Farmer's Market + Location

Here are some news again!

While we are on the waiting list for the Farmer's Market here in Moncton, we could get a table at the market in Sackville, which is about 20 Mins away from here. Someone cancelled and so we could get a tiny table over there. There was a baker right opposite of us, and nobody there knew us so far. The market was on for 3 hours only, but based on all these factors, I think we did pretty well. Our cash had quite a bit more money in than before :-) Not that we were sold out, but it was also difficult to estimate how much we can sell without knowing what will work or not.

Now I hope we have the chance for next week as well. They will call Wednesday / Thursday, so that we have some time to prepare. Let's keep our fingers crossed for it!

There was a cafe right down in Sackville, run by Germans, but the atmosphere there was sort of being in a train station. Very cold. Apparently it did not work out that well, now it seems to be for rent... Feel sorry for them there, but when the shop opposite the road does not know there is a german cafe, then it is sort of a bad marketing I would say.


We also looked at a potential location for our business. Looks very promising, but now we have to do the calculation on rentability. My accountant has to help me out on this - ah, there are some further news! There is a program here called Business Immigrant Mentorship Program, short BIMP. Tried to get onto this but it is full until end of September this year, when a new course will start. My accountant is a mentor in this program, where business professionals provide 4 hours per month for a duration of 6 months to the newcomers. It is to help them find their way into the business and help finding the information they are looking for. However, my accountant has a mentee he is taking care of already, but it looks as he does not keep him really busy. When he saw the progress we made, he applied to have me included in the program as well, with him as mentor. I was happy, as we get along pretty well and it can be an enormous help for me. So actually, I stepped in between two programs, but that shall be fine. This program really helps newcomers to this business world and it is great idea.

Oh, by the way, here is the weather forecast for the coming days :-)

Winter Impressions

New equipment!

So, after some other things to do, finally some Updates! We now have a washing machine and - drum roll - also a Dryer! Yippieh! At these outside temperatures, we could only get our clothing frozen stiff back inside...

The connection for it in the basement was existing, but when delivering the machine, I was told that the plastic tube is not accepted by the insurance companies anymore, it has to be a metal hose. Otherwise it will not be able to cope with the higher temperatures of the dryer and could catch fire! And that in a wooden house, Hallelujah!

So, off I went and bought a metal hose, pulled it as an accordion and ... too short! So first of all getting the plastic hose out, the metal one in there somehow and connected with a clamping piece. Difficult as this stupid thing is flexible and soft and I do not want to have holes in there where none belong...

After that back to the DIY store and getting another hose... Learned that I could have used a glue instead of the clamping piece, would have been easier... Oh well! Doesn't matter, now it is up and running!

Pretty proud of myself, have also changed the doors! From left opening to right... or something like that...

Here is the proof:

Our Dryer! Ordered during the Boxing Day online sale event! With the metal tube and the big connector at the wall is the high-voltage current for the dryer!

Snoopy undercover

Apparently it is too bright in the living room in the evenings for our ladyship..., so she goes "undercover" :-)

Rain at 9° Celsius

Well, after it started to melt yesterday... and rained all day today with strong winds, no snow is left anymore :-)

Somehow the weather is weird, one day we are running around with our special ski pants and thick jacket, and then yesterday evening I was outdoors late in the evening with just the pullover and my house shoes... warm... Forecast for the coming days: something like this, some snow followed by rain, dry and warmer temperatures... I have nothing against it, would prefer spring to come right now, as that means we can really get started! :-)

Unfortunately, I was a bit to late to document in pictures a really nice sunset, but here are some good shots:

 

I am usually no friend of pigeons, but this poor thing was sitting in the tree, completely soaked and was trying to get dried by the last rays of sun... feeling sorry for it a bit...

Merry Christmas Part II

Well, yesterday there was nothing with relaxed dinner at first... Mum cut herself in the finger during preparation and as I could not find the superglue, we had to go to hospital.

Waiting time approx. 1 hour. For some glue and plaster and then back home... But at least nothing much worse happened!

Dinner was then served with delay. Was still very delicious, also without the taste of blood :-)

In the evening we also unwrapped our gift from Germany. My colleagues of MedNet sent me a CD with pictures of the last exhibition and most of all - with pictures of our cocktail evening! Was just great to see everybody again!


And from Steffie I got a lovely tablecloth and this one here as a remembrance to Muenster and the christmas markets there:

What a lovely idea! The parcel arrived here about 2 days before christmas eve and I could hardly hold back not to open it right away. The smell of it was already like christmas! Thank you very, very much for all this! A warm hug to all of you!

This is the present we made ourselves for christmas this year:

Mum's school has sent us a lovely christmas card and by email a picture of the christmas party at school! How nice when all are thinking about us. A very warm thanks for it!

And - very proud of it - our home-made apricot mustard! Very spicy, but very very delicious!

Merry Christmas!

Knecht Ruprecht

First published in Unter dem Tannenbaum in the (Leipziger) Illustrierte Zeitung 39. (1862). Since 1864 in Storm’s Gedichten.
Saint Nikolaus’s best known companion is Knecht Ruprecht. ‘Knecht’ meaning ‘servant’. Historically Ruprecht was a dark sinister figure clad in a tattered robe with a big sack on his back in which, legend has it, he will place all naughty children. In Storm’s poem, Knecht Ruprecht is featured with a cane with which to chastise such children.

From out the forest I now appear,

To proclaim that Christmastide is here!

For at the top of every tree

are golden lights for all to see;

and there from Heaven’s gate on high

I saw our Christ-child in the sky. 

 And in among the darkened trees,

 a loud voice it was that called to me:

‘Knecht Ruprecht, old fellow,’ it cried,

‘hurry now, make haste, don’t hide!

 All the candles have now been lit --

 Heaven’s gate has opened wide!

 Both young and old should now have rest

 away from cares and daily stress;

and when tomorrow to earth I fly

“it’s Christmas again!” will be the cry.’

And then I said: ‘O Lord so dear.

My journey’s end is now quite near;

but to this town  I’ve still to go,

Where the children are good, I know.’

‘But have you then that great sack?’

‘I have,’ I said, ‘it’s on my back.

For apples, almonds, fruit and nuts

For God-fearing children are a must.’

‘And is that cane there by your side?’

‘The cane’s there too,’ I did reply;

but only for those, those naughty ones,

who have it applied to their backsides.’

The Christ-child spoke: ‘Then that’s all right!

My loyal servant, go with God this night!’

From out the forest I now appear;

To proclaim that Christmastide is here!  

Now speak, what is there here to be had?

Are there good children, are there bad?

Source: http://www.theodorstorm.co.uk/Life/knechtRuprecht.htm

With this, we wish you all a Merry Christmas! We will have you in our thoughts and send you a big hug!