Salzburg surf

When I was in Salzburg last week we went for a walk along the Almkanal and walked past the "wave" we surfed in the summer (evidence to be found here!). Seems like a million weeks away and all that snow makes me wonder how on earth we ever went into the water! Love the seasons in Austria, you do get the best of everything!

So long Almkanal, see you in July x

Switzerland

Can't tell you how excited I was to go to Winterthur last weekend.
Daniel & Priska were my house mates in Sydney for about four months, as they moved closer to church/college their house was known as the Swiss chalet. It became our home away from home, where we could come and hang out, watch TV, get yummy food and just chat forever. Sarah and I used to be really cheeky and just turn up after church for lunch (so much easier when you bring salad and they just put some meat on the bbq - makes me miss Sydney just thinking about it).
The days were packed - surprise surprise - and we ventured out to the mountains(hello sunshine), Winterthur and Konstanz(Hillsong Germany!!!) as well as have late night chats, crafts projects, play time with Vivian. Meeting heaps of college people and Mirjam.
Special mention goes to Simon for driving all the way to W. in between services, you're the bomb!
Am grateful for amazing friends - I know I say that often, but does anyone ever have that feeling that there are friends and than there are God connections? This is a God connection!

late nights and early mornings

I feel like I've been working non stop for the last few weeks and nothing else has happened. It's so not true but sometimes I feel a little trapped ha!
A lot has been going on and tonight's the first night in a long time that I have all to myself: sort out stuff and get my apartment tidy for connect group tomorrow!
JD's band Holzweg had a gig last Friday so we all rocked up there to celebrate the band's 2nd birthday. Nice to catch up with friends. Late nights should mean long sleep ins right, no! I can't seem to shake off my stupid 6am alarms... Even if my alarm's not set I wake up anyway. Hate it with a passion!
The rest of the weekend was spent mostly at the EheG. It's become my second home and I can only recommend the sofa - I almost sleep better there than in my bed :) I recommend the whole house haha, best of friends and always good food and chatting till the early hours!
A loooooooong trip to Ikea and an evening with the entire Pfau family (more yummy food, fun stories and a few glasses of wine) round up the last few days.
It's been bright and sunny for a couple days now and I can't tell you how much better I feel! Who knew that that would affect me so much. I lived in London for two winters for crying out loud!!!! What's the difference?! I don't get it.
Anyway I hope you got a few rays of sunshine on your skin wherever you are and the week has been wonderful so far!

things you do to fight the winter blues part 2

baking!
Never thought I would revert back to my sicko days in Scotland when I had zero energy and slept about 18 hours a day. As I never saw anyone (everyone was working and I was up twice a day for about 2 - 3 hours) so I started baking.
It's not just making the dough and baking, it heats up the house and smells divine as well :)

things you do to fight the winter blues

...go for a walk the minute the sun decides to turn up!

winter blues

For the last five years I haven't really had a proper winter. For the first three I lived in upside down world aka Southern hemisphere and had blissful sunshine and the ocean at this time of year.

The last two were split between mostly London, a couple weeks in Austria and a tiny bit of NYC & Connecticut glory.

Probably I changed over those years and now winter here is taken its toll on me (remember how excited I was about it back in November?!). Anyway if it was up to myself, spring could have started the first few days of January!!!! I'm so over it by now and am seriously considering relocating to another country - a much warmer one, mind you :)
Years ago when I spent a year in Scotland I truly got the whole concept of starting to drink when it's just dark for a couple months of the year... Never thought the sun was that vital in life! This is getting close and as pretty as the snow can be, I am ready to ditch those thick winter boots and can't wait to wear my flip flops again!
Bring on spring time!

ice skating and old friends

Can't remember if I got to go ice skating last winter, but made up for the last couple years today.

Met up with my wonderful and funny friend Richard, who is one of the chiefs behind the Vienna Ice Dream in front of the city hall. We were joined by Margit and Mike, and caught up on what's been happening over the last couple years. 

After hours at Cafe Einstein, Margit and I braved the cold and put on our skates. Don't know how we did it, but for the next 2.5 hours we skated across the ice. Forget boring square or oval ice rinks, they have fun little ice allies around the park. Miracles of miracles, during all this time neither of us fell down once. Very impressed and a little proud I have to say. The most beautiful thing has to be the backdrop of city hall and Burgtheater, an atmosphere you can't get anywhere else in the world. Stunning!

Have a look:

Thanks for the tickets Richard, Margit thanks for coming out to play. Loved it and would do it again in a heartbeat!

beloved snow my hopes were up

When we left our friends place Sunday night, it started to snow pretty heavy.

It was gorgeous so I decided to go for a walk. All the sliding around was amazing, but can somebody explain to me why you trip all the time but only ever fall on your butt when there is someone else around to watch you??? The mysteries of this world...

So after all the lovely snow, I woke up today and it was almost gone... Boo to you rain, you're like an uninvited guest! Come back in spring when it's nice and warm!

holiday mode

How was your Christmas week? Mine consisted of lots of family time, playing games, singing carols, watching silly movies, laughing until we cried, etc It was great.

The best part about being in Austria for a couple weeks is having enough time to catch up with lots of people I haven't seen for ages.
Yesterday I met up with my old friend Burn. We went for a walk and saw the remains of an old castle, before sitting down in a cafe to warm up and have a giant cup of tea. Love days like that, nobody is stressed out and people have time to sit and chat.
I reckon we don't do this enough. There are too many things that keep us on our toes, meetings to rush to, a career that makes life too fast, ...

In other news, My Glorious got to play in Bethlehem over Christmas and that made the news. Read everything here.

oh christmas tree, oh christmas tree

Joachim and I ventured out to get our tree today. As Ulrich was busy otherwise - or boring - the two of us went to my old school as they'd set up heaps of trees there.

Couldn't get myself to get into the school as I forgot so many names that it'd be horrible. "Nice to see you again, teacher who taught me for 4 years and whose name I forgot. Sorry, but lovely seeing you!" Maybe next time. I've always loved that school, 5 years of fun and fashion :)

Anyway here are our adventures in pictures

As you can see, all the snow has gone boohooo. So sad but very optimistic that there is lots more to come. Thanks for coming out to play Joachim.

dear snow

Thank you for being here when I arrived home, literally the icing on my cake

Thank you for putting a magic blanket on this place and covering up all grey bits we put around her over the years

Thank you for being all sparkly and pretty

Thank you for being very cold and making our cheeks red while playing outside

Thank you for making driving more fun

Thank you for reflecting the moonlight so beautifully during the night

I really hope you came to stay for the next couple weeks, I like you very much and would miss you if you leave!

lovely winter

Did I already mention that I'm excited about the snow :)

My brother and I went to an Advent concert last night to hear our friends sing. Paul and Gregor from my glorious were there as well, accompanying all their students. Was nice to see them and since they're off to Bethlehem it was a hello, merry christmas, good bye!
Nicest thing ever, my best friend's boyfriend came all the way from Linz just to hear her sing before he had to get up early the next morning and catch a train back and go to work. It was the cutest thing and it was so nice to hang out with them after.

Got to catch up with Ruth and Johanna today. A couple years ago the three of us went up to England and spent a week at Soul Survivor, which was amazing. Don't think we've met up just the three of us ever since so it was a special day :) Love those lovely girs!

snow snow snow

There is something about sitting in your cozy warm house and listening to the snow plough outside. Love it!
After a fun flight - we almost crashed into the plane ahead of us when landing, so we had to pull straight up and fly another loop!!!!!!!!! - I got to Austria and it was snowing. The poor Asian couple next to me got a fright when I saw the ground and started yelling "snoooooooooow". I'm a winter girl so naturally I do get very excited about it haha.
Can't wait to see all my friends and family over here. I'm glad to be home and so happy that for once I wont have to rush everything as there will be enough time.