** German Chat ** Alle sind willkommen. ** Frühling läßt sein blaues Band ...

[MmeLindt]

...
Wieder flattern durch die Lüfte
Süße, wohlbekannte Düfte
Streifen ahnungsvoll das Land
Veilchen träumen schon,
Wollen balde kommen
Horch, von fern ein leiser Harfenton!
Frühling, ja du bist's!
Dich hab ich vernommen!

*

Für Deutsche und nicht-Deutsche, Goethe-fans und Gottschalk-fans, für Herzschmerz, Heimweh und Heimatgefühle.

Alle sind willkommen.

at that age we were in Africa so we didn't roam about outside our own property alone, what with poisonous snakes, perhaps a danger of kidnapping I don't know. We did have a lot of land compared to what was usual in Europe at the time so within our own grounds we were left to do our own thing pretty much accompanied by a crowd of dogs, so it didn't feel constricted.

I could chop the head off a big snake though and knew to toss it away from the body sharpish. We could shoot although we didn't carry fire-arms about. I think we were in more danger there on our own grounds from snakes and other critters than dc nowadays would be from strangers but I'm not really sure.

We used to spend hours playing outside and roaming the estate where we lived. I don't think it would be possible now on the same estate as there would be more cars whizzing around and not many parents would be prepared to take that risk.

It's one of the benefits of living here that the dc can go out on their own and play safely. We live on a very quiet road which is also a Spielstrasse so most days it's full of toddlers zooming around on their bobby cars and Laufräder.

I bet you have done more housework than you think admylin. I often think I have wasted another day but when I analyse it , realise I somehow got a lot done. Must be magic.

Dd has choir today. Can't be bothered with it but we have to go - concert coming up and she enjoys it. I was wondering about letting her go on her own. She's quite keen but I don't feel ready for it yet, clucking mother hen that I am

Sorry, for barging in, just skimmed the thread and it made me feel homesick - I am never homesick, but, oh, the thought of a Spielstrasse - lovely!

oh settle in and endulge your homesickness! We seem to have a fair-sized Scottish-German contingent somehow.

WHich part of Germany are you pining for?

Dd had a letter on Friday, is she allowed to walk home from the tram stop this week or should she be accompanied back to the school. She went for school. So she wants me to meet her, funny as she is looking forward to freedom back in UK but doesn't want it here. She's at her week Freiluftschule in the forest and they come back by tram at 4:15 every day.

Well ZZZen I have done a bit of shopping and piled the breakfast things up in the kitchen if that counts.

it counts, it counts, I tell you it all counts!

I like it!

HI Mummyfor3. When have you got your next visit planned? Homesickness gets worse the longer I don't get back for my twice yearly or atleast annual fix of family, britsih tv, home foods and such like!

I am from Rheinhessen, but have lived here now for almost 16 years .
And, yes, I agree, admylin, homesickness or rather an appreciation of things I always just took for granted, gets worse the more time passes.
It is quite funny that I came here in 1993 for a 6 month job and 1 mortgage, 1 husband and 3 children later I am still here ! So I must like it afterall - and of course I do, but doesn't stop me from being wistful at times...
I go to see my parents about 2-4x/year; in the last year they have been visiting us quite a lot as DS3 has only just turned 1 (yesterday, yeah!!) and I found it hard to travel with 3 on my own.

Think you need a medal for travelling on your own with 3 small dc tbh

Mind you think I need a medal for travelling with dh at times, he leaves everything till the absolute last minute (hotel, packing, finding his passport, getting to the airport, boarding) drives me mad

dd thank goodness is no trouble at all

ZZZ at your DH!!

Mine is just tidying the kitchen . There is a lot of huffing and puffing to attract my attention, LOL...

Where in Scotland are you Mummyfor3?

Where is everyone off to for Easter - if anywhere?

I'm looking for something to take back to UK for my nieces for Easter, just not sur eif the German style marzipan, nougat eggs are abit sickly for them? My 2 don't really like them.

Just put washing in and cleaned round bathroom so I'm done for the day!

They have nice chocolate lambs wrapped in gold. Don't know which company that is (maybe Lindt) but if you have a look around an Easter display, I think you'd find something nice they'd like.

please though mummy3 tell us how you got your dh to clean the kitchen. What's your secret?

Yes the classic rabbit with the bell around the neck is by Lindt too isn't it? Might just get those but wonder if I haveroom now - still haven't figured out how much baggage we're allowed without paying extra.

Yes, I was wondering that too ZZZen!

The golden rabbits from Lindt are everywhere in the British shops now, in all sizes and in dark and white chocolate too.

I've found some little bars of chocolate wrapped to look like Euro money so that'll be one thing to give them but not very Eastery!

maybe it's rabbits I'm thinking of then not lambs

Do any of you still have that tradition that you get a new set of clothes at Easter? I remember when we were small, we had to have all new stuff right down to the white knee socks and new knickers and vest, then a new dress or top and skirt (thinking 70's here)

For what it is worth, here is my 2p's worth re Easter chocolates: as a child I really liked the small solid chocolate Easter eggs that come foil wrapped in all colours usually in a little netting bag.
I got those here at Lidl's - never thought a cheap discounter would turn our to be the place were I got my bits of "home" .

I live outside Glasgow, semi-rural. We had back of house demolished, then rebuilt, so now have contemporary extensions to old house and the architect, who is a good friend has asked to come round and take photos for her website - hence never before seen levels of minimalism going on here. I had no idea that I had THIS much worktop space . Sadly, will probably never be seen again either. 'Tis nice, our new bit, but not that spectacular - I do not think Architectural Digest are likely to come aknocking begging to take photos .

I think we used to get one big egg with smarties in it but I was never a great chocolate fan so I wasn't that fussed about the egg side of things. Can't remember being decked out with new clothes either

What I did like was the roast lamb and mum's easter biscuits. Actually I should try and find a recipe for those. Oh yes and she made the yummiest hot cross buns. (Never tried that myself because it involves that ingredient that terrifies the life out of me - yeast).

I like those hardish sponge cakes you get in Germany shaped like lambs (I know I'm sounding lamb obsessed somehow today) and sprinkled with icing sugar but I have never found a mould for them. I have a recipe with a nice illustration of one in my Doctor Oetkers baking for children cook-book. I also keep looking for a mould for a Nicholas Häuschen but I can never find those either.

your house must be looking impressive then mummyfor3. What's in the new bit?