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Forces sweethearts

If you have a family member in the Royal Navy, RAF or army, find support from other Mumsnetters here.

Original poster

Does anyone WANT to go to Germany?

34 replies

StrictlyKatty · 22/02/2010 12:31

DH and I were in Fally for 2 years but he was posted back here last year.

He is due a posting in May and I hope with every single fibre of my being we go back to Germany, can't get Fally but maybe Gutersloh or Bielefeld.

Does anyone else want Germany? Most people look at me like I'm mad! I adore Germany, the people, the food, the better quarters! The 16 months we've been back here have been the worst of my life, the house is disgusting, it's very isolated and I've found myself missing Germany every single day.

I find my friends is Germany are begging their DH's to move back but I'm begging mine to put Germany as his top choice

Any other German fans?

OP posts:
littlepea72 · 22/02/2010 12:53

Im living in Herford but we have also lived in Bielefeld, I cant wait to leave here. The quarters are so much smaller, and you can hear everything that goes on as the walls are soooo thin. But alot off my friends would never want to leave here, so your not on your own x

luciemule · 22/02/2010 13:48

Yes - me!!! We were in Fally when DD was 18months and we loved it (even though I had pnd the whole time we were there). Where did you live Strictly?
We lived at the other end of town so experienced living amongst German families too, which was great. The whole are was fab and we're (well mainly me) are longing to go back. You really feel like one big family over there and there's so much to do.
I'm hoping to get DH to ask to be posted there either this yr or next.....he verging on saying he'll try. There's only one job in Fally he could get I think or otherwise, there are a couple of others in Herford and Rheindahlen (sp?).
I loved the supermarkets, pharmacies, food, gift shops and lots of the towns such as Bremen and Celle. I speak A-level German so I didn't find it too hard to integrate but I know others who didn't venture far found it quite difficult to love it. What reg is your DH with?

Original poster
StrictlyKatty · 22/02/2010 16:29

Lucie! He was with 16 Tks. Just reading you were in Fally made me nearly cry I miss it so much. I was in a hiring right opposite the outdoor swimming pool for most of it and then we were in Barenkamp.

I miss the feeling that we are all in it together that you get in Germany. Here everyone is just concerned about themselves.

Some days I actually miss Rossmann and Ihr Platz and E-Centre! OMG and Vatters with the best cakes ever

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luciemule · 22/02/2010 18:45

Okay - well have you seen www.jako-o.de. Some dodgy German clothing but lovely toys and craft stuff for kids, as well as furniture.
We lived in Barenkamp (Adolf Strasse) just behind the flats. I loved it!
And Ihr Platz have a website but not sure if they deliver here. There's also a website called www.Germandeli.com but unfortunately they don't deliver to UK yet. I have spent a lot of time in Lidl since being back (2004), especially at xmas. DH is actually thinking that even if he doesn't get the nice jobs he'd like back there, that he might put in a for a run of the mill type job just so we can go back. Did you to the Wild Park? My DD loved it. I don't why we can't have cool animal park like that over here.

luciemule · 22/02/2010 18:53

here too

mumwhereareyou · 22/02/2010 18:53

Yes me we did 8 yrs in germany, living at Hameln, paderborn and Hohne. Loved every minute of it. We left in Aug 05 and DH left army in Dec09 after 22 yrs.

In fact we have just booked our summer holiday to Sudsee near Hohne, so that our children can see where we lived, we still have friends out there as well, so will meet up with them.

Loved the ice cream parlours, restaurants serving to die for food, the clothes, C&A, esprit, etc etc.

mumwhereareyou · 22/02/2010 18:55

Sorry should be DH left in Dec 05 not 09,must remember to preview.

DH was in the Engineers

luciemule · 22/02/2010 19:04

I loved Hohne too - I just loved driving from Fally along the tank road (eery yet so peaceful). We lvoed going to the 'bog Tesco' and visiting the shop. I forgot about C & A - I loved the clothes for kids and babies they did. Mexx too was cheaper than here.
Mumwhere we visited Hameln in the snow - beautiful. Think we had lunch at the Rat Catchers house. I just loved all the tiny painted rats on the streets!

Original poster
StrictlyKatty · 22/02/2010 19:04

lucie I love that Jake-O website, considering ordering DS a HABA marble run extension right now! Thanks

Lidl is great for Bratty's and all those good things! The animal park was awesome, giraffs actually ate carrots from my hands, it was awesome.

I loved Barenkamp, we were in a flat but my friend was in a house. People were so friendly there I loved it. My hiring was massive and beautiful, we were really really spoilt. I've told DH if we win the lottery I'm going back to buy it

mumwhere I miss the ice cream parlours too, the sundae's we used to have were amazing. Oh and the cake.....yummmm! I've told DH if we don't get Germany in May I'll have to go to Hannover for my summer hols. We spend a lot of time in Hohne and it was fab.

OP posts:
Original poster
StrictlyKatty · 22/02/2010 19:06

Ahhh the range roads! Do you remember 'Eis Parlour' in Fally Lucie? God that place was Heaven, we used to go in the winter til the day it closed for Xmas even though it was freeeezing!

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luciemule · 22/02/2010 19:07

StrictlyKatty we were actually going to book into Center Parcs at Bispinger Heide this coming summer - great accommodation with all the thrills of the swimming dome etc and still have the flexibilty to visit the surrounding area. Did you go for a day when you were there? We preferred it to the UK parcs. If we don't get a posting there, we will defo book a holiday there for next year.

luciemule · 22/02/2010 19:12

Yes - we loved going for toasties and coffee, followed by yummy ices for afters.
I loved Walsrode too - I found it had everything I needed especially cookware and that department store near the car park that had a bakery near the doors. Yummiest soft white rolls ever.
My friend lived opposite us in a flat (they were fairly big too). We loved our quarter (well hiring really- wasn't it owned by a german landlord?)We lived next to a teacher who been there donleys years and who used to mow her lawn in her bikini and doc martins.

Original poster
StrictlyKatty · 22/02/2010 19:21

OMG! I adore Walsrode! The best toy shop ever, another great ice cream parlour

We didn't go to the Parcs, they sound fab though. We went to Hannover a lot and DS was born there, I googled the hospital the other day and looks at some pics, I actually cried

Our flat in Barenkamp was army owned but our first quarter was a hiring, the German landlord used to love coming round and telling us all the little things we were doing wrong

I think I have PGD I cried myself to sleep for a while when we moved here. I do think the shock of a crappy house in a crappy place after Fally made it worse. My friends out there keep complaining about it and I think they're mad.

Where are you now?

OP posts:
luciemule · 22/02/2010 19:25

So where abouts in Wiltshire are you?
I'm going to go and look to see if I can add some Fally photos to my profile so keep an eye out!!

Original poster
StrictlyKatty · 22/02/2010 19:29

Shrivenhell

Yay for Fally pics!

OP posts:
luciemule · 22/02/2010 19:39

Oh dear - not liking Shriv? We went straight there following Fally for a year whilst DH was on ICSC (or something that has lots of letters I don't know what they stand for!).
Couldn't find any fally pics other than ones with DD on and DH won't let me put pics on internet with her face apparently.
What don't you like about Shriv?

Original poster
StrictlyKatty · 22/02/2010 19:48

Haha yeah we did Fally-Shriv too. Now DH is up in Warwickshire but we're still here and he comes home at the weekends.

I HATE our house, one of the old semi's, really manky and run down.

I feel very isolated after living in a little town having to go to Swindon for everything (and seriously...Swindon!)

People move after 6 months but we've been here 18 so it's hard to make friends.

I don't know, I just really hate it. I feel this utter repulsion for the place I can't get over

OP posts:
luciemule · 22/02/2010 20:01

I guess when you loved Germany so much too, it's even harder and you probably feel resentful at having to ive near Swindon. Have to say I was pregnant and then had my newborn DS as well as DD1 so kept busy with preschool/childbirth etc but it wasn't that exciting a place.We had lots of people there we already knew though, including our best friends so from that respect it was okay.
Have you found any nice places to go? Have you been to Bonkers near Wooton Basset? It's a fab garden centre/soft play centre that does really nice lunches in the conservatory cafe and they have a lovely big gift centre which does fab decs at xmas?

Original poster
StrictlyKatty · 22/02/2010 20:17

I've not been to Bonkers no, will have to google it.

I go to Blooms and Jolly Rogers and the Oasis which are ok.

It must have been nice to have lots of people you knew. We do have some but at the end of the day I can't help but count down til we leave!

OP posts:
luciemule · 22/02/2010 21:52

here

It's based in Studley Grange Craft Village and here

They really have loads to do and home made yummy cakes in Bonkers. Great craft stands and furniture too. There was a pottery shop where the kids can decorate plates/clocks/money boxes etc and they've also got Butterfly World there too.
I used to go at least once a week especially as the cafe/restaurant was so good with home made organic/healthy but tasty type food and good changing facilities if you've got tiny ones.
How old are your children? Would they like riding? The stables in the defence college are fab from when they sit up on a pony. They lead as a group or you can hire a pony and lead the child around the college.

Original poster
StrictlyKatty · 23/02/2010 09:38

I've heard really good things about Studley actually. Someone told me you can have those silver necklaces with your childs fingerprint on done that... might hint to GH for Mothers day!

OP posts:
vnmum · 24/02/2010 17:13

Hi, I lived in Osnabruck for 3 years and moved to catterick as the garrison was closing. I loved it in germany and DH is hoping to get the chance to get out there again soon. I just seemed busier with more friends and you felt more of a community. there was alot more going on for the babies and toddlers too, something every day virtually where as in the UK theres either not much on or you have to pay a fortune for it. The only issue i have with going back is if we end up in a flat again. i had a bad experience in the flats at lotte and ended up moving to a house after 18 months (then got bad neighbours, karaoke at all hours every weekend). I suppose having PND and a very sleepless baby didnt help.
I know that some places are only flats but now that the kids are a bit older flat living wouldnt pose the same problems as it did when they were tiny. I still think the benefits of germany far outweigh the problems of being in a flat though. Ive got friends who are still there and they are desperate to stay out there as long as possible

Original poster
StrictlyKatty · 25/02/2010 21:47

Yay vnmum Germany is fabby. I had a cry last night we DH and told him how unhappy I was being here and how I'd google earth'd my old house

OP posts:
madwomanintheattic · 02/03/2010 02:05

quite enjoyed germany - not been to fally though, although dh has. gutersloh and bruggen, although dh did sennelager too when we were engaged. lots of things to like

but then i liked shriv too lol. (and been there twice - )

actually, ive quite liked everywhere , even glasgow... but it's definitely different going back to the same place for the second time - we are in a 'second time around' posting now, and i've even gone back to my old job... very deja vu in some respects, but weirdly different in others. now the kids are school age you don't get the same 'instant' rapport that you get with mums and tots etc. it makes it all that bit more difficult to get to know people, still possible, but o'seas postings are funny old creatures anyway.

luciemule · 02/03/2010 10:32

So Strictly, when is it likely that you could go back to Germany - this year? And could you go back to Fally or would it be elsewhere?