German furniture chains (near Luxembourg!)?

[Weta]

We've just moved to Luxembourg and are struggling to find all the furniture we need at the one cheap-ish furniture shop here (Conforama), Ikea over the Belgian border or the shops over the French border.

I do have an intermediate level of German but have no idea where to start in Germany and just wondered if anyone can recommend any chains that would have an internet site we can browse...

[scaryteacher]

IKEA have a good website - and I tend to look at the English one to find what I want and then put the name in the IKEA Belgium site. Works for me and they also have stock lists to show what is in and where.

[Weta]

Thanks - have already had a good look at the Belgian website but they don't have the kind of wardrobes we're looking for unfortunately...

[broguemum]

moebel martin

This shop is OK and do deliver to Lux. There was a huge US presence in the area and so many people working in the shops around there speak reasonable English so don't worry if your German is rusty.

In Lux itself you could try Abitare in Walferdange (or is it Differdange? Well, some kind of dange...). It's not cheapy cheapy but certainly cheaper than Angle Vert and it does have some nice stuff.

HTH and that you're settling into Lux well. Hope today's storms didn't get you.

[Weta]

Hello there BM...

In the end DH went off to Fly and Alinea in Metz for the most urgent stuff (wardrobes, as have never needed any before!), but will keep Moebel Martin in mind for the next round.

I had looked at the Abitare website but it's more expensive than we're looking for at the moment

Yes, settling in ok - am actually quite relieved to escape the boiling hot south of France, and the four-seasons-in-one-day type of weather reminds me of NZ, which is kind of nice.

Have had my moments (felt a bit culture-shocked with 2 grouchy kids in Naturata as I spent ages trying to understand the German labels on everything, and am a bit wobbly about starting work full-time on Wednesday) but mostly it's fine. The house is lovely, much better designed, more robust and bigger than we've ever had before, and Gasperich feels like the right mix for us in terms of having shops/restaurants etc but not too upmarket (!). Kids are rapt with the lovely playgrounds (sandpits and swings being unheard of in France for health and safety reasons) and especially the Parc de Merl.

[broguemum]

Glad to hear that things are going OK and that you got your wardrobes - living out of boxes is not fun.

If the kids are keen on parks and stuff have you been to the Pirate Ship in town yet? That's pretty good although it can get heaving when the weather is good. There are also some really good activity trails in the forests not too far from town - there is one near Walferdange that is aimed at children. I will see if I can find the address or the google earth link for it if you are interested.

All the best for Wednesday!

[Weta]

No, we saw the pirate ship from afar when we tried (unsuccessfully) to declare our arrival (turns out have to do it thru parliament) but whisked the kids past as didn't have time... will definitely get there soon though!

The link for the activity trail would be great, thanks - we did go to Bambesch Forest but DH thought the the walk was a bit disappointing as a bit monotonous. Only saw a small bit of it though.

Went to visit the creche DH has chosen (with some persuasion from me to take the slightly further away one with slightly lower ratios) but was a bit aghast at how small the premises are... nothing I can really do now though, so will just have to hope DS2 is ok there I guess. At least the people seemed nice and he will be 2 so more or less able to tell us if he hates it!

On the offchance, I don't suppose you know of any allergy specialists or speech therapists?!!

[broguemum]

Strange you should ask but I do know an allergy specialist. She's affiliated with the university at Nancy. Can't recall her name at the moment - will look it up tomorrow and post then.

Hope all goes well with the creche:-/

[broguemum]

here is the link to show you where the fitness trail is. It's nothing mega-special, just a nice little trail through the woods that has some stuff specially made for children in it.

Allergy doctor..... can't find the contact details here - will text my friend who has a little boy who is allergic to dairy, gluten and soya and get the info from her.

Speech therapist... Don't have any personal experience - sorry. We did get an assessment done automatically at the school (it's Luxembourgish school) and were invited for a further assessment by the Service Pedagogue??? Nah, wasn't that. Will see if I can find the leaflet somewhere.

[Weta]

Thanks, that looks great.

Allergy info would be good if you can get it - DS1 is very allergic to dairy so we'll need to see somebody.

[broguemum]

Hope the first day of work went well.

Here is the allergy doctor - Dr Francoise Morel, she is based at the Kannerklinik in Strassen. IIRC she was at the Uni in Nancy. A friend of mine goes to her (after a lot of trial and error!) with her little boy who has several allergies.

Your poor DS - allergies are horrible aren't they. If lactose is the problem then you might be interested to know that the Delhaize in Junglinster stocks a range of lactose-free yoghurts and cheeses? There is also an organic / bio shop in Junglinster - Natur Vita? - that stocks non-cow dairy stuff.

I will see if I can track down the speech therapy leaflet thing but since I had a bit of a clear out recently I have my doubts as to whether I can find it.

Enjoy the sun!

[Weta]

Work is fine, although totally overwhelming and exhausting at present with the information overload!!

That's great for the allergy reference, it's so much better to have a personal recommendation. It's actually cow's milk protein that's the problem, and because it's pretty serious we've previously been advised not to try goat or sheep products either.

Don't worry if you can't find the speech therapy thing, just thought it was worth a try.

The sun is lovely Of course it's always like this in Lux, I'm sure!!

[broguemum]

'Tis always sunny in Luxembourg.... Er hem NOT!

Your poor DS - that is not a nice allergy to have - I wish you all the best.

Vis-a-vis speak therapy, one of DD's friends is profoundly deaf and I know he's had quite a lot of speech therapy and whilst his therapy maybe not the exact discipline you're looking for I could ask his parents for a recommendation?

[Weta]

Hard to believe we're all having trouble sleeping in the heat - had to get the fans down from the attic to my great surprise! Apparently it's absolutely roasting in the south of France, so am very glad to be here

I'd be grateful for any recommendations for speech therapy, even if they don't work out in the end... I guess the language thing may be an issue though as it will need to be in French rather than Luxembourgish - although maybe here they can do more than one language!

Another little question for you - what's the situation with doctors for children? In France children normally see a paediatrician, who is essentially a GP for kids rather than a specialist as in the UK. Is that the same here, or should we take them to a GP?

There's always so much to do setting up a new life, just with all the services one needs! not to mention trying to get to know people etc...

Hope you had a good weekend and thanks again for the help.

[broguemum]

Great weekend thanks. Spent way too much time outside - it was great.

Sounds like it's the same system here as in France wrt paediatricians.

Lots of people go to the practice at the Kannerklinik. We used to but I found that I was regularly waiting over 2 hours past my appointment times and got pretty pissed off TBH.

We still go to the Kannerklinik for out of hours stuff (which touch wood we have not needed much of) but for regular stuff we now go to a pretty pragmatic paediatrician called Dr Bretz (he's in editus).

It's a bit wierd but loads of doctors here practice singlehanded - I was used to large practices so coming across lots of "independents" who don't necessarily co-operate was a bit strange.

I'll follow up on the speech therapy thing when I see the mum in question.

Hope you enjoyed the storms this morning or did they not get as far as Kirchberg?

[Weta]

No storms, just a bit of short-lived rain this afternoon...

Think I'll avoid the 2-hour waits as well!
It was all single practices in France too so no change there.

[broguemum]

Hello, I asked DD's teacher about speech therapy and here is the contact she gave me:

Fabienne THOMA, Cabinet d'Orthophonie, ZAC Langweis 2, L 6163 Junglinster. She should be in editus aswell. I will scan in the document I have been given that lists all the areas she practises in and will e-mail it to you. Same address?

It seems that she is fairly new in Lux (2006) having studies in Brussels.

I will follow up with my DD's friend's mother when I see her next to find out who they go to.

HTH

[broguemum]

Oops! Just looked her up and she has moved to Echternach so perhaps not so easy to get to from Gasperich.

Here are the new contact details:

Cabinet d'Orthophonie Fabienne Thoma

29 r. Maximilien
L-6463 Echternach (Iechternach)
Telefon: 26 72 06 66
Fax: 26 72 06 67

[Weta]

Thanks for all that - indeed Echternach won't really be possible!!
Thanks for all the tips though

My hotmail email is still operational but not the free.fr one...

[broguemum]

I haven't forgotten btw. It's just that DS has stuffed some playmobile into the scanner and I can't get it out again. Will scan it in the office tomorrow. Hopefully will also see DD's little friend's Mama tomorrow and so will ask about their therapist.

Roll on the school holidays!!!

[broguemum]

OK, DD's friend's Mum has worked with two speech therapists and can recommend them both. She thinks that they will be able to help with French but wasn't so sure about English.

The contact details are as follows:

Claudine Haagen 46 71 47 and Claudine Sauber 26530 121.

Claudine Sauber is based in Heisdorf and Claudine Haagen in Limpertsberg. One of them has recently been on / returned from maternity leave hence why DD's little friend went to see someone else for a while. Unfortunately I can't remember which one. One was quite strict (the one who went on maternity leave) and the other one was more "kinder freundlich" but her little boy got on with them both.

Hope this helps.

[germanybound]

I am an English speak speech therapist moving to the Illesheim area this summer....I was wondering if anyone knew of possible job locations. Thanks in advance for your help! BTW- I only know about 3 German words as unexpected move there...gotta love the Army!!!

[HerMajestiesSecretCervix]

Have you contacted the various English speaking schools? International school, European school st George etc? Also consider joining the British Ladies Club and the American Women's Club for contacts. There is also the Service Logopedie who might have an interest?

Good luck!