18 - 24 May 2009

Apparently, Caspar has reached the age of reason, is without sin and in a state of grace! And you would have believed it too, when he took his Erstkommunion (First Communion) on Thursday. He looked and behaved like an angel in his white robe carrying his spring flowers. All the children, the girls with flowers in their hair, processed with the band to the church, sang songs, told stories and said prayers beautifully, and when we'd wiped away the tears we all sat at long tables in the sunshine and drank beer.

11 - 17 May 2009

It has been noted that in this staunchly catholic community, people regularly live together in cardinal sin and have children out of wedlock! And then they get married. Patterns of life here are repeated with little variation for generations. Daughters leave the family home when they marry, to share their husband's family home with him, his parents, unmarried siblings, occasional aunts, great grandparents, etc. If there is no son then there is no heir, and no one to look after you in your old age. Savvy farmers waited until the heir was produced before they committed themselves in marriage.

4 - 10 May 2009

In translating a health spa brochure, Simon has found it necessary to familiarise himself with the vocabulary of the beauty treatment world. Literal translations - 'the lovely smell of a warm package', 'kids grooming', 'hand job', 'tautening body envelopes' - have received a full makeover with optimum purification and detoxification; precious aromatic balsams and active enzymes have activated energies and facilitated manual lymphatic drainage of such dodgy expressions. As far as he is concerned, a uniquely harmonising and holistic translation for the lot is, 'a load of old bollocks'.

27 April - 3 May 2009

Summer attractions in Maria Alm include swimming, cycling, walking, tennis, climbing and the new high ropes course. The Summer clientele arrive in their bus loads...and in their 70's...and with their zimmer frames. They mostly eat apple strudel and look at the church.