My Christmas Day

I had a very pleasant Christmas Day

I was rather surprised at my day after a splendid evening with Marga. I got up late and got slowly into the day starting with only coffee for breakfast. I cleaned the flat and did a few things then prepared the food for the evening meal. As I was about to shower, Micha rang the bell. I set him up with coffee then showered and put on relaxing lazy day clothes = rather old and baggy!

We chatted and I showed him other things about the internet, for as you should know by now he is starting an Internet Course for Seniors in just over a week. He decided not to set up an e-mail account but wait to do this in the course.

I started to cook and then Hermann arrived on time from his job at the Bauhaus Museum. He told us that there were a lot of visitors today including many from England - which I found rather surprising. They ate my food with relish and gusto which pleased me then we relaxed in the living room over coffee and/or wine and opened the presents.

I took a photo of the nice presents I got - nice to see the Spanish influence and the book about Boston from Jan as a preparation for my visit in early summer. I also want to have a good look at New York but this is for another report next year. I also took a pic of some of the many cards I received which still surprise some German friends for sending cards is not as common as in the UK.

Dennis called me over skype to my mobile phone which was a surprise to me for I didn't know you could do that. We agreed to talk over skype tomorrow when I have more time and no guests. He is staying with his family in Wisconsin having traveled from his house in California and having a break from work and preparing for the arrival of his wife and the boys in a few weeks.

I also got calls from Bea and Lars and some nice e-mails. Very nice and relaxed day with lots of jokes, smiles, my cooking and a few glasses. Better than I thought it would be.

My Christmas Eve

I spent Christmas Eve with Marga
I hope you had a happy evening for I did. I went to Marga's for a very pleasant evening. We celebrated our 'Ignore Christmas Bla Bla' day with excellent food. Marga lived in the 'Far East' for many years and loves to cook dishes she picked up from various countries.

We started with a glass of Cave, yes, from Spain! Cool and dry ... just the right appetiser. We followed with shrimps cooked in a spicey and crisp potato layer. Again with a light fresh white wine as the perfect partner to this dish.

The main course was a dish composed of chicken breasts cooked in a spicy sauce with chillies to which was added fresh cut herbs and prepared vegetables, served with rice cooked with roast almonds and with an extra bowl of fresh coriander. Mmmm ... my mouth waters at the thought of the tastes.

A light fruit dessert finished the meal and we sipped a glass of Cotes du Ventoux wine which won the Medaille D'Or at Paris in 2008. Very tasty indeed Here you can see a few photos of the delicious food and my 'Hostess with the Mostest'.

At the moment I'm cooking something more traditional as I wait for Micha and Hermann to arrive for Christmas Day - in my kitchen!

Jan's Christmas visit

Jan came to see me yesterday

It was his Christmas visit, which means he will be spending the next couple of days with his ma and sister, plus Daniel, before he flies to Spain to spend a week with Arancha. He will return to Berlin for two days and I hope to see him before he flies back to the USA.

It was really nice to see him in person, but he looked really tired. I think we can see it in some of the photos. He had been to a few late night events and so lacked sleep. I hope he was able to catch up last night for we didn't make it a late session.

I got a nice surprise when Peter von Longlegs arrived followed by Christian (Itzak). Steffan called to say he couldn't make it for he was going to see the new James Bond film with his ladyfriend - Melanie. I liked it, as you know, but Jan did not! Pity he could not be there but we understood his position and I hope he enjoyed the film :-)

We needed Christian for I had asked Jan and then Peter to help me change the operating system in my laptop. I had loaned this to Daniel but he had bought a new one so I got it back last Thursday and decided to instal my old copy of XP. We had a problem to get it onto my WLAN and so Christian helped us just in time. He is an expert in such things - as well as understanding Einstein's maths and physics!!

I took a shot of Jan looking into the laptop which he found next to my bed, then with Pete and finally with Christian - he is the one with the long hair. Jan decided to watch an old James Bond on TV while checking some thing on my desktop = typical Jan, doing at least two things together. We then had supper and watched the end of the film. Later, they left and Peter made sure that Jan got home and had a relatively early night.

It was a very special evening and I marvelled at how these young men had developed and were able to do so many academic things as well as their range of language skills. It was the first time in nearly three years since they were together at my place. I look forward to the next visit and hope Stefan will be there then.

Last Anstalt Visit

Yesterday I went to the 'Anstalt' for the last time

I was invited to a large 'German Breakfast' starting at 10.30 which runs until lunch time:-) A nice tradition. The reason was the end of the 'over 58 project' at the social bookshop where I worked for a short time by helping with their English language section - and Jutta's decision to go into early retirement.

Jutta is The Boss and she is a truly wonderful women. We got on immediately and I sometimes talk to her husband, Gerald in English for he likes to practice his language skills. He has a health problem and now has to move about in a wheelchair. Jutta is taking early retirement mainly to look after him and we have agreed to meet up for breakfast in my garden in early summer.

Here are a few pics of Jutta with her 'gang' most of whom I know, and half of which will be unemployed from tomorrow when the project for the elderly closes- pity! I have nice memories of working with them. I look forward to seeing her and Gerald in the New Year. In case you wonder which one is Jutta - she has short gray hair, wears glasses and is in all the photos - except one.

Jan is in Berlin

Jan called me this evening. He is back in Berlin.
Surprise as I settled down to decide what I should add to this blog. The phone rang which is not a surprise, but the voice at the end of the line was. It was lieber Jan calling from Mutti's in Berlin.

He flew over on Tuesday landing Wednesday and having slept most of today = Thursday and having a good Berlin beer :-) he gave me a buzz. He asked if he could come round next Monday. Of course I said - Yes!

I must get a few beers in for he really hates USA beer and has almost stopped drinking it. He says it is full of chemicals and after drinking it he has stomach pains. I didn't like American beer much when I was there some years ago so I know what he means.

He is flying to Spain on the 27th to spend some time with Arancha and then he flies back to the USA to finish his degree. At least I have an hour or two in his busy schedule and am looking forward to seeing him.

The internet and its communicative programmes can help to bridge the gap and we talk over skype and use webcams so that helps to reduce the distance - and it helps him when we use this to check and correct his essays!

Photos of Hermann

Something strange happened: Herman allowed us to take a photo of him!

Just found this photo so I return to the topic of the walk which started the month. At the end of the walk around the lake, we all relaxed at the village fair-market and to the surprise of all who know him, Hermann announced we may take a photo of him.

Shock all round for normally if you even so much as try to take a pic of Herr H. you are threatened with a thrashing! Quick gallop to find cameras before he changed his mind and so I took a couple of snaps.

I think he was being unusually generous because he was 'tired and emotional' (This was a phrase used by Private Eye to say someone was drunk!) having consumed considerable quantities of the hot spicy 'Glühwein' ( in English this is called mulled wine and drunk almost only at Christmas) at the lakeside stop before we got to the market-fair.

He came round yesterday after working at the museum and joined Micha in learning something about computers and the internet on one of my machines, mainly about the security programmes we all unfortunately need these days. The first time I went on the internet there were no virus dangers or spying programmes. How things have changed.

They are coming round on the 25th December in the afternoon for a bite and a chat. Hermann has to work on that day so will probably enjoy relaxing here. I may even cook but have no idea what at the moment.

Werner's visit

Werner came at the start of December

I met him again at the Happy Gang meeting at the end of November and he agreed to come over and give me some tips about Adobe Photoshop. He is an expert and likes working on photos with this programme.

He brought me a series of photos taken of him and his wife on their summer holiday in the north of Italy. Superb shots and with interesting additions by Werner to make them shine even more.

We had a busy afternoon in the course of which I took some photos. He had never worked on an iMac before, nor with Photoshop in English, but it didn't take him long to adjust and then take me on a tour of the programme.

We agreed to meet again in the New Year and for him to teach me more about Photoshop. My course ended today for the holiday, but will start again on Friday 6 January at 2.00pm. You know where I shall be at that time!

Andrea's Winter Berlin

Andrea took some interesting photos of Berlin

Liebe Andrea posted these interesting images of Berlin showing our city with a dark cold winters face - but with wonderful colours and shades. Nice Andrea, I didn't know you were such a 'Kunstlerin'!

Do you recognise any of the views from your visit(s) to Berlin or from magazines or films if you have not been to the city?

I like the one of the TV tower at Alexander Platz growing out of her head.

Walk around Blankensee

I walked around Blankensee

The month started with standing in for ill teachers, and new 1:1 teaching at the Ku-damn Institute in addition to my other things and the weather got colder. I decided to go on a walking tour around Blankensee, which is a lake south of Berlin and now famous as a nature reserve for migrating swans and geese.

I called Oldie Hermann and he decided to come along. We met at the still new looking main railway station in Berlin and there met others, mainly Oldies, for a day of movement. We piled into the train and 45 minutes later arrived at our destination to be met by our host dressed as Santa Claus! Nice start to the day.

Cars ferried us to the village and the famous winter market which was only open that weekend. We started at a steady pace led by Santa Claus and headed south. You are not allowed near the side of the lake because of it being a nature reserve but the countryside around was nice so we didn't mind too much.

After walking for what seemed like ages, we arrived at a village where we had lunch. You can see a photo of the restaurant with someone sitting outside. It served delicious food and much cheaper than in Berlin. Fortunately I had two pairs of socks on and my thick winter boots so I had no problem with walking and through woods and fields - Hermann was not so well prepared and ended up with blisters!

We stopped near the village in the early dark of the evening at the only part of the lake accessible to walkers and there we had hot spicy wine and meat balls as we watched flocks of birds returning to the water. A memorable break from walking. We then went to the village and had a nice hour at the Christmas Fair seeing all the stalls, eating more tasty snacks, more drinks and listening to the village brass band playing seasonal tunes.

I have very happy memories of this day and discovered this group goes there each year. I plan to join in again in 2009.

December 2008

What is happening in December 2008

Birthdays in December - I always feel sorry for those with a birthday in December for it gets overshadowed by Christmas. Who has a birthday this month?

Michael Nixdorf will be 45 on the 5th December, my brother-in-law Geoffrey will be one year older on the 13th :-), the lovely Jördis will be 29 on the 17th (Jördis - when are we going to the cinema again?), and ending the month is Ian Maxwell who will be celebrating his 47th on the 30 December with Birgit, and on a ski slope somewhere in Austria.

Have fun on your big day to all of you!

Other things in December. Lots of food! I am going to parties on the 10th, the 11th, the 13th the 22nd December. I shall be taking Hans to various Christmas events this month starting on the 10th. My Spanish classes finish this month and I plan to continue next year. I feel I have made progress with these teachers and so want to learn more with them.

I may even get in a concert or two with Angelika and the Komische Oper starting with a show I have a ticket for next Thursday. I usually end the month with her and her 'band' at the opera house and hope to do the same this year.

I also have two walks planned with the 'Sporty Oldies' starting on the 6th with a modest 12 klm walk near Berlin. My Thursday afternoon Adobe Photoshop course will end in the middle of the month but I plan to do the next level course starting in January 2009. I have agreed to stand in for teachers in six classes at the Institute this month as well as take on a student with special needs. Should be interesting.

The big event for me is Jan arriving on Wednesday 17th December from Rhode Island. I also hope to see Peter, for I have a lot of books for him, and who knows, perhaps Itzak and Stefan will turn up with Jan and Peter. Jan is flying to Spain on the 27th December to spend the rest of his time with Arancha before he returns to Rhode Island.

I am not sure where I shall be spending the Christmas holiday period. I am waiting for news from Marga and Teresa to see if we are going to meet again to have an 'Ignore the Christmas Hoohaa' evening or with Ziya, Anne-Marie and Franziska. I have also got an invitation from Oldie Hermann to spend the time with his group of Oldies. Nice to have a choice.

We are all atheists and stand at a distance from this religious event for it is difficult to escape the commercialism of it all - to the point where it really is becoming meaningless if you are not shopping. Well you can live outside it to some respect and that is what we try to do.

You can have fun and enjoy good food with interesting people each day of the year without believing in such fairy stories. And you can buy children presents and be very loving and supportive to them each day - and not just at the end of December. I think you have got my point so I shall not continue.

More Books

The month ended with more books

Yes, I know I should not stop and look at special offers in bookshops but there is one near to Friedrichstrasse Station and I made the mistake of entering.

At least I reduced my purchase to only two books. One to make me smile and one for me to learn more about the history, and development of the English language.

You can see for yourself, and if you pass a bookshop and see them, have a look and think about buying a copy. I think you will not regret it! Now back to reading my Einstein biography.

The Happy Gang

I saw the Happy Gang this morning
I haven't seen them for five or more years. What a nice surprise. I met Werner B. recently and then he called me and invited me to meet The Happy Gang again.

Who are they? Many years ago, when Hobbits and Gremlins ruled the earth, I arrived in Berlin and started teaching at the VHS-Marzahn. I advertised an advanced English course each Wednesday morning, and that was the start of a group I later called The Happy Gang.

They became so good that they didn't need a teacher anymore and I moved onto other contracts. Fortunately, Werner B. kept the group together and they meet twice a month at a Community Centre and continue to improve their English skills.

When I arrived, Werner R. was in mid flow about his recent trip to Dresden and other places in Saxony where he grew up, so I took a photo of him presenting his report. On the left of this photo is Werner B.. Werner R. is an expert on Adobe Photoshop so I hope to see him again to get some tips. As you know, I go to a course each Thursday afternoon to learn this programme.

In the other photos you can see Rita trying to work out which end of her camera to use :-) and then I got a shot of the group. I must say that many of them have not aged at all. I felt very happy to be back with my best 'Oldie' group. I think my sister, Pauline, would like to meet them when she visits next March. I think she and Rita will have a great time talking about dusting and housework in general!

Snow and Bond

It snowed and Jan and I saw Bond

Nice to see snow falling in Berlin for it looks very clean. I have put the heating on for the first time and we can expect snow and near freezing temperatures for the next few days. This shot is of my 'back garden'.

In addition to all my other things and doing some more relief teaching last week I went to the early show of the new James Bond film at the Sony Centre in Potsdamer Platz. All films are shown in the original language so that I why I go there.

I liked the film but Jan didn't. This is what Jan posted on his blog two days ago ---
"Furthermore we had at the new James Bond. I must warn everybody: DO NOT GO!!!! to this movie. It is nothing special and not comparable to any other 007 movies before. "

Go and see it yourself. The story follows on from the last film and is much shorter. Heike yesterday said she had heard people complaining that it not like the older films with Roger Moore as Bond. Good for I never went to see those, but Bond as a harder character portrayed by Daniel Graig gets my vote each time. Have fun at the cinema.

Sad and Happy

Yesterday was both sad and happy

It was sad to go to Birgit's family grave where we put fir leaves and winter flowers onto the grave. Today is 'Totensonntag' when people visit family graves and put special winter displays onto the grave, as we did. From sad to happy when we saw Birgit's son Robert again, with Heike and Dr. Birgit. Marita was not in Berlin so could not come but sent her commiserations.

We met in a restaurant near my place and caught up on news. I took these photos. Heike brought back a scarf and hat for Robert from her trip to New Zealand and so I couldn't resist a shot of him trying them on. I also got a shot of Heike with smiling eyes in a very good photos of her.

We are next going to meet just before Christmas at my place which I am looking forward to.

Later I went to a Kaffee und Kuchen session in Kreuzberg and here is a photo of the delicious cakes we had with our coffee. Both were home made. Mmmm tasty!

English with K+S

English with Katrin and Steffen
They came for their usual English lesson last Friday, but this time I had fitted up computers and my projector to work with them on writing. I can see each working by switching input on the projector. We hadn't done a writing session for some time so I was pleased to note a lot of progress - and it was fun for them, which is very important.

Here they are working out the problems of writing in English. Yes, it is hard for English has separated spelling and sounds over the centuries. Here are the photos I took of my hard working students.

Linux and Expolingua

Linux and Expolingua
After the workshop I found a shop selling a booklet about changing your operation system to Linux. It was recommended by Jan when we recently talked over Skype.

I have screwed up my Baby Asus again and need to learn something about Linux to try to avoid doing it again. I really need to brush up my German to read such stuff. The Windows 98 booklet was for Micha.

I then went to the Expolingua exhibition and collected material about Spain and Spanish courses in a number of countries. I was even given a t-shirt, pens, CDs, a book in addition to course material. I took some photos so you can see how much material I got.

Busy Week

I had a busy week - almost as busy as the week before

Regular visits to my Spanish classes, to Hans, and to a new student at the Institute, my private students all back and visits to the doctors. I am now on one 'beta-blocker' tablet a day because my blood pressure is too high and last Friday I gave samples for testing at a laboratory. I had my last visit to my skin-allergy doctor and injection this year. Next appointment is mid January.

The week ended on a happy note as I went to one of our teacher association workshops yesterday morning. It was titled 'Ten Ways to Teach Grammar', and given by Dominic, one of our active members. I really enjoyed the event and being with so many other teachers to swap stories with in the break.

I took a few photos to send to members which I also post here. Some of you may remember Teresa who is above, on the right, wearing a red top.

Potsdam with Peter

I met Peter in Potsdam yesterday
A gray and chilly day opened as I boarded a train and headed off to Potsdam. I had arranged to meet Peter, who some of you know I call Peter von Longlegs because he is tall! I hadn't seen him since last Christmas when he had a break in Berlin from studying in Chicago. He is busy writing a paper for his 'Diplom' in Economics. He also has a part-time job and still has some lectures to attend.

It was really great to see him again and chat as he took me around the old Holland Quarter near the centre of Potsdam. We continued some very interesting discussions over a 'deftiges' lunch and beer.

One photo we took for Jan in Rhode Island. It is of an empty glass of Wernesgrüne just to remind him that the beer really is better here! The others are of the old areas we were in including Peter in front of his favourite pub which features Heavy Metal Music!

He will complete his degree work by Easter and then he plans to study for a doctorate. Very nice Peter and I am just waiting to be able to call you Dr. von Longlegs!

Booming Batesons

Great news to start the month!

The Batesons are 'Booming'. Congratulations to Peter and Rebecca in Australia on the news that Rebecca is pregnant. Here is a photo taken when they married. The happy couple are in the middle. Alan and Lynne will not be there for the birth but plan to fly over later that year.

Congratulations also to Paul and Beth who announced their engagement over their Facebook accounts. Modern technology! There will certainly be a big party when Paul arrives home at the end of this month.