The High Tatras

The historian Jorg Brectefeld (via Wikipedia) defines ‘Mitteleuropa’ as ‘that part of Europa between East and West’. To that end, it’s a perfect description for Central Europe (German historical use of the term notwithstanding). 

Commencing next Monday 20 September, we will be on our way to calling ‘Mitteleuropa’ home for roughly the next five weeks.  Via a 2 night stay in Hong Kong en route.

I have so many mixed feelings. On the one hand pure elation - the trip being  a dream that my partner Rado and I have spoken of now for quite a few years. The chance to spend time in those architectually splendid former Eastern European capitals that I always associated with Winston Churchill – given his coining of the term “Iron Curtain”. Budapest, Bratislava and Prague – not to mention Krakow, Salzburg and Vienna and many others.

On the other hand, there is much anticipation. To meet the parents of the man you have loved for the past three and a half years. Who is some years your junior. When you don’t speak the language (my fault I know). When said parents are travelling with us around to the cities and countryside, including the magnificant Tatra Mountains. Well, you get the picture…

Who’s nervous. I think it will just be a case of relaxing, being myself and taking every advantage of every opportunity to see as much as you can when in a strange land. With a series of very expert guides to learn from along the way.

Vitajte Slovakia!

Bratislava

– SITE DOWN SUCCESSFULLY DEPLOYED

Dear blogger/maestro of Popsickle (cosmopolitan.culture.redux).

The main server of Bigqueen Dot Org (the people who kindly allow your Popsickle blog to exist in this realm) have recently moved to a new webhost.

This is a test post to let you know that all is well in the world again, kittens are skipping aimlessly through golden fields of poppies, and John Howard is back in power ….. err … hang on .

You may delete this post at your whimsy.

Regards,

QUEEN VERA, WEBMISTRESS & SOMETIME FOOT MODEL

BIGQUEEN.ORG BLOGGING NETWORK

Did anyone catch 60 Minutes on Sunday night? Segment 3 was an interview with the redoubtable Anna Wintour. For those not in the know, AW is the elfin fashionista extraordinnaire who has ruled the fashion world for the last two decades atop the throne of the “House of Vogue“.

She is also the supposed template for horribly pretentious Miranda Priestley character in “The Devil Wears Prada” (a view Meryl Streep incidentally denies – she claims she based Priestley more on the soft spoken “Dirty Harry” character – and on re-examination of the film, its a fairly accurate claim).

Wintour spoke and purred in diminutive tones, as if the very slightness of her demeanour is enough to cower each lowly Dior wannabe into total and utter submission. She put paid to those gorgeous rumours that one was not to even look at her direction in the elevator, much less open one’s mouth.

She explained the wide glasses, a sort of Holly Gollightly on acid look, were essentially a shield to prevent prying eyes from seeing an upturned eyelid of disapproval at the numerous fashion shows she attends each year. In some $200, 000 for ‘clothing allowance’ on top of her editor-in-chief salary paid by Vogue (and Vanity Fair) Conde Nast.

All told, it was a fascinating, surreal entertainment, seeing the ‘real world’ person bought to life – and explaining quite well and effectively I thought – that most of the things written about her are actually really true.

Lines blurred yet again.