Ice Skating

Ice Skating this morning, and I have to admit it was really nice to get into a car, and be there in 10 minutes, rather than waiting for the bus and S Bahn!

Quite a few other families from the school join us on a Sunday morning, so the kids have their friends to skate with, and we have some adult company.

We skate for an hour, then stop for a coffee break, skate a bit more, and we are home for lunch.

A great way to spend the morning in the fresh (very cool) air, and stretch the legs a bit. You just have to make sure you have enough warm clothes on!

beep beep

So, after avoiding driving in Berlin for so long, I have finally taken the plunge and accepted a little Mercedes (B-Class) as a company car. It is really very nice, although the Berliners will have to get used to a mad Australian trying to drive on the wrong side of the road.Note there are no scratches yet, lets wait and see!

Phil in Shanghai

I had a business trip to Shanghai and London. There was an option for us to move to Shanghai at one stage before we took this posting to Berlin, so I was keen to finally visit! 

The city really took me by surprise - it was a really interesting place, very modern (in the parts where we stayed), dynamic and full of life. The Bund had great restaurants, bars and nightclubs (very western!). I think I have eaten the best meal of my life there - at a place called Jade on Jade, on the 36th floor of the Shangrila Hotel - French/Chinese fusion -  fantastic! Although the traffic in peak hour would drive me nuts!

Lots of business meetings, but I was able to squeeze in a bit of bargain shopping and had a quick look around, including the French quarter and the Jade Buddha temple, and a great Ancient Chinese Museum.

Finished off the trip by flying to London for a 3 day course, and finally back home.

Thanks Bad Tölz

All the decorations are in the stores, the decorations and lights are starting to appear in the streets, and the giant snow tube ride is being constructed at Potsdamer Platz (YIPPEE, our favourite) It is getting dark by 4.30pm here. 

Today the Christmas tree on the Ku'damm was being delivered! Here it is in front of the Gedächtnis-Kirche, preparing to be lifted by a crane.  

The sign on the tree translates to the Bad Tölz (a region in Bavaria, Germany) grew this tree to reach the sky for the Berlin people. The large ropes hanging down on the left of the church, are attached to a huge crane. I will be looking forward to seeing how they decorate it.

Remembrance Day Service

The Berlin 1939-45 War Cemetery, Charlottenburg. It snowed through the entire service! It was really peaceful. Even though the cemetery is on Heerstrasse (a busy road), you don't hear any traffic! (see 25th April 2007 post to see the cemetery without snow on ANZAC Day)

It's snowing

Schnee, Schnee, und mehr Schnee.  

I must have felt it in my bones, we went to the shops this morning to buy Winter snowproof boots! 

Just in time too, it started to snow this afternoon!

Stars of the Future

Well, they did it again.

We had a talent contest at the school this year to help raise funds for the charities we support. Alexander, Emily and Isaiah won 2nd place in Year 1, for their stand up comedy act, telling jokes. 

This year, they enlisted Verena to be involved, and won 1st place with a Cinderella pantomime, and a friendship song! They were hilarious, and we were so proud of them! They worked really hard to learn their lines and their dance routine most weekends.Second place was Laura and Martin who recited the poem, Down the back of the chair by New Zealand author, Margaret Mahy. They looked great in their All Blacks gear!

It is a long poem to remember, they were terrific!The Southern Hemisphere were well represented. Martin is in Alexander's class. Their teacher was so proud of all of them!