Ich spreche Deutsches sehr gut nicht an allen

How I wish that my German teacher had paid more attention in class…[2]

I am after a circular needle. I want an Addi Lace needle. They have suddenly become far more available than previously. I decided that it was worth a look on eBay… sure enough, there are quite a few listed. But wait, what is this? Needle from the US of A – £10.86 plus £3.05 p&p…. needle from Germany – £3.66 (mail for p&p details)

I think that they are equivalent items, but the listing is in German and Babelfish (hey – when did Yahoo! take over Altavista?) is about as useful as Babelfish generally is – and my own German is weak in the extreme.[1]

Footnote [1] one year of a supposed two year 6th form O-level option…

Footnote [2] …lessons from which the teacher skived more often than not, and we had to teach ourselves. The second year simply failed to materialise

7 Comments

  1. February 9, 2009

    Well, Addi needles are german, so it makes sense that they’d be cheaper to buy from Germany…

    • February 10, 2009

      @beautyredefined, It doesn’t automatically follow. Especially with the Euro exchange rate being what it is. I have purchased some euro goods cheaper in the US in the past than from the source. My regular pet supplies come from Germany and they have become hideously expensive in recent months.

  2. Ute
    February 10, 2009

    Hi Beth,

    It might not be too late….

    Ute

    • February 10, 2009

      LOL

      Thank you, Ute. I doubt if I could afford your services, though!

  3. February 10, 2009

    Have you tried writing – bet they are the same and they are bound to be cheaper only hopping over from Germany?

    I would hazzard a guess that her English is probably a lot better than our German, lol!

    • February 10, 2009

      @Kari,
      > I would hazzard a guess that her English is probably a lot better than our German, lol!

      so would I. We Brits are a disgrace when it comes to languages.
      Not that I am resistant, per se – bit I do have a totally useless “ear” for languages. Always got on with the written word quite well but when they began language labs and lessons taught in foreign lingo… I just floundered, and then failed.

      I’d just like to be able to say “two beers, please” in any language on earth – then I’d be happy 🙂

  4. February 12, 2009

    There should be universal sign language for “two beers please” which translates easily into any language at any place in the world!

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