I’ve been retired now for almost six and a half years. I worked 32 years for the City, mostly at our small airport, which I loved. I knew I needed something to do, in my retirement, to give me routine or I would simply get lost in days filled with no responsibilities, in a book or worse, in front of the computer screen. When I handed in my notice I drove down the street and applied for a job driving school bus. And got it!!
A lot of people wrinkle their noses when I say I drive school bus. “Oh, how can you stand the kids?!? I’d go crazy!!” I’ve worked for two different companies and have had essentially rural routes both times. The kids are no problem at all, polite when they interact, their heads buried in screens the rest of the time. I’ve had one parent from hell, (but that is now resolved) but the kids have been fine. Perhaps in the city it might be a different story but the runs are so short, would it really matter?
My work day now starts at six. I’m out of the yard at 7:15, coffee in my travel mug, off to my first pick up at 7:45. We’re at the school at 8:30 and I’m home again at 9:00. 130/140 kilometres, depending who’s on.
In the afternoon I head to the school at 2:30, do everything in reverse and am home at 5:00. I never thought I would like the split shift but it’s amazing how much can be done in those five and a half hours. I love the driving, particularly the dead-heading, when I’m empty. I see the most glorious sunrises and sunsets, brilliant moons, wildlife galore. Moose are always impressive but my favourite are the snowy owls. Huge birds, they swoop and glide effortlessly alongside the bus. In the fall, the flocks of geese are stunning both in their size and the racket they make, I can hear them over the sound of the bus engine.
And even the smallest of creatures are out–just before the Christmas break a weasel, in his white ermine winter coat, was out running and flipping on the road in front of the bus. I slowed to let him cross, his black tipped tail flicking with a life of its own.
And of course the pay doesn’t hurt. I could live on my pension but I’d never travel. So it’s a win-win. I’m doing something I love and getting paid for it.
The holidays have been nice but I’m looking forward to getting back into a routine again. Old Betsy looks like she keen to go too!!
It was -28C the past couple days. Nasty for walking.
I brushed the snow off it in the morning before I took a picture but this is the neighbor. 
I stopped at IKEA before I left Edmonton, and the Italian shop, then enjoyed my leisurely drive home.
I picked up my bus and went right back to work. It’s light later here than Vienna but that may have something to do with daylight savings time and not latitude as we are only a few degrees apart. It was getting dark around four local time in Vienna and here at home it was light until 5:30 pm. The sunrises coming home are spectacular as always. 
You can just see my Christmas candles there in the drive. One of the first things I did was to set out my candles. I always have good intentions of setting out the stakes that hold the candles in place before the ground freezes but this fall was just a disaster and I didn’t get to it. So I shoveled away the snow where I thought the holes were and low and behold I found them. But they filled in slightly over the summer. I got a few gallons of hot water and my big crow bar and went to work making them deeper. Of course I just wound up wearing the mud from the holes. 
But I set the posts and let them freeze in overnight. The next morning I set out the candles. 
I even found some lights in the barn to put on the deck. Now it looks like Christmas.
I set up the trail cam in the granary to see what’s been eating the dog food. Well, it was like Grand Central Station in there. Everyone was in and out of the granary. First, yet another stray cat. A black one who’s been fighting with everyone, including Fuzz-Butt. Look at his poor bloody ear. 
OK, so the black cat. 
Then my big dog had to stick her nose in. 
Then our own Momma Cat. 
Then some pretty cheeky magpies!!
And then there were the mice!! See him???
How about now?
And another one!!
And a couple more!!
Then as if that’s not bad enough, yesterday I went to get a clean towel from under my sink and saw fresh mouse poop everywhere!!! I just put laundry away and it was clean, then two days later, a horrible mess!!! Well I got the mouse traps out and baited them with some smelly chewy candy and voila–one down. I left the traps in case there are more. 
I’ll be emptying that cupboard and bleaching everything within an inch of its life. The little buggers were even eating my soap!! 
How the hell they got in I don’t know and why aren’t the damn cats eating them!! But I’m thankful they aren’t in my pantry. The hazards of living in the country.
After the big feast on Christmas Eve, all I want to do is lay on the couch, read books, eat cookies and drink tea. That’s my idea of a perfect holiday. 😊
There was some bad news. The chef had put his back out and there would be no supper. Worse luck, I had been convinced by British TV that there would be a homey pub within walking distance of ANYWHERE in Britain. Wrong again. No pub within several miles. Aaaaaargh. So I went for a walk down the lane to think about what to do. I thought if I walked far enough I’d find something. Ha.
Hunger really is the best sauce!! It was hot and tasty. I had a second one 😊 and a beer. In front of the Christmas tree. 
The next morning I couldn’t figure out how to turn on the shower. Just as I was about to charge down to reception and raise a stink I remembered the B&B in Yorkshire had a switch for the hot water on demand thingy. Ok. Working now.
Absolutely delicious!! It really put me in a good mood.
Well, enjoyed is relative. The bus drivers were all extremely friendly and helpful–and unbelievable drivers in that horrific traffic. But the city was sooo dirty. Is there a garbage strike?? Bags and bags piled everywhere, street garbage swept into piles in corners and just rubbish on the streets. And the people!!!! How can there be so many people??? I didn’t want to get off the bus. I didn’t want to walk on the streets. I was really stunned. In Austria, if there is a piece of paper or other garbage on the street (very seldom) someone will pick it up. I’ve seen extremely well dressed Austrian ladies run over to some random piece of trash and pick it up to dispose of it. It’s like it’s a personal insult to have rubbish laying around.
I crossed Waterloo bridge and saw the big Ferris wheel and Houses of Parliament. What I really wanted to see was Tower Bridge. I thought I had the right bus and we drove and drove and drove. No bridge. I finally got fed up and got off the catch the bus back. Once off I looked ahead and saw….Tower Bridge!!!! So I walked the few blocks to it and walked across the Thames. Fabulous. All the lights were on and it just looked great. The Tower was just visible on the south shore. 
So mission accomplished, I set out for home. That took an hour and a half. But the beer was good and I stopped for a pasty as the cook was still laid up. Breakfast held me all day!!
It was really quite fascinating. First off we got to make a bread roll, then while it was raising and baking we toured thru this highly mechanized assembly line factory. 
Then home. I swore I wouldn’t stress about packing but I did and repacked my case two times. I always stress and so far I’ve been lucky–I haven’t had to pay extra at the airport. Only a two hour flight tomorrow so I think I’ll be ok. Iceland air should be ok too. They aren’t quite so restrictive about carry on so I may be alright.
I love the green house and this bright yellow one. They just look so happy. Then over to my aunts’ apartment. My cousin repainted and moved the furniture around. It really opened up the rooms and it looks very nice–different–but nice. Then I wanted to try to reorganize my case yet again and I think I’ve got it. I’m now downtown doing a final wander, having a hot punch as it really poured rain for the last hour. I knew the sun couldn’t last. So goodby Vienna. Till the next time.
These are not just cloud formations, these are the mountains poking thru the mist. I’m actually quite disappointed in my pictures. They looked fine at the time but now I see they are very dark and even editing them lighter they are still dark. 
A herd of pigs!! I wonder if I can make these at home?? I have a vine I could use. 
The pretty church yard above and Krampas below. 
A vine carefully trimmed and trained to grow alongside the building. It will provide lots of shade in the summer.
My cousins. 
We headed afterwards towards Hallstatt but it gets dark so early–we only walked down to the town square and watched several Krampus’s chase and whip the tourists. They stopped for a breather every now and then and took off their masks–they were just young boys. 
But they wore big bells around their waists and scared the bejabbers out of everyone. It was fun!!
Bad Ischl was just a few kilometres away. We stopped to walk around. This was Princess Sisi’s favorite place. She used to annoy her ladies by climbing the mountains behind the palace everyday–none of them could keep up with her, she was a very physical princess. She’s been called the princess Di of her time, very fashionable and weight conscious. She used to eat very little, preferring to press the juice out of her meat and drink it rather than eating. She had a nineteen inch waist after three children and refused to have pictures taken of herself after she turned 32. She’s a very fascinating woman and quite beautiful. 
Bad Ischl was a very pretty spa town. Mark Twain stayed here too. 
These telephone booths served as a free street library. 
A pretty river runs through town, complete with swans. 
Salt was also very important here too.
I was so excited to be somewhere different and exotic. The rooms were huge and extremely reasonably priced. 
There was a Christmas market in the square and I just couldn’t wait to get out exploring. But first we stopped for a meal. I had the dill/egg soup but there were lots of mushrooms in it too–delish!! And then rabbit!!
Then off we went exploring. The Christmas trees were simply decorated but so pretty. 
The square had a big tree and many booths. 
The castle on the curve of the Moldau river was amazing!!
And the medieval streets had communism to thank for very few changes over the last hundred years. 
I have to end this post now. It’s getting too long. Suffice it to say I had a great time listening to carols in the market and poking thru all the tourist shops. Don’t worry–we stayed in town the next morning too 😊
Pop singer Falco is also buried here but in a different spot. 
There was a large plot adjacent that held the remains of WWII bombings. 
Beside them were ashes that had been returned from Auschwitz and Buchenwald. 
The graves of many “enemies” of the Nazi regime were also there–people who had been executed as enemies of the state for perhaps sheltering a Jewish friend, or some other form of “resistance”. They all looked so young. 
We were all pretty well frozen after this so we went to a nearby restaurant. Check out this awesome kacheloffen, masonry stove. Beautiful tiles on it!!
Friday was fish day and the portions were generous and tasty. With potato salad. Delish!!
I spent the afternoon working on packing and organizing before my cousin (by marriage) picked me up for an evening visit. I’m still quite concerned about the weight of my suitcase. Especially on the EasyJet leg as they are notoriously strict on weight. So I purchased three more kilos of weight for the princely sum of 12 BP. That brings my limit up to 26 which I think/hope will be enough.
We had a really great visit and moved to a second heurigen for yet another glass of wine. A slice of schmaltzbrot filled the last holes in our stomachs and we called it a night. 
This second one I found myself just standing and smiling at. The reflections were just so perfect. The other galleries were much less crowded so I spent some time in those. Many artists I’ve never heard of and some styles I didn’t care for but this one grabbed me. 
I just loved the light and was positive this was a group of vultures in the tree. Look closer. Ghosts!!! Franz Sedlazek.
Paul Signac. The Pink Cloud.
But then I had to escape–it was getting just crazy inside. My hat is off to the people who work anywhere there are tourists. The crush of people is unbelievable and these workers must be so patient.
But there was a big delivery truck parked adjacent and I swear he fired up his big diesel on purpose to drown out the charms of the clock as he just sat there idling.
I was very close to the Jewish museum but I think I was running out of time as I had a timed ticket for the special exhibit at the big art museum. So I headed over only stopping for a punch and a sausage in the Christmas market. 
You may not know Bruegel the artist but I guarantee if you see his art you will know him. I’ve loved his work since I first saw it and I couldn’t believe there was an exhibition of almost 75% of his known work here in Vienna. 
These last two are from a six painting series of the seasons. This last one, Bringing Home the Herd, is now my new favourite. Many of his paintings are extremely detailed, to be displayed at eye level with many provocative details meant to spark lively discussion. He is very critical of what he considers hypocritical behaviour in the church or general population. I picked up an audio guide which is the best way to see exhibitions like this as it highlights details and information I would normally miss. I spent the afternoon in this exhibition and loved every second of it. But my poor feet did not like all the standing so I was glad to get home (after a quick trip to the grocery to pick up grapes and pretzel buns). Supper was liptauer cheese and buns in front of the tv– so good!!! Watched Braveheart dubbed into German and then to bed.