eltabb AGM 2009

Yesterday I went to the eltabb AGM



In case you have forgotten, eltabb means English Language Teachers' Association Berlin-Brandenburg and was founded in the late summer of 1994. I was a co-founder and the meetings to discuss setting up the association were held at my flat - then on the Landsberger Allee in Berlin.

We have come a long way since then. Fifteen years have slipped by and we are now planning a 15th Birthday Party on 9th May. Great! I shall miss it for I shall be in Turkey with Hans. But there will be other special events throughout the year so I can join in a few celebrations.

We elected Simone to lead the gang helped by Una and the rest of the Board. In this pic Simone is on the left wearing green and her deputy is on the right wearing blue and no glasses. I have added a group photo and you may note that all the board but one are female - but then this is not the first time this has happened and they are all very efficient teachers and some, like Simone, run their own schools.
















Should be an interesting year. We also have two other management positions but they are not on my pics. They are Edward who runs our web site and Anne who has taken on the mailing task from me. Just put 'eltabb.com' into your browser and you will get there anytime and find out what I am doing with this bunch of talented people in Berlin.

Quantum Computing

Just heard about Quantum Computing

Great news. As I was writing the last blog entry I heard the news on BBC World Service. A group of scientists in the USA have made a breakthrough in quantum research which has implications for the development of computers - not to mention other things.

Buy your local newspaper tomorrow, or watch TV, or scan the internet for the news of this breakthrough. It was forecast by Einstein, who then spent the rest of his life doubting his foresight. I know because I am reading his biography at the moment - with two other books!

Opera and book

I went to the opera and bought another book today

Yes, Angelika called me late yesterday and said she had a ticket for me to go to the dress rehearsal of a new production of Tchaikovsky's opera ' Pique Dame' at her 'komische oper Berlin'. I immediately said, 'Yes'. After a round at my 'Wellness Club', I arrived at the 'Staff Entrance' and got my ticket.

There are three opera houses in Berlin and the 'komische Oper' is the smallest and only one to have productions in German. It is based on the opera house in Paris with the same name. All tickets for such dress rehearsals are sent to the 'Friends of komische Oper' association, which is the largest supporters group of all the opera houses in Berlin. Most of the supporters are 'elderly', so I felt very much at home!

The opera is very much of its time and place and even if you hadn't known it was written by Tchaikovsky you would only need three minutes into the overture to work out who the composer was. The themes explored are very interesting and certainly are as relevant today as they were when he wrote the work. The musicians were first class and most of the singers, but not all.

The 'heroine' was too old and almost the tallest on the stage. Even though a wonderful voice I just could not take her seriously in this role and kept imagining her as one of Wagner's heroines - striding across the stage with a spear is certainly something she could do. The hero had a bad cold, and the director apologised for this at the start, but with all sympathy it did not help to see him moving about on stage, including opening his mouth, to hear nothing but the orchestra! Even so it is worth seeing and I enjoyed my nearly four hours of escapism this evening.

On the way home I stopped at Jokers bookshop near Friedrichstrasse S-Bahn and looked for an English novel to give to Dr Birgit, but found nothing for her. I did, however, find an interesting one and the main story is about, "an ageing playwright accepts a tempting offer to have his mind transplanted into a younger physique - with dire consequences".

Sounded interesting and I have tried to imagine what it would be like to put my 'old' brain into a younger body, but then I know it wouldn't work for each generation has to make the same stupid mistakes. That's life!

Jan has updated his blog since he returned to the USA and I saw some nice photos. I think I shall visit his site again and 'borrow' a few for my next blog. Cheeky!

Hans in Spandau

Spandau with Hans

I discovered that Hans had never been to Spandau. Why is that a surprise? Because it is nearly 20 years since the Berlin Wall came down and Spandau is in the north of the old west-Berlin. Hans lived in the old east-Berlin in a south east district of the city. It was time for him to see a bit more of the city he has lived in for over half his life.

We agreed to meet at Alexander Platz S-Bahn station so that meant I didn't go to his place to check that he had showered and cleaned his room. He arrived with a grey three day beard and at least a three day 'aroma' from not washing combined with the smell of stale cigarette smoke. The rule is that in such a situation I have to take him back to the home, but this time I decided to continue to Spandau - but keep a fresh air distance!

I took these shots of him arriving at the Citadel. I decided to take photos to send to his sister so she could share the day with him. The Citadel was built on the ruins of an old fort built by the original Slavic inhabitants of the area. A lot of place names in and around Berlin still show this history. In case you don't know, all of the east of Germany settled by German tribes from eight hundred years ago was on land already settled by Slavic groups. We went into the museum where there is evidence of this and then wandered around the old fortification.

Later we went to the city centre where we found a restaurant with traditional Berlin food. He likes that. We later walked through the market area and arrived back at the rail station. He seemed to have enjoyed it and we did spend most of the day seeing the sights. It is really nice in summer so perhaps we shall return then.

Going to London

I'm going to London

Flying over for the last weekend in February and this time I am using Ryan Air. I have never flown with them before - the flight price is only €16 but all the taxes and charges bring it to €80! Now that is an interesting statistic and tells us who is making the most money out of cheap flights these days. I can take a special train, or express bus, and be in the centre of London in 45 minutes. London has never been my favourite city but perhaps I shall think better about the dirty and over-expensive place after this trip.

I decided to 'jet-in' to help Adrian consume 50th birthday gin' n tonics and see my lovely god-daughter, Charlotte. I haven't seen her or her brother for ages, even though I saw her just after her birth in Berlin - a few years ago! Adrian and Tanja said they could organise my stop over at a local guest house called The Charlotte Guest House. How can I not stop there!

Keep Fit

I went to my training centre again

Yes, yesterday late morning, after the visit to my allergy doctor, I trundled into 'The Wellness Club' and slowly got into motion. I found it easier than my last visit and I am sure my visit tomorrow will be even easier.

I took some photos to send to Ian and Birgit in London who kindly paid for a years membership as their Christmas present to me. Fortunately there were not many people there and so I was able to get a few clear shots of the main training area.

The Wellness Club is on three floors and these shots were taken on floor two. The saunas, badminton, squash and reception areas are on the first floor as you enter and here you can see my special room - the area for back and leg stretching exercises! The third floor is for warming up by rowing, walking or other machines, and there is a large room for things like judo, kick boxing, tai-chi and other things I can hardly pronounce.

The Club is in an old ex-industrial centre, founded by Seimens, on the side of the River Spree and faces south so we get the sun all day. There is a sun terrace with seats and lounges where people relax after the sauna.

My trainer is called Antje, but unfortunately she was not on duty when I was there so no photo. She is very good and used to work with Dieter, my old trainer and has mainly continued the training he devised for me based on doctors reports.

Happy Sunday

I was very happy last Sunday

Why? Andrea, Jan and Daniel came to see me. Jan got back from seeing Arancha in the north of Spain on the Saturday evening and looked much better than when I saw him just before Christmas. He looked rested and relaxed and even had a twinkle in his eye! I wonder why?

Daniel came from grabbing a few hours sleep for he is trying to break the work record for partying in addition to working evenings-nights in a bar. He dozed in my comfy armchair until told to do things. Andrea organised us all.

She wanted us to meet so that I could take some photographs for 'Muttis' big day. We did this two years ago and got some nice pics of her with Jan. Jan and Andrea had brought there bigger, newer digital cameras so I ended up taking 4 versions of each shot = their cameras in addition to my digital and my old Olympus 35 mm camera. I am going to pick up photos from that camera later this afternoon.

I really enjoyed the time with them and their smiles and jokes. I was also impressed with how quickly and easily Andrea and Jan switched and copied shots from camera to computer and different kinds of memory sticks. From all the ones we took I decided to work on 14, and from those I selected two- and here they are.

Jan arrived back in Rhode Island yesterday and is probably sleeping now, as Daniel will after another round of parties and work. He is leaving Berlin at the end of January so that is a good excuse to party. Andrea will be hard at work on her books in her college at the moment and will have selected the photos she wants to have framed as a present.

Thanks to each of you for making my Sunday so memorable.

Going to France

I'm going to France
Yes, following the meal with Nicole, I called Hannelore and Peter at their house in a village of 600 people in the south of France near to the Riviera. They were really pleased to talk to me and insisted that I come to visit them.

I suggested the end of May because the weather will not be too hot so I'm flying to Nice on the 24th May for a week. I'm looking forward to seeing the scenery and going to the coast with them - and seeing Marseilles for the first time.

Now where did I put that French for Tourists book I last used when I went on a skiing holiday in the French Alps! I wonder if it is in my skiing clothes bag?

Going to Turkey

I'm going to Turkey!

This afternoon I went to the travel agency at Flughafen Schönefeld with Hans. The office rejected the first offer because of free booze from 10.00 am to midnight. We had been in touch with the agency during the last couple of days and they had some alternative offers ready for our arrival.

I let Hans make the decision as to which hotel and he picked one fronting onto the beach and one-and-a-half klm from the centre of Alanya, for that is where he wants to go.

He looked very unhappy on the way back and I asked him what was wrong. He answered that he should never have said anything about free booze at the first hotel. This is not an offer at the new hotel!! We fly out on 5th May for a week of fun there.

Now to find my Turkish for Tourist book!

Meal with Nicole

I had a pleasant meal with Nicole last Tuesday evening

We agreed to have our Christmas meeting after the event, so I went along to the VHS Friedrichshein where she was helping with registering new students. I took one photo of her against a poster for French books and a whiteboard.

I used to live 3 minutes walk away and remembered a good Italian restaurant on the corner. It was still there and just as good. Nicole had a fish dish and sipped a light dry wine - as you can see in this photo. I can recommend this restaurant to all and any who visit that part of Berlin.

We caught up on lots of news including the visit she made with husband Schipo, to Hannelore and Peter's house in the south of France last summer. I decided to do something about that. A memorable evening of stories, smiles, gossip, jokes and we ended with a promise to meet again when I am next in their area. Good to have mobile phones!

Cold and going to Turkey

It's very cold and I thought I was going to Turkey

We are having a very cold snap in Berlin at the moment and the forecast is for at least -16°C in the night. It is only -12°C on my balcony at the moment. It snowed yesterday and was so cold that is didn't turn into slush, which is often the case here. At least the sky is blue as you can see from the picture taken this morning from my bedroom window.

Later I went to my first training session this year courtesy of Ian and Birgit. Their Christmas present to me was a years subscription to 'Der Wellness Club'. I left at the end of June in 2008 and am happy to be going back. My left leg and lower spine need the movement. A very generous present indeed - thanks to both.

After training I met Hans and took him to Flughafen Schönefeld where we got information about a weeks holiday near to Alanya on the Turkish Riviera. I was last there 30 years ago and saw the Turkish planes fly over me on the way to Cyprus and partition of the island! Hans wants to go there for his birthday on the 11th May and so we found a nice place with lots of free sporting facilities - ideal for me!

I did not notice something important until we got back to the office - but Hans had. It offered 'All Inclusive' which included 'lokale Alkoholika von 10.00 bis 24.00 Uhr' = free booze all day and evening from the hotel booth on the beach at the front of the hotel. No wonder he wanted to go there. The office staff at Han's home noticed it so they are to meet tomorrow to decide if he can go. If not I have to find something else with him next Thursday. I wonder if I shall get to Turkey this May?

Strausberg in winter

I went to Strausberg today

I just had to get out of Berlin after spending a number of days at home getting over a bad cold and so I went to my favourite place to the east of Berlin. I also wanted to breath some fresh, cold air coming from the lakes, woods and fields around Strausberg. I feel better for it!

I also had time to reflect on recent events as I sat in the quiet of the lake and town. Some are not so good and some appear to be better. In the first group I put family who do strange things, friends in the UK and Berlin who 'drop off the radar' of contacts with no explanation and those who I don't want to have any contact with who suddenly pop up as if nothing had happened!

In the second group I include travel plans for 2009. These include taking Hans to the south of Turkey for his birthday at the beginning of May, visiting Jan and seeing New York and Boston in June, going to the UK in July or August for I want to spend some time with Alan and Lynne and family in the north again. Last year was good and I would like to repeat the nice experience.

It was an interesting day at the lake, which ended at my favourite family cafe where the owners asked why I hadn't been there since early summer. Nice to be remembered!

Birthdays in January

Now who has a birthday in January?
Peter Lee will be 50 on the 5th - but then he has also slipped off the radar lately even though he swore he would always keep in touch at the end of uni days. Na ja, und Prost Peter. Have a great day.

Daniel will be 24 on the 9th, Hannelore in the south of France will be popping the champer corks on the 12th - which is exactly the day when I bought my first Asus laptop three years ago, and which I am using to write this update!

Caroline will be 23 on the 20th, and Harald Porsch will be smiling all day on the 21st when he celebrates his 45th. Peter von Longlegs will be opening his cards on the 24th to discover he has reached his 25th.

Paul (The Wanderer) Bateson will be 24 on the 27th - nice to see him back safely after his gallop around half the world in 2008. He will be celebrating in the arms of the lovely-eyed Beth in Liverpool. Larissa, in Bernau to the north of Berlin, ends the month with her 46th birthday on the 29th of January.

Happy Birthday to each and all!

Happy New Year

I wish you all good health in the New Year

- but then I would wish that for you all the time. Strange when we think about how, and what, we wish our nearest and dearest! It is just an extra wish for as I notice the passing of time I also notice how important health is.

I spent the New Year at home with a very bad cold and the first of January mainly in bed sleeping and occasionally reading my new book about Spanish history. I was surprised to see just how much had happened in the Spanish peninsular from the Romans leaving, about 400AD, and the rise of the northern states from 1000AD.

Very interesting, particularly the Arabic influence and forced change in Christian belief and practice to Catholicism coming from Rome. I switch between this book, my Einstein biography and my Spanish grammar books.