Short version; Christian, Writer, English teacher, librarian, dog owner, no longer Brit in Austria! I think the blog title is still good, it just has another sense…
Long Version; We moved from the United Kingdom to Austria in 2007, after much prayer and planning.We became members of the local Protestant church which had its head firmly planted in the concrete. We had planned to work as Missionaries but it just didn’t seem to be right for us. God used the time in Austria to feed us through the media ministries of many television evangelists – the best of whom are Andrew Wommack and Joyce Meyer. I’ve learnt so much and I’m using this Blog to share what I’ve learnt and how I’ve applied it to my life.
We have two kids, our daughter is a Nurse and our son works as an Electrical engineer on railways. I have an Honours degree from the Open University in English and History. I went back to work once the kids were old enough to be left to wreck the house on their own and worked in Fine Art Insurance then in Riding therapy for six years. I’ve always been into horses (pony mad kid!) and to work with teenagers with learning difficulties was a dream job. During this time my mother died, the dog died, daughter went to University, son was rarely at home, and I was banging my head against a brick wall in my job as I’d stupidly moved into more office work. We tested the call to move to Austria and I gave the love and work with horses back to God when we left England only to have it given back. I worked teaching riding (which was a great way to have to improve my German) for two years. In my last summer, my boss (75!) suffered severe injuries in riding accident leaving me to run the yard. By the spring I was burnt out. So I left the horses behind and had many jobs, including working as a cleaner in the local castle, Finstergruen, for a local business, and other hotels and a disastrous job teaching English. All of which is detailed (often painfully) in the blog! I then helped Dave with the business with holiday homes, home tutored in English, and re-trained as a TEFL teacher. I also trained and ran the village library, which I loved, especially buying books, even if they were in German.
During this time I began writing, beginning with this blog and then a bookk review blog, which is noe Anna’s Horse Books. You can see the books on the banner. Castles in the Air is a romanced version of my time working with horses in Austria. All the books have a Christian message. There is also a supernatural thriller, Tom and my memoirs.
I had suffered from homesickness every time we returned from the UK, and fought it tooth and nail. It was because of this that after 8 years, we got Swingle who brought us much joy and penury! Then came Brexit… Just before Covid struck, we both finally said that we’d had enough of the travelling home, and wanted to stay put. Our house hunt and return to Wales is all here.
I love being home, its been an utter relief to be home, and moving into semi retirement, I’m looking forward to finding an art class as I’d love to paint but am frustrated by my lack of technique. I’m also going to volunteer with Riding for the Disabled, back to the ponies. Oh, and horse shows, tractor festivals, books festivals, car boot sales, National trust properties, visiting friends without having to fly…
March 7, 2018 at 10:44 am
Hi Anna,
I’m an editor for Expat Arrivals and I’m busy updating our page on Austria. Find it here if you’re curious:
http://www.expatarrivals.com/austria/moving-to-austria
We’re looking to add experiences from expats living in Austria. I’m impressed by your blog and feel that other expats would benefit from your insights.
Do you mind answering a few questions, which we would then publish on our Expats Arrivals page? We can’t offer any financial remuneration, we can offer a link exchange and add to your blog listings.
Best,
Kyle
https://polldaddy.com/js/rating/rating.js
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March 7, 2018 at 11:51 am
Hi Kyle, I’ve had a look and I’m impressed! I’m happy to answer questions. Of course, a lot of things are up in the air due to Brexit, and any info I give may change, I look forward to hearing from you!
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January 30, 2018 at 2:05 am
Nothing since May 31, 2016? I truly enjoyed your pictures and your testimony. My wife and I spent three years in Tanzania and identify with your calling and your struggle. I am wondering now whether you are still in Austria and still pursuing your calling there.
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May 24, 2016 at 4:11 pm
As a fellow English lit & History alumni and a Brit living (for the time being and possibly for the further future) in Austria, it’s nice to come across this blog! Looking forward to getting to know another expat’s story 😀
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May 31, 2016 at 2:56 pm
I’ve sent a long boring email to you on the address above rather than the public one here, but I’m not sure if it will actually arrive because I’ve had problems with windows 10, if you don’t hear soon from me, please let me know!!!!!
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January 27, 2016 at 12:35 pm
Hey Anna! I just wanted to let you know that I nominated you for the Blogger Recognition Award. 😀
https://kidfarmer.wordpress.com/2016/01/27/the-blogger-recognition-award/
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January 28, 2016 at 3:59 pm
THANKS! once I get my act together, I’ll post it! Wonderful!
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January 28, 2016 at 4:00 pm
You’re welcome! I’m excited to see your post! 😀
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September 7, 2015 at 8:32 pm
Hi. It’s nice to meet you! 🙂
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June 29, 2015 at 9:42 pm
Hey Ana,
My name is Joe Pinzone and I’m casting an international travel show about expats moving abroad. We’d love to film in Austria and wanted to know if you could help us find expats who have moved there within the last 15 months or have been there for 3-4 years, but recently moved into a new home. The show documents their move to a new country and will place the country in fabulous light. The contributors on the show would also receive monetary compensation if they are filmed. If you’d like more information, please give me a call at 212-231-7716 or skype me at joefromnyc. You can also email me at joepinzone@leopardusa.com. Looking forward to hearing from you.
Joe Pinzone
Casting Producer
P: 212-231-7716
Skype: Joefromnyc
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July 1, 2015 at 10:05 am
Hi Joe, I’ve sent your information on to a couple of people who may be interested. Shame I’ve been living here too long! If I can be of any help, please let me know! Best wishes
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June 1, 2015 at 11:21 am
Hey Anna!! 🙂 Just wanted to let you know that I nominated you for the Sisterhood Award. 🙂
https://kidfarmer.wordpress.com/2015/06/01/sisterhood-of-the-world-blogger-award/
Thanks for being my friend!! 🙂
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June 1, 2015 at 12:26 pm
Wow, thanks, I’m thrilled to bits!! I’ll work on it in the next couple of days. Haymaking has ground to a halt here as we’re in for a thundery spell. Swingle had a run around a hayfield the other morning (I’m sure no one saw….) and the grass was so high she disappeared, all I could see was some waving stalks, I just wonder how she found her way out!!! I guess I’m a farmer by proxy, I find all the work around here fascinating and I’d love to have a house cow again!
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June 3, 2015 at 11:03 am
HHEEELLPP! I’m having a senior moment, I can’t get the blog award logo on the post, what do I do???????
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June 3, 2015 at 11:10 am
You can’t get the award picture to show up on the blog post? I usually drag it from the original post (mine) to my desktop. From there I drag it straight to the post. WordPress should recognize it as a photo from there and insert it into your post. Does that help?
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June 5, 2015 at 10:23 am
It worked, thanks everso! Now got to find six feminine blogs where most of my favourites are written by men, hmm, wonder what that means!!!!!!
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June 5, 2015 at 2:04 pm
Haha! I know what you mean. 😉
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June 5, 2015 at 2:24 pm
hmmm. find one feminine and then go and nominate the blogs I’ve listed. ;P
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April 21, 2015 at 6:38 am
Thanks for following Sawyer’s adventures! ~Uschi
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April 21, 2015 at 10:06 am
Thanks, he looks quite a feisty chap! I blog about once a week about my dog Swingle, on my main blog as I was too lazy to create another one!
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April 20, 2015 at 2:12 pm
Anna, Thank you for stopping by and liking my post at Renaissance Musings. Wishing you success on your journey through life.
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April 21, 2015 at 10:10 am
I loved the photo, it reminded me of when we lived in the New Forest in the UK and the crows and magpies would pull hair form the horses much to their pleasure as they shed their winter coats!
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February 20, 2015 at 7:45 pm
Icelandics are a great breed, can be very reliable but also naughty! Tolting is like flying and on a good horse faster than galloping! There are pictures on the blog, I’ll send you the links when I can get to my pc! Have a great weekend!
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February 21, 2015 at 2:17 pm
You might find these interesting!
This is our local St George’s day ride in April
https://annarashbrook.wordpress.com/2014/11/28/riders-converge/
The two horses I used to use for therapy
https://annarashbrook.wordpress.com/2011/07/23/at-last
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February 20, 2015 at 5:39 pm
Thanks for the follow!!
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February 20, 2015 at 6:30 pm
Thanks, I loved your blog,especially as Strawberry roans are my favourite too! Until a couple of years ago I rode Icelandic horses here in Austria, but they rarely have this colour!
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February 20, 2015 at 6:51 pm
I’m glad someone else likes strawberry roams too. 🙂 what are Icelandics like? What is their tolt like?
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January 19, 2015 at 5:36 pm
Here’s a message from Türkiye to say “thank you” Anna (and Dave). I appreciate your recent ‘follow’, knowing how many interesting and entertaining blogs there are out there.
Blogging since June 2013, my little corner of the world tries to offer an eclectic smattering of posts, from basic amateur photography, to sharing my travel adventures over the decades, as well as day-to-day happenings here on our fruit farm in southern Turkey. I also throw in a few of my observations on life and lighter-hearted stuff for good measure.
You are more than welcome to have a look around, stay a while and have a trawl through my collection. There are plenty of categories within the drop-down menus to help in said digging process. Of course, if you have any comments, suggestions or concerns, feel free to let me know – I’m not easily offended 🙂
Hope you have a great day…
SPIKE
uncle.spikes.adventures1@gmail.com
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January 20, 2015 at 4:17 pm
Thanks Spike, I’m going to enjoy reading about your farm and adventures and having a rummage on the blog! Spike is our son’s nickname,it was after the bulldog in Tom and Jerry who had a little son, to whom he kept on saying,’that’s ma boy!’
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January 20, 2015 at 5:24 pm
Good choice 🙂
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December 21, 2014 at 1:46 am
Hi Anna and Dave, I enjoyed looking through your photos and reading the posts – all very nice. Looking forward to your further adventures!
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January 1, 2015 at 2:24 pm
Hi Dennis, a belated thanks! We’re just back from driving to the UK from Austria for Christmas and are exhausted! We came back to the snow having arrived but not in huge amounts. Lots of writing to come on that one. Happy New Year!
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January 2, 2015 at 2:55 am
Looking forward to your writing! Happy New Year to you too!
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November 16, 2014 at 10:59 am
Hi Anna, thank you for visiting my blog, your photography looks really awesome. 🙂
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November 14, 2014 at 6:37 pm
When are you over and where are you staying? Could do Wareham on a weekday
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November 14, 2014 at 7:23 pm
May arrive on 19th or 19th, so will let you know when I’ve booked the ferry!
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November 14, 2014 at 7:31 pm
Le me know
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November 12, 2014 at 4:36 pm
Just in case you’re in any doubt Anna and Dave, I do follow your blog from time to time and admire your tenacity and bravery in sticking with it all – lesser humans would have packed it in ages ago. But you have each other, your health, your joi de vivre and, of course, your faith. Stay well, stay happy and keep writing. From your old friend Clare XX
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November 14, 2014 at 6:23 pm
Thanks Clare, your comment is SO appreciated! Building our plans for Christmas, fancy meeting up for a walk in Wareham????
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November 6, 2014 at 4:42 pm
Great!! It may take a little while as I’m working teaching at the moment, but I’ll definitely do it by the end of the month!
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November 5, 2014 at 6:01 am
Dear Anna, I have just now nominated you for the Liebster blogging award, if you would like to participate in it. Thanks.
http://suyashchopra.wordpress.com/2014/11/05/the-liebster-award-november-2014/
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November 6, 2014 at 4:02 pm
Hi Suyash! Thanks so much for the nomination, it’s the first I’ve been nominated for! The nomination in itself is enough! However, I have over 100 followers so I don’t qualify! Many thanks again!
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November 6, 2014 at 4:25 pm
Dont worry for the no. of followers. This is no hard and fast rule. Important thing is to enjoy, without any rules. Moreover, it is 200 followers, and with rule too, you qualify.
Have a great time, Anna. Looking forward to see your responses now 🙂
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November 30, 2014 at 4:24 pm
Hi Suyash, thanks again for the nomination but I’ve totally failed – just pressure of work and life! Sorry, maybe be another time!
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August 20, 2012 at 5:12 pm
I dropped into your blog to say thanks for being my 100th follower!
I am envious of your view of the mountains.
Take care-
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August 23, 2012 at 12:16 pm
Wow thanks, I’ve made it into some data!!!!!!!
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July 13, 2012 at 4:16 pm
Hi,
my name is Simona and I am with the web research team at InterNations.org. We are the world’s leading social network for expatriates, with currently 500.000+ members in more than 322 cities worldwide.
I really enjoyed reading your fantastic blog and believe that expats in Vienna and around the world would not only – appreciate the entertaining content, but also benefit from the insights and perspectives you offer. Your blog really is a captivating read! This is why I would like to feature you and your writing in a designated section of InterNations.org , the Recommended Blog on Vienna. We have designed a link badge for placement on your blog and would be glad to hear from you directly via our questionnaire!
I hope my proposal has piqued your interest. If so, please feel free to contact me via email: featuredblogs@internations.org
Best,
Simona
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June 28, 2012 at 1:31 pm
It seems you have become in a certain way a missionary, but in an other way than you originally thought. I do hope you are willing to witness for the only one God as well by doing service to Jehovah and taking care of the weaker ones. And by not being connected to a religious group the Asylum seekers hopefully shall not misuse your kindness and efforts.
Best of luck.
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February 12, 2012 at 3:25 pm
Nice to hear from you, Anna, and good to know that you too are loving ife here in Austria. Busy skiing right now but once the snow has disappeared, we’ll make a bike trip into the Lungau.
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February 12, 2012 at 7:12 pm
Great, we’ll look forward to it, there’s some great cycle paths here!
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January 26, 2012 at 10:55 am
Top 100 Exchange and Experience Blogs 2012
Dear Anna,
My name is Virgínia Rodrigues and I work for the language portal bab.la.
I’m contacting you with regards to your blog.
Every year we organize the “Top 100 International Exchange and Experience Blogs” competition (also known as IX12). We are looking for the top 100 blogs about life abroad because we really enjoy bringing the exchange blogger community together. Last year we had 220 participants and close to 5.000 votes. You can see the last year results here:
http://en.bab.la/news/top-100-international-exchange-experience-blogs-2011
Your blog has been nominated and will enter the competition unless you tell us not to. The nomination period goes from January 16th to January 29th, 11:59 p.m. CET (German Time). Feel free to tell other bloggers about the competition or nominate another blog yourself. Voting starts on January 31st and goes till February 12th, 11:59 p.m. CET (German Time). Results will be published February 14th. The winners will be decided based on user votes.
If you don’t want to be included in the nomination list, please let us know by sending me an email and we won´t contact you again. You can also contact me by email (virginia@bab.la) if you have any further questions about the competition.
Kind regards,
Virgínia Rodrigues
On behalf of bab.la and the Lexiophiles language blog
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September 28, 2010 at 4:53 pm
I like your blogging Anna, and hope you are not sweeping the dust under the carpets at the Castle ( that’s what a Burg is isn’t it?). You can’t beat your neigbours alchoholism but God can, it’s a dangerous addiction. I understand your lack of confidence in offering to pray for folk especially if you don’t know them, but if I may, I offer this advice, believe God and take the risk, that’s how miracles happen.
Love in Jesus
Ken and Eileen
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October 6, 2010 at 8:24 am
Its great to hear from you, and thanks for your as ever good advice. I hope Eileen is now fully recovered. We hope to see you at Christmas when we’re over. I’m looking forward to a New Life service, ours here are a bit quiet! Much love
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April 1, 2010 at 1:57 pm
Hav’nt read it all yet as I am really busy on the computer, but I had a quick ‘skim’ & it looks very interesting.
I must get round to writing properly.
But in brief
Karen got GP placement & Amelie is now 19months old
Phil getting married in Sept & buying a house
Bean having yr off after A levels to decide what to do
Bob busy doing property maintenence
Me busy doing my cards & calendars & having a young lad from bad background living with us – full time work!!!
Will write soon xxxx Aline
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