Jigsaw Time!

Before this latest adventure, I can't remember the last time I did a jigsaw.  To be honest, it's something a little bit associated with children or the elderly but when I saw this 2000 piece work of art at Nico's, I had to convince him to bring it back to Bremen and for us to have a go at it.  It was quite unbelievable how relaxing it was.  The day we started it (around lunch time), it was 8pm before we knew it, and after a few more afternoons we had it completed.  It was a shame that a few of the pieces were missing but it felt like a real accomplishment to have it done.  Now we're working on penguins...

The Saturday Update

As you may have guessed from the timing of this update, it wasn't good news on the scales this week.  I should have expected it since the diet has gone out of the window due to three factors - one was Dad's visit which meant lots of being out and about (more on that later this week) which in turn made things more difficult to plan, another problem was that German supermarkets close for bank holidays which we forgot and so were stuck on Friday and have been to do a big shop today to keep us going until Tuesday and the third factor was the gorgeous weather we have been having means that afternoon ice creams are mandatory!  Basically, I put on the three pounds I lost last week and while it could have been worse, I hadn't expected it to be so bad given all of the walking we did while Dad was here (achieving a record 7.5 points on the pedometer on the last day).  Also, I'm just plain sick of this yoyoing and Dad brought a suitcase full of my summer clothes that I either can't get into or look horrendous (one advantage of this is that I now have a new 'before' picture and extra motivation to stick with it).  So today I have been very good - weetabix for breakfast, turkey korma for lunch and now rosemary chicken with potato and fennel wedges and veg for tea.  (21 points in all but I have burnt five with walking and cycling - more on that later)  I'm also trying to stay off the alcohol for the week to give myself a boost next week, not sure how that will go...it is holidays after all.  My main idea is that now I have had a week 'off', I should use the rest of the holidays to get back into good habits before it's back to the grindstone.  Here's hoping for better news next week!

Baking Bread!

Last Saturday I finally got to baking in preparation for my Dad's visit.  I looked up a nice bread recipe in my Weightwatchers books (in an effort to be good this week that quickly went out of the window!), translated my shopping list and headed to Combi to stock up.  I was a bit unsure about what I was doing and if it was right or not - especially as it was rosemary and walnut soda bread and I had no idea how that would be different to normal bread but actually it turned out quite nice!  First we had some as a snack on Saturday and finished it with a nice stew on Sunday. 

Not one to take things one challenge at a time, I also baked 12 blueberry muffins on Saturday in my new muffin tray and these went decidedly better although complaints were heard about the blueberries - I really liked them and will be making them again soon!

The Saturday Update

So the Easter Holidays are finally here!  And they couldn't have come soon enough.  It has been one hell of a long slog since Christmas - I am considering writing to the council and recommending the introduction of February half term...

It's been a good last week of the term all in all.  Last weekend, we were at Nico's grandparents' 50th wedding anniversary.  I didn't really know what to expect as celebrations are a little different here (sweeping the church steps at 30 and speeches and singing at 70th birthday parties) but anniversary celebrations are changing too apparently.  More couples are deciding to go back to the church they were married for a special mass, and this is how last Saturday started for us.  The service was lovely the couple sat by the alter while the priest told the congregation of all the ups and downs they had experienced over the last 50 years and carried out his service.  They were presented with various gifts and certificates from the church, the diocese and the council.

Afterwards, there was a champagne reception at a little venue in the town followed by a three course meal, which similar to the 70th birthday party we went to earlier in the year, was full of speeches, songs and even a little sketch.  The day was absolutely beautiful and we had several walks around the village in between meals to enjoy the sunshine.  After dinner there was some dancing (which only served to remind me how I need to get some lessons - ballroom dancing is much more popular here and I haven't a clue where to start!)  followed by a gorgeous buffet in the evening.  

The whole day got me to thinking what an amazing achievement 50 years of marriage is.  When I tried to think of couples in my family who have achieved this feat, I could only think of one, my great-grandparents who I wasn't lucky enough to know properly (they passed away the same year I was born within days of each other).  I asked my Gran how they celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary and discovered that it wasn't really celebrated in a big way.  I think it's something we should be celebrating more - if we're lucky enough to see more couples get to 50 years!

After that indulgent start to the week, I was motivated to be very good this week and it paid off as I have lost three pounds!  We have tried a few new recipes and I am compiling a few photos to share with you.  I haven't upped the exercise as much as planned (with the exception of all that walking last Saturday) but I did invest in some badminton and tennis sets this week so if the weather agrees, we can make the most of those over the next two weeks, especially as Dad is arriving for a visit this afternoon and will no doubt want to make the most of the outdoors and walk our feet off around Bremen over the next few days!

Other highlights of the week include the Spring Concert yesterday where two of my favourite classes were among those performing.  I was very impressed with their English.  They sang some songs, the lyrics of which I have never understood when listening to the normal bands who sing them and now I finally know what they mean (Blur - Song 2 was one example).  The staff band also deserves a mention for the very professional performances of Sex on Fire and Purple Rain.  Anyone with the guts to get up on stage in front of people and sing has my ultimate respect.

Cups!

Both the high point and low point of my working week last week stemmed from a new idea I have been trying out with my year six classes.  In my first school, there was a big focus on Cooperative Learning and one idea was the use of cups.  Classrooms were generally set up in group tables of four and the idea was that three cups were stacked in the middle of each table - red, yellow and green.  At the beginning of the lesson, the green cup is showing and the idea is that as the lesson progresses, pupils can change the order to show how they are understanding the learning of the lesson.  I chose to start this with year six because my best behaved and lovely English class is in year six and my year six Spanish class has only 15 pupils.  

So, first came the Spanish class ... and the low point.  The pupils thought the cups were wonderful - especially when they had a problem as they then placed the whole stack of cups on their heads and made siren noises - fantastic.  They may be my smallest class but it is incredible how much noise 15 pupils can make!  Needless to say that I won't be trying the cups out with them again.  I dread to think what they would have done had I not threatened a one Euro per cup fine for any damages!

Luckily, I still persisted in trying them out with my English group too.  This wasn't exactly problem free - Pupils insisted on putting the red cup foremost even if they weren't completely stuck (the rule was, green when it's all good, yellow if you have a question but can move on to the next exercise, and red if you don't understand at all) and then shouting when I didn't go straight to them and five or six red cups were showing!  However, I think with a bit more training, this will really work with this group...and my highlight?  The weakest pupil in the class coming up to the front after the lesson..."Well done Miss Shires, I think the cups were a really good idea"!

I love my job!

The Saturday Update

Some of you may have noticed that I have had a week off these little updates, and some of you may also have realised that I didn't want to get weighed on my birthday last week.  To be honest, I didn't really want to get weighed this morning either after tapas, my birthday and a couple of cheeky ice creams all since my last update.  Given all of this, it's to be expected that I put 3.5lb on over these two weeks but to be honest it could have been worse - it didn't wipe out the efforts of the excellent week I recently had, it could have been worse, it's inspired me to be extra good this week (that and the glorious weather we have been having) and, perhaps most surprising, I'm back into one of my skirts!  Which means that I don't have to wear jeans or jogging bottoms to church later today for Nico's grandparents 50th wedding anniversary. 

I'm off to get ready.  Have a great week!

Turning 26.

Last Saturday was my 26th birthday and I had a brilliant day.  First of all, my best friend Hayley bought me these gorgeous champagne glasses for my birthday when she visited last month and my wonderful boyfriend treated me to a champagne breakfast in bed.

This was followed by a lovely card and unexpected present since I already knew I was being treated to dinner and the theater in the evening.  Here's my cute Little Miss Piggy Bank!

After a lie in, I spoke to almost everyone at home on the phone and got lots of birthday messages and cards - thank you!  At this point we also discovered what a warm, sunny day it was, with temperatures hitting 24 degrees!  After an ice cream on the balcony, we decided to head into town early to make the most of the weather and set off.  Here's the view of the crowds that flocked to the water's edge.

And here's us making the most of it.  My actual blonde comment of the day was "It's just like being abroad"... but you know what I meant.

The meal was delicious and the theater was very good.  Our only complaint was the temperature in there.  The play was set in Africa and the production had decided it was a good idea to warm up the theater to show us how warm it is in Africa!  Still really enjoyed it and thanks to Nico for making it such a special day.