Vegan Discoveries.

A little bit of shopping adventure and surprise.

Bob wanted to get some herbs for planting and we did a quick run to Güssing in order to peruse their garden center. In anticipation of doing an off the cuff shop, I had taken a cooler box with two frozen bricks inside it. Unless it is the depth of winter each trip to town warrants a cooler box. Thirty minutes to get home can defrost many things that shouldn't be.

Anyway, today was another scorcher of a day and by ten o'clock we were already into the 30's. Yikes. We found the garden center, a local nursery actually, and felt good supporting it rather than the big chains. Every bit and bob helps the local shops.
Once done, we took a quick turn to Hofer / Aldi because one never knows what bargains will be had. Our staple of vegetables is usually marked down on Saturdays as Sunday isn't a trading day.

So we had almost done the circuit when we found ourselves in front of the frozen compartments and couldn't believe our eyes when we noticed a new range of Vegan ice creams in it. Vanilla, Strawberry or Chocolate flavour... both of us were dying to get one but didn't like the odds of getting back home without it having melted past what's edible. Never mind, there's always a next time!

What I love though is that slowly but surely vegan products are becoming staples rather than exotic one offs. That vegan ice cream is being stocked in Hofer can only mean that veganism is now main stream and here to stay...yeah.

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

Funny Looks At The Old Age Home.

Always good for a giggle.

Today I made a plan to coincide a visit to Güssing's old age home and our weekly shopping. Sanctioned from above-no, not that far up-only my village elders. They have suggested that I try and look in on most of our villagers who have swapped domiciles.

I especially left early this morning as I had worked out the correct time to drop in for a quick visit. That golden hour after breakfast and ablution but before lunch. Yes, timing is everything when visiting. The first resident I dropped in on, was luckily ready for receiving visitors. I had been to see her before and we proceeded to have a nice chat, catching up on local happenings.

In due time I took my leave ( the clattering of the lunch trolley in the corridor was heralding the sacred hour ) and was lucky enough to be given a bottle of wine from her. She has rented out her vineyard to a top winemaker who makes sure she has wine on hand. Well, now I had one of these coveted bottles and even though it had no label I knew what it was. A tasty and rather expensive bottle of Blaufränkisch.

After thanking her many times over, I left her room and headed out for one more lady to see. She lives a floor down and thus I couldn't help but meandering along the populated corridors of an old age home ( old folks don't miss a trick! ) with a bottle of wine in my arm. A few raised eyebrows, smiles and looks of longing were headed my way. No, not for me of course...although that old boy sitting in the corridor did have a twinkle in his eye!

Eventually I found who I was looking for but could only say a quick hello to her as she was about to be served her lunch but sadly didn't recognize me anyway. I must have come across rather odd though because I had one arm behind my back trying to shield my bottle of wine from her view in case she thought it was for her.

On my way out, a nurse walked with me and thank goodness I explained my predicament as she had thought I was rather brave to already have a bottle before lunch...

Biggi

At A Car Wash On A Warm Winter Saturday.

A lesson in sociology.

Washing one's car in winter is a tad bit risky if the temperature drops below freezing. It doesn't take long before water droplets in crevices such as keyholes turn to ice and expand. At least that is how I like to see it. This morning was a rare December day with a temperature reading of plus 7 degrees.

Bob and I decided to take our chariot for a spruce up whilst we were in Güssing and headed for the car wash. We and half of Güssing it seemed. At least it confirmed my belief that car should only be washed when it is warm. Gosh, as we turned into the car wash we saw at least ten cars waiting for their turn at the wash bay and thankfully someone pulled in behind us, because I am sure that Bob would have turned around.

As we were queuing behind two cars, with the first one already getting spritzed by its owner, we had a fun time observing human nature. Impatience, selfishness, doggedness and helpfulness. As it happened, the chap washing his car in our lane took forever and a day scrubbing and spritzing until the money ran out ( self service ) and the water dry. We all breathed a sigh of relief until he went and put another euro in the machine. Yikes, how clean did he want his car to be...

Eventually he moved out and the line dwindled quickly. Adjacent to us was a chap who wasn't quite sure which button to press or which lever to press and it was great to see the lady behind him get out of her car to help him. Fabulous. Another chap on the opposite side was doing his best to strip his Mercedes of just about every particle of dust. His wife got so fed up that she got into the car whilst he was still rinsing it. At least she didn't rev the car.

Eventually it was our turn and Bob did the honours. Men and their love of cars. The two of us made a good team with me pressing the appropriate buttons ( 1 for this, 2 for that, 3 for wax ) and adroitly side stepping showers of water disguised in a cloud of vapour. Once it was our turn it didn't take long - actually three minutes - to have the Ferrari red come to the fore again...

A real traffic jam...

Bob looking rather cool with his sunglasses.

Bob worked quickly and thoroughly.

Biggi

Stumbling Onto A Farmers' Market In Guessing.

A new discovery for me.

Today's shop was actually planned for Tuesday but somehow it wasn't meant to be. Funny how one can stretch a larder if one has to. Granted, we ate exotic food last night ( food that is hardly ever on our plate yet always hiding at the back of the larder ) and I sincerely hope Bob liked his lunch today. Oh well, at least we have food.

As you can imagine, the list was long. I enjoy shopping in Güssing as everything is central. No fighting traffic across town like in Oberwart to get a chance to meander through Hofer and Lidl. And anyway, traffic is very scant in Güssing which equates to many empty parking spaces and a laid back energy.

As I got into town this morning I had to stop for a police man and honestly, I thought it would be time to show my licence and registration papers. Quite exciting until I realized that the road was being detoured by most of their police staff. Or so it seemed when I counted three police cars and at least four men in blue.

Eventually I got to the strip mall and saw a portion of it being used for this farmers' market. I had known of it from various postings on Facebook but never actually got around to shopping at it.

Being plant based it somehow makes me excited when I see vegetable offerings, never mind the top of the range organic produce that was being sold today. The man manning the stall was the farmer who was rather dishy to say the least so that I didn't even ask prices but bought beetroots, minute parsley bulbs ( never seen these before ) and red peppers.

When he totaled it up, I was pleasantly surprised. In fact so much so that I phoned mum to ask if she wanted some vegetables. Apparently, the parsley bulbs are a delicacy,so I got a whole lot for her.

Shopping at this stall today felt good, knowing that the farmer gets a paid well for his work and that the produce hasn't been flown halfway across the world in order to land up on our plates. Well, Thursdays are now the new designated shopping days!

First time I have seen parsley like that.

A sampling of what I bought today.

Biggi

Oblivious To The World Around Me.

A nice way to spend part of a Tuesday.

Where was I? Well, I motored through to Güssing at lunchtime in order to get our larders filled once more. Where does all the food go is what I tend to ask myself each and every time we come home from a weekly shop. Do we eat that much? Yikes, so it seems and one can't forget the trio of feline lodgers who eat us out of house and home.

My final stop was at the local Hofer branch and as it was humid and hot outside it was a sheer pleasure to enter the hallowed portals of commerce. Air conditioned, familiar to the last shelf and a bit like home. Recently, their rival- Lidl chose to upgrade and change their store around, which does put me a bit on edge.

Even though I know what I am going to put into my trolley, the mind still meanders around the various option of perhaps a special treat of Avocados, runner beans grown organically in Neusiedel or a ready made smoothie teasing me with its promise of goodness and more importantly something cold to drink.

Early afternoon is a fabulous time to wheel the trolley about a supermarket as it is full of happy people. Pensioners have all the time in the world, smile when their path is crossed and offer to do the check out tango;

" Look, I've only got a few items, you go ahead of me. "

which doesn't happen too often in the cut throat shopping arena called to life after five.

Eventually I managed to wheel the trolley outside in a familiar sideways slant and was most surprised to see a dark sky, wet tarmac and drops of rain falling around me. Where had the time gone and why hadn't I noticed these weather changes?

Could it be that shopping in familiar surroundings is therapeutic? As I let the lady with a few items go ahead of me, she thanked me in Hungarian and for a fleeting moment I thought I might be at a Hofer in Szombathely. Grocery shopping, one of the last places to unwind and relax...

Biggi

A Merry Pharmacist Makes Her Customers Smile.

A giggle a day keeps the doctor away.

Today saw the start of this year's alpine skiing season and with that in mind I was already back from Kohfidisch Spar at half past nine. Bob's not feeling that well ( a touch of man flu ) and professed his wish for a nice beef curry for supper and as they say, His wish is my command.

Best laid plans do have a habit of coming undone and so it was, but thanks to the A1's technology of re-run at command, it wasn't a problem because I could see the race later on. I needed to drive via Strem to the hospital in Güssing to drop something off and I was glad to be able to help out. A quick wave goodbye to Bob & Mausi, and my chariot and I headed for Güssing. The weather was nice and the roads not too busy which made the drive a piece of cake.

Having dropped the various things off at the hospital I headed back home but quickly went to the Güssing pharmacy. Saturday morning seems to be prime time and surprisingly ( or not? ) the shop was mainly full of female customers. A young mother with her little toddler was in front of me and I couldn't help but overhear her request.

" My husband has tooth ache and he needs something to help with the pain. "

" Okay, how bad is the pain ? "

There was this sudden silence, the young mother glanced at her toddler clearly still remembering the pain of childbirth and started to tell the pharmacist, who started to laugh out loud:

" Oh yes, say no more. We all know about our husbands in pain!!!! "

Well, now I feel bad for it but I couldn't help laughing and neither could any other woman within hearing range. Goodness me, we are cruel towards our men...as it happens, Bob is an angel when he's sick and takes whichever concoction I mix for him ( this morning it was cumin & black pepper ) without any complaints. I hate to say it, but I think I might be a touch more theatrical whilst sick...

Biggi

Provincial Firemen's Competition In Guessing.

Eisenberg was there too.

There were rather a lot of teams and it took a bit before it was Eisenberg's turn. Bob, looking cool while waiting, despite the most cloying heat. Mid thirties and no shade in sight.

The final countdown and the men are jumping at the bit. The speed at which the various teams assembled the water hose was amazing. Double time is an understatement.

Alas, this photo doesn't do justice to the speed at which the team operated.

Please forgive me if I tend to focus overly on the Bobster, but I'm allowed to...

The team is in unison and every task made to look effortless. The many hours of practice have paid off.

Finished, but happy.

A well deserved lunch at the Wolfshütte in Heiligenbrunn. Life, is rather nice.

Biggi

Self Service Car Wash & Petrol Stations.

Doing it yourself is fun and easy.

Back in South Africa, almost all petrol stations are full service and I hate to admit it, but before I arrived here in Austria, yours truly had never filled her own car with petrol. That was just how things were done, rightly or wrongly, and therefore, the simple art of filling up the tank was a mystery to me.

But, I actually wanted to talk about having our car washed or rather going to wash it ourselves. Not that boring affair in our driveway but rather the posh event in a Self Service Car Wash. Yes, having your car washed back in S.A. was again done by someone else. The odd few car enthusiasts did of course see to it themselves and lovingly caressed their chariots with waxes and so forth.

After a week of snow, ice and the dreaded road salt, our car looked in serious need of a clean. If the visual didn't do the trick, the fact that Bob asked me for something to wipe off the number plate made me suggest that we should rush to the nearest place to sort it out.

Alas, that marvelous mixture they strew on our roads ( marvelous for grip but not so much for metal ), tends to make a unique car into a run of the mill one. Yes, all look alike, spattered with that dark grey mush from the roads. The dull greys of winter.

I had been to the Opthamologist in Güssing to have an eye seen to and, I find it rather amazing that most of these specialists are quite handsome. This particular one fitted the mold and I dare say, that a trip to the eye doctor in Güssing is a treat looked forward to by most of the female patients...

We had just packed the last of our groceries into our car, when the warm ( plus 12 degrees ) weather made us rush to the car wash around the corner. If it is below freezing, it isn't the best of ideas to wash your car, as moisture on the metal might freeze.

Do you know, the two of us almost bickered over who got to do the washing. Holding that high pressure hose in your hand and working against the clock to shampoo and rinse all of the car in one minute is addictive. Whether it is the pressure of the water or seeing the dirt simply sliding off the car, is debatable.

For one Euro, we got a minute. If you want to dawdle, you can and need to then put in a few more Euros. A fun outing indeed.

As you can see, Bob won the coin toss and really enjoyed the car wash event.

One danger in this quick event is the threat of being tangled up in those many hoses, and at one point Bob did ask for my help in untangling him, but I was too busy taking photos...

Biggi

An Ordinary Day, A Happy Day, A Day In Burgenland.

The changing pace of an autumn day.

A gentle start to any day is a good start. Well, gentle as in walking and seeing the last bursts of summer.

I could hear this harvester about a kilometer before I saw it. In fact, I wasn't sure what it was but knew it was big. The purr of the engine is rather bombastic.

The geese are walking in single file while of course chattering or rather gaggling like mad. Enough to drown the noise of the harvester down the road.
B.T.W..the factory you see in the background is MAM-Baby products manufacturing plant. A world wide company, right here in a neighbouring village in Hungary.

The afternoon saw me again in Hungary and as I was driving back home, I saw this mare and her foal. Too cute!

Shopping in Güssing is an event at times. As we took our groceries to the car, there was the castle lording it over everything. A nice feeling to be in the shadow of history.

Driving back home, we found this field of sun-groupies. Well, not that there was much sun left...you can see it in the drooping attitude of each sunflower. But divine none-the-less.

Biggi

This Week Has Been Dedicated To Our Car & Guessing.

Bob and I have walked the various streets of Guessing.

As with anything older, it needs more T.L.C. and our car didn't want to be left out. The annual C.O.R. test had to be made and even though we grumbled and moaned, I could have sworn our car loved all the attention.

There is nothing wrong with keeping a car that is more than a decade old and I am not in the habit of changing a car because a trendier one has been launched or for the frivolity of " Keeping up with the Joneses ". Anyway, our Diesel Chariot has many miles still left in her.

A silly encounter with a pebble while driving, had made it necessary to replace the windscreen and we had the scheduled appointment yesterday at 8 am in Güssing. We also knew that it would take until 4 pm to be ready. At first Bob and I planned to take a bus back home but quickly discarded that idea when the relevant connections weren't there.

We decided to treat our day in Güssing as an adventurous mini holiday. Suddenly, what seemed like hours to be killed, were opportunities to explore. Like good scouts, we were prepared. Instead of a handbag, we took one backpack and filled it with a book each, sunscreen lotion, lip ice, Bob's business flyers,bottled water and of course the wallet. Both of us wore our walking shoes and were actually looking forward to our day.

We discovered a lovely bakery that had a breakfast buffet. Coffee, various bread rolls, ham, boiled eggs, spreads, juices, yoghurt, muesli and more for 6 euros per person. Nice. The bakery was rather busy and one of Bob's firemen colleagues was also having his breakfast there. Running into friends and acquaintances is a sure sign that we are growing roots. Divine.

After breakfast we walked to a suburb of Güssing to hand out business flyers. Gosh, we discovered a whole new side to the town. Wonderful old villas with spectacular views all around. Two hours later, saw us resting on a shady bench in the town square. With the marvels of technology, we phoned my parents and organized for them to meet us for lunch. For us it was a nice way to spend part of the day and for them it was a nice change to their day.

Before we met for lunch, Bob and I still walked up to the castle, more for something to do than to see it. We normally take our visitors to it, so that is why we know it so well.

We meandered around town until we met up with my parents for lunch. When was the last time you met anyone in your family for lunch? For no other reason but because you could...It was such a nice change from the norm, and we kind of felt like tourists ( with the backpack and sturdy shoes, we rather looked like them ). After lunch, my folks drove back home and we walked to the garage. They did offer to drive us, but as we had still a few hours to kill, we decided to go on foot.

Funny, when you think about spending seven or eight hours walking around a small town, it seems at first daunting. But it turned out such fun for both of us. A day to spend together without the distraction of computers. A day to walk for miles. A day to discover new places and a day to be grateful that we have a car....

Biggi

An Ordinary Thursday's Shopping Trip Turns Into A Heartwarming Day.

A nod here and a wave there...

One only gets to realize it, once you move to a new place or new country. A new life means being incognito for a while at least and like anything else in life, you only realize what you are missing when you don't have it! Oh, very philosophical indeed...

We take it for granted that on the way to a shop, work or school someone will greet you, wave or stop you for a chat. Yet, this only happens when you've grown roots in the community. Having roots is naturally easy when you've lived there from year dot, but when you move there in year dot plus 40, nothing is certain.

Bob and I did our weekly shop in Güssing yesterday because on the way, there is an old age home and I wanted to pop in for a few minutes to say Hello to a former ' Eisenberger '( she was so happy to be thought of, that I think I got more out of this visit ). Bob was extraordinarily patient and waited in the car...in fact I could have chatted for longer as Bob had dozed off in the warm sunshine...

At about lunchtime we got into Güssing central ( don't be fooled, it is just bigger than a village yet very scenic and pretty complete with a medieval castle ). As we were waiting to cross the road traffic was abundant, for Güssing that is, and we both waited patiently next to the road.

A vaguely familiar looking car stopped in the road and also stopped traffic behind and we thought, wow what a friendly motorist...well, it turns out that it was the mum of one of our English tots and she had recognized Bob and I straight away. Of course she couldn't stop and chat but a friendly and vigorous wave from her and her son, made all the difference to Bob and I.

Feeling good, I ducked into the pharmacy and Bob paced outside, waiting for me.

Do you also have to bribe your husband to patiently wait for you? Somehow, men don't understand how we love to read each and every word on each and every package handled by us in a cosmetics section...and come to think of it, even in the supermarket!

Eventually I finished my shop ( luckily for me, Bob doesn't always wear his watch!!! ) and was surprised to see Bob smiling. It turned out, that while he was waiting for me on the pavement outside the pharmacy, a bus drove passed and the bus driver opened the window and shouted:

" Hello Bob! "

Our neighbour had recognized Bob. Recognized him and had taken the effort to give a greeting. Those seemingly insignificant moments are really what make life so enjoyable and special.

Biggi

A Cultural Visit To A Burg In Burgenland Is A Must.

If not from the past, then from where....?

It really is a treat to be able to wander around the rooms and halls of a castle or Burg ( fortress ). We are so intent on getting more modern and more technological that we forget the treasures and dare I say inventiveness of the past. Burg Güssing has almost a millennium on its clock and that alone should make us go to see it...and not just the tourists, locals too!

One of many dining rooms. Isn't it magnificent? Building such intricate wall & ceiling structures back in a time where everything was carted by horses or people. Of course it has been renovated, but the underlying shape has endured. Genius. The table seats 17 and one can see the positions that various heads of the family have sat at over the last 800 odd years.

The walls in this room are covered with paintings of the various Heads of The Family ( not sure if it was a Lord, Count, Prince or Duke ). Amazingly to me, they all favoured each other through the various centuries. The earliest there was form the 11th century.

Just look at those wonderful ceilings. How clever to have done those in a time where there were no cranes, trains, tractors....!

Bob spotted this: a chronicle of events in 1289. Oh yes, they had Weinlese / Grape harvest. Wine was in our area almost a Millennium ago. How amazing is that!

The ladies must have taken their afternoon tea there. Oh if only these walls could tell a story...

A typical bed chamber...trust Bob to add spice to it:

" I couldn't sleep with pictures of my parents, in-laws and grandparents looking down on the bed! "

This huge window ( it couldn't have been a door, as there is a vertical drop of many many meters ) is fabulous. A picture frame in itself.

Life in this kitchen can only have been hard. No running water, no electricity and long ways to carry the food. But manage they must have and more than likely thought that their kitchen was tres modern compared to a century further back. Yes, it is all in the perspective!

Some of the original untouched outer walls.
It shouldn't only be the schools who take kids to visit these treasures of history. Everyone should go at least once a year to view one of the many castles and Fortresses around here. Children will be enriched by realizing that there was a life before the Smartphone and Computer.

Biggi

Here are the opening times for Burg Güssing

A Drive With A Difference.

Heat, forest & men in uniform.

Show me a gal who isn't instantly impressed when a man in uniform crosses her path. There surely cannot be too many who aren't? We all remember Richard Gere in his uniform! I dare say that I am extremely lucky because Bob is now equipped with a uniform ( fireman ) and looks a treat when he dons it. But yesterday was an extra special treat...

By the way, the real reason that I ( & hopefully others ) am so gaga over soldiers in uniform, is the stark reality that they are willing to put their life on the line defending ours. Think about that: How many of us would step up to the plate and give our lives in order for many to have the freedom of theirs? Of course I am against armed conflicts but unfortunately the world is still ruled by money & egos...

Bob and I drove to Güssing for our weekly shopping combined with visiting an elderly lady in hospital. We took the shortcut to Güssing as it saves at least 12 km and is a nice drive. The road that meanders through the forest is a bit iffy; narrow and full of pot holes yet also incredibly stunning. An avenue of stately trees that change into their different colours according to season. Nice.

My eyes were sharp and I noticed straight away that there were men in uniform about. Of course we both remembered that there is a army base in Güssing and that would account for all these men walking about. My camera was out in a flash and Bob was in a state straight away:

" Are you mad? Put that camera away. If they see you taking pictures they might arrest us! "

" Oh, don't be silly, they are walking on a public road and anyway, I won't take any close ups. "

As a seasoned wife, I know what to let in the one ear and out the other. My camera was working but I did make sure that I was discreet. Yesterday was a bit cooler, but still in the 30's.

These troops were in full gear. Backpacks that looked heavy and rifles that looked ready, hanging on the side. At first I thought of how cruel the Sergeants are to make these men walk in full gear up a hill in hot weather. But when I had time to consider it, it made sense to prepare these troops for hotter climes. For all I know, they could be seconded to NATO and have to serve in temperatures warmer than in Burgenland.

Bob told me stories of his time in the army. I think he had a flash back to marches he had had to do. There is one that he remembers vividly as it was a 25 km march in full gear which apparently weighed about 25 kilos. Bob's famous one-liner stems from this episode:

" Ek kan nie meer nie, Korporal!

basically it means: No More, I am finished. Bob tends to use this phrase when we clean our house, when he washes the dishes and we go for a gentle stroll down the village....!

Biggi

A scenic drive, isn't it? There in the distance you can see a few men marching.

That looks heavy!

Burg Guessing

A bit of Sightseeing.

The time with Di and Harry here, is getting less and less and so we are trying to make sure that they have seen a lot of our area. We enjoy this, as it again gives us a chance to fall in love with our area!

Guessing is about 30kms from us and really a characteristic little town. Di and Harry were so enthralled with it and loved their Tour inside the Fortress. Bob and I had seen the inside a few times so we just sat outside under a wall recess soaking up the aura of the past. We are still wondering how they managed to get all those bricks up the steep hill while building it?

Seeing that life also worked before all the modern conveniences is rather soothing. Somehow this reminds me of the basic and also most important point: To just enjoy life, despite anything that we have or don't have....!

It was another hot day yesterday with the temperature reaching over 32 Degrees ( this really is the "Florida" of Austria ). So it was absolutely necessary to visit a street side Cafe and have Ice Cream. I had already spotted the place as we parked the car on arrival and that saved us the bother of wandering up and down the Mainstreet! So, whoever comes to visit us, make sure I am with you for the " drives " as my knowledge of Ice Cream Parlours is invaluable...

Biggi