October 2010

October and things

Today in 2004, my father died aged 92 and Birgit would have been 58. I am meeting Heike and hopefully a few others on Saturday to put flowers on her grave.

Sunday 3 October is a 'big' day in Germany. It marks the 20th anniversary of German Re-unification. I have been invited to a 'Wildschwein' lunch with Johanna, Jutta and Gerald. Later I am going to a concert of music by Brahms and Lutoslawski at the Philharmonie. A nice way to start the month!

In October I have my usual morning visits to the Wellness Club for leg and back training, German lessons with Frau Fox and Frau Korn, and more teaching at the institute which will last until Christmas. Unfortunately the class coincides with my Senioren Computer Kurs each Wednesday afternoon so I shall re-join in January 2011.


The new season starts at the Komische Oper and the highlight is a new production of Wagner's Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg. The premiere is sold out so I shall wait a few weeks and see a later performance when I have more chance of getting a seat. Other highlights are Verdi's La Traviata and Donizetti's Don Pasquale.

Who has a birthday in October? Nephew Andrew will be 33 on the 5th, a day he shares with Birgit B. in London. Nephew Warren will be 34 on the 12th, his mother Frances will be 64 on the 14th, Wolfgang will be 76 on the 16th, Marita will celebrate being 59 on the 21st, followed one day later by my neighbour who will be 92. Diane B. in Keighley will be 64 on the 27th and Tanja ends the month on the 31st with her 47th birthday. Happy Birthday each and all and have a wonderful day with family and friends.

Lazy Sunday

Lazy Sunday

I think you must be having a lazy Sunday like me if you live in west Europe --- hope the rest of you are having lots of fun and sun!!

I really don't like the start of autumn and winter, unless I am on skies on the Piste, then it is great! I wanted to go to Strausburg and walk along the lake shore and have some tasty 'Deftiges Essen'. It is raining again and cold so I stayed at home and had a light lunch of fish with vegetables.

Earlier I took a tray of tea/biscuits back to bed this morning and read my book about Islam, then nodded off for a few more hours. That was nice. Between sorting out the fish and veg, I decided to do some work on the computer(s). This time it was to learn how to use a mobile storage device.

I bought one on Thursday for all my sticks were full and I decided it was time to buy an external storage drive for Windows and Apple. A local store had a Seagate machine on special offer for both systems so I got that. Nice and easy to work = no degree in computer science needed. Just attach and off you go.

I decided to move all my files from sticks to the new mobile drive and you can see me doing this on a photo. Then I moved files from my computer drives to the mobile drive and so freed up space on my drives. Hopefully the computers will run quicker now!

I have to do some work on the old/new Ubuntu machine later for a driver update for Google created some problems on Wednesday at the Oldie Computer lesson. Latest research says that doing such stupid things for the over 65s helps to stop the onset of Dementia. Can't be bad - now all I have to do is remember my name! Er....er....its...er.....

Another Sunday walk

Another Sunday walk

I have just returned from a very nice Sunday walk. A new group of 'oldies'. The link was that of other oldies in other groups so I got a call and was asked if I wanted to joint the walk. I said. 'Yes' for it was almost in my 'backyard'.

We met at Wühletal S-U Bahn station at 10.30 and I was surprised at how many oldies there were -- and some had brought their dogs along for the fresh air. I have never been on a walk with so many oldies so after adjusting to this - and the dogs - I settled into the days walk.

We climbed to the top of the 'Biesdorfer Höhe. This looks like a big hill but it is not natural. At the end of the last war, the ruins were cleared and formed three 'hills' in different parts of Berlin.

Later earth was placed on the hill and trees and bushes. They grew so that sixty years later it looks like 'Mother Nature' had played a hand. Nope - it was 'Father War' and clearing up after!



We then walked further and arrived at two small lakes I have never been to. The larger one is the Kaulsdorfer See and the other one ... I have forgotten the name!

There we had a rest for a snack and drink while trying to fend off a family of swans which wanted to be fed and 'hissed' aggressively when they didn't get any food.

More walking through other parts of Kaulsdorf until we got to Bagger See Biesdorf from where we walked 10 minutes until we got to Biesdorf Schloß and its park.

 It was bought in about 1880 by Mr Siemens. I think you will all know his name! He later went on to even larger houses and parks, and electronic things for which his name is now known worldwide.

From there we walked around the corner until we got to Biesdorf S-Bahn station and a place which was a mixture of Kneipe and Imbiss for beer and simple solid food.

A really nice day, and I was asked to join the group on the next walk to the north of Berlin towards the end of October. I think I shall!

Mauer 3

Mauer 3 Walk

Yesterday I went on the third part of a walk along the route where the Berlin Wall was erected. I missed part 2 (I was in New Orleans) but hope this will be later repeated.

 It was a small group with only a few 'oldies' - but we were able to keep up!

We met at U-Bahn Schleschisches Tor. It is also where I go for my Friday Photoshop course! Welcomes over, we started along the route.

I found the demarcation lines of the local districts of Berlin to be almost unbelievable - but they were for real!

 For example, between Treptow (east) and Neue Kölln (west) so that it was placed against a pavement only three feet away from the wall of a block of flats!



It also went along lots of water, including canals linking the river Spree, which runs through Berlin. I took a mixture of views along this part of the ex- Mauer/Berlin Wall for the different perspectives they offer of the city and its division.

Photoshop Party

Photoshop Party

Stefan organised a 'Treffening' of the Photoshop Gang last Friday.

Meeting point was the Oldie Centre ,where we have lessons, for a 'photograph-taking-tour' in the morning.

Unfortunately, I could not join in for I had an appointment with my lawyer.

 I joined them later and we went to Herr und Frau Schröder's Garden House. It was really great to see them all again - only Susan was missing.

 We chatted about summer and what we had done. Stefan also told us about his plans for the next course as we prepared to enjoy 'Grilled Wurst etc'.

 I took a few photos, but forgot to take one of the gang for I was too busy enjoying the food. The atmosphere was relaxed and happy, as usual.

 Our hosts were perfect and we all went away feeling much better for the time we had spent together. Vielen Dank Herrr und Frau Schröder!

I also forgot to ask if I could post these photos, but I am sure they would have agreed. There is one of Helga trying to look like a scarecrow, one of Joel in a classic pose with some flowers, and one of Herr Schröder grilling our Wurst and other delicious food.

Ubuntu

Learning Ubuntu

No, it is not a language! It is a computer operating system. Most people have machines running WIndows from Microsoft, a few have a Mac from Apple and a growing number are using one of the Lynux based systems, such as Ubuntu.

When I stayed with Neil and Barbara, I talked to their eldest son Harry (a computer 'boffin')  about putting Ubuntu onto my Asus Netbook. It was running a Lynux system but it needed updating. Neil and Harry installed Ubuntu and I had no problems with it.

This made me think about learning more about Ubuntu so I bought a special magazine with a DVD and information about how to install and run programmes. I installed it onto the old laptop used by many students, and later by Daniel and Micha, which was gathering dust on a shelf.

I started the installation at my 'Internet für Senioren Club' where Ines, the teacher, kept  a watchful eye on events in case I needed help. I didn't - I just followed the instructions and that was it.

I brought it home and added access to my WLAN and 'bingo' it went straight on to the internet. You can see this in the photos. If you need to update then think about changing to Ubuntu. It is also free and with a three year guarantee of updates and security. Not a bad offer!

Börnicke

Walk to Schloß Börnicke

Last Sunday I joined a group of 'oldies' and set off towards Bernau. It is a town north of Berlin and I ended my career there a few years ago at an institute which combined language teaching with computers. Oh, happy days!

We left the S-Bahn one stop before Bernau and started our walk. We went through fields and woods in late summer sun and blue skies. The perfect conditions for such a walk. I took the photos you can see as we walked to the Schloß.

We finally arrived at the small village of Börnicke to find an interesting Schloß in very sad circumstances. The gardens are nice and there is now a 'bio-garten' in part of the Schloß gardens, but the Schloß is very 'fallen down'. It has now been taken over by a group who are trying to restore it to its 'former glory'.

The history of the village and the house starts in the 9th century when a fortified village was recorded on the site. Later it developed into a village housing the farmers who worked on the land, including that of the families who owned most of it, and so could finance the Schloß, and its way of life.

In 1892, Ernst Mendelssohn-Bartholdy inherited the house and grounds. He was a rich banker but is better known as the nephew of the composer Felix Mendelssohn. In 1910, his son Paul commissioned an architect to re-design the house and so it was re-built in the style you see it now.

Alas, the family had to flee to the USA (1933) to survive. Later it was taken over as a home for the disabled by the East German state and then became derelict in 1990. It was  taken over by a group to rescue old buildings in 2003, and they are still raising money to invest in repairing the building as part of the history of the area.

I found it all very interesting and talked to local people about the history of the village and house as I ate a tasty hot snack. After this break, we started our walk towards Bernau which took us along a very old  track through the woods. Finally, we came to the outskirts of Bernau to discover the source of the river Panke.

You can see a photo of me next to a pile of bricks. When you put your ear to this you can hear the sound of running water. This is where the river begins. Nearby is a pond which collects water and then sends it south towards the river Spree and this is the source of the river Panke.

From there we walked into the town and along part of the old wall until we reached the 12th century church. From there we walked to the market place and found a traditional German restaurant which also served Berliner Bier.

There we had a welcome stop for a glass of good German beer plus traditional food. We also had some interesting discussions before we wandered  to the railway station and our train back to Berlin. A really great day and I learnt even more about the history of the area around Berlin.

September 2010

September and things

Time to look into September and think about birthdays and other nice things.

Lynne was 63 on the first of September and tomorrow, on the 6th, my god-daughter Charlotte will be 19. She has decided to study at Sussex University.....interesting for that is where her parents and I studied! Nevand will be 6 on the same day. Liebe Andrea will hit the big 25 on the 8th (Andrea - I still have the teabags from England for you :-)  My nephew Stephen in Cambridge arrives at the very important 40 on the 22nd. Robert G. will be 32 here in Berlin on the 23rd with the lovely Sylvana making it to her 50th on the 25th, brother-in-law Lew will celebrate a secret 'just over 60' birthday in Cambridge on the 27th and my nephew Jefferson will reach 37 on the 29th of the month.  Happy birthday each and all!!!

Just a little thought: our liebe Birgit would have been 58 on the 30th September.... but she died too early just six years ago. I remember this day for it is the same day on which my father died in 2004 aged 92!

What am I doing in September? The usual back and leg sessions at my 'Wellness Club', teaching my private students including a pair who are returning after a long summer break, preparing a student at the Institute for a higher level exam, going to the opera and concerts at the Komische Oper in the new programme, having fun at Angelika's birthday party next Saturday, continue my German lessons with Frau Fox and Frau Korn, go on a walk  along where the Berlin Wall was in the south of Berlin, go to a workshop about teaching methods at the end of the month and to a teachers late summer event in the Spreewald in the watery areas south-east of Berlin. Sounds like it could be fun!

Erpetal

Erpetal


Just got back from a walk through Erpetal. Can I hear you ask where it is? It is an enclave of Berlin-Brandenburg nature that still pushes into the south-east of Berlin. On the map it is a green area north of the S-Bahn stations Hirschgarten and Friedrichshagen. 


The weather was really nice today with warm sun and blue skies. So I got a call this morning asking me if I wanted to join a small gang of Oldies who decided to have a gallop through the woods and streams of the Erpetal ending at the Tunnel Cafes in Friedrichshagen. I immediately said, 'Yes'.

It was a really great day. I think you can see this in my photos. Our walk took us through a 'garden colony' where people have weekend/summer houses. One couple in the gang used to have a house there but sold it ten years ago when they could no longer look after it and the garden = aches and pains!

I couldn't resist including a photo of part of a garden. The owners had constructed a 'mini-world' inhabited by 'Gartenzwerge'. I'm not a great fan but I found this one funny for it seemed to be mocking the world of the garden-gnome!

The day ended at the Tunnel on Lake Mugglesee where hundreds of people were also enjoying a few beers and snacks in the late summer sun. Nice day and I hope you had one too!