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!