The first Friday of every month is always bookgroup at Le Chat Noir, and last Friday night was no exception.
I'd booked the table for 11 people (who'd said they could make it) and was surprised to arrive and find the table full of people I hadn't expected...bookgroup members alright, just not ones I'd anticipated seeing, still, it's better to have more people there than less.
The book we were supposed to discuss was 'Eat, Pray, Love' (which I have previously reviewed and declared it to be a waste of my time), and because most of us who'd actually ploughed through its navel gazing, personal analysis had thought it to be bilge we didn't actually talk about the book much, other than to agree on its crapness and to refuse to read the sequel.
It was the previous month's book that still had us talking though - 'To Kill a Mockingbird', is just a great, great classic, this coming month we're reading another classic, we voted to read 'Catch 22', could be an interesting read and hopefully an interesting discussion.
Amongst non book related topics last night were;
- the availability (or rather, non-availability) of Indian and Chinese food, L refuses to eat any Indian cuisine outside of his native India (apart from that he's cooked himself) whilst K & T (from Singapore) have still not given up the search for a decent oriental restaurant, we joined in bemoaning the orangey/brown glop that seems to accompany all 'chinese' food here in Germany, whether the dish is masquerading as beef in black bean sauce, chicken with cashew nuts or sweet 'n sour pork it all has the same sauce.
- N's Liverpudlian accent has strengthened over the last couple of days, due to her mom visiting from the homeland, I said N's accent had regressed and the mother wasn't amused...
- NS mentioned she was thinking about going in for army training which started K off on his reminiscing of his two years National Service, T rolled her eyes in frustration apparently this is standard behaviour of any Singapore male, they get started on their army time and it's hard to deflect the conversation.
- I think we've gained two more partygoers for April 29th, when we (girlies) plan on spending the whole day in front of the TV, glued to the Royal Wedding coverage, drinking champagne and eating appropriate wedding food. Both NS & T are keen, as is K, but as he's male and probably doesn't look good in a wedding hat, he'll only really be useful acting as barman!
- I'm trying to talk L into going ice skating, he's never been before (what with growing up in India) and in theory has good balance (as he can do a head stand (years of yoga) but personally I think that's down to him having a flat head) but L isn't especially keen. There's an open air rink in the middle of Essen at the moment surrounded by Glühwein & Waffel stands with a sledging slope next to it that you can hurtle down on huge innertube things, I'm sure Rebecca & I can persuade L to join us and the kids there next Sunday lunchtime...Rebecca & I can stand and watch while L is taught to ice skate by 4-5 children.
I'd been prepared to have to leave earlier than usual as Rebecca (who I share a taxi with) has a really bad back and sitting for a prolonged period of time is not a good thing, however she refused to leave early and we ended up being the last to leave - dirty stopouts that we are.
Monday, February 7, 2011
Sunday, February 6, 2011
Sunday Snaps 50
The weather has turned warmer this week, perfect timing seeing as I only just discovered the function for the two buttons in front of the hand brake - heated seats...duuuuhhhh! I can be so blonde sometimes!
Friday, February 4, 2011
Ladies who lunch
One of the things I've felt that has been missing from my life here in Germany has been the opportunity to meet a friend for a lazy lunch.
When I lived in England my friend Al and I had it down to a fine art, Fridays were perfect, you actually felt like you'd earnt the 'time off', it was almost the weekend and the house was clean, all the chores were done, the ideal opportunity for a little 'me time' before diving into the 24/7 family time that the weekend becomes once children are involved.
We would sometimes meet to do a spot of shopping first before heading to a quiet coffee shop for a delicious panini and a serious gossip, or maybe no shopping just straight to a country pub where we would draw out a glass of pinot grigio over 2 courses, accompanied of course by lots of gossip.
The problem with moving to Germany was two-fold, I no longer had weekly access to my lunch partner and I also lost my lunchtime as the school kicks out anytime between 11.30 and 2.15... I really missed being a lady who lunches and it's taken me almost 4 years to find a replacement (not for Al, that is impossible) I think I'm starting to get the concept of 'Frühstück' - finally!
Last week I managed to squeeze in 2 social breakfasts and today another one.
It's just so civilised, we met at 10 (a little late for breakfast and to be honest we lingered so long we should have called it brunch) but it does mean that the little, but necessary chores of the day had been done (kids to school; tick. laundry started; tick. food for tea; tick. market; tick) but by the time we four were all gathered together we were starving.
The venue was Romeo's (or Enzo's as the locals call it, due to the fact that Enzo own & runs it) a little Eiscafé that is so popular on market days that reservations are advisable.
Rebecca, Rachael & I all opted for the 'small breakfast' which consists of a huge basket of bread (4 different sorts) butter, cream cheese, jam, ham, salami, paté, mozarella, tomato, brie (we had a combination of veggie and non veggie hence the wide selection of toppings to go on the bread), Princie decided to satisfy her sweet tooth and went for the banana & ice-cream waffle (shudder) this was all washed down with as much caffeine as we felt we needed.
It was a great way to end the week/start the week end, two hours of uninterrupted girlie time, just good, simple food, great coffee and even better company. I think we all felt the benefit, so much so that the venue (if not the date) for the next Frühstück has already been suggested.
So I guess I'm no longer a 'lady who lunches' but rather a 'frau die frühstücks'!
word of the day; kleines frühstück - a meal which can take up to two hours to consume and can replace 2 normal meals
When I lived in England my friend Al and I had it down to a fine art, Fridays were perfect, you actually felt like you'd earnt the 'time off', it was almost the weekend and the house was clean, all the chores were done, the ideal opportunity for a little 'me time' before diving into the 24/7 family time that the weekend becomes once children are involved.
We would sometimes meet to do a spot of shopping first before heading to a quiet coffee shop for a delicious panini and a serious gossip, or maybe no shopping just straight to a country pub where we would draw out a glass of pinot grigio over 2 courses, accompanied of course by lots of gossip.
The problem with moving to Germany was two-fold, I no longer had weekly access to my lunch partner and I also lost my lunchtime as the school kicks out anytime between 11.30 and 2.15... I really missed being a lady who lunches and it's taken me almost 4 years to find a replacement (not for Al, that is impossible) I think I'm starting to get the concept of 'Frühstück' - finally!
Last week I managed to squeeze in 2 social breakfasts and today another one.
It's just so civilised, we met at 10 (a little late for breakfast and to be honest we lingered so long we should have called it brunch) but it does mean that the little, but necessary chores of the day had been done (kids to school; tick. laundry started; tick. food for tea; tick. market; tick) but by the time we four were all gathered together we were starving.
The venue was Romeo's (or Enzo's as the locals call it, due to the fact that Enzo own & runs it) a little Eiscafé that is so popular on market days that reservations are advisable.
Rebecca, Rachael & I all opted for the 'small breakfast' which consists of a huge basket of bread (4 different sorts) butter, cream cheese, jam, ham, salami, paté, mozarella, tomato, brie (we had a combination of veggie and non veggie hence the wide selection of toppings to go on the bread), Princie decided to satisfy her sweet tooth and went for the banana & ice-cream waffle (shudder) this was all washed down with as much caffeine as we felt we needed.
It was a great way to end the week/start the week end, two hours of uninterrupted girlie time, just good, simple food, great coffee and even better company. I think we all felt the benefit, so much so that the venue (if not the date) for the next Frühstück has already been suggested.
So I guess I'm no longer a 'lady who lunches' but rather a 'frau die frühstücks'!
word of the day; kleines frühstück - a meal which can take up to two hours to consume and can replace 2 normal meals
Wednesday, February 2, 2011
Book reviews #14
Ralph's party - Lisa Jewell
A tangled love story or 3 tales in one book.
Jem moves into a flat share with 2 guys and decides that Smith is the man she's seen in her dreams, who she is destined to be with, Ralph thinks differently but can only watch as she falls into a relationship and in love with his best friend Smith, who for 5 years has harboured unrequited feelings of love for the girl in the top flat, Cheri.
Meanwhile Karl and Siobhan's (middle flat) relationship founders disastrously when she finds out how badly he betrayed her with Cheri.
A light bit of frothy, girlie, chick lit, nicely written and undemanding.
Will I rush to read more of Ms jewell's novels, the way I do a Pratchett or a Faulks? No. But also I wouldn't turn one down, and can quite easily see myself reading more.
A tangled love story or 3 tales in one book.
Jem moves into a flat share with 2 guys and decides that Smith is the man she's seen in her dreams, who she is destined to be with, Ralph thinks differently but can only watch as she falls into a relationship and in love with his best friend Smith, who for 5 years has harboured unrequited feelings of love for the girl in the top flat, Cheri.
Meanwhile Karl and Siobhan's (middle flat) relationship founders disastrously when she finds out how badly he betrayed her with Cheri.
A light bit of frothy, girlie, chick lit, nicely written and undemanding.
Will I rush to read more of Ms jewell's novels, the way I do a Pratchett or a Faulks? No. But also I wouldn't turn one down, and can quite easily see myself reading more.
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