Chelle in Hamburg

Opera

2011-10-23T16:56:00.000+02:00

Last night we went to the Opera again. It was a rehearsal so we didn't have to pay for the tickets which was great. This is our 3rd visit to the Opera not counting the Ballet we also went to see a few months ago.

I invited a girl friend to join us since we had 1 spare ticket, she asked me what people wear to the Opera in Hamburg and I said evening dress, because for the last 3 I went to, including the Ballet everyone dressed up, ok maybe not everyone but most of them.

We arrive all in evening dress including my girl friend and what do we see, everyone in flippin jeans and casual street, office clothes. The first thing my friend says is omg I'm over dressed, I'm thinking yea so am I. But you know what, its better being over dressed than under dressed in my book. We looked fabulous and the looks we got didnt bother us after a nice glass of wine. The wine cost an arm and a leg though, which we had to literally chug since it was time to go inside.

We watched Flavius Bertardius was great, completely different from the normal Operas, and was set in modern time and took me by surprise, they sang in German and Italian which was also different. The irony of it was that it reminded me a lot of Muammar Al Gaddafi who was also a tyrant and who was famous for his tasseled jacket full of medals. Three and half hours of great music made for a great Friday evening.

I love how Hamburg is great for Theater maybe I need to tap into English theater next time. I've heard there are some around as well...on that note till next time...Tschüß

No bake lemon cheese cake

2011-10-07T00:22:00.000+02:00

So I made a non bake lemon cheese cake today, I miss the great cakes I got in Bahrain at the Lebanese cake shop called Lilu cakes and I have never eaten anything so delicious like them here in Germany.

Germany has their own cakes which are also nice, but nothing compared to what im used to so I attempted making one today. I never follow recipes in cups and grams but will give you what I just threw together today.

Ingredients
3 tubs of 175 gms Philadelphia cheese
* 1 sachet of lemon Götter speise (gelatine)
1 cup sugar
* 1/2 a packet Leibniz wholewheat biscuits
* 1/2 a packet kemm'sche kuchen biscuits
3 tablespoons butter.

Directions

In a bowl, mix together crushed biscuits and kemm'sche kuchen with melted butter
Press into a 7 inch springform pan. Place in refrigerator until ready for use.
In another bowl, beat cream cheese.
Mix 1 sachet of Götter speise in 250 ml boiling water with 1 cup sugar (cooled before adding to cheese mixture)
Using a hand held blender, mix Cream cheese, and cooled (Götter speise) gelatine and sugar mixture.
Spread into pan.
Place in refrigerator 60 minutes before serving.

*If you are using sweetened lemon jello powder, skip the sugar

Use Digestive biscuits in place of the biscuits above.

RIP Steve!!

2011-10-06T18:14:00.000+02:00

Steve Jobs died today, I feel the loss, does one who has not known a person personally grieve, I think so, well I do, reading all the posts on Facebook, Google+ and Twitter shows the world mourns a creative genius today!! Someone posted a fb comment " Steve Jobs is on icloud" to name a few!!

I love Apple products my Iphone4 and my Ipad2 and the various other Apple products the family and I own. I remember 22 years ago working for Apple in Bahrain. I was in sales trying to sell Apple computers to a market flooded with cheap Chinese computers, god it was hard but also fun. I got a job finally with a company who I had sold the computer to, since I was expecting my daughter and didnt want a sales generated job, that's where my love for Apple products started, 22 years ago.

I guess Apple has a unique clientele and that's what Steve Jobs strived for, pay good money and get an excellent product, many competitors tried and failed to match up to Apple, but in saying that many new good products are available in the market today thanks to him, that's how I see it.

RIP Steve Jobs, you have left a void in this world today!! Its sad you were too young to die...like they say "Only the good die young"!! You gave me something I love, my Iphone and for that I am forever grateful!!

Autumn's here?

2011-10-05T19:52:00.001+02:00

It's Autumn already, doesn't feel like it though, but I see the leaves turning yellow and then they will turn orange and red, fall off the trees and turn brown, coming back to the weather that's been so nice and warm the past week, even better than summer.

The things I love about Autumn is the weather, pumpkins and Autumn fruit and veggies, drinking hot tea again and snuggling up on the sofa in the evening.

But knowing Hamburg , come next week it's cold again, I'm not looking forward to Winter tho, especially working with the little ones at the kindergarten we must take them out for fresh air, I'm thinking why bother it's flippin cold, but we do and then putting on 100 layers on them takes forever, oh well...

In Germany and so my husband says, it's not about the cold weather but the clothes you wear, I'm all sorted with winter stuff, but it's such a pain putting on all your warm clothes when inside wherever you go it's boiling, the bus, work, pubs, malls etc.

Oh well meantime I shall not think about the impending winter months and focus on the sunny blue skies, I'm looking forward to the kids arrival in December, Christmas, Christmas markets and more meetups with friends.

I have made a few good ones and my curry nights can start again, good lord the list is long, I will split them up in 2 or 3 different weekends. It's hard work cooking for huge groups but I do enjoy it, given Indian restaurants are not so good here, IMHO and the prices you pay. I need to try out some new recipes though.

I'm off to make a no bake lemon cheese cake, will post the recipe here if it turns out well.

Till next time, tschüß!!

My bus trip to work

2011-09-23T15:05:00.001+02:00

I saw this Persian couple on the bus today, I know that because I heard them speak, she was wearing a sleeveless top, feeding him nuts and cuddling, things so normal for Germany, they got off and he put his arm around her and walked away.

Living in the Middle east PDA 's are so not common and god forbid they even tried that in Iran, I noticed this huge scar on her face , I shudder to think how she got that.

My musings on the bus, love how I can just write stuff on my iPhone now and publish it right away.

So I will update this later :)

I sit in the dark!

2011-09-21T21:56:00.001+02:00

My first post from my iPhone, it's a test blog entry, I'm sitting here in my living room with the things I like best, my laptop and my iPad nearby playing some tunes on my radio app.

I usually sit in the dark, it's just something I do, why waste energy all I need is the light on my laptop, I usually fumble my way to the loo, on my loo breaks, I had a friend staying with me and found that odd. Lol!

We all have our odd ness so what's your odd habits then...

So here it is my first post, after I added the blogger app on my iPhone, I gonna put this app on my iPad now, hope it works...

Meet ups and odd balls!!

2011-09-20T20:37:00.001+02:00

On Saturday I went out to the Hamburg International Woman's Meetup, (http://www.meetup.com/Hamburg-International-Womens-Network), its a cool group and its not the first meeting I've been to, you meet some interesting woman there and some not so nice, the organizer is a wonderful bubbly woman who I tell every time I meet her is, how she does it. Getting a group of women from all walks of life to sit down and get on with each other.

To be honest it doesn't always work, one word of caution trying to befriend the first nice person you meet or so you thought, I would take it slow and steady before you proclaim that you have found your new BFF because they are not what they seem. Over time you find out, after they have exhausted you and taken what they want they show their true colours...sigh...

Like a few women here and on other meetups, that I have met who think they know everything and wont shut up... I think they try pushing their ideas on you because their life is empty. On well its not all blood and gore though because I have also met some really nice women who are genuine and just trying to get on with life in a foreign country.

On Saturday I met some women who were here a long time opposed to the ones that just got here and tried to push what works for them, I think we are all unique in our own way, because what may work for you might not for the next. Hence I just tell them all that eventually things get better.

Most of the expat women I have met have come to Hamburg for love like me, and when the stars in their eyes turn to reality its a different ball game, but its all up to the individual, like me. Im still struggling with the language its coming to 3 years in February 2012, when I first moved to Germany. I know I must learn which would make my husband a very happy person and me as well :)

I get by so far with conversational German, I'm lucky to have found a job with limited German, I need the money for the kids in University, given my German is basic I have also attended 3 courses in German for my job. I did work hard translating all the material my teacher sent me by email before hand, thanks to hubby of course who helped. I guess we all have our priorities in life, mine is to get my kids through college, while my German language takes back seat. But not for long I will get back to it.

Some people who have been here for over 10 years are still struggling with the language or even getting a decent full time job, so I thank my lucky stars that I am settled and happy with my life like it is now. Having a few good friends and a wonderful family helps!!

On that note...till next time Tchüß!!

Family!!

2011-08-21T21:07:00.004+02:00

Daughter and I :)

The past week has been hectic but great, my daughter finally came home after nearly a year in India...I wish she could stay here forever but its just for 2 months. Everything was great the first couple of weeks and then she got sick, Hepatitis A the doctors said and was hospitalized for 10 days, poor girl was yellow and had no appetite at all. I was so worried because her blood wouldn't clot also with having this disease being a virus, there’s no drugs that help her recover except drinking loads of water to flush out the toxins.

Every morning she had to give blood so they could check her liver levels, when she was admitted the doctor said 2 days but she ended up staying in hospital for 10 days, I was working so it was for the best I guess, I would have been sick with worry being at work and she alone at home. Good thing as well she got sick here in Germany and not India so I could see her and she got the best care here. Germany has good doctors and hospitals. The food was awful she said, but then again she hated food those days.

Poor girl was in isolation and we had to wear these flash scrubs with masks and hats, worst fear for me was that I work with kids I would infect them but since I had jaundice as a child I am immune, that didn’t stop the Ministry of health here in Germany calling me and telling me to wash my hands after using the loo, like who doesn’t do that anyways, they also asked me to buy some special anti bacterial hand wash which I did. All very annoying I’m immune ffs!!

She has been out now for the past 3 weeks, enjoying the last of her vacation, not sure what Im going to do when she leaves again mid September, She will be back for Christmas...hopefully get into Uni and stay here with us for a few more years. I miss my kids its been 2 years since I last saw my son, he will be here for Christmas as well, I cant wait. I just hope its not so cold this year though. 2 years ago when he visited it snowed like crazy.

Im enjoying summer the last of it, my daughter is out most days with her boy friend, secretly its nice having her here but not having to put up with all her crap, Kids you love them and will do anything for them but I have gotten used to being alone with hubby now. They have their own lives and I have mine, its not easy working and picking up after them especially at their ages, 21 and 22 and the hours they keep...

I also got to see my cousin after 32 years, It was like we were never apart, she now lives in Australia with her German husband, was so nice catching up with them and getting to know her husband, since my hubby is also German it was great, they stayed a day with us and we managed to do so much together, we also met his brother who lives here in Germany close to us so we have been keeping in touch. Nothing like family I guess, friends here are hard to find, so having some more family close by makes us happy. I am still not fluent in German, his wife speaks no English, but we manage to converse :)

Its like my in laws they also don’t speak any English but Im now trying to speak to them in German, I have a long way to go but I will learn the language even if it kills me, I know I will learn...on that note, till next time tschüß!!

This and that!!

2011-06-22T19:42:00.000+02:00

Oh its summer finally....and a wedding in my family the first grandchild in the family getting married next week, I am bummed that I cannot go for it...too many things happening here, no vacation time and no money, weddings in India are very expensive. They have 2 receptions and 2 ceremonies, one Catholic and 1 Hindu, the first Hindu mixed marriage in our family and im missing it all.

Yesterday I woke up in the worst mood ever, taking it out on poor hubby, who as usual is clueless after a wee cry I got over it. I called the kids twice as they are representing my family, also the fact that my daughter is the maid of honour and both of them are in India studying. The weather reflected my mood grey and it hasn't stopped raining for the past 2 days...also my extended family are all there, which makes it harder for me to accept my not being there. I wait for the photos meantime.

We went to Switzerland 2 weeks ago to make up for me not being able to go to India. I needed to get out of Hamburg, and which better place to go, then to see our close friends we made in Bahrain. Its been 2 years since we saw them last, and it was like we were never apart, catching up and comparing life stories and reminiscing on our life in Bahrian opposed to life in Europe. If I thought things were expensive in Germany its nothing compared to Switzerland. Most of the normal Swiss people shop in Germany for food etc, and no not everyone in Switzerland is mega rich...

On one of our trips to the supermarket over the boarder in Germany we noticed the difference to the stuff they have here in Germany espicially in the north. I saw Cuban cigars and Dom Perignon Champagne sold in the supermarket...lol that was just crazy ofcourse it was in a nice glass cabinet under lock and key being expensive and all, people in Switzerland must buy stuff like that tho, but in a supermarket? In Germany we have special stores for luxury goods like this :)

We were in Basel for most of our holiday it was nice enough, a small sleepy town compared to vibrant, happening Hamburg but its also nice that you can jump into your car and go up to the mountains, or to one of the other cities around. We did just that and went to Luzern, nice lake and scenery in the city. Switzerland is picture postcard pretty. The prices to eat out is another story, we went for a meal to a Mexican restaurant and for 4people with a few drinks was 350 francs.Unbelieve....In Germany its so much more cheaper and the quality of food is more or less the same.

Well the weather was just awsome and I could live there...not so cold with great summers, bloody Hamburg rains like its going out of style...If only it was not so expenisve and had more of a social life it would be perfect espicially for us, our kids are grown up and I like going out for a drink or a meal every other week, which thank god is affortable here in Germany... I know the salaries are so much higher in Switzerland compared to Germany though. I guess you cant have everything.

Back in Germany and I'm attending my tagesmutter E2 course now, all in German, hubby is so helpful he translates all the material I need for that day which my instructor sends to me weekly by email. You know its great to have good teachers and a good husband, committed and helpful makes my life easier. I really want to participate and chat about stuff in German during the course. I'm thinking of going back to school and giving German another shot. Lets see how the work situation is in a few months.

Meanwhile I'm looking forward to my daughters arrival next month...and summer and 2 weeks off work...its strawberry season and also the Schlagermove weekend next week on that note...

Till next time tschuß!!

My day at the Kindergarten!!

2011-05-07T14:01:00.002+02:00

I never planned on working at a Kindergarten ever in my life but I did, more because that's all I could find with my limited German, I started in the end of Jan 2011 and was an exciting experience for me. People who know me, know I have no patience with anyone leave alone 1 to 3 year olds but the kids wormed their way into my heart, what's not to like about children, being a mother and having kids of my own. the upside is you give them back at the end of the day, the downside for me is that I got sick as a dog, and haven't really recovered from the germ bags, oh well my resistance should peek up and I will be as right as rain again...I hope.

I met 2 nice women working there one is or was a Lorray driver back in the UK, she cracks me up so upbeat even if she gives me grief about eating meat as she is vegetarian and so is her family, how she does it beats me...she probably thinks the same of me as well...I told her once that God made animals on this earth for food, she backed off...I guess its each to their own and we respect each others choices. In the end she is great to work with so that counts for so much.

The other girl is from New Delhi India and a software engineer,what's she doing being a kindergarten teacher beats me,she has a small child who also attends the kindergarten and says this works for her as its just till 2 pm .Its interesting the jobs you got to take to survive with limited German for many expats here in Germany. I still work part time at hubbys after the kindergarten which is hard but it fills up my day.

My delima is what to wear each day the kindergarten its casual and then I have to look half decent going to an office, sometimes covered in drool or food even.I would prefer working in an office to be honest, its so much better going in having a desk and doing what you know is routine stuff.

At the kindergarten we have various children all of them German, being an English speaking kindergarten we speak to them in English, they are learning and speak back to us in German usually, they do understand what we say ...some days they are little angels some days not so much usually Mondays are the worst...and since we had a week off for spring Im dreading Monday when they are all dragged back being with their parents the whole week, we shall have alot of crying and biting.

I dont know what is up with German kids but they will bite each other,not all of them but its takes just 4 out of the 17 we have to get on our nerves, as we try to keep an eye out to some high pitched scream and then we know ok someone has gotten bitten. Its usually the smallest kid who gets picked on and then we bring out the ice pack, hoping the little devil who bit the other hasnt drawn blood. The worst part is having to tell the parents who come to pick up the kids that their child has gotten bitten. You feel guilty that you let it happen. Man you need eyes at the back of your head most days.

I help out with feeding them, putting them down for their nap and even brushing their teeth, worst part of the job is changing diapers...they hate it and us as well. Smetimes when they have done their business you look at this beautiful chid thinking man how can you smell so bad.

Its May now....weather is great to sit in the sand pit with the little angels...we have a few new joiners who cry non stop I hope they get used to the place soon...the crying does get on my nerves and also to the others, I find the older children complaining about the noise, imagine us lol...also 2 new girls joined us and one cow left, makes going to work so much better...the kids are used to me now and I am happy to have this opportunity to make some money... I've also attended the tagesmutter course last month and have another one at the end of the month. all in German, but its nice to have a certificate in the end, Germany and their ausbildungs...

On that note, till next time Tchuß.

Mother....

2011-01-18T17:01:00.002+01:00

When I die...all I want is a single yellow rose on my grave....that's what my mother used to say when she was upset or tipsy, or when we were mean to her like us daughters do from time to time....we didn't like hearing her say that because we hoped mothers last forever....

I still remember it was Saturday 18th of Jan 2004 when mother passed on I was in Bahrain and went into work that day even thought it was our weekend. I also remember talking to her on Thursday our weekly chats, she had just come out of the hospital, she had been battling asthma and her lungs were weak from all the smoking she did years ago, she had stopped smoking for 5 years but I guess the damage was done and that's what killed her eventually.

62 is too young to die, I had a dream 2 nights before about a wedding actually my wedding and for some reason when I dream of weddings someone dies, its weird but that's just how it is....I begged my sister not to take her out of the hospital, my sister said she is fine, don't be stupid, if only she had listened to me...if only.....She died of a massive heart attack, she didn't even have heart problems. I wish she was around to see her grand children grown up, one is even getting married this June, she would have been proud, I wish she was here to see me get married for the second time to a great man, and seeing how happy I was again. Oh how I wish we could turn back the clock but only realise this when its too late.

I remember my mother reading....she always read even when she ate her meals which was usually after we had eaten, it was just her in case there wasn't enough or we wasted our food, she would pick up the newspapers or something and read. I remember her telling me the stories of the book she had just read, I would wait for her to finish her novel she was a furious reader, as I was growing up I would read all her books when I came home for the holidays, as we were all in boarding school. I was 13 when I read my first grown up novel it was When the Lion Feeds by Wilbur Smith one of mums books...after that I started reading alot we didn't have TV or video games back then so I borrowed books from the library, but I have to say every time I pick up a book to read even now I remember mother and her love for reading.

She used to also say you are never to old to learn....and when we talked she listened, she had great stories of her childhood and I still remember all her stories of her growing up, I just think she was born in the wrong era and in the wrong country as she was under appreciated and misunderstood...

If you still have your mother around, show her you care before its too late, tell her you love her, let her enjoy her grand kids, my mum taught mine their prayers and read them stories evey night...they still remember the songs she sang to them she had a great voice...I did not get her gift of singing unfortunately...

I miss you mum...and as I sit here typing this with tears streaming down my face....I wish I could tell you in person how much you meant to me...how much you touched my life...how much you taught me...and how proud I am to be your daughter......I Love You....Forever.....

Before and after Christmas!!

2011-01-10T20:57:00.001+01:00

Christmas is a few days away....I love Christmas its the best festival for me first on a religious level and then all the partying, family and friends....This year is the first time since I had my kids, we are not spending Christmas together, thank god for family in India and the kids having aunties, uncles and cousins to share the Christmas spirit with.

I sent them a box of goodies and some new clothes hoping it would get there in time for Christmas but so far nothing has arrived, so much for paying airmail charges, should have saved some money and just sent it by sea like I usually do, oh well 3 days to go before Christmas it may just land up...fingers crossed, makes me happier knowing they have some thing from us. I also sent them some money so hopefully they have fun.

Christmas eve is at our in laws place....I have managed to buy pressies but still have not bought the 2 nephews anything...what do you buy children who have everything. Well I have a few things in mind need to go buy them tomorrow, dont know why we wait for the 11th hour...

25th is lunch at ours but its not a big affair, like last year we are having an open house starting at 5.30 pm so this Christmas its more an adult thingy so I havnt asked the in laws over they dont drink anyways and thats what Im serving mostly...I have bought 8 liters of red wine to make Gluehwine and some finger food and hopefully its a great turn out like last year...

This year Im cooking Turkey again...I wasnt going to but a friend from Australia is spending Christmas with us and a few other friends will be coming over so I said what the heck lets keep with tradition, hubby has a colleague who sells Wild Boar and now we have a leg of wild boar, no idea how to cook it tho...I wanted to make some ham like thingy

The weather has been cold, snowing and minus degrees, Im not complaining because Im looking forward to a white Christmas.but after New Year I hope the weather gets better....

So.....a few weeks have passed....

24th was good, we managed to get to the the other end of Hamburg to my brother in laws house and since his wife is Polish and the one with tradition, we had fish like last year, starting with a cold fish soup, I know it sounds yuck but omg was so yummy, then we had pan fried fish, baked fish with grilled veggis and some fish cakes. Being Friday and its my no meat day I was happy.

No alcohol served which I still find odd, we drank coffee instead, that god awful brewed coffee, Im such a coffee snob just love my coffee machine and my nice Italian coffee :) Then we gave out the presents, to the kids they dont do adult presents, I did buy mother in law and father in law some clothes, was told off for buying them because they didn't get us anything...oh whatever I wanted to.

We chose to go to the church down the road from us this year for midnight mass, was nice and all in German, I loved the church and sat near all the lighted candles. I love the tradition of midnight mass and even though I didn't understand what they were saying I did feel the spirit. I prayed in English, the worst part was not being able to sing the hymns...I missed that part most. Oh well I should learn the prayers in German and the hymns because there is never mass in English here in Germany....for midnight mass at least.

We came home and exchanged gifts, hubby gave me white gold earrings and a cross, really pretty and I loved it...I gave him a GPS for the car, he moaned about why I needed to buy him an expensive present. Just be happy...seriously drives me crazy trying to buy him stuff. his birthday is coming up and he's already making hints as to what I should buy him...just in case I splurge again...

25th morning I woke up all set to cook but since my friend was spending Christmas with us she wanted to help out with some side dishes, well I'm not a morning person or someone who likes to share my kitchen and I could see the situation getting out of control, so I took a step back opened a bottle of wine and then things sorted it self out ...lol...Lunch was fab and every thing was smooth, till I burned my oven gloves. Bloody Clara was in the kitchen when they caught on fire and the kitchen is tiny , but she was oblivious to anything till the fire alarm went off and then panic...from me mostly...Drama over and we laughed at it...later!!

Lunch got over by 4.30ish and just went we finished dessert the bell rings, the dog is barking like an idiot like he does...and I ask who's that its only bloody 4.30pm...the first guests for the open house. I said clearly 5.30pm, hubby never gets it right or they cannot read...oh well no time to take a quick nap...back to the kitchen and start the Gluehwein, cooking the wild boar , making sausage rolls etc. I had help so all was good.

Alot of people showed up and we all had a fantastic evening, I missed the kids and must have called them like 4 times from the 24th. The spent theirs at my sisters, and everyone had a good day, they even got the box we sent before Christmas so they had their new clothes,cake ad cookies etc...I was pleased it all turned out well in the end. It didn't snow but I did get my white Christmas and a great group of people who made it special.

On that note...till next time
Tchuss!!

I lay my hat!!

2010-11-23T00:29:00.003+01:00

A rolling stone gathers no moss....I guess my life thus far could be described pretty much along those lines, so I got thinking its time to lay my hat and make this my home Germany that is!!.....I have met many people and read blogs on people who moved to Germany for love, for family, or something they just wanted to do..and then some, most of all these people have one thing in common, they eventually go home...its hard I know first hand how that can be, but I have been a wandering soul without any real roots, India was never a place I could warm to...I never felt Indian for some reason being of mixed blood. and a minority Catholic. I left when I was 21 and moved to the Middle east for work. I lived in Bahrain for 23 years, it was never my home for sure, but I must have liked it to have stayed 23 years, it was my kids home and I did have some good memories of my mum living with me and the kids growing up.

So 25 years later I find myself in Germany, married to a man 11 years younger then me, I am blessed when it comes to him and him loving me, but I do have things that I love that was there before I met him and those are my 2 children. They are in India studying my son is going a bachelor in 3D Animation and visual Effects, after 2 years in a business degree he changed his mind and is now learning Graphic design...my daughter is in business school, hopefully next year she comes back to Hamburg. I on the other hand ask God why my children are away from me. I know of many families who have children away in college and I should be happy my kids are getting an education at all.

Somehow I want it all, my husband, and my kids all living together with me in Germany, not necessarily in the same house but it would be nice to have them in the same country atleast. Am I being greedy? Or is that what we have families for? Being together why should my life be different from the others in this world. I guess I cannot understand why god does what he does, I on the other hand wait for the kids to finish college and and wait for destiny to hand me my next card. meanwhile I hope to settle down and make this work for me.

Feburary 2011 makes it 2 years I moved here, have I achieved anything significant, when I say significant I mean career wise, its been hard and I'm making progress slowly..I say I have grown to accept my life here, found a part time job and learned the language to some level. I lived in the Middle East for 23 years and hardly spoke a few words of Arabic...maybe because every one spoke English there...

Thursday 25th November is our 3 year wedding anniversary, times flies when you're having fun...so I look forward to my next years in Germany, hoping my daughter comes home and things are good...I can only look forward with a positive attitude because that's all you need to make your life complete, mixed with love and happiness!!

On that note...till next time

Tchuss!!

We can do it ourselves...not!!

2010-11-10T02:22:00.000+01:00

We need a carpet in our bedroom its too cold for the wood floors especially in winter and the rug we have now isn't serving its purpose, especially with the bloody dog jumping in and out the bed every night, I should just kick him out but he whines outside our bedroom door, our fault really we spoilt him...

Anywho on out trip to the old lady who passed on was an old carpet hubby thought we could use, I hated it as it reeked of smoke and was all dirty, it was cream one day when it was new, who buys a cream carpet anyways..Oh well it was dumped on the balcony for a month and it got wet in the Autumn rain...no surprise so I told hubby to throw it out, we are never going to put it in the house...he said lets get it washed maybe we could use it...I should have just said no...but I thought I would humor him...why I don't know....

We called up some cleaning companies 10 euros a square meter they said, we thought oh well lets wash it ourselves....so off we went to Max Bahr and rented a carpet cleaning hoover...the man in the store showed us how much water and cleaning product to put in and we thought piece of cake...we bring the contraption home and put it to use. Hubby thought the liquid would work miracles, we ended up with a grey and even worse looking carpet...oh man I thought, we should have just given it to the cleaning company. Hubby said lets leave it overnight to dry out and see how it looks.

I woke up this morning the carpet had dried some but was still dirty. I thought let me try something so I spent an hour with hot water, washing powder and a brush and scrubbed the bloody carpet, hubby used the hoover to suck up the excess water and the carpet now looks less dirty but nowhere near what it looked new. Oh well its drying out now and I have sore shoulders.for the effort..Tonight I better keep some pain killers close by...I think I may need them.

The carpet still looks disgusting and is still grey and dirty looking, even after all the bloody scrubbing...lets see how it looks after its dried out completely it smells like wet dog in here. I need to put some carpet deo, and hoover it again after its completely dried...That old women smoked like a chimney..I should really buy a new carpet, only thing is, do I need to spend 200 euros for something under the bed?

Well we found out one thing though, we can wash our own carpets for 10 Euros that's how much the hoover costs to rent for 24 hours, 80 euros deposit from Max Bahr and 14 euros for the cleaning liquid..who knew...I will give you all one piece of advise...if the carpet is really dirty get a cleaning company to do it...even if it not dirty get a cleaning company to do it.... seriously not worth the time and effort. the little carpet in the entrance was better to clean as it was not so dirty but still not worth the effort....

On that note, till next time
Tchuss!!

You give some you get some....

2010-10-24T01:35:00.002+02:00

A few weeks ago a colleague and friend of hubby's lost his aunt, she was 71 years old and lived her life I guess, 71 is not that old for Germany given I see old people past 90 riding the bus when I go to work most days...she died alone poor women, was never married. She had one brother who was married and one sister who lives in Salsburg Austria who hasn't married either...We went over to her flat, as her nephew was helping to clear out her stuff.

Her sister wanted to give her stuff away to family, friends and friends of friends, as she wanted people to remember her sister by. It was sweet of Olli hubby's friend to ask if we wanted to come along and take a few things that were left over. When we went over that evening most of the things were already taken or promised to someone, we manged to get 2 book shelves for the hundreds of books we have and a nice picture of a quote found in a cathedral in Baltimore. We also got some cast iron pots, if ever you hit someone on the head with, would probably die. I'm gonna make my first pot roast in it tomorrow.

You give some, you get some, well recently we helped out a friend who had no bed, and another friend was giving away his sofa bed so we asked if we could have it and he said yes. Hubby is such a sweetheart, organised and paid for a van and a friend to help him transport the huge sofa all the way to Altona. The guy giving away the sofa lived on the 6th floor and had no lift. Poor hubby and friend, had to cart the thing down 6 flights, to find the traffic cops had given him a ticket. 16 Euros plus 40 euros for the transporter later, they lugged up the sofa to our friends flat. She now has a bed and a sofa and is happy.

We on the other hand got all this free stuff from Olli's aunt, I was a bit freaked out to take her stuff, but her sister was so sweet about giving us her things, she gave us a small blue urn, hubby says it has her ashes in...bugger, she was buried so I'm not buying his story. I just think its so nice when people think about you and give you stuff without trying to ask for anything in return. Also here in Germany its normal for people to give away stuff, as you have to pay to throw out all our crap, so I guess we helped in a way. I look at those things in my home and remember the old lady I never knew. Hope she rests in peace.

Life is such when you do one good deed you get a good deed in return. I still believe there are good people in this world. I see hubby who helps my friends without expecting anything in return, the old lady who lives on the ground floor of my building, she was so sweet yesterday when I was locked out, even though she had to go out herself. Germans do have a heart, I don't agree when some people say that they are cold hearted, and I love this place so far. I do have some transition problems but I'm getting there. Of course we do have the sour pusses and the grumpy ass's like every place on God's earth but I see the good in people and shrug the crap.

On that note, till next time
Tchuss!!

OMG I got locked out....

2010-10-22T22:44:00.001+02:00

Today my worst nightmare came to life...as usual 'Im late getting ready to go to work and since I work afternoon's I take Cody out for a quick walk before I leave at 13:45 pm we have a key holder near the front door with 5 hooks for our keys on it, first hook is mine and hubby has the 5th hook, anything in between goes for spare keys, the dog clicker etc.

I'm running late and call out to Cody for his walk, I put on his lead, take the keys off the first hook and go on my merry way for a quick walk before it starts raining again...it was such a dreadful cold and rainy day today. Poor dog knows Im stressing out and will annoy me trying to eat grass and not do the things I want him to do like a poo, so I hurry along and come back to the main door and take the keys out of my pocket and look at them thinking omg I took the wrong friggen keys, what am I going to do...hubby is at work. I have left my mobile in the flat, the dog is with me, I'm running late for work, how am I gonna get into the flat. Don't panic....breath in breath out!!

I ring the bell for the old lady living on the ground floor, she is nice, likes my Cody even if he growls and barks at her and she is the only one I have ever spoken to really, she is such a sweet lady says my Cody is beautiful every time she see him...anywho I ring her bell and she takes forever to answer, through the intercom in my broken German I say...Ich bin deiner nachbarn, können Sie das tor offen bitte...(I am your neighbour, can you please open the main door)..she replies Nein (No)...I'm thinking fuck me, now what do I do, of course my accent, and bad German could have warranted that answer, I see her peep from her window and I wave at her, she can hardly see me and just closes the curtains, I'm thinking wunderbar....well she comes back for a second look, and recognizes me...and says oh its you and subsequently opens the door... I breath a sigh of relief

She must be thinking why the hell does she not have keys, the dog is growling and I try to speak to her and explain my predicament...all in German, she replied, Ich verstehen nicht (I dont understand) exasperated as I am I start again...and tell her I took the wrong keys when I left with the dog and could she ring the Haus Meister (building super) and ask if he had my husband's telephone number and if he could call him.

He tells the nice old lady he will call back and let her know, meanwhile I tie the dog on the railing, he's not happy and 5 mins later the Haus Meister calls back and says he does not have hubby's number...I'm standing like a dope, wanting to kick myself as to why I don\t know my hubby's mobile number, old lady says I have a phone book, its probably a 100 years old and come to think of that why don't we have one...well I don't even know my house number or my mobile number, am I the only one like that?

The Haus Meister must be used to people like me and ask's her if I just shut the door when I left to walk the dog without turning the key, I said yes I just shut the door, he says he will be over in about 10 mins and he did, I'm thinking oh he has a spare key, he opens his tool box and takes out some wire and starts to fiddle with the door, the dog gets crazy and starts snarling at him. I'm saying good boy stfu I need him to open the door. It took him 5 mins and the door was open with a piece of wire.

I\m thinking WTF...now I know how they rob houses...I thank the Haus Meister profusely, and go into the flat...thinking phew that was close. I call up hubby and tell him what transpired...he laughs I could have killed him...Guess what it was his fault of sorts, last night he dropped the keys and other stuff from the key holder and just put them back not on the hooks allocated i.e. where I put mine, I know I should have looked at the keys first, I always do but this was meant to happen. The other keys are now in the cupboard, so this wont happen again.

I left home for work 15 minutes late and turned the key twice in the lock before leaving home...Get to the office and tell the guys what happened, do you know if you're ever robbed the insurance company will not pay out if they know you just closed the door behind you...so peeps reading this, turn your key in the lock god forbid you're robbed, its so easy to open a door. I saw that first hand today...Also try and remember to look at your keys before you leave home, take your mobile duh, or try remember someone's number...and if that was not bad enough, I get into the bus for work and it reeked of vomit. I was the only one in the bus so imagine the looks when the next bunch got in...I wanted to scream its not me...I bury my face in my iphone instead, not my day clearly...

I'm now sipping a nice white sweet fermented wine...and will enjoy my weekend. Hubby's family are coming over for lunch on Sunday...Good Lord!!

On that note...till next time
Tchuss!!

My new fruity toy!!

2010-10-03T18:21:00.005+02:00

Two weeks ago I got my new Iphone 4 finally, we bought it in Switzerland as its cheaper than Germany, everything is more expensive here which is a pain really...Im happy though, I have my baby back, you all know my story and how I lost my baby to red wine, a few months ago. Life was never the same again. I did have an alternative phone a Sony Ericsson which served its purpose but, some how some thing was missing.

Patience and perseverance and a few months later hubby bought me another one, meanwhile many things transpired, my daughter left for India and I found a part time job etc., so when I was using my alternative phone, I would look at people with Iphone's and think of my poor phone, lying dead in the cupboard. I have not thrown it away, someone even offered to buy it for 50 euros, I said no, it was a leaving present from my mates at work. I'm hanging on to it.

Well now since I have the new Iphone4, life is back to normal, so many new apps, still need to get some new music uploaded on it though. I missed the google maps when I went out, as my sense of direction sucks...I have my flash cards again, helps with my German learning process. I also noticed that the battery would run dry every day, so posted a question on my forum and someone replied that I needed to turn off the background apps as they run even when I'm not using it...All's well in iphone land now...I also need to get a flat rate for my phone, as using 3G takes alot of money as I love playing around with the phone and use it alot when out. Incase any of you have one, great app to have is Whatsapp Messenger, free sms's to anywhere in the world if the other person also has the app on their phone though. Works for blackberry as well, and you will get all your friends sending you messages at freakishly odd hours being in different time zones...I learnt the hard way, I now turn off notifications before I go to bed :)

I'm now waiting for the leather cover I ordered on Amazon taking forever to reach here, will post a photo when its arrives...hopefully this week..

My Iphone case...

On that note, till next time.

Tchuss!!

So I have work!!

2010-09-25T23:03:00.000+02:00

September I found a job at hubby's its a part time job but gives me something to wake up to every morning . I also get to wear my office clothes that I used in Bahrain...no one in Germany dresses up for work, it's all Jeans or weird stuff some of the girls wear...some times I wonder if they have any friends or a mirror even. Ok maybe not this extreme :)

Work is tagging newspapers from the 1920 to the 1930's right now, its all in Dutch but I find myself reading the headlines sometimes, and when I get to someones birthday like my mom's hubby's or the kids it makes me smile. I have also learnt a few historical things as I tag every day, its a mind boring job but as I said something is better than nothing. The fact I am thrilled to get all dressed up and go in everyday tells you something. That I appreciate the opportunity to be able to work at all.

German language skills are still no where near being fluent for a full time job, so I trudge along at this, sometimes I don't have any work and some days I do...it does irritate me that I have no fixed routine but since I'm on a break from German lessons I hope to go back in a few months time. This is great, but some how not the same, I'm so used to my office space, my own telephone, my stuff on the desk, here I use the same computer but some how its not your computer or the desk, you cant surf the internet or anything. I come in do my stuff and leave.

People don't really talk to you either, thats fine as I like listening to music and have my ipod on and getting on with the job, given you have the same thing every day. I do like working in an office though, they have a nice coffee machine, fruit, mineral water and also a snack box with chocolate and peanuts, you have to pay for what you eat at the snack box, every piece of candy or nuts costs 70 cents and there is this little box for money near the snack box. I love how honest the Germans are, they trust that if you take a candy bar you will pay for it, hubby says sometimes they do have a descrepency in the box but something like a few euros, which in my book is good, where I come from no one would pay up and for sure eat all the stuff, or it would be locked.

I take the bus every day and get a ride home with hubby so that works out well. I went shopping for a pair of office shoes which I'm putting to good use. I start work in the afternoon's for 4 hours mostly and the other day came in to work in a dress, I did have on stockings and a guy says to me...What's this you wearing a dress its not summer, I said its warm outside...Germans and their coats and scarves, jeez its not even Autumn yet, ok maybe it is a bit chilly in the mornings but not cold enough for hats and boots and winter coats, they all wearing them already...the mind boggles. I refuse to wear winter clothes, just not yet, soon enough though :( Not looking forward to that....

I was even called honey bunny at work the other day...ok it was hubby, I laughed so did the guy sitting opposite me, hubby says, so what do I call you, by your first name? Now that would be weird...bless its nice working with him, he finds me odd I'm all quiet and soft spoken and that blows his mind...Well thats how work me is, at least till I get used to the people not that I show them my true side totally, I guess thats for my friends and family...

On that note...till next time
Tchuss!!

A day at the spa!!

2010-09-14T16:02:00.000+02:00

On Saturday I finally used my voucher that hubby gave me for a massage, manicure and pedicure...as usual I was late, back in the Middle East when you're late you still have your treatment as usual, well Im learning here thats not the same...oh well we live and learn. I need to get my act together time wise that is, given I have started working now :) I have been good with that so far though...

The massage started and I was transformed back to the days when I was in Bahrain and the creature comforts I'm used to, things here in Europe are more expensive to a level but affordable when you are working, since I don't really part time work doesn't really count as work, I guess my priorities change, but I will still go back for a facial some day soon. The manicure and pedicure was good, the manicure average but the pedicure better, for the price they charge I think fuck that. 110 euros for a pedicure, and 100 euros for a manicure, now that's day light robbery, back in Bahrain I paid 30 euros for each and including nail polish, at an upscale spa, we did have cheaper places, and Im sure they have them here as well. I have seen nail studios everywhere here in Hamburg, but its more for fake nails and the god awful prints that seem so popular here in Hamburg...ugh!!

The Fairmont Hotel was where I went, must say the spa was really nice, a bit small considering the new places I've been to back in Bahrain but what they lack in space they make up in technology. The manicurist had this cool contraption looked like you were at a dentist clinic it was like this electric machine, but a bit bigger I may sound so backward but trust me this has not found its way to the Middle east yet..or at least when I left a year and bit ago.

Its great having a professional massage, and a professional manicure and pedicure, the girl there was surprised when I told her that people in the Middle East have pedicures every 2 weeks and its so cheap, well when I asked her back ground she had been to beauty school for 2 years with a degree in her field plus a degree in reflexology and hot stone treatments amongst other things, and I guess she is paid much better than the poor girls in Bahrain, who probably don't really have so many degrees, well in Germany everyone and their dog has degrees, for everything...

I must say I came back refreshed and feeling like a million bucks...I could get used to this....looking at the price sheet they gave me, I may have to limit these special treats for birthday or anniversary presents :) Unless I find a cheaper place with good service, a friend is opening his spa in a few weeks, I may just go and check it out and let you guys know if its any good :)

On that note...till next time
Tchuss!!

Where has summer gone.....

2010-09-14T14:41:00.002+02:00

August passed and we are now in September....the past 2 months behind me now....I had no heart to blog, but have been thinking about getting back here all the time...I started another blog meantime with less chatter and more pictures...here is the link http://chellesshots.blogspot.com/.....I guess life has good times and not so good times...I was just too preoccupied to really think about writing...but life has a way of ironing itself out I guess you have to be patient and let destiny take you where you need to be.

In all these trials of life...you come out strong and think thank god that's over, atleast thats how I am...it helps having a great friend, lover and husband to walk by your side, the poor man has had troubles of his own...his eye operation a while ago..his eyes are so much better now. We thought it would be worse but we are happy its healed really well.

My daughter left to India 3 weeks ago, I was devastated when the day finally arrived but she seemed to accept the fact that she had to leave to get an education and the sooner she did this the sooner she would return back to us here in Hamburg. She hates her college but on the flip side she gets to be with her brother and being with friends and family and its something different, so its ok so far.I was freaking out but it worked out well for her. I on the other hand am also coping most days!!

I found a part time job and that keeps me busy most afternoon, this week I haven't gone into work because sometimes there's no work. I hate when this happens, I like to have some routine, but I guess I have to take what I get. I am still looking for a permanent job...none on the horizon so far, I will keep looking. I work at hubby's office tagging old newspapers which is kinda cool from 1920's all in Dutch.

We bought a car finally, its just an old car but its in good condition and was bought from a friend...and for a good price that we could afford, we had budgeted twice the price we paid for so that was nice, the insurance for such an old car is astonishing...oh well at least we can take a few small trips on the weekend plus do our grocery shopping, no more luging huge bags on my back etc...

Where has summer gone, we must have had just 5 weeks of summer this year...thats not on FFS!! Well the weather has changed all of a sudden, Autumn is here, not looking forward to winter, after the bad winter last year...its not so cold though which is good, the rain not so much, but I have a few good friends and life is good. I get my new Iphone soon :)

On that note, till next time
Tchuss!!

Faith, Hope and Belief!!

2010-08-06T21:24:00.006+02:00

Uncertainty and mystery are energies of life. Don't let them scare you unduly, for they keep boredom at bay and spark creativity"

I found this quote while looking for some motivation for my life right now....June was bad and July is getting even worse, I on the other hand look at life and try rise above it all, why god does what he does is for a reason, at this point in my life I don't know where its all going.

My daughter did not pass her entrance exam for Studentkollege, well she only has her self to blame, given we paid for her preparation course, all she had to do was attend it 3 times a week, she said she didn't really need to go...well I should have forced her to get up in the morning, which I tried, but you can only take a horse to water, but cannot make it drink...that's how I felt knocking on her door each morning....bloody kids never learn...now were running from pillar to post trying to find a loophole to keep her here. In the end if its meant to be it will happen.

The Auslanderberode i.e., the visa officials say she can only stay here 24 months, 1 year language course + 1 year Studentkollege, but through the grapevine we have heard its possible to extend it to 3 years, Germany and its bureaucracy that's one of the things I hate the most about living here....Why do they love making you fill up 100 forms,and all the rules they have and when they say no its no...There's no way German's contest that, well there are a few rebels and hubby is learning that there are ways and means of finding solutions, we just have to know where to look.

He found out himself at the central Auslanderberode there is a cafe which has some nice kind people, try to help refugees, asylum seekers etc with ways of not getting bullied by the authorities, they have lawyers etc, who give free advise, so we gave it a shot and one of the German women promised to help us...its a shot...not banking 100% on it but its a flicker of hope, in my dark part of life right now...We also have plan B, sending her out of Germany to study for a year and then come back, all this costs money I don't have, so fingers crossed we find a solution soon.

Friday was my exam, which I think went pretty well, except the fact that we were asked to come to the exam centre at 9 am when the actual test started at 10.30 am...wtf...anyways it gave me some time to revise..we started on the dot of 10.30 a hearing/listening test with multiple choice answers, some reading/writing test and then we had to write a letter...we finished the first 2 parts of the test and then had a 5 mins break, our school is situated on the Colonnaden which is a car free road that had chairs and tables on the street with various restaurants.

The examiner called for a break and I went out to have some fresh air and clear my mind before I started writing the letter test, but we were not allowed to take the papers out...I go out and guess who I see hubby and my daughter, they had just returned from the Auslanderberode and wanted to come see how I was doing...oh man I have never been happier in my life seeing my husband and daughter like at that moment, I say...quickly this is what I have written for the letter, is it correct and that he should give me a few tips, of course in my panic I had confused myself, and read the question all wrong so I ask my hubby so this is what they want, remembering what I had just read and then he explained what I needed to do...I went back to class and changed a bit of the letter, I hope I pass, as that is the most difficult part of my German learning process, writing bloody letters in German.

Meanwhile after the first part of the exam we all got times for our speaking test times, of course I got the 15.30 p slot, our exam ended at 12 pm...god what do we do, since we had a beer and some pasta with salmon at the Italian place near the school at lunch at 12 pm, we then we walked down to the Alster, that day it was hot as hell 38 degrees Celsius, Good Lord...we went to get ice cream but all the ones I wanted were sold out...its flippin 38 degrees get with the program peeps and make more ice cream, its was still just 1 pm...a long time till the flippin sun goes down at 10 pm every night. We met up with another of my friends and walked around a bit looking for another ice cream shop who we hoped was better prepared, my favourite ice cream is Yougurt with cherries...oh man I can eat that in heaps.

It was hot but we found a covered spot on the street and sat in the heat enjoying our ice cream and trying to kill time till 15.30 and my speaking exam, we manged to bake in the sun for 2 hours and on the way to school I found 10 euros on the street, nice surprise which was short lived because the daughter took it away, saying ahh I need sun glasses wth...I gave it to her...we made it back all sweaty and me stressing out on the impending test at hand...it was a breeze, I think I may have wowed them...ok blowing my own trumpet but must say I have a good feeling about how I did. Fingers crossed I pass...Waiting one month for the results is such a pain in the ass...oh well we shall see.

Its now August...we tried everything for my daughter but are going with Plan B...I was stressing out about money, hubby found a solution, I know I'm blessed having him as my husband, and that God does find solutions, usually in his own time, we just have to have faith and believe in him enough. It will be hard when she leaves, but she will be back in a year, we found a good college in India, which costs an arm and a leg but at least she will be getting an education, and hopefully start her life instead of waiting for uncertainty and maybe's, she thought we were just sending her away and not trying hard enough...why embroil ourselves in legal issues paying lawyers to fight our case and her future in limbo, when she can go get an education in India for a year and come back...hopefully grow up, appreciate Europe and take her future seriously.

On that note....till next time
Tchuss!!

Mein Fahrrad !!

2010-06-30T14:50:00.000+02:00

As a child mostly in my teen years I tried to learn to ride a bike, I remember we used to hire them by the hour 10 rupees in my day....they were those ugly men bikes basic models which are still in production to this day...anywho as I was saying I tried to get on one a few times but I always fell off scraping my knees and it bleed from the wounds I incurred....after a few tries I gave up.

Years passed and I moved on to other things and the bike ride was a distant dream....growing up in India you just used public transport, riding a bike was never an option as transport because, have you seen the traffic nightmares on the street in Mumbai, brave enough as I was I didn't risk getting run over by some idiot in his car, bus or rickshaw.

I then moved to the Middle East (Bahrain) and there as well no one respects pedestrians leave alone cyclist's...so I learned how to drive a car instead and spent the next 23 years of my life driving around...the weather is so hot most times of the year it made more sense to just drive with the air condition turned up really high, opposed to anything else.

Well moving to live in Germany its another story, everyone and their dog ride bicycles here, the weather is great when its not raining, or winter and they have their own bicycle lanes god forbid you tread on the sacred red brick path and you will be told off...you have rules here and insurance and special bus/train tickets for your bikes...Germans take their bicycles very seriously here...one small problem I cannot ride a bike :(

Well the bike is being delivered in a couple of days and I am under pressure to learn how to ride one soon or fear it turning into a white elephant, hubby wont be amused I gave him crap about a bike since April...oh well shall keep you posted on my antics and bike learning...any tips would help ;) and I will post a picture :) of my bike...not me on it!!

On that note...wish me luck!!

Tchuss!!

Always do whatever's next!!

2010-06-29T15:45:00.001+02:00

Friday....I had the worst night last night...all the stress of the daughter's test this morning, would we all wake up, would she make it on time, would she ace her test etc....Of course its a big deal for all of us at home, hubby worries that I worry, and ofcourse I would. I would like my daughter live with us in Germany. I hope she gets in and doesnt have to leave the country and study overseas for a year and then come back, would be such a pain and wasted efforts, all the money we paid for German lessons etc.

The dog also picks this night to get the sneezes and laboured breathing, he comes in the bedroom which is his favourite place to sleep and out again, and Im thinking whats up with him...wiped his nose and he snarled at me, so I took him into the living room and lay on the sofa till he went to sleep, this was at 2 am...Im thinking wth...but he is our baby and I wouldnt want anything to happen to him, probably had some fluff, or an insect crawl up his nose...we have bugs all over the place, maybe I shouldn't leave the balcony door open so late in the eveings...they all fly in to the light....and the spiders man...I have never seen so many species of them. I hate spiders.

I should really be studying for my exam on the 9th, but the distraction of football and my online buzz friends etc distract me....I tell myself every morning I'm going to study, and when I look at my watch is nearly always 6 pm and think...Good Lord I need to get dinner prepared. Maik comes home and finds me sitting on the sofa, laptop in lap...I should be working really and helping out with bill payments etc, but God has other plans for me...what I don't know because its been over a year and nothing on the job front. I am beyond worrying and being depressed, I'm in a state of disbelief to the point I am in denial that everything is fine. Yes I do still have hope maybe that's what gets me through the day.

Meanwhile I'm getting lazy and have no interest in anything except my computer...I should be out enjoying the summer but just sit a home instead...I ask God what's my purpose in life, where do I go from here. In the back of my mind I worry about my daughter, will she stay here or have to leave the country..so I take one day at a time...and hope that things work out...I have no plan B right now...I should but dont...

Oh well I look forward meantime to Saturday, my distraction Football...Germany plays Argentina they made it to the quarter finals yay...Sunday's game was brilliant they beat England, fireworks and happiness on the street, we partied with friends at a bar...life is good in so many ways...I know I will get past these initial years and look back, I just wish I would settle down and things run smoothly....I hear my friends bitch about work, and life in Germany, I think you guys have a job at least...I wish I did...I think I need to change strategies and actually go see some employment agencies instead of just applying online. Yea lets get my exam out the way first...on that note...till next time

Tchuss!!

I hate house work!!

2010-06-20T19:10:00.003+02:00

Weekend's is house cleaning, usually everyone gets to clean one room so I dont feel so overwhelmed and depressed, today being Sunday we woke up and said ok...the dog gets a bath, man he stinks and loves sleeping on my bed, between changing sheets, duvet covers and pillow cases, I think his bath was top priority...Maik's job is giving the dog a bath, now the flat smells of wet dog...wonderful not!!

We managed to do all the rooms, our bedroom and bathroom is still pending...daughter cleans her own room...I have some studying to finish and procrastinating is not going to work...man I am such a procrastinator..its not funny...I also want to watch the football match in a few minutes, so the bathroom remains pending...I have the washing machine running right now and I could turn on the dish washer...oh man where is my houseboy...the joys of living in the Middle East I had a guy come in every weekend and do the toilets, kitchen, fridge, the stove, ovens windows blah blah...now I have to do them myself...oh boy the joys of living in Europe.

I moan at Maik that his hoovering is not up to mark...look at the corners I say...he says dont look at them then...wth...men...oh well the bloody dog hair is everywhere, but since he chewed up his tail the hair is less somehow lol...stupid dog. He's still damp stitting here licking himself so much for that bath then..The football match was on and is now over...the bathroom and bedroom still awaits...oh well better get cracking then.

The weather remains gloomy has been for the past weekend, what a pain...I have done nothing really, one online transaction to my son's landlord, for his rent. Which I bullied Maik to do.....some buzz time, watching football and scoffing some chocolate...from my stash I hide from everyone...Maik's found it and its dwindling as we speak...he bought me 3 large bars apparently ask's me where they have all gone to...I said we shared some...he says hmm... doesn't believe me...oh well...When its over...I wont be eating any till the next time I buy some...its usually once a month :) I get those cravings :) I'm happy which counts some :)

I love Sunday's, just lounging around at home...family times, having brunch with my family...my daughter waltzes in later though from a night out with her friends...Its nice to see her home, I worry but try give her space...so off I go to finish my chores...want to watch the next match which is in a couple of hours...

Till next time then...

Tchuss!!

Key's are made of Gold!!

2010-06-16T13:32:00.002+02:00

There are some days living here in Germany leaves me puzzled and confused, the fact that Germans do things so differently amazes and annoys me to no end...Well my dear daughter lost her keys a few weeks ago, round about the same time a few weeks ago our building had the front door lock to our entrance changed...it hadnt been changed in the last 40 years bloody hell, apparently they found some bums sleeping in our basement. Hence, the change.

Coming back to our problem, we called up the Haus Meister asking him for a replacement, we did try to make one ourselves but the lock smith said to my husband that the key has a serial number and he was not allowed to make replacement keys...Im thinking wtf...Germans will not argue or find another solution, thats what the man said it's true...me I would look for another lock smith or a solution. I tried to tell hubby, but he wants nothing to do with it....This is his country so I will not argue, I have in the past but it's futile. oh well...

The Hause Meister is on vacation, his assistant told hubby we had to change the whole lock again and get new keys made for everyone in the building...Good Lord that's going to cost an arm and a leg. Maik said 15,000 Euros...seriously...cant we get one friggin key made, the lock smith wanted our passport and 60 Euros for one key, omg that's a joke...better than 15,000 Euros though....don't tell me in the last 40 years the key hasn't ever been lost. My hubby is literally jumping up and down on one leg, I'm taking it cool, I know there has to be another solution. Still waiting on a call from the Haus Meister...it better be good news.

Now I know why German's take out so many insurances here, for stupid things like this...Personal insurance, I've heard of house insurance, car, health, life...but somewhere down the road it has to stop this crazy insurance thing...we even have a dog insurance up and running as well. god forbid he pees and someone breaks their leg ffs...So yea we marched off to get some more insurance done so we are in the clear. (shakes head)

Its been such an awful month, so many things have happened, hurt my hand, daughter got robbed, lost my iphone (its gone for repairs 50:50% chance it works)...we still have to pay for it, thought I had a job but that fell through etc...my daughter's entrance exam looms, hope she gets in since her visa is riding on this, and Maik's eye surgery...please god give us a break. I know its a test on my faith, maybe I need to go to church again. But I know in my heart, everything will be fine...God never lets me down....as they say what doesn't kill you makes you stronger..

I have faith....July is another month :)

On that note...till next time.

Tchuss!!

Deutschland Deutschland!!

2010-06-14T14:09:00.000+02:00

World cup fever is on here in Germany...I've been watching the first few matches at home since my arm was bad, but its much better so thought we would go see Germany vs Australia play at the Stadtpark on a big screen open air TV...they call it public viewing....(that's what you call a wake in English lol) anywho...

The match start time was 8.30 pm but as it was at an outdoor Beer garden we planned on meeting up at 6pm so we could get proper seats...Maik is always on my case about how we are always late blah blah so we made it a point to leave at 5.30 from home and surprise surprise we were the first ones there, but not the first overall and it was quite full already, we managed to get one bench just opposite the screen but just enough for 6 people, of course our friends were like 16 of us so they sat on the bench near us on the side.

They had a grill up and running, pommes (French fries) and pretzels....I had a steak in a bun my favourite and Maik bought pretzels....the beer was flowing and we were quite buzzed by 8.30pm when the match eventually started...everyone was in a great mood, love how the German's drink and behave so well. 8 minutes into the match and Germany scored their first goal...wow the crowd were over the moon... we had a friend who bought the German flag colours in a tube like lipstick thingy but it was square and she painted everyone and their dog, including people she didnt even know...come here she said and painted their faces...one bald guy got his head painted as a football was funny, I got a flag on both cheeks and Maik his whole head, looked like a rock star....

The match was 4 for Germany and nil Australia, the Germans played really well, and whooped the Australians asses...poor guys even got a red card. The place was quite crowded, noisy and we were quite far off from the screen but the ambiance was amazing, and our German friends are great guys and we just enjoyed the nice day, thank god it didn't rain, was a bit chilly but the beer helped.

I'm looking forward to the next game Germany plays...love the nationalism, everyone makes an effort with German football tee shirts, flags draped on them, wrist bands and 2 of the girls even had ear rings made in the German colours just for the event...The place was great, a few things would have made it better was a bigger screen and it being mounted a bit higher so we could see the bottom of the screen with out having to strain our necks.... Deutschland Deutschland!! whoohoo!! - Hope they win the World Cup :)

Till next time

Tchuss!!

A day at the beach!!

2010-06-08T00:38:00.001+02:00

The weather remained beautiful and warm this weekend, so we made use of this and a German friend organised a BBQ by the Elbe river beach...it has sand and everything. God it was crowded everyone with the same idea like us I guess. We met up at the train station near the harbour and then took the ferry across to the beach. Weekends in Hamburg are a nightmare in the train department, they use these days to do rail works, so many trains are cancelled, rerouted so we have to get off and change platforms or share platforms etc.

Yesterday we were in the train heading to the beach and the train stopped, the guy comes on the loud speaker and make an announcement. "We have stopped" thats all he said...and we all laughed thinking no shit...the train started in about 5 minutes we were already running late and one stop away the announcement comes on again oh btw the train now terminates here...we are all like wtf, so we get off and wait another 10 minutes for another train was quite the pain...we made it eventually...

The BBQ was up and running in no time, we took some steaks and potato salad, and lots of beer...my friend Clara came later with a whole picnic bag, bubbly including flutes...flash and some bread she cut on her cutting board lol...bless. Was so great hanging out with friends, hubby and my daughter...makes for a change instead of just hanging out in bars most weekends...I could get used to this weather...We even saw a topless women on the beach the only one, was weird everyone was looking at her, I tried not to stare, only in Europe I'm thinking :)

We left the beach at 10.30 pm it finally got dark and cold, made it back to town by 11 pm and then went to the Portuguese quarter near the harbour looking for a bar...some were closed by then, I was bursting to use the loo by then, all the beer of the day I guess, while we were on the look out for an open bar, I asked if I could use a toilet, he say's no problem so I ran in with my back pack forgetting I had a bottle of wine in the bag and put it on the floor a bit to hard for my own good and then I heard clink...and then it started bleeding red wine...I'm like omg, and tried to clean up the bag. My iphone was in the bag and the camera, iphone was on and then next thing it all going weird on me and then went off...The camera was saved thank god. I'm in mourning today...my baby is dead...I read on buzz thanks to a fellow buzzer, that I should put it in a bowl of rice, he sent me a link, which is below...fingers crossed it works.

http://elliottback.com/wp/how-to-fix-a-wet-iphone/
Just in case anyone of you ever got your iPhone wet, this helps... I'm still waiting on my phone getting dried out. I shall give it another day and see if I'm lucky. The worst thing about losing a phone especially an iPhone is all my cool apps and all my music I bought on itunes...and no I did not sync my itunes on my laptop...that will teach me. Also another annoying thing is losing all your contacts...jeez I just hope the rice thingy works and all is not lost.

I woke up today with a swollen arm, not sure if I've broken it, it hurts like hell. Will wait a day and see if its better tomorrow, I think its 2 things getting up from the sand I asked a few people to pull me up by my hand and after I broke the wine bottle I had to lug the back pack instead of on my back and I hurt my elbow somehow...just not my day I think...Crappy month this June is turning out to be...The weather remains great tho, just my luck tomorrow I wake up to a rainy morning...Meanwhile my exam day looms...Friday the 11th we have to be there by 10 am and my teacher says we have to wait probably till 5ish pm...its going to be a long day...

Update - It rained buckets today, I spent 5 hours in the hospital for x'rays and trying to figure what was up with my swollen elbow...I tore a few ligaments and I have calcium buildup from an old injury, it hurts like hell though, the waiting for hours without a pain killer was the worse, they thought I needed surgery at first, I'm thinking please god no, thank god I didn't in the end. I got to ride in an ambulance, the ambulance assistant was a sweetheart so friendly and talkative, she said it was nice having some one to talk to her whole day is filled with really old people...bless!! The hospital was also nice so were the doctors and nurses, hubby sat with me which was great, don't know what I would have done without him...

I had to put my arm in a sling which was a bit tricky putting on my clothes so I came home in a hospital gown...lol.... No cast so I can write my test on Friday phew!!

Oh well...till next time then...
Tchuss!!

Has summer arrived?

2010-06-04T12:00:00.000+02:00

1st of June finally...woke up to a sunny morning, birds singing and me in a good mood...made Maik his museli and some sandwiches for his lunch...trying to make him eat healthy, and lose some weight this summer before it gets cold again. Im not even thinking of autum yet. Summer has taken its own sweet time to arrive this year. I know once it gets a bit hotter I shall be moaning about how hot it is...

Meanwhile I'm enjoying it....taking the dog for long walks...he behaves some days, some not so much. I think screw it, I will still go even though I think we have a reputation for "here comes the crazy dog and its owner", I say my dog has character all the others are too calm, whats the point then... secretly I would love if Cody was a tad calmer...oh well he may just calm down with time.

Last night we went to the Opera...to see Falstaff by Giuseppe Verdi, was my first time, we got all dollied up me in my nice long black dress and high heels, Maik wore his wedding suit and bow tie and we looked all posh, even took a taxi there, was only 22 Euros thought it would have been more expensive :)...We were early so we had a glass of bubbly and ordered another round with some smoked salmon for the break. It was all laid out nicely on a table with our bubbly when we came out for the break...In Germany people share tables so we had a few at ours as well. It was standing up so was ok.

7.30 pm on the dot everyone in their places and the Opera started, it was nice... didn't understand a word they said, all of it being in Italian, we sat on the second row so had a great view but they put sub titles on the top of the stage which we had to look up to...now trying to read German and listen to Italian was not the best combination for me, my German is not that advanced, so I settled for the music and didn't bother looking up. I did peek a few times and got the gist of the opera...

The hall was full of old people and they have a very weird smell, like early morning gob breath was quite smelly or the guy next to me had bad breath, Maik doesn't smell anything usually except if it's food lol...I wish I didn't have such a keen sense of smell especially for bad smells. We were all posh yesterday, saw some interesting clothes people, the dude next to me wore Jeans, socks and sandals...come on seriously...and some were in leggings to the Opera people??. Germans don't make the best fashion statement's in the world though but I thought to the Opera at least they would make an effort, no!!

We took the train back which was ok since it was a nice night, cool not cold...nice being able to wear open toe shoes no pantyhose or thick jacket. I think I could get used to this and go again, Maik wants to check out the ballet next...cool bring it on...

Till next time

Tchuss!!

You have an interview on Monday.....no you don't!!

2010-05-31T12:27:00.000+02:00

On Thursday I got a call for an interview at a Research marketing company a friend works there and recommended me for a job, the guy called me and we set a time for 11 am on Monday morning, On Sunday I thought I better scout out the place as I am terrible with finding places, my iphone usually helps but I didn't want to be late so I thought I would go and check out the best train and bus routes there, it was pissing down yesterday and when we reached the station near the area it was really heavy...I did have my rain jacket but omg my Jeans and shoes were soaked through...

I could have waited for the rain to subside but Maik said who knows when it was gonna stop so we walked in the rain...and then it started thundering and lightning and poring down harder...someone was trying to tell me something, but we were adamant on finding the office, waked the wrong way at first, on a normal day it would have been ok but with a thunder shower not so much, eventually we found it bang in the fish market at Altona. Me, who has always worked in Investment banks was like Ok, interesting office location. I thought I cant be too choosy given that I've been looking for a job for months, with no luck whatsoever. Sometimes I wonder if I've ever going to find one!!

This morning I woke up thinking...yay job interview and jumped into the shower, humming some tune all off...My phone rang at 8:30 am...never a good sign....guess who it was Alex the guy who asked me to come in....He says sorry but he didn't foresee how late into the project they were at, and that it wasn't going to work me joining at this late stage...he would get back to me when they had another project...blah blah...Wtf...on Thursday did he not know that already...who does that, apparently Germans...I tried to play its cool , Maik saw right through me, so I burst into tears and have been miserable the whole of this morning.

I tried to watch some online TV to cheer me up but it has not worked, Maik tried to chat with me on Skype but I'm not in the mood I guess, so he left me alone...I called my son in India he usually cheers me up, but that didn't even work...so I am writing here on my blog. I ask why am I finding it so hard finding a job here. God sent me here for a reason, and I trust he had his reasons, but I cannot understand why am I still struggling with life, I thought all my problem were over and things would get better.

My marriage is fine, my life in Germany as well, I love the country and the culture, the weather can be a pain in the butt but I also accept it all for my husband and my daughter who absolutely loves it here, so I ask why am I finding it so hard finding a job. Thats the only thing missing in my life and I do need the money especially if I have to pay the next 3 years of my son's tuition fees and his monthly expenses. Oh well I shall try harder and keep looking for work I suppose. If its meant to be it will happen, when God wants it to happen. Things usually don't seem like it, but everything happens for a reason. I just ask hurry up already...

The weather is so gloomy today...I guess its mirroring my mood....tomorrow is another day, and I look forward to what it brings, maybe something better. Just a thought to all you people out there with job's who moan and complain, some of us cannot find one, so cherish it and be thankful... I believe what doesn't kill you makes you stronger...On that note..

Till next time
Tchuss!!

Our 5 day weekend...

2010-05-24T22:36:00.002+02:00

We just had a five day weekend 2 weeks ago and we now have a 3 day weekend this week, love how Germany have all these religious holidays, mind you no one ever thinks of God though...its party time, clubbing, hanging out with friends etc...I must admit I haven't been to church in months...I miss my church back in Bahrain...they had services from Fri to Sun, here its just one on Sunday at 12 noon in English, and miles away...excuses excuses bleh....

We tried to make use of the holidays and do something so we went to see the Kirschbluetenfest--cherry-blossom-festival. where they burn fireworks every year near the Alster Lake...god it was so cold, I remember last year the weather was so much better...oh well we met up with friends and drank some beer, cold or not...

The next day we went to Poppenbuttel they have a mall there and we went window shopping, found some cool English/German books Ive been looking for...they are cool have stories in English on one page and the translation in German on the other, helps with my learning German. Since it was Friday my day I don't eat meat we went to the fish restaurant and had a smoked salmon in a bagel for lunch. It was quite crowded being a public holiday and all...Germans sometimes have no concept of public space, they walk right in front of you, I was leaving the restaurant and this stupid teen was literally shoving me out the way...I was like wtf.....I gave her the look and didnt move...My daughter was behind me and laughed her ass of at my face.

Saturday the International club had an event was a masquerade ball, we all dressed up in evening dresses and wore masks...I like attending these events as you meet many interesting people, usually who speak English need to keep my sanity and my sense of humour up and running....As usual we were late so the party was full swing ahead a few buzzed and a few quite drunk...Was a good night, a few of the Germans already in the bar found us amusing and asked us questions, they seemed keen joining up as well.

It started raining as well when we were leaving...not good but a few of us thought of taking the party to another bar...so we hopped into a taxi to a place called Sternschanze, its an alternative area and known to be quite scary but has great bars and clubs...we got lost and tried to ask for directions, no one even stopped leave alone talk to us...how rude it was 2.30 am and 3 women in evening dress maybe looked odd or they thought we were freaks or something...who knows...I had had enough, as I was drenched by then and went home...walking by myself down the street was really scary, but a few drinks under my belt gave me some courage. Thank god I made it to the station and back home in one peace...got alot of stares, me in my long dress and high heels...

Germans hardly dress up, at least the ones using public transport, which 90% of people here in Hamburg, so yea I stood out like a sore thumb...I miss my car and dressing up. Back in Bahrain everyone does and I still do, who cares if they look at me...I have my own style.Late nights home only mean one thing waking up at 2 pm the next afternoon....I find myself doing this most weekends, oh well I'm fitting in quite nicely to the German style of life :)

The 5 days was quite the disaster in the weather department....it rained buckets....Sundays are spent at home usually, cooking, walking the dog, catching up with cleaning the flat and watching tv etc., also doing my home work...1 week left to go on my German course, have an exam on Friday and another in June...hope things go well and its over and done with...on that note...

Till next time!!

Tchuss!!

Hafengeburtstag

2010-05-09T18:34:00.001+02:00

Mothers day today here in Germany....I remember my mom and miss her heaps, its funny when you lose something only then will you appreciate what you had. My mom married my father when she was 16 and he 40...crazy things people do for love, was widowed 13 years later at 27 with 5 children...omg at 27 I had just had my first child ...I guess in those days things were like they were..she was a great mother and tried her best to bring up her kids... I picked up my love for reading and writing from her. Her ability to remain upbeat even when things were bad...her love for cooking, her sense of humour...Her great singing voice...I didnt get that gift sadly...

Maik called his mom today, I wished we could have gone over...its such a long way there...we are seriously thinking of buying a car so we can make these special occasions and not feel so burdened taking 3 buses and 2 trains to where she lives. The florist screwed up as well, was supposed to deliver the flowers on Saturday...also the fact its Sunday today being Mothers Day they wont deliver flowers anywhere...bloody Germany, it can be Christmas, New Year, Valentines Day, Mothers Day...forget making any money they will not do any business on Sunday...oh well we shall have to wait till tomorrow then... I was happy my son remembered Mothers day and sent me an sms...bless :) Maik and I had a nice brunch later :)

Wednesday last week we were at the monthly English business meet up, was nice catching up with interesting people...had a good chat, caught up with old friends, made some new ones....love how the Germans bring their dogs to the bars and restaurants here in Germany. Got me talking about my dog and how I wished he was so friendly and well behaved like the 2 under our table...oh well he wont be going out to any bars or restaurants, anytime soon...or ever :( We did take him for our usual Sunday walk near the lake, its so peaceful and the walking trail is quite people free, except for a few other dogs and their owners so Cody is not so stressed out, he hates small dogs for some reason and will go ballistic when they run around.

Yesterday I was out with him and this German women actually wanted to let her 2 dogs play with him...He was barking like a rabid dog and she clueless as...I said to her "nein der hund ist ärgerlich und nervös" and then she says aso...ffs what did she not get from him literally frothing from the mouth...seriously...but bless her trying to make friends with the dogs. German dog owners are great, they talk to you, say hello which is so uncommon with the normal people you meet on the street.

Sour pusses most of them, probably the weather, its been raining for the past week and suddenly gotten cold again, we did have some great weather a few weeks ago with temperatures like 20 degrees C., and then this...tsk!! The Harbour Birthday was this weekend and we braved the elements and made it to the harbour , its the 821st birthday, we listened to some bands playing but it was raining and cold but that didnt stop thousands of Hamurgers showing up for some fun and drinking beer.

The Germans are great drinkers, so well behaved and dont bother anyone, the amount of police presence on the street helps, they are a race who believes rules are supposed to be followed. I believe rules are made to be broken...I guess my days of boarding school made me a rebel :), The train station was full of people, police, traffic/train wardens mixed with ambulances personnel etc...I do feel really safe. We saw the Queen Mary 2 sail into the harbour last night, great ship so huge and magnificent. I am in awe every year I've seen her..Last night we stumbled upon some great alternative music...it was raegge/drum & bass/techno/electric all rolled into one and everyone jumping around to the music..awesome, must find out what the music is called, would love some on my ipod for my power walks...

Tomorrow we have 2 days of school and then the week off, looking forward to that....we start our orintation course on the 17th...Good Lord those long words of government and state bodies offices etc are going to be a mouthful...oh well its got to be done :)

On that note...till next time..

Tchuss!!

5 months into 2010 already...has been interesting so far!!

2010-05-01T16:33:00.001+02:00

Its Saturday morning the 1st of May...I look out the window and the trees have got their leaves back, I hear the birds chirping and the sun is playing hide and seek today, It's rained and stopped multiple times since I have been writing this post :) Maik and I just had a nice German breakfast, poor man I convinced him to go to the bakery down the road for some fresh bread rolls and milk, he pried himself from his computer grumbling everything is closed today...I scoffed at him saying just go, and he did and came back with white bread rolls...I like the brown ones with seeds and nuts they were all over...schade!! We were supposed to go Grocery shopping last evening as everything is closed today being labour day and all...no shops open tomorrow either its Sunday, good thing the bakery was open then :).

Germany and their public holidays, everything is closed, Its been a year since I moved here but it still baffles me why we cant have grocery shops open at least for a few hours...Plan your week I hear Maik say...oh well I am getting the hang of it. So yesterday we went to see the new Food court in Munsberg mall, and had some sushi at the sushi factory. Maik had some Indian food at the Chutney station. We thought we would pass by the grocery shop on the way out but ended up at the Irish Rover for some fish and chips and Cider for me...Maik had beer and a nice beef sandwich. We reached home at midnight so no groceries...oh well we are out this evening anyways...and to brunch on Sunday so I suppose we can wait for Monday :)

I hear the police sirens blaring every half hour today, bloody right vs left demonstrations and the Nazis come out as well, best to be at home and not go anywhere near the trouble spots, on our way to Bergerdorf this evening I'm sure we going to see some fun...or not!!

One more month left for my German classes, stressing out now...hope all is good for my exam, or I'm back in school for another 300 hours...oh well come June 11th I shall know. Funny thing happened to me a few days ago I was walking the dog and then this old lady who was clearly lost sees me walking along, and I'm thinking no please don't ask me where to go...but she did and my first instinct was to say I don't know, but she insisted someone had told her the place was, where we were standing at. I knew where she wanted to go and started to explain in my limited German....it was really far from where we were standing but I did give her directions half way till the bus stop, telling her to ask someone else there...I did apologize for my bad German but she said no its ok I understand you...I was quite thrilled :).

I was actually upset that I had used the du (familiar greeting) instead of Sie (Polite greeting) when she left...but yea it was nice to have confidence speaking to strangers and trying out my language skills, 6 months earlier I would have just said sorry and walked away, not because I was rude but because I didn't know how to speak or have the confidence to say anything at all. I also ordered all by myself at the Sushi factory yesterday, my Lachs (Salmon) box to eat at the food court...Im getting there :)

My beautiful flowers from Maik that are still alive a week later :) - not bad for iphone pictures!!

Was my birthday few weeks ago, was a nice day...got flowers, cake and a great present from Maik...a voucher for a 3 hour massage plus a manicure and pedicure from the Fairmont Hotel..Great present and I am happy he put so much thought into it. Things like these are very expensive here especially at 5 star hotels and spas, back in Bahrain where money was flowing these luxuries was easy to come by, friends gave them out as presents for birthdays etc...here its 3 times the price. So Im looking forward to being pampered.

On Saturday the 24th I had a bbq at my place...Flats in Germany are quite small and as we live on the first floor its no fun cramming crap loads of people into small spaces, because I like to talk to all my guests, so I only invited 20 people and it was still crowded. The party always had one going on in the kitchen, one on the balcony for smokers and then the actual living room.I made some dips and we put the grill outside on the balcony, its an electric one my George Foreman and a wedding present from my work colleague...one of the best ever :) no smoke or crap in the flat and healthy grilled food.

Party was rocking, food, wine and beer flowing...and then we bought out the shots...was a good idea at the time, but it went downhill for me...somewhow all the days activity and me running around looking after the guests, I didnt really eat...hence the being sick part...oh well didnt have a huge hangover the next day though...the neighbours didnt come knocking at the door which was good, the amount of empty bottles the next day showed we had a great party.

Guess what most of my friends and family got me...plants and herbs for my flower box...here are some photos!!

On a sad note 2 of our friends pissed as they were, went home on the train, got into a fight and ended up with 7 stiches on her chin and her partner with a broken collar bone...poor things they dont even remember what happened...hmm stupid police thought they were in a domestic dispute, when clearly they were beat up by some thugs, was weird because the guy was German...oh well on the upside they are both alive and learned a lesson, when out and drunk take a taxi home.

We always do...but then I don't get so wasted when out using public transport because I am in a foreign country and also hubby is a sensible drinker.We are out to a serious drinking party this evening, I know Im going to keep it cool...taxi fares back home is 50 euros which is alot...so on that note...till next time!!

Tchuss!!

Trials and Tribulations of life

2010-04-21T22:02:00.001+02:00

A few weeks ago I got some bad news that my son wasn't happy studying what he had been doing for the past 2 years...I was devastated as I had paid a lot of money settling him in and channeled my energy toward his studies only to be told he wasn't even interested in economics and business studies...and wasn't attending college most days...2 years I screamed down the telephone and now you tell me...days of worrying...phone calls etc....drama over he set out to find something he wanted to do...3D graphics and animation ....oh well some kids take a while to understand what they really want he is just a boy he turns 21 in August. I will support my children on their dreams to a point. No job so no money coming in is also stressful for me.

I had my mock German language test last week, didn't do so bad and was pleasantly surprised that I was at level A2...I have 2 months to finish B1 so I guess I should be done with that end of May and hopefully get my B1 certificate all in the bag after my final exam in June. Fingers crossed.

I try speaking the language at least I understand and can read more. I guess I need to make more of an effort on my part, and do some extra lessons like reading and listening to my tapes more often. I am not under an illusions that I'm going to find a job in admin, writing letters and emails in German for a while...so I guess I have to look for a job doing something else. Its so frustrating and I ask God why am I struggling again in life, people at my age are usually at their peak career wise etc.I feel I'm walking backwards.

My daughter just got her 3 months extension on her visa...phew was stressing out there as well...she did pass her B2 German language test...dramas again trying to get her a place in C1 but she managed to find an evening course 3 times a week...something to keep her busy till her preparation course starts end May, she will do her C1 again once she starts studentkollege in summer...fingers crossed she passes the entrance exam. I would die if she didn't because then that means she has to leave the country and apply again. Where would she go....I'm not going to stress out now...will cross that bridge when I come to it.

Life in Germany for me has so many angles...I have no real friends but making a few. I'm bummed out I cannot go to the UK end of May because my exam are around those dates, so I miss meeting up with my 2 close friends.

I have no job, I miss my car, its so cold and life is different. I am getting used to life here having to walk everywhere, but new things are exciting sometimes, learning a new language or a new culture, the new tastes I'm acquiring, the new family I'm getting to know, and the new people who touch my life every day.

I am grateful for my husband, he puts up with my crap...the weather is getting better, spring is in the air...today didn't feel that way though with bloody sleet, rain and hail...the sun is shinning again which is good. Last week I bought some plants for my balcony...roses and some other plants...I hope they thrive and not die on me...here are the pictures. My mum used to plant rose bushes and other plants when we were little...I miss her...I don't have her green thumb sadly.

Its my birthday tomorrow....I feel so old sometimes...hubby is threatening to buy me a bicycle for my birthday...I never learned to ride one when I was a kid...so trying to get lessons now, as everyone in Germany rides their bike especially when the weather is good, it would be nice to learn and have a bike then...oh well I will see tonight whats up his sleeve. He loves playing games...men!!

Having a bbq at my flat on Saturday, invited a few people over...cannot have a huge party...the dog is all stressed out these days...that's another story...I am pleased I get to use my George Foreman grill which is huge but not big enough for many people...its kinda quick so should be fine...I guess I could cook some of the stuff in the oven in the kitchen as well...I'm also making a few salads....Dilemma where to buy beer I need 2 crates for my guests, and how to carry it to the flat....problem solved...mother in law comes over in her car and we go shopping tomorrow...oh god with my limited German that's going to be interesting...bloody Maik is at work so I'm stuck with her...I'm gonna kill him, he and his bright ideas...she is lovely though...I'm such a drama queen sometimes :)

Here are my cute nephews Leon and Finn

My dog is broken....he had a tick on his face last week thanks to my daughter, she took him for a walk and let him sniff in all the bushes, we all tried to remove it but he kept biting us....after 6 attempts we gave up. He was so stressed out after that he bit and chewed up half of his tail...stupid dog..But somehow I'm depressed when I see him...he is such a handsome dog and so loving at home.These days he barks at everyone and their dog and whines a lot so not like him...I'm not sure any more what he wants,does he want to do his business or is he just bored or depressed. I guess a trip to the vet is in order. I dread the walk there...so many people on the roads and bicycles and the millions of dog owners and their dogs...oh well it has to be done!!

Its not all doom and gloom in the end...things always find a way ironing itself out in my life...its my faith that takes a beating but I remain strong and believe that tomorrow will be better...It has to its my birthday.

Till next time
Tchuss!!

My Easter week!!

2010-04-14T22:51:00.000+02:00

Our 4 day weekend just passed...Thursday night a few friends went dancing but I choose not to as the next day was Good Friday, I know when we go dancing we end up leaving at 4 am, Friday was a special day for me being Good Friday, I looked for hot cross buns last year to no avail, this year the hubby finds them on Saturday and I say yea these are the ones Ive been looking for since last year...he says they have them year round...oh well thank you for telling me...lol...I managed to make it to church for an English mass for Good Friday, that made my day...last year there wasn't one!!

Saturday we went to Blankenes a bit far off from the city to see the Easter bonfires near the Elbe river...the Germans take their bonfires seriously they even had the fire brigade there, loads of police presence and beer and sausage stands...we took our own beer, was a bit cold and crowded, so many people gathered there, its Easter tradition in Hamburg, (Easter bonfires are one of the most common Easter customs in Germany. The practice is especially popular in rural parts of northern Germany but some of the fires are lit in residential gardens in the city or along the beach of the River Elbe in Hamburg. Villagers, neighbours and friends traditionally gather around these bonfires which are usually lit on the Saturday before Easter starts. In some areas the custom does not take place until Easter Sunday or Monday. The bonfire is fuelled with branches and twigs taken from the garden.

The Easter bonfires can trace their origin as a custom back to the 16th Century but probably date back to pre-Christian times. The light from the fire symbolically represents the driving-out of winter and the coming of warmth. The practice is also supposed to increase the fertility of fields. In the Christian tradition the Easter bonfire is a sign of the resurrection of Christ)

we found a spot but it was in the wind path so had embers flying our way but the bonfires were so huge the embers flew over our heads, my hair and clothes were smelling of smoke the next day though.

We left at 10 pm the fire was dying out and our beer over, we took a train back to Altona and landed up at a nice bar, we were starving but the bar kitchen was at closing time, we managed to get some stale pizza and nachos, which didn't cut the mustard, I got quite drunk...which is not like me...beer never gets me drunk...oh there's always a first time for everything. I am not happy getting drunk because I was mean to my husband, I do not like fighting in public but when drunk and emotional things do get nasty...Weird people sometimes brings out the worst in me. Growing up in India and living in the Middle East for 23 you never talk to strangers especially in bars at midnight, in Germany apparently they do...oh well you live and learn...

Easter Sunday I was bummed the whole day, didnt even make it to church and thats the worst thing about Easter week, I ignored my poor husband the whole day but I had invited his family for lamb roast dinner at 7 pm, so I sucked it up...gave my poor husband a long lecture and started cooking...5 pm Im still in shorts, no shower yet cooking and who's at the door his mother and step dad...I was so angry, they should have called to say they were arriving early, oh well its family and should be allowed to just land up whenever and they did :). Thank god the house was neat and tidy from the day before.

I just carried on cooking grumbling under my breath...but its Easter and after I had finished cooking and we had eaten it was a nice evening. Easter is about God and family...of course it was just about the food for hubby and his family they are not religious people. Nothing wrong with that I don't judge them. I'm no peach either.Sometimes my husband tells me off, apparently I'm rude and direct. No one can beat the Germans on being direct...tsk!! I fit right in here :)

The Lamb was quite rare, mother in law wasnt happy but it needs to be a bit bloody so its tender...I put it back to cook for another 30 minutes, the roast potatoes, and veggies and sauce was yummy and so was the lamb if I can say so myself. For dessert I asked the man to buy a cake, he comes back with Easter brot...its just sweet bread in a plait ofcourse it was too late to change we just went with that, quite a disaster my Easter Sunday was, maybe it would have turned out better if I had made it to church.

Life is such and I swear by the 90/10 rule...10% of life is made up of what happens to you. 90% of life is decided by how you react.I was a cow and 90% of my day turned to disaster, not really 90% more like 50% actually.

After the guests had gone I pigged out on my Easter egg and the lovely chocolate I bought from Godiva...I gave poor Maik and my daughter a piece, and ate 10 myself, not all at once, over a few days, if that makes it better lol....which I hid in my cupboard, 16 Euros for a tiny box of 12 small chocolates is just crazy...oh well I have been without chocolate for 45 days...I am over my chocolate craving now...I don't keep chocolate at home at any event I would just eat it all...no chocolate in the house no pigging out...

Easter Monday we went to Mönckebergstraße to hear some bands playing...its the annual Radio Hamburg 810 hits, met up with some cool friends, drank beer and had some steak in a bun and sausages....I love street festivals here in Hamburg...everyone comes out and has fun. Great beer and food, sausage, steaks and fresh fish sandwich stands everywhere.I love the sweet stands with fresh roasted nuts all the nuts possible, my favourite is Almonds and of course the candy floss, it was cold but that didn't stop us having fun.

Tuesday I was back at school, have my exam coming up, so its nose to the grindstone for me for a while...

Till next time
Tchuss!!

Life...why is it so complex??

2010-04-03T15:25:00.000+02:00

Being in a new place brings out different things to different people, I for one have gotten more and more focused on being online and joining social networks and forums here in Germany. It somehow makes up for not working. I have always worked as far as I can remember all of my adult life. Also the fact that I don't have any real close friends yet...that's what happens when you move around a lot. Just when you have made a few they up and leave or in my case I did. Hamburg has a lot of expats around most for work and at some stage will also go back home. I am enjoying whatever new people I have met so far though. But yes the times when you are alone at home I find I fill my time with online friends.

I must say I have come to realization that people on these social platforms and forums have one thing in common, they hate God....its really weird, but I think maybe because most of the western world has had religion shoved down their throats or for whatever reason they seriously hate God with a vengeance. I grew up in India a predominately Hindu country where me being a minority Christian, most Christians cling to their religion I guess as your religion takes back seat to the majority Hindus...We try make it work in India but it does get weird and I got fed up with all that crap and moved overseas.

I joined an airline and moved to the Middle East, not typically any better but then you understand that being in a foreign country your beliefs and culture take second place. I met my ex husband while I was flying he also worked in the same airline. We divorced after 13 years it just didn't work out and as my children started growing up that's when I started making plans to move to a Christian country. Some one told me how disappointed I was going to be once I actually lived in "Christian country" and how right they were. I don't really care I am not ashamed to call myself Christian and admit I go to church, pray and believe in God. He has been there for me.

I choose Canada but somewhere down the road Maik comes into my life and that's how I landed up in Germany. Hamburg is not a religious city but it nice having Christian holidays and experiencing tradition, which is super cool for me. I do find that people are not as kind and loving as you could imagine but then you understand life is the same every where in the world...why would they. Do you get like them or remain strong in your beliefs. I choose my beliefs and I respect others choices as well. I'm not under any illusion that being a good Christian is going to change the world. But it makes me feel happy, gives me hope, guides me through life and sustains me...and I can hope the world is a better place for us all.

On that note....wish you all a Blessed Easter...

Spring and life in HH

2010-03-28T17:49:00.001+02:00

So spring has finally arrived...its been sunny and the snow has finally gone, life is back to normal again...but with spring it has brought back the rain Hamburg (HH) is so famous for.On Friday Maik organised a Pub get together with Fish and Chips at one of the Irish pubs, we invited a bunch of friends on facebook, it spiraled into friends inviting friends but more the merrier, was a great night. Even though it was pissing down 25 people showed up. I met some interesting new people. Living in Germany one would think I would hang out with the locals but some how I lean more to the English speaking crowd...I do love the Germans but I love speaking English more. My German is not really to the level that I can have a long conversation in, neither can I understand their jokes, so I stick to English for now.

German lessons are ongoing....I have 2 months to go, I do have conversations in German and understand more but I need to up my conversational skills, I guess it will come eventually, no sight of a job coming my way anytime soon which is my only fear. I also hope my daughter gets her extension for her language course and also gets into Studentkollege this summer, Studentkollege is like a orientation course which is a one year mandatory course for foreign students who will be attending HH university usually from Asia and the Middle East as Germans have 13 years before they attend university and most Asian/Middle Eastern schools have 12th grade and then university. Oh well her language course is on going and fingers crossed things go well. Germany is known for their bureaucracy. We have spent loads getting all the certificates translated into German...Do you know you have to pay per line...Wtf...its usually per page...That's Europe for ya. Maik has been so good running around and getting everything organised, what would I have done without him.

Its Sunday today...I was supposed to do my chores and my homework but instead I gave Maik a pedicure and then took one myself...He loves me giving him pedicures, he had never had one till he met me...He wriggles his toes and says what the hell am I doing but secretly he loves all the pampering...Men :) I love grooming him, poor man..He is patient though. I even groomed the dog today cutting his hair...oh boy you should see the carpet...he is molding now, since the weather is getting warmer he is getting back his summer coat. It has been raining the whole afternoon but the sun is just back...that's how HH is rains, sunny, hot and then cold...but I love it.

Maik leaves for Berlin tomorrow, he's taking the train so we will be up at 5 am...I can see me not going to school tomorrow, oh well maybe I could do the pending chores I put off today...he's going for a 3 day seminar, he asked if I wanted to join him...but what would I do the whole day when he is at the seminar, not that I'm the best exploring on my own. I really need to learn doing stuff on my own...I guess if my German was better I would be ok... Oh well I have been there before, but I really wish I could have gone...I need to go to school anyways. Its getting tougher now. My exam is on the 11th of June...looking forward to it not :(

It's the last week till Easter, I am planning on making a good roast pork, gravy, roast potatoes and veggies...I am looking forward to my Easter egg, need to go buy some soon...hope they are not all sold out I would be really unhappy if they were. Maik said they were but I think he was pulling my leg. I have invited the family, they live quite far out and this year I want to do something at our house, last year we went to my brother in law's house, but I also want to go to church and the only mass in English is at 12 noon, I will be home by 2ish so lunch is out the window, was thinking dinner, my sister in law is quite un - flexible or well its my party, she wants to come she is free to or not...I'm not changing my plans...I'm a cow sometimes. They have a car, hope they can make it...Need to go find a huge piece of meat. Thank god for the butcher down the road. Supermarkets in Germany are quite pathetic...you have to be here to understand what I mean...oh well we make use of what resources we have.

On that note Happy Easter to one and all.

Tchuss

Photos of us

2010-03-12T16:15:00.000+01:00

Me and Maik

The Kids

Cody :)

One Year Later!!

2010-03-12T14:21:00.000+01:00

Feb 27th 2010 was one year since we moved to Germany...It has mixed feelings for me, I think back to one year ago and remember how I hated to be outside of my comfort zone, I was miserable and had the weeps every month for the first 6 months...It had to take a slap back to reality from my daughter for me to realize I was making everyone around me miserable...I look back at that part of my life and can now laugh at my stupidity.

Well let’s see what I have done in this year being in Germany.

I became a student again at my age...was quite unnerving in the beginning but I am comfortable now learning a new language...I do get the odd days in the week when I cant be ass’d getting out of bed and moan to my husband why he wasn’t English...he smiles...I should be grateful I get a chance to speak a new language, in the end me being able to speak a language in a country I live in, can only bring benefits.

I still haven’t found a job, that’s something I stress about every waking moment. I just hope 2010 is better for me in that regard. I guess when the language thing gets better something comes up. I guess the reason God sent me here and not somewhere else gives me hope. I believe in destiny and will not give up hope.

I got to meet up with my friends, they came over last May and then we went to see them, was great traveling to Switzerland and catching up again...It was like they had only left yesterday. I look back at my life in Bahrain and see how people move in and out your life but they never really go away, it’s only a plane ride away sometimes. I plan on going to the UK in May this year and meet up with my 2 other friends. It’s awesome to be able to do that.

I see my daughter happy and loving her life here in Germany...Its been tough for her as well making new friends, learning a new language but she has embraced her new life here and I think its been worth every tear and days without my job, my car which I miss so much and the fact I don’t have my own money any more. I do have a wonderful husband who gives me everything I need. But the confident, self reliant person still wants to be independent. I am working on taking a step back and trusting someone again. I lost that trust factor long ago in Bahrain on my previous husband...23 years depending on my self is a long time and I’m not ready to let go yet. I should really but it’s not going to happen any time soon.

My son visit to Germany for Christmas made me realise how much I miss him and also made be realise that he could never live here in Germany...It makes me sad that when he finishes his studies in India he will opt for Bahrain opposed to Germany as he is a Bahraini in the end and why would he come here, to be a foreigner, and have to learn a new language. I still hope that he could but visa regulations and red tape make things difficult for him. I trust god will sort that out when the time comes. I left India when I was 22 and never ever went back...24 years later I am in Germany...It happens but I never ever forget my roots or my family and my yearly visits were great. I guess he will be a plane ride away...Oh well Life is such.

I got my dog back, he is slowly getting better and I still have hope he will calm down. We had a new addition to our family; Finn arrived in June to my brother in law and sister in law. We went to Amsterdam was a great visit, kids had a wonderful time. I would like to go back again in summer for the tulips...Yea and not the weed. Yea I had my first space cake in my 40's awesome lol...man I have lead a sheltered life I tell you :)

I enjoyed my 1st year actually not having to work and the daily stresses of life. Its great having a good husband who loves you...I am indeed blessed. I do miss working but in the last 23 years of my life I have worked every single day of my life and I suppose this one year should be looked back as a blessing in disguise, I got to recharge my batteries, learn new things, meet new people, enjoy the country, its traditions, embrace a new family. Have the worst winter in 13 years...walk on a frozen lake, get used to a new weather after 23 years of living in the heat. Welcome in the New Year with all of my family around me. Have good health and be safe. Thanks to God for everything in my past year here...

I look forward to Year 2 of my life here in Germany...On that note

Till next time

Tchuss!!

Here's my 100 Annoying People's list!!

2010-03-02T16:04:00.002+01:00

1) Ignorant people with no clue who believe in their own ignorance.

2) People who make stupid faces when they don't understand something, and who are consequently making stupid faces all the time.

3) People with annoying voices.

4) People who wear so much perfume that there is an actual visible cloud of it all around them.

5) People who constantly drive at 70 km/h, whether the actual speed limit is 50 or 100.

6) Telemarketers

7) People who look over at your meal and then, just as you are lifting your fork to your mouth, say in an irritating tone of voice, "Oh, you're not going to eat THAT, are you?"

8) People who hum.

9) Little skinny people who complain loudly about how embarrassed they are to have to buy jeans that are about 4 sizes smaller than the ones you're wearing.

10) People who seem to be unaware of the fact that they have terrible B.O.

11) People who latch onto you and rant about everything they can think of until your ears bleed.

12) People who talk loudly in public places about their personal problems.

13) People who get into everyone’s business and actually think their helping.

14) People who prove on a regular basis that yes, there IS such a thing as a stupid question.

15) People who try to hum or sing along with elevator music.

16) People who crack their knuckles.

17) Salespeople who latch onto you and follow you around the store, asking if they can help you, until you either give up and buy something, or go nuts and beat them to death with a display rack.

18) Mothers who let their children run around screaming in stores.

19) Mimes.

20) People who talk to you as if you were 4 years old

21) People starting a conversation with “Do you speak English” in that condensing voice.

22) Little children who seem to be spending their entire summer vacation standing around in their yards and screaming at the top of their little lungs.

23) Newscasters who smile in a cheerful and friendly manner as they tell you about various recent disasters that have resulted in fatalities.

24) Morning people.

25) People who don't realize that it's rude to pick your nose in public.

26) People who stuff their mouths while eating.

27) People who lick yogurt/ice cream covers in public

28) People who answer rhetorical questions.

29) Relentlessly cheerful people.

30) Tall people who sit right in front of you in theatres.

31) People who appear to have had their senses of humour surgically removed.

32) People who read the previous category and are now going "huh?"

33) Dentists who try to have a conversation with you while they are working on your teeth and you can't respond.

34) People who laugh at their own jokes before they've actually reached the punchline.

35) People who eat bad-smelling food, such as tuna, in crowded areas.

36) Anyone who is attempting to analyze my personality based on this list.

37) People who talk baby-talk.

38) People making out in public transport…get a friggen room ffs

39) People who own a small dog, and treat it like it's their child, putting stupid sweaters on it and taking it with them everywhere they go.

40) People who tell long, elaborate jokes that seem to go on forever, and then mess up the punchline.

41) People who have taken it upon themselves to cheer up the world, whether the world wants to be cheered up or not.

42) People who make grammatical mistakes while complaining that no one uses proper grammar anymore.

43) People who think they can prove or disprove the existence of a god.

44) People who don’t flush public toilets, especially when they know someone is actually waiting to use the loo when they come out.

45) People who sit in a public place and pick things out of their hair.

46) Mothers who wash their children's faces with spit.

47) Mothers who are somehow able to ignore the sound of a small child repeatedly shrieking "mom!" in the middle of a department store.

48) People who blow gum bubbles

49) Anyone who has ever said "It's not the cold, but the clothes you wear

50) People who let their cats run loose and get into everyone's garbage.

51) People who are able to recite entire episodes of the Simpsons.

52) Vegetarians who are smug about it. (celery is a living thing, too, you know!)

53) People who, even if you pulled a gun on them, would not be able to wrap their minds around the concept that you really don't like them.

54) People who develop a totally new outlook on life every couple of months, and then feel compelled to tell you about it in great detail, whether you want to hear it or not.

55) People who tell you the ending of a movie before you've seen it. (Anthony Perkins is his own mother!)

56) People who sit near you in movie theatres and loudly point out obvious events in the movie as they occur.

57) People who talk to malfunctioning vending machines, like it's suddenly going to turn out that the machine really CAN sell them a chocolate bar, and it was just waiting to hear the magic words.

58) People who chew with their mouths open.

59) People who don't know that they have bad breath.

60) People who whistle tunelessly.

61) People who talk to television and movie characters, as if the characters can hear them.

62) People who pick their teeth in public.

63) People who catch onto jokes just slightly later than everyone else.

64) People who think they can sing, but who really can't.

65) Unfunny people who really believe that they have wonderful senses of humour.

66) People who repeat something you just said.

67) People who smoke and have no consideration about the non smokers in places like house parties.

68) People who say "That's besides the point."

69) People who wish you Happy New Year in the middle of February

70) People who come into a room and yell "What are you doing" when it is obvious what you are doing and they really want to know why you are doing it.

71) People who use the word "seriously" in conversation, regardless of whether or not you show any signs of disbelieving them.

72) People for whom whatever Oprah Winfrey has said recently is a major influencing factor in decision making.

73) People who mindlessly send on every pointless forwarded e-mail that comes their way.

74) People who send forwards without bothering to delete the 7- or 8-thousand accumulated ">"s.

75) People who ask you a question, and then, exactly one nanosecond later, answer it for you, claiming that you're not thinking fast enough.

76) People who will quite cheerfully pronounce all foreign words as if they were in fact English words, and then look confused when you try to correct them.

77) People who always wants to borrow stuff from you but forgets to return them and when you ask them back for it…Its like omg cant you wait…

78) People who read fashion/celebrity rags and think they know everything

79) People who call others on the phone and greet them by saying "Hi, who's this?" as though you called them!

80) The do-I-look-fat girls who ask only to hear that they're not fat.

81) People who thinks everyone is drunk just because you called them a bit late in the evening…it’s the weekend

82) People who ask when you say "don't ask."

83) People who call and let the phone ring twice.

84) People who call and you say "I am eating dinner.." and they call back 5 minutes later. Hmmm and did I not say I was eating?

85) Haughty little receptionists who ask your name by employing the following phrase: "And you are...?"

86) Talk Show Hosts.

87) People who use text message language on places like facebook, forums etc

88) People who have no concept about queing.

89) People who wont wait till you get off the train/bus and just shove in.

90) People who are inconsiderate on public transport, taking up an empty seat for their backpack when the bus/train is full.

91) People who play their stupid ass phone music loud on public transport

92) People who let their dogs run wild and then get upset when your dog who is on a leash barks.

93) People who get upset when a dog barks…it’s a fucking dog that’s what it does…ffs

94) People letting their dogs crap on pavements/public walkways and not picking it up.

95) People who ride up an escalator and stop right at the end…so where do the others go…seriously sometimes I would like to give them a swift kick up the ass out the way.

96) People who wont say excuse me but expect you to know they want you to move out the way…(Crystal ball was dirty sorry)

97) People who pretend to be happy all the time, no one is happy all the time…we know you are faking.

98) Facebook stalkers, people who add you but never contribute anything.

99) People who say they will do something, but never follow through.

100) People who make friends with you and have an agenda…

Life’s what you make it, so lets make it rock!!

2010-02-16T21:22:00.004+01:00

My week has been interesting many things have transpired.

1. Valentines Day :)

My first in Germany and being together with Maik for this year was good, last year we were apart as I was still in Bahrain wrapping up stuff...We woke up to a dull grey day and it was chucking down snow, I groaned and turned over thinking just brilliant...Maik woke up earlier to walk the dog...we slept in the living room as I had sprayed the bedroom with mold prevention spray...Omg the smell was so toxic...the bottle said 17 hours but we let it air out for 24 hours, hence us sleeping in the living room...Maik disappeared for a while and I must have dozed off again. He came back with this little posy of flowers and says honey see what I have...I look up and see this little bunch thinking to myself...cheap bastard...Little did I know he had another huge bunch sitting on the kitchen table...he likes playing games....men :) apparently he wanted to see my face (rolls eyes) I guess he knows me too well...damn :)

He had to ride the bus for a bit looking for a flower shop open at 9 am, would you believe it the one on our street was closed...even in Bahrain in the Middle East the flower shops make a killing on Valentines day...of course being a Sunday everything is closed here, no exceptions wth.... He found one and I was happy to get 2 bunches...

He also bought fresh bread rolls the nice crunchy ones I love and we had a nice breakfast together :) He had booked a table for 7 pm for our Valentines day dinner, he knows I love Thai food and he did find a great Thai restaurant here in Hamburg called Sala Thai the restaurant reminded me of "The Blue Elephant" in Bahrain. I had my favourite Tempura and the red chicken curry, and for dessert I had the liches and a few glasses of Shiraz...The evening was great and I will be going back there again. We don’t go out as often as when we were in Bahrain, and when we do its worth the wait, and I also appreciate eating out then.

2. Lent

Its Ash Wednesday tomorrow, and the beginning of Lent I've given up meat, chocolate and hope to curb my swearing :) Don’t think I'll last 2 minutes too many idiots around, oh well I hope I can though. We went shopping for fish and veggies and I have looked high and low for veggie
recipes on the internet. Hope I can get inspiration from some of those I found online. I need to get back to my prayers and reflect on my life here in Germany. I have so much to thank god for, my kids, my husband, friends and family. Being somewhere that is safe and I am happy :) I would really love to find a job but I guess God wants me to learn the language first. Come May I’m done with language school and then hopefully I find a job. I know I will.

I look forward to Easter as well, the shops here have already stocked up on Easter bunnies and chocolate eggs, makes me laugh, what’s the point will it be fresh buying stuff 2 months ahead of when you're going to actually eat it...oh well it makes me happy to see Easter bunnies and chocolate eggs in coloured paper on shelves already. At least you don’t have to pay an arm and a leg like when I was in Bahrain.

3. Language School

Alles gut!! I am learning, I actually had a small conversation in German with the lady who walks her dog on my street and I was very proud of my self :) Cody on the other hand was a bad boy today and I chided him, but she said he has improved from the first days we moved here, so all the bites on my fingers are paying off...

Its getting harder with German but I shall trudge along and use those books I got on Amazon to help me understand better. I want to learn so that’s good.

4. The sun came out today for the whole day.

That made me happy, oh please I hope its spring soon, but my teacher says we have to wait till 21 March...not long to go then...I can handle the cold long as the sun shows its face.

On that note...till next time

Tchuss!!

50 Random things you may or may not have known about me :)

2010-02-11T16:36:00.002+01:00

RANDOM THINGS ABOUT ME!!

1. I am a social networking junkie…love to twitter, facebook, blog and now Buzz and also read forums. You will probably always see me online somewhere, everyday.

2. I was born in Calcutta, grew up in Bombay, lived in Bahrain half of my life and now live in Hamburg Germany.

3. I have 3 sisters and 2 brothers

4. Was married divorced and married again

5. I have 2 children

6. My favourite food is Thai and I absolutely love Tempura.

7. Have half of my family in the UK who I have never met and the other half in India.

8. I am Anglo Indian

9. Absolutely loathes, spiders, worms and cockroaches

10. Has a cross breed German Shepard/desert dog

11. Loves to dance

12. Loves making new friends

13. Is actually quite shy…you would never tell from looking at me though.

14. My favourite shows on TV are Greys Anatomy, Private Practice, Desperate Housewives and Cougar Town. I watch them all online.

15. I have high expectations of people and always get hurt…Working on that though.

16. My goal weight is 70 Kgs…

17. Would love to own her own house

18. Family comes first

19. My mom is my mentor

20. Loved winters till I moved to Germany

21. Can spend thousand and also survive on bare minimum

22. My pet peev : Dont tell me you going to do something and not follow through.

23. Loves shopping especially for clothes, perfume and shoes

24. Cannot relax anywhere other then my own home….makes a lousy house guest

25. I believe in being nice to people unless they give me reason not to.

26. Swears like a sailor but believes deeply in God.

27. Red is my favourite colour…many shades of red :)

28. Birthday is 22 April

29. Believes in star sign compatibility

30. Worked doing embroidery when I was 14 for pocket money.

31. Wanted to be a stewardess when I was a kid and lived that dream

32. Has thyroid problems and hasn’t lost weight in the last 10 years

33. Would like to turn vegetarian but cant give up my protein…eating beans and farting is not worth it.

34. Gives up meat every year during lent for the past 6 years and has stuck with it.

35. Doesn’t eat meat on Fridays ever……

36. Believes what goes around comes around

37. Got a double promotion in grade 2.

38. Was in boarding school from age 6

39. Would love to start her own restaurant

40. Never rode a bus for the entire 23 years I lived in Bahrain.

41. Can drive a car but cannot ride a bicycle

42. Absorbs myself in dramas I watch on TV and known to cry on the sad ones!!

43. Is superstitious, wont cross a road if a black cat crossed my path.

44. Most of my shoes are black and I have a lot of them

45. Favourite authors John Grisham and Jeffery Archer

46. Favourite music, many actually, hip hop, R&B, pop charts mostly and slow rock

47. Favourite cold dessert, Frozen yogurt and cherry

48. Wont bother eating crap cake or chocolate, the calories are not worth it.

49. Loves gourmet chocolate. And then the calories don’t matter, was worth every bite.

50. Wants to lose 30 pounds.

Monday Blues...

2010-02-08T19:21:00.000+01:00

Weekends doing nothing leads to sleeping a lot...leads to not going to bed early on Sunday nights leads to not sleeping well that night leads to the worst morning on Monday....Yea school was a crap day somehow our teacher thinks writing a few verbs and propositions on a pink cardboard cut out is gonna help us get to where we want to be...Hello no...She threw at us crap loads of multiple verb forms, just when I thought I had nailed it I get this arghh...so back to the drawing board for me :(

Somehow many absentees today and many students not really in the mood to be in school, eases my thoughts as I am not alone. Cold day -9 didn’t help either, the heater was turned up really high and we all had headaches and were hot as hell, the open window doesn’t help the bloody street noise mixed with the cold air just makes it worse. I came home and took a nap thinking cool idea not...have the worst headache ever now...oh well Monday blues...FFS!!

Maik's off to shisha at Feldstrasse, I was supposed to join him but, its too cold and the crapload of homework today wont do its self so I stayed home, only to be told it was closed...lol...I would have killed him if I had made the trip there. He and Sven our friend went for a Turkish meal instead which is good as I don’t have to make dinner now...I just had a Gorgonzola cheese and ham sandwich and cup of tea yum...I will be hungry again, probably have another later I suppose.

Homework meanwhile waits and that’s my task today...hope tomorrow is better and the weather as well...

Till next time Tchuss!!

Unbestimmte Artikel...... Was??

2010-02-07T22:20:00.002+01:00

The penny just dropped after months of struggling along with language school....I found a book someone was talking about on a forum that helped English speakers trying to learn German called "Essential German Grammar" written by Guy Stern & Everett F. Bleiler....worth every penny I paid on Amazon.

This weekend was a quiet one, Maik had the flu and I not in the mood to go outside, its still snowing and the roads and pavements still crap...imagine the city ran out of salt and gravel...the news is all over the TV etc about people falling down and breaking arms and legs...I think if I don't need to go out just stay put...so I put this time to actually do something constructive learning German. I have finally understood why what and how.

Of course I have a long way to go but the book makes things clearer. I have ordered another which arrives in a few days. I must say it's so much nicer when you can get a translation in English together with German. The teacher forbids us speaking in English in class and says using only German helps we pick up the language quicker, but if I dont have the basic principal wrapped around my head, I'm sorry everything just falls away...

I guess when you are interested in something you will find ways to help you undertand things, one of my first teachers told me that everyone had their own way of learning a language and one had to find the way themselves...I guess I have found mine and I'm happy I did. I have 5 months left and plan on taking this seriously finally. I know once I had got over the initial dislike and embrace the language things would get clear.

So just to let all you guys out there struggling, it does get better trust me....Just find your style and make it fun, I uploaded "Ascendo" German/English dictionary on my iphone, its a cool application cost me 7.99 euros via itunes but once uploaded doesnt need the internet to work. So using many tools, books and help with friends and family I am finally here on the path of learning. I hope you can get inspiration from this.

Till next time....Tchuss!!

Frischluft !

2010-02-06T13:42:00.005+01:00

If I hear one more person tell me Frischluft I’m going to scream...We have a slight mold problem in the flat so called the landlord to ask him to have a look at it, we did everything we could like open windows after our showers and air out the flat the bloody mold just happened, apparently whatever we did was not good enough, If we close the windows the whole day its bloody cold its not good and If I leave the windows open the entire day is not good either...Jeez.

Its known that the landlords will blame the tenant for all mold problems, the flat is over 40 years old and has been painted over multiple times, he also tried to tell us that the paint we used is not for interior walls but outdoors ffs, does he think we are stupid, I bought the paint from Max Bahr, and from the indoor paint section, man give us more credit for brains, thank god we have the empty paint boxes in the cellar because we needed the paint numbers for redoing the paint etc later.

The land lord came over to see the flat 3 weeks ago and has the gall to say the reason for the mold is us auslanders having long showers we are 2 women yea have long hair and one being a teen doesn’t help but come on...what do they expect us to do, hop in hop out like a sparrow...oh well he's coming over to give us a talk about how the flat needs to be aired out, also dropped a book in the post box, told Maik hello you are German you know what to do, well apparently he brings his wife along today, we tidied up this morning just incase he looks in all corners and thinks omg we live like pigs, our cleaning day is usually Sunday, oh well I can do something else tomorrow then :) All the windows were open this morning felt like being in a deep freeze seriously....

Yea what’s the big deal with Germans and their Frischluft, have the same problem in school the teacher will open all windows and say Frischluft, Frischluft...its bloody -10 outside for crying out loud. Some days we open the windows above and that’s good enough but no she wants the whole bloody window open....

So the past month we have been opening the windows all of them for 10 minutes at 3 to 4 hour intervals, seriously that’s such a pain in the butt like I have nothing to do, we have 10 windows and 1 balcony door in the flat...and its not funny doing this every few hours so I just leave them open and Maik come home and grumbles...Where is bloody spring already!!

Will let you know how the talk with the landlord went...if I didn’t wring his neck first that is :) The dog waits meanwhile...he's not happy being tied up ha ha...

EDIT: All went well they didnt get a word in edgewise...knowing me lol. We get new windows whoo!! in spring tho, its too cold to fit them in now....and the barking dog cut short their visit...Im off to the grocery shop now...

Till next time Tchuss

Writers block or just the normal crap of life!!

2010-02-05T12:06:00.003+01:00

Here is a link for all those in the same boat http://www.bitrebels.com/geek/get-inspired-to-update-your-blog/ ok this is my first attempt trying to post a link on my blog, hope others get inspiration from here like I did :)

Made myself a bowl of muesli with a handful of frozen berries and took one spoon omg brain freeze I guess its better used in a blender as a smoothie or well you live and learn...Its thawing on the coffee table now...lol

Today I played hooky and stayed home, I tell myself its because Maik is home with the flu and I want to keep him company but its more like I hate school at least this past week, everyone gets on my goat...its very hard trying to keep up with everyone's irritating traits, I’m sure I have mine but this is my blog and its all about me right now :)

17 people stuffed in a classroom is not my idea of a good day at school, some are hot, some are cold, some are nice, some are downright fucks...but I tell myself actually shouted out yesterday I couldn’t wait for May and that I didn’t have to see some of them ever again...That’s mean and regretted it the minute the words passed from my lips...I guess being a good Christian I should be more tolerant. I ask God for strength everyday and I try to make most of my lessons but days when it’s hard and nothing goes into my thick skull I do get very frustrated. We are all but human.

A few of the students started an after school study group and I was happy to join till I heard one of the cows joined up as well and I just cant sit in the same room as her for the normal class hours to be subjected to another 2 hours again after school. I guess I will have to walk away...oh man I was really looking forward to this...I guess I shall wait and see if she drops out and I can join them. I could join them now but don’t want to make the others feel my dislike for her...boy talk about poker face...that’s never been my strong trait. 2 of us went to Balzac coffee after school yesterday and bitched about the injustices of life, it was very therapeutic.

As I took the day off today, I’m going to spend it making myself happy again. I miss my friends, my job, and I worry about my future here, I know I should concentrate on my German right now but other thoughts keep creeping into my mind and a sense of listlessness descends, I feel like I’m in the doldrums, I will snap out of it soon. I guess I need to pray more, since I came to Germany I have not been to church every week like I used to in Bahrain, that guilt mixed with my adjustments is taking its toll but somehow I don’t have the heart to pick up one of my many prayer books or even my rosary, I really must go back to Jesus he was the only one who gave me inspiration and hope. I will need to make more of an effort. I hope he understands I still love him....

I miss church services in Bahrain even being a Muslim country we had services on Friday, Saturday and Sunday morning and evening in fact 2 in the evening and 3 in the mornings on Sunday Here the only church one hour away is at 12 noon for English mass. We do have a church here where I live and the only mass is at 10 am, oh well I could go there but then again my German is so basic I wouldn’t feel the same as an English one.

Its lent soon and I promise myself to be a better Christian going forward. The sun is shinning and I hope spring has come eventually, must say it snowed yesterday so I’m not so sure, but weather here in Hamburg just changes over night...I hope for my sanity its spring...

Till next time, hopefully I’m my bubbly self again.

Tchuss

Snow...let it snow!!

2010-01-31T18:59:00.001+01:00

Snow pictures of some awesome landscapes in Hamburg, taken by me and some of my friends....

The road to our bus stop, so pretty

Alster lake frozen, backdrop is the TV tower

Thought the cycles looked sad and cold

Thousands of people gathered on Saturday on the Alster...thank god no one fell in...was frozen solid tho :)

Beautiful fir trees...

Hamburg city

Love how the ice forms when its melting

Awesome picture, love how the light peeks through

Looks like a grand castle

Awesome night pictures

One of the houses on my block, the trees glistens in the sun like diamonds!!

Pretty snow...

Beautiful picture of the bench...love how peaceful it looks

The red berries contrast against the white, picture perfect.

January 2010

2010-01-29T16:55:00.003+01:00

So its the new year....finished with Christmas, New Year and my son's trip that burned a huge hole in our pockets...was great having him here though....Back to school and learning German....we are onto our 3rd book and its getting tougher...Integration school has mixed feeling for me...I’m learning a new language but it hard...the class now has grown to 17 people, we started out with 10....somewhere down the road people left and new people joined...some are nice and some not so much...we all have our own ways in learning and with so many of us its quite irritating when everyone talks together....

Our teacher was sick for 3 weeks and we got this substitute teacher Andre who was as useless as tits on a bull, everyone bitched behind his back but had no balls to say anything to the office. I have since learned to keep my mouth shut especially when you cannot trust the others to back up your story....our teacher is back and all is good so far.

The students are fine, they don’t bother me much, some are pains in the ass and some not interested in learning, some find it hard and then we have some bitches, like one in my class who will ask questions 24/7 to a point we have deviated from the actual lesson and not learned anything that day, this girl who is a cow and doesn’t like me much not that I care, comes back from her honeymoon a month later and then screams at people...we didn’t miss her much….hello maybe you should have stayed in class and not buggered off on holiday Im thinking and now put us through so much aggravation...the school should not let people off on vacations for a month and then they struggle to get back on track at our expense...its not fair on us...

Oh well they don’t care and we trudge along...apparently the 100 Euros we pay means jack shit to them...the teachers keep telling us how the normal German courses are different, smaller and better teachers, now is that fair? Money is money and it’s their job to teach us...I guess we have to depend on ourselves and get through this or pay 500 euros a month...what do they think we are made of money??

The weather has been shit the past month temperatures of -15 and we still have February to go...its snowing like a bitch today...thank god for the weekend. I’m all cuddled up in my blanket in front of the heater and writing on my blog...this evening is movie night with wine and chips...the dog has been walked right after I came back from school at 2 pm, thank god because right after that it started to snow and real hard, the evening shift is Maik's...poor man the snow will be really deep by the night as it hasn’t let up for the past 2 hours...

The Alster lake has frozen, the last time it happened was in 1997, 13 years ago. The city of Hamburg planned an Alster Vergnügen....but we need 20 inches of ice to be able to go through with it, yesterday it was 19.5...oh well lets see how it goes by tomorrow, its cold and snowing again so we may just get our party...in any event we plan on going down there in the afternoon and walk on the frozen lake...I guess I don’t want to miss out as I’m not waiting another 13 years for this...

Some pictures of the frozen Alster lake!!

Till next time Tchuss!!

Amsterdam pics!!

2010-01-23T17:17:00.000+01:00

Our ride

Smokers on their break!!

Space cake anyone??

Amsterdam city

Amsterdam at night

This was cool, the lane opens in the day, the metal thing goes into the ground.

Weed

Bongs anyone??

had to take this pic Magic mushrooms!!

Weed flavoured lollypops...now who would buy these...the kids (rolls eyes)

Amsterdam!!

2010-01-23T16:29:00.002+01:00

Our Christmas present to the kids was a trip to Amsterdam at least that’s what they wanted; my son was visiting us here in Germany on his Christmas break with his girlfriend. Maik booked a van because he invited a few of his friends along...he said if he was going to be driving with a bunch of kids he needed some distraction and company with some German speakers, as if I was not good enough...I think secretly he was afraid of getting lost and omg I’m the worse map reader ever...When god was handing out sense of direction I was on a nap...oh well I put it down to being new in Europe. That’s my story and im sticking with it....

We bought beer and munchies for the trip there, we planned on leaving at 10 am but the kids were late as usual, having one bathroom with 5 people didn’t help, and kids these days take month of Sundays to get their ass out the toilet...jeez...anywho we had to pick up Maik's friends at various parts of Hamburg and then we were off...man the worst part was the snow it didn’t let up the whole drive there, being a Saturday the roads were not so busy which was good. We did make a few pit stops for food and smoke breaks, I’m so glad I’m not a smoker because why would one unwrap themselves from their warm seats to smoke something so disgusting, that’s going to take to your grave early I’m thinking...

6 pm and we pull into Amsterdam, its still snowing and we are all tired from the drive there, the bus was boiling inside and made us all drowsy, the beer etc didn’t help either, we were looking for the hostel we booked online which was quite affordable and looked ok, omg we didn’t expect to find what we did. It was bang in the middle of the red light area and was run by a Christian organization called shelter city...I should have picked up on the word shelter but didn’t...we booked separate rooms in the dormitory for women and men.

The women were on the ground floor, men on the 1st floor, the toilets were omg but I thought we at least had a bed...the bed was a bunk bed thingy which was made from tin cups with a lumpy mattress and every time you shifted in the bed you thought omg the bed is going to topple over...ha ha an experience that I wont be repeating ever....we had breakfast included which bought back my days in boarding school...the kids were appalled but I thought omg that’s how I grew up...I did get spoilt down the road...

We spent the first evening exploring the area near where we parked the car 45 euros was parking fees from 6 pm to 12 pm the next day..man that’s really expensive...but we had no choice...the kids wanted to visit the coffee shops and these coffee shops don’t sell coffee wink wink...being the 2nd of January and Saturday I found the city a bit dirty, compared to Hamburg but still pretty and different, people speak more English then Germany and I can see myself living there :)...not really...it was a good trip but you do see many young and old people moving around all stoned or drunk, alot of police presence so its quite ok walking around. We did see a lot of weird looking people there, which kind of freaked me out initially, after a few drinks things were fine.

We went to an Irish bar they had 4 bars all decorated the same including the Christmas decorations and when you’ve have had a few wonder if you're in the twilight zone...hehe...we went into a "Coffee shop" and Maik asks the man for a space cookie, ok it was a muffin with 0.2 gms of weed in it and they all looked at me while I ate it...telling me wait and see how its going to affect you as its your first time blah blah...it did nothing....I was a bit giggly...cant say the same for the kids, we did separate a some stage...my kids are 19 and 20 and yes they do smoke...now before some of you mothers think omg what a bad mother I am...I have news for you...all your kids smoke weed or have done in their early age....so yea get off your soap boxes....

The next day after breakfast which was boarding school standard we separated and I went exploring the city with Maik and our German friends, but it was so cold, we did find the house of "Anne Frank" I would have loved to go inside but the line was so long and I couldn’t be assed standing in the cold to get in, also we had to leave by 3 pm to get back to Hamburg, the snow started to fall and I could see the drive back being quite bad. We saw the red light area poor women in those windows is not something I would like to see...I guess we all have choices....and some don’t...

The bus was a wreak inside man the carp we ate some of them had the munchies ;) and the bottles everywhere, its not funny cleaning up after the long ride back...the kids were happy tho, being blazed helps...who knew.... they bought some weed flavoured lollypops...god know how that’s going to taste ...and I got a fridge magnet. We were warned not to bring back any pot as they check on the German side and if they find any trace would fine comb our van so we were not going to let that happen...

Amsterdam was cool, a nice city which I will go back to but probably in the summer for the tulips not the weed :)

Till next time

Tchuss!!

Can it get any colder!!

2010-01-13T17:50:00.003+01:00

My first winter here in Hamburg was looking forward to the snow and early end autumn wished it would snow and by Jove it did, as they say be careful what you wish for...never happens when you wish for a million bucks does it...Oh well, I moan about the cold and the grey skies, and Maik says in fact all the bloody Germans say that "Its not the cold its about wearing proper winter clothes" I say "Whatever"...seriously the flippin sun comes out at 9 am. I am in language school by then. Waking up at 7 am and its all dark and cold outside, I just wanna wrap up in my duvet and go back to sleep, even the dog doesn’t want his walk then looks at me when the alarm rings, grunts and goes back to sleep.

I try to go on with my life as this is now my home but some days are worse than others, I wear 2 pairs of socks, and many layers even under my jeans or leggings, the worst is when the bloody bus or train is packed then I feel faint with all the warm clothes I wear, yea removing layers would help if I could move an inch...we had the worse snow 2 days ago and it took me 40 mins in the bus to my train station, its usually 10 to 15 minutes normally and omg the bus was late hence packed and I couldn’t breath, my bloody back pack was so heavy with my books, water etc and I had to hold it in my hand as it was not possible to have it on my back when all the people are literally pressed close to you, its worse when some of them stink, its usually cigarette, or musty old coats and I feel my gag reflex....and then I sweat...I pray God don’t let me faint...He listens usually :)

I am still not sure on my feet in the bloody bus some drivers drive like idiots and brake all the time, I don’t want to fall on some poor old lady, makes me remember one day I walked on the bus with my back pack full of groceries it wasn’t the normal bus but one of those long distance buses with narrow aisles and all the passengers on the outer seats got a whack on their shoulders, I did get some killer looks but I just sat down without saying anything, what can I do. They must have thought I was retarded because I had a stupid smile on my face...how many people can I say excuse me to, given I couldn’t see who I whacked, not that it was intentional….

Coming back to the cold....I live in the suburbs and omg its colder here for some reason, probably the open spaces, small house and the shitloads of trees, the snow has not melted from the 2 day ago snowfall and the today was forecast drifting snow hence I can hear the wind whistling outside my windows...quite eerie. The bloody dog loves the snow and runs along pulling me with him...I’m so afraid of falling down and bumping my head or even breaking a bone, I so don’t want that...The snow looks so beautiful, walking in it is another matter, hopefully by the end of winter I still have my fingers and toes....Maik wants to go ice skating and we hoped the Alster would freeze but so far it hasn’t, the last time it froze was 13 years ago. Hamburg has had so much snow this year apparently this cold winter with snow happens every 10 years and yea the man upstairs picks the first winter I move here....Wunderbar!!

Till next time Tchuss!! (If I havnt frozen to death first that is :))!! )

New Year in Germany

2010-01-09T18:19:00.003+01:00

New Year in Germany was cold and snowy…must say the snow looks better in photographs than real life…we all got dressed up me in my cocktail dress and so did the kids, we hired a van for our trip to Amsterdam so we used it to drive to Eimsbüttel where our friend had a party at his flat, the party was great met some new people and drank a lot. Poor Maik was our designated driver so he didn’t drink at all just one beer…

Midnight where I come from we wait for the countdown and wish and kiss our partners and friends and family Happy New Year, here everyone runs downstairs and burns fireworks, so off we go as well and burned loads of crackers and rockets it was fun all of us in our cocktail dresses and high heels drunk and burning fireworks in union with the rest of the neighborhood down the street.

I’ve never seen so many fireworks lit at the same time no wonder we had to sedate our poor dog this year he wasn’t a good stoner lol…poor Cody. We were like little kids and no one got hurt or burned…we went upstairs and continued drinking till 3 am. Maik wanted to see his other friends at another party at Bergedorf so we bundled into the van and off we drove.

4 am we reached Bergedorf to meet up with Maik’s friends the party had thinned quite a bit and the ones still awake were quite shit faced or stoned…I was quite tipsy tho and hungry as hell, they had 2 kinds of fondue cheese and the meat, I only ate the cheese one, must say it was a bit burned at the bottom and tasted gross but when you have nothing else, you eat what you get being drunk also helps lol We drank some more and chatted with the others till 6.30 am when we called it a night, came home at 7ish and slept at 8 am, I surprise myself sometimes where do I get all this energy….

Happy New Year….

My first Christmas in Germany

2010-01-09T17:36:00.003+01:00

Christmas in Germany starts on the 24th weird but I go along as its their tradition, we were invited to Maik's brother house in Geesthacht for a late lunch more afternoon tea and giving presents, they don’t drink but I asked if they could get some wine to help me get through the day without getting bored to tears, I do love my in-laws to bits but with my limited German skills don’t think I would last more than half an hour...they had fried fish for mains and cold fish soup for starters and potato salad very weird menu but some Polish tradition. My brother in law’s wife is Polish hence the fish menu.....The food was nice enough and I were quite surprised the soup tasted fine. I didn’t eat the cold fish tho, something’s you just don’t do…
After lunch we had the gift giving and receiving...Maik dressed as Santa his first time and was a great sport. Leon was thrilled to bits and so were the other kids and mine, we got mugs from the mother in law and a Christmas manger thingy from someone else, we had toys for the nephews and clothes for the in-laws, Leon Maik nephew got loads of presents lucky little fellow. I love seeing kids faces when they open presents…

We left Geesthacht at 7ish and headed to Stadhausbruke for midnight mass we reached early like 10ish and sat in the church till 11.30 when mass started, we picked this church because they said they had mass in 3 languages but it was mostly in German. Oh well the experience was great, the church was lit in candles and it had this enormous Christmas tree, ok choir, I missed the carol singing I’m used to tho, they had some African group who sang all out of tune...bless. We came home in the snow and opened our presents, I got boots and the new Armani perfume, Maik got clothes and Bose headphones, the kids got clothes and shoes and a trip to Amsterdam (that’s another story I have to blog about)

25th Christmas day was Turkey lunch at ours, man I hunted all over for a large turkey all I found was a 5 kg frozen one at Edeka which was not so bad, I’m used to cooking in gas ovens but my electric oven didn’t let me down, the turkey and stuffing cooked fine and so did the ham, brussel sprouts and roasted veggies with sausage meat. The inlaws came over and so did a bunch of our friends, they all loved the food and I was pleased with the outcome, given I slept at 3 am and woke up at 7am to get ready for lunch at 2 pm which actually happened at 2 this Christmas :)

We had invited a bunch of our friends for an open house starting at 5 pm and they all landed up at different times, I had nibbles and left over food which was well received. I made 8 liters of Gluehwine and man that flowed the whole evening and so did the wine, beer, vodka and Jack Daniels someone gave us as a gift, last guest to leave was at 4 am or later, I buggered off to sleep at 3 am and got told off for not saying goodbye to my guests, hello I was knackered by then slaving in the kitchen cooking the whole friggen day, even made sausage rolls for the open house and other stuff...oh well you know its a good party when you sleep before the last guest leave...lol

Hope everyone had a great Christmas….looking forward to next years :)

The past few days!! (15th Dec on)

2010-01-09T16:53:00.001+01:00

It’s been a week of going out, exploring different parts of Germany a friend lent us their car so we made use of the car and also having my son here we wanted to show him and his girl friend around. Well this week mother nature had other ideas and its been snowing for the past few days so driving in these conditions are not the best ever....didn’t stop us trying tho, we drove to Lubeck and walked around the city thanks to the GPS we did have to park and walk some areas but man it was so cold, poor kids not used to the cold were good sports, we ended up at a Christmas market and had some gluehwein and hot cocoa with rum, that warmed us a bit Maik suddenly remembered we were driving back so had to stop at one he he....Its nice when someone else is driving :)

I was looking for a hat with flaps and found one at a stall which cost 20 euros a bit steep but oh so warm, the kids think I look like an ass...how rude...who cares I’m warm....Kids are weird at 19 and 20, they want to look nice and keep their hair either gelled or straightened so no winter hats...oh well its something like wearing high heels your feet kill you but you look hot in them...(rolls eyes) I have since given up on heels especially in the snow the cold is enough to numb my toes without the heels finishing the job on my entire foot I’m thinking. They had a kids section at one of the Christmas market which was kinda cool they had stands with all the fairy tales, we took loads of photos.

The next day we planned on going to Berlin was a good idea at the time but the forecast was -11 so we changed our minds and landed up at Lunesberg, the snow kept falling and the drive was quite nerve racking, the bloody window wipers were frozen so had to stop and clean the windows ourselves in the wind and snow...not good, the trip was great tho we landed up at a Turkish restaurant was disappointed with the food not as nice as I thought but we ate something else at the Christmas market mushrooms with sour cream yummy and the kids had hot dogs....

Edit...its been a while since I had this in draft so Im going to post now...have many more stories the past few weeks as well :)

It snowed today!!

2009-12-14T17:36:00.001+01:00

Outside my bedroom window

View from the balcony.

I had the worst sleep ever last night tossing and turning, excited my son arrives tomorrow probably and I overslept and woke up at 8 am so missed school today damn, I look out the window and what do I see snow...I was so excited ran into my daughters room yelling look out the window, poor thing nearly had a heart attack thinking the house was on fire or something....he he Maik didn’t share my enthusiasm, grunted and turned over and went back to sleep, the dog lying on our bed gave me a sleepy look thinking woman calm down, so I wiped out my iphone and took a few pictures which I posted on facebook of course...lol!!

Its -1 C today and forecast to be colder for the days to come my poor son coming from India is going to freeze his buns off, I told him to bring warm clothes or we will be going shopping for stuff later, knowing him my guess is we will be going shopping later. Our friends have lent us their car so we can pick them up tomorrow and go grocery shopping, 2 more people more cooking and food, also we hardly eat lunch it’s usually bread and some ham, cheese or sausage, hope they are ok with that. I have one last week of school so Maik will probably be making lunches or they could get their own. My son loves Beef and coming from India they don’t have any, so he asked that I buy burgers and steaks all in beef bless. His first meal when he gets here he said is going to be McDonalds or Burger King lol!!

So hopefully we have a white Christmas, one can hope, even thought the snow was light today and melted away my 1 pm. It was still so cold at 4 pm when I had Cody’s training he still has a long way to go but we getting there, wish I could use my gloves when giving him treats because after the 20 minutes of training I thought my fingers would fall off!!

Till next time
Tchuss!!

Christmas!!

2009-12-09T21:47:00.002+01:00

Christmas is my favourite thing in the whole wide world...ok maybe I’m exaggerating a little but I’m like a little child with all the festivities and tradition, food, family and Jesus....I know Christmas has gotten so commercial but I try keep the spirit of Christmas for us family to get together and reflect on all the good things we are thankful for and for what God has given us.

This year I’m in Germany and love all the traditions, and decorations here in Hamburg...Weihnachtsmarkt or Christmas markets started as early as end of November. We visited the first one on the first day 23 November, it rained but we did get a good turn out, a few of us friends organised the visit on the 23 and we hung around the Gluehwein (Mulled wine) stall drinking Gluehwein, eggnog and hot cocoa with brandy...the sparkling lights and music was just awesome, this year they have Santa on a sleigh that goes from one area of the town square to the other end, its a son and father duo, kinda cool.

We have been to 2 Christmas markets so far, one at Rathaus and the other at Ganesmarkt last week, man it was so cold, we planned to meet a bunch of friends from our monthly English business hour, they said to look out for orange balloons, but it was not so hard finding them because they all were at the entrance of Starbucks at Ganesmarkt, funny them being mostly American one would not be surprised at the meeting point. We did tease them about it :) They had no eggnog at the Ganesnmarkt Christmas market so we drank heaps of Gluehwein and hot cocoa with brandy...standing around after 2 hours my feet were frozen, so I walked around and had a yummy sausage in a bun, then we walked around to this stall selling cookies, we bought a pack of 8 really large orange oatmeal cookies for 13 Euros and 6 Lebkuchen - German-style gingerbread which cost 10 Euros, quite expensive but really yummy...he tried to sell us bread and Maik seriously cannot say no, I just told the nice old man no and he did look sad...oh well we did buy something from him at least!!

Hamburg is so cool Christmas time, every house has lit Santa, Christmas trees, angels and stars in their window, we bought 2 angels for our windows but no plug outlets to get it lit...so Maik is rewiring our old Bahrain extension plugs with German plugs. The streets and stores are all decorated, this being my first Christmas in Europe I do get excited, coming from the Middle East its so much more fun being here in Hamburg. The trees are all lit with lights and decorations everywhere. We plan on getting a real Christmas tree this year, Germans all cut their trees on the 21st, which is a kinda cool tradition, Maik goes out of the city with his brother to cut one for us...I guess we have to wait till the 21st to decorate our tree :)

We went Christmas pressie shopping this evening detour first for some eggnog and a Thai curry later at a mini mall. We bought most of the presents today, sensible things for the in laws and nephews, this year the kids get money or clothes, I wish I had a job so I could do more but somehow God has other plans and I shall be patient. 2010 is near and hopefully brings good things. My son arrives on the 15th of December with his girlfriend they both in University in India. It’s been a year since I’ve seen him and I’m really thrilled and counting down on Facebook the days till he arrives – 5 days to go :)

Last day of school is 18th Dec and I have a busy week ahead, going to Maik’s brothers for Christmas eve, the Germans celebrate Christmas on the 24th…don’t even let me start on that again…oh well 25th is lunch with the family at ours, I’m making Turkey and all the trimmings and later having an open house for friends with Gluehwein and nibbles…

Till next time guys – Meanwhile here’s Wishing you all a Very Happy Blessed Christmas!!

Tchuss!!

Gluehwine in a shack!!

2009-11-30T18:09:00.000+01:00

Saturday Maik's crazy friends had a party all the way in Bergedorf their house is way off, the last bus there is at 7 pm, we tried to make it on time but somehow missed that bus, so we walked for 15 minutes around Berderdorf looking for a taxi or another bus stop but found none so came back to the station. We were lucky because we got the one lonely taxi parked outside the station, thank god for GPRs, had to call our friends for the address so the nice taxi man would find the way there. It was nice not having to walk in the cold and dark. Its really weird that there are no street lights anywhere, back in Bahrain there are lamp posts everywhere and the electricity used up would power a small nation I’m thinking...oh well conservation and all that I guess, we did take one bus and 2 trains there :/

They did tell us to dress for outdoors but omg it was so cold, they had 2 bonfires burning, one of them was an old water drum and somehow I felt like one of those poor homeless people you see on TV ok that’s mean but seriously I did not think it could get any colder even with my thermals, hat, coat gloves sock, boots blah blah!! But it did. I was in charge of making Gluehwine (Mulled wine) I made 3 batches of 2 litres each that finished in a flash. They have this make shift shack/bar in the garden it had a 3 burner gas cooker, a fridge, a home computer hooked to speakers and music. It’s quite cool but the light was really dim. I needed to light the gas stove so asked for a lighter, our Indonesian friend comes over with a lighted candle and next thing I know he drops the friggen candle into the pot of wine...I could have wrung his neck, so I get all bitchy but my daughter kicks me back to reality so I scoop out the candle and the wax and start my task of making the Gluehwine. It did come out real nice wax and all; we used a sieve lol....

3 am and everyone is getting shit faced the cold is getting unbearable and I’m hungry as hell, they have shit loads of booze but no food, I go to the kitchen and scrounge around and find some bread and remains of some dip, we try calling for a taxi to take us home and none wants to come to that part of the country, Maik says lets sleep over and my daughter and I say hell no....Maik is doing something wrong he's using his mobile phone so we ask our friend who lives there to use his contacts and he does get us a taxi. Maik and the taxi drive settle on the fare of 45 euros all the way home, what a waste of money, but when you're drunk money is never an issue :) We were still hungry so we make a pit stop at Burger King, Maik asks the driver if he would like anything and he says yes "one cheese burger"...lol so its ok eating in the taxi...good call on Maik's part :)

The worst part of late night parties with loads of booze is that you are comatose the rest of the next day…don’t know how they do it every week, we have another house warming party next week, I promise myself no drinking…yea right…that’s going to work…Not :)

Till next time….Tchuss!!

Our Anniversay this year

2009-11-26T17:03:00.002+01:00

So it was our second anniversary yesterday, I’m back at school and was tired, Maik wanted to wait up till midnight so we could wish each other, last year we were apart, I in Bahrain and Maik in Hamburg, I said ok trying to keep my eyes open and still remain romantic...its only our 2nd wedding anniversary somehow its feels longer, I guess we are comfortable in our relationship which is good. He had bought me flowers and had hidden them in the closet...bless was surprised and happy, I put them in a vase and went to bed. Next day I had school and Maik work so my day was pretty routine.

We promised each other this year we wouldn’t give presents, we did keep our promises...but I still wanted to go out for dinner...I have been looking for tempura in Hamburg for ages, and also good quality stuff like in my favourite place in Bahrain called Sato and Maik did do his home work.

I got all dressed up in my skirt and nice top, stockings and high heels and he in his nice evening shirt, we took the bus to town and then a taxi to the restaurant...the whole way I tried to ask him what food we were having and he kept saying Indian...man I said that’s not even funny, because the bloody Indian restaurants have really let me down here in Hamburg. We landed at the restaurant a small place in Gansemarkt called Comon,COMON-Japanisches-Restaurant-Hamburg the food was to die for the waitress all dressed in Kimonos and I got to eat my favourite tempura. I do love my husband for finding me this place and to care enough to look for something I love to eat :) We also tried the signature rolls and yea I shall be going back there soon :)

After dinner we walked in the crisp cold air to one of the stations on our way back home, it was so cold but was nice to walk hand in hand reminiscing about our past 2 years together. We did take another taxi home from the station and thus was my wonderful evening out and end of our special day...Thank you honey :)

Till next time Tchuss

Our 2nd Wedding Anniversary - 25th November countdown!!

2009-11-12T22:32:00.012+01:00

A successful marriage requires falling in love many times, always with the same person.

Our 2nd Wedding Anniversary!!

The entrance to our suite at the Ritz Carlton Hotel!!

Our Wedding car a Hummer, Maik picked it over a Limo, was a bitch to get into with my long dress, but worth it :)

Our humongous cake – Lilu Bakery Bahrain

Maik and I :)

Language school and stuff!!

2009-11-11T18:01:00.000+01:00

So I've started language school again, at a place called Colon at Stephanplatz, a nice location situated in town close to the Alster so very upscale but not so great when you are a student during my first break I thought I would buy myself a coffee, walked to a coffee shop, the cheapest coffee a small cup was 3 euros f..k me!! anyways I think I'll invest some money buying a flask and take coffee to school every morning the bloody flask costs 20 euros, just my luck...it can wait I guess :)

My class which is an integration course is a mixed race class so we have people from Ghana, Mauritania, Iran, Brazil, Russia, Afghanistan, Tunisia, Albania, Vietnam and myself. Class starts at 8.50 and ends at 1 pm, with two 10 minute breaks, we have 2 instructors a day so the first session we have this vibrant tough instructor who keeps us on our toes and wont take any crap and then she leaves us at 11.30. We get this other lady for the next sessin, she looks like the mad scientist and speaks in this slow drawl, not sure if its for our benefit, because we all just feel like idiots, drives me crazy. I don’t look forward to her session I must say and we do bully her lol. Oh well I guess she will grow on me... I am trying to keep quiet and learn as much as I can. We have this older Russian women who is an ass and thinks she knows everything, keeps asking stupid questions and sometimes corrects the teacher...come on she has been here in Germany for the last 12 years and hasn’t learned the language, tells you something...I’m so holding my tongue but she better watch out I’m going to give her a piece of my mind soon :) I just know I will!!

On my first day of school on the train back home, ticket collectors got on and I knew where my ticket was but in a panic couldn’t find it, bastard made me get off the train, I hate huge hand bags and it didn’t help that the train was packed, he was mean and had this gleam in his eyes thinking oh I caught some Auslander but I was thinking...not so fast buddy here’s my ticket, missed the fucking train and all he says oh...looks at the ticket and walks off, I came so close to giving him a swift kick up the ass onto the oncoming train lol...ok I was thinking it :) Man it was so embarrassing and I nearly burst into tears on the train back home thank god for my iphone and my ipod distracted me. A few tears escaped but I brushed them away, Maik says serves me right I should keep my ticket in an easy place...meanie....no compassion :( Oh well you live and learn.

Till next time

Tchuss

Pictures of Hamburg

2009-11-06T21:47:00.002+01:00

These pictures were taken by a friend had to share them because they are so beautiful. - Hamburg in all its glory!!

Various - my past week

2009-11-06T20:58:00.000+01:00

Today my daughter told me she was going out, she has met someone and no one is supposed to know because its just a date, her second btw, the last time she went on a date for dinner she came home quite unhappy she had to pay for her own dinner...ha ha I said welcome to Germany, this is what Germans do they make you pay half of the bill, its probably a European thing because where I come from the guy always pays....so coming back to dates she says ok mother I’m going out tonite and I actually scream at her saying hey you are just a student and last time you paid 15 euros for food which is 2 nights out beer money, and she said omg you have become German...omg have I?? Maik laughed and says everything in Germany comes down to beer lol...

Wednesday we met up for the monthly English business Happy hour and it was such a fun night, met some new people and we talked about charity, I am looking to help out at a soup kitchen, need to find out where and who I can contact for this, Christmas is coming up and I need to do something for the homeless not only because its Christmas but on a regular base thing during Winter at least, give something back to society when we are all warm fed and cozy some poor soul is on the streets. I would love to hook up with something or someone already doing this as my German is crap and I have no clue where to even start. I’m meeting someone tomorrow who is active so yay I hope I can help out....I wish I had pots of money then I would just do it myself :)

Thursday we went to Cafe Schon was supposed to be "The International Club" but the meeting was held in a club and no proper table organised, men some how have no bloody clue and should just leave it us women, I don’t think I will be going back if its that badly organised. We 3 girls had a ball danced for a couple of hours and went home. God the place was packed for a work night, a lot of single middle aged men on the prowl and many single men looking to get lucky. Man every country you go to the scene is usually the same. It’s nice being married because you don’t look so pathetic. I don’t think you would ever meet the man of your dreams in a club, a few of my friends have but that’s an exception I guess. I put on my fancy high heels a bitch to walk in on those god awful pavements, got stuck midway was quite embarrassing lol...thank god my 2 girl friends were there to help me out. Yea the shoes are screwed, so I guess I will stick with low heels till we get a car that is :)

I’m having a quiet evening Friday night, Maik received his new game today and guess what he is doing this weekend, I guess he needs to unwind his way after his busy week at work, I’m happy to write on my blog and watch some TV, the daughter is out with her friends and everyone is happy including the dog. Maik has invited some old school friends to lunch on Sunday so I’m cooking Indian again, I hope its not so hot for them, come Monday and its German school 5 days a week so my days will be filled up again, I am going to miss being home alone, was getting used to it!! Oh well till next time....
Tchuss!!

My trip to Switzerland!!

2009-11-02T13:27:00.005+01:00

Our trip to Switzerland was great, more about meeting up with old friends then touring the country, our friends Karen and Matt were great hosts and gave us the whole Swiss hospitality welcome....Basel is a small quaint town and riding the tram there wasn’t very long and moving around was done in less than 30 minutes, us coming from Hamburg a huge city was nice to be in a small place it was busy and noisy this week as it was the autumn fair and food stalls and game rides all over the city, reminded me a lot of the German festivals and fairs. The food is quite similar but omg so expensive which is weird because it’s nothing better than the German equivalent, except the chocolate and cheese and the fondue my favourite Swiss food and highly recommended for anyone going to Switzerland. I loved the fondue in a baguette something like a hotdog except it had hot cheese fondue in it.

The chocolate was great we did buy a lot to bring back to Germany, the daughter is not complaining :) We did go to many little bars and sampled all the beer, wine and cheese toasts thingies....In bars in Basel you see boys and girls as young as 16 having a drink which is weird because teenagers in Germany buy beer from a supermarket and go home or drink in the parks etc. The Swiss have more money I’m thinking. We went to the Bar Rouge on the 35th floor of the few tall buildings in Basel probably the only one I saw...and you see kids there as well weird, and young drinkers spending their parent’s Swiss franks :) Another shocking thing is that all bars allow smoking which was irritating for us non smokers, I am glad Germany doesn’t allow smoking in bars and restaurants any more. Apparently next year they put that ban in force...good luck to that!!

The weather was great while we were there except Sunday and the day we picked to drive to Gruyère another town a few hours drive away from Basel. The city is small and beautiful we visited the Gruyère castle and took loads of photos, had some lunch and beer which cost an arm and leg for just potatoes and beer, we had rosti with ham and Maik had cheese toast. The salaries are higher I hear so its ok...take loads of money when visiting Switzerland, don’t let the little towns fool you, the little restaurant may look small and have only a few items on display but it will still burn a hole in your pocket. Imagine going to an upscale restaurant, we didn’t try find out :)

I loved the mountains but didn’t get to see them really as the fog was in the way, but walking around Basel and Gruyère you can see the difference like walking in Hamburg, everything is uphill, we visited many churches while in Switzerland, Matt our friend said lets walk up to the highest steeple on the St. Elizabeth church in Basel, coming from a man with a fear of heights we thought it was going to be a piece of cake...omg we bit off more than we could chew, they walked up first us behind and then Karen wasn’t feeling very well, the bloody staircase was getting narrower as we walked up and when she said ok we coming down, I didn’t wait and down we went. It would have been nice looking over the city; we did get our chance in a lift up to the 35th floor of the Bar Rouge lol :) with a Mojito in my hand I was smiling looking down at Basel....

We had a fondue night our friends bought fondue cheese from Gruyère and omg it was divine didn’t think I would eat so much but I did, apparently downed a whole bottle of white wine...its funny when one person on the table is not drinking they keep track on the others and tell you about it the next day bloody hell...I was on vacation :) We played Phase 10 the whole evening I was reluctant to even try it as I get bored with cards but found it interesting and won 5 times in a row...Karen said it was beginners luck oh well it was nice gloating...man Im a mean winner he he....wonder if I had lost miserably, would have written Phase 10 off but I would like to buy the game now :)

We went into this chocolate shop the next day and they had this wonderful chocolate all different kinds, dark, light, white, with and without nuts and fruit huge slabs of it, and I bought this little piece, cost me 9 Swiss franks, it was white my favourite chocolate and omg it was orgasmic worth every penny...we also had these roasted sugar almonds, they roast them in front of you and they are just awesome, I put on 2 kilos, all the cheese, beer and chocolate I’m thinking...oh well the chocolate I bought back isn’t going to help is it!!

So till next time

Tchuss!!

Our Swiss holiday - a few photos!!

2009-10-30T12:24:00.001+01:00

Basel

Gruyère

Gay parade a few months ago

2009-10-22T16:51:00.001+02:00

Gay parade 2009 - HH

ROFL!!

Random things I've seen on the U-Bahn.

2009-10-22T14:20:00.002+02:00

Random stuff you see on the u-bahn:

I saw a guy reading P.S. Ich Liebe dich!! - Either he was gay or very brave :),
Bags left around with stuff in it - so I saw one yesterday and freaked out and moved to the end of the compartment, a few girls get in the next stop and found clothes in it...nice :( better to be safe than sorry, I think I can afford my own clothes lol...
Vomit - omg the grosses thing ever, usually on the weekend and then you know why the seats are all empty and everyone is huddling to the other side of the train lol
Men wearing pink, again gay or very brave :)
Tight jeans on men omg wonder if their bits are getting any blood circulation ;)
Very bad hair cuts and over bleached hair, mohawks Jeeze and in different colours omg!!
Men with long hair - the rock sensation is over I’m thinking.
People having a beer at 9 am on a work day
Drunken people going home usually Saturday and Sunday at midday when everyone is just going out. Or some even on work days :)
Dogs in the train and some all dressed up...now that’s just wrong.
Body piercing gone wrong, I try not to stare, can’t say the same for some of them.
Weekends at 3 or 4 am girls crying and having dramas, drunk I suppose :)

But overall, my opinion is that I feel safe traveling in the trains and buses at any time or day...and people usually leave you alone and just have fun, the Germans when drunk are good drunk Germans that’s something I have to give them :)

Random stuff

2009-10-21T14:33:00.002+02:00

Today I went to enroll in Colon language school at Stephanplatz was impressed with the office, I was stressing out about my entrance exam but the nice lady asked me in German if I knew a little German and I said ja, ein bisschen and then she asked me to fill out the form with my details, why do German forms ask for your family name first and then your first name, I made a mistake there didn’t I, its always first name and then surname....oh well. I didn’t need to take an exam so I’m happy.

We walked around the Alster and checked out other U-bhan stations so I could get a feel of the place and alternative routes to and back home, was cold as fuck tho, thank god for my winter coat, people are trying very hard not to whip out the winter coat because its going to get colder blah blah, screw that I’m not shivering in the cold to make a point. I am keeping the thermals, hat, scarf and gloves for those days that are creeping up any day now so the winter coat stays on ;). I’m eyeing a nice coat at Zara's and a pair of boots at Görtz shoes from Mexx.

On the bus home, an old lady made me laugh she gets on the bus and sits near a women with a dog and she says move your dog, she gets a wtf look from the woman and then she says the dog should really be at home lol. The women just gave her another die bitch look and didn’t say anything we all had a good chuckle, I got the drift, my German is still crap :)... In the old woman defense the dog was quite scrawny but then again I love dogs as long as they are not wet and smelly.

I went sock shopping later and got 6 pairs getting ready for my trip to Switzerland. I’m thrilled. Karen my friend in Switzerland gave us good news last night so we can’t wait to meet up. I am also happy today because my great pair of Jasper Conran Jeans fit me, it took only 8 months ffs, but I’m so happy I’m loosing weight, all the walking is doing me good whoooo....Please please I hope I can keep it down.

So till next time...

Tchuss!!

Nothing in particular!!

2009-10-20T12:59:00.000+02:00

My day....just woke up what a pity the whole morning is lost, the sun is shinning and its not so cold...whoo I’m off to town need to get some spices for my friends in Switzerland, don’t know what to get them as a present, they love cheese and wine and chocolate, but you get better stuff there I’m thinking...so its kind of hard buying them something small, oh well lets see what I settle for. I now wish I had a suitcase to take instead of hand luggage because no bottles or liquids allowed...dilemma...

My daughter played hooky again I need to get to the bottom of this why she hasn’t gone to school for 2 days, she says she is sick...ok I know learning a new language is hard and its taking its toll....I will be in the same boat soon enough, but its somehow different for her as she will be joining uni soon and most of her subjects taught in German, oh Lord...Poor girl I feel for her, she has settled down well sort of given that she has her 19th birthday next month, man they grow up fast. She cant wait to start uni and make new friends her age, all the ones she has now are much older and she is confused how to deal with that, bless I keep a close eye on her usually. I cannot forever I suppose. Oh man I don’t want to think about that now.

Maik has a boating trip today after work, its more drinking beer, wonder how they never fall overboard…scary though, the last one before they berth the boat for winter the channels and lakes and rivers all freeze in the months to come in winter...maybe I'll try my luck at ice skating this year, never done that, I’m a more lying on the beach drinking Mojitos person...oh I would give anything to lie on the beach right now with not a care in the world, no worries about kids, a job, money, learning a new language...hmmm still dreaming :)

Till next time

Tchuss!!

Monday morning - whoo German school today...NOT!!

2009-10-19T14:30:00.000+02:00

Ok so the weekend is over its Monday I woke up at 7:45 this morning thinking whoo I start German language school again, asked Maik if indeed I was starting today and he said yessssssssss, told him to call the school but he insisted that all was ok and that I should go, so off I went to the school thank god its only 10 minutes walking distant from my flat and Guess What...there was no fucking school the cow of a teacher wasn’t even there, so I struggle in English to explain myself to the 2 girls in the office, they give me a desperate look and I say to them, yea my German is crap that’s why I’m here to learn the bloody language.

So tell me if you running a language school would it at least help to speak English a bit, because if I could speak German would I be enrolling in the classes FFS.

I call Maik and grumble, and then he says to come over to his office because he left his laptop at home, so off I go in the bloody cold morning a bus ride away, at least I do something constructive with my day, I’m back home now blobbing in front of the computer, back to doing nothing all day for the next week, oh well I have my holiday in Switzerland to look forward to. So Im off to pack the tiny suitcase I’m allowed to take as hand luggage…bloody hell!!

Till next time

Tchuss!!

The out laws are coming to lunch on Saturday!!

2009-10-15T22:49:00.000+02:00

Omg the in-laws are coming to lunch on Saturday, why do they pick the worst day ever, guess what I had planned on Friday night, since we had a party set for Friday I planned on getting shit faced and sleeping in and now I have to wake up early and cook lunch, Jesus, Mary and Joseph, what the hell do I cook, curry lol maybe I need to go slow with the chilies ;) My brother in law is putting up the second Plasma TV in the daughter’s room so I have to be gracious at least; the timing is so not right, just my bloody luck.

I have to cook for the party on Friday as well, bloody Maik buggers off to sleep thought he was going to help make the hummus I suppose I have to make that as well, I’ve settled for fish cakes and hummus for the party. For lunch on Saturday I think I'll make my Madras Chicken curry, rice and my pasta salad something different, should be ok. Oh well one way to find out so yea let’s see how Saturday goes. I will start everything tomorrow and hopefully don’t have to do much on Saturday. Wish me luck!!

Till next time.

Tchuss

Ramblings of my day!!

2009-10-14T10:55:00.001+02:00

It’s my sister's 25th wedding anniversary today, all the celebrations are going ahead on the 17th and I'm missing them :( oh well next year maybe if we can find someone to look after our dog Cody the pain in the butt, bless though lets see how next year is.

My moan as usual is the weather 3 degrees this morning and snow in the south, would have liked to see some though, oh well Switzerland is coming up so I guess I will get a load of that soon enough.

I stayed up today and enjoying internet radio and me being online, my favourite past time ever :) The sun is shinning but I won’t even bother opening the balcony door today brrr its bloody cold. Hubby wore a hat today, the daughter not, she wont cover up doesn’t understand the cold here, I can see her sneezing soon with a cold, kids will they ever learn, I’m happy school doesn’t start for me till next week. I need to go shopping for groceries later though, we have a party coming up on Friday and we all have to cook something, the booze is organised. Saves me taking a bottle of wine, and I get to cook some thing non meat as its Friday, plan on making Hummus and some garlic and yogurt dip, maybe make some fish cakes as well :)

The dog is cold and keeps sneaking up on the sofa, he has his bed and wont sleep on it, he has settled on the carpet for now, the bloody hair sticks to it, just vacumed it all yesterday I love housework not...oh well its not so bad long as its just us I don’t have the need to clean up every day, once or twice a week is fine, the kitchen sink never gets clean though, I wash dishes everyday and will turn my back and its filled again, bloody hell!!

Im pissed off today, they are cutting all the trees in front of our flat, why the leaves will all fall of soon enough, depressing thought as is….Im off to have another coffee, so till next time...

Tchuss!!

Finn's christening!!

2009-10-13T18:24:00.002+02:00

Sunday was my first Christening in Germany, our little nephew got christened Finn Lucas, it was in a quaint little church all the way in Geesthacht that’s where my hubby's brother lives, we landed up an hour early so I attending my first German Roman Catholic mass which was not very different from an English mass, except that it was all in German so it somehow didn’t feel the same.

An hour later the family landed up with Finn, he was such a good natured baby and took everything in his stride, we had the christening, which wasn’t very long just one prayer oh well and then took loads of pictures, our camera died on us typical should have charged the camera but its always me thinking of stuff, I had to wrap the presents and make sure we didn’t forget them at home :)

After the christening we all proceeded to my brother in laws house, and I was starving since we had to take 2 trains and 2 buses to bloody Geesthacht half way to the other end of Hamburg, and then they serve cake and coffee FFS, anyways we get lunch at 3 pm which was ok, back home when we have christenings its all about loads and loads of food, we got wuss, potato and some noodle salad with some meat balls thrown in for good measure, I loved the nice creamy soup, and no beer or alcohol what’s that about, very weird….. first family I’ve met that doesn’t have booze on an occasion, back where I come from its any excuse for drinking hic!!

I did the whole family thing, was bored to tears as I cant speak German and they don’t even try to speak English, drives me bonkers, sometimes its a 2 way street, oh well not happening clearly, so I’m dragging my feet. I get "speak German", why cant they even try speak a little English, nooooooooo that would be too hard, so imagine me. Give me a break as well, I’m trying at least, cant say the same for them. Oh well the hubby does and that’s what counts :)..

Till next time

Tchuss

My week so far!!

2009-10-08T14:43:00.001+02:00

Ok I've been in a rut, feeling sorry for myself I get like that from time to time, mostly because I hate staying at home alone the whole day with so much free time on my hands and yes the rain and cold weather, mostly the grey skies gets me down...The sun came up today and bought some life back so here I am typing some lines in my blog!!

I need a vacation and our trip to Switzerland is coming up soon, we leave on Saturday 25th of October to meet up with old friends from Bahrain, I know I’m going from one cold place to one colder, the beautiful mountains and the great company wont put a damper on my mood I’m sure. The fact we are flying Easyjet probably will, as the husband booked the flights just with carry on luggage, ok I give him that, we are only going for 3 days but now I’ve been thinking how I get all my liquid stuff on board without them chucking them out, creams and lotions are bloody expensive and I’m not about to throw all my Estee Lauder stuff out, thank you very much. So I was sent out to scout for travel packs that have small empty plastic bottles and cream holders, flying is a nightmare sometimes, and now I know why I don’t do much of it anymore. So I’ve found some and we are sorted, now comes the hard part how many clothes and shoes do I pack, dilemma dilemma, I sure its going to be fine.

I’ve spent the week watching TV programs online, great that we have a cable that hooks up my computer to our LCD on the wall so I was up watching Cougar Town and Hung till 3 am, I do wake up in the mornings to send the man off to work and my daughter off to school, my routine of staying up to get used to school again has failed miserably...I go back to German language school in about a week and need to get my body clock going these late nights and going back to sleep in the morning needs to stop. I guess I need a few glasses of red to get me back to bed as normal; I need to stop watching so much TV I suppose. When you have nothing really to look forward to the next day what else do I do, yea cleaning the flat or washing clothes is not my idea of my perfect day...

Oh well till next time.

Tchuss!!

Miserable weather this weekend!!

2009-10-05T11:10:00.001+02:00

This weekend the weather went shite on us...rained buckets and was freezing cold, yea the onset of winter and all that jazz but its a nice sunny day today weird, so I can leave the balcony door open and have some fresh air in the flat which is cool :) I may also go for a walk and enjoy the sun, I’m on a buzz it’s the second cup of coffee I drank this morning I’m thinking!!

In spite of the cold rainy weather and getting drenched in the rain. I made it a point to go out and have some fun this weekend, I think if I going to stay here in Germany I need to get used to the cold and the rain, which is difficult, even the locals hate it so yea we all moan together everyday about how cold it is, and how much colder its going to get. I’m happy today the sun is shinning though.

Last night a few of us went to Finnegans Wake an Irish pub, my favourite watering hole mostly because many English speaking expats hang out there, I know I need to get more into the German way of life, but I love English, and speaking to other English speakers. The quiz was good I’m so rusty and out of touch, was quite embarrassing and I need to watch the news some more, in the end its all good fun...the usual team won, I wonder if he sleeps with an encyclopedia under his pillow...damn!! It made my weekend and put a smile on my face...more laughing out loud the guys there are so funny!!

Today is Monday and I’m looking forward to next weekend, hopefully the weather is nice, we have a birthday party on Saturday and my nephews christening on Sunday morning my first here in Germany, looking forward to that…will let you all know how that went

So till next time

Tchuss!!

The obsession with Flohmarkts!!

2009-10-01T13:51:00.003+02:00

As the saying goes "Someone's Trash is Someone Else's Treasure" well its taken to another level here in Hamburg, every Sunday somewhere in the city there is a Flohmarkt, and the crap they sell is amazing, the husband went to one a few weeks ago and I now have a drill that works slow(his words btw)...now the idea of buying a drill I would hope that it worked properly which it doesnt...his answer was it cost only 1 Euro, ok I get it, buy all the crap you can because its just 1 Euro FFS.

I did get some English books but haven’t heard of any of the authors, bless at least he was thinking of me, I don’t want to hurt his feeling by saying I’m very selective about what I read, I’m a snob I guess drives him crazy, he reads anything, in both languages, German and English, I wish I was like that but I’m not, so yea coming back to the Flohmarkts.

It is a culture here I guess about not throwing things out, more like recycling, you will find many things being sold like useless video games, toys, shoes, clothes, books, board games and even some antiques. Now don’t get all excited and crap...Its just phones, video players and other crap that has gone absolute somewhere down the line.

You will find bargains though on little china figurines, plates and bowls if you are into that sort of thing, books yea that’s a treasure for my husband, I think they have just crap and I would never buy second hand clothes or shoes, its just not in my nature to do. Ask me again 10 years down the road who knows!!

Till next time

Tchuss!!

My passion - the beautiful Churches in Germany

2009-10-01T01:42:00.002+02:00

One of the things I love here are the churches, growing up a Roman Catholic and living in India, a majority Hindu country and then moving to the Middle East being a predominately Islamic country, it’s so refreshing to be in Christian country. Oh well I have nothing against other religions but its kinda nice being in the majority that’s all.

Every Sunday there is an English mass at Hallestrasse at St. Elizabeth's Church, Oberstr. 65, 20144 Hamburg at 12 noon. I’ve noticed here in Germany when saying the "Lords Prayer" everyone hold hands which kinda freaked me out, I must say. I usually stood in the back so I wouldn’t have to hold some strangers hand, but where's my Christian spirit I asked myself, I have gotten over that and now do sit in one of the pews, I’m still not used to all the hand shaking during the "peace be with you", wonder if I would ever get used to the outbursts of smiles and long handshakes. Oh well spread the joy!!

Here are some beautiful pictures of some churches….

This was in Lubeck

This bell was bombed during the WWII its kept as a reminder...(Lubeck)

Moving overseas…

2009-09-24T14:20:00.001+02:00

Here are my tips on relocation and settling into a new country and way of life.
When I moved to Germany 7 months ago I promised myself I would make this work, not only because I married a German man and loved him, I also wanted to love the country he was born in, clearly he loved it because 2 years ago he told me he couldn’t live outside his country any more and wanted to move back home to Germany. We were living in Bahrain then.

So I planned my trip to Germany with strategies I’d learned living in another foreign land 23 years ago when I moved from Mumbai to Bahrain in 1986.

Things you miss from home:

So you gonna miss a lot of stuff you grew up with, pack all your favourite stuff like spices, coffee, the odd vanilla creamer, beauty products, clothes, shoes etc. I did, I packed 6 cartons of food and stuff. I knew I would find alternatives or the same stuff eventually but at least I had what I wanted right when I needed it. I was so much happier and less stressed moving thousands of miles outside my comfort zone.

It took me 6 months to get used to Hamburg and find everything I needed to settle down and live here. I love so many things here, like the transport system, the bread, the sausage and many other yummy things they have to offer. I love German food as well; growing up as an Anglo Indian our cuisine is very English we just add a bit more spice to the odd stew, steak or roast chicken we cook. I am very open to different tastes and enjoy the schnitzel and pork dishes, potato salad etc here in Germany.

In saying that I do miss my own food as well including Far Eastern cuisine which I love, I have hunted around and found various places I can shop at, I do miss the hyper markets that stocked everything including panadol, balm, household stuff etc. all under one roof, I guess without a car to carry your purchases it hasn’t caught on here in Germany, as many people here prefer Public transport and it is one of the best in Europe.

Since we don’t have a car here in Hamburg, after 23 years driving in Bahrain I find walking around a chore especially when I have to go out at night and want to wear my fancy heels, forget it, or grocery or normal shopping. But, with sensible shoes it makes walking better, well one thing I found out the hard way is never having enough shoes…so pack lots of shoes if you do plan using public transport. Shoes here are very expensive unless its on sale and then you might not even get your size, so sports shoes, casual shoes, dress shoes low heel leather ones and boots low heel again because trust me you gonna use them a lot.

I found it hard buying Jeans and underwear so I stocked up on my Marks and Spencer’s bras and knickers man that was the best thing I ever did, so yea forget the lingerie here the sizes are all crap so if you want to look sexy and happy bring lots of stuff from your favourite department stores back home. Of course you will find alternatives but if you still settling in and stressing out about the small things, better to pack all the things you love for at least a year in the clothing and shoe department and 3 months of toiletries especially shampoo and conditioner, face wash and creams and your favourite food stuff.

Things I find hard to get in Germany are:

• Panadol – paracetamol tablets for headache and flu

• Tiger balm for the odd ache or pain

• Vicks

• Pancake mix and Maple syrup

• Cadbury chocolate

• Carpet deodorant the powder type like Glade

• Women’s underwear in UK sizes

• Jeans in UK sizes, Jeans here are very expensive like Levis etc.

• Decent leather shoes, all the good ones are too expensive and all the cheap ones you wouldn’t wear even if they were given to you for free…I miss Aldo and Ninewest shoes.

• English magazines and books – I ordered online through the US site and they deliver them monthly to the house so I’m sorted. Get a few subscriptions of your favourite magazines its highly recommended

• English TV – I use online TV sites. They have Sky here but if you are not from the UK you end up with the German equivalent. US nationals can stream theirs from a US company so yea have a look at that before heading to Germany.

• Bring your bed if you have a chance to ship your goods, crap mattresses and beds here.

• Linen as well for the bed - they don’t have super king beds here so yea I’m gonna have problems when I need to buy sheets in the future, or I could just fly to the UK and get some ;)

Hope my tips helped….till next time

Tchuss!!

Sidewalk etiquette

2009-09-20T14:34:00.000+02:00

So I was out last night with a bunch of expats and this topic came up...actually it comes up quite a lot :) The rule for walking along on the sidewalk here in Germany. You usually have to share the sidewalk with the cyclists...Now these cyclists are a bunch of hard asses!! It makes me wonder if life owes them something… They take the bicycle lane very seriously, God forbid you ever tread on the little red bricks and you get the ‘bell ring’. People getting pissed off with you if you don’t move… Ok there’s a hedge on the other side dude...Would you like me to sit on it while you pass, ffs!! I would just like to stop in my tracks and yell “WTF?!”

Another thing, walking on the normal sidewalk, without the dreaded red brick lane and then you get the locals walking towards to you, where I come from we have eye contact and body language that shows where I’m going. When that lesson was handed out the Germans were probably on a "Pause" which means break in German, for the love of God just walk....There's no need for the tango because we end up literally bumping into each other and then getting nasty looks, you were on a break dude, it’s not my fault.

I come from India with a population of over 1 billion people! If we can nail it, so can you... and yes bugger off to the other side of the sidewalk for all you nasty cyclists riding on our lane...We have our rules as well...Or do we??

Squirrel up on the tree!!

2009-09-17T17:56:00.000+02:00

Taken from my balcony...

Lottery is it worth spending money on!!

2009-09-16T16:34:00.000+02:00

Lotto or Lottery is big business here in Europe...In these troubling times people hope to win big money and spend a lot of money they don’t have on this crap, this Friday the Euro Lottery is 100 Million Euros...imagine the lucky person winning that huge amount. The ticket is not cheap 15 euros to play one round which is 5 entries. The people organizing these lottery sites and centers are exploiting these poor suckers and nothing is gonna stop them, well take me for starters I have also played the euro lottery but know that I must not get addicted to it. Many people do and 15 euros per week x 4 is a lot for some people who don’t have a job for starters. I have realized it’s usually the middle class and the poor who fall for these get rich quick schemes.., Oh well people have dreams and till this is legal I don’t think any one is going to stop spending their money any time soon.

Let’s see who gets lucky this week :) Me...when pigs fly!!

Things I love about Hamburg

2009-09-15T16:24:00.001+02:00

I love all the street festivals and parades here in Hamburg...a few pictures taken of the Schlagermove 2009

The Police also having fun...so cool!!

All the crap they threw at you from the parade, we also got some candy!! Thats me and my daughter!!

So many people came out for this day!! It did rain eventually typical Hamburg weather!!

Such a fun day

Till next time Tchus!!

Looking for a job in Germany

2009-09-14T14:57:00.001+02:00

So here I am 7 months down the road living here and no job...I guess my German language skills are not good enough...never mind my 15 years of experience as an Executive Assistant meaning anything here. So the process is to go online and do the online application mostly all in German with no skills its such a pain in the ass, so I’ve asked the husband to help...bless his cotton socks he has the patience and skill to help me out, in the end he knows if I work life would be better for us, I do give him grief.

When I was in Bahrain finding a job was so easy all you needed to do is register with a head hunter they do have them for us lowly assistants, apparently they do here but only for management and we don’t fit the criteria...WTF... anyhow we also used networking and many assistants working in the numerous banks in Bahrain would vouch for each other, finding a network here is a feat in itself, I cant even find a decent friend for starters. I guess I need to look for a different job or be patient. I do start language school next month. So coming back to the application process, it’s very difficult getting a job here. You apply with an agency and they send you the generic email, thank you very much we will get back to you as we need time blah blah only to get an email a month later saying sorry look on the website we have nothing for you at the moment. Why don’t they just say that in the beginning...the mind boggles, some of the companies that you apply to wont even bother replying...very unprofessional. Oh well another thing I need to get used to.

I miss working, and I know if when I do find a job I have so much to offer with my skills, working with multi cultural people and all my experience I have gained working in the Middle east, multi tasking, the fact I love working and my upbeat nature would be an asset to any employer, but lady luck hasn’t been shinning on me so far...I wont give up my quest looking for a job, because I believe in God and he brought me here to Germany for a reason, my 2 children in Uni are riding on my job opportunity I need to pay their fees, all my bloody savings are drying up. So folks reading this, anyone know of a job in Hamburg I would appreciate a heads up.

Till next time Tchuss

Grocery shopping in Germany

2009-09-11T16:44:00.000+02:00

I’m having a dinner party tomorrow evening at my flat, so I went shopping for groceries at our nearby Penny Market...forget about supermarkets or hyper markets here in Germany, you get a few things all squeezed into what I would call cold stores back in Bahrain...oh well we have to use whatever resources we can get tho. So I find myself shopping for food at one store, electrical goods at another store called Max Bahr, women’s products and I use a lot, including cleaning products at another store called Budni or Rossmann and then you have the bakery for bread and cake etc. All the in between stuff is at Penny, we do have other larger stores like Aldi, Real and Lidl but generally nothing compared to the huge hyper markets I’m used to. Hardly any malls for clothes even...You still have to walk down streets and go looking for various shops and there are a lot, so you can spend hours walking in fresh air which is nice actually. I miss the malls though :-(

I miss my car these days when its grocery shopping time, as I have to take public transport or walk, man those Penny Market bags can hold bricks and not break, the hands are numb by the time I get home from the loss of blood circulation to my fingers tho, if I complain the man says buy a few things at a time...tsk like I have nothing better to do then go to the store evey 2 days...Oh well German life I guess one needs to get used to their way of life.

Another thing that I need to get used to is that nothing is open on Sundays...department stores, grocery stores and everything in between. The bakery on my street is open till 4 pm so all the old ladies can get their cake, its a big tradition here coffee and cake on Sunday afternoons...Coming back to Sunday and everything closed is quite a pain in the back but its growing on me...apparently we need to get organised with their way of life and go shopping on Saturday...what amazes me on Saturday is that nothing is left on the shelves near closing time...one would imagine that war is going to break out over night folks god forbid!! So get to the shops before 5 pm on Saturday or you get all the crap left over… shops close here at 10 pm, at least that’s a start, back in the day it was 6 pm and nothing open on Saturday either I am told....

I guess when in Rome...so till next time

Tschuss!!

Dogs in Germany

2009-09-09T14:25:00.001+02:00

This is our dog Cody...a cross between a German Shepard and a Desert Dog; we rescued him at a week and a half along with his 3 brothers and one sister, in Bahrain. We found homes for the other pups and kept him... He joined us here in Germany, he is not the normal run of the mill German dog, he is a very nervous dog and barks at everything and everyone out side our home.

German dogs are so well trained it amazes me to see them walking along on a busy street without a leash not concerned in the least that people are all around them, they never bark or even care. If only the German dog owners would pick up all their dog poo on the streets though…Their dogs travel in public transport and are seen in cafes and restaurants...great I say....coming back to Cody if only he could be anything close to half of those dogs I would be happy, he hates everyone, especially other dogs, old people and anyone walking on the street...Its so frustrating taking him for walks. Of course he has been to a trainer...and its a slow process, I’ve found a new younger trainer lets see how that goes....he believes in rewarding him with food so you can see me walking along with a fanny pack down my street stuffing sausage down his throat literally hoping he hasn’t seen the dog waking towards us or the cyclist...he loves sausage bless.....some days are good and some not so much...I will persevere

Making friends in Germany

2009-09-07T13:49:00.001+02:00

Its only been 6 months since I got here but I miss my friends back in Bahrain but, must say the internet has helped so much with keeping in contact with them via social networks like Facebook, Twitter and Skype, but sometimes that’s not enough and you see your self wanting that in flesh meet up. Just hanging out, meeting up for coffee and having a bitch or doing stuff together like shopping any day not just the weekend where you have to plan on a meeting for a drink or some random party.

I have been to some social gatherings here in Hamburg but its been slim pickings, a lot of people are not what you think they are… and the search goes on :-) I guess I’m looking for loyal friends and that’s a rare commodity here in Germany. I have embraced my husband’s friends meanwhile but, it’s not the same without speaking German and I feel myself isolated to a point it gets depressing. Thank god I have my 19 year old daughter living with me and we do so many things together I’m afraid when she gets her own age group friends I am left alone again. Germans make good friends if you find the right one that is, and I know as my language skills get better some good friends will come along. I’ve heard when you meet some they are your friends for life. My husband is my best friend right now. I’m still looking for girl friends though!!

When I was in Bahrain I made many friends with expats like myself and then when their contracts were up they moved on...I see that happening here with expat friends and hope the few I’ve made don’t move away...I guess I’m looking for English language friends who have my same sense of humor, My best friends have been Kiwi’s, British and Americans because we have the same great sense of humor, I hope I can meet some great people soon!!

My weekend!!

2009-09-06T20:36:00.001+02:00

Saturday nite a bunch of us girls planned on going to the Salsa club called La Macumba...we met up first at a bar called CIU at the Alster, was a feat in itself getting there because we have rail works on the yellow U3 line on the weekends damn I had forgotten or I would have taken the S1 green line. I had to take a bus to my next destination, my sense of directions sucks so I called my husband and believe you me.... try asking a man for directions and he wants to know if I standing north hmm.... yea like I know, I did figure it out myself and got to my next stop, had to take another train ride now on the red line....off I go in my high heel shoes which is a bitch to walk in, and the rain wasn’t helping any. I really need to get used to the rain here as it rains every other day...for joy :-) Try asking a policemen for directions when you cant even pronounce the name of the place you want to go to...funny...wasn’t at the time. Sometimes we women get away with a lot ;-)

CIU was rocking when I arrived, our crowd was not as much as I had expected, the girls had met some American guy and he bought us champagne, big spender because that place is quite expensive, anyhow our group is not a girls group anymore but it was ok I guess, we got caught in the rain again on our way out to the Salsa club, we took the bus instead of walking which was actually good because by then I couldn’t feel my feet anymore...thank god for my huge purse I had flats in the bag which never felt so good like they did then...

La Macumba.. was ok serious Salsa dancers all jiving away and we poor girls trying to dance, after an hour I got bored, maybe I need to take Salsa lessons to appreciate the place, I’m a more R&B, hip-hop girl, which is non existent here in Hamburg, everyone loves Electric music...what’s that about...I wont be going back to La Macumba anytime soon, was hit on my shoulder by some random women whose partner swings her out just when I was leaving the club...come on who dances at the entrance...apparently some Germans... I came home at 2 am and woke up with a major hangover probably all the Mojito’s and champagne I drank last nite…you think!!

Autumn in Germany

2009-09-05T15:27:00.000+02:00

Guten Tag!! Its Saturday and its windy here in Hamburg today, all the leaves are falling off the trees I wish it wouldnt get cold but it will, its gonna be my first winter here in Germany not looking forward to it tho :(

Started our day with a nice German breakfast of eggs, sausage, bacon, cold meats and cheese and of course the lovely freshly baked bread...and coffee. I should be out today enjoying the last bits of sunshine but I have to clean the flat, so I have given jobs to the man and the daughter and I have the living room and study to clean, havnt got my self down to start tho...thought I write a few lines in my blog instead. I miss having a cleaning lady come in once a week like when I was in Bahrain but then again I have nothing much to do with my time here in Germany as I havnt found a job yet...my German skills are not good enough...my experience of 15 years doesnt me Jack shit I guess!! Oh well next month I give it a second try to nail the language once and for all...Sometimes I ask my husband why he wasnt English?? he gives me the look :)

So I gotta go clean then as I am getting some help...till tomorrow..

Tchuss

Food in Germany

2009-09-04T03:01:00.000+02:00

My husband loves Indian food and I find myself cooking for him more Indian food than I had ever cooked before, living in Bahrain we had a huge Indian population with many different restaurants so ordering a cheap tasty curry take away was so simple. In Germany the Indian food is outdated and no where near anything I’m used to. My taste buds are of different sorts, I love Chinese food, and Thai curries, I miss my mum's stews and Shepard pie, also something we Anglo Indian's make called pepper water, never got my head around making that tho. Thank god for all the Asian supermarkets here where you can buy raw ingredients and make your own curries etc.

I also miss the Arabic food I ate a lot of stuff like Tikka, shish tawook and kebabs...My husband found this great shisha place at Feldstrasse called 101 Nights where you get great shisha and Arabic food, even the pita bread is real...and we can have alcoholic drinks, a concept that didn’t catch on in the Middle East probably because of the Islamic culture. I am enjoying the food here as well, the bread, beer, sausage and my mother in laws food, she cooks really well, doesn’t speak a word of English so I guess I shall have to wait till I speak German to ask her for some of her recipes...

Check out cheap flights within Europe, Germany mainly!!

2009-09-03T21:34:00.000+02:00

http://www.skyscanner.net/?utm_content=00001&utm_medium=integration&utm_source=link&utm_campaign=AFF_NTW_00014

Only in Germany

2009-09-03T20:24:00.000+02:00

Just heard on the blower about a ground-breaking new german internet start-up.

Heralded as 'Aktion Shitbag Deutschland', the people at www.shitbag.de will send an 'absolutely realistic' pile of excrement - 'soft, moist, sticky (?!), and stinky' - completely anonymously to the person of your choice (the Shitbag Classic costs €5.99).

Confused? Check out the Shitbag video trailer on the website.

Also, for every 5 Shitbags sent, you get to send another one free!

And, according to the website, it's as illegal as sending someone some flowers.

There's even a map which shows which Bundesland has the most shitbags.

Who said hermanns have no humour?

Life in Germany

2009-09-03T18:01:00.000+02:00

I would like to start my own Indian restaurant, more a fusion of sorts, all the Indian restaurants in Hamburg suck, the decor and outlook is from the 60's the lighting so dull and the ambiance nil. The food don’t let me even start with that. None of the places even have a tandoori oven. Why?? I need some capital to start this off...I’m hoping to win the lottery...when pigs fly!!

My day if it means anything at all :-)

2009-09-03T13:11:00.002+02:00

Today Im going to see a language school to jump start my German language skills after 3 months of learning its just dawned on me the Ich bin and the Ich habe...jeez I have a long way to go. Weather is crap today tho....

I will give you guys a little more about me in my next post :-)

2009-09-03T01:11:00.000+02:00

Its been 6 months since I got here and its been good and bad....trying to make friends is hard. I was at an English Happy Hour meeting today, the turn out wasnt good but I made some new friends I hope :-)