Leftovers.

A mindset that is changing.

For me at least. Leftovers used to be thrown into cute little containers to be put out to pasture on their own shelf in the fridge which sadly would prove their final pit-stop before the bin. Yes, mia culpa but I am changing. It wasn't a case of being too good for leftovers but more a case of either not seeing them ( okay, perhaps ignoring is a better term ) or having something else in mind for the following meal and thus perpetuating the fridge to bin cycle.

Turning vegan changes so many aspects of life. Our mindset improves and suddenly one does care about the animals, environment and the sheer stupidity of wastage.

When it comes to cooking pasta or rice I admit that I overestimate our appetite. Those dry bits of pasta look so darn little that I can't help but put more in...forgetting that it absorbs water and swells in size. At least I have never made too little. Left over pasta or should I say noodles, come in handy when making a stir-fry for lunch and even a mere handful of noodles feel comfortable amid the almost forgotten fridge vegetables. A carrot, a pepper and half a chicory with a few spoonfuls of ' leftover ' lentils made a huge plate of food for lunch today. A meal fit for a king...

Once the mental switch to be environmentally conscious is turned on, the sky is the limit and our own insanity the start. You know, even being aware of not wasting produces an insane amount of waste. When I see our pile of it I can't bear to think of our whole village's, country or world's waste polluting so much of our earth.

I know it is difficult to be environmentally conscious but even doing one or two things right each day is going to have a huge positive impact on the world and on ourselves. We should teach our kids and us really as well, to have more self esteem so that we don't have to fall victim of the current idea of;

people being solely judged by what they wear, where they live and what they post

because that alone will unshackle us from our constant need to shop in order to feel accepted by our friends, family and neighbours...

Biggi

A Day Away From Brexit.

Interesting and turbulent times ahead.

Brexit seems to finally take place at midnight tomorrow. Somehow I still can't believe it and sort of have an attitude of I'll believe it when I see it after all the back and forth of the last few years.

Brexit has morphed into a term thrown about at will by politicians and publicans with an ease and kind of like a huge umbrella covering the whole of Britain. An umbrella which will be permeable when it finally is here as many people are going to have a difficult time continuing life in the manner they have become used to. Jobs might be lost and standards of living adjusted downwards.

Europe despite all its rules and stipulations does look after the average worker. Some parts of Europe more than others - maternity leave alone is making many a new mother green with envy. In South Africa one more or less has two weeks off before and can get up to three months maternity leave but at times without adequate pay, while in the US there isn't any paid maternity leave. Great for the employer but not for anyone else. Europe really is tops at looking after its citizens. Let's hope Britain won't go backwards.

Travelling will change as well, as from now on one needs hefty visas and obviously pay for them. Dashing over the pond for a quick weekend in London might be a thing saved for anniversaries and birthdays from now on. Of course, unless your livelihood depends on tourism, it might just be the yearned for break from the stream of tourists that ordinary Londoners have to compete with for accommodation and honestly, everything else.

A new page of history will be written tomorrow and like many others, I am agog with curiosity at how it will turn out. Not often one gets to see history unfold close up before our very own eyes...

Biggi

A Blue Sky Gladdens The Soul.

Glimmers of summer on the horizon.

Honestly I don't mind winter and in fact at times I love and prefer it to summer. Those winter days where the sun is nigh and the snow is high are just too magical and reminiscent of fairy tales and movies. How could one not like it.

As hot has cold so this magical image of winter has its evil flip side. Dull grey, cold and miserable winter days complete with dirty snow turning to an annoying mush most of us have tested with our backsides. No, that sort of winter is to be endured but not really cheered.

Being the optimist I am, I already sense the end of winter ( April and May aren't that far off ) and try and imbibe that feeling into Bob who at this stage of winter has had enough of it. Don't blame him. Working outside on ' evil ' winter days takes courage and conviction.

But, today the tables have turned and a charming and magical winter's day is here. The sky is sporting a summer' blue complete with sunshine making everything it touches seem more cheerful and pretty. The grass looks greener, the trees more alive and of course best of all, the temperature has got a hold of itself and decided to repel those dreadful minus degrees.

So far we haven't had any noteworthy snow apart from a small dose before Christmas and I for one tend to believe that no more will be had while some - ' the cup is half empty ' - type of folks are predicting a snow filled March and April. Whatever does come our way will be okay because even if the weather tips towards a cold spell, we are geared with warm clothes, a warm house, plenty of books and delicious wine...

Biggi

Tuesday's Edition.

Sign of time...

Bob and I have made our home here in Eisenberg for close on nine years. Nine happy years, eventful years and exciting years. Being a part of, if only on the peripheral, a small village means living along side it and its people.

We first started English conversation classes in 2011 and a year or so later it morphed to English extra lessons. Much more fun and much more rewarding. The kids were still in Kindergarten when we first had the privilege to help them with English and through the years I was happy to be allowed to follow their progress by seeing them now and again trying to imprint on them the minute details of the English language. For some odd reason it is more difficult due to it being a second language. Pure torture of the kids at times. All those intricate grammar rules I had to help them understand and learn, we had never been taught back in South Africa. But, anyway, so far so good.

Yesterday I had an extra lesson with one of our ' original ' kids ( I think he was still in Kindergarten back then ) and now, he is in grade 9. Unbelievable. It had been a while since I had helped him with English and I couldn't believe my eyes when I saw him. Almost all grown up but still friendly and courteous. Well, to him I must seem like an elderly aunt type of person, one that tends to irritate him with repeated writing of verbs and hints to write legibly ( a bit rich coming from me ! ) and of course, to please read books.

Time slips by so fast and often we only become aware of it by seeing the young grow up. Naturally we ourselves never notice the signs of time because if we don't believe it then surely those crow's feet, laughter lines and general stamp of decades gone by can't be real...

Biggi

Ironies Of Life, The Vegan Life.

But nice nevertheless.

Looking back through my rather large photo archive I was reminded that Bob has been extremely lucky ( yes, yes, he married me!!!! ) when it comes to tombolas. January means annual firemen's ball and of course a slew of mini tombolas and lucky draws.

The main draw has unfortunately dwindled in prizes...those divine large screen TVs have been usurped by dinner for 6 as main prize and an organic duck from the farmer down the road. Hell's bells, I would much rather have a TV than a chef-cooked dinner that only lasts for a few hours. But, as I said to Bob, either prize wouldn't do us vegans any good.

A few years ago Bob won a food hamper and we were thrilled at the time although we had already started on a healthy eating plan due to Bob's diabetes and had to give most of it away.

On Saturday or rather Sunday morning Bob came back from his shift at the ball again laden with prizes. The mini tombola seems to have paid off although not so much for us vegans. A homemade cake which did look rather scrumptious and yummy was re-gifted by us to friends and the same with a huge box of chocolates. The basket of beers have found a nice temporary home with us though! Yeah.

Never mind the fact that we can't partake in our little winnings at least fortune has favoured us yet again and for that I am grateful. Feels good to win and perhaps we need to think up prizes that we can donate and consume in case we were to win them.

Biggi

A Rather Cold Start To This Sunday.

A walk on the white side.

Gosh, but it was freezing this morning. One only feels the true temperature about five minutes after leaving a nice and cozy house. At times it seems laughably warm until reality sets in or rather the tips of fingers and nose stop working. Yes, icy cold.

Yet, it is exactly this which makes a walk so special. The bare branches of trees have all turned silver with an added layer of ice. Beautiful indeed because it creates a cascading sparkle effect all down the lane, up along the forest and of course alongside most of the vineyards. The odd bird is happily awake enough to chirp the joys of a hopefully not so far off spring. A marvel of nature that their tiny little feet don't get stuck on the iced over branches.

As you might have guessed, there weren't many folks about testing their mettle against this Sunday's elements. The odd few drove to the shop for bread, newspapers and the odd fag. A typical Sunday and why not as taking it easy is what it's all about.

On the last part of my walk which happened to be a long road down through the forest, I noticed what must have been two walkers ahead in the distance appearing to hold hands. Intriguing indeed. Who might that have been? I increased my speed out of pure curiosity and soon found out. One of the villagers was taking her donkey for a walk with a long leash. Only in Eisenberg and I must say, I like that fact that most of us love our animals so much that they take center stage in our lives...

Biggi

Bits Of Health.

So easy when we think about it...

" None of us ask for fried chicken, pork chops, or ice cream in the delivery room. We were all born without preferences.
Everything we think we like, we were taught to like. "
Milton Mills M.D.

" Some people think plant-based diet, whole foods diet is extreme. Half a million people a year will have their chests opened up and a vein taken from their leg and sewn onto their coronary artery. Some people would call that extreme. "
Dr. Caldwell Esselstyn

" The best anti-aging advise I've ever received? Drink a lot of water and have a plant based diet. I also do mindful meditation with my daughter every day. It takes ten minutes. I think reducing stress plays a big part in anti-aging. "
Carolyn Murphy

" Flesh isn't the only source of protein. You can get all the protein you need from a varied plant-based diet. Protein is found in greens, veggies, beans, grains, nuts & seeds, avocado and so on. And there is no need to consume these foods in any special combination.
Sharon Gannon

" In this diet, you are never hungry. You never have to count calories. It's like quitting smoking, you don't eat meat for a while and it's hard for the first day or two, but it's easier after you focus on the new foods you're eating. "
Neal Barnard MD

" I've made the conscious decision not to be part of the cycle of killing animals because I couldn't see the point of crusading for Greenpeace and then eating a fish. Seriously, if you are going to talk, you need to walk the walk. "
Bryan Adams

" Food is really and truly the most effective medicine. "
Joel Fuhrman

Biggi

T. G. I. F.

And just like that the door to the weekend has opened.

Nowadays it pays to find tranquility and peacefulness because the moment we glance at a newspaper or sit down for the nightly newscast, peace and tranquility have evaporated. What on earth are we all doing to our Earth? At least China's current travel ban apart from saving people's lives is also darn great at curbing a lot of CO2. Imagine millions not flying, driving or train-ing for a few weeks. Bliss for the air quality and perhaps a chance for them to realize that staying at home is nice and relaxing too.

Eisenberg's annual firemen's ball is happening on Saturday and my sweetie has drawn the short end of the stick; working the 11 pm to closing shift making sure enough clean glasses are available. Bob is good at that and most of it due to his two year stint working in the second busiest pub when he lived in London. Well, let's hope he doesn't have to work until breakfast!

The weather hasn't made up its mind which way it'll swing. The clouds are low which could mean snow. Snow seems to have been recalcitrant in coming forward making it jolly difficult to find enough snow to form a piste for the skiers. Skiing is a national sport here and taking a week off work to go on a skiing holiday is almost the norm. Although, at the moment the places to ski are dwindling more and more. Gosh, how many more signs do the climate deniers need?

Tomorrow is my favourite Alpine Ski Race of the year. The Kitzbühel Classic Downhill.
A spectacular and dangerous race but also terribly exciting to watch. Tomorrow the phone will be taken off the hook ( I suppose I am one of the last one's who can still say this as most switch off their phones ) and Bob and I will be glued to the screen. Yes, he loves this race too and isn't there anything nicer than to chill in front of telly on a Saturday afternoon? A few snoozes now and again, a favourite snack and without much effort a relaxing weekend is had...well for me at least as Bob will have to go and do his evening shift at the ball.

Biggi

A Bit Of Poetry, Quotes And More.

How magical and powerful words can be.

" Words, like nature, half reveal and half conceal the soul within. "
Alfred Lord Tennyson ( 1809-1892 )

" Guard your roving thoughts with a jealous care, for speech is just a dealer of thoughts, and every fool can plainly read in your words what is the hour of your thoughts. "
Alfred Lord Tennyson ( 1809-1892 )

" Beauty is indeed a good gift of God; but that the good may not think it a great good, God dispenses it even to the wicked. "
Saint Augustine ( 354-430 )

" If we live good lives, the times are also good.
As we are, such are the times. "
Saint Augustine ( 354-430 )

" Have patience with all things,
But, first of all with yourself. "
Saint Francis de Sales ( 1567-1622 )

" Be who you are and be that well. "
Saint Francis de Sales ( 1567-1622 )

" It is a man's own mind, not his enemy or foe,
that lures him to evil ways. "
Buddha ( 563 BC-483 BC )

" Thinking: the talking of the soul with itself. "
Plato ( 427 BC-347 BC )

" Ever more people today have the means to live,
but no meaning to live for. "
Viktor E. Frankl ( 1905-1997 )

Biggi

The Lucky Packet Of Life.

When a lunch is so much more...

Nuggets of wisdom usually come my way when I go and visit one of the older villagers. Often a chat is worth more than a trip to the doctors. The other day someone mumbled; ' Oh, you just go and talk to people...' as if it wasn't important, forgetting that for those that live alone conversations are life elixirs far above a pharmaceutical equivalent.

Late this morning saw me visiting an elderly man living on his own. Always a treat to chat and as I love hearing about the old days and he loved living in the old days, a long and interesting conversation is the reward. By the by, Deutsch Schützen back in the good old days of the 50's, 60's and beyond must have been amazing.

The church bell was heralding noon and I knew that his lunch wasn't far away. He, like many others in our village, gets meals on wheels and is rather fond of it. A proper cooked meal once a day and often treasured meals that hint of yesteryear. Just like mothers used to make them. Every week they get a piece of paper with each day's lunch offerings revealed.

" What are you having for lunch today? "

" You know, I don't know! "

rather cryptic I thought but as he was grinning when he said it, I harked a bit further. Oh, he told me that the list of lunches was hanging on the wall over there and he had walked past it at least ten times today, but had chosen not to look. Not to get him wrong, he would have loved to have a quick look but then if he had, his day wouldn't have any surprise in store.

He enlarged on it a bit more by telling me that when he had known ahead of the time what was to be for lunch, he had gotten ideas of how it should look, taste or even if he would like it inevitably setting him up for disappointment. And that, as he told me, was stupid because he ate whatever came his way, no questions asked. Of course since he has chosen to not know ahead of time, he enjoys his lunches much more, has tasted hitherto unknown foods and really gets a kick out of lifting the top part of the food tray each and every day.

Sort of reminds me about life and how we want to dissect each aspect of it before we've even lived it. Perhaps we should keep the ' lid on ' and only lift it as and when it is needed...that way we are going to enjoy life that much more and stop complaining when our expectations don't resemble reality!

Biggi

A Super Duper Day.

Instant return on gratitude.

One couldn't help but be thankful for this morning. The weather albeit slightly freezing was fantastic. What better way than to start a walk in sunshine interspersed with pockets of fog. With yesterday's post on my mind, I gave thanks for the weather, Eisenberg and the sheer joy of being able to go for a long walk. Honestly, I motored up the hills almost yodeling the joys of life.

Well, the universe listened and within ten minutes the first ray of sunshine popped by. When I came towards the little chapel in Deutsch Schützen I spotted my favourite dog, Johnny taking his owner for a walk. He, being busy re-marking some territory only spotted me a minute later but boy, when he did, the sun brightened. He started yapping with sheer joy, turned once to let his owner know that he had spotted me and then raced across the field in order to bump and jump into me. He was ecstatic and so was I. We don't meet very often but he always remembers me and isn't afraid to show it. Made my day!

Groceries had slimmed down and therefore I was heading off to Oberwart. A nice drive, groovy music on the radio and traffic as calm as Sunday's drive. As I was in town I couldn't resist heading to my second hand shop and gosh golly, I struck gold again. A pair of black 501 Levi's for Bob, and two more proper jeans Tom Tailor & Co for either one of us. Real jeans, none of those stretchy ones where the shape is lost after one wear and also a long sleeved t-shirt. All for 14 euros and what was even better, was the fact that I garnered a parking space right in front of the shop.

My last stop was at Hofer and wouldn't you know, I ran into Johnny's mum. As I was pushing the trolley towards the car, I could hear an excited bark. Oh yes, she had taken him for a quick sniff about and of course he spotted me. In a car park on the other end of his world. But, he came over and again, greeted me with canine enthusiasm and happiness. Oh, my day just kept getting better.

On my way back home the radio played the best music. Bee Gees for one, had me happily sing along to Night Fever and thinking this day couldn't get any better...but I was wrong. Driving into Eisenberg, singing with deference along to the Bee Gees ( I am sure you can picture it ) my husband passed me with his work car. He saw me, waved and laughed at me all the while all his work colleagues were sitting next to him witnessing this music spectacle.

My really last stop was at Kainz's for a Lotto ticket and wouldn't you know, the machine beeped and I received a free bonus ticket...

Biggi

Looking At Mondays Differently.

A new day, a new week, a new start.

" When you arise in the morning think of what a privilege it is to be alive,
to think, to enjoy, to love..."
Marcus Aurelius

" You don't have to be great to start, but you have to start to be great. "
Zig Ziglar

" Try not to become a person of success,
but rather try to become a person of value. "
Albert Einstein

" Just one positive thought in the morning can change your whole day. "
Dalai Lama

" There is more to life than increasing its speed. "
Mahatma Gandhi

" Love yourself first and everything else falls into line. You really have to love yourself to get anything done in this world. "
Lucille Ball

" Optimism is a happiness magnet. If you stay positive, good things and good people will be drawn to you. "
Mary Lou Retton

" What seems to us as bitter trials are often blessings in disguise. "
Oscar Wilde

" How wonderful it is that nobody need wait a single moment before starting to improve the world. "
Anne Frank

" The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams. "
Eleanor Roosevelt

Biggi

When In Doubt, Knit A Pair Of Socks.

The comfort of knitting.

I have been busy knitting numerous squares in order to make a patchwork blanket. Lovely and mindless knitting in front of the television kind of makes it wonderfully relaxing. Squares don't need much attention and believe it or not, they tend to look rather nice once they are assembled into a blanket.

The blanket currently under construction is in need of more wool. Yes, I ran out and can only get more of the same wool next week but I knew that like any knitter I had hamstered away a couple of balls of wool ideal for socks. Yes, socks of the knitted kind have moved up from grandma's Christmas present we all got but were much too cool to wear, to the must have item of the day.

Knitted socks rock especially in winter. Warm feet, comfortable feet and none of those restricting elastic bands around the ankle. A friend of my folks knits so many socks that she gives them away as presents and as she is a prolific knitter a couple of pairs have come our way. Second hand or rather second feet but still treasured.

We know their value but it only became clear to me when a friend ( who we gave a pair of our stash because she had arrived in winter with only summer socks ) came to visit last months and was wearing said socks a year later. In fact, she had enthused so much about them to her other friends with her on holiday, that they would have given anything to own a pair of hand knitted socks. Yes, isn't the world changing for the better?

Knitting socks isn't as easy as knitting squares but I have started on one and am enjoying the added challenge of knitting with four small needles. Like anything else in life, practice makes perfect and perhaps I can knit up enough of a stash to be able to have people strut about clad in a pair of Biggi's originals ...

Biggi

A Treasure Chest Indeed.

Schatzgrube leads the way.

As you know I am a huge fan of second hand shops. Granted, only recently but better late than never. A few moments ago I saw a notice about an amazing

Repair & Mend Coffee Club meeting

having taken place this morning at the Schatzgrube in Grosspetersdorf. Brilliant, an initiative to stop people buying new items just because their old ones needed repairing or mending. A lost art. Funny, I even wondered if I still know how to sew a button onto Bob's blazer! Yes, I think I might still remember.

We live in a culture of rather replacing either due to laziness or frankly, because everything can be bought so cheaply. But, as we are starting to find out, too much stuff isn't good for our planet. Landfills are overflowing all over the world with perfectly good stuff that might only need a new wire, be darned or have the proverbial button sewed on.

At times I get a bit down when I see people living as usual without a care in the world for our future, but seeing this new initiative happening just down the road fills me with hope and a feeling of being able to stop this madness one toaster, coffee machine or sock at a time.
Bravo, Schatzgrube, we'll be there at the next repair & mend...

Biggi

The Maus Eats!

How very peculiar she is...

At last night's evening meal one would think that we had dished her a plate of brussel sprouts. One sniff, one look and of she hopped off her feeding box, driving her parents crazy with worry. What to feed that little one? We then put some feline liver wurst ( yes, a sort of cat mayonnaise ) over it and at least she licked that of.

This morning I opened a packet of Whiskers , a brand she was thrilled to eat when we first got her and a can of Gourmet just in case. She picked at it but at least it was a start. Our cat appears to have an eating disorder. I had to go out early and only got back about three hours later.

The first thing I did was to look at her plate. A bit more was eaten but not much. Feeling hungry myself I made my lunch and lo and behold, the minute she saw me slicing and dicing in the kitchen she hopped on her feeding box and ate. I almost shed tears of relief but didn't dare make a sound lest she got distracted. A bit later, when I went for an afternoon snack, she too went to her feeding bowl and ate the rest of what was left. That darling little cat is as human as can be.

Bob came home an hour ago and before he even greeted me, he picked up Mausi and held her in his arms, talking cat. Too cute, her bashfully looking up at him with adoration and he hugging her closely and cuddling her in his arms. They both love that moment when he gets home from work. You know, she can distinguish the sound of his engine and even before he turns up our driveway, she is at the front door. Well today, we are all happy because so far she has finished off two portions of beef and there is still a supper to be eaten...

Biggi

A Tale Of Three Cats.

Similar in looks but opposite in almost all else.

In the past when I heard young mums wail about their offspring refusing to eat most of what they had prepared my eyes used to glaze over and the thought along the lines of;

" Geez, just wait until they are hungry and then they'll eat. Spoilt brats! "

would flash through my mind. How hard could it be to get one's offspring to eat?

Famous last words and an appropriate way the tables have turned. Our princess is on one of her food crusades or more aptly put, she won't eat most of what we give her. We know she can be fickle and that is why we stick to our trusty old Gourmet cat food which she usually devours with a healthy appetite. Not so any more.

Thank goodness for the bunch of feral tomcats outside because I hate to waste food. They have lived rough all their lives and will eat first and ask their taste buds later. Anything and everything I dish them up ( Mausi's leftovers etc ) gets fought over in a manly fashion. They fight and screech like crazy. Believe me, there are plenty of times when I admonish her about her pickiness. She does get a jealous gleam in her eye when she watches me take her food outside to the boys though.

Yesterday I went out of my way to buy a whole range of foods she used to love in the past. To no avail. This morning, when she must have been ravenous, I heard her crunch through a bit of her dry food, but only out of desperation! At least it's something in her stomach. Honestly, I dread opening any cans of food for her because she merely takes a whiff and turns away.

The boys love it because for a change they are eating feline gourmet morsels, not comparable to a field mouse, bird or cheap fodder. When all else fails, I might have to cook for her and wouldn't it be funny if she would also prefer a vegan variety of meals...rice, tofu and gravy on a bed of greens! They do make vegan pet food already and only yesterday Bob suggested we try a batch. Oh, we'll be known as the mad vegan family.

Biggi

Spending This Bit Of Money Made Me Feel Great.

Time to put pen to paper or rather let the money do the talking.

Naturally I coincided it into one shop this morning. Oberwart and mainly because I needed to collect some glasses for a friend and of course I wanted to go to the Caritas shop.

The Caritas shop is a second hand shop in the middle of Oberwart. Bob and I discovered it about a month ago but I have never had a chance to spend some time in it. Bob isn't too patient ( can't really blame him as I can dawdle for ever and a day ) and the other time I was there it was closed. Never mind, today I was on my own and had ample time to flit around the little shop. Mainly clothes, shoes and books. Heaven.

Whereas before I would have just popped into one of the fast fashion emporiums and bought a pair of cheap jeans ( those that loose their shape after the first wash and wear ) I made a point of waiting until I got a chance to go to this Caritas shop. Gosh, they were busy and I had to wait at the hot spots ( jeans and jerseys ).

I headed to one huge rack of jeans and the first pair I pulled out happened to be a pair of 501 Levis in the right size. Wow, imagine a genuine pair of button up Levis for 4,50 euros. Unbelievable and you had better believe that I purchased them. Along with a long sleeved t-shirt and a sweater. All in all I spent 12,50 euros.

Now, once these three items have been through the wash, they are as good as new and ready to be worn. With all the evidence of climate change being shown almost nightly on the news, it feels fantastic to buy clothes that won't do any more harm to the environment. Actually, I have saved the environment of three items landing in a landfill just because the fashion has changed or the wearer got tired of these three items.

Very excited and proud of my purchases. All those for 12,50 euros...

Biggi

A True Summer Kitchen.

Discovering more about old customs.

Bob and I have somehow always called it our Summer Kitchen and perhaps we heard it referred to as such or we got a sense that it was one. Look, there isn't any running water nor electricity but of course that was where our useful aga like stove came from. We rescued it from this tiny building albeit one with a seasoned chimney attached and transplanted it into our kitchen.

As much as we tend to grumble when we do use it ( the wood needs to be fed every twenty minutes or so ) we have gotten a lot of use out of it. Just today I was visiting a neighbour and as often happens, another neighbour came as well and we had a nice long conversation about this that and the old ways.

In winter talk usually skirts the topic of heating and that was when I told about our oven. Not our main source of heating but a nice backup. A backup that helped us dry out our house once we had plastered and laid new floors. So easy to forget what a marvelous work-horse it turned out to be.

Well, it so happens that back in the day the Summer Kitchen was exactly that. During the summer months, when everyone was busy toiling in vineyards, fields or stables they would come home for lunch, a lunch made and eaten in this Summer Kitchen. Usually small as can be but still big enough to somehow accommodate the whole family for lunch.

The reason being and which I find so amusing because similar has happened all over the world, was that one didn't want the house to get dirty from all the clumps of dirt stuck to shoes etc. And here comes the clincher and proof that we are all the same;

the house was kept clean and tidy just in case a visitor decided to drop by!

Ah, how many have a second lounge they never use except for when important family or friends come over for a cup of tea...and sadly, it is often the most amazing room of the house but hardly ever gets seen or used...

Drying out the walls and floors during our bitingly cold first December here. Our kitchen looking a bit different!

Our darling little stove in action. The more I think about it, the more I appreciate it. Perhaps it will stay after all...Gosh, memories!

Biggi

The Social Media Disconnect.

Surreal and quite odd how the real and make-believe world intercept.

We all have them. Facebook friends that gosh darn it, we either have never met, never will meet again or who were on our peripheral before we even thought of computers and who we would have never taken the time to become more friendly with. We can't be friends with everyone we've ever met or gone to school with. Sounds terrible but sadly it is true. Of course we thankfully also do have Facebook friends who are friends on and off the screen. They are life's real treasures.

Living in such a small village, one doesn't want to ignore FB friend requests even though one has never talked nor interacted with that person before. Therefore I do have a couple of people on my social media account who, when I encounter them in real life, I only get to exchange a quick and rather impersonal nod of recognition, despite knowing so much about them from their online postings. How is it that we know about somebody's holiday, cooking skills, children's achievements and spousal bliss yet the minute we clap eyes on them, a wall of polite amnesia is put up.

Often I wonder if they think the same about me. As it is I have tried to limit the personal details I put online figuring that friends or family deserve real life conversations and updates.

There is of course the opposite spectrum of one's online circle of friends. Those that let themselves be drawn into typing ugly and cringe-worthy political comments that make one run the other way when encountering them in real life. Or those that love to post ( ie, brag ) about all the things they have acquired, places they have been to and cars they have bought.
Let's be honest, weren't those the people we would avoid like the plague before the onset of social media ...nobody liked the show offs!

Biggi

Our Sunday Afternoon Outing.

A slow afternoon indeed.

Some go to town, some go up mountains, some go for a long walk and some go to wash their chariot. Well, that was us this afternoon. As bland as it sounds, it was a nice and easy hour out of the house...with my spouse!

Those who know us will also be aware that the cleaning of our car ( well, in this case it was Bob's work van ) only occurs when we either can't see out anymore or when we have to drive people about. Good intentions are often heard once we've cleaned the car but they don't last too long.

Today was a lovely and sunny day and Bob suggested that we take a drive to Kohfidisch in order to clean the van. Nice to be going for a drive without any distractions. Nice to watch Bob navigate a hoover round the car and nice to see him waltz with the high pressure cord several times around the car.

The cleaning of one's car is nothing special in these parts of the world. One just drives to a car wash and gets going. One can pay to have it done but why, when it really only takes ten minutes to do it yourself. I have to admit that it does give one a sense of accomplishment and quite frankly, it is quite hypnotic to scour the dirt off the flanks of our chariot.
Or watch someone doing it.

That really is Bob wrestling the long hoover cord around the van's interior.

Kind of reminds me of Wax on, wax off from Karate Kid which Bob does perfectly. Lucky for me, there is only one high pressure hose so that I could be a comfortable yet lazy spectator. Oh, I did put in the coins and changed the settings. Tough job! All jokes aside, it was a really fun outing and I can't wait until next year's one...

Biggi

Oh What Delightful Light.

A surefire sign of good times ahead?

There are those special times when the light is just right. The sun provided a nice foil to a dark looking morning thus making it a sort of ' snap crackle & pop ' kind of morning.

Yesterday the light had its own agenda...it was dueling with a cloak of mist for visibility. Regardless, I enjoy those cloak & dagger starts to the day.

A wonderful curve leading the way elegantly to Deutsch Schützen. I find that looking at it is akin to a mini meditation...a pause in speed, a pause in journey and yet one still gets to one's destination.

The play of light really is a delight. I love the sharp contrasts evoked by it. I haven't walked Quergasse for a long time but thankfully I did this morning as it highlighted the sheer beauty of our village.

Whichever way one takes pulchritude awaits...in fact, straight ahead leads to a new ' suburb ' which already boasts one new build and a tar road!

Even the dryness of winter can't eclipse how wonderful it is to live in a wine growing area.

Biggi

A Bit Of Cheerfulness Is In Order.

The brilliant P.G. Wodehouse.

" I mean, imagine how some unfortunate Master Criminal would feel, on coming down to do a murder at the old Grange, if he found that not only was Sherlock Holmes putting in the weekend there, but Hercule Poirot, as well. "
- Bertram ' Bertie ' Wooster
P.G. Wodehouse; The Code of the Woosters

" This was not Aunt Dahlia, my good and kindly aunt, but my Aunt Agatha,
the one who chews broken bottles and kills rats with her teeth. "
P.G. Wodehouse

" She looked like a tomato struggling for self-expression. "
P.G. Wodehouse

" My earnest hope is that the entire remainder of my existence
will be one round of unruffled monotony. "
P.G. Wodehouse

" She laughed - a bit louder than I could have wished in my frail state of health, but then she is always a woman who tends to bring plaster falling from the ceiling when amused. "
P.G. Wodehouse

" He had the look of one who had drunk the cup of life
and found a dead beetle at the bottom. "
P.G. Wodehouse

" I marmaladed a slice of toast with something of a flourish and I don't suppose I have ever come much closer to saying 'Tra la la ' as I did the lathering for I was feeling in mid season form this morning. "
P.G. Wodehouse

" It's no use telling me there are bad aunts and good aunts. At the core, they are all alike. Sooner or later, out pops the cloven hoof. "
P.G. Wodehouse

Biggi

A Vegan Paradox Perhaps?

Interesting times...

A big neighbourhood tree was being chopped down and of course I noticed when I returned from my morning walk. In our village, seeing anything being changed, chopped or planted constitutes an invitation for a chat, especially since the chopper was already talking to his next door neighbour.

The row of houses really look bare and bereft now but what's done is done. So, the three of us were shooting the proverbial village breeze - and believe me, the tree was hardly mentioned in our conversation - stumbling on bad neigbhours, illegal labour and the horror of the fires in Australia. Yes, we a traditional conversation without any smartphone distractions; a rarity nowadays!

Australia made my mind connect with conservation of nature ( water in particular ) and thus I mentioned being vegan. By now it is no longer a secret that the production of a piece of meat uses up astronomical amounts of water, a commodity that is lacking in many parts of the world.

Within moments, one of the people I was talking with mentioned that he had only yesterday prepared two rabbits to be eaten. Honestly, if I hadn't stopped him he would more than likely have gone into gory details of how a rabbit is killed and skinned.

One fact I have noticed since going vegan is that as soon as I mention our vegan life choice, stories are retold ranging from the benign medium rare fillet steak eaten to the killing of a rabbit. I get it. Veganism and the thought of having to change one's status quo in regards to food scares many folks but, you don't get me describing huge bowls of salad, big fruit smoothies and homemade hummus the minute you tell me that you are a carnivore....or do I?

Biggi

All About Coffee.

Where would we be without our morning companion?

" If this is coffee, please bring me some tea;
but if this is tea, please bring me some coffee. "
Abraham Lincoln

" Our culture runs on coffee and gasoline, the first often tasting like the second. "
Edward Abbey

" I judge a restaurant by the bread and by the coffee. "
Burt Lancaster

" What goes best with a cup of coffee? Another cup. "
Henry Rollins

" Coffee should be black as hell, strong as death and sweet as love. "
Turkish proverb

" Coffee, the favorite drink of the civilized world. "
Thomas Jefferson

" It's amazing how the world begins to change through the eyes of a cup of coffee. "
Donna A. Favors

" The morning cup of coffee has an exhilaration about it which the cheering influence of the afternoon or evening cup of tea cannot be expected to reproduce. "
Wendell Holmes Sr.

" I never drink coffee at lunch. I find it keeps me awake for the afternoon. "
Ronald Reagan

" I am an early riser. I get up between five and six, have coffee, and read a couple of hours before everyone else gets up. "
David Bowie

Biggi

Another Stunner Of A Morning.

A walk in paradise.

Atop our Eisenberg life really is perfect. A bit of the past ( old Kellerstock on the left ) mingling the future...vines are shaking off their short hibernation and preparing to offer us their valuable contribution to the nectar of Gods.

A look down into our village tends to showcase the steepness of these particular vines. Often I think about the many generations who have toiled these vines and how they might have lived their lives.

Down in the valley, at the bottom of a vineyard a nice veranda to sip a cool and crisp Grüner Veltliner or a delightfully dry yet fruity glass of Blaufränkisch.

An old window taking a wintry breather from a bevy of ivy. Much more romantic than a modern plastic version...

The local lookout tower standing strong while guarding spectacular views of our area. A real must for any visitor.

A murder of crows leisurely enjoying a breakfast of worms and frozen field mice while shooting the breeze about the latest on-dits. The gossip must have been interesting as they let me get rather close before taking off into all directions...

Biggi

The Grindstone Is Back In Sight.

All long holidays do come to an end, sadly.

It felt like just the other week that we lit the first advent's candle and yet it was over a month ago. Where does the time go? Four weeks of blissful leave gone at the blink of an eye.

Granted, we've had friends come to visit from far and wide which in itself creates a change from normal routine. Firstly, friends coming to stay means at least a week's worth of organizing and cleaning. The cleaning takes the least amount of time but the thinking and planning of it can take days if not weeks! So, part of the mystery of disappearing time is explained.

Isn't it funny how we excitedly tend to count the months leading up to the day when friends finally come to stay and then the stay itself is so short that one wondered if they were even here. Not to mention all that mislaid worry over what they would think of our house and home. Nobody really cares apart from us who live in it. As people we are so occupied with our own little dramas and novellas, that we don't notice what others are afraid we might. In fact, hardly anyone takes note of a dusty surface and if they do notice we might get labeled as eclectic housekeepers!

Bob starts work again tomorrow and with that we are back to a more structured day. Lunches need to be packed and honestly, after a month of not having to pack them, my imagination is close to zero. Bob might just end up with a plain old Marmite sandwiches tomorrow and perhaps the day after...

Here's to a nice year ahead of us and a fond farewell to 2019...

Biggi

Sudoku, A Bit Of Mental Exercise.

At the beginner's stage again.

Thanks to a marvelous gift from my parents I can now read the online New York Times and it has been a treat. Not so much today after all the political disasters but one quickly learns to skip the odd report. One wants to preserve one's sanity after all.

You know, only this morning I was ready to make a run on supermarkets to stock up on beans, pasta and canned goods. Oil or the lack of it does affect the price of just about everything. Luckily, I read Thomas Friedman's opinion piece and was pacified enough not to rush out on a larder-spree.

But the New York Times has many more treasures in store. From book reviews to mental candy floss. Yes, Sudoku ( which is free ) and the odd rerun of a crossword puzzle. Those are reminders of how little I know! The Sudoku though has turned out quite fun. I have done about five and me thinks the bug has bitten. So far I am only mastering the easy ones, but I have noticed that my speed of solving them has increased.

Years ago, pre Social Media in fact, I had been quite good at it although Bob had trumped me hands down because he could meander the inside of Black Belt Sudoku with an ease most impressive and even had discarded pencil for pen. Of course he has not done them for years either so that when I asked him to see whether he could finish an easy one faster than me, he jumped at the chance and now the two of us compete for faster completion time.

The times we live in seem rather perilous and often tranquility and sanity are restored by something as simple as a game of Sudoku, knitting a blanket or reading a favourite novel. Here is hoping that history doesn't repeat itself.

Biggi

The New Year Starts Off With A Beautiful Morning.

A flash of winter iciness.

Somehow the day is on its best foot forward once a red sun commences it. Cold yet divine.

A bit later and on a different side of Deutsch Schützen the magic of winter is revealed. The minus degrees turned even the hint of moisture into a lattice of brilliant icy lace. Blades of grass sparkling in their new silvery robe thus giving off an aura perfect for the season.

Not sure if the mist has to do with the weather or whether the weather has caused all and sundry to fire up their stove...

A layer of clouds held aloft by cold air perhaps? This morning was another one of those extremely cold mornings where one's breath is seen even without exerting oneself...

The fields reflect a frozen image, the blue skies belie the cold and the whole depicts one of those perfect winter days where being outside is almost a must.

To finish off, a look down the slope of a frozen row of vines. In the background you can see the individual chalets of the Ratschen peeping through their cloak of mist. A great start to this new year...

Biggi

A Bit Of Hope.

Good times ahead.

" The best way to cheer yourself up is to try to cheer somebody else up. "
Mark Twain

" You have to accept whatever comes and the only important thing is
that you meet it with courage and with the best that you can give. "
Eleanor Roosevelt

" It was the best of times, it was the worst of times. "
Charles Dickens

" I always prefer to believe the best of everybody, it saves so much trouble. "
Rudyard Kipling

" We are all travelers in the wilderness of this world,
and the best we can find in our travels is an honest friend. "
Robert Louis Stevenson

" Write it on your heart that every day is the best day in the year. "
Ralph Waldo Emerson

" The age of a woman doesn't mean a thing.
The best tunes are played on the oldest fiddles. "
Ralph Waldo Emerson

" The best portion of a good man's life is his little, nameless,
unremembered acts of kindness and of love. "
William Wordsworth

" When we seek to discover the best in others,
we somehow bring out the best in ourselves. "
William Arthur Ward

Biggi

A Husband At Home.

A laundry tale.

Bob has and is enjoying his long leave, in fact so much that he has started to interfere in my domestic schedule. Suddenly after leaving his dirty clothes atop the wash basket ( perhaps I should remove the lid permanently ) most days, he has decided to get involved in laundry again.

Out of the blue he called me into the bathroom and honestly, I wasn't too sure what I would expect...a long toenail, a view of the scale or request for a back scratch. Well, I followed his call albeit with a slight trepidation and headed for the bathroom. There he was stuck deep in the laundry basket fishing out long lost socks, undies and dish towels.

Bob being Bob, he had organized two piles of dirty and hitherto unseen items and was complaining that I have been neglecting his stuff. To prove his point he glanced over at the last load of washing drying on the rack. Granted, there were more of my items on it but in my defense, men naturally like to wear their clothes much longer before they deem it unwearable.

The only reason that there aren't enough socks and their ilk filling the drawers is because I purposefully stopped doing any laundry over the New Year. Yes, it is back luck to have laundry drying over those two days and as we had visitors yesterday, I could only set my domestic schedule back in motion late yesterday afternoon...if I had known how easy it is to get Bob to do laundry, I would have seen to it earlier!

But all jest aside, isn't it a good sign if a husband is actively looking for things to do around the house? Ah, it seems Bob is ready to return to work after a nice and relaxing leave...perhaps I should let him take over our laundry until he heads back to work on Tuesday!

Biggi

A Lovely Vegan Start To The Year.

A new decade beckons...

Honestly, at the moment I cannot tell you what day of the week it is. These last two weeks have morphed into one giant holiday and for some reason every one of those days felt like a Sunday. Good, that means we are relaxing. We have had two different lot of friends come to visit and we have been busy showing off our bit of paradise. Nice to see it fresh through the eyes of those that have never been here.

Yesterday evening we had booked a table at a local Buschenschank and as we wanted our friends to sample a typical Burgenland meal, Bob and I weren't too fazed about having to eat bread and onions. A Buschenschank is molded on carnivorous meals and far be it from us to change that. Only one meal after all.

When the waiter did come around to take our order, Bob and I started to ask for our ususal go-to vegan option ( bread, raw onions, salt and pumpkin seed oil ) but he asked if he could bring a bit more than that. Of course, I said yes but reminded him that we are vegan. ' I know ' he said and left for the kitchen. Marvelous, the word has spread...

When the food came around, copious meat platters for our friends, two marvelous plates of delicious vegan foods appeared. Sliced pears, rocket, a selections of nuts, onions, pickle, gherkin, freshly baked rye-bread and more. Our mouths literally dropped in awe. The owner had especially prepared two portions of vegan food for us. Wasn't that wonderful?

Only this morning, after ruminating about this in the middle of the night, did it dawn on me that she had planned ahead once she'd seen our names on the booking sheet. We weren't expecting it and would have been delighted with mere bread and onion, but what she prepared for us didn't only taste divine but it made me realize that she wanted to prepare something special and tasty for us...veganism might just have a chance in Eisenberg.

Biggi