In Austria you can have your cake, and eat too

Today's been a tough day. Nobody fell asleep last night, so we're exhausted again. At one point this morning all three of us were crying for Lindsay in unison.

Still, Timi dragged Peter over to what was supposed to be the boys' new school, and it was dreadful. The place smelled like diapers, and the teachers grunted their commands.

Timi cancelled work again for the third day and ran around the city looking for a suitable upgrade. Alas, we found one in the 19th district, a 20-minute commute by bus--and they don't take toddlers.

But it's in a beautiful old building with wonderful German-speaking teachers, and they would take Peter--the next day in fact. (This is when I asked to be pinched.) It's private, but, along with virtually everything else in Vienna, it's subsidized by the government, which means we're only out 80euro/month for as many as 30 hours/week of child care, midday meal included.

What can I say: Enjoy it kid, just don't get too used to the free lunches.