Jim's Holidays: Hannover Heat Summer of 18

Our flight to Hannover is 2 hours after Lily-Rose’s to Cork so after enduring the Sauna Train up to Stansted I wait for hours to be able to check in our case. Otherwise an uneventful flight and train into the centre and we check into our very nice hotel. Wandering around at midnight uncovers no bars so we raid the mini bar and sleep. Next day is going to be a hot one and we wander through the old part of town, or rather the reconstituted old part following the damage to every last building that the British inflicted75 years ago, and have a coffee in a church square with wedding ceremony in full flow. Of course the locals are drinking beer and wine and eating massive ice cream sundaes but as it’s not yet 11am we stick to coffee. It’s about 35 degrees already so we slowly make our way down past the river stopping frequently to rest in the shade and picnic breakfast next to the new, well, 100 years old, town hall. We go look around and get the very dodgy lift which starts at an angle up to the very top of the hall for spectacular views across Hannover and Saxony. I wonder if this is where my distant ancestors come from being British and Anglo Saxon. Some of me at least I’m sure. Next we wander through a park and down to the big lake Maschsee where we lunch on drinks, when in Germany, and chips. Then it’s a hot walk back past the football ground to the centre where we pick up our luggage and train out to Lutz and Johanna’s village. They have converted an amazing old house which the pictures will do justice rather than words. We are in the guest complex. We have home made pizza in the garden and after a few more local beers and a walk in the countryside and village turn in for the night.

Saturday we wake in a leisurely fashion but with a 6 year old and 10 week baby Lutz and Johanna have been up for hours. Ah, the joys of kids. It’s full on what with the kids and Debbie and I being put to work on self build furniture then friends dropping in for a chat, and beer of course, then Tina, Jens and the girls arrive in their motor home. It’s too hot to do much except for hide in the shade so that’s what we do chatting and drinking. Another great dinner picking at all sorts of delicacies then a walk around the village to see the horses. Us boys try to visit the local pub but unfortunately it’s closed. Maybe just as well. Sunday is a little cloudier but we all go to the local lido anyway and soon the sun comes up to heat us up. It’s a great place with decent sized pool, diving and spring boards all set in a wooded area with sun loungers and a café where we buy chips. Like a country club really. Soon though it’s time to part and we’re driven to the airport where Lutz and Johanna ask me to be baby Tom’s godfather, I think as I’ve been trying to persuade him to become a vegan Gooner cricketer. I’m greatly honoured and it’s the perfect way to end our stay in Germany. Thanks Family Klostermann! Flight home is good and fast. Chaos on the railway back to London but this is the UK not Germany!