Pictures of our Weihnachtsmarkt in Lohr, 2012.

It was Dec 7th 2012, a Friday. The weekend had just begun. There was a certain kind of excitement within our home. The Weihnachtsmarkt in town was to begin in the evening. Winter had set in and it was to be our last, both winter and christmas in Deutschland. We had a list of christmas activities lined up for the following weeks. But for now, I was determined to enjoy the christmas spirit our little town had to offer. My kitchen was buzzing with activity. Lots of cookies were in baking, for my sister was to arrive in 2 days. More reason for our excitement. 

All day long, I looked up towards the skies.  I had a wish, just one christmas wish. 

For it to SNOW.....

There was something magical about the mix of snow and twinkling christmas lights. Magical indeed. And I wanted that, for memories.....

Well, at around 4 in the evening, before the markets were to open, the snow flakes fell ever so gently, carpeting the entire town in white.

My wish came true and indeed I had a magical time. All the while as I walked around town, I had the broadest smile on my face that night!!

Till we meet again..

The past few weeks have been a roller coaster ride for our family. The thrill doesn't end here, it continues. While as much as I would have loved to blog a few posts, it simply was impossible to keep up. In a day or two, our internet connection will be shut down. So, I thought I'd take the time now to bid a proper goodbye to you all my dear readers.

Lohr am Main has been home to us for exactly three years eight months. When I think back to the day we arrived and how shocked I was with the sheer size of our little town, I never saw myself being able to complete the duration of our stay here. But then, something happened. I opened my eyes and my heart and began falling in love with Lohr. And today, I surprise myself by saying that I want to do it all over again. 

I am grateful for the amazing experience we've had together as a family, the exposure our children have had be it in the form of a german education system or having local german friends. My heart tells me that they are the ones who will miss this all so very much. Our family ties have strengthened in ways we could never have imagined and we return home with a new level of confidence to face the world and challenges.

 I am immensely thankful to you all my dear readers, both on the blog and the facebook page for your constant support and encouragement through your comments and messages. You have been a constant motivation to go out there and discover Lohr, and better myself with the pictures..:-) I have thoroughly enjoyed in looking out for the new and presenting this charming little town to you all.

So, till we meet again, it's AUF WIEDERSEHEN from Lohr am Main!!

P.S:

Where are we headed to?

On the 29th of June 2013, we fly to a city called Ahmedabad in the Indian state of Gujarat. We have never been or ever lived there before. So, it's starting life anew, just as it was in Lohr. Our Indian adventures will be recorded in my new blog HEAT and DUST. You can drop by and follow me there.

What becomes of this blog?

Crazy as it may sound, this blog continues too. I may no longer be living in Lohr but I still do have little stories and adventures to share, of both our lives and european travels. So, in terms of the blog, this is my last post from Lohr, but, it's not goodbye yet.

6 days

So our stuff rolled out on Thursday, late at night. The entire process of packing and loading the truck took two entire days. We will be reunited with our belongings after a whole two months. Any guesses what I am currently missing the most and cannot wait to be reunited with?

We will be having a small cargo of the basic requirements in the kitchen and our linen reach us as soon as we land in India. 

For now, this is how we look in our empty apartment...:D We come here and linger awhile. We are otherwise camped in a vacation home a little further away which looks like a home, furnished and all.

The coming week sees us painting and do a thorough clean up of the house. The norm in Germany is for the tenant to give back the home in the same condition as it was given, clean and spotless.  In between we will be meeting up and bidding all our friends goodbye. 

So, it's 6 more days to bid goodbye to Deutschland.

Our fairy tale life is coming to an end.

Hello....

Kind of a crazy situation here, so a quick post to let you all know what's been happening.

On Sunday, we wound up with the farewell parties for friends and colleagues of both the husband and kids. The girls were gifted these Indian bangles to remind them of Ms A while she is gone.

We are trying to close the home, but from the looks of it, I still have lots to do. Well, the packers arrive tomorrow....so eeeeks!! There goes the night!!

I have been enjoying the last of the blooms from my little terrace garden. It's a pity that we have to leave during summer, the flowers have been at their best!!

We sold our car and look what comes along with us to India...:-) 

How I love thee in summer..

The sun is out finally. It had begun to feel that winter would never end. I had given up hope and was honestly thinking that I would see sunshine only in my home country on return. 

There's a spring to ones step and warmth all around when the skies are blue and the sun shines gloriously. I had missed pulling up the shutters to amazing sunrises. So when we woke up to one on Monday, I knew that it's gonna be a great week.

Last evening, I took a break from the routine of sorting and packing up boxes and walked around the Stadt. Truly, this is the best time of year. The window boxes filled with summer flowers, everybody in bright summer clothes walking around with a cone in hand. And some others relaxing in outdoor cafes with either a beer or fruit punches. 

I have to admit, Lohr am Main, how much I love thee in sommer!!

P.S: Thanks to all of you who left your comments on the previous post. The water levels are receding quickly and am hoping and praying that the banks of the Main dry up soon so that I can spend the remainder of our days in my favourite spot.

Hochwasser..

Central Europe is reeling under floods. What began to finally look like summer turned into a continuos stream of heavy down pour which in turn has now resulted in swollen rivers.

While the situation is not bad in our town, many people in the cities of Passau in Germany, Prague in the Czech Republic, and neighbouring countries of Austria and Switzerland have not been so lucky.

Keeping our fingers crossed and hoping and praying that the waters recede as soon as possible.

What's happening?

Many of you may be wondering.

Next month at this time we will be half way on our journey back home to India.

The days are flying and I seem to have suddenly gone into a zombie mode.

Moving across countries, I do not like it. 

Packing, moving, unpacking...the next few months is gonna be as chaotic as can be.

The past week saw us on our last European adventure with day trips to the Black Forest and Insel Mainau. With a heavy heart I bade goodbye to the alps. Henceforth to satisfy the urge to look at the snowcapped peaks I shall have to travel all the way to the Himalayas!! We also spent 3 nights in between the Rhine and the Mosel valley hiking 12 kms to visit a fairytale castle Burg Eltz. We drove through the picturesque river Rhine dotted with its many ruins and castles along both its banks. We wound up at the pretty town of Trier.

The next two weeks will be spent in arranging farewell parties for both colleagues and friends of our kids and hubby. Lot of walks around town and by the river Main are on my bucket list and maybe umpteen number of pictures too.

Tuesdays around the world..

I have been bringing spring inside my home. During my walks, I love getting into the meadows and bringing a few bunches of these amazingly beautiful flowers.  The window sills, our dining table and little corners of the home are spruced up with the bright colours of spring.
How has spring been in your part of the world? Or are you experiencing a different season? Link up with us at Communal Global and let us know..

Tuesday's around the world..

Since spring has sprung, almost every other day on her way back from school, my little girl has been gathering flowers from the meadows and bringing them home to me. Yesterday she wasn't home way past her usual time causing my poor heart to flutter. As I prepared myself to go looking for her, she walks in with this amazing bouquet of blossoms, all neatly tied up with wild grass. 

Our dining table has never looked prettier than this.

What's spring without some gardening..

(The carnations in the background survived winter. And my froggy friends are finally sunbathing)

So I gave in and got myself a few geraniums. It was very hard to pass by the local florist and whisper to myself to not give in to temptation. Now, my balcony is happy, so am I. 

How does your garden grow?

I miss not being able to garden this year. Our terrace is bare, the pots empty waiting to be cleaned before we pack them up. Gardening is a lot of work and given the fact that we won't be around to see the fruit of my labor, I have just dropped the idea of even giving it a go. Plus, I am saving myself the heartache of then finding them new homes. 

So tell me, how are your spring gardens coming along??