Journal Entries
My colleague had a fit but the rest of the day was great!
Posted Dec 7, 2007
Had a great day today ... apart from the first hour or so, but more of that later ...
We have been organising some sort of Treasure Hunt for the children in and around the Internet-Café for the Advent time. We hung out lots of posters ... once again I was afraid that no one would come. I did the last bit of shopping and bought pizza for my team ... which they found all rather nice and surprised.
At around 2.30 pm the children started to gather outside. Pheww! And I thought that no one would come ... in total we had 20 which was just right, as we packed little lucky bags enough for 20 children. We split the children into 3 groups, giving each a list of things that they had to research between the tower blocks - at least it did not rain.
The children ran off and gathered the answers on their pieces of paper. One question was to find out which year I was born and which town -c.o. Google, which all went really smoothly. So half an hour later, they all arrived back at the main centre, where they were greated with Hot Chocolate, Waffles and biscuits.
Then in came a rather tall St. Nickolaus with a bag of goodies over his shoulders for the children. Half the children got a pocket-warmer-thingy and the other half a UV pen - with manadrin and chocolate. We then watched a DVD: The Polar Express! Which we all enjoyed. A really great day ... took a few photos and will write some sort of write-up for the local rag on Monday.
I've been having head-aches and a cough for a few days now, but could not leave my colleague alone to do this treasure hunt, so I went to the weekly meeting and found out that "my colleague" using this word loosely, didn't tell anyone that I was ill yesterday, so that a replacement for me could be arrange ... Then I asked him why he always brings up things to annoy me ... he exploded and stormed off. I have to meet him with our boss on Monday morning ... he is one of those people that doesn't actually do anything (apart from cleaning and sorting out stuff)but is always there to criticise!
Which I am no longer to tolerate any more ... I'm as mad as hell, and I'm not going to take it anymore!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QMBZDwf9dok&feature=related
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Latest reply: Dec 7, 2007
St. Nickolaus Day in Germany
Posted Dec 6, 2007
Been living here in Germany for about 15 years and still I forget the St. Nickolaus Day on the 6th of December. Okay, remembered a few days ago and got something interesting for my wife.
For those, not in the know, this is where the children polish their shoes the night before and put them out somewhere in the house. My children also put out some carrots for Max (the reindeer). They also wrote some excellent messages and pictures for him. (shhh ... keeping them all in four large metal tins for when they are older!!).
They got a little carried away last night with the cleaning of the shoes, they used a little too much water, meaning that most had no shoes to go to school this morning ... still, wearing Wellingtons fits pretty got into rural life, around here!!!
So, St. Nickolaus came last night and brought lots of nice stuff with him ... mandarins, chocolate, and some sort of small toy figures, audio cds and a few books (don't forget I've got 4 children).
I got a mug full of chocolate and some really nice sugary jellies! All fitted nicely in my riding boots!!
Does St. Nickolaus also have a big stick like the German Santa Claus? Isn't St. Nick another name for the devil in some parts of England?
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Latest reply: Dec 6, 2007
Last Day of the Month ...
Posted Nov 30, 2007
It's nearly December and I still haven't got 24 little presents for my wife ... have to sort that out today. Do they have advents calendars in Australia or France? Do they have Nikolas Day on the 6th of December? This is when all German children clean their shoes and put them out and magically, if they are cleaned properly, they get filled with sweets and tangerines, etc. I always leave my wellingtons out ... more room!!
So ... don't have to work today again ... which is great. Last day of the month and I've still got 11 overtime hours! Still, will probably take them around Christmas and New Year. Damn ... I was planning to stay in bed til at least 10 this morning, but our new cleaning lady is coming around to case up the joint ... So I've got about 25 mins or so, to get out of bed and get dressed.
My son just brought me in a Croissant (aren't spelling checkers good?) with honey and jam ... not together. So, with a nice cup of tea and the croissants, how better to start the day 
.
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Latest reply: Nov 30, 2007
Getting paid for what I do ...
Posted Nov 24, 2007
About a week ago I was told to go to a seminar regarding some sort of job performance and achievement programme that is slowly being introduced here in Germany for public service workers ... I bet that the people in England and the US are shocked that this is just coming into practise now. Have to start somewhere, perhaps!
Over the course of the day we had to work on up to 5 goals that we have to present to our superiors ... give each a percentage and in the end be given a number of points ... each point is then equivalent to money later next year ...
I was the only non-German there and I already work on this basis ... I know that in England and the US, it doesn't really matter what certificate or qualification you have, if you can't do the job then you are asked to walk! Not so in Germany ... especially the civil servants (teachers especially) who remain in their posts until they drop dead - even if they can't teach or hate children! (I guess you know my feelings about teacher here - even though I have friends who are teachers and agree with me on this point): Teacher = Demi-Gods in Germany!
So, what I'm really saying is ... it is taken for granted that up until now, I did the minimal amount of work possible to keep my job (a real cheek!). Maybe this is true of a civil servant working in the town hall! I've done much more that is expected of me this year ... and it doesn't count, which I think is rather unfair - I know ... life is unfair and then you die!!
Also if one of my goals next year doesn't turn out the way it should, I would get fewer points - don't forget - points = money! So, basically I will not be willing to try new things (stopping creativity and spontaneous thinking) because if it doesn't work I will be penalised.
Because I won't be awarded points for the work that I present this year, I have purposely only published 4 buttons on the Website which I designed and put together (extra work and not part of my job description). My goal is to, between January and March next year, publish the following 5 buttons (shhh, already finished but don't tell) then I get points. Even though the buttons were finished two weeks ago ... now, I ask you, where is the fairness and logic behind all this?
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Latest reply: Nov 24, 2007
Two photos in the local rag again
Posted Nov 21, 2007
Not to boast, B U T ... My project was in the local rag again this morning. Half a page ... better publicity I could not buy ... I look okay (being incredibly vain) but I am getting older ... which is a pain in the **m.
Then I got the news this morning that an old codger died a few days ago. He was one of my regulars in the internet café - not particularly friendly, but not unfriendly. I had heard that he had had a bit of a drink problem, but always turned up sober. The last time I saw him he was complaining about not being able to walk properly ... and he told me that he was sure that people thought that he was drunk ... SHAME!
Tomorrow I've got another journalist coming around to interview me again ... still got lots of over-time which I'm trying to get down to 0 by the end of the month.
Won 100 pounds on the Premium Bonds ... but my wife wants a new bed ... there aren't even any notches on the old one ... doesn't matter ... apparently.
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Latest reply: Nov 21, 2007
Einmoto - CoachAntony
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