Brandenburg

Day in Brandenburg

After my Rüdnitz walk I decided to go on a day trip to Stadt Brandenburg with 'Oldie' Hermann. I was surprised that he had never been there before.

We both have a special 'oldie' travel pass so can travel to such places for no extra cost.

Brandenburg is both a city (Stadt) and a federal state of Germany (Mark Brandenburg).

The state surrounds Berlin.  It has an interesting history and one that has to be read by anyone wanting to learn the history of Germany.

The area was occupied by Slavic speaking groups until Germanic groups moved into the area east of the Elbe about a thousand years ago. Many place names, such as Rüdnitz, originate from the Slavic period.

Brandenburg was also a Slavic settlement where the people lived from fishing. It was built on an island in the middle of the river Havel. German settlers later added a protective wall and built a cathedral.

 This is in the Alt Stadt. Opposite is the later Neu Stadt. We saw old buildings in both areas but spent most of the time in the Alt Stadt. The photos were taken there.

At the end of the tour we went to a traditional German restaurant on the side of the river and had a pleasant late lunch of Zanderfilet, washed down with a nice dry Riesling!

Mmmm .. very different from my lunch in Rüdnitz the day before!

Rüdnitz

Walking in Rüdnitz

Last Saturday I joined six others in need of movement and fresh air. The previous evening I was in the Komische Oper and enjoyed the concert and a drink later with Angelika and some of her friends. I was ready for a change and looking forward to a walk.

We met at Rüdnitz railway station and set off. We did a zig-zag circle around Rüdnitz and wandered through typical Brandenburg landscape for about 15 klm. Here is a photo of the landscape. I think one is enough for the rest of the area looks just the same! We ended up nearly where we started.

Near the station is a horse breeding centre and riding school with a small restaurant. Solid well cooked food and I did what I always do when I don't know the quality of the restaurant. which is to order a Schnitzel. You can't do much damage to one of those. I ordered 'chips' and a salad to go with it.

Wow, but was I surprised. It was advertised as 'small' but looked anything but small when it arrived. It tasted very good. It was thin and almost melted in the mouth. I managed to eat it with the salad but left most of the chips. And so ended a very pleasant day with some interesting people.

Garden Attack

Garden Attack Weekend

I've had a good week and am on the verge of a busy weekend. It started with a bicycle ride with Hans - the first this year. Also some  teaching and meeting some more 'oldies', helping in the Computer for Seniors group and  training on Thursday.

That evening, Lars helping me to add a blu-ray to my TV system and told me about connections and getting an AV receiver for the future. I learnt a lot and even went to a store to look at what they had to offer. I wasn't impressed so will look around. I have time.

This afternoon I finished the image I started last week and here it is. I called it 'Garden Attack', for Spring has come to Berlin.

This evening I am going to the 5th Symphony Concert at the Komische Oper. After I shall have a drink with Angelika and I shall look out for Josephine from our teachers' association. At the AGM last Saturday she told me she had a ticket for the concert.

Tomorrow, I am going on a short walk in the country around Rüdnitz to the north of Berlin and on Sunday I am joining an 'oldie' group excursion to the city of Brandenburg where I am sure we shall wander around some old buildings. I shall take my camera and share the event with you soon.

eltabb AGM

Eltabb-AGM 2010

I spent last Saturday at the eltabb AGM. Okay Frances, I can hear you asking what is eltabb and what is an AGM. Eltabb is the short form for English Language Teachers Association  Berlin-Brandenburg. It is a voluntary association of teachers of English and I was a co-founder all of 15 years ago! AGM means Annual General Meeting. It is held each year to deal with the organisational aspects of the association - required by law. Hope that is clear.

We have not had the best of years under the leadership of the board of management so it was a relief to find new and younger members to replace them. I took my camera, as I do to all events, and took some photos of members. These I posted to our association e-mail group but there were two I felt were rather special.

One is of Dorothy and I really like her natural smile-laugh. Actually she stood up to give her report and I took a photo but didn't like it, so started to take another. At this point she said in a loud 'stage whisper'...."Just get on with it", then started to laugh and right at the moment I pressed the button and what a nice result. She was our Events Organiser for three years and did a superb job. Pity she stepped down but after so many years I can understand it.

The other photos is of Mo with his son Jonah. Mo was Chairman of our association for two years and did a good job. He then became a father and the result we can see here. I really like this photo for it shows the pride and protection of papa Mo and shows the belief and confidence of son Jonah that Papa Mo will love and protect him. The body language shows it all. Wonderful!

More Kunst

More Kunst last Friday

Went to my Photoshop course last Friday and it was nice to see the people again. Only Stefan was not there. He was on a well deserved holiday so Marco deputised for him. Marco told us that we should not try anything new in Stefan's absence, but practice more of what we had learnt/learned.

The topic was to take a garden background and be creative by adding things to it. The results were interesting and here is my piece of Kunst! I started another one but didn't have time to finish. Perhaps I can finish it this Friday and share with you this weekend.

Last week was strange mix of settling back into Berlin and still wanting to be back on the ski slopes of Großarl. One of the high spots of my week was to see Handel's opera 'Orlando' at the Komische Oper last Thursday evening. Wonderful production and I can only recommend it to all.

Ski Fashion

Ski Fashion and the future

On the first day, Ian told me I had brought the wrong socks. I subsequently bought the right ones! Then the plastic in my goggles broke. I would have had to wait a week for a replacement so I threw them away. I now have to buy new goggles for the next season.

 I didn't have a helmet. I was one of the few on the slopes not so equipped. Very different from my last turn out seven years ago, when almost no-one wore a helmet.

Ian and Birgit wore the latest fashion, including one piece leggings. Ian had a good laugh when he saw that I was wearing knee length shorts, so allowing free movement of the knee before the lower leg disappeared into the long ski socks. This was also permissible when I stopped skiing seven years ago.


How times and fashions have changed!  I have decided to return to the ski slopes next winter. I, therefore, have time to consider sartorial matters such as my outfit.

Suzi took a photo of me posing and sipping from my Flachmann, which I like. Here it is next to a picture I took from a newspaper about how the elegant man will appear on the piste next winter.  Ian, you may notice he is wearing shorts, as I was - but in my case under my ski trousers. I shall equip myself suitably and see you all on the piste next season! Pip-pip!!

Whiskey

Whiskey Worship

Ian and Birgit had met Trish in London before they left for Austria. She asked them to buy me a bottle of Glenfiddich, which they did at the Duty Free Shop and delivered a nice liter bottle. A BIG thanks to you Trish for I know you will read these lines sometime when you return to Datca in Turkey. Very generous of you.

We cooked together most evenings and drank local red wine with our meal, but talked about 'cracking the bottle' before we left. This did not happen so I brought the full bottle back for a special event here in Berlin.

I decided to show Trish my appreciation visually, so I came up with this shot of me worshiping at the holy whiskey shrine! Hope it makes you smile.

When not spending time together in the chalet, we spent the days in different classes and usually met for lunch in the top restaurant. On the last day, we decided to meet in the afternoon for a 'photo shoot'.

I took some photos of The Gang and asked a passing skier to take one of us all. This is the result.

I like the composition - there is a lot of movement in the picture. It is very natural.

Ski Class

My Ski Class

On Monday morning we took the ski bus into town. I bought a ski pass so I could use all the lifts to get up the mountain. I also got myself 'kitted out' with carving skis, ski boots and sticks. Unfortunately I had problems and had to change them later.

I joined a three day ski group and set off to find them at 11:30 in front of the restaurant next to the top ski lift.

They were a really pleasant group and we got on well with each other from the beginning. It helped that we were about the same level = not beginners but needing to improve skiing technique.

We had a very experienced teacher, recommended by Ian and Birgit, whose name was Herbert. He spoke in the local dialect which sometimes confused a young lady in the group who was from Belgium and only had basic German.

Even so, we all did what we were told and learned a lot from him. Here is a photo of Herbert keeping out the cold by having a 'swig' from my 'Flachmann'!

First Morning

The First Morning

After a long train journey taking me through München and Salzburg I finally arrived at St. Johann am Pongau from where I took a taxi to the chalet in Au.

It is higher on the hillside than the hotel so offered a wonderful first morning view - as you can see.


Ian, Birgit, Suzi and Rob were already there. Ian showed me around the chalet and I took the downstairs bedroom with my own toilet and shower. Nice!

We had an evening meal in the hotel then relaxed to be ready for the start of the ski course next day.

Back to Berlin

Back to Berlin

I got back to Berlin late yesterday. It was a twelve hour journey with three connections. The best was the connection from Munich to Berlin via the smooth ICE trains.

Today I have updated my more than two computers and worked on the photos I took on my skiing holiday, then it started to snow like it hadn't snowed for ages!

I was surprised for I thought the winter was over but I think it is just a case of the winter fighting against spring

I took a photo to show you, and as a taster for the next reports on my blog about my wonderful skiing holiday in Austria.

March things

March 2010 birthdays and other nice things

Tomorrow is the first day of March and I can feel that the worst of winter is over. Even so, winter is due to returnto Berlin by mid-week, but I think it is just a blast before Spring comes along. The cold winter has been wonderful for my allergies. Last year was a warm winter and my allergies started in mid-January. We are about to start March and no signs of them yet:-)

Who has a birthday in March? We have to go all the way to 22 March to join Dr. Günter Porsch in his birthday celebration. Günter and I used to teach at the same place and we are both now retired. I later worked with Dr. Bernd Wittek at Bernau, and he is celebrating his big day on the 28 March. Have a great day with your respective families and friends.

The big event for me is a skiing holiday starting on 7 March. It is the first time I have been allowed to go skiing for seven years.

Six operations stopped that fun for some time but now all is clear for more fun skiing down high snow covered mountains.

New Computer

Micha's New Computer

Yesterday I went to Micha's flat to see the new computer. It is an old Medion from Aldi but after work on it by Sandor it now runs like a sports car!

Sandor is a graduate in all things computer and a family friend so he prepared this computer after Micha got his internet connection. It has a Linux and a Windows OS and in Windows Micha can register as the administrator or simple as Micha. All done for security, as Sandor explained to me, and then how to set the thing up again in case of a crash - even that has been built into the machine! I was impressed.

I added links to the browser, got the printer working and set up his Skype connection - and had lunch with them. A very interesting day and I learnt more things about a computer. You can see a photo of said machine, and the happy owner with the creator standing behind him.

Still learning

Still learning

In addition to learning in Stefan's Friday Photoshop Gang, I go to workshops organised by language learning publishers and those of our teachers' organisation - ELTABB. Today there was a big name speaker so off I went and had a great day.

Scott Thornbury is a teacher-trainer, conference speaker and author. He is very entertaining in addition to being thought provoking. His main theme is expressed in the term 'dogma' which is based on a film production movement and is really about going back to basics by letting students explore language and for a teacher to use them as the teaching resource. A form of teaching/learning 'minimalism'!

I took some photos for our ELTABB photo database and decided to reduce a couple and share with you. You can see part of the audience and Scott in full flow. We retired to a restaurant on Kitty-Kollwitz-Platz and enjoyed some tasty food, beer and wine, in addition to intelligent conversation - of course!

Blättersturm

Blättersturm

This afternoon, Stefan showed me how to add the video direct to my blog. I have just changed the first one I posted and then I saw a comment written by Jan. What a nice surprise!

The tips he gave me are what I think Stefan did this afternoon. Please send further tips Jan for you know more about such things - in addition to bridge building - than I do :-)) Take care and give Arancha a big hug from me.

Now to try to add the work I did this afternoon. The background was taken in the garden of the building where we have our class. It is an autumn scene, so I added falling leaves to some happy children playing with the leaves in the garden.

It works! Now to wash my face and go to the Komische Oper. There is a concert of Schubert and Beethoven this evening. I can also watch Angelika play her viola (die Bratsche) on the stage before we meet backstage for a drink. Enjoy your evening too!

More butterflies

More Butterflies

Earlier I posted a butterfly in a garden. Now I have learnt more about adding movement so here is a butterfly in a wood with snow on the ground.

The next one is better. I learnt to add more movement and change the shape of the butterfly as it flits around the children and then disappears. The background shot was taken in the centre where we have the Photoshop course.

Skiing

Skiing in March

Yes, I'm going skiing at Großarl in the middle of Austria from 7th to 13th March. I'm staying in a chalet owned by, and next door to, Hotel Fichtenhof. Here are a few photos of the place and ski area.

Ian and Birgit, from London, spent Christmas there and decided to return, so they rented the chalet and asked a number of friends to join them. There will be seven of us sharing the chalet. I agreed immediately and booked my travel.

I decided on Deutche Bahn and not to fly because I hate all that waiting around at airports and overblown security hassle. I am traveling on one of those ICE inter-city trains, in a 'quiet' compartment (no mobile phones or headphones allowed) to Munich then switch to a local train. I get out at the wonderful sounding town of St. Johann am Pongau. From there it is a short taxi ride to the hotel, which they will organise.

I'm really looking forward to it for it is now five years since my last skiing holiday and that was in Bavaria. A number of operations stopped me from skiing, but I feel confident I will be fit for this adventure.

My Life

My life plus a bit more!

I got some nice smiles from Jutta and Gerald about life after retirement and really like this one. I hope it makes you smile as well.


I guess that working must mean around the house or helping family and friends.

Actually it is not completely true in my case. In my next post you will see that I plan to do something not in 'My life'.

Muggle-Schnee Day

Day on the snow and ice of a lake

Mugglesee is Berlin's largest lake and fortunately not too far from where I live. I plan to take Warren and Alex there for a day when they arrive in mid-May. More of that in later posts.

As you know I had the flu for two weeks,  and even needed another week to get rid of the 'sniffles'. When I got a call recently asking me if I was interested to join a small group for a gallop around Mugglesee, I immediately said, 'Yes!'. My Doc had said I needed fresh air, so I dressed in warm clothes and set off for the lake.

I was amazed to see it completely frozen over and covered in snow. The others were too, so we changed our plans and decided to walk across it, and into areas you cannot normally get into without a boat. It was a great experience and I took a few photos to share the experience with you.

After hours of walking and fresh air we ended up in a restaurant - as usual - and enjoyed some 'Deftiges Essen' and a glass of the beer made in the brewery on the side of the lake = from the (non-frozen ) water I had just walked over. Na prost!

February People

February People and a Smile!

The month started with Sven's 35th birthday which I know he celebrated with his wife and children. On the 3rd is Imre's 55th birthday and also Alan's 67th big day. Alan called me on Sunday evening and I had a good chat with him and Lynne including his birthday plans - as well as news of their family.

Jens Weise hits the big 40 on the 6th. I walked across the Mugglesee near to where he lives with his family last Sunday so I hope they all keep warm as they celebrate a special birthday.  Frau Dr. I. Pardon the boss of Dialogica will be 62 on the 18th, and I will be in her institute on that day so I shall be happy to present her with some flowers!.

Eleonora (Jan and Andrea's Mutti) will be 51 on the 22nd, and Adrian Bridge in London will also be 51 but on the 25th February. The month ends with Peter Bateson's 30th and Ralf Santon's 47th on th 28th February. Have a super day to each and all!

Now for the joke for you all. It is a problem of getting old and keeping teeth - of course, and I like the look on the cat's face!

SchmetterlingFlug

SchmetterlingFlug

This is the first attempt in my Friday Photoshop course with Stefan to add movement to a background picture. The background is the garden where we have the course and the moving object is a butterfly I cut out and added to the background.

I have two more to add next week. Practice makes perfect = Übung macht den Meister!

Flu and A Boy

Flu and A Boy

I have both! The former is not at all nice. I have canceled all appointments until Wednesday and couldn't go to a concert with Mathias and Sylvana today. The 'boy' comes from the name of a book sent by sister Pauline with a note and postcard.

The book was made into a film if I remember correctly, but I didn't go to see it because the main character is played by Hugh Grant - and I can't stand him! Not being able to sleep is always a good time to read a book.

I began to feel as if a cold was starting exactly a week ago and it got progressively worse until I went to the Docs last Thursday. Got tablets but I felt really bad. On Friday night I couldn't sleep and was burning up. I went to my Apothekerin on Saturday and she contacted the Emergency Doctor service. An hour later a doctor arrived and decided I needed a change of tablets for I had a virus.

He had worked as a doctor in Inverness, Rugby and Exeter (Cornwall) after medical graduation. We spoke in German but he was very enthusiastic about his time in these towns. I went back to my Apothekerin and got the new medicine, including three lots of herbal tea and tablets to take when I feel feverish. Nice collection as you can see from the photo.

Pauline and Lew were on a Caribbean cruise in December. I told you about it in this blog. She sent me news in the nice card showing the recently restored glasshouse at Paxton House, Cornwall (coincidental connection to my Emerg. Doc.) In the photo she is on the island of Grenada, known as the Spice Island, with a "couple of Spice Girls". She is holding a cocoa bean. Great to see her so happy and to get news to share with you.

Now where did I put all that medicine. I need something but am spoiled for choice!

Snowy Start

Snowy start to the New Year

Yes, I 'slipped' into the New Year in my usual quiet way, unlike most of those in my area who let off lots of fireworks. It is traditional here.

I went to Micha's on the 1st January. He called to say he had yet another computer-internet problem so could I come over and help. I did, and took a special bottle called 'Karlshorst Sekt,' which we enjoyed as I sorted out the problems.

On the 2nd I returned to Pankow to visit Schloss Schönhausen again - but his time I went inside for it had opened the day before after extensive renovation. Very interesting aspects of the history of the area are on show and well worth a trip. I went with Georg from the same Institute where I sometimes do relief teaching. He had read about my earlier visit on this blog and wanted to see it himself. We had a chat over some tasty food later.

The first week started off with a visit to Hans. We did not wander too far because of the weather but he enjoyed getting out and was in a good mood.  I went to my training centre and discovered I had added 0,2 Kilo to my weight over the holiday period. I was pleased it was not more for I had enjoyed some very good meals and a few glasses of wine and sekt!

And so my usual pattern of life is returning including my Photoshop Gang course on Friday. It was good to meet again and Stefan had an interesting task ready for us. Micha now goes there to the Computer for Seniors course each Monday. I take him to one near to where I live each Wednesday. I think two others will be joining this Wednesday. One is a friend of Jutta and Gerald who I met at their Christmas Breakfast.

Over the holiday, I finished my 'Baltic with Bob' book, the Social History of Russia and the St. Augustine books. Yesterday I bought another to keep my brain working. It is controversial for its topic and method. A philosopher who understands evolution and uses scientific method! Who heard of such a thing :-)  I'm looking forward to opening the book.

I also made the mistake of going into the cellar and opening some boxes. In one was my old scanner and the other contained lots of pre-Germany photographs. It was a surprise for I thought I had either given them away or destroyed them years ago. I am thinking of scanning them and writing a story around the photos. At least that will keep me busy until the end of this year!

Barbara and Fran

Barbara and Frances

Hi both, I read my last post again and thought about you. I decided to show you where I shall be as we move from one year to the next. It is my living room!

One shot is of where I sit/lounge around and another is of what I look at when I am sitting on my sofa and want to turn off my brain.

I recently put some of the speakers on top of the screen as part of playing around with the sound. I know they look strange but I am more interested in sound than appearance. Even so I may move them tomorrow as I continue to play around with sound reproduction!

I still have very special memories of our day at Harrogate as one of my highlights of 2009.  This post is just for you so don't tell anyone else about it :-)

January things

January things

Just a few hours away from January. I am going to relax and ease my way into the New Year. I think a glass of sekt will be in order later!

Nothing great planned for January 2010 so far. Just each Monday taking Hans out and making sure he is okay. Tuesday and Thursday mornings at my Wellness Club to try to keep my left leg functioning. Teaching three students on different days, taking Micha to the Oldie computer course each Wednesday afternoon and going to my Photoshop course each Friday afternoon,  just about make up my weekly routine as I face January 2010.  

On the left is a photo of the entrance to my flat.

What about those of you with birthdays in January 2010? 

Peter Lee in Canterbury starts the year with his 51st birthday on the 5th. Daniel will be celebrating his 25th in Sau Paulo in Brazil with his family and friends on the 9th. Hannelore will be opening a bottle to share with Peter at their house in Province to celebrate her 67th on the 12th. Harald Porsch will hit 46 on the 21st, Peter Schmidt will be celebrating his 26th in Potsdam with friends on the 24th, Paul Bateson will be having a party with Beth and friends in New Zealand to celebrate his 25th on the 27 January and our dear Larissa will no doubt open a bottle of Rotkäppchen to celebrate her 47th with her family in Bernau on the 29th January.

Na, Prost alle(t)!! Have a wonderful day each!

Just going to add a few photos of the area around my flat as I write this. I thought about Barbara and Fran as I took these photos for both are interested to see more of the area where I live.  You can see that we are going to enter the New Year with lots of snow in Berlin. Even with such winter conditions, I heard on the radio that about 1 million people are expected at Brandenburg Tür for the midnight party and fireworks!

Happy New Year

Happy New Year

I got lots of nice presents and cards for Christmas and had a really interesting week from Christmas to New Year. This started with a visit to Hans and was pleased to see him looking well even though continually pulling on a cigarette!

Next day I went to my Wellness Club and weighted myself. I was pleasantly surprised to discover that I had only added 0.02 Kilo over Christmas. Anja, the trainer, said that was nothing and could be the water I had just drunk! I did try not to add weight over Christmas and was pleased with the result.

Next day I set out for lunch (more eating :-) with Teresa at Hackescher Markt. It is near to Alexander Platz and is one of my favourite areas in Berlin.  It is just opposite where I worked for years at the old British Council building. We went to one of my favourite restaurants famous for its range of German beers, and traditional German food. It was really nice to see her again and catch up on news.  Today I did some shopping and then decided on a lazy relaxing day to end the year.

It has been a good one for me and much better than the year before. I hope the next one will be as good. I have already started to organise it with a possible ski trip to Austria in March, a visit to New Orleans in April-May and taking Hans to Greece at the end of May. Let's see what happens and you can always follow events by reading this blog.

It's still snowing so I shall share a photo of my cards and a few taken of the flat and area where I live.