When I was little and just started to learn about days of the week and names of the months, I thought that each year would start on a Monday. And when I found out that wasn't the case, I still thought it should be that way, making things much neater, and that it would be nice if each month was exactly four weeks, each from Monday to Sunday, and so on. By now I am used to the world being nowhere as neat as I would like it to be, but it can still get me confused as to what day of the week we're actually having, especially when I'm not working. Without my diary, I'd probably be completely lost!
Last Monday (30 December), O.K. and I had a quiet, slow sort of day. We walked into town and later I went to Aldi for a few things, but mostly we were home; it was cold, overcast, foggy and slippery underfoot.
The last day of 2024, Tuesday (31 December) was cold and frosty at -4C/24F but sunny and bright. We were out during the day for about 2 hours, enjoying the sunshine and counterbalancing the cold with hot coffee and cake afterwards. A short rest, followed by preparations for the evening, followed.
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| Early morning view from my kitchen on the last day of 2024 |
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| Same view an hour or so later |
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| frozen pond in the palace grounds |
A little after 7:00 pm, we packed up what we had prepared and walked to my Mum's, where we spent New Year's Eve having the traditional meal for most Germans: Raclette. There were six of us, and we had plenty of food on the table, as you can see!
After the sunny day, a dense fog had begun to descend in the afternoon, and by the time we went out on the balcony to watch the fireworks across the neighbourhood, we heard much more than what we saw - only the closest displays were visible, everything else was swallowed by the fog.
People had been burning so many fireworks all day, it was amazing they had any left by midnight. I'll never get the point of lighting them during the day, when you can hardly see them in the sunshine anyway - and it's not to "test", surely, since you can light each one only once.
Anyway, we had a cosy New Year's Eve with good food, drinks and company, and were home by 2:30 am.
Wednesday (1st of January) was sunny again, and started off at a frosty -3C/26F. OK drove us the 150 km to the village, where we were expected at his Mum's by 4:30 pm. Before that, we had enough time for an hour's walk around the village, at a mild 11C/52F - such was the difference in temperature within less than ten hours!
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| View from above the village |
O.K.'s Mum always makes a traditional meal on New Year's Day and invites the immediate family for that. This year was the first time without O.K.'s Dad.
On Thursday (2 January), O.K. had to go back to work. We got up at 5:15 am, the same time we usually get up on a Monday when we've spent the weekend at his place. It wasn't as hard as it sounds, but I was glad when my trains were on time and I arrived home at 9:30, ready for a short rest after unpacking my overnight bag!
I spent the day doing a few household things and paperwork, but mostly reading, playing and watching TV. It rained all day, so no walk. The rain turned to snow in the course of the evening.
Friday (3 January) was beautiful, but cold. The bit of snow that had been falling during the night was still there. I did my usual weekly cleaning, went for some fresh groceries and later for a good long walk. I didn't feel cold as such, as I was wrapped up warmly, but the icy wind on the fields nipped at my face, ears and head in spite of the woolly hat I was wearing.
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| Sunrise on Friday |
After breakfast on Saturday (4 January), we spent some time taking down the Christmas decorations and carrying the dismantled tree and other things back down to the cellar, where it will remain for 11 months.
It's always mixed feelings for me: I love the entire Christmas time and part of me is sad to see it go, but I also love my neat surfaces and room to move, and getting things back to normal.
It was still cold, but dry, and in the afternoon we walked into town, not for anything specific. We had excellent coffee at a relatively new place before returning home for a cosy, quiet evening.
Sunday (5 January) was similar to Wednesday weather-wise: Starting off with temperatures below freezing, and later getting as warm as 11C/52F.
We were at my Mum's in the afternoon to help her with a few things, followed by coffee and a batch of freshly baked apple muffins, very fluffy and nice.
Afterwards, O.K. and I went for a walk in the spring-like mild weather, staying out until a little after sunset. For our evening meal, I used up much of what was still in the fridge.
Tomorrow (Tuesday, 7 January) is my first working day of 2025, and going fully back to normal. I am ready.
Great photos as always! I read about your Raclette meal. It said that they use raclette cheese and it is melted and put onto potatoes. That sounds wonderful! Is that what you did? I see all the meats and pickles and cheese, I think, on the table. By the way, I love the beautifully laid table!
ReplyDeleteIt took a while but I saw your email yesterday. I replied but it would have been late last night for you, did you see it? My dear, I am always a bit late for everything these days! LOL!! Today is a day that I hope most Americans will remember, Jan. 6th when our beautiful Capitol was attached...
Thank you, Kay - I got your email but haven't had time/occasion to respond yet. It's my last day off before work starts again tomorrow, and I have been busy with household things and then a walk in the sun. In a bit, I'll leave again for a concert (Christmas present from my Mum).
DeleteEven non-Americans probably remember that Jan. 6 was the day when the Capitol was attacked (at least I do).
A friend and former neighbour of mine whose mum comes from Germany has a raclette grill. I remember one New Year long ago (when we were still neighbours) we (+ one or two more friends) used it at our NY celebration.
DeletePS. I wrote the comment above from Firefox, it ended up under Kay's comment rather than at the end (not intended, but might possibly be my own mistake) - and after it was published, the "Firefox Can’t Open This Page" message appeared and stopped me from adding further comments anywhere on this post. (Switched to Google to put in this PS.) - "Curioser and curioser", as Alice would say! (Until now I can only recall having had problems replying to comments on my own blog, not with commenting on others.)
DeleteHello Monica, Firefox is picky when it comes to Google products such as Blogger - it doesn't like the tracking cookies. Maybe it'll work for you without a problem again if you change the settings in Firefox for Blogger to allow them all?
DeleteFor me, FF deems certain blogs (but not all!) as "dangerous" sites, but I can visit them all without a hitch when using Edge (on my gaming PC) or Safari (on my iPad).
Sometimes in Edge I have to refresh the page multiple times before it all works as it should.
It sounds like you had two nice family meals during the New Year period, with some travelling in between. Very different to my New Year which was me here on my own for the entire period, including Christmas. When you say, fairly casually, that you were home by 2.30am I was very surprised at how late you were. The fesitivities must have gone on for some time after midnight. I was in bed at 10pm! As Kay has said, the table looks very nice. I have never heard of Raclette. I enjoy all cold meats and potatoes so I am sure I would have enjoyed it too. By the way, I liked your comment on Graham's blog about children and teachers as my feelings were much the same.
ReplyDeleteMidnight saw us all on the balcony, clinking glasses and listening to the fireworks - and trying to see at least some of them through the fog. It took about half an hour, I guess, before we were all back inside.
DeleteMy Mum then brought out another traditional dish for New Year's celebrations, a herring salad made by her friend who also attended, but neither I nor my sister wanted any - I wasn't in the least bit hungry after the sumptuous meal just before, and my sister is vegetarian anyway.
Another half hour or so passed eating that salad and chatting, followed by more talking, stacking the dish washer, putting leftovers in the fridge and so on. It would have seemed very unfair to leave it all to our 80-year-old hostess.
Unlike other years, we did not switch the telly on, where usually some cringe-worthy live shows are on. Somehow we never run out of topics to talk!
I am sure you would like Raclette, it is nice because everyone can fill their individual little pans with whatever they want. My favourite for that evening was diced bacon, slices of fresh mushroom and cheese (we had several varieties of cheese, not just the classic one).
Thank you for saying that about my comment on Graham's blog.
Ooo, what a feast you had at your Mom's! Looks yummy! Everything was quiet here for New Year's Eve and Day. I had lots of time for reading and relaxing!
ReplyDeleteHope everything goes smoothly for you back at work, Meike!
It certainly was a feast, Ellen!
DeleteI have not read much during my two weeks off, because for most of the time, I was either at O.K.'s or he was here, but we did have some relaxing, quiet times as well.
My first glance through email inboxes this morning was alright, but the biggest one I have yet to open...!