Bird Watching

For a while now, we've been seeing more and more birds appear on our balconies, especially at the front where we still have the feeders from Winter.  Nico finally snapped this woodpecker out there on Wednesday - normally they are long gone before we reach the camera.

Nico's grandad gave us a bird box which we fitted to the front of the flat (out of Pete's reach) and there are bluetits nesting in there already!  We also discovered some nesting in our roof at the back - they are brave considering that's where Pete likes to sit.

In fact, it was a little sad this week when one was brave enough to sneak through the net at the wrong moment and paid the ultimate price.  We didn't realise until it was too late and we found Pete playing with the dead bird in the hall.  He was not impressed to have it taken off him even though Nico praised him for his good work.

Hopefully the rest will take the warning and stay outside the net for the summer.  One in eighteen months isn't too bad I guess...

Inspiration

source

Treat time

After a stressful couple of days we treated ourselves last night and cracked open the white wine we bought from the Ratskeller.  It was delicious and we even took the tip from the tour we took there and paired it with the orange crisp chocolate leaves from Hachez.  Delicious and well earned this week.

Holidays

It's been a while since I talked about holidays.  (I'm waiting for some photos, hint hint mother.)  Also, it's not really been the time to think about the holidays - when you are sat watching the pouring rain or harsh winds through the window, you don't want to think about hot summer adventures, past or future.

Lately though, things are starting to stir the wanderlust in me again.  The summer is slowly but surely arriving and as my favourite blogger has gone on maternity leave, I've been trawling through her archives for my daily fix and came across this little report on a trip of hers.

It got me to thinking, I love lists...I love holidays... but it' not something I often combine.  For starters, Nico would stop travelling with me pretty quickly if I didn't leave my to do list at home but also, a break is a break for me.  However, there are usually some things at the back of my mind that I know I want the trip to be built around.  For example, when we went to Amsterdam, I knew I couldn't miss the Anne Frank museum or the Van Gogh Gallery.

However, when I look back on that holiday, the memories that shine the brightest are the completely random ones - the amazing meal we had when we ducked down a side street to escape the crowds, playing chess on the tablet and sipping wine at a streetside cafe while the heavens poured down around us, and sitting on the canals to eat cheese and sausage for breakfast. 

I think it's the case that some of the best memories I have from any holiday were unplanned experiences that can never be repeated - seeing bambi footprints in the Harz, coffee in a deserted Trump Tower Starbucks at 6am, discovering a new rioja over tapas on Las Ramblas.

While there are certain things I want to experience on my next holiday, - our honeymoon in Edinburgh - Edinburgh castle, good food, visiting a distillery... I know the best memories will be those I can't even imagine yet and most of all, getting used to married life.

Time Out

While last week was full of doctors appointments and some pretty horrendous pain, it wasn't all bad.  My favourite bit was sitting with my lovely fiance on our balcony one evening with a candle, a book and a drink.  It was lovely and we plan to do it a lot more now that some warmer weather is starting to come our way.

I definitely need more moments like this in my life at the moment!

June Goals

The Saturday Update

Well, it's been a slow week around here full of doctors appointments, hayfever and insomnia.  I managed to trap a nerve while knitting last Sunday and was off work with the pain and tiredness on Monday and Tuesday.  The painkillers help but make me even sleepier.  My GP sent me to a orthopaedist on Tuesday and he worked wonders clicking out my spine and reducing the pain.  

I went back to work on Wednesday and while the pain was reduced, I still felt it.  The wonderful fuchsia tape on my back amused the kids but to be fair, they were very sympathetic and helpful, carrying my bag for me.  

On Thursday, we both had the day off for exam marking so I finally got that finished.  I've also finished one German book - Fleisch ist mein Gemuese, read Animal Farm in one day and gotten well past halfway with another German book - Der Tangospieler.

On Friday it was back to work and back to the orthopaedist who took some x-rays and prescribed me six weeks of physiotherapy.  I had a lovely afternoon having lunch with the ladies and shopping with Loreto for Order of Service materials.  

I've been a little more in touch with home this week, ringing my gran almost every day which has been nice.  I plan to keep that up too.  Wedding plans are coming along.  Today is the deadline for RSVPs and all of mine have met the deadline.  Just a few of the Germans to chase up and we should have our numbers for planning.

I don't know if it was the x-rays or doing so much yesterday but I woke up in agony with my shoulder this morning.  I was planning on starting my running regime but it will be this afternoon at the earliest if I do it, and with yet more painkillers...

Next week, is going to be crazy busy.  I have to pick up the wedding license on Monday, which is the big exam day at school.  On Wednesday, we have the DJ coming round for a meeting and on Friday, I have another English Teachers' Workshop.  I really hope, I can get rested up enough this weekend to survive all that and this last month of the school year.