Welcoming 2009

After a pretty hectic time in India, V and I were not up to doing something much on new year's eve. An invitation to spend the night at Thomas and Marianne's house was perfect.

I was pleasantly surprised to see Marianne in a beautiful chikan suit on the occassion. She really looked very nice.

Steven and Marina (Marianne's children) were really friendly and very comfortable quite soon with V and me. Despite our broken English and German respectively.

Some good drinks, great food and the BEST Tiramisu (made by Peter) was a perfect ramp up for THE moment!!! it was midnight!!!

Thomas brought out all the crackers and we were out in the backyard bursting them along with some Sekt to welcome the new year.

Thomas kept to all the BIG ones while Peter and the kids restricted themselves to the smaller stuff.

The one thing that stole the show was Thomas' gun. A gas gun. Was great!!

He had some real loud things loaded into it :) - infact for V and me, the first few moments of 2009 felt like 'diwali' - there was not a quite second...there were fireworks all around us...we had never experienced Germany this way - so loud :)

We went to bed around 4:00 am, 1st Jan 2009 and were up again around 10:30. V and I took a walk around the house to gaze at some really beautiful bunglow's...wished a few people on the street "freues neues Jahr"

Were back for some lovely breakfast.

Breakfast followed by Marianne and Marina playing us some classical music. Marina played her sax followed by her flute. Marianne actually played some Mozart. Wonderful experience.

It was now time to open up Thomas' prized gift - his Hookah!!! He was all set with coal, flavoured tobacco et all. V was given the task to set it up. Then were were all taking turns to turn into dragons. Haha!

V, Peter and I almost stayed over at their place on 1st too. We literally had to force ourselves to move...get set to get out of there. Were on the road around 7:00 pm. They were wonderfully warm, friendly, comfortable and cosy first few days of 2009 for us.

New year wishes to all