20 - 26 July 2009

Are we losing our hardiness and resilience? Is the Austrian climate (temperatures of - 20c, electrical storms, flash flooding and lethal hail) making us soft? Our first weekend back in England and we were beaten by the Devonshire weather. After spending the best part of Sunday in the pub (not too much of a hardship), mopping up the river of rainwater flowing through the tent, dressing the children in pyjamas and damp towels because there were no other dry items of clothing, and almost collapsing from exhaustion from being so positive, we abandoned 16 hours early (we had already enjoyed two wonderful days on the beach). 'A plus' for effort for all campers, and I expect we were all quite relieved to be in bricks and mortar when the severe weather warnings were announced. The weather didn't make the slightest difference to any of the children, nor did the fact that they hadn't seen their friends for a year, they just picked up where they left off and played very happily all weekend.

13 - 19 July 2009

The Schernthaners, in whose house we live, are a very musical family. One can find a trombone, trumpet, accordian, guitar, harmonica or alphorn in most corners of the house. These are the instruments that one recognises as instruments, but Stefan could probably make music out of just about anything. This Sunday, he made a guest appearance at the Wildbacheck restaurant with Simon, Caspar and Justine, and gave a beautiful rendition of Edelweiss on the saw.

6 - 12 July 2009

Was that 15 - make it 16, of the 'not exactly qualified but I'll have a go' variety. He is leading people around the high ropes course - swinging through the trees at 50m on wobbly ropes, flying foxes and 30m high free fall jumps. He is entirely responsible for their safety and hopes he might get some training sometime soon.

29 June - 5 July 2009

Simon's jobs so far: ski instructor, tutor, english teacher, physics teacher, german teacher, translator, website design and maintenance, lawn mower, painter, caretaker, ski school administration, piano teacher, GCSE exam paper marking, pianist, and the latest - swim teacher. I think he may have given the impression that he'll have a go at anything, (just call him Jack), so he was approached to teach 27 Kindergarten children to swim. And most of them can now, with the exception of our very own Elizabeth who appears to have learnt nothing at all over the past 10 lessons and two weeks. Backstroke and underwater swimming (not the same as drowning), are the hallmarks of a Peberdy swim pupil, and we are looking forward to seeing them in the outdoor pool if it would only stop raining.