Heike's day

Heike is on a cruise ship called Albatross. She flew from Berlin to New Zealand to pick up the ship. It is mainly occupied by elderly German ladies and gentlemen. The four week cruise will take them along the Australian coast in a northerly direction with about six stops.

The cruise will take them into Indonesia, South Korea and end in Shanghai in China. It was Heike's second cruise taking in Sydney. The first was seven years ago so she knew something of the layout and the main tourist attractions.

I told Colin about her visit so we arranged to meet her. We had to send passport details etc so she could inform the security people. We got there at the agreed time this morning and had to wait. The security services between the ship and the state had not got their act together. After I told a security officer it was bad management and organisation we were soon allowed on board!

I have never been on a cruise ship before. Sister P and husband L now go on such cruises at least once a year, as does cousin B and wife P, but I have never been on one or put it on my 'Must Do' list. Even so I can understand why people regularly go on such cruises. It is a way of seeing the world but with security and a sense of familiarity around them in terms of language and services offered.

We had coffee and a chat. Then I found a piano in a lounge so I entertained the guests who had remained on board. Perhaps I should get a job playing the piano on a ship and sailing the world until I can play no more! I'll think about that one. 

We disembarked (what a nice word!), jumped onto a relay bus and ended in the centre at George Street.  Heike wanted to buy a hat to protect her from the sun so we set off and found one. Next she bought postcards/stamps she needed then changed money in a bank and all while we wandered towards the old part of town.

Colin knows the history of this place like an expert and it was interesting listening to his tales of people and places in days goneth-byeth! I learnt a lot. We ended up in Sydney's Oldest Pub. They have a restaurant upstairs so we had a meal there. Believe it or not but we were served by a young waitress who had moved to Sydney from Dundee in Scotland! I can understand why :-)

A nice relaxing lunch with another variety of beer recommended by Colin and then another walk around the original settlement/convict/prison area. It was humid and I noticed Heike was starting to feel the heat and strain of walking so we agreed to return to her relay bus. Tomorrow she has a full session in a guided tour including visiting the inside of the opera house.

Have a great time Heike and thanks to you and Colin for such a memorable day. Here are a few photos to remind you/us of a special day.

Daniel's den

The big thing yesterday was meeting Daniel. He flew in from Melbourne and called me from the airport. We agreed to meet and he later drove over and picked me up. He had the chance to see the house and garden where I am staying. He looked very well and healthy, in fact a good advert for life in Sydney based on jogging, surfing and keep fit. He does all of them!

He lives in Coogee, which I always pronounced incorrectly. It is south-east of where I live and has its own beach. Very nice but he surfs at Maroubra, where I went for Sunday breakfast, because it has larger and stronger waves for surfing. Now you know where to surf when you are next in Sydney.

He had booked a table at one of his favourite restaurants. Nice service and food. I had fish and a glass of local white wine. Tasty! He posed with this beer for Jan to enjoy. It tasted nice Jan so try it when you are here :-)

We caught up on news then went for a walk along the side of a cliff. I took a taxi home and reflected on the evening. We are going to meet in my final week and then go for a longer walk along the cliffs. Can't wait!

Maroubra Beach

I woke at 9.00am this morning and dozed. At about 10.00 am I heard Birgit's voice, "Get moving John, we are going for breakfast." I jumped into my trousers, said something about shaving and was told I didn't need too and I didn't need to wash!!

I galloped behind them and got into the car. About twenty minutes later we arrived at Maroubra Beach. We finally found a parking place but sill had over 5 minutes to walk to our destination. This was a restaurant on the beach. The order of the day was Sunday Breakfast.

I looked at the menu. Lots of light dishes to take you into the day but I settled on 'The Ultimate'. This was the traditional cooked breakfast. Bacon and Eggs with everything in it!!  A real killer and not one to show to your doctor :-)) It actually tasted rather bland even with the coffee I ordered instead of black tea!

Ian decided to take a photo for historical reasons = to show that I had actually eaten 'The Ultimate'. I obliged as I 'stuffed my gob'. Try to translate that!! I survived it all and emerged from the restaurant to walk slowly back to the car.

At home, I wrote the first of my cards while sitting in the garden with the sun on my back. A pleasant experience as I switched between languages and hoped all family and friends would understand. Daniel arrived later and I set off on another adventure.

Manly Beach

I went to Manly this afternoon. Yes, you are asking where it is. Take bus 333 or 380 until it stops at Circular Quay. Cross the road and enter the ferry terminals. Go to No. 3 on your right. You will see a big ferry and it leaves every 30 minutes for Manly. The ride takes 40 minutes.

Manly is a suburb with a popular surfing beach at the north end of Sydney harbour. The ferry and town were packed today mainly because it was Valentine's Day and a Saturday. Lots of teenagers, couples, families with babies and even those with Grandpa and Grandma! All enjoying different attractions available on the beach.

There were, of course, many mainly young men showing off their skills on surfboards and making sure young women were looking at them :-) Babies crawled on/in the sand, seagulls ran around looking for anything to eat and lovers dozed or stroked each other gently. I picked my way through them as I moved up the beach.

On my return, Ian and Birgit were relaxing. Ian was looking at the skies to see if the weather would let him 'Barbie'. It later rained then cleared up so we are now set for my first Australian 'Barbie'. After that experience I can really say that I have not only arrived in Australia but have sampled an important part of its popular culture!

Bondi Beach

I felt very disorganised and 'groggy' this morning. I didn't know why. Ian said it was just a matter of adjustment and that could take 5 days or even more! After a light breakfast I dozed off then showered, changed and set off for a day of exploration.

I went to the customs building, then to the ferry area before the large park. I wanted to take photos of the greenery and variety of trees, bushes and flowers. Unfortunately the weather did not play along with my plans. It was overcast. I took my new(ish) extra lens with me but couldn't use it because of the cloudy weather.

I decided to change plans and jumped onto a 333 Bus. The end station was Bondi Junction. I had no idea where that was so settled down to enjoy the journey. We finally arrived at the last station and I climbed out. I found myself at the northern end of the famous Bondi Beach. There were lots of people on the beach. Some just sunbathing although there was no sun! Some just slept on the beach and some families just played with their babies.

Others were active in swimming out into the water and being carried back to the beach by the waves. Many of them tried to get onto boards. I enjoyed watching how many ways different people reacted to and responded to the surf waves that continually pounded the beach. I was surprised at how small this world famous beach was, but then surprised at the continual pounding of those 'surfing' waves.

I had a tasty late lunch of Bondi Beach ' Fish'n Chips'. They were tasty Geoff, but not a match on Silsden Fish 'n Chips!! Now take Fran and Warren out for a tasty lunch of ......! It is interesting that I have not found any other country/culture which can make Fish'n Chips better than the Silsdeners!!

Colin's Castle

Today I took the train south-east and arrived at a station to meet Colin.  Silsdeners will know I have posted about him before and that he was in Berlin during January. He is Johanna's half cousin and asked me to contact him when I was in Sydney.  I duly did this and we agreed to meet today.

He met me at the local station and we set off to explore his part of Sydney. Later we had a tasty light lunch before going to his house. It is something to be envious about and not only the building and garden. It was built on the top of a cliff and he has a stairway taking you down until you reach the water and his boat. Very nice :-)

I needed to buy some stronger shoes for walking so we went to a local 'shopping mall'. The same style as any other 'shopping mall' anywhere in the world. We fortunately found a shoe shop and with help from a friendly lady I bought some appropriate shoes.

More driving around the area and looking at bays, water, rivers, housing developments, schools, libraries and all the things that make up a local district where people live and bring up a family. I liked it and decided I would live here if I had to leave Berlin for any reason!

Can't Sleep

I can't sleep! My room is at the attic level with a balcony onto the back garden. Unfortunately it is not fitted with a cooling system for such temperatures as 30+°C. The solution was to put a mattress into the downstairs study room, which also has space to function as a bedroom. There it is cooler.

Fine on paper but it didn't work in practice. Ian installed the mattress but I could not sleep comfortably on it in addition to all my other jet-lag and other travel problems which kept me awake. Ian found the solution this afternoon by bringing the bed from the attic into the study room. I shall test it in a short time.

In addition I went on a walk this afternoon and discovered a chemists/pharmacy. I told a nice lady my problem and she said I was not the first to ask for help. She talked to the chemist and they agreed on some tablets.  Nice service. I hope they work.

Birgit came back from a business trip to Melbourne this evening and when she heard about my sleeping problem she told me not to worry for I needed five days to adjust when I stayed with them in Beijing. I only remember three days but perhaps her memory is better than mine.

I finished the book in German this afternoon. I read it as a kind of sleeping pill but it didn't work. The story was too exciting and kept me awake! I think I can feel the tablet working. Time for bed. Have a good sleep wherever you are!

Sydney

I arrived safely in Sydney this morning at 6.30 local time. You Silsdeners were still asleep then. I was very tired for I couldn't sleep on the plane and my body clock was out of rythmn. I sat next to a very nice business man and we got into conversation.

He  was born in Chandigarh to the north of Delhi and works for a German based technology company.  He was returning to his family in Sydney after a long business trip. I enjoyed talking to him about my time in India and listening to his stories about change. We agreed to meet again for a beer and another chat about that wonderful country.

Ian was waiting for me at the airport and was I glad to see him. We had a coffee as we waited for Birgit who was returning from a two week business trip which had taken in London. Once together we set off for their home. Later Ian took me on a tour of 'downtown' Sydney including a ferry trip to an area in the bay called Watson.

There we had another coffee and snack and explored the area. On photo shows the stormy cliffs facing the sea that eventually takes you to New Zealand. Others are of me posing with the famous bridge in the background and one of me before the equally famous Opera House. The weather was overcast and with showers but it was still warm and humid.

Tomorrow we have a day of sightseeing planned and I shall call others who I want to meet on this trip. I now have a mobile phone. Ian lent me his 'old' one but it looks new! I am looking forward to a long night of sleep before more adventures tomorrow

Singapore

I had a very healthy breakfast this morning with lots of fruit and black tea. I have no idea why I overdosed on the hotel's black tea but it tasted soooooo good! Later I dozed for I am still in travel time change. I then set off to explore a bit of Singapore.

On advice from the hotel desk I set off for Marina Bay and Bayfront. I discovered the Singapore Metro system and the nice, friendly staff who advised me. In two cases they even went with me to make sure I got on the right Metro train. You would never get that service in Berlin!

I arrived at the south side of the island and just went 'Wow' when I emerged from the underground world of the Metro. I took 14 photographs and share 4 of them now. After galloping around the area I had a break in a cafe and enjoyed my first beer.

This sentence is for Jan: It is called Tiger Beer and I was told it is made locally and based on the German/Czech recipe for beer. I'm not sure of that but it tasted like a good German beer. Perhaps I shall have a problem in Ozland for  I don't like Foster's Beer. I hope there are many tasty alternatives.

I shall explore more parts of the centre and waterfronts tomorrow. My flight to Sydney is at 9.00pm and I arrive for breakfast next day. This will be my last report until I have settled into life in Sydney.

Final comment is a very positive one about Singapore and its population. I have only had friendly help from them. Nice to be able to share this experience with you.

Arrived Singapore

I made it to Singapore. What a change from Berlin. I left a city partly covered in snow and 0°C. I arrived in another city with 29°C and very humid plus with rather exotic plants and trees. The hi-rise central area where I am staying reminded me of Beijing. People very relaxed and friendly. The official languages are English and Mandarin Chinese.

Mathias drove me to Tegel airport in the north of Berlin. Was I grateful for the lift and conversation before the queuing, paperwork, checks, controls and all the increasing tiresome or even unpleasant things that constitute air travel these day.

The flight to Frankfort-am-Main went okay even if late and a local helped me to find my connecting flight. I got a seat on the aisle, because of leg/heart problems for the doc said I had move around a bit. I sat with three very charming young families of 'Asian'  background. The kids were small and just starting to make sounds like words but very playful and noisy when it came to time for bed!

We also landed an hour late and then started another adventure of how to move around another giant airport. With smiling help from local officials I did it all and even found a chatty elderly taxi driver who was delighted when I greeted him in Mandarin. He never stopped talking and giving me tips about what to do and see on the way to the hotel.

I am staying at The York Hotel and I can recommend it to any of you who wander in this direction. Tomorrow I am going to explore the place and continue on Sunday before wending my way to the airport for the flight to Sydney. Here is a photo of my room and I shall be sinking into that big bed in a few minutes after hearing the news!

Not in Berlin

Today is the 5th February 2015. I am packing my bag for a flight this evening to Singapore. After a short stay I shall fly to Sydney to stay with Ian and Birgit. 

I shall return via Bangkok arriving Berlin on Thursday 12th March 2015. An absence of five weeks. 

I hope to post photos/reports and so share this BIG adventure with you. 

I am adipös

Hello Silsdeners: I had visitors yesterday afternoon. Andrea arrived with Marco and a large selection of cakes. My job was to make the coffee - which I did!  It was my first meeting with Marco. He clearly felt at home and relaxed as we got the Kaffee und Kuchen ready.

I discovered he had a very good sense of humour and we soon started exchanging jokes. It was easy to relax with him and I wondered if he would enjoy my special brew. I offered him a glass of Daniel's Opa's Palinka poison!  He really liked it so we had another and he relaxed even more.

We had a few more as the evening advanced and got to know each other better. Andrea looked at us and smiled. She was driving so could not sip a glass or three. Even so, she clearly enjoyed our first meeting. We talked about their summer holiday in Hungary and their wedding plans at the end of next August.

She read my hospital report and started laughing. I asked why and she said the report said I was a little "adipös". She then told me it meant obese in English! We made more jokes about this before they left. A really pleasant visit and I think they are ideal for each other.

I worked on these photos this afternoon in my MacBook. It is now seven years old. I checked it out and found it could still do all the things I need, so I am taking it with me to Australia. I plan to use it to update this blog. Let's see, meanwhile I went to my travel agents and got the last of my documents. Now to pack my bag ready for Thursday!

February 2015 Things

As we enter February I cast a glance back to January for it was an interesting month for me. It started with heavy snow and cold as I went to a concert with Angelika. Colin dropped into Berlin from Sydney via Los Angeles and we were all pleased to see him. My routine of Kerstin's Oldie Keep-Fit Gang, Photoshop Gang, Camera Club, SPD meetings and Oldie Breakfast Gang kicked off as the month advanced.

I met my Muggelsee Gang for our winter meal, went with Colin to Frankfurt-Oder on the Polish border and visited Königs-Wusterhaüsen after which I began to notice pains in my heart. This led to my stay in hospital for checks/tests at the end of which I was allowed home. I missed Adrian and Tanja's 25th Wedding Anniversary in London because of the hospital stay, which I still regret.

I am now in the early stages of packing my bag for the flight to Singapore  on Thursday 5 Feb. arriving in Sydney next Monday. Ian will pick me up there and I told him without an ambulance!! I return to Berlin on Thursday 12 March. A five week adventure in total. Should any of you wish to contact me during this time please do so using my hotmail.de account. Thanks!

Let me share this image. It was sent by Peter and Hannelore who you know I visit at their house north of Nice in the south of France. They were on a recent tour near Var in the Cote d' Azur. They said the Mimosa bushes were starting to bloom there. This is what they look like in all their glory :-)

Who has a birthday in February?
Sven R. in Berlin is celebrating his 39th with his family as I write these words. On Tuesday 3rd, my oldest and best friend Alan will be celebrating his 72nd in Casland with his wonderful Lynne and family. I shall certainly make a call and raise a glass then! Jens in Berlin has his 45th on the 5th, Dr. Pardon will enjoy her 67th with her family in Marzahn on the 18th, followed by Eleonora on the 22nd. I am sure Jan and Andrea will also be there to toast her 56th birthday. Adrian hits 55 on the 25th and will celebrate with Tanja in London. Peter B. ends the month by celebrating his 35th on 28th February in Melbourne.    Prost to all of you!!  Happy Birthday!

More M.M.

Yesterday afternoon I set off on a journey of three S/U Bahn trains to arrive at Herr Marcel M.'s abode at the other end of Berlin. The evening before, Johanna visited and we talked late into the night, while sipping something nice! I told her Marcel had left a present for me on my return home from the hospital.

She laughed, as I did, when she saw it. It was a DVD of photos taken at Balaton in the summer of 2014. On the front he had written in red pen: "Get out from the hospital, old man! It is not the time yet, Australia is waiting for you!" What a simple, honest statement. Thanks to all who have contacted me and expressed concern about my health.

On arrival at his flat, I stared in disbelief at his feet. I couldn't believe my eyes. He just laughed and said they were a Christmas present from his parents. I like their taste and sense of humour.  I had to have a photo - what do you think? He said they were very warm and I should buy some for myself. Mmmmmm still thinking about that!

We had arranged to go to a local restaurant but he announced he wanted to cook and had already bought the ingredients. I didn't argue as I opened a nice bottle of red. I turned around to see him putting on an apron. Then I saw the words. Again, eyes staring to express my surprise. He just asked what I was staring at and said he liked the apron.

I settled down to watch him cook sliced chicken breast with lots of red peppers, onions, spices , mixed vegetables and rice. Delicious! I told him he should become a professional. We talked about his studies and recent visit to England to see his sister.  We agreed to meet after my travels and he asked me to bring him a baby kangaroo back. I said I would do what I could :-))

Being krank!

Hello Silsdeners,  it looks like you have been looking at my blog a lot last week. But then it could have been friends in London where I should have spent last weekend. Where to start? Let's try the beginning.

Last Thursday I went to my doctor's because of pains in the left of my chest for a few days. He did a check and was not too happy including rapid pulse movements. I had to see him on Friday morning at 8.30 to give him a urine sample and he took a number of blood samples. He put me onto a machine and said I had to go to my local hospital for more checks and that meant now!

I did just that and expected to be there for an hour or so for tests. How wrong I was!  I was taken to a 2 bed room and took the bed near the window with the 'scenic' view. Shortly after I was taken 'downstairs' for the first check. After that I expected to go home. No, it was back to the room for lunch and to meet a patient called Peter who then occupied the other bed.

I was told I had to have more tests and could not fly to London next day. I was more than shocked and a little angry but a doctor allowed me to use his computer to send an e-mail to Sarah in London to say I could not come for Adrian and Tanja's 25th Wedding Anniversary. And so started a six day stay of waiting for more tests, learning to digest hospital food and dozing through the day. I also read half the book in German given to me by Johanna for Christmas!

I managed to contact a few people and they informed others. Thanks to Marcel, Andrea and Mathias for visits and help. Also to Jan for his calls and support. After the final and toughest examination yesterday, when the docs do a 'Stress-Test' on the heart, I was told I had passed and could plan to go home. I called Mathias and he drove me home. Was I happy to open my door!

What an experience. I discovered the shortages in my communication system when suddenly stuck in a hospital and not allowed out. I am meeting Mathias next Tuesday to discuss this and make some changes before I fly on the first leg of my flight to Australia next Thursday = exactly one week from now! Yes, the No.1 Doctor said I was allowed to fly and even suggested I stay in the hospital longer so he could take my place and fly to Australia. I declined his offer with a big smile!

PS: Thanks for your e-mail Barbara. The problem was my heart. The start of a heart attack was feared hence the checks. Fortunately it was not so but I have new pills to take. 

Lunch in KW.

Hello Silsdeners. I had a delicious lunch of slices of roast boar (from the local forest), red cabbage cooked with apples and spices, potatoes and thick gravy + a glass of German red wine to wash it all down! What did you have?

I met Oldie H. for the S-Bahn journey to Königs Wusterhausan. It is the largest town in the Dahme-Spreewald district south east of Berlin. It is in the state of Brandenburg and lies on the Notte Canal and river Dahme. It is worth a visit and you will also enjoy the scenery en route.

Here's a potted history in addition to the photos. A village called Wusterhausen was first recorded in 1320. Local landowning families added a large house called a Hunting Lodge, which became even larger as the village increased. I am certain they were hunting local boar and deer then. I think Robin Hood would have liked it :-))

As a Christmas present in 1698, the future Prussian King Frederick William I was given the house and land by his parents. Not a bad present for a teenager! He liked the place a lot and later spent each late summer/autumn there with his family. Of course, those poor boar and deer took a hammering then! He expanded the Lodge further to the form you can see today.

The town added the name 'Königs' in 1718. After his death in 1740, royal interest in the place declined. His son was too busy carving a large slice out of Poland to add to his lands. With the end of the monarchy in 1919, nothing happened until 1927 when it became a museum. That didn't last long for in 1945 it was used for Soviet Military administration.

They left two years later as students moved in to study financial administration. They did this until 1957 when the Soviets returned, but his time it was a branch of the secret service. They stayed there until 1964 when the building became home to the local council. And so it remained until the Berlin Wall came down at the end of 1989.

In 1991,
there started a long period of restoring the buildings and garden. This included finding and returning many pictures and items of furniture. In Sept. 2000 it was opened to the public and you can go there yourself to explore the history of the Schloss, town and area. You will find the restaurant in front of the Schloss to enjoy a plate of (local) roast boar!

25 years

This afternoon I went to the 25th anniversary of the founding of the SPD in Lichtenberg. It was held in the Galerie des Kulturhauses Karlshorst which is in the centre of my district and six minutes walk from where I live.

The room was full of mainly elderly members of the SPD, for it was an occasion to celebrate their contribution to founding the party at the end of the DDR. If you remember your history the DDR known as East Germany, was formed in 1949.

It was one of many states so created at the end of WW2 in the areas controlled by the Red Army of the Soviet Union. They all collapsed at the end of 1989. It was interesting for me to meet many local people who had played a small part in that and founding of the party.

The SPD was closed down in the DDR when it was merged with the Communist Party to form the SED party in 1949. Members of this party ruled in the DDR until the wall came down at the end of 1989. It is interesting that many people held to the values of the ex-SPD for all those years and then founded it as the old system collapsed.

The old founders got flowers, a book, and certificate in the ceremony. I enjoyed listening to them reminiscing about what they had done 25 years ago and why. Gabi and Christian from my SPD Senior Gang were also honoured and I took a photo. I also bought a book many had contributed to about events in 1989.

Freddie Fish

After leaving Colin, I went to my local SPD committee meeting followed by the members meeting. A full four hours and I was more than tired when I arrived home. I only had to work for one hour checking my student's academic report before I slipped between the sheets!

I had my Oldie Breakfast yesterday then had three teaching sessions before relaxing. This morning I met Kerstin's Oldie Keep Fit Gang then galloped to my Photoshop Gang led by Stefan. Our first meeting since early December so lots of chat catching up with who did what and when and where.

This time we played around with something new. We decided to add photos of our last visit to Britzer Garten last August.I was not in Germany then but we used photos taken by Stefan of the place and of the others in the Gang.

These were added to a Google Maps image of Britzer Garten. We had never tried this before. I had no idea I/you/we can/could mix up such images. Here is my work of art. I decided the lake needed a fish. I found Freddie Fish and added him. He liked the water! What do you think?

Frankfurt-Oder

Last Wednesday morning I met Colin at Ostbahnhof. We bought a ticket for him to travel to Frankfurt - an- der- Oder that day and one to the airport at Frankfurt-am-Main next Tuesday. From there he will fly back to Australia via Los Angeles. I shall meet him at his house in Sydney in three weeks!

Colin wanted to see more of the area around Berlin so we agreed to take the regional train to Frankfurt - Oder. It is a one hour journey from the centre of Berlin and takes you through very nice flat lands and woods until you get to the River Oder. There you will find Frankfurt on the west bank and Slubice on the east bank.

It was all one place until 1945. I am sure you have heard of the Soviet leader called Josef Stalin. He succeeded at the Yalta and Tehran Conferences in changing the Polish borders during discussions with Roosevelt and Churchill.  The 'new' Poland was pushed from the east towards the west by incorporating areas of what were then Germany. The new border runs along the river Oder.

We went to a 22 story 'box' building called the Oderturm. At the top is a restaurant and a panorama view of the towns/area. We had a good look and then a coffee. I also took these photos so you Silsdeners could share the experience.

We then went for a walk along  the river and crossed into Poland via the only bridge. On my first visit many years ago, there was strict security/password/customs control. Both countries are now signatories to the Schengen Agreement covering 26 counties which have removed border controls. It was nice to just wander over the bridge.

We just walked around Slubice and soaked up the Polish signs and language before walking along the river embankment. We returned to the German side, had a late lunch and returned to the railway station. A relaxing journey back during which we talked about the things to do and see when I arrive in Sydney. The main event will be a trip to Canberra which is the political capital of the country. Can't wait!




 

More Daniel

Hello Silsdeners - time for an update. I've had a very interesting week with more appointments per day as the week progressed. Monday began with helping a student write an academic text in English. We needed two more meetings during the week to complete the task, but we got there! Later that day I went to Johanna's for a tasty meal with Jutta, Gerald and Colin. An evening with lots of good humour and jokes.

On Tuesday Daniel came for another lesson. This time he brought a present from his grandfather. It was a plastic bottle containing 'Opa's Special Home Made Palinka' all the way from their farm in the south of Moldavia.  I could not resist having a small 'snifter'. Wow! The first taste blew off the top of my head, rolled my eyes around and produced steam through my nose. Great! I enjoyed the second taste just as much.

I shall take a sample to my Photoshop Gang next week for I told them about it this afternoon and they want to have the top of their heads blown off :-)) His mother sent me a box of chocolates made in Moldavia as thanks for helping Daniel. This is the second she has sent. Thanks to both for your generosity! Here he is with the chocs and the new English Test book he has to work through in addition to his school book.

In my last post I showed the card sent by Andrei from St. Petersburg. Daniel translated it for me and this afternoon Stefan did the same. It reads as 'S novum godam' and means Seasons Greetings/ Happy New Year. Now we all know and thanks to both for the translation.

Andrei's Peninsula

Hello Silsdeners and other blog readers. A very special welcome to readers from the Czech Republik. I note I had more hits from you than any other country in December. What have I done to deserve that honour? Please add a comment and introduce yourself/selves.

I also got a very nice reply to an e-mail from Andrei in St. Petersburg. We met when I was there with Herr Dr. Sir Peter von Longlegs last August - if you remember reading my post then. He sent me a photo of his favourite place on the peninsula. Here it is. Andrei also said it would be nice to meet in Russia in August. Must learn some basic Russian!

We shall no doubt arrange where and when exactly for Andrea in Berlin has priority. She is getting married to Marco in August. I would not miss it for all the gold in secret bank accounts! Can't wait to see Andrea in her wedding dress, smiling at Marco and saying, "I do" in response to the question, "Do you take this man to be your lawful husband?"  Na, klar !!

This is just one of the nice things waiting for me this year. It starts with a flight to London in two weeks to celebrate Adrian and Tanja's 25th Wedding Anniversary. I've already booked the flight and hotel. Hope to see others from my uni days in addition to Sarah and Reena.

Last week was relaxing as we swung into another year. It even included a haircut on Tuesday. Wow! I met my Oldie Camera Club on Wednesday afternoon and they liked the photos I had selected for them to see how good/bad I was with a camera.

I met my Muggelsee Gang in a restaurant for our 'Winter Meeting' on Friday night and this morning I went to a special New Year Brunch for SPD members in my area. Very tasty and with lots of interesting conversation. Have a good start to the week wherever you are :-)

Oz celebrations

I've had a quiet 'slip' into the new year. Things are now becoming more active, but at least I had time to read more. I've had some very interesting cards and messages. As a child I valued presents but as I have aged I appreciate my cards and messages more.

Over New Year I got a short e-mail from Ian and Birgit with two nice photographs attached. You can see them for yourself. They were taken as Sydney (Australia) celebrated the start of 2015.  The quality reflects the current trend to phone-camera to take a 'selfie'. A new and strange word!



Ian and Birgit look really healthy, fit and happy. Perhaps we should all move to Sydney :-)) The idea seems more attractive as I look out of the window to see dark, cold, wet days. I talked to both this morning over skype about my future trip.

I got important tips about clothes, transport, kinds of plugs for electrical equipment, banking-payment and other things. My visit there is now taking shape about when and where and who with. Only 4 weeks to go!

Meanwhile, I decided to fly to England at the end of January. I got an SMS from Adrian and Tanja inviting me to a special party on Sunday 25th January. I know why! It's an anniversary and I can't believe it was so many years ago. Let's see what London looks like in a few weeks.