leise rieselt der Schnee - for all those lovely people in Germany and Austria or whoever wants to join us!

[Canella]

a new wintery thread in honour of Hupa's first snow of the season!

Hi all. Sorry it's been a while! I had flu and had to look after dd who also had flu at the same time! Then I got diagnosed with diabetes and high bp so have spent practically every day at one doctor or another. Between that and having to organise dh's 40th and baby stuff I haven't had much time to myself recently!
Bebe - sorry to read that you have had such a rough start here in munich!
Canella - thanks for missing me on here and wondering if I was ok!!!
Everyone else - hope you're having a good week so far xxx

Hope you're feeling better now, tallpoppies - it certainly sounds like you've had a lot on your plate recently.

canella My PIL call me Mami to the DC too, but I'm not sure they'd even be able to pronounce Mummy properly - it is annoying though, isn't it? Especially if they've seen it written down and still write it the German way. I must admit I do have a go at DH if he calls me Mami to the DC, but he remembers to say Mummy most of the time!

I also charged ?10 when I gave a friend of DD1's Nachhilfe in the summer, but that was partly because the DC were around interrupting us during some of the lessons and so I didn't feel I could charge as much as if I was a "professional" English teacher. One of my friends who does teach English professionally charges ?15 an hour for private lessons.

Ernest I'm probably far too late now, but one of the few meals that the DC (and visiting children) are guaranteed to eat is pasta with tomato sauce. Not very imaginative I know, but I've got fed up of spending ages cooking meals they won't eat!

bananas Most of the other parents at school and kindergarten here say du to each other. I would err on the side of caution if I hadn't spoken to someone much before and wait to see if they used du, but if someone has introduced herself to you using her first name, then I think you're pretty safe in using du.

I don't seem to have had a minute to myself since the Semesterferien started. I was planning on spending a couple of mornings at home while DH took the DC skiing, but have ended up going every day apart from Tuesday (when I went to the doctor's about my headache; she wasn't much help, but it does seem to be getting better slowly). The skiing course is going well; it's not very intense compared to the course that DD1 did a couple of years ago, as it's just two hours a day, but DD2 and DS are definitely both far more confident on skis now. There's not much snow around as it's been so warm (13° on the first day!) so the children's ski piste has been covered with artificial snow, but I could hardly tell the difference.

tallpoppies - hope you´re feeling better. What have you planned for your dh´s 40th?

Canella - you´ve got a really good memory. Ds was 6 last October. He´s having loads of help. He´s had 2 years of speech therapy and he´s in a language group a Kiga where a teacher from the Grundschule comes 3 times a week to work with a small group. It´s actually for children who parents are both Ausländer, but I asked nicely and they let ds join the group. They´ve also started a group for "German" children which is 5 times a week and they´ve let ds join that, so he´s getting loads of help - it just doesn´t seem to make much difference. Luckily he´s our second child and dd has never had any problems otherwise I think we would be blaming ourselves. Having said that he really is bright so I don´t think he´ll have too many problems in school (wishful thinking emoticon).

Linzer - hope your headache has finally gone and you find some time to relax.

Well, after having a week of gorgeous weather it´s now pouring with rain. It´s a real shame as we´re going on a Winterwanderung with dd´s class this afternoon. The same happened in the summer - a week of sun and then torrential rain for the Grillfest. We´re then off to Bonn to visit friends for the weekend.

hupa - i'm not normally good for remembering kids ages but think something stuck in my head about your ds since he's exactly the same age as my ds1! sounds like he's getting lots of help - i'm sure it'll all pay off! my ds1 has never been the most amazing speaker and he's also not the brightest or the keenest learner so i'm still not sure how school will go! thankfully its still 7 months away - a long time when you're 6!!!
Hope you had a good day out and arent too wet!! absolutely chucking it down here too - i've got a foggy head with being in doors all afternoon! grr!!

Linzer - cant believe those temps in February! amazing! but glad they had some artificial snow - would have been rubbish if they'd had to miss out! hope your headache's better!

Anyone know if i can buy a mixed spice to make hot cross buns in the shops? i really miss hot cross buns and obviously there are some recipies online and good old delia suggests using "mixed spice" - can i buy that here?

Hope you all have a good weekend! (even if it rains!!)

It was the last day of the skiing course today - DS got very clingy when we went out to watch the "race" at the end and decided he didn't want to take part, but he still got his medal. DD2 has made great progress and now wants to go on a skiing holiday - I don't think there's much point in us going on one unless I learn to ski though... I was considering it a few years ago when a couple of friends of mine learned, but have now decided I'm too old!

hupa Hope the rain cleared up in time for your Winterwanderung and that you have a good weekend in Bonn.

Canella I've never seen mixed spice here in Austria, but I have an almost full jar and I'd be happy to send you some - it would be very light to post - just let me know!

Hope your weekends have gone well.

So what exactly is deal with cycling on the roads? Dh is an avid cycler and uses road rides to train for mtn biking...but he's been shouted at for being on the road...a quiet country road that goes from Haar to Erding and back.
Also we need to know where he can wash his bike as he got yelled at for doing it in an out of the way area nearish the apartment and also on the balcony though we had made sure that the small amount of water he was using did not fall on or near the building, but into a muddy area beside it (he uses bio safe cleaners because any residue left on the bike could easily get washed off in all sorts of areas and he feels it irresponsible to use anything that's not eco-friendly). He/we are currently feeling rather uncertain abt what's right or wrong and he's feeling depressed about not being able to have good rides and being able to clean and maintain his bike.

Has he tried this map to see if there is a bike path? There usually are plenty of bike paths but sometimes not parallel with the road.

People really like telling you off for doing things wrong here don't they! They like you to follow the rules and if you don't know them, they won't hesitate to tell you off/put you right!

Have you met any of the neighbours yet bebe?

This might be worth a look too.

Problem with the cycle paths (which he went on when he commuted the other day was that he travels at a good old pace (abt 30km/hr or so)
and he said you don't always have the opportunity to see what's ahead because of curves, or bushes, and a few times he nearly ran people over walking dogs and other times he suddenly had to stop because of roads crossing the path which he was technically supposed to give way on...
But we'll have a look and see what more can be done. Thanks.

i agree with admylin - German people are more forceful in telling you off!! i've been told off for not using the divider at the supermarket & i also got told off in the supermarket for not giving her my pfand coupon right at the start (despite the fact i was still unloading my shopping on to the belt at the time!!)!! (nothing to do with cycling but just my examples of crazy german rules!!)

But i'm no help about the rules about cycling - i'd have thought he was right being on the road?

And about washing it - i think its illegal to wash your car at your house but i'd never known that about bikes!!! seems ridiculous!

Linzer - thanks for the offer of the mixed spice - will message you!!

No neighbors yet really. (besides the ones that yelled at us)
Really need to work on my German...I honestly cannot understand anything people say; and I often find myself responding in French

I used to have the opposite problem in Germany - I would find myself coming out with German words when I tried to speak French (I did a French course at university in Berlin).

I'm not much use on cycling in Germany I'm afraid (though I did have my bike stolen there), but have many happy memories of being shouted at. Was shouted at for crossing over to another platform before the barrier had opened (I'd seen people doing it before and hadn't realised it was wrong, but the man at the station accused me of trying to look "cool") and DH was shouted at in Munich for daring to open a window in a cafe.

I haven't been shouted at in Austria yet, but was brought a dustpan and brush in a cafe once (to clear up the crumbs left by DS and a friend) - the waitress also told me she'd spent 15 minutes clearing up after us the previous week. Interestaingly enough, I was with a German friend who told me that kind of thing never happened in Germany.

Hi hula, wow, you have got a good memory. Ds3 is doing fine, thanks. He grew quite a bit with the growth hormone therapy, and now he is probably one of the smallest in the class, but he could pass for a 6 or 7 year old, so we're happy with that. Before the treatment he looked significantly smaller and younger than his peers. The course was only for 2 years, so now he has nothing. They will continue to monitor his growth. Now it's a waiting game to see how his body responds without the GH. No one can predict if he will maintain his gain ( he moved from -6%ile to +2%ile), r if he will drop % ile again. It'll take a few months for his body to readjust to not having artificial hormones, so just waiting now. Wow, sorry or long explanation.

Bebe, I think it's technically illegal to not use the cycle path where there is one. I didn't know it was illegal to wash your car at home. Really? I have noticed Flats etc with areas specially for washing cars. Does your dh wash his bike often?

Ad, how is dd now?

Dh got locked out today and had to call out a lccksmith. Ouch, 90?, though he reckoned it'd cost about 400? so in his little weird world I guess e got himself a bargain. He had been talking about smashing one of our ( triple glazed) windows. I made it clear he would be sleeping in the bin before he did that. [ hmm] mentalist.

dh and I have been thwarted by our dd all weekend! She's started in a big girl bed since we've been here and, of course, can get out on her own, and so does. I told dh I thought she should go in the travel cot last night so we'd have 'a moment' in the morning if she woke. But in the end she was in the big girl bed again last night; dh said she'll sleep late for sure because she's not been sleeping well all weekend... I just looked at him (yeah right). And as I thought (unfortunately) she walked in just as dh and I had started getting somewhere I wish I could take a nap without her taking a nap because then she'd go to bed early but I'd not be dead tired and fall asleep the moment my head hit the pillow.

Lol at what you've been told off for canella, I've been told off for exactly the same things in the past! Actually bebe it's maybe best if you don't understand and you can just smile and nod and not get stressed!

Linzer hope you're enjoying the peace of having them back at school! I've got one at home still - ds with a cough, and dd has gone back to school even though she's still coughing, but she wanted to go back.

Ernest , glad your dh decided against smashing a window! 90? is about the standard isn't it. We had a notice up in our hall to please inform the house owner where and who has the spare key in case of emergency - well we don't have one as there are 4 of us with a key each so one can always somehow get in but I knew a family who taped a spare key to the underside of a large garden plant pot on their terrace!

Linzer I cannot imagine the cheek of handing a customer a pan and brush...

ETB glad you guys got in without a costly window breaking or 400euro bill.

It's been a bit unclear abt using the cycle paths from the information we've had as the rules changed recently (apparently) and there was a ruling that the councils were putting the sign up all over when in reality they were only supposed to be putting them up 'in dangerous cycling areas' Dh uses them when he gets into the city (and goes slow accordingly) but when out in the countryside he felt he was more than safe on the roads (safer even).
He doesn't wash his bike super often, maybe once a month or 6 weeks; it depends a great deal on the weather (he felt this time with the misty/salty roads his bike needed a good clean so it would not get corroded). He's left it half done and given me the job of trying to find something to protect the bathtub so he can clean it in the bath

Expecting packages this week as it's our anniversary and my birthday is coming up (and waiting for massive paperwork from UK so I can fill out EHIC form) but dreading being buzzed and having to talk with someone over the speaker... at least paket is a familiar sounding word...dh says if anyone buzzes I should just let them in, but I'm not sure if that's how it's done even!! I hate feeling so anxious all the time

Happy anniversary and birthday bebe! I used to just buzz to let people in if I didn't understand what they were saying (although "Post" is quite easy to understand, which is what it used to be half the time). The only time I refused to let someone in was when we were living in London (they were wanting to visit friends in the same building IIRC), but I have more courage when I'm speaking English!

admylin Hope your DS is better soon. I hope we've had all the viruses going around now; I'm certainly enjoying the peace and quiet here this morning (even if it's only for another 45 minutes).

Ernest I've managed to lock myself out a few times; we have a spare key buried in the garden, but I can never remember exactly where (and I always seem to lock myself out when we've had heavy snow...).

Canella Thanks for your message on FB; the mixed spice is on its way!

Must get on with a few bits and pieces before I pick DD2 up; why does the morning go twice as fast when the DC aren't around?

EEEk someone called on the phone (to which we don't even know the number) I could not understand a word I stammered, 'Sorry nein Deutsch. I only speak English.' To which a got a moment of silence and then a very gruff reply and a phone which sounded like it was slammed down :( I was just looking at my video course...I wish I could learn more quickly! (tho my reading/written word recognition is increasing quickly -but I have no idea how to actually say any of the words :( )

Oh no bebe!! I remember that feeling!! I had only been living here a few days when the neighbour came do the door!! I had no fecking idea what she was saying!!
A friend here recommended Deutsche Welle on the internet for a free online course!

Linzer - thanks for the spice!! Cant wait for it to come so i can make the hot cross buns!!

Been shopping this morn - we dont do valentines day so i treated myself to some new shoes!! Oh and some chinese takeaway!!

It was probably just a cold caller bebe, in which case telling them that you don't speak German is likely to be quite an effective way of getting rid of them! FWIW I really don't like speaking German on the phone and will delegate anything more complicated than making an appointment to DH. I really need to phone the Krankenkasse, as they've just upped my quarterly payments from ?300 to ?2500 (my earnings haven't gone up), but DH has kindly offered to do so on my behalf. Actually, I asked him if he would - I would probably have gone into the office otherwise.

That's a great idea about treating yourself on Valentine's Day Canella; now why didn't I think of that?! We don't normally do Valentine's Day either; DH said he'd looked for a present for me at M&S last week but hadn't found anything, and I didn't even get as far as looking for anything for him. I told him what I'd really like would be to go to the cinema (The King's Speech is on in Vienna in English at the moment), but we don't have anyone to babysit. I'm hoping that it might be on in Linz when we go for my FIL's 75th at the end of the month.

aw if i was nearer i'd have babysat for you!!! sorry! thats a film i want to see too but like you only in English! will prob have to wait till it comes out on DVD!!

Why has your krankenkasse payments gone up so much!! thats a huge jump! i'm ashamed to say i leave all those kind of things to dh!! i have no idea how much we pay ! i'm like some 1950's houswife!

Oh I used to love going to the cinema. When I lived in France I saw just about every decent film that was released. Think i'd just fall asleep if I went during the week now though.

Great idea about getting yourself a valentine gift canella. I'm off out later to get myself a new handbag - have been watching one in our local little Kaufhaus which was far too expensive but the sale is on today!

Bebe, happy anniversary and birthday - hope you get your parcels. I'm always taking parcels for other people in our flats, good way to get to meet some of them when they come to pick them up!

Can I just ask you experienced skiers - what did your dc wear under their skiing trousers? Last chance this week to get ds sorted for his trip. He has leggings (long johns) but not proper thermals or anything.

admylin We bought skiing underwear for the DC when it was on offer at Hofer and Lidl; I'm not sure whether it was proper thermal underwear, but it did the job OK (mind you, it wasn't all that cold last week - the DC were sweating after their first day's skiing, in fact).

Canella Yes, I suspect we'll have to wait till The King's Speech comes out on DVD too; I don't hold out much hope of it being on (let alone in English) when we're in Linz.

I have no idea why my payments to the Krankenkasse have gone up so much. They undercharged me by just over ?1000 last year, but that would still only be ?250 extra per quarter. As it is, I might well end up paying more in pension contributions and health insurance etc. than I'm actually earning, which can't be right!

oh, good idea to get oneself a present...I shall have to wait till our Familie Beihilfe comes through though...not been paid since December.

bebe, don´t stress about not understanding the German. You have not been here long. Sounds complicated about bike lanes and where to clean bikes. How are you feeling? happy birthday and anniversary. I agree that nodding and smiling is the best.

Linzer - that is a HUGE jump. I hope you get it sorted. I hate those shock letters. I open all official letters with a pounding heart these days. Hope you get it sorted. how were the DC about going back to school?

DD1 is sitting her with me. She got all anxious last night, could not sleep, felt sick, and even threw up. We moved into the living room together and both of us slept there, or at least tried to. I am making time at home as boring as possible, so school seems an exciting alternative.

Just started snowing again. Not sure how I feel about it, nice to have a spring like feeling last week.

Thanks for the anniversary/birthday wishes :) Usually dh and I have one long week of celebrating and try to go some where fun...This year I bought dd things instead of me/dh as I feel so sorry for her, but we're still in a different country so it's still kinda the same
I was going to make some softshell tacos for supper but I feel utterly incapable of making spicy foods today... so I'm making a pizza now.. and hopefully either he won't mind cooking for himself or he'll end up having leftovers. Not very romantic I'm afraid :(

banana :( you poor dd1, so stressed! good idea making home boring though. I wouldn't have thought of that.
Dh keeps saying it's supposed to snow again and looking forward to it, but I was thinking how I really need the weather to be nice so Moo and I can go out to play.