Friede, Freude, Eierkuchen : German Corner 3 - life goes on

[SSSandy2]

Other thread was getting a bit full. Alles wie gehabt :
"Deutsch or English
Native speakers, expats, anyone
From Brezeln to Bier

Please don't ask if you join in, everyone is welcome "

well with 3 little ones, I think it would be impossible to learn the language franke. You'll have time for that later when the smallest one is in kiga maybe - unless number 4 turns up!

I'd love a baby tbh but I have to be really strict with myself the way things are. I need to feel dd is alright and things are a bit clear in my mind before I could and I am rapidly running out of time - so I think the decision is being taken out of my hands really.

Number 4 I thought I'd run out of time too SSS and had pretty much decided against number 3 when I turned 40 last year. I was wittering on at anyone who would listen how I thought I must be peri menopausal until it suddenly dawned on me that I was pregnant. It was such a shock after the first 2 were planned with almost regimental precision! I don't know how old you are but certainly for me having number 3 at this stage has delayed the getting-back-into-work thing rather worryingly. I do wonder what's going to become of me in that respect.

Wow, MmeLindt that must be a very babyish 7 year old, mine wouldn't have been seen near a buggy board at that age. Funny idea.

I find everything in England is abit mollycoddled at the moment. It's not only the dc, it's all this health and safety to the extremes, there are so many things cancelled because they don't meet health and safety precausions. My BIL is trying to organize a big event to raise money for cancer research - you would think that would be encouraged but there's one woman in some office refusing to give him the go ahead because of some stupid safety reason. I am not totally against all the police checks that are done though, for example any one can work with dc here in Germany but in the UK you get a police check done first for nearly all child related activities or clubs if you just want to help out.

I think alot of the 'raised in captivity' dc are due to the crazy state of our roads and speeding idiots driving on them. There just weren't so many cars around when we were small - the same road that I used to bomb down on my little bike in the summer holidays as a child is now a constant traffic jam.

Oh, don't get me started on the Health and Safety nutters Officers. My Dad used to moan that he had to stop working and go and change lightbulbs because noone was allowed to do that themselves anymore. Even a desklamp.

Did you read the thing last week about the woman who was not allowed to take her own son to school in a taxi as she has not had a CRB check. Barmy!

I don't know about the police checks, I think that it lulls people into a false sense of security.

Admylin
He is quite babyish, I think. Apart from anything else, I don't know how SIL is supposed to push the pram with 2 DCs on/in it. She is only about 150cm

Franke
good to hear from you. LOL at your peri-menopause. You should have called the baby Perry

LOL at not being able to drive her own son to school without a check. Thanks I needed to smile (bl s). You are so lucky to escape in time to avoid them.

So did you have a word about the buggy board in the end?

I have said that I would prefer to buy something for DN, not something that is really for DNephew. DB said, oh ok, but we have already said to him that you are buying it.

I did not say anymore on the subject. I am going to let it go. I bought a cute hand puppet today for DNephew to play with DN. I am going to Glasgow on Friday so will look for something in John Lewis for DN.

Mum is going to ask about the buggy board in a few weeks and mention the weight restrictions. I am not getting any more involved.

Do I need to check the S thread? Are you havign a bad time again?

No no, keep off it. That thread would drive you to drink. I just have to take my mind of it. Thought last day of school would be alround happiness and great relief and instead it was tears and I feel crap because of it. Dd is finally asleep though so I'm trying to take my mind off it!

I think you have found a nice solution. Really as a dp you are just so happy that people care and do things for your baby, aren't you? It's not so much that you get a specific present.

How are you managing without dh?

Hmm, Perry you say? Maybe I should start a baby names thread just for a laff.

I think the puppet gift is really thoughtful btw

just going back to what you said Franke about re-entering the workforce at some stage, I have been thinking about that too. I applied for a position early this year and would have started part-time if dd's sch*ling had somehow settled into place with perhaps just the occasional hiccup instead of it being the all-consuming worry it has been. As it was, I didn't see how I or dd could have managed if I had gone out to work, even part-time. That's the main thing holding me back and how often she gets ill really. Couldn't take that much time off work without problems.

The longer you leave it, the harder it is to get something you would enjoy doing I'd imagine. And then you have the s* holidays to deal with.They do have this system whereby you can apply for a Hort place throughout the holidays here which I think is a good option for working dp. They could offer that in the UK too

I am missing DH actually. We have been having a bit of hmm, how to put it. Problems? Strife? Well, we have not been getting on too well in the past 6 mths.

Poor Mum was dragged out for a walk tonight as I was fed up sitting in the house in the evenings. DH is big on spazieren gehen (very German trait that, you don't see many Brits out for strolls in the evenings, unless they are on their way to the pub)

I am missing our walks, it is when we have time and peace to talk.

I often think, Oh, DH would like this, when I do something.

On the other hand, I can go visiting without him getting fed up. So I have the chance to do what I want which is quite pleasant.

We are in constant email contact thanks to his bloody Blackberry. I told him recently if he doesn't get off the blardy thing then I will be making Blackberry Crumble.

oh those blackberries! Dd was ready to bury dh's in the garden last summer hols. He was "conferencing" on the stupid thing for days on end. Wasn't his fault, some drama at work but it's like it's attached to his arm and has become a part of his body. He's always checking up on it, every few minutes, bit compulsive.

Absence makes the heart grow fonder maybe? Sometimes some time apart is a good thing. Any chance of a night out with some friends and your dp keeping an eye on the dc. Sometimes I feel like I've slipped back into unwanted childhood when I'm at home. So I could imagine missing dh more if I felt like that.

I like going for walks too but too much traffic round here would have to go out somewhere in order to go for a walk IYSWIM!

I am hoping to arrange a night out with my friend, I am seeing her tomorrow. She has twins, just a couple of months old so will depend on her DH.

Normally I would go out with DB but he is busy with new baby too.

We have had a real baby boom, 5 babies in our family/freundeskreis and another one due shortly.

'It's health and safety, innit?' That was a phrase that used to chill my blood when used by some petty official as an excuse for why you are not allowed to do something. I'm very glad that there appears to be no equivalent here. at the woman not allowed to take her child to school.

I went for a walk last night too! It was a lovely evening so I made a spur of the moment decision to phone a friend and suggest we go for a walk. It was great and made me think I should do it more often really as long as it's still light in the evenings. What's the scenery like where you are in Scotland, MmeLindt?

I'm off shopping this morning to buy a new bathing costume as too many trips to the Freibad has made the old one disintegrate. I keep toying with the idea of a bikini, then look at my stomach and think 'Noooo'

Arghh, I've been packing all morning and there is keine Ende in Sicht - how can one child have so much junk, and none of it is to be thrown away, it all has to come with us?! How I wish I was a nomad, at the drop of a hat they manage to pack their whole tent with everything they need to survive in - yes I want to be a nomad. Now they are asking for lunch already - suppose they are use dto teh traditional school snack break which they don't get at home so they're hungry earlier than I expected. Sigh, off to the kitchen, I think it's going to be hot-dogs today.

By the way - MmeLindt surely no honest sales person will even sell you a buggy thing if you tell them it's for a 7 year old.

I actually wish my dh would get a blackberry and then get used to being organized and keeping all his stuff together. Talk about old fashioned with his little note and papers spread all over the place - phone numbers with no name written next to them etc. His doctor friends all have little machines for everything, to make oral notes, to make reminders and get beeped etc - although I would get fed up of too many chargers and adaptors lying about wouldn't I.

Admylin
My DH had his BB for almost a year before using it, he is very resistant to change. He would still be using an old Olivetti typewriter if he could. He had a great Zettelwirtschaft until he got his BB.

Now he takes it everywhere with him, it is terrible.

He wont have a company BB when we move to CH though, so I wonder if he will want his own.

I am toying with either a BB or an iphone when I move.

The nomad idea sounds good. The DCs get a big fabric square and a stick to carry all their wordly goods in.

Taipo
Here where my parents live it is not very scenic, but we are not far from the banks of the River Tay, in fact only 15mins from the estuary. When DH is here we often go down to Broughty Ferry, a sweet little village nearby and have a wander along the beach. There is a fab pub there called the Ship Inn that appeals to my German DH, very traditional and cosy.

Resistant to change, I could put it that way for dh too! He still can't write text on his mobile and if he gets a message he saves it to get me to read it for him (suppose he can't keep any secrest from me eh!) so it would be a big überforderung if he had a BB! When we were in the UK last time he gave his mobile to his colleague to get him to text me! Another thing that really bugs me is his internet banking. I love internet banking, it's so practical but he still won't believe me when I tell him he can make out an Überweisung and tell the bank to send it on which ever date he wants to pay it. He has to go online the exact day before he has to pay a bill. His ideal world would be where you get cash and then you take it to the electric company head office and pay at a counter like in the old days or the rest has to be paid in person ...but he can work 10,000Euro worth of microscope!

As Princess Di said "There were three people in this marriage". In our case me, DH and his BB. Tappity tap is all I hear at the weekend when he's supposed to be spending time with us. Grrrrrrrrrrrr.

It's just dawned on me that we haven't got any medical travel insurance for the US yet and we fly next Wednesday - means I won't be able to do any online ordering and will have to go somewhere and get some quick - any tips for that sort of thing in Germany?

Am also feeling guilty and think I should try and do something nice with the dc before we fly and then move house so soon after. Like a little Abschied activity in Berlin but have no idea what. Or am I being silly, I mean half of me is saying they are getting a trip to Texas so one week of boredom before we go won't kill them?

Don't know about medical insurance for US, Admylin, we just have the standard insurance from the Sparkasse. Very quick and easy to get, iirr.

I think we also have coverage from the ADAC plus Mitgliedschaft. Are you a member of the ADAC?

Thanks, have found one at Volksbank where h has his account which says the cover starts from the day they get the payment from the account so should be enough time to do it online. Phew, have not got time to go running around Berlin looking for insurance!

Rain today in Berlin, is it OK in Scotland? Every summer when we go back home we always end up buying fleece jackets and water proof shoes! I don't care though, I love our cold wet summers - had a lovely afternoon stroll in the Berlin rain with the dc and no umbrella, reminded me of my childhood! Bit of rain never kept us indoors, our friends here seem to switch off and not do anything if it rains.

We have had one really wet day last Thursday and tomorrow is forecast for rain. It has been nice apart from that. We bought wellies last week as the kid's Geox are hopeless in the rain.

we are having a rainy time of it, aren't we? Wonder if the summer is returning?

You know how we were discussing cheesecake? Someone has posted a recipe on MN for white chocolate cheesecake which sounds yummy (and also quite easy) but as usual there are problems getting all the ingredients here.

What could you use insted of Hobnobs? Caster sugar I suppose you could just use normal sugar but what about double cream? I find the cream here quite thin/watery so what could you take to get the consistency of double cream?

Any ideas? I do fancy that recipe but doubt you can make it turn out tasting that similar. Better for my figure if I don't make it though!

Dizzydixies' recipe here:
www.mumsnet.com/Talk/1379/546246

Hi, I am really enjoying this weather - tanking up on the coolness of it for my holiday! I hate it when it's hot and humid (like where we're going)

Got quite a bit packed yesterday and painted a bit in the kitchen because dd saw the paint and begged to be allowed to do some so I let her - we only have to touch up any flecken like where the chair had rubbed against the wall etc. Have to caryr on packing again today, still have a whole row of books and loads of files to pack, can't believe we have so many books.

I also liked the sound of that cheese cake but I don't know what double cream would be here. I got one off here last year but haven't tried it yet, it involves a pot of marscapone and 200g of melted chocolate on a biscuit base, sounds very easy and very tasty but nothing for the hips/waist/thighs!