July 10, 2012 Genthin, Germany

Shortly we are off to Torstens parents place before lunch and then everyone back here for dinner so hope I will have time to post this before I go to bed.

Later... Back from morning tea, lunch, and afternoon tea from Torsten's parents place. We were fed very well and of cause ate too much.

Went for a walk down to the canals and heard all about the area where Torsten and Thomas were brought up. All very interesting.

At Torsten and Thomas parents place having lunch. 

Walking around the canal nearby.

Altus loves the water especially if he can chase a stick.

What a beauty

Janne at Torstens parents place in his frog sandpit.

All the parents are just arriving for dinner. Torsten is cooking some salmon from Norway on a fire in the garden. Looking forward to that. Will report later.

Later...The two families have arrived for the evening so probably won't have time to post this tonight.

Torsten pegs these salmon fillets to these boards and then stands them up beside the fire as I will show.

See on each side of the fire pit, which Torsten is about to light, the fish are now attached on the boards to frames with wooden pegs.

A close up of the structure of how the salmon is attached with the pegs to the wood then attached to the frames.

Pete and Torsten having a beer while waiting for the cooking to be completed.

Fire really roaring now. It was great to watch. New experience for us to see the salmon been cooked this way, making it a lot of fun

The four of us watching on.

This way please. Help yourself,  the fish is ready.

The two families all enjoying the dinner.

Just starting to feel a little cooler as quite late now so we just moved the benches over by the fire. Torsten throwing some more wood on to keep us warm. Not that it was that cold. Just a little cooler than it had been

The fish was superb. Well done Torsten for giving us the new experience of eating salmon that way. It was so good. Cooked just right. Really enjoyed it.

This morning we are leaving for the Baltic Sea after a wonderful six nights with Steffi, Torsten, Janne and Altus.
As you would have read we spent a lot of time with the two families who looked after us well. It was so good to all get together once more.
Steffi,s brother Johannes is a really nice lad who wants to come down to NZ some day, so hope we see you there Johannes. He is really interested in whales and would like to go to Kaikoura and perhaps find work there. He finishes his degree this year. We saw  a little of Steffi's sister Jossie but she left earlier to get back to work. She was always busy helping with the preparation of the wedding and organising Janne. Always busy.
Torsten's brother Thomas, super guy and was always keeping an eye on us at the wedding to make sure that we understood what we were meant to be doing and helping with the translation. Thank you Thomas. At the  family gatherings both boys always showed so much interest in talking to us as they both spoke really good English.
We hope we see them down in NZ one day soon.

And of cause a big thank you to Steffi and Torsten for having us to stay and being here to celebrate your wedding day. We have had a wonder time with you and Janne and not forgetting Altus.And a big thank you for the use of you wonderful flat which we really enjoyed. So comfortable. Meeting up with the families again but we still have three nights up at the Baltic with you which we are looking forward to.
We love your house, garden, families. We think that you are so lucky to have such a great set up to bring up kids and of cause a great section for Altus.

We might not have Wi-Fi for the next three days, not sure yet, so don't think that we have dropped of the side of the world. We will be back...

July 9, 2012 Genthin Germany

It is now 11.00pm so will make this short tonight. Just back from Steffi's parents place from a very nice B.B.Q. A little cooler today which makes a change from all the heat. Reached 25degrees but low humidity. Just before we came home we had a very heavy shower,but now has stopped.

This morning Steffi and Torsten took us to this very interesting church called Kloster Jerichow and organised us an English speaking guide. 

Kloster Jerichow church started to be built in 1148.

Down in the basement of the church. You can see top right roof has been burnt in a fire so they have left it in its old state.

Courtyard of the church, old well. far corner is where the steeples go up.

Down underneath again, very old pillar made of granite.

Looking back on the other side where the arches are, are covered in walkways going round the courtyard.

This side looking through one. We still find it hard when all these buildings were been built that New Zealand hadn't even been discovered.

Church grounds show how the gardens were built in the old times. Built up from the ground with sticks They are growing herbs and vegetables here now..

The mob. This tree trunk has been cut out to make seats in the same grounds. They also have a cafe opening out to a large field/playing area for the kids while you sit outside and have coffee. Steffi said that its a great place for all the mums to meet with their kids for a coffee as so much room for the kids to run round.

This is a windmill Janne likes, near the florist who Steffi used for the wedding.

Went to the bank to draw out some money and there was this rocking horse there. Janne got quite a speed up rocking this one.

Went over to Steffi's parents place late afternoon for a walk then a B.B.Q. Steffi,s brother next to PT. He hopes to come down to NZ sometime. A very nice lad.

This is how they do their B.B.Q.s The meat hangs from a tripod and now and again they swing it to move the meat around to get more of an even cook. Works really well. Thanks Rosa and Detlef for a lovely evening.

Before dinner we went for a long walk along the river dykes about 5 to 6 kms there and back. The dykes (levies) are used to contain the river within the normal river banks. We were told that in 2002 there was quite a flood when heavy rain was experienced upstream in Czech but all was well. The levies worked.  This is one of their locks. We watched these boats come under the bridge we were standing on.

We stopped at this place beside the river for a beer before we set back on our long walk. Very pleasant. Torsten, Steffi and her Parents.

Big dog, little bowl. Poor Altus had run so much to get there with a very stretched tongue from the heat only to fine this tiny water bowl sitting at the door.Obviously only expected little dogs. A couple of laps and it was empty. I think that he had a few top ups.

Steffi's brother Johannes waiting with Janne for dinner. 

The old and the young

A busy day and tomorrow we go to Torsten's parents about 10.00am, back in the afternoon then all the parents come around here for a goodbye dinner. Will try and get a short blog away tomorrow but wont be a 

lot of spare time. 

July 8, 2012 Day after the wedding, Genthin, Germany

Day after the wedding. This morning we woke up to another sunny day. Yesterday, Torsten and Pete and a little help from Steffi and me, the tent was erected for todays brunch in theur back garden.

During the morning people arrived to take part with brunch, and the last of them left at 2.00pm when the rain started with a bit of thunder, (the same time as it started yesterday.) It didn't last too long before the sun was out again. Not quite as much heat as we had been having, so very pleasant sitting under the trees/tent in their beautiful back garden.The brunch was all the left overs from the wedding.

Lovely setting as you can see.

A beautiful home and garden.

Going back to Friday the day before the wedding, later in the afternoon when everything was completed, we all went for a farely long walk through the forest which backs onto their section behind them, down to a little lake. Very pleasant and Altus just loves it.

Action shot of Altus jumping in to retrieve a stick. He must feel so good getting in there in this heat with his long hair.

On his way back with his stick. Great dog.

Torsten running with Janne, Altus behind. Not sure who is having the most fun.

Now going back to the morning of the wedding all helped to put the tent up for todays brunch. Couldn't do it on Friday as there was rain predicted over night. 

Janne loves to help too. Sorting out the ropes.

Here you are, this is untangled. Great little guy.

This is what Steffi had done for us on the kitchen table in our flat on our arrival. Didn't know at the time that they were the flowers of the wedding. Very nice touch. Thank you Steffi.

Woke up this morning with a text from Jennie saying how did it go? Photos?

Sorry have only had time now (late afternoon Sunday) to download photos of the wedding as we have been very busy enjoying brunch. I certainly couldn't have done it when I got home late last night. So now all up to date! 

Sounds like we have a few arrangements that have been made for us involving meals with the families, and we are both looking forward to that.  

July 7, 2012 Wedding Day Genthin,Germany

STEFFI AND TORSTEN'S  WEDDING DAY

July 7th 2012.

Genthin Germany.

The big day had arrived, which we had all been waiting for. WOW what a day. Wedding time was 3.00pm. We were picked up by Torsten's brother Thomas at 2pm to take us with Torsten to the castle. What an honour to arrive in the groomsman car. Just as we set off, the rain started to come. Poor Steffi we thought, but fortunately when she arrived one hour later it had just stopped.

The castle setting was perfect, and you could walk all around the property during the afternoon. They were married in the castle and after the service we all went into another castle room for cake and coffee. This part of the function was mainly for family and relations. Later at about 6pm, friends and colleagues arrived for the wedding celebrations dinner which took place in a large tent on the back lawn of the castle. Therefore you can see the real need for the fine weather to walk around as you pleased during the evening. As the weather cleared the sides of the tent were put up opening out to a deck where after dinner we had the options of sitting inside or out. In this climate you can sit outside very late.

We arrived at the castle at about 2.20pm with Torsten. We didn't get home until 12.45am and we both had sore feet from standing/dancing. A very long evening.

Steffi and Torsten got home at 5.00am. No way could we have lasted that long.

We had a wonderful time including watching all the traditions, a few games which PT and I were called out to take part in like musical chairs but not like the kids one we know of at home. When the music stopped they announced that you had to go and collect something and get back to your seat. Last one was out of the game of course. Then they take a chair away. Some of things you had to collect were a Mobil phone, makeup, a shoe etc.One thing was a mans belt, so you have to rush up to anyone near by and rip off his belt and get back to your chair. Strange rushing up to somebody I didn't know and trying to rip of his belt, helping him so I could get back to my chair. I was still in the game at this stage but probably went out after that. PT stayed in a little longer than me.

I will explain other traditions as I go under the photos.

Everyone was so friendly, making us feel that we were really part of the day. Helping us with translations although a lot of the younger ones could speak English very well. It was translated to us when Torsten gave his speech that he mentioned that we had come from NZ for the wedding and about when we first met in NZ and how the friendship has continued. Everyone started clapping, so made us feel very proud to be there.

So many photos, but will be so many wonderful memories for us. Thank you Steffi and Torsten for having us here to celebrate with you.

 

Torsten and Janne waiting for Steffi to arrive.

The bench seat where Steffi , Torsten and Janne sat to be married. Although Janne wasn't always sitting. He was running up getting sweets from the celebrant.

The marriage room where family came to. Everyone hadn't arrived at this stage.

The celebrant had started the service. Note the little yellow daisies in Steffi's hair to match her posy which you will see later.

During the service while sitting on the bench chair with Janne looking on.

Torsten's brother Thomas handing over the wedding rings. Thomas was really good to us, always keeping an eye on us to make sure we had everything we wanted and helping in the translating, thank you Thomas you really made us feel very welcome.

The celebrant 

We are now married, The Kiss. 

They are married, looking more relax now after a bit of tension beforehand.

The front of the castle where Steffi and Torsten will appear.

Torsten's car (VW) looking very smart with its posy of sun flowers on its bonnet.

A better look at the front of the castle.

When Steffi and Torsten arrive at the top of the stairs everyone was getting ready to let these gas balloons go up in the air. Really nice idea.

Just before this shot they had someone present them with  two doves to release.Close up of one of the balloons

Up, up and away they went until we couldn't see them.

Torsten don't worry it's alright.

One of the rooms in the castle where the family gather for coffee and cake after the marriage as the rest of the guests don't arrive until about 6.00pm

The lounge of the castle. Unfortunately we didn't see the rest of the rooms upstairs by the time we were told that we could it was too late.

The tent on the back lawn of the castle where celebrations began, and partying into the early hours of the morning.

Showing how the sides of the tent were up and later in the evening could sit outside. I took these photos of the tent before every one came in.

A closer look at the tables.

These stones and leaves were at our sitting place. One stone has Joy on it and the other has Love. Steffi was finishing the writing on the leaves the day before. She is very artistic and creative.

One of the traditions to bring good luck , we  have to throw crockery/porcelain to break on a big stone .If you look close you can see the stone on the left. Good action of one of the littlies throwing a mug which you can see still in the air.

What about this guy he threw a hand basin which actually broke into pieces.

                Can hardly see the stone. Torstens job was to go back the next day and clear it all up.

Another tradition is to saw a log of wood in half. This denotes team building. Torsten said afterwards, Thank goodness the log wasn't to thick. At one stage Steffi's handle fell off!!!

The lovely bride showing you her posy of sunflowers. Nice happy flowers.

The back of the castle taken from the tent.

Getting ready to throw the posy.

  

Good effort.

The first dance.

The cake arriving with two big sparklers.Big heart shape topped with strawberries in a jelly.

Cutting of the cake. It was really yummy.

We had a wonderful time, great fun.