the hot-springs of the interior of Iceland at a place called Hveravellir, and getting my hair cut this morning. Photos of these will probably follow (not the haircut, maybe).

So, I have a few day left in Reykjavik before returning back to the UK. I'm having so much fun and enjoying catching up with all the friends I have made here, and I do not relish the thought of a return to terror-struck Britain. I hope the travel crisis wil have abated a little, and I hope that the clear plastic bags for minimal carry-on luggage mean more generous check-in allowances. I have soooo much crap to ferry home to lovely Shetland.

So, this Friday sees the start of Reykjavik Gay Pride - an extremely popular weekend of events to show support for and celebrate gay, lesbian and transgender people, and their struggles, achievements, lives. I'm heading off to the opening ceremony in a few hours, which, if it is anything like last year, will be a lot of fun. Norway's Vigdis and Ruth wowed us all with such a hilarious blend of drag, song, and humour, and now they are back to host the entire evening. It promises to be a great weekend, even if the weather man doesn't agree!