24 - 30 December 2012

Dogs are not just for Christmas, that we know, but now we know that dogs and Christmas should not even be mentioned in the same breath. Isn't Christmas already top of the list of the most stress inducing things? What on earth possessed us to decorate a tree with baubles, shiny things and chocolate, and put a load of stuff, some edible, some inedible but still possible to be eaten, wrapped in crispy, crunchy paper,on the floor underneath the tree, and then introduce a puppy into the mix. Twelfth Night may be well be curtailed to Fourth Night this year.

17 - 23 December 2012

The run of winter visitors kicked off with a lovely week spent with Justine's cousin Simon, and Fiona, Chris and Lucy. The first of 8 weeks of back to back visitors. Let's hope we still feel as hospitable by the time our last winter guests come!

10 - 16 December 2012

The origin of Maria Alm's church as a place of pilgrimage begins with the legend of a forester mauled to death by a bear in 13th century. Mourners erected a cross and a picture of the Virgin Mary, miracles started to happen, the image became known for its healing powers and pilgrims started to worship at the site. As more and more pilgrims came, the image was moved into the church. Legend then becomes recorded fact through votive pictures depicting the miracles. The original gnadenbild (picture with healing powers) was lost but a copy remains in the church and also at the entrance to the Almerwirt hotel. Now, thousands of pilgrims come to Maria Alm every year, which means Simon is kept in worthy employment and lots of people have become rich. All thanks to one bad tempered bear.

3 - 9 December 2012

Justine, who would win the booby prize in the Waldhaus Sparverein (Christmas saving club) if there was such a thing, was the winner of the top tombola prize at the annual pay out party. A beer advent calender is just what is needed to prepare for a festive period that generally includes a lot of beer.

26 November - 2 December 2012

Herr Licht is a lighting artist of international repute. Next year he will be creating a light installation for Canterbury Cathedral. This year he has created a wonderful Advent installation in Maria Alm church, at enormous cost to the Tourist Office. Simon's choir rehearsed there for Saturday's Advent concert and found that the cramped conditions were greatly eased if one just shoved all those huge lights into the corner a bit. After the concert Simon did his best to recreate the art work and his reworking of it is now being enjoyed by thousands of pilgrims and tourists. (Please note: name of aforementioned artist of international repute has been changed to avoid him ever reading this blog and our subsequent embarrassment.)