Just one person makes the difference

Moving to another country is always difficult, especially when there is lots of paperwork involved, and in another language is nearly impossible.

We have been blessed with each move we have made to have found (or been assigned) a 'helper' who has made these transitions so much easier. In America, it was Jonathan, in Korea we had Chul-Hong and here in Germany we have Alexander.

John met Alexander when he first arrived. Alexander is the 'fix-it' man here at the Kirchliche Hochschule (where John is working). He was responsible for the renovation of our apartment, and after John got here he took him (and a 4-ton truck) to Ikea to pick up furniture for the house. Since then, he has helped us get a car, get car insurance, invited us to his home for a meal and meet his family, introduced us to a huge number of lovely people at church, and has organised for us to go in a couple of weeks on a church retreat at a castle.

Without him, we would not have settled in so quickly or so comfortably. One person can really make a huge difference.
Thank you Alexander.

Schloss Luntenbeck

Today we visited a Textilmarkt (craft fair) held at Scholss (Castle) Luntenbeck. I tried to find out a bit about the history of the castle, but there doesn't seem to be much available. I can say that it is a collection of lovely buildings built around a central courtyard area and each building is quite different from the rest. It was a wonderful setting for the fair, and we had a lovely time.
Lets see if I can manage to put some photos up here!


This was our 'ticket' to enter!


The entrance (from inside the castle grounds)


This is the Haupthaus (main house)


Garden at the entrance to the Haupthaus


The Fachwerkhaus (translated to the half-timbered house)

Gesinde- /Backhaus (baking house)

This fair is only on for one weekend every year, and we were so lucky to find out about it. Thank you Victoria (a new kiwi friend we met through a new kiwi friend we met through a lovely woman I sold something to in Wellington!)

So, we are not in Korea anymore!

So, not having blogged in a while, and not having had much to say, I stopped. Partly laziness, and partly thinking "why would anyone want to know that?".
Anyhow, here is our update.
In September 2009 Trinity, Mila and I left Seoul and flew to New Zealand. We made the decision as a family to spend the next 6 months apart from John as the girls were both wigging out in Korea. Being little blondes, everytime we went out they were photographed, touched, given candy ... basically they hated it. Added to this was the problem of schooling for them. The international schools were way too expensive, and the Korean schools were not willing to take any children that didn't speak Korean. So we left John behind to finish up his contract, and landed on my Mum and Dad in Wellington.
The girls quickly settled into school, I found a job and we had a wonderful time catching up with old friends and family. The time in New Zealand had it's ups and downs - my Dad had a minor stroke, my Mum had a knee reconstruction operation and my Sister got married. John was able through the grace of our good friends to come and stay for 3 weeks over summer, which was wonderful. Our first time as a 4 person family together in New Zealand.
We left New Zealand again in early April, and winged our way through Australia, Dubai and finally arrived in Dusseldorf after 36 hours travelling. John was at the airport to meet us, and we then caught 2 trains and a taxi to get to our new apartment.
John is here to do a Habilitation (another PhD)and as he is here as an EU citizen, I am able to work as well. We will spend the next few weeks getting Trinity into school, trying not to freeze (supposed to be Spring) and getting my head around driving on the right-hand side again.
So, for anyone who thinks we have fallen off the map - we sort of did, but are now back on board.

Textures on Achasan

Getting Crafty

Good Morning - or good evening, depending on where in the world you are. I thought I would share a little project I have been working on with Miss Mila. A few days ago I got out all my fabric bits and bobs, including some pre-cut quilting squares. I have very good intentions, but often they don't pan out, for obvious lazy reasons. So, I have all this lovely fabric littered around the room, and lovely Mila comes to show me a picture she had drawn, on one of the little squares. Rather than waste it, and seeing as my embroidery thread was also out and about (Miss Trinity was sewing things) I made this little cushion to keep forever. What do you think?

Crikey, two in one day?

Hello again - just thought I would give you a design update. Firstly, I went yesterday to buy the last of the fabric I need to make curtains for the apartment. I also bought blackout lining, but of a kind you have never seen before. It is the most beautiful woven quality, and could easily be used as curtains rather than just lining. And, the best part, it was only 4000 won per yard, which is less than $US4 per yard. Oh, and it also comes in 12 colours.
Anyhoo, I too some pics, so here we go. The flowers are for the lounge, and the dolls are for the girls room.
I also have a pic of our TV cabinet that I am in love with. John loves it as it holds up the TV.

May 27 - A morning on the mountain

Hello to all my faithful and very patient blog followers - all 6 of you. Sorry for the silence. Some of you will have been sent the 'Missives' from John and so will know the strange goings-on that we have been dealing with. Others won't, and you are the lucky ones.

Today we ran out of drinking water, so the three of us (P, T & M) took a trek up the mountain to the spring to collect some. It is quite fun, although schlepping the full bottles home is not so much.

I took lots of photos as it is a lovely day here - 27 degrees celcius at 11am. I will try to post them here, but am still a bit challenged by all this stuff.