Week 43 - Christmas Markets

The Germans are famous for their Christmas Markets. They are a place to hang out and socialise, to eat and drink, to shop for Christmas themed decorations, and buy food to take home for celebrating Christmas.

This was our first night going into the markets. We went in on the train, and went to the market at Heinrich Heine Allee and the one in the Altstadt - so pretty, so festive, so delicious.

So much fun!!

Week 42 - Weekend in London

My little sister lives in London, and is pregnant with her first baby.  Jie Jie and I thought we should go over for a weekend and help her get her baby things sorted.

I enjoyed seeing all the Christmas decorations in the stores and around. This was in John Lewis, where we spent a small fortune on baby blankets and preparatory equipment!!

Week 41 - St Martins Parade

We participated in our first German tradition, the St Martins Day Parade.  The children made lanterns at school, and the lanterns are hung on sticks with a small light dangling inside the lantern.

The history is that a poor monk gave what he had to feed and clothe the poor. His feast day celebrates the annual harvest, and the children from each village parade around the village and then see a ceremony depicting the arrival of St Martin to the village.

After the parade the children visit all the stores in the village, sing a song (in German) and then they give them a very generous gift of candy, bread or clementines. We went home with more candy and chocolate than the kids could really carry.  It was a really fun night, despite the rain!

Week 40 - Spanish Mediterranean

Look at that beautiful view.  This is the sun deck next to the pool overlooking the Mediterranean... We opted for a quick 5 day escape to savour the last of the 2013 summer sun, and have the chance for a proper relax and wind down, without having to think about much ... leaving Shanghai, travelling Australia, moving to Düsseldorf, getting settled in our new home and accidentally getting a job, has meant that our last few months have been rather hectic.

Isn't it lovely?

Week 39 - Pumpkin Carving Party

Our lovely neighbour downstairs is a gorgeous American girl, and sharing the Halloween tradition, held a pumpkin carving party a few days ahead of Halloween.  Only requirement was to bring a pumpkin!!  Ours is the little one, but it looks pretty good I reckon!!

Love being an expat and joining in with cultural traditions from around the world!

Week 38 - It's getting colder...

The local pub in Kaiserswerth has put blankets on the chairs to wrap yourself in against the cold air.  Love it!!

Week 37 - Radschläger

These boys were out celebrating in Düsseldorf, and apparently invented the cartwheel!!

There are statues, artworks and souvenirs representing cartwheels all over the town.

I loved the sun coming through the trees shining down on their play!!

Week 36 - Enjoying Autumn

We haven't really had autumn in the last 5 years.  We have seen small pockets of trees changing colours, but Jie Jie hasn't experienced kicking piles of autumn leaves, or indeed grabbing handfuls and throwing them high in the sky. 

Week 35 - Schloss Benrath

Love a midweek public holiday... we had a day off school for Unity Day, and decided to take the opportunity to visit a true tourist spot... the Benrath Castle, now named the Pink Palace.  We had a lovely autumn day here, climbing trees, walking through the gardens, going through a museum and having our first apple strudel!!

Week 34 - Amazing Photobomb

I have been so taken with the crisp clear blue skies here, that I have been taking pictures of the sky whenever it is particularly gorgeously blue so that when winter comes and it is grey and overcast I have something to look back on.

I couldn't believe it though when I looked closely at this picture and spotted that tiny dragonfly!!

Week 33 - Red Letter Day

She can finally do it!!  

After several attempts, and a wish to be able to do it, a new bike that doesn't have training wheels has finally given Jie Jie the boost she needed to learn to ride a two wheeler! Can't stop her now!

Week 32 - Potato Festival

In Klemensplatz, the village square near our home, there was a weekend long Kartoffelfest. There were these amazing whole slowly barbecued potatoes served with sour cream, there were pommel (chips) of course, Reibekuchen - which are like hash browns, and served with an apple mousse, and more, and of course, sausages as well.

What's not to like?

Week 31 - Altstadt

One of the little streets in the Altstadt of Düsseldorf.  

So pretty!

Week 30 - Carl Platz Markt

Now I liked the wet markets in Shanghai...

But this... is amazing!!  The fruit and veg is bright and colourful, and oh so fresh.  And I know what to do with it all!!

It's organised too... There are rows with fruit and vegetables, rows for deli and butchers, a fish market section, specialists who for example only sell tomatoes or potatoes, florists, and eating now spots... I love it!!

Week 29 - Off to school...

Last Friday, I accidentally got a job, teaching Grade 3. 

This is Monday, the first day of school for 3 of us, Didi isn't starting until the next day, but fortunately has a day long playdate with a very new friend!!

Week 28 - The River Düssel

This little river is the river that gave Düsseldorf its name.  The Rhein is the river that gave Düsseldorf its life and wealth.

The river Düssel runs through the Altstadt, and underneath some of it too. It's a pretty little canal, but merely a trickle compared to the Rhein!!

We are on a walking tour with Mike's new colleagues!!

Week 27 - Our new home

This is our new apartment building... we find being able to actually see each other from the road to the balcony, and also being able to speak to each other quite a novel experience after living on the 21st floor in Shanghai for 4 years!!

Week 26 - Burj Khalifa

This is currently the tallest building in the world... we went up to the observation deck, only to find out it is 20m lower than the SWFC in Shanghai.

We had 3 days in Dubai on our way to Düsseldorf, and if we'd known that it was Ramadan at the time, we would have gone straight through.  The heat and the lack of food and water was quite exhausting!

We saw some impressive things, and enjoyed our visit.  The aquariums were everywhere and huge.

Week 25 - The Elusive Blue Wren

Jie Jie and my Dad have created a little routine where they head down to the Glen Iris Wetlands and look for birds.  The one they have been looking for is this male wren, they have seen loads of females, which are a dull brown colour, but have been searching for the stunning blue of this blue wren.  On their 'last' visit there they spotted one, and on my first visit I managed to catch this slightly out of focus blue wren!

Week 24 - Double Rainbow

This full double rainbow was right near Caulfield Station, and looks like it starts about at my parents house. There was an amazing storm, which lasted such a short time, and then the sun came through. Just gorgeous!!

Week 23 - Melbourne Zoo

We arrived in Melbourne and have settled in to Mum and Dad's house. Apart from some of the business things we need to do while we are in Australia, we also needed to make sure the kids did some 'Aussie' things - like seeing kangaroos and emus! And catching up with our lovely friends!

Week 22 - Great Grandma in Batemans Bay

After a few days in Sydney, we hired a car and headed down to stay with my Grandma for a few days. It was lovely for Didi and Jie Jie to spend some time there, and Batemans Bay certainly turned on some fabulous weather.  We had fish and chips, saw my step-Grandfather, went to my uncle's farm and also went out for dinner. So nice to see the extended family!

Week 21 - Last day

Our last look from the balcony of our home of 4 years... it's off to the airport we go... thanks for everything Shanghai!!!  We love you and will miss you!!!

Week 20 - Leaving DUCKS

Well, this is an emotional moment... my little girl receiving her Year 1 Certificate at DUCKS - her first school, and one she has attended since she was just a little baby of 2 years old, and now an accomplished little girl of 6.

Who knows what next year will bring!!

Week 19 - Favourite Restaurant

We had a little staycation on the Bund in a fancy hotel, and before we went there we took the kids to lunch at our favourite restaurant in the WHOLE WORLD!!!

Lost Heaven - delicious Yunnan cuisine, we have been to this restaurant more times than I can count, and over the years I have worked out the best dishes, and can order a delectable meal for 4 or 40!!

We will really miss this place!!  But so glad we brought the kids here just once!!

Week 18 - Moving Day

Not moving out day, just our shipping being packed and sent to Germany.  It was an efficient process, about 5 hours to pack it all up for us. We will see it again sometime in August... and will camp in our apartment for the next three weeks before heading to Australia...

Week 17 - New Haircut

We took Didi to the hairdresser for a trim, and he said "I want it like Matteus", who is a boy in his class at school, and was adamant about it. So I phoned Matteus's mum and told her the story and that we were sitting in the hairdresser. She explained to me that it was a buzz cut, then gave the instructions to the hairdressers, who were looking very nervous... 

But I think he looks terrific!!

Later I found out that Matteus only had a buzz cut because he had taken scissors to his hair himself and it was the only way to salvage it!!!

Week 16 - Shanghai Towers

Fabulous view from Puxi of the three towers making an impact on the Shanghai skyline, amazing to see the progress on the new one!!