April 2009 - Episode 13 - 'I've been looking for the exit for months!'

[Schulte]

Fanjo Warriors, here we are

Like I said - she's jealous. She would love to be doing the school run herself but highly unlikely now so she fights back with bitter comments about mothers littering every other sentence.

That's sad.

I worked with a woman once whose husband refused to have children. She went along with his wishes because she wanted her marriage to work. She was devastated when he left her, in her mid forties, and promptly had a baby with another woman. It was extraordinarily cruel.

lol abt coming to live beside you wouldn't that be a hoot :)

We've spent all day yesterday sorting through lists and making (ill informed I'm sure) decisions about the 'best' places for us. None are ideal as they're even more expensive and not countryside/small town living like we'd really prefer. BUT all we need is a place to stay -together- and things will surely be ok. :)

only 1 week and still so much to do!

Bebe, consider Wolfratshausen, end of the S7. Also look again at Dachau.

2 bed flat 720 euros 'kaltmiete'

675 euros with balcony

Period charm 550 euros, centre of town

Thanks so much Boff. We'll contact those ones too. :) I really love that last one! :)

So many of the corporate places who will/would rent for 6months don't want to rent with kids :(

Well Bebe I reckon Dachau might be your answer, because everyone associates it with the concentration camp, whereas in actual fact its a self-contained historic town and supposed to be very pretty. There's bound to be less competition than for flats in central Munich. And it's on the S2 tube line, which will help with your DH's commute.

Last one looked near a river but it was gorgeous, I agree.

Yeah I noticed the river. DH doesn't like it for that reason, but I said beggars can't be choosers and I said Meg would never be allowed out on her own.

Well there's loads of others if that is too close.

It has been a day of terrible disappointment. Place after place either No Kids, Not for such a short period of rent, or Taken. Feel so disheartened. And we're having to look more and more expensive and farther and farther away...
We're wondering if we're going to have to rent for 12m even though we really only intend to be there for the 6m.... more and more money...

Bebe, sorry it's so hard.
I don't want to incite you to break any moral codes, but what are the rules on giving notice prior to vacating rented premises in Germany?

well such things have crossed our minds...and it's not good apparently, you're still liable for the property from what we've found and a few people have suggested that the landlords get a bit vindictive abt the cleanliness etc of the apartment and so you often ALSO forfeit the deposit....breaking contracts with the very strict ruled based Germans is not a good way to go...

Seems mad. Surely there are other people who go to Germany for shortish periods. Are DH's employers nOt able to offer advice / suggestions. All else failing, buy a camper van?

The people we're contracting with said there's sometimes places on the notice board in the office...but then we'd not be able to have a place before we go and thus be accruing hotel costs and we'd be betting we'd be able to find something.
We've discussed/explored the camper van option actually as we've seriously considered buying a bigger/modern one in the past and thought this would solve a lot of problems...German sites seem to cost upwards from 30euros/day and there's not many long term places. Nor are they placed ideally for dh's work. being on the opposite side of the city.

Agent has come back saying that 90% of the places he called won't accept kids. :( He found us 2 places... one bedroom 35m2 but a garden 1100 and nearish correct train line OR 2 bedroom place but 3rd floor but walking distance to park 1300 and not on right train line (and obviously not in the right direction)
so now we're in a conundrum... little and cheaper, or stretch and bigger

We've said we're siding with the bigger property as overall it looks better placed for family living. We're nervous abt the money tho to be honest, and it looks like it's over an hour and half commuting (on the train alone) Tho dh is thinking he'll try biking depending on how busy the roads are and he figures he could cut it down to about an hour.

we've been accepted at this place (the big) Happy that the contracts will be sent out tomorrow, tho I feel all panicky still. Hope it was the right decision.

Bebe it looks fab. I'm a bit jealous, I rather fancy new pastures.

contracts signed so the place is ours officially now (I believe)
I spent the day in bed pretty much; I feel very weird today, all jittery and sick, and yet I've not thrown up or anything. Dh has been a doll taking care of Moo though he was just whining at me that he got nothing done today. I said he should spend less time online (as he's bought a camera lens, a new camera bag and a bunch of other things which we certainly do not need).

Congratulations Bebe, it looks nice and certainly good to have that worry off your mind! If you're not happy with it, you can always continue looking once you're on the ground, will be much easier. When are you going?

[Dreams of fresh brezels and weisswurst for breakfast...]

We're leaving on Thursday now (week from yesterday). I've got my scan on Wednesday so hopefully everything goes well with that and I'll be relaxed for the drive.

I'll be thinking of you xx

Hello ladies .

I'm back. Off to catch up but a quick scan looks like lots of people are having a hard time.

Need to un-Christmas my name too. Took the tree down today .

think I'm iron deficient again...