Sommer, Strand und Sonne - life in Germany and Austria

[LinzerTorte]

A thread for all those living in Germany or Austria, and for anyone else who would like to chat.

despite being apparently clever, my ds don't have an ounce of common sense between them. They still think I'm a boring spoil sport and that it was great fun . There was even a report in the paper about 2 men who drowned in Brighton, and it was literally right at the end of our road. Hoping that they now believe me. Not holding my breath and not taking any chances. I'll put them all on blinking dog leads.

No, we're not moving back, but we bought a flat, and the builders started tomorrow (needs loads of work, but hoping it'll look great, so can't wait. Going over in a couple of weeks, alone, to check on progress.

where are you later?

Ad, you should practice parallel parking - you should be able to do it, but you might find you rarely need it, it varies depending on where you live, but here, I rarely need to do it. Luckily, after London where I had to be able to get a tank in the space of a mini it's been drummed into me. When I 1st moved to Basel I was a bit scared (terrified) as I had only passed my test in London a few months earlier, so relatively inexperienced, and in Basel, as well as being on the wrong side of the road, there were also cycle lanes, bus lanes and tram lines everywhere. I was terrified! I just went out early Sunday and drove a lot to get the feel for it, and just in a couple of hours I felt confident, so I'm sure you'll be fine Ad.

Ernest I would have been a nervous wreck if that had happened to my dcs too! We have to be especially careful here too as the Pacific has lots of sneaker waves. Tbh I can't relax on the beach the whole time they are running in and out of the sea as they don't possess any common sense either! How exciting about your flat.

The parking test in Oregon was drive in between two cones! I also can't really remember how to parallel park as I so rarely need to. I hope my next car has these parking sensors you all speak of, or even one that parks itself. Well done on the licence later.

Hope you all enjoy the good weather and it is not too hot. Stormy here today but then mega hot by the fourth of July weekend.

Jenny I initially misread your post and thought that all you'd had to do for the driving test was to park between two cones - I assume you did have to do some driving as well, though! The parallel parking was the only difficult bit of my test; otherwise, I just drove down a quiet road for a couple of minutes, turned round in a cul-de-sac and came back to the test centre!

The KiGa Sommerfest was nice, although DS was very clingy for some reason. He refused to stand with the rest of his group for the Begrüßung (although it was only some of the Vorschulkinder playing the drums; the rest of the children just stood behind and watched) and wouldn't leave my side otherwise. The children's reward for doing all of the six Stationen was, in line with this year's healthy eating theme, an apple! DS seemed quite happy with it, anyway. Also found out that yet another family is going to be in Caorle the same week as us; I know the other three mothers quite well, so we'll probably all try to meet up.

DH's flight was delayed, so he's only just got back - anything to get out of helping with bedtime. Apparently it's even hotter in Milan than it is here.

lol Linzer, had to drive round town a bit too. Almost failed the silly thing as I am so nervous at driving tests! She let me off though.

Glad the Sommerfest was nice. Must get on planning this French lesson...

God, I remember my driving test. I was so nervous during my lessons (central and south London, mad mad traffic which terrified me. Driving round marble arch or whatever, or even worse, the dreaded south circular. gah.I regularly used to cry out "we're all gonna die!". My poor instructor . The last few lessons were mainly spent practicing not screaming we're all gonna die when I came to a mental busy junction or tricky manoeuvre. In the test itself, I'd been going a few minuted when the examiner turned to me and said it was ok for me to start breathing again .

My biceps used to ache for about 2 days after each lesson, I used to grip the wheel so hard! I was pg with ds2, don't think the stress hormones can have done him too much good. About 5 months later, I had to move to Basel and switch. Baptism of fire, but I'm a pretty confident driver as a result I think.

I understood the oregano driving test to be seeing if you could drive through 2 cones. wow, mustn't have much traffic there! (Doh, thicky emoticon)

re kids near-drowning, it was terrifying that they ran away so fast and far and due to pushchair and dd, they were away so quiclk. but worst is, they just don't seem to get me, that it was dangerous. There was me reaching for my mobile to call the police and coastguard to retrieve their bodies. They think it was exhilarating free mad fun and I'm so old, and just mum that I don't know anything and don't know how to enjoy myself Fine, they survived that encounter, but with that attitude they may not survive the next. bloody kids. like I said, I'll be packing 4 dog leads next time.

Due at the dentist in an hour. :(

Morning, what you getting done at the dentist ernest? Hope it's just a check up. I marched my 2 to the dentist yesterday afternoon in 35 degree heat to be told the appointment was the day before. How peinlich...I had written it into my diary but on the wrong day!

I found some really good videos on youtube about parking and now will go out on a quiet day and have a go! The trick is getting to turn the wheel as soon as you see the bumber of the front car in your passenger side window if I understood it properly.

Must get going and put washing on, we're running out of t-shirts and then I have to go shopping again as I couldn't carry it all yesterday. If the payment goes through to plan we should have the car on Thursday but dh is transferring the money today so I have a feeling it won't be in their bank by Thursday afternoon.

It's far too hot here this morning and I foolishly decided to go out for a run. My legs felt like lead, I had a stitch almost the entire time and I was hardly going quicker than walking speed, but I forced myself to carry on to the end of the 28 minutes. Am just glad it was so much cooler last Sunday, otherwise I def. would have come last in the race!

I think I start turning the wheel once the back of the front car takes up half of the rear window on the passenger side, and then turn back again when I can see in the passenger wing mirror that I'm about six inches from the kerb, but will have to check next time I do it as it's almost automatic now and I'm really not sure! Apart from the parallel parking, the Pennsylvanian driving test was a breeze compared to the British one - I'm not sure I even saw any other cars on the road for the five minutes I was out of the test centre.

Hope the dentist goes OK, Ernest. DD2 has to go back to the orthodontist's for a check-up on Friday; her tooth already looks much straighter, even though she's only had the brace for a couple of weeks.

was 1st appt at dentist, so just a check up, but she took x ray and talked through all the things she needed to do (2 fikkings and 3 partial crowns!). I hate going to the dentist so much. I had such a bad experience in Switzerland it's really freaked me out now. So anyway, she was talking through all this stuff she is going to do and I burst into tears . I felt such a fool, but I'm really terrified. Then after I called dh to laugh at myself and just talking about it made me burst into tears again, in the street. . She also helpfully suggested I have the partial crown in gold, as it last for ages - 30 years she told me, then I'll not have to think about it again before I die! OK, so I need a shit load of fillings and I'll be dead at 70. Super.

Anyway, it was fine at dentist thanks. She really is lovely. I mean that btw, she is lovely.

Ernest, I feel exactly like you at the dentist also because of a really bad experience in south Germany. Well done for going though, I have been putting it off for ages and just try to brush my teeth really well. Was she reassuring when you burst out crying? I've decided that when/if one of my back teeth 'goes' and needs big stuff done to it, I just want it taken out and I'm aiming to keep my imbedded hidden wisdom teeth for life although I know the 2 remaining ones have to come out some time or other.

Linzer, boiling hot here too, just got back from post office and shopping and buying ds some socks and shorts he desperately needs and I had to have a shower, oh well only 2nd one today so far!

She was v gentle, kind, reassuring, offering tissues, reassurance, encouragement. I felt like a little kid, oh mrs x you were so brave in coming, so well done to you, some people leave it so long, but you came even though you were scared and you should feel very proud, your teeth are very good, (considering how ancient you are), and it's only little things really, we'll be very careful, and well done for letting us know how scared you are so we can look after you etc etc etc.

SO how come I didn't get to choose if I wanted a dribble bib with smarties or teddies bears on like my dc? huh?

Well done you Ernest for going to the dentist - i braved it just before Xmas but that means i should probably go again - really cant bear the thought!

Admylin - i knew you'd find videos on youtube to help with the parking - there's videos of everything on there!! Even earwax removal - beyond gross!! I dont have any tips for you about parking - i can do it but not everytime but i'm always proud when i do it!

Well done Linzer for going out in this heat - its already 27 degrees here - but no hitzefrei for dd.

So the kitchen sold - for an unbelievable 1547?!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Think they're coming the weekend after next which is perfect - still got a lot of stuff to move down into the basement. But also good news - the company where we're buying the kitchen from are going to lend us a temp small kitchen - just a 2 ring hob, fridge and sink but that will really help us in this heat for the next few weeks.

That's great canella! Also good of the company to lend you a mini kitchen. A fridge and a freezer are essentials in this weather.

Ernest, sounds like you found a good dentist and it's true that it was really brave of you to go in the first place. I often read on MN threads where people haven't even been for check ups for years and years.

Ds had Hitzefrei again so he turned up early, dd had hitzefrei but waited in school to do her acrobatics training and only a few dc turned up so she's on her way home now. Dh rang to say teh bank dealt with the money transfer so looks like we will be getting the car tomorrow.

HAd a thought, it's so hot and the car dealer is miles away so should we go in a taxi to collect car or ask him to deliver it? Or is that unheard of for Germany? I know in UK if you buy a car you can get the dealer to deliver it to your door.

Ernest Your dentist sounds lovely, but I'd definitely be making a complaint about the choice of dribble bib :o
I was the same when I learned to drive - my arms and hands were so achey afterwards from gripping the steering wheel so tight. I was really nervous about driving over here when we moved after having learned in the UK and driven on the left for so long, but to be honest, driving on the right hasn't bothered me at all. Both my tests (I failed the first one ) were in and around Manchester - I think if I'd had to learn in Central London or even in Germany I'd probably be a much more confident driver than I am.

Canella Fab news on the kitchen! I'm glad it's worked out so well. It's great that the kitchen company will lend you a few bits in the mean time, this really isn't the time of year to even consider going without a fridge.
Ear wax removal videos - really?! I'm really tempted to search now but have just eaten...

Admylin Fingers crossed you get the car tomorrow! Let us know how you get on with the parking practice - I reckon it's one of those things where you become more confident the more you do it.

Linzer How long does the C25K take? Is it something you build up to over a few months or is it quite an intensive programme? It sounds like a good programme although I do see the irony in asking these questions just as I finish stuffing a whole toblerone down my throat.

Sorry Admylin, I meant to add - there's no harm in calling the dealer and asking them to deliver. The worst they can do is say no :)

Hello all, lol at the autocorrection of Oregon to oregano! Well done on going to the dentist too. The dental hygienist here kept going on about how they obviously don't do any cleaning in the UK as I couldn't remember when I'd last had it done. Erm, I said I couldn't remember not that I had never had it done at all!

Great news on the kitchen canella and on the car admylin. Also well done on eating a whole toblerone later Mum and Dad only have a couple of days left so should stop MNing now. Enjoy the rest of the week!

Hi everyone. I haven't managed to catch up with the whole thread yet.

Admylin I hope you've recovered from your car accident. It sounds very scary, but there isn't really any way to live without a car these days, is there?

Later Do you drink green tea? A friend of mine had lots of stomach hardening mid-pregnancy and the man in the tea shop told her to cut down on the tea and the problem went away! AFAIK the drs hadn't even considered it. Glad the baby is okay.

A quick question: is DanKlorix Hygiene-Reiniger household bleach? I want to start FLYing tomorrow and was stumped in the supermarket trying to find bleach to shine my sink with!

I know Linzer is a FLYer, has anyone else done it? Do I start with baby steps only in the first month?

Silkenladder, yes danklorix is bleach. I've tried flying and the method is very good. I managed some of th baby steps but I couldn't get round having an empty clean sink in the evenings so I gave up. I tidy up after the evening meal and then the rest of the family start snacking or dh eats late and all the stuff ends up in the sink and I am too tired to start cleaning up again after 10pm.

Dh is looking forward to the new car, he kept saying last night oh I can't wait to drive my new car! Like a dc with a new toy!

Dd and I walked down to the shops yesterday evening with our umbrellas as it was pouring down and I thought if I had to live without the car for another week I would be used to it and wouldn't miss it. It's just the habit of having it so not walking anywhere but as of this afternoon we will be back to out old ways.

Later, it's true youtube has everything! I haven't watched any earwax removal videos but if any of you fancy trying Indian vegetarian cooking Manjula's videos are great!

morning all. woke up at 5.30 with the noisy rain, grrr.

good luck with car today Ad, did you call the dealer and ask re delivery?

When we were in Brighton, we couldn't drive or park anywhere, so had the week without a car, so had to walk everywhere. I really enjoyed not having the car, but then it was a holiday, not real life. I have to do a school run, till August, so have to drive every day. I hope my driving will decrease a lot from September when all the kids are in schools/kiga nearby.

Canella, brilliant about your kitchen. But really this german thing with kitchens is the weirdest thing I ever heard of. I told my kitchen man in Brighton a couple of weeks ago and he thought I was winding him up!

Booked my flights to uk (flying away alone for weekend, cannot remember the last time I had a weekend alone!) to check on flat progress. Going next weekend, returning monday, unfortunately, ds going on Schullandheim on Monday, so I won't see him for 8 days! :( He'll have a brilliant time though. The kids are awe with the school Monday to Friday morning. Then the Hort have arranged a leaving party with ice cream, cinema, pizza and sleep over for the Friday night, and some parents won't let their kids go to the leaving party on the friday as they've been away with the school since Monday. WHat a shame for the kids. Ds is gutted cos his best friend isn't allowed to.

You all need to find the earwax ones - i've had my ears syringed a long time ago and was fascinated as to what came out but these videos show you it close up! Amazing (and gross!).

Admylin - i know what you mean about getting used to not having a car - i went weeks without one a few years back and got totally used to walking everywhere. But enjoy the car when you get it later. The rain is here too since yest eve - but its only for today so cant complain.

silken - i dont know anything about fly - sorry. My dh is a bit OCD so our house is tidy nearly all the time - dont think he can sleep otherwise. But it doesnt stop him leaving his breakfast dishes for me to put in the dishwasher.
Just read this morning about the murder of that wee girl in Zella Mahlis - was shocked. A friend from our village is originally from that area and she said the whole area is beyond shocked - its just so sad.

Well must crack on with emptying the kitchen - its just such a boring job!

I tried fly once, but the emails and blurb took so much time reading I never got anything done I also couldn't be doing with all the wearing shoes and getting dressed up business. I defy anyone to keep on top of my family

They say one of the keys to success with fly is to declutter but it's not true as I have move dhouse so often and decluttered every time but it's still too much and gets spread around the place! Ernest did you have a big clear out everytime you moved too?

Just back from a bike ride into town as I suddenly realised I needed Essensbons for KiGa next week (school breaks up tomorrow but KiGa only closes for three weeks in the summer so DS will be going whenever we're here, and the girls are at a Spiel- und Sportwoche next week). It's still hot here, but cycling was much more bearable than the running I did yesterday!

Canella You got a great price for the kitchen; I couldn't believe how much the bids shot up over the last 10 minutes or so! Good luck with emptying it; just think of all the ??? you'll be getting for it and how lovely the new kitchen will look.

silken You should come and join us on the fledgling flyers thread - everyone is very friendly and encouraging. You only need to do the babysteps the first month and then gradually add routines, decluttering, etc. so it's quite manageable. There should be a new thread (for July) starting later today; I can send you the link later.

Later C25k is supposed to take nine weeks; you build up to running 5k in 30 minutes very gradually, starting with 60 seconds of running followed by 90 seconds of walking in the first week, for example. Having said that, I don't think there's any way I'll be able to run 5k in 30 minutes by next week as I'm still fairly slow, but the fact that I can now run for 28 minutes non-stop is something of a miracle in itself!

posting from work - tut, tut...

Just came across this:

www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/jun/29/germany-teachers-handwriting-schools-schreibschrift

Hope all is well!

If you join the fledgling flyers thread, we advise that you unsubscribe from the e-mails as you'll just feel inundated by them otherwise (and you can get all the info you need on the thread). Most of us take the wearing shoes babystep with a pinch of salt, too.

admylin I really struggle with decluttering too; no matter how much I do, we still have far too much stuff. But I still that decluttering is key and that my life would be far easier if we had about half the amount of stuff. Finding time to do it is also hard - although getting off MN might help, I suppose.