Back to The Basics!

After all the Fasching excitement, we are back down to earth today - installing a new glass washer behind the bar. Like all DIY jobs, nothing is simple. The new dishwasher is a) bigger, b) heavier and c) a different shape to the old one, so shelves have to be cut out, glasses and stock re-arranged and John's growing frustration with tools that don't do what he wants (and not having enough space to move) calmed! And all this before the next groups of guests from the UK, the Czech Republic, Austria and Romania arrive for dinner this evening!

We are not sure why a non-descript weekend in February has turned into our busiest few days since New Year but it has. As well as the surprising number of guests staying with us we are hosting the post election party for the 'Liste für Malta' (the local independent politicians group, whose mayoral candidate we support because he shares our ideas and expectations on tourism for the area). we are not sure yet whether it will be a celebration or a wake, but either way we supect the drink will flow! I think we will all be glad when this election is over, not least because we presume that the hundreds (literally) of political posters showing smiling faces with impossibly white teeth will finally be removed and stop blotting the landscape!

Pancake Recipe

In response to the many requests via www.soisses.at!

English Pancakes - makes about 12

110 grams flour
pinch of salt
2 large eggs
200ml milk mixed with 75 ml water
2 tablespoons melted butter

Sift flour & salt into a large bowl, Mix in eggs with whisk. Add milk & water mixture gradually. Whisk until smooth.

Add melted butter JUST BEFORE cooking. Melt more butter (or oil if preferred) in a frying pan and when it is REALLY hot add a small amount of the mixture, tipping the pan to get the pancake thinner and round. When one side is cooked toss (or turn with a spatula!) and cook the other side. Simple!

Possible fillings include:

Fresh Lemon or Orange Juice & sugar
Jam
Apple puree
Chocolate (with or without banana!)
Cheese
Cheese & ham
Anything you fancy really.

Enjoy!!

And on it goes....

So now it is Shrove Tuesday and in the UK thousands of families tuck into their pancakes with gusto. And in Gmünd, Austria.......

http://picasaweb.google.co.uk/johnlgowers/FaschingParadeInGmund2009#

Just too many pictures to upload and we can't choose which ones to share, so best to share the whole album! This normally quiet little town takes on a whole different persona at Fasching time and everyone joins in, from the tiniest tot to the oldest grandparent. Hours of planning and preparation go into the costumes and the floats and the party goes on till dawn.....

This event is also recorded on www.soisses.at/live if you want to find out more.

The next few weeks are a little quieter (they tell us!). We are changing our car, which has also been a learningcurve. Second hand cars are absolutely exorbitant here compared to the Uk so it has really been difficult to accept paying so much money. Still needs must... We will be back in the UK briefly for daughter Stephanie's 21st birthday, but keep up to date here with what goes on throughout the Spring at the Hochalmspitze and in the local area. Austria has lots to share!!

Our online debut

Above - Some satisfied tasters!
Opposite - the camera cannot lie!

Below - The 'Krapfen Queen' in action (and delightful Fasching wig!)

More Fasching events to report on today! The 'online special' proved to be great fun - don't forget to check out the recording on www.soisses.at/live. The UK pancakes came a creditable second but the honours went to the local delicacy, krapfen, made to perfection by Heidi who certainly earned her title of 'Krapfen Queen 2009'! We had up to 60 watchers from around the world and were able to 'chat' online as we wnt along which added to the interest. Isn't technology great! We are still working out what our next 'appearance' will consist of - watch this space!

Fasching comes to town

Greetings readers! For those of you who don't know (count us in that group until yesterday really!) Fasching is the period before Lent when it is traditional to use up all the things you can't have during the fast in as creative a way as possible. In the UK we get Shrove Tuesday - here its a 3 week party! Yesterday was party time in Malta! Started in the afternoon with the annual 'Umzug' (Parade) and was still going when we went to bed! We have got some pictures of the parade for you to see, but the evenings events sadly were not recorded - mainly because we were taken completely by surprise. Nobody told us it was tradition that groups of costumed locals take it upon themselves to go from Gasthof to Gasthof attempting to drink them dry! Our floor is still covered with discarded bits of straw and glitter from deteriorating costumes and the alcohol stock is looking somewhat depleted! Still thanks to our friend Andrea who realised we were blithely unaware of what was likely to hit us and jumped behind the bar to help, the evening went well and everybody went on to the next party happy.

Tomorrow another first - Rose Monday (??) and a competition between the Fasching delicacies of Austria (Krapfen - I kid you not!), Cologne (Mutzen), Hungary (something I can't prounounce or spell but will be delicious I am sure) and the UK (pancakes). All streamed live online at www.soisses.at/live - starting 6pm our time (5pm UK time) and available as a video later. And on Tuesday the really big party with the largest local parade in Gmünd. More piccies then!

BIG-KO Hauptsammlung

We were very pleased today to be able to host the annual general meeting of the local BIG-KO (farmers co-operative). This group supports local farmers by ensuring they can work together to achieve the best results and the fairest prices both for what they sell and what they buy. The group meet here monthly and have been excellent customers! Our photo shows the local committee with their counterparts from the regional group relaxing after the business of the day was finished! Thank you for choosing the Hochalmspitze guys!

The Landeshauptmann cometh - through the snow!

Today we hosted a breakfast 'meet the voters' session for their local branch of the BZÖ led by the local candidate for mayor and attended and supported by the Regional President, Gerhard Dörfler. Apparently our place was chosen for its political neutrality!! Those who know John and I well will understand the funny side of that.

Anyway from a business perspective it was very successful and certainly the group were pleased with the turnout - 65 instead of the expected 30 something. Lots of the local stalwarts were there and the pictures show how busy it was for us.

Let's hope the other parties want to use our venue too!