Thank goodness the season will soon be finished..

I've never been drunk, but often I've been overserved.
Good Morning Monday...31st, 6.09, +5.0dg, forecasting a fine week with a little light precipitation in the evenings later in the week. Thank goodness Monday has arrived and life can get back to something a little more ordinary. Somewhere through the night on Saturday the clocks went forward an hour into Sommerzeit so I have a task to stop everything today wait for the required 13 hours and then restart all the pendulums.. great, all I have to do is to remember to do the restart. I do appreciate that you may be thinking heavens.. today it is Monday and an orderly person would have organised this first thing on Sunday morning... well it was a lost weekend so today it is good to go. Finally I have some working back in my thumb. The hospital re-drilled it to release more blood, but not before the Doctor and Nurse had had a lengthy discussion first about my clothes and shoes, then about New Zealand, then about English tuition, then another Doctor who had come into the room and was bloody well winking at me.. yip, winking, then explained to the other Doctors that yes, the shoe cupboards that I have in my dressing room are very large and the doors heavy as he had been working with the firm who installed them!! So he went into lengthy description about the cupboards and all the shoes!! Am beginning to feel as though I have some sort of neon sign on my forehead. Praise the lord that soon the ski season will be finished, I took a bit of stick for being up on the skifield yesterday in my regular boots not ski boots, but as I explained I choose never to ski weekends, as that is the time for the weekend warriors to do their thing.. very soon I will drag my golf cart out of the cellar and get my golf on.. the course has been open for a couple of weeks only from Loch 3, as 1 and 2 are still in their winter coats, but the driving range is waiting for me. Gosh all I need is the time or a time manager!! Today is Monday conversation, and then 3 sets of tuition. Tomorrow I have a garden to look at and quote for a winter clean up, quite when I will do that I am not sure as haven't finished my own yet, but at least the other garden is small, so should be relatively quick to do. I am nominating this week as an AFW... well at least until Wednesday.. then I have the Wednesday Conversation girls coming in, and as it is the first Wednesday of the month it has been decided to do drinks and nibbles...

Brilliant day on the Hoch Joch yesterday

In the mood... 

And I care because ?

It goes without saying that you should never have more children than you have car windows.
Good Morning Friday...28th, 5.35, +1.5dg, starry dawn, forecasting bright, settled and clear through until next week. Yesterday was a brilliant day on skis. The snow was a perfect mix of winter softening but not in the true way of spring humpies everywhere, thank goodness as I hate the real spring humpy slush... the sun just took the hard edge of the piste, and I left my comfy skis at home and was on my big girl skis yesterday, what fun they were!! I did have plans for the afternoon but not much transpired after a full gas morning on skis.. there is always tomorrow. Today is Friday, so kick off at 10.00 with conversation then two tuitions in the afternoon. I am looking forward to the weekend as in all honesty I am feeling tired. I have said I will do some rose pruning for one of my conversation girls... jeez, I wish I could learn to say no to things. Like I really need the extra work!! I have decided I am closing my tuition books and will only take a new child when another leaves. I need to have better control over this train. I am not very popular with my golf buddy as I have realised I can no longer play the Wednesday Tournaments and those I need to bring my handicap down.. so it is with life. I am not sure if I am smiling or not. It really just means I cannot play on quite a few of the more prestigious courses as they only allow you to play if you have a handicap 27 or lower.. Whatever.

Ski day Thursday

Nothing is fool proof to a sufficiently talented fool.
Good Morning Thursday...27th, 6.25, +0.7dg and there is a crystal clear sky outside... this girl is on skis today. Boot bag on heat, sms's sent, shovel a quick breakfast and gone. Yesterday the weather God's where so kind, it was an almost clear sunny day but VB cold so the snow pack will have kept it's nice winter condition. Spring can wait, today I am back in winter. Yesterday was another of those revolving door kinda days. Say goodbye to one just before the next arrives. Did my new adult tuition go well.. she is much better than she thinks, it is a confidence thing, so next Monday, weather permitting, we will be out and about doing the shops and cafes so she can get used to using her English out loud. Time will tell. I had one of my littles in tears yesterday over spelling.. nothing I said, but his little buddy was getting them all correct and drawing a smiley face against each correct one, and he had only one correct.. ahh the competitive streak at such a young age. He was so upset that she was clever enough to get them right when he couldn't.. hard lesson learnt, and I guarantee next Wednesday's spelling test will produce different results. My Wednesday girls were very orderly.. first Wednesday without a bottle on the table and I did not go up to the village with them to have a drink.. it was cold and I had the fire going before they had arrived. Stand clear for next Wednesday as it is the first Wed of the month and it has been decreed that it will be drinking and nibbling with conversation. I have said I will do a selection of NZ nibbles. They are in charge of the liquids. Today is my day and it is organised. But no bar crawl on the way home. I have promised myself. One of my Mothers said to me yesterday please be careful because if you damage yourself it is not so easy to teach the children !!! I am not foolproof, but I hope sufficient skill set to avoid trouble, on skis at least.

Brilliant day on the mountain..

If quitters never win, and winners never quit, what fool came up with, "Quit while you're ahead"?
Good Morning Wednesday...26th, 6.50, -0.3dg looking good out the window and forecasting fine with a small blip possibly this afternoon, with Thursday fine and clear. Thursday is a nominated day off for me so all going well I will go up the hill again as yesterday the skiing was out of this world... this time I will take my big girl skis rather than my regular ones as there are so few people up there I will be able to play.  Yesterday I was blessed to have a friend insist that I go up the hill, I was rather inclined to do other things. My skiing MoJo has taken a long vacation this season for some reason, no clues as to why, but yesterday was divine. I got a txt message last night at 20.30 asking me if I was home yet... naughty naughty, I had been home since 14.30, but that is what happens when you have a reputation for being a stop out !! Today is a day I am not looking forward to... I have said I will tutor a 47 yr old to give her sufficient English so she can take an unpaid charity position in Ethiopia.. she cannot go until her English is sufficient.. the money is good but the pressure will be immense to bring her up to acceptable speed... I so have to learn how to say no. She wants daily lessons I said no I can do twice a week. So she starts this morning for an hour, then I have two littles and then my Wednesday Conversation girls.. hopefully they come this afternoon without bottles.. I think I am tired. Tomorrow, please weather Gods, skiing. Cold temps will hold the snow in a good wintry condition, so really wanting cloud cover today..

Day off to please myself

Time is what keeps things from happening all at once.
Good Morning Tuesday...25th, 6.17, +0.1dg, forecasting possible light dusty bits up o the mountain and a generally high broken overcast but fine down here. And it is blinking cold. Lit the fire again yesterday before the littles arrived at 15.00 as I felt that the house would be shivery by 17.00 when they left. Yesterday was a day of OMG's.. conversation at 10.00, two with hangovers so interesting conversations!! collected by the husband of the New Zealand girl I met on Thursday to be taken up to their house for luncheon at 11.30, girls walking out the door as he arrives.. Met my new adult English tuition.. woo have I got my work cut out for me. She cannot go to Ethiopia to help with her chosen charity work until her English is good enough... she has the mindset that says can't speak it! and she wants to go by beginning June. I can only give her two sessions a week so this will be interesting. Lunch was loaded with garlic... jeez talk about talk back!! Met an interesting male up at luncheon, a 60+ English born, worked in France for a lot of his adult life, now retired to Schruns, as you do, plus my Ozzie buddies were there also... a table of 5 of us from the colonies. Plus two from the Montafon.  Outnumbered. Yesterday I introduced my littles to "Simon says" what a hoot that was, next week it will be the " Hokey Cokey" .Today I am off to Dornbirn with her of my small social circle.. could be interesting, but as it is a nominated free day for me the world is my oyster. Waiting on a delivery from England.. Murphy's Law it will arrive today, but now have a colour sorted for the search and find. Shoes will be the stumbling block... I hate the shoe fashion here in the Vorarlberg, and trust me when I say it varies from state to state, and town to town here in Austria... those that make the decisions have decided that only certain fashions are required in certain areas... I say how do you know what is wanted when you don't have a good selection to choose from. I bet they are male buyers !!!!

Winter returns.

I was thinking about how people seem to read the Bible a whole lot more as they get older. Then it dawned on me . . . they were cramming for their finals.
Good Morning Monday...24th, 5.12, +1.5dg, forecasting light snow clearing middle day. It is a winter wonderland outside the window. Yesterday it snowed continuously from dawn to dark and still snowed on through the night. The road outside the house has tyre tracks but am thinking the snow ploughs will leave this one and concentrate on the hillsides.... we have had a lot of snow fall so I will have to shovel before my conversation girls arrive as the driveway is on a slope and not really safely negotiable. We have waited all winter for snow falls at this level, and now it comes, Springtime when the ground is lovely and warm. I had quite a lot planned for yesterday and did probably only half of it, no one is keeping score so it doesn't matter, but did light the fire at 1 o'clock and kept it going all day until I went up the stairs. Today is Monday, conversation and tuition and I am supposed to be squeezing a coffee / luncheon in between the two. Not so convinced it is a good idea to do that, will see what the weather is doing and how much prep work I get done before hand. The weather week forecast is a bit muddly and I do not see nice warm outdoor temps at all. I am supposed to start some gardening jobs.. for others... but don't think that will happen this week either. Practising patience.

Snowy Sunday in Schruns

Shopping is better than sex. If you're not satisfied after shopping you can make an exchange for something you really like.
Good Morning Sunday... 23rd, 7.07, +2.2dg, heaving with snow outside the window, forecasting snow to village level all day and through tomorrow... Eeekkk. Thank goodness today is a nominated laundry day. Yesterday was full gas in Innsbruck with a fifteen year old... so full gas that she had to snooze in the train on the way home... where is the stamina of the young I ask? I do admit it was a big day and I was feeling rather exhausted on my return to the house with quite sore feet as I was in high heels, but we had a fab day and returned with a few bags each. Did I find what I wanted , well it is all relative really, I did find some scrummy things that I will most certainly have a use for, but not sure that they are wedding finery. It was raining on us as we came over the Arlberg pass and I walked home in the rain. Now we have the predicted snow it should make for an interesting day or so. I am certainly in no hurry to get out of bed and start the day, it is just a shame there is no one here in the house to bring me a breakfast tray in bed !! No scrap that whimsical thought, I am pleased there is no one here. My Poppet and her Mama are happily in a new home in a new town, and as you do when you move to a new place, you have to explore... really to make sure you can fit... Happy snowy Sunday.

Innsbruck for the day.

There are two impossibilities in life: “just one drink” and “an honest politician.”
Good Morning...Sat 22nd, 5.22, +10.5dg... it is a stand clear of moving parts forecast for today tomorrow, 17cm snow tonight and a further 24cm on Sunday continuing through Monday... It's Spring !!!Trees are in bud burst, crocus, and daffs up and nodding.. poor plants they will not now what has happened after temps around 19dg on my terrasse yesterday. It was a stunner yesterday, but with a hearty warm Föhn so consequently the leaves that were still clinging to the trees have now ended up on my beautifully cleaned terrasses. Will wait until spring really returns and then do it all over again. Today I am off on a shopping search and find to Innsbruck.. taking a young 16yr old with me for an English day out.. she is excited and yet terrified at the same time as I have told her she will have to do all the question, talk, order and pay!!! I will be on my best behaviour as I am Mother in charge. I am hoping we beat the weather in and out but am now having my doubts. Tomorrow will be a day spent quietly luxuriating in the nothingness of a Sunday with bad weather outside. In English that means a day in the laundry ironing all the bed linen after departed guests. Could be worse. Off to see what I can find... with a budget !! Happy days.

Happy Friday...

A good one for the end of a busy week.. " Be there for others, but never leave yourself behind "
Good Morning...Fri 21st, 5.50, +8.5dg, forecasting a sunny start here in the village turning cloudy late afternoon. Yesterday was another wonderful spring day, warm out which spurs you on to do. Physio done and dusted... I know what I should be doing but perhaps going to physio will make me do it !!! An interesting morning after physio as I had a visit from a fellow New Zealander,one who has lived here in Austria and later Schruns for the best part of 20 plus years... born in Taupo !! God, and she arrived around home bearing a plate of chocolate lamingtons... I haven't seen lamingtons for years. She said a little taste of home .. Bless. We spent a very happy hour with a glass of wine talking about everything, but her main reason for the visit was to ask me if I could give private English lessons to a friend who doesn't speak English and is going to live somewhere in Africa for a year and needs to speak English... in a month !!! One has to be positive about things, but really, a month? I will do my best as it is only a month so will find diary time to help. Finally started the leaf clean up in the afternoon, terrasses sorted, furniture shifted and all is ready for the water blaster. Somehow do not see it happening over the next week as the weather forecast is not so stellar for the next seven days, time will tell. I did however sit outside late afternoon with a chilly glass and a friend and it was perfect with the sun on your skin. Come on in summer. Today it is nose to the grindstone, Friday conversation girls then littles tuition and senior tuition. I will not be going up to the village tonight for a Friday nighter as I am catching the 8.03 from Schruns tomorrow morning direction Innsbruck. A day looking for something to wear!! Wish me luck.

Free time ???? I think not.

“Learn from yesterday, live for today, hope for tomorrow. The important thing is to not stop questioning.”
Good Morning... Thurs 20th, 5.53, +2.9dg, stunner day forecast, and bright shiny stuff to continue until Sunday then a collapse. Yesterday was one of my high achiever days... no golf as desired, but stripped the Dachboden and did a top to bottom on everything up there, now to remake it today and shut the door. The day started with a cloudy sky but turned quickly into a beautiful sunny day so washing on the outside line. Made courgette "spaghetti" with feta and fresh mint for lunch and then outside to start winter clean up. Popped across to my elderly neighbour to say hello as I never seem to have the time to do so these days.. said to his daughter who was visiting I have to be back at 10 to 4 as I have a conversation group so no beer thank you !! Beer !! As I left their house I saw already there was a car in the garage driveway.. sprint ... The girls were all installed around the table and had poured a glass of water, content to wait. One produced a bottle of bubbles so off we went. They had many questions for me yesterday... do I have a space for a new conversation group as others have expressed an interest to come, will I do private adult tuition, do I do gardening and rose pruning ? Bloody Nora... They then went through a list of activities asking me if I could or couldn't... there was nothing I couldn't do... hey, I come from New Zealand!! Bless, they were so funny. At 17.30 we all decided to wander up into the village for the obligatory after conversation group session, I went with. This trip up to the village for a drink was very orderly and I was home by 19.00.  Today I have an early morning physio appointment, one that I have been procrastinating over for a long time but to day I must attend. Then the day is mine. Am taking one of my young students with me to Innsbruck on Saturday for a day in the shops... she is so excited.. she doesn't know quite how much she is going to have to do and all in English !! I am on the hunt for something stunningly gorgeous for a wedding in New Zealand in August.. hopefully I will find it in Innsbruck. My girls are installed in their new home, Poppet in full explore mode and doing a lot of pointing as she sees things that are new.   An exciting time even if it is a busy muddle until unpacked.

Wind down from winter.

There are four things admirable for a woman to be, at any age! It's always wonderful to be elegant, it's always fashionable to have grace, it's always glamorous to be brave, and it's always important to own a delectable perfume!
Good Morning...Wed 19th, 6.22, +9.2dg forecasting snow showers early morning and at the moment the mountain tops are obscured, the sky looks threatening but the roads are dry so the expected rain either isn't coming or hasn't arrived.. Gosh I am on to it this morning..how observant is that !!! Yesterday was a beautiful sunny day and I was in Bludenz for a good part of it doing things. It is rather nice to start the down layering process after winter. My three English guests arrived on foot last night from the skifield, they had arrived by train mid morning and gone straight up the hill. They are exiting this morning and that is it for the winter  I would love to go up the hill this morning to watch the ÖSV Skiteam Austria do their thing through the gates, but the desire to be on snow has completely departed. Instead I will be out in the garden weather permitting. We were going to do nine holes this morning but it is not so enticing out there. School is on holiday today so no littles for tuition, and then this afternoon I have my Wednesday Conversation girls.. they are always a delight. Easy day and then one for the Queen tomorrow. Brilliant.

Free as a bird

“The reason I talk to myself is because I’m the only one whose answers I accept.”
Good Morning...Tues 18th, 5.24, +3.0dg, forecasting rain tonight, not snow, but it is spring, clearing tomorrow for a fine week. Yesterday was a beautiful day... coat not needed to go up to the village and last night I did not light the fire, but the central heating is still quietly burning oil!! The weather is certainly warming up, soon it will be time to show my legs the light. Tuitions and conversation dispatched and Dachboden finished ready for guests tonight. Last winter booking...   Today I am off on the train to Bludenz to do a stock up on spares after a small breaking session and then this afternoon I am hoping to get out with my big garden vac and hoover leaves, That is a job that I had originally earmarked for last Saturday but last Saturday never arrived for me!! and if time is on my side then I will bring the water blaster out and wash down the outdoor furniture and the terrasses. The time has come to start sitting outside, through the day at least. I love free days. Tomorrow is Joseftag Saint Joseph's Day Celebration
Saint Joseph's Day, March 19, the Feast of St. Joseph is in Western Christianity the principal feast day of Saint Joseph, Spouse of the Blessed Virgin Mary. He is thus the step-father of Jesus of Nazareth / Jesus Christ. Here the schools have a holiday but it is not a public holiday, so I have no littles tuition. Amazing !! This week is a nice gentle week, one to feel the sun on my back, time to smell the roses and get the golf clubs out... I have a feeling, weather permitting, we will be on the golf course tomorrow. Today my girls started a new journey.. phase two of their lives together. This is a good move with many positive things surrounding it.   Enjoy

St Patrick's Day... a day to celebrate being Irish

“Here's to a long life and many more. A quick death and an easy one. A pretty girl and an honest one. A cold beer – and another one!” - St. Patrick's Day Toast.
Good Morning ...Mon 17th, 6.08, +4.1dg, forecasting fine and clear until Tuesday night then a brief flurry clearing Wednesday morning. As a New Zealander travelling on an Irish Passport I feel the need to embrace this special day in the Irish celebratory calendar... Happy St Patrick's Day. This week I am going to start the terrasse and garden post winter cleanup. Am feeling the need to bask in the sunshine a little. This week is also the last booking for the winter... yay... a one night stay and then the house is mine. Has it been a good experience. Definitely yes, I have been lucky enough to have some wonderful people pass through the house, and Gott Sei Dank no issues, problems or dramas. Has it been worthwhile.. that will become evident when I do my comparison sums for the past and present 12 months. I always said 12 months and then a decision. It has afforded me two return flights to New Zealand so no complaints. Today is back to my normal week, conversation and tuition. As it is the last of the 10 week block for the two little girls we are cooking today.. their favourite, afghans, so an easy day with no need to prepare a lot. Tomorrow is a me day, the world is my oyster for the day, with incoming for the night. My big job this week is to tackle the problem with the oil furnace and the electric water cylinder.. and try to make sense of them in an effort to save me some fuel. Mild winter, 2500 litres of oil used to heat the house, plus I light the fire every night. Ummm in the words of someone here in the house last week, something isn't set correctly, but then this is what happens, when with the best intentions in the world, others come in, in your absence and adjust the settings. Am already on my knees looking for some divine intervention.
“If you''re luck enough to be Irish, you're lucky enough!” - Irish Saying

Yesterday was a lost day....

“I imagine hell like this: Italian punctuality, German humour and English wine.”
Good Morning...Sun 16th, 6.55, +5.1 with very wet terrasses outside, and there should be snow falling up on top. Am seated comfortably...virtually...in Albert Park ready for the first F1 race of the season, I have a bit of a juggling job this morning as I have final races from Lenzerheide this morning also... F1 and World cup always overlap in the first and final week. Thank you for wondering, I am feeling back to my best, a lost day yesterday, only getting out of bed to prepare breakfast for my guests, and only by the skin of me teeth!!! Otherwise I spent the day "relaxing" and then lights out by 19.30. What am I like !!! Miz day outside today so a good excuse to really relax into a busy sports morning from the armchair. No predictions as missed quali, no thoughts either, but do have a wish!! My four young guests leave today heading back to England, The weather has treated them well enough and they have made the best of the spring conditions. Tomorrow back to my normal programme like a bright new penny. Happy Sunday. It would be nice for Riccardo to take a podium for his home race and first with Red Bull... ohhh, poor Vettel, does he have a problem...shame 

That was a late night waiting !!

“The look he shot her was incredulous in the extreme. "You have a filing system for your shoes?”
Good Morning...Fri 14th, 5.56, +2.1dg a clear sunny day ahead. Yesterday was a beautiful day. Hints of things to come hopefully. As I was walking I was looking for signs of bud burst... just a tad too early for the trees but the spring bulbs are flourishing everywhere. It was a day spent getting sorted for last nights arrivals... the poor souls got to my front door at 12.30 am astheir flight had been delayed from England... Matchsticks for Moochie today !! At least I used the time well, prepping and printing for today's tuitions and conversation. If I had sat down I would have fallen asleep. . They, on the other hand, want to be on the early lift up so have ordered their breakfast basket for 7.30am. They will not have had a lot of sleep, but they are four young things come to Schruns for skiing, so as you do, get up and get going. I did a massive circuit on foot yesterday... rubbish up to recycler, walked out along the Litz to the Lidl then back into town to the Library to look for some reading books. Idiot.. library opens Mon, Wed and Fri so that was a waste of energy and shoe leather pulling a heavy shopping trolley. You can forgive brain fade when you have a beautiful day to walk. Took on a new little yesterday for tuition.. daughter of my Gynae.. I had forgotten we had had a conversation over the speculum about English for little people to compliment their first stages in school. My books are now closed until such time someone stops, the diary only has free space for one more morning Conversation. Fertig !!! My English visitors are departing Sunday morning, I have one more lot of incoming guests next week and then no more bookings... sigh of relief. It has done what I wanted it to do so I am very grateful but will be even more grateful to have my house back to myself. Today I am all day with people in and out for English and then it is the week end...  I do not actually have a filing system but most certainly a colour coded arrangement on all the shelves !!! A girl just has to know where to put her hand on the shoes she needs for a certain outfit. Happy days.

Thank goodness Wednesday is finished !

“How wonderful it is that nobody need wait a single moment before starting to improve the world.”
Good Morning...Thurs 13th, 5.49, +1.0dg, forecasting sun until Saturday when we will have a small, brief weather disturbance, clearing back to a sunny clear pattern through until next week. Yesterday morning it was all going off like a bloody fireworks display here. Guests leaving and wanting to talk to organise a private return, phone calls about one of Paulii's scooters, phonecalls and visits from the heating tech, which required my presence so we could work out the hot water cylinder and the oil furnace connections... Grrr, I can do a lot of things, really, I do not need help with a lot, but Paulii always did the heating things and never showed, explained or taught me the intricacies of the wretched system.. now I am literally rudderless, and to really insult me the bloody technician speaks in broad Montafoner dialect...S***... like Hello!! In amongst that a Mother calling trying to organise her daughter for her first English tuition, no diary to hand, and I know I do not have a lot of spare spaces especially for littles tuition... Heaven help me I could have walked out of the house and disappeared. Dachboden quickly stripped of laundry and rubbish and door shut.. it will would wait for a calmer moment, The house settled into just me quietly by 11.30, sadly I couldn't have an aperitivo as I had two littles for their afternoon tuition at 14.00.. La la la la la. Yesterday I felt I could have benefited from a quiet aperitivo outside in the sun .. time to open the gin terrasse. Tuition dispatched, and incoming Wednesday girls... Jeez, that was a long conversation hour, I closed the door on them at 19.30 and set to clearing up after the eating and drinking. We did talk about the fact that what I am doing may become a little like a run away train with the knock on effect of one talking to another and so many requests for tuition and conversation. Ohhh, what have I started ? Head up, squared shoulders and keep moving forward. At this very moment I am in bed, luxuriating in the fact that I do not have to get up to prepare breakfast for guests and the house is mine until 23.30 this evening when four from England arrive.. hopefully before midnight... am thinking a nana nap around 14.00 may be a good idea..not a lover of late nights. Energy required by the truck load.

Spring weather...

Mary Jane Leuch

Good Morning... Wed 12th, 5.28, +0.5dg, forecasting beautiful, sunny Spring weather through until Saturday when we may have light rain below and perhaps dusting above. Perfect. Yesterday I was up on the mountain and it is so Spring. We had some very high thin cirrus yesterday which is good for the snow pack after so much clear sun and it did not affect vision. We stopped at the Kropfen for an aperitivo in the sun and decided that it would be the last time I put any money down on their tables... we may be coming to the end of a testing season for some, but good service is the critical part of hospitality, down in the village and up on the mountain. Lunch cancelled and I went home. Enough said. My afternoon was spent soothing a young lady as she prepares for an important English exam on Thursday. I can remember the feeling well enough to know what she is going through. Today is Wednesday... I suggested to my daughter last night that I may have created a monster.. The Wednesday Conversation girls come this afternoon at 16.00, and will be bringing food to go with the liquids... this will be a long session in amongst the " conversation", thankfully my littles tuition come at 14.00 so I will have discharged all responsibilities by then. As long as everyone is having fun then it is all good to go, but I do wonder what sort of reputation my conversation groups are getting in the Village as people are most certainly talking, but at least in the winter the noise is contained inside.. summer I hold the groups out on the gin terrasse and the noise level can be up there.. I will just shrug my shoulders, put on my best smile and carry on !!! My four from Basel leave this morning so the house will be mine... sort of!! Quick turnaround in the Dachboden as I have four incoming from England tomorrow... will complete it this morning to save panic tomorrow... just in case. I had a very apologetic letter from the ANZ contact centre in my inbox this morning... and the response was not from the same person that generated the initial admonishment. Job sorted. So now Wednesday.. feet on floor and up and running. Happy days.

Tuesday, off to the mountain

“I have heard there are troubles of more than one kind. Some come from ahead and some come from behind. But I've bought a big bat. I'm all ready you see. Now my troubles are going to have troubles with me!”
Good Morning...Tues 11th, 6.22, 1.3dg forecasting a right royal bobby dazzler again, so as it is Tuesday and a" Moochie's free" day my boot bag is plugged in and I am off to make some tracks in the snow. Today there will be three of us... safety in numbers you ask, not really, and deffo not with these two!! I will be wearing a sensible hat to some degree as I have my senior exam tuition at 16.00, but I have the day  Very happy face. Yesterday was full gas all day with conversation, tuition and prep for the week. I will say it again.. don't know how teachers do it. I am in the middle of an email " discussion" with the ANZ bank in New Zealand over my Mother's bank account. They have an opinion, and I have a differing opinion. Law of business.. get your facts correct first then attack me. As I write there is a super crisp email winging its way through the ether to be on this person desk when she arrives at work tomorrow. Believe me when I say super crisp... Paullii would have smiled at my response. He was brilliant at crisp mail. And quite frankly what part of elderly, ageing and sometimes quite vague and getting vaguer by the minute do some people in authority refuse to acknowledge. I am patient. So today off up to the mountain to get my Vitamin D shots, some exercise and to have some of my five a day... I am really trying to concentrate on doing everything the health officials say, in my own way!! Tomorrow my party of four leave, direction Basel, and incoming the following day from England. A night on my own in the house... quietly smiling.

Funken fertig

"The best way to predict your future is to create it."

Good Morning...Mon 10th, 5.48, +0.8dg, beautiful late winter early spring weather, stable and clear through until next weekend. Yesterday there was a change to the original plan of a walk, I agreed to go skiing... on a Sunday, no less!!! The weather is just so perfect at the moment, and I was told the car park by the Zamangbahn was virtually empty, so lifted up and had a fabbo morning on the piste, no queues and better still virtually no-one skiing on the piste where we were, so the old left and right checking over the shoulder before you decide to use the whole width was not necessary... Brilliant. Time to take my skis down stairs and attend to the edges, I see a busy week ahead. Home by 13.00, tempting to stop at the Kropfen for an aperitivo but wearing my responsible hat, again.... Halo.... Even walked past the Ur Monti as it was open at 13.00 ...Halo # 2...lunch and then exam prep tuition for a couple of hours. Last night I went out behind the house to watch the Funkenabbrennen, but the cold evening air forced me home before the tower was ignited... I am so over this coughing, it is just exhausting. Next year hopefully. Today I have my Monday conversation girls, with a new one joining them, and then two littles this afternoon for tuition. Had a calendar muddle, thought my guests were leaving tomorrow but they leave Wednesday and then incoming from England Thursday evening. Busy busy week ahead... My Wednesday afternoon conversation girls have decided to have a party.. yip, they are bringing food to go with the wine on Wednesday... could be a long conversation!! I am thinking I am feeling tired already.

Funkensonntag.

“Everything tells me that I am about to make a wrong decision, but making mistakes is just part of life."

Good Morning...Sun 9th, 6.20, +1.2dg and we still have a steady sunny weather pattern. Dawn is coming earlier and earlier and the evenings are staring to stretch out... soon it will be time to clean up all the wind blown S and D and open the gin terrasse.Yesterday was a glorious day, the skiing would have been out of this world. My whole morning was spent cleaning kitchens, bathrooms and mopping floors... Marvellous!!! Job finished for the season... YES!!!! My four guests came home after quite a bit of Apres Ski at the Uhr Monti and very happy with their day on snow, quick turnaround, then went out to experience more delights of Schruns at night. My afternoon was spent wishing I could gave a Nana Nap but had two and half hours of Tuition instead. Today is Traditionelles Funkenabbrennen which loosely translated is the celebration of Winter's End and is celebrated with a magnificent wooden structure being set alight and burnt... sounds simple but is amazing to watch the process... we have a glorious witch on top of our structure. This year they have built the wooden tower just out behind my house so I will wander out to join the social aspect of the evening and watch them lighting it. I accepted an invitation to meet at 10.30 this morning and then we are walking up to the Maisers where we will sit amongst the beautiful snowy scenery and enjoy some bubbles. I will pack a little bag of carrots and cucumber as I know it will be required on voyage for me. I have a small sense of unease in my tummy as I know this could be quite a session... it will be the first visit to the completed cottage for her and she is hanging out to see all the furnishings that have been put in to finish the inside. I have an afternoon tuition at 15.00... oh dear. I will be wearing my responsible hat, but experience tells me I would be better staying at home. Watch this space... 

International Women's Day.

International Women's Day... Clap clap, wiggle wiggle, bump bump.
“You educate a man; you educate a man. You educate a woman; you educate a generation.”
Good Morning World... Sat 8th, 5.57, +1.1dg, forecasting sun sun sun sun sun. Yesterday was a beauty, even being house bound it is just fantastic when you get a beautiful day with sun pouring in the windows and doors open to fresh late winter air. I say Spring they keep telling me not until March 21st. Compromise. Yesterday was a revolving door kinda day.. Conversation group was bulging with 6 women.. Hmmm too many, but the add on is a twice a weeker and really wants to improve so does not impact the dynamics at all. Quick trip up to the village for last minute top ups for the Dachboden fridge and then my little's tuition at 13.00, then a senior for exam prep at 15.00 till 17.30. Nearly cross eyed and hanging out for a reviver. Guests arrived as they said around 21.00, happily installed and they then headed up to the village to check out the watering holes. Me, I just hopped into bed. This morning is the last day at my cleaning job... little bubbles of excitement... sad I know, but I will be pleased to have finished this little exercise. Cash flow is sufficient to not need a cleaning job now. The 10 week block of lessons finished for two of my littles on Wednesday and one Mother rang yesterday to ask if they can just roll over and do another 10 as they love it so much... tick. After I am finished today at the Ferienwohnung I have my senior coming in at 15.00 for English so my Saturday will be filled quickly. Tomorrow she comes back for more help.. gosh, why do they leave it so late to prepare ? Sad news on the wires this morning with the Malaysian Airlines flight missing... 239 people on board... I hope they have a speedy and happy resolution, time suggests otherwise. The other thing that is consuming Europe is the lovely Mr Putin... The Crimea is a distance from Austria but central Europe all the same.Is he a stable man? Then there is Oscar Pistorius... He should really have been on the stage, I think he is a marvellous actor. Sorry if offend anyone with that. So, from Schruns to wherever Happy International Women's Day to all the wonderful Women in my world and happy happy Saturday.

Weeks end.

“When you know better you do better.”

Good Morning...Fri 7th, 5.21, -0.3dg, forecasting stunner days through until next Wednesday. Yesterday was a brilliant morning up on the piste, really super snow, but Holy Cow was it busy. The French, Germans and those from Belgium are on holiday, they also had children's races on the Hoch Joch yesterday, so the piste was positively bulging with people... not my most desirable scenario, but choose the runs that are not busy and then full gas. Decided to fill up on cough mixture before I went skiing... good old standby of Gees Linctus... am so over coughing myself to death, and in the cold air it becomes uncontrollable. Finished the morning at the Stammtisch at the Kropfen, and then was met by her who remains nameless at the bottom bahn and we went for a quickie in the Café Wädli. All in all a well behaved morning and back in the house by 13.00, so not too far off my intended. Carted masses of re-cycling up to the recycling hof and this time the clanking bags of glass and cans was not all my doing !!! Regardless of what my son thinks. Today it is feet on the floor for a full day. My Friday Conversation girls in the morning and then two tuitions, one little and one big, in the afternoon. Incoming group of four from Switzerland arriving around 20.00, but am done and dusted for them. They are coming in for skiing and staying until next Tuesday so they have a fantastic weather outlook for their time here. Last day of Saturday cleaning work tomorrow.... very happy dance.. 

Busy bee..

"Some people are old at 18 and some are young at 90... Time is a concept that humans created."

Good Morning...Thurs 6th, 5.40, +4.3dg, forecasting sunshine..  wow.. sunshine. Shall I or shan't I ? Hmmm choices, and it is Thursday, my free day. Forecasting sunny weather through until early next week so that will please my Swiss guests who are incoming for skiing. Yesterday was a mixed bag with a little of everything and jolly cold with it. Dispatched tuition, last for these littles of their ten week course and then my Wednesday Conversation girls... No alcohol for them as they have exhausted themselves over Fasching.. one was to start fasting at midnight .. no alcohol or meat ... for Lent, and that lasts until 17th April, and the others were going off to Josefs Platz for a session. No I didn't join them. The cold night air just aggravates my pathetic lungs. Today has possibilities.. I could do a couple of hours on the piste and then come home to finish in the Dachboden and in the laundry.. If I ring someone to go with, then it always turns into a session.. skiing alone is not as fun as skiing with someone else, but arriving home after dark instead of before lunch is not really ideal either. Dilemma. Also not certain my lungs are up to it. Double dilemma. Done.. boot bag plugged in. Final decision when we have daylight. Tomorrow I have my Friday girls and a little for tuition... then the weekend, but time for me is not so determined by the weekends, more by the Tuesdays and Thursdays. Places to go.. things to do, Enjoy.