Flying home for Christmas

So am sat at home now and it is the day after Boxing Day - just watching Carol Vorderman's 'Who Do You Think You Are?' having watched Eastenders AGAIN and also most of Chicken Run even though I have already seen it lots and still own it on video.

I haven't been well since I got home - am struggling with the flu but I think it is the reaction to flying home again. I wasn't so good on the flight from Amsterdam and got really freaked out but then in the end I was ~(as usual) ok. I loved Amsterdam especially covered in snow. I didn't get the chance to go to any musuems because they were too expensive or couldn't hold the luggage I was carrying. So I spent most of the day in the airport watching the snow come down.

My suitcase came out first on the conveyor belt and I was straight out through passport control. Mum was waiting there and we headed home in the car. It was nice to travel in a car and not a tram or a train for a change. We went straight to Penny Lane to pick up some chips from Lucy. I have never eaten so quickly in my entire life. When I came home I went straight up to my bed and jumped on it....my double bed that isn't broken - also Stella was sitting waiting in my bed and I think she was very happy to see me. It felt so good to come home.

The next few days where spent getting ready for Christmas day. Went to the cathedral to see the Messiah by Handel - the music was amazing but the cathedral was so cold. If we go next time then definately take blankets and hot water bottles. Also went to spend an evening with Mrs Lewis and a curry too - Catie was in work but I saw her on Christmas day. I tried to go to Crumpet Eve celebrations but due to being in the dark ages with no mobile phone I can't get hold of anyone and so after my long walk headed home.

Christmas day was lazy - headed to the Lewis's for morning/afternoon drinks. I was still feeling sick so I couldn't eat anything. I waited for the turkey mum had cooked(first time in years we have had turkey on Christmas day) and ate all the dinner including sprouts. Divine! got some lovely presents and Gareth was here too. Just a nice quiet family christmas.

It is strange but while I was in Bonn I thought so much about coming home and now I am here I keep thinking about being back in Bonn again. I miss my little room with all my things in it and I miss my boys and my gals as well too. Anyways before I get too sentimental I shall head off to make some food.

Der Zug endet hier. Bitte alle Fahrgaeste aussteigen :-)

WHAT A FEW DAYS:-)

It began on Thursday with the arrival of Ms Emily Ford to the country which you know can only mean endless laughter oh and potential falling asleep on trains. Had to go to Anna's to pick up a blow up mattress/bouncy castle which just about fitted into my room but very fun to jump up and down on:-) So off I went to Cologne/Bonn airport to pick up the Emily one with a very scary/road-raged bus driver. SERIOUSLY I know he was on the motorway but that is no excuse to drive like a maniac...felt like I was an extra in the film for SPEED or something.

Anyhoo Emily arrived safely in one piece and we returned to the beautiful Tannenbusch(I don't see where any of the problems in the area are in the slightest!!!). Ended up watching 'Up' as Emilylein was a little sleepy from flying and probably the severe lack of Coffee pushing through her veins. GOT TO LOVE KEVIN!!!!!(Kevin's a girl?)

Friday morning was unfortunately lecture at 10am and I didn't get out of bed until about 9.20! OH WELL! Normally the lecture is quite boring but we got to watch the beginning of SCREAM so it was ok. Met up with Emily and we went to Cafe Blau with the girlies for some essen and trinken but no Heiss Schoko was had unfortunately. Knowing we were going to meet Chloe later on in Cologne for a good old fashioned Liverpool Uni Rendevouz - we had a 'little' afternoon nap, which turned into the rest of the afternoon.

Got ready and headed to Cologne to meet the Chloe one - also met her two mates Julie and Ani(sorry if I spelt it wrong). After looking for somewhere to eat eventually found somewhere(this wasn't before a drunk yelled "HAESSLICH" numerous times and a fight began outside a pub with one hell of a bitch slap). Food was grand and the cocktails delicious. Then on to a Kareoke Bar which contained a massive group of Polish people who were EXTREMELY drunk but very funny. Of course not wanting to miss out on the fun tried to get up and sing but the mean kareoke lady would only let us sing 'It's raining men'. Tired of kareoke it was onto a club on the Hohenzoller ring(think that is how you spell it) - there was LOTS of dancing to be had, fair bit of drinking and plenty of photographs to be taken - am awaiting their arrival on Facebook:-)

Getting home from Cologne proved a little difficult but 2 taxi's and a train ride later we made it back around 4.30am.

Yesterday we got up late and decided to head to Aachen which was beautiful but very very cold. The Christmas market was crowded with people - quite a fair few French/Belgians but then again when you see how close the border is to the city it sort of makes sense. Also had a few Gluehwein at the Hexenhof which was brilliant but claustraphobic. We also went into Der Dom were Charlemagne's remains are supposed to be and probably explains why the cathedral itself was so beautiful. Not as big as Cologne I don't think but the interior made up for the size. I will try to find a few pictures. After getting back from Aachen we were pretty whacked and so couldn't make it to Monja's party unfortunately. I also missed out on Bernie Boy's birthday celebrations too. OH WELL!!!!

Now Emily will be up in the sky with Germanwings and I am back in Tannenbusch about to potentially begin some work/reading

Christmas Time...the girls and Gluhwein

Hey all,

Has been a few weeks since I have written on here and lots has been going on.

On Academicus Tag on Wednesday me, Anna, Ramona and Susie went off to Munster. Of course it takes like 3 hours to get there by train. The in-train entertainment was hilarious; Guess Who is a GREAT game if not sometimes hard. Some of the people were interesting too; Amy WineHouse, Jesus, Elvis, Richard Armitage, Lady Gaga, Keira Knightly and Richard Armitage to name a few - all very funny indeed.

Got to Munster and it was really pretty. As Susie warned me - this really is the Bike capital of Germany where bikes rule the way and they do. I have never seen so many bikes except when I was in Freiburg. We wandered around the many Christmas markets and also met up with Susie's sister to go for some food.

Also discovered I have my own church St Lamberti in Munster...the problem is that anabaptists used to be tortured there in the 15th century and their torture cages now hang off the side of the church(thank you wikipedia)..lovely thing to see! Also visted the Dom which was HUGE but as Ramona pointed out no where near as big as the Anglican Cathedrale in Liddypool.

Of course to commemorate our day out - we decided to buy something. So we came across some minature ducks and each bought one.

Name deciding was tough but eventually; George Michael, Tina Turner, Tom Jones and Elvis were welcomed into the world. All very silly indeed. also there may have been some purchasing of Christmas antlers for next weeks Christmas party:-) SO excited.

I can't believe it is less than 2 weeks until I am going home. Am very excited to be going back home but am not spending enough time there I think. I wish I could stay for a month!!! But unfortunately it is not to be as the Uni will be starting up - need to email some tutors now!

From Bonn - lots of love

Steffi x