Day 28: A new series – Part 1
Ok, so this isn’t the post I promised yesterday, which was going to (and still will, at some point, I’m sure) be a discussion of relationships in various countries, based on my observations. ButMal left a comment the day before yesterday that gave me an idea for a series of posts. She asked about my meet-up with my good friend on Tuesday evening. And I had the brilliant idea to write regular posts introducing you to important people in my life, telling you the story of how we met, and the role they play for me now. I have really enjoyed NaBloPoMo for the most part, and would really like to keep up the regular posting, at least 3-4 times a week, and I think this will be easier if I have regular things I do, so as to avoid writer’s block. Wordless Wednesday (which I am interrupting today for this, but will be returning to) is a good one, and the odd recurring theme to add to that can’t hurt.
So, where was I? Oh yes, Chris. My good friend, Chris. In fact, as we have taken to refering to each other over the past 6 months in a jokey way, but with a serious undertone that says a lot, my brother, Chris.
I met Chris via Toytown Germany, an internet forum for english speaking people in Germany, almost 3 years ago. He was a few years younger than me, and up until the day in question, I had just noticed him as somebody who regularly got in “trouble” for pointless posts, and a prime candidate for alcohol testing before being allowed to post on the internet. He was on a year abroad from university, and was living it up here. He got a few people’s backs up, and, whilst I noticed we shared a similar humour, I was never particularly interested in meeting up with him, although he was in Munich too.
It was a stressful time in my life, as I was writing my dissertation for my final university exams, and I was practically living in the library, even at weekends, because I found it hard to concentrate and motivate myself at home. One day, Chris posted to the forum that he felt a similar need to study in a library or similar, as he was too easily distracted in his own appartment. I offered to meet up with him, so that I could show him where to go.
We spent a lot of time in the library over the following months. I am not exaggerating when I say that Chris got me through the final months of my degree. Marc was supportive, and didn’t complain that I was spending my weekends writing, and then later, revising, but it was Chris who would go and buy chocolate with me 3 times a day, and Chris who would notice me looking really stressed out, and would pass me a note to make me laugh.
He moved back to Scotland before I finished my exams. Revising wasn’t half as much fun without him. But we stayed in touch, and he would tell me about his blossoming relationship with a girl he’d met, and I would keep him up to date with our wedding plans. We invited him to the wedding, which he sadly couldn’t come to because of university commitments, but he sent us a lovely card and a present, which is more than some people I have known for much longer did.
We have grown closer over the past 6 months. There is a reason why we refer to each other as like siblings. Chris can really wind me up, and he still does things I can only shake my head at, and some that drive me totally round the bend, just like my 3 siblings do. He tells me most things, like when his girlfriend of 2 years split up with him shortly before he returned to Munich this summer, and I like to think I helped him through his first ever broken heart, although I’m sure he sometimes didn’t want to hear the advice I was giving him – we are brutally honest to each other, and know that whilst the other person might be pissed off at the time, it won’t have any effect on the relationship. Chris was ecstatically happy for us when we told him about the pregnancy, and the first thing he always asks when we speak is how the baby is doing.
We finally managed to meet up again on Tuesday evening, and we just sat there chatting and laughing for over 2 hours. I’m really glad I replied to that post about studying in the library all those years ago, cause I wouldn’t be without him…
Day 27: I have a great post planned…
…but I am so exhausted that I am having trouble stringing this sentence together. Tomorrow, I promise…
Day 26: Excitement
A friend of mine, who I consider to be like a third brother, has been back in Munich since September, and is returning to Scotland in 3 weeks. We have finally, finally, FINALLY managed to arrange a meet-up tomorrow after work! Hooray!!
Day 25: Tis the season to be jolly (and impress the in-laws)
I baked the first batch of mince pies of the season today. In fact, they were the first mince pies I’ve baked since I was about 13 and last baked them in school. I wated to make my own mincemeat, but couldn’t get suet anywhere, so I ended up with stuff out of a jar. The pastry was all my own work though.
We’re going to Marc’s family’s annual 1st Advent Sunday party next weekend, and I’ve decided to bake some for then, so today was kind of a test run. I also invented kind of a Christmassy apple pie filling for those people who don’t like mincemeat. I love it, but I know it’s a bit of an acquired taste. It was a good job I tested them, because my pastry is a bit dry, and my apple filling needs more sugar and seasoning, but for a first try, they are pretty good if I do say so myself. And I felt very domesticated as I stood up to my elbows in flour in the kitchen, rolling out dough. Plus the flat now smells fantastic. I’m quite looking forward to doing it again next week…
Day 24: The moral of the story…
There are days on which you feel really productive, because you’ve tidied the flat, installed a computer, tidied out the cellar and done a huge shop, all by 7pm. You may feel inclined to be proud of yourself, and look forward to relaxing in front of the television all evening. But beware!! Pride comes before a fall, and you may well decide to just take one more look at the freshly installed computer, to make sure that all the software the customer wanted is really on there, at which point the mainboard will die and all of your hard work will have gone to waste, as you will have to start again. And so you will spend the majority of your Saturday evening rebuilding and reinstalling the computer. Just theoretically speaking, of course…
Day 23: Writers Block
I am staring at this white box, and although I have actually had quite a busy day, including an appointment with a notary for us to officially go into business together as a GmbH (like a Ltd. in the UK) and a trip to an english shop here in Munich, which was so cliched it was surreal, and yet they didn’t have the one item I wanted, I can’t seem to think of anything decent to write.
So here is a picture of some extremely cute piglets:
Day 22: An update
So, as you will have guessed from the photos yesterday, I had my doctor’s appointment.Not much to tell really, everything looks great, baby is 21cm long and well on track for its due date. She also confirmed what I already knew – Baby is extremely active!! The photos I posted yesterday were the best shots we could get – I saw things a lot more clearly, but by the time the doctor moved to press the photo button, Baby had shot off somewhere else again! I’m fine as well, weight gain is ok etc. I’ve been having a fair bit of round ligament pain, but it’s bearable.
I collected my bike from the repair shop today!! A mere 4 months after the accident that put it there! The money from the other guy’s insurance finally came through, so my solicitor gave me the go ahead to get the repairs done. I cycled home from the shop – I’d forgotten how much I like riding my bike. Annoying that the bike spent all summer in need of repair – it’s a bit cold to do much cycling now.
Day 20: Stressed out
OK, just a quick one from work today because the computer ate my questionnaire and the student timetables for next trimester were due in last week, and people are just now deciding to come to me with alterations etc. I really want to leave work, and it’s about time I set off home, but another 2 people have said they really need to come and see me today, so I’m stuck here until they show.
I have my next big doctor’s appointment with scan tomorrow so more then!
Day 19: Q & A Part 3
Ok, as promised, here are the answers to the rest ofAndrea’s questions!
What are your thoughts about going back to work after the birth?
Whilst I know that Andrea is aware of the situation in Germany, perhaps other readers are interested to know about German maternity laws. I am entitled to full pay for 6 weeks before my due date, and 8 weeks afterwards. After that, the state pays me 75% of the average wage that I have earned over the past 12 months for a year if I stay at home. It’s fantastic really. On top of that, if I have a permanent contract, work would have to offer me a job at the same level as when took my maternity leave for up to 3 years!! Unfortunately, I don’t have a permanent contract, but it’s not exactly like I have been working in my dream job anyway, so I can live with that.
Anyway, this situation makes my decision to stay at home for at least a year much easier, obviously. After that, there are a number of options that we are considering. At the moment, it is looking likely that Marc will employ me in his business, as he is expanding to a point where he really needs an assistant, and it means that I get to do some “grown-up” work from home, and earn my keep so to speak… That’s the way we’re planning it at the moment. However, like so many other things, I’m trying to remain flexible and not put myself under too much pressure and make any plans that are set in stone.
If you could be any character in a film, which film and character would it be?
Help! I’ve actually been thinking about this question all day, and still haven’t come up with a definite answer. I’ve thought of super-heroes, like Superman or one of those X-Men people, simply because I think it would be fun to have super powers. On the other hand, I thought of brilliant people in biographic films, like Evita or Frida, because who wouldn’t want to be that talented or that influencial? And then, there are Bond girls, because seriously, have you seen those women? So to be honest, I don’t know…
What’s the most suprising thing that’s happened this month?
I discovered the other day that I can still remember how to knit, which surprised me quite a lot. But the top of the list has to be the fact that a friend of mine revealed he likes to dissolve a stock cube in milk and drink it. That was a shock, because I can hardly imagine anything more revolting…
You are being forced to sing a song at Karoke. What do you sing?
Good grief, I can’t hold a tune to save my life. Really, I don’t just not have a particularly nice singing voice, I am awful. So I guess my only option would be to really ham it up, and hope it was at least funny-bad. So, what songs would be good for that? Possibly the classic “I will survive”, or “Stand by your Man”. God, I’m cringing just thinking of it…
