(no subject)
OK, Germany.
So, the basic details can be found at krakelwock but the dragon has threatened grievous bodily harm if I don't write my own account, so here goes.
Well, my flights and all did go tickety boo getting there, but to be honest I was bagged from starting at three a.m. and I don't think I was the best company. Still awake enough to appreciate obvious efforts to make me feel at home, and the lovely surroundings Jab lives in! The German countryside is very, very beautiful. I mentioned off-hand that the prevailing colours are red, green and white, and Jab seemed quite surprised to see that I was correct... funny what you don't notice when you live somewhere. Of course the trees and grass and fields and so forth are all green, and then most of the houses are red brick with either white or green trim. Those that aren't tended to be white stone with green trim! The effect was very picturesque, but I'm such a dunce at Herbology that I was on the whole merely forcibly reminded of the British countryside, the difference being that the very small windy lanes here were just as likely to be bordered directly by a field planted with crops (unfenced) as one featuring picturesque cows or horses.
Also, his family is really nice. Like, really really nice. They live in a really pretty house with a big garden and his mother speaks more English than he gives out, and his sister speaks quite well, all things considered.
I found Jab's confusion at having a girl with shoulder-length reddish hair walk up and plop her suitcase in front of him rather amusing. More so when I was walked around and viewed from all angles. Amazing how one can confuse the males of any species simply by changing one's hair. But he's correct, I do look different in practically every picture ever taken of me.
In the evening we got to chat with Sad and Crocky on the phone and plotted to go out to Tübingen for my last few days to see Sad. Really nice to hear those sweetheartsslyths' voices!
Day two I was still a bit zapped, so simply slipping into Kevelaer to see the basilica and the (very picturesque) town sounded about right to me. It was a nice trip, very relaxed and interesting. Sadly, we also found out that day that we were one day late for booking cheap summer tickets to see Sad. :o(
On Tuesday we (Christoph, myself and Frauke, who didn't have anything better to do, it seems!) went into Cologne and I got to see the famous cathedral. I think I thoroughly bored my hosts by trying to track down everything on a tour-type brochure that I got at the front. Saw the treasury as well... very impressive and beautiful.
Then we went to party by accident! It seemed a nice idea to drop by and meet Christoph's godmother if she happened to be at home... well, she was, and it looked like a very nice place, and there was a LOT of excited chattering in German that I didn't understand... seemed more than was required even for the occasion, although I got the "and is this Frauke??? My God you've grown up so much, what a beautiful young woman" bit even without subtitles.
And then Christoph turns around and, with the help of Claudia his godmother explained that there was to be a party that night for their lodger/guest who had just completed an exchange program from the US and there would be all sorts of young people there and it would all be very international in flavour. And it was. There was also a HUGE pile of food and I made a complete pig of myself but was at least comforted in not being alone in that. We tried to get the second-last train back but got a bit turned around on the metro... luckily we were able to make our connection in Krefeld even though we took the last one. *phew*
Frauke proved really sweet this day by keeping me entertained in a Subway while Christoph went off to punch his 1000 pieces of paper at his old school. I hadn't had Subway for YEARS before that veggie sandwich. It was good as Subway is but I can safely say the culinary low of the week... there is DAMN good food served up at Christoph's house!
Wednesday was a slow day despite the trip to Düsseldorf in the afternoon. Christoph's brother Magnus is a funny guy... and it seems that ALL siblings in that family have artistic ability, apparently inherited from their architect mother. We wandered around a bit near where Magnus lives, and they really talked up the OPPOSITE side of the city, near the Rhine, so that I wished I'd spent a whole day there. Ah well.
Thursday was quite lazy too... if I remember correctly, these two days were when we got in most of our film-watching, so I'll try to remember all what we saw in this paragraph even if I'm wrong on this point. Of course Christoph loves his animation, so he treated me to The Emperor's New Groove, which I enjoyed more than I expected to... quirky, funny and fun. He also had a good selection of Jim Henson stuff. I watched the Labyrinth which I enjoyed a lot despite the girl's over-acting and the David Bowie songs, and some episodes from a really great series I'd now like to have myself called The Storyteller. Hm... ah, and part of the Best of the Muppets. Despite a lot of talking about what to see, I think that's all we actually did. And the three HP films of course.
Anyway, the main reason Thursday was so quiet is that the plan was to go out to Christoph and Frauke's aunt's farm to meet all the animals and possibly ride a horse, but it was decided in early afternoon that the day was too hot and we should wait for the evening. So, we did... and it was just the loveliest place. I really can't describe it... closest I've been to fairyland, I think, surrounded by garden and, further out, fields, a beautiful wooden house that actually has a conservatory in it, from which you can climb stairs to a loft area... and dogs and cats and horses and ducks oh my!
Anyway, as Christoph has said somewhat more prosaically, we hitched up the smallest horse, a ponie named Olga whose back was barely higher than my waist (this as compared to the largest, a large cart-horse who towered over my head!) to a small wagon, Frauke, their cousin Michel rode on the wagon and Christoph went with us on a bicycle, all around the surroundig fields. Just idyllic, despite the unfortunate preponderance of horseflies.
Then Frauke and I went back for the actual horse-riding the next day. I was on a smallish horse named Sophie, in a saddle, because we were planning to nip into Geldern yesterday and didn't want too much horse-hair on my jeans! I did pretty well for a newbie, I think... Frauke led the horse by the reins, and after a short time gripping the front of the saddle I realised that I'd be more comfortable and feel more secure and balanced if I simply sat up a bit and let my hands rest on my legs. Frauke and her cousin Janna were both quite impressed that I was riding without holding on! We took the same route as the day before, cossetted the animals a bit more, I got to see Janna (who's a very good rider) do some jumping on her horse, Nitzam, and then we headed back. The children were in a high state of excitement because Janna (?) had recently got her first boyfriend (I understand she's thirteen) and when we got in from riding her younger sister and brother were on the phone with him and had been for half an hour. Cute scene.
In the evening I got to ride again -- a bicycle this time, to walk one of the LOVELY LOVELY dogs (:op to Jab) that live with the dragon family... they have a husky named Little Cry and a golden retriever named Daya or possibly Diya (I hate not knowing how to spell things!). It was Cry that we walked, as poor D has become a bit deaf and can't deal with being walked by bicycle anymore. We rode for about half an hour, maybe three quarters, and I got to see a little old castle.
Saturday was unremarkable as I was on a train by two... shopping for books (YAY!) and thank-you gifts for Frauke and Christoph's mother, Mechtild (I'd already shoved an unwrapped copy of The Incredibles into Christoph's hands the previous day, in my gracious and graceful way)... and then off with the book clutched in my hot little hands. My connections went OK, although it was again quite tiring. I read the book out of Düsseldorf, into and out of Milan, and finished it at Atatürk International Airport before I'd even start looking for my bag! (I only had a chapter or so to go when we landed.) I was VERY annoyed that the lights went off in the Milan-Istanbul flight at take-off and landing as I was so keen to finish, and even more angry at the obnoxious French children behind me who sang and chanted in loud voices through almost the entire flight. I with difficulty restrained myself from pulling out my best and most severe French to exclaim "S'il vous plait, les enfants, TAISEZ-VOUS!" Then I would have been the grumpy bag up front. So I didn't.
On the whole, a very successful jaunt... of course my major disappoointment being not getting to meet Sad or Crocky this time 'round, and minor ones of not seeing more of Düsseldorf or getting to cycle to Holland, which was a vague plan all week but just never fit itself in. Ah well........ to the future!
So, the basic details can be found at krakelwock but the dragon has threatened grievous bodily harm if I don't write my own account, so here goes.
Well, my flights and all did go tickety boo getting there, but to be honest I was bagged from starting at three a.m. and I don't think I was the best company. Still awake enough to appreciate obvious efforts to make me feel at home, and the lovely surroundings Jab lives in! The German countryside is very, very beautiful. I mentioned off-hand that the prevailing colours are red, green and white, and Jab seemed quite surprised to see that I was correct... funny what you don't notice when you live somewhere. Of course the trees and grass and fields and so forth are all green, and then most of the houses are red brick with either white or green trim. Those that aren't tended to be white stone with green trim! The effect was very picturesque, but I'm such a dunce at Herbology that I was on the whole merely forcibly reminded of the British countryside, the difference being that the very small windy lanes here were just as likely to be bordered directly by a field planted with crops (unfenced) as one featuring picturesque cows or horses.
Also, his family is really nice. Like, really really nice. They live in a really pretty house with a big garden and his mother speaks more English than he gives out, and his sister speaks quite well, all things considered.
I found Jab's confusion at having a girl with shoulder-length reddish hair walk up and plop her suitcase in front of him rather amusing. More so when I was walked around and viewed from all angles. Amazing how one can confuse the males of any species simply by changing one's hair. But he's correct, I do look different in practically every picture ever taken of me.
In the evening we got to chat with Sad and Crocky on the phone and plotted to go out to Tübingen for my last few days to see Sad. Really nice to hear those sweetheartsslyths' voices!
Day two I was still a bit zapped, so simply slipping into Kevelaer to see the basilica and the (very picturesque) town sounded about right to me. It was a nice trip, very relaxed and interesting. Sadly, we also found out that day that we were one day late for booking cheap summer tickets to see Sad. :o(
On Tuesday we (Christoph, myself and Frauke, who didn't have anything better to do, it seems!) went into Cologne and I got to see the famous cathedral. I think I thoroughly bored my hosts by trying to track down everything on a tour-type brochure that I got at the front. Saw the treasury as well... very impressive and beautiful.
Then we went to party by accident! It seemed a nice idea to drop by and meet Christoph's godmother if she happened to be at home... well, she was, and it looked like a very nice place, and there was a LOT of excited chattering in German that I didn't understand... seemed more than was required even for the occasion, although I got the "and is this Frauke??? My God you've grown up so much, what a beautiful young woman" bit even without subtitles.
And then Christoph turns around and, with the help of Claudia his godmother explained that there was to be a party that night for their lodger/guest who had just completed an exchange program from the US and there would be all sorts of young people there and it would all be very international in flavour. And it was. There was also a HUGE pile of food and I made a complete pig of myself but was at least comforted in not being alone in that. We tried to get the second-last train back but got a bit turned around on the metro... luckily we were able to make our connection in Krefeld even though we took the last one. *phew*
Frauke proved really sweet this day by keeping me entertained in a Subway while Christoph went off to punch his 1000 pieces of paper at his old school. I hadn't had Subway for YEARS before that veggie sandwich. It was good as Subway is but I can safely say the culinary low of the week... there is DAMN good food served up at Christoph's house!
Wednesday was a slow day despite the trip to Düsseldorf in the afternoon. Christoph's brother Magnus is a funny guy... and it seems that ALL siblings in that family have artistic ability, apparently inherited from their architect mother. We wandered around a bit near where Magnus lives, and they really talked up the OPPOSITE side of the city, near the Rhine, so that I wished I'd spent a whole day there. Ah well.
Thursday was quite lazy too... if I remember correctly, these two days were when we got in most of our film-watching, so I'll try to remember all what we saw in this paragraph even if I'm wrong on this point. Of course Christoph loves his animation, so he treated me to The Emperor's New Groove, which I enjoyed more than I expected to... quirky, funny and fun. He also had a good selection of Jim Henson stuff. I watched the Labyrinth which I enjoyed a lot despite the girl's over-acting and the David Bowie songs, and some episodes from a really great series I'd now like to have myself called The Storyteller. Hm... ah, and part of the Best of the Muppets. Despite a lot of talking about what to see, I think that's all we actually did. And the three HP films of course.
Anyway, the main reason Thursday was so quiet is that the plan was to go out to Christoph and Frauke's aunt's farm to meet all the animals and possibly ride a horse, but it was decided in early afternoon that the day was too hot and we should wait for the evening. So, we did... and it was just the loveliest place. I really can't describe it... closest I've been to fairyland, I think, surrounded by garden and, further out, fields, a beautiful wooden house that actually has a conservatory in it, from which you can climb stairs to a loft area... and dogs and cats and horses and ducks oh my!
Anyway, as Christoph has said somewhat more prosaically, we hitched up the smallest horse, a ponie named Olga whose back was barely higher than my waist (this as compared to the largest, a large cart-horse who towered over my head!) to a small wagon, Frauke, their cousin Michel rode on the wagon and Christoph went with us on a bicycle, all around the surroundig fields. Just idyllic, despite the unfortunate preponderance of horseflies.
Then Frauke and I went back for the actual horse-riding the next day. I was on a smallish horse named Sophie, in a saddle, because we were planning to nip into Geldern yesterday and didn't want too much horse-hair on my jeans! I did pretty well for a newbie, I think... Frauke led the horse by the reins, and after a short time gripping the front of the saddle I realised that I'd be more comfortable and feel more secure and balanced if I simply sat up a bit and let my hands rest on my legs. Frauke and her cousin Janna were both quite impressed that I was riding without holding on! We took the same route as the day before, cossetted the animals a bit more, I got to see Janna (who's a very good rider) do some jumping on her horse, Nitzam, and then we headed back. The children were in a high state of excitement because Janna (?) had recently got her first boyfriend (I understand she's thirteen) and when we got in from riding her younger sister and brother were on the phone with him and had been for half an hour. Cute scene.
In the evening I got to ride again -- a bicycle this time, to walk one of the LOVELY LOVELY dogs (:op to Jab) that live with the dragon family... they have a husky named Little Cry and a golden retriever named Daya or possibly Diya (I hate not knowing how to spell things!). It was Cry that we walked, as poor D has become a bit deaf and can't deal with being walked by bicycle anymore. We rode for about half an hour, maybe three quarters, and I got to see a little old castle.
Saturday was unremarkable as I was on a train by two... shopping for books (YAY!) and thank-you gifts for Frauke and Christoph's mother, Mechtild (I'd already shoved an unwrapped copy of The Incredibles into Christoph's hands the previous day, in my gracious and graceful way)... and then off with the book clutched in my hot little hands. My connections went OK, although it was again quite tiring. I read the book out of Düsseldorf, into and out of Milan, and finished it at Atatürk International Airport before I'd even start looking for my bag! (I only had a chapter or so to go when we landed.) I was VERY annoyed that the lights went off in the Milan-Istanbul flight at take-off and landing as I was so keen to finish, and even more angry at the obnoxious French children behind me who sang and chanted in loud voices through almost the entire flight. I with difficulty restrained myself from pulling out my best and most severe French to exclaim "S'il vous plait, les enfants, TAISEZ-VOUS!" Then I would have been the grumpy bag up front. So I didn't.
On the whole, a very successful jaunt... of course my major disappoointment being not getting to meet Sad or Crocky this time 'round, and minor ones of not seeing more of Düsseldorf or getting to cycle to Holland, which was a vague plan all week but just never fit itself in. Ah well........ to the future!