Constructions...

The Ger-Man and I had a rare night out this evening. (The Schwierig-mutter kindly swapped her regular Friday visit to today and stayed to babysit the Caspi-Man for us.)

So, what, you might ask, romantic and/or hedonistic pleasures were on our agenda? Did we go for a candlelit dinner at a Michelin starred restaurant? Or, maybe, did we have tickets to see the Madonna concert tonight at the Düsseldorf LTU Arena? To which I would have to reply - ahhh- um....no. (And if we did we probably wouldn't have been home by 10.15.)

We actually attended an invitation only, rather exclusive, fully catered, once-a-year event... the annual Eltern Abend (parent's evening) at the Caspi-Man's Kindergarten. (Oh the glamour!)

And the evening was not without its surprises. Apparently - the Kindergarten has secured nearly a million Euros to refurbish its building*. Work will commence next year. Architects have been commissioned. An on-site cafe, professional kitchen and community meeting rooms will be incorporated. The anticipated time line suggests the work will take only 3-4 months. (Yeah, right! As if!)

Meanwhile, the problem seems to be, what to do with the 45 children while the work is being done. Suggestions from the floor included a shipping container in the local park, farming them out to other kindergartens, or perhaps keeping them at home. (At home??? Really, Who Are These People?)

But mostly likely, they will be housed in one of the multitude of local office or shopping buildings left vacant due to the constructural ramifications of the Wehrhahn-Line.

Constructing times, indeed.

*it should be noted that the Kindergarten building also houses many baby and community groups in addition to just the Kindergarten.