Morning friend

I have a new morning friend. It's Braun, my new electric razor! I have already tried the machine,  and it gives a very smooth shave.  Well done, Braun, one of the top German companies.

Well yes, but. I looked at the packing and saw the proud boast that it was designed in Germany. Just below I could also read, "Made in China"! Naja!  I suspect the designers in Germany made more money from it than the workers in China who made it. Thanks Chinese workers for your hard work!

The gadget can do a lot more than my old Braun. I can even clean it by washing under a tap. All very nice, but I am really only interested in how good it shaves. Old fashioned, aren't I?

Bea

I met Bea for lunch today. It is nearly two years since we last met. Telephone contact and talking of meeting then we just agreed a date two weeks ago.

I took a tram to Rathaus Köpenick and stepped out. There was Bea. She looked great as usual. New glasses and hairstyle and that infectious laugh.

She lives behind Rathaus Köpenick, so didn't have far to go! She wanted to eat in the Rathaus Ratskeller. So we did!


 I must explain for/to non-German speaking readers that a Rathaus is not a house for rats, but a town hall. I think it is called City Hall in the USA. The Ratskeller is not a cellar for rats, but a restaurant in the basement of the town hall.

 I think the town hall of all major cities has (to have) one. If I remember right it has to do with providing services to the (paying) public, including a place to eat. Nice idea! They have a good reputation for quality traditional food and price.

We settled at a table and ordered our food and drinks. Then I noticed the familiar face of Herr Dr. Gregor Gysi slightly to the left of Bea's face. He is the very charismatic leader of die Linke Partei in the German Parliament, and often invited to political talk shows on the two main tv stations. He was with a small group, which I took to be family and/or friends.

Bea and I covered many topics as we caught up with/on events in each others lives.  We then walked across the road to the River Dahme, which flows into the River Spree not far away, and so together they wander through Berlin on the long way to the North Sea.

Here I took a couple of photos just to capture the bright colours of spring and the people walking along the water, or playing with children, or eating ice-cream, just as people do all over the world when the sun starts to shine after a long winter.

Such a pleaseant time, and as I boarded my tram Bea and I resolved to meet more often, rather than telephone. A good decision!

Electrical Gadgets

We have all heard about Murphy's Law. From today I think there must be a section about electrical gadgets. I wanted to call Bea about meeting for lunch tomorrow so reached for my phone in the kitchen. Picked it up, dialled the number and nothing!

That brought my attention to the gadget. It just blinked at me. Lots of time went by as I pressed buttons, and other things, but still nothing happened. I still can't work it out and wonder if the gadget was trying to tell me it was an 'ex-gadget'.

A short time later I entered the bathroom and picked up my electric razor, as I have done for thousands of times. Not this time! It sprang out of my left hand and smashed onto the tiled floor. And so it became an 'ex-electric razor'. Why did both things happen within less than thirty minutes of each other?

One of the problems of human beings is that we have this need to ascribe causality to the least of things and events. A dangerous road for it leads to religious beliefs, organisations and all the negative things we know then follow. It just so happened and there was no connection between the two, and had nothing to do with causality.

Monday is 'buy a new electric razor' day. I have two telephone handsets on my system, so I guess I can 'slum' along with only two for the moment rather than three! :-)

Filters

I added a filter to my camera, we got onto our bicycles and headed for a large park area only five minutes from where I live. I selected the filter against bright sun so I could take photos into the sun, but which would not obliterate details.


We found a lot of people moving around the park and just enjoying the early spring sun. We took a range of photos. I concentrated on views into the sun as it went down. I was surprised that my camera setting + new lense showed sunshine on the tops of flowers and blades of grass. You can see for yourself here.

I also took a more traditional shot of new leaves emerging in bushes behind the branches of a tree. I find it pleasant and calming to look at.

Finally, I decided on a shot of people just enjoying being in the park after a long winter. I think I am going to enjoy learning a lot more about using filters!

Presents

After the Photoshop Gang, Silka came to pick me up for a camera session. Always nice to see her and she brought me some presents. A large packet of tissues with pictures of each of the German federal states. There are sixteen! And, three filters. She has bought a new lense so these do not fit, but they do on mine. Thanks Silke. Now I have to learn all about the use of filters:-)

She also bought her new 'baby'. It is a small laptop and you can see it next to mine. Mine is on the right of the photo. You can see that it is much smaller than the latest in the 'baby' laptop range - on the left. How things have changed in the last four years.

I put it onto my w-lan without any trouble. Silke bought it to use when she is traveling on photographic contracts. It has the lastest Photoshop Elements programme, so she can work on photos directly with clients.

She was also very proud of her new mouse. It is covered with what looks like shiny diamonds. It is really a matter of individual taste, isn't it? :-))

Puzzle

It was a strange week. I started the week with a cold which got worse. To the Doc's and new medicine. A very bad cold compounded by allergie side-effects. I slowed down and spent more time at home resting.

One thing I didn't miss was my Photoshop Gang on Friday. I was feeling much better by then so I packed my bag, bought rolls for Helga and hit the road.

Stefan had prepared a number of backgrounds and we had to learn how to make a jig-saw puzzle out of the picture. He had written instructions with pictures, but as we started we all made the same mistakes. Only then did we discover that not all the step-by-step instructions were on the pages.

He tried to add additional steps, per aural instructions, which led to confusion. He really worked hard to keep us together to end with the desired result. Here is mine. Thanks Stefan. Next week we are going to repeat the activity. We need it!

Tracks

I took photos of Dr. Khalid in Berlin yesterday then noticed I had two wrong settings on the camera for the bright weather. Mmmm....still learning how to get the best out of this camera!

Today I met some 'oldies' which included a long lunch then headed home. I took a detour over a small bridge and stopped. I had packed my camera to test different settings.

 I took some photos of the railway tracks leading to Karlshorst, then I climbed a wall on the bridge to get a shot in the opposite direction. It is a shot to the power station with the railway service/repair/cleaning station in the foreground. It is a huge area.

It was an exercise in playing about with different settings and getting to know my camera better. It is also for Dr. Khalid for we travelled along these tracks yesterday en-route to the airport.

As we travelled, we talked about his next visit and taking him to see some sights in my part of Berlin. Now he, and you, can see other images of Berlin, which do not appear in tourist guide books!

Visitor

Herr Dr. Khalid N. visited Berlin recently. He attended a conference and we agreed to spend yesterday together, before I escorted him to the airport for the flight home.

Dr. Khalid and I met many years ago at Sussex University. We talked about happy times as undergraduates and what had happened since graduation. Lots of water has flown under the bridge - what an interesting phrase - since we packed out first degrees in our bags and hit the road.

Khalid's road took him to many countries, and peoples, before settling in the north of the UK. When not travelling for conferences, or on research projects, he teaches economics. His wife is also a lecturer and they share the work of bringing up two happy, smiley children.



It was wonderful to share memories and catch up on news. Khalid was in Berlin in the late 80's and early 90's and can still speak some German. I wasn't here then so I learnt a lot from him about life in the city during a period of unprecedented change.

We did a sight-seeing tour of all the usual and famous places in Berlin, with stops for coffee and lunch, before we took the train to the airport. I have been reflecting all day about news of people I hadn't heard about for years. A truly memorable day. Looking forward to the next. Thanks Khalid!

Pets

Another happy session with my Photoshop Gang this afternoon. Friday is my favourite day of the week. Stefan had prepared some photos so we set to work to create new 'works of art'. Here is mine.

It's a conversation between two cats with a comment from the rabbit, and all on a nice, sunny beach. I wrote it in German with the second cat's comment in 'Berlinisch' :-) They are talking about the snake in the middle of the picture.

Cat-1, "Shall we share it?"  Cat-2, "Yes, but what's for dessert?"  Reply from rabbit, "Not me!"

We are planning an exhibition of our work made over the last two years. It's called, 'Perspective and other views'. It will be in our centre at Falckensteinstraße on Tuesday 17th April 2012, starting at 2:00 pm. Drop in if you can. You're more than welcome!

Circus

I've just back from seeing the Chinese Acrobat Circus. Absolutely great! If it comes anywhere near to where you live, you must go and see it!

My German teacher, Frau Fox called to see if I was interested in going. She had a ticket but could not go. Her husband wanted to go so she suggested I use here ticket. I agreed. We met at Alex and walked the short distance to the circus ground.

There were a lot of families present but it wasn't full. I wondered if the cool evening played a part. What was short in numbers was certainly made up for with quality. An amazing array of acrobatic talent. I saw things I did not think the human body capable of doing. And all done with perfect smiles and grace.

I was immediately taken back to my Beijing visit last September. I took my old digital camera so the quality of the photos is not great. I wanted to take some and share with Gillian in Beijing. I was some distance away so could not get good close-up images. Even so, they show a group of remarkably talented young artists.

Workshop

I went to a workshop for English teachers yesterday afternoon. It was sponsored by Pearson Publishers and Vicki Hollett gave a presentation about Communication Skills for the 21st Century. It was very interesting and she is a friendly presenter.

I last saw her in Berlin eighteen years ago when she gave a workshop promoting her new Business English book. This really made her career and launched her onto the international stage. She now lives in the USA and teaches at a university when not writing new teaching material, or on promotion tours.

As usual, I took my (newish) camera to take shots for our teacher's web page. Here is one of her checking back to make sure she had pressed the right button to find the next page of her presentation. She had!  Mathias was also there and unknown to me was snapping me snapping Vicki. Here is his shot of me trying to hide. Both shots were taken about the same time.

My weekend will end in a short time when I leave to go to Alexander Platz to see the Chinese Acrobat Circus. Another first for me!

die Allergie

My allergy/allergies 'kicked in' yesterday :-(   I felt it as soon as I woke. Sore red itchy eyes, runny nose that starts with no warning, and feeling of tiredness and general unease.

My allergies started later than usual. We had some very cold weather that delayed the onset of 'my trees' waking up, and starting to produce pollen. Just opposite my flat is is a very large tree of the variety that is No. 1 on my allergy list. The whole area where I live is likewise covered. No escape!

Yesterday, I did some teaching then booked my 'big flight' in the afternoon. In addition I plan to go to The Netherlands mid-April and to England at the end of June. Looking forward to seeing nice places and people!

March and Donald

Just entering March with warmer weather. I feel that the worst of winter is over. Even so, we could have snow and ice in March, before Spring finally asserts itself. February was a mixed but interesting month. I worked more than I thought as I entered the year. Yesterday was the last lesson. Today was the exam.


I thought of my students as I stretched with Kerstin's Keep-Fit Oldies this morning. They will be okay. No student of mine has ever failed the exam. I had three students and two of them have already found new jobs, and that was with their existing level of English. I expect to have more time for myself in March, but I have to help a business man for a couple of weeks starting next Monday.

I have booked to attend a couple of teacher training workshops in March. I'm going to the Philharmonie next Sunday for a concert of Mendelssohn, Bruch and Dvorak. Later I shall see Angelika playing in her orchestra in an 'English Evening'. The guest conductor is Sir Neville Marriner, who some of you may have heard of, and they are taking the audience through works by Tippett, R.V. Williams and Elgar. Should be an interesting evening.

 I'm also meeting Dr. Khalid for lunch. We met many years ago at university and the last time we met was in Berlin many years ago. He's coming over for a conference. That should be an interesting meeting as well. Towards the end of the month, I'm meeting Bea for lunch at a restaurant in Köpenick. We've been talking about it for some time, then she called and just gave me a date to meet. Not a bad way of cutting through the talk and getting to the main thing!

I discovered a duck on my balcony this afternoon when I got home. I think it is making a nest in one of my window boxes! I decided to call it 'Donald'. Original name, isn't it? Here is a photo of Donald looking very happy on my balcony. 

Who has a birthday in March? My MacBook starts the list. It will be four on the 19th March followed by my 'Baby' Asus Eee, which will also be four, but one day later:-)  Any people having a birthday? Dr. Günter will celebrate his big day with his family in Berlin on the 22nd, and Dr. Bernd will do the same with his family in Bernau on the 28th March. Happy Birthday all and have a great day.  I shall clean my machines and update them as their special birthday treat. Perhapy Donald will help me :-))