Goodbye Trees

Last week saw the end of the trees in the area in front of my flat. Sad! I miss them already. The counter argument is that the land is needed for new flats and that trees will be planted in the garden after the flats have been built.

Okay, I can understand that but I still miss my trees. It will take ages for the new trees to grow and I won't be around to see them as mature trees. Even so, I noticed that there were two pairs of workmen who chopped the trees down.

The first pair removed all the smaller trees and bushes. These was put into a machine and made into wood pulp. Nothing happened for over a week. Then another couple of lumberjacks arrived. This was the 'heavy gang' to tackle the big, older trees.

They arrived in the middle of last week. I noticed all the climbing tackle and saws one of them had. He turned out to be the 'Master'. The Hausmeister later told me he was a specialist and came from England! I watched in amazement as he climbed the huge trees like a monkey, and cut them down starting with the small branches at the top.

At the same time, the garages were knocked down. After all the trees were cut dowm and the garages removed , it was the turn of a building containing six flats. This had to be demolished to make way for the new buildings.

Exhibition

As you can read from the Flyer, there will be an exhibition of my Photoshop Gang work. It is on Tuesday 25th March starting at 2:00pm. It will be in the Meeting Centre where we meet each Friday to try to learn more about Photoshop and the many things you can do with this programme.

Most of the Gang will be there, with Stefan. I don't know what I shall be showing. My work has not been particularly good since the new semester in September 2013. Perhaps we can find a couple of 'artistic works'. I seem to have forgotten more than I have learnt.

The exhibition opens at 2:00pm. There will be a 'musical interlude' from 3:00pm given by Jörn Behrsing. There will also be snacks and coffee between both events. I shall wear a white shirt and tie with a suit for the event. Perhaps there will be a local reporter to take photos and write a report for the local newspaper. It happened before. Must look my best for that!


Last Friday, I decided to revisit Karstadt to bomb it! You will/may remember that a few posts ago I reported on this giant store, which was destroyed be the Gestapo to stop the Russian Army taking  food from the store in April 1945.

I added photos of ruined walls to the original to create this work of art. Actually it was just to practice how to use certain tools in Photoshop such as cutting, reducing, changing perspective.

I still think they must have been real idiots to do this rather than give the food to the hungry German population of the city.

Hon.Mem.

I am a Hon. Mem. First time in my life! Twenty years ago last December, I co-founded a teacher organisation. In short it is known as ELTABB. We have a webpage and communicate over on internal service called NING.

I decided to retire from the association last December. I told the Board that it was time to let go and exactly 20 years later was a good time. I got some nice e-mails thanking me for my work and then I got this e-mail. I feel very honoured!
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Hi John, How are you? I hope you are well.

 

As the new Chair of ELTABB, it is my pleasure to inform you that at the AGM it was unanimously decided that you should have honorary ELTABB membership for life in recognition of your services to the association! 

 

 Your knowledge and experience is too valuable to risk losing – besides, who would take all those wonderful pictures! Best, Dale

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Winter Travel

I recently got two postcards. After thinking about the images and the people who sent them, I decided to share with you. The first was from Chile on a winter travel tour that started in Buenos Aires at the end of January 2014. The travel/tour took in many places and countries before ending back at Buenos Aires in February.

It was sent by Heike from Uruguayo on the post stamp and from Patagonia in Argentina printed on the card. Great to be in so many places even if it took nineteen days to get into my postbox. Better late than never! Thanks Heike for thinking about me and sending me such nice wishes.

The second one arrived today. It was from Cayo-Coco. I really scratched my head about this one before I noticed a word on the stamp I knew. Guess where it was from? Er.........yes, you got it right. It was from Cuba. Interesting that we hear nothing about Comrade Fidel these days!

The card was from cousin Barbara. She and Rachael decided to escape the cold and rain of Silsden and booked an all-inclusive holiday in Cuba. Not a bad idea. I have never been there, or to where Heike was enjoying the winter. Perhaps it is time for me to think of heading into the regions we call South America  to escape winter in Europe.

Barbara wrote that there were some days of rain, but it was much warmer than in the UK. Great to have a warm shower sent from Mother Nature! She also said they hoped to go to Havana. Did you go? Let me know and send any photos so I show it/them to my international readers :-) See you in mid-late summer!

More Mahler

I told you I went to the Philharmonie yesterday afternoon to hear/watch Mahler's 5th Symphony. I said I would give more information so here it is.


Mahler wrote the first three sections of his 5th Symphony between spring and autumn in 1901. He was born 7 July 1860 as the second of twelve children. That made him 40 when he started the symphony.  He was born a Jew but became a Roman Catholic in 1897. This was just after taking up the post of principle conductor of the Vienna  State Orchestra.  The religious change was largely a political decision. 
 

In 1902, he married a non-Jewish lady called Alma Schindler. He met her at a reception on 7 November 1901. The 4^th movement of the 5^th symphony is his declaration of love for Alma. It is in sharp contrast to other movements in the symphony.  An interesting and tempestuous relationship followed which you can hear in his later music.  Seventy years later the Adagio was made famous when it was included in Visconti’s film ‘Death in Venice’, based on Thomas Mann’s book. 

Symphonies 5,6,7 were composed in the relatively short time from 1901 to 1905. They are instrumental. There are no choirs or individual singers, unlike his earlier works.  Symphonies 5 and 6 are similar. Both start with a funeral march and end in a vast finale of variation form. Both lack any proper slow movement and both have a fantastic scherzo.

Both show a deeply rising emotional temperature. They start in the gloom of a funeral march and rise to end in the glory of jubilant, hymn like harmony, like a blaze of bright sunshine.  If you are interested to learn more and enjoy Mahler’s symphonies, then do a little reading and listen carefully.

March 2014 Things

March started here with sun and blue skies. Buds are appearing on trees and flowers are peeping out of the soil. Some of my Oldies say that winter is not over and we could still have snow and ice. Perhaps so, but I prefer to stay with the idea that Winter is leaving and Spring is on the way.

Last month was a busy one, but interesting. I have covered the main points in my recent blog posts. This afternoon I am going to the Philharmonie to listen to an amateur orchestra play Mahler's 5th Symphony. I support them because they give any profits to buy instruments for kids from the poorest homes, including immigrant kids. What they all have in common is musical talent.

Next week looks like those in February, but on Wednesday evening you will find me in front of my TV to cheer on the German national football team playing against Chile. Beer and crisps have been ordered! On Thursday I'm meeting Max for a meal and chat. Unfortunately Marcel can't be there. He will have just arrived home in Hungary to take the theory part of his driving licence test.

Saturday is Frauentag and I shall be handing out red roses to ladies young and old in the name of the local SPD. I did it last year and really enjoyed seeing so many happy faces. There is another Philharmonie visit in the middle of the month for a mixed concert of music by Lalo, Ravel and de Falla.

Jeff will be in Berlin on the 19th to attend a conference. We plan to meet up in the evening. On 26th an exhibition of my Photoshop Gang's work opens. I shall be there. The month ends with the SPD Annual Reception. I got my invitation two days ago!

Who has a birthday in March? Not many! Dr. Günter P. has his big day on 22nd, Dr. Bernd W. has his on the 28th and that is it! Happy Birthday to both and have a great time with your families.

der Fasching

Der Fasching means carnival, or in Brazil it means Mardi Gras. It happens each year at this time. In Germany it is centered on Köln/Cologne and surrounding areas in the west of Germany.

 It has a high proportion of Catholics who observe the tradition before entering a period of fasting leading to Easter.

In Berlin and many northern parts of Germany it is either celebrated lightly, or just ignored. It involves lots of eating, drinking, dancing, singing, dressing up and generally being jolly! Werner decided to try to activate Kerstin's Keep-Fit Oldies last Friday.

He entered the training room a few minutes late, went to his training area next to me and then put on his wig. The rest of the Oldies didn't notice for they were too busy looking at Kerstin and following movement instructions.

Werner said nothing but slowly the others noticed he looked a little different. Then the sniggers started and questions about losing his hair. Werner is the joker in the Gang and always ready to make a comment or joke. He readily agreed to be photographed for this blog. The camera was on my mobile phone, but improved with my Photoshop programme!

New Position

Last Wednesday evening I went to a meeting of the SPD Migration and Integration group in Lichtenberg. That is the district in Berlin where I live along with about 260,000 others!

We were founded a year ago and I was elected onto this group by my SPD local meeting. It was time for the first ever full election meeting. It was interesting to see how organised this kind of meeting was. This time it was business and less rhetoric and debate. Here is photo of me with the rest of the committee.

Surprise, surprise, Natalya our Chairperson (in the middle of the photo)  nominated me to be a member of the committee. I was later elected. A new position for me. It makes number four in different groups in the local organisation. Lots of work to do and get the message of integration and tolerance into the district.

I first started such work when I was 17 and studying in Leeds. It came about through my family. So many years later and I am still involved. On the other hand it shows just how much there is to be done and not just what we have achieved in western Europe. I shall not comment on the rest of the world here!

Prof Peter

I met Prof. Dr. Peter von Long-Legs last Sunday. First meeting this year and just after his 30th birthday. In case you have forgotten, Peter belongs to Jan's school gang. They met as small children and grew up together.

Peter went on to study economics and is now in the final phase of his doctorate. It is only a matter of time before he gets his Dr. title and later will become a Prof. Watch this space for developments. His second name was created by me. Why? As he moved into his early teens I noticed he was growing taller than the rest of the gang. He has long legs so naturally he became Peter von Long-Legs.

I wanted Marcel to meet him. Both are at university and I thought Peter may be able to help/advice Marcel in the future. We met at Friedrichstrasse station and walked a few blocks to an Italian restaurant known to Peter.

It was a good choice and full of family groups enjoying the food. We joined in. Good food and lots of good conversation and jokes. A very enjoyable meeting. Looking forward to the next!

Der Knast

In British English slang this means, the can, slammer, klink or to be in the jug. In official English it means prison. In German this is Das Gefängnis. I went there a couple of weekends ago without knowing it!

I went to a SPD party meeting called a Klausurtagung = a closed meeting. It was rather like a day long retreat where you chose to go into a group to discuss particular topics. The group I joined discussed facilities in the city for disabled people.

I mentioned this to some of the Oldie SPD Gang and last week one of them brought a newspaper report. The building complex where the SPD meeting took place used to be a prison. It is in Rummelsburg which is an area on the River Spree. A nice area for a prison.

The prison was built in the 1880s after Germany was created. It contained many workhouses where prisoners worked/made things. This continued after the creation of the DDR in 1949. The difference was that the prisoners produced things, or provided a service, for companies in West Germany. They made things for sale to the 'Capitalist' enemy!

It was closed after re-unification in 1989-90. It was later rebuilt as a complex of luxury flats for sale with a view onto the water, trees and grass area along the river.

New Palace Potsdam

We continued our walk through Sanssouci Park towards the New Palace/Neues Palais. This is in the western part of the park. With a few stops for deep breathing we arrived at the palace.

It's big! I wondered what it would cost to heat the place if I lived in it. Imagine the bill for a month in deep winter with temperatures under -10°C. It has over 200 rooms, four main reception/banquet halls and a theatre.

Building started in 1763, at the end of the Seven Year War in which 'Frederick the Great' added another large part of Poland to his lands. This was in addition to the ex-Polish area called Prussia. Building was completed in 1769, and it is considered to be the last great Prussian baroque palace.

Frederick wanted it to show the power and glory of Prussia. The palace has a three story facade and was designed by the architect Carl von Gontard. It has a 200 metre facade with a central section crowned with a large dome. On this was placed the 'Three Graces' which supported the Royal Prussian Crown. Also on the roof are over 400 sandstone statues and figures.

Frederick did not use it as a royal residence. He lived/slept around the corner in Sanssouci in summer. It was used for the reception of important royals and dignitaries. In 1859, it became the summer residence of Prussian Crown Prince, Frederick William.

Later, William II and wife Augusta lived there and renovated/modernised the building. This included steam heating, bathrooms and electricity. After he abdicated in 1918, it became a museum. What else could you do with such a building?

Schloss Sanssouci

After wandering around the Landhaus Brandenburg, Hermann and I set off to wander around Sanssouci Park. starting with Schloss Sanssouci. This is a big tourist attraction in Potsdam and translates in German as 'ohne sorge'. It is in the eastern part of the park.

König Friedrich II had a small summer palace built there in 1745-47, in the 'rokoka' style. The architect was Georg von Knobelsdorf. If you remember from my last blog post, he designed the Stadtpalace in the centre of Potsdam. It is at the top of a garden made up of six vineyard terraces with a central staircase up to the building.

It was designed only for the King and his chosen guests. His wife lived in Schloss Schönhausen to the north of Berlin and never in Sanssouci. He lived there privately and for public life/functions in Stadtschloss Potsdam, particularly in winter.

He died in the chair of his study at Sanssouci on 17 August 1786. He ruled for 46 years and was succeeded by his nephew, Friedrich Wilhelm II. Sanssouci was later re-built. Two wings were added on instructions from King Friedrich Wilhelm IV. The architect/builder was Ludwig Persius.

In 1990, the palace and gardens were taken under the protection of UNESCO as part of world culture for all of us to enjoy. See it next time you find yourself in Potsdam!

Landtag Brandenburg

Last Wednesday I went to Potsdam with Oldie Hermann. If you remember, he has recently had a heart operation and I posted about it to this blog. All went better than I or his family thought after the operation. His doctors told him to move around and walk to active his heart and get it properly moving. One such therapy was to spend the afternoon walking in the old part of Potsdam, and later to Sansoucci and the New Palace. He did very well and only needed to stop for deep breaths a few times.

The main attraction was to see the recently opened Landtag Brandenburg. This is the building in which the parliament of the state of Brandenburg takes place. It has an interesting history. Let me try to take you through the main points so you can learn a little more about this part of what is now Germany.

Kurfürst Friedrich Wilhelm von Brandenburg inherited the town of Potsdam in 1660 to add to his other territories. Shortly after he asked the architect Johann Gregor Memhardt to design and build a palace, in the Holland style,  in the central area near the river. It was duly built in 1664 - 1669.

In 1740, Friedrich II of Brandenburg became King of Prussia and decided to expand Potsdam as his 'residence town'. In 1745, he asked architect Georg von Kobelsdorff to redesign the palace. This was done and so it stood until destroyed in an air raid on 14 April 1945. Knobelsdorff's design formed the basis for rebuilding. Its function was not as a palace but to house the parliament of Brandenburg.

The building changed function at the end of WW I in 1918. The new German Republic used it to house government officials, for meetings and receptions. Even as a ruin in 1945, the Sclosscellar underneath remained intact and was used as a dining room for school children in the 1950s. It was not to be for long.

In 1959-60, the ruins were removed and used to build the foundations for the 'Lustgarten'. The empty area was used as a centre for traffic. Things began to change after reunification in 1989-90. In 1990, Potsdam city council decided that any rebuilding in the centre would have to focus on restoring it to pre-1945. In 1999, a foundation was created to promote the restoration of the town centre.

In May 2005, Brandenburg Parliament decided to build a new parliament building on the site of the old Potsdamer Stadtschloss. In September 2009, a contract was signed and building started. It was partly financed by a donation of €20 million from a charitable foundation. More money followed in 2011 to complete building.

In December 2013, MPs and officials moved in and parts of the building were declared open to the public. It is worth a visit the next time you are in Potsdam.

AWO Janos

Janos is the 'Boss' of my AWO centre in Lichtenberg. I have just told you about the history of the organisation, and our Thursday breakfasts. At the end of last year he asked me to help him set up a blog. I obliged and even did a post to my blog to tell you about it. I included a photo of him taking a rest after all his hard work.

Since then I have repeatedly asked him to update his blog. "Yes, okay John, but...ah.. er.". I took my camera to the breakfast this morning and told him I wanted to take a couple of shots for his new update. He agreed and I took the shots.

One is of him in front of a photo taken in the early 90's, when he was in the USA. He looks very muscular in the photo and told me he did a lot of training then. He agreed that I take the shot on the basis of  'Before and After' :-) I then took a shot of him at his desk. So far so good!

We then decided to open his blog and make some changes before I uploaded the new photos onto his blog. Then we hit the BIG problem. Yes, you have guessed right. He couldn't remember his blog name and password. Lots of looking through records and bits of paper on his desk. To no avail!

He said he would systematically go through his papers/records for we both remember he wrote the information out/down. But where is it? I told him I would post to my blog and he said, "Do it".

 Last point about his name. He is from Hungary and when you speak his name you have to say the 's' as 'sh' so Janos sounds like Janosh. Got it? Just like Budapest is not that but spoken as Budapesht!

AWO Breakfast

This morning I went to the Thursday breakfast at the AWO rooms near to Lichtenberg U-S-Bahn and railway station. Usual nice greeting when I entered the breakfast room and the red flask of tea was waiting for me in my regular corner. I think I can hear the Silsdeners asking what the AWO is. Let me explain, then add some pics from this morning.

A Short History:  The Arbeiterwohlfahrt (AWO) was founded 13 December 1919, in the poverty and hardship that followed the end of WW I, and creation of the Weimar Republic under President Friedrich Ebert (SPD). It was founded to meet the needs of the poor in the SPD by Marie Juchacz (1879-1956). She was a SPD member of the National Assembly.

More Short History: In 1919, millions were hungry and without work. It offered free meals and training to help people find work. It later developed into a help organisation for all socio-economic weaker people. After Hitler and his Nazi Party came to power in 1933, the AWO was closed and banned. It was re-formed in Hannover in 1946, but this time for the socio-economic weak regardless of party or religion. In the Soviet Zone, and in the later DDR/GDR, it was not allowed to operate. After re-unification in 1989/90 it moved into the east and now operates throughout the German state.

It now has 401,000 members. One of them is me :-) I joined in November 2013. It has 145,000 workers making it one of the largest employers in Germany. It is one of the top six social welfare organisations in the country. Structurally it is a decentralised organisation based and organised in localities.

Its main function is still to support the socio-economic weaker in society. It is also active in supporting the disabled, seniors, nurseries, public all-day schools, psychiatric clinics, school holiday camps and advice centres for migrants, asylum seekers and people in emergency of any kind. I'm happy to support it.

The Thursday breakfasts are mainly supported by local SPD member who for various reasons live alone, or support sick partners. It offers all a chance to meet and enjoy an hour talking to other people. The topics range far and wide. It is now a very important part of my weekly routine.

 Now for the photos. What do you think of my breakfast? Here is a photo of raw meat with onions - eaten on fresh rolls. Very popular! I find it ...Yuk.. Yuk..and Yuk.  Never!!!!

Mr Piggy

Last Saturday, Marcel arrived late afternoon. I hadn't seen him for three weeks. He looked well and was as lively as always. We caught up on news after we came back from shopping. He was happy about his new 'student job', but not so happy about working hours = late evening/early morning.

He had got written confirmation about starting at the Uni in early March. Here is a shot of him with said letter and looking very happy about it. He said he went to the 'Turkish Market' last Friday. This is held on the banks of a canal in Kreuzberg where you can get good fruit and vegetables for a very reasonable price. A lot of students shop there. Yes, price is key as always for students!

While there he found a non-food stall. Smiling at him was Mr Piggy. Here you can see it for yourself. I asked why on earth he had bought it. He looked puzzled by my question and said," I just liked it". I think the secret is that it keeps his ears warm!

We had supper then watched a film he had on his laptop. We just link it to my TV screen. I often nod off. This time I managed to keep awake. Next day I let him sleep until 1:00 pm. Yes, you did read that correctly. I sometimes wonder if I needed so much sleep at the weekend when I was his age. I think I did.

In the afternoon we went through the theory part of his driving licence examination. It is on his laptop but in Hungarian. He kindly translated it and we generally agreed on the answers. I was more than pleased to note that he got all the questions correct. Well done.

He then wanted to cook another Hungarian dish. I left him to it. It was delicious. Par-boiled potatoes cut into slices, add yoghurt, spices, cream and put in oven. Make a green salad. Cut chicken breast into pieces, add lots of sliced onions, garlic, herbs and spices and stick all in the oven.  Place on table and eat. Mmmmh...tasty!

Pen Moon

Last Friday I took my new 'Smart Phone' pen, with the phone, to Stefan of Photoshop Gang fame. He checked the phone and pen.

We then opened a web page. It was of a company offering low price internet connections for S-Phones. Stefan recommended one.


 We read through all the small print and  I decided to fill in the application form. Within 24 hours I had all the documents, new phone card and a new mobile number. I shall take it all with me on Friday and get the phone to be 'Smart'! 

We did some work with Photoshop and I practiced more cutting out and building up a new picture. I decided to fly to the moon. There I hoisted the German flag and flew back. On my return to Berlin, I parked a blue van three times in the middle of the road. Time was up so I couldn't add anything else.

At home I  put my camera chip into the laptop to transfer some images. Nothing happened. Lots of fiddling around before I had to admit that the chip was damaged. I wondered what was inside. I got a sharp knife and did an operation on the patient.  Here you can see what is in such a chip if you have never seen one before.Doesn't look much, does it?

Secret Service

We all have secrets. Yes, we do! Some of us have more, and some less. Some secrets exist only in the head. Others exist in reality as part of a way of life, or activity.

I was surprised this morning when I went to my breakfast for seniors. One Oldie operates a company with his son. When other Oldies 'pass away', and their families ask for help to clear out the flat or house, then that it just what the do.

 Breakfast Oldie told me they did just that at a flat last week and found some interesting documents. He showed them to me. Here they are. They show my DDR alias passport and some of my medals. He was shocked. So was I!

I told him they were not real and were made when I applied for a part in a James Bond film many years ago. I was turned down, but these film objects survived.

Perhaps the Oldie was a big James Bond film fan and somehow able to get his hands on them as a souvenir. Or perhaps he just liked the passport photo of me!  A fan I didn't know I had :-))

Fight back

I watched a tree fight back this morning. I blogged recently about building new flats on the triangular ground in front of my flat. I showed photos of the area and told you about building plans.

Yesterday, I got a letter from my housing association. It owns the land. It contained news about the next building stage. The 'lads' arrived this morning to continue with land clearance. The snow has gone so time for felling.

Felling comes from the verb - to fell something or someone. You can fell a tree = cut/chop it down. You can also fell a person = in boxing = he felled him with a blow to the chin. You could also fell him with a sword, or battle axe. See some of Mr Shakespeare's texts! He liked some nice bloody felling:-)

I watched them settle down to work. Some chopping, feeding branches into a loud machine, which spewed out (that is a good phrasal verb to add to your vocabulary) the branch as wood chips to increase the growing pile you can see in my photos.

One of the lads, let's call him Fred, advanced into the mini-wood. He chopped down some small branches and trees. Then he advanced to one near the fence, and of a more substantial girth. Fred put his machine-saw into the base of the tree. He cut. The sound of the saw decreased and slowed. The tree was fighting back.

He tried to pull his saw out. He couldn't. The tree had collapsed into the gap and trapped the blade. The machine made a noise, but could not cut further. Fred called a mate/der Kumpel  for help. He arrived with his saw. They pushed the tree. Nothing happened. They pushed again and still the tree fought back.

Fred and Kumpel had a talk then decided to free Fred's saw from the tree. Kumpel attacked tree and made another deep cut. They pushed again. Nothing. Kumpel cut deeper. They pushed more. The tree moved. Kumpel cut further. More pushing. The tree slowly fell over and Fred could recover his saw.

They then cut up the felled tree before going for a coffee break. Poor tree(s) but I really like the way this one fought back. More blog posts about the future of my building site.