Der Herbst ist da - wir wollen aber kein Regenwetter: Life in Germany cont/d

[finknottle]

Too lazy to scroll through the other long one.

Here for Obst und Blaetter - guess what d came home from school singing yesterday?

All welcome, Austria & Switzerland & any German-speaking Leute too

at Villenviertel, MmeL - sounds wonderful, you seem to have landed on your feet in Geneva.
DrG you sound v calm, hope something comes up for your h. Mine is stressed and miserable at work atm, has been for ages, and things aren't v positive in the German job market now.
We've booked the ferry for England at C'mas - 9 days. The last 2 yrs h has had no time off at all between C'mas & New Year. When we last went to my parents 2 yrs ago he had to drive back alone to Germany on Boxing Day for work on the 27th and the children & I stayed on & flew back later.
I can now happily start writing a shopping list:
Quavers
more Quavers
Twinings tea
Cadbury's Flake
Imperial Leather bath & shower smellies
...

Hey FInk - only calm because I will be so glad to see DH happy - like yours he has been so stressed and unhappy for so long now. The change is what he needs. I am definitely feeling more confident on the parent front now too which helps (DS 9m on Monday). Although I wish I could sort his sleeping out .....

Things to add to your list:
Chocolate buttons
twiglets
cadburys swiss roll
caramel
pg tips
M&S nickers
(and anything else from M&S in fact)

My suitcase is going to be so full when we come back! Wish we were driving now as could bring back so much more ..... [insert feeling guilty for not integrating emoticon here]

Flights booked here too. After spending last Christmas at mil's we are going to my parents this year which will be relief. My parents may not be perfect but they are at least pretty relaxed about things and we won't have to worry about being at the dinner table at 12 on the dot every day.

On my list:
PG tips
Cadbury's Flakes
Minstrels
Galaxy

Can't fit much more in as we've stingely limited ourselves to 2 suitcases for all of us - 30kg in total.

Good luck with dh's job hunting, theGabster.

Hi all. Gabster, how come your DrGabster now? What did I miss? Whatever happened about dh off sick warning? about the redundancy. Do you feel OK about it? Did you give him a kick? Good luck with job hunting.

We are driving back at Christmas (am I the only 1 who doesn't want to go back?). Not really looking forward to being there as such, but am looking forward to the shopping. Dh would have a fit if he saw my list, which includes -
tea
custard powder
branston pickle
SR flour (not used it in a decade, but what the hell)
marmite
boys boxer shorts
mint sauce (philistine I know)
crunchies
quality street
clothes for me, if I loose enough baby weight.

Am on VERY strict diet now. Have had enough of baby weight, no clothes and too much wobbly stuff going on. I guess my teeth will thank me for it too.

Not only are we driving - I'm taking the roof box so PLENTY of room to bring back PLENTY of stuff. No guilt about integration or lack of here.

Hope you're feeling better Admylin. I do actually feel a bit - dh flew to UK today with ds3. He's there for the weekend. I could've gone back last week too, as boys had half term, but it's so expensive to fly me with all 4 kids, and I don't want to drive on my own with the baby ifswim. I did the drive on my own from Zurich with the 3 boys loads of times, but a needy 5 month old baby is a different kettle of fish to 3 big boys isn't it? Anyway, since mil died, it's not the same going back. I can still stay with fil, but it's really not the same. Which is why I'm not looking forward to Christmas there. Must be harder if you have somewhere to miss. But at least then you have got somewhere to go back to.

The Gabster is our resident shrink on the Regenwetter thread Ernest.

Wondering if the thought of us all offloading our troubles on to her is now making her so relaxed about leaving... I always quite fancied Canada myself but I don't quite know why. I tried telling this Canadian once that I imagined Canada being quite a nice place and he was having none of it. He seemed to think it was a lot of bleak wasteland with not much inbetween.

Saw a documentary on Tele 5 once about a bunch of French speakers emigrating to Quebec and they seemed to find absolutely everything great.

Actually I was thinking the other day Sweden might be nice foryour family Ernest, if anything came up there. If I had free choice, I think I might like to settle in Holland. Dd for reasons unknown to me has decided we are moving to Italy. Dunno why, she's never been there and doesn't know any Italians but she won't budge on it, her mind seems to be made up

Actually whilst I'm liberally sprinkling us all round the globe, I think NN might have an easier time of it in Sweden too. Bit like Germany in some ways. Went to Stockholm once, only briefly. Lovely city though, escaped all the war bombings, lovely surroundings too. Bit cold for me though.

Admylin I would send your lot to Mauritius. I know you don't like the heat but you'd have air conditioning. And taipo.... hmm not sure how much of a fad you have for Asian things. How about a year in Kuala Lumpur Taipo?

And me? I know I'm shackled to my German h but I too dream of other more clement climes...
Sounds like a citrus fruit!

I know it has to be south for you, hmm lemme see

actually I think it might have to be Italy for you too finks. What with dh being all musically inclined and so on. See you nattering away at the fountain, sipping your red wine and the kids all cruising about with beautifully combed hair on their mopeds.

Not that the mopeds are hairy but you get the picture.

Hey Ernest. Are you OK on your own? Give me a bell if you are lonely! Dh's sick warning was final straw for him and he wants to leave (like he hasn't said that before), then this week they anounced voluntary redundancy options!!! He has signed up.

Ooooh - forgot about crunchies too. Mind you, we have enough Branston to sink a battleship - they had some v.good lookalike stuff in Lidls a while ago so we stocked up. Think would be mistake for us to repatriate though - don't know about baby fat (is definitely still there) but think would have to be industrial underwear.

Dunno about Sweden Zen - alcohol is far too expensive! Love the Swedes though (especially with parsnips, snigger). Used to work for a swedish company when first moved here. H did suggest Holland though - lots of jobs in his industry and has a few friends there already. Not sure myself. Nothing I can put my finger on, just what is there in Holland? Close to Brugge I suppose (thinking chocolate as usual).

Anyway Zen - you only get to see the cool exterior I portray (note posh word learnt in degree studies) on MN - am a complete wreck at moment. Had terrible day yesterday as only got 4hours sleep night before and ended up being v.uncool and bawling my eyes out in middle of baby group. Well that's another perfectly good facade in tatters. I suppose when Dh lands things like this on me it means nothing as already struggling with whole new mum thing - moving just has to go to the back of the queue!

Aaaargh, who mentioned crunchies. I'm sitting here now craving one and I want it right now!

Don't know about Kuala Lumpur, ZZZen. I did really like Hong Kong when we lived there but can't imagine being there now. Actually you've got me thinking where I would move to if I had the chance, but going through your list of places I'd have to say I really think I'd rather stay here which has to be a good thing, right? Perhaps I just couldn't face packing and unpacking everything again.

Morning all.

H always says he would like to live in Sweden but I would definately not move to any country where I had to start learning the language again. I remember how frustrated I was in south Germany when I couldn't stick up for myself, felt as if I would burst sometimes. I'd go to any English speaking country but UK would be top of my list. France would be nice too. I used to love the French way of life. He is still insisting on applying for that job in Portland, USA.

Hi admylin,
where is Portland - Ohio? Might be nice but I suppose you wouldn't be allowed to work there so he would really need to be earning enough to makethe thing worthwhile

Only heard positive experiences about living in Sweden but tbh know very few people who have done it so hrd to generalise from just 3 families' experiences. They do have one of the highest rates of child happiness apparently according to that report which was mentioned on MN last year sometime. Holland even higher, vaguely recall it came in top but not 100% sure of that. Both nice, liberal, relaxed places with excellent schools and health care.

Why is he so keen to apply for the job, admylin? Would it really be so much better for him then his current job. And what about you and the dc? Doesn't he want to give the job in Hannover a chance? I would say don't let him do it unless you would be truly happy going there with him. Or an ultimatum perhaps that if he gets a job elsewhere you and the dc go back to the UK and he sees you in the holidays. Don't have a clue where Portland is so couldn't comment on whether it's a nice place or not!

No idea either about Sweden. Dd's friend goes there every summer for about 6 weeks and they love it. Actually her dad is a bit of a Sweden bore .

I don't think I'd like to go somewhere I had to learn the language from scratch either. After 5 years in Hong Kong I learnt barely a handful of words of Cantonese I find it an effort here sometimes to really express myself properly and my German is pretty fluent.

Cor blimey - definitely not another language. H knows that one is non-negotiable.

Admylin - is he really seriously looking or just doing a "oooh, look at that. That would be nice" kind of thing?

Just broke the news about possible redundancy/moving back to blighty to my (pretty much) one and only close friend out here and turns out her DH has been eyeing a job in the same town we are looking at moving to!!!! Am getting VERY EXCITED now!!! Would be so kewl ....

Anyway - have had lovely day. dumped Left DS at home with DH and went into town to meet said friend for Xmas shopping (yes I'm serious as have to take presents back with us next week) and posh lunch - was lurverly. Totally pooped and a bit squify so having a good MN and surf before I pass out go to bed.

Night all

If this is Portland, Oregon you're talking about, Admylin, it's a fantastic city. I lived there for 2 years in 2000/2001 and absolutely loved it. I can't think of many places with a better quality of life.
I'm in a similar situation as your dh. Scientist (micro- and molecular biologist) who would like to stay in academia but there just arn't enough lecturerships around, it sucks but it's how it is.

Short note to bump this thread up my "Threads I am on" list so I can catch up after my guest leaves

I am NOT moving, no matter what wonderful city ZZzen picks for me, not even got the last box unpacked yet.

good morning all. Really sunny and bright here. How did the shopping go, the Gabster? I've just done most of mine on line, and will get it delivered to fil, where we're spending Christmas, so will only need to wrap it when I arrive. Been weird without ds about, but by all accounts he's being absolutely brilliant, so I think the w/e away without his brothers has done him & his &dh relationship the world of good. WOnder how dh is feeling this am (after going to pub with mates from 2 pm onwards yesterday....)

Thanks for your offer btwGab, luckily (for you) I didn't see it in time - I think ds1 & 2 & me & dd wold've cramped your shopping style somewhat

Good luck with jobs and new directions. oh, boys are emerging. damn, must go, catch up later xx

We had the most sunny and warm day yesterday - I was telling the childen off for playing in the garden without jackets then went outside myself. Was in shirtsleeves hiding on the balcony clearing the flower pots and a dead clematis (am world-champion clematis killer) as I didn't want any neighbour to see me in the garden & mention the Thicket of Doom Weird weather or what? Made coffee & a sandwich & pulled out a stool and sat enjoying the warmth.

Today is proper November weather, grey, rain, dull, gloomy. Might light a fire this afternoon. Am hiding in my study as h is cooking a big fry-up for brunch. As a result of my flipping out yesterday that I'm sick of cooking morning noon and night & he never does a hand's turn... Had to leave as he's sulking and martyred about no one wanting his scrambled eggs. S1, "Papa, aber bei einem Fry-up (sic) ißt man Spiegeleier und keine Rühreier!"

Anyone else's h cook ever? Without the martyrdom? Any bets on how thick the layer of grease will be on and around the cooker?

Italy sounds heavenly. I remember once sitting at a harbour picking out which flat I'd have in my old age, lovely ground floor flats with terraces full of terracotta pots. Few steps to the harbour, the shops, restaurants & market. Up the hill though the town to the lemon groves. H wants to sell up when he retires and buy a boat & sail around the world. I said, "Fine, I'm buying a flat by the harbour in Italy! Do not even think of bringing me 6 months worth of dirty laundry!" Bodes well for our future

You know ML, I think you're the kind of stable person who falls on their feet almost anywhere. I can think of a few places to beam you off to but we'll accord you a little rest since you've just got to Geneva.

Well we'll be seeing you in Italy then finks. Dd is the kind of stubborn determined little soul who quietly insists on something and doesn't ever budge when she's made her mind up. She cannot be swayed and she says it's Italy so presumably in the end after say 8 years of quiet persistance she'll see to it that we move there!

Actually I've finally given in and agreed to let her learn Italian. I've been trying to fob her off for ages and point her in the direction of French because she'll have to learn it at school anyway and if she learns Italian now, it means yet another language to keep up. She'd always say, "Oh I like French too mum, I might learn it later but now I'll learn Italian". So I have ordered some stuff and we'll see.

Gracelo, yes it's Portland , Oregon and h is at his office right now updating his CV to apply - sounds determined and to be honest I would be OK with the chance to leave Germany. Though the idea of dumping all our stuff and starting over with all new, half appeals to me and half scares me to death.

We had an invitation to the neighbours last night and h even joined in. We had a couple of bottles of wine and the dc played monopoly. Now I'm goig to invite them down for an Indian meal next time. We've just got back from a long walk through the forest. Lovely day and the colours are still amazing. Dd keeps collecting leaves because they look so bright then they shrivle on our hall table where she dumps them when she gets in - and she's got a huge stick collection on the balcony!

Well done for Christmas shopping. Liek theonline idea Ernest. I asked my 2 what they wanted this year and they don't want anything, how about that for contented, not-conned-by-the-media dc!

Finknottle, how was the fry-up? My h likes cooking but he never has time to spare. He is a talented washer-uper too (takes me twice as long) and quite a good cleaner when he sets his mind to it - but I want a handy man, I can cook and clean too but I can't fix things. We're never happy are we!

I am insanely chuffed with ZZZen's opinion of me being "a stable person able to settle anywhere" I was not on MN when I was in the Nemesis of MNetters, Hannover.

We had a lovely visitor, my friend from Germany. She is originally from England but has been in Germany for some time. She is the kind of visitor I love, no hassle, no fuss, mucks in with doing the dishes and is content to sit around doing nothing all day. We had breakfast until 12pm today, sat on the couch drinking tea until 3pm then had coffee with my neighbour until my friend had to leave for the airport.

Yesterday we were at the farmers' market in Carouge. Incredibly yummy food, and some strange unidentifiable vegetables. We also saw a guy selling truffles, small ones around 35chf, larger ones about 60chf.

LOL at Familie Finknottle's retirement plans. I will come and visit you in Italy, Fink. Sounds lovely. We were in Positano last year on the Amalfi coast, I could imagine you there.

I could moan about DH's culinary skills (although he does a mean boiled egg, always perfect) but I wont as today is Hurrah-for-DH-Day. Our sat dish is working!!

Evening all. We had a very grey blustery autumn day today so didn't go anywhere at all. Tried to play monopoly with the dc but that just descended into the usual squabbling and fighting. Dd then went off to play with a friend and dh and I played rummy with ds which worked well once he was on his own. I wonder if they will ever stop winding each other up.

Dh cooked tonight so I can't really complain about his culinary skills. He usually cooks about 2 or 3 times a week, at least as well as I do

Farmers market sounds good, MmeLindt. I love food markets of any sort. Have you tried any local Swiss specialities yet?

Talking of local specialities we went to Trifels in the Pfaelzerwald last week and ate in a restaurant at the bottom of the castle. They had lots of Pfaelzer specialities and dh said I should try Leberknoedel (this despite him being vegetarian for 20 years). I was a bit as I only have bad memories of liver from school dinners. However, I decided to give it a go and can honestly say that they were the yummiest thing I've had in a long time.

And now, having read about the Milka caramel chocolate earlier on this thread I am now sitting here with a bar of it next to me and am about to try it. Will report back shortly on the tast test