But now I feel like I have found my place. I still have to learn lots and grow into my new role, but I feel for the first time that I have the support that’s needed.

I am also very happy in our new flat, what a lovely home we’ve made of it. The final touch was the piece de resistance – the bed. Proper European style two matresses, plenty of space. Fab!

Just had a very nice “Glühwein” (mulled wine) drinking gathering at ours after the guy fawkes night fireworks.

Now all that’s missing – for me anyway – is a dog. I sorted out all the hurdles with the property owner and the management. Once all is sorted, I hope to find my dog in January.
I want a little Norfolk Terrier, it would be lovely if I could find one. The bigger hurdle is my partner doesn’t like dogs, and I have been trying to win him over. Let’s see how that goes.

Everyone is against it, but I sometimes wonder why some people don’t mind their own business. Family always think they have a right to tell you what you should or shouldn’t do. Well, they don’t take my advice, so they have no right to tell me anything about my life.

Hm, that made me grumpy, I will just finish off and read my magazine. Mindless gossip is a sure way to cheer me up.

Have been a bit poorly the last couple of days, so hopefully I am back to health tomorrow, as I have a meeting in London.

All the best
Bisabean

Hagnau
http://www.alpina-hagnau.de/frames_neu.html (booked)

Garmisch-Patenkirchen
http://www.gaestehaus-sonnenschein.de (booked)

Appenzell

Gästehaus Koller  Appenzell (booked)

http://www.appenzell.ch/en/pages/sleep_stay/accommodation/?controller=accommodation&action=showDetail&id=212

Now I just need to survive the move over Easter, Montenegro, Lünen and then we can go ).

Looking forward to Montenegro first, judging by the pics I’ve seen online it’s absolutely beautiful. Can’t wait!

Bisabean

Itinary:

Flight to Friedrichshafen (at lake constance/Bodensee) 6th August

2 nights at Hagnau http://www.alpina-hagnau.de/frames_neu.html, from there we will explore the Bodensee, the Mainau island, Salem monkey mountain, Zeppelinmuseum, … and have lots of lovely food )

From there we drive to Bavaria on the 8th August.

We will visit Schloss Neuschwanstein and stay for 4 days in Garmisch-Patenkirchen at http://www.pensionalpenroesli.ch/index.html

We will go up the highest mountain of Germany the Zugspitze (with the cable car!) and do some mountain hiking.

Then we are driving to the Appenzeller Land in Switzerland just south of the Bodensee on the 12th August where we spend some more time in the Alps at Gais http://www.roessli-steinegg.ch/content/ger/hotel/hotel_allgemein.html.

Another 4 days later we take a ferry over the Lake back to Friedrichshafen and fly back to Stansted.

But we don’t want to think about that bit just yet )

Bisabean

This time I am looking forward to it though, as I am moving in with my boyfriend. It’s a lovely brand new apartment with THE most enormous terrace/balcony. Pics can be seen on Flickr. It’s lovely and I am sooooo exited.

We are moving on Good Friday. It’s a good day it says, so if it is meant to be a good Friday then hopefully the sun will shine and the move will go smoothly. Our flats are full of boxes and we have acquired a fab dyson ball and all sorts of cleaning equipment for the battle ahead as my boyfriend calls it. Until then we are eating out a lot and drink wine and watch telly on our new flat screen telly. I just hope that our lovely new sofa that we’ve ordered will arrive timely rather than late as it looks now.

I had too much Pinot Noir to think about anything interesting to write, so I am going to stop for now.

Not that anyone ever reads this anyway, unless you do, then it would be great if you could leave me a short comment that you exist.

Good night.

Your Bisabean

It is a herbal lemonade with bitter orange taste. Difficult to describe, it’s very refreshing and tasty. You just have to try to go to Malta and have one. Malta is certainly worth a trip anyway, but once there, you can’t leave without having Kinnie.

Well, you go to Malta now and I will open another can of my fabulous Kinnie!

Bisabean

Well, I don’t usually think the weather is that bad over here, coming from continental Europe I am used to colder winters, proper snow and heat in summer. I think East Anglia is rather dry taking the misconception that England is always rainy into account.

But I am a bit fed up now. Last summer was a total washout and this winter has been cold and I want some nice warmish weather now.

That’s all I have to say on that topic.

Going to Galway in Ireland next week Thursday, there won’t be a heatwave there either, but I don’t expect that there. Very much looking forward to seeing all the changes, haven’t been there in a long time. I used to live in Galway for a year in 1997/1998.

And I am very happy to be going there with my lovely boyfriend. We will have such a laugh, driving around in our rental car and exploring the landscape around in Connemara.

It will be so nice to have a little break from everything.

Bisabean

It’s kind of sad, but there are people out there that seem to live their lives like it’s all a big game. They are the contestant and they do all they can to outdo the people that should be closest to their heart. Well if they have one that is.

They are nice decent people in normal life, you wouldn’t recognise them on the street or even as a colleague or friend. But in their family, if they are lucky enough to have one, they terrorise their “loved ones”. Nasty comments, insults, shouting for nothing, arguing over nothing, starting fights for the purpose of the fight, no merit, no need, no sense. They grind them down, twist every word, make the others seem they are at fault, do they take some sick pleasure from that? What is it that makes these people tick except for an inflated sense of self-importance, hybris, delusion?

The delusion that nobody will ever stand up to them, will ever challenge them. And to be honest not many ever have. They are not stupid, oh no, they are highly intelligent, that’s the crux, they unfortunately don’t use it for good and for making life better, but they use it destructively, making other people miserable, the ones that they owe everything to. Their homes, their family, their love, their career, their happiness, if they were able to realise that and actually be happy and enjoy all they have.

I am so sick and tired of people like this. I am so angry and sad.

Merry Christmas to you all!

Bisabean

My guess is that cookie is American English and biscuit is British. But I am not sure. Whatever they are called, I like to use the German “Keks”, even though there is also the word “Plätzchen”. Who could forget the cookie monster from Sesame Street, or as I grew up with “Sesamstrasse” and the good old blue Monster was the “Krümelmonster” (crumble monster), and he used to shout “Keeeeeeeeeeeeeekse”.

Ah well, there are some things that will only ever be right in my mother tongue even though I know that he was originally American.

How this whole cookie-bisuit-Keks thing comes about? I have just baked some. I found a recipe in Jamie Oliver’s Ministry of Food cookbook and felt like making some. As I am sick at home, I had the need for some comfort food. And what’s better than the smell of baking cookies and licking out the dough from the bowl? I had to improvise a bit, as I usually do. I didn’t have enough butter, so I added some peanut butter. It was quite hard, so I stupidly put it in the microwave for a few seconds on the lowest setting, but it was too late and already quite molten. Nevertheless the cookies turned out lovely. And as it’s Christmas time it just makes me feel all warm and fuzzy, that I have baked some Kekse.

My lovely man got me the baking powder and helped out making them, which is fab as he usually shuns the kitchen with some skill. ;o) In return I gave him some cookies to take home. I hope he will enjoy them.

That’s all, nothing exciting. I just felt like sharing that homely experience. And please let me know your thoughts on the cookie-biscuit debate.

Bisabean

21 September 08

Heyho! We are in Malta! After the flight we picked up the vehicle, I say vehicle as car might be generous. It’s a Suzuki Alto, tiny shoebox with wheels, but it drives and as it isn’t new and shiny we won’t have to worry about scratches – just about Maltese drivers.

Had a near crash yesterday on drive back from Mellieha. I’m in roundabout and a car comes shooting in from the left, if Ian hadn’t shouted and I hadn’t breaked we possibly would have bumped into it.

Anyway, the weather is amazing, blue sky, sunshine, warmth, we coultn’t ask for more.

The hotel is lovely, the room is spacieous, nicely tiled, airconditioned, comfy bed, balcony and  – wait for it – sea view, even though it said it would be landside, well we have land to the left with view of the Red Tower and to the right we can watch the Gozo Ferry, the sea and Gozo. It’s so close, we couldn’t quite believe it.

The first night I wasn’t feeling well to put it mildly, all the stresses, moves and that disgusting fish burger at BK in Luton Airport and then no oxygen on the plane did my tummy in.

I was so exhausted as well. We had dinner in the hotel but I had to excuse myself and lie down.

22 Sept 08

The day started promising, Breakfast, Pool, relax! My boyfriend finished his first book. And despite sunlotion got burnt.

We went down to the Elyseum Spa and I’ve had my Eyelashes tinted. We’ve also booked in for more stuff, my boyfriend for a massage and myself a Hip and Thigh Treatment and I have an aromatherapy body massage on Thursday afternoon.

After our treatments today at lunchtime we are driving to the Dingli Cliffs and hopefully stop at some sights on the way.

First, I need to shower and get some sun, Tudelu!

24 Sept 08

Ok so we are in Malta. The Dingli Cliffs, very nice, lovely views. Getting there is a bit challenging. The roads are, well, not really roads, bumpy pistes more like. As mentioned the drivers are Mad with a capital M. Another near death encounter with a kamikaze Maltese in a Jeep streaming into a roundabout and then going full into the brakes, thankfully we’ve seen him early, but we were both standing in the roundabout and suddenly I couldn’t get him to move. Idiot. Anyway, after the cliffs we went to abat walked around a little. As it was afternoon, most places were closed, so we eventually sat down and had a local drink called Kinnie, non-alcoholic fizzy drink, bitter orange-herb limo.

Very nice indeed. Having it all the time now. On the walk back to the car I wonder once more what that large stone structure on the right was, and said “I want to know now, so i will have a look.” Low and behold it turns out to be the Greek Gate to Mdina, the silent city.

If not for this coincidence we would have seriously missed it and as we had planned to go there one day we would have been looking out for it in vain.

And lucky us, it turns out to be the loveliest place so far, it’s just stunning. Little to no cars are allowed in the tiny narrow allyways. It’s like a weird dream being transported back in time. There are various shops that sell souveniers, Mdina Glass and amazing filigrane silver jewellery.

Not surprising that I am writing this from Mdina. We came back today on a whim. Just had a lovely traditional lunch, my boyfriend had rabbit stew and I had Beef olive which oddly enough is like German Rouladen, yammy.

Also bought some souveniers, A glass plate (Mdina glass), the obligatory fridge magnet and a lovely silver Maltese cross pendant and chain.

Oh I forgot to mention that I won a cocktail the other night in the hotel bar Charley Noble. I’ve guessed the melody of Moon River correctly in a musical quiz. What a proud moment. ;o)

Yesterda, we went on a ferry to Gozo. Fab tiny island. So beautiful. We got a “bit” lost most of the time, as different as they make it out to be from Malta, the signposting is just as challenging and ambiguous. We still managed to get to Calypso Cave/Ramla Bay beach (where I swam in the sea!), the Unesco heritage temple Ggantija, the Salt Pans in Marsalforn, the St John the Baptist Xawkija Dome and last but by no means least Azure Window and Fungus Rock. Absolutely stunning! And on the way back we experienced a massive thunder storm with red lightning.

25 Sept 08

Did bugger all. Well, we went to the pool after breakfast and read our books. Then we went to Hola Beach a few steps from the hotel to have lunch. Then we went back to the pool. At 5pm I went for my aromatherapy full body massage. looooovely.

After we went for a stroll by the sea before heading to the hotel restaurant. I will now complete my day of bugger all by doing just that ).

26 Sept 08

Valletta

Pjazza Sant ‘Anna/Pjazza Emanuel S. Tonna – this is where we parked.

We went to Valletta. Parking in “Ditch” no problems at all. Walked around, saw  huge cruise ship leave the harbour, found lots of pressies for friends, family and myself, yeah!

Lovely weather as well. Went for food in Mellieha in the evening. Very nice. My tum eventually seems to get better.

Avoided Peter, the pothole on way out!

27 Sept 08

Weather : Kack! But nevvertheless, we’ve made the best of it. Went to Red Tower – rain, very interesting though.

Then on to Popeye Village. Very amusing. Quite surreal. It rained again, but we had some nice spells and even ice cream.

There was a mini wine tasting. We’ve bought a bottle of Magic. Well that’s what the very camp and friendly waiter called it. Tasty stuff. And no it doesn’t taste of spinach.

We then drove around a bit aimlessly. Found Golden Bay, with the most beautiful views.

Rain again but nevermind.

Saw a Eurofighter do some maneuvres in the distance. Went to St Pauls Bay where they had an air show. Saw some more planes before nothing happened for 30 min. Sitting in rain. Ah well, Holiday. Suddenly the Red Arrows showed up – whoosh. 30 min amazing performance. My boyfriend was a little boy in the toyshop.

It was quite stunning. On way home to the hotel I went of the main rad to find out eventually what the Parlazzo Santa Rosa Restaurant was like. Seen the sign a few times, was intrigued.

It looked lovely in Mista Bay, very picturesque. The Menu made us laugh. We just had to go there for dinner so we booked a table. Had taxi drive there – oh luxury – and had most stunning evening yet.

Food- Absolutely brilliant!

I forgot about my boycott of rabbit – sorry Schnuffi – and had to have Rabbit it was called “Watership Down” (“You’ve read the book, you’ve watched the film – now eat the cast. Sorry [...]“) Starter: Bresaola salad, hmmmm, Main: Rabbit with liver, fennel and figs and chocolate sauce. Yammmmmmmyyyyyy! Tasty Aussi Wyndham Estate Pino Noir Bin333. My boyfriend had Quail. Tomato Soup – wow – as starter, Berry Bomb dessert. I had a Maltese pastry and lavendar ice creme. Delicious. – No I am certainly not pregnant! (You’ve got to read their menu to understand that)

Amazing service, all in all 10 out of 10!!! the best bit were the menues, they had different ones for men and women and they didn’t tell you. We figured it oiut by the time we’ve got the dessert menues. hihi All the dishes had little paragraphs about them, very witty. I wish I had taken a menu each, They were just hillarious!

Here I reached the end of my diary entries. I would just like to add our last night we walked down to the Gozo Ferry and took it over, found some fab restaurants, settled for one and had one of the most fantastic dinners and evenings. If we had just realized before …

Gozo is certainly the place to go. Love it.

Anyway, this holiday is a long time ago, we have been to Germany twice since. Once for my brother’s wedding and then a spur of the moment thing driving to Düsseldorf, where we visited the 6 Christmas Markets. And we had a lovely evening with my brother and his friends. And we had plenty of Altbier. Hmmm. And then getting stuck in a blizzard in Belgium… but that’s a whole different adventure…

Now I will be going to Germany again soon for Christmas, I will stay at my parents’ house. AI

So there is always somewhere to go and places to see. Montenegro is on our list next, as one of my boyfriend’s friends is getting married there.

I would like to wish everyone a merry Christmas and a happy new year! Fröhliche Weihnachten und ein gutes neues Jahr! See you then!

Bisabean

On another note, things are developing on the moving back to Germany front. Hmm, bad choice of words, nevermind. I am looking for jobs in Düsseldorf and have made an attempt to maybe allow for a move with my current job or at least with my current company. Not sure anything will come of that, but it was worth a try I guess.

I’ll be back with more on that as this develops further.

Wish us luck!

Bisabean