My mother and aunt picked me up at the Hamburg airport at noon the next day. We needed another hour by car to be at my mother's place. First we had a coffee and sandwiches. After my aunt went home I unpacked my luggage and had a shower.

Late in the afternoon my mother and I went to bowling. My mother has no car, so we took the bikes. My first night I had a good night sleep. The rest of the week we spent time with craft courses, bike rides and gymnastics. Almost every night we played cards with my aunt and some neighbors. My mother needed a rest from me, so she went on vacation to the sea for one week. She had booked it a long time before she knew I was coming.

My daughter picked me up on Saturday at noon. This week was very different. Playing with the grandchildren and quiet TV nights. Wednesday was a holiday and we visited a flea market. I found an antique book, that I had always wanted. I was happy about this.

My mother called at Friday. My nephew Karl-Mattes was born. My brother just married this summer and had a whole ready made family. We were invited on Sunday afternoon to see the baby. My younger brother, his girlfriend, my mother and I went to Hamburg to see the baby. The baby just two days old was a really good-looking boy. I took some photos of everyone with the baby, but none of me. I've never been in a photo taken by my camera.

Now one week was left. My aunt's car broke down, so not the promised car trip. On Monday I was to see the dentist. He pulled out a rotten root. I couldn't eat for two days. The rest of the week was almost the same as the first one. On Friday we went shopping, my mother, my aunt and I. We drove to a shop which sold furniture and household goods. It took us six hours to see everything. On the top floor was a restaurant, where we had lunch. After all my mother bought a lamp, my aunt some cookies and I bought a shortcake pan. This shopping trip was harder than eight hours work.

Later at home I started packing my suitcases. On Saturday morning I called everybody goodbye, and my aunt drove me to the Hamburg airport. My plane was on time and I arrived in Halifax at 3:20 pm. My husband picked me up, to be sure I am really home. Three weeks in Germany is a long time, but after all it was a short time.