WILD LIFE ! !

I was beginning to think there wasn't any wild life in Germany (and yes, I do mean the four legged variety!!). I was out having an early morning walk the other day. That is, through our village, over the Wiese River up the hill then down past the golf course and back along the river. In all about 6km's. As I walked up the hill I heard some rustling in the undergrowth so walked very gingerly forward and low and behold a rather large deer and cute little baby (Bambi!!!) were grazing further up the steep slope. I was very excited. You normally would not see animals like this during the daylight hours.

Furthermore, as I was walking a man was running past me in the other direction and said "Good morning". Well I did a double-take didn't I! I mean, he should have said Guten Morgen! So surprised was I that I didn't say anything and of course he was long gone!

Needless to say I am glad I had an early morning walk (though if I knew what I was in for the rest of the day, I might have changed my mind!!).

'Playing' grandparents

The last 2 days haven't gone accordingly to plan!! Our dear friend Johanna has been very sick and was hospitalized for a few hours yesterday. She rang me Thursday morning sounding most unwell so I quickly walked to her place, dressed Juro, who is 3, and brought him home to our place for most of the day. He is the most beautiful little boy and so good and cute when he is with us. We don't understand most of what he says (speaking toddler German) and he doesn't understand most of what we say (adult English!!!!). Between us we have lots of fun. Erik and Johanna have been so welcoming to us here in Schopfheim it has been good to help them out in this time of personal crisis. Who cares if the days don't go according to plan. Isn't that how most days are meant to be lived?

Family times

We have had a happy weekend, especially as Anna Ridley with friend Sue Petman have come to visit us for a week. We have been spoilt with gifts from Australia (vegemite, monte carlo's, tim tams, etc!!!) and of course speaking English (and Australian to boot!!). It's great to have family in our home here in Schopfheim and to see them so excited about our ministry and what we are doing here in Germany.

Today we travelled into Basel to show Anna and Sue around a little. It is very warm at the moment with the temperature above 30C every single day. But we shouldn't complain should we as our family seem to be freezing in Australia!!

Hiking

Who would go on a hike when the temperature is going to be 34C degrees? Yes, you guessed it, me! All the walks we do are within reach of Basel, but in the countryside. Somebody asked me where we went. My reply was, "oh, I don't know, we just get on a train or tram, get off and walk!!" No, I wouldn't make a good guide, would I?!! I wasn't able to go on the walk on Monday, so Roger went without me. I decided to do the short walk yesterday, but the short walk turned into a rather long, strenuous walk on a very hot day. Yes, it was beautiful countryside and all. We walked up a very steep hill to a tiny Church. You'd have to be very devoted to go to Church there! Once again, a great group of ladies and stimulating conversation.

Was suppose to meet Roger at 'the office' in Loerrach but I was so late. He was patiently waiting for me and it was great for me to catch up with lovely friends there.

Last night we went for English conversation to the Gasthaus Lowe in Schopfheim. It was a very warm night. We sat outside in the beer garden. There were only 5 of us, but it was good to meet a couple more people who live around us.

We are getting very excited about welcoming Anna and Sue Petman to our little home here in Schopfheim. They arrive by train from Frankfurt on Saturday afternoon. We will celebrate Anna's birthday. I think I will make one of Jocelyn's favourite food - Strasbourg sausage rolls. Might even try my hand at a sponge cake. That could be interesting! Will keep you posted.

Sunday night dinner

We have just said goodbye to Paul, Madge, Vaden (12), Stryker-Ann (9) and Wils (5). Also to Nigel and Tara who are presently living in Basel. What a tablefull! And in our little kitchen too. Just shows we can do it. Roger made spaghetti bolognese and I made another failed pavlova (help, I can't believe I keep persisting). The kids just love our little canal in the backyard and have a lot of fun here. It's great to see them so happy. They are really lovely kids and says a lot for the parents. Wonderful people.

So now it is the cleaning up and trying to relax before another busy day tomorrow. It's great getting to know people and having them in our home.

Radieschen Festival

Schopfheim is the place to be!! This weekend was the Annual Radieschen (Radish) Festival! Our delightful friends Bernhard and Lorraine, from Basel, visited us for breakfast Saturday morning. After one of Roger's famous breakfasts we ventured into town to look at the Saturday market. Wow, what a hive of activity. We came across the Radieschen Festival and we certainly came in for a treat! There was live entertainment throughout the day. Long tables were set out under canvas and you could order radish and buttered bread, sausage, beer, etc. (Sorry, folks we left the camera behind). When we went back in the evening Bernhard spoke to the master of ceremonies and told him we were Australians living in Schopfheim, so we were given a special welcome! It was the most barmy evening and heaps of people were there. We just loved it.

Bernhard and Lorraine arrived just after 10am and left around 11pm that evening! Not a bad breakfast eh? True Aussie style. We love it.

Photos of Schopfheim

Roger went out and took a few photos of our lovely little village yesterday. Schopfheim is so pretty at the moment with all the beautiful flowers everywhere.

We feel very blessed to be living in this tranquill village.

This is one of the local parks.






This is the street where we do most of our supermarket shopping in 'Neukauf'








The local park again 

Baptism service

The Church that Roger and I attend is a German speaking Church, much like the Baptist Church in Australia. Last Sunday they had a baptism service (full immersion) in which 16 people were baptised. We haven't been to a baptism service for many, many years. We were both very moved by this experience, especially as 2 of our dear German friends (mother and daughter) were baptised. It was indeed a very moving service.

Saturday evening we entertained a German family for a meal. I cooked my daughter Jocelyn's favourite meal (yes, we did talk about you Joce!). Strasbourg sausage roll and apricot cheesecake. As usual, we had lots of fun trying to find the right ingredients. No, they don't have Strasbourg sausage here. I had to replace it with rauchlyoner sausage (whatever that is!). I'm having a slight problem in that everything I make people want the recipe. Yes, I know that is a great compliment but it gets a bit tedious. I am trying to get my recipe's typed up on the computer, but it is slow going. I suppose this will have to inspire me!

Yesterday we went for our usual Monday walk with the English speaking walking group. There were 15 of us for a 4 hour walk. A bit long for me, especially on a rather warm day. Didn't get home until 3.30pm and fell on the couch and stayed there for about 3 hours. It was pizza for tea!

Today I am being picked up by my friend Sabine to go to our favourite little picnic spot up in the hills near Schopfheim (spellcheck says I should replace this spelling for saxaphone!!) for lunch. This is Sabine's lunchtime. Sabine has been away on holidays and I have really missed here. One hour will not be long enough to catch up on all our news. I am blessed to have met such lovely ladies here in Germany.

"You'll never walk alone"

That's what they're singing at the conclusion of the Germany v's Italy World Cup Soccer Match. What a game. How I didn't want Italy to win and go into the finals. Unbelievable. Schopfheim is so eerily quiet. We are just all so upset. Roger went into Loerrach to watch the match on the big screen at the Church. Goodness knows when he will get home. Soccer is fast becoming my least favorite game. Will be glad when it's all over. I am just so sad for all the German's. The guys were playing so well (though I think tonight I have to say the Italians outclassed them and had a lot more of the ball). Oh how I wanted Germany to win.

Missing Sheila and Sue

Can anyone sympathise with me? Since we have been in Germany we have met many people. One of the things I was warned about was not getting too attached to people. I'd like to know how to avoid this, especially if you are me! Well, I'd just like to say I am missing our new friend Shiela who has gone home to the US for 6 months. She was a member of our Bible Study and a great contributor. Wise and knowledgeable and I always valued her contribution in the group. I miss you Sheila and I can't wait for you to get back to Loerrach. You've only been gone 2 weeks!

Then there's Sue who has gone home to New Zealand to be with her family for 6 weeks. Just as we were getting to know each other and having fun.....off she goes. She's only in Basel till August and won't be back here until the beginning of Aug. At least we can still email and keep in touch that way. Isn't email just great?

Sunday happenings

July 2 we attended an open air ecumenical Church service at a lovely park in Loerrach. There would have been around 350-400 people there. Our lovely friends Erik & Johanna drove us in their car (as they do most Sunday's). Erik even supplied a rug for us to sit on AND translated some of the service for us, which Roger and I appreciated very much. The speaker chose John 8 as his text, speaking about the women who was caught in adultery. Those who brought her to Jesus wanted her stoned and of course Jesus said, "those who have never sinned throw the first stones". A reminder to us all not to judge unwisely and for us all to realise we do things that are wrong. Don't be pious or self righteous.
The singing was great. Good band and group out the front leading the singing. I still find it hard to sing songs by Matt Redman in German. Somehow it just doesn't really fit! But, we still try and sing them enthusiastically (and try and remember the English words!).

We had a picnic lunch then caught the train into Basel as it was the last day to see the Hans Holbein exhibition at the Kuntsmuseum. Wow, what a showing. I find it hard to get my head around the age of these paintings. Thoroughly enjoyed by us both. Basel was alive (as it is most weekends). It was the Swiss Drummers and Piccolo Players Festival. As usual we forgot the camera (we're not tourists you know!!!). Now we'll have to wait till next year.