The blues were sent to meet me

This week, has not been the best so I’ll keep it short. First thing Monday morning I found out my cat Smudge, back in New Zealand had to be put down a month short of her 15th birthday, because of Stomach Cancer. No one had expected it, as she’d just gone in to get groomed, but at least I knew when I left NZ that I wasn’t likely to see her again. So pretty gutted about that.

Smudge, a silver Persian I believe

It just kept getting worse after that really, I’d been looking forward to having a good old catch up with Ellie as I hadn’t really seen her for two weeks because of all the pre-wedding prep and then of course all the post wedding celebrating…. But poor wee thing had gotten quite sick and was housebound. Then I somehow ended up having friends of the boys over every day for four days in a row. Now having four loud, boisterous boys running around is bad enough but not being able to speak the same language as two of them, and the other two pretending they don’t know what you’re talking about (when they damn well do) leads to a near mental breakdown. Add on top of that Max’s massive temper tantrums and violent outbursts which have become a daily occurrence of late – this Friday was more welcome than most.

Trying to be arty, somewhere north of Wiesbaden

Not to be outdone by the stress of controlling Max in his wildly changing moods (pretty sure due to the frustration and extra pressure brought on by the arrival of a new teacher), the German housekeeper and I have been butting heads, as she has returned from a 5 month long break. Silly things blow up out of proportion, and really should not be an issue if you could discuss them in the same language and not have to play charades to explain what you mean. It seems there is a major balance of power struggle happening, which is ridiculous, because our jobs are completely different, and there is no hierarchy.

Didn't know there was a finger smudge on the lense, till after I got home - doh!

But it’s not all bad, nothing ever is. The weathers been pretty good really, the suns shining, spring bulbs are starting to bloom, days are getting lighter, warming up a little. I’ve been organising my road trip around Austria, Switzerland and the south of Germany in Easter and have been overwhelmed with people’s generosity of hosting me along the way. Last Saturday, James and I drove down to Worms one of the oldest towns in Germany and had a walk around. We also stuffed ourselves with giant cones of incredibly good gelato.

Worms Cathedral

On Wednesday as I was getting out of my car a woman asked me for directions, and so I helped her find the place she was looking for. After we’d said good bye, I felt like I should have given her my email or something, as she’d seemed really lovely. But I didn’t want her to think I was coming on to her or desperate for friends so I did nothing. But when I got back to the car, she’d left a note in my door with her email! Of course I got in touch with her, and I got an email back from her saying “when you left, I just thought, that just could not be everything!” So things like that really make your day.

Why?!! Prost means 'Cheers' in German

Then today (Friday) Ellie, who is alive and well now finally, thank goodness, got in the car and went exploring some of the area north of Wiesbaden. Then stopped for lunch in a town along the Rhine for Schnitzel! Absolutely stuffed, I showed Ellie this cool new supermarket I’ve just discovered (thank you again James) and I tried on silly hats, ending up buying a Sombrero so I can dress up as a Mexican, for Carnival which is on this weekend and Monday. Well I am off now to catch up with the gang, and ease in to the weekend. Look out for next weeks blog all about Carnival season in Germany

Tchüss!