The fridge is full

Seems although as mentioned in a previous post, although you need to stock up on food in the house to eat on Sundays or you could just starve for 24 hours, the fridges here in an average household are tiny!

I've lived in smaller apartments than our current one in other countries, but here, they put the size of a hotel fridge in your apartment (if it comes with a kitchen..).

So usually, we have to shop twice a week or eat a massive feast on the night we went shopping because we accidentally bought to much and need to eat anything that can't fit in the fridge.

Below was our latest shopping adventure - its very hard to find things after these days.

Did I mention, inside, that little box at the top is our freezer? An icepack and a bag of peas is about all we can manage to freeze!

Did I mention I'm getting married?

I haven't said much here about the pending marriage since the proposal. I suppose it's time for an update as it's coming up soon and whilst I've been working on my marketing diploma, doing freelance english jobs more frequently than not and trying to stay sane here, I've been wedding organising.

Our wedding will be in August, a small occasion with only mums/dads/bro's/sis's. We needed to find a location that a) spoke mainly german b) wasn't far from my fiances parents home town (they can't/won't go far) and c) gave some purpose/relevance to my family flying across the world. Oh, and I didn't want to marry in Germany (sorry to the Germans who can't understand that). Luckily, we stumbled on a gem of a location that ticked all the 'must have' boxes! Turns out, my parents married in a mini church in the german speaking part of Switzerland, only 4 hours drive away from my to-be-parents-in-laws house and ticked all the above criteria. 

So, more on wedding planning later, but for anyone interested (seeing as I've spent much time on the internet alone looking for wedding things I love), here are a few wedding blogs that are just beautiful…. 

PS. Regardless of weddings, they have great party and sometimes household decoration ideas in them also!

My favourite blog of all time:

http://www.beforethebigday.co.uk/

Great inspiration boards and they have bunting as their banner - which I'm currently obsessed with

http://www.oh-lovely-day.blogspot.com/

One word, martha!

www.marthastewartweddings.com

Super helpful

http://www.i-do-it-yourself.com/

Great pics and ideas, not just for weddings!

http://ritzybee.typepad.com/my_weblog/

And if you want to find which ones of the best you like, they are all listed here in the top 100!

http://www.weddingblogs100.com/

Sunday, bloody Sunday.

Ahhhh this would be a perfect day to go check out flea markets, go shopping in a new town, maybe see some art galleries/museums or even try to find some wedding items I need…. but I always forget, thats right, today is Sunday. In Germany, you aren't allowed to do anything other than really eat, sleep, go to church or spend time with family. Sounds relaxing in theory, in 2011 - its actually rather frustrating.

As part of the German Constitution you can find, under the subhead “Religion and Religious Societies,” Article 139, which reads: “Sunday and holidays recognized by the state shall remain protected by law as days of rest from work and of spiritual improvement.” That means even mowing the lawn or washing the car in the driveway is not allowed (unless you have specifically door knocked and asked your neighbours permission not to get upset that you're working - my fiance's friends told me they have actually done this just to get some things done around the house). I have heard from many people who like this or who have adapted to the theory that you 'must' have a day of rest. But I gotta say, least where I come from, I kinda like that I get to choose when I'll take my day of rest - not the government.

Think this is frustrating? Well, all around the world there are outdated laws that we find silly, but often they don't have an effect as they are so outdated there was no need to change them (eg In London, it is illegal to flag down a taxi if you have the plague) but here are some more frustrating laws still existing in Germany that might just hinder the little things you do (not just on Sundays).

- It is illegal to run out of petrol on a motorway. 

- A "quiet time" is observed daily between noon and 3pm when it is forbidden to mow the lawn, wash cars, play loud music or hammer nails. 

- It is forbidden to hang washing out on Sunday.

- A pillow is classified as a "passive weapon" and hitting someone with one can lead to charges of assault.

- It is illegal to tune pianos at midnight.

- You can be fined 20 euros for calling someone an "arse" but 5,000 euros for calling an official a "little Hitler".

- It is illegal to have the ashes of your loved one stored in an urn at home after cremation.

So many comments I want to make on these, but for all those Germans who find it necessary to shoulder barge past me on the street and not apologise, I think I'm now going to risk that 20 euro fine and call them an arse!

Bad Billboard!!

Posted on a billboard at the main train station in my town was this gem of a advert.... right next to the schweppes ad... I'm sure I'm not the only tourist/english speaker in town taking a picture!

PS. its an advert for a book titled "Greetings from Bad F@#king".... ! From what I understand, the word Bad in front of a towns name in germany actually means a good thing! It means that town has been deemed worthy of a place for relaxation, recreation and holiday making. The F@#king is just the name of the town, and actually it exists, in Austria: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fucking,_Austria

Ohhhhhhhh you say, well there is nothing wrong with that book title now is there!... maybe?