Blowing Birgit

Hallo John, suddenly I'm in your blog. How come? So what's next? What will you do in October? Interesting things? I'm going to blow my didge and here is a picture for you. CU Birgit

Water babies!

The last day of September 2008

To end on a nice note about Paul and Jan.

Paul has arrived in Pakistan although ill with a stomach bug. Alan and Lynne sent me the latest news after they read my post, and an e-mail. He will return to England at the end of November. Beth is flying back soon.

Jan sent me links to the blogs of friends he is staying with on Rhode Island and I got more information about life there. I also 'borrowed' a few pics to post here. Arancha is there and so we can end the month with a nice pic of the couple and of them probably having the last 'bodyboarding' session of the year. They look happy!

Sport head!

Sportie Gang! I have just read Jan's latest blog, selected a few pics for this report and added his blog url to my 'Blogs I'm following'.

You can access this by going to the bottom of my home page (the first page you see) and there you will see 'View My Complete Profile'. Open it and then go to the bottom of the page to 'Blogs I'm following' and you will find a tiny blue link-point. When you click on this you will go to Jan's blog.

Nice work Jan. Most of his news is about starting the academic year and the problems of doing all the reading and writing summary reports in English for the lecturers. As he says, he'll get better with practice. I'm sure of it and I think he really became aware of this last year when he wrote his project report in Grenoble.

He's still finding time for fun, as he admits, and posted pics of him and friends on the beach, and at a baseball match. They 'tail-gate' (not sure what that is!) at the stadium which seems to be based on eating and drinking. Glad I wasn't downwind of them! He has also joined a football team for a bit of activity and making contacts with other people.

Sound great to me Jan. Keep up the good work and posting on your blog.

ELTABB evening

ELTABB evening.
I really enjoyed last Thursday. I had my second Spanish lesson, went to my second Photoshop lesson and then took an S-Bahn down to the south east of Berlin and crossed over into Zeuthen, in Brandenburg.

Yvonne was playing hostess to members the local teachers association (ELTABB) and lives in Zeuthen. It is a very attractive small town on the banks of a lake-river that runs into Berlin and surrounded by woods, walking paths and cycling ways. It is a popular place to go at weekends in summer.

The pics show you something of the place and some of the members in the restaurant.

Old computer bits!

Any old computers? I recently received two computers, two scanners, one printer, one scanning pen from the late 1990s. One system works now but I still need to add a printer that works. The other system also has problems to add a printer, and this one if for Micha's birthday next weekend.

The problem is that I often get equipment without drivers and the computers can't go onto the internet so I have to download then burn to CD and try to load that way - and it doesn't always work. Another is that the connections are not the same, for example. the HP printer for Micha has a USB connection to the computer .... but the computer does not have a USB plug!

Back to work - at least it keeps me off the streets!

Invitation and Paul news

I got an invitation and news of Paul.
Last week I got a postcard from Paul and I went to the 15th anniversary party of the founding of PSV which is the organisation running Hans' home and many other projects.

Hans arrived late from seeing his mother and sister in Rostock, but was still able to join in the fun and enjoy the delicious foods on offer. It was good for me to get to know other co-workers.

Paul has left Kerala in the south of India, and become a fan of the country and people. He has experienced it realistically, in terms of its social and other problems, by getting to know the people and culture from the inside.

He sent me the postcard from Delhi where he was getting visas to visit ----- Pakistan, China, Uzbekistan and Kirghizstan. He ended by saying he was looking forward to the cool of the Karakoram. Nice, Paul and take care of yourself.

A lot of visitors

I had a lot of visitors yesterday!
It started when Max arrived to help me end the contract for my business web page. We retired to my local Czech restaurant and had a very tasty lunch before resuming work. I have now opened the same advert, but on another server, and one I don't have to pay! Thanks Max. The pic is of him playing with my 'baby' Asus. He liked it.

For afternoon 'Kaffee und Kuchen', Birgit arrived, then Micha and so we relaxed and caught up with what each had been doing and all the others things you talk about over coffee. I took this pic. Later, Petra arrived followed by 'Oldie' Hermann. Nice to see my flat hosting so many people.

Today I took delivery of another old computer system, and wasted hours on playing around with it and seeing what it could do. It runs on a German language Windows 98 system with Microsoft Word package as an office programme. I am giving it to Micha so that he can continue to learn when he starts his VHS Computer für Senioren Kurs in two weeks. Keep learning Micha!

Late summer party

Late summer party time.

Yesterday I went to Waldemar and Nina's garden house in the north of Berlin. It was time for my old Mugglesee Gang to meet again, relax and exchange stories and news. A wonderful day.

I took some photos then my batteries went flat. I then discovered my reserves were also flat. I only have a pic of me with the hosts, their garden with house and of the meal. Delicious!

Thanks for a great time!

Study news from Jan

Study news from Jan - in his own words!

URI

Stands for University of Rhodes Island, the place where I will be studying this year. I am getting settled in and courses are slowly starting.

I started courses two weeks ago and in the field of geotechnology . And I chose the following courses for this term:

- Seabed Geotechnics

- Designing with Geosynthetics

- Graduate Seminar

- Master's Thesis Research

- Special Problems

Special Problems is the equivalent to the German “Studienarbeit”. In order to get through my studies I have to do two of these. I already wrote the first paper back in France and now I hope to get the second one done this winter term.

As you can see I am already working on my master´s thesis. I decided to stick with Prof. Baxter and work on the subject: “Settlement of Adjacent Ground from Pile Driving in Silts”.

I have to say that classes are a lot different over here. First the Professors make you buy books from Professors where they graduated. Then you get to do case studies every two weeks, which means that you have to hand in a summary of a problem you have read about and summarized. The idea is that you should start reading about the topic yourself and get your thoughts a little bit together. And last but not least you have mid terms.

This is completely different to the system in Germany, where there are almost no assignments and you only have to write an exam at the end of each term. I think here they rather want to make you work all through the year.

I did a tour this week over the campus and gathered some pictures to give you a little impression.

Thanks Jan, nice to know something about your studies - as well as your new 'Panzer! I shall add two pics from him. First his college (looks nice) and one of him posing at playing golf! I thought Daniel was the poser par excellence, but you are catching up!

I'm going to be a busy little boy for the next few months.

Tomorrow I'm going to a garden party and will post pics and a story later. On Sunday there is another attempt to get our magazines posted to our teacher members, and next Thursday I am starting a new Spanish course for beginners.

It is in another VHS (Adult Education Institute) and runs until mid December. I have also booked a two day course in mid October to learn Linux. I am also thinking of going on a course to learn typing. I can type and use all my fingers and thumbs but I have never had a course. Perhaps I can learn a few tricks.

In addition, my Photoshop course starts again next week, and I have booked three workshops about teaching methods. I can get the courses at a reduced price and so that helps. What will you be doing as the dark winter days advance?

Gotta new mo'a?

Yes, Jan spent one day sitting around an American office watching forms being filled, stamped, filed and done again - until he got registration papers and plates for his 'new mo'a'. He even sent me photos to share with you.

I think the other person in the pics is Schröder who shared the house in BS with Jan and is also studying civil engineering. If I am wrong then I'm sure Jan will correct me.

Now doesn't he look happy that he has got his 'Panzer' on the road! Drive carefully, Jan.

Ever 'Did-Jeri-Doed?'



Tuesday 9th September - Berlin. I've had a really interesting day and made even better with late summer sun and blue skies.

It started with a journey into the wilds of north Berlin to a place called 'Märkisches Viertel'. Ziya has just moved there and had a computer problem - didn't undertand the English and some of the German. Nice journey there and finding the place. His problem was the Windows XP Service Pack 3 Update. I sorted that out, and a few other things, and galloped back home as he headed off to his dentist - not smiling a lot either!

Back in my nest, I cycled to Dr Birgit's relatively new 'chicy' flat. There over coffee and cakes we caught up on the gossip of all the people we know, then she read something from my bank - which I didn't understand after three readings - and said. "Rubbish, you can throw that away!" Next she called my Health Insurance company and sorted them out and wrote a short note of what I had to do. And then ............ wait for it ................... we ........'Did-Jeri-Doed' Wippee!

I had never seen one or held one before, and of course, I didn't know its po-po from its elbow! (As Geoff would probably say) You can clearly see that from the first two pictures.

I then tried it after Dr Birgit gave me the timely warning, with a little laugh in her voice, " Blow it John, don't suck it!" And so you can see me with full cheeks trying to wake the Aborigines in Australia. I don't know if it worked, but the cat ran away!

After that, Dr Birgit took 'the beast', relaxed on her new huge sofa and 'Didged' a little 'Did-Jeri-Do' on the thing. A great afternoon. I think I shall stay with listening to my CDs, it doesn't beat Beethoven or Wagner!

Wow! Jan started a Blog yesterday. I have already visited it and was the first person to add a comment. Nice idea to share his experiences while on Rhode Island.

He arrived okay last week after the flight and a cold and some days in New York. I have added a few pics of the house and area and his room and the terrace where there will surely be a lot of grilling. I also added a pic of his room-mates. They are from Germany and I know them all but one. The big chap is Norman who is a very cheerful character with an appetite for life!

Although you can visit and see for yourself I decided to add some news and a few pics for those of you who would find such a transfer difficult, and he has not embedded his pics in his Blog but in another url. Yes, not all my readers are hot shot techie savvy people!

I look forward to more news and pics and I shall add a summary to my blog for those who want to know how he is.

The pics I now add are of him asleep on the local beach, his room, the house, the terrace, the house with his silver SUV, the sea front of the town where he is living and the gang he is sharing the house with. Most are from his university in Germany but studying different things to do with engineering and construction.

The url/link to his page is:- http://janinrhodeisland.blogspot.com/

Paul is Alan and Lynne's youngest son and is travelling back to England from Australia. He was in the south of India from where he sent some very interesting pics.

There is a really amazing one of him in a temple with green light. The colours, architecture and construction of this photo has a very special character. What do you think?

I always enjoy getting news from him and the photos are a bonus for they take me back to my time there many years ago!

Take care Paul and keep sending your reports and pics, they are greatly appreciated.

Heike has English lessons from me and we have become very good friends. She is a manager for a large mailing/transport company and very dynamic.

She was in London with her son and friends while I was in the north of England and so we had a lot to talk about when we met this week. She lives with her son, mother and brother in a nice big family house and with an interesting number of pets. She recently sent me pics so I shall share them with you.

They recently got a dog, and cats to add to the collection of birds and they all live happily together - as you can see. The cats and dog don't eat each other, or the birds, but play with each other!! Very interesting. See you on Wednesday Heike.

PS: I was thinking about you, Barbara, and other animal lovers as I wrote this section.

I think you know who Daniel is so I don't have to tell you. I got pics of him at work this week from Jan via an e-mail. Daniel is here to learn German and will sooner - or later - decide to return to Brazil to finish off his degree.

Meanwhile, he works in a hotel/hostel for mainly young tourists visiting Berlin. He works evenings late and so is often tired when he goes to German class. He should have visited me to get something he wants from my cellar, but that was a week ago and still no sign of him. At least we can see where he works via these pics. Call me Daniel!

Late summer uncertain weather day in Berlin today.
I watched Germany win 0:6 at football yesterday evening on TV. Had a generally pleasant week to start the month. Got some nice feedback via e-mail about my August updates to this Blog - but a negative comment from Barbara in that she found it strange reading from 'back to front'.

Actually I still find it strange writing it that way! But, the idea is that the designers of such blogs decided that the latest news should always appear as the first thing you can see - hence the going back to find the beginning. I am getting used to it now - keep at it Barbara and you'll also get used to it.

The big 'shock' this week was that workmen installed two benches on the grill area where I used to sit, entertain, work, sleep, teach. I can always set up shop next to them. Here is a pic.

Today I should be stuffing our teacher association newsletter and flyers into envelopes. I got everything ready, including drinks for my thirsty co-workers ( see photo) then got a call late yesterday to say it was all off. The reason is that the secretary's father is dying and so she has not got the labels ready. Sad news but we can always stuff the envelopes later. Hence, I have time to update this blog!