Unser Hochzeittag (Anniversary)

It has been ages since I sat down and wrote my blog.  As mentioned previously I don't always write things chronologically.  As I write this there are at least 5 other entries pending release and when I say "entries" I am being very generous in my description, in most cases they are just a place holder or some bullets points to remind me what we have been up to.

Tonight, however, I intend to publish this entry and finish the others some time in the not too distant future.  The reason I have been so tardy in keeping up on top of things is that my free time has been drastically reduced.  I have a job, I am gainfully employed, ich habe Arbeit.  The jury is still deciding whether this is a good thing or not.  I shouldn't complain because on the whole I have a very good deal.  I attend German class in the morning and in the afternoon I work a half day for a Geothermal Power Company, what is more, my place of work is a 20 minute ride from school, a ride that takes me through the Englisch Garten and then down the banks of the Isar.  A more picturesque commute would be hard to imagine.  However it is a small company and they do things differently to what I am used to.  As some one very wise once said "I don't have a problem with going to work it is just the waiting to go home that bothers me."

Yesterday was our anniversary, we have been married for 2 years.  2 whole years have flown by since Annika and I were married in Grossbrembach in front of our family and friends.  We celebrated the day by going out for dinner.  There were no gifts exchanged other than a single red rose that I bought Annika on the way home from work. Our choice of restaurant was a place not too far from  here and was chosen because we had a voucher there for a three course meal including champagne. (I have to continually fight the urge to start nouns with a capital letter, learning German has corrupted me I fear) Annika has discovered a website which sells vouchers and they are usually of exceptional value.  Last nights' was a perfect example.

We rode our bikes there and we never left the cycle path.  I think we must have crossed two sets of lights on the whole journey.  The restaurant was in a new Hotel (you see I can't help myself) and was very chic but quiet.  We had three people serving us during the night and they did an excellent job.  The meal was exceptional and the champagne included was Moet.  The set menu was a tempura risotto, followed by a fillet with sweet potato grattin and ratatouille then a chocolate fondue (all captured here for posterity).  In all we had an exception meal with wonderful wine for less than €60.

Starnberger See

The Sunday after our epic ride to Augsburg and an indulgent meal with Berndt and Verena we decided to visit Starnberger See.  Starnberger See may, or may not be, the largest lake in Germany.  It is surrounded by expensive architecturally designed house with expensive cars parked out the front.  If you want to get away from it all and relax Starnberger See may not be the best place to go.  As it is on the S-Bahn it is very easy to get to from München and a very popular day outing.  We spent our time wandering around checking out the public access points.  Being in Europe access to the shore is limited, the majority being privately owned.

Proof that Budgie Smugglers are attractive

Augsburg - mein Arsch tut mir weh

Annika attempting to high 5 a total stranger

Feeling adventurous we decided to accept an invitation to join Melanie and her friend on a ride to Augsburg.  Augsburg is famous for not being München and is 65km away.  A daunting ride on a fixed wheel bicycle.  To celebrate our impending journey I decided to wear my clip-in shoes.  I haven't ridden with cleats for quite a while so it was with a little trepidation that we rolled down Belgrad Straße that morning.  We met Melanie and her friend Daniel at her place.  We did introductions, checked out each others ride then started our journey.  I think I might have made about 4 meters before I fell off, falling for the old "put your foot down on the same side of the bike that you intend to lean to not the other way round" trick.  Daniel watched my untangle myself from my bike and pick myself off the ground before enquiring as to whether I had actually ridden any sort of distance on a bicycle before.  I tried to put him at ease by confidently recounting my cycling exploits back in Australia.  He wasn't convinced.

I think he relaxed a little bit once we had reached the 40km mark and I had proved that I could easily keep pace with him on the flat even though I had only one gear.  The ride was really good.  We went from village to village, riding on quiet country roads, taking it in turns to ride along side each other and chat.  The weather was wonderful and I actually got sunburnt.  We arrived in Augsburg around 4pm after covering 73 km in less time than we had imagined.  We celebrated with a beer and a few photos.  Annika and I chose to catch the train home as we were running out of time and a little sore in the arse.  Daniel and Melanie opted to ride back to München.  Hard core.  We, of course, would have joined them but we had a dinner appointment to keep.


Dinner that night was with Berndt and Verena (our contracted friends) and our other neighbours, Daniel and Franzi.  A lovely night with lots of bbq meat, delicious salads and too much wine.  Annika introduced everyone to the Timtam straws.