Day 107, 8, 9.. Fun times at Manova Lhota - Rohozná, Czech Republic
Rohozná, Czech Republic
We just had the most excellent time at Manova Lhota with our beautiful family. It was so nice to get out into the country, spend time with the kids out in the fields and in the forest, and enjoy delicious food from their enormous vege garden. On Wednesday I had a bit of a headache so we had a relaxed day, playing with the kids, helping em to prepare food, chatting, walking in the forest and playing more games. I went to bed early as my headache turned migrainy but the others stayed up and played uno, chatted and shared stories. The next 2 days Paul helped Martin to build the roof of his shed/barn/workshop. Paul was in his element - getting dirty, building stuff, using tools and so on. He was really happy. I hung out with em and the kids. We mostly played in their cubby houses in the forest, having tea and lunch parties. We also played what's the time mrs wolf which Klara loved. It was great to have a run around and enjoy the fresh air. On Thursday night it was Halloween and the kids made jack of lanterns out of pumpkins from their garden. They were pretty good at it. Erik and Oskar with the help of mums skillful cutting out skills, carved spider webs and a car out of their pumpkins. When all was finished, the kids out little candles in them and put them first in their bedroom and then outside. About 20 minutes later, one of the kids realised that their lantern had disappeared from the courtyard. The kids ran around squealing when suddenly they saw the pumpkin facing them, illuminated in the darkness from the fence outside their window. The boys clutched a leg each and Klara was squealing and laughing. Martin and em ran around with them squealing. It was so funny until finally em admitted that she was the little goblin who committed the act of moving the pumpkin. It was really a fun night. It's such a beautiful place, Manova Lhota, surrounded by forests and on top of a hill, it seems like paradise. But keeping it all up would be hard work, especially with all the vegetables and maintaining the fields - and in winter with short days, lots of snow and freezing conditions. Nevertheless each time I have come here, it really puts life and lifestyle in perspective for me. I think way too often we get caught up in all sorts of unnecessary things, when in fact if we take a step back, it's often the simple things and the basics that can make us happy. Spending time with the kids, playing in make believe cubby houses, making games out of what we have around us and enjoying it too, is what it's all about. Living within your means however simple and minimal that may be is the key. We don't need fancy cars or houses or 'things' to be happy, we just need life and maybe some food too ;-) now this little ramble is making me think of one of my favourite books - status anxiety by Alain de Botton. It's a good read, if anyone has a chance. It explores The US' desire to have everything that their neighbour has on the basis that it will make them happy - and where this train of thought may have originated and why it is completely flawed. Yes sometimes I am very impressionable, I admit... But truly felt happy at Ems place in Czech and I don't think it will be too long before we return. Might be all the great healthy food we were eating too. We are also more inspired then ever to do some woofing as the weather warms up. The time flew by so quickly and it was already Friday afternoon before we knew it and time to pack our things ready to leave early Saturday morning. We had a really nice evening. Klara put on a funny concert for us on the keyboard which consisted of turning the setting to the car horn and playing it as loud as she could, and then the cricket setting. It was so funny and she was laughing so much as she was doing it. She then played us a song that she had been practicing all day and then another Czech nursery rhyme sort of song, before, best of all, she played us a song with her feet! It was so cute, her laughing was so contagious. She is such a beautiful kid. So are the boys of course. Most of the time they are either both sitting in my lap or climbing all over us or whatever is around, or hanging upside down off something. P After the kids went to bed, Em, Martin, Paul and I sat up and discussed all sorts of things. It actually mostly consisted of Martin telling us hilarious stories of life in communist Czech and his and ems adventures in Africa and Australia with the authorities. He certainly tells a good story.. My stomach hurt from laughing so much. We packed our things, which included drawings from the kids - which will look excellent on our white walls and a very nice little gift from em - tea and a oven mitten. It was perfect because I do love tea and we don't have any oven mits. We also came home with 2 jars of homemade plum jam. We have already finished the first jar! Oh and some plums, apples and a delicious fruit slice that Em made. We went to bed shortly before 12 and slept right up until 5am, time to catch the bus back to Brno!