an aussie in austria

I love summer. With good weather, long nights, the swimming pool open and the garden to nurture, there’s plenty to do. So, since Sam’s not yet in school, we generally plan holidays in shoulder season when it’s quieter, and cheaper. But all of a sudden, summer was about to end, and I hadn’t organised anything.

That’s how it came to be that I was due to head away every weekend in September.

And guess what? It was too much.

Back in the old days, without a child, it probably would have been breezy. But now… well I’m getting older… toddler is getting wilder, and a weekend away isn’t just all about me sitting on the beach sipping cocktails any more.

Weekend #1 was planned to meet my cousin, his wife and their 5 year old in Celje, Slovenia. A few days beforehand, hubby got sick, and luckily, I got prepared. Prepared to go alone, that is. Which was a good thing, because I did end up going with Sam on my own, and we all managed to evade the Covid, which it turned out was the sickness in question. It was a fabulous weekend, and I’m proud that I was able to rally and do it on my own, but it did end up a lot more stressful than it would have been. Luckily, the apartment we stayed in looked out over the train tracks (most people would frown at this) and Sam is obsessed with trains right now, so it kept him occupied.

Weekend #2 was actually five nights away to Italy with the whole family. With everyone healthy at least there was plenty of help: ratio 1:4 (one child, four adults). But it was a quick turnaround for me returning home from the weekend before, unpacking, working and repacking to go to Italy. Still, the weather was amazing, Sam had a great time and by the end of the five days we were all… well… exhausted.

So, we ended up cancelling weekend #3 which was going to be an Italian coastal trip for just hubby and I. It was a shame, but I was sick of packing and unpacking, the in-laws were tired from their two trips to Italy in two weeks, and then… I got sick too. Luckily it was a brief, mild cold, but I was glad to have a weekend at home, using the last of the Austrian summer to be outside, recover and do some work in the garden.

And it meant I was fit for weekend #4… which was a girl’s trip away for me and a friend, without toddler in tow. We went to Krk Island in Croatia and it was absolutely fabulous. The last of my blocked nose evaporated with the salty air and unexpectedly it was warm enough to sit on the beach and go swimming.

Was September great? Yep. Was it too much? Absolutely. So, I gave myself a few days breather and then I organised the next jaunt… Sammy and I go on a solo trip. Stay tuned.