So...we are moving to England!: 2015

As some of you may know, I am a member of Marlow's branch of the Round Table. The Round Table, which was founded in 1927, is the leading social and voluntary organisation for men aged 18-45 in Great Britain and Ireland. We raise money for locale charities through various events and usually have a social one night a month (read: meet for pints at the pub).

An annual Round Table tradition is the Santa Sleigh ride. For a few nights during the month of December the sleigh is pulled through various neighborhoods, Christmas music blaring while volunteers go door and door collecting money for charity. This happens all over England. One of those nights I was lucky enough to don the big guy's suit and hop in the sleigh.

Ho, Ho, Ho

Kids all over Marlow ran out of their homes to meet Santa. They were a bit baffled by a Father Christmas with an American accent but I think it helped with the authenticity!

My elves, Henry & Oliver, got in on the fun and went door to door with buckets in hand to help collect the money.

A fun night for a really good cause.

Happy Christmas everyone!

This year for Thanksgiving we visited Berlin. We figured, 'what the heil?' (kudos to Mary Anne for the joke)

We enjoyed a traditional Thanksgiving dinner at "New York" themed restaurant in a local hotel. Not as good a home but when in Rome...

After dinner we took a short stroll down to Brandenburg Gate where John F. Kennedy famously said in '63, "Ich bin ein Berliner" which unfortunately translated to "Today, I am a jelly donut" instead of "Today, I am a Berliner."

The Berlin wall used to run right in front of the gate.

In '87, Reagan implored Gorbachev to "tear down this wall" from the same spot.

Here is picture of the gate on the night the Wall between East and West Berlin fell in '89.

Oliver reenacting the dramatic scene

The next day we headed to the top of Berlin's TV tower. It was a bit foggy.

Then we came across an area with trampolines in the pavement.

Then to the first of many outdoor Christmas markets. Our first was located at Berliner Weihnachtszeit in the Alexanderplatz district - the oldest in Berlin.

They turned their famous Neptune fountain into an ice rink - Beth taught the boys how to skate.

First with a little help from a penguin.

It didn't take Henry long to get the hang of it.

And off he goes...

Oliver's turn

Ferris wheel ride

Alexanderplatz Clock Tower

Then we mosied over to the Berlin Cathedral on museum island.

Now a history lesson about the Berlin Wall.

After World War II Germany ended up dividing into two separate countries. East Germany became a communist country under the control of the Soviet Union. At the same time West Germany was a democratic country and allied with Britain, France, and the United States.

Berlin was the capital of Germany. Even though it was located in the eastern half of the country, the city was controlled by all four major powers; the Soviet Union, the United States, Britain, and France.

As people in East Germany began to realize that they did not want to live under the rule of the Soviet Union and communism, they started to leave the eastern part of the country and move to the west. Over the course of the years 1949 to 1961, over 2.5 million people left the country.

Finally, the Soviets and the East German leaders had had enough. On August 12th and 13th of 1961 they built a wall around Berlin to prevent people from leaving. At first the wall was just a barbed wire fence. Later it would be rebuilt with concrete blocks 12 feet high and four feet wide.

It is estimated that around 5000 people escaped over or through the wall during the 28 years it stood. Around 200 were killed trying to escape. It came down in 1989 although some of it still stands for historical purposes.

"Dad - its just a wall..."

We stayed in a fantastic flat. We could have fit the whole family for Thanksgiving dinner.

Checkpoint Charlie- the best known Berlin cross point. It became a symbol of the Cold War representing the separation of East and West.

Only a small guard shack now stands

There was a great small museum with artifacts and a 10 minute video that really helped the kids understand what the Wall was all about. It prompted a lot of discussion about the "goodies and the baddies" during the remainder of the day.