Stammtisch

Dear Stammtisch Friends

With only a month to go, there are various Christmas related events going on in the region that you may be interested in. On Sunday, 27 November the Martin Luther Church in Shieldfield and St Dominica’s are holding a joint advent’s service, starting at 4pm. This will feature the service, advent carols followed by refreshments. The following Saturday, 3 December, the Martin Luther Church will also meet for its annual advents tea between 2pm and 4.30pm.

The day after, on Sunday, 4 December the next Stammtisch will take place in the Kaffeehaus Amadeus in Lanchester from 2.30pm onwards. Could you please let Bernhard know by 2 December, if you are coming so he can plan for the day. Please call 01207 520 056 or email servus@kaffeehaus-amadeus.co.uk.

Two weeks later, on Sunday, 18 December, the Kaffeehaus Amadeus offers again its Christmas Special ‘Deutsche Weihnacht‘. There are two time slots: the first from 11:30 – 13:30, the second from 15:00 – 17:00. Both sessions include the same: 2 hours of festive fun, good food (lunch buffet, cake buffet, Stollen, etc…), great coffee, German Wine, and, of course, entertainment with our wonderful Kaffeehaus Singers, “The Qunitessentials”. Tickets are £20 (includes all food, live music, filter coffee and tea). Speciality drinks, wine, etc. can be purchased at the counter.

Tonight, the ‘Christkind‘ opens the famous Christmas market in my home town of Nuremberg. According to the Telegraph, it’s one of Germany’s Top 10 Christmas Markets. But if you’d like to stay on the British isles, here’s the Telegraph’s list of its Top 10 British Christmas markets.

At our recent walk in Tynemouth, one of our Stammtisch members – Karl Wilson – mentioned a multi-lingual library in Eldon Gardens. The Kittiwake Trust’s library opened in August 2015 and currently has around 7000 books in 68 languages, including German and Geordie. Membership costs £5 per year and the loan period is one month. They also operate a ‘pay it forward’ system where people can pay in advance for those unable to afford the fee, which allows the library to offer free memberships to people belonging to local refugee support groups.

Karl and his wife also run VJW Jewellery in the Grainger Market. Incidentally, the Grainger Market hosts its own Christmas Night Market next Thursday, 1 December from 5.30pm until 9pm. You can browse the illuminated isles of this busy market place, with stall holders offering samples, tasters & special festive promotions and discounts of up to 20%. There will also be entertainment, such as jewellery classes,live music from the likes of the Bamboo shoots, Salida ,Ragtime rewind, Lindy Jazz teaching us the Lindy Hop,Bay Ukes & more, a yuletide bar serving festive drinks including mulled wine and hot chocolate, street food, a shop launch & art. This free evening will also mark the launch of The Great Grainger Market Online Advent Calendar, featuring Craig Wilde & offering you the chance to win the Christmas hamper of your dreams.

Advents calendars are popular gifts at this time, but if you are not persuaded by a chocolate filled one, you may enjoy this selection of literary advent calendars put together by the German Spotlight Verlag. It contains bi-lingual advent calendars, some with traditional Christmas stories, or recipes and even a ??? detective story for each day leading up to Christmas.

Anyway, I hope you will soon be able to relax soon at the end of this very interesting and turbulent year and enjoy time with your family and friends.

See you soon & very warm regards

Manuela