Hoinza

Hoanzln - Hoanzn, Hoinza, Heinzen, Huanzen, Heumandl, Heumanderl, Heumännchen, Hüfü, Hilge, Harpfa, Hiefler, Hoizaswinga


All words used for the wooden hay drying racks still to be seen occasionally in southern Germany, Austria, Slovenia and Croatia.

Here in the Allgäü area, they are called "Hoinza" and I think the act of loading them is called "Hoanzln". These four were made by Farmer Franz's father using debarked small dead trees from the forest. One form is a simple post with three holes to hold branches and hammered into the ground. The more complicated looking tripod is simply held together with bits of wire and folds up into a very transportable unit. Franz can still remember them being used in bad weather to get the grass off the ground.

Well lad, those were the days: when I was studying, a pint of mild beer and a packet of No6 cigarettes, each costing under 20p, 3 gallons of petrol for under a quid, £5/week to cover petrol and all car running costs, lunch and all free time activities, cinema, pub, disco, Chinese, Indian....... Used to draw cheques for cash for £1 or £2. I think basic clothing was paid for out of Mum's housekeeping during an embarrassing few hours in Bonds of Norwich - the Y fronts and cord flared trousers. I think special wishes like a cheesecloth shirt had to come out of the holiday job pay at the Norwich Post House Hotel kitchen which was £15 a week for 40+ hours of split shift work. But often not much of this left over when you bump into a colleagues car and cause £100 of damage and Dad says "Your problem son" - well that was the deal when he bought me my first car for £200 and paid the annual insurance. Somehow still managed to have a good time at the disco trying to look trendy tapping the feet to Ike & Tina Turner' Nutbush City Limits - well it was the only way to try and make up for the total lack of any coordination on the dance floor.

The "good" old days!!

Been a scorcher today, over 30°C the pool water reached the magic 30°C mark but I was too busy chasing yet another bee swarm. Eventually got in at 10:00 pm, Angie having given up and gone to bed so I cooked a curry and at 11:00 pm sat down with it and a bottle of beer.

The weather is due to break down tomorrow with thunderstorms to greet Obama, Cameron, Merkel & Co who are having their G7 meeting not far away. Will have to get the Hoinzas in by midday.

(PS. I would have liked to have recalled my very earliest childhood but at the moment my place of birth and home for the first 15 years, Trinidad, is in disrepute. The only good thing that could come out of it is that a certain Swiss autocrat could be exposed for what he is, even if sadly he will probably never get the punishment he is due.

PPS. The grass/hay was supplied by Farmer Franz who called this morning at 8:00 to say he had to mow a very narrow 50-meter long strip next to a neighbouring wheat field that was going to be sprayed with chemicals as it has some black fly infestation. Being a good Swabian (waste not) he called to ask if we wanted (order rather than offer) to have it, so Angie set off with the small trailer and together with Franz raked it up. In the photo is about three-quarters of the load. Franz had given us the Hoizas a few weeks ago as he knows I like these things. Most he has already used in the home fireplace. So a good opportunity to use the grass to show the Hoinzas.