Durch die Strassen auf und nieder, leuchten die Laternen wieder... ***Herbstunterhaltung im Deutschem Eck***

[MmeLindt]

Durch die Strassen auf und nieder
leuchten die Laternen wieder:
rote, gelbe, grüne, blaue,
Lieber Martin, komm und schaue!

Wie die Blumen in dem Garten
blühn Laternen aller Arten:
rote, gelbe, grüne, blaue,
Lieber Martin, komm und schaue!

Und wir gehen lange Strecken
mit Laternen an den Stecken
rote, gelbe, grüne, blaue,
Lieber Martin, komm und schaue!

*

It is that time of the year again. Check your lanterns, get enough batteries, start the Bastelaktion.

Glad to hear that DD is feeling better.

My DD went back to school today, after being off all week. Just about drove me up the wall.

Admylin, try ATU if you have one near you, they are generally not bad. There is one over in Linden that I used to go to.

Good idea , thanks. There is a Pit-Stop in Misburg too so I will compare their offers. Definately not going to the one around the corner like last year.

Glad your dd is over the worst too, was it flu? I'm giving the whole family vitamin C and Zink and making an effort to put more fresh fruit and veg on the table. They are lazy, if it's not chopped and placed before them they won't bother with fruit (dh too) so I make plates up with slices of apple, pear and banana.

Na, just a common garden cold. I don't know about all the flu panic. I suspect that a lot of people are getting treated for flu when it is really jsut a bad cold.

Ok, better be off.

what happened to our thread - thats a long time for no-one to post - hope those colds are getting better! found out yesterday that 3 people in my tiny little village have swine flu - it'll be round us all before we know it!!

had a random morning today - went to the german/american club (even tho i'm neither!!at the nearest big town. There is a huge american base there and the english speaking friend i've made here goes every so often so we went today. It was a strange but nice morning! a few americans and a real mixed age group of germans! one little old woman said she's been coming for 45 years! she spoke absolutely no english!! weird! but it was good for me to practice my german and switch between the 2! just wish my german was getting much better - cant get lessons sorted! the only ones i can go to at the mo are 3pm - 4.30pm on a monday! no chance of that with 3 kids! might have to call in some big favours from friends if i want to go!
otherwise the next course doesnt start till february and is every morning!! that's too much like working for me!

Canella, have you tried evening courses at the Volkshochschule? I went to a couple of those in south Germany when ds was a baby, started at about 8pm.

Yes, it has been quiet on here recently.

Well, now DH has ManFlu. I was a bit worried as they have had several cases of SF in his work but so far we have escaped. There have also been 2 DC in the school who have been confirmed SF infected.

Bloody dog is sitting at the door growling, but if I let her out she will bark nonstop. Don't know what is up, must be someone outside-

It is a bit quieter here this week. Last week was hectic.

Canella
I go to the American International Womens Club here in Geneva, it is good to meet some other expats. They do French lessons, does your German American club not do lessons?

Admylin
I saw on the news that the Hannover goalie commited suicide. That is so incredibly sad, his poor wife.

Yes, drove past the AWD arena where his club was and there were loads of fans gathered there. How bad must it be to actually stand infront of a train and let it hit you? (that's what it sounded like he did from reports)

(opens door, peeks round corner) Anybody in?!

I'm in! I'm not moving from this spot today as we have an ad in the paper again in case someone phones with a flat offer! Also it's pouring down and miserable outside anyway.

Hello admylin! Are you still house-hunting? Of course, the perfect place will turn up two days before Christmas, whilst you juggle turkey, trimmings, presents and wondering in which box you packed the kettle and tea bags....

Thought we had found a place to move into on 15h December but turned out to have mould and damp on walls so back to square 1.

Oh, has nothing come up yet, Admylin? How annoying.

I am around today, having a lazy day after having DH home yesterday with ManFlu.

Oh man flu can be exhausting for the person looking after the patient!

The silly thing is, we thought we were taking the mouldy place (before we knew) so I sent in the Kündigung for this place for 1st of November. The clock is ticking, end of January we should have found another place or I'll have to hope they let us stay here can't believe we've done it.

It's a shame you don't live around here, admylin; my parents aren't moving after all, so there is an empty house and no buyers!

Have got DS at home today; 32 cases of swine flu at school and he had a 39 temp all night but no other symptoms. Am very confused but will give it 24 hours and see what he's cooking...

Today is definitely a pot of tea and Agatha Christie box set kind of day.

What made them change their mind? I wish we were back in Berlin, no problem with empty flats there. It look like the Hannoverianers (?) are house buyers as families otherwise live in 3 room flats. 4 rooms are hard to find so I've been told.

Thinking we could take a 3 room flat from one of the Hausverwaltung companies and then wait until a 4 room comes up in the same company (easier to move within) but that's just if we really can't find any where.

Ring phone, ring!

Oh, everything; the exchange rate, they can't sell their house, redudancy, etc.

Can your DH's company help you to find somewhere or is it entirely on your shoulders admylin?

They don't help at all, it's a big hospital/university and even before he went to sign the papers for the new job we had a letter saying don't even ask about relocation or help as we do not offer any!

Advert is on Saterday and next Wednesday too so I should stay calm until then.

oh admylin thats rubbish about the flat hunting - will keep my fingers crossed that the right one comes along soon!!

good to "see" you frosch - its been a while!were you're parents supposed to be moving to you? thats a shame that they're not!

mmelindt - nothing worse than man flu!! but i'll keep my fingers crossed for him (and you're ds frosch) that its not swine flu!

admylin - i was booked for the lessons at the VHS but they were cancelled 2 days before they were to start because of lack of interest - not many foreigners round here!!
the german/american club was in a city a good 30 min drive from here and really consisted of some women (and 1 man) sat in a cafe!! i know that city does have lessons but its really far to go in the eve!! i'm going to email the man back who offered me the lessons in the afternoon and see if he knows of anyone who could do it the same but in the morning!

been impressed with the german health system the last few days - ds1 has a strange swelling in his leg so we went to the Kinderarzt on thurs who referred us to a surgeon who we went to this morning - all so much more efficient than the UK!! still no wiser as to what it is - he's been referred for an MRI now!

I've agree the health care system is great here. Just yesterday I was sitting outside school in the car waiting for ds to come out and a group of 5th year boys ran over from the sport hall to the school entrance - one boy suddenly fell to the floor and was jerking and shaking as if having a fit.

The sport teacher rang the emergancy number and within 3 minutes of him falling a police car pulled up then 1 minute late an ambulance arrived and to my amazement a couple of minutes later a helicopter landed next to my car on the car park!

It was all so quick and effecient and the school is right on the outer edge of Hannover so not even central - no idea how they all responded so quickly.

Wow! That's so efficient; they are so good at health here. My sister had some problems last time she visited and they looked, diagnosed and operated within twelve days. Back home, she'd have to wait 6-8 weeks just for an appointment. How old is your DS Canella? Does it hurt or just look odd?

Keyboard very sticky; DD starting solids this week and pear really flies....

LOL at flying pears.

The great health service is a very good reason for staying in Germany. I think that the ADAC have a lot of helicopters, particulary in the bigger cities so the response is particularly quick.

Canella
Try putting an ad up in your local Käseblättle to find a private tutor for German. I am taking private lessons and it is much better than group lessons.

wow admylin that was super efficient!!

ds1 is 5 - he complained of knee pain on holiday in August and when we looked there was a blue swelling just above his knee. We took him to the Kinderarzt when we got back but he said wait and see if it settles - its no better and at times a bit worse. Its not sore to touch but after he comes back from football he complains about it! was worried sick yesterday but the xrays have come back clear so hopefully the MRI will tell us what it is!

but i agree frosch - in the UK it would have taken weeks to even be seen!

thanks for that advice mmelindt - think a private tutor is the way to go! need to get better quicker - really not coping well with these doctors appointments!!

well off to get my lantern light thingy - this st martin zug is all new to me and i didnt know i needed the battery light thing!! thought they were putting a candle in the lanterns! they are wooden lanterns (dh did a good job making them!!) so they wouldnt burn but the thought of ds2 with an open flame!!!!! think i'll need all my clothes on at once - it'll be cold walking through the streets!

never mind the walking canella, it's the singing ....

you have to keep standing still at intervals decided on somehow in order to sing

dd always had those battery run lanterns. They always stopped working half-way through the procession. I think she liked switching them on or off and that did it. They are rubbish those ones. With the candles, you have the problem of them being blown out all the time. I was always wary of them catching light. How clever of your dh to make wooden ones, never seen those.

Wondering if you need to look at buying a flat in Hannover if there is nothing to rent. Seems to be taking a while admylin. Or possibly a bigger 3 room flat closer to the school for a more comfortable inbetween solution. Sounds a pain.