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Die Kaffeestube - German and Austrian cyber Kaffee und Kuchen

969 replies

admylin · 08/03/2012 12:13

Kaffeeklatsch for anyone in a German speaking country or interested in German, Kommt herein und setz euch!

OP posts:
LinzerTorte · 19/08/2012 13:23

Very impressive, EnglishWoman! I used to get mistaken for a German when I first moved to Austria, but I seem to have acquired the local accent so sadly it doesn't happen any more. I filmed a bit of one of my English lessons on my phone to show DH how badly the children were behaving and was Shock at how Austrian I sounded; I really didn't like it! Must admit I'm also quite self-conscious when we go to Germany now, as I know that some Germans laugh at the Austrian accent. And funny words we they use. Grin

We arrived back home at midnight last night, have more or less unpacked and are now packing for Germany - looking forward to seeing you both on Tuesday, Ploom and silken! In a fit of organisation, I've just booked our flights back for Christmas. Ryanair was extortionate, so we'll be flying with Lufthansa from Munich; it will be nice to avoid the stress of the free-for-all when boarding for once (even though I pay for priority boarding, I still find it a very stressful experience).

TheEnglishWomanInTheAttic · 19/08/2012 13:31

I have a very strong English accent and bad grammar Linzer and Silken, so I could never sound like anything other than English woman speaking German if holding a conversation; it seems I can sound German when I shout 1 liners telling random strangers to be quiet because there are children sleeping out of the window though Wink

Well done on the organisation Linzer :) DD are going to London very early on Tuesday morning, and I have just booked an airport hotel including parking, as DH nagged me to look up the parking and noticed that, as I haven't booked parking in advance, it will cost almost as much to park in the medium stay as to stay overnight in a hotel with parking included. Left to myself I would have rolled up at the airport at 5am and THEN worried about parking :o Haven't packed yet either, though DD has :) We will be dropping the boys at Oma and Opas after lunch tomorrow then heading for the hotel... I booked us a family room in a youth hostel in London and tickets for a hop on hop off tour bus, and the Tower of London (which is DD's personal must see) but was going to play the rest by ear depending what DD fancies, wonder if I should have planned a bit more, having read a thread on chat about taking a 6 year old to London!

itsMYNutella · 19/08/2012 14:33

Well done Englishwoman! I am mostly mistaken for Dutch or Danish, DP says I'm sounding more German but I'm happier being mistaken for Dutch than English. Actually even on holiday some Brits mistook me for Dutch too! Hmm

So Envy of you Englishwoman, wish I was going to London... And you can always resort to the Museums (V&A, Science and Natural history) they have great stuff for little kids ( the v&a has a nice cafe and courtyard area too). We took my friends DD to the basement of the Science museum, where there is a play area for little kids (3-6 I think) and even though she was about 2.5 she luuurrrrved it! Practically screamed with laughter she was so excited. I think her favourite bit was the water thingy there...

There are more kids museums but they are a little further out. I'd like to go to the London Transport Museum.... and there is a "changing of the keys" ceremony nightly at the tower (it starts at about 9:40pm) and its free but I think you have to go about two months in advance - and you don't get to see the jewels. Almost next door to the tower you have St Katherine's Docks. Lovely place to sit in the sun.

Sorry, I know you didn't ask for tips, I just wish I was going! :o

LinzerTorte · 19/08/2012 15:56

Nutella Apparently British people who speak very good German often get mistaken for Dutch; it used to happen to another English friend of mine too.

EnglishWoman Enjoy London! Envy We've decided to go there for a couple of days when we're back at my parents'; we thought about going in November when there are a couple of bank holidays, but then decided it would make more sense to go at Christmas when we'll only have to pay for the train rather than flying over specially.

We didn't really plan much before we went last year, but it worked out fine. I would second Nutella's Science and Natural History museums recommendation; the children loved both of them. They really enjoyed the London Transport Museum too, although it was £££ (£17 pp IIRC, although at least the DC were free). The other thing we did that went down well with everyone was a bus tour, which also included a river cruise; it was far too much of a touristy thing to do when we lived in London, but it was actually really interesting.

TheEnglishWomanInTheAttic · 19/08/2012 16:12

Bus tour is absolutely part of the plan, DD is excited about going on the top deck of a double decker, hopefully it will be open top. She is nearly 7 so doesn't need play areas etc. she will want to do "grown up" stuff - it is just DD and me going so she excited about having me "to herself" in itself, and wants us to do things together :) The science museum is definitely a possibility. I don't want to try and fit too much into one day, and I also don't want things to be in any way stressful, rushing about etc. We will go to Leicester square and buy tickets to a show though, that is another thing we want to do - we'll have 3 full days even though only 2 nights, as our flight there is early morning and flight back is evening.

Actually that reminds me, we are flying into Gatwick, which is the only London airport I haven't used often (used to fly out of Stansted 2 or 3 of times a month at one point while I lived in London) so I'd better check how to get from there to central London!

Nuttella I booked it when DH and 2 of his mates decided to go to Edinburgh for some convoluted reason, but basically on a jolly, on May. I just thought why not? Trips to the UK end up so much about the "duty" of visiting my parents, and it is so expensive because my parents live in the back of beyond in Yorkshire, 2 hours drive from the nearest airport - and flights to Manchester are at least 50% again more expensive than to London... but getting just myself and 1 child to London is actually vastly more affordable than getting a family of 5 to my parents, and a family room in a central London Youth hostel is only ?60 per room per night even at this time of year, so I went for it :) We are flying out of Stuttgart as it turned out quite a lot cheaper than Munich for some reason!

itsMYNutella · 19/08/2012 20:50

Ohhh Englishwoman if you go to exhibition road (all the big museums) and go via tube to Old Brompton road come out of the tube instead of walking through the tunnel (unless it's raining) they've just finished a big redevelopment of the area and made it more pedestrian friendly and there are lots of cafes and places for a nice lunch. Or the other side of the tube station (so walking away from the museums) there is the hummingbird bakery (posh (calorific bites of heaven) cupcakes and coffee)
And the science lab is still good for more grown up playing, top floor of science museum.

Also the last few years they had a butterfly house in the grounds of the NH museum which I liked, they've also recently renewed the exhibitions in there... There is a new Darwin centre (have to pay for it tho) which wasn't ready before I left :(

We're planning a "baby moon" at short notice but I can't convince DP to go to London :( we need somewhere just for a couple of nights to relax and enjoy each others company :o Even though I feel a bit fat (slowly starting to look pregnant) and can't think about doing anything in this heat!

itsMYNutella · 19/08/2012 20:54

I'm sure your DD will love having some special Mum time Englishwoman!

We think this one is a boy... So in another life when we (hopefully) have a girl I can take her to London and we can to Neals Yard, Seven Dials... And Fortnums (found an amazing ice cream bar there)... Probably won't be able to spend anything but I can at least show it to her :o

TheEnglishWomanInTheAttic · 19/08/2012 21:06

I've already promised I'll take DC1 after he finishes the 1st class Nutella, it's not exclusively for girls :) Boys are lovely too, my DC1 can be a wild thing but he is more straight forward than DD ... they both have their lovelynesses and their exasperating traits :o I have a far from perfect relationship with my mum so initially hoped I would only have boys, although I wouldn't change DD now obviously! :)

TheEnglishWomanInTheAttic · 19/08/2012 21:07

Argh I've promised I'll take DS1, DD is DC1, I keep mixing up my acronyms...

LinzerTorte · 19/08/2012 21:31

We had hours (well, quite a few minutes) of fun at the Science Museum last year with an exhibit that takes a photo of you and shows you what you looked like/will look like as a baby, teenager and an old person. Quite scary!

Have just been wrapping presents for the friends we're going to visit in Hannover (it's their DD's birthday the day we arrive), which wasn't a particularly good idea after three glasses of wine (when I haven't had any alcohol for over two weeks). DH sat there laughing at me. Still, it's my own fault for telling him I was perfectly capable of wrapping them all by myself and didn't need any help.

itsMYNutella · 20/08/2012 08:49

Linzer that wrapping sounds like we need to see a picture! :o

Englishwoman my Mum is rather mad (she sounds really interesting and exciting... When she isn't your mum) and being the only daughter I'm the one she calls when she needs advice, a good talking to usw. Actually that's partly why she is in France; I inspired her by moving to Germany... I've felt more like the "parent" than daughter for years. I sort of hope I'm normal almost to the point of boring for my kids.
I love my Mum but it would be great if there was someone I could ring when I need something.

One more moan then I promise I'm done!
we have been looking for a flat. One of the problems is that I want to stay in the town, if possible near where we are now. It's easier then for me to get to work and hopefully next year work more from home. DP's parents have recently bought a flat in a place about 40 mins from Hannover and said we could live there. Because this flat of theirs isn't really big enough (DP's home office means we need a 4 room place) DP could use a room in the upstairs of their house - which they don't use at all (there are 5 rooms & two bathrooms up there) - as his office.
The offer is very kind and they have offered us their upstairs before but I can't bear living in the middle of nowhere in a place I don't know (with his Mum worrying about every detail). Even though I know the offer was made as a bit of a joke because they knew DP would say no; I really wish they wouldn't because having to say no to his parents makes DP feel like such a bad son :(

Rant over. I'm even going to try and not complain about being fat pregnant and hot!

Ploom · 20/08/2012 10:59

morning!

nutella - moan as much as you like about the heat - I'm moaning too!! Thankfully our house downstairs is not as hot as outside so we spent the time over midday inside yesterday. Wondering about taking the dc (and dd's friend) to the Freibad today but imagine it'll be heaving.
I think its reasonable for you to decline your IL's offer and then try not to worry too much about it (easier said than done). Think you just need to say thank you the offer was kind but.... then give them the reasons why it doesnt work. I'm sure they'll be fine about it.

linzer and silken - looking forward to tomo. Hope you're having fun at Playmobil land linzer. I Imagine its a day for the dc to be there all day in their swim stuff. Hope you got the wrapping done. Thanks for that tip about the reading eggs website - ds2 is happily playing on it now. Was impressed on the test at the beginning by how much he could read as we havent done much english reading for a while. He got to the 34th question (out of 40) but then there were words like "climb" which I'm sure he's never seen.

Englishwoman - have a fab trip with your dd. You definitely deserve a trip away and some sleep!!!! I've not been to London since I was 23 (altho went often before that) so no help on the tips for things to do. Well done on the shouting out the window in German and being mistake for a german - oh I would be so proud of myself. You def deserve a gold star.

Well should really get off the computer and start cleaning for my MN visitors tomo Grin. Or maybe I can rope the dc into helping since they're already complaining they're bored!

admylin · 20/08/2012 12:28

Hello!
Linzer and Ploom hope you have a nice trip and meet-up. Englishwoman* great idea to have a few days with dd and great that you have in-laws to help.

Nutella have you seen many flats yet? Took us almost 2 years to find a decent sized, affordable 4 room flat in Hannover but 40 minutes out of town is abit far. Guess you still have the offer to fall back on if you really can't find anything.
Have you tried advertising? I found that when I put an ad in the paper (HAZ or local Stadtteil paper) I got quite a few good offers. Familie sucht.... didn't get as many calls as Akademiker sucht... or MHH Mitarbeiter sucht.... so if you word it right that can help. It took us ages because of the prices really - over half of what was offered was too expensive.

Too hot here too. Had to go to the bank quickly and do some shopping this morning and am now sitting infront of the fan cooling off. Positive side of this heat - the dc aren't even hungry so no cooking for me! Cooled melon and iced drinks on the menu today!

Dh went to Berlin after all last week so we went for the day, dc were happy to get dunkin donuts and mexican at our old favourite place. Everything has changed so much, loads of new buildings around where we used to live.

We've got guests coming today for a couple of days. It's the Eid celebration today which is like the muslim Christmas. We aren't religious but we do Christmas so we're doing Eid too as that's what dh was brought up with! It means lots of food and sweets usually but we've got melons, grapes and mangos to make a big fruit salad. Also have some Turkish delight and other sweets from the Turkish shop.

OP posts:
silkenladder · 20/08/2012 14:41

Another one moaning about the heat here. I'm just feeling so schlapp, I can't even think of an English word for it. My circulation is in the bin in these temperatures, even my eyesight seems to be affected Confused.

itsMYNutella · 20/08/2012 15:35

admylin & silken we'd never take up the offer and the ILs know that. Just wish DP's dad didn't think it was so funny to offer.
It's far too far out and would mean a second car so that I could easily get to stuff (with baby or even to work) and I have no interest in moving out of town. I grew up in the middle of nowhere and love being able to see my friends cycle to things and get a cup of coffee out. Yes we put an advert in the paper and got lots of calls, either miles from where we want to be or tinier bathrooms than what we have now! :(
What we have is ok, we know what we have around us and the problems this building comes with. Just an extra room would be very handy... And a bigger bathroom. Ah well... We will resume the search next year I suppose...

And I've been hanging around in mostly just underwear today, it is too hot!

worldcitizen · 21/08/2012 21:05

Hey all, hope I can be helpful with the Kita expression Smile

It means Kindergarten and could also mean Krippe, if under the same roof with the Kindergarten OR if parents choose to say Kita instead of Krippe, if their child is a toddler for example.

The formal term used to be Kindertagesstätte or even Kindertagesheim, especially in the 60's and 70's, but was mostly referred to by everyone and especially by the children themselves as Kindergarten.

Kita really became more and more a term used by many from the early 90's...

And Kita, Kindergarten, Krippe could refer to half-day or full-day, and for school kids the term Hort is widely used.

itsMYNutella · 22/08/2012 09:09

Morning everyone, so glad it is cooler!
Welcome worldcitizen are you joining us?

I'm guessing you are mostly busy with back to school preparations? Although now the weather is more bearable I should also move my butt and do some stuff... Oh and I ordered a load of sleep suits for baby from Mothercare :) haven't seen multipacks here - all tips welcome - or good unisex stuff. Also a lot of the sleep suits seemed to need to be totally undone to get to baby for just a nappy change Confused no handy leg poppers... I'll keep searching though and see what else I find. Got some great stuff at a second hand shop last week :)

Do we have a new thread yet? I'm worried about breaking mumsnet if I try it...

cheaspicks · 22/08/2012 09:59

New thread here

silken with name change here btw, I decided it was time!

worldcitizen · 22/08/2012 10:34

Hi everyone, thanks for the welcome. I would like to join, and I think, I don't even know who this thread is aiming at, but I think I'd like it anyway Smile.

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