Birthdays in September

Birthdays and things in September

Teaching at the institute will reduce over the month and then I shall fly to England at the start of October. There are already some day trips planned such as to Steczien in Poland, Rostock on the Baltic coast and a Mugglesee-Gang meeting at Larissa's ranch near Bernau.

Birthdays start with Lynne on the 1st September (Thanks Andrea for reminding me) then  Charlotte who will be partying her 18th on the 6th September. She shares the day with Nevand who will be having a quieter party in Berlin to celebrate her 5th birthday. Andrea hits 24 on the 8th September and will be celebrating with Sir Ken without a shadow of a doubt. My nephew Stephen hits 39 in Cambridge on the 22 September, followed by Robert Gast and his 31st on 23rd. That week ends with Sylvana celebrating her 49th with Mathias and family on the 25th. My nephew Jefferson rounds off the month on the 29th September with his 36 birthday which he will celebrate with his wife and now two wonderful children.

Happy birthday to all and each and have a super day with all your dearest and nearest!

Time to say goodbye

Time to say goodbye to Jan

And the day arrived when Diplom-Ingenier Herr Jan Trautmann M.Sc., arrived for us to say goodbye to each other. And it came to pass yesterday!

He looked better than I thought given a series of all night parties taking leave of all his many friends in and around Berlin. I noticed he drank only tea - in fact two teapots full which says a lot about his condition, but he managed a couple of cakes with the relaxing liquid. See the photo.

It was great to see him and catch up on events in Rhode Island after I left, then his adventures in Spain, Prague and Hungary. He is flying to the north of Spain tomorrow where Arancha will meet him and they will live together in a flat owned by her parents. He has booked a Spanish course already and has contact to a large company for a job on a local highway project.

He will be okay for he just needs to fuse theory and practice in a successful career as a civil engineer. I value our short time together yesterday and am not worried about the future. We have computers and e-mail and skype and telephones so lots of means of contact even if not face to face in the immediate future.

The new me

The NEW me!

Here are the results of Joachim and Cindy's work. One is a casual shot without tie, a more formal one with black jacket and tie, and a lighter summer one also with a tie.

I have got positive comments so far - with the exception of our 'lieber' Jan yesterday afternoon. When he saw the casual shot he said. "Oh no, it's terrible, it's too gay!" I just smiled. He liked the others though!

Actually only the shots with jacket and tie will be used for the new business web page. Here they are. What do you think? Judge for yourself.

The Photographer

Joachim the Photographer

Last Wednesday Joachim the Photographer, his lady Cindy and Lord Max of Whitelake arrived at my palace to take photographs to update my business web page. A very pleasant evening was had by all and I was very impressed by Joachim's skills behind the camera.

Thanks also to Cindy for picking the three outfits from my wardrobe and to Max, who now has to do the web update. Here are some photos I took. Joachim is working on the photos in his netbook while Max is sipping more pure malt whiskey he had brought with him. Cindy is relaxing in the easy chair and watching it all.

The Chef

The Chef

I cooked Sunday lunch a week ago. It didn't turn out as expected. Instead of Oldie Hermann cooking when I visit him I decided to cook and invite him to my palace, but I had to cook something rather traditional. I had no idea so Hermann gave me a list of things to buy over the phone and off I trotted to the shops.

Problem was that is was Saturday morning when the greengrocers close at midday so I couldn't buy all the things fresh. I got the main ingredient called 'Wachsbohnen' (translates as Wax Beans) which I had never heard of. Finally got them in a jar. Later that night I knocked the jar onto the floor and it broke = all beans into the rubbish bin.

Fortunately I had some cauliflower and fresh carrots as back up so I changed the menu a little as you can see from the picture. I added gravy after I had taken the picture in case some of you are thinking that it looks rather dry. It tasted nice and Hermann ate all his portion!

Eisenhüttenstadt

A day in Eisenhüttenstadt

Last Friday I had a really great day exploring a town called Eisenhüttenstadt. Where and why should anyone go there? From Berlin with the autobahn or railway you go east until you hit the river Oder at Frankfurt-Oder then head south a bit and you are there! I went there just after I arrived in Berlin and have distant memories of the steelworks and that the town was then closing down - it was!

I later heard that the town was making a recovery so decided to explore. I was very surprised at what I saw. The town is really three parts in one hiding behind this interesting name. The old town on the river was founded by German immigrants in 1250 and called Fürstenberg. It slumbered on for centuries with the locals earning a living from agriculture and fishing.

In the late 1940's a decision was made to expand the town so a new section was created to the west of the old centre. It was given the name of Eisenhüttenstadt in 1961 as the first section of the steel works started production. To house the new workers four story blocks of flats were built in the style called 'Stalin Allee' after the famous street in Berlin built at the same time. They are now protected buildings and people visit to look at the architectural style.

The Eisenhüttenstadt museum is in the middle of this early 1950's new town and has a display under the theme of 'Living in the DDR' in two parts. One is about furniture, clothes, cars, TVs, radio, food and drink, clothes, music, films, work, schools and how society was organised. My favourite picture is of the first Robotron Computer, and all the instructions and keys were written in English = they were a copy of what was happening in the 'Wicked West'. The second is about how people relaxed and what they did on holiday. I think you can see the different themes in my photos.

The third aspect of the town is the steelworks that were built in the 1950s, then expanded in the late 1960s and again in the early 1980s. It was the major steel producing centre in the DDR with a large part of production going to the auto industry. This collapsed after re-unification in 1990, and the population is now only half it was then. Part of the steel works were sold to an international company and is still in business. The rest was closed down and the people left. The town is now trying to create new businesses and one is to promote tourism - hence the museum and events to bring tourists there from other parts of the country. I can recommend a visit!

Hello sailor

Hello, sailor!

Had a great day on the water today. The background is that 'oldie' Rolf damaged his left arm trying to get his boat trailer onto wooden supports and his wife could not help him, nor his family for they are all on holiday at the moment, so he called me. Help, John! 'No problem', said I 'But I want a gallop around the lake in exchange for help'. 'Done', said the captain!

He picked me up and we drove to the south of Berlin, in the direction of Storkow, where I went a couple of weeks ago. We arrived at Walsige See (Walsig Lake) where he keeps his boot. Lots of chopping and sawing of wood by me and then jacking up the boat trailer and putting wooden supports underneath and banging around and then .... success! Big smiles around then we drove 1 minute around the water to arrive at the boat.

I fell in love with it immediately. It was built in Poland where he bought it in 1996. Classic design to which he recently added a Yamaha outboard motor which has more power than the original. We removed all its covers and put the motor on and gently eased our way onto the lake. I was on the rudder as you can see on the photo and steered it through the posts into the lake. At least I had not forgotten my sailing/rowing lessons from Sweden in 2003.

I steered it into the middle of the lake where we switched off and had coffee and cake and a chat ( mainly about his 10 grandchildren which is a common theme with 'oldies') as the boat gently drifted in the wind and current. I then steered into the wind so that Rolf could unfold the two sails and really get into sailing. You can't make this switch without sailing into the wind and turning off the motor as the sails take over. I had a fabulous time sailing it across the lake and then suddenly 'tacking' so that we turned against the wind and headed back from where we had sailed, and all with wind and sails and no motor. I really enjoyed it and hope you can see this on my face.

Later we eased our way onto a berth at a restaurant on the north of the lake where we relaxed over a beer and Zanderfillet, caught in the lake I was told, which melted in my mouth so I believed this claim. More sailing and tacking until evening and then slowly to the berth and secured the boat. Drove back to Berlin and I got my tram with the promise that we would go sailing again. I hope so for I had one of the best days I have had so far this summer. I took a few photos of the day including one of Herr Kapitain and the view from the restaurant as we ate our fish.

Oranienburg garden

Landesgartenschau 2009 Oranienburg

Yesterday I went to the garden exhibition at Oranienburg, next to the Schloss. It was my second visit to the town but my first to the garden exhibition. The first visit to the town was on Herren Tag in May and I reported this on my blog.

I went with a small group with a leader who talked about the different kinds of plants/flowers/trees on show and what it all meant in terms of growing in harmony with each other. Nice idea - pity that people can't do it! The weather was perfect for such a day and I really enjoyed it. At the end of the day we stopped at a Thai restaurant one of the party knew.

I discovered he is married to a Thai lady and speaks the language and they also have a house somewhere in Thailand and so spend half of the year there. He explained a lot about Thai food, for I have no idea, and with his help I ordered something he said was typical but not difficult to digest. It was delicious! The perfect end to a remarkable day.

Last Thursday I went with many from the same group to the Natural History Museum in Berlin to see a special exhibition about Charles Darwin and his successors. It really was outstanding and can only recommend it to all who might be in Berlin before the end of the year when it ends.

Although I know quite a lot about his adventures in the Beagle and the development of the theory of evolution, I still learnt new things and found the presentation clear even though the subject is not always simple to understand - or so it seems to the simple minded religious drum beaters who still believe/think that the earth is only 6,000 years old!

August events

August events

Let's start with birthdays for a change :-) Petra is 50+ a bit today and no doubt celebrating with family in their weekend cottage for the temperature is 33°c at the moment and other areas of Berlin are registering even higher temperatures. I had a few hours after breakfast in the sun on my balcony reading a new book and then retired indoors. My skin doctor will be very pleased!

Beatrix Dix who lives behind Köpenick Rathaus will be 36 on 6 August, Peter and Andre will be opening the champagne on 9 August to celebrate one year of marriage and I have been invited to a party at their place on the 8th. Looking forward to it - but this time without the fire! Nicole will be 61 on the 21 August - oh la la - and we shall meet just after for a meal.

The end of the month sees an explosion of birthdays. Jürgen will be 65 on the 24th, Angelika will have a party on the 25th to celebrate her 57th - with lots of other musicians from the Komische Oper Orchestra My sister Pauline with be 65 on the 26th, Dieter in Jüterbog will be 65 on the 27th and he shares this day with Ziya. We don't know how old he is and his partner Anne-Marie doesn't know and told me she has given up asking -- we think he is about 60.

Who else but mein lieber Jan could end the month. He will be 26 on the 28th and I have no idea if I can share a beer with him, or if he will be in Spain with Arancha. I hope the latter. He has graduated with two degrees - congratulations!! - and is now looking for work and planning his future with Arancha. He deserves lots of luck and a really memorable birthday after graduating.

Have a wonderful day with your family and friends with lots of good food and drinks!

My month ends with visits to my skin d0ctor for new tablets and to my allergy doctor for checks before we start the end of the year treatment :-( ready for the attacks at the start of 2010. I also have some new teaching contracts to finish and am trying to book a flight to the UK in the second week of September. Some problems with my membership details so will try again to wake up easyjet and make the booking!

Nice time with A and K

I had a really nice evening with A and K

That was last night and as I was working on these photos today I discovered the Ottawa photos I have just posted 'hidden' on my digital memory.

Andrea and Ken recently moved to a new flat and I was invited to a kind of 'flat-warming meal' - and just for me! I liked the flat as soon as I entered. It was built about the same time as mine but is in the north of the district where I live. The rooms are on two floors so they have lots of space and a nice big shared garden at the back. I want to live there!

I arrived from teaching at the Institute so was a bit tired, but it was like suddenly waking up into a new world. First Andrea gave me lots of water to drink (thanks - I needed it for I don't drink enough water when I am teaching and only notice this later!) then took me on a tour as Ken finished off cooking the meal. I want a study like they have but didn't take a photo because it is still under re-construction. They have a balcony and a hobby room and two bathrooms!! It's true. One on each floor and I mean fully furnished bathrooms!

The dining room and kitchen are on the lower floor with a large 'L' shaped living room and the main bedroom above. including Andrea's little corner with her books and music and relaxing chair. You can see her relaxing in the photos. I really enjoyed the atmosphere, feeling at ease as soon as I entered, the very tasty meal, wine and intelligent conversation which ranged over many topics. I wish them both well and am happy they have found such a relaxing place to live in.

Ottawa

Woops! Forgot Ottawa!!

How could I have not noticed that I had forgotten to add photos of the centre of Ottawa in my reports about my recent visit to the USA and Canada? Sorry Ottawa!

The centre is a real tourist treat dominated by Parliament Hill on both sides of a river and to the north of Confederation Park. The university is to the south east and the whole area is almost an island with the Ottawa River to the north forming the border between the provinces of Quebec and Ottawa. Even so, you see lots of street and other signs in English and French.

The architecture is clearly 'Gothic' of the Victorian era, as you can see from these photos of Parliament House, and the National Monument with other views of what is called the governmental centre of the town.

One day I shall return and also take in Montreal and Quebec on the mighty St. Lawrence river. If you get the chance to visit then take it for I really could live in Ottawa, which is more than I can say for most of the north east of the USA I visited.

Storkow

Storkow(Mark)

I went there yesterday with Hermann. A quick decision for we had planned a longer day out but the weather was rather changeable so we did a shorter tour.

We took a little train owned by a private company called ODEG and one hour later stepped out at Storkow(Mark). I had never heard of it before and Hermann had never been there, but said it was a typical small Brandenburg town situated on the north of a long lake, which is one of a series to the south of Berlin.

It was a good decision and I really liked the Old Market Place dominated by a 400 year old oak tree in the middle. Lots of water around the place and two streams run through the town into the lake and there is a connection to the canal which will take boats north to Berlin.

One photo is arriving at the station, one as you enter the lake from the canal connection and the third is of a bridge which opens to let boats through then into a lock as they journey north. I can recommend a day there and plan to take the train again to see other small towns on the route to Frankfurt-Oder on the Polish border.

Settling in

Settling in post USA

This note is prompted by all of you who called, e-mailed etc to ask how I was after my return from the USA and to get invitations to do a number of things. Thanks to all of you.

I was surprised at the number of requests for teaching so the first two weeks back were very busy. Things are slowing now as two courses ended and a new one has just started. My private students have also all registered for more lessons and I visit Hans again each Monday. I was pleasantly surprised to see that he had cleaned his room before I arrived - progress!

In addition, I've been to a few concerts and helped Micha with computer problems and I am on Skype more trying to contact nephew Warren and teach one student using this medium. Saturday I'm having a late birthday lunch with Hermann and on Sunday we are going on a trip north of Berlin. Andrea and Ken have invited me to see their new flat on Friday of next week. Looking forward to that!

The month will end with a trip to the Natural Sciences Museum to see a presentation about Darwin and his successors, and then to Oranienburg to see the big flower show there. I also have to sort out a trip to the UK and a visit to Spain problem.

Lots to do and I shall try to take photos and post in reports to this blog.

Goodbye lobster

Anyone for lobster?

My last full day was spent with Jan in his laboratory and library where we checked his latest text. I also bought myself a nice gray and blue sweatshirt with the legend of ' University of Rhode Island' on it. I am wearing it now.

We later drove to a small fishing town where you can buy fresh fish and so we bought lobsters. I had never eaten fresh lobster before and so was set for a new adventure. I bought a light dry wine to accompany the lobster and so return to the kitchen.

Jan explained how and why they were cooked in this way. At least I am a little wiser now should I be called upon to cook lobster in the future. I think the photos tell the story very well. I only remember a quiet evening as I started to pack my bag. Next day Jan drove me to Boston airport and we said our goodbyes.

The return flight was better than the first one. It was made more interesting by talking to my neighbour. She was a young and very attractive lady from Wales who now lived in the USA with her family and was travelling to Madrid to meet a group, and all planned to improve their Spanish. Amazing the people you meet on a flight!

The flight from Madrid to Berlin was full but pleasant. Finally, I was very happy to turn the key and open my own front door after three weeks of opening so many other doors!

The last word has to go to Jan. I saw him under tremendous pressure as he worked to finish his MSc and I am pleased that I was able to help him. I am sure he will get his two degrees without any problem after finishing the last section on his own. I am also sure he is looking forward to the next phase of his life which has to be finding a job and being with Arancha.

I could not have made the trip without his support, nor have enjoyed my time in New York without him acting as a guide. Danke lieber Jan and I look forward to seeing you in Berlin in early August. I already have the beers in the fridge for you. Just waiting for your call.

Big Apple 2

Big Apple 2

I have no memory of breakfast before we galloped off to the subway for another day of sightseeing. This was concentrated on the northern part of Manhatten and took in Central Park, Wall Street and the New York Stock Exchange - with the famous bronze of a bull near it, New York State Library -what architecture - you must see it. And Grand Central Station is a must as well.

I also had a wander around a very expensive mens clothing store on 5th Avenue and enjoyed the use of their luxury toilet! It was the kind of place you felt you had to pay to enter as you opened the door. I bought a rucksack at a nearby and much cheaper store the we wandered around the area before noting it was 3.00 pm.

Time to get to Times Square to meet Joel on the 'Red Steps'. He is from my Friday group in Berlin where we learn about how to change photographs in the computer. Yes, he had just arrived in New York and was staying at a flat on 42nd Street owned by friends who were on holiday hence he had the use of the flat. We had lunch together and a good chat before we went our separate ways.

Jan and I returned to the hotel and picked up the car. We left at 6.00 pm and arrived home at 9.45 pm where we had a light snack, I had a well deserved G&T. We chatted about the weekend and hit the big ZZZZ's by midnight. That was a weekend to remember!