Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Flexible and made to last.

Meet the Other Phone.
Flexible and made to last.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Living overseas

Whether you're considering emigrating or an expat abroad, you'll find likeminds on this forum.

Original poster

Streupflicht und Schneeschaufel

699 replies

finknottle · 05/01/2009 12:45

Thanks Gabster for the inspiration for the thread!

Add your resolutions here & I can slip alongside and pretend I'll make some too.
Still too fragile - my sleep patterns go haywire when I'm home, stay up till 1 or 2am, then awake at 5am (6 here, usual flipping school time) then I come back & keep crashing on the sofa at 10pm and wake up at 4 bright & breezy.

We have snow, very pretty and h is off till Weds so am pushing him out for Streupflicht, bartered it for a fry-up with real English bacon, hmmmmmm.
Forecast is for -12C to -14C tonight - and when the children go back to school on Thursday. Yikes.

OP posts:
MmeLindt · 30/01/2009 09:20

Ernest
I loosely followed the Gräfe & Unzer book about fasting the first time I did it. I think it is called, "Wie neugeboren durch Fasten". This time I googled Fasten and just picked up bits and pieces from different websites. I have found the best way for me is to drink: water, fruit juice schorle, some tea. I allowed myself an occasional coffee.

You will need to use some really obvious Swiss-German words in every sentence so that people realise that you lived in CH.

Admylin
I would like to lose another 5kg and then I would be back to the weight I was when I got married. Still not skinny, I will never be a size 8, I never was. But finding clothes that fit in a size 12/14 is much much easier than size 16/18. I am looking forward to going shopping in UK when I am over for the henny night in June.

The wedding is in July so I can stock up then too.

I quite like the new look MN, but I suspect I am one of few who do.

admylin · 30/01/2009 09:26

Mmelindt, I've got used to it now, took about 15 minutes and I like it too!

Yes, I wouldn't want to be a size 8 , even size 10 again would be too skinny! Have you ever been in Fat Face clothes shop? I always need a size smaller than usual in that place, it's good for me when I walk out with a smaller size that fits!

ZZZen · 30/01/2009 10:52

ah some good news on the thread this morning I see. Hut ab ML, 4 kg is quite some achievement. Do you notice the difference in how your clothes fit? Can you tell where it dropped off from. Boobs would be a bummer I agree admylin. Just imagining if the boobs disappeared and the belly was the only bump left on that side. Not too good eh?

However I will try fasting. Just g ive me a couple more weeks.

taipo, the withdrawal symptoms are not too grievous this time. I woke about 4 am the first two days with a dull headache, that's gone now. Think I needed my fix then. Will have the same next week I think when I cut down to one.

Last time I went cold turkey and had such bad headaches I had to lie down and then I think day 4 or 5 my hips (!) hurt and my legs twitched (!!!!) I definitely drink too much of the stuff.

Ooh Ernest, getting excited?! Hope something nice comes up, enjoy your visit

ZZZen · 30/01/2009 10:53

I'm one of the wingers who think this new format is unhelpful. I liked the old overview of all the different topics on one page. If I wanted something specific I could just scan the page and see where it belonged. I'm a bit annoyed with it tbh. Old curmudgeon that I am, I want the old one back!

Wahhh

ZZZen · 30/01/2009 10:53

wHinger even

admylin · 30/01/2009 11:02

I could do with a strong cup of coffee or even better a coffee with brandy in at the moment.

ZZZen · 30/01/2009 11:22

don't worry (ha famous last words) admylin. We'll figure out something. Bl* schools.

admylin · 30/01/2009 11:35

I'm turning into a compulsive worry/anxious wreck at the moment.

MmeLindt · 30/01/2009 11:41

Admylin
Sorry to hear you are having S problems again.

The caffeine withdrawl symptoms sound nasty, aching hips and all.

I do notice that my clothes fit better. I am lucky that I have quite big boobs so they have not disappeared, just became a bit more erm, managable.

ZZZen · 30/01/2009 11:42

Yes of course. This is a serious setback. I have been trying to google for you and see what Hannover has to offer, but none of the links are working. Might have to restart the PC. Anyway over to the thread of horrors for that.

I know you cannot not worry. It's ruining your week off though, isn't it? I dunno can you play all bright and breezy, well you aren't going to Hauptschule so we'll sort out soemthing else (kind of thing) and try and have a nice week together.

DebInAustria · 30/01/2009 11:43

wow ernest things are moving so fast - you don't hang around do you?hope you have a lovely weekend

hi to everyone else

DebInAustria · 30/01/2009 11:45

wow ernest things are moving so fast - you don't hang around do you?hope you have a lovely weekend

hi to everyone else

admylin · 30/01/2009 11:45

How are your plans going debinaustria? Are you staying one more winter?

DebInAustria · 30/01/2009 11:50

house is officially on the market as of today but we are having serious second thoughts about going back to the uk with the current economic climate.i feel so torn.

ZZZen · 30/01/2009 11:55

LOL at deb being torn. There are good and bad things about wherever you go, aren't there. So hard to get it right. Still if it wasn't working out , I suppose you do have to take the plunge and be brave about it.

Yes Ernest moves fast. She's a real little dynmao that one

admylin · 30/01/2009 11:55

I know, it worries me too as I want to go back but doesn't look as though it'll be quite as easy as say 2 or 3 years ago to get a job. Still, it'll hit everywhere so I 'd still rather have credit crunch in UK than over here!

DebInAustria · 30/01/2009 12:01

Yes I know you're both right. Today's a good day, sun is shining, snow is sparkling, and ds1 got the top marks in his Sachunterricht test.(v proud Mummy)

admylin · 30/01/2009 12:02

Do you know what you would do back home job wise?

ZZZen · 30/01/2009 12:04

could you stay deb if you let yourself be swayed by the sparkling snow or have you burnt your bridges already?

hupa · 30/01/2009 12:32

Is anyone else playing lotto this week?
With 35 million in the bank I´d be out of here like a shot. I´ve quite enjoyed dreaming about where in England I´d buy a house, where would be a good location for a holiday home etc. etc. I know with odds of 140 million to 1 it just isn´t going to happen, but it´s been fun dreaming.

ErnestTheBavarian · 30/01/2009 12:35

but deb, the 'current economic climate' is just that - current. It's not great, but nor is it anywhere, and while it's particulrly bad, it is nevertheless just part of the normal economic cycle. it will get better. I really think you need to not factor that into the equation.

do you miss England (/family)?
Are your kids at an ok or bad age to move?
Could you see yourself being there forever?

It was you who pointed out to me that staying a few more years would make it very difficult to leave . kids at 'bad age' - too close to end of secondary school, or kids settled here (even gf/married! ) and then that's a whole new ball game.

You've been thinking for a long time about going back. Apart from the economy, is there anything else making you waver? Is it just you, or dh too having 2nd thoughts? The kids?

Ha ha ha. me dynamo. Must tell dh that one. ha ha

taipo · 30/01/2009 14:57

Deb, I don't know what I'd do in your situation. I'd probably be a bit swayed by the sparkling snow too Good for your ds, getting the top mark in his test.

At least if you do leave now, you'll have good memories of your time there. Who knows, perhaps you could return at some point.

Is the lotto jackpot that high this week, hupa? I might just have to go and get a ticket. I don't do it regularly, just when I'm feeling a bit fed up or if the jackpot is unfeasibly huge. Nothing like a bit of irrational dreaming about what I'd do with the money to buck my spirits!

ZZZen · 30/01/2009 15:07

imagine winning that lottery!

Would you really move to the UK hupa if you were that rich? I might move to Barbados or soemwhere like that, I'm sick to death of winters I really am.

DO you remember that family in East Germany somewhere who won the lottery and became millionaires? They were on benefits prior to that but after a year or two they were broke again. How do you manage to go through that much money though? I remember a report on them mentioning they had bought several fridges and things like that. Just no concept of how to spend money by the sounds of it.

taipo · 30/01/2009 15:27

at spending that much money so quickly. Some people really do have more money than sense!

I can't imagine that I'd want my life to change too dramatically. Like you though ZZZen I'd want a place in the sun to escape to in the winter. And then, maybe a mountain hideaway somewhere, as well as a swanky New York appartment. As well of course as giving away large amounts to friends and family. I suppose that would take care of the best part of 35 million euros but I'm sure I'd have something left after a couple of years!

hupa · 30/01/2009 16:22

Maybe I´d have my holiday home in England and move somewhere warmer. The only problem is I´d want to be able to speak the language and I can´t face learning a new one, so that cuts down the options.

I was reading about someone who won 15 million Marks and is now living in a homeless hostel. He said he had a lot of good friends who helped him spend the money. I wonder how many of thoses friends are still around.

Swipe left for the next trending thread