Endlich Fruehlingszeit in the German Corner

[admylin]

'All welcome, Austria & Switzerland & any German-speaking Leute too'

Thank goodness it's over at long last! That was a long winter. Welcome Spring!

It's a constant battle with keeping things tidy isn't it. How is the flying (flylady) going linzertorte?

I'm also totally fed up when I look in my kitchen. We haven't got a dish washer in this tiny flat and all I seem to do is wash dishes, dry them, put them away and then they're at it again with bowls, cups and glasses filling the sink and by that time I have to start cooking again and I hate it.

Flats were not spectacular - had a shout at the dc too because after the 2nd flat ds decided it was OK but he said he'd have the room that was slightly bigger. Dd started moaning so he said anyway the 2 rooms are the same size (the woman said they were, but one was slightly bigger) so she said if they're the same then you take the first room and I'll have the one next to it. With almost tears in his eyes he says he doesn't want to live in a box room - it's not it's about 9m² to 10m². Anyway, I didn't like it that much really and the rooms are small when you see it written down.

No one called for my advert. I am like an old lady with asthma from the pollen and I'm also abit fed up so I'll join you in being fed up linzertorte. Haven't even got a single drop of alcohol in the house and even if I did I wouldn't dare drink it as I'm full of anti histamines, pain killers and my inhaler.

admylin - sorry you had no luck with the flats and have got bad hay fever. I know it´s too late for this year, but have you thought about doing a desensitization course for your hayfever? One of dh´s friends really suffered badly and sometimes couldn´t work, but now after the course only has mild symptons.

Canella - hope your dh is more cheerful after a good night´s sleep.

Linzertorte, what sort of work do you do? Sorry if you´ve already mentioned it, but the thread is too long to quickly check.

Well the sun is shining again today, but it´s still really cold. I hope it warms up for the weekend.

admylin - hope you're feeling less fed up this morning. I decided what I really needed was an early night but didn't quite manage to put it into practice so woke up this morning still feeling v. tired and fed up. I'm gradually starting to feel more positive (and awake) though; coffee has helped! Sorry to hear about your asthma; my SIL suffers quite badly and can hardly go outside in the summer. The flying has fallen by the wayside a bit as work has got busier, but I'm determined to stick at it! You haven't been tempted to join us, then?

hupa - I'm a freelance translator, which is great as I can fit my work in around the DC but not so great as I can never switch off completely. I'm trying to limit the amount of time I work in the evenings and weekends, but it's unavoidable sometimes.

DD1 and DS are both at friends' houses this afternoon so I thought it would be nice and quiet with just DD2 and her friend here - they normally disappear to play by themselves. However, her friend's uncontrollable lively brother is now coming along too as his parents both have to work this afternoon, so I suspect I might need a large glass of wine this evening!

No peace here today either ! It's Zukunftstag and all schools are closed and dc go to work with a parent.

My 2 and a friend of ds's went to dh's lab at 10am and were shown around for a couple of hours by dh and a colleague but that's all they had time for (they had to do some work too) - dh had about 5 other colleagues and doctors from other parts of teh hospital calling by to get their offspring shown around, dh said it was like a kindergarten in the whole klinik.

At 8am when I dashed to the supermarket before ds's friend arrived there were dc filling shelves!

I'm going to the doctor tomorrow to get some steroid inhaler stuff for my breathing - I'd completely forgotten about that and soemone here on MN reminded my when I asked for tips to ease my breathing! Will also get some decent anti-histamines (do you know what kind yourt sister takes by any chance?)

Grrr.. girls, tell me if I'm being too soft. Just phoned the garage about the part that needs changed on my car. Something to do with the back wheel ABS sensor whatever that is.

Anyway I was spoken to by the secretary who has that so typically snotty phone voice that alot of them have over here. She said bring it next Thursday (so it can't be dangerous for me to drive until then eh?) and bring it at 8am and collect Nachmittags. I asked her what is Nachmittag for you? She said 4pm. I know the job only needs half an hour to an hour at the very most. Anyway I said yes.

Now I want to cancel.Do I phone back and say I need a better appointment, I mean if they can plan so far ahead then they could atleast give me a morning or afternoon time but not the whole day - or am I being fussy? I need the car that day for the school run as their bags are the heaviest that day , dd fall sover backwards if she's not carefull (that's how heavy they are).

I just have that feeling that it can't be right, maybe if she'd been really sweet on the phone but that phone snottiness really bugs me too.

Oh, I hate that kind of attitude - I really don't like using the phone to start with and am usually a complete coward and get DH to make all the non-personal phone calls (in my defence, I always used to make all the calls when we lived in English-speaking countries). Why on earth do they need to have the car for 8 hours if the job shouldn't take more than an hour? Surely they could be a bit more flexible, especially as it's going to be quite inconvenient for you (DD1's school bag weighs a ton too). I would try and see if you could get a better appointment as it doesn't sound like it's too urgent.

I'm not sure what my SIL takes for her hay fever, but I can ask next time I see her. Not a miracle drug anyway, as she suffers quite badly in the summer despite whatever she's taking (though it could be much worse if she wasn't, of course).

Yesterday wasn't actually as bad as I thought it was going to be; the three year old was quite well-behaved in the end, and their father came to pick them up earlier than I'd been expecting too. Still felt exhausted by the evening though; I'm looking forward to DH getting back this afternoon.

admylin - you def were being too soft!! they need your business so it should be at a time that suits you!! get on the phone today and get a better time (altho i know how hard it is to be stroppy!!)

linzer - hope your dh got back ok!! hope he wasnt as grumpy as mine was!!

thankfully my dh is back to his nromal self and we had a really nice weekend! the weather was just great which always helps! i also went to the very first village frauen stammtisch! there are quite a few women my age in the village (total village population - 350!!) and one of the other mums organised it! it was a right good laugh - pub was a bit smokey for my liking but the pub does a right good range fo fruity liquors!! surprised i didnt have a hangover after the amount i tried!

Morning.
Just now, I got a more Kundenfreundlich time for the car - I can bring it at 2pm and then I don't need it anyway so they can keep it until closing time (and dh can even pick it up on his way home) - but I only got that because I asked to speak to the mechanic.

Tomorrow we sign for a flat too - it's not a dream place and the dc will have to have small rooms but we decided to take it because it's just been a joke hanging on to find the best place. We've turned down so many places because there wasn't a garage or a bath tub or whatever. Move is middle of July so plenty of time to orgainize. Dc are pleased (well, not about the bedrooms) because they'll be at school on foot in 10 minutes and they can atlast have friends round when ever they want.

oh admylin thats fantastic news about the flat (and the car too!!). it makes life so much easier that the kids can walk to school themselves and they'll also have a much easier social life! so chuffed for you!

Morning

Does anyone know what is an appropriate gift to give for a confirmation?
Two of my charges are being confirmed this weekend I have not bought them anything yet.
TIA

I think they usually get money for confirmations LouIsOnAHighwayToHell, you can get cards with little slots to put notes in or like this. Not sure otherwise.

I don't want to give money though. I have none .
I guess I can throw a bit their way.
Thanks admylin.

I suppose you could get them a money box/piggy bank to keep all the money they'll be getting from relatives in!

There are some cool ones dd used to have this one

I do like that piggy bank, admylin - maybe an idea for DS's/DD2's birthday (her old one broke a few months ago and we haven't got round to replacing it yet).

As for confirmation gifts, DD1 has her first communion next month and is getting money from DH's parents and an album for her first communion photos from my SIL (her godmother). She wants Playmobil but I've told her it's not an appropriate present! (And she has more than enough already.)

Great news about the flat, admylin - it must be such a relief not to have to worry about flat hunting any more. Well done on getting a new appointment for the car too. DH went back to the garage this weekend as they'd changed the tyres on his car about a week ago and hadn't tightened the screws on one of the wheels! The boss (who'd changed the wheels himself) wasn't there though, so he's going back again this week to complain.

DH got back from Warsaw OK on Friday afternoon - he wasn't too grumpy canella, just very tired (he hadn't slept well in the hotel as he was convinced someone was trying to break into his room) and cold (thanks to the air conditioning on the train, which they couldn't switch off).

DD1 was supposed to be going to a birthday party - llama trekking, in fact - this afternoon but the weather has taken a sudden turn for the worse (constant rain plus a thunderstorm at the moment) so it's been postponed. It was nice and sunny yesterday but one day isn't really enough!

Wow, that sounds dangerous linzertorte, good job you noticed eh? How can you forget to tighten the screws on one of the wheels?

Yes, the money box thing is nice, it's magnetic too so dd had little magnets stuck around it when she started one of her many collections (she's a border line messy and would collect everything if she got the chance!)

Right can everyone tell me the things they hate about Germany... DH has just found out he's not been posted back to Germany and I am distraught. I have missed it VERY VERY badly since we moved back here 17 months ago after 2 years in Germany.

I feel sick thinking of having a baby here rather than the lovely German hospitals, being forced home after 6 hours, no kinderzimmer etc! I miss Punica, Nudelsalat basically all Germany food

I want to recycle more, I want to shop in Galeria I want to be in Germany I just love Germany, I feel so at home there.

We'll be moving to Essex instead I feel sick thinking about Hannover and then Essex!

Tell me all the things I've forgotten that were rubbish about Germany PLEASE!

So far I have

1. I hated emptying the food bin

That's it.

Morning, StrictlyKatty I guess if you read back over our German corner threads you might find a few things - we've all had our problems. I would say schooling is teh number one negative point and maybe for some, the distance between family, cousins for the dc, grandparents could be a problem.

Don't despair, flights are cheap and you can spend every holiday in Germany. Where were you in Hannover? We live in Kleefeld and are moving out to the edge of town this summer.

Off to pick up our new Mietvertrag now. Then today is my chauffering day - backwards and forwards with dc after school clubs etc and ds has his friend coming round to do homework together.

So glad you have finally got a flat, admylin. Near the school is very very good - extra sleep in the mornings should compensate the children for small rooms, surely!

katty - when your children start going to school, just read one of the german school threads on here, you will be very happy to be in the UK!!
And the brits are better drivers, and the roads are better signposted.
Apart from that....I feel for you.

Just got back with the Mietvertrag, as dh wasn't available this morning we have to sign it then tomorrow morning I will post it through the owners letter box.
Dh has forgotten his lab keys at home (just got frantic phone call) so I have to drive them to him now!
How are things nighbynight?

fine, thanks, admylin. Just got back last week from 2 weeks in the UK, as ex h decided to keep the boys after their easter hols with him. Had to go to the high court. Cost an arm and a leg, as 2 weeks off work, and boys are VERY disturbed by teh whole thing.

dd1 has broken her foot, which is why I am at home in the day - more money lost, as I cant connect on the office network to work! Arghhhhhh!

Hello German corner!

Anyone been on holiday to Rügen with young children? (ours are 4 and 1 years old) We have accomodation in Mönchgut - has anyone got any tips for the best beaches, playgrounds, things to do?

We live in Berlin so luckily we're not going far!

Sorry about that news nighbynight. What a nightmare, poor boys. How did dd break her foot? Has she got a plaster or pins? A boy in ds's class broke his arm and he had pins inserted in an operation instead of a plaster. Seemed to take ages to fix and he needed another operation to take them out.

Simic, can't help as have never been to Rügen but dd is studying that area in geography and it sounds lovely, she has to learn all the names for the different kinds of Landschaft there so I could tell you all about Bodengewinnung, Deiche and Moränen but that won't help much.

We've got some info for visiting Nordenay but that's the wrong side for you.

We've never been to Rügen either.

It is just a small bone in her foot, so she is bandaged and on crutches. The 1km that she has to walk is now impossible though. I hope she gets better quickly!!

Evening all, haven't been around for a while because of work commitments. Been standing in for another teacher and had loads of marking to do.

StrictlyKatty, I've been trying to think of things I hate but apart from echoing the remarks about the the school system there's really not very much. I can offer you German supermarkets and the way that the food is practically thrown at you at the till. Other than that it's really a very good place to live. Sorry!

Simic, haven't been to Rügen but have heard it's lovely.

Hope your dd's foot is getting better, nighbynight.

Did you get the flat, admylin?