Forno

On Friday afternoon as I took the tram home from a workshop I facilitated at an event space a woman entered the already full carriage and scouted in Italian at the top of her lungs "God, it's like an OVEN in here! What's up with the imbecile driver that he's not turning on the AC?" Not the most polite approach, but, yes, she definitely had a point and it did feel like in a forno. In fact, the outside (and in this case: inside) temperatures were more reminiscent of India (where I have been) or Pakistan (where I know it was recently super hot) than Central Europe. Returning to the office feels way more attractive when you have the prospect of a room temperature that allows you to be productive.

Welcome Back

In my book, there are few things that cause me more joy than finding things I had written off as lost forever. Two Saturdays ago I was waiting at a traffic light in Vienna on my way back to the Country House when I noticed that the dainty rose gold bracelet with diamond-studded heart that I always wear on my right wrist was missing. It was a Christmas present from my parents that I received some years ago. I never take it off so I believed it must have torn apart and fallen on the ground somewhere without making any sound at all because it weighs so little. It had been rainy and chilly those past few days so my theory was that it must have come undone when I took off my denim jacket somewhere. Basically I wrote it off immediately and went to check whether the jewellery store still stocked it in its online store. It did and I put it into my virtual shopping basket. The only reason I didn't buy it immediately was because I also signed up on the website and subscribed to their newsletter in the hope that I'd receive a discount code sooner rather than later. The only communication I received, alas, were reminders to proceed to checkout. Then, last Tuesday morning as I was about to take my obligatory outfit-of-the-day selfie in front of my hallway mirror in the City Residence, I stepped on something with my bare feet. It turned out to be the "lost" bracelet, fully intact. I was relieved that I hadn't actually vacuumed the evening before as I had wanted to. Note to self: being a lazy procrastinator has it advantages. In any case I am beyond happy that I found my beloved accessory and can't but take it as a positive omen for...I don't know, something.

 

Mental

In the past two years I have read many stories in the news about mental health issues or eating disorders being caused or aggravated by the pandemic. While I could understand and empathise, it seemed a pretty abstract issue to be honest, much like other news headlines. In the meantime, I have found out that it is far from it and that friends, children's friends and actually also members of my own (extended) family have been affected and are, or have been, in therapy and/or are taking anti-depressants. It almost feels like another mini pandemic of sorts. The reason why I know about these things is that (thankfully) mental health issues seem to be much less of a taboo (probably thanks to social media, at least in part) and being in therapy is not something we associate exclusively with highly-strung Americans from Woody Allen films any more. Even ten years ago or so, this would have been more "hush hush" and people would have gone to great lengths to hide their issues from friends and family, thus making it equally difficult for others to speak up and tell them about their own problems, which might give a bit of reassurance.

 

Amnesia

I spent the greater part of last week in Vienna, staying at my flat, aka City Residence, partly because Mum had come "up" with me from Carinthia and she was hungry for some city life. She remarked that there was an "uninhabited vibe" there. I did not disagree and found out just how much I had become a visitor rather than the owner who has lived in this place since 1998 when I used my salad spinner...The one we have at the Country House has a bottom part that looks just like a big salad bowl and does not have holes so you can use it on the counter top. Well, mine in Vienna does not and I had completely forgotten that you are supposed to use it in the sink, resulting in spraying cold water all over the kitchen. Ooops. It's somewhat shocking how soon you develop new habits and get used to a new place.