Proitzer Mühle

I left Holzminden on Friday morning - carefully and slowly, as the wheels on my suitcase have decided to call it quits.  After a bit of judicious amputation, they are now working again - just.  One photo from Holzminden - the chimney sweep arrived at my B&B for the annual chimney clean.

Lots of good luck here!!

It took around 3.5 hours to get to Schnega, and I was met at the station by Heike and Sally, who run Proitzer Mühle.  There were also a few earlybirds arriving for the week-long singing/dancing workshop - all very friendly people, who mostly spoke both German and English.  Most people arrived yesterday (Saturday) with a few still arriving today - from Germany, the Netherlands, England, the USA.  About 120 in total, so a large group.

My room has 2 beds, but I'm the only one in it, and I have a bathroom to myself, which is nice.

The Mill has a main building with two dining rooms and a large kitchen, plus common rooms and a large dance hall.  Upstairs are guestrooms.  I'm in the Guesthouse, which is across the road - literally.  The main road from Proitze to Schnega runs through the middle of the Mill!  Look out for traffic!  (Not much, restricted to 30km/h and the road is only wide enough for one car!!)

Looking across the road from the Mill to the guesthouse

It's a lovely area with lots of mature trees - oaks and many others I don't recognise.  Lots of frustrating birds which hide in the trees, but a Crane flew over last night, and I saw a Kingfisher today near the ponds.  The Mill itself is a beautiful old building, mid 1600s, I think.

On the garden terrace in front of the mill this morning (Sunday).  Summer has arrived at last!!

So far I've written the German names of the birds in my bird book, and written the English names in Heike's German bird book.  I've helped with feeding the animals (3 cats, 3 horses, 2 wild boars and another pig) and a bit in the kitchen - chopping lettuce, peeling carrots, drying dishes.  I am understanding very little, so I feel really dumb, but everyone says I speak very clearly and am easy to understand.  I just wish I could understand them back!