Busy Weekend

It was indeed a busy weekend. Henri was occupied all Sunday morning trying out different ways to move liquid from one container to the other (or from one container to a flat surface). Karl in the meantime was less science oriented and got some hands-on experience being part of the service economy workforce.



His barber Francesco let him shave most of dad's head, taught him how to blow the fine-cut hair off the blades and how to run the machine in straight lines against the grain. While Francesco put some last touches on my do Karl picked up a broom and swept the hair from the floor. So in the end he was paid the handsome fee of 1 Euro. First self-earned money! Which he took right next door to invest in a lemon ice cream. Wise investment it was with the last summer days bringing the inevitable closure of ice cream parlors and with the Euro melting faster than any gelato these days.



Sunday summer was gone, but there was a spontaneous invitation to join Albert and Anna and (not pictured) Kathrin with some other Bavarofriends at the famous duck bbq at the Oktoberfest. We briefly debated all going, but the idea of trying to contain high-speed Henri in the crowds of the world's biggest debauchery was not that appealing. Besides the fact that Fred likes the Oktoberfest about as much as getting two simultaneous root canals (if Miss perfect teeth would know what that is).



There's always a bit of a generational conflict at a Oktoberfest outing, since the adults like the greasy food and heavy beer while the kids all just want to go on the many rides. Since I am not such a fan of large quantities of alcohol either in the company of young children or bright daylight I indulged Karl in a few. Carrousel rides of course.



He really wanted to go do the bumper cars though. So we went and he really got a kick out of it (we did some bumping, but most of the time we outraced the others, which might defeat the purpose, but prevents whiplash in minors).



He did quite well throwing balls at pyramids of old cans and won two prizes (a plastic whistle and a little glider plane). And of course we had to buy the customary gingerbread hearts. His says "you imp". Well, if the weather clears up he'll be back at Oktoberfest on Tuesday, when his kindergarten plans an outing there. And since one of the school kids today recited a Oktoberfest poem he learned in school and had the homework assignment of shooting a rose for his teacher, it seems Oktoberfest is part of the regular curriculi here in Munich.