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Well...what a start! These have been the slowest two weeks, I feel like I've been here for months. Having abandoned a week of post-school parties and hopped on a plane to Vienna without a second thought, it nearly all came crashing down within the first three days! However I've persevered and have a feeling that the next leg will be much more positive...!
I arrived and was met by Marie-Louise, the mother and her oldest daughter Lara (11). M-L is almost fluent in English and Lara had a smattering but not much more. I found myself in the 19th District of Vienna, probably equal to Mayfair but up in the hills and absolutely beautiful. I was treated to supper with her mother and then headed to their house, and quickly met Rudolf Senior (father), Nina (9) and Rudolf Junior (3). As the sun rose I was awoken and told I was heading off to their other grandmother's house with Nina and Rudolf - who speak no English - as Lara was off to Scout's Camp and the parents were heading off to Croatia to prepare for our holiday there the following week.
The house was in the Lower Austrian countryside with no internet, no English and no chance of a relaxing settle in! The kids were fine, but obviously slightly bewildered at having this strange English teenager here to look after them (they have had constant au pairs but none thrown in like this with no introduction...) and I quickly learnt that Rudolf was a naughty piece of work! A quick visit to the National Austrian Circus and we were quite content.
Anyway, on return of the parents and Lara, and returning to Vienna I realised I had landed myself a pretty idyllic job and all complaints were to cease from now. We spent a few days preparing for Croatia (includin a trip to a traditional schnitzel house in Leopoldsdorf accompanied by M-L's 72 yr old father and his 21 yr old wife...) and yesterday, dolled up in a (borrowed) YSL dress we set off to a castle in the country to a Habsburg descendant's wedding (she was the granddaughter of the would-be Habsburg leader from what I could work out!). First real incident of the summer: I was sharing with Rudolf and Nina, and during our siesta he decided he was heading to his parents room (clotheless...). Next thing we know we hear lots of hooting and run to the window to witness Rudolf, stark naked, standing in the middle of the street. Lesson 1 --> never, EVER believe anything he says. I proceeded to dance the night away with Baron this and Prince that (luckily the little one had fallen asleep on a chair in the corner)....
Today we head to Croatia! A 5 hour drive and the most ridiculously rammed car, and off we go..
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