German gather [Archive] - The New Kitchen Table

Nefermiw

19th January 2006, 01:22 PM

Seeing as there are at least 3 active users of the NKT living in Germany, it should be possible to have a small gather. Lindsey and I are both living in Heidelberg and Bert has already said he wants to come visit some time. :)

So, when to have this German gather?

I'm going to Malaga April 8th-11th and I'm in New York from about May 5th-June 16th. The nice weather should come with the end of March, but of course, you can never count on the weather behaving as you expect it to.

If peeps outside of Germany would like to join us, you are of course welcome. :good:

Please come forward with suggestions of what, when and where.

Bertrand

19th January 2006, 03:03 PM

Well, I'll probrably be free most of March since thats when my exams end. There are direct ICE and IC/EC connections from Duisburg to Mannheim but the prices are like :crazy: even with the my Bahncard. RB and RE connections takes half a day to reach :roll:

But either way works, and looks like most of my savings are going into train tickets :whee:

Lindsey

19th January 2006, 04:22 PM

I think Justin has a marathon (in Austria?) sometime in March that I might get to go along to... I'll have to check with him on the dates! Otherwise I'm free until the end of July/August. Then we'll have a baby to contend with :D

Nefermiw

20th January 2006, 07:49 AM

Bert, you are welcome to stay at our place, if you don't mind sharing the living room with tha parrot :D, so you don't have to go back the same day. You could take a RE/RB train and enjoy the landscape go by. It looks like it costs about 30 EUR if you have a Bahncard 25 and about 20 EUR if you have a Bahncard 50 - these prices are each way. The trip takes between 5 and 6 hours with RE/RB trains.

Bertrand

20th January 2006, 08:13 AM

Yup yup. Me and some friends are going down to Mannheim on the 12th next month, unfortunately, its for a day visit because one of our previous German teacher is coming to Germany and visiting some of the previous students in Mannheim and its near exam time. So I don't think we can make a gather then.

But for the RB/RE, you can buy a weekend ticket for 30€ and drag 4 other friends along for that 6 hour journey. :devil:

Lindsey

21st January 2006, 02:47 PM

Okay... Justin's marathon is in Vienna on May 6th. But since that's when Nefermiw will be in New York we couldn't have it around then anyway so it doesn't matter much, lol. :razz:

Bertrand

21st January 2006, 05:53 PM

Ok, I'd vote for some time in March then.

And it seems like this thread is only going among us here in Germany. Wonder what the other Europeans are up to :roll:

Nefermiw

21st January 2006, 06:14 PM

I've also posted about a German gather on MoM in case somebody from MoM might be interested. My guess is that the only way we can get the Dutch people interested would be to meet in Duisberg. Of course, this would be a bit far for any French peeps that might be interested - not that any French has showed any interest so far.

Anyhow, it sounds like March is the best time to meet. Any dates that suits you best? I think both Lindsey and me are rather flexible, since we are not working. :)

Bertrand

21st January 2006, 07:20 PM

Hey, I'm flexible too, since I don't know whats going on with the uni and all. I am ready to go at the last day of my exams which is in early March. w00t :bouncy:

Lindsey

24th January 2006, 12:40 PM

Yep, I'm flexible!! Justin keeps changing dates around on me (well, it's not him.. it's the Army! :razz: ) but so far March seems to be completely free. Any ideas on what to do, where to go, that sort of stuff? :D

Nefermiw

30th January 2006, 04:01 PM

So let's try and find a date.
Are we meeting in Heidelberg?
Are we meeting on a weekday or on a weekend?
If we are meeting in Heidelberg, is Bert staying a night?

Also, what should we do other than an obligatory sightseeing?
We should definitely have some bubbly pies!

:bouncy:

Bertrand

30th January 2006, 07:33 PM

Since thus far there aren't any other Europeans who wants to join, Heidelberg seem to out number Duisburg 2 to 1. So, not wanting DB to earm more of our money :evil: its only logical that I go down south.

Regarding the date, 13th of March is my last day of exam. So I'd suggest anything right after that. I'd actually prefer a weekday because more of town will be open, in addition, the train and bus services are more frequent, makes moving around much easier that way. Also depending how much money I'm willing to splurge, I may or may not spend the night there. Will let know later.

As for what to do, whatever planned, I predict most of the time will be used on idle chit chat :razz: but aint that the whole point? Besides the 'tourisy' places, I would like very much also to visit your favourite bookstore :D

Oh, did someone mentioned pies? :D

Lindsey

4th February 2006, 08:22 AM

I think bubblies are a great idea! If Nefermiw makes them :laugh: I have this long-standing battle against making pastry... Maybe I can bring some klah instead.

I'm afraid I don't have a favorite bookstore here, as I don't speak or read German. Except for that one used shop we found that was all in English..

Weekend or weekday doesn't matter to me either. It would just mean that Justin couldn't come along wherever we went. Oh! I'll probably have a doctor's appointment sometime that week (March 13th) to find out what flavor bambino we're having. :heartbeat I should know the exact date/time after Feb. 16th!

Hans

12th February 2006, 05:06 PM

Heidelberg is too far for me :(

Bertrand

12th February 2006, 10:15 PM

Heidelberg is too far for me :(

Any suggestions Hans?

I just got back from Mannheim (just as in my socks are still on) and what a trip! Sorry I didn't meet up with the people there, time constraints and all, but I did see the military barracks. My friends are living quite near it. Most of town was closed (as usual) and what we planned didn't go according to plan. Ah well, at least I got the see the city.

Also, the garbage men are on strike. The whole city is quite filthy from overflowing garbage bins. Lucky the student appartments have big big dumpsters which are only partially filled.

Nefermiw

13th February 2006, 08:07 AM

March 13th is a Monday, so weekdays after that would be Tuesday 14th-Friday 17th and then Monday 20th-Friday24th. I don't have anything planned, so unless Lindsey has any days she wants to suggest, I will suggest that Bert looks into when he can get the cheapest train tickets.

I know Hans has been talking about that he is looking for some Pern books in German, so we could include Hans in the gather by looking in the old books shops for the books that he is missing in his collection. :)

Lindsey

13th February 2006, 08:27 AM

I think looking for Pern books in German would be fun! :D

Bertrand

13th February 2006, 10:51 AM

I know several locations all over Germany who has certain books. Essen is your best bet because the biggest bookstore I know of is there. Theres also a big book store in Mannheim, which was closed when I was there :roll: And I saw Dragonsblood at the Mainz Hbf. All these books are new though and the size of the book is also different from the rest of the world.

Btw, whats' up with the garbage men in Mannheim? They left a note at my friends' appartment saying they're on stirke and no garbage collection, but no reason why...

Nefermiw

13th February 2006, 07:53 PM

Some of the Bundesländer want to increase the work hours but not the pay, so the garbage collectors (are they called renovation workers or something like that?) have gone on a strike. I'm keeping my garbage bags out on the balcony so far. :erm:

About the books - I think Hans was talking about used books. There are about 3 or 4 old-books stores here in Heidelberg.

Nefermiw

1st March 2006, 10:53 AM

Okay, it's March already, so we need to find a date soon.

I've just talked to Lindsey, and she told me that Birgit would also like to come. :applause: If Birgit should be able to join us, it would be best if we meet on a weekend, otherwise she would have to get a day off from work. The shops on Hauptstrasse should have longer open on Saturdays, so this might not be a problem.

Lindsey and I suggest:

- Saturday 25th of March
- or a weekday that isn't a Thursday

Suggestions of what to do at the gather:
- eating bubbly pies
- looking for Anne mcCaffrey books (for Hans?)
- seeing the sights (Alte Brücke, Philosophenweg, Schlossgarten, ...?)
- should we organise a quiz?
- any other suggestions?

:bouncy:

Lindsey

1st March 2006, 03:51 PM

I definitely vote for eating bubbly pies. :evil:

I'm really awful at trivia quizzes though I'd be more than happy to lose a competition over one! lol..

Bertrand

4th March 2006, 04:46 PM

So 25th? No objections?

Nefermiw

12th March 2006, 11:59 AM

Well, it looks like Birgit hasn't looked in this thread yet. :erm: Let's agree on the 25th and if Birgit can come that will be great.

Bert, are you staying a night? You are welcome to sleep on our futon in the living room. :)

Should I make a quiz of some sort?
We could also go on a dragon hunt, and see who finds the most dragons around Heidelberg. I don't think there are any statues of dragons that I know of, but statistically there ought to be pictures of dragons in shops and such.

What time and where are we meeting?

My Monatskarte allows me to take along 4 people on the busses and trams in Wabe Heidelberg on weekends , so we won't have any trouble getting around.

:D

Bertrand

13th March 2006, 12:12 AM

If you really don't mind me staying overninght. :erm:
I will be taking the EC and will be reaching there early,say 10nish? everyone up by then? :devil: I haven't book my tickets yet, so that can still be changed.

Oh oh oh, are we meeting in Mannheim or Heidelberg?

As for the quiz, my brain has been through a lot of abuse these past weeks, can I opt out? I will however, be bringing my camera. So anyone wants their potraits done, just let me know. And pray the weather cooperates!

Nefermiw

13th March 2006, 12:18 PM

Sure you can stay over night Bert. :) You have to share the living room with our parrot, but he will be in his cage, and he doesn't make a sound during the night.

Heidelberg is a much nicer town than Mannheim, and both Lindsey and I live in Heidelberg, so I think we should have the gather here. If you are staying for the night, then maybe we meet you at Heidelberg Hbf and then take the bus back to my place, so you can leave your bag or whatever you bring along that you don't need for invading the town. I can take you all along on my bus ticket for free around Heidelberg the whole weekend. You will probably have to take a S-Bahn from Mannheim, they usually leave from platform 9 or 10.

I don't mind not making a quiz :) - easier for me that way.
I will be baking something along the lines of bubbly pies thiugh. :drool:

10 isn't too early for me, I usually get up at 8 on weekends anyway. :D
If Lindsey isn't up that early, then she can meet us at my place, and we can start the gather from there.

I guess we should also think about lunch and food in general. Are we eating out, or do we want to make something to eat ourselves? :knifefork

Oh my, I just love to plan everything in details. :erm: Let me know when it get's too much. :laugh:

Bertrand

14th March 2006, 02:06 PM

I just love to plan everything in details. :erm: Let me know when it get's too much. :laugh:

Oooh, typisch deutsch. :razz:

Lindsey

16th March 2006, 08:26 AM

:eek2:

What?? You people want me up and ready to go by 10 am??

Fine, I SUPPOSE I can manage that. As it's for a good cause and all. :redfruit:

I haven't figured out yet whether Justin wants to come along Saturday. I'll have to get back to you. It might be nice for your sakes to have him along if we're planning on stomping around town from dawn till dusk! I might need a lot of pit stops and resting points depending on what we're doing and I don't want to drive you two nuts!

How long will you be staying then Bert? Just until Sunday morning/afternoon/evening? I'd be more than happy to fix us all something for dinner here on Saturday since Nefermiw will be supplying us with pies. It wouldn't be a bother to make tamale pie or something. Just let me know!

Nefermiw

16th March 2006, 02:36 PM

Mmmmmmm.... Tamale pie :drool:

Nefermiw

21st March 2006, 05:59 AM

Bert, let us know when you have bought your ticket. :)

I just looked at the weather forecast. It looks like it's gonna be 13 deg. C. and rain. :erm:

Birgit has told Lindsey that she can't make it on Saturday, so it looks like it's just the 3 of us, and then maybe Justin. I'm guessing that my husband would like to join us for dinner, if Lindsey don't mind feeding one more. ;)

Bertrand

22nd March 2006, 06:10 PM

I'll be reaching Heidelberg Hbf at 10:04 on train EC 115. Leaving the following day at 19:55 on IC 2018.
Lindsey, I need to wake up at 5am to catch my train, so consider yourself lucky. :razz:

Nefermiw

23rd March 2006, 06:41 AM

Looks like you are taking a fast train directly to Heidelberg then. :good:

I'll sms you with my mobile phone so you will have my Handynummer in case you need to call me.

I'll look up the platform for your train, and we'll meet you there. :)

(Should I be holding 'A Diversity of Dragons' so you can recognise us? Or something like that.)

Nefermiw

27th March 2006, 03:22 PM

This is a picture of Bert taking a picture of our version of a bubbly pie with ice cream.

We had lots of fun eating the pies. :D
I could post a funny pic of Lindsey eating a pie while drooling berry all over the place.... but she also took pictures, and I wouldn't like to see pics of me drooling berry - so I better not. :disguise:

Nefermiw

27th March 2006, 03:25 PM

BTW - Lindsey's husband took a pidture of the three of us standing on the old bridge with the castle in the background. I'm sure that if we ask her nicely she won't mind posting it here for all to see. :)

Jax

27th March 2006, 03:29 PM

I look forward to seeing all the piccies DC!! :D

For some reason Dad's computer won't let me see attachments here, I'm not sure why but it's very frustrating, in a few days I'll be able to check on my computer :ok:

Bertrand

28th March 2006, 06:07 AM

LOL! Disembodied arms! Like these ---> :applause2
I'm sure you have more pics. Come on, show some faces!

DC, again, fantastic camera. Did you notice the bruise on my right arm? ;)

Nefermiw

28th March 2006, 07:02 PM

Now that you mention it, I do see a bruise on your arm. :eek2:

The only pics I have with faces is those of Lindsey stuffing a pie into her mouth, and I'm afraid that she would post some similar pics of me if I post those. :hide:

Lindsey do have a seemingly nice pic of the three of us, but I don't think that she can access the NKT yet. I'll ask her tomorrow when I visit her. :)

Lindsey

31st March 2006, 07:16 PM

Well!! You better not post pictures of me with pie all over my face or I certainly will retaliate! :darkside:

I'm able to log onto the NKT with my new computer (yay!) but unfortunately my pictures are all on the old computer! :roll: Soon, I promise.