DAY 1 in the Big Bad Ischl House….
Yesterday, we discovered that due to the C* word (Covid19, Corona Virus, whatever you like to call it), Austria had undertaken further very strict measures to curb the spread. We went from having bars and restaurants closing early to virtual home confinement. No social gatherings of any kind, no physical contact with anyone, just the people you live with 😔
We are allowed out for walks, either alone, with the people that you live with and with dogs – but to a max of 5 people. Essential shops will stay open, supermarkets, post offices and the likes, but everything else is shut. We are lucky, we have a big house and a big garden, but I feel for those in apartments.
Since all the guests we were expecting for the next 2 weeks had already cancelled, we had already taken the decision to close on Saturday night. Today we finally have it confirmed that hotels/guesthouses are also forced shut from tomorrow.
We’ve had many times that the house has been empty of guests but this time it feels weird, almost eerie. Maybe it’s the general atmosphere of unease surrounding all of this, the fact that normally you can pop out at the drop of a hat but now can’t that makes the difference, maybe it’s the obvious worry about your business, your livelihood, the roof over your head being under threat if this goes on for any length of time… maybe it’s all of the above and more.
A lot of people are in the same boat, in all manner of industries. It’s so frustrating to know that you have put your all into building something, to get it to the point where you are getting repeat guests and good reviews, presumably because you are doing it right, only to have external factors threaten to take the rug out from under you and you find yourself living with the very real possibility that you could lose it all. It’s unnerving. 🤔
But, ever the optimists, we are going to firmly ignore all of that and have decided that we are going to treat this (undefined) period of time as a rare opportunity to get ahead of ourselves for the season, to do some jobs and push ahead with improvements and treat it all as a positive rather than a negative. 👍
I also thought I might try to document this time, as it will be quite a unique period of our lives, that we’ve certainly never experienced before and certainly hope we won’t have to again.
Today was a beautiful, clear blue sky day. Warm, sunny and not a breath of wind. Quite a bonus for mid march! It’s not due to last, so we took the opportunity to get out in the sunshine and fresh air and start work on the garden! 😁
Cheery greetings were exchanged across fences with neighbours as everyone else seemed to have the same idea. It’s odd to hear and see so many people out in their gardens in the village. Weekends
(after midday Saturday) are quiet times, no machinery or noise etc, so it was a slightly strange combination of people being home but also to hear their endeavours too. In a strange way, it was quite a companionable atmosphere.
Jobs were accomplished in the warm sunshine and a post work beer was raised to our endeavours. A very positive day and feeling of achievement. Back are aching from the unaccustomed use and so it’s pizza and the fire lit for the evening. Happy days! 😁
Stay safe everyone xx
