I wrote a reeeaaally long text about my weekend. Unfortunately there were problems with the website and my whole text was deleted. I'm not in the mood to write it again. That's why I only give a short summary:
Friday: outward journey from Heathrow to Düsseldorf with Lufthansa without any difficulties
Saturday: exam (social scienes) - passed??? failed??? don't know... please keep your fingers crossed :)
Sunday: return journey - dreadful - no train running in Germany - delayed flight with f*** easJet (3x this month!!!) from Cologne to Gatwick - no train running to London Bridge - aaaaahhhhh
Highlights: watching lots of thrilling "LOST" episodes with Jonas, Kohlrouladen, Hackbällchen, delicious Cappuccino and sleeping in my bed :)

2 weeks after I started applying for the National Insurance Number (NI) it was the day of my interview today.
Yeeees, that's right, Germany is not the only country where an insurance number is needed. And yeees, you have to go to an interview.
So I went to the appointment at 4 p.m. and after a short waiting period I was called to a desk where a funny man called Jay bombarded me with questions ;) Well, no, it wasn't that bad. I only had to answer some very easy questions (name, address, why I want to work in the UK, nationality...)
After 40 min. my application form was completed, I had to sign it (with the same signature as on your identity card pls - ???? - what else should I write? Minnie Mouse? Jesus?) and then wait again until some staff member finished checking my id card.
Now I have the legal right to work in the UK - wow :)
Anyway, it takes up to 8 weeks before I'll receive my ultimate number and up to 9(!) months before I'll receive my plastic NI card.
Still anyone who thinks there is a lot of bureaucracy in Germany? :)

I'm having a bloody cold. Anyway, it didn't stop me from having a good weekend. I got to know lots of nice, funny and interesting people.

Friday: Somehow I got to this couchsurfing meeting (www.couchsurfing.com) on Friday night. Aurea (the Spanish Au Pair I met on Tuesday) asked me to go to a meeting she heard about and I joined her. About 15 people met in a very stylish bar called "graphic" for chatting, laughing and simply having fun. It was really really nice. That's why I decided to become a couchsurfing member ;)


Saturday: I went shopping with Aurea. Oxford Street is soooo busy on a Saturday. It was truly exhausting. So we needed a rest and went to Chinatown for dinner. Yummy!!!


Sunday: As a new couchsurfing member I and Chiara (a German Au Pair) joined another meeting today. We went to "Diwali", an Indian light festival on Trafalgar Square with Indian music and dancing. As it was quite annoying after a while we ended up in a pub.


P.S.: Currently I'm baby sitting :)

As I received quite a lot of messages asking me about my daily routine, I roughly describe my daily timetable and my weekly plan now that I've the time and quiet to write a few sentences.
Alright, let's start: my working day begins between 7.30 and 8 a.m. when my hostmum knocks on my door and hands the babyphone on to me.
Between 8 and 8.30 a.m. J. wakes up for his bottle of milk but then goes back to his cot until 10 a.m.
After a nappy change, dressing and having breakfast we leave home.
And that's what we do:
-> Mondays - Friendly Gardens Playgroup (that's like a nursery but without any teacher)
-> Tuesdays - Lewisham library (singing and storytelling)
-> Wednesdays - Friendly Gardens Playgroup again
-> Thursdays - Boppin Bunnies (a toddlers group with a lot of singing and dancing - www.boppinbunnies.co.uk)
-> Fridays - Steiner Parent & Child Group (a very well structured group following the Rudolf Steiner movement)
Lunch for J. is always at 1 p.m. If there is spare time before lunch we play in his room or go to a park. After lunch he gets another bottle of milk and finally he goes back to bed. That's where his afternoon nanny takes over this job.
I really enjoy the mornings. J. is a very happy and confident child. And he's soooo cute :)