Our Breakdown Adventure

Last night in the cold dark and wet rush hour I picked Jemima up from Scouts and was on my way to pick Elijah up from a play date. I got off the motorway and was turning the corner off the slipway on the way up to Adidas, Herzogenaurach when the power just went. I forced the steering wheel around to avoid crossing the carriageway and just stopped under the bridge. No power. Helpful fellow motorist just honked their horns, perhaps not realising I didn't want to break down there either, with 2 children in the back , in a less than perfect spot! With a wing and a prayer I managed to constantly try and start the engine and it limped about a centimetre at a time til I could  get into the ditch/bank area at the side of the road. We could only find 2 of the 5 fluorescent Jackets I thought were in the car , so the children, (Jonah without a coat!), wore one between them and there was a high bank we could wait safely on. Fortunately I did have an umbrella!  After 3 attempts I was able to release the warning triangle and set it up along the road.
After ringing my friend Kate who had Elijah , my next job was to try and get help. It was pitch black and I only had the light of the night time setting on the sat nav to try and read the number for the breakdown people. I tried but was offered a list of options in fast indistinguishable and then I assume was put on hold with some music. Wanting to conserve battery power I hung up, not sure I'd even got the right number. Fortunately I was able to get hold of Pete ,  used the details of where I was (from the sat nav, I had unusually had with me), and call the recovery people. Encouragingly a while later a man called my mobile to say ( in English) that his driver was on his way in 25minutes,  he was unable to speak English but would help us.  Having sung songs, told stories and marched on the bank side to keep warm and try and forget the tears and our increasingly wet and cold feet, the truck with the shining lights arrived! Thankfully my German was good enough and  we established that I hadn't run out of Diesel and that there was a problem with the Diesel filter.As we were loading the car onto the truck an 'Angel ' in the form of Kate arrived, with her 3 children and Elijah with warm coats for the kids and the offer of  a lift home for Jemima- great as there was only 2 seats in the cab of the lorry. A Blessing indeed! I kept Jonah for help with German and managed to persuade the driver to take us to our normal garage in the village where we live. Another blessing, as he passed the end  of our road , I asked if he would let Jonah get out to go home where Pete was waiting, he kindly agreed and I was also able to swap and Pete completed the final leg of the journey to the garage with the car;( the breakdown cover only allowed the taking of the car to the Werkstatt if it couldn't be mended, not transporting of passengers home.)
We are so thankful that God protected us and answered our prayers providing for the important needs we had, and that we didn't break down on the motorway; were able to get the car to a safe place while we waited for help; and at least it wasn't snowing or Thunder and Lightening! Hopefully the car will be mended quickly so I can have a car while Pete is away on Business.
Thank you again Kate, Pete and the kind Recovery Man!

Jemima's 8th Birthday Party

Jemima opened her presents from us when we got 'home'.

The Saturday after we returned to Germany, Jemima had a belated birthday party with some of her friends.

There was craft, pizza and ice cream sundae making for tea, games and The Jungle Book on DVD with popcorn!

Birthday cake #2!

 Thank you everyone for all my fabulous presents!

Annual trip to England #4

Final weekend- Granny and Grandad's with Fireworks and Jemima's birthday.

Our final weekend was spent at Granny and Grandad's house. It coincided with the English celebration of Guy Fawkes or Bonfire Night. So we had fireworks, and saw the remaining Auntie and cousin!

Sunday was Jemima's 8th birthday.

A new birthday outfit (bought in London).

Thank you Granny for a fantastic cake!

Annual trip to England #3

London

 Next visited London.

We stayed with Pete's brother and his family, and took the opportunity for a bit of sightseeing too!

We travelled by train to London.

Once we arrived we all had to carry our backpacks around as we headed to Regent Street and the world famous Hamleys Toy Shop.

Jemima had her nails done on the 'girls' floor!

########

The next day we visited the Tower of London.

Making friends with a Beefeater or Yeoman of the Guard.

(We saw the Crown Jewels , but weren't allowed to take photos.)

The story goes if the Ravens leave the tower then it and the British monarchy will disappear soon after.

We joined in the celebrations for Pete's brother's birthday.

Another cousin to play with!

########

On the Thursday we met Grandma.

Jemima and Mum and I then went shopping and had lunch....

The boys went to the Imperial War Museum.

I've included a few of Jonah's photos below.