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Keep your chopping boards clean, rinse and dry your cloths and wipe the fridge monthly, say specialists. Here is your handy list of hygiene rules to help keep your kitchen bright, clean and healthy. Berlin (dpa) – Things can get hectic in the kitchen when you're chopping, frying, baking plus washing and drying up. But beware that germs can spread easily. It is "important to maintain good hygiene," says Bernd Glassl from the German Cosmetic, Toiletry, Perfumery and Detergent Association (IKW). Bacteria and other pathogens otherwise increase the risk of infection – which can lead to gastrointestinal troubles or even food poisoning. What to bear in mind when it comes to kitchen hygiene Use a different cloth for each task Use a separate cleaning or washing-up cloth for each area of the kitchen. In other words, don't use the same cloth to wipe the chopping board and clean the table or floor. You should also use different cloths for drying – one for your hands, one for work surfaces and one for dishes. "Wash cloths at a minimum of 60 degrees and change them once a week – or more often if you use them intensively," says Anna-Delia Knipper from Germany's Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR). Her tip also applies to cleaning and dishcloths. The high washing temperature ensures that pathogens are killed, says Knipper, a research assistant in the Product Hygiene and Disinfection Strategies department. "In general, it is not necessary to wash textiles at 90 degrees," says Knipper. The disinfecting effect of a 90-degree wash or the addition of disinfectants only makes sense in the case of acutely communicable diseases – if recommended by a doctor or the health authorities. But the more often you prepare raw food in the kitchen, the more often you should clean or replace used cloths, sponges and brushes. Do not leave sponges and cloths in the sink Stainless steel wool and dishwashing brushes can be used to clean heavily soiled pots and pans. However, after scrubbing, burnt-on food or other residues may stick to the cleaning utensils. Such residues should be carefully removed, advises Knipper. "Plastic dishwashing brushes can be cleaned in the dishwasher," says Glassl. If you are unable to clean the stainless steel wool and dishwashing brushes, you should replace them. It is also important not to leave wet cleaning cloths and used dishwashing brushes in the sink. Utensils used for cleaning dishes and the kitchen should first be rinsed well and wrung out. That is because "bacteria can multiply quickly at room temperature, especially in damp cloths and sponges," says Knipper. Glassl says, "Damp cloths should be hung up and left to dry, as this reduces the spread of any pathogens." Sponges are less suitable for use in the kitchen than cleaning cloths or dishcloths because they dry slowly, Knipper says. She also recommends using kitchen paper to wipe up liquids and food residues. Handling frozen meat Frozen meat should not be thawed at room temperature, but rather in the refrigerator, advises the German Consumer Advice Centre. It is best to store it covered so that the meat does not come into contact with other foods. Defrosting water is a good breeding ground for germs, so it is essential to collect it and pour it away carefully or you risk spreading salmonella, which can cause bacterial gastrointestinal disease. Always store meat, poultry and fish in the coldest part of your refrigerator, meaning the lowest glass shelf above the vegetable compartment. Pay attention to hygiene during preparation Consumer protection agencies advise against rinsing raw meat, as germs can spread through splashing water. Instead, it is better to remove the meat from its packaging with a fork and place it directly into the pan. If you chop raw meat and poultry, you should generally use a different chopping board than the one you use for fruit and vegetables. If raw food has been prepared on a board, you should not use it to prepare cooked food. After coming into contact with raw meat or poultry, raw eggs, fish or vegetables, Knipper recommends thoroughly cleaning your work surfaces and equipment – ideally with hot water and washing-up liquid. Wash your hands thoroughly before and between steps, because they can also transfer pathogens to food. Also, do regularly clean the handles of drawers, the refrigerator and the dishwasher. Clean chopping boards and kitchen utensils in dishwasher For hygiene reasons, when putting crockery, cutlery and kitchen utensils in the dishwasher, you should select programmes with temperatures of at least 60 degrees Celsius. To allow the detergent to work properly, you should also avoid overloading the dishwasher. "Plastic chopping boards can usually be cleaned in the dishwasher at temperatures above 60 degrees," says Knipper. This makes them more suitable for raw foods than wooden boards. Cutting boards, whether made of wood or plastic, should have a smooth surface so that they can be cleaned easily. Boards with cuts and grooves, where bacteria can accumulate and multiply, should be replaced with new ones. Avoid aggressive cleaning agents on the hob With newer models, it may be sufficient to turn the hob up to a high temperature, as they often clean their interior automatically.However, "depending on the type of dirt, washing-up liquid or special cleaners are best for cleaning the hob," says Glassl. For light soiling, it is sufficient to wash the hob surface with washing-up water and a cloth. Special cleaners help with stubborn stains and burnt-on food. Do not use abrasive cleaners on glass ceramic hobs, as these can leave scratches. Instead, use special glass ceramic scrapers. Kitchen appliances also need care To ensure your dishwasher works well, it needs regular care. "Even the parts of the dishwasher that the spray jets don't reach, such as the rubber seal or the door edge, should be cleaned regularly with a cloth and a little detergent," says Glassl. Hygiene is also important for other household appliances. "Ideally, clean the refrigerator once a month with an all-purpose cleaner," says Glassl. Don't forget the seals on the refrigerator door. Depending on the degree of soiling and the type of use, more frequent cleaning may be necessary. If you spill something, remove it immediately with a piece of kitchen paper. Store your cleaning products separately from food – preferably outside the kitchen. The following information is not intended for publication dpa/tmn eut bzl mod nhr xxde arw

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Simple acts of kindness, like checking in or offering to help with errands, can go a long way. Check whether groups may be able to help support activities with neighbours where you live. London (PA Media/dpa) – In the lead up to Christmas it’s easy to get caught up in our own family celebrations and social lives, but it’s important to also keep an eye on your neighbours too. Reaching out to people in your community can help build rapport and help reduce feelings of isolation. “In society we are becoming increasingly isolated and suspicious of each other, so the benefit of reaching out to a neighbour is that you can bring some of those barriers down and realise that we’re all very similar,” says Karen Jordan, team leader at the Good Neighbours Network, a collection of over 120 local groups in the UK all offering a helping hand to others in their community. “Reaching out to your neighbours can help you realise that we all have similar problems and worries and sharing them can help reduce that burden.” She highlights that it’s particularly crucial to look out for more vulnerable groups, such any elderly neighbours who live on their own, this time of year. “A lot of our Good Neighbourhood Network groups help people who are over 65 and many of the volunteers themselves are in that age bracket,” says Jordan. “I think it’s also important to reach out to young families and mothers who might be struggling on their own and might benefit from a chat.” Here are some simple ways to be the best neighbour you can be this Christmas… Look around “I think one of the most important things that people can do to help their neighbours this Christmas and winter is to just start taking notice,” says Jordan. “Just look around and take notice of little signs that might indicate that somebody is struggling.” Get a conversation going “It can be tricky because the older generation is very proud, so often wouldn’t want to admit that they’re lonely, so that can be quite a barrier,” recognises Jordan. “I would always recommend having a very light touch about it and perhaps just start with ‘if you fancy a chat and a cup of tea anytime, just let me know’ to help get the conversation going.” Spread awareness about local groups and services Your neighbour might not be aware of all the great local groups and activities in the area, so Jordan recommends highlighting these wonderful services. “You could say I know of a local voluntary group that can help with taking people to the GP or a hospital, or has befriending services,” says Jordan. “You could phrase it in a way of wanting to spread the message about the certain group, so they don’t feel targeted.” Consider a festive gesture A small gesture like a Christmas card could help brighten someone’s day. “A lot of our Good Neighbours Network groups do Christmas specific things, such as putting on a Christmas community lunch or putting cards or small gifts through people’s doors,” says Jordan. “Small festive gestures like these are really nice.” Signpost helpful services “One of our satellite projects is to spread the message of the Priority Services Register,” says Jordan. “It’s a service that quite a wide range of people can sign up to, including people of pensionable age and people who have children under five.” To register, you need to contact your energy and/or water supplier directly, either online, by phone or in writing. “If there is a power cut or a water cut and you have signed up to the register, then you will be one of the first people who are reached out to,” explains Jordan. Offer to help with errands If you know your neighbour is unable to drive, you could ask them if they would like a lift to the shops or any upcoming hospital appointments. “Many of our Good Neighbours Network groups offer medical transport, but it isn’t just about taking them to hospital,” says Jordan. “It’s the reassurance that somebody is going to turn up at a certain time and take some of that worry of their hospital appointment away. “It’s also about knowing that they’re going to have a chat on the way there and a chat on the way back. Most of our volunteers will actually take them into the hospital or GP practice and wait for them. So, there’s that important moral support element to it as well.” Introduce them to a lunch club “A lot of local groups offer lunch clubs which are a really good way to get people out of their home and into a warm environment to have a cup of tea and a chat with somebody that they wouldn’t normally speak to,” says Jordan. The following information is not intended for publication dpa pa arw

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Bonn (dpa) – People often confuse passion fruit with maracuja. But they taste different, even though they both belong to the passion flower genus. Here's how to spot the difference, thanks to tips from some nutritionists: Maracujas They contain a lot of acid, which is why they are mainly used to make juice. The fruit is round to egg-shaped, significantly larger than passion fruit and yellow when ripe, says Germany's Federal Centre for Nutrition (BZfE). Passion fruit But ripe passion fruit are green-brown to purple and are also called purple granadillas. They taste sweet and sour, and to eat them you can just cut them in half and spoon out the fruit. To make juice, squeeze the halves with a lemon squeezer or pass the pulp through a sieve, say specialists. Passion fruit tastes good in fruit salads, muffins, pancakes and fruity punch. Why wrinkled is better When you shop, don't be tempted to reach for smooth passion fruits. If they have wrinkled skin, it's a sign of ripeness and sweetness says Arne Betzold from Germany's Federal Office for Agriculture and Food (BLE). "When they arrive from abroad as smooth fruits, they are usually still very sour." Passion fruits only shrivel when they ripen. "The evaporation of moisture concentrates the sugar content in the fruit and makes it much tastier," says Betzold. If you buy smooth fruit or find the taste too sour, Betzold recommends "simply leaving it at home for another two or three days." Once your passion fruit is ripe, it will keep in the crisper drawer of the refrigerator for one to two weeks. The following information is not intended for publication dpa/tmn cwg bac xxde amc arw

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Berlin (dpa) – If leaves are falling where you are, then act fast to prevent damage to your home. Leaves often accumulate on flat roofs and in gutters, especially in stormy weather. If you are a homeowner, take timely action to prevent major blockages in drainpipes and downpipes, says Fatma Özkan from the North Rhine-Westphalia Consumer Advice Centre in Germany. And if there are tall deciduous trees near your home, be sure to check rain gutters and drainpipes regularly and clean them if necessary. Once leaves form a thick layer, they can become as slick as a sheet of plastic. Install grates and check the drainage pipe If your rain gutter is blocked, water will find other ways to drain. During heavy showers, gutters can quickly overflow, leading to water damage to the house wall. So take preventive measures to avoid blockages in the gutter and downpipe. You can get special grilles or leaf filters and attach them to the gutter to keep it clean. Also check whether the downpipe is firmly attached to the drainage pipe that leads into the ground. If not, you must ensure that this connection is restored so that the water can drain away without any obstacles. If rainwater cannot seep away on the property, it can accumulate, which can also cause damage to the building, flood basement rooms and overload your sewage system. Roofs as reservoirs With green roofs and unsealed surfaces, owners can make an important contribution to preventing flooding during heavy rainfall events, especially in densely built-up residential areas. Plants on roofs or in gardens store rainwater and relieve the burden on your sewage system. And unsealed surfaces ensure that the water can seep away directly. Also consider special retention green roofs as these are designed to specifically collect rainwater in a temporary storage facility. These kinds of measures reduce the risk of backwater during local heavy rainfall and ideally prevent flooding. The following information is not intended for publication dpa/tmn mod lue xxde arw

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Sex and drugs – Billy Idol left all that behind long ago, but not rock'n'roll. Hits like "Rebel Yell" and "Eyes Without A Face" are now cult classics. And they also inspire his granddaughter, he tells us. London (dpa) – In the 1980s he was the wild poster boy of mainstream punk. With straw-blond spikes and a curled top lip, Billy Idol was one of the best-known faces of the MTV era and delivered global hits such as "White Wedding", "Rebel Yell" and "Sweet Sixteen". "I was alive in the 80s. It was so much fun," he told dpa in an interview in London. He has long left the wild times behind, but the rock’n’roll remains. Even as a grandfather, the British musician keeps putting out new music and regularly takes the stage. On his milestone birthday he will play in Mexico City. Age does not matter to his career, he said. If the Rolling Stones are still on stage at 80, he can do it at 70. "I think it's partly that we are doing what we love. So there's no impediment to not wanting to do it," he told dpa in a 2024 interview. "A day may come when the audience isn't there," he said. "But at the moment, we're going strong." That was not always the case. From London to New York City The path of William Michael Albert Broad — the name in his passport — began on November 30, 1955. He was born in Stanmore, a district in the north-west of the British capital. He later chose the name Idol because a teacher called him "idle", which he noted that can mean vain as well as lazy. After trying his hand as a guitarist in the punk band Chelsea, he founded Generation X and became its frontman. The initially aggressive punk soon gave way to a radio-friendly style. The Generation X song "Dancing With Myself" gave a foretaste of Idol’s future sound and was re-released as his first solo single. In the early 1980s he moved to New York. "It was to meet someone like Steve Stevens," he said. In the American virtuoso guitarist he found a kindred spirit. "Once I met Steve, I just knew and I saw what he could do. I went: 'This is the guy. I can do anything I want with this guy.'" Together with Stevens and British producer Keith Forsey he developed the typical Idol sound. The blend of muscular rock and new wave with strong pop melodies, punchy guitar riffs and danceable rhythm can be heard to perfection on the second album "Rebel Yell" from 1984. It made Billy Idol a global star. His success in the United States was closely tied to MTV. The channel went on air in 1981 almost at the same time as Idol’s arrival in New York City. His sexually charged videos, in which he poses half naked, clenches his fist and curls his upper lip, ran in heavy rotation. At the height of his success he fully lived the excesses of the 1980s. "There was this free love and tons of sex and drugs and all going on at the same time," Idol recalled. "And it was all fuelling the music and the fashions and everything. It was a hell of a lot of fun." After a decade of rock'n'roll lifestyle came the crash. Motorcycle crash and drug collapse In a motorcycle accident in 1990 he almost lost his leg. His experimental studio album "Cyberpunk" flopped in 1993. After splitting from his longtime girlfriend Perri Lister, his drug use spun out of control. In his autobiography he writes it was clear that he had to stop taking heroin, but admits he foolishly started using cocaine to help with the withdrawal symptoms. In 1994 he collapsed outside a nightclub in Los Angeles. He then began rehab and turned his life around. The thought of his children got him off drugs, said Idol, who is now in a relationship with actress China Chow. Willem Wolf, his son with Lister, is 37. His 36-year-old daughter Bonnie Blue — from a brief affair with American Linda Mathis — made Billy Idol a rock grandad. His granddaughter, Poppy, is already a fan. "I remember Poppy first tapping her foot to 'Rebel Yell'," the proud grandad recounted. "The child doesn't get taught to tap its foot to music, it just does it. So I saw her tap her feet to some of my music for the first time, to 'Rebel Yell'. She was tapping her feet for the first time. So I've really enjoyed being a grandad." Musically, Billy Idol returned with his congenial partner Stevens in 2005 on the studio album "Devil’s Playground", 12 years after "Cyberpunk". More albums and EPs followed, most recently "Dream Into It", on which he looks back on his life with nostalgia and self-criticism. In the supergroup Generation Sex — with musicians from Generation X and the Sex Pistols — he plays old punk classics. Today Billy Idol enjoys cult status and tours regularly. In summer he played several concerts in Europe where he appeared in top form. "I don't get bored of singing 'Rebel Yell' or 'Eyes Without a Face' or any of the songs," Billy Idol emphasized. "They've got an energy that doesn't fade." The following information is not intended for publication dpa pde xx a3 ara coh

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Nine years ago, no one could have predicted the cultural phenomenon "Stranger Things" would become. As the series enters its final season, it leaves behind a billion-dollar legacy. With its flagship show coming to an end, can Netflix maintain its momentum? Los Angeles (tca/dpa) – Before the sci-fi series "Stranger Things" premiered on Netflix , several traditional studios had already passed on it. Its creators were first-time show runners, unknown young actors were cast in lead roles, and even though the show starred kids, it was not for children. That was nine years ago. The 1980s-set show about a monster that wreaks havoc on fictional Hawkins, Ind., hit a chord with Netflix 's global subscribers. "Stranger Things" has since become one of the streamer's most culturally significant shows, with its fourth season garnering 140.7 million views in its first three months and ranking third among its top English-language series. It was instrumental in growing new branches of business for Netflix , including live events, a Broadway production and inspired brands eager to partner on licensed merchandise. It became a major franchise for the platform, a chance to build a universe around its central characters and create its own version of "Star Wars." The show helped build Netflix 's reputation as a place that makes big bets on original ideas and, if it's a hit, can build a large fandom for such programs with its worldwide subscriber base. Netflix took a chance on show runner brothers Matt and Ross Duffer . The pair never imagined the series, which held its first premiere in Silver Lake at Mack Sennett Studios , would take off the way it did. That wasn't lost on Matt Duffer , who stood on stage at the final season premiere inside the historic TCL Chinese Theatre in Hollywood earlier this month. It was the same place "Star Wars" premiered in 1977. "For me, as a nerd, this is a dream come true," Duffer told the audience. In an interview, Bela Bajaria , the chief content officer at Netflix , lauded the success of the series: "You could take a bet on an original story, and grow it to a major franchise that has massive global appeal." Other Netflix shows, like " House of Cards ," have certainly captured the zeitgeist before, but co-CEO Ted Sarandos said he believes "Stranger Things" stands above some previous hits. " This was a lot closer to a 'Star Wars' moment," Sarandos said speaking on stage at the "Stranger Things" final season premiere in Hollywood earlier this month. "This is a show, and these are characters that move the culture, that spawned live events and consumer products and spinoffs and sequels … Everything from the first episode of the first season to 'The First Shadow,' the Broadway show, the origin story of the Upside Down, it has been and continues to be a remarkable addition to entertainment culture." The four past seasons of "Stranger Things" made it into Netflix 's Top 10 this past week, Netflix said. From 2020 to the second quarter of 2025, "Stranger Things" earned more than $1 billion in global streaming revenue for Netflix and was responsible for more than 2 million new subscriber acquisitions, according to estimates from Parrot Analytics, which tracks streaming data. Netflix declined to comment on Parrot's estimates. "Every single streaming service needs that anchor series that drives customer acquisition and helps define the original programming," said Brandon Katz , director of insights and content strategy at Greenlight Analytics, adding for Hulu it was "The Handmaid's Tale" and for Disney+, "The Mandalorian." "'Stranger Things' has undoubtedly been that for Netflix . Every few years that it does air, Netflix knows there is a guaranteed high ceiling of acquisition, retention and viewership power," Katz said. "Stranger Things" also helped Netflix expand into licensed goods, with brands eager to partner with the platform. There are themed Eggo breakfast foods, Lego sets and clothing. The series "has been a catalyst for Netflix to explore all of the ways in which a single entertainment property can be turned into an entire global lifestyle," said Robert Thompson , director of the Bleier Center for Television and Popular Culture at Syracuse University . Its popularity has helped other creative collaborators as well. Artists whose songs were featured on the show climbed the charts. Kate Bush's "Running Up That Hill" was featured in Season 4 and reached No. 1 on the Billboard Global 200 and No. 4 on the Billboard Hot 100, 37 years after its original release, Netflix said. Metallica's 1986 song "Master of Puppets " also broke the U. K. Top 30 for the first time after it played during the Season 4 finale, the streamer added. The series has been recognized with more than 65 awards and 175 nominations. Netflix estimates "Stranger Things" has helped create 8,000 production-related jobs in the U.S. over its five seasons and, since 2015, contributed more than $1.4 billion to U.S. GDP. In California , Netflix estimates the series contributed more than $500 million of GDP. Netflix is doing a large marketing push with fan events in 28 cities and 21 countries as the series draws to a close. On Sunday, the streamer hosted a bike ride on a stretch of Melrose Avenue in partnership with CicLAvia where 50,000 fans were encouraged to dress in '80s attire, or as a "Stranger Things" character. On Thursday, a "Stranger Things" float appeared in the Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade. The company began a phased release of the final season with four episodes that debuted Wednesday. Another three episodes will land on Christmas Day and a two-hour finale Dec. 31 on Netflix . The finale will also play inmore than 350 movie theaters in the U.S. and Canada on Dec. 31 and Jan. 1 . "Stranger Things" fans Kelly Audrain and Jason Serstock said they have been rewatching the show from the beginning to refresh their memories on the whole tale, and were still on Season 2 as of earlier this month. The couple attended the premiere of the last season in Hollywood . "The whole costuming and everything was so perfect that you just feel like you're taken back to the '80s," 29-year-old Audrain said, who was dressed as "Stranger Things" character Eleven in a pink dress and sporting a mock bloody nose. Netflix is expanding the show's universe with the animated series "Stranger Things: Tales from '85" next year. In April, Netflix 's "Stranger Things: The First Shadow " stage play hit Broadway . The company has also opened "Stranger Things" pop-up stores, held live experiences and will feature immersive experiences at its Netflix House locations, including "Stranger Things: Escape the Dark" in Dallas . In Las Vegas , Netflix will offer themed foods like Surfer Boy Pizza at its Netflix Bites restaurant. The Duffers recentlytold Deadline a spinoff is in the works at Netflix . Bajaria declined to share anything about that but said, "I think the world is really rich and there's still a lot of story in there." But there are challenges ahead. Netflix , seen as the leader in subscription streaming, has had two major flagship series end this year — "Stranger Things" and Korean-language drama "Squid Game." Analysts say the company will need to keep pumping out popular shows and movies to keep subscribers coming back. Netflix has successfully expanded its "Squid Game" franchise to include reality competition series "Squid Game: The Challenge ," where more than 95% of watchers also tuned into the scripted series. Other popular franchises like Addams family series "Wednesday," pirates tale "One Piece" and Regency-era romance "Bridgerton" are ongoing. Netflix 's hit animated movie "KPop Demon Hunters" will get a sequel. Separately, Netflix placed a bid on parts of Warner Bros. Discovery , with interest in Warner's Burbank studios and HBO , according to people familiar with the matter. If the acquisition is successful, it would greatly expand Netflix 's library of titles and intellectual property. Whi…

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A Paris Christmas romance has rocketed to 20 million views in five days and hit number one in 51 countries, Netflix says. Is "Champagne Problems" a charming festive escape or a sugar-sweet schmaltz? Paris (dpa) – Young and single, she flies in from the United States to France for work and finds a whirlwind romance instead. Yes, yes, we've seen this one already. Except that no, this isn't "Emily in Paris", but Netflix's latest rom-com film with a Christmas-branded take on some less-than-original tearjerking schmaltz. The story Junior manager Sydney is sent to Paris to help her company acquire the prestigious champagne label Château Cassell just before Christmas. Exploring the festively decorated city on her own with a promise to keep her head down ("I don't have time for sightseeing"), she soon meets the Frenchman Henri in a bookshop. Between the Eiffel Tower and a bridge over the Seine they spend magical romantic hours together before the bubble bursts the next morning when they both make a surprise discovery that impacts her work in Paris. If the story feels familiar so far, then the rest of the film will feel very predictable. The characters Minka Kelly, crowned Sexiest Woman Alive in 2010, plays Sydney with an innocently sultry glance and pleasant smile. Opposite her, Tom Wozniczka is an easy-on-the-eyes Henri. Their characters yearn for an orderly happiness without drama and are a touch strait-laced. That is fair and true to life, but for outsiders it is a bit like listening to the neighbours' pillow talk, only mildly exciting. Champagne magnate Hugo Cassell (Thibault de Montalembert) is fatherly and well-meaning, while the German Otto (Flula Borg) comes across as stiff and overly correct. He is Sydney’s rival for the champagne brand, as is the distinguished Frenchwoman Brigitte. Stirring things up is Roberto (Sean Amsing), a gay millionaire who also wants the company because he loves serving the noble fizz at his parties. The script and the setting The film radiates a rose-tinted plush cosiness. The twinkling Eiffel Tower is present, as are Paris’s glittering lights and of course the snow-dusted baroque little chateau of the Cassell family, where patriarch Hugo plans to decide on a buyer. It is a setting and film far removed from the world’s problems. The script, meanwhile, holds plenty of howlers and groaners, some more, some less cringe-inducing. A selection: "Château Cassell turns my troubles into bubbles." (Roberto on why he wants to buy the brand.) "With over a thousand varieties in France alone, cheese is more than food. It’s part of our culture, our history. To get to know France, it’s to get to know and love cheese." (during a tasting) "We have a saying in Germany: 'Alles hat ein Ende, nur die Wurst hat zwei'. Which is 'Everything has an end, except for sausage, which has two.'" (Otto trying to be funny.) "Champagne problems? It just means your problems aren’t really that bad. Most people would feel lucky to have your worries." (Sydney on her experiences in France.) "Sometimes, you can live a whole life in just one day. I had a great life today." (Henri to Sydney on their first evening.) How does it make you feel?   Like you've drunk a bit too much mulled wine, given nearly two hours of sugar-sweet romance. In return your head feels pleasantly empty and ready for dreams of sparkling lights and Christmas romance. The following information is not intended for publication dpa cor yyby n1 gth/slb

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