August Holiday

I shall be in England from Friday 1 August until Friday 15 August

I shall not post to my blog in this period.

Enjoy your next two weeks if you are also on holiday.

August 2014 things

I had a very nice midday with Johanna and Colin in Köpenick. A long lunch at the SeeTerrace Restaurant. A nice view over the river in the shade of trees. It was Colin's wish that we meet for he is flying back to Sydney, Australia on Saturday. We were his guests. Thanks for the meal Colin!

I've had a lazy week reading, dozing in the sun or shade, and going to local places just to get out of the flat, or meet friends. I also had two visits to my doctor. The first on Tuesday was to get more tablets to keep my blood level down. The second was this evening to get 20 syringes/injections for I am having another thrombosis in my left leg. I have to inject twice a day while in England.

Tomorrow I fly to Liverpool to stay with Barry and Pam for a while before driving to Silsden. Next week begins by seeing family and friends.  On Friday I am taking the train to Castleford to stay with Alan and Lynne. We plan a journey north to see Peter and Frieda. Peter recently had a serious heart operation so we all want to visit him.

We plan a drive to Cambridge later to see my sister Pauline. She is waiting for an operation on her spine so we want to spend some time with her. We are all not getting any younger and fitter! I note that the weather in the UK is not as warm as here, so I shall be packing some warm clothes tomorrow before galloping to the airport and starting my adventures.

I leave July with my Photo of the Month. Jan sent it to me and I really like the shot. He looks well and happy for it was taken just after Germany won the World Football Championship, and he has a beer in his hand! Please note that when you buy a German football shirt in the future it will have 4 and not 3 stars on it!

Who has a birthday in August 2014? Shirley starts the month with her 75th in Florida. I wish I could be there Shirley! She shares the day with Christian D. in Berlin who will be 20.  Beatrix D. who lives just behind the town hall in Köpenick hits 41 on the 6th. Christian D, has a cousin called Jerome and he will celebrate his 20th on the 8th.

Peter and Andre in Altlandsburg will celebrate their 6th wedding anniversary on Saturday 9th August. Sorry that I can't celebrate with them but I was at there wedding and there is a report on my blog just after I started to write it. French speaking Nicole will be 69 on the 21st, Jürgen hits 70 on the 24th, music profi Angelika hits 62 on the 25th, followed by my sister Pauline on the 26th who will be 70.

Jürgen's partner Dieter will be 70 on the 27th and on the 28th, my dear Jan will be 31. He shares the day with Bernard P, ex-police boss, who will be 54. And that is the end of the birthday month. Happy Birthday to each and all.

Dedicated to me

How many of you have had a piece of music dedicated to you? Come on - hands up! How many have been dedicated to me? Zero is wrong. Think again. Yes, the reader in Brighton got the answer right. It is two.

I found them in a suitcase in my cellar this afternoon. I was clearing out/making room for Marcel to store some things over summer. I knew I had the suitcase and that it was full of 'stuff' from Brighton collected in December of 1987, when I left for good. I just took the suitcase with me regardless of where I went.

The composer of both pieces is Glen S. Beer-Pearce. I got to know him via his girlfriend, who was a 'punk' of no taste or talent, but had an amusing, even entertaining way of being dumb. She talked nonsense and smoked a lot.The mutual attraction was sex.  He was drifting and without work. He had considerable musical talent but didn't believe in himself.

I encouraged him to study, first for 'O' then 'A' levels in music. He was successful and his self-confidence grew. He began to take composition seriously. In 1986, I suggested he study music at the local university. He laughed at the idea. I didn't. He finally agreed to apply and was accepted.

In his first year he blossomed like a plant being watered and fed correctly. During all this time he struggled to write a string quartet. He finally finished it in August 1987. It was played at a musical event in the university and I was invited to attend because he had dedicated it to me.

On finding out I planned to go to Germany he called his String Quartet No. 1 'The Johannes Quartet' and wrote, "Dedicated to John O'Dwyer for the inspiration and encouragement I received. This was followed much quicker by his Piano Sonata No. 1 in F# Minor. Again dedicated to me which he played to a gathering of family and friends just before I left for Germany.

Thanks Glen. Happy memories. Unfortunately we lost contact with each other but I am sure he has made a successful career as a musician and composer. Sometimes it is nice to find old memories in a  suitcase! Now rush to your cellar and see what you have forgotten :-)

Phew!

Phew, but it's hot. We've had blue sky, sun and temperatures up to 32°C for the last four days. Today it got to 34°C and it should be the same tomorrow. Lots of families on public transport going to green areas with water or public swimming baths. Great for letting the kids cool off. Father can always do that with a cold beer, but they can't.

I have just returned from a nice lazy long Sunday lunch in the Ratskeller under Rathaus Köpenick. This is the restaurant under the town hall. I met Oldie H. who I told you about in earlier blogs. Worries about his health following heart operations.

I was surprised to note he had lost even more weight, looked old and ill and slurred words in the way some old people do. New glasses as well for his sight is clearly getting worse. Even so, it was nice to see him and we caught up on news over delicious traditional German dishes, washed down by a local very cool Bier! We agreed to meet next Sunday and hopefully go on an excursion out of town. It depends on the weather!

When escaping into cool parts of the garden to escape the sun, I did so with a book. I think I told you I was currently reading four books. To this I added a fifth and it has accompanied me into the garden. I bought it recently just after it came into print. It is by Neil Deane, and called, "Modern Germany: An outsider's view from the inside". ISBN:978-3-86386-713-3. €12,99 which is about 10 pounds Sterling.

I have read 97 pages so far while hiding from the sun in the garden and can recommend it to any Brit who is curious about life and living in Germany. It will make you think and smile. It is based on Neil's experience of living here for more than 35 years, including those as a language student in the GDR.

I met him in Berlin about 20 years ago when I co-founded the English Teachers Association. He was an early member and activist. At one time we lived in the same house owned by the publishing company he then worked for. He is now a lecturer at The University of Essen. Neil comes from Liverpool so you will find numerous examples of his 'scouse' humour! Go on - buy a copy!

Football World Cup

Yes, as you should know by now......WE WON!! Congratulations to the German football team and its trainer on the result of a lot of work to build a team and not just a gang running around to support a few 'star' players.

It was an exciting game and very evenly matched. From the statistics I noted that the German team had more possession and shots at goal, but the Argentinian defence was not easy to get through, and their forwards were fast and threatening.

My neighbours let off lots of fireworks and cheered loudly to celebrate the late goal in extra time. It was  a tight match and result. I went training this morning and the tv screens in the centre were still full of the news and updates.

One included a report that the team will land in Berlin tomorrow. Then they will take an open bus to the centre of the city. An estimated half a million people are expected to greet them en-route! That means a lot of workers will be signing in sick tomorrow :-)

Another statistic: On this day one year ago I had 20,129 hits on my blog. Today it is 30,562 making 10,433 in one year. This is a record. I wonder what the comparison will be in a years time. For you 'late viewers' go to some of my first entries. You might find them interesting and you can compare with reports this year.

Flowers

Just picked some white flowers from the bushes at the entrance to my flat. They brighten up the living room. Earlier I went to an exhibition of artists' work, including that created by Maude. You may remember I visited her early summer show and posted a report and photos on my blog.

As I entered her studio, she was talking to two men. They left, we embraced each other and she excitedly told me one of the two had just bought one of her paintings. Great! I saw the rest of the exhibition before returning home.

This week has been marked by strange summer weather switching from hot and sunny to heavy storms. It was also dominated by football. I think most Germans can still hardly believe the result last Tuesday when 'our' team beat Brazil 1:7. Excitement is gathering for the final tomorrow evening. I expect nothing to move in Germany then!

I had some lazy moments as well, particularly in the morning when I relaxed in the sun on my balcony with a book. I finished the one Neil gave me for my birthday and returned to the modern history of Europe book. I am now on page 517 of 831. More sun please for balcony sitting and reading :-) Next week looks like more of the same.

Multi-Kulti

Yesterday afternoon I spent many hours in a 'multi-kulti' event. The alternative was to go to the centre and find the eltabb 'Sommerfest' in Gleisdreiecke Park. I decided our local 'kulti' event was more important. I think I made the right choice.

It was a multi-cultural event organised by our local SPD, the Vietnamese Association, the Kultschule, where it took place, and Lyra e.V. They are all organisations based in my local district and working for better understanding between different local communities.

It was new for my local SPD and we really enjoyed the event. It was based on families from different cultural backgrounds, particularly children. The Vietnamese Association had really taken a lot of trouble to contribute to the afternoon.

Lots of dancing and singing from the children watched by proud parents. As you can see, many had brought their cameras to record the event. They also provided a couple of stalls offering Vietnamese food cooked by enthusiastic women. I had to try some dishes. They were delicious.

I also had a lot of fun running the SPD game for children where they had to turn a roulette wheel and when it stopped on a SPD symbol they won a prize. We were 'liberal' with the rule and offered all the children a prize regardless of the roulette wheel. Many of them came back for another chance to win a prize, and I made sure they did :-))

Hot and a goal

Today was hot. Yes, 32°C, blue skies and just sun. Wonderful! Unfortunately it will not last. The forecast for the next few days is for high temperatures but with storms and rain.

We are having a strange start to 'high' summer. Why couldn't it have been like this recently when I had visitors?

This evening I watched Germany play France in the World Football Championship. 'We' won 1:0. The German team played better than I expected. German friends told me they expected a tight result. They were right.

Many German fans/families/groups are now grilling 'Wurst' to celebrate if they have not done so before, or even during the game. Of course, washed down with lots of cool Bier!

Here is a photo of a friend grilling Wurst from Thuringa said to produce the best in Germany. I agree with this claim!

Holidays now booked for the whole of August. Flying to three places. I shall post details later so everyone will know why there will be a 'blog-post-silence' in August. Enjoy the weekend wherever you are.

July 2014 things

June was a very interesting month with strange swings in weather. I hope we shall have more sun and blue sky in July. The forecast is for a fine end to the week with temperatures over 32°C. Pity it wasn't like that last weekend when Marcel and Ian visited. Thanks to Jan for attached photo in addition to my usual monthly monkey. I am sure it will make you smile. I did! It is called 'Angela's Cleavage'.

This weekend I am covered in 'Fests'. On Saturday I have accepted an invitation to go to the AWO Sommerfest. I shall then have to make a speedy exit to get to the EVM Sommerfest. On Sunday the English teachers association holds its Sommerfest in Gleisdreieck in the centre of town. From there I shall have to gallop to the east to attend the SPD Lichtenberg Kinderfest. I shall probably explode from 'Grilled Wurst' at some time!

Germany is in the grip of 'Football Fever'. It won the game against Algeria yesterday evening, but not without lots of criticism in the media. The next game on Friday at 6.00pm should be interesting. It is against France. Oh, no! I hope there will not be a repeat of antagonism between the two countries over the last two centuries!

My diary us full of the same appointments that made up June. Little new over the next four weeks. I hope to get out into the countryside and enjoy the scenery, views and life around the city before I pack my bag. Yes, I am flying to England on 1 August and returning on 15 August.

Other travel is in the planning stage on my return but more of that when I know when and what for sure. I am flying to and from Liverpool, so I am looking forward to seeing Barry and Pam again when I arrive. Fish 'n Chips and pork pies are high on the agenda of things to taste when I am there :-))

Who has a birthday in July?  Laura B. in Yorkshire has her 18th as I write these words. Jütta will be 66 tomorrow. We are all meeting at Johanna's at 9:30am for a long breakfast to celebrate. Looking forward to that! My Acer laptop will be all of three on the 6th. On the 24th I shall have a small party to celebrate getting my German citizenship two years ago. That is always worth celebrating. Adele will have another birthday in Yorkshire on 26 July. I plan to see her when I am in the UK.  That is it for birthdays/celebrations for the month. Have a wonderful day no matter where you are!