#Silvester #EinenGutenRutsch #SmoothStartTo2018

Sunday 31st, 6.22, forecasting a mild 9dg... but first it has to happen. We have stars out which is better than the mizzly rain we had at village level yesterday. Rain and snow in the mix over the next 4 days. So... Saint Sylvester's Day, also known as Silvester, or the Feast of Saint Sylvester, among the Western Christian Churches, the feast day is held on the anniversary of Saint Sylvester's death, 31 December, a date that, since the adoption of the Gregorian calendar, has coincided with New Year's Eve. Many Christian households mark the Saint Silvester's Day by practicing the custom of Bleigiessen using Silvesterblei (Silvester lead), in which Silvesterblei is melted over a flame in an old spoon and dropped into a bowl of cold water; one's fortune for the coming year is determined by the shape of the lead. If the lead forms a ball (der Ball), luck will roll one's way, while the shape of an anchor (der Anker) means help in need, and a star (der Sterne) signifies happiness. May the lead form the shape of a ball or a star for you all... Einen guten Rutsch ins neue Jahr - Or a smooth start to the New Year. I am so ready for this...

#SnowAndLotsOfSnow #SortingItSlowly #NoSkisNoSkiing

Sat 30th Dec, 7.55, -2dg, snowing. Forecasting snow all day and through the night. Yesterday I met with the new bank manager in the Volksbank. I think we were both a little scared of each other.... he because he knew his predecessor had made some very grave mistakes, and me, because when you are commanded to a meeting then the news is quite often not what you want to hear. So 2 hours later I leave with a folder of anal paperwork and declarations for the authorities here and in NZ, but slightly happier than I thought I may have been. A return termine after papers sourced from the Gemiende on Wednesday. Smile. Train into Bludenz for search and find homework on langlauf ski and alpine ski. Unresolved, the best deals are here at Intersport Schruns. This I will sort today. We have a hundred trips to the recycler in the snow, but this is a luxury for me as we go by car, not as I used to. The glass feed into the bins will tell it's own story!! We then start tomorrows prep for two little in house parties. Oh joy.

#BackInTheSnow #ThankyouEnglandItWasFab #NowToSki

Friday 29th Dec, 7.15, Forecasting a high of -2dg, low of -4dg. Cold with times of cloud and sun. My flight from Heathrow yesterday was without hitch. My fantastic brother got up at 4.30 to drive me the hour into the airport in very frosty conditions after the snow the previous day. I spent an interesting 20 mins at the VAT counter watching as the Russians went through the claim processes for their Christmas spend from every high end store in London. Fascinating!! I treated myself to a little mile high picnic as dawn was breaking ... I thought the selection far cheaper than that on offer in Zurich Bahnhof. Happy camper. We had a tail wind so 10 mins early into the Bahnhof which let me catch the earlier railjet out to Bludenz. Perfect perfect. Snowing heavily all the way and on arrival in Schruns it was a completely white wonderland. I used Katharina's sled to cart my case up the hill as wheeled suitcases do not do deep snow, in fact they don't do snow at all. Today I meet with the bank. Say no more. Then we go into Bludenz to shop for the little New Year's eve lunchtime soiree Klaudia is planning. Oh dear. No snow in our forecast today but another 10 cm coming in tomorrow. Today I buy langlauf skis as €20 a day is OTT. I may also be forced to buy some new Völkl skis as the local sportshop has an all mountain set at a very reasonable price. To rent for such a long time is prohibitive and a girl needs the necessities to play. Happy snowy day.

#ChristmasEve #Heiligabend #CardGamesWithMoet

December 24th... Heiligabend or Christmas Eve... To all my family and friends, near and far.... Peace on Earth and Goodwill to all Mankind... I hope this festive holiday season is full of fun family times and however you celebrate you are surrounded by happiness, love and laughter. Newbury weather forecasting 7dg with overcast for the day, but no rain so that is a bonus. No reindeer duty for me tonight, but I know that the reindeer will be well and truly sorted in Otumoetai NZ. Sleep well Poppet. <3 Yesterday we walked into the village to do last minute finishing with the rest of Newbury. Coffee pause by the canal ...done, dusted and back by middle day. Michael had been explaining a card game called "Cards Against Humanity" to us over dinner the previous evening... This game should come with a hazard warning. Or at the very least a warning not to play with your 80+ Grandmother. Ohh my word. The Moet was opened... the cards dealt... game commenced. I do not think I have ever, in my 62 years of card games, laughed fit to fall on the floor, mopping eyes with a tissue as much as we did yesterday. This is a seriously inappropriate word / sentence game that had us all at times expressing horror with the cards drawn. What a way to spend a long afternoon... brilliant. Today is a slow and simple preparation for tomorrow. Rewrapping the present opened by NZ Customs and preparing presents and cards. Happy Christmas Eve New Zealand.

#ChristmasShoppingInNewbury #AnotherDayToDoLastBits #GinSelection #TedBakerLust

Saturday 23rd December, 6.14am still dark outside but a mild 9 grad. Forecasting for Newbury a mild day with sun popping in and out 11 grad high. That bodes well for a walk back into the village to do some last minute bits n bobs for all of us. My search and find in town yesterday was not what I would call an unmitigated success. James and Jacky have her mother staying in the house with us for Christmas so I wanted to buy and wrap something little for her under the tree... very hard to find a good gift when you do not know the person or indeed their likes and dislikes. I know... it is the thought that counts but I never gift something I do not lust after for myself. Today is another day and Jacky will be with me so that may sort the conundrum. If not then we go to the favoured local and sit over a glass of something nice to discuss it. My antennae were elevated full gas yesterday at the little local Tesco express on Newbury Highstreet where I went to get yoghurt... the gin selection was like I have never seen before. Oh my word, I was forced to take a pic, and it did not all fit in the photo as taking a picture of the shelves of gin in a supermarket at Christmas time does make you look a little strange !! The Ted Baker bags pics were taken expressly for @Belinda Jackson for your interest. Not overly expensive either Ber. So musings from yesterday... there is a seething mass of people doing a shed load of looking but there are not overly many carrier bags being toted... perhaps the lovelies of Newbury have done all their Christmas preparation. We talked food last night so we are sorted.

#OnTheFeldOnLanglaufSkis #SwarovskiChristmasTree #ZurichHauptbahnhof #ChristmasInEngland

Friday 22nd Dec, 7.20am, 10 grad outside with drizzle. Forecasting on off weather with 11 grad high. Yesterday was a grey start to the day but we decided to get out and we did two tours of the feld on langlauf skis... it was lovely to be back on skis of some sort. The day improved to a beautiful bluebird day as I left Schruns. The Hauptbahnhof in Zurich was a seething heaving mass of humanity of all varities, all doing their own something at speed. The Christmas markt in the Bahnhof is always a fantastic place to wander, if you can call it that. The Swarovski Tree is just totally splendid as always, it was up and decorated when I passed through Zurich in the weekend but roped off so you could not even get near it to photo it. My departure from Zurich was in persisting rain. Arrived in England last night to a mild evening and installed in house with James Jacky and Michael. Late. Especially as England is minus one hour time difference to europe, so what was 13.30 bed was 1.30 for me. Too old for that now !! Today will be a quiet day as the household is finishing work with half days, then we will plan and sort how we do the festivities. I may be wearing an apron... I know a little person thousands of miles away on a very serious sleep countdown ... Her morning arrives before ours. Good morning my little Poppet <3

#SittingInTheSun #NaughtyDeliciousDelights #ItsBeginningToLookALotLikeChristmas

Thursday 21st, -5grad, forecasting a little sun a little shower +4grad. Yesterday was a beautiful day with all the blue sky and sunshine you needed to sit a purr like a pussy cat. After some work around the house I walked into the village to do bits n bobs before my meeting at the bank and then sitting with the Wednesday girls at Josef's Platz. I was naughty and sat outside at Frederick's Cafe and totally hoovered a creme schnitte and thought of my daughter !! This she will understand, and also know that the unusual treat was savoured with every mouthful. I had to buy some slip on chains for my long boots as the packed snow on the ground everywhere makes me very nervous with my silly knee. My meeting with the bank was so so, and one of two with me having to return for a sit down with the new manager on 29th. We shall see. I find it interesting I cannot get some of the answers I need. Simple question = simple answer in my book. I had a fantastic catchup with Elke the daughter of my elderly nextdoor neighbour, we surprised each other in the Marktplatz as she called out to me. Brilliant. My meeting with the wednesday girls was just like we had seen each other the previous week but without the big dictionary I always had for reference. Oh.. bless they were wonderful as always and we gather again in the New Year. Today I organise to go to England but first I will try to encourage her to let me help her take sack loads to the recyclinghof !! It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas... Everywhere you go...

#OnTheAir #PhoneSorted #NoSnowToday

Wed 20th Dec, forecasting a high low of +2 / -7 grad with 2-4 cm of snow through the day. Yesterday we had a snow free day, and even a little smidgen of weak sun on occasion. I do not know how the early season skiers are managing the weather patterns. Finally got my telephone sorted so the screen is no longer constantly displaying login requests. Thank goodness for the super friendly, and oh so lovely Samuel @Epos Computers in Zimba Park. I was not sure of the time I was due to be collected, and idle hands never translate well... H&M have their sale on... and oh my Lord the children's section is full of things that would make the Poppet dance and smile... I will wait until I return from England and take a proper moment to really look and choose. Today is a trip into the the bank. It is time to sit down with them and sort through things. What fun that will be !! This afternoon back into Schruns to have a 16.00 meeting with my Wednesday girls. It has been a long time. Then case open to prepare for departure tomorrow. Hopefully a smiley day today.

#ShoppingSorted #SnowFlurriesAllDay #TodayPerhapsALittleSun

Tuesday 19th, we have daylight and no snow ploughs on the road. Forecasting cold with periods of sun. 1 grad max. Yesterday was a day of light snow on and off all day, but when girls have their shopping boots on nothing stops them. All electricals sorted at Media Markt, and all incidentals in the vicinity. I am finally "mobile " with a phone number so it is starting to feel a little more normal. I will require a trip to A1 in Bludenz to get them to disable / sort the iCloud as the phone will not accept ANY of the passwords I put in and so the screen constantly comes up with password request. Note to self, do not have multiple password attempts when you are having pre dinner drinks ... It never ends well !! Blissful dinner of poached salmon and feldsalat. Heaven on a fork. Today I am mother in charge with a little home from school sick and Mama out early for an appointment. Other than that, a little traditional Christmas baking, and sorting the case for England. I fly Thursday to spend Christmas with my family. <3 <3

#WalkingInAWinterWonderland #BackInMySpiritualHome

Monday 18th Dec, 530am, forecasting cold with snow 10-15cm on and off with a high of 0 grad for the day. The snow plough started its first road sweep at 4.30 and has done another one since. The snow fell steadily most of the day until we went out walking around 15.00. We went across the feld and into to the village to walk through the Christmas market. I have obviously forgotten how to walk on snow as I did a spectacular left hand bum down on the ice. Fortunately not in the village but as we were coming off the feld so it was only her that witnessed that. The village was humming with all that is a European Christmas market festival, drinking eating and socialising. Perfekt. I had hugs with familiar faces and some emotional moments but wonderful. We carried our glühwein away from the market and deposited it further along the way... I find the massed produced ones too sweet to enjoy, but when in Rome... Early bed, reasonable sleep. Today is a day into Dornbirn to look for Christmas presents for the girls, a fridge and a coffee machine for the new flat downstairs that I will be moving into when I get back from England. I am blessed.

#ArrivalInSchruns #LoveLoveThisPlace #MontafonAustria

So... I posted earlier this morning and it failed to post... #2... Sunday 17th. it was 6am, now 14.15. Yesterday the snow was falling on arrival in Zurich and fell steadily until I arrived into Schruns. My train from Flughafen to Schruns was not without issues but all the same a brilliant system and one I love. This village is, without a doubt, my Spiritual home. <3 End of story. Today I woke to steady, but small flakes falling. The snow plough working the street reminded me of the sound of winter in the Montafon. Two passes on the road before 7.00am. Now we have snow laden trees, and snow on every path. Grey skies, snow pause, with what I consider to be an inversion layer so looking at the Parkplatz for the ski lift the skiing could possibly be above the clouds. The snow makes so much so silent. I can only smile quietly. Today is a day to sit, talk and do the things that we need to do to cover off the last two years. Aperitivo time. My body clock is lost and somewhere else but in all not impacting me in a massive way... she says at the moment. I am here at that is the best.

#perfect #stubbsandwootton #inthemood

#OnThe Move #Finally #HappyDanceUnderweightLuggage #NeverEverAgainWithUber

Totally in the OMG mode, happy that I am 5kg underweight at check in. So, the journey back to my preferred place starts today. Quietly smiling but peeved that I have left any, or indeed all, garments required for poolside moments in Singapore there and back, and my glasses for skiing. I have drawer and cupboard loads of both of the forgotten things... And I have luggage under the 40kg limit. Bugger. Moving on... Uber ride booked on a price from residential address in Auckland to the airport... the invoice into my account comes in at double the price quoted the night before.. Will I use Uber again ? Never ever. 10 hours into Singapore then poolside and retail that is Singapore immersion for 3 days. Happy smiley heart @HappyHappySmileyHeart

#FridgeDiningIsNeverAGoodLook #FianalCountdown #ListsListsLists #ChapoutierRoseLoveLovelove

It is never a good look when you are two evening meals away from locking the house for 4 months and you wreck an evening meal and you are hungry. So I am resorting to fridge cleanout... all going so well until the grilled bacon, it is going to be added to the fresh cos lettuce,yum, schnittlauch,yum, toasted seeds and a boiled egg,yum yum, adequate for me for my meal, but... bacon is so grilled that it is charcoal. Fume. Another glass of my fav @ChapoutierRose, but that was on short supply so have jumped from 2016 back to 2015 vintage, but put one in the freezer !!... still ohhh so drinkable and lucious. warm, sort of, but with ice .. devine. Monday tomorrow and full gas with lawyers to check off will and associated docs then finalise the cases to go Tuesday... Incoming Austria... Ohh yes !!

#DayOutWithPoppet #SpecialTreatWeekendBeforeILeave #OffToMyLittlePonyMovie

My final weekend with the Poppet before I leave for Europe. She is having bad separation anxiety so we thought a girls weekend may help her to understand my trip away a little better. We started with the obligatory fluffie, this time with little silberperlen as we had been baking together the day before and they were uppermost in her mind of sweet treats, then we made little pancakes with lemon and sugar for breakfast. Off into town for the start of our #GirlsDayOut The sun was shining..it was a beautiful bluebird day for us to do all the things I wanted to do with her before I leave Tuesday.

#ChristmasTreeBakingWithThePoppet #HowManySilberperlenCanALittlePersonEat

Friday " girl's day " together, doing little things her Mama hasn't got the time to do with her at the moment. Baking gingerbread stars to build Christmas trees for the Poppet to have for Christmas day... one for Granddad and Grandma to share, one for her Mama and of course one for her. She ate her weight in silberperlen large and small and spent most of the time licking the royal icing off her fingers. Lots of little things done together and then her favourite dinner before a story and bed. Saturday is a surprise day so fingers crossed for a good night's sleep for us both. Alister the elf has been told she is sleeping in my house tonight so he can deliver the little advent gift for the night of 8/9th as the Poppet was panicking that she would miss one advent pouch if she was not at home. Bless.

#ChristmasAngel #LittleVersusBig

When you are the most divine Angel on the Christmas float.... And you are just so tiny against the really really big tree...

#ChristchurchInAllItsGlory #WhiteHouseBlack #DineDux #FriendsAndFamily

#Lunch@WhiteHouseBlack #Dinner@DineDux The last couple of days has been about lovely friends and #CatchingUp my lovely Mother fell asleep during a game of 500, as you do when your daughter keeps thrashing the pants off you in cards and scrabble !! Blue skies and sunshine 28 - 30dg in ChCh while I have been here ... #GloriousWeather

#Stetson #CoolWinterHeadWear

Zoom on the trend: STETSON . Love this hat, perfect for my wardrobe this winter.

#Pedro #GuineaPigWithStyle #Love

Just love this little guy... #Pedro

#MyDayInAuckland #Result #TasteOfAucklandTotallyBrilliant

Our day started on the 8.30 ferry over to Auckland city. Hilton 9.30 for Moet, breakfast and more Moet. No recommendation for Fish restaurant in the Hilton for breakfast. Shuttle bus out to Western Springs where Taste of Auckland was being showcased. A day of eating, tasting, sipping and drinking. Cooking classes and cocktails, ideas and produce in abundance. $100+ bottles of gin that were truly delicious but as the conversation went between me and mine... we drink too much gin of an evening to put that in the cupboard. Devine and totally drinkable olive oils, duck rillettes that were so delish I bought 4 jars for the pantry, rounding off all of the poke, prod, discuss, taste and purchases with another couple of lovely cool crisp No 1 Estate glasses of bubbles in the tent. My shoes came of the loser for the wet weather hence the attractive mud line. Back on the shuttle bus to Auckland central and into Botswana Butchery for, opps, another glass and some starchy soakers with mayo. We missed the return ferry by one minute, so had to taxi back to Half Moon Bay. A totally brilliant day.