Journal Entries
Did I mention that I am now retired? (TC)
Posted Oct 14, 2018
Well, actually, not properly retired, but on the recommendation of my boss, I asked about retirement and finally came to an agreement with the Personnell department that I could be released from my contract (with the legal 6 months' notice) but I could be released from actually working as from immediately.
So, since the beginning of this month, I have been at home, getting under hubby's feet. On full pay, until the end of March.
Once I'd dealt with the Department of Employment on the first day off work, I set about looking into getting Germamn Citizenship. I just happened to catch on the news that a top politician (The minister for consumer affairs) recommended that any expat Brits still left over should do this, as no one knew what would happen after Brexit. If we got German nationality before 29 March 2019, we would still be allowed both passports. After that, it is most likely that we would have to rescind our British passports if we wanted a German one.
It would seem that most of my expat acquaintances here (except the ones from Northern Ireland) - even those who had spurned the idea hitherto - were now taking the plunge. So when the certificates (or whatever it is) are handed out in the Town Hall in January next year, there will be quite a few Brits in the crowd!
The lady who is dealing with my application told me definitively that I don't have to take a Citizenship test. But my friend (who is the same age as me and has been in Germany as long) tells me that she does. Go figure. I have no problem with the test - you only have to get 17 out of 33 questions right!
Family news - our middle son is expecting another baby in January - our third grandchild! We visited them last weekend - this lasting summer weather is making everything so idyllic, even 3 hour drives up the Autobahn.
Our eldest was over from America a couple of weeks ago. During his stay of less than 2 weeks, he managed the planned conference in Dresden and then tacked on a visit to his brother in Berlin, then to us, then to his brother in Bonn before flying back to San Jose (via Amsterdam).
Just thought I'd put that all down here, even if no one reads it.
This retirement lark takes some planning - so I shall now go and see what hubby's up to (we have been doing some serious re-decorating this last couple of weeks, too) and get him something to eat.
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Latest reply: Oct 14, 2018
The pink bag
Posted Jul 25, 2018
2legs story about the demonstration in Cambridge reminded me of this amusing anecdote.
Our town is twinned with a town in Burgundy (also with one in Hungary, but none in the UK - any offers?)
Whilst we have been loosely attached to the twinning association, we have never been active, except for a little involvement through the school (hubby was a French teacher, after all) way back in the late 70s/early 80s.
The Twinning celebrated its 55th anniversary this year and we took in a visitor, for the first time! The Town Council, after the previous Mayor had been forced to resign due to corruption, was only recently replaced with a completely new set of young people with very little political background. Our guest was a social worker in her 40s with a 13-year-old daughter.
The weekend that they stayed was full of events, the weather was lovely, and it was a great success, finishing with a celebratory ecumenical church service on the Sunday morning. I was in the choir singing at church, so I would have gone to that anyway.
Also taking place on the Sunday was a demonstration of a right wing group. Our Mayor had allowed this demonstration, but, wisely, as it turned out, had disallowed all counter-demonstrations. Long story short, about 120 demonstrators mooched around the hot, deserted streets of the town, supervised by 140 police, and absolutely no one else was there (except maybe a journalist or two, who probably wished they'd gone swimming like the rest of the population). Lead balloon!
So - all the French "dignitaries" set out from their various houses with their hosts to go to church on the Sunday morning. The Mayor of the French town still had some presents (confectionery) to distribute, which were in a pretty pink carrier bag. He had these in his hand, but his wife reprimanded him "You can't go to church with that!". As his host, our local Mayor, had already locked the house, he left the bag in the shade at the side of the house to collect later.
When they returned, after church, the house had been cordonned off, and was guarded by armed police! Someone had seen the bag and suspected a bomb! At the Mayor's abode! Of course, they sorted it out and the French Mayor (also a youngish man in his 40s - very attractive, charismatic and with a great sense of humour) told this story later to everyone's amusement. He's probably still dining out on it now!
Come to think of it, the policemen involved probably are, too - it would have been the brightest part of their boring Sunday, when they had been no doubt wishing they could have gone to the beach, like the rest of the population.
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Latest reply: Jul 25, 2018
All sewn up
Posted Jul 8, 2018
What a week! On Monday I got a Whatsapp from my eldest (that's the one who lives in Silicon Valley) to say he was just coming round from surgery after an emergency operation to remove his gall bladder. He's been having trouble with stomach pains and sickness quite a lot and I'm pleased they've now found the cause. He was back home already. I asked if he had to go back in for a check-up - he said no: They did that over the phone. My husband nearly did his nut, for him that is unimaginable. And irresponsible.
That's the way they do it in California, though.
On Tuesday, hubbie had an appointment at the doctor's himself. He (ever the hypochondriac) had found a suspicious thing in his nether regions, a hernia, and this appointment was with the hospital surgeon, where he had been referred to from his own doctor. He was given an appointment for the operation on Thursday.
On Wednesday we had a new staircase fitted. It looks lovely, but there are lots of finishing touches required which hubbie won't be able to do for a while, as he's still recovering from his operation.
So, Thursday at 6:45 we reported to the hospital and the operation went fine. He stayed in until Saturday morning when I went and fetched him home.
If he hadn't been freshly cut open and sewn up, he would have left on Tuesday morning for a long-planned cycle trip. Which of course he has had to cancel. It was to be a ten-day tour along the Neckar from the source to where it joins the Rhine at Mannheim.
He's frustrated he can't go, of course (but that's nothing to how mad I am that I shan't get those 10 days on my own).
At work, among a few other changes, we have been told that we have to go through all the offices and say "Good morning" to everyone when we arrive and then do the rounds again in the evening when we leave.
This I find very annoying and, even if it kills me, I'm going to make sure I'm there at 7.30 from now on so there's no one there to say "Good morning" to.
Next week is less hectic, until Friday when Son No 2 is arriving with wife and little girl - they are setting off as soon as school breaks up so they should be here late afternoon. (School is only in the mornings here in Germany and on the last day they only have 4 lessons. The teachers have to stay on for a few formalities and any drinks and cakes brought by anyone who is leaving, but he should be able to get away by lunchtime)
So Grandad will get to see his little granddaughter as he's not cycling from Stuttgart to Heidelberg - every cloud has a silver lining.
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Latest reply: Jul 8, 2018
Not really worried
Posted May 9, 2018
My mother has had a fall - she tripped over the vaccuum cleaner cable while her cleaning lady was there this morning.
Nothing is broken - she's quite amazing, really. My sister spent most of the day waiting with her (still lying on the floor - she was told not to move) until the ambulance came. They are still at the hospital now but will no doubt be allowed home. She is having a CT scan as I write, just to check her head.
Yes, she's a frail little old lady to look at, but obviously still has strong bones and all her other faculties, just an annoying blind spot which is probably why she didn't see the cable.
I'm probably more upset than she is. Don't feel like dinner.
Must sign off now, though - the other grandparents are coming round any minute to pick up the car seat ready for (Californian) grandson's visit next week - Yay!
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Latest reply: May 9, 2018
Another year
Posted Feb 9, 2018
For about 15 years now I have been planning to write an entry about something which happens every year in the Carnival season. I've done it again, haven't I? Carnival season is over next Wednesday and the damn thing is still in note form. No way it'll make the front page on time. So now I have another year to polish it up! I think I'll just write it this weekend and ask for it to go on the front page next year.
Is next year h2g2's 20 year anniversary? Surely there's life in the old girl yet?
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Latest reply: Feb 9, 2018
You can call me TC
Researcher U154942
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