$dateString = strtotime('19.11.2009 14.00');
$now = time();

$time = $dateString - $now;

if($time > 60 && $time < 3600) echo $time/60.' minutes remaining';
else if($time > 3600 && $time < 86400) echo $time/3600.' hours remaining';
else if($time > 86400 && $time < 604800) echo $time/86400.' days remaining';
else if($time > 604800 && $time < 18144000) echo $time/604800.' weeks remaining';
else if($time > 18144000 && $time < 217728000) echo $time/18144000.' months remaining';
else if($time > 217728000) echo $time/217728000.' years remaining';