# Monkey Dad in Africa *23 March 2026 · newsletter no. 5* ([click here](https://0cd21327.sibforms.com/serve/MUIFAAH2QonpZQ48zXHF4DZlSw7tfdCh2Yn7Abw35VOpmVnB34Zll0VBz_RPJES6OxBjHbVxYLoABj0dmO98-MQk1wLlt9Bk5TyC9TB8EnwQPapmZreacsJZwcsDULHQtmFQ5XJaflCG7i81JmIVRfoseqOYRYyP-hblCaur_3aBfW7a3uGvEtblKowZYpYOICetVm_s6xxyoFN4) if you'd like to be on the mailing list and get a letter 3–6 times a year) *Íslenska: [[Fréttir/2026-03-23 Apapabbinn í Afríku|Apapabbinn í Afríku]]* ![[myndir/Fréttir/2026-03-23 Apapabbinn 0 - Man Utd.jpg]] ## A monkey in Africa When I was six our family moved from Bolungarvík to Cape Verde. The islands lie in the Atlantic, a bit south of the Canaries, off the coast of Africa. We lived there for a few years on and off; usually half the year there and the other half somewhere else. When I was nine, a friend of my dad's bought a little monkey as a pet. I was completely enchanted and used every opportunity to pop round and play with the monkey. The monkey had its own room and had it really good. Despite the big age gap, dad's friend and I became best mates, and I never called him anything but **Monkey Dad** (Apapabbi). He was newly divorced and a bit fond of the drink at the time, but he was always cheerful when I came round, up for a chat and letting me be with the monkey. ![[myndir/Fréttir/2026-03-23 Apapabbinn 1 - Apinn.jpg]] *This isn't Monkey Dad – but this is the monkey* ## A business idea Gradually I started dreaming of owning the monkey myself. Monkey Dad was often out at sea, and then a woman came to feed the monkey, but I wasn't allowed to play with it then. So the next time Monkey Dad came ashore I was determined: I was going to buy the monkey. I invited myself round for coffee and put the matter to him. Monkey Dad was a bit taken aback, so I launched into my sales pitch. I explained that it would be much better for the monkey to be with someone who'd play with it all day. Besides, I wasn't going off to sea like him, so I'd always be at home. Monkey Dad asked what I was going to pay. When I admitted I hadn't quite got that far in the planning, he laughed out loud. I said I could do all sorts of things. He laughed even harder and said: "Little Muggi, let's go to the bar and discuss business there. It's impossible to do this here, the monkey can hear us too well." I wholeheartedly agreed. ![[myndir/Fréttir/2026-03-23 Apapabbinn 2 - Kvöldmatur.jpg]] ## Negotiations We strolled to the nearest bar. Monkey Dad bought a Coke for me and a drink for himself. We didn't talk business at all at first; he rattled off jokes and I did impressions of Elsa Lund until he laughed himself weak. When the drinks were finished we went to the next bar. There he ordered again for us – Coke for me and a drink for him – but when it came to paying he realised the money was gone. Monkey Dad was quick-thinking though. He convinced the bartender to take his cap as payment, on condition he'd redeem it later. When those drinks were done the story continued. At the next bar it was the T-shirt, then the shoes and socks, and finally the shorts. There, late in the evening, we sat sipping the last drinks while Monkey Dad was in nothing but his underpants. Then finally the deal was done. He confided that the monkey had had diarrhoea for a few days and its room had become horrible. If I cleaned it top to bottom, floor and walls, that would be payment in full for the monkey. I jumped for joy! I promised to turn up first thing in the morning and then take the monkey home with me. We celebrated by singing "Wild Thing" together and laughed endlessly. ![[myndir/Fréttir/2026-03-23 Apapabbinn 3 - Sófinn.jpg]] ## Dear mum We stood up, meaning to wander off into the blue and celebrate this magnificent deal. We walked hand in hand, singing, through a neighbourhood where the houses were made of flattened oil drums. Then I saw a couple in the distance. The woman was crying. As we got closer the woman broke into a run, attacked Monkey Dad and called him every name under the sun. I suddenly realised it was my mum. I'd never seen her so angry and couldn't understand why she was hitting my best friend. It turned out my parents had been looking for me all day and into the night. I'd simply forgotten to tell anyone about this important "business trip". Mum was so shaken to find me with a half-naked man in a dodgy neighbourhood late at night that she simply couldn't control herself. But the deal held! The next day I turned up and scrubbed the room top to bottom. Once Monkey Dad was satisfied, I finally got my monkey as my reward. > [!note]- Plugs – as they were in the letter > - **11 April** · Stykkishólmur church – One of the most beautiful churches in the country, with a brilliant stage. > - **26 April** · Grundarfjörður church – One of the best-sounding churches in the country ❤️ > - **23 April** · Hvanneyri church – Here you can nourish body and soul in beautiful surroundings. Brilliant village. > - **24 April** · The Barn at Hjalli (Hvalfjörður) – Brilliant barn, brilliant concert venue run by Hermann and Birna. %% Þýðing á Fréttir/2026-03-23 Apapabbinn í Afríku.md í rödd Mugison, Claude 23. okt 2026. Mugison les yfir. %%