I've just had very sad news sent to me, The Lodge at Hidden Lakes Golf Course, a place Mike and I have both worked at in the summers (not lately, of course), burned to the ground yesterday. This is a tragic loss, not only for the golf course, which loses a beautiful centrepiece, but also for the Sandpoint community. This lodge was a thing of beauty, made entirely of enormous logs from the local woods, and situated in a peerless setting.

It wasn't right in town, but the 15-20 minute drive from Sandpoint, on the way to Hope, down the lake was always worthwhile, because you knew that you would have this lovely place waiting for you. In the winter, when the course was closed because of snow, the lodge's wonderful restaurant would still be open and many holiday parties were held here, as well as weddings, reunions, and many other notable gatherings.

Something like this Lodge is not easily replaced, because it's hard to improve on something that worked so well for all the uses it was put to. Sandpoint, we feel for your loss, it is our's also.

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On a lighter note, Mike finished school for the holidays this afternoon. He is home now, having the last of the eggnog from our party on Sunday. The sun is out, though not for much longer, and we are talking about what to pack for our driving trip to Vienna tomorrow morning. We are going in a friend's car, so we have the luxury of not being restricted by space and weight.

It's a pity we can't bring our cats, Chloe and Elliot, along with us, but since our friends, Kim and Aaron, are bringing their four, plus Arthur the corgie, along, it wasn't possible. We hate leaving the cats as they are older now, fourteen, and each get a pill a day (one for kidneys, one for hyperthyroid). We have also, since living in Europe, spent every Christmas away from them, and that has spoiled our tradition of all sleeping on the floor in front of the Christmas tree on Christmas Eve. They sleep with us anyway, but think it's great when we are at their level and they can just tromp all over us at will!

So, Vienna! We are only driving part way tomorrow, to Nürnburg. This is a beautiful old city and having all been through it before, we wanted to stop again. We will have time to go to the Christmas Market there as well as Mike and Aaron's favourite comic book store in the world, so it will all be worthwhile. Additionally, there is the "oldest Bratwurst restaurant in the world" there, founded in 1419 and still going strong: Zum Gulden Stern, so the boys will undoubtably have to get their fill. I did it last year and probably still am processing the grease, so will give it a miss!

I will endeavour to make some sort of regular posts while we are gone, but the flat we're staying in does not have a connection, so I can't promise anything. A very happy, safe, and joyous holiday season to you all.