Herr Mike in Deutschland

As you can see by the multicoloured view from my window Autumn (Herbst) has very much arrived in Erlangen. After a few days of around 22 degrees last week it is much colder today and apparently I am to expect snow by the end of the week!
I can't believe how quickly the seasons have changed, actually today feels a lot like winter, with the clocks changing I came home from work in the dark which was a new experience.
Also, it's now Xmas in Germany, 'Allerheiligen' which is the national holiday taking place on Wednesday marks the start of festivities and already there are grotesque fibreglass Santas hanging from the department stores.

I am very much looking forward to the visit of a couple of mates for my birthday at the weekend, will be very weird if it is snowing!
Also I am normally put in the birthday mood by a few hooligans prematurely setting off fireworks around now though as no-one ever tried (and miserably failed) to blow up the German houses of parliment (ok maybe Mr Churchill) there is no such thing as Guy Fawkes night. Rubbish :(