New Year Eve 2006

Gordon had managed to book a table for 12 at a restaurant at the resort - right next to the play room (perfect!) Booking the table proved to be trickier than Gordon thought, the table was booked under the name of Mabish, and they gave us a table for ten. They finally brought another table over to accommodate the 12 of us after Gordon got stuck into them. We settled in for a delicious meal and the kids had a great time in the playground. 

At least we were safe inside from the fireworks. In Germany, people get really cross with you if you don't use the pedestrian crossings, or wait for the Green man. They also get cross with you if you don't follow every little law perfectly. However, it is quite fine to give kids fireworks to set off however they would like, even kids younger than 10! So your kids know how to follow the rules but can play with explosives?? Where is the logic to that?? (or the sense!) 

From early morning, fireworks were going off all over the place. As the day (and then the evening) wore on, the intensity of armament fire (sorry, fireworks) increased dramatically. We could see kids without supervision throwing lit fireworks at each other. They were setting them off close to other people. They were sending up massive rockets anywhere. In fact, one smashed into the window of Stuart and James' apartment, and we could hear it from 3 doors down! As midnight approached, so did complete chaos. 

We went to the square to watch the professional fireworks being set off on the beach. However, whilst this was going on, there were rockets, crackers and all sorts of devices (some massive) going off all around us. One rocket from someone in the crowd didn't work properly, spiralled into the crowd, and exploded on the chest of a young boy. People rushed from all around and it was not too pretty. We had stuff exploding at our feet and we decided it was time to go back to our apartment. 

The view from the third floor of our apartment was better, and safer, and as we settled the kids and ourselves for the night with explosions going on all around us, I thought of those in Baghdad. 

However, except for the fireworks, we had a great fun evening with our friends and wherever you are, we wish you a safe and lucky 2007!

Ost See

From the Hautbahnhof we caught a train to Hamburg, with a 30 minute changeover, to catch our second train to Oldenburg on the Ostsee. 

In Summer, the Ostsee is famous for having a beach covered wall to wall with Germans (or their towels, which they put down early to reserve their places). We caught a taxi to a beach resort about 10 minutes away. 

Alan, Sonia, Bradley, Stuart and James travelled with us, but we had booked separately and were in different compartments. They had been to this resort in the Spring and said this would be a great place for our New Year break. We had to walk about a kilometre from the reception to our apartment! Apparently, there are between 2500 and 4000 people booked into this resort (apartments, caravan park and hotel) at any one time. We had 4 adjoining apartments, the McLeish's (who drove up), us, Alan, Sonia & Bradley, and Stuart & James in their own apartment. We were all on the top (3rd) floor - which was a bugger for carrying bags, but the safest place when the fireworks were going off. 

On the first afternoon, we strolled around and saw all the attractions - Tennis, Badminton, Minigolf, a massive swimming centre, kiddie rides, playgrounds, trampolines, and the beach. There were also plenty of restaurants and shopping. The resort had its own supermarket and newsagent. 

Our apartment was newly refurbished and very comfortable. It had its own kitchen, so we could do our own breakfast. 

Although the weather was cold and wet, we still found plenty to do! On the second day, we took a nice long walk on the beach (Alan was heard to say "it reminds me of a Scottish summer!) which was very "fresh"! 

In the afternoon, we took the kids to the enormous swimming centre. It has 2 massive waterslides (5 stories high), big pool, kiddie pool, rapids (a long pool with waterfalls to ride down like mini waterslides), waterfalls and caves, etc. It was freezing outside, but very tropical within. The kids had a great time, with Alexander becoming a waterslide 'junkie'. We rode the big blue slide many times. (the yellow one is called the Turbo and essentially descends the five stories in a single fast curve! very fast and exciting, but for over 12's!) 

Nicole is still a bit shocked by the mixed change rooms, with lots on 'display' as you made your way to or from the pool, or got changed yourself. Nicole found a change cubicle, but the boys and I live by the motto "when in Rome..." 

We had a delicious Italian dinner, then the boys went out for a few beers after the kids went to bed. A very good second day! 

On the third day, it was New Year's Eve. In the day, we took the kids for a big play on the trampolines and playgrounds, and in the afternoon, Alexander, Cameron and Bradley went to a kinder-party for New Years and had a great time. 

Alan, Gordon and I snuck off for a round of Minigolf, which proved a real challenge and lots of laughs (especially when Alan is putting his putter over the end of the tunnels and Gordon doesn't know why his ball is not making it through!). It was a case of fine German engineering - the course had some of the best designed and engineered 'tricks' I have ever seen on a minigolf course: for example, on one hole, you had to hit it up a ramp and into a basket, which swung on the weight of the golf ball and deposited it an another cute. Others had rockers, balances and carefully crafted traps (which we fell for!). 

We then got ourselves ready for the Ney Years Eve Celebration (see next post).

First snow of the season

We left the house this morning to do a bit of shopping, and it started to snow.     

These photos were taken at about 4.30pm, you can see how dark it gets in Winter. By the time we got back there was a good layer on everything. 

Later that evening, Phil went out with some of the British Embassy guys for some beers. They went to a pub called "100 beers". they did a "World Tour" of beers! Sounds like a great night out, and he hopes to go along to the next one!

Sadly the snow didn't last, and by following morning, the snow had melted. 

Boxing Day

Boxing day was cool and clear. I was awake early so I went downstairs and watched a bit of the Boxing Day cricket at the MCG - Very much enjoying the results so far, but just wish the Poms had of sent out their cricket team rather than their netball team so at least the series would be a bit more interesting.

The boys spent the morning playing with some of their new toys. Late morning, the boys and I rode their bikes to Sonia and Alan's, and Michelle picked Nicole up in  her car on the way. We rode down to the Gruenewald and through the forest, then across to the Ramsay's. It is a good ride and the boys and I had a lot of fun. There was a lot of food left over from yesterday (even with a 14 and 17 year old in the house!), so we thought we would have lunch again (with not so much alcohol). We polished off almost everything, giving Sonia more space in her fridge. 

Sonia, Michelle and Nicole then left to see a 'chick flick' called "Holiday" with Cameron Diaz, which they really enjoyed. The boys were left with the clean-up, and looking after the kids. We took the four kids (Alexander, Cameron, Bradley & Meghan) to the local park for a play, then back to the Ramsays, where they raced about in the yard and played inside. Stuart and James played Badminton in the yard (in shorts and t-shirts, the temperature was about 3 degrees! 

We were having a really pleasant afternoon, and I noticed the sky was starting to dim. It was time to hit the bikes to get home before it got pitch-dark. We almost made it, and rode the last kilometer or so in the dark (I had lights for my bike), but it was also getting a lot colder. I think that this will be the last ride of the season, as it is getting a bit chilly on the face and hands, and ice and bikes are not a pleasant combination!

Christmas lunch into the evening.

Christmas lunch was at Sonia & Alan's house, with their children, Stuart, James and Bradley. Also our South African friends Michelle & Gordon, and their daughter Meghan. 12 altogether. The tables looked great, and we had a great time together. 

Alexander, Meghan, Cameron and Bradley, and Snowy the cat  Nicole, Michelle and Sonia, and James in the window We had divided the menu so everyone had a taste of home.  Michelle and Gordon brought the starters, chicken wings and cherries wrapped in bacon! Alan and Sonia did the main course - "Terry" the Turkey and a mountain of veg. Note the big bowl of brussel sprouts on the table in front of Nicole, she didn't eat any of them! 

There was a mountain of delicious food. In typical Christmas Day lunch spirit, we were well and truly stuffed before Nicole wheeled out desserts.  Chocolate cake, chocolate pudding, pavlova and ice cream! It was a terrific meal!   

Lunch began after 2pm and finished well after sun-down (it does go down early here!). After all that fine food and drink we settled into the living room to relax, until we got out Sonia's Christmas present from last year, the karaoke machine! 

We laughed and laughed, and sang far too loud. I can tell you that there will not be any Australian Idol, Pop Idol or South African Idols coming from our families! I wonder what the neighbours thought?

Sonia and our Santa ready to hand out Christmas gifts, which also brought much laughter and fun! 

The beer, wine and port continued to flow and the adults had a great time. Meanwhile, the kids were all playing with new toys, playstation games and watching a few DVD's. 

It was a fantastic Christmas Day.

Christmas Morning

From the visit to Santa in November, all the Christmas markets and parties, the big day had finally arrived! The boys were out of bed early (6:00 am),  had been peeping into the lounge room and racing upstairs to report that Santa had been, his supper had been eaten and there were heaps of presents under the tree! Christmas morning is far too exciting and by 6:30 we were all around the tree. 

There was lots of excitement as each present was unwrapped, and the boys were really pleased with everything they were given from Santa, and all the presents from family and friends. I am really pleased with how grateful they were for everything, how genuinely excited they were and how much fun we all had! Santa gave Alexander this Lego train set that he has been eyeing off for quite sometime.

Cameron got a car racing set, he was thrilled with it. It took me over an hour and a half to set it up (there were 24 different types of track pieces that had to be constructed exactly or it wouldn't work! Here I am at about 6:50 starting the job of putting it together so Cameron could get playing with it. We rang our families back in Australia. This is one of the times when you really do miss the extended family. To speak to them for a little while on Christmas day is nice, but not the same as sharing it with them properly. 

Lunch is at Sonia and Alan's, 3 families from odd corners of the world enjoying Christmas together. I suppose this is the closest to a big family Christmas you can have when your real family is half a world away.

I finally coaxed the boys away from the new toys to get ready for lunch whilst Nicole set about making the chocolate cake and pudding for dessert.

We love Christmas morning!

Christmas Eve

Last night we went to a friend's open-house for Christmas and met a whole lot of really nice people from the British Embassy. One of them was called Philip Owen (no joke!) from Wales. He is on the embassy staff here in Berlin. There is a bit of a 'boys night out' next week that I have been invited along to (I promised not to mention the Ashes...) 

It was a lovely evening, and after a slow start this morning, we had a lot to do preparing for the arrival of Santa, and for Christmas Lunch with our friends. Lots of tidying, and Nicole did a heap of cooking and baking. Gingerbread, chocolate balls, Pavlovas.

Cameron wanted a restful day (after all the ice skating, cycling and sandy hills!) so he stayed in his pyjamas and played with Lego. Alexander wanted to go on a bike ride, even though it was a little drizzly. So he and I went for a couple of hours. 

We rode through the Gruenewald forest to Schildhorn (on the Havel), and along the 218 bus route back to Theodor Heuss Platz (visitors will know this bus - its a great one for getting to the lake at Wannsee). It was about a 12 km round trip, and it was so quiet and peaceful in the forest, and the roads and bike paths were also really quiet. We had a really pleasant time and Alexander is riding really well and  hardly needed a rest. 

The boys are really excited about Santa coming and we have said that they can get us up at 7:00am for present opening. Alexander has tried to negotiate this to 6:45, or 6:50. Somehow I expect that our door will burst open close to 6am and the fun will really start! 

Christmas Eve means leaving something special out for Santa and Rudolph... This year, there was a  gingerbread cookie and a cup of milk for Santa and a carrot for Rudolph. The boys also made a page of decorations to put it on, as well as lots of little snow-flakes and stars (which we were still vacuuming up a few days later) 

 

It appeared that Santa and Rudolph were very happy with the supper as they left only a few crumbs, a splash of milk and the little end of the carrot - and there were lots of presents under the tree!

House Decorations

Slowly we are putting up some of our Christmas decorations around the house.

Everything from the top of the entertainment unit has been moved to accommodate different ornaments.

Simona, the boys German teacher is very confused about our 3 Santa figures, when there is only one Santa.
 

We have put our Australian decorations on our kitchen window.  

I couldn't get a decent photo, the sun was too bright.

Ice Skating

One thing that  we really love about winter is being able to go outdoor ice skating on Sunday mornings! We have a local ice stadium that has an outer 400m ring and a central rink, which may both be open at once, or sometimes one is closed for lessons, or racing. It is great to get there when the place opens, because the ice is perfectly smooth. We skate for an hour or so, stop for a cup of coffee or hot chocolate and then skate for about another hour. At the moment it is still quite warm (3-5 degrees C), it is something special when it begins to snow when you are ice skating.

Sonia, Alan and Bradley, and Michelle, Gordon & Meghan are usually there, and often there are a many other school families too.  It is a great social morning.

We have all improved a lot since last year, and this year we have our own ice skates. The boys are confident and have a great time skating and mucking around. 

Nicole and I will often skate and chat with our friends. Whilst I have been on holiday I have been 3 times so far. On Tuesday, whilst the boys were still in school, I went by myself and got a bit of practice in. 

I am trying to improve my skating and I often see young kids and old guys skating around effortlessly doing stuff I can't - I think a lot more practice and maybe some lessons and I can get there. At the moment I am working on skating backwards, and crossing over my skates so I can do tight, fast corners (forwards!). Makes for a bit of fun whilst I try new things and a few spills as well!

The boys are really getting the hang of it, this time last year they were clinging to the walls. Now they really belt around!

Bike Riding to the Sandy Hills

Whilst ice skating, Alan and I decided that we would take the kids to the 'Sandy Hill' (Kiesgrube) in the middle of the Grunewald forest. It is only about 30 minutes bike ride from both of our houses, so it makes a great 'meeting point'.  It is a really nice ride from our place - all the tracks in the forest are easy riding and it is nice to be off the bike paths and roads for a while.

It is a great big hill of sand that the boys love playing on, digging in, rolling down and running around madly on. 

 

Although it is only 5 degrees C it is not too cold on the face and hands. The Grunewald is really peaceful this time of year, in spring and summer is is very busy on all of the tracks with joggers, walkers and cyclists. The boys had the entire hill to themselves today.

So with a thermos of coffee, Alan and I sat at the top of the hill and watched the world go by, whilst Cameron, Alexander and Bradley did all of the above (and more!) for a couple of hours. 

 

When the kids had had enough, Alan, myself and three very sandy and tired boys cycled together to Harry's - a little cafe that has a NO SMOKING policy (yippee! the modern world comes to Berlin!). Sonia and Nicole had been shopping in preparation for Christmas day,  so we met them there for lunch.

Making Bon Bon's

There will be 12 for Christmas lunch at Sonia & Alan's this year. They have been brave to invite the us and the McLeish family.. I thought it would be nice to make some bon bon's for the table (minus the snaps) I can't find them here, they are not a German tradition. Inside we put 2 chocolates, a small hanging decoration, and some glitter stars. Once they were wrapped, Cameron stuck all the stickers on the outside. They didn't turn out too bad. One of them is missing the Snowman hanging decoration. So, I need to keep an eye out when they are opened to see who missed out.

Writing Notes

The boys are often awake by 6am.  Before I go to bed in the evening, I put the cereal boxes on the bench so they can make their own breakfast.  Often there are a few cornflakes or weetbix crumbs on the floor that need to be swept up. A small sacrifice rather than  me having to get up and make breakfast for them at 6am. Sometimes, some milk or yogurt get split on the floor. Instead of them wiping it up with some paper towel, this is what I am usually greeted with before I enter the kitchen. A small carefully cut out sign with "Caution, milk on the floor". Sometimes I get these sort of notes at the doorway to the bathroom, letting me know they missed the toilet.  Next up: cleaning up spills lessons.

Tinder Man

This is a German Smoking man. Inside you put in a small scented cone and light it. The smoke wafts out of the his mouth, and he looks like he is smoking a pipe. These are everywhere in the Christmas markets. There are some great Santa and Snowman designs. But I don't think Santa smokes, and if a snowman smoked, wouldn't he melt? So, I bought the traditional Tinder Man instead

Year 2 Christmas Party

Santa visited Year 2, before they had their Christmas Party. They sang songs for Santa and he gave out a present, a box of pencils to each child. The kids helped themselves to a plate of food. Phil and I went along to help set it out and clean up afterwards. Phil was great cleaning up spilt drinks, there is plenty of practise at our house!Cameron's teacher, Mr Boddy, on the left hand side.

Sony Centre & Hauptbahnhof

As it gets dark here so early, you really get to appreciate the Christmas lights. 

By 4pm, it is dark enough to see all the wonderful lights displays. Here is the Xmas tree outside the Sony Centre. You can have a go at curling... Or the kids can have a practise at skiingThere is the ice skating, and the tube snow ride too.

In Potsdamer Platz shopping centre there is a great display of trains to watch. 

Alexander, Cameron and Bradley were happy to stand there and watch the trains for about 30 minutes. Sonia and Phil took the opportunity to run into the supermarket to find something for dinner.

We had been to see Happy Feet together. The boys enjoyed it, and Bradley did some great dancing.

There is an impressive tree, at the Hauptbahnhof train station. The whole tree is covered in Swarovski crystal decorations.

It was so big, I couldn't stand back far enough to get the whole tree in the picture. It was surrounded by 7 foot glass panels, so you couldn't take a souvenir. I wonder what the dollar value of the tree would have been??

You know you do too much mail order,

When you walk down the main shopping street (at least a kilometre away from home), and the DHL man has delivered a parcel to a store. 

He sees you walk by..

DHL Man:  "Frau Owens?" 

Me: "Ja"

DHL Man: "Ich habe zwei packet for Sie" (I have 2 parcels for you)

He got them out of the truck, and I signed for them on the street and took them home.

Then I went to Drospa's,. The cashier tells me next week there is a special on printing photos. Buy 100, get 40 prints free. She says, that shouldn't be a problem for me! 

She knows me well!

Cookie Swap

I hosted the cookie swap again this Christmas.  I spent an afternoon baking cookies.

It was a great day for Max to come over to play. Cameron and Max were my official cookie tasters.  They approved, but they needed a few to taste just to be sure.

Look at those grubby faces!!

They cookies were bundled up into groups of 6 to put in bags. 

I wish I had taken a photo of all the wonderful cookies that were brought along by everyone. It was great!

Here are some photos of some of the "girls", apologies for dark photos. Very relaxed .

Kate, Leah, Phoebe and Sonia.Elaine, Chantal, Sarah, Michelle and ChloeChloe, who only woke for a drink/