Goodbye Germany, Goodbye Aunty - We're home

Well, we left Frankfurt today at 2.20pm and we got home at 8.10pm. We had one quick stop for petrol about 30mins after we left then around 6.30pm we stopped to for a loo break and buy dinner to eat in the car (sandwiches all round).

It was a terrific weekend. We did stop in Basel for lunch and a quick look around - ended up being there 2 hours. And we arrived at the Harheimer Hof at 7pm. By 7.30pm Aunty and Uncle were joining us at the hotel for dinner. Such a nice evening - everyone was happy and relaxed. Of course, Aunty came with gifts and we were amazed again by her generousity. My b'day present was a beautiful ring and for MK some aftershave. Barbies for the girls and colouring books and pencils (ever practical Aunty - the toys were perfect for the restaurant).

The next day, after breakfast, Aunty met us at the hotel and we went off in her car. First stop was the hairdressing salon to see Uncle and get haircuts for the girls and MK. This time Aunty did the girls hair. At first Charlotte was saying 'no haircup' but after Lily finished she was raring to go and saying she wanted to be a pumpkin (they'd seen billboard pictures of pumpkins all over the place!). Bit of a change from when we were there 6 mths ago and they were saying they wanted to be princesses.

Afterwards we went to the NorthWest Zentrum and had lunch at the same Chinese restaurant as last time...and glad we did as it's a yummy buffet. MK then went off to get some photos developed and Aunty, the girls and I went to ToysRUs, then to a dept store. I couldn't help myself and bought two mugs and matching serving plates (chocolate brown). Aunty bought the girls another Barbie each (Mermadia). We met up with MK and had coffee (us) and icecream (girls) at the same place as 6mths ago! We enjoyed the sense of familiarity of continuity...and could well building on these with subsequent visits if we were to stay in Europe.

Later in the afternoon we went back to Aunty's apartment and she made us dinner - bread, sausages, salads. Then cake after. The girls loved being there and playing with Uncle. She drove us back to the hotel in time for a reasonably early night. Good for all of us, esp the girls who were very tired.

Yesterday morning Aunty picked us up after breakfast again and we went to the Palmen Garten. It was a bit chilly, but the sun was shining and the girls enjoyed playing in the kinderplatz (playgrounds) and riding on the little train. We tried to have lunch there, but the restaurant was full. Aunty took us to her friend's restaurant, a Croatian place, where MK had a big mixed grill and Aunty and I had the calamari - mine with lots of extra garlic! Charlotte fell asleep before lunch arrived but ate her soup later, and Lily had a bowl of tortellini.

Then more eating later! We went back to Aunty's for an hour or so (and saw Uncle), then at 5pm we all walked to a restaurant in their village (Bonames) to have dinner with Frank, Diana and baby Sarah. It was lovely to see them again, and Sarah has grown.

(Ugghhh, I am now so tired I'm standing here at the laptop, in the kitchen, barely able to type a proper sentence...I started this post in between the millions of things I've been doing on the computer tonight. All related to selling our stuff. Responding to emails, updating my Word documents, posting ads on WRG and updating the photobucket Items for Sale site. I think it is time to call it quits and start again tomorrow. When I will have to unpack from the weekend...haven't even looked at it since we got in. It's now 12.06am and I am outta here).