A Surprise Visit
Just when we were settling down about 4p.m. to discuss our meal and what was had happened during the day , as you do, the 'phone rang. It was Gitta. She is the niece of Judith Stolz, our friend in Sindelfingen. Gitta and Judith are quite close in age. Gitta's mother is Judith's sister. I know, I find it very difficult to remember the relationship and find it most confusing, especially as they look like sisters. Gitta was in Warwick and travelling around the country with her husband Jürgen in a touring van and wanted to visit and say hello, so naturally we invited them for a meal. At the time, I hadn't the faintest idea what it would be but hey-ho, that's what I do. I had 2 hours to get it all ready.
We first met them when we visited Germany many 10 years ago and they invited us to their home for a barbecue. It was pay back time, so I got in the car and dashed to Tesco's. Melon, salmon with butternut squash, courgettes and leek, green beans and a lemon butter sauce, all followed by pineapple in Malibu and coated with a drizzle of Cadbury's Bourneville or raspberries and creme fraiche (half-fat of course). Everything went well in the kitchen and by the time they arrived, we were on stand-by.
They arrived in the tourer which was parked on the drive, having agreed that there was some serious drinking to be done, so they would stay there overnight. It was really compact and reminder us of the "Autoscraper" of similar description that we encountered on holiday one year. Those of you in the car at the time, will remember the story.
The evening went very well and of course, I was able to practice my German. Although Gitta's English is excellent, Jürgen hat kein Englisch. Colin was rattling away in English, naturally with lots of expletives and sentence packers, which would never be understood by the non-native speaker. However, they kept smiling and laughing and seemed to have a thoroughly good evening. We heard the news of Judith and Reiner and Joshua and Hannah and of course their own children Sara and Simon, who we met when they all came and stayed at "The Piggeries" in Wootton Wawen. Simon is now working and Sara is in China on a work programme with her University. She is there for 6 months in Beijing but not enjoying it. She hates the food and finds the language difficult. Not many people speak German and even though Sara's English is even better than her mother's, she can't find anyone to speak it
The next morning we had breakfast together before they set off to re-visit "The Piggeries" and then on to London. Whilst we ate, Gitta called Sara. We all sang "Happy Birthday to her for her 22nd birthday. She was so emotional and cried because she is so unhappy. It is such a shame. Gitta said they may go out there for Christmas but probably, by then, she may have settled down. She was only 3 weeks into the programme. She sent us this picture by e-mail. She has certainly grown into a lovely young lady.
We waved goodbye and thought how wonderful it had all been to see them again and how much easier it is to do it all when they have arrived with their own beds!!
We first met them when we visited Germany many 10 years ago and they invited us to their home for a barbecue. It was pay back time, so I got in the car and dashed to Tesco's. Melon, salmon with butternut squash, courgettes and leek, green beans and a lemon butter sauce, all followed by pineapple in Malibu and coated with a drizzle of Cadbury's Bourneville or raspberries and creme fraiche (half-fat of course). Everything went well in the kitchen and by the time they arrived, we were on stand-by.
They arrived in the tourer which was parked on the drive, having agreed that there was some serious drinking to be done, so they would stay there overnight. It was really compact and reminder us of the "Autoscraper" of similar description that we encountered on holiday one year. Those of you in the car at the time, will remember the story.
The evening went very well and of course, I was able to practice my German. Although Gitta's English is excellent, Jürgen hat kein Englisch. Colin was rattling away in English, naturally with lots of expletives and sentence packers, which would never be understood by the non-native speaker. However, they kept smiling and laughing and seemed to have a thoroughly good evening. We heard the news of Judith and Reiner and Joshua and Hannah and of course their own children Sara and Simon, who we met when they all came and stayed at "The Piggeries" in Wootton Wawen. Simon is now working and Sara is in China on a work programme with her University. She is there for 6 months in Beijing but not enjoying it. She hates the food and finds the language difficult. Not many people speak German and even though Sara's English is even better than her mother's, she can't find anyone to speak it
The next morning we had breakfast together before they set off to re-visit "The Piggeries" and then on to London. Whilst we ate, Gitta called Sara. We all sang "Happy Birthday to her for her 22nd birthday. She was so emotional and cried because she is so unhappy. It is such a shame. Gitta said they may go out there for Christmas but probably, by then, she may have settled down. She was only 3 weeks into the programme. She sent us this picture by e-mail. She has certainly grown into a lovely young lady.
We waved goodbye and thought how wonderful it had all been to see them again and how much easier it is to do it all when they have arrived with their own beds!!
posted by The Old Folks At Home at
2:26 PM
1 Comments:
The Germans seem to like surprising you with these unannounced visits, but what a pleasant surprise! It's amazing 10 years have past since you were in Sindlefingen with them all.
By
Fraser & Jennifer, at 5:31 PM
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