May 2018 Things

I am still suffering from certain kinds of tree pollen and venture onto my balcony now and again to relax and read a book. I always have lots of tissues with me. Other sufferers will know what I mean. Got a nice comment from Thorsten linking my last Croc post to my allergies. Yes, let the crocs have them and give my eyes a rest!

We've had some good Spring weather here over the last week. Yesterday and today was 24°C and two families are having picnics in the gardens next to where I live. One has a tiny baby so I hope she is enjoying her first early summer party in a garden!

A couple of days ago I got a postcard from cousin Barbara from Berwick-upon-Tweed. When I started this blog, Barbara was one of two people I had in mind when I created its style and format. The other was little sister Frances. She has no idea of the world outside Silsden but Barbara has travelled a lot and is computer savvy. Frances no longer reads this blog but Barbara and a number of family members in and around Silsden do.

I decided to share Barbara's postcard with all of them/you. What do you know about Berwick-opon-Tweed? Nothing! Then read on. The name means barley village/farm from the original  'bere-wic'. It is the northernmost town in England in the county of Northumberland and is just 4 km south of the Scottish border. It has a population of 12,000 which is double that of Silsden!

It was founded as an Anglo-Saxon settlement and later annexed to England in the 10th Century. Berwick changed hands between England and Scotland over 12 times in the next 400 years. I'm glad I wasn't around then! Now 60% of the population work in the service sector, only 13% in manufacturing and 10% in agriculture.

The town is on the famous A1 road constructed by the Romans linking London to Edinburgh. It is famous for its castle, town hall and the 'Old Bridge' which is a 15 span sandstone arch bridge built in 1610-24. It also has the Union Bridge built in 1821, which is the world's oldest surviving suspension bridge. Wow! .... but I didn't know all that. Go and visit the town when you are next in Brexitland!  I can only remember one visit and that was in 1960. Yes, many years ago!

Who has a birthday in May?  Max the Pizza/Pasta fan in Berlin starts the month with his 35th on the 2nd May. Marcel my godson, who I have heard nothing from for the last year, will be 24 on the 6th and no doubt celebrate with his friends/student members/sword fighters in Berlin/Student Home/University. I wonder if he will get another scar on his face from sword fighting on his birthday. On the 8th May a certain person will be 75 years old and celebrate in the evening with his Kowalke Gang. I wonder if you can work out who that is? My nephew's son will be 10 on the 10th May and celebrate in a town next to Silsden. Hans will be 67 on the 11th and no doubt have at least an extra 10 beers to celebrate with friends in Berlin! My 'Dwahlin' Trish will be 66 on the 13th and celebrate with her husband in their house in Datca, Turkey. Wish I could be there. Heike D. in Berlin will be a year older on the 16th and celebrate in district Marzahn where I used to live. Sylvia in Brighton will be 62 on the 21st. The day before my lovely, wonderful cousin Barbara will celebrate her 73rd with Rachael, Marley and lots of friends. Wish I could also be there! Jumping to north Germany we arrive at Wehe to celebrate Holger's 54th birthday with Gabi, children and friends. Sure to be a very large grill party in the garden for that event!
Update: Barbara celebrates on the 20th and on the 14th, Holger and Gabi will celebrate 25 years of marriage with a holiday in Lisbon. Nice!

TO EACH - HAVE A WONDERFUL DAY NO MATTER WHERE YOU ARE!!

Crocs

How about this cartoon? I really like it, but then I have always liked what some call 'black' humour and others call 'sick' humour! Who said that Germans do not have a sense of humour? It really is rubbish. There is a long tradition of humour of all sorts including jokes and double meaning in language such as this 'croc' joke.

Now for a little lesson in German for my Silsdeners. What is croc 1 saying to croc2? As usual some words can be translated in many ways. Let us take 'doch' in this joke. It translates as but, yet, still, nevertheless, after all. Which one is correct here? The answer is the last one = after all.

If you translate the word order directly you get. 'You wanted after all a child from me.' In English you can move the word order around. 1) After all, you wanted a child from me. 2) You wanted a child from me after all. In English it depends on where you want to put the stress.

What else have I been doing since my last post ? I cancelled two appointments last weekend. I am having a bad time with my allergies. I decided to stay at home and just put drops and other medicines into my eyes and nose. They look terrible from blood in my eyes so I wear sunglasses when I leave home.

In addition to all my usual things, I went to a film/meeting/discussion about refugees in Berlin, a new local SPD group to consider how to build the party locally and a meeting of supporters of the local museum. I hope to have a relaxed and lazy weekend before the bicycle tour next Tuesday. By then I hope my eyes will have stopped looking like Dracula's! Here are some flowers for you!

Become a Berliner

Hello Silsdeners/Brexiters this post is for you. Since my last post I have had a 'normal' week but with more sun as the week advanced. Today was the best so far. Only blue sky, sunshine and 25°C. Great! When you travel on public transport you see more coloured clothes and even smiles.

The big events this week were on Tuesday. I met my Oldies for an English session at 12 noon as usual. From there I went one stop on the U-Bahn (Underground) to meet my SPD 60+ Gang to visit the Stasi Denkstätte (Memorial). You can find details about this on the internet. It was my second visit and I can recommend all visitors to Berlin to go there.

The Stasi was the secret police force of the DDR. The HQ was in a large complex in the eastern district of Lichtenberg. I live in the south of this district. The guided tour is very well organised and everything has been restored so that you think you are going back in time as you enter each room.

From there I rushed home, had a bite to eat, washed my face and headed off for Alexander Platz. I got there okay then jumped into an U-Bahn for one stop. As I walked the short distance to my destination I got a tap on my shoulder. It was Andrea! Regular readers of my blog will know she is Jan's sister. She, and her husband Marco, had organised the evening.

It was at Comedy-Club Kookaburra and the event was called 'How to become a Berliner in one hour' and in English. You can see more details above. Very nice show with most of the audience from Denmark followed by a smaller group from Brazil. The comedian involved different members of the audience, which they clearly liked.

At the end of the show, we relaxed over a final drink and was joined by our entertainer. His name is Karsten Kaie. He is not a Berliner. He comes from Baveria but has lived in Berlin for many years. You can see him on the right in the photograph. A really nice evening and another place for you to go to when you are next in Berlin. For me, the high point of the evening was being with Andrea and Marco again. They drove me home and we agreed to meet again in May. I shall share that meeting with you.

First G&T

The sun is shining after heavy rain and storms yesterday. Later, I'm going to sit on the balcony and nod off over a book. I just might 'borrow' a beer from Jan's collection in my fridge to make the relaxation even better.

As you know I like getting postcards from all corners of the world. I commented about that a few posts ago. I got a nice surprise last Thursday. A postcard from Gran Canaria sent by Peter and Andre. They wrote that they had made the right choice given the weather in Berlin. I have to agree with them even though the sun is shining now. I have never been there so I look forward to meeting them and hearing about their holiday and the island.

The Gin & Tonic season is in summer but increasingly consumed all year round. Someone had never tasted a G&T so when he visited last Friday he asked if he could have one. I think you know who it is from the photo. Yes, Daniel. I explained the importance of the quantity in relation to each other of the four ingredients. For example: More ice if it is a very hot day and less gin to tonic.

He listened with interest as I prepared his first G&T and explained that it is really a matter of taste and how you mix it comes from personal experience and choice. He lifted the glass and sipped. Then I heard a happy 'Aaaaahh' followed by :Mmmmh - good'! And so Daniel had a new experience. I think you can see how much he enjoyed that from his face.

Now to take one of Jan's beers, my book, and settle in the sun on the balcony. Enjoy your Sunday!

Playing with Piggy

Having a coffee with a new friend name of Mr. Piggy - only the coffee is true :-)) Let me explain.

Every Monday afternoon I go to a meeting room in the new block of flats opposite to my place. A gentleman called Thorsten is waiting in the room for anyone with smartphone, laptop, notebook, tablet problems.

He is a computer expert and works for the housing association. of which I am a member. He travels to different parts of Berlin each day to help tenant-members to solve their problems. He is also a master of music and languages. What a talent!

He helps me to use Oldie-Hermann's tablet. I know I should know it all by now but I don't for I hardly open the thing. So, to Thorsten's lesson. Last Monday I did something I had not done before! I took a photo of Mr Piggy and set to work. Mr. Piggy was on the table in front of me.

I wanted to know how to transfer the photo into the tablet. Which programme to use for the transfer? Having done that I had to learn which programme to use to reduce, resize and turn around the image. I installed such a programme in an earlier session. Having done that I had to save it but where? That was all explained and so I was ready to  upload it to my blog.

I did this as I normally do and added a few words of text. And so I left it until now. It was the first time I had taken a photo then transferred to a tablet, made changes and uploaded to the internet. Not easy for there are more programmes and steps than I normally use to update my blog and keep you informed about all the exciting things in my life here in Berlin :-))

To end this report, here is a photo of my Oldie-Hermann tablet and the things I have added to it in the vain attempt to make it easier and simpler to use. I think I need to practice more! At least you know where I am and what I am doing each Monday late afternoon to early evening!

Visitors

Last Friday was busy. It started with Kerstin and the Movement Oldies, then Stefan and my Photoshop Gang followed by Daniel. He is very busy at the moment preparing for his 'Abitur' exams in May. The UK equivalent is 'A' Levels. He needs them to get into university next September. He was followed by my visitors.

Dr. Peter von Long-Legs arrived with Stefan von Another-Beer-Please. The latter was in Berlin for the weekend to visit family. He lives in Halle which is some distance south of Berlin. Always nice to see him. They both belong to Jan's Primary-School-Gang. Yes, they met when they started school in the 1980s and still keep in contact and with others from the same school year. Most are now married and have children but still maintain contact.

Stefan had earlier sent an e-mail saying he/they would drink all the bottles of beer I keep in my fridge for Jan. They drank all 12 bottles in addition to sipping something from Scotland and a brew they brought with them. Not bad - and later they enjoyed Bock Wurst with mustard and bread rolls.

Between eating and drinking we did a lot of talking. Very interesting topics but then they are professional academics so can cover a lot of topics. Stefan's speciality is environmental protection. I learnt a lot listening to him. And so the clock ticked into the early hours. They left looking very happy and I made a note to buy beers next day for Jan's next visit!

Springing

Spring has sprung! At last. Blue sky, warm sun and temperature of 22°C. Wow! - I even went shopping without a coat. I was not the only one to venture out without winter clothes. Very nice to share this good news with you after a too long gray, cold winter.

Also pleased to share even more with you. I am always happy to get postcards from family and friends as they gallop around the world. I now have a drawer full of them and enjoy periodic views and re-reading the comments. I got this one from Neil and his better half. They were on holiday in Thessaloniki.

They wrote, "This town really has a lot to offer: A fascinating history, diverse cultures and plenty of lovely places to eat, drink and relax." I think they said it all. I confess I have not been to mainland Greece. The closest I got was a 2 week holiday in Corfu many years ago. I have also never been to Italy and think it is time I did something about that.

Have fun planning your spring and summer holidays and don't forget to send me a postcard :-))

Loony Speak

I recently got an e-mail from Ian in Oz with the title, "Loony academic-speak". Great title for what came next. Here it is. The first part is his comment and the second is what the academic said.

This is an academic administrator at Harvard University criticising student clubs that limit membership to men or women

 "The discriminatory membership policies of these organizations have led to the perpetuation of spaces that are rife with power imbalances." 

Er....ya...like....er..wot....eeeeerrr ?!! What does this say for academia and particularly for Harvard University? I think I shall go there and re-introduce an old practice. It is called putting someone on/into the stocks. Made of wood and with holes for head and arms. When the academic is in the stocks then the public may throw rubbish at his/her head. Rotten food was popular in the Middle Ages but I think we could allow used toilet paper nowadays! After that the academic would be forced to attend an English course based on plain speaking.

When I said the words out loud, my neighbour's dog called Bello, barked out loudly that it damaged his ears. Here is a photo of the reaction of his ears to the Loony Speak. Poor Bello, and anyone in Harvard who has to listen to such drivel from academics.

April 2018 Things

It's the 1st of April and in Berlin, as in many other places, it is part of a national holiday weekend marking the Easter period. I woke late this morning and peered out of the window so see a flurry of snowflakes. More attempts at snowing before the weather settled into dry, cold and gray. This day is also called 'April Fool's Day' in British culture. Traditionally you play jokes on your family and friends and then cry out. 'April Fool' when they fall victim to your 'joke'.

This morning I have been reading a couple of chapters from a book. A teacher of English, who is German, recently got into discussion with me about Islam and Middle East politics. She then brought the book and asked me to read at least the first three chapters. She wants to talk, in English; about the content, which is in German, the next time we meet.

The author is Michael Lüders, a journalist who lived and worked in the middle east for many years. The book title is: "Wer den Wind sät: Was westliche Politik im Orient anrichtet". In English it means: (He)Who sows the wind: What western politics in the Orient causes/wreaks". It was published in 2016. It begins with the overthrow of Prime Minister Mohammed Mossadegh's government in Iran in 1953 by US and British intervention against the nationalisation of what later became BP petrol company. At least I have something more to read in case we get more snow over the holiday!

On a recent visit to a museum I picked up a couple of booklets for tourists in Berlin. They are in English and also available in tourist centres, rail stations and airports. Here you can see them. One contains details of things to do and see in Berlin and the other contains details of walks you can join to/in historical parts of the city. Thought some of you might be interested in case you visit Berlin this summer.

Appointments and meetings in my diary for April look very much like those in March so let's look at something more interesting. Who has a birthday in April?

Horst starts us off with his 84th celebration on the 4th, but not in Berlin. He will be in Majorca with his wife. They are sure to get a tan! Uli in Berlin celebrates his 71st on the 6th followed by wife Petra on the 8th - but we do not know how old she will be! Daniel B. celebrates his 39th in Australia on the 9th, Dennis in California hits 63 on the 11th and will surely have a party with his wife and sons there. Neil Deane, lecturer and author will be 61 on the 13th and celebrate in Essen - sure to take time off from writing his new book, Matthew Bolton in Yorkshire will be all of 20 on the 14th. My great-nephew Henri L. will celebrate his 8th birthday with his family in the south of England on the 18th. My old business partner Mathias G. will celebrate his 54th on the 19th with his better half in a nice restaurant in Berlin. Peter L., who donates money to The Family, will celebrate his 55th with his partner on the 22nd in a nice small town to the east of Berlin. Birgit F., who advised me about office and financial matters for many years, will be 54 on the 24th and so ends our list of birthdays to celebrate.
                  HAVE A WONDERFUL DAY NO MATTER WHERE YOU ARE!