Our Garden Behind The Barn Get's A Bit Of Attention.

An oasis of beautiful nature filled with a meadow and many fruit trees.

This oasis is rather large and needs attention now and again. It is edged in by a long hedge that has been left to become rather woody, that is until Bob gave it his attention.

An overgrown hedge is not so easy to get the better of and the bits that he couldn't do with the shears, his friend rode to the rescue. Even though I did mumble about the neighbourly eyes descending upon us, the same neighbours are extremely helpful and kind. Yesterday being another example of it.

Bob's friend Herbert phoned to ask if he could help him cut the trees along the hedge and Bob of course agreed straight away secure in the knowledge that hours upon hours of back breaking work had been taken off him.

Herbert has a tractor too and he brought it complete with trailer, chainsaw and a friendly greeting. Just like that, without any asking or pleading. Bob and I value this gem of neighbourliness because it is rare and thus a treasure beyond words.
Especially in a world rife with that Me, myself and I virus...

Our back garden or rather our orchard...many many fruit trees equals many many jams... Imagine not having a trailer there? Pulling all the cut trees by hand is not much fun.

Herbert helping us out with the hedge. Bob is standing on the other side of the hedge and if you look closely, you can spot him through the green.

Our barn as seen from the back. One day Bob and I would like to fix it up into a nice abode.

Looking through the barn, you can see our house to the right of the picture. The barn doors were so huge in order for the tractor to get through it. A barn is really more of a garage for the tractors.

Biggi

A Last Minute Gift For Those Hard To Buy For Teenagers.

A gift that is perfect and long lasting...

You might not even have to go to an old age home to find lonely people that you know. Everyone has someone in their peripheral that is alone during the holidays.

Your teenage kids more than likely have everything they could want or need. Aren't their cupboards and rooms getting to small for all the stuff they have? What to buy them? Why not give them the gift of uplifting another person?

Take them to a bakery or shop and let them buy several trays of packaged holiday cookies. Let them choose them and if they want to, also gift wrap them. Let them know, that the cookies they choose are bought with money that would have been meant for their gift. Let them own it, so to say!

The next step is easy. Drive to the local old age home ( or a lonely person you know ) and ask at reception, who is alone during the Festive season. Such as not having any family coming to visit.

Your kids don't need to stay long with each person. Just long enough to give a gift to someone who will appreciate it beyond measure. You'll probably notice that once they get to see the joy and sheer pleasure they have given, that they might want to stay a few minutes for a chat.

Look, a lot of you might say:

• That your teenagers couldn't be bothered.
• That they won't want to give up their own gifts.
• That they just don't care.

But here's the thing; How do you know if you don't give them a chance?

Maybe a lot of today's youngsters have never been given a chance, or shown how easy it is to do something nice and altruistic for others...

Biggi

Warmth In Winter Is Not Always A Given.

The first cold front before Winter is giving us a hint of what might come...

Bob and I usually wait until icicles form on our noses before we put our oven to use. No, not quite as bad as that, but also not like a lot of our friends here. Gosh, anything below 15 degrees will have them rush to start their heaters.

As you know, we came from South Africa, a place where it does get freezing in Winter but for only a few times during a 3 month segment, so hardly anyone has an oven. Getting an oven for a few occasions per year was silly. We improvised with loads of blankets, socks, jerseys and what one would call Passion Killers but these did the trick. In fact, it was rather romantic and dare I say cozy.

Well, fast forward to Burgenland, and there are a few things I have noticed:

1. The ovens get fired up long before it hits freezing.
2. People run around in t-shirts and shorts in their homes which they heat constantly...
3. In fact during Winter I put on a lot of layers, because I know when I visit somewhere it will be hot as blazes and it is necessary to de-robe. In fact, sometimes I sweat because it is so hot. ( Stuffy too as nobody wants to let the heat out.. )

Here is a thought...put on socks and a jersey inside your home and you will cut your heating costs a bit. Anyway, each to his own. Yesterday it was bitterly cold and the wind was howling non stop. Yuckie indeed but again rather romantic. Tim Burton could have used our area as a perfect setting for one of his interesting stories.

As we have had a leak in the roof, we both decided to put on the oven to help dry out that spot a bit. Gosh, I must say that it felt rather nice to be warm and cozy. Don't worry, we do heat throughout the cold season but we do it more carefully to save a buck and help the environment.

Driving home yesterday afternoon, they mentioned on the news that the conflict in Syria was entering its 4th year and that a huge amount of people are basically homeless. Imagine, not having a home and only if you are lucky, sleeping in a tent. Being out in the cold without extra layers of clothing or bedding is just plain awful. This shouldn't be happening in our times.

Our village and so far most other villages that I have seen in Burgenland as well, have a big container where we can donate our old clothing or blankets. What is collected gets put to good use and might help keep a few more people warm in winter.

Just about everyone of us has stuff in our cupboards that we never wear, use or look at. Let's take that and donate it to someone. They will be ever so grateful and warm.

Biggi

Living History.

Hearing stories first hand is such a treat.

History doesn't have to be centuries old. No, even talking to someone in their 80's or 90's is a chance to experience history. As I would call it, living history.

It holds such a strong fascination for me when I can hear stories of how life was back in the day. It is a pure pleasure and treat to be able to have a conversation with an older person. They surely are the treasure keepers. They are the one's who know what is actually important. Of course we never take in that bit of information because as it is said, youth is wasted on the young...

Sometimes, just having a 'squizz' at their picture gallery is like being given a glimpse into the past. Seeing a wedding photograph that is over 70 years old is such a privilege. Oh, they are prim & proper photographs yet there is a twinkle of joy and expectation in their eyes. They were happy in the knowledge that they would together navigate life's intricacies.

Those who are over 80 years old are made of stern stuff. They were born in the depression era and survived a World War. Most of us have no idea of the hardships war flings on families. We can only imagine what it is like not to have enough food to eat from one year to the next. Never mind the heart wrenching fact of losing loved ones or seeing carnage firsthand.

Whereas we crumble at the first hurdle life throws at us, the older generation stands up to whatever life gives them. Good or bad, because they know that the only way to live, is to take it one day at a time. Everything can be overcome.

In our villages it used to be that after a hard day of toiling in the fields etc, the women would meet in the streets. Most houses had a bench in the front facing the road and that was where everyone would sit and chat. Laugh and maybe shed a tear too. But they helped each other through life.

Ironically we only know after we have lived through something, that it was hard or difficult. At the time it is just our everyday life.

Sadly, all those treasure keepers are often ignored by us. How many are languishing lonely & alone in an Old Age Home? I know that life is hectic and stressful for most of us, but if we took the time to go and visit an old(er) person, we would be rewarded with so much more. Aren't they the
" keepers of the key to a happy life "...?

Biggi

Job Opportunities From The Swedish Model.

Practicality & a tool belt will suffice...

There are two main bits of friction in most marriages. The first time you encounter them, you have to remember your vows. The good with the bad. It also tends to be the first time that you see a different version of that divine man at the altar! Have you got the two in mind? But sorry, I don't think we are on the same page as yet. Even though one tends to happen in the bedroom.

First, unless you have a G.P.S. and frankly even SHE will mislead you and still have that annoyingly pleasant tone of voice, there is no way around it:

you have to ask your wife to read the map or give you directions.

Oh, Good Lord, let it not be on your honeymoon! Your lack of listening to your ( oh so clever at map-reading ) wife will cause plenty of sparks to fly and often a fair amount of time delay.

" So sorry we are late. For SOME reason we missed the turn-off a few times! "

The second is a bit more nifty, tricky and pervasive. Let's start at the beginning. Moving into your own place means you have to furnish it. We were all so used to living at Hotel Mama & Papa . That rather nicely feathered nest complete with room / laundry / cleaning service nobody really wants to leave! A place where furniture is just there.

Furniture we took for granted and used it to throw stuff on, in or over it. We never thought of how it got there, or did you perhaps? To be honest, it came as a bit of a shocker to me when I realized that the lovely display cupboard / bed / or kitchen unit on the shop floor, looks totally different when you buy it!

Those Swedes and their model of ' ingenuity ' are the culprits. When Ikea first got on the scene their low prices were amazing. What took a while to permeate our euphoric mind was the little left out detail of how to assemble it. Oh yes, that was one reason for this low-cost furniture...it came disassembled.

Isn't it horrific when you open that long box, and out come planks, a packet of screws and a simple sheet of instructions instead of a lovely bed / chair or cupboard... If you are lucky, all the bits and bobs are in the box. If not, an Allan key might have gone astray or you've got a screw a size too small. Driving back to the store and admitting you have a screw loose..I think not!

Well, here is the other cause for marital sparks. Some men don't want to admit that they haven't got a clue of how to put this affordable furniture together. Eh, so that it looks as it did in the show room. Somehow admitting to not being able to assemble a chair or a cupboard is akin to admitting that you need instructions on how to drive to somewhere.

Imagine if there was a man you could hire to do all those odd jobs of assembling your furniture. I for one would hire him without batting an eyelid. Whatever he charges would be worth not having an argument with your husband over where to put the nail, screw or hammer...

Biggi

Bob's putting together a chair for friends. A few choice words have been uttered already!

An easier job!

Are You Doing Something Nice For Christmas?

Just because you can and want to?

Nice is one of those words that can run the gauntlet of ideas and emotions. Nowadays, nice could be going to the movies, or going on holiday and oh the list is endless. But what about doing something ' nice ' in the true sense of the word?

• Sending a handwritten Christmas card to friends & family? Those are rare to receive, aren't they?
• Making a batch of cookies and taking them round to Great-Aunt Ida / Suzi / or Agatha, who you haven't seen in a long time and who is lonely.
• Inviting an acquaintance to join you for Christmas lunch / dinner, because you know they are otherwise on their own and lonely.
• Taking the time to visit your local Old-age Home. Go and have a cup of tea with someone there. You don't even have to bring a present, because your mere visit alone is worth gold to the other person. Loneliness can happen to everybody & everywhere.
• Instead of buying gifts for family and friends, that they never will use, donate money to a worthy cause in their name. Now there is a nice thing to do.

A few links to online donations:
Doctors without Borders.
Unicef / Syria
Greenpeace.

• Pay it forward... a small gesture such as paying for the toll fee of the car behind you
  ( a total stranger ) will make you feel good and I guarantee that it will make the other person feel even better!

These are just a few ideas, but I know that you have so many more and maybe even better ideas. Please tell me about them...

Biggi