Party Time

I had a really nice long lazy lunch with my Kowalke Gang ladies yesterday. We sampled the wine from Portugal I told you about in a recent post. All but one found it delicious and we slowly finished the bottle over more conversation. We started the meal with a glass of sparkling wine (sekt) to welcome Emma's baby sister into the world. Very nice!

Later I set off to another part of Berlin to find the place where Imre was going to celebrate his 65th birthday. It was not far from his local SB-Station so I got there on time. It was in a community centre and Imre had organised a wide range of food from a local catering company.  There was also plenty to drink! Many guests were already settled in so Imre introduced me to them.

I then went for a drink and there I met one of Imre's sons. I hadn't seen him for a long time so we caught up on news. It was really nice to see him again then suddenly Imre announced that the food tables were opened so we rushed to fill our plates. There was more that enough for everyone so many guests went back for more - and more!

As we finished eating, the band prepared to play. Imre is a great fan of music from the 1960s-1970s, including heavy metal and he still goes to such concerts. I was surprised to see a women on the drums and how well she played. In the break I told her how much I had enjoyed listening to her - I got a beaming smile and 'thanks' in reply! I stayed longer than I thought I would and went home feeling very happy to have been invited to such a remarkable birthday party. Thanks Imre :-)

Tiny Feet

At a hospital in the north of Spain a baby entered the world at 2.15 am on the 20th February 2020.  Jan and Arancha have produced a playmate for Emma. Both mother and child are well. I am really happy and can't wait to pick up Sara-Sofia and later hear the patter of tiny feet as she learns to walk!

Wein-Messe-Berlin

I went to my first Wine Fair Berlin last Sunday. It takes place over three days at the Messe Nord/ICC which is at the other end of Berlin from where I live. I settled down in an U-Bahn and got out to find Thorsten waiting for me on the platform. Regular readers know he is a computer specialist who helps people each Monday afternoon in a Meeting Centre opposite to where I live.

He managed to get Free Tickets and asked me if wanted to go. It took less than a second to say, 'Yes'. There were many people there. I was surprised. On entry you get a wine glass in exchange for €5 and then off to explore the wine stalls. They were from many countries and represented family wine vineyards. We tried different kinds of wine before finding three stalls from family producers in Portugal.

I confess to knowing almost nothing about wine production in Portugal. I know Spanish, Italian, French and German. I have only been to Portugal once and that was to Lisbon for a week to attend a conference. I cannot remember anyone telling me about local wines. I asked a lady for information at a stall and she answered me in English! She comes from England but is now part of the family which owns The Azamor Family Estate in Alentejo in the middle of Portugal.

We tried different red wines from her vineyard and all we could say was..'Mmmmhhh' after each sip. Wonderful round full aftertastes. You can get information about her estate on the internet. Just type in Azamor.com and also look for a shop that might sell her wines near where you live. I bought a bottle of 'single estate' red wine. I am meeting my Kowalke Gang for a long, lazy lunch on Saturday and plan to share it with them. I should have bought two bottles :-)

Three Days

On Wednesday I went to a local community centre to meet members of my SPD district. It was our AGM or 'Wahlversammlung', They always last a long time. This started at 7.00 pm and ended at 11.00 pm! I stepped down from the Committee and received these nice flowers and a book about what local people from different cultures eat. A very nice present! I helped with vote counting and was very pleased to see many new and young members voted onto different positions.

Thursday 13th February was the 75th anniversary of the bombing of Dresden. There were 4 raids between 13th and 15th February 1945. 722 heavy bombers of the British RAF and 527 from the USAAF dropped more than 3,900 tons of high explosive bombs and incendiary devices on the city. The centre was destroyed and an estimated 25,000 people killed. Most were civilians and the bombing remains controversial even to today. My parents told me about this when I was still a child. They believed the bombing was not necessary to end the war. Others had/have a different view.

Friday 14th February. Yes, it's Valentine's Day. I hope you bought your 'better half' something nice. Just imagine how many millions of people have kissed each other today! I did that yesterday for this morning I went training with Kerstin's Oldies, then had a haircut and went shopping. I'm meeting another nice lady tomorrow morning so I know I shall get a BIG kiss - and enjoy it as always :-)

Two Gangs

Two of my Gangs met yesterday evening. The Muggelsee Gang met the Kowalke Gang. Where?  At the Kammermusiksaal, in The Philharmonie. We went there to listen to Amina playing in the orchestra called, 'Junge Kammerphilharmonie, Berlin'. She is one of the daughters of a couple in the Muggelsee Gang. Her twin sister also has such musical talent but plays in another orchestra.

It started with an introduction to the music we were about to hear. At least 100 people listened to a member of the orchestra present an analysis of the music and with short musical examples. Very interesting, and it prepared us for what we were about to hear. Perhaps more concerts should start with such a presentation. This is what we heard:
 Prokofjew, Sinfonietta, A-Dur, Op 5/ Kodaly, Marosszeker Tanze/ Sibelius, Symphonie Nr.3, C-Dur.
Very well played and a good mix of music.We even managed to get a glass of wine in the break. Prost

Nice Words

Just read the words on the card headed ' The Rights of the Child' and the other card. Your heart will melt! Mine did. I got them from Alan and Lynne. They came with a programme from Leeds Playhouse about a production they had seen called, 'Dr. Korczak's Example'.

Janusz Korczak was a writer, doctor, storyteller and broadcaster. He was a Polish Jew who ran an orphanage in Warsaw. When the Nazis invaded he and the Jewish Children were put into the ghetto, where he continued to treat the children with respect and dignity. James Brining the Artistic Director of the Playhouse commissioned a play about his life. That is what they saw and Alan wrote that it was all connected with memories of Auschwitz.

Hope you are having a happy and positive week. Today we had sun and blue skies but it was still cold. I'm meeting Johanna tomorrow, then Kaffee und Kuchen with some friends and a meeting in the evening for a beer. Read those words again and think about the person who wrote them.

February 2020 Things

Nothing special to report about last week. I stayed up late last night to watch BREXIT reports on different TV channels. I heard nothing new, neither from Brexiters nor Remain speakers. Let's see what Boris and his Gang can deliver before the end of the year. That is how much time they have to negotiate now they are outside the EU.

It is a gray, wet day but the temperature has risen to 13°C. I plan a lazy weekend. Next Tuesday evening I shall attend the Berlin Labour Party AGM, Some new, younger members are standing for positions so I shall vote for them!On Thursday afternoon I shall share Kaffee und Kuchen with a couple from my Keep-Fit Gang  - Brexit is sure to come up in conversation! Next Sunday I am going to a concert at the 'Kammer-philharmonie' with some of my Kowalke Gang.

Who has a birthday in February? My oldest and best friend Alan Bateson will be 77 on the 3rd of February and sure to celebrate with Lynne in Castleford. He shares the day with Imre who will be 65 and plans a big party in a couple of weeks time. I wonder what will be on offer to eat :-) Jens W. who lives on the Muggelsee, will be 50 on the 4th. We then jump to the 18th when Dr. I. Pardon will celebrate her 72nd. Not sure if the party will be in Berlin or St. Petersburg. Eleonora will be 61 on the 22nd. Moving to London we find Adrian Bridge will celebrate his 60th on  the 25th February. We end the month in Australia where Peter Bateson will celebrate his 40th on the 28th.      Happy Birthday to each and all no matter where you live!