Chapter 3 – Where To Start.

Cake and coffee in the square (main street) in Gmund is as good a place as any.  It’s a very pretty little town with lots of places to sit and have c&c.  There is shoe shopping (sorry you didn’t get to take advantage of that Linda…next year perhaps) but not as I know it.  Clearly not much call for the higher heel, or for anything too glitzy but there is a pair of sandals which have my name on them and which would work well with a bean bag and help to change the perceived image of social workers for ever. For all you blokes out there (specifically, those who are not into higher heels, etc) there is plenty of sensible footwear for the great outdoors.

Been a very busy week since I last put finger to keyboard for Chapter 2, though my skill with the y key has improved enormously thanks to copious email to those nearest and dearest I left in the UK (and elsewhere, before one of my readers gets picky).

More lovely email from: Ruth and Colin who are, of course, going to recommend Hspitze to all their friends, the Lone Ranger, and Mike and Ali – the LR got home to find his wife had broken a couple of bones (something to do with a bath, which is all the information I am allowed to share – you owe me for that Keith!), and M&L came up with some seriously useful marketing information re: Abraham Lincoln which will, of course, be acted upon in time for next season’s tourist influx.

The wall around the spring is in an advanced stage of construction (all lovingly hand-pointed of course to add to the Olde Worlde Charme of the venture).  And research is well under way for the history of Abe’s connection with this part of the world and the miraculous cures which can be effected if one partakes of the spring waters.  We may have to bite the bullet and change the current spout surround to fit in: it will be a wrench and some of the locals may not be happy about that but you can’t make an omelette without breaking a few eggs and hopefully the local planning authority will understand the need to change such a well-loved local landmark to fit the overall theme.  If there is too much of an outcry perhaps the current, but inappropriate, spout could be relocated.  Watch this space for more details of the ALCOHOLIC’s project.

The weekend’s festivities with the walking group went very well.  They were presented with a giant pretzel (sadly my German has not come along as well as the y key, so I have no idea why a pretzel) with 100 in the centre, the whole set off with a green ribbon.  The recipient seemed very happy with it though, which is the main thing.   The soup, chips and schnitzel provided by our goodselves went down well with the 80-odd walkers, as did quite a lot of beer.  This being Austria, the participants remained upright, there was no swearing or singing of songs which would bring a blush to the cheeks of anyone’s maiden aunt and when they all wended their way back up the mountain, there was no litter to clear up.

The British government having set up a handy web site asking for suggestions on how to improve our fair country, it seems to me that politicians could do worse than importing a lot of people like this to set an example to those who (mis)use our town and city centres.  If I can find time, I will log on and put that forward as a serious suggestion.   Failing that, anyone who likes the idea of living in such an old-fashioned place could always move over here!  Did I mention the spectacular scenery and excellent weather?!  And the coffee and cake?

Although, it has been a bit cloudy the last week and we had a quite heavy downpour but it was overnight so didn’t get in the way of the dolce vita which is the norm here.  Bit of wind too, but that has now dropped to a light breeye which is providing a pleasant backdrop to the sun.

This week is Yorkshire Week – more lovely people.  Linda and Neil (on a BMW 1200, even bigger than John’s) who left us this morning to go off to Germany for some reason before going home to see if their daughter has wrecked the house in their absence (let us know guys) – Black Forest area apparently, possibly to get the lowdown on woodworking techniques for Neil who is a serious joiner and who makes kitchens from scratch (not sure the UK is ready for all that dark carved wood Neil but, again, let us know).

Then there were Jackie and John (our second Victory – Keith, take note), who have also left us today to go to the Italian Lakes – we need more nurses and teachers like you two.  Keep up the good work chaps.  Apparently, the wind in Holmfirth is idle and goes through you but if the wind in the Orkneys dropped, everyone and everything would fall over: as it is everyone and everything leans to one side up there.

Which leaves us with Anne and Phil (another Beamer like John’s and a Landrover because Anne doesn’t bike anymore so they take turn and turn about, he goes off on the bike one day and Anne potters locally and then they both go off in the car the next day.   And Ann and John on yet another Beamer, who share in the bike/car compromise thing

And in between, we had Steve and Ann from New Zealand.  Steve worked with John in the garage John ran in Warwick before coming here – emigrated to NZ about 8 years ago and met Ann (a nurse) at a party there.  They arrived on Friday, for a quiet few days R&R before going back to NZ and ended up helping out with the walkers on Sunday. – not that Steve seemed to have a problem pulling pints, Ann got the short straw with the glass-washing!  And for those who don’t know how to tell if a Guinness is ready to drink you get a two pence piece (UK currency) and tap the side of the glass.  If it rings like a glass then it’s ready: if it clunks dully, it isn’t.

And last but not least we have Theo from Germany, who is a seriously fit walker and who tried to persuade me to cycle 30 miles to Millstatt with him.  Fortunately, it was one of Anne’s pottering days so sadly I had to turn down this offer and drive Anne there in the car instead, and we had a lovely few hours shopping, eating (blue) ice cream and taking a boat trip on the lake before joining Theo on the terrace of a very nice (creeps in everywhere, that word, do what I will to avoid it….) lakeside hotel for – yup, you guessed – coffee and cake.  Excellent way to spend a day and thank you for your company Anne.   Theo has set off this morning to climb Abe (should we allow this Mike and Ali?  Might it not lead to erosion and the loss of the Tourist Trap, sorry Attraction, with all the benefits that will bring to Malta?  Would not do Ros and John any harm either.  Perhaps a limited number of permits is the way forward – let us have your thoughts on that.)

And a quick update on the NI incident.  Mark had a check up on the Wednesday morning after his accident and came back with no crutches, no caste on his foot and all smiles (as you would!).  He kept the body brace for his back, but apart from that, was fit and well – lucky just isn’t in it.  Forget shamrocks, pocket Mark instead!

The char-a-banc party has returned from Bled so food will be required before long and my kitchen sink calls.  More anon, dear readers.