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Monday, September 17, 2012

The wheels grind slowly

Another sunset

After a great deal of effort by Rozalin our landlord finally replaced the torn and missing skylight blinds in our upstairs studies. This took some considerable time as the wheels move slowly in Vienna – indeed a man came to inspect the first damaged blind about 9 months ago.


Since then another two disintegrated - and I had to tack an old sheet over one skylight to keep the summer sun at bay.

However – Rozalin is tenacious – and eventually they give up and do the job rather than being berated by her every second day. 

So they did the job. Unfortunately each skylight has in fact two blinds. The large skylight itself – pointed skywards - and a small window facing out over Beatrixgasse.

Of course they replaced the black skylight blinds with new white ones – so in each window we now have a non-matching set.

Black and White
Undaunted – Cate has put Rozalin on the job again and she has succeeded in convincing those responsible that all the blinds need to be the same colour. So – one day – not in the near future – a man will arrive with new blinds.

A few weeks go there was a building notice that informed us that the front and back door intercom systems were to be replaced – with work to commence on 26 August.

Work did indeed commence as advertised and the intercom systems were replaced. Now they don’t work because they have not yet been connected to anything – and there is no indication as to when this happy event may take place.

In the interim the front and back doors to our apartment block are left unlocked – because of course no one can buzz anyone to let them in – and our front door buzzers do not work anyway as they are all connected to the main system.

One wonders if they have let the contract to two separate contractors. One to install the new intercom and another to turn it on – and the latter are on summer holidays.

It is best not to fret about these things as eventually - albeit exceedingly slowly – all problems are solved.  





Thursday, September 13, 2012

A week of eating


My daughter Molly from Paris – and my Son Lenny and his partner Lenette from Sydney  – are visiting us at the moment and as Lenny and Lenette are both gastrophiles – as well as being sensational cooks – we have been savoring the delights of Vienna’s finest restaurants. 

On Saturday we visited  Silvio Nickol  a two-starred Michelin restaurant -and it was sensational taste experience - this review says it better than I can - and came away richer in spirit – and well pleased with the outcome.

On Sunday I cooked roast chicken – with honey and Australian spices and patates batasi – a Turkish recipe.

On Monday Lenny and Lenette cooked some dishes they had recently discovered at a short cookery course they did in Positano. I don’t remember the names but the flavors were sensational and memorable.

On Tuesday we went to Steirereck to which we have been before. This is also a two-starred Michelin restaurant. This was the best meal we have had at this restaurant and it was indeed – according to the ratings we gave it - better than Silvio Nickol.

The degustation menu at Silvio Nickol had some course which we rated 10 – but there was some inconsistency.

Our final extravaganza was at Plachutta where Lenny and Lenette savored the delights of Tafelspitz.

This is a classic Austrian dish which has been revived in recent years by Ewald Plachutta and is done everywhere – but nowhere we have found is as good as at Plachutta.

Everyone has now gone to their respective parts of the world and Cate and I will be focusing on eating as little as possible over the next week or so. 

Tuesday, September 11, 2012

Happy Birthday Jim

Cycling through Belgium

Our tour organizers had apparently decided to terminate the services of Captain Mart and Miss Elly after this trip. They had received so many complaints that  they felt they could no longer send clients to him.

However – his experience with us apparently pushed him over the edge. I think the final straw was Gwenyth’s crutches cluttering up his boat.

So as soon as we left the boat on the last day he sent an email to our trip people telling them he would not accept any more clients from them.

He is a very strange man and I shall say no more about him.

Next year we are thinking of France or Italy (again) and I am just about to start foraging for an appropriate trip. It will not be on electric bikes with death wobbles.

However – I may have to wait a few months until Gwenyth is feeling much better before I can persuade her that she needs to get back on a bike.

She is still in very poor shape with torn ligaments and has trouble walking and lifting her leg. I am not sure why she wants to lift her leg but I am sure there are good reasons.

Jim Murrant
I must send birthday greetings to my Sydney neighbour and mate Jim Murrant who is celebrates his 80th year on 12 September. He and his partner Annie are both keen sailors and Jim has in fact competed in 14 Sydney to Hobart yacht races – amongst many other sailing adventures.


Jim and I are kindred souls in a number of respects and – like me – he eschews religion.

We have shared a glass or two of red wine over the last few years but Jim has not been too well lately and has discovered that wine does not agree with him.

Fortunately he was able to move to whisky - which apparently has a most beneficial all round effect. I think this is an excellent move and I shall ensure next time I see him that I have with me a bottle of Jameson so that we can celebrate.

Happy birthday cobber.