Der Weihnachtsmarkt: Glühwein und Waffeln und Lebkuchen

[finknottle]

Hope I typed that right, have lead in my boots this morning. Had a great weekend with lots of Glühwein and Weinschorlen and Nikoläuser.
Didn't get back from a Christmas party till 8 last night and too late to make the Kranz. I usually start decorating on Dec 1st so will do that with d after school and then light a candle tonight.
We're in the UK as well for C'mas but I still do decorations, put the tree baubles in glass vases so even they get an outing.
I love white fairy lights, put some all over the place and in the evenings leave the lamps off and light downstairs with fairy lights alone.

The tree lighting on Saturday was great fun, friends of ours were there and their 13 yr old d took mine to the fire & waited 15 mins in the crowds for Nikolaus while I was plied with Glühwein.
Think my ideal Christmas is Advent here and C'mas day in the UK, then back here for Sylvester. So this year should be good.
Mind you when we're here we have roast beef on the 25th, or goose. Think if I served Truthahn, h would clobber me with it.

Taipo have mailed you.
Have only one school meeting this week but a stack of reports to write. It is very good for my rusty brain but v hard work getting into. Feel rather fragile this morning, housework beckons and all I want is a bucket of tea and an aspirin

I don't think you're missing out. I had my first one of the season the other day and decided that they are pretty vile really.

I only like really good quality Lebkuchen, you know with lots of fruit and nuts in and none of yer cheap ingredients [food ponce alert]. Dh swears by Lebkuchen Schmidt

Still no snow here, just very cold, wet and windy which is the worst kind of weather possible. Makes me want to emigrate somewhere really warm. To make things worse dh is away this week - in California

Never heard of langos either, but I googled and they look quite tempting.

Finknottle - I´m sure I must have mentioned the time hearing someone in the supermarket repeatedly saying Frau Doktor and taking ages to realise they were talking to me.
It has it´s advantages - ds is so accident prone that I´m sure he´d be on some sort of at risk register with the number of accidents he´s had so far if I´d had to take him to another doctor every time.

admylin - we´re off to Berlin again at the weekend (dh doing a course). I don´t suppose you could recommend which is the best Weihnachtsmarkt to visit. Not that the dc will be impressed, but am hoping bribery might see me through.
Dd was virtually hysterical when she realised we wouldn´t be at home for Nikolaus. I´ve promised we´ll write a note to stick on her door to let him know where we are.

Nikolaus, hmm. I organise (ahem, Amazon.de but we are in the wilds, ahem) as usual the children's presents. Ordered s1 a 4x4 Rubik's cube as he's besotted with them and has mastered the normal 3x3 (mystified emoticon)

S1 won a prize at school today and announced while having a (fairly unusual, he's nearly 12) cuddle on my lap after supper that Papa has ordered him a special present as a treat for the school prize.
You follow.
Cancel Amazon order.
Desperate re-think.
What can I order tonight which can be delivered by Sat.?
He knows we get the presents and he knew that if h had ordered something it more than likely was the 4x4 cube he was after.
Humph.
Have ordered him foul German rock music CD, Ärzte anyone?

Fink
Arggh, how annoying. DH rarely buys anything for the kids unless he is away on a business trip so I never have to worry about duplicate pressies.

I did some Xmas shopping yesterday. Lots of cool tshirts. I got one for my SIL with the logo from Desperate Housewives but it reads "Swiss Housewives"

Got to go and stop the kids killing the poor dog.

Phew, new Amazon order dispatched already so Nikolaus is saved. S1 deserves a treat not only for his prize but because he volunteered to help me on the Förderverein stand at the Weihnachtsmarkt on Sat, without asking what's in it for him. Other volunteers were thin on the ground for the afternoon & early evening of the 6th. I shall probably come home to find d and s2 in tears because Nikolaus didn't come, i.e. h was glued to his computer and forgot.

Unfortunately we're not selling Glühwein, only coffee and Kinderpunsch (bleh) and waffles. Will be very atmospheric though, in a winery courtyard. Santa had better bring me a whopping great present after all my good deeds lately A house elf would be great.

Hi all. Still no Glühwein for me

How is everyone? Who's poorly?

MmeL, I am now officially desperate for a fleece. thatnks you & Admylin for the links, but altho had t shirts, no fleece. I'd really like a hoodie with a central zip, so a Kaputzenjacke with a swiss cross/these log do you see what i mean? he's about a size 132 (is that right?) about a typical 8 yr old. If you or anyone sees a swiss zippy hoodie please let me know.

Going into Munich for the 1st time in ages today. TBH I can't really be bothered, but am sick of sitting in the house all alone thinking about how much housework there is to do.

Any news on jobs Admylin & Gab?

I can also only praise Amazon.de - I did all my Christmas shopping for my 2 dc the day before yesterday online and it was all delivered yesterday - I didn't even ask for 24 hour service! My mum also ordered the gifts for my 2 on Amazon.co.uk and they delivered direct to me within 5 days.

Now I can go into town and just wander round the market with no stess of having to go in over heated shops and search for presents. We're going on Saterday to the historic mittelalter weihnachtsmarkt. My neighbour told me it's worth it and all the stall holders are dressed in old fasioned clothes.

Ernest
Got your email. Will reply once I surface from the chaos in the office. Have left lots of paperwork build up and desperately need a day writing letters, cancelling subscriptions etc.

I was in town yesterday. I could have looked for a hoodie. Will have to go in again tomorrow perhaps so will look in manor. How much do you want to spend?

Oops. Just spotted an unpaid bill. Better get started.

Ernest, isn't it typical, when you want something you can't find it but you know you've seen it somewhere! In Berlin stuff with the Swiss cross on was absoloutly in trend and I saw loads if clothes on offer.

Mmmelindt, have you started dealing with official stuff in French yet? Or does someone help you? I remember when I lived in France some of the health insurance paper work was mind boggling even though I spoke fluent French.

Still poorly, and now dead fed up.

DS is coughing and sneezing and having trouble breathing so had a terrible night. He is down for a nap but still sneezing and coughing - in his sleep I think. Not sure whether I should take him to the KinderA but then what are they going to do ???!! Say stupid MrsGabster its just a cold?

Do you think its OK to gie a 10mo (next week) tea? Maybe some herbal stuff or something? Have never given him a hot drink before but thought it might help him feel better?

Warm tea with honey should do him good I would think. Keep him really warm too. I'm getting treatment from my neighbour - she's loving practising on us as her exams are in March (Heilpraktikerin).

I feel like a witch but I've even got something from her for h which I've been secretly mixing in his tea at night to try and stop him being so grumpy! He would never take it freiwillig anyway and if it helps...

I think warm tea is a great idea - Germans seem to love their Erkältingstees, but I think you´re meant to wait until babies are 12 months before giving them honey because of the risk of botulism. Hope he feels better soon. You could try raising the end of his bed a bit as that can help sleep.

I´ve just started writing Chrismas cards, but have drastically cut back my list this year. I´m feeling very virtuous as I managed to get the dc to make them this year. Minsdyou I´ve only written 2 and decided I need a mumsnet break, so it could take a long time.

Ooops! I always forget Christmas cards. So I will have to do some more shopping.

I have to say I like the way that Germans hardly send any cards - only to people they won´t see over the Christmas period - much more sensible.

I didnt know that about the Germans and cards Hupa. No wonder my German friends are always so "wow, thanks" when I send them cards.

Thanks for the reponses ladies, as always. I found some kindertee at the Apotheke so going to give him that and see what happens. At least he seems fairly happy today which is a bonus. Could not take the wingy groany thing in the state I am in too.

Yes, I knew about the honey thing hupa, but thanks for the thought - its a funny one that too, as so much baby stuff has honey in it here. I have avoided it so far, although I came close the other day (had honey on toast for breakfast and he asked for some and only just remembered in time!).

I have indeed, as advised, decided we are spending a quiet day wrapped up warm in the house. Popped out only to the apotheke and the bakers for bread for lunch and some apple juice.

Trouble is - does anybody else always fancy a curry when they have a cold? Now where did I put those bombay potatoe sachets ....?

Sorry to hear your DS is not better, Gabster. Nothing worse than a wee one not able to sleep cause they are all blocked up. Poor soul.

Have dug out the application fir kindergeld and will attempt to find out where to send them today. Very complicated business. Just coming on mn to get some advice about DS tormenting the poor puppy he pulled her tail today.

Thanks for the heads up on the cards over here. I've got black fingertips today from making fingerpaint penguins on our homemade cards. DS1 has given up helping already, so it's a bit embarrassing having to admit that these childlike cards were in fact made by me!

Really quite narked today. My landlady has booked a lumberjack and he's cut down pretty much every tree or bush. We used to have a famously (in the town) private garden. Now it's going to be a free for all. Grrrreat.

Teachers are commenting again on DS1. He only speaks English in his klasse. I just raised my hands in despair. He speaks German 50% at home, but just doesn't bother at school. What am I going to do? The teacher kindly said "It will happen" but I'm at my wits end. I tried talking to him about it when we got home, and the poor chap started crying, and saying things like "Tische, Banane, Toilette, Tu". Anything to show he could no it, but tears were streaming down his face. My heart is broken right now, and I just want to change my UK plane ticket to a one way!

Anyone used the Muzzy BBC language series. Bloody expensive, but beginning to wonder if that might work. Anyone have any ideas on how to get him out of his shell and try the words?

DOn't even get me on St Niklaus tomorrow. It's going to be a disaster. A Sporthalle full of children? Fin is going to freak.

Tqo
Your poor DS, he sounds miserable. Does he have german speaking friends? Does he meet up with other kids outwith school?

I know the feeling. We have had DD in tears cause she dies not understand what the kids in school are saying. Give them time, everyone says but it does not help when your child is unhappy NOW. I want a quick fix that does not exist.

tqo - much sympathies about your garden. The exact same thing happened to us in ch. So not only did we lose the privacy, but it also made it a lot noisier. To add insult to injury a couple of neighbours had a go at us about the trees going

I think that Muzzy is an expensive waste of time. German tv, german friends, time and patience I reckon weird tho that he'll speak german at home - none of mine ever have and they ate speaking german in front of me. Kids eh?

OK, can I have 2 moans please? Am v. miserable today.

Moan number 1 (lesser gripe) Met English woman in this town. She's a hairdresser. She says she'll cut my hair. I go to her house. She cuts my hair. She asks for 15 euros. Fair enough. I then ask about colouring. No problem, she'll do it. She comes to my house. colours hair. 15 euros.

Hair going mad. Try hirdressers. Doesn't work out, so I ask her again if she can do me - cut & colour. She comes yesterday. Cuts my hair (my front room, so I have to sweep up) then puts colour on, says she has to go and collect her ds (I knew in advance - she was supposed to come with her ds after, and our dss could play with each other, but she changed time, so I reckon her ds doesn't want to play with mine) so anyway, she puts the colour on and has to go. Tells me when to rince myself off. Oh, and that'll be 45 euros please. I don't think I'm a paticularly tight person, but I was really pissed off, how come it's 30 last time, then 45 this time, and she doesn't even hang around to finish the job? To piss me off even further, I go into Munich and walk past a hairdresser - cut & colour 35 euros! To piss me off yet further, although I asked for exactly the same colour as last time, she's doen a different colour which I don't actually like.

She just phomed up - I missed the call - asking how it all was and if I'm happy. So do I just avoid her for the rest of my life, lie and say it's great, or be brave and say I hate the colour and I'm pissed off she charged me so much??

Anyway, that was minor rant.

Big moan - not settling, not happy, hate the uncertainty of life now. Our boys had the most idillic set up in Switzerland, so many friends, so much freedom. So happy. Now we've got the worst of both worlds - not in local school, so no contact with school friends outside of school, live in detached house with no clear neighbours, so no local friends or kids on street to play with. Ds1 is especially sad and miserable. I realised today I've had no social contact (except hairdresser) with anyone at all this week. Went into Munich and dh couldn't meet me for lunch. This just finished me off so came home.

If we stay in Germany, maybe we'd move to a different area? Regardless, we have to leave this house in 2 and a bit years. Then if we stay, ds1 & 2 will have to move to German school. Or if we go back to UK? God I hated where I used to live. But we'd go somewhere different, it would have to be within commute of London for dh work. It would be starting all over again. I'm crap at this. in 6 months I've not made any friends. There is 1 english firned who lives just down the road. In an emergency she's there, and she's very lovely, but she works, so I rarely see her anyway.

I just feel in a terrible limbo, i'm not settled or happy here and neither is ds. When he cries and says he misses ch and wishes we coud go back, I want to cry and say I do too

Then to cap it all - the bloody snow clearing rules. It's just occured to me, if it's law to clear your pavement, wtf do you do when you're away. I asked when I was in the gemeinde & the ysaid I had to organise for somone to do it for me. I just wanted to burst into tears and say there isn't anyone I can ask.

Well, DS may have been born in DE but is British through and through. Took 3 sips of herbal tea and spat each one out. Then looked at me as if to say "you want me to drink what now?". At least he had a fairly good nap lunch-time and now seems mesmerised by teletubbie (oh, thank you God for giving me satellite).

Hey TQO - did you use the Hairdresser in the end? Sorry about DS1/school - would not know where to start with it. Maybe something fun in German - have never heard of the BBC series you mention but will ask a friend if she can recommend something if you like (her DH was German teacher in UK before they moved here).

MME - oh dear about the puppy. We have that one but then dog isn't really a puppy anymore so is very tolerant (thankfully). Do you have a crate for the puppy?

ernest, I know exactly how you feel. If it wasn't for my neighbour I wouldn't have had anyone to talk to since we moved here. It's realyl hard isn't it? I went to help out at dd's school and spoke to the other mums but it takes mor ethan a couple of times to get to know people - especially in Germany. They aren't so quick to say come round for a coffee and some are even shocked if you invite them round too soon. You have to be so carefull not to offend etc ..

In south Germany I used to meet a woman on my walk round our village when the dc were small and we always spoke, so one day she was passing and I was on my way up to our flat to give the dc their lunch and I just said oh come on up with us and I'll put the kettle on - well she went all funny and wouldn't come in , had to go and she didn't stop to speak to me for ages. Infact some people have a fear of being invited in because they would have to invite back and don't want people in their homes or would have to tidy up etc, and just calling round is a big no no, everything with appointment only, if you get that far.

Hi everyone. You wrote a while back how much you liked Munich Ernest. Maybe with the onset of winter and everything you are all feeling a bit glum and maybe for you it is also having the baby around and being worn out with it all. If so, that will pass and it will be easier to be more sociable when the baby is a bit older and spring is here and you are more inclined to spend time outdoors. Are your boys in any sport clubs?

Taipo, still thinking about your ds (other thread).

Glad I'm not a freak that I don't like Lebkuchen et al. Actually I've just remembered I quite like Spekulatius but was reading some time ago you have to watch it, they've discovered some dangerous substance in a lot of it (?! dunno what exactly). Shame, hope it gets sorted quick whatever they found.

Could someone please explain what exactly these langos are for those of us to lazy to google. C'mon now taipo and hupa. I am sure I nave never encountered this stuff.

I've never heard of langos either! Might see some at the weekend on the weihnachstmarkt.

H has joined facebook. are any of you on it? All his old students from Berlin have joined his group or what ever it is and he sits writing funny messages to them about the party here or there that he missed. He lived out his mid life crisis to the full in Berlin by going out to these wild student parties whereas here in hannover he only has a slightly older serious colleague to go out with and he'll only have one beer then he goes home ( I like him, I hated the students)!

This was the page I got when I googled langos. I´ve never seen them either, but will keep my eyes open now.

ernest - sorry you´re feeling so fed up. Is it possible for ds1 to stay after school for any clubs or would it even be possible for him to move to a local school.
As far as the hairdresser is concerned you should let her know that you´re not happy, but I know if it was me I´d just avoid her because I hate confrontation.

admylin - I don´t belong to facebook. Occassionally I think it might be quite interesting, but then read the threads on here about the problems it causes and haven´t got round to it. I don´t know if you saw my question about Berlin and Weihnachtsmärke - is there one you would recommend?