September 2014 things

I arrived home yesterday to a warm and sunny day.  Here is a photo of the weather today = cold and very wet!! The conference in St. Petersburg ended on Friday evening with a Gala Dinner. Very good food and wine, but a very late night. I got to bed at 1.30am to be awoken at 5.30am to get ready for the airport taxi.

All went well and we arrived in Berlin on time. I arrived home to have a quick shower, change into formal clothes and then head for the main railway station. Destination was a double 70 birthday party in Jüterbog, which is south-west of Berlin.

That really was a birthday party. About 60 guests, an excursion through the town in a type of railway, which ran on the streets, followed by a cabaret  making fun of politics and religion. One grim faced woman near me was not amused! I think she was a believer in the fantasy world of a church.   Late train back to Berlin and into bed at 1.30am.

I hoped I could sleep all day, but my body clock was messed up so I woke at 7.00am fully awake. I think I shall need two days to adjust. So far I have had a lazy day for Angelika left a telephone message saying she was playing in a concert in Kiel so there would be no birthday party for her today.

I have lots of photographs to prepare, paperwork/letters to answer and get back into routine life. I have had a very interesting month of travel in England, Hungary and finally in the second city of Russia. I need time to share this with you on my blog so keep coming back to read more about my adventures.

I also received really nice postcards for some of you. Lots from holiday places in Germany. There was an interesting one from Jan and Arancha. They went to Iceland. Only they could think of that place for a summer holiday :-)  It was of a volcano shaped like one of the old sundials. Wonder why I have never thought of having a holiday in Iceland. Have you?

Who has a birthday in September? Lynne from Casland will be celebrating her 67th with Alan tomorrow followed by Charlotte for her 23rd in London on the 6th. She shares this day with Nevand in Berlin who will be 7 and also with Arancha who will be celebrating her 30th with Jan in Den Haag. His sister, Andrea, will be 29 on the 8th, Stephen G in Cambridge will be 44 on the 22 September followed by his father Lew who will have another birthday on the 27th. We don't know how old for he keeps his age a secret! Birgit's son Robert will be 36 on the 23rd and Sylvana will celebrate her 54th with Mathias on the 25th. Silke my camera teacher will be 44 on the 28th. My nephew Jefferson will be 41 on the 29th and will surely celebrate with Leanne and their three children.

 I want to end this list with two people who will not be celebrating a birthday. On the 30th September, Birgit would be celebrating her 62 birthday were she still alive, and my father died on that day in 2004 at the grand old age of 92. Happy Birthday each and have a wonderful day with your family and friends. Cheers - Prost - Zum Wohl!

St. Petersburg-1

Already packed half my bag for the flight to St. Petersburg early Monday morning. I am meeting Prof. Dr. Peter von Longlegs at the airport before we board an Aeroflot flight to St. P. We are the guests of Petersburg University.

They are hosting a conference of academics from all quarters of the globe. I got an invitation via Peter. A first time visit for me. My experience of Russia is Moscow airport in 1982. I trust this will be very different.  Hope to take lots of photos and share on my return. Please note the following:

I shall be in St. Petersburg until Saturday 30 August 2014. There will be no posts to my blog until the first week in September. Enjoy the rest of August wherever you are!

Holiday-2

Yesterday I landed in Berlin from Budapest. It was colder and looked more like autumn. I wished I were still in Hungary with its warmer summer climate and clear air. Putting on a warm jumper, I left the aircraft and later emerged into my part of the city.

I arrived home as per schedule and found only two letters waiting for me in my post-box. Both were from banks! I did some shopping and settled into my flat. The first task was the washing machine and then I cooked a light meal.

Later I collapsed in front of my TV to watch the first football match of the season. FC Bayern against Wolfsberg. Bayern won 2:1. Many of their players are in the German national football team so that was  the reason to see them after they had helped to win the World Cup earlier this summer.

Straight to bed and it only took two minutes before I was in the 'Land of Nod'. Today was sorting things out in general, shopping, going to the bank, getting ready for my next gallop. I found a travel book about St. Petersburg reduced to €3 so I bought it immediately.

I have started to sort things out and pack my bag for the flight to St. Petersburg, but before then let me share a few comments and photos of Hungary. I have lots to report about later, and about my time in the UK. That will come in early September on my return.

Here are two photos which encapsulate for me all that is best about Hungary, its people, scenery, recent history, generosity to guests and the superb food and wine culture. One is of me with 'Opa' starting the day with a glass of his homemade Palinka. It was always there when I arrived at the breakfast table. Opa said. 'Medicine, John', and I happily obeyed before the tasty breakfast started.

 The second is of Opa and Oma with some of their family. We went onto the local pier to watch a firework display. I shall post full stories of my adventures later. Watch this space!

Another August holiday

Hello to all my readers. I shall be busy packing my 'wheelie' bag this evening. 

I am flying to Budapest tomorrow for a week of relaxing in the sun and enjoying good Hungarian food and drinks. There will be no posts to my blog next week. 

You can still visit and look at the many interesting older posts and enjoy reading about life in Berlin. Just click on 'Older Posts' or the dates in blue at top left of the blog

Holiday-1

Thanks for visiting this blog in my absence. Nice to see so many views when I was away. I returned yesterday afternoon. Thanks to Geoff and Warren for taking me to Liverpool airport in time to catch my plane to Berlin.

I saw some strange behavior in the airport and plane. I wondered if some people think they are always alone and not aware that other people are around. Clearly another case of the diminution of public and personal space as witnessed by current mobile/smart phone use in public spaces.

I was very pleased to see Barry on my arrival at Liverpool. Pam joined us later at their home. I had already met their dogs. By the time she arrived they had stopped yapping for attention and settled down to dozing. I did a quick tour of the garden before finding a glass.

Yes, I enjoyed a glass of Gin 'n Tonic. The first since last summer. Mmmmmh.....very nice, tangy and cool. Next day I wandered in the garden again, said hello to the fish, looked at the swimming pool and met Fred Duck.

Fred was thirsty and asked if I had a drink for him. I replied that I only had Gin. He grinned widely and said it was just what he wanted. Here is a photo of me making Fred Duck very happy. We agreed to meet next summer for another 'G and T'.

I really enjoyed seeing parts of Liverpool again with Barry and Pam, before Barry drove me 'Over the hills and far away' to arrive at Silsden. More adventures in later blog posts.