At times like these

I am 5cm deep in my knitting, and and forraging forward enthusiastically. Mostly it's just something to keep my fingers busy while I brainstorm ideas for my course projects and christmas presents. (Don't worry, I won't have time to do scarves for everyone)

Am missing my family a lot at the moment, but it's times/days like these that remind me of the wonders of modern communication technology. I am simultaneously chatting over email, bbm, skype and sms. Throw in some facebook and twitter on the side and we've covered my entire conversation network over the last few days. Scary huh!? And
my lovely other wonders why I never stop talking when he's around!? (Apart from the fact that he speaks perfect english and doesn't stumble along inserting German words mid sentence).

I think tonight, while I have my customary glass of wine, all alone after trudging through the very thick and relentless snow(while the other suns it up in thailand, lucky bugger), I will sit down to write a few letters. There's something about physical mail, not the kind in my inbox, that absolutely thrills me. Maybe I'll send one your way, who knows!? Better keep checking your postbox :)

These Clever German People

I headed off toward the train station to head to Marienplatz. As I walked, my thoughts drifted to brightly coloured balls of wool and christmassy things. As I turned into the road that the station is in, I realised that my feet had only found the floor moderately slippery once. That's when I noticed these little pebbles that the clever clever German people lay down, to stop clutzes like me from slipping around.


A quick train ride later I arrived at Marienplatz, thinking I would have to now look for the Christmas market. Boy, was I wrong. Marienplatz IS the Christmas market. As soon as you walk out there it is! And these clever clever German people have thought of EVERYthing you could possibly need for Christmas.

Christmas trees, decorations by the thousands, in every colour and form, candles, beautiful glass candle holders, gluhwein, kiddies toys, more decorations (they just got more and more beautiful), treats, snacks (sausages, curry wurst, etc etc etc) warm white wine, advent wreaths, holly, mistletoe, those red christmas plants whose name I can't remember right now, gluhwein, the traditional German gingerbread-shaped-like-hearts also in other shapes, a store with cookie cutters and moulds in every shape and character imaginable, oh, did I mention the gluhwein? That stuff has serious Warming Up properties.






It was only as I was heading out of the magical maze that I found the Snowballs. Roughly put (by the german lady behind the counter) it's a type of a cake, that is baked in a ball and then coated with sugar or cinnamon or chocolate (any kind) or choc and nuts, or nougat cream. I went simple and opted for white chocolate. Thought it would be more effective in my Show-And-Tell :)



Now, I am not sure how you are meant to eat this ball of goodness, but I sure am going to try. And yes, that is 5 roses... :)

Snow Fall

The snow has finally arrived...Hooray!
I looked out of the bedroom window yesterday morning, and there is was!
This is just a picture off my phone, will upload more this arvie.
But HOW exciting!?

It continued to snow all through yesterday and I woke up to a glorious day of blue skies, sunshine and snow :)

My soup is made, I'm dressed up warm, and I'm off to check out the HUGE christmas market in the city centre...

'Tis, really, 'tis the season to be jolly. And if that's hard for you, some gluhwein will do the trick :)

Souped Up

As the snow begins to trickle in, too slowly now to build up a white covering for my garden, but enough to chill the bones, I begin to dream of... soup.

The problem with men, however, is that soup does not count as a meal to them. Well, not unless it's course 1, and there is some form of meaty dish to follow. Therefore, with my lovely other off to Thailand to soak up some rays and (hopefully) shop up a storm, I will take this opportunity to eat all the things GIRLS like to eat.

I intended to make my first order of business a huuuuuuge pot of Leek and Potato soup, but the more I think about it, the more carrots and other things are being added in.

I then intend on spending the weekend looking up some lovely spicey bean soups... and more.

I am sure all the girls have a favourite soup... or a special secret recipe from their Aunt, Grandma, Mother. Do send them along... I promise I won't share them. No really. I won't. I don't like sharing my food! :)

Heeeeey there, it's been a while...

Sincere apologies for the vacuum of silence. We have been suffering from a severe case of internet-less-ness. I'm sure anyone that has lived in a country with a foreign language can sympathise when I say it was a nightmare. Actually, anyone that has ever dealt with any internet service provider (telkom, cough, cough) will, no doubt, agree that curing a case of internet-less-ness is extremely frustrating.
Add to this my laziness with the German language (the kids speak english most of the time and certainly don't bring any internet terminology into conversations), and I think my dilemma is clear.

However, the issue was resolved, and a new router was waiting for us yesterday afternoon when we got home. Hooray.

A few things have happened since my last post...
First, a little bit of snow. It was on the Pullach side of Munich (work) and it was just a few flakes, but it was enough to make me whip out my camera and capture this wonderous event. And yes, the kids thought I was CRAAAAAAZY, despite my efforts to explain that other than that ONE time after our Motherless party, it does not snow where I come from.

Also, I went on my first snowboarding adventure.
Now, being from this very hot place called Durban, snow, in large quantities, was not something I found easy to comprehend. I also decided, in my clever little head, that I was going to be amazing. The most talented snow boarder ever to touch ice.

I was wrong.

In fact, it was only as we were riding the cogwheel train up Zugspitze (the highest mountain in Germany, therefore a long ride up, and a long time to contemplate ice/snow) that it occurred to me that snow was just water and would, therefore, be incredibly slippery.

It is possible that this, and the gradient of the slope, psyched me out a little... but it is also possible that I am not, despite any preconceived notions, NOT the most amazing snowboarder.

In fact, I spent so much time on my hands and knees after falling over that I may never be able to do yoga again. My poor other half was so patient and went down the slope behind me to help me / catch me. Only to have me wipe out on top of him. And for anyone that has perhaps not snowboarded before, the parts of the slope where you ride are rather hard. I prefer the parts in between the marked off slopes where the snow is all shmooshy and your legs disappear. I also like to eat some snow when I get thirsty, but apparently that isn't the best idea I've ever had. Some people wee in strange places.

It is also rather daunting to have kids who look like they've only JUST learnt to walk come whizzing past you, twisting and curving, and shouting out that you, "snowboarder" should be in the ski school, not in their way. It seemed all the other beginners had been swept away to some secret location, leaving me to be The Only Dork On The Mountain.

The 'button' lift was perhaps the worst part. For some reason I could only make it up to the veeerrrry top of the slope once. I just kept wiping out and then the hook would get stuck on my leg and drag me until I could get free. Ow.

By the end of it I think I could say I improved. I think I moved at least 3 metres down the slope in one go before collapsing. The main problem for me though is that my muscles were just not used to this kind of exercise and it felt like my feet were in a constant cramp. So the majority of times that I fell over was just me trying to give my feet a break, and not because I had 'fallen'. Sad that after all those years of dancing my feet couldn't cope!!!

So, I go back to my movement to gain strength/fitness in an effort to avoid immobility in old age. Who knows. A couple of crunches and I may just be as AMAZING as my head thinks I am.

Hopefully, with the motivation of my currently aching limbs and muscles I can stick to it this time....
Well, that and the looming New Years Snowboarding Expedition to France. I will not be the dorky newbie again.

p.s. It is meant to start snowing properly here this week. :)

Toetsies

The problem with winter, and unusual work hours, is that, other than your daily heel scrub and moisturising the bottom end of the torso is often forgotten.

You always have long pants, socks or stockings and sneakers, boots or pumps on. And in the evenings, slippers. This means that you don't often see your feet. Unless you're in the shower or bath, and who really remembers the world changing ideas and plans we get in the shower or bath!? Not me, that's for sure.

Add to this the slightly later that 8am time that I wake up and the relatively unusual work hours I keep, and any form of nail-beautifying is rendered impossible.
You simply cannot paint your nails and then put socks on. And you certainly can't paint and go to bed. And I, for one, do not like unpainted, unmanicured toenails.

So, on this wonderful, work free Friday, after a much needed chat with a lovely girl friend, I decided that it would be a long overdue Me Day.

Apart from an exploratory cycle around Munich to fetch a few books and adventure a little bit (of course I cycled through puddles of mud like a young boy), there was nothing else for me to do but preen, pimp, and pamper myself. And make some canneloni for our weekend house guest. Ok, it is more for me, who am I kidding.

It might just have been a case of needing girl time, in which case a visit to one of the two strategically placed friends houses down the road would have sufficed. Or a trip to the bedroom next door.But since it would take a very long flight and a few days to get there the simple pleasure of shiny nails and some Greys Anatomy will have to do the trick.

I am now going to have a 4:30pm glass of wine, and eat some olives (damn you little greek market, damn you).

I'll be drinking to my girls. Cos I miss you. And to my re-discovered shiny nails.

Things I have learnt so far : Part 1

1. When posed with the question "Would you like to join," the answer should be yes. You may end up in a parade of children with lanterns, with no feeling in your toes, but, there may just be gluhwein at the end of it. (St Maartins). Unless there is anything PG25 in the mix, go along with it. Experience life as a Muenchner (name I have given people living in Munich/Muenchen). You can defrost at a later stage.
2. It is very hard to wake up early when you don't have to. And no, swimming/jogging/yoga is not something I HAVE to do. At least not right at this very snuggly moment.
3. There is a dust monster that sprinkles dust over our apartment while we're sleeping. That is the only possible source of all this dust. I will catch it someday.
4. Sometimes the train will mysteriously arrive a few seconds early, and you will still be at the bike rack, locking your suddenly unlockable bike lock, and have to dash down stairs, through the station and up some more stairs. In this instance you will not be able to breath for at least 3 stops after, and will wish furiously that you had woken up earlier to jog. In this instance, the train will also not leave the station until a few minutes later. This time it would have taken you to walk.
5. No matter how many towards-the-train dashes you do, it will not make you 'fitter' or less likely to sound like you're having an asthma attack after. And people will stare.
6. Boots and all. It's not just a rugby program, it's a fact of life. There are boots, and there are BOOTS. Winter in Europe requires the latter. And woolen stockings, and woolen innersoles. The Great Boot Search will take at least an entire Saturday, if not two. By the end of which you will be tired, grumpy, broke, and in need of TEA.
7. Once your feet are cold, it's all over. Not even tea can help you now. Unless the tea is in the form of a foot bath.
8. The are a lot of leaves. No really, you can rake and rake and rake and they just keep on coming. Where they come from, no body knows.
9. Raking makes for a fun, outdoor activity for your charges. Until the 3 seconds are over and they are bored / find a swing.
10. Washing is over rated. Until you have NO socks left. Then something must be done.
11. Tea and a cookie will ALWAYS warm you up / dry your tears / ease your troubles.
12. Wine will ALWAYS warm you up / dry your tears / ease your troubles.

Hiking 101

If you are a newcomer to hiking, as I most certainly am, and agree to a trip to Wendelstein instead of a day off (who is this person) here are a few tips:

1. Go with some kids in tow. They don't always walk too fast, so you won't look too slow when you're 'waiting for them'. They also like sweets and rests. These are handy.
2. Running shoes may be the only appropriate shoes you have, but be careful in the mud. They slip.
3. Take lots of water, but don't drink too fast or you'll have to make a stop off behind some trees.
4. Always take the high road. The lower one is muddy.
5. Don't be too adventurous too early on. An hour and a half in you will need your strength. Rather hang back and ensure no team members lag behind.
6.It's a good idea to take a cable car up and then hike down, especially if you're a newbie. With running shoes on.
7. Watch your step. Hiking shoes have high tops for a reason, rocks slip and ankles get sore.
8. Said sweets are a good bribe for said kids. When you're tired you don't want to keep stopping, you wanna get the freak off the mountain and into a bath.
9. 2 and a half hours of down hill walking puts some strain on the legs. Don't expect to be able to walk down stairs the next day.
10. A long overdue disco dance razzle dazzle in high heels is probably not the BEST idea. Sunday will be a slow walking day.
11. Take a camera... the view from uptop is spectacular.
12. Take a few layers. Hiking in fall means there are probably some pockets of snow laying around and the wind is nippy.

Just In Case

A good idea, when using public transport, is to look up an alternate route, Just In Case.

Now, since my route from home to work is a so simple (cycle to station, catch one train, walk around the corner from the station and I'm there), and the German transport systems are so efficient, this thought did not occur to me.

Therefore, when the train stopped about 100m down the track from where I was patiently waiting on the platform, and did not move further, I panicked. Well, at first I just thought it was delayed, until I realised that 20mins had gone by, an announcement had been made and people were beginning to leave the platform. And in my state of complete amazement that something could go wrong with this punctual system, and when I was in a hurry to get to work so certain children could get to school, this realisation took a while.

The next 10minutes were a flurry of panicky bbm's to the other half, desperately seeking help, and frantic messages / calls to my employers to say, actually, no, I was not on the train, nor would I be there in the next half an hour. In fact, if I did get another train I still could not get within an hours cycling distance of where I needed to be. (At a later, calmer, internet-access with-a-bigger-screen-than-my-blackberry I found some trams that could resolve that problem) but right then it was not looking good.

When, finally, I began to think a bit clearer and take action, instead of standing there looking completely dumbfounded (sometimes no matter how many times you look the train just doesn't move closer), I managed to figure out an alternate plan and avoid going to work all together, because I really needed to get home and consult google maps.

There is an alternate route now, written down, in detail, tucked safely into my bag, just in case. Let's hope I never have to use it!

Who know's how many cups of tea I will need if I actually have to pull it out...

Man, I miss my little car!

The Chicken and The Eggs

Finally, finally, we bought a whole chicken, determined to figure out the Microwave Oven, and have a roast.

That was on Wednesday.

And on Thursday a friend came over from the UK for One Night Only. So that was a big night. Too much beer...

And on Friday the newest Sasol 'exchange' arrived from SA, so that was a big night. Too many martini's...

And on Saturday the Sharks were playing their final. So we hit the pub, and that was a relatively decent night. Partially because my eyes were closing at the table.

So Sunday dawned... and the chicken went in.
There were a few problems...
1) It took a long time to find a dish that could fit a chicken on it and fit in the microwave. (Answer: there is only one.)
2) Figuring out how to get THAT setting, that we could see was there, but couldn't figure out how to get to.

Once it was going, it went well. Until the 45mins were up and it wasn't really cooked. And then the 30mins after that were up and the bottom was a bit raw still. But 30mins after that, when my very hungry tummy and I got up to check... Voila!

FINALLY!

Bearing in mind that this was just roast chicken and salad. Let's not push it and try roast potatoes too!

And it was good!!!!

An important thing to note, however, is that a Microwave Oven gets rather hot. So if you leave, say, eggs, on top on the microwave, they will cook. And this will not help the next day, when you need them. Especially if the next day is a public holiday and there is only a very small petrol station open, who has, on this next day, run out of eggs.