Endlich Fruehlingszeit in the German Corner

[admylin]

'All welcome, Austria & Switzerland & any German-speaking Leute too'

Thank goodness it's over at long last! That was a long winter. Welcome Spring!

[admylin]

Ernest, isn't the MOT every 2 years here? Ours is due in October so I had better book it in for a service, might spread the shock abit!

Endlich summertime! I hate it when we have to change clocks as it takes a few days to get into the swing of things but atleast we'll have nice light evenings.

[aberita]

I'd completely forgotten about the clocks going forward; at least we don't have to be up for school on Monday so will have a bit longer to adjust.

The MOT is every year in Austria; I just took my car in and have been informed it will cost around 1000 euros to get it to pass! And I can expect to pay the same next year too. As 2000 euros is probably more than my car is worth, DH has decided it's a good opportunity for him to get a new car and for me to have his cast off old one. It does make sense, but I like my small car - nice and easy to park!

[canella]

oh i do like a new thread! and admylin you are so very right - it was a very long winter (thought it was just me cause it was my first german winter!) hope they're not all like that!

think the TuV thing is every 2 years - hope thats good news!

wow aberita - thats a lot of money!! can you not get a new car and dh gets to keep his one? i'd love a new car - mine isnt that old (5 years) but its starting to look a bit tired cause those kids have ragged the inside!! always wonder whether leather seats might be better with kids - my normal seats are ruined!! in the end think we'll have to pay someone to take it away!!

[admylin]

Do you all have special deals with insurance to run 2 cars? I think if we could afford 2 cars I could broaden my search for a flat or house.

[aberita]

admylin - No special insurance deals, unfortunately; in fact, I pay more insurance on my car than DH does on his despite the fact that mine is smaller as I don't have much in the way of a no claims bonus. I'm not sure we can afford a new (to us - it would be second hand) car at the moment either, but DH was muttering something about Zwischenfinanzierung earlier.

canella - that would be my preference too, but DH is keen to get a bigger car before our annual self-catering holiday in Italy so that we might actually be able to fit in everything we need this time. And it's a bit of a squeeze with all three DC in the back of his car as well. As far as I'm concerned, the smaller the car the better - if I could fit all the children in it, I'd have a Smart.

We're off to my in-laws tomorrow while DH is sunning himself in going on a business trip to Spain until Wednesday. I found out after it had all been arranged that he didn't actually need to go during the Easter holidays but he decided it would be easier for me as I could go to his parents' while he's away... I'm not sure I agree and have told him to book his trips during term time in future!

[nighbynight]

Grüße euch
bookmarking the new thread

[ErnestTheBavarian]

wow, must've been 6th sense or something - we have been here almost exactly 2 years. So can an ordinary garage do it like in UK, or do I have to go somewhere special as well? So much to learn.

Good luck with the clock change.

[nighbynight]

They usually have a sign up saying TuV don't they?

Does anyone know if I can change my own tyres? I would have done it without a second thought on the old bangers that we used to drive, but am terrified of my modern, computer controlled Boeing VW.

[admylin]

If you trust yourself to do it them I don't think there is anything agianst changing them yourself nighby.

How are they all doing at school at the moment? Looking forward to the break I bet.

Now someone has told me about Mietkauf as an option to find a place to live - troubleis I have no idea how it really works and the internet is full of info but alot is negative. Going to see a place tomorrow that was advertised this morning in the paper - only trouble seems to be the 4m by 4m swimming pool in the garden which they want an Abschlag for

[aberita]

nighbynight - I asked DH about changing your own tyres as he always changes his own (he also has a VW btw). He said it's no problem if the wheel rims are made of steel (Stahlfelgen) but if they're made of aluminium (Alufelgen), you need to make sure they're tightened correctly (something to do with the right torque, apparently). He changes his himself and then takes them to the garage to put the rims back on as they have a special tool there.

Now off for a rare evening out while the in-laws babysit!

[admylin]

How nice, I'd love a night out! Are you going for a meal somewhere? We're going to the Australian restaurant next week as a family but they are very friendly to dc so it's relaxing.

Just got back from the flat viewing. It was OK but one bedroom was tiny - a box room and they wanted 2000 euro for the pool and fish pond. Think we'll try the Makler route next. It also needed decorating as a couple of the rooms were bright orange. Garden would have been nice though.

[aberita]

What's happened to spring?! Cold, grey and wet here...

We had a lovely meal out at an Indian restaurant in Linz last night and have booked to go again on Thursday, as we've now decided to stay at my ILs until Friday. I can't remember the last time we had two evenings out in one week - probably pre-DC! The owner has asked me to look over the English translation of the menu, which I'm hoping will be worth at least a glass of wine.

Is it expensive to use a Makler? I have vague memories of them charging something ridiculous like three months' rent - or maybe that's just in Austria.

[ErnestTheBavarian]

snow forecast for Scotland. Heavy rain forecast for here all week. Hope snow doesn't try to pop in again.

[admylin]

You still up in the middle of the night with dd Ernest?

I was up because it was so bright today, I need darkness to sleep long so in summer time I'm always up early. Still not looking forward to school starting after Easter, my 2 are night owls and hate getting up early so it's a torture every day.

Tried to get my car in for service and tyre change yesterday but the first free slot was 9th April. Might see if I can get a quicker appointment somewhere else.

[nighbynight]

Thanks, aberita!
dumm question though - how do I know if they've got aluminium or steel rims? why should they have alu rims, I dont understand.

I am working too much overtime this week, won't get round to looking at them til the weekend.

[westvan]

Hello, hello!

Isn't the spring weather lovely? We've got flowers popping up all over the garden and the birds are going crazy looking for mates and building their nests.

We haven't actually done anything during the Easter holidays except for DH working around the house and doing general garden clean up. The kids have been sleeping in and Ds17 passed his theoretical driving exam and can now take lessons on the road. First one is on Wednesday!

In other news, I'm still feeling horrible and am scheduled for a colonoscopy on Thursday. Saw the doc on Monday and he felt it needed to be looked at right away. Very nervous about the outcome as it could be any number of things. This is the second Easter holidays in a row I've ruined with this stupid thing and I'm really sick of it.

[admylin]

Aberita yes, a makler would take 2,3 to 3 months rent but some places go straight to the Makler and don't even get to the newspaper/immoscout etc so I think maybe that's why we're just not seeing any on offer. Only alternative is to look at large 3 room places and atleast give the dc their own rooms.

Wonder to what extent I can try to bargain too - have been watching a place which is very big but above a bank but near school and they were asking 3 months Kaution and 3 month Makler fee on top of double rent, we would need a loan just to take it on. Now it's been advertised for over 4 months and they've decided to offer it Provisionsfrei. Trouble is it's still 50 to 70euro above our schmerzgrenze.

[aberita]

Moving is such an expensive business, isn't it admylin? Even more so with the first place we rented here, as our landlord went bankrupt not long after we'd moved in - so that was the last we saw of our 5000 euro deposit. It could be worth trying to bargain on the flat, anyway - I really don't like doing it, but they can only say no - especially if it's been on the market a while.

nighbynight - I'm not sure about the tyres; I didn't even know there were different types of rims tbh, but I'll ask DH when he's back from Spain on Thursday.

Sorry to hear you're not feeling well westvan; I hope it all gets sorted out as soon as possible.

[nighbynight]

admylin - the renting thing is awful. I do feel for you. I agree though, offer what you can afford on the flat that's been hanging around. I know that people do do that round here.

aberita, in germany, the landlord and tenant have a sort of joint bank account for the deposit. Neither can withdraw the money without the signature of the other. How terrible, to lose 5K like that.

Finally some small good news in the Deutsche Ecke: dd2 passed her U9 pre school test!
She mixes up g and d, and used to mix k and t (and makes lots of mistakes speaking german!) but fortunately it was just put down to being bilingual and she is going to the normal school. The doctor is new in our town, so was an unknown quantity.

[admylin]

That's good news Nighbynight, have you decided where she is going (is there a choice?) and how are the other 3 doing?

OK, I'll try to bargain then. It's worth a try. It's taking far too long to find a decent place.

Westvan, if you are around, tell me where we could go in or around Hannover over Easter! Dh has taken some days off but if I don't manage to find some activities and organise it, he'll just go in to the lab and potter about there! See if we had a garden he might potter at home at least.

[ErnestTheBavarian]

admylin. yes, since 3 am. going to bed now. groan. had planned a nice few days with dc but had to send her to krippe so I can get some kip.

good look with flat. nowt to loose by making an offer. sorry you not feeling good west van & NN, pleased about U)

[aberita]

Poor you Ernest - 3 am is ridiculously early. I used to think 5 am was bad enough. The DC never sleep particularly well at my ILs and last night was no exception. It all started when DD2 wet the bed, followed by DS deciding he wanted his nappy changed, then he lost his book down the side of the bed, then he wanted to get into bed with me and DD1... It felt like I was up every hour, but at least they didn't get up properly till 7 am. DH is back from Spain tomorrow but not till late, so he won't be joining us here until Thursday.

admylin - a garden is great for keeping DHs occupied at home, mine loves pottering around in ours despite it being not much bigger than a postage stamp.

nighbynight - that kind of bank account exists in Austria too, but we didn't find out about it until too late. We made sure we had one for the next flat we rented, though.

[abroadandmisunderstood]

Hi everyone.

Not been on here for months. This Winter was the longest hardest endurance test of all. I so very nearly lost it completely. I was so flipping miserable that I looked at your threads and had nothing to offer except tears.

We may be thinking about returning to the uk this year. DH is a ghost that disappears in the night to catch planes and I have one friend in our town.

On a brilliant note - my brother and his family are coming tomorrow for 10 days!!!!!

Hope all is well with everyone and will try to read up on your news now.

xxx

[westvan]

Admylin - Hameln (home of the Pied Piper!), Goslar (in the Harz Mountains) and Steinhuder Meer are nice and not too far away if you're looking for a day trip. Have you been to the Herrenhäuser Gärten or to Sea Life or the zoo? The Landesmuseum is also really interesting. Have you walked around the Maschsee yet? Pleasant if the weather is good.

Sorry you're feeling so down, abroadandmisunderstood. Maybe we can cheer you up?

[westvan]

Just remembered there's also Schloss Marienburg about 20 km south of Hannover.