just to let you know

things I miss in the UK

It's an institution. When I was a kid, I knew what 10:45 on a Sunday meant (well, occasionally delayed by a live broadcast of the Ski Worldcup).

"Die Sendung mit der Maus"

"The programme with the mouse"

And it was just divine - a true programme for the whole family. I sometimes even wonder if it's not the grown-ups who have kept it alive and kicking for so long now.

For those who have never heard about "Die Sendung mit der Maus before": it's a children's TV programme with a cartoon mouse (well), an elephant and a duck. Viewers witness the adventures of this tremendous trio and also see some clips with other cartoons or real-world issues and things. memorable episodes for me will be the one where they explained how holes get into the cheese or what a chain reaction is.

How do you explain a chain reaction to a kid? Simple, put a room full of mouse traps fitted with ping-pong balls on top. Then throw one ping-pong ball into the room so it hits another on a mous trap - eh basta! There is your kid-friendly chain reaction.

Such a shame there is no real british equivalent for this...