November 2010

November and things

October was an interesting month with lots of things to do and more lessons at the Institute.  I also got some interesting postcards from friends in The Dolomiten area of north Italy, St. Petersburg, La Mont Saint Michel off the Normandie Coast and, last but not least,  from Settle and Pen-y-Gent in the Yorkshire Dales. Many thanks to each and all.

From my diary for November, I can already see lots of things and a pattern to each week. This is made up of twice weekly visits to the Wellness Club for leg and back training, teaching four times a week at the Institute, my Photoshop group, two workshops on teaching methods, concerts and two operas. My German lessons will be on hold for Frau Fox has to go to hospital, but she gave me lots of homework last Friday:-)

Who has a birthday in November? Jeff, Rob and Annie celebrate 55 with a collective party in Amersfoort in the middle of the Netherlands on the 19th, Computer Mathias clocks up 43 on the 20th and Stefan Sietz celebrates being well over 40 on the 29th November. Happy Birthday and best wishes to all!

3in1

3 in 1

How can you have the same person three times in one photograph! Can I hear anyone saying, 'Not possible, can't be done!'

It can, and I did it last Friday at the Photoshop lesson. We had three photographs of our gardener against the same wall and in a short time I had him in one and not in two. I wonder if Harry Potter could do that?

We followed that with a street scene a few minutes from our centre. We had ten photographs of the crossroads with lots of traffic and people and our task was to remove all except the parked cars.

This needed more attention and clicks then yes, all gone! Magic isn't it? The things that pensioners do!

Stefan the Star

Stefan the Computer Star




I had a very interesting afternoon. I went to the place where I have my Friday



Photoshop course to see Stefan perform! I was one of ten interested 'students' who turned up from a number of courses he runs there.

One student had asked him for advice and help to buy a new system. They selected what they wanted and ordered online.


 The parts were duly despatched and today was selected for the grand 'put it together' show starring Stefan. He gave a commentary as he worked to explain why and what he was doing, and answered questions.




I took photographs of each construction phase and selected a few for this post. They begin with the parts on the table - at this point we were all drinking coffee and munching biscuits as we waited for the 'Star' of the show.


Stefan began by explaining why he was partly constructing the mother board before adding other parts to the housing. Then he inserted the mother board and began to connect everything. Finally he added the housing before connecting to a monitor.

This was necessary to install the operating system - Windows 7 Professional no less! - and the drivers to make sure that everything worked okay. And it did immediately. Well done Stefan - take a well earned bow and thanks for an interesting afternoon!

Congratulations Andrea

Congratulations to Andrea,


Lots of them for she passed the final oral test to get her degree. She now has the equivalent of a Bachelor of Arts degree and she sent out a photo taken of her with the degree.

She is currently working at the Parliament in Budapest to get more work experience, and brush up her Hungarian, before she starts work at the Foreign Office here in Berlin. What a clever and active person she is!

Enjoy the rest of the time there and here is a glass of 'sunny' wine for you Andrea, so you can toast your success in Budapest.

Remembering Birgit

Remembering Birgit

Last Saturday I went to put flowers on Birgit's grave to remember her birthday.

Her sisters Heike and Karin,  and Karin's husband, were also there. Later we went to the Böhmisches Restaurant near where I live. Birgit F joined us there and we had a good chat over excellent food.

Later, Heike and I went to see Robert. I hadn't seen him for nearly two years and it good to see him looking so well. Again, lots of chatting and catching up on news.

 What a pity we have to meet in such circumstances.