Who Knew Rust Could Be So Entertaining?

Thank goodness for Netflix.

Every now and then a new series will come on Netflix and depending on the name or cover photo, the two of us will give it a peek. Well, the last few days we have been enjoying a Canadian series about a man and his several hundred rusted cars. Old timers that despite the rust and missing parts evoke memories of old black and white movies, of glamour and times that must have been great.

At first I thought that this might be a series I would have to just grin and bear it ( I mean, who likes car mechanical stuff apart from the Queen ) because Bob liked it. A sort of wifely compromise but to my surprise, I love this show. The lead guy, the owner, is amazing. A man of late middle age but with an aura of half his age, rather streamlined body and long dreadlocks who wouldn't look out of place on a fashion runway. But, what a character, what a positive mind set and what a sweetie, not to mention his gravely voice.

Each and every episode the two of us hold thumbs ( like that's going to help all the way from Burgenland! ) for him to sell his cars and make a profit. Not that he doesn't have customers, more the case of him having a hard time letting his cars go. He is attached to them. Once or twice the two of us have given him vocal advice along the lines of 'please please, just sell one. You need the money.' Well, at least we still have a few episodes ahead of us to see if his business makes it through the winter.

What I also find fantastic is the fact that nothing gets thrown away. Old cars are restored and not merely sent to the shredder. The world needs more restoration. Personally, I think that despite these old cars being gas guzzlers, it is still less stressful for our planet to have them restored than to make a new car.

Having a quick look online proved that we are not the only ones loving this series. Pleas for another series are posted and let's hope it won't take too long...

Biggi

Awesome Mornings In Eisenberg.

Early bird does catch the worm...

These last two mornings the sun rose a bright red with pinkish overtones. Absolutely divine to walk into a rising sun. Nothing better to clarify one's mind for the day ahead.

It is always the right side that determines life...on this occasion the right side of the lane was hardly touched by a hint of pink. Looking at this collage of shrubs brought thoughts of Loch Ness. Only as seen in movies of course.

This morning the sun was even more alive bathing everything in a romantic hue.

This morning wasn't all about sunrises. At the end of my walk but still pretty early in the day I gave these beauties their ration of water for the day. Bright and beautiful indeed.

The departure lounges for the overseas trip is filling up everywhere and I wish you could have heard their tweets. The real twitter deal.

Thank goodness for the old electrical poles ( or might they be telephone lines ? ) and their ability to morph into comfortable seating arrangements for our feathered friends. Bon voyage and safe travels my beauties...

Biggi

The Incredible Sadness Of Old Age Homes.

Shady Pines indeed.

Yet another villager has changed residence. The heavenly waiting room as they like to call it. From one day to the next her lovely childhood home of yore has been exchanged for a shared room at an old age residence.

Today the heaviness of sadness enveloped me and even now, half a day later I can still feel it dithering about in my thoughts. But, I at least can go home to a nice and spacious place, one that is the perfect hideout from the insanity of modern life.

Lately I can't get my head around the fact that most people don't give a hoot about the specifics of stopping climate change. Gosh, they might have to change their eating and living habits, which apparently is an abstract and taboo subject. Much better for them to heap oodles of blame on the politicians than to roll their sleeves up and do what needs to be done. And done now.

Today was the first time I had actually met her and I am glad I did. As sad as she was due to the bereavement that caused her to move, she was thrilled to have a visitor. In between moments of sadness rare glimpses of joy, sparks of mischief and memories of having lived life emerged brightening up the whole room.

None of us know nor want to know the span of our life's wings but at least I'd like a fighting chance to go the distance and not be sabotaged by the ennui of people not bothered enough to do what should and needs to be done in order to resist the growing might of a changed climate.

Biggi

A Dog Gets A Second Chance.

A happy end.

I heard about it on Saturday. A sort of sad and nice bit of news. Sad because someone had died unexpectedly of a heart attack but also because someone had stepped up to the plate and done a fabulous deed.

Deaths seem to be less abstract in a small village compared to the anonymity of a big city, but as sad as they are, most of the time I try to visualize the person and how they were. This man was only known to me in passing but I knew he had a dog. Yes, a dog who has now lost his daddy. Only two options on the horizon for him. Pound or lodging with a friend.

Well, I heard on Saturday that a neighbour had adopted this dog without any hesitation. Nice. Nicer still because she is living alone and had been too apprehensive to get a dog of her own despite wanting one. Often her neighbour and and others had encouraged her to get a rescue dog but she hadn't been ready. Until now.

This morning I went to visit them. All agog and excited I couldn't wait to see them together. And what a treat it was to see them getting to know each other. She is giving her heart and soul to this little creature ( although he is an older canine of 13 years ) doing everything to make him comfortable and less sad.

She wants to help this dog but in fact I tend to think that this dog is helping her overcome those irksome bouts of loneliness living alone brings. The two of them have set up a nice routine that involves many wonderful walks each day, plenty of culinary treats and many long chats on the veranda. When I jokingly told her that now she could watch scary movies again with her canine protector by her side, she said that she doesn't have time for TV as it is much nicer to sit with her dog and rediscover the niceties of life through his eyes.

Biggi

A Time To Remember Our Guardian Angels.

A few more quotes...

" I believe most at-home accidents happen in the bathroom because our guardian angels give us our privacy. "
Cathy L. Poulin

" The reason that angels can fly is because they take themselves lightly. "
G.K.Chesterton

" Angels have no philosophy but love. "
Terry Guillemets

" It is not known precisely where angels dwell - whether in the air, the void, or the planets. It has not been God's pleasure that we should be informed of their abode. "
Voltaire

" All God's angels come to us disguised. "
James Russell Lowell

" Your two guardian angels are always with you. The other angels come and go as we need them. "
Doreen Virtue

" When we are touched by something it's as if we are being brushed by an angel's wing. "
Rita Dove

" Never travel faster than your guardian angel can fly. "
Mother Theresa

" Music is well said to be the speech of angels. "
Thomas Carlyle

Biggi

My Bond With A Bunch Of Local Flowers.

My second stint as flower guardian begins.

Gosh, where did the time go to? It was just the other day that I had started my first week of looking after one of Eisenberg's flower spots. The other day was actually a time in June which is rather scary as it did seem as though it was only last week.

I heard on a talk show this morning that they might propose equalizing all the time zones. Won't that be a whole lot of fun for working out new timetables? How that might be done seems rather mysterious but be that as it may, noon in Eisenberg might be at the same time as noon in New York albeit one will be in the dark and one not. Another gimmick to confuse us a little bit more?

Anyway, back to my flowers. It rained like mad over the weekend which has thankfully slashed my trips with a heavy watering can down to two. Only the flower pots that had a roof over them needed refreshments. So far so good!

These last two months I have only admired 'my' flowers from a safe distance as I didn't want to be seen to interfere in someone else's guardianship. Therefore this morning was the first time I came up close to them again. Honestly it didn't take me long to shoot the breeze with them. Look if Prince Charles can do it, so can I.

Inane chatter with flowers isn't so bad although I must confess that my chatter was more in the form of a plea, begging them to stick with me and my idea of dolling out refreshments for the next seven days whilst looking as fresh as daisies during and at the end of it...Village life, isn't it the best?

Biggi

A Delightful Sunday Morning After A Night Of Heavy Rain.

Much needed refreshments for our fields, plants and gardens.

Life can't always be bright and sunny. Rather a nice change to have a slight nip in the morning air, puddles galore and a more toned down summer background.

Most of the fields' run-offs were living up to their name and bursting with fresh water making each blade of grass look even more spiffy.

Along the length of the run-off an apple tree has shed a few fruit which are a perfect prop for a game of bobbing for apples.

A troupe of apples have decided to form a special bond in the manner of a weir. Wonderful to see nature at work...I hope that the buck will have fun bobbing for these apples.

Many a slug took the opportunity to cross the path and apart from me side stepping each and every one of them, I hope that they will have crossed before the tractors come along.

Biggi

Taking Care Of Ourselves.

Bob and I head out to Bozsok

Every time we go there and spoil ourselves with a divine Thai massage, we both say that we will do this on a regular basis, such as every two weeks or so and yet, it must have been close to a year since we've been there to let the knots be massaged out of our muscles.

It felt so good to have the cares of our world massaged out one limb at a time. Dreamland wasn't far off because one could focus on one's thoughts without any interruption from a garrulous therapist. Nothing worse than to answer inane questions if one is trying to relax and recharge. These gals at the Thai massage place are fabulous.

Why is it that most of us feel guilty about looking after our bodies? We take our cars in for a service, we paint our house walls the minute a crack appears but somehow the most important part of us, our bodies, we neglect and put it on the last place of importance when in fact it should be number one. How can we function in our daily lives without having a functioning body, one that doesn't hurt from neglect?

Twenty or thirty euros every couple of weeks are not much when one considers the fact that a neglected body might not be able to go to work, is perhaps moody or even unhappy. Somehow we do everything back to front...we should be the most cared for and looked after part of our lives and not the arrangement of bricks we worship every weekend until one day we haven't got the strength anymore....if you haven't been yet, go and have a nice massage and put your body back to where it should be. Fit and more important than mere possessions.

Biggi

Authentic Friday.

Discovering our authentic selves...

" When you stop living your life based on what others think of you, real life begins. At that moment, you will finally see the door of self acceptance opened. "
Shannon L. Alder

" Museums provide places of relaxation and inspiration. And most importantly they are a place of authenticity. We live in a world of reproductions - the objects in museums are real. It is a way to get away from the overload of digital technology. "
Thomas P. Campbell

" You can't try to be authentic. You either are or you aren't. "
Oscar Isaac

" Hard times arouse an instinctive desire for authenticity. "
Coco Chanel

" Just be who you are and speak from your guts and heart - it's all a man has. "
Hubert Humphrey

" Best keep yourself clean and bright; you are the window through which you see the world. "
George Bernard Shaw

" No one man can, for any considerable time, wear one face to himself, and another to the multitude, without finally getting bewildered as to which is the true one. "
Nathaniel Hawthorne

" Everything will line up perfectly when knowing and living the truth becomes more important than looking good. "
Alan Cohen

" This above all else; to thine own self be true. "
William Shakespeare

Biggi

Beyond Belief, Beyond Beef.

Avant garde plant based burgers are on the shelf of our local supermarkets.

Shopping trip today into Güssing which is my favourite after all. Nice and gentle with everything I need in close proximity. There is usually a method to my shopping and each town gets its own niche in my method roster. Güssing is a case of petrol, toiletries, vegan cheese, Hofer and Lidl. In that order which is quite relaxing for me. A gal on a mission.

Today's something extra were the ingredients for a Chickpea peanut butter ice cream, which only meant getting some dates and almond milk. Believe me, when I tasted it before putting it in the freezer it was divine. Yes, already done and dusted with our new blender.

But back to Billa where I usually stock up on our vegan cheese. A method there as well because I tend to buy what's on the shelf! On the off chance that I would spot anything new in the vegan way, I meandered around the supermarket and by pure chance had a glimpse at the fresh meat fridge. Don't ask me why because I am not tempted in the least, but there I was when between a shoulder of pork and a tray of ribs I noticed a label stating:

Beyond meat. Plant-based burger.

Wow. Hot on the heels of being lauded and launched in all the captials of the world only a few months ago, it is already being stocked here in our tiny outpost of Austria. How absolutely fantastic is that? Of course the price is a bit steep considering that one only gets two burger patties, but the mere fact that it is there on the shelf bears witness to the fact that the vegan / plant based crowd is growing...

Biggi

Neighbourhood Watch.

There is more to walking than just exercise.

Like clockwork they roll around every five weeks or so. Much longed for by everyone in our village, especially now during an extremely hot summer. Yes, the rubbish collection days. Rare but there.

Monday was plastic's day and most of us should have hung our head in shame. Moi aussi. Good grief, I can't believe how much plastic we tend to collect despite being aware of the issue whilst shopping or even living. Look, at least we separate paper, plastic and glass. A little help at least.

Today is Restmüll day, which is the most important for me. All those icky things that are left over. Believe me, in summer that black bin can hum and not only with aroma but also with those awful maggots. But enough of the icky stuff and back to the neighbourhood watch. Usually the first signs of neighbours being on holiday or away are the much too early put out rubbish bins.

Most noticeable with the black bins, which sporadically dot the landscape of our street a few days before the actual collection day. Yes, a house presumably empty of its occupants who could have easily asked a neighbour to put out their bin for them. Nice to be so trusting as to think that nobody would notice their absence!

Funny how one's mind works. One of our close neighbours have had their bin out for a few days already and the last few days I have been imagining them on holiday. Sunning themselves on a beach in Croatia perhaps, or being massaged at a Spa or visiting family for a catch up.

At least it gives me something to ponder and speculate about during my walk. Ah, the good life in Eisenberg, where hardly anyone worries about nefarious activities.

Biggi

The Right Thing Will Show Up At The Right Time.

Serendipity.

" There isn't any questioning the fact that some people enter your life, at the exact point of need, want or desire-it's sometimes a coincidence and most times fate, but whatever it is, I am certain it came to make me smile. "
Nikki Rowe

" A great attitude does much more than turn on the lights in our worlds; it seems to magically connect us to all sorts of serendipitous opportunities that were somehow absent before the change. "
Earl Nightingale

" What the Gods want happens soon. "
Petronius

" The universe is always speaking to us...sending us little messages, causing coincidences and serendipities, reminding us to stop, to look around, to believe in something else, something more. "
Nancy Thayer

" Maybe the absence of signs is a sign "
John Cusack

" I had the serendipity of modeling during a temporary interlude between Twiggy and Kate Moss, when it was actually okay for women to look as if we ate and enjoyed life. "
Cybill Shepherd

" It is of great use to the sailor to know the length of his line, though he cannot with it fathom all the depths of the ocean. "
John Locke

" We have built a thousand temples to Fortune and not one to Reason. "
Marcus Cornelius Fronto

Biggi

New Baby Chicks To Start Off This Monday.

A lovely start to my week.

I went to visit a friend this morning and was shown this magical pair who have only recently been born. Aren't they the cutest? Culottes and fluffy sideburns already.

I have a feeling that this must be the proud papa but to be honest, at the moment he looks as though he is posing in front of his establishment awaiting the ladies.

Well, well, well...it didn't take him long to entice another fluffy chick to follow him inside. Let's just assume they went inside to avoid the hot sun!

Meantime, not more than a foot from the rooster's establishment this gorgeous pair of geese were fluttering about looking pretty.

How divinely in tune are they? A happy pair of geese who will have the run of their little home until old age takes over. They will definitely and thankfully not grace any plate come Martini Day...

Biggi

The Art Of Travelling.

...has many dimensions.

" Travel makes one modest. You see what a tiny place you occupy in the world. "
Gustav Flaubert

" To travel is to live. "
Hans Christian Andersen

" The journey not the arrival matters. "
T.S.Eliot

" He who would travel happily must travel light. "
Antoine de. St. Exupery

" If you reject the food, ignore the customs, fear the religion and avoid the people, you might better stay home. "
James Michener

" Travel makes a wise man better but a fool worse. "
Thomas Fuller

" The world is a book and those who do not travel read only one page. "
Agustine of Hippo

" Do not follow where the path may lead. Go instead where there is no path and leave a trail. "
Ralph Waldo Emerson

" To travel is to discover that everyone is wrong about other countries. "
Aldous Huxley

" Wherever you go, go with all your heart! "
Confucius

Biggi

The Affair De Plum!

A plummy morning.

The funniest moments usually happen by pure chance. Take this morning for example, when I went for a trip to the back lavatory and happened to glance out the little window. Good grief, there was a helmeted man ( granted only a silly half helmet ) picking plums of our plum tree.

At first I thought I wasn't seeing right. I knew the man and couldn't understand how he would just go and pick our plums without even asking. Should I tell Bob and get him all riled up? The plums are his pride and joy as they form the raw ingredients for his famous homemade schnapps. Was it worthwhile rocking the neighbourly boat for a few plums?

I proceeded to watch him and thought all was over when he disappeared with a full container but it seems he only ventured to his nearby moped to fetch a new container for OUR plums. Bob had to be told. No two ways about it. Bob is usually a gentleman but touch his plums and all bets are off. He stormed outside with me still shouting platitudes about there being enough plums for all and don't upset the neighbours...

Silence. Waiting and suddenly a moped driving off. Bob came back inside and spilled the beans. Turns out that when Bob told this guy to please be so kind as to leave some of our plums as he needs them ( sarcasm that went right over this guy's head ) to make schnapps, this guy said to Bob:

" I have always had an agreement with Ferry to take as many plums as I want. "

...never mind that Ferry has been dead for over a decade and we have owned this ( his ) house for over eight years already. Known to our plum taker of course....oh well, is does take all kinds to make the world go round...at least the mystery of a few years ago is explained. Another of our plum trees was overnight rid off all its luscious and perfectly ripe fruit. Bob has always suspected a close neighbours but as we have learnt today, the wrong one...

Biggi

A Vegan B.B.Q...Slightly Contradictory.

A daunting yet exciting party in the offing.

This afternoon we are going to have a gathering of many accompanied by vegan vitals. A burger party in fact. A hamburger and chips affair minus the ham. All sounded much better in my mind now that I have prepared the burger patties. Will folks like them? Will they taste the way I want them to taste?

All in all I am making about 20 patties and as many non vegans will be there, I have tried to give them a nice flavour. Can't have people saying that our food tastes bland, even though there are times it does. In fact, I will not even mention that they are sans meat and see what the verdict will be.

Isn't it funny how when cooking for so many ones courage departs with alarming speed. Cooking for Bob and I is easy. Should it taste less then edible, I make something else. No problem but I know that tonight a misshapen burger will be translated as;

" See, I told you so. Vegan food is rabbit food. "

But on the whole I do enjoy making vegan food and am excited to find out if everyone will like it. Even a grudging bit of praise will be fantastic. Of course the party is held in wine country and by the time anyone gets to eat, many a glass will have been imbibed and quite frankly, all tastes well when oodles of libations are had, as it is Bob's Birthday after all...

Biggi

A Strange View Indeed.

A happening neighbourhood.

All I did was to look out the bathroom window and that is when I saw him. Our neighbour almost body surfing the ditch next to our road, too far from his own house. Kneeling down, backside in the air and nose stuck in the ditch. Oh my goodness, what now? An obsessive compulsive cleaner, could it get any worse?

Well, I had to go and investigate even considered the option of offering to help whatever he had planned. Neighbourly deed and so forth... It didn't take me long to go outside and obviously not long enough as he was now prone right on the floor trying really hard to take muck out of the drain.

" Hi, are you cleaning the ditch as well? "

he must have seen my face because he started to laugh and explain...

" My son's tripod wheel is stuck in there, so I am trying to get it to dislodge. "

" Oh thank goodness, I was starting to think that you were becoming a bit obsessive! "

God, he laughed and laughed and we had a bit of a chat. Bob came along a minuter later wondering where I had gone to and was instantly roped in..

" Hi Bob, come and help me clean out the gutter. "

I took pity on Bob and explained the lay of the land as I could see that the last thing Bob wanted to do was to be stuck outside to clean the mucky ditch...

Well at least the future mystery of a tripod wheel rolling down the road is explained and we will know where to wheel it to.

Biggi

Early Morning Encounters.

A rainy start to the day.

It was one of those mornings that didn't lend itself for walking but, bits of rain are just that, rain. That is what raincoats are for and with that in mind I set off nice and early. Rather a pleasure actually as it was pleasantly cool and the greens were back en masse. The muddy colour of dryness has almost been trumped. Great for our farmers, great for our gardens.

It was halfway through my route that I encountered a stranger. Well, a stranger I think because he was equipped with tripod and professional camera and more importantly, prepared to be out and about with rain sprinkling away.

As I walked toward him and his parked car my mind went through a liturgy of thoughts, starting with whether he was a danger to me or not. No one else about and forests galore. Of course the minute I came up to his parked car I realized that he was far from a threat. Would a nefarious stranger be seen driving a small electrical car, a car sharing one to boot?

I gave him a friendly greeting and he responded in kind. He had grown out long curly hair, was wearing shorts and sporting flip flops. That was definitely a man of the same ilk as Bob and I. Heck, in my mind I even pictured him being a vegan.

As I walked past him I was intrigued to say the least. A professional photographer out and about on a rainy Burgenland morning? Are we about to be featured in National Geographic or was he merely enjoying a leisurely morning and creating a celluloid reminder of it?

Anyway, I carried on and forgot about him only to stumble upon him and his dinky car once more a bit further along the Deutsch Schüzen vineyard. We exchanged a more relaxed wave and that was the gist of our encounter. But, isn't it amazing how our minds profile as prolific as any detective and sum people up without ever having spoken to them? Makes me wonder how people have profiled me...

Biggi

Signs Of Summer.

Lazy days.

Birkenstock tan, sporadic rain and lazy days. Isn't it divine to gentle pass summer days without a mad dash to foreign climes? As much as I have been bemoaning the recent spate of extremely hot weather it is paradoxically a time to chill. And chill we did. A siesta after lunch, a late morning brunch and early evening sundowners. Who needs to go away when home can provide all that.

The mornings are getting lazier and later. Five o'clock is now decently dark although I did enjoy June and July with their early starts. Loved being on the road at five to greet the day with birds and full of appreciation. A load of washing already dangling on the line swaying gently to catch the burgeoning rays of sunshine.

Summer is still abundantly around us even if the end is in sight. More so for the kids who have to start packing their schoolbags once again. Two months of sleeping in, hanging out with friends and staying up late. Teenage bliss.

Summer with trees bursting with fruit ripe for the picking. Festivals inundated with attendees. People packed into summer clothing mostly designed nowadays to show of tattoos to their maximum. Sleeveless shirts for men are back in fashion when only a few years ago it was a fashion taboo only worn by the Onslow in Keeping up Appearances.

The end of summer usually has a bitter sweet taste. Don't we crave the cooler days ahead despite knowing that it won't be too long before we start layering up again and shivering while yearning for a much longed for hot summer...

Biggi

Windows To Another Era.

A morning spent along the town square of Köczek.

The buildings themselves are most of the charm but I thought that photos of old buildings aren't everyone's cup of tea. Much better to focus on small details of them.

Above the bakery, windows do need to be open because how else does one catch the mouthwatering aroma of freshly baked bread.

A bit more detail...three windows but I just liked the streetlamp in front of it.

A most beautiful archway beckons forth into another square. Stunning architecture from days gone by.

Often these big gates are closed off and one isn't aware of the beauty hidden behind it. Windows onto ordinary lives lived in extraordinary surroundings.

One of my favourites of the day was this one captured at the Fortress of Köczeg. Old fortress walls and windows that have had the fortune to be privy to a whole epoch of history. If only walls could talk...

Biggi

Words From The Past.

Reflective and thoughtful.

" Come forth into the light of things, let nature be your teacher. "
William Wordsworth ( 1770-1850 )

" Be thou the rainbow in the storms of life. The evening beam that smiles the clouds away, and tints tomorrow with prophetic ray. "
Lord Byron ( 1788-1824 )

" If we must have a tyrant, let him at least be a gentleman who has been bred to the business, and let us fall by the axe and not by the butcher's cleaver. "
Lord Byron ( 1788-1824 )

" Man is fond of counting his troubles, but he does not count his joys. If he counted them up as he ought to, he would see that every lot has enough happiness provided for it. "
Fyodor Dostoevsky ( 1821-1881 )

" Those who'll play with cats must expect to be scratched. "
Miguel de Cervantes ( 1547-1616 )

" There's no taking trout with dry breeches. "
Miguel de Cervantes ( 1547-1616 )

" From the cradle to the coffin, underwear comes first. "
Bertolt Brecht ( 1898-1956 )

" Experience is a good school. But the fees are high. "
Heinrich Heine ( 1797-1856 )

" The Wedding March always reminds me of
the music played when soldiers go into battle. "
Heinrich Heine ( 1797-1856 )

Biggi

Corn On The Cob.

Simple tastes fabulous.

Yesterday whilst in Hungary we noticed a whole basket of corn still wrapped in its distinctive leaves being offered for sale. Here in Austria we don't often see them in shops which in itself is rather bizarre as almost every field surrounding us is filled to the rafters with corn. Perhaps Bob and I should do a midnight recci to see if we like the corn across the road. Just two ears won't be missed...but alas, my conscious would play havoc.

A freshly plucked ear of corn looks quite daunting to cook, but Bob came to the rescue and snapped them in half before throwing them into the pot. A dash of salt and twenty minutes later lunch was ready. A good choice as it turns out that everyone liked it.

Nostalgia ensued as let's face it, most of us have had pleasant encounters with corn on the cob. We ate it the only way possible or rather the only way enjoyable, held between two hands and eaten with gusto while rotating it clockwise. Bits and bobs of corn was stuck everywhere but the fun and flavour of it was well worth it.

Every day new culinary vegan adventures come our way and now that our folks are here on holiday it comes in handy. Corn might be a simple grain thought of more for animals, porridge or popped to accompany movie entertainment, but reconnecting with it today has been fantastic and has added another page to my vegan diary. Simple food often turns out to be the most tasty food...

Biggi

A Guardian Angel Indeed.

A rather surprising shop at Lidl.

Bob and I had spend the morning taking the waters at a Spa in Bük, Hungary. Lovely, busy, new experience and one to be repeated. It was so great to see a whole slew of people dressed in swimming costumes, regardless of shape or size. Nobody looked, nobody cared. A great lesson to have learned.

At about half past twelve we finished and drove along scenic back roads to Szombathely. The Hungarian country side is in places still unfettered with modern day craziness. Fields are fields, forests are forests and meadows are still without the ubiquitous cluster-homes seen around the world on outskirts of major cities. Driving one could almost envisage the Habsburg Royalty of yore riding about. Magic.

Eventually we found our Lidl in Szombathely, parked and did a shop. A half hour later we emerged into the car park, looked for our red car and spotted it but with a hair-raising extra. The driver side door was wide open. Yikes, both of us got cold shivers and I ran to have a look to what had happened.

Before I got to our car, a lady who stood next to her car which was parked opposite us, waved at me. I couldn't believe it when I saw the open door, and more to the point, the lady and her husband must have stumbled upon our open car and decided to wait for us to return. Real guardian angels indeed. Who knows where our car could have landed up without them.

Bob ran to check if anything was missing- thankfully nothing was-, while I tried to fathom what had happened. Either we left the door open or someone opened it only to be surprised by our guardian angels. It doesn't bear thinking about. All I can say is that we were divinely protected and from now on we will make doubly sure whether all car doors are locked...

Biggi

The Joys Of Life With A Cat.

An eventful night was had.

Sometimes I think that it is no wonder that she has oodles of energy during the night. Why not when all she does is curl up comfortable on our bed to doze the day away between breakfast and dinner. A cat's charmed life indeed interspersed with numerous cuddles and kisses from us.

Bob and I went to bed rather early, well nine isn't that early in the scheme of life and were roused by our feline bundle scattering all over the bedroom floor with that specific gait only brought forth by a small rodent's daring dash across her path. She can be fast asleep but her mouse radar never misses a beat or mouse.

Coupled with her heavy hopping about was the frightened high pitched squeak of her latest toy, the resident mouse. Bob had predictably left his shorts and shirt on the floor before hopping into bed and that was the scene of the crime. A hiding place for the prey and an irksome hide out for our Maus to conquer.

Bob woke up at one point and was none too pleased but what could one do but to pray that the battle of mini titans didn't involve a sojourn onto our bed. I couldn't help but picture little mouse feet trying to find a safe haven among my duvet. As much as I love animals, I do draw the line at harbouring mice.

At one stage I dropped off into dreamland only to be bumped back to Eisenberg with Maus's nose. I tell you something, the love I have for her was precariously on the edge of the bed. What if she wanted to show me her latest toy? Misplaced worries as all she wanted was a cuddle after an exhausted night of playing with her toy.

When Bob got up this morning it was too comical to see how gingerly he picked up his shorts off the floor...luckily for him there was no evidence of a rodent having had a camp-out during the night. Life with a cat is never dull nor boring...

Biggi

Bob And The Mysterious Woman In His Car.

On the road to somewhere...

Only a few years ago we went where we went with the aide of maps, old fashioned paper maps. Cumbersome, at times irritating but always fun to have on one's lap whilst directing the driver. Interesting side streets were discovered with a mere flick of a finger, wrong turns easily put right with moving the map one direction over and at the end of a trip a souvenir was had.

Not so now with Bob's discovery of this woman called, Siri. A happy voice with an impossibly correct English accent only slightly hindered by pronouncing German street names. Oh yes, she has usurped me and my co-driver's duty.

Yesterday Bob asked her to direct us from Eisenberg to the Zotter Chocolate Factory and from word go she breathlessly gave Bob various instructions which of course he duly ignored just for the fun of it. Honestly, I think he just wanted to get her flustered but ironically enough the only one flustered proved to be Bob as he had to listen to her repeatedly give him opportunity to correct the error of his driving ways. Eventually she stopped nagging and gave him new directions.

Whatever happened to good old fashioned travelling with map in tow? A whole industry again erased by Smartphone technology, and a skill taken away from most of us. Map reading was learned in our youth at various camps, guide groups, parents or at school. A skill that shaped our brain as much as it shaped our dreams of far off travels. Looking at maps was a way to give one's imagination free reign. Even going to the bookshop to buy maps was exciting in itself.

So, now I can hand over the reigns to Siri although I have to admit that Bob has a much better sense of direction than me or Siri for that matter...

Biggi

A Few Fleeting Images.

Proof of our recent bout of warm weather.

Early this morning before the sun made itself properly known I had the pleasure of seeing a few straw bales loaded atop this huge trailer. Magic in motion.

Today's early morning rightly predicted a magic day. Nice and warm but not too much. Perfect for a lengthy drive and a long afternoon nap.

Funnily enough, this pumpkin is growing atop one of our neighbour's hedge. Maybe gravity will be in our favour...

Driving through Fürstenfeld this afternoon we had to stop next to the main road and I could take a few snaps of this beautiful floral display.

A perfectly proportioned flower pot is a feast for anyone's eyes.

A combination of colours that makes the mind wonder and the soul rejoice...

Biggi

Environmentalists, Oberwart & Factory Farming.

Astonished faces.

Only this morning I happened to watch Cowspiracy and am still affected by it. By man's stupidity and the aptness of cutting our noses to spite our faces idiom. Cowspiracy explains how factory farming has is and will affect life on earth.

One of the most shocking revelations to me was the fact that at the time of filming this documentary, most environmentalist especially Greenpeace don't talk about the effect of factory farming or rather the effect of eating meat has on our environment and the future of our earth. Considering that meat production poses more danger to our climate than all transport emissions combined, that is a shocker indeed. Why call yourself environmentalist if the most urgent threat isn't on your mission statement.

As luck would have it, we were at the shopping center in Oberwart this afternoon and as Bob and his parents tootled off to the car I still did a few mad dashes to purchase this or that. Suddenly, two rather earthy looking chaps cornered me with a smile and said:

" Oh, you are just the sort of person who would like to hear about Greenpeace. "

I couldn't believe my ears. There were these two wanting me to sign up for monthly donations but, seeing that Bob wasn't around I thought I would ask them about Greenpeace's policy towards factory farming and you know, the way they looked at me I could have just as easily asked them about moving to the moon.

One asked what I was talking about and the other said that he hadn't a clue what factory farming is or causes. Oogh, wrong answer indeed. When I posed my next question to them, a startling revelation ensued:

" Do you eat meat? "

" Of course I do. "

What on earth is happening? Environmentalists not advocating a plant based lifestyle is beyond the pale. Remember, they are the supposed advocates for helping our planet recover and their goal is to ensure the ability of the earth to nurture life in all its diversity. Sad that they ignore the most obvious danger to our planet...

Biggi

So Much For A Chilli Afternoon.

All a-splutter....

The other day I bought a tray of chillies at one of the local supermarkets even though they were a different shape from the ones we normally have. But how bad could they be, sold in Oberwart where spicy hot food isn't really that popular?

The last few days I had used one of them to add to my culinary creations and even thought that I had used too little as we added more hot sauce to the food. Well, fast forward to today's lunch and the plot or should I say air, thickened. A broccoli stir-fry with noodles was on the cards and I added three slivers of chilli to it little realizing that I had set a coughing spree in motion.

It started with me. Coughing like mad. Unexpected but there it was. Where did that come from I wondered but only until Bob and the folks joined in. All of a sudden coughing could be heard all over the house, coupled with vigorous nose clearing. Yikes, they hadn't yet cottoned on that I was the culprit and even taking out the red bits of chilli from the food made little difference. Nothing for it but to own up.

With suspicious forethought I had also put a tray of spring rolls into the oven and thank goodness for that. I volunteered to eat my stir-fry but gave everyone else an escape route via the spring rolls. Bob took it with both hands or should I say a plate full of crispy spring rolls, but Harry bravely said he would try my creation.

By eating my portion I knew just how hot it was and was thrilled that I wasn't the only one. In fact, he had two portions without even breaking out into a sweat or splutter for that matter.

A bit later on I went online to research the strength of the chillies on my shelf. Good grief, apparently they are Habanero chillies! No wonder it affected us to such an extent and honestly, now I understand the true folly of those fools volunteering to eat food topped with the hottest chillie there is. Of course there is a real possibility that I might add more to my food tomorrow. Spicy but addictive...

Biggi

Entertaining Family The Vegan Way.

A culinary challenge.

As we are the resident vegans it is far easier to cook vegan for everyone as opposed to making two different meals every time. All well and good until one is faced with finding inspiration. No good making bland food seeing that we have sort of morphed into vegan ambassadors.

Isn't it funny how normally cooking for ourselves is just dandy despite the odd lapses of boring dishes thrown into the mix. Nobody is always on top form and when it is only for Bob and I, that gets chalked up as ' not our best effort ' and ' let's not cook that one again '...

Having our family here for three weeks is a perfect opportunity to dispel the notion that Bob and I live on rabbit food and more to the point, to prove that we are hale and hearty for it. But to do that, I want to put interesting, tasty and substantial meals on the table. So far so good, but I am not convinced that there isn't a secret stash of dried beef in their suitcase, eaten in secret!

Today's lunch was rather delicious ( at least I thought so ) and healthy. Wholewheat falafel wraps with the usual vegetable suspects dressed in tahin, mayonnaise and hot chilli sauce. Definitely a meal I am going to make again. Great way to use up the odd leftovers while at the same time sneaking in a few super foods.

As I keep telling mum, even when we were cooking the non-vegan way there were many days when inspiration and inclination was nowhere to be seen, yet now that we are vegans we expect to be inspired three times a day, every day. Impossible and thankfully so. Being vegan doesn't mean we are culinary angels. No, we are as normal as the next person, complete with odd days of toast and peanut butter, dark chocolate and hot chips...

Biggi

Quotes...

...for a rainy Friday.

" When a person doesn't have gratitude, something is missing from his or her humanity. "
Elie Wiesel

" Gratitude bestows reverence, allowing us to encounter everyday epiphanies, those transcendent moments of awe that change forever how we experience life and the world. "
John Milton

" The thankful receiver bears a plentiful harvest. "
William Blake

" Gratitude is a duty which ought to be paid, but which none have a right to expect. "
Jean-Jacques Rousseau

" A proud man is seldom a grateful man, for he thinks he gets as much as he deserves. "
Henry Ward Beecher

" Many of our prayers were not answered, and for this we are now grateful. "
William Feather

" When you rise in the morning, give thanks for the light, for your life, for your strength. Give thanks for your food and for the joy of living. If you see no reason to give thanks, the fault lies in yourself. "
Tecumseh

" When it come to life the critical thing is whether you take things for granted or take them with gratitude. "
Gilbert K. Chesterton

" Gratitude is the most exquisite from of courtesy."
Jacques Maritain

Biggi

All Roads Lead To...Vienna Airport.

An adventure.

Trips to the airport are great for whatever reason one takes them. Be they to head off to foreign lands or be they to fetch those choosing us as foreign land. Airports carry that special bit of excitement and of course one as big as Schwechat doubly so. Even waiting there for an hour yesterday we were immersed in the travelling vibe. By the by, I have never seen so many Gucci suitcases wheeled about. Real or pretend begs the question, never mind all those young peeps clad in designer wear. Whatever happened to travelling with a comfy pair of sweats and takkies crowned off with bedhead and bare face?

But to get to the airport we chose the road less taken. A scenic trip via the lovely Neusiedl am See area mostly in order to avoid the stress of roadworks on the main highway, that seem to be the norm over the busy summer holidays. Weeelll, how were we to know that they cunningly did the same for a a big part of the slower road to the airport. Roadworks galore.

Bob then decided to brave the main highway back in order to avoid all those nasty roadworks and ensuing traffic jams...alas, we should have known better because just for fun the Department of Road has chosen to spiffy up that highway too. Look, we got home safe and sound despite roadworks and horrid rainstorm, but we live in the hope that one day the roads will be sorted out for good.

Driving on a busy highway that has roadworks on the go is a bane to anyone's eyes and nervous system. Markings to show the new lane are a bright orange which hardly compensates for how narrow it has become and how difficult it is to navigate without touching the cones on either sides. Luckily for me Bob was at the wheel and drove brilliantly back home.

Biggi