It is so good to be back here again with Heike, the dogs and occasionally (due to work commitments) Brian.
Our last visit here was the winter of 2018. We would love to have been back sooner, but the pandemic as you all know stopped everything.
We were here for just under three weeks and in that time Angela and I spent a lot of quality time with Heike and the three lovely dogs Murphy, Piper and Meghan. It was also good to spend time with Angela’s brother Brian at the beginning and end of our stay. We see him occasionally either in Oxford or if we travel into London, for a coffee and a catch up.
It’s sad that this will be our last visit to their house in Schneverdingen as they are moving at the end of February.
They, along with two friends have bought an old farm (no longer working) and have, since March been working on it ready to live in. The main house has been divided in two. One side is finished and being lived in by their friends but theirs will not be ready until the end of March.
This farm comes with quite a bit of land and has many barns and outbuildings, which is going to keep them busy for ages converting them and making good use of them. The main priority at the moment is to crack on with getting their side of the house finished.
We visited the farm (or building site as Heike calls it) a few times and were introduced to their friends as well as the five sheep they already have. We are looking forward to seeing the progress either in the coming summer or next Autumn/Winter. Being in a more rural location there are some lovely walks to be had. We did one lovely walk from there on a visit.
Until Heike finished work for the Christmas break we amused ourselves by taking the dogs out walking and occasionally wandered into Schneverdingen.
We shared the cooking and had some lovely, healthy vegetarian food but ruined it by eating lots of crisps, chocolate and drinking beer and wine. It is Christmas though!
We decided to leave before Sylvester, the German name for New Year’s Eve. Named after Pope Sylvester 1 who died on December 31st 335. Legend has it that non-believers around him choked on fish bones. Some superstitious people therefore state that one should avoid fish that night, or at least eat it very carefully!
In Germany it is the one night of the year that fireworks are allowed and they really go to town. The last time we were here we were so stressed that our van would be damaged by falling debris. Especially with the amount of rockets going off in all directions. They can go on for a couple hours!
Some of the highlights of our stay are below.
15th December 2022 Heidegarten and Cafe
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16th December 2022 Harburg/Hamburg Christmas Market
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17th December 2022 Oak leaves and Walk around Shwitschen
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18th December 2022Borsteler Schweiz walk and Cafe Schmucke Witwe (Bispingen)
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19th December 2022 Shopping outlet Soltau. Angela sliped on ice and damaged wrist!
20th December 2022 Farm visit then train to Bremen. Christmas Markets then meal in Standige Vertretung
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21st December 2022 Dodenhof shopping centre for furniture
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23rd December 2022 Christmas food/Tree shopping
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24th December 2022 Farm visit. Simones birthday. Dressed the tree (Bernard). Raclette dinner
25th December 2022 4 mile Walk Estewanderweg then dinner
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26th December 2022 Boxing Day breakfast @ Schmucke Witwe
28th December 2022 Luneburg. Tea & Scones at Mum and Me
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29th December 2022 Lesuirely morning breakfast. Long chat. H studying so we walked (5KM) the dogs. Collected Brian from the train station and went for a chinese as we were leaving in the morning.
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