Our work this week has been quite DIY focussed. Our main project has been helping Holger build an extension on the stable at home. Jessica needs a small area for storing the saddles and equipment that won't get wet in the winter. We secured the roof panels to the side of the stable and to some posts drilled into the ground and made a wall from panels of wood. Craig used his maths skills to work out how high the posts needed to be and the angle of the roof. We both really enjoyed working on the stable, it's awesome to see something you've helped build come together. It was a really sunny day while we were working, we had music on, and we cracked open some beers in the afternoon- a fun day! There is another wall to put up, and the flooring to do, but they will be next weeks jobs.
This week we also cut a pane of glass to size and sealed it into the frame in the greenhouse (this was more difficult than it sounds and took a few attempts), weeded a big seating area in the garden, and took Linda for a nice long walk around the swamp area nearby. Part of our job is cooking and eating lunch with Amina when she gets home from school at 1.30 (school starts really early here!). Kartoffelpuffer are one of the favourites and always go down well- these are potato cakes that you fry and eat with Apfelmusse, similar to apple sauce.
On Thursday the whole family went to Tütensee lake in the evening. Craig was straight back on the rope swing we found last time. I was a little nervous to try but Amina showed me how it was done, so I figured if a 12 year old girl was brave enough then so was I! So I faced my fears and climbed the tree to the rope swing. This was the bit I was most scared of- not the jumping off! The swing was a lot of fun actually, but i need to work on my arm strength as I couldn't hold on long enough to get the full swing! After heading home we sat out in the outdoor BBQ area and lit a fire in the fireplace and craig played guitar for us while we chilled.
The main event this week was our friends arriving from home! Liam, Michael and George rode their motorbikes to Germany all the way from Newcastle and arrived on Saturday evening. Our hosts were kind enough to let them put their tents up in the garden, and we spent the evening having drinks in the BBQ hut. The weather on Sunday wasn't great, but us Brits didn't let that put us off. We all walked down to Reifinger See and sat by the lake. The clouds put off the locals so we had the entire lake to ourselves. Since we were last there a giant inflatable has appeared on the lake. This was so much fun! We sat out by the lake all afternoon, it was still around 16 degrees and it only rained for one short spell. We sat and watched the sunset before heading back.
On Monday we went to Chiemsee and grabbed some food by the lake before waving the boys off on their trip back. Holger jumped on his motorbike and rode with them to the border of Austria, showing them all the good roads. Craig was just a tiny bit jealous of them all. It was really nice that the boys came out to see us and we had the best weekend!
Veggie meals this week: gnocchi with spinach and broccoli, veggie chilli with potato wedges, roasted vegetable lasagne, stir fry, chunky vegetable soup, and vegetable curry.
Total amount spent between two (including travel to next hosts): €838
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