Busy busy

It has been a very busy few weeks.  We got back into the swing of normal life with kindergarten and Little Ducklings for Alex and then Oktoberfest starts.  Katie had been going on about Oktoberfest since September the first.  The girl knows how to live!  We haven't had many visitors over the years for Oktoberfest.  Well not as many as we could have but this year we were full and the funny thing was, was that none of them came specifically for Oktoberfest! 

First of all we had Jon and Rachel for a week. We went to family day at Oktoberfest on Tuesday and met up with Catherine and so Katie had Millie to get excited with and Alex loves Thomas.  The weather was great but it was so busy,  busier than usual I'm sure. A fun day was had by all but usual getting home took forever as for some reason there were three cancelled s-bahns in a row.  Always a nightmare travelling when the Oktoberfest is on. 

We also went down to Scheffau and took the Gondola up to the top where there is a fun play area.  Had lunch up there and then went up the funicular train at Ellmau.  A fun day was had by all.

On the fun swing thing

And the go-karts

On a ride with Millie at Oktoberfest

How excited?

fun

Katie on the Rund um Tegernsee - a very fast ride for a small lion

A heart is a must

And this was quickly scoffed when the rascal woke up!

And a very expensive bit of helium

Then after Jon, Rachel and Jake left we had a couple of days to clean the house for Helen, Emily and Rosie to visit.  They were here for a week and we had a lovely time.  We got it all sorted so we could all go out on bikes.  Rosie and Emily in the Chariot, Alex on a bike seat and Katie on her bike but with the trail gator for the way home!  (on an aside, now Katie is on a bigger bike, it fit better on the trail gator with the brake still in place.  I made Matt put the brake back on her small bike as she was losing confidence.  Well you would wouldn't you with only a back pedal brake . . . ) 

I digressed . . . .

We also went to Oktoberfest and had another fun time but also a long time getting home - this time on the u-bahn but he s-bahn was fine! Very exhausting. We cycled to the beer garden to several playgrounds and also went swimming on a wet Sunday morning.  We had a good time.  Since they went home on Tuesday we have been having a relaxing time.  Katie has been shattered with all the visitors and so we have have had a quiet rest of the week and Alex has caught the cough from Helen and Rosie. Oh well. 

On the return from cycling to the Pirate Ship playground.  Two out of four asleep.

At the end of a fun day. Katie has a corn on the cob in case anyone was wondering!

And now autumn has truly set in and we have had a lovely housey weekend doing outside clearing up jobs.  It was nice weather and this morning we went for a nice stroll across the fields over the road to the woods.  A small cat followed us the whole way.  Nicer than our cats . . .

Playing in the leaves today with neighbours Anna and Max

Talking of cats . . . . .

This is the new cat house for outside.  It's massive!  As the weather is getting colder I was thinking that we ought to get a house for Jess as the basket is not going to be warm enough soon. I was prepared to buy one but once Matt saw the one I fancied, he was horrified enough to make one himself.  I think he was getting Lack of DIY Syndrome, so for an awful of more money in the end and a lot of time, he made this house.  Oh and a Jigsaw and new electric screwdriver too.  I think we could have made it 10cm small each way as it could house a huge family of cats but it is insulated and the door doesn't just go straight in, there is a corridor and another door at the end to get into the main house.  I put some hay in it and stripped the heads of all the screws trying to unscrew the lid . . .  And does she go in it?  No! Well not yet anyway. Tomorrow the forecast is wet and cold so maybe.  I have put her in it and she ran out through the door which is better than jumping over the top. I put her food in it today too.  Hope she does use it if she won't come inside.  Would make a nice hedgehog house if not!