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Smilin' While Scythin' - Season's Greeting for Xmas 2024 and New Year 2025

Writer's picture:  Kester Eddy Kester Eddy

Updated: Dec 29, 2024

I happened upon these two sturdy agricultural ladies in southern Moravia in 1993 or 95*. No real connection with Christmas (it was July or August, IIRC), but I like the front lady's smile and look of her eyes, complemented by the pose of her colleague behind.

Judging by the size of her forearm muscle, this is one lady who has not shirked from hard work most of her life, which would have largely been under the Communist regime in Czechoslovakia.


Alas, I didn't get either of their names, but I caught them near the country road twixt Znojmo and Hevlin, probably somewhere near the villages of Krhovice and Dyakovice, just north of the Austrian border. A photo never previously published, sadly. Maybe I'll send a link to the villages' websites, just in case someone recognises them.


It certainly wasn't everyday that a British-plated car drove by in this rather remote location, stopped and the driver jumped out to take photos, so they made the most of it. (I did ask their permission - well, sort of. I confess I didn't give them much choice!)


Quite why they were clearing this horrendous tangle of weeds for I have no idea. (However, this is a grape growing region, and perhaps the landowner was thinking of planting a vineyard - it might have helped the ladies to smile, though I doubt they would taste the best vintages!)


Whatever, thanks to all readers who've taken the trouble to log on during the past year and share on this blog. (By the way, KesterTester124 - that kid under the arch, is still open for sleuthing - and some readers have done excellent detective work. Yes, it can be done! I'll post the results after Dec 25th.)


Merry Christmas and Happy New Year - or as the two ladies would have it: Veselé Vánoce a šťastný nový rok.


Or as my friend Goran in Bosnia would say: Happy Winter Solstice.


And since I don't have many Czech readers, around these parts it's: Kellemes karácsonyt és boldog új évet!


  • I originally put 1990 as the date of this photo, but thinking about it, it must have been later, almost certainly 1993 or 1995 when I drove back from the UK via the Czech Republic.


  • Former Budapest long-time resident Nigel Swann wrote in to say he tried to post a comment but could not log-in properly (sorry, Nigel, this blog system still has hidden crannies that I don't understand either), but he sent me his text:


"Great post and anecdote, (and of course picture!), Kester. It brings back memories of when I used to spend time in a village in North eastern Hungary late 1993 to early 1996. How things have changed !


Wish you all the best and a great happy and healthy 2025.


All the best, Nigel"






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