Take a hat

It's a hard life in the Mountains The Haitzingalm 2 man chair - a leisurely ride Sunny back in the 30's Most of the guests arrive one Saturday and are gone on the next. For us it is Groundhog Day or, more appropriately, Marmoltier Tag? Each week we see again the lost souls at the bus station trying to find their ski buses, the couples poring over their piste maps and others walking awkwardly in their hired boots and new brightly coloured ski jackets. For us its a wonderful regular commute as we climb aboard the funicular railway with the familiar faces of the early morning skiers. The retired Chef who always stands in the same place in the Cable Car, the Professor from Vienna, the local Golden Girls and the ski instructors to name but a few. We do not have to check out the Mountain Huts to see which serves the best Strudel, we have tested them already. We know where we can get a nice morning coffee with a chocolate. We know which lifts open early and we head for

Normal service resumed in 2014 Lunchtime Parking Place for skiers in Bad Hofgastein After a wet and windy Christmas break we have made a welcome return to the Austrian sunshine in January 2014. The hard work of the piste bashers has maintained the superb snow conditions that started with the big dump in November. The Christmas and New Year crowds have departed and we now have near empty slopes. No queuing for lifts or lunch at the moment. The home run maybe just a 'white snake' in the otherwise brown and green fields but it is very much open for ski business. With new snow forecast, later in the week, we are currently making the most of the great visibility to ski and capture the stunning scenery. The Daily Telegraph reckons we are suffering due to mild air and low snowfall, not sure that suffering is the correct term. I think enjoying the mild air and superb piste conditions would be far more accurate. The summer Stubneralm relaxes in the winter sun On the run

Getting through the Winter Break Boxing Day was one of the few nice bright days over Christmas and New Year. Mostly the rain fell and the wind blew. A good day to walk along the front to the Sandbanks Hotel for a coffee. Bournemouth on Boxing Day Marlow had a nice tree and simple decorations on the High Street. Rosinante is now repaired so am ready for Touring in 2014, as long as the knee works anyway. Lusitania Statue in Marlow Marlow Bridge Christmas in Marlow