The only fly in the ointment during my stay so far came in the form of a damaged tooth. I had only been in the country for about a week when a hefty chunk of molar decided to declare independence; exactly the kind of development I didn’t need on an extended stay in an unfamiliar location. Foolishly, I entertained the hope that the truncated tooth would hold out without any trouble until I returned to England, but after five weeks the inevitable twinges manifested themselves and I was forced to familiarise myself with the Icelandic dental service. I was quite impressed with the results. Hólmavik (population 381, or 382 including me) may be a tiny place, but it has its own medical centre that caters pretty much for the entire county. The visiting dentist comes along once per month. As his next visit was not due until 28 September and he had a rather long list of patients then, I was advised to go down to the clinic at Búðardalur, about an hour’s drive away.
Now that the sheep have been brought down from the hills and mountains, they will be kept indoors all winter. The lambs, I am told, are born in April or May, rather than in February as is fairly normal in Yorkshire. That is another big event in the calendar and I look forward to witnessing it.