A day in a life of an English teacher...

Today was my last class with a group I have been teaching for a full day once a fortnight since May. They have been fabulous and today tolerated my taking photos of them with the same fun that they have tolerated my wierd accent and dodgy definitions of words (I figure if they want the real definition they can look up the dictionary)!

My day usually starts with a short 10 min walk to the S-Bahn and then 20-30 min trek to somewhere around Frankfurt. Today was at the language school at Kronberg. This week has turned cold (total understatement as far as I'm concerned) as you can see from everyone in their coats.


S-bahn to Kronberg

Here is the gang talking about such serious topics as globalisation and manufacturing processes. Of which of course I am now an expert.

But as you can see below its not all work and no play. Angelique on the left is French and would sprinkle her sentences with charming doses of alors, voila and bof!

Intense discussions

hilarious!

English Subtilities

Schnick-Schnack is my new German word of the day meaning “absolute everything unnecessary” as translated by a student, Andreas e.g. extra features like handle bar warmers on motor bikes and McDonalds. That is, McDonalds the corporation that is “the acid corroding the art of living, eating and drinking in Europe” according to Andreas in an unexpected flash of eloquence. Christof, agreeing, added his outrage at going to the football and not being able to eat the traditional soccer snack of bratwurst mit brotchen washed down with German beer since the licence for all food and beverage for the stadium was bought by McDonalds and Budwieser. Quelle horreur.

After this discussion and an examination of the difference between flaws and fleas, Andreas sighed heavily and pronounced, “I have so many trouble with the English subtilities”.

I kept a straight face until I was walking to the train after the class.

Melmerby

Summer at the Old Chappel. Some photos.

Amsterdam

Beautiful weekend, Van Gogh, Supper Club and cruising on the canals. Here are some piccies.

Steve's Birthday

Birthday Boy

Dancing at the Old Mill, hiking on Cat Bells and Barbie at Jake & Jo's. A fab weekend. Check out more photos here. Hurrah!

Conked out

Clare has solved the mystery surrounding the nuts - they're conkers. Apparently children of the cold climates thread them on strings and try to hit each other's nuts and break them. Or hit your siblings if you are a fiesty redhead scots lass. Tip: soaking conkers in vinegar makes them harder.

Am feeling worn out tonight. I think it is waiting related tiredness. ie waiting for trains, waiting for my next class and mostly waiting for Smithy to get home from work. I try to be productive....but there is only so much blog surfing and discovery health channel watching a girl can do.

We are heading over to the Lakes tomorrow eve for a weekend of frivolity and hiking to celebrate Smithy's birthday. A bunch of fabulous relatives and friends are converging on Gamblesby to help.

Red Stairs

Red House

Green House

Our House

We are on the second floor at the back. You can see that its grey today and the trees are already turning brown. The massive tree outside our house has been raining some kind of nuts for a few weeks. They must be edible as I saw people picking them up the other day. We have decided they are chestnuts (or chesnuts?). Whatever. Its a nice tree.

The red stairs are inside and when we lived on the top floor they were endless.

Happy Birthday David and Happy Wedding Anniversary Kirsty & Phil and Sharon & Kev. The 28th must be an auspicious day.

taxing english lessons

I have a fabulous student who has decided the best way to learn English is to spend an hour of me explaining the latest tax updates to her and then going for lunch. Its great because it involves no preparation and free food. The only downside is the tax updates. And occasionally having to explain that my eating habits are not necessarily “English”. But if you ever need to know anything about employee deductions in the EU let me know. I think she has decided I either need to have babies or get a real job. Last week she told me I would make a good mum because I’m “very nice and peaceful” (it’s my professional persona). This week she said I look good because “my eyes are very open and bright” (it’s the caffeine) and she could help introduce me to someone in the tax section for a chat. I was very touched, but I think an hour of tax updates a week is probably my limit.

Sad

Its strange that I was thinking about dogs this morning. Our little bunny rabbit died today. She had something wrong with her blood and had to be put to sleep. I hope there are some nice beaches in doggie heaven. We'll miss you Georgie girl.

Doggie Parking

Kaufhof is a big department store and the entire bottom floor is a upmarket supermarket. Huge deli and alot of international food. I spotted this sign near the checkout and have been trying to get a photo with a hund parked but so far no luck. Frankfurters loooove their doggies and take them everywhere.


Doggie Parking

Shoparama

I discovered Oasis in Frankfurt today hidden in a corner of ubiquitous department store Kaufhof. It truly is an oasis of lovely lovely clothes in a fashion desert of scary browns and rabbit fur jackets. Not many ponchos though – well only the ones still being worn from last time around.

It was so calming and reassuring that the whole world isn’t wearing brown (and I’m not just talking about a nice chocolate brown here but really getting dangerously close to the poo end of the range) that I was forced to spend a lot of money, with hardly any encouragement by the lovely sales attendant who told me I looked great and everything fitted perfectly.

Luckily, when I got home I had an email from uni with excellent results for two of my subjects – Yippeee!! – so the whole expedition can be classified as a “reward”. Yay.

Upward Dog, Downward Dog

Clare, Natasha and I went to yoga tonight. It was really good - all in German and pretty much incomprehensible apart from links, rechts and Kopf and I’m pretty sure there was something about breathing there - but our lovely and bendy instructor Timo was really nice and came over to help us when we were looking a bit unco ie quite often. We are committed to going regularly (I think Clare is secretly quite competitive and is also going to Florida soon. Of course I will be sunning myself at Maloolooba in a couple of months so am not entirely unmotivated either).

On another note Robbo finally sent me photos of my god-dog number two today. Apparently she has been showing photos of him to complete strangers on the train so I thought I would try and widen the audience so more people can appreciate Micky and Griffin’s extreme cuteness.


Micky and Griffin

Fleece

Its getting chilly here again and the various daggy fleeces that I should never leave the house in but frequently do are coming out again.

Thanks to the wonders of modern technology...or satelites...or something... we can get UK sky TV all the way over here in Germany. Not that amongst over 100 channels there is much on at the moment. Apart from endless reruns of Friends, Will and Grace and C Grade reality shows like "Lapdance Island" that can't possibly compare to BB or Idol in quality. Anyway, after idly discussing a visit to a museum we have succumbed to the magnetism of the sofa on this grey chilly Frankfurt Sunday.

Partner in crime...

....yoga, chick flicks and english teaching. Also partially responsible for several rather large nights out.


Clare

Is it true?

Oh my god - I almost forgot - how about Jess and Marty's wedding!!! I can't believe they're still together. I can't believe I'm missing it. And perhaps more to the point I can't believe I'm talking about it in public.