Hello Everyone,
My name is Lieselotte,
I live in a valley
right in the center of Austria,
surrounded by mountains and forests.
My husband Dieter and I were lucky to get to know Corey and Yann
a couple of years ago when they were on a motorbike tour through Austria.
We found them “très sympathique“;
but anyone who has had the chance to know them personally will know what I mean.
Corey was fascinated by what she called “coffee hopping in the alps“ –
the fact that you can hike from one mountain chalet restaurant to the next for a coffee
(with milk fresh from the cows around you),
homemade cake, or meals.
She also introduced me to the "Sound of Music"
The church on top of a hill near our village
must have reminded me of that film scenery (frankly, it does quite look like it).
We visited each other again a couple of times in the following years.
On one of these occasions- I think it was in summer 2013 –
Corey took me to a Brocante in a small village called
Entrecasteaux in Provence on a Sunday morning, and we spotted:
We later sat near them in a very deserted Creperie, pretending not to know who they are
they didn't recognize us, either.
Some summers later, in 2017, Dieter and I (and dog Luna)
were on the way to Spain by car.
We were near Corey's and Yann's we decided to ring their doorbell unannounced.
We were so lucky – Corey was home.
Her mouth wide open with surprise naturellement she asked,
“Did I miss something on my calendar?“
We spent a good time catching up.
I have only just retired from my job as an English teacher for Secondary School students.
I loved my job very much until a depression from severe exhaustion forced me to quit,
and I started my quarantine a year before Covid -19 turned up.
Recovery is very slow,
and I have to take things easy,
supported by my caring husband, our son George who is 24, and our beautiful dog Luna.
Our beautiful countryside is very inviting
for walks and bicycle rides, and there is enough space to keep a safe distance
from other walkers, joggers, and cyclists.
After resting in the mornings, trying to recharge my energy batteries
with the help of meditation, I spend as much time as I can outdoors.
I have a big garden to tame and test my energy level in.
In the long and dark evenings at this time of the year,
I knit or binge-watch English films.
Also, I enjoy drawing.
These unusual times have taught many of us
that we only need very little to live happily.
I think we carry the essential things
inside our own hearts –
one positive aspect of this crisis could be
a chance to learn
to look
and listen
inside to find them.
(Sidenote: One of my favorite photos of Lieselotte: her hair!)
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