24 December

This is it, the last post. I think I have managed (with one exception) to stick to my promise of posting a picture every day.

Thank you for visiting the advent calendar and for all your nice feedback. I hope you enjoyed it as much as I did making it.

The picture shows the first ever Christmas tree I bought myself. Guess I'm grown up now...

Have a very happy Christmas!

Stephan and Annette xx 

23 December

Our Nativity is already set up, the tree is bought and just needs to be put up tomorrow.

If you look carefully, you can see that the three wise men have already started their journey.

If you have not succumbed to the general Christmas panic, or if you want to take some time out and get into the festive spirit, why not read one of these stories? Or both!

The gift of the magi
A Christmas Carol also available as audio . 

22 December

The Christmas tree at the entrance to Essen's Christmas Market.

Well, they have already got theirs. I still haven't managed to get one. Wish me luck tomorrow, can't get one today as I'll be in college till late...

Please vote for this blog by clicking on the "hot or not" link on the right!  

21 December

Sorry for the late update, but I had to catch up with work... This is the entrance to Essen's Christmas market announcing this year's visiting country, Italy.

Apparantly Britain was the visiting country last year, so both you and I missed it. I wonder what British goods the stalls featured last year. 

20 December

This arch is called
"Schwipbogen" in German and can be seen in lots of windows here. I tried to find out where the name comes from, but to no avail. Is there something like this in England? What's it called? 

19 December

This is Margret's and Norbert's angel, which you can also see in the background of yesterday's picture.

I'm at home today with the mother of all colds. Feel really under the weather. Just wanted the calendar to run continuously. Back to bed now.

Hope you are all well. 

18 December

Happy 4th Advent!

This time it's a picture of the advent wreath Annette made for her parents.

Have yourselves a calm and cozy Sunday. It's snowing a little bit here... 

17 December

Break during Christmas Shopping...

Is all yours done?

Is your house decorated? Does it qualify for this?

http://www.houseblinger.com/ 

16 December

Another picture from the Christmas Market in Essen. I found a stand there which sells beers of the world. Bass, Old Speckled Hen and Theaksston's are just some of the English ales on offer. I may have to spend my December salary there (or what's left of it...) 

15 December

As promised, another picture of the Essener Lichtwochen illuminations. Has anybody ever been to Walsall during their illuminations? I have to admit that I haven't been, so I have no way of comparing. There is one thing I do know though: there is not a single deep-fried battered mars bar to be had in Essen.

Despite Wikipedia's lack of mention of Walsall, I know they are selling like hot buns there. 

14 December

Eleven days to go...

This is part of our Christmas decoration. In former times it wouldn't have occured to me to decorate my flat for Christmas but now that Annette is getting me into it, I can see what I have been missing.

You can also see how more and more English words make it into our language through decorations and everyday items. I normally don't mind too much, but do the inventors of Christmas trees and advent calendars really need X-mas in their vocabulary (and do the English for that matter) ? 

13 December

Sans mots...
 

12 December

Sorry for the late post, but I was out till now...

This is another pic from Wijk. As you can see it was cold enough to freeze the balls of a brass monkey. Nevertheless we'd rather be there now than back at work. Twelve days to go till Christmas. All presents bought? All cards mailed? Shopping done?

No?

Nevermind, you're in good company. 

11 December

3rd Advent Sunday already and with all my blog posting I haven't written a single Christmas Card. I'll do my best to mail them soon, promise!

Have a good start to the week! 

10 December

We have just come back from our short break in Wijk aan Zee, Holland. This is my favourite picture of all the photos I took there. Well, actually it weren't that many, as I had forgotten to take spare batteries with me.

I like Wijk, because it does not only have a very nice broad beach but also the Duin Reservaat, the dune nature reserve, with cycle and horse-riding paths as well as spectacular walks through the sand dunes. 

9 December

This is part of the illuminations of the Essener Lichtwochen (see 2 December), the theme of which is all things Italian this year. I'll try and get you some more of these in the next few weeks.

Has anybody gotten closer to "La dolce vita" than an Italian takeaway recently?

I'm sure we won't find it there, but Annette and I are off to Holland for the weekend. We are both in need of some sea air and Dutch "Gezelligheid, Babel Fish Translation".

Therefore I already vont to apologise for not posting during ze nekst veekend. I vill make up for it (and ze var!)

In the meantime get hooked on dictionaraoke, a brilliant time-waster. 

8 December

I know, you have seen the big wheel already, but I thought I show you the building I work in. In the background on the right you can see the panorama lift we are so proud of.

If you opened a window in the classrooms facing the wheel you could probably reach it. You would only have to stretch just a little bit.

On a different note: current poet laureate Andrew Motion has initiated the Poetry Archive, a brilliant resource for you poetry lovers and English teachers. Check it out! 

7 December

This is the big wheel right outside the building I work in.

Quite funny to think that Annette and I were going around in it about a year ago and we were wondering what was going on inside the building. I recall thinking that it had to be some kind of educational institution as there were lots of groups of people facing one way to be seen through the window. Now I work in this place. Fate?

St Nicholas has been round and left me a book full of Sudoku puzzles.

If you want to know what Sudokus are click here and if you want to print some off click here. 

6 December

Here I am in all my hideous glory aiding in the education of a young hitherto untroubled young mind...

On or around the 6 December lots of families have their St Nicholas celebrations during which the children get called before St Nicholas to be reminded of what they are doing well and also where they should use a bit more effort to improve their behaviour.

In the olden days children would either be given the cane or a present depending on their conduct. In some areas they would even be put in a sack and carried away by St Nicholas' stern helper "Ruprecht".

Nowadays, however, there only seem to be good children as well as a reasonably well-working child protection law and all children are given chocolate and little presents. 

5 December

This plant is another German thing. At least I cannot recall ever having seen one in Britain. It's botanical name is poinsettia, however in Germany it's called "Christstern" (Star of Christ) and virtually every household buys one during the run-up to Christmas.
Have a good week! 

4 December

2nd candle is lit! Just two more Sundays before Christmas.
We had a nice meal at our place with the people from the other flats in our house. No question what to cook: again, it had to be a curry. I sometimes feel that the greatest contribution I have made to German society since I have returned is the introduction of Indian cuisine to Mülheim and surroundings.
This afternoon I'll be playing St. Nicholas for the son of some friends of ours. Picture and explanation of this German custom to follow. 

3 December

This picture was taken on the Chritsmas Market in Essen, one of the best in the region. This is because it does not only feature the usual Glühwein (mulled wine) and Lebkuchen (ginger bread) stands, but also has a multitude of craftspeople selling their goods. If you still haven't bought all your Christmas gifts on Christmas Eve, you will definitely find a quality las minute present here.

Have a look at their website.

Thanks to everybody who has posted a comment, I appreciate it! 

2 December

This is a picture of the Kettwiger Straße in Essen, which is part of my way to work. The whole city centre has been decorated with lights. This year the decorations focus on Italy. Every year a different country features in the decorations. The Lichtwochen (Weeks of illumination) are also accompanied by events (such as talks, concerts and prize draws) about the visiting country.

Sorry, guys. Next year's country is Hungary. But, who knows, Britain may be next...