May-day

Felling of the Mayday-tree Burgenland style

Well to start with, on the first of May each little village in our area erected a huge May-Tree or rather Maypole. It was quite an event, in our usual style-with wine & vittles !

So yesterday evening the Maypole came down and of course we had to do hard work, celebrating first with Beer, Wine, Frankfurter's ( in Austria a Vienna sausage is called a Frankfurter...) and the most delicious food called Langos.

It started of quite hilariously because the venue was unexpectedly changed and we drove around for hours (actually only minutes due to the size of our village ) looking for it...But when we found it, it was so festive and fun. Bob and I are not the " Newbee's " anymore, and we can now mingle and give out the " Nods ". During the evening a few of Bob's pupils came and greeted him in English. So cute.

Alberta had fun and she is taking to Burgenland life like a duck to water. She can't wait to come back with her husband and friends to tour the area on Motorbikes. So something for us to look forward to.

Two hours into the evening the Mayor announced that they were going to fell the Maypole. As the venue had changed and it was about a 5 min walk only a handful of people - mainly we, the Newbee's - went with to see. The tree is possible 30 m high and it seemed quite scary to me working out where it would land. But Alberta was in the midst of the action taking close-up pictures. Rather brave or...!

Albert and Mattias wore the traditional Lederhosen, and our Mayor came over to take a pic with the two. Only in Burgenland.....

What we did not realize was how the delicious Langos were laden with garlic and it is going to be fun fetching Di & Harry in the " Garlic Mobil ". Yeah , Today is the day.

Great Excitement...

Di & Harry are arriving tomorrow

Bob and I have been counting the months then weeks and now days until they come for a holiday. Skype is a great invention and it is super to be able to communicate through it, but it still does not give the " Real " effect of everything.

When we drive around or even just look around our yard, we always wonder how Di & Harry will react and if they will like it as much as we do. So Saturday it is !

We have also both been mapping out possible routes to show them the three " C's " : Castles, Churches and Cathedrals without which an European Trip is not complete !

But in the meantime, great activity is taking place in our household. I am sure that most of you will know about " The Cleanup " before the parents come to visit....luckily we don't have a lot of furniture or stuff so cleaning is still a breeze.

Bob was planning to do the lawn this afternoon so that it looks nice and neat, but alas, it's raining continuously. Possible blindfolds may be the order of the day.

Just now, I am going to sort out the bedrooms. We have four new mattresses, but only one double size base set. We can't expect Di & Harry to sleep " Japanese style " so we'll give it a go. Might even be fun ! Debbie and Alan survived it intact... I think.

Biggi