Last Post

Well I have decided to stop posting to this blog as I haven't posted here in ages and so in furture will post what I post here on my other blog.

This blog shall remain as an archive!

Random Stuff

So I set up a Flikr account recently enough and below is some random pics you will find on it!







I'll try to keep it updated!!!

It's been awhile!!

So its been awhile since I updated this! Right then what have I been doing? Well for the Bank Holiday I went to Kerry to visit people and I came home no longer single! (Yes I know I haven't told you mum, but I have now!) Had a great laugh in the Brandon Hotel. Have pics up over on Picasa Webs

From October Bank holiday 2008 - Kerry

From October Bank holiday 2008 - Kerry

I have also been on Mid-term from College so have no classes in the last week but back to it tomorrow night!

Halloween was great fun. I went to Rubies as a Knight and came 3rd! Wooooooo! :D

From Halloween 2008

From Halloween 2008

More over on Picasa Webs

Goldsoundz - Amazing Picture!

So I went to Goldsoundz the other week and had my picture taken at it and I must say I love the picture! Its really classy!



I love the picture, it looks really cool! New profile picture I think!

Homework!

Okay so I had planned at various times over the last week to do my non-compulsory homework, but I am only getting around to it now. Its kinda easy, I have to write 15 sentences like "Der Kaffee ist schwarz". Its easy enough, only one more left to do. I am loving the course, well last weeks class anyway and my German teacher is cool. I do know someone in the class so its great! Really looking forward to tonight. Last week we started on basic conversation, and other basics. Tonight we are moving on to Personal details! I must get the book for the course later today when I am in town! Looking forward to it. So glad I signed up for this course. Might do another after Christmas. Not sure if I will stick with German. We will see!

One thing about German that I am finding hard is making sure all my nouns start with a capital letter! Lots of crossing out on my page so far!

Right back to it!Tschuess!

I'm all nervous!

I have that whole nervous/excitement thing going on at the moment. Mainly due to the fact that I am starting college tonight! I'm really looking forward to it! Thankfully I have the next three Tuesdays (including today) off so there is no rushing after work.

Oh and to remind ye, I'm doing Beginners German! I hope I can actually get the accent right and say stuff in Deutsch and Koelsch!

Chanto's 21st!!

Well what an amazing weekend we had! My amazing boyfriend drove me and Claire down after work on Saturday (with a stop in KFC's). What an amazing night we had! "We had one-steps and two-steps and the divil knows what new steps" as the song goes (its stuck in my head now!)! I have posted some pics up on Facebook but Michelle has updated the purple house blog with a lot better post about then what i could do justice to so have a look and enjoy the photos! There isnt a lot, I was sort of emmm distracted.... :P

6 weeks no Alcohol!

Well I made it! Its been 6 weeks since I was last drunk (on more the half a litre of beer!). I must say I am proud of myself! and I feel better too. I have lost weight, my skin and hair look and feel better, I have gained weight in my wallet (which means I can afford more shoes!)! I honestly didnt think I would last this long but I suppose it helps that himself (yes there is a boy on the scene! hes great) doesn't drink either so there is very little temptation to drink as I still end up having great nights out dancing on podiums! 7UP is great! It also helps that I'm a little mad and that Valerie of the Purple House also doesn't drink meaning a good night by a few sober people! And Val is normally the first person on the dance floor!

What I have had to do is get moisturiser as my skin is oilier as all the omega oils etc (its what the girl in the shop said) arent been washed out by alcohol no more! So maybe ill be smarter too! :D

anyways thats enough blogging for one night as the rest of the family are re-enacting a scene from "the little house on the prairie" or something saying goodnight! so im off too!

The Purple House

Okay, the last two Fridays the I went out (here and here) involved the Purple House crowd as well as few others. but who are the Purple house crowd (dont worry this is leading to a post in the next few days about the weekend), who better then to have them explain it from their bebo page!

Aaron: Lives on the ground floor in a sea of beer making paraphenalia and furniture stolen/"acquired" from various front gardens.

Valerie: Lives between the stairs in the room with the slanty floor, the radiois always playing! Thomas (the good step) will lead you there!!! but watch out for george, he's the bold one!

Jo: Lives in the attic aka HOGWARTS, she has a secret TV up there! but SSSH!!!

Michelle: Our future doctor, lives in the room beside chanto's with her ebay purchases and jewellery collection!

Chanto: Her room is for princesses and ponies only, is filled with clothes and shoes!!!

So thats who they are and more later! :D

Shoesssssssssssssssssssss!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Well, I LOVE Shoes! Its offical! This week is my second week covering in the shoe in the Savoy Center and I love it!!! :D

I have greatly increased the number of pairs of shoes I own since I started working in the Center and have widened the colour choice! I now have Shoes in Black, Brown (first time ever), White (that arent runners!) and Red (no not my crocs actual red shoes!). So it mite seam a big strange but when you are surrounded by shoes you learn to love em! They are also quite stylish! So if your passing in the Savoy pop in and say hi!

More pics!

More pictures! This time from last Friday! Enjoy! :D








Friday 5th September 2008 (facebook album)

Pictures

So as it has been absolutely ages since i updated this blog, I shall post a link to pics from last Friday where ye can see what I am up to since I got back which is going out without alcohol (6 weeks on Sunday) and having a laugh! :D







Full album: Friday 29th August 2008

A bit late I know

Well its offical! Im returning to education in a number of days! 27 to be exact! To study what? you ask GERMAN! Yes I am starting beginners German in the College of Commerce for a 10 week course to keep in the habit of learning! Hopefully it will help me get a better grip of the language and allow me to use the language more when I go over for Karnival! :D I'll try and keep ye updated on the lessons!

Yes I know, I'm back from Germany and its a bit late to be starting now but what the heck! :P

I'm Addicted to A German Soap!

Yes, I come back to Ireland and end up addicted to a German soap, which I never saw when I was in Germany! The show in question is called "Verbotene Liebe" (Forbidden Love) it is a fantastic program! Of course I don't watch on TV, i watch it on Youtube with English subtitles! The Youtube only follows part of the story really, the Oliver and Christian one, but that is good in its own right! (Yes it is gay!) I have embbeded the clip that got me addicted! (its all Cillan fault!)

Enjoy!



If you live in Germany, it can be seen Mon-Fri at 6.00pm on Das Erste.

Even the Italians think I'm Italian

So Cork is full of foreign students again all over here to learn English. I don't know why as they cant understand Cork people! Of course this also means a hard time for me as everyone thinks I'm foreign! I have posted about this before about it happening in Germany but over the weekend it bugged me on two occasions and three occasions where it was hilarious! I have blogged about mistaken nationality before, just ignore the bit about the bad German!

So to add to that list we have Hungarian! Yea, I know, a completely new one to bring the total of mistaken nationalities to 15!

So thats story was one of funny ones. One of the lads who works in the Savoy Centre was in with a relative. I was in one of the other parts of the shop and they asked her where did she think I was from, she thought for a while and came up with Hungarian. The lads said yea, but he has great English! So to play along the lads called out to me as "Stefanov", now I didnt hear the name I just say them waving at me. So I came up and they asked me to check to see did we have something in a 32" waist. I replied "I think I have alright upstairs, give me one second there and I'll run up and check". You could catch flies in her mouth! The lads then told her I was actually Irish!

So thats one funny occasion, onto the annoying ones, they are kinda similar so will get them out of the way. On Friday I was out in Rubys and I was a bit drunk having being in instinct before hand. This guy (who I have had encounters with before) stopped me with a hand out for a handshake and introduced himself. I replied, "I'm Stephen", he looked disappointed as I confirmed to him that I wasn't Italian!

Then on Saturday I was using the facilities (i.e. taking a piss) in Instinct when an old guy (I do mean old!!) stood next to me (I hate it when they do that) and asked "Where are you from?" I replied in a thick Cork accent "I'm from Cork", and got the same response! Thankfully I wasn't interested in either of them!

So back to the funny ones! On Saturday I was working when a group of foreign students came in. One of them wanted to try on a shirt. He spoke to me in his native tongue. I replied "Sorry , I don't speak Spanish". He replied by informing me that he was speaking Italian, not Spanish! Most foreign students in Cork are Spanish and I would have recognised French so it was an honest mistake. I of course replied as any Cork person would, "I don't speak that one either!" They actually thought I was Italian!

Then today, I came back up to the main shop from the shoe shop, (try saying that fast) when again the guy from the centre was there with more relatives, this time he asked me "What part of Italy are you from again?". I replied in a thick Cork Accent! "I'm from Cork, like". "Say something in Italian" he asked. "I can't" I replied, "French or German I can do". Then he turned around to his relatives and said, he actually is from Cork and they didn't believe him! I was in stitches!

I also have stories about people thinking I'm straight, but thats for another time!

arrivederci per ora! :D

Steve

German Language

So over the past week I have spoken German, surprisingly quite well, on two occasions I have used German. One was on Saturday night in the franciscan well where I was drinking German beer and suffered the usual German hangover, its too strong I tell ya!

Also today someone said "Dankeschoen" so said "Kein Problem" and then a conversation ensued in German about crocs! never knew my german was good!

SO if you see me talk to me in German people! LOL

Relationship

So a little bit of rant!

I'm in Love. But I cant tell him. Hes heading off to Oz in Jan and he dosent want to be in a relationship so he dosent break my heart. This is making me like him even more!!!! I don't know what to do!

I can't go with him, cause he needs to get away from Ireland and discover himself!

HELP! oder hilfe!!

Work

Well I have a job, surprisingly quickly! I got the job two weeks after I got home after applying for countless jobs online from Germany and while I was here I applied for quite a few jobs which are all getting back to me now and I am in my job now three weeks!

I work now for Zenith for Men, in a clothes shop and a shoe shop, which I know a few girls would nearly orgasm at the site of em!

I love the job so its fun. The lads (and girl) I work with are hilarious! That makes such a difference! I also have cool clothes now! :D

Pics, Pics and Pics - Finally!

So I finally get around to uploading pictures! Yes, I know I'm home over a month at this point but in all seriousness I couldnt look at them until now, even now they are bringing tears to my eyes as I cry looking at pics of the Boys, Koeln, and all my friends in Koeln! Enjoy them!

Rheinpark

Around the House

Going Away Jamesons - Part 1

Going Away Jamesons - Part 2

Going Away - ExCorner

Enjoy and reminise!

I Never Knew I Meant So Much To People

I have stated since I left Germany that I plan on going back there, the problem is, its going to be very hard to that. The reaction of my friends since I got back has really touched me. Its been wonderful been back and meeting everyone again and all the hugs and kisses cause I know I have missed all my friends in Cork, I just didn't realise how much they missed me. This is going to make it so much harder to leave the next time, especially if it is more long/medium-term like I was(?) planning. I will face that when it comes, but it will make that decision so much harder.

Of course I miss all my friends too in Koeln and I will be back for a visit next year, more then likely for Karnival!

But back to my friends here, the things people have said since I got back and being out dancing in Freakscene and Ruby's has made my relationships with my friends so much stronger as I realise how much I appreciated them and what I mean to them. I actually have tears in my eyes writing this. I am not sure why, but it shows how touched I have been!

anyway ciao for now!
Steve
xxx

Jobhunting....

I thought this morning, when I was originally planning on posting about Job hunting that it would be a moaning piece about the lack of jobs and me not being contacted by anyone I applied to, but that all changed this morning when I got a call from Zenith Menswear telling me they had a vacancy and asking me to come in for a chat.

So "Woo!". I know a few of the lads in there and there was no job there last week when I went in, but that changed this morning. I was the first person I rang! I am so happy to have a job again!!

I start tomorrow at 9am, it will be interesting working in a clothes shop. I like a challenge so it should be interesting!

I'm Home!

Hallo alles!!

So I'm back in Cork at home and sitting in the living room on mz sisters laptop! Strange to be home, I'm excited as I met a friend on the plane from Amsterdam! Amsterdam was great fun and I'll post up about it later!

Again thanks to ALL my friends who turned up at Koeln Hauptbanhof and made me cry and give me a lovely card and everything! I'll miss ye!!!!

Koeln was a great expeirence and will reminesce while trying to learn German and find a job!!

So anyway I'm off to bed take care.

Tschues,
Steve

So Long Farewell!

So long, farewell, auf Wiedersehen, adieu
Adieu, adieu, to yieu and yieu and yieu
So long, farewell, au revoir, auf wiedersehen
I'd like to stay and taste my first champagne
So long, farewell, auf Wiedersehen, goodbye
I leave and heave a sigh and say goodbye -- Goodbye

That among other songs in German and to do with saying Goodbye are flying around my head today. So today I leave Köln and I am genuinely sad. Köln has become my home, it is just fabulous. The people, my friends, everyone I have met has been wonderful.

So I leave from the HauptBahnhof at 15:25 on my 1st leg of my journey to Amsterdam. There will be four legs. I'll have a notebook with me, se expect to see random musings posted some time next week from the trip.

Im looking forward to seeing my parents today, I havent seen them for 5 months so it will be great to see them. I am also looking forward to seeing all my friends and Cork CSD! I mean Pride! I have definately gone native so will drive people crazy at home with my German mannerisms!!!

So again thank you to everyone I have met in Köln for making my stay so wonderful! Remember this blog is not over yet! I may no longer be an Au Pair, but I shall be learning German with a view to moving back here! My Mother didn't sound too impressed with that idea but anyway!

So Tschüs for now, the fun of job hunting gets into full swing also next week!!
Steve

Thank You

I would at this point like to thank everyone I have met in Köln ensuring that I had the best time possible here. I will not name names as I will leave someone out!

You know who ye are though, the Toytown Crowd, the MultiCulti, the regulars in corners, random people I meet from other countries (yes thats you Lee and other people also!), the mothers on the school run, my host family and their extended family, the teachers at the boys school, random people who stop and talk to me as I speak english, the boys (of course) without whom I wouldnt be here and life would have been very boring without!

Köln and the Kölner people have had a huge impression on me (with help of all of the above) in making returning to Germany and Köln in particular a life goal for me! So this blog will not disappear and I will continue to learn (well really start properly) to learn German!

So keep checking on the blog!

Ciao
Steve

Apologies!

My mother has already tetxed me to make sure I was alright as I hadnt blogged in awhile! I have excuses, mainly massive hangovers thanks to two going away partys with my fabulous friends who I will miss alot!!! I have ideas for a few blog posts which I hope to post up in between packing!

Also yesterday was a Bank Holiday and today the boys are off, so not alot of online activity today! Hopefully all back to normal (for 3 days) tomorrow!

*Tries not to cry at thought of only 3 days left here*

Ciao
Steve

Last 9 days...

Yikes, we are down to single digits! So I leave next friday at 15:25 from Köln Hauptbahnof for Amsterdam. I am all excited and sad at the same time, like I was before I cam here. I am of course going to miss all my friends here who have made my time here to enjoyable and am having going away drinks on Friday in Jamesons Bar, on Frisen STR at 9:00pm.

Im going to miss alot of things about Germany. The people, the language (surprisingly), the night life, the reliable public transport, the bakeries (yum...), Döner places and the cheap cost of living.

There are other things I wont miss, sundays with nothing open, expensive Irish Bars and hangovers from strong German drinks and German Customer Service.

As you can see I'm going to miss more things then not.

I am looking forward to going home, but I have to find a Job when I get there, so this blog may end up detailing that as well!

I do plan on returning to Germany, especially if I get my preferred course in College (Applied German and IT), so that will have be back here! If not I'll be back here for Karneval anyway!!!!!

Oh its another lovely day here, and I'm hiding in the basements, as I got sunburnt yesterday.... My knees of all places...

Any have a nice day!

Tschüs!
Steve

The Munster Song

Via the Limerick Blogger

heard this a few weeks back on Top 40 Óifiguil na hÉireann on REDFM and loved it so here enjoy!



Its in aid of the Bluebell ABA school in Limerick. Buy it if you see it!

Its been a scorcher!

Wow! The weather is fab, the weather was good on Sunday but I must say I didnt take much notice being Hungover and all. But yesterday it was wonderful. It was 25°C before 11:00am and its heading that way again! MOre sunbathing for me while the boys do homework! Im cruel I know, but Im making the most of the weather while I'm here!

Hope the weather is nice where ever you are!

Tschüs
Steve

Warning: Erdbeerbowle

Traditional German drinks are potent! This is a warning. I was given Erdbeerbowle, a strawberry version of Maibowle which is made with Melon. God, one sip and I could feel the alcohol. The bits of strawberry actually fizzed on my tongue! But this afternnon when I emerged, I was so hungover! I actually looked pale which takes alot for me!!!

So be warned!

(by the way, it was free and put in front of me thats why i drank it!)

Deutsch, Francais unt/et/and English

Okay this week has been really interesting (read weird) on the language front. On thursday before a coffee meet I went to Subway. As usaul, I had my speil (not game) ready. Then as usual I get asked something I dont know, so I responded in English. The Girl didnt speak English so she spoke to me in French. I studied it for 8 years so its okay. But the problem is I haven't used it in ages. So everytime she said something in French, I responded in German!

We muddled through anyway we the two languages!

Then on friday the old Au Aupir, Rebecca arrived. The thing is shes English, but now lives in France so hasnt had to use English for awhile which means we speak in French! She sometimes speaks german to me which leads the rest of the family to speak to me in German! Its all getting confusing! The thing is I am beginning to understand the German to a degree, I just cant speak it! Ich Sprache kein Deutsch!

Less then two weeks left

So less then two weeks left and I nearly committed murder during the week! The boys were really acting up on Tuesday and Wednesday, but they have calmed now. We were fighting like Cats and Dogs. Me being stubborn though did not give in! As thursday was a Bank Holiday they had a sports thing so that allowed them cool off away from me as I stayed at home. So all is well!

I didnt go out for Tanz in den Mai as I bought my ticket for Amsterdam. I dont get how I can travel to Amsterdam from Cologne for 40€ yet in Ireland its 70€ for Cork to Dublin. I dont understand it at all!

Im getting that mixed feeling about going home. I am looking forward to seeing all my friends there at home but I will miss my friends here. The one thing thats helping is I get to see Amsterdam on the way home. We are going to Anne Franks house, so that will be well worth it!

Having leaving drinks on Friday, will post details when I have decided what Im doing!

Spitzname

This post title translates as Nickname for all you non-german speakers!

I have gotten a new nickname! Just to update everyone on my current nicknames I'll list them first!

Spiller
Steve-o
Stevey
Tiny

Four is respectable but now I have a fifth and its in Germen! Schnuckel, I go red when people call me this. Its my nickname in my "local" ExCorner. Again for non-German speakers Schnukel can mean sweetie, cuite, cutie pie....

If anyone calls me this back in Ireland I will slap them!

Beat the Star

Firstly OMG Vernon Kay is hot!!!!!!!

Saturday was great fun though long. We arrived there at 5:30pm (17:30) and registered etc. We then stood around and waited, I managed to meet firends who I didnt know where going. (I know too many people every where I go!). We eventually were brought into the studio at 7:00pm (19:00). The warm up guy was very good and funny. He was delighted the Majority of the audience were english speakers and not German like most of the previous audiences!

They first did audience shots which is very strange. About 5 cameras are pointed at the crowd as you clap, cheer, woop and go aww for no reason!

Of course as usual with the comedian during one of the 'Ad Breaks' managed to mock me! As per usual, I was the only one in my group to be singled out there was 8 of us! It was about my hair as the Guy in front of me had a mullet and was a hairdresser!!!! Of course I suffer greatly from Staircase wit. I only thought of a response afterwards. For those that know me, yes I changed my hairstyle, and I like it.

The show itself was very interesting though a few of the rounds could have done with being timed. Otherwise it was very enjoyable.

We eventually got out at 23:00! I then went clubbing so it was a good night!

The show that was filmed will be aired on June 8th. I am told it is my teeth that will be seen as friends were on the otherside of the study and thats all they could see of me!

So tune into ITV at 18:20 I think for Beat the Star! Its the last episode on the series, but it will be interesting to watch it as I saw it filmed!

Tschüs!
Steve

Tanz in Den Mai

Tanz in Den Mai is another excuse for the Germans to party. It means to dance in the May. It normally involves people going out on April 30th and dancing beyond midnight. Unfortunately for me, this year its on a Wednesday which means if I do go out, I have to get up early on Thursday. I am still debating it, though I should make up my mind soon. We'll see, I'll probably end up going out as their is a big party in Alter Wassel under the Bahnhof.

Domestic God Test: The result

So I never got around to posting this yesterday for a myriad of reasons, all connected to minding children and very little time at the PC. So lets review my weekend then.

Friday was the easiest day. Got Döner and chips for dinner and watched "Im Dutzend billiger", "Cheaper by the Dozen" in english. Good show, boys went to bed easily.

Saturday I went to collect the friend while leaving the boys to do their chores and practice their instruments, now I didnt trust them to do this so I set traps, ie a pencil on the piano, and when I came back pencil still there. I tackled Timo. He admitted he hadnt practised. Then I tackled Malte, asked did I have to check the accordian for the trap (there was none) but Timo shouted out he hadnt done it!

I started getting the food ready at this point and the potatoe peeler refused to work for me. Eventually Malte came in and offered to do it, he peeled all the potatoes for the Shepards Pie. Was delighted with him. Eventually I got everything cooked and sat down to eat. Malte isnt a great fan of meet, especially when onions are involved so I ended up his meet, BUT I had to share it with Timo! It went down a strom, we saved some for the parents who also liked it on Sunday, will be cooking again it seams...

We got Timo ready and brought him to his birthday party and me and Malte returned to the house, I did a small bit of cleaning and then we started watching Dr. Who. I have become addicted to the new series and love it. The boys liked it too, Timo arrived home halfway through it. Now the boys are one of those annyoing people who have ask questions about hypotheticals from a TV show. this drives me mad, so I had to refuse to answer questions. After a bit of restitance, the boys eventually went to bed.

Sunday of course was the day I had set aside to go to the Rheinepark, now German parks are something else, this one even had a kleinbahn! Which we went on. The weather was glorious so while the kids played I read a book, it was sheer bliss. We eventually returned home, just before the parents!

So the verdict, granted these are self assesed!

cook: a shocking distinction
clean: A merit, Its not a strong point, but managed it
shop; Distinction, did what was required and then some
get boys up in the moring: pass, as they did it themselves
get one ready for birthday party, take hime to the birthday party: pass, wasnt exemplary or anything
make sure they are clean: They were clean all weekend, however I managed it I dont know!

I think I am therefore a Domestic God! :D

As people used to say before, I'll make a great house wife some day! :D

Rhymes

Since I came here I have discovered alot of old Nursery Rhymes and rhymes about things have come back to me. For example I have taught the Boys "Ring a' Ring a' Rosy", its great fun on the trampoline.

The other night there was a Red Sky and of course that rhyme instantly came into my head.

Red sky at night, shepard’s delight. Red sky in morning, shepard’s warning

I always liked that one and its turned out true. There was another on last night and it seams to be holding true again! Though it might be cold, it was 0°C leaving the house yesterday it was a gorgeous day! Hopefully today will be too!

Another rhyme that has been bugging me and the boys have latched on to despite the fact I cant remember the whole thing, is the one about magpies!

One for sorrow,
Two for joy,
Three for a girl,
Four for a boy,
Five for silver,
Six for gold,
Seven for a secret
Never to be told

Of course my normal way for avoiding the Sorrow is to wave at the magpie, though when my sis was here she said something that the boys prefer, "Touch Green, Never Seen" I personally dont remember that one, but it works it seams!

Now the last ryhme is one my Mum taught me and I can never get right though its in my head alot at the moment about months of the year, I googled it and I found a site that has no less then 67 versions of that, trying to find the one my mum thought was fun! though there are some really fun ones there! I hope I picked the right one!

30 days hath September
April, June and November
all the rest have 31
save February with 28

but once in four
has 1 day more.

Hope these have inspired you to remember your childhood rhymes!

Tschüss
Steve

Sleeping In

At home I would regular sleep in and be rushing to work, especially after a night out. This week it happened to me for the first time here and I wasnt even out the night before! Luckily all the rushing at home has me well prepared to get up and dressed quickly! Thankfully the boys are slow at getting up and was still finished me breakfast and teeth brushed before them! :D

Domestic God Test

Well we all know what skills are nessecary for a Domestic Goddess (though in my opinion thats a bit outdated!) This weekend I will face a Domestic God Test. I have to look after twin boys, cook, clean, shop, get boys up in the moring, get one ready for birthday party, take hime to the birthday party and make sure they are clean!

It will be an interesting test but can I do it?

Leaves odds as comments!

Tschüss
Steve

1 day to D-Day

Yikes so tomorrow my host parents are off to München for the weekend and leaving me alone with the boys! AAHHHHHHHHH!

I am kind of worried as over the last few days, apart from yesterday, me and one of the boys have had almighty flare-ups. I mentioned before I introduced the concept of Brownie Points and I am really pushing it this week. The boys are on 7 points at the moment having been on -10 on Tuesday! There are really working hard to improve this!

Hopefully I will come up with ideas to keep them active over the whole weekend. Thankfully one of the boys has a birthday party on saturday so thats one less to worry about! :D

Anyway I must go now to sort a few things out around the house! Will hopefully post a few things tomorrow before the parents leave!

Hope every has a nice weekend... please think of me....

Tschüss
Steve!

When the language barrier gets annoying

Last night I went to a club/bar thing that I go to alot as its closing at the end of the month :( But something happened last night thats really annoying. While walking with my drink, some idiot raised his elbow, hit my glass and it hit my lip. My lip was pumping, in two places, so I ran to the toiletten, were the bathroom attendant started shouting at me in German! I retaliated by shouting that I didnt speak German (in English to annoy her!) eventually she got kitchen role for me.

Last night kind of hit it home to me though. If I am to come back to Germany, which I do plan to do, I'd want to be bloody fluent in the language.

I'm all right now btw (no need to ring mum!)

Up Coming Weekends

I have a few interesting weekends coming up starting this weekend (well it actually started last weekend with my sisters visit! :D ). This weekend sees the family setting off to Frankfurt Am Main, leaving me all on my own in Köln. Not that I mind as they are visiting friends, who will more the likely not speak English and I'll be bored out of my mind!

Next weekend the parents are off to München and leaving me with the Kids, yes thats right a whole weekend, just me and the Kids. A friend has suggested we take them to the zoo on the Saturday to tire then out! We'll see what happens!

The weekend after that sees them go off walking for one day and at one point they were staying over night so another weekend alone for me!

The weekend after that sees a former Au Pair coming to stay so I will have company at least! Shes English so speaks English! YAY!

Good Parenting Skills?

Well I have 35 days left in Germany and I did something yesterday that I didnt need to do before. I actually had to send one of the boys to his room. Now, I'm not normally one for punsihments, my bark is normally worse then my bite (literally as I shout!). Normally my punishments would be in the form of not doing what that kid wanted to do. But today, it went to far.

Now it all started off with them both provoking each other to hit each other and of course being boys they did, which led to a shout from me. This continued for a bit but then stopped. Then all of a sudden, one of the boys hit the other full force in the lower back. That was it for me and I sent him to his room. When he eventually went he a hit a few walls on the way and slammed the door.

Of course when his father returned he told his side of the story claiming I should have sent the other boy to his room also. When I explained the story, literally what I have written here, the father said no more, but was I right?

I'm not a fan of big punishments like this, I prefer the old guilt trip or reminding them of times when we are alone if they want to watch TV and that they would want to behave.

I explained 'Brownie Points' to them recently enough and that idea has them whenever I get agree to be good for quite a bit and make me tea and that to gain to elusive points! I think this works better and is more poistive then sending to the room, but yesterday I was tired and was fed up completely with their actions, did I over react? hmmm time will tell...

Bye Sis!

Well my sister is currently aboard here Ryanair (ugh) flight from Franfurt-Hahn to Kerry. It was snowing last night when she arrived in Franfurt and still was this morning. I'd say the plane still took off on time!

We had a great weekend here in Köln, shopping on Saturday in Köln Arcade out on Kalk Post. On friday night she met some of my friends and on Saturday we went to a Russian bar (the hangover from Russian Beer is horrible!!!) and to a club!

On Sunday we went to go to the Dom but mass was on so we went to Romanische-Germanischen a fantatastic museum here in Köln.

I have pictures from the Weekend and will probably post them tonight.

Tschüss!
Steve

100th Post: 42 days to go!

Well this is my 100th post! :D Wooo! But today I have also realised I have 42 days left in Köln before I depart for Amsterdam to meet my Parents and fly home! I will be sad leaving in Köln as it has become my Home since January and it feels like a home now. I actually know my way around Köln better then some of my friends who have been here since last year!

I will miss all my friends here, the Crazy Ukrianians I met at Karnival, the usual crowd in corner and of course the TT Crowd, who have been a great support!

At the same time I will be glad to be going home to meet all my friends again, go to my old haunts (yes I know it was only four months since I was there!) and just enjoy beening back in Cork with friends and family.

This post is not a reflection on my time here in Köln but that will be coming before I leave, probably in the last week or so! Anyway, just wanted to get that off my chest!

Tschüss!
Steve

My Sister Visits!

My Sister is coming to Köln today for a visit! I'm all excited! Im collect her from the Hauptbanhof this evening. Shes flying Kerry-Frankfurt(Hahn) like I did coming over. So she has a bit of journey to Köln. It should be a fun weekend! :D

Incidentally there is a TT/Düsseldorf Americans Meet up tonight in Köln, so will probably head along to that with her! Meeting at 8pm at All Bar One on Friesenstraße.
Nearest Tram stops are Dom/Hauptbanhof and Friesenplatz. Will give an update on other TT events after my Sis leaves on Monday.

Other plans I have in store for my sis, is shopping tomorrow (shops closed on Sun so we have to do it then), Köln Arcaden and city. Sunday visting the Dom and Römanische and Gearmanische. Monday rest until she has to get bus back to frankfurt where she is staying for one night before going home on Tuesday. I assume she will blog about her visit, I know I will be telling her too!

Also an apology as I lately have been focusing on my other blog and not blogging here! I do apologies to my fans! :D

April, April!!

Its april fools day and the shout here is if you have tricked someone is "April, April!"

Via Slugger O'Toole the April Fool Defence Kit!

I have fallen for one today but it was online so had noone shouting at me!

I am now an expert on.... Volcanoes!

Did i even spell it right? But anyway, Yes Volcanoes (Vulkane) its an interesting subject and over easter I was helping one of the boys with his project on them. I know a surpirsing amount about volcanoes (mainly thanks to Bill Brysons, A Short History of Almost Everything. An excellent book). For example I know all about "Hot Spots" and the geology about Yellowstone National Park (Its a volcano, yes the entire park!) and about the castrophic Mt St Helens Eruption in the 1980's. This knowledge really impressed Timo so I was roped in to help him! Not that I minded really!

Easter Holidays Over

Well I knew it was coming but I was still in shock this morning when my alarm went off at 6:30am! I'm not used to the early mornings anymore after the two week break!

So what happened over the holidays? I know I havent been blogging much basically cause I've had the kids hanging off me! So it snowed and our snowman only fully melted on Friday! Good fun that was! At the weekend I took the boys with my friends to the merries (fun fair/carnival/kermis??). What fun we had!!! The boys were petrefied in the house of horrors and were clung to me, but they did make a friend (one of my friend's son!)

Thats about all the interesting stuff that happened. Tomorrow I am only bringing one of the boys to school, so dont expect much blogging as he has a meet with the Director of the Gymnasium he will be going to after the summer!

I'm Dreaming of a White... Easter?!?!?!?!

Yup, who ever was at the thermostat really messed up the whole shebang. The entire place is covered in snow. By the time I had breakfast I had already been in a snowball fight with the boys. I also made a (bad) attempt at a snowman in the garden which was nothing compared to the snowrabbits in the park, it is easter!

Looking outside I have it all to do again tomorrow! Planty of lovely white snow, which means I'll also have to sweep the pavement, a first for me!

This is the first time since I got here that I miss Irish Weather!!! I didnt think that was possible! Anyway I made the best of the weather and went sledding another first for me! yay!

Some pics below from today, more on facebook!





More Photos (facebook)

The countdown begins

Im going home sooner then planned :(

I am heading home at the end of May. Will try and get a countdown timer up again. Am going to miss everyone in Köln alot! Its been a great time so fat and still have nearly two months left to enjoy it! As my fortune cookie said:

Be grateful to those who made your trip unforgetable

I have a list of those people and will post it before I leave.

TT Notice Board: Merries and Juno

TT goes to the Merries/FunFair/Carnival/Whatever you want to call it! Tonight! Meeting at Heumarkt 19:30. Thread

Cinema trip on Easter Monday (24th) to see 'Juno' (YAY!) at Metropolis at 19:55. Meeting at 19:30. Thread

Girls Night (+Me) next Satuday 29th! Meeting at platform 4 at the Kölnarena U-Bahn station at 18:30, then onto a Russian Bar for food and drink! :D Thread

Come along if you speak English and are in Cologne (or surrounding area!)

Not one of my proudest moments

I didnt sleep very well last night, and I am on my 3rd cup of coffee and I still feel like shite. All I had yesterday was 1 glass of white wine with veggie dinner and 1 groß Kölsch and 1 klein Kölsch with meat dinner. I wasnt even drunk. This morning I feel like I was trampled by a herd of very big animals. So far nothing is working to make me feel human. Some things that have gone wrong this morning:

* I manged to put T-shirt and Jumper on back to front
* I took my razor out to brush my teeth

Now I cannot blame the drink. I dont know what to blame really? Suggestions please :D

Hopefully I feel better by the time I go to the Merries!

TO: Who ever is messing with the Thermostat!

Come here to me, I want ya. LEAVE IT THE BLOODY HELL ALONE!

I woke up this morning (thats another post) to see the Garden, covered with something. It was white, I stated scratching my head, this is spring? What could it be? Yup it was snow. Not impressed. I want spring weather not bloody well snow where I have to wear three layers just to stay slightly warm!

*Hates Germany this morning*

EL-DE Haus

I visted EL-DE Haus today, it looks like a normal urban building from the outside no?


but its basement hides a terrible secret. This building was the Gestapo HQ and interrogation centre in Köln from 1933-1945. Today the it houses a permament exhibition to those minorites persecuted by the Nazi's in Köln:
*Sterilised Women
*Jews
*Roma and Cinti
*Phyiscally and Mentally Disabled
*Homosexuals
*Anti-Social Elements

The basement housed 10 cells and you can still read the inscriptions on the walls. There are lots of them, in German, French, Russian and Dutch. They tell stories and are a testament to those who were tortured there.

I always find it hard to be unmoved by exhibitions on Nazi Germany, and there were tears in my eyes on many occasions when the audio guide was telling specific stories of people and families in Cologne. I would recommend a trip here to anyone coming to Cologne.


More Photos

NOTE: I did not take photos in the Basement, I didnt think it was right just like when I was in the gas chambers in Dachau five years ago.

Photo's from Paddy's Day

So I promised these on Monday, I know im sorry! I only uploaded them to facebook yesterday. Heres a few of the pics and the link below will bring you to the facebook album!





Yes, my hair was green. Facebook Paddy's Day Album

Lá Fheile Padraig Sona Duit

Yes, I know, I am an hour early but feck it. I wont have time to blog tomorrow until tomorrow evening when my Öster holidays start! Woooo!

But anyway happy St Paddy's Day everyone. Have a great day. I did my celebrating yesterday (and drowning sorrows over the rugby game!). More on that and pictures tomorrow! I promise!

The Languages of Linie 9

This something I've just realised. Every morning and evening (and weekends) I get the number 9 Tram to school with the boys and out at weekends. I hear lots of languages on the tram and here they are in decending order! I'm not counting English as me and the boys are the only ones who speak it!

1. German (obvious I know)
2. Turkish
3. Russian
4. Spanish
5. French

Five languages, one route. That sounds like a slogan. Im off to copyright it! :P

The Kids have learned! and other stories..

Havent done one of these posts in awhile but here we go.

The Kids have Learned
The boys, after a long and hard struggle, have finally figured out that when they say 'Not My Problem' it invariably is their problem! So 1-0 to me. Instead now they say sorry! They slip back now and then but its okay, as I just remind them and its all sorted.

Time Off
Wooo! Im getting holidays! Yay! Next week the boys are going to Essen to their grandparents from Monday to Sunday!Yippee! I think I still get paid, will have to confirm that. I am thinking of going on a Day trip to Bonn on wednesday or something. We will see how it goes.

Illness Strikes
Not me! yay! No both the boys have bad coughs and the mother has the flu. I just have a runny nose, so i got off lightly. Now if people will stop ringing and texting I might get over that one!

What, What did you say??
Thats right, I've gone partial deaf! I have a lovely sudsey water stuck in my ear since this morning and its showing no sign of coming out with the wax. Went a poking earlier with q-tips (55c from DM) but thats only blocked it up more. Feck, apotheke tomorrow. Whats the German for Waxol?

Thats all for now, hopefully, I will be back to 100% hearing tomorrow!

A reminder to all those ringing and texting me!

Just a gently reminder to those ringing at texting after 11pm Irish Time (GMT/UTC). Thats after midnight here! (See map <<) I have to get up at 6:30am on a weekday and for the last two nights people from home have either rang or texted. Please watch the time difference as I need my sleep to keep up with teh children!

Thank you for you consideration!

Danke unt tschüss!
Steve

Another ExPat Blogger!

A friend of mine from uni is in Albany, NY for her work expeirence and has started a blog about it. Check out Margaret's Blog!

DB not on strike

After my post yesterday, alot of my feeds on Google Reader suddenly came alive with news that DB would not be on strike. Danke Gott in Himmel!

DB go on strike tomorrow

Deutsche Bahn workers are going on strike tomorrow affecting most of Germany. The GDL (Train Engineers Union) has announced strikes beginning Monday. This will affect Deutsche Bahn services (ICE, IC, RE, RB, S-Bahn).
In the event of strikes, DB will operate under temporary schedules. You should be able to take IC/ICE trains even with a local ticket if your travel is disrupted by the strike.
The long-distance schedule is here:
http://www.bahn.de/blitz/view/static/pdfliste/tp_zentral/ersatzfahrplan_2008-03-10.pdf

The NRW temporary schedules of RB, RE, and S-Bahn service are here: http://www.bahn.de/blitz/view/nrw/uebersicht.shtml

Thankfully I dont use DB trains so it wont affect me, but will affect many others.

Some people on Toytown are not happy Caution Strong Language!

Alles Gute zum Geburtstag Mama!

I know you rang me to try and head me off on this one but too late! :P

I know its a big birthday for you, dont worry I'm not going to say the age, suffice to say in ends in 0!

I hope you have a great day today and at the Party on Saturday! I want to see lots of pics!

Tschüss!
Steve

PS thanks to Claire for sorting out the present and card while im in Germany! Your a star!

My Massacre of the German Language continues...

So as pointed out to me by a few people here, on facebook and at TT Meetups, Irelander(in) and Irlandich do not exist. No wonder people didnt understand me! The correct words are Ire and Irin. The langauge is 'Gälisch' and something is 'irisch'. God this language is confusing.

Im going for a lie down I think, too many cocktails (2) at Cyn's Birthday last night!
Tschüss
Steve

KVB Strike, again

The KVB are going on strike again tomorrow for a full 24hours, from 03:00 Wednesday to 03:00 Thursday. This means no U-Bahn and some buses not running. The following buses are running:

127: Longerich - Pesch - Mengenich - Ossendorf
132: Meschenich - Rondorf - Arnoldshöhe - Chlodwigplatz - Heumarkt - Dom/Hbf.
136: Neumarkt - Rudolfplatz - Lindenthal, Dürener Straße - Hohenlind
145: Bachem - Frechen - Weiden - Lövenich - Widdersdorf - Bocklemünd
148: Ossendorf - Bilderstöckchen - Geldernstraße/Parkgürtel - Nippes S-Bahn - Ebertplatz
152: Porz - Eil - Ostheim - Mülheim - Stammheim - Bayerwerk/S-Bahn
154: Porz Markt - Rath/Heumar - Königsforst - Brück - Dellbrück - Dünnwald
159: Holweide - Buchheim - Mülheim - Buchforst - Kalk - Poll
160: Porz Markt - Eil - Urbach - Grengel - Wahn S-Bahn - Lind

This means I have tomorrow off as the Grandparents will be taking the Kids to and from school! Wooo a lie in! :D

TT Köln Noticeboard: Upcoming TT Events

Heres a few events planned in Köln.

Well theres Birthday drinks tonight! Happy Brithday Cyn (might go to this if I remain awake!)

On Saturtday, 8th March, there is a meetup in the Corkonian @ 7:30pm If I am awake after the rugby, I will go to it!

We are also passing round ideas for Paddy's Day , on the 15th of March (also final day of 6 Nations!) Nothing confirmed yet, though will probably go out for England v Ireland @15:00

Alles Gute zum Geburtstag Papa!

Happy Birthday Dad!

This is my first time being away from home for my parents birthdays. They are 3 days apart so this week will be hard and expect a similar post for the Cork Mammy!

Dad, I hope you have a great day!

Love and miss you!

Tschüss!
Steve

I slept throug Hurricane Emma

On friday night I did my usual thing and went out for a few Drecksack in my local, okay so my local is in Rudolfplatz not Ostheim, buts its where I am every Friday and Saturday night, unless there is a TT meetup. Anyway there was a storm warning me not knowing the strength of it, I hadnt been online, decided I better not get the last tram and head home earlish. I was home for 02:30am (CET). Good thing I did as the storm was only just beginng to hit here in Ostheim. It was Hurricane Emma which is(was?) sweeping across Central Europe leaving a trail of badly damaged trees and giving a few planes a scary landing!

Here in Ostheim, the road I live a tree fell down and closed the road. It fell at 07:00am. Do you think I heard it? Nope, I barely woke up when the Fire Brigade where outside cutting up the tree! So I don't have pictures (sorry!)

My Mother was always right, I'd sleep through anything!

More news on Hurrican Emma from Spiegel Online (Yes its in English!)

Mothers Day Post: The Cork Mammy, I miss her

I know I'm early but here is a post praising that wonderful person who is my Mammy. She has technically cancelled Mothers Day as its a BIG birthday soon but more on that next week! She'll kill me for calling her "Mammy", but it is a for a competition!

My Mammy is a true Cork Mammy, not only does she mother me but she will mother any of my friends that visit by feeding them! Shes is fabulous. She is even managing to Mammy me when I am over 1,000KM away. Only a Cork Mammy can do that.

She sends me packages regualarly with the Pheonix in it or books to keep me in reading materials. She rings when she can, though it costs a fortune.

To sum her up in one word is impossible!

She is: kind, accepting, funny (she regularly sends me dirty jokes by email and text), loving, patient (though I do test it to the max) among many other adjectives that have fled from my mind.

I will never forget her reaction when I came out to her. But she is so accepting now of me, any friends I bring home (whether I am linked romantically to them or not! and she will always ask that! :P) and where I go.

My Cork Mammy, is an inspiration to me. It is because of her I love reading, music, history and languages. To say she is 'hip' is an understatement, she is completely 'with it'! I suppose it helps having two kids who will include her in everything, even at times when we think she is nosey!

My Cork Mammy lends me clothes when I am doing drag for Macra Na Feirme!

All in all, I dont know where I would be without my Cork Mammy.

Happy Mother's Day Mum! I miss you!

xxxx
Steve

I could be on ITV!!

No, I am not going to be interviewed or anything like that. I have ordered tickets to be in the audience for the filming of a new ITV series which will be filmed here in Köln. Its free! Its called "Beat the Stars" and it will be presented by Vernon Kay.

The blurb is as follows:

Here is your chance to visit our new ITV Prime Time Show called „Beat The Star“ hosted by Vernon Kay.

„Beat The Star“ is a reworked version of the German series titled „Schlag den Raab“ (Beat the Host). In contrast to the German concept, each show in the UK version will feature a celebrity to compete with a member of the public. Just as in the German version, the two will have to take part in a number of competitions, including sports, knowledge and dexterity. If the contestant beats the celebrity opponent, the contestant will win £50,000 pounds. If the celebrity wins, the money will rollover leaving a £100,000 jackpot in the following show.

I found out about it on Toytown (As per usual).

I have booked 4 tickets for two shows if anyone ones to come with me. Email, leave a comment on facebook/bebo or PM on toytown!

They are:
Friday, 18th April 2008 time of arrival: 6:00 pm ending: 9:00 pm
Saturday, 26th April 2008 time of arrival: 6:00 pm ending: 9:00 pm.

Anyone going to theses shows let me know also! :D

Book your own tickets: English Website German Website

Important: The difference between Irlander(in) and Irlandich

So I finally figured out what I have been saying wrong and confusing the Germans. I normally say (well used to) "Ich bin Irlandich" which means "I am Irish Language!" Ooops! So the proper way to say it is Ich bin Irlander" or "Irlanderin" for those of the feminine persuasion. That means "I am an Irishman" or "Irishwoman". Of course it is easier again to say "Ich komme aus Irland"!

If like me, you dont look Irish (thank you foreign lineage), people get confused and think I am a number of nationalities which I have mapped out below!




I have been told I am from:

• France (Speak French with a French accent)


• UK (Close)


• USA (argh! NO!)


• Ireland (people get it right now and then)


• Italy (Theres Italian blood somewhere back along!)


• Greece


• Spain


• Portugal


• Tunisa


• India


• Pakistan


• Netherlands


• Iran


• Germany (When I was in the US)


• Romania (Could pass before as one of my Romanians friends brother!)

Okay, thats enough about nationalities!
Tschüss!
Steve

Wow! A german blogger in Ireland!

Was doing my usual wasting time thing and looking at irishblogs.ie, where i occasionally find interesting blogs and posts and today I found this website listed, Irland Inside Blog. Its a blog completely in German about Ireland. cool, have read off it, if you can read german, which I can't.

Its interesting to see other expats blogging!

TT Köln Noticeboard: Kino Trip Sun 24th Feb

Me and the TT gang are off to see Sweeny Todd in the Metropolis on Ebartplatz. Dont worry it will be in English. If interested we are meeting at 17:15 CET outside the cinema!

I am definatley the TT Noticeboard for Köln! :P

KVB go on strike

Well the KVB (Dont ask what it stands for) the company that run the tranport here in Köln are on strike tomorrow. Not good. This is how we get to school every day! Thankfully the Boys Oma (or Opa) will take them instead so I only have to get them up, fed and dressed! I am told the trams and buses will be back running as normal at 9am, but I am not going to venture into Köln just in case.

I just remembered I regularly break KVB rules by drinking on the trams! Oh and by the way if you are ever in Köln buy a ticket (or welcome card, it covers you on the trams) as the fines are steep!! A friend was caught recently 40,-€ on the spot fine! ouch!

I managed to survive the day off and came up with enough things to keep the boys occupied! so am wrecked and have no ideas for the next few days, thank god for the weekend and the rugby!

Okay, thats it for now, oh I'm finally getting my haircut tomorrow. I am being extremely lazy and having it done in the house. Am actually afraid to go to a hairdressers cause of the language difficulty!

Any way tschüss!
Steve

I dont know where this is going...

Well the mother was on to me asking whats happening to the blog and basically everything has lost its newness here and is rather mundane. Tomorrow might be different though. The boys have a day off! I am currently racking my brains for an idea of what to do.... Suggestions welcome!!! I hope it is a nice day.

The weather at the moment is freezing! This morning was the warmest since the start of the week. Its was 2 degrees! It was -4 yesterday so I'm happy with +2!

My nationality was called into question alot at the weekend. People thought I was Dutch and Iranian! Thats another two long ones to add to the list of countries people think I'm from! Probably could make a map!

The gig the other night was fantastic and the meal and the company (the TT crowd) was suberb!

This whole not drinking thing isnt working. On Thursday I agreed at late notice to go to a multi-cultural meetup with my 'Girlfriend' more on that later...., but anyway, being the creature of habit I am, while waiting for the tram, I bought a bought a bottle of Kölsch! Forgetting totally I am off drink... so instead I am cutting down. I now only drink Dreckseck and cola, no vodka, jagear etc etc. Oh Dreckseck is Kölsch mixed with cola.

So the 'Girlfriend' thing... this is funny... myself and one of the TT girls, who is french but studied in Ireland and gets and Irish accent when she talks to me, is often mistaken for my 'Girlfriend'. It happened firstly over my facebook pic >>>
but it happened Thursday night also! We are thinking of getting T-Shirts printed any ideas on what they should say??

Okay I ended up saying more then I though I would. Right to this weekend is Sports weekend for me! Yay! On saturday we have all sides in action in the Rugby 6 Nations!

• 15:00 GMT (16:00 CET) Wales v Italy, Millennium Stadium,


• 17:00 GMT (18:00 CET) Ireland v Scotland, Croke Park,


• 21:00 CET (20:00 GMT) France v England, Stade de France,

Then on Sunday Night (more like Monday morning) you have Klitschko vs. Ibragimov in a Boxing Unification match. Its on at 4:30am here, but I will endevour to try and stay up. Needless to say I don'T think Ill be going out this weekend, maybe Friday???

Right I think thats it for now!

Tschüss!
Steve

Mark Twain: The Awful German Language

Someone mentined this on Saturday after the Ireland V France game and was supposed to post it up on Toytown. Instead I had to go looking for it.

For anyone who is studying (or has studied) the German language it is hilarious. Its the annex from his 1880 book "A Tramp Abroad". Remember he is talking about 19th Century German, but I am discovering the same things! Some excerpts below. Full article here

Surely there is not another language that is so slipshod and systemless, and so slippery and elusive to the grasp. One is washed about in it, hither and thither, in the most helpless way; and when at last he thinks he has captured a rule which offers firm ground to take a rest on amid the general rage and turmoil of the ten parts of speech, he turns over the page and reads, "Let the pupil make careful note of the following exceptions." He runs his eye down and finds that there are more exceptions to the rule than instances of it. So overboard he goes again, to hunt for another Ararat and find another quicksand.

Yup, its still confusing me

The Germans have another kind of parenthesis, which they make by splitting a verb in two and putting half of it at the beginning of an exciting chapter and the other half at the end of it. Can any one conceive of anything more confusing than that? These things are called "separable verbs." The German grammar is blistered all over with separable verbs; and the wider the two portions of one of them are spread apart, the better the author of the crime is pleased with his performance. A favorite one is reiste ab -- which means departed. Here is an example which I culled from a novel and reduced to English:

"The trunks being now ready, he DE- after kissing his mother and sisters, and once more pressing to his bosom his adored Gretchen, who, dressed in simple white muslin, with a single tuberose in the ample folds of her rich brown hair, had tottered feebly down the stairs, still pale from the terror and excitement of the past evening, but longing to lay her poor aching head yet once again upon the breast of him whom she loved more dearly than life itself, PARTED."

Have come across this yet, thank god.

Personal pronouns and adjectives are a fruitful nuisance in this language, and should have been left out. For instance, the same sound, sie, means you, and it means she, and it means her, and it means it, and it means they, and it means them. Think of the ragged poverty of a language which has to make one word do the work of six -- and a poor little weak thing of only three letters at that. But mainly, think of the exasperation of never knowing which of these meanings the speaker is trying to convey. This explains why, whenever a person says sie to me, I generally try to kill him, if a stranger.

Oh so confusing....

Every noun has a gender, and there is no sense or system in the distribution; so the gender of each must be learned separately and by heart. There is no other way. To do this one has to have a memory like a memorandum-book. In German, a young lady has no sex, while a turnip has. Think what overwrought reverence that shows for the turnip, and what callous disrespect for the girl. See how it looks in print -- I translate this from a conversation in one of the best of the German Sunday-school books:

"Gretchen.
Wilhelm, where is the turnip?
Wilhelm.
She has gone to the kitchen.
Gretchen.
Where is the accomplished and beautiful English maiden?
Wilhelm.
It has gone to the opera."

To continue with the German genders: a tree is male, its buds are female, its leaves are neuter; horses are sexless, dogs are male, cats are female -- tomcats included, of course; a person's mouth, neck, bosom, elbows, fingers, nails, feet, and body are of the male sex, and his head is male or neuter according to the word selected to signify it, and not according to the sex of the individual who wears it -- for in Germany all the women either male heads or sexless ones; a person's nose, lips, shoulders, breast, hands, and toes are of the female sex; and his hair, ears, eyes, chin, legs, knees, heart, and conscience haven't any sex at all. The inventor of the language probably got what he knew about a conscience from hearsay.

you think it be okay to figure out this cause I learned french and its the same idea, but no, they change the genders and add a new one! I am so confused!!!

There are some exceedingly useful words in this language. Schlag, for example; and Zug. There are three-quarters of a column of Schlags in the dictionary, and a column and a half of Zugs. The word Schlag means Blow, Stroke, Dash, Hit, Shock, Clap, Slap, Time, Bar, Coin, Stamp, Kind, Sort, Manner, Way, Apoplexy, Wood-cutting, Enclosure, Field, Forest-clearing. This is its simple and exact meaning -- that is to say, its restricted, its fettered meaning; but there are ways by which you can set it free, so that it can soar away, as on the wings of the morning, and never be at rest. You can hang any word you please to its tail, and make it mean anything you want to. You can begin with Schlag-ader, which means artery, and you can hang on the whole dictionary, word by word, clear through the alphabet to Schlag-wasser, which means bilge-water -- and including Schlag-mutter, which means mother-in-law.

Just the same with Zug. Strictly speaking, Zug means Pull, Tug, Draught, Procession, Markh, Progress, Flight, Direction, Expedition, Train, Caravan, Passage, Stroke, Touch, Line, Flourish, Trait of Character, Feature, Lineament, Chess-move, Organ-stop, Team, Whiff, Bias, Drawer, Propensity, Inhalation, Disposition: but that thing which it does not mean -- when all its legitimate pennants have been hung on, has not been discovered yet.

One cannot overestimate the usefulness of Schlag and Zug. Armed just with these two, and the word also, what cannot the foreigner on German soil accomplish? The German word also is the equivalent of the English phrase "You know," and does not mean anything at all -- in talk, though it sometimes does in print. Every time a German opens his mouth an also falls out; and every time he shuts it he bites one in two that was trying to get out.

There important words, you hear them alot! especially also! I would also add "genau" to this list. It means exactly. I always hear it.

An excellent read. Well worth it!

Amanda Schmidt - American girl missing in Berlin

I know I get a few readers from Germany hence this post. I hate it when it happens. Please if you have information on her whereabouts ring her family or tell her to do so.

Amanda Schmidt
Born 11/18/86 - she is 21.
Last seen on the flight from New York to Berlin.
Missing in Berlin, Germany.
Identifying characteristics tattoo of Curtis on back of her neck.
Three piercings in left ear one on the right.

If you have any information call this united states phone number: 001 484 542 1247.

ValentinsTag Anti-dote

Okay so get over the ValentinsTag (Valentines Day) blues, my self and a few TT'rs are going out to drown our sorrows (I'm off the drink, I know but I might make an exception!). We are meeting at rudolfplatz starbucks and going for Mexican! yay!

We are doing a kinda secret santa where everyone brings a box of chocolate and we exchange em! It will be nice! (Note to self get a box of chocolates!)

Then its on to Jameson's on Friesen Str to see the Afflicted. Should be good fun!

God I think I'm becoming the TT notice board for Köln!

German Txt Spk

I was flicking through one of my german phrase books the other day and I can across a section on texting, or SMS here in Germany. It was really interesting. So here is a few SMS sprechen! Oh they do use alot of English ones such as 4U etc. So if you see these in an SMS from me you will know what they mean!

N8 - Gute Nacht (Good night)
STN - SchönenTag noch! (Have a nice day!)
3st - Das war dreist (That was cheeky!)
FF - Fortsetzung Folgt (To be continued)
RUMIN - Ruf mich an (Phone me)
TWU - Treffen wir uns? (Shall we meet)
BIGBED - Bin gleich bei dir (I'll be there soon)
BSG - Brauch sofort Geld (I need money urgently)
HASE - Habe sehnsacht (Miss you)
DAD - Denk an dich (Thinking of you)
BSE - Bin so einsam (I feel so lonely)
MAD - Mag Dich (I like you)
ILD - Ich Liebe Dich (I love you)
*freud* - Ich freue mich (I'm happy)
*heul* - Ich bin traurig (I'm sad)

Anyone know any more german text speak? send it to me as a comment or an email!

UPDATE: So Joe, my fount of information when it comes to german and germany suggests another two but fogets my German is Scheiße. Thank god for google translate!

he adds

*gg* - Großes Grinsen (Big Grin)
*fg* - Fettes Grinsen (Fat Grin)

he then gives me the link to the Deutsch Wikipedia page on German Txt Spk. Have a look. it might as well be double dutch to me!