Sun is Shining (the weather is sweet).

 

  

Today's warmer weather, helping to ward off the 'February funk' which is how this lovely lady (and Munich native) describes the moody blues experienced by all last week. Today was a whopping 9 degrees C in fact and the first time we've used our terrace since October. Ok, so it may not be the ridiculously hot temps you've all been enduring in Sydney this week (or even close) but it seems hot enough for some people to find long sleeves and shoes totally unnecessary.

Sending some cooler Munich weather Sydney way.

xxx

PS In exactly 4 weeks time we'll be on a big jet plane bound for Sydney. But not before a 7 hour stopover in Tokyo where we plan to see/shop as much as can in a 3 hour period. Plan being the operative word. But expectations are low. Ah, let's face it. I'll be happy just to walk away with some of these.  Strawberry ones, if I may.

Fading Embers.

 

 

Colours reflecting (and affecting) our mood at the moment. It's not quite "Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness" but it's close. 

We have had just about enough of this weather. February is our least favourite month here in Munch-town. By now we've had 3 months of less than desirable weather, christmas is all but a memory and the lack of Vitamin D has well and truly started taking its toll. Granted the snow is usually prime for snowboarding but I don't want to go snowboarding. There, I said it. I want sun, sand and saltwater. I want decent coffee and poached eggs for breakfast, yum-cha for lunch and spicy thai for dinner. I don't want to see any more shades of grey. I want colour. Oodles of it. Despite our current gloomy feelings, we really do love living here and moving to Munich has been one the best experiences of our lives. There is still so much too see and do so we know we're not ready to pack it all in yet. But, we've realised how much we miss living an outdoor life. All year round. Especially for the kidlets. You can see above how much Elke enjoyed escaping the confines of her stroller. Even for just ten minutes while I snapped her running around. The ground seems almost naked without the usual blanket of snow for cover.

5 weeks to go until our (short) return to Oz. And then we'll be fed up with the traffic, angry about the public transport, sick of the crowds and missing our little home back here. The grass is always greener but right now green beats grey in my book. Hands down.

Until then I'll just have to distract myself with these sweet Spanish threads. Aye carumba! Andale! Andale! Arriba! Arriba!

xxx

The Big Freeze.

 

Sharing the love in the company of Damien Hirst. The above photos were taken at the Museum Brandhorst when mum was in town. She left on Saturday (after a very dramatic passport misadventure) but never fear, we'll all be reunited (just as her and her passport finally were) in a mere 6 weeks time. Mum, you'll be happy to hear we've had 10cm of snowfall since you left with no end in sight. Imagine pulling your suitcase through that!

Currently coveting this knitwear discovered via this blog. However, I'm not so sure I could pull off a Boxy jumper...hmmm. Let the $aving begin.

Happy Aussie Day for Wednesday. Think of us freezing our bits off in the forecasted 30C difference, while you're all enjoying yourselves (and to quote an ex-PM) in the 'arse end of the world'.

xxx

Fine Skylark.

 

 

Making a quick getaway with nothing but the clothes on her back and a jar of stock powder in her hand.

We're busy enjoying the last of the warm weather before the forecasted snow returns on Thursday. It was fun while it lasted.

Less than 7 weeks before we board the plane to Sydney. Is it wrong that I'm packing already?

xxx

Hope Springs Eternal.

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Life is full of ups and downs when on tour. One day we love the place, the culture, the architecture, the travel. The next we're fed up, checking our flight itinerary for our Sydney rendez-vous in March and discussing whether we go Japanese or Thai  for our first dinner back in Oz. Or yum-cha even. Today was one of those good days. A lazy 'jammies til midday' kind of morning, a quick swim for the boys at the local pool after lunch and a trip to the city centre in the late afternoon to enjoy the last sunny moments of an unusually warm and almost 'spring-like' winter's day. A world away from the ravaging floods back home. Our niece Chloe lives in Brissy but thankfully she's fine. We just wish the same could be said for the massive number of people and homes affected by these harrowing events. And then there are the floods in Pakistan, Sri Lanka and landslides in Brazil; where collectively more people have been affected than the entire Aussie population. So much devastation. The cause of so much suffering. Here's hoping Mother Nature can offer these people some much needed reprieve and put an end to all this devastation. It is often said that Munich is like a bubble. Right now this similie (?) feels spot-on and the reason we have BBC news playing on an endless loop.

Bizarrely, the weather has hotted up here in Munich. Today was a balmy 9 degrees, so it seems that we scraped in last week's ski trip just in time. Today was spent sans beanies, scarves, gloves, snowboots. Jackets were left open and spirits were lifted. It's funny how the internal thermostat is self adjusting. Before moving here, we made a long-weekend trip down the Great Ocean Road. It was 15C there most days yet it felt absolutely freezing. Nowadays, anything above 5C seems rather civilised between December and March. To celebrate the freaky warm weather we headed into town, snapped some pics of the fading light and checked out the kids on ice. Oli's introduction to the world of ice-skating. And boy, did he have questions.

In his relentless pursuit of Radiohead covers, Dave stumbled across these guys about a year ago. Appearances can be deceiving so you may want to close your eyes while you listen to their sweet tunes. And I totally agree. Mars ain't the kinda place to raise your kids. 

xxx

PS. Oli informed us today that he would quite like to take up smoking when he grows up. Why? "Because it looks so cool". It's disgusting, smelly and it can kill you. "But I see people smoking and they're not dead". Hmmm, how do you like them apples?! "Why would people smoke if it killed them? Huh?" I tried to explain about cigarettes being addictive, making it hard for people to quit blah blah blah. Nodding his head in agreement he replied: "Yep. I know what you mean. Sometimes I feel like that". Um, whatever you say kiddo. That gun-toting, chain-smoking Lucky Luke has a lot of explaining to do...

PPS. Mum is taking a break from  Munich and is spending the next 4 days in the UK. Let's hope she remembers the Pimms.  

Regensberg.

Cold. Cold. Cold.

Just an hour and half drive from Munich lies this little gem of a city. That amazing stone bridge up there was built in the 12th Century and was used by the knights of the 2nd and 3rd crusades on their way to the Holy Land. There were even remains of Roman fortress walls. As well as an interesting assortment of laneways and little streets, chock-a-block full of eclectic shops selling everything from leather goods and jewellery to xmas decos and snow globes. I even found an amazing leather jacket that may just put an end to my endless search for the perfect one. My own leather jacket crusade, if you will. But due to it being a public holiday, all the shops were closed. Looks like a return trip may just be on the cards. (Mum nodding head furiously in agreement!)

xxx

Excuse the lack of Elke pics. Cold and miserable did not a nice picture make.

Gutes Neues Jahr.

 

New Year's Eve - spent eating raclette with neighbours and letting off fireworks. These photos were taken in our street. Dontcha love the smell of fireworks in the evening?! Sydney may have their multi-million dollar Harbour Bridge fireworks spectacular but we have our dodgy rockets and jumping frogs. (The fact that they were our fireworks and we could buy them at the local supermarket made it that much more exciting. Retro even.) And neighbours who can put on a pretty amazing pyrotechnics display of their own. Even if the sources are questionable. David had a go and let off a few rockets. He didn't let the fact that half of them ended up landing on our neighbours' balconies dampen his spirits. After a couple of rough starts, he assures me he has his technique down pat. Sorted. Just in time for next year. Ahh, Guy Fawkes would be so proud.

Happy New Year!

xxx

Ps We'll be celebrating La Befana tomorrow. Why stop now with the presents?