No cuckoo clocks allowed!
 

My husband refuses to let me buy a cuckoo clock on our Germany vacation next week! I am not so into the looks of them but more the novelty and enjoying them as a child--and thought it would be fun for our future kids.

SO besides the Kinder Eggs we are obligated to bring back for his relatives....what can I look for of interest and would be reasonably sized to fit in my large suitcase or extra duffle bag?

I don't think we need anymore alcoholic beverages and I am good to go on Henckels knives....

He got me a German Smokemen thing for Xmas that I don't know quite what to do with...

I don't mind spending up to say $250 bucks on something that is display quality....I know with the current exchange rate it won't get me far...

Sorry he feels that way. He has not learned yet that what is special to his wife should be important to him. In forty years of marriage I don't recall ever REFUSING to let my wife get something that was important to her.

Let me get this straight...he won't let you get a cuckoo clock but doesn't mind shopping for his relatives...
Alise I just have one thing to say...
Buy a cuckoo clock anyway....
You should be more of a priority then other relatives. If they want trinkets from abroad let them go get it...
Seriously...I think it would be great to get something that you could pass down to your children..what a wonderful idea...now as for your husband...shame on him! ok I am off my soapbox..

When vacationing in Portugal 2 years ago, I was at a manor house. I kept hearing all these cukoo clocks go off all the time and kept thinking the Count of the manor home had his clocks all off set. It turns out there are REAL cukoo birds in Portuagal! How about that!!!!

I inherited two wonderful Bavarian carved pieces -- one is a remarkable cuckoo clock, the other a beautiful music box. It plays two songs waltzes: An deer schonen, blauen Donau Walzer and Ballsirenen Walzer. (I think those are known here as the Blue Danube and the Skaters' Waltz). Anyway, my sister and I used to dance and twirl to the songs in my grandmother's living room...my daughter did the same when visiting my parents...and someday I hope to have at least one little ballerina spinning around my house, too. Easier to pack, and less annoying than the clock (which sounds out every quarterhour if you let it run....) I'd look for a music box. It should provide generations of entertainment (and fit easily into any decor...)

Sorry about your husband's "refusal." A couple of alternatives would be a nice wooden creche--they do such lovely ones in Germany. Or nutcrackers. I visited a nutcacker factory somewhere near Vilsac about ten years ago and got a whole set of small ones. They look so nice marching across the mantel at Christmas!

I promise he isn't that bad...and I usually get what I want within reason
;-)

BUT it would probably clash with the Grandfather clock we plan to get in the next year and it definitely doesn't match any of our decor!

I swear his mother has a standing order for Kinder Eggs, we almost lied and told them last time that customs confiscated them!!! I think she gets them for a co-worker and his mother doesn't understand the word NO. I am newly married into the family so I will have to start being the evil daughter in law!

$10 worth of eggs or $400 clocks???

Perhaps I can guilt him into those diamond earrings in lieu of the clock?!

I do like the idea of the music box. My father bought me the most beautiful music box from Italy's Isle of Capri when I was in high school and it still holds my "jewels"...and it would be nice to have something to pass on someday.

I can tell that MelJ does not have cats.
If we tried to line up nutcracker soldiers on the mantle, we would be looking for toothmarked things under the couch.
Our mantle is used more like a sketeboard park.

LOL, ici. I know what you mean. When our Siamese, Saki, was still alive she literally climbed the walls, even as an older cat. Have no idea how she did it, but up, over and down she went. Thanks for the memory....

But, Icky I DID have cats! Two at once! They were just extremely well behaved and civilized--never jumped on a table or kitchen counter. At least that's what I told people, nose in the air, when they'd talk about the cat hair they found in the butter.

But then came the day I took down the kitchen curtains over the sink to wash them and discovered all the cat hair clinging to them! Like children, only behaving when we were around!

After that (don't read further my cat-loving friend) it was only Shih Tzus in my house--they don't shed :)

They make great small cuckoo clocks. One grandfather had one in the kitchen. That's where you should put yours so it won't clash with your grandfather's clock. If he still says no, then he's coo-coo.

Alise - why is it an option that he "let you"??? Don't ask - if you want it and can afford it then buy it. Period.

Melissa

As a husband, I follow the old Chinese proverb:

He who does not let wife buy wacky German clock is cuckoo.

Actually, speaking of Kinder Eggs and customs and getting confiscated, some time ago I read about some kind of "Kinder Egg Mafia" that was brining in Kinder Eggs from Canada into the US, and Americans were buying them for an arm nad a leg. I wonder if that's still going on!

I liked the ideas of the music box and Nutcracker. If you get the really really nice ones, they can go down generation after generation.

Now that Canada is planning on relaxing marijuana laws, you might find quite a surprise in your Kinder Eggs ;-)

Hi Alise,

Yur cuckoo clock will not "clash" with the grandfather's clock (that you might or might not ever get) if you set them to chime 1 minute apart.

I suggest you let the big clock go off on the hour and the little clock go off a bit later, so that it can respond "cuckoo, cuckoo".

I am getting such a wonderful laugh out of this!!!

Canada relaxing the weed laws eh?!
SPEAKING of certain illegal drugs
We have been discussing at work since I have 2 days in Amsterdam--

if you partake in the wacky weed where it is "LEGAL" but then return home to your job and get randomly drug tested---

Can they fire you????

and on a side note....and I can't believe you MEN wouldn't want to agree with me on this---but I feel like some battles just aren't worth trying to win.
Most of the time we agree/compromise on things that are shared and/or major purchases. I trust him to not go out and spend wildly and vice versa. That relationship and trust we have is very important. And it is nice to not fight about $ unlike a lot of couples I know.

alise: it generally depends on what kind of drug policy your company. If your contract doesn't say anything about possible drug testing, then they can't fire you. Even if you do test positive, the company has to prove that your alleged drug use affects your job performance before they can legally fire you. The laws where you live may also have something to say about the whole thing.

About decriminalizing of marijuana in Canada: http://www.nytimes.com/2003/05/28/in...as/28CANA.html

We spent 5 months in Germany over the winter...a few suggestions
Silit brand cookware--very high quality and extremely difficult to find outside Germany/Austria
Blue and white/grey Black Forest pottery (vases, steins, etc.)
Other carved wooden items, especially from the Black Forest. There were/are many outstanding wood craftsmen from that region
What parts of Germany will you be visiting?

What is a Kinder Egg?

Kinder Egg, also known as a Kinder surprise, is a children's confection in the form of a chocolate egg containing a small toy to be constructed by the aforementioned child or possibly a supervising adult.

Thank you Mr Google:)

You are referring to the cheap cuckoo clocks you see in the US. Germany has real clocks with metal works and great carvings that do not compare to what they ship to Target stores here. Look for the real thing and you may change your husband's mind. Plus, the good ones have a switch to turn the sound off and keep the time going.

A few other tips on buying a cuckoo:

Wooden weights: They have hand carved weights you can get instead of the cheap molded ones. This really makes a quality difference.

Dark chains: The cheap clocks have bright gold chains that look great new but quickly tarnish. The good clocks have quality dark chains that always look the same.

Carved wooden numbers, not stamped plastic. Plus the hands of the clock should be hand carved wood, not stamped white plastic.

The clock will be finished on the sides and the roof. The roof will have hand laid shingles. Cheap clocks will have nothing on the side or roof...just a flat board.

Music and hand carved figures. Not stamped.

Metal workings, not plastic. Ask to see the inside and have them tell you how it was made and where.

Check on how long the clock will run before you pull the weights. They have daily pulls and clocks that only need it weekly.

As you can see, your husband may be thinking of one type of clock while the true German cuckoo is a much higher quality. We learned all of this in the Black Forest 20 years ago and have two great clocks that work well in our home and we enjoy daily. It does pay to find someone who sells the real clock and not get the Target version. Plus, they do not cost all that more. Americans just do not know to ask.

Also...thanks for helping me kill a 3 hour delay at LAX. Nothing else to do but Fodors and then on to Australia. Enjoy Germany!

Kindersurprise is Verboten in the US?

It must be along the same lines as Mechano, where some kid got sick from eating all the nuts and bolts.

MelJ:

I was raised with Puddles for that reason. Dor (the less furry one) was only allowed a rabbit in a hutch outside.

We wallow in fur, and do not have visitors who do not approve.

Not only are the Kinder Eggs more expensive here now because of the exchange rate, but Schroeder's government decided to raise taxes on them to boost the budget. They used to be taxed at 7% as a food product, but now are taxed at 16% as a toy! They must sell a lot of kinder eggs if they think that's going to help! We see them here for up to 98 cents in the autobahn gas stations, but usually buy them in our local grocery store for 50 cents.

One thing to remember about bringing home a clock, is that you may have to leave it unpacked at the airport if you are going to claim the VAT tax back. When we took one home several years ago, we ended up hand-carrying it because they wouldn't give us the refund until they'd actually laid eyes on the clock. Besides, I'm not sure I'd put one in my luggage. They are packed well though, so don't take up much space in a carry-on.

Have a great time on your trip. I just checked our weather forecast and aside from thunderstorms in the evening, it looks great for the next while. Time to plant my corn!

Linda

The clock is definitely something you would want to take with you as carry-on.

Yeah, Kinder Eggs are forbidden in the US because they're afraid some kid will swallow the toy and choke.

We paid to have the clock shipped. A very safe way to handle a large package.

Besides our wonderful memories, our cuckoo clock is one of the best things we brought back from Germany! It (in the dining room)sounds off along with our (loud) mantle clock (in the living room)and they fill the house with beautiful music! We also bought three unique steins that we proudly display. Do splurge and get the wooden weights and pendulum...they really add to the look.

Ship the clock home. It beats carrying the thing on board and they are packed well.

Another suggestion for something wonderful to take home from Germany....

How about Christmas ornaments? I have some gorgeous wooden ones I bought in Germany a few years ago. The glass ones are pretty special, too!

Follow Bob's advice and buy a "good" clock. We bought one several years ago and like you thought it would be great for the kids. I will not now part with it! It hangs in my study and every hour reminds me of all the pleasure I have had on my trips to Europe. $250 will get you an wxcellent clock. Just tell hubby he can not buy a beer stein unless you can buy a clock.

Bob! You got it. let's hope she does.

I predict your husband will absolutely adore that clock you bought FOR HIM!!

Nutcrackers are my recommendation. Also, if the concern is lugging the stuff around with you, have it mailed home. Mail costs are high, but you can often save on tax.

I posted elsewhere that I think Kindersuprise eggs are available in the US, and posted a link to what I think is the same product (at a European goods store). IMHO cuckoo clocks are whimsical and could be a nice addition to the right room. That said, although it may not sound like much, keeping them wound (if that is the proper term for the pull chain) is yet another thing around the house that needs regular attention.

Just checked on eBay. There're 84 Kinderegg items listed, so go on over and bid! Do a search on Kinderegg* (the asterisk will bring up both singular and plural).

See my coomments above. I made it out of LAX and on to Australia. Sure hope Alise got her good cuckoo clock. Me? I have a great Australian hat! Gotta love this travel stuff!!!!

I had forgotten the joys of a KinderEgg!!!

Thanks for bringing about found memories :)

My step mom has a clock fetish. Your husband would not last long in her house!

They all ring, ding, chirp, chime, and say the time on the hour. She has them staggard. I lost count at 27 clocks.

She has one cuckoo, and one clock that plays Edelwiess, and has little moving people on it of some sort. Both are from Germany. Step bro brought back the latter one for her a couple of years ago.

Why does your husband refuse? I would feel badly if my husband did that to me, I think.

I hope you find something you like. I would get the clock if that is what I wanted.

all of this about cukoo clocks because of my trip to Portugal! I have not looked at this post since 2001... what a great trip. Maybe go to Portugal and stay and that might satisfy your cukoo clock craving after you hear all the real ones!! :-)