merulapie

Here’s my first official post on my new blog. Hello world!

It seems quite appropriate to start off with a classic Day in the Life, as resurrected by Claire. The first half is very structured and then it all blends together as we potter through the rest of the day. You can read the other Day in the Lifers here.

7.30am I hear sounds of “Dadddddy, Dadddy, Daddy” coming through the baby monitor. I sit up a little giddy and head through to see Lucy. She’s happy to see me, though still asks for Daddy (sleeping!). I tell her we’re off to Krabbelgruppe today (German toddler group) and ask who will be coming along; she replies “friends, Lena, Lorelle, doctor, Daddy”. I remind her about the arrival of her cousin Eva and my parents.

7.35-8.25am Spend the time rushing Lucy to get ready, have a shower, eat breakfast, organise snack boxes, get dressed- all in a jumbled up order.

8.25am Leave the house and head two minutes up the road to the hotel where my parents and niece are staying. Lucy waves excitedly as she sees them in the distance. It’s lovely to get a hug from my Dad and Eva (Mum is getting ready in the hotel).

8.30am Take Eva and Lucy along to Krabbelgruppe. It is a hot, humid morning, already about 24 degrees. We stop by the baker for some soft rolls and water.

9am Arrive at Krabbelgruppe, the teacher is very happy that we have a Scottish guest. Lucy is happy to play and spends the next hour and a half bossing Eva about the room. (eat, run, stand, sit, paint, etc).

10.30am We finish singing our songs and head home via the baker for strawberry cakes and rolls. The heat outside is searing.

11am Back at our apartment where my parents are waiting – it’s so exciting to see them again!! Lucy is very excited as Papa carries her upstairs.

We then have a good old chat, play with Lucy, eat lunch and head to the playground. It’s around 29 degrees. Phew. Enjoy sitting on a bench gossiping with my Mum while my Dad entertains the girls. The shade under the trees is lovely.

2.30pm Go back to the apartment with Mum and Eva while Dad takes Lucy for a walk along the Rhine – she needs a nap.

The rest of the day is spent in the apartment, watching DVDs, reading, playing and catching up on family news. We enjoy a nice coffee and strawberry cake late afternoon and a prawn and vegetable risotto for dinner.

Then Lee and I head to view an apartment. It’s beyond smelly, dirty and gives me the creeps. Inhabited by four alcoholic men for a long time (now thrown out!) it’s not in a good state. The lovely Croatian agent tells us (in German) that it will be painted and new woodwork will be put in but we cannot look past the grime. It’s located next to a run down looking hotel which also seems undesirable. We leave and decide to stick with our current apartment.

Back home we enjoy telling my parents about the grimy apartment; a good story to remind us why our current dwelling is where we should stay.

It’s great to be with family and Lucy is happy to see her Skype family in person. Such an ordinary day, but a happy one. I feel a buzz of excitement from seeing the people I love. I end the day in bed with a copy of Heat magazine (courtesy of Mum) and looking forward to Wednesday….