Icelandic Christmas Book Flood – Jolabokaflod ...

 

I came across this delightful tradition … from an article in CountryLiving – no idea how I got there! …

Christmas books

… something I hadn't heard about … during World War II paper was not rationed in Iceland – it was in England … as J R Tolkien found out when his works were published during the War.

So this is where the post came from … the Icelanders gave each other books at Christmas time … turning them into a country of bookaholics … there's some stats in the links …

Hot chocolate

I'm keeping this shortish … as people are causing me headaches – which takes time out of life … and leaving me somewhat frustrated and irritated, but that's life when one volunteers.

Then for some 'brilliant' reason – my computer needs something and I can't find it – or how to fix it … such is life … and now it wants to snow!!

Our Cocoa - in this little
country of ours - England!

Anyway enough of me … what I'd love is nothing to do … plenty of cocoa on the stove, marshmallows, a box or two of chocolates – then of course some veggies with a dip or two, and fruit to finish off (I'm trying to be good and leave off the wine) … and be left alone … to read the books on my TBR shelves …

So I really endorse Jolabokaflod (which roughly translates to Christmas Book Flood – in English, we might have guessed that!?) …

Presumably Jolabokaflod in Icelandic

Looks good ... 

So … enjoy your books and your cocoa … or more likely now-a-days … a large mug of hot chocolate with frothy cream on top … sprinkled with drinking chocolate powder …

A few links below …

Country Living – Jolabokaflod … the Icelandic tradition of giving books … way to go!

Wikipedia has more information on the Christmas Book Flood …

Founding Story of Jolabokaflog.org …

I know you've all family things to sort out … as do I, but in limited form – mostly done, thankfully … but I have a dinner to ensure runs smoothly by and for Wednesday …

Christmas Books at Waterstones

I'll probably get another post in before the end of the year – but in case not … have a peaceful and happy festive time … computer time being kind I'll be around … just straggling at the back of the queue for now …

Hilary Melton-Butcher

Positive Letters Inspirational Stories

We are the World Blogfest - #WATWB Hmb#3 – the Film 'Flee' …

 

Amazing film … our film society put this on for us at our cinema in the Towner art gallery … where 'avant-garde' films are shown …

Poster for the film 'Flee'

Well - I came out and wrote on my crit sheet one word … 'Exceptional' … it is the most extraordinary films I've ever seen …

The animation is fabulous … the story, based on real life … where archival film footage of events in Afghanistan and this refugee journey have been blended into the animated documentary …

A screen capture of 'Amin'

No wonder the film, Flee, has received unanimous acclaim from film festivals and critics …

… it is a wonderful example of the power of art to connect with people on a variety of levels: emotionally, philosophically, historically ...

Another screen capture of the back of a 
truck being closed down ... at the start
of the fleeing journey

I do hope you will all make a plan to see this film – it will have to be one of the most moving stories I have ever seen …

Brought to us by two friends … the refugee, Amin Nawabi, a pseudonym, and the Danish director, Jonas Poher Rasmussen, who creates this emotionally charged film on Amin's escape from Afghanistan …

The director, and Amin's friend in Denmark

Even, the director, Poher Rasmussen is not fully cognisant of 'Amin's' story until the friends sit down in Denmark, where the untelling of the tale occurs and all the nuances appear … 

... which are revealed to Poher Rasmussen, and through the revealing to us, the audience …

We are the World Blogfest

In Darkness, Be Light

This animated documentary: 'Depicts the refugee experience through vivid animation, pushing the boundaries of documentary film-making to present a moving memoir of self-discovery …'

It has to be seen to be believed … please watch!

The Towner Cinema's introduction to the film can be found here …

The Wikipedia page about the film …

Flee trailer c/o Sundance 2021 - 1 min 26 secs

Hilary Melton-Butcher

Positive Letters Inspirational Stories

Educational Book Journey (part 5) ...

The last book (for now) is titled Circling the Midnight Sun: Culture and Change in the Invisible Arctic by the Canadian geographer, writer, speaker: James Raffan.

I found this book riveting ... it's about the four million people in eight countries, speaking dozens of languages and representing almost as many indigenous ethnicities.

Yamalo Nenets -
 autonomous region
in Russia

It highlights that we (in the middle latitudes - as Raffan describes it)  may be worrying about climate change - but they (the indigenous peoples) are concerned about their loss of language, cultural decay, loss of land - which we purport to own - yet they have travelled and accessed those lands for millennia ... their lands are their home - their soul ...

Nomadic Nenets - reindeer hunters

I made lots of notes ... but as I was leant this book - I need to get my own copy ... that says it all really.

Raffan decides to circumnavigate the globe at 66.6 degrees latitude: the Arctic Circle.  He is Canadian,  but starts his journey in Iceland, and on via Norway, Sweden, Finland, various places across Russia, over to Alaska and then into Canada ...

... this is where having read Island of the Blue Foxes, as mentioned in part 2, was really helpful ... I had some notion about Siberia ... and now recognise some of the names.

Yes, I have other books on the go ... but I thought you'd be interested to know about these ... back to normal posts in the future - but more books will follow anon!

The Yamalo Nenets Autonomous Region - Russia's most important source of Natural Gas ... 

Hilary Melton-Butcher

Positive Letters Inspirational Stories

Tina – a blogger fest missing the leading sunflowered lady light ..

Tina brought out the fun in blogging, while being one of the major organisers and administrators of the incredible A-Z Challenge held in April each year.

A Swedish Summer Fest

She emailed, prior to my 2^nd challenge in 2012, asking if I’d be one of her “Minions” .. ie a helper for that year’s series … from then on we developed a great friendship … with lots of rapport, ribald stories and informative updates on life in general …

London, England   to   Stockholm, Sweden

Tina’s Swedish roots – she was so proud to be Swedish and have those origins … as we found out in many of her posts and particularly in her A-Z 2013 series on a Swedish immigrant during her first year as an American.  I am linking over to her Z for Zomboni … there are some lovely happy pictures of a young Tina.

Tina's instruction to the Klass:
Learn Swedish

For the 2012 Challenge – she taught Klass: Swedish How to … and as always Tina the teacher, the maths whizz, crept out … thankfully her X post gave us a summary of the A-Z words  she had tried to coax us into learning some Swedish!!

Tjorn - one of the many Swedish islands:
No wonder she had lovely memories

I know all of our thoughts will turn to her parents, and in particular to her husband and her two sons whom she dearly, dearly loved … Tinadescribed her family under her tab Nickname-Translator … so you can check out all her loved ones …

Five of the sunflowers I bought to brighten
up my sitting room - remembering Tina

Tina lived life and will be sorely missed by us all … she was a driving force, with an inspirational twist that had lots of zest to it …

From Sedwick Studio:
A Glass of Chardonnay via a blog
perfect for Tina

I add my sunflowers to all the sunny faces across this blogosphere of ours …

Hilary Melton-Butcher

Positive Letters Inspirational Stories

Fierce Viking Chick – RIP

A Viking Ship has taken our blogging A-Z supremo, Tina Downey, to far-away shores … she will be sorely missed by many … as we are already seeing from the tributes around the blogosphere.

My heart goes out to her family, her parents, her extended family and her local friends …

She will live on … she will inspire us … as she was a live wire, a lady who loved the joie-de-vivre …

Animal prow-head of a Viking Ship

We will remember her – of that I am sure - as an amazing lady.

May we all take a moment to remember her and reflect on the many things she did for us, or the laughs she gave us … I shall miss that Fierce Viking Chick – as she called herself …

Tina's header for her blog

Life is Good – Tina’s Blog

Hilary Melton-Butcher

Positive Letters Inspirational Stories