News

Deutsch lernen 2011-07-03 06:03:42
Here ist die Webseite der BBC, die fuer alle die sich verbessern moechten, nuetzlich sein koennte.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/languages/german/

Karneval Event 2011-02-09 21:34:35
We have now got the Karnevalparty on the way and we have fixed the date at the Drayton to celebrate Karneval á la Deutschland Stil. It is all happening on Karnevalsamstag 5th March from 7.30pm until closing time (around midnight) with music and hopefully lots of dancing.

There is a charge of £5 per person to cover the room hire, excluding any drinks or food. Partners and/or friends, who do not speak German, are of course cordially invited. To secure limited places, please pay at our next Stammtisch meeting on 16th February, or preferably let us know by e-mail before then, so that we can plan for numbers. Dress is casual but it would be nice if you could either wear a mask, wig, funny hat, or something else carnival-like (nothing grand is required) to contribute to the spirit of the evening. Of course, if you want to appear in full costume, so much the better. We certainly will be dressed up.

Anna and Daniela

Karneval 2011-01-23 20:09:21

Hallo liebe Stammtischler,

unser 4. Stammtisch war einfach klasse und es waren wieder 28 Stammtischler da. Der Abend verlief, wie immer mit angeregter Konversation, auf Deutsch natuerlich. Das Publikum war international; wir hatten einige Italiener, Franzosen und sogar einen Texaner. Einige von uns haben dann ein „Denglisch“ Spiel gespielt, in dem man Namen von Städten in England auf Deutsch übersetzt.  Ich habe Tränen gelacht.  Nach dem Stammtischabend habe ich im Internet recherchiert und bin auf die folgende Webseite gestossen.  Ich hoffe Ihr werdet  genauso viel Spass dabei haben;  „Wasserklo =  Waterloo“ war fuer mich der highlight.

http://homepage.univie.ac.at/horst.prillinger/metro/m/londonundergroundmapgerman.html

Da ich ein waschechter Faschingsfan bin, hatte ich  schon in meiner letzten Email angedeutet,  dass ich lust auf einen „Maskenball“haette.  Naja, Maskenball ist vielleicht etwas uebertrieben, aber warum feiern wir nicht einfach Karneval.  Eine Maske, oder irgendetwas wuerde genuegen.  Das Drayton Hotel hat noch den Samstag am 5. Maerz frei.    Wir koennten unseren Raum mit Musik (nicht life) ganz allein für uns reservieren, allerdings nicht kostenfrei.. Der Eintritt wuerde sich auf £5 pro Person, ohne Getraenke belaufen.  Der 5. Maerz ist  der Samstag vor dem Karnevalsende mit dem „Pancake Tuesday“.  Da ich Karnevalspuristin bin, koennte ich auf keinen Fall Karneval im Lenz feiern.

Wenn Ihr mitmachen wollt, brauche ich Eure definitive Zusage bis zum 16. Februar, besser noch vorher, um den Raum zu sichern.

Daniela

 


Schiller and Kafka 2010-11-10 19:12:54
The New Diorama Theatre is showing Schiller’s ‘The Robbers’. It is showing from 9th to 27th November at £12 a ticket. It is in commemoration of Schiller’s 251st birthday with all the usual ingredients of a great play, such as power, state intervention and class, in other words a very up to date topic. http://www.newdiorama.com/whats-on-at-new-diorama.aspx?id=40.

Another event is the world premiere of Joseph K by Tom Basden, based on Franz Kafka's The Trial, to be performed at the Gate Theatre, Notting Hill, London from 11 November - 18 December 2010. http://www.gatetheatre.co.uk.




Early Christmas Shopping ! 2010-11-07 22:30:54

I thought I would start early this year and took myself with daughter to join other conspicuous consumers in the Bicester Village Outlet near Oxford, after having failed miserably in the temple of shopping, at Westfield.  

It was a pleasant trip with occasional glimpses of beautiful autumn countryside to the left and the right of the A40 but ended with a stressful loitering of 20 minutes or so in the Outlet Village’s car park for a space. Having joined a very eager shopping crowd avoiding being hit by purchases in vast bags,  I ended up with no shopping at all but instead acquired a £40 parking fine. I had misread the ( in my opinion) rather ‘intentionally’ misleading notice on the ticket machine, in the quite, unattractive square of Bicester, while eating a late lunch, famished from the fruitless shopping experience.  

Going to German Christmas Markets has recently become somewhat of a fashion here.   They are popping up all over London.   I have been to a few, but there is nothing like the real thing in Germany. 

This year I am planning to combine the Christmas Market experience in Stuttgart with a trip to the rather special Designer Outlet in the sleepy town of Metzingen, the home of Hugo Boss, to have another attempt at Christmas present shopping.

Stuttgarter Weihnachtsmarkt
Stuttgarter Weihnachtsmarkt

It started all with Hugo Boss, a local chap and the shops now extend to all the major designers and prêt-à-porter outlets.   Metzingen is approximately 25 miles south of Stuttgart and is situated among enchanting vineyards, rolling hills and at the foot of the Jurassic plateau of the Swabian Alb.
Hugo Boss   Metzingen

Hugo Boss                                        Metzingen

Metzingen has turned into a “must” for shoppers and has become quite well-known on mainland Europe.  This small town is truly a gem among the usual, rather faceless outlets, with lots more to offer than just shopping.   There is a wonderful Spa, only 6 km from Metzingen to relax in, for example.
Bad Urach Spa
Bad Urach Spa

During my shopping there, I will no doubt pit stop to have a glass of local wine, the Metzinger Hofsteige, a mixture of  the Spätburgunder (pinot noir) and Müller-Thurgau grapes, with perhaps a Brezel, which is said to originate from Bad Urach.
BrezelI hope that I will have better luck in Metzingen. 

http://www.outletcity-metzingen.com

Daniela

 


New Site and Christmas 2010-10-18 20:19:37
We have now got our marvellous technical team to put together a website, which will allow all of you to take part.

Our website has come even more to life. We have added a lot of features. Please scroll through the links section and please do not hesitate to suggest your own. After all we have not invented the wheel and would absolutely welcome any website suggestions, pertaining to the German language/culture.

Once we have the forum running, you will be able to interact independently with one another.

In our 'Stammtisch' section, we would really welcome your feedback on the previous meetings (although there have only been two so far) so that we can take on board your views and incorporate them into future venues.

I am a big Christmas and pre-Christmas (Advent) fan. There is something magical about German Christmas (only my bias perception). If anybody has ideas about the forthcoming festive season, please get in touch with us as soon as possible.