The in-between days

The time in between Christmas and New Year is one of my favorite times of the year. It is a time of no expectations, no deadlines, no pressure. Of course that is not entirely true, there are naturally certain things that need to happen before the end of the year, certain bills to be paid, things that have to be turned in. Of course Peter and I have both been working this week, but working during these "in-between" days at least feels voluntary, a matter of choice, even if it is really a necessity.

Fortunately, Christopher has been feeling better since Christmas, and it is a pleasure to see both of the boys enjoying themselves, relieved from the pressure of school work to devote their attention entirely to their own interests, and I enjoy spending this time with them. I have enjoyed reading this week too, which has always been my favorite part of Christmas.


Thank you to everyone who responded – whether in comments, emails or phone calls – to my question about who is reading this blog! Writing mostly trivial descriptions of our everyday life, it is very reassuring to hear that there are people who actually care enough about us to read it – from the Mühlviertel to London to Albuquerque and all the way to Japan.
Happy New Year to all of you with love from all of us.