Stuff

Maddie scored today with some hand-me-downs from friends Zoe and Paige. She LOVES that she's gotten clothes from her friends who are 8. She feels very cool.

This weekend we had Skip's cousin Torstein and his wife Alke over for coffee and cake. For those of you who don't know, coffee and cake is the German version of tea. Families tend to do this on the weekends, but you see the bakeries full of retired folks between 3 and 4 p.m. every weekday.

The weather here is really dreary--it's rainy and windy and cold. And that is apparently the forcast until March. But you just have to get out and about in it because if you waited for the weather to clear up, you'd become a hermit. Skip is not a big gym person, but I think he may have to break down and join. Yesterday he was determined to go for a run and he came back soaked!

I have been going to the gym and using the cardio and weight equipment, but the coolest thing is the "figur studio". They've got this room with the old vibrating belts and a couple of these chairs hooked up to rollers that are supposed to help break up cellulite and give a boost to your exercise program. I don't know how much good it will do, but it shakes out any knots or tension, plus it reminds me of an "I Love Lucy" episode.


We're getting ready to hit some of the many Weihnachtmarkts or Christmas Markets around Germany. Here are some of the ones we plan to attend:

Advent Market at Christ's Church

The 2006 advent market will be held on November 25th,From 13:00-17:00. We will be hosting a number of stalls such as;

• English Books
• British Foods
• Arts & Crafts
• Toys
• And much more

The British Woman's Club will also be having their 'guess the weight of the cake stall'

Aachen Christmas Market
Aachen's brightly lit Christmas market is set around the cathedral and the town hall. This lovingly decorated "Christmas village" on the market square has everything your heart could desire. One local speciality you really must try is Aachen Printe, a kind of gingerbread. Don't miss the music groups at the weekends and the varied Christmas programme.


Duesseldorf Christmas Market
Every year Düsseldorf's Christmas market opens its "gingerbread houses" not far from Königsallee. Until 5 January Corneliusplatz has a huge outdoor ice rink offering fun for all the family - ice skating is free and there are instructors and childcare facilities. A great way to work off that excess "Christmas energy".






Dortmund Christmas Market
Dortmund's Christmas market, one of the biggest in Germany, has over 300 stalls. Its hallmark is a gigantic Christmas tree which consists of 1,700 individual fir trees, stands 45 metres tall and is adorned with 13,000 lights – the biggest in the world. This enormous tree bathes the Christmas proceedings in a seasonal glow.


Luebeck Christmas Market
The annual Christmas markets of Hanseatic Lübeck take place in the old quarter around the historical town hall and Koberg, with fairy lights and Christmas trees adorning the streets. There is an enchanting Christmas fairytale forest outside St. Mary's Church with more than 20 lovingly handmade stalls which tell the stories of the Brothers Grimm. In addition there is also an excellent craft market in the vaults of the old Holy Spirit Hospital plus don't miss the Iceworld snow and ice sculpture festival in the heart of the town centre.


Oberhausen Christmas Markets
In Oberhausen there are two Christmas Markets one in the old town market square and the other at CentrO, europe's biggest shopping and leisure mall. During the festive season the mall shines in 3000,000 lights; 65,000 new Christmas decorations and more than 4,000 crystals all sparkling fabulously. Highlights of the Christmas Market are:
- About 135 huts with international goods
- Glasblower- factory
- CentrO-Winterworld with toboggan-run and jetski-run
- One of the biggest pyramid from the "Erzgebirge"
- Chairolplane
- Nostalgic Ferris
- From 06.12.: daily distribution of presents by the Coca-Cola Santa Claus
- Christmas stage with varying programs from Wednesday to Sunday
- Woodcarving from South-Tyrol
- 20-metres high Christmas Tree with more than 50,000 lights


How will we have time to do all this? As much as I miss being a pastor, I have to say, it's amazing how much time you have when you don't have to prepare a sermon every Sunday.