26 July - 1 August 2010

While Simon was busy in hospital having major surgery, Justine went to England for a little jolly. She found it absolutely essential to get as far away from Maria Alm as possible during 'Schlager Sommer' (three days of the most diabolic music imaginable). She swapped her surroundings for Dartington and three days of the most sublime music imaginable.

19 - 25 July 2010

First week of our blessed and valuable time without children, the first time since we moved here almost three years ago, a time for walking up big mountains, staying out late, going to bed early, etc. and Simon is rushed into hospital with a prolapsed disc. Marvellous!

12 - 18 July 2010

At the weekend our friend Clemens packed up his car with snacks and DVDs, his daughter Katherina and all she would need for a exchange holiday with our friends the Walkers from Bradfield, and we squeezed Caspar, Mary and Elizabeth into the back seat to hitch a ride to England for a 4 week holiday with friends and family, with instructions to behave. It didn't occur to us that it may raise a few eyebrows, his car full of children, three of whom he has no official relationship to, and his return ticket showing that he would be traveling home alone. Once he had persuaded the police that he wasn't intending to sell the children then the journey proceeded without a hitch.

5 - 11 July 2010

Justine is pleased to report that at the end of three whole terms, every one of the children in her recorder group managed to perform a piece at the end of year concert. Some of the pieces even had more than three notes in them!

28 June - 4 July 2010

Following a 'musical activity week' in the local music centre, our children were due to sing in the final concert. Elizabeth had diligently rehearsed and driven us spare singing her songs all day every day. 5 minutes before the performance, however, she announced that she would not be singing. After much persuasion, she disclosed that she had only just got the songs out of her head and if she sang them again they would be back in there and it would take her another week to get them out again. That's called an 'ohrwürm' (ear worm) in German.