The Mewnick Files.

You know, before I got all worldly and travelled, my biggest dream was to live in a fairy castle filled with ice cream and ponies overseas. I wanted to know what places were like. I needed to know what Mexico was like, people lived in Mexico, and I had never seen it.

For the record, I got to Tijuana.....I know....but at least it's across the border...right? Right.

I've been living in Germany for about nine years now...three of those have been in München. I feel I am now qualified to give you a virtual one of these!

I went out specially for you guys on this glorious day.....No, I lie, Big O needed some new trousers (I know, calm down) and I snapped these on my way to the city...but at least I stopped and took piccies yes? Yes.

Moonick Sightseeing Tour Number One is now under way!

It took me about ten minutes to walk into the city today, Mini O slept the whole time, bless his cotton socks (which he wasn't actually wearing, because it was too hot see, so I just stuffed them down the side of his pram and...ok, whatever).

So I was able to concentrate and do some of my best photographic work for you!...dubious.

Main drag- Ludwigstrasse, which turns into Leopoldstrasse, and I never know which bit I'm on (hmmm)... busy busy busy...not.

And looking towards downtown...ooh, a car!

And then.....this!

YEAH!

There are garbage trucks in Munich.

 and scooters...

 and bikes...

You know, some of these poor bikes stand here all day.... some of them even pass out....

Should I call someone?

........

You can buy a newspaper, you just chuck your money in the slot and take one.



 And then move on to Starbucks to read it.

They serve wonderful strudel here.

 And have chairs like this to sit on....comfy!

And you can look across Ludwig...or is it now Leopoldstrasse...?? ...and admire the beautiful old Theatiner Kirche....while you eat strudel. Oh, and by the way, they have a strudel with Marillen apricot....i think...I should google that...delightful.

Moving downtown, and you see this....

And this....

And him...

There are actually 4 lions, see that little gold face at the bottom? You rub it for luck....as you can see, all the rubbing has kept the face clean... people are counting on him...pressure man.

 This is Odeonsplatz...(the side of it...I was rushing a bit...sorry).



 I had to hurry down here...I was trying to beat the lunchtime crowds...

 No such luck though...

And just why did I have to beat them?...Ummmm...I really don't know....I just felt in my heart that I should and one must always follow ones heart.

 Pretty in pink!

 You know, I only just noticed the big garbage bin??? My powers of observation knows no bounds! Guten Appetit!

 And when only Armani will do, there is Cafe Armani.......they asked me to move along, I mean really...

 Looking towards the centre of the city and the SHOPS!!!....many rivers to cross...

 Was startin' to feel the heat by now, and was eyeing off these bikes...I could just tie the pram on to the back couldn't I.....with my Macgyver shoe lace.....that I didn't have.....huh?

 Speaking of prams, is this not organised and considerate? Becuse there is work going on on the footpath, pedestrian traffic gets directed onto the road, and so you don't bump, bang, crash your pram wheels down the gutter, there is a temporary ramp! (too bad you get run over by Autos...)

This is Marienplatz, where, if you're a local and have more than two brain cells to rub together, you don't go to for shopping between 9am and 11pm on any given daaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay.....('specially Sundiy....cause they're shut...) Fortunately my one brain cell was on holidays or I would never have gotten Big O's trousers...

 And in case, like me, you're feelin' the heat...you can hail youself one of these!

 Here are some tourists on a tour, learning things that I already know.

 And the city hall, which in German is called Rathaus.....My father would agree.

In between last photo and this one, I made my purchases and had to hightail it home. I'm now standing on Odeonsplatz looking away from the city (looking North actually...my husband talks like that, so I have to know what he's talking about......which.....I don't.....it's better that way).

So, that's that. That's my Walk into Town tour. Next time, I think I need to do a Walk to the Day Spa tour...

You know.....that....is inspired!

The Park Diaries. Part One.

 * Disclaimer: I'm pretty sure this whole 'Part One' thing may end up being just that...One. But in case it's not, rest assured that I will lose track of the numbering, and never know which bit I'm up to.

Thank you for your co-operation.

The English Garden here in Mewnick is virry virry beeyootiful!

See?

SO, I have decided that it deserves a post all of its own.

I go there....I go there alot....really....and as I am there so often, I experience weird feelings of territorialism (???) when it gets full of people that are not me.... (psycho much?)

You see, I am there nearly every day....because we live in an apartment.....and I live in it with mountain men, so I try to get us outside every day....even in winter...even in snow....and rain....and snow  and rain together...there is no bad weather, only bad clothing....there is no bad weather, only bad clothing. At least this is what my husband tells me.

BUT as an Australian, I'm sorry, I believe I speak with authority when I tell you, yes, yes, there is bad weather, and all you Europeans are being taken for a ride by these outdoor clothing companies who charge you an arm and a leg for outdoor clothing, when it would be far more sensible and cheaper to admit the crappiness of some weather and just stay INSIDE!!! (I obviously have some unresolved issues with German weather and need to get a grip).

So, you see, when I am there, alone, in the snow, and all the sane people are INSIDE, I think its completely understandable that when these sane people show up in summer, in my The English Garden, I get a little miffed.

We have to wait in line at the swings.

We have to wait in line to buy pretzels.

We have to wait in line to use the loo.

We have to wait in line to chuck a nappy in the bin....

I think maybe I get miffed because I have to do more crowd control and can't just skive off and have a cup of coffee and a doughnut pretzel like I do when it's just us there. So i inevitably start screaming things that make me sound suspiciously like my mother when I was growing up...

'Don't throw sand. Give it back it's not yours. I've asked once, I won't ask again! He just wants a litle go. Share the bucket. You have to wait your turn. Don't hit. Don't kick. Don't scream....BRAHHHHHH!'....shudder.

ANYWAY, what I wanted to share with you though, was this....

Not a soul in sight....It was 7.30 am....

Alright, barely a soul in sight...

Here are a couple of them right now...

(Later, you have to line up to have a lie on these benches).

Huh? Bondi, what are you doing here?

(Just having a bit of sun envy, our summer has been dismal).

I felt very fit and active....

....as I schlepped past..at 7.30...in the morning.

 But I was only up because I had a hair appointment....darling.

But still, at least I walked! (Schlepped..whatever.)

History Repeating Itself...

This is my tired baby, circa...last month.

This is my tired baby brother, circa...1985?

This is my baby and his baby brother, circa...last week.

This is me, and my baby brother, circa...1986??

This is my baby boy, circa...a few days ago.

This is my mother's baby boy, circa...1985??

This is my guy, and his baby boy (took this the other day).

This is my dad, and his baby boy, circa ohh.....long time ago

This is my baby circa, more recently....

This is my brother, circa....more recently.

Best go purchase a rifle now huh ladies??

Policevomit.

The Big O loooves his Playmobile, what good German kid doesn't, I ask you?

And his Polizei van and figurines are things he is particularly obsessed fond of.

The other day, Big O came into the kitchen.....(which is where I am usually to be found.... it is sparkling, smells good and has many pots of nutritous goodness boiling on the stove)......and asked where his policevomit was.

(??????) I told him it was probably in his room. He looked. And came out immediately,

 'NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO policevomit!!'

ME: 'Ummm.....Did you look under the bed?'

He was starting to look a little angry, this scares me, I don't do tantrums well (unless I'm throwing them, then I rather enjoy them).

 He came running back into the kitchen 'MAMAMAMAMA, POLIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIICEVOMIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIITTT!!!'

ME: 'I'm sorry baby, what is policevomit? You want your policevomit I know, but what is it?'

BIG O: 'POLICEVOMITPOLICEVOMITPOLLICEVOMIT'.... fall upon the ground, flail arms and legs, turn purple yadda yadda.

I was starting to get that hot sweaty thing going, you know, when you're cooking exotic (pasta) and you're  experimenting with the side dish (tomato sauce) and adding your special herbs and spices (salt)....

So I stopped and drew an arm across my pained, sweaty brow.

ME: 'Ok ok ok ok, lets go look, Mama find it.'

 BIG O: 'Ok.'

So we hold hands (us) and sniff tearfully (me), and go look for the policevomit in the loungeroom.

BIG O: 'There, there mummy, there!' As he runs over to a small blue Playmobile man. 'Here Mummy, policeMAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAN'.

 ME: ' Ummm ...U-huh....ummm. Good! We found it!'

BIG O: 'MAMAMAMA, NONONONONONO POLICEVOMIIIAHIHIAIAHIHAHAHAHAIIIIIIIIIITTTTT!!!'

I knew that was too good to be true.

ME: 'Ok ok ok, lets keep looking....is it here?...no...is it here?...no...is it....oh, hang on, WAIT just a MINUTE!!!'

ME: 'Do you mean THIS?'

BIG O: 'MAMAMAMAMAMA! There, there, policevomit!!!'

And because I try to be a good mother, I bit my tongue and did not tell him

 'You know, this is actually a Lufthansa Vomitpilot...' becasue imagination is a vital part of childhood and growth, and becomes invaluable, when, as an adult, you imgaine yourself on a Tahitian beach sipping cocktails under gently swaying palm fronds and arranging your Elle Macpherson body just so on your banana bed..... (like I said imagination is KEY)....and not on your hands and knees looking for policevomit while your kitchen has, no doubt, by now caught on fire....and so.... instead I said 'You're welcome baby'.

Swimmy Swimmy Tegernsee

Because my father in law came to visit, and because we have a relatively new baby to celebrate, and because pigs started flying and we got a day in Munich with more than 20 degrees in temperature, we decided to live on the edge a little and take said baby and toddler to a lake. Fun times!

It was just glorious.

Glorious weather.

Glorious babies.

(I'm sorry, I have to sneak this one in).

(and this one too...sorry...no really..)

 

Glorious water.

And glorious papa-in-the-water-with-2-year-old so mama can sit and scratch something....whatever that may be....for two minutes.

I love this next photo because it shows exactly how far a psychotically excited toddler can run in search of the slippery dip before a papa has had the chance to flex his enviable abs upon exiting the pool.

They're so QUICK!

(Two year olds, not abs. Whatever).

And when in the heart of Bavaria, what does one eat to sustain swimming and running away prowess?

Naturally.

Me Mammy.

So, remember the lovely lady in the backseat of the car in the Robertson's Pie Shop post? (..and not so happy she was visible in the post..).  WELL! Cause she's me mum, and so lovely, I thought she deserved a post of her very own (which she doesn't yet know about and will screech down the Skype space dimension at me when she does, but I'm in Europe Ma).

Mum does lots of lovely things like photography, painting, desecrating family heirlooms in order to make fabulously modern pieces of jewellery and....vacuuming.

ANYWAY, as mum had obviously finished with all her painting and vacuuming and desecration for the day, she went into her Magic Cave of Lights and all things Technical and Scary ehem.....Photography Studio  and sent me some of the results...now MA, I have a BLOG, you KNOW this.

How could I NOT post this, I ask you?

And this one!

And this one!

Mum, you're so awesome. I love you.

xoxoxoxoxox