NEW YEARS IN GERMANY

For New Years Eve(Sylvester) we went to our friends Franziska and Martins house for dinner and drinks.
Nicki and Berni.
Steffi, Franziska and Olivia.
Shorty's new do for 2009!Lead Pour a funny New Years Tradition were you heat up little lead shapes which melt and you drop into cold water, the shape that comes out is suposed to tell your fortune.Once you have pored your lead into water you look at the words on the back of the packet and each one has a fortune.......Unfortunately little pieces of poo were not on the list so I am still unsure of what 2009 will hold for me?Michi was also a little confused over his fate for 2009.
After dinner we headed up to one of the highest points in Traunstein to set of some fire works and watch all of the tinny fire work displays.

CHRISTMAS WITH ALL THE OBERMAYERS AND EXTENDED FAMILY ON THE 26TH

Jona with her new mocktail set from Veronica.
Feli, Julia and Jona

A very happy Tobi with his new Lego set.
Tobi, Stefan and Tom, talking Lego.
The men.
Brotzeit for dinner.

CHRISTMAS WITH THE OBERMAYERS ON THE 24th

On the 24th I celebrated a small family Xmas with some of the Obermayer family.
I was a a very different Xmas experience from a Hot Australian Xmas.
The celebrations started at 6pm, there was snow out side. For dinner we had the traditional Obermayer giant shaslik..mmmm...deliciouse but so big I could only manage one.

After dinner Toms mother read a small Christmas story from the Bible and then there were some prayers.

Tom and FeliShortly after Toms mum rang a small bell from the living room which is very exciting for the little children as they believe the Baby Christkindl has come and brought presents for under the Christmas tree( this is the German tradition instead of Father Christmas.
Feli was so excited. So we all went into the living room were we saw the Christmas tree for the first time that Toms mum has just decorated. It is a Bavarian tradition to have your Christmas tree out side until the night of Christmas when it is decorated.
Every one exchanged gifts and then we all sat together for some drinks and Christmas biscuits and chocolate.
Some of the Obermayer family.
From left: Marcus, Tom, Veronica, Bernard, Stefan and Feli, Rosa and Christine.

ARICS BIRTHDAY

ARICS BIRTHDAY PARTY

The Birthday Boy getting messy at his Monday night party. This had to be the best Monday night party I have ever been to, complete with dancing, cocktails cocktails and conga-line
Franziska and Me
Miri and Me

EGG AND BACON PIE

EGG AND BACON PIE

INGREDIENTS CHEESE PASTRY
1 1/2 cups plain flour, 1/2 tsp salt, 1tsp baking powder, 3oz. Butter, 3oz. Tasty cheese, approx. 1tbsp water.

INGREDIENTS FILLING
1oz. Butter, 3 onions, 4-6 rashers bacon, 1tsp salt, 1/4 tsp pepper, 1/2 tsp dry mustard, 3 eggs, 1 pint milk, 1 dsp chopped parsley.

INSTRUCTIONS PASTRY
Sift flour, salt and baking powder into basin. Rub in butter, and grated cheese. Mix to dry dough with a little water. Knead lightly on floured board. Roll pastry out to line base and sides of 11in. x 7in. or deep 8in. pie plate.

INSTRUCTIONS FILLING
Melt butter in saucepan, and sliced onions and chopped bacon; fry 4 minutes. Add salt, pepper and mustard, mix thoroughly. Beat eggs in basin, add warmed milk, drained onion-and-bacon mixture, and parsley. Spoon mixture into pastry case. Bake in moderate oven 35 to 40 minutes or until pie has set and browned. Serves 6.

KRAMPUS

Tonight we headed into a town called Berchtesgaden to the see the annual Krampus Run.

The visit from the Krampus is an old Alpine tradition were a demon like creature or group of creatures accompanies Saint Nicholas in order to scare children into being good.
The tradition is usually performed in first 2 weeks of December, when young men(usually drunk) dress up in there hand carved wooden masks and fur costumes and roam the streets scaring women, children and even the men.
If you are unlucky and get caught by a Krampus you may get a few hard strikes from there birch whips, this is very painful and very scary.
Franziska after being attacked by a Krampus. At least she didn't get the whip!I was too scared to get close enough for good photos of the Krampus. One minute you are standing in the snow enjoying a muled wine and a chat with friends and then you hear the bells coming and getting louder and louder.
The traditional Straw men(Krampus covered in straw with huge bells on their back) all jump in time as the bells get closer every one screams and runs for the nearest place to hide.
The only problem is there are so many Krampus roaming the streets you may get attacked from behind...........aaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhh!!!!
A cocky young boy getting a good whipping.