I spent a lot of the day and the day before helping Beate prepare for New Year's Eve. Lots of cooking! Too much food.
Our table for New Year's Eve. Beate and Hansi's friends, Beate and Hans-Joachim, came over for silvester and we enjoyed a fondue of vegetable soup in which we cooked our small pieces (cubes) of meat, along with potato salad, noodle salad, green salad and a variety of spreads. It was someing very different for Emily and I. The only fondue we have had was the cheese fondue we had in Switzerland with mum and dad in 2009. All I can say about the fondue is: too much hassle! Ken would never cope because you can only cook 1 little piece of meat at a time, then eat it while the next piece is cooking. One the other hand, it would force him to slow down and therefore eat less. Was too painstaking for me and I have heard this morning that the fondue set is being packed away for good - Hansi was apparently less than impressed also. Don't get me wrong, he enjoyed it as did I, but it's too slow!
Dessert was choice of creme caramel, pannacota or for us, ice cream. Ben & Jerry's triple choc with nuts! It's delicious! By the time we finished all the food it was 10.45pm. We played a game (well not really a game, but I don't know what you would call it) called Bleigiessen. You need a candle, a bowl of water and you get a spoon and some lead in different designs in the Bleigiessen pack. Each person then takes their turn to place the lead icon on the spoon and hold it over the flame until it melts, then you drop the melted lead into the water. You must then use your imagination to figure out what your piece of lead resembles. Once you decide, on the back of the pack it tells you what that means for your new year. I don't think any of us had anything that resembled anything listed on the pack. So I don't know what that means for us for 2014?!
By then it was time to rug up, pop the champagne cork, fill the glasses and count down to midnight. Once we hugged everyone and dipped our glasses, it was time to head outside for the fireworks. Almost every house in the street was out with fireworks. It was SO noisy. I had Ken and Mitch on Skype watching and sharing in the proceedings but couldn't hear one word they were saying! The whole neighborhood was ablaze with fireworks. It was awesome. Everyone gets into the spirit and enjoys the evening. Have to say it is probably one of the few New Years I have seen since having Emily and Mitch! And it was worth every minute! If New Years was like that at home I would stay up every year - something to look forward to! Emily's friend that lives a few houses away joined us also, and then came inside after for a little while. There were still fireworks going off at 1am. Emily's friend left at 1 and we decided to turn in for the night.
Happy new year!
And so, now we have Jan 1st 2014! After talking with ken and Mitch we had a very late, light breakfast at 11am so we didn't ruin our traditional German New Year's Day lunch of sauerkraut, pickled pork and mashed potatoes! It was soooo good. More like Kens kind of meal! Except maybe the sauerkraut! I don't mind it, bit only small amounts.
This afternoon, Emily has gone to meet Maddy in Hofheim for a quick catch up in a cafe. (I think it's to exchange Christmas gifts). Meanwhile I am starting to sort out what I need to pack for Paris tomorrow. We have an early start - our flight is 7am so we'll need to be at the airport at 5.45am. Wow, so early.
So...I must keep going and remember if you don't hear anything from me it's because we have no internet access, unless you hear something in the news! Just kidding.
Until next time,
Bye from us xxoo
Four leaf clover with chimney sweep for good luck. 
New Year's Day in Kriftel. Sun shine and blue sky!
Crisp 5.6 degrees at midday! 
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