Photo Update

Spent a nice day but not as easy as I planned. Cleaned the flat, ironed everything piled up in heaps, cooked, washed-up and did some computer work - including clean out!

I cleaned out some accounts and checked my records of photos. I was surprised to see a number I had forgotten to post to others/to this blog. How could I have forgotten this/these? I have no idea but I had.

Here is a photo update which brings back very happy memories. They are of my visit to Brandenburg on Sunday 2 October. Heike invited me. I remember it was a very pleasant late summer/autumn day.

Heike met me at the train station and we went to a restaurant called La Mere. There I met some of her friends, including Alicia, who has an interesting background. We talked a lot about here past - part of it is my past as well!


We met six days after my return from Beijing and two days after I had bought my Canon DSLR camera. On that day my father died - he would have been 92, and it would have been Birgit's (Heike's sister) 59th birthday.

Just looking at these photographs brings back so many interlinked memories.

Eating Update

Had a pleasant lunch with people I haven't seen for nearly two years. Very good 'Deftiges Essen' and lots of interesting talk with many laughs! We decided to meet again at a restaurant in Potsdam next Spring.

On returning home, I did a number of things including checking photographs on my Nikon. Surprise - I found the photos I had taken at Marga's 'Special Eating Meeting' last Saturday.

 I discoverd that there are 3 Followers of this blog.  When I checked, I only found 2. Who is the mystery number 3?  Is it James Bond :-)  Have a nice Sunday. I have a busy week coming up so I plan a lazy one with lots of sleeping and books.

Grow Up

Staying with my Friday afternoon gang. I took my new camara and shot some pics using the 'Portrait' function.

 It was the first time I had done this and the results were good. I took two reall nice shots of Helga, one of Marco and one of Zia -- but I forgot to ask permission to post to this blog!

While about to pour some coffee, Stefan took my camera and took some quick shots. When I realised what he was doing, I began to pull faces. You can see the results here!

As I did my quick poses, Stefan asked if anyone had ever asked me when I would grow up. I answered that millions had asked, but had decided to grow up only just before I died :-)))   What do you think?

More Kunst

I went to my Photoshop Gang this afternoon after a break of two weeks. It was nice to see all again.
I did a new work of art :-)

It is called, 'Travelling with Mushrooms and Strange Birds'. You may note the ships are sailing through a snow field.

This new contribution to the world of art is available for purchase starting at €1 million, payable to my Swiss bank account!




 The other is my famous compilation called 'Bees'. I have commented on this before but today Stefan let me have the original.

I put it into a frame and photographed it. You can buy it from me for the budget price of €2 million. A real collectors item!

River Spree

The river Spree runs through Berlin, from east to west and flows into the river Havel which in turn flows into the river Elbe which flows into the North Sea ( And NOT the Baltic Sea. Thanks for the correction, Marga!) just north of Hamburg. The things you can learn on this blog!

Two days ago, I tested my new camera with Silke. She is a member of my new Wednesday camera club. She has the same make of camera, but with a larger lense. We agree to meet up and cycled along the Spree then crossed it on the bridge near Ostkreuz.



I took a photo of  part of the bridge superstructure. I like the way it turned out. You can see the result here. Near the bridge are the famous figures which appear to be walking on the water. I can't imagine how many times the figures have been photographed.



You can see my contribution. Silke sent me an e-mail with a surprise attachment. It  contained a couple of photos of my taking photos. I didn't know she had taken them. Very nice so I decided to share her talented work with you!


In a short time I am off to Marga's for a splendid meal. She will also help me with some paperwork.
Tomorrow I'm off to Jüterbog  for more food in return for showing my China photos. Have a nice weekend each and all.

Darker Days

 And the days get darker. Very noticeable since we put back the clocks. See the shadows from the trees in my back garden - photo on the right. No news from the UK apart from a change in Addingham (Info via Facebook - thanks A for this on 24 Nov.) What has happened since I last wrote?

My diary is filling up. I have added a walking-cycling group for Seniors each Tuesday morning, and a camera club, for anyone interested, which meets each Wednesday at 5.00 pm.

A member called Sylke volunteered to meet me Thursday lunchtime and take some photos. She has the same kind of camera as I have. It is the new Canon DSLR that I showed on this blog (See next page - click bottom right of this page) She will teach me a few tricks and how to use its facilities.

I started teaching again at the institute yesterday. Three afternoons from next week until the end of the year. A group of three and very interesting people with different backgrounds. I can use laptops and projectors and other 'toys' with them. I like that.


Last Friday I went to a bowling alley with my old 'Müggelsee Gang'. We hadn't met since early summer when we went of a day long cycle tour on Herren Tag. We had lots to catchup on in addition to playing bowls. I won 2 of the 3 games in my group. Not bad for a semi-beginner!

You can see a photo of me there drinking a good German beer. I sent it to Jan, for where he is working at the moment, no alcohol is allowed. He thanked me for the photo, and I promised to take him out for a beer when he comes over at Christmas.

Ian and Birgit closed down in Beijing yesterday and flew to Sydney, Australia for their next adventure. Ian told me Birgit was a bit 'weepy' at leaving. I can well understand her. I really liked Beijing, so I would be just as weepy if I were in her shoes.  Finally, Alan and Lynne are still in Australia/New Zealand visiting family and enjoying it greatly.

Last Sunday, I went on a walk with a group. We started from Grunewald (Green-Forest) in the west of the city. We walked to the river Havel, where it is very wide and looks like a lake, just north of Wannsee. I couldn't resist taking a few photos, to share with you here.

I used my old Nikon Coolpix 2200 digital camera. Most photographs posted on this blog were taken with that camera. Not a bad purchase. I bought it with Jan at Saturn in Alexander Platz. He recommended it. Nice one Jan - extra beer for that!

November 2011

It is the start of my not favourite time of the year. From now to the end of March, I just hunch my shoulders and march through the cold, rain, snow and dark days of autumn and winter. Not my period. I am a spring and summer person and start to come alive as March moves into April. Can't wait!

As I reported on my return from Beijing, my life has started to fall into an old regular pattern. That is okay as long as my health plays along. As we move into the cold weather of Europe, I am happy to report that everything is directed towards Australia.

Alan and Lynne are now there visiting their sons including one who lives in New Zealand. Ian and Birgit are moving to Sydney from Beijing in mid-November. Jan is working there until the end of the year. He is on a ship somewhere north-east of Perth. Everyone is either heading to/ or working in/ Australia. Perhaps I should think of going there !

Who has a birthday this month?  Jeff, Rob and Annie have their collective birthday and party on the 19th November. This is one day before Computer Mathias celebrates his 44th with his lovely wife and lots of friends - as usual! Sarah in London will be 51 on the 22nd and Stefan Seitz will celebrate his birthday on the 29th November. Happy Birthday to each and all and have a wonderful day with family and friends!

Müggelsee

I went to Müggelsee last Sunday. It is not too far from where I live and I have made a number of posts about my visits there to this blog. You may remember that it is the largest lake in and around Berlin.

I called some Oldies. The weather was perfect for the time of year, so they agreed to get out their bikes and meet at a restaurant on the south side of the lake.

Nice tasty lunch of fish and salad with a glass of white dry wine plus lots of chat about health and grandchildren - as usual! Then onto the bikes and away.

We cycled along the south of the lake and ended up in a small town called Erkner. There we had 'Kaffee und Kuchen' and as the sun set we cycled to the station and took the S-Bahn back to Berlin.

A very nice relaxing day with views of autumn settling again over our largest lake. I wonder if I shall walk over it in winter as I did last year. Watch this space!