Holi holi days

Just wanted to let you know that we're heading to Barcelona today, for a week, so you don't need to worry. Don't call in the search team.

In my optimism (did I learn nothing from Mallorca) I have packed only ONE jersey. And running things? Really I plan to beach myself like a whale and not move until the tide comes in. Although, I will probably get bored and break out the old paddle bat and ball. It'll be tough, but I think I'll manage... somehow.

Mostly I am just looking forward to a week of no kids, no work, and maybe a little break from The Great Job Search. Some cocktails and some sun.

You go ahead and take care of yourself now...

Until next week!

(Or if we are being German: Bis bald!)

Here we have it:

The Rules For Life:

• • 1. If it feels too good to be true, it generally is.

    2. Never eat or drink anything bigger than your head.

    3. Ugg boots are inside shoes only

    4. Never ask a question you might not like the answer to.

    5. Just because you can doesn’t mean you should 6. Just because you’re not required to, doesn’t mean you shouldn’t

    7. If he/she was high maintenance before you married them, surprisingly enough, they will remain that way after you’ve signed that piece of paper.

    8. Never eat the salad in Syria

    9. Sex does not equal love. Sex is a biological urge to breed and if done right, also a whole lot of fun.

    10. If you inadvertently have sex outside of a meaningful relationship (i.e.. as in rule #9) then congratulate yourself, enjoy the post coital glow and move on.

    11. Nerd…… it’s the new cool.

    12. If a man really wants it, he will come and get it.

    13. Train bar is brilliant.

    14. 3 Jaeger shots is 3 too many.

    15. Not knowing the language when you end up in a German hospital with a case of tonsillitis on a Sunday afternoon is not such a bad thing. Most situations in life can be dealt with using sign language and a blank look.

    16. If you are going to have a big Saturday night out with colleagues, a door on your office the next day is an absolute lifesaver.

    17. If you are over 18 and facebook friends with your Mum, it’s best to teach her exactly how it works.

    18. If you don’t have time for rule 17, then learn how to block her.. What she doesn’t know won’t hurt her and what she thinks she knows, while hilarious, could cause undue excitement for no reason.

    19. Never ever put anything in writing or in digital form that you don’t want on the front page of the page tomorrow.

    20. (courtesy of judgy face) if you must lie about something involving rule 19, aim for something believable. Not hackers. Ever.

    21. Never ever leave your boss in a position where he/she has less information than his/her peers. This rule is non-negotiable in the instance that said boss is meeting with his/her boss. Result of failure to comply? A pineapple sideways........

    22. No matter how much you try to avoid it, there will always be one d*ck in your life for whom you are not good enough to consider as a potential partner, but who will expect you to act like one anyway.

    23. If you are searching for a joke gift on Amazon (e.g. star wars duvet cover, jedi dressing gown), make sure you are not logged in.
    
    
    Courtesy of Jae Lake, my fabulous, intelligent Australian friend.
    
    
    And yes, she really is FaaaaaaBulous!

Lookie

I was just getting over my small bout of homesickness when I stumbled upon this:

And dammit, it's back!

Silly creative people. Back to the drawing pot of 5 roses for me!

pic from here

Haarschnitte and House Spouses

Been in a little shlump lately. I'm pretty sure I can blame my little cold, and the Night Coughing and subsequent lack of sleep it brought with it.

I could probably blame The Jetsetting Francis's, my lack of leave and subsequent lonely nights too.

Or the complete lack of a positive response in The Great Job Hunt.

Or all of the above :)

Either way, I decided that New Hair was in order, and this time I was not making the mistake of going back the the place that gave me the ugly-boy-mushroom look from a few months back, so I went to see my original gal, Steffi. (Pronounced Shteffi, as the Germans do)

So off I trotted this morning, bright and early so I could spend longer looking faaaabulous darling, and arrived to see a fresh faced Shteffi with almost exactly the hair cut I was after. This proved very handy during the 'Describing What You Want' section of the appointment as Shteffi doesn't speak English, and I speak Denglish (Deutsch-y English). At least I know my colours though...

About an hour later I re-entered the world, dorky anorak on, shlump left far behind.

The next problem, however, was finding people I know, that were not busy, to see.

Luckily for me the House Spouse Club was about to have tea not too far away, and, since I am off work for 2 weeks, I have been granted Temporary Membership. (Hopefully my ability to turn the tea/lunch into a full day affair will aid my application for Honorary Morning House Spouse Membership, hold thumbs!)

So, it is with shiny, glossy hair that Shteffi has promised with shine in the sun and look "frisch" (fresh) that I leave you this evening. Hope you have yourselves a GREAT hair weekend.

"Clink" (Wine glasses up people!)

Daisy Chains and Badminton Sprains

Like I have said before, Munich weather is a bit bipolar. Super hot and sunny one day, with SUMMER RAIN, and back down to 14 degrees the next. It's getting better, now that we are Officially In Summer, but I still have to run around the garden in my PJ's before I can choose clothes.

The kids are into their Summer activities in full swing. This means Grünschnabel group outings for the girls some Saturdays (An outdoor group where they walk through the wilderness and along the river and learn about outdoorsy type things like the Isar -river- and its inhabitants, climbing trees etc). It means that Tennis season is in well underway, and I, the Knowledge-less Tennis Watcher get to watch lots of tennis and try keep up with the score. It means there are lots of play dates (score), and lots of other Very Important Activities That Must Be Done Right Now that I was unaware of. For example: Collecting Snails, making them a home in a shoe box and then having the 'kid sitter' stop them from escaping (yes, I had to TOUCH them!); Getting the pet mouse out of the shoe that is inside it's cage (still not sure why this HAD to be done before bed, but it was NB!); Eating Icecream (This one I understand); Playing with tadpoles, and later on - the little frogs (this one I also understand, but... ew... ha ha). There are things I enjoy too, like making daisy chains and spending an entire afternoon playing badminton, although that was only fun until the 6 year old told me I was terrible (ya, I know, but I'm TRYING!:) ) pretty sure I sprained/ strained SOMETHING dashing for the ball, at which point I hollered "bathtime!"

Summer has also brought a few new Phrases That Do Not Translate Well Into English. (Or from eng into German!)eg:

1. Robyn, why do you have naked feet? (Bare feet?) This could also have been taken as "Why don't you have socks under your sandals" Weeeell... I'm from Durban?!

2. Swimming costume. A Costume? Like for dress up? It's called a swim SUIT here.

3. Now this one I learnt last night from some fellow adults at a dinner party, very handy! In German (Deutsch, if we're being 'correct'), there are two sentences which seem to mean the same thing but, alas... do NOT.

-Mir ist heise = I am hot

-Ich bin heise (What I would have said given the direct translation) = I am HORNY!

Oh dear! I just sat at the table swirling my wine HOPING I have never said that to the kids. The 12 year old in particular.

Another Summery thing (although this probably applies for any country) is the grass.

While it is DEFINITELY greener in Germany, all year round (even under the snow), it grows like, well, weeds! And since we live on the bottom floor and have the advantage of a little patch of grass that is 'ours', we also get the privilege of Lawn Mowing. I don't mind too much. It's a small garden so it's quick, and when the grass grows there are such sweet little flowers, but I can just imagine how the Upstairs Folk are complaining about our lack of commitment to the lawn. The landlord (who also lives next door) pops a garden refuse bag on the outside table when It's Time (reeaaaaalll subtle). At least I think it's him, because I've never ACTUALLY seem him do it, so for all I know it could be a garden gnome. Anyway, point taken, I did it today. At least the grass is soft and lush and green right? I'm not so sure I will enjoy mowing a JHB lawn, the grass is so dry and crackly.

Now all that's left is to try get a bit more colour before Home Time. Which was in two months time last Sunday, by the way...

Sunday Funday

Apart from the Wallet Losing Incident, yesterday was a pretty fun day.

The weather was great, and we headed across to the Olympic Park for our friend Nick's SURPRISE Birthday party. And now I can proudly say (in the tune of the kulula.com 'jetsetter' song) :

I'm a Zipliner (Ziplineeeeer)!

The climb up to the Very High Point that we took our leap of faith from was fine. It was only really as I was about to step off the ledge that I said:

"I'm scared"

To which the lady said, "You'll be fine, have fun!"

And I said:

"No really, I don't think I can do this!!!"

But I did, and there is a video of my horrified face as I let go, and it was FUN! I even pulled the old Buddha-Position-while-dangling-from-a-rope!

There are some great pictures on Facebook that I was somehow unable to save and post on here!?

And the best park of the day? When we got home there was a note on the door saying someone had found my Previously Lost Wallet. (Sigh of relief!)

Now that's a good Sunday!

Right and Wrong

I was driving the kids home from school yesterday on the WRONG side of the road, thinking about our weekend in London with taxi's that drive on the RIGHT side of the road and how it looked so WRONG to me. Could it be that I have gotten used to driving on the WRONG side, which now feels like the RIGHT side, and the RIGHT side will feel like the WRONG side?

Man oh man, I am going to have to concentrate when I am back in SA!

Pics from London to follow.

p.s. When I say the RIGHT side of the road, I obviously mean the LEFT :)