We went camping during Whitsun in Harz, a range of small mountains in the old East and West Germany. Very beautiful, and not to expensive. Has the Hexentanzplatz (Witches dancing place), and famous for distilleries (Brennerei) making wheat based brews(Korn). Here are some photos.

World Cup

Been watching the WC. Great except for England. Unlike 2006 when the WC was in Germany, there is no fan zone in the city centre. But I have watched some games in the Beer Garden in the Schlossgarten. They have erected a big tent and have a big screen. The atmosphere is pretty good. Here's me for the South African game, with Barry, a South African in our firm, and 2 South African supporting Germany

It's been 30 degs C this weekend, so we have spend the 2 days at the Lido (Feibad) in Geradstetten.
No photos, but 2 weeks ago we were in Harz (on the ols East German side). Photos to follow.

RemsTOTAL

Yesterday (Sunday 16 May) there was RemsTOTAL, activities along the Rems, the river that runs through our village.
First we went canoeing. Rhoda and Iona canoed on singles canoes first. Then we went out on a 4 man one.

Later we went to a Besenwirtschaft (a special restaurant run by wine makers), and the Feuerwehr (firestation) who had some things on for the kids.

There's some photos of us and some friends (Patrick, Andrea, Gina and Josie plus Günther, Luke and Callum) canoeing.

German school system

I do not profess to being an expert, but having 2 kids in German schools, we have learnt a few things about German schools. The school system varies from state to state, so the following is about Baden Wüttemburg.
Kids start school in Germany at six or seven years old. But many German parents wait as ate as possible before the kids start school. The kids then go into Grundschule. The maximum number of kids in a class is 31, so the number of classes in each year depend on the number of kids entering. This means the class sizes also vary.

The kids spend 4 years in the Grundschule before moving to the next school. Traditionally there were 3 types of school, Gymnasium, Realschule and Hauptschule. Gynamisium is the equivalent of Grammer schools in England, and the kids are expected to go to university when they finish. The teaching is different, as the kids are expected to think for theseelves more.
Realschule is less a midde school. There is a more vocational element to the teaching, and the kids are more but the kids can go to university if they do an extra 2 years to do the Abscluss. Reaschule is less academic and is vocational based. Kids who go here are unable to go to university. Because may Hauptshcule have a bad reputation, there has been in the last few years a growth of a new school type Werkrealschule, which is between Real and Hauptschule.

The decision which school a child goes to after Grundschule is based on a teacher recommendation. All the work and tests in the 3 and 4 th years are marked. 1 th best, 6 the worst. The average for German and Maths is used to determine which school, the other subjects do not count. To go to Gymnasium the kid should have a 2.5 or higher average. Realschule 2.5 to 3.5 and Realschule below 3.5. If you disagree with the teacher recommendation, there is appeal prcoess where the kids are tested by the school.

Vatertag (father's day)

Yesterday was Father's day in Germany, and it was a bank holiday. We walked up the wineyards with out friends Günther and Sharon (he's German, she's form Ireland, but they live in out village). At the top in a car park there was food and drink, and of course beer and sausage. Later we came back to out house and had a BBQ. Because it was holiday, there was a good film in the telly (The Incredibles). Not as funny in German but still good.

Weather wasn't good, but we had a good day anyway. Best thing is, having a bank holiday on the Thursday means I get the Friday off as well. It's called Brückentag (bridge day).

Congratulations Tegan

Tegan, with her Faschings dance group, won first prize in their competition last Sunday (28 Feb). In fact the Group won all five catagories they entered (including the older groups and individual dancers). Well done Tegan. Here are some pictures.

Where we live

We live in a small village in the Rems valley (Remstal) about 30km east of Stuttgart. It's call Hebsack. Here is our house, and a Google picture of our area. We're in quite a tight part of the valley, so here's another picture of the valley from above. The things with straight lines in the top of the Google maps picture are vines. So here is a picture of the vines. What is great is we have wonderful wine and wine festivals.

We did not plan to live in this village. We wanted to live north of Stuttgart, but we could not find anywhere nice. Then we found this house, and our landlord was really nice, so we came here.

Also I found a photo of 'downtown' Hebsack. To the right is the bus stop where Iona catches the bus to school every day

Where we live

Playing in the snow

The kids were playing in what's left of the snow. With Iona and Tegan were Iona's friend Elena, and Tegan's friend Gina. We were in a playground in the woods near Buoch.

Last day of half term

I took Iona to the Planetarium Friday for a special kids show. It was packed, but very good. The level of the German was right for me. Later we went on the Seilbahn (Cable train) in Stuttgat.

Tegan went to the zoo with Mum and her friend Larisa.

Faschings

Faschings happens every year in Germany, particularly in Southern Germany because these areas are mainly Roman Catholic. It starts in on the 11 November, and ends on Shrove Tuesday, to time with lent.
We are involved in the 1st Waiblingen Faschings Gesellschaft. It started because one of Tegans kindergarten friends danced there, and asked if Tegan wanted to join in. Both Tegan and Iona danced, and I am an Elferrat (part of the organising committee).

We were in several carnivals (Umzug) this year. Here are some photos from the Waiblingen Umzug in Saturday 13 Febuary of me and Tegan