** 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!

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

Alle sind willkommen.

just quick post to say i think i might have found my first german friend!! went to drop dd at her school friends house and the mother invited me to stay for a bit and we got on great! she's an english teacher but she didnt seem in any hurry to speak it - she quite happy tolerated my bad german!!

missing having good girlfriends like i did in the UK so on the hunt for some decent friends!! its a bit like dating though - all too stressful!!

wonder if mme lindt is having a good time at her PILs? hope there's not too much folk music!

I think having friends here is so important. I´ve made a few,mainly throughthe children, but I still really miss my friends in England. I think it´s just having the shared history and not having to explain everything.

Glad you´re settling back into English life again Gabster. I´m very about the supermarkets, I really miss them.

Admylin - so pleased you´ve made the decision. There must be so much to sort out, but you must be feeling so happy.

Ernest - I don´t envy you having to make a decision. I think putting the dc into German school and then reviewing the situation in a year is a good idea. Munich is such a great city and if you could get the schooling sorted (a big if, I know), I´m sure you´d feel a lot happier.

My brother lives in Munich and he´s got a new girlfriend (German). He took her to visit England last week and said he was so embarrassed to be English. He made the mistake of taking her out to the town centre on a Friday night. He said the number of people who were so drunk they couldn´t walk or were throwing up in the street was unbelievable.

had a dull day due to the rubbish weather today - think i'd got used to it being nice!!

just need a moan about dh - he's telling me he's having trouble sorting out his bank account here - not sure what trouble - something about him not being happy with the account he always had and he's trying to change it! but in the middle of this i've got no bloody money! he'll happily give me money if i ask for it but i find this so demeaning - AIBU for him to get his bank stuff sorted asap and get me a bloody EC card that i can get the shopping with!! it always comes to a head on a fri - he forgets to get me money on a thurs for the weekly shopping on a fri so now the last 2 fridays we've had to go shopping with all 3 kids! its my absolute nightmare thing to do with the kids - they play up and run away!! never get a proper shop done!
i've always worked in the UK and he paid for most household bills but i got the shopping out my wages. i know its taking time for us to settle in to the new way of life but i'm really unhappy with the money situation.
but i knew i would be even before i came here - i've always liked having my own income!! so need to go downstairs and discuss it again!! will let oyu know how it goes

Ah yes, Hupa, the uk drink till you puke/have a fight town centre experience. I am of course english myself, so I know not all brits are like this, but really far far too many. My dh is always frustrated when he goes for a drink after work, people will have 1 or 2 then stop, unlike in england where people will have more like 5 or 6 and only stop when it's closing time.

Yes, the UK drink 'culture' is one thing I don't miss. Actually, many things I don't miss. Erm, can't say I actually miss anything at all. Have enough tea bags to last me till next decade.

Canella, I know what you mean, shopping with 3. How old are yours? I rarely go with all 4. I'm now happy to leave the eldest ones at home while I pop along (probably have the social after me in the UK - only half joking), or even better, send ds1 & 2 on their bikes with a list - they love doing this, only just discovered.

I know what you mean about asking for money. I haven't had my own income for a while, but do have my own ec card. trouble is ATM machine charges ar ridiculous, and none in our group near me, so since been in Germany, tend to get him to get me cash as it really adds up. Not nice having to ask for the money though. Which bank are you with? I think it only took about a week to get my ec card. stamps on his foot or something.

And last but not least, hi gab. Glad you're settling back in. It does sound lovely where you live. Your list made me laugh. Also, all the stupid font (illegal) number plates and cars with neon lights underneath. What's that all about?

I don't miss UK supermarkets at all - am i the only one. I'm always truly truly shocked and appalled when I go in one when I go back. The amount of utter utter crap in them is astounding. and people wonder why the obesity crisis is happening, and worse in UK than elsewhere. uh. Because there's rows and rows of utter shite, and it's worse each time, it must've been creeping up for so long people no longer see it. Mini pork pies, mini toad in the holes, mini heat attacks on a cocktail stick, not to mention 10 isles of cakes and sweets, but not a decent loaf of bread to be found.

Phew. Well, I do miss some things, but supermarkets aren't 1 of them. They must be especially nightmarish with little kids. Mine are irritating enough in our teeny Edeka, and the worst I get plagued with are please for shite breakfast cereal and 'yoghurts'. Actually, they're very friendly. We have 1 older lady checkout assistant who like to speak to me only in (ear piercing high pitched) English. So far she's stuck to the price and actualy transaction, but she is daring to involve other topics of conversation, like complaining at the man in front giving her handfuls of change. I stick to ec card.

hope it's better weather again today, we has 3 out of 4 poorly kids plus grandad visiting, so at least a paddle in the lake with an ice cream would be a nice distraction. How are your plans going Admylin. Are your parents thrilled (and relieved) for you?

Yes, in my corner of paradise in UK drink til you puke is also a hobby. I went out with my sister one night and she can drink more than me as I'm out of practise so I had to say you get one and I'll finish the one I've got at my own pace! A bit wimpish I know but when you've been out of training..! I noticed though, the youngsters were well drunk by 10 pm and getting louder but we sat in the oldies posh bar and just observed.

I wish I would manage this move as calmly and collectedly as TheGAbster seemed to but I don't think I will. I didn't manage any sorting out yesterday as had 4 loads of washing to do, an empty kitchen to restock (have to feed them all along the way) so had to go shopping then we went into town as I had to navigate for h as he had to find a shop for something from work. He'll need a good navigation system when we're gone - any reccomendations?

hi all, is your decision made then Ernest - giving it another year?

Canella , hard to judge without knowing what the bank account issue is that is bothering your dh. Can't you go in together one day next week and just get it settled? Otherwise he should have a regular day/time where he withdraws a certain sum of money and gives it to you for the weekly housekeeping - or indeed even monthly. Having to ask and be paid in cash is a bit demeaning, I agree.

well, we were aiming for permanent move to UK easter 2010.

Now we're considering not moving back to UK but staying permanently here. I think it makes sense then to put the boys out of IS and into D system now (well, at start of next school year). That way, if it really is a hellish experience we can reconsider. We meet on Friday morning to discuss, so maybe then we make decision for definite. I know the boys won't be happy, as they think we will definitely move to UK next year, and they will want to stay at IS.

So by end of week, we'll have decided how we spend the next few months (IS or D system), and during the next few months we decide for sure which country we'll live in. So I guess we'll holiday in UK a few times to help.

How's everyone's weather been like, just to get all british? It's been hot & sunny, cold & rainy, hot and sunny, now black & threatening here today.

Ad, my dh has got a Tom Tom & he's satisfied with it. Whole of europe, choice of voices, easy to use (I've never used it so can't say much more) they were last week anyway half price on Amazon.de hth

I think he's been looking at tom tom ones. I'll tell im to look on amazon, thanks.

If you weren't planning on going back until 2010 then you have plenty of time to test the German system of schooling and have a few holidays back in UK to be sure of the final decision. You could look up some school books at the library too or the book shop. I was in a big book shop today and they had a really big section for school books for all ages, alot of the Duden stuff and practise books on all subjects.

don't know what we have admylin. It's ok. There are some quite cheap ones out there and people have told me they are fine so I don't think you can go far wrong.

How are things with dh and how is he taking the whole thing?

Good luck with everything Ernest.

Just ordered him a tomtom one from Amazon, no idea which one but it should do the basics for him.

I've just seen your mail. My pc (ahh my NEW pc is playing up already and I haven't been able to get onto the internet). I think you need a day or so to relax after the travelling, planning, thinking and then start the ball rolling.

I'll go and check out your mail now.

Thanks ZZen, your mail makes it all sound easy! I'll get to work tomorrow with some of it but I should write those letters of Kündigung tonight for ds to hand in. Thanks alot for the wording, sounds much better than my efforts.

Hey Ernest - your plan sounds sound to me (IYKWIM). Test the D school system first - you never know how they will cope. Then regroup.

Must say there are still culture shocks involved in moving back to UK. Who would have thought it? I suppose we have just been away quite a long time.

Whole heartedly agree on the food in the supermarkets. Am lucky enough to have local butchers, bakers and village shop so must admit am doing a lot of the shopping there now as have given up with Tescos - its all just so confusing and everyone seems to be organic mad on fresh produce which just seems to be an excuse to charge 3 pounds for a punnet for strawberries and 1pound 50 for a few parsnips (I kid you not). Do you know you can even buy organic balsamic vinegar here ??!

Admylin - My dad has a TomTom. It is his third sat nav system (don't ask) and he says it is far superior so reckon you have done the right thing.

And dont sweat the stress thing - just get on with it. If the job has to be done you just have to do it and if you don't have the resources then it will just have to wait! That's what I have been going on.

Right, now off to post on local mumsnet to find a babysitter - there is a well decent curry house in the village which needs an evening visit from Mr&Mrs Gabsters!!!

xx

isnt it funny how you're having a culture shock moving back to the UK - bet you never imagined that! i do think a lot of fruit and veg are much cheaper in germany than in the UK - punnets of strawberries are only 69 cents in our local shop at the mo - never that cheap in the UK!

had a quiet but nice weekend - just some nice walking yesterday in the forest - trying to tire ds2 out in the hope he sleeps better! off to get some shopping now - all the stuff we forgot when i took all 3 kids with me on fri! looking forward to a mooch in peace and quiet today! ernest you asked how old they were the other day when i was having a big moan - they're 2.8, 4.6 and nearly 8!!its the two little boys that cause the trouble! well ds2 really - but he can easily wind ds1 up and i've also got dd wandering round looking sullen!! dread her teenage years!

hope you all have a good day!

I think I will need talked through this packing up and moving thing again by you all! Today I managed to get rid of 3 big bags again, one to the neighbour for her grandchildren and 2 into the Altkleider container.

Also had to do a big shop and will maybe go round to the bank about the dc's saving books and get some other bits of shopping.

We'll hopefully get a Sprinter van to fill and leave h with sofa (which is also a double bed), double bed , desk, chair and the kitchen electric stuff like toaster, coffee machine etc that's all he wants and needs and that would make enough sleeping places for us to visit (would have to really convince the dc it'll be a great holiday though as they don't want to set foot back here)

I think a day relaxing is OK or should I franticalyl be doing stuff? No , I want to aim for mid May end of May at the latest.Wish the people I contacted at the weekend would ring about the flats to look at for h then that would be sorted too. MAybe i'm too impatient and that's why I get in a flap about doing stuff NOW!

my mails always make everything sound easy unless it is to do with my own life, in which case I never know what to do.

Sounds like you're doing great so far admylin. One step at a time and everything always gets done in the end, doesn't it?

seen this on front page of bbc web site today?

Fab weather again today, but loads to do and no energy to do it, up with dd at 5, groan

Hi Girls, we are home.

We had a good holiday but came back to find that we had been broken into again. Spent the last day sorting out insurance, buying a new laptop (to replace the 3 month old one that the bastards stole) and generally running around like a headless chicken.

Have loads of washing to do as well, from SIL's holiday, all the bedding, towels etc.

Spent ages get the new pc set up yesterday and putting all the software onto it. Annoyingly, the week before we left DH's niece was using the pc a lot so I did not have much time and did not save the latest photos to my external harddrive so I have lost some photos that I took.

They also stole jewelery, that I at first thought of as not very expensive stuff, but totting it all up yesterday I came up with over 2000eu worth of jewelery and watches. Most of the jewelery was stuff that I don't wear anymore but had sentimental value.

They took the French wine (not the Swiss) and the bottle of Moet that my neighbours gave me on my birthday. And somewhat bizarrely the Nespresso capsules that were on the cake stand in the dining room. Not the machine though, they must have one of those.

DH has spoken to his company and has told them that we are most unhappy (I told him to exaggerate a bit about the hysterical trailing spouse) so they are sending someone out to see about an alarm system. It still has to be confirmed by someone from HR as they normally would not pay for this but under the circumstances we might swing it. It is the second time that the house was broken into in 3 months, and the previous tenants were also burgled (while they were in the house, which would be thousand times worse).

Anyhoo, I am a bit pissed off but trying not to let it get me down.

Admylin
Good to see that you have made the decision, sounds like it was the right one.

Just skimmed the thread, so off to read the rest. I did notice that our long lost Ernest has found her way back, good to see you again.

Caught up on all the news now.

Ernest
Sounds like the only thing that is drawing you back to the UK woudl be the schools. I think that trying out the local schools before making the decision based on the reputation of German schools is a good idea. You might be pleasantly surprised.

IMO a lot depends on the individual school and the teacher that your DC end up with. They could be in a great school and not get on well with their teacher and then be miserable. It is just luck really.

Better go and get the DC off to school.

nice to see you back mme lindt but that is so crap about getting broken into!
its the hassle of getting it all sorted with the insurance etc but you also need to feel safe in the house! is the house let through your dh company? they really should be doing something about it! wonder why its been broken into 3 times?

hope you get it sorted soon!

i had a random day yeterday - went to a different shop for food and heard a woman speak english to her little girl!! have never heard anyone round here speak english so i went to speak to her! she was really friendly - she's south african - been living in muennuerstadt with her german h and 3 dc for 4 years! we swapped phone numbers but she said she's away for the next 3 weeks on Kur?? i dont really understand this - she looked about my age (mid 30's) - will she take her kids with her? why would she need to go away for 3 weeks? my most important question is can i go too? i'd love 3 weeks of relaxation and health treatments! (is that what it is?)

OMG MmeL what a nightmare. really, how horrible. Are you not tempted to move (I'm not saying that to depress you further or upset you, Honest). Sadly, I have heard that once you've been broken into it's often repeaded, cos the thieves are clever enough to work out you get new stuff on the insurance, so come back a while later to get a second lot of brand new gear. Sounds like that has happened to you DId you only find out about the previous tennat's break in after you moved in? Apart from the alarm, is there anything else that can be done - bars, locks etc to improve security and provide deterrent? You poor thing. Blimey, when we were in CH we never thank God had any bother. We once went on holiday and left a ground floor window open. When we returned it was wide open, a huge window. Cannot believe we got away unrobbed. The house was frighteningly cold though - t'was mid winter. We had to huddle in front to a roaring fire and it took about 2 days for the house to get back to temperature. Can your landlord not do anything. I'd be cross with him tbh.

Slight smile that they left the swiss wine. dh refused to buy it, except fondant for fondues.

Hope you get sorted soon. Really sorry you're having to deal with this (again).

oh no ML. That must be a horrible feeling, coming home to find your home has been broken into. It would frighten me too, what would they do if having cased the joing (obviously) and knowing when you tend to go out they once come round whilst you are unexpectedly in. Would that be dangerous?

They is obvously a gang at work in the area. I wouldn't personally much like to do it but I think you might have to get a house sitter next time. I hide my jewellery and things like that in unexpected places when I go away. For instance you could place them in a plastic bag inside your (empty and clean obviously) rubbish bin in the kitchen. In their wildest dreams they wouldn't think of looking there. Sounds like you need to put the tv, sound equipment etc locked away in the cellar or something.

What an almighty pain. Do feel for you.

Canella, either she is doing a Mutter-Kind-Kur where the kids get looked after and you do all your treatments, this is prescribed by the doctor and you apply for it but you do need some kind of health problem; or she is just paying for it herself. Anyone can go to a Kurhotel anytime if they pay for it themselves.

Sorry to hear about the break in mmelindt. Have all the neighbours got alarms? Thank goodness it was insured.

Today h got me to take photos of teh furniture we won't be taking andsend them to his email to show some students. I think it's mostly rubbish, scratched table, 2 side bits missing of the warcrobe (just decorative but still) and there's a big pile of books he said he'll take to work to offer round colleagues with dc.
I've got the bank books for teh dc with their savings at teh BerlinerSparkasse, so I am going to have to get on the phone abot closing those (hate phoning)

What else should I do today? Carry on in dd's room as she has piles of papers and drawings to sort through. I promised i'd buy new paints and craft stuff so that can all go out. I think I'll ask my BIL to book his time off work soon. He said he'd need 2 weeks notice to get time off.

I'd pick a date, booka nd organise it then work out a timetable based on that. Nothing like a deadline to focus the mind. Also work out a plan of action that includes lots of kid help. They're old enough to, they have the incentive and 3 pairs of hand def better than 1.

Can you transfer the kid's money to UK bank online? Just empty out the account or leave token amount in. DO they have German family here?

You are right ernest, I've told them that they have to help and dd did the dishes and helped to clear up but she didn't manage any sorting as such and ds didn't either. I let them off as they were exhausted after the first day back at school and both had loads of homework - I think I'll just let them off doing it all in future as we have more important things to do.

I'll go in and let dd's teacher know we're leaving in May when I go to collect her. Tonight when my BIL is back in from work I'll phone and tell him to find out when he can come so I have a deadline to work to.

Anyone know the cheapest ferry crossing for UK to Europe with a van? He'll have to drive down from the Scottish borders so it's a long way where ever he crosses really.