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 bananasananas (did I spell your user name right??)

You must be so glad to have the test over with. Sounds really challenging but I'm sure you did well.

My kids are about three months short of 15 and 18 and when they do get colds, they go away so fast. When they were little they used to get everything that was going around and it was awful.

Had to get a referral from my regular doc yesterday for the gastrogenterologist just so the gastro could give me a referral to the other gastro at the university hospital. I don't know why they have to make things so complicated - something to do with insurance I guess. The regular gastroenterologist is an odd little man. When I say him today he barely looked at me and spent the whole time entering date into his computer while mumbling something about his being glad I was feeling better. Then he shoved the referral across the desk and that was that. I really don't see why I needed an appt at all.

Dh suddenly decided that the kids need advent calendars this year so I bought two of those little 24-stocking ones and will fill them with something or other tonight. Got a few bits and pieces and some sweets hidden away. So disorganized. Christmas always creeps up way too fast!

I've got 2 adventskalendar hanging now, dd reminded me this morning that I had to do it today as tomorrow is the first day! She's also trying to put in an orde for Nikolaus day with suggestions of gifts. I keep saying, hey isn't nikolaus day when you get a chocolate santa and an orange? Then I get 'But everyone gets...'!

These 'events' always suddenly creep up on me too, or I think I'm ahead and get to the shop to find the easter egg/adventskalendar/seasonal object has already sold out becauzse everyone got there weeks before me! Germans also buy sandles in March and winter shoe sin August so all the good ones have sold out when I get there in July and November!

Hope the translating is going well Linzer, any good recipes?

Are you still going to Geman lessons Bananas or is there a break now that the exam is over? Not sure about Austria but having everything on paper (i.e a cetificate) is really important in Gemany, no good having a skill if it isn't documented on an official paper!

Snow isn't too bad here yet here. For once it looks as if the UK has it alot worse than us although I bet it drifts this way eventually. Westvan were you at the MHH today or next week? Should we do next Wednesday or Monday? Thinking the shops will all be emptied and in need of stocking up after the weekend so Wednesday might be better? Can you face a couple of shops? Good that everything is quite close together in Hannover so we won't get too cold!

Admylin - I'm at the MHH next Tuesday, today I just had to go and get the Überweisung. Next Wednesday would be wonderful and I'll be ready to shop! Let's hope it's not -10 degrees or something.

Still haven't done the calendars and I promised the kids I'd make some cookies this evening too. Bit late now but I may make some quick ones with the cookie press. German kids seems to get huge gifts on Nikolaus. We try to keep it pretty simple with just a few sweets.

Online banking won't let me bank tonight and I need to pay some bills! Oh well, better go do something productive.

Just a quick post (famous last words) as I'm working. 19 pages down, 44 to go - so it's looking ever so slightly more manageable now and as if I might get a modicum of sleep over the next week after all. The recipes are from around the world, and vary from interesting (a chocolate mousse whose only ingredients are dark chocolate, water and ice cubes) to completely unappetising (lukewarm octopus salad, anyone?), but I don't think I'll be trying any of them. And did you know that Christmas isn't Christmas in the UK and the USA without eggnog?

bananas - I translate from German into English; I studied French too, but haven't used it for years and German is the only language I feel comfortable translating from now.
Hope you managed to order some thermal underwear. We went to M&S on Sunday and returned the thermal underwear that we'd bought for the DC, as I wasn't paying ?40 for two items that would only have cost £15 in the UK! Plus I'd bought some cheap thermal underwear from Hofer and Lidl anyway.

admylin/westvan - Thank goodness the DC haven't discovered that Nikolaus can bring more than a few sweets and nuts yet. Although I have the sinking feeling that DH has bought them some "proper" presents as well; it's a slippery slope... They have 4 or 5 Advent calendars each this year, which is just ridiculous; they seem to have more every year.

Right, must stop procrastinating and get back to work.

Hello, we have a temp Internet solution, still not connected, but hoping it will come on the 7th. It has been and still is an ongoing total fiasco from Tellekom.

Anyway, dd poorly again, she only got over her pneumonia a week or so ago, now she's again got a temp of 40, poor little thing. thank goodness the doctors is very close and very good.

How is everyone. God look with the mammoth translation!

Natty, managed to see your post when skimming through. I'm on the outskirts of Munich. We decided to stay outside, so we could get a house with garden for the kids, we're still only 15/20 minutes from the centre. Probably all of your q have been answered but briefly, my ds was 5 when we moved here. We chose for him to attend kindergarten for 2 years so that his German would be up to scratch when he started school, which he did this September, he's just turned 7. The kindergarten I think was something like 140 ? pm., that was from 8 till 4 I think.. I will be around a lot more now, so if I can help with any Munich specifics just shout. When do you move?

Ad, how are you?, are you going away?

Having a hassle w ds1 English teacher, probably unwisely mentioned it at the Elternstammtisch last night, was probably horribly ungermanly indiscreet, doh. Me and my big gob.

Hi Ernest! Sorry to hear that dd is still poorly. That pneumonia can hang on for ages.

Hi ernest. Great to hear you have nearly got there with your connection and sorry to hear about your dd. Hope she picks up soon, awful when the little ones are ill.

Tell us what is going on with the English teacher then! We had a really horrid one in ds's old school but she was horrid to most of the boys, even took one out of the class room to tell him off for not doing homework and brought him back in crying , very unsensitive as the boy in question had a really ill mother and was going home afte school to look after her until the dad came in from work at 7pm.

Linze, hope the translating is going well. Sounds like your dh is really getting into the spirit of things! 4 adventkalenar is good going, atleast he isn't bah humbug like a lot of men! It's freezing here today, heating on full and my legs still feel as if they are going to drop off. Off to pack a couple of presents to post off to UK.

Westvan did you get the biscuits done? After all the preparation, dd didn't even remember to look at her adventkalendar today! She had a biscuit though. I managed to make those plain ones with Steusel on top and cut out in star, tree or bell shape!

Ernest - great to see you back. Hope dd is feeling better soon, it´s horrible when there so young and really ill.

bananas - I bet you´re glad the exam is out of the way.

Linzer - I have to say a luke warm octopus salad sounds a lot more appetising than a chocolate mousse made with water and ice cubes(how could that possibly work?) and I love chocolate.

It´s been snowing virtually non-stop here for 3 days, but really gently so we still only have about 4-5cm, although it´s meant to get a lot worse tonight.

I´ve promised the dc we´ll do some baking at the weekend. I got a few raised eyebrows from a few mums yesterday when I admitted I hadn´t baked anything yet, so I´m feeling a bit guilty. Mind you, not guilty enough to start baking today.

Grüß Gott, haven't read this whole thread yet as I have to go to a meeting - will come back to it. Just wanted to say, another mn'er in Vienna here. Been a member for years, mostly lurk. Interested to see how many others are in Austria though!

Will come back and have a proper read later.

It's too cold to snow here! In the shop this morning the shopkeeper was saying to me it's unbelievable how cold it is, so I said i'm just glad it isn't snowing but he said atleast if it snows it isn't this cold. Suppose he is right but I hope we don't get too much.

Must remember to get some bird food, i've seen a robin red breast on my balcony looking around as if to say come on, hand it over then, where's the food?!

whateverfloatsyourboat hi! How long have you been in Vienna?

Oh oh, the shopkeeper spoke too soon, it just started snowing where we are. Newspaper says we're in for a whole bunch of it in the next three days. And it's -7°C outside. Poor birds are hopping around on the terrace with their feathers all puffed up. I've put out halved apples for the blackbirds and the little birds have their seed but I don't know how they manage when it's all frozen.

Admylin - I made a few easy ones with the cookie press thingie last night and will probably make some of those thumprint cookies with jam in the middle today.

Hupa - guilt baking is no fun! I've had years where I've left it until the week before Christmas and only made a few things. No pressure to perform!

Welcome to the thread, whateverfloatsyourboat!

Jut waiting for the boots I ordered for ds17 at Amazon to arrive. I really hope they fit. So hard to find stuff in size 47 (UK 12!) and he's sooo picky. I just want his feet to be warm and dry. No way he can wear his regular shoes if it snows a lot - no tread on them at all. I got boots for ds14 online at Reno last week. He hasn't worn them yet but at least I know they're there.

Must go clean something!

Time for a quick coffee break and catch-up with the thread. It's snowing steadily here at the moment, but luckily I won't have to go out in it at midday as DD2 decided that she and DD1 would walk all the way home from school today (this is the only day when she finishes at 12.45pm too). Must admit I would rather have it very cold, too; the snow is such a hassle if you have to go out anywhere.

Hi whateverfloatsyourboat, nice to see someone else in Austria! How long have you been in Vienna?

hupa - ah, it's all to do with molecular gastronomy (you melt the chocolate and water in a bowl, and then put the bowl into a bowl of ice cubes - the mixture emulsifies as it cools). I'd be interested to see what it tastes like, but it sounds like one of those recipes that wouldn't work if I tried it.
I have absolutely no plans to bake btw. We will no doubt be inundated with my MIL's biscuits soon, anyway.

admylin - I think I'm the bah humbug one! Goodness knows where all the Advent calendars have come from (one was from school, one was a freebie); the fact that DD2 was given a chocolate one by a friend so DH bought chocolate ones for DD1 and DS too didn't help (he'd already bought the Playmobil/Lego calendars). The DC were ridiculously excited about finally being able to open them this morning, anyway (they've been counting down the days).

Ernest - sorry to hear about your DD; hope she's on the mend soon. How old is she?

Anyway, must get back it; I'm translating a yule log recipe at the moment so am starting to feel quite hungry!

Snowfall report from central Vienna: Steady snowfall, but not too cold! DD1 went to school with no hat or gloves (long story but had "one of those mornings" which I would rather forget!)

It´s my second Xmas in Austria and wondering what is all this about having to bake? Oh dear. Is it okay to get Aunty Fanny (great name) dough from the shop, or do I have to make it too? Hupa - what do you bake? Any easy recipes to pass on so I can avoid the raised eyebrows...though I know not to mention it now!

westvan - did the shoes fit? will he wear them?
have you got your gastro problem sorted or is all this to-ing and fro-ing between drs making it worse? Hope you get it sorted soon.

admylin - the German learning goes on
... I am going to private lessons at the moment so very flexible. Plus I spend over 20 hours a week on this Job search course so have lots of exposure. You are right about having a certificate as proof.

Ernest - hello again. What a nightmare. Keep going, it will be okay in the end. I hope your dd gets better soon...do you think the pneumonia never really cured and this is a relapse? What´s with the English teacher? Do tell!

Linzer- sounds like good going on the translation. I am craving fresh fish (difficult to get round where I live) that warm octopus salad sounds wonderful! I might even have on top of the made with ice chocolate mousse, that is how desperate I am for fresh fish! I know what you mean about the prices of things, that is why I decided it was worth getting online and paying the delivery charge. Plus I missed the local offers for thermals. I think I am also the bah humbug about xmas...must get into the spirit!

whateverfloatsyourboat- hello! good to see another vienna mum here! Lots of questions, but won´t fire them all off...

oh, no , MN just did something funny on me. Must post before it all goes....

Yes, westvan over our side of Hannover there's an evil snow storm blowing and I forgot to get the bird food. Think I'll put something out anyway, maybe some oats?

How can my place be such a tip again? I have to go and clear the kitchen, every surface is piled high with something. A mum from dd's class phoned (one of those who won't let you get a word in) so my pasta boiled over, the sauce went solid too and the the ironing pile is getting higher. And I have to proof read something for a colleague of dh for a poster presentation.

Bananas, they do go abit mad with baking over here and the other mad thing is the shops, they will be busy from now to the 24th! Thank goodness for online shopping.

I think I need canella soon - why can't percentages just be easy and done on the calculator? They are using some methods that I just find confusing and dd is meant to be able to do them with her eyes shut. I think our days of life without a tutor are soon over.

hello all!!

snow report from me - none today but has been nearly constantly since saturday and its minus 8 outside so you can imagine the state of the streets! even with my winter tyres i had a wee slide on the way back from my german course!! and think we're due for more! its the cold thats killing me - feel like i'm just not getting warm! might have to get a duvet down to sit under!

had a fab time with my friend - gave her the whole german winter experience - snow (++), sledging, ice skating, christmas markt, gluhwein, lebkuchen!! was a great few days! and she managed to get back yesterday ok - think a lot of flights out of frankfurt were cancelled!

Ernest - nice to see you back! hoep you get the proper connection sorted on the 7th! they really have messed you around! and hope your dd gets better soon - she sounds like she's had a rough time recently!

Linzer - hope you're getting there with the translation! I'm impressed with anyone who can translate text properly - i always just get the gist of it but never every exact meaning!

Bananas - glad that the exam went ok - 3 weeks isnt so long to wait! sounds like i'm a bit off doing my C1 yet! but think having a C1 certificate will be sufficient for any job you go for - i think i only need B2 to work as a physio here so you'll be well qualified if you have C1!
as for the baking - well its only my second winter here too and last year i made a crap attempt at making biscuits but they were a bit rubbish and then my MIL brought loads! i think buying a mix seems like a great plan!

whateverfloatsyourboat - welcome!! there seems to be an austrian invasion at the mo!!! will be jealous when you all organise a meet up!

westvan - wow your ds has really big feet - must be a nightmare! did the shoes fit?

well off to put all my clothes on at the one time!! brrrrr!

Hello again, thanks for the welcome! I had no idea there were other Austria mums on here too. Had skimmed the overseas boards before, but obviously not carefully enough.

I've been here for almost 12 years now, how about all of you?

Am sitting at home doing some work now, watching the snow out of the window while the babysitter plays with my toddler. Rather nice :)

Hallo, all German-speaking mners!

Please can I ask if anyone can recommend a CD of German carols I could buy on amazon.co.uk for Christmas? It was the 'leise rieselt der Schnee' that caught my eye.

I've been looking, but can't find anything that sounds suitable. I remember singing various things with my German mum (and Auf'm Berg da.... Wind? and Schneeflockchen something/...?)

She's coming over to ours for Christmas this year, so I'd love to be able to have music she remembers from childhood CHristmases to listen to. The biscuits I can do (Mmmm, Vanillenkipfchen und Schmalzplatchen...), but I can only remember scraps of the music she'd play on the record player from when I was young.

Can anyone help, please?

Hi AwesomeWellies,

I can't recommend a specific CD but here are the names of the of the songs you mentioned and a couple more

Auf dem Berge da Wehet der Wind

Kling, Glöckchen

Schneeflöckchen, Weissröckchen

Ihr Kinderlein Kommet

Maybe some of those will ring a bell! The lyrics are all online if you want to look them up and refresh your memory.

Hi AwesomeWellies, I'm not much help on German carols I'm afraid as virtually all our Christmas CDs are English. I think we might have one German CD that we got as a freebie, but we've never actually bought any. Must confess I'm not very up on German carols.

whateverfloatsyourboat - I've been in Austria for 7 years now; we live just outside Vienna. How old are your DC?

Canella - sounds like you had a lovely time with your friend and introduced her to all the key Christmas experiences! It made me think of when we introduced my mum to Glühwein; she gulped it down like she would a cup of tea, not realising how much alcohol was in it, and quickly had to have some apple strudel to soak up the alcohol!

ad - love your Christmas name! Our house is a tip at the moment too, largely thanks to me working every spare minute of the day. However, it somehow manages to be almost as bad even when I'm not working. One day I will find time to declutter.

bananas - I manage to get away without baking quite easily! DH will occasionally make Christmas biscuits with the DC, but cheats by buying that ready-made pastry dough (which seems to go down well enough). The only place I've ever had to bake was in the USA, when the playgroup I went to held a cookie exchange - fortunately the Austrians don't seem to be into that kind of thing! (Although I did enjoy it at the time.)

DH took DS to the Lungenfacharzt this afternoon, but we aren't much further along in finding out what's wrong with him. We'll get the results of his blood tests in two weeks and she has also referred him to the HNO-Arzt for a check-up. In the meantime, he has an inhaler that he has to use every day until the next appointment. DD2 has her appointment wrt the Herzgeräusche at the Kinderarzt tomorrow; she's also been complaining of stomach aches fairly often recently, so we'll have to get that checked out too.

It looks like I'm the only one who finds lukewarm octopus unappetising, then. I am getting fed up of Christmas recipes now - although I've just translated one for glögg which is making me wish for a mug of Glühwein!

Thank you, westvan and Linzer, that was useful. I shall get googling lyrics, then. Thanks again, and Frohe Weihnachten to you both!

LinzerChristkindlmarkt - dcs are 5 1/2 and 21 months. Eldest is at kindergarten every day till 4, babysitter comes twice a week for the little one so I can work - this is quite a new arrangement but it's fantastic, I have to say! Means not having to do quite so much work when the boys are in bed.

I've been to Baden a couple of times, it's very beautiful. Are you happy there? How old are your dcs? I'm sorry you're having medical worries.

My DC are 8, 6 and 4 - DS stays at kindergarten until 3, but the DDs are home from school around midday and then I'm busy supervising homework etc. It means I can only really work in the mornings, which just aren't long enough - so I quite often end up having to work evenings and weekends as well if I have a lot on. What do you do work-wise, whatever?

We love it in Baden; it's a really nice, friendly town and just the right size (for me, anyway - we lived in Bad Vöslau before, which I found too small). The only thing I miss is that it's not as international as Vienna and doesn't really have any English-language activities (not ones aimed at native speakers, at any rate). OTOH it's fairly easy to get to know Austrians and most of my friends are Austrian; I've heard it can be a little more difficult in Vienna.

hello - could I jump in this thread in the hope of getting some more great advice from you lot? You might remember on the last thread I was picking your brains about schools and places to live etc in Berlin, as we're there next year for four months (actually Potsdam in the end, DP will commute)...

So less than 4 weeks to go now til we fly over (assuming the airports are open then!). Is there anything you recommend me to do before/get before or anything else? DD1 will be going to the local Grundschule and we have an interview set up with them on the first day of term to sort out what they and she will be doing. I've not planned anything for DD2 as she's not schulpflichtig, so just was going to see what was there when we get there.

Any and all info and suggestions very gratefully received!