Easter Snow

It's snowing as I write and it is Easter Friday. Specialists would say the snow is 'wet' because it sticks to things such as the branches of trees. You can see this in the photos of my front and back gardens.


I've had a 'normal' week still wearing thick winter clothes to counter the cold winds, snow and ice. No sign of Spring yet. The very cold winter has been good for my allergies.

So far few problems and I have not been to my allergy doctor. I am going to get through the period without medical help. In all the years of sitting in waiting rooms, no treatment or medicine has helped me.

Not sure about this evening - it depends on the weather!  Have a nice, warm Easter break wherever you are.

Eating Again

Yesterday was a nice day centred on eating :-)  It started with Kerstin's 'Training for Oldies' session, as each Friday morning. After training, sauna, shower, relaxing, we left for a short walk to a restaurant It advertised itself as a 'Singapore Indian' restaurant. Mmmmh...I was suspicious!

We entered what was an old 'Kneipe' (traditional pub) and a long table was set for 13 guests. The service was good, the food tasty and the prices acceptable. I noticed the menu was an interesting mixture of Indian and Chinese dishes. I still miss the kinds of food I could buy/eat when I lived in north India. I couldn't get them in this restaurant. Like others, it is designed for Berliner tastes!

Back home I rested and did a number of things before getting ready to go to Johanna's flat. I have talked about her before and how we meet up every few months for nice meals, drinks and conversation. Other 'Oldies' were present and I really enjoyed catching up on news and events since our last meeting.

After the meal, I gave Johanna a present as thanks for her hospitality. She was surprised. I gave her a CD. It was of Kathleen Ferrier singing Bach and Handel at a "historic performance" on 7/8th October 1952. Within six months she was dead.  The recording was "recreated in stereo" on 19 February 1960. I think all Kathleen Ferrier fans have a copy of this re-working.

I asked Johanna to listen to one song to see if she liked it. She put it into her CD player and I watched the faces of all present. No-one made a sound as the orchestra played the introductory notes leading to the smooth entry of her voice. Within seconds I saw expressions of surprise and pleasure on the faces of my hostess and fellow guests. I had made the right choice!

They asked me questions about her and wanted to hear more. I answered their questions and was very happy that I had made the right musical choice to end our pleasant evening.  I'm looking forward to our next meeting and exchanging news about what each has done in spring.

It's me!

What a boring evening! I watch TV about twice a week and only from 10.00 pm. I have channels which show the same rubbish from 8.00 to 10.00 pm. Either German or American series. Hello - I do not watch such idiot series! No-one is listening!!

I watched the news and tried to watch a political panel debating energy pricing and policy. I swear that I tried my best. It was worse than boring and an insult to a half educated watcher/listener so I just turned off the TV.

I switched to my computer and caught up on political postings in my area. I got a shock! One was a story about Women's Day on Friday 8 March. I spent the afternoon with two 'oldies' preparing 500 red roses with SPD advertisements.

I then joined them in handing them out to women at a crossing near my local S-Bahn station and shopping centre. I did not know that someone in the SPD had taken a photo of me. Here it is. You can see me from the back. Actually this is interesting for I have rarely seen myself from the back. I think you have also not seen yourself from the back!

It was minus 5°C but we 'oldies' got on with the job. One women I talked to came from a Vietnam background. She was delighted to get a red rose. I then noticed she had a little daughter so I gave her a red rose. Mother was so pleased she took out a mobile phone with a camera and took a photo of her daughter with a red rose.

Great that mother and daughter were so happy and I think you can see this in the photo. I/We did not know that someone from the SPD had taken a photo of the event. What a nice surprise!

The man in the red scarve handing out red roses in the other photo is Erik Göhrs. He is the SPD candidate for the German Parliament from the area where I live. We are working to get him elected.

Sylvia L

Sylvia joined my LCCI Group two weeks ago. She was a welcome member and quickly made a positive contribution. I was pleased she decided to stay and work for the examination.

I soon discovered she was a multi-talent. She is a photographer, plays around with Photoshop, has exhibitions of her work, runs a web page, has just started a blog and people buy her work. Perhaps the ultimate compliment!

She brought some of her photographs and camera/lenses to the class. A nice Nikon - Andrea please note! She gave a presentation about/of her work and how she uses the camera before giving me the photographs as postcards. Very nice present!

She has an exhibition called 3LANDECK in Großhennersdorf near Zittau. This is in Saxony where she was born. She has another one called 'ohne strom' = without current.  It is a selection of her photos about household equipment we used before a cable/electricity were added! It is in a restaurant called 'esskultur' at Dahlem Museum.

I shall be working to get her photos on show when Angelika's (below) exhibition ends. Watch this space! You can find her work by typing 'sylvia-landeck.de' into your browser. Have a look and you can even buy originals online :-)

Angelika

No, this is not the Angelika who plays viola in the orchestra whose concerts I regularly go to. This is Angelika the Artist. I met her through the AG 60+ group which is part of my local SPD organisation. She is 80 but looks much younger and is very active in many groups including hiking. Amazing!

She had a successful career as a stage and clothes designer for theatre, film and then TV. She gave a presentation of her work in a local community centre. It was so successful that it was extended and part of it moved to the centre where I go for 'oldie' and some party meetings.

She is also a hobby photographer and some of her work was presented last Monday and will be shown for a month. I was there and took my camera. I took a series of shots and showed them to her this afternoon when I returned for another meeting. She was very pleased with my work and some of my shots will now be used to promote her exhibition.

She also gives readings from her diaries which are being organised into a book. She can play with the language and sounds like a professional actor. I could listen to her reading about her life for hours! I wonder if she could have been a singer? What a model for all who hit retirement age!

Puzzle - Scanner

I've had an interesting week. Winter returned but we just put on warmer clothes and got on with daily life. I bought a book about the history of Ukraine, the new James Bond DVD, and two Kathleen Ferrier CDs.

One is a stereo re-mix of her last Bach-Handel recital. Marga bought this for me and signed the cover :-) We met up for a meal and chat in a Portuguese restaurant in Charlottenberg last Tuesday. The other CD is called 'Songs of the British Isles'. It has all the songs my music teacher, Mr Skull, introduced to me many years ago. I had to have this in my collection!

I got a surprise call from Jan in the country where he is currently on contract, a nice call from Andrea, and a welcome letter from Alan and Lynne.  I also did some teaching, went to a party meeting, to a book reading, and met my Photoshop Gang yesterday.

We created a puzzle. What do you think of it? It took all of us some time to work out the six steps to create each piece but thanks to Stefan's patience we got there in the end!

 I also got a scanner for my laptop. It came from a member of the 'oldie' group who had bought a new one. Stefan quickly loaded the driver to get the thing working and now I can scan my old non-digital photographs.

This afternoon I am going to an exhibition including work by Maude, an artist I know. Tomorrow I am joining Gerald, Jutta and Johanna in the evening for a performance of Bach's Johannespassion in the local church. I hope they put some heating on!  Have a nice weekend.

Snowing

Yes, it is snowing again. I think all of west and north Europe is being hit by snow and cold winds coming from the Artic area. It's even colder in Finland and west Russia.

Talking of Russia, I have a new student and he was born in the northern part of what Brits call Siberia. Actually it isn't - Siberia is the bit in the middle of the map but don't tell them that!


His English is very good and his German even better. He is also very sporty. He studied economics then worked as a manager for a large company in Germany. I spotted his training and skills immediately he gave a presentation.

We talked about Ukraine for he decided to drive there with some friends to see the final of some sporting event last weekend. You must love a sport to sit in a car with others for at least 17 hours!

Since our talk I have looked on the web and got information about the history of Ukraine. Now I am prepared for our meeting tomorrow. There it is even colder and with more snow than in Berlin.

Here are photos of the snow last night and the result this morning. Looking forward to Spring!

Bathroom

Last week was busy but I found time to improve my bathroom. I am sure you have all heard of a German supermarket chain called Aldi. I actually like shopping in my local store. I know exactly what I am going to see and expect before I set off for the store.


Two weeks ago they had various bathroom 'furnishings' on offer. I bought a nice silver metal double bathtowel rail. At home I realized it was to be drilled into the wall. I never do that! Back to the store to get the special attachment held by glue so you did not need to drill.

Jan and Arancha visited that weekend so I had the chance to discuss mounting it with an expert engineer. Jan scanned the information in 2 seconds and told me to just do X and then Y and it was easy. Yes, easy for a man with two degrees in engineering.

I followed his advice this week and it worked out okay. I was so pleased I returned to the store to buy a half-moon-shape towel hanger. This time I was clever enough to buy the extra glue 'thingy'.

I added it mid-week and liked it so much that I returned on Friday to buy two more. Here you can see the results of Johannes the Handyman :-)

Packaging

At last it arrived! About six weeks ago, Silke said she had found a good tripod for me online. She also said she had bought other things from the company and was happy with their products. I agreed for the price was lower than many other products we had seen.


Not being up to online ordering and paying - yes; I still only pay cash! - she said she would order and pay for it. I would pay her when I had it in my hands. So far so good!  She went online and filled out the order form. She made a mistake!

She put down my street but the wrong house number! Yes, there followed weeks of trying to find out where the thing was. Mr Mobile Postie did try to deliver it to the address she had written. It ended up in a post office somewhere. Lots of contacts and sending out the right address and yesterday I got a letter asking me to pick it up at my local post office. I think they had given up on trying to get it to my door.    

I duly joined the queue this morning, after looking at real blue sky, and was surprised to be presented with very large long box shaped package. I told the Mrs Postie Lady that it was only a tripod and not the leg of an elephant. She just smiled. She had heard it all before.

I left my bike at the post office and carried Elephant-Leg-Packet on my head. Many strange looks and smirks, and I am sure I heard a few comments such as. 'Wot's e got on is ed.. an elephant leg oder wat?' On arriving home I attacked the package with a knife. Here is the result!

 Why o' why did I have to carry an elephant leg package on my head when all it contained was a small package! Here you can see for youself. The final packet was about 20% of the total package. The rest was air and air-filled packaging. Grrrrrr......!

A Platz

I have just mentioned my Photoshop Gang yesterday afternoon. Stefan had taken some photos in and around Alexander Platz at night.

For F&B who have never been to Berlin let me give you a brief background. This area was originally a cattle market outside the town's walls. When Czar Alexander I of Russia visited Berlin it was named after him on 25 October 1805.

It was later developed and includes the largest U-Bahn in Berlin, the famous world clock and the Fernsehturm (TV Tower), which is the second tallest structure in Europe. It is a central place to meet, go shopping and has quick links to other areas.

Our task was to make the photos completely black and white or add colour. I did both and here are the results. I was surpised that I had not forgotten more about using Photoshop and was able to complete the tasks with only a little help from Stefan.

Should you visit Alexander Platz you will find none of these images/colours exist. You can find them only here on my blog!

March 2013 things

At last the sun is shining! Germany has suffered from the least sunny days for the last three months since records began about 100 years ago. Sounds strange but it is true and was widely reported. We are enjoying sunshine and blue skies this weekend. I even found myself staring into the sky this morning when on my way to the post office.

Yesterday afternoon I joined my Photoshop Gang for the first time this year. We greeted each other warmly and quickly caught up on news over coffee and a tasty cheesecake made by Maria.  Here is a photo of my wasp image which was put onto a shopping bag. Thanks for that Stefan!

March looks very similar. Next Monday I am going to the SPD central office for a meeting about the programme for the general election later this year. I shall be able to see/meet some of the leaders of the party at this event. There are other meetings in my diary in my local area and not at the centre.

I am still teaching, reading more German books, learning how to write German with Frau Fox and going to a Bach concert near where I live. I shall enjoy this with Johanna, Gerald and Jutta. We are also planning a breakfast meeting with other 'Oldies' later.

On Friday 22nd, after training, I shall go to a restaurant with Kerstin and her 'Keep Fit Oldie Gang'. Really looking forward to this for they are good fun to be with. My month ends with a Schumann and Tschaikowski concert given by the orchestra of the Kömische Oper. Angelika will of course be playing and joining me for a drink after :-)

Who has a birthday in March? Actually not many people! On the 19 March my McBook will be 5 years old followed by my Asus Eee PC next day for its fifth birthday! Okay, back to people - Günther  will celebrate being over 70 on the 22nd, Bernd will be over 40, again!, on the 28th and that is that! Have a great time each and all. I wonder if my laptops will make it to a sixth birthday?

Visitors

Recently returned from seeing two of my favourite visitors to Berlin. Yes, you guessed correctly. Jan and Arancha. They came for Jan's mother's birthday and arrived yesterday evening. Stayed at sister Andrea's flat and after a lazy and late breakfast decided to get into motion.

They called me from the airport yesterday evening and agreed they would call me when they entered the day. I know them well enough not to plan anything the evening before:-)  And so they called me and we agreed to meet at 2.00pm. Later I got an SMS to make it 2.30pm. Nothing has changed!

So I went to S-Bahn Hackescher Markt and waited for them on the platform. They duly arrived and I took a shot of the happy couple. They actually did look very happy, relaxed and healthy. Jan had a slight suntan from his recent skiing holiday which went well with his short blonde beard! Arancha looked radiant after her trips to the north of Italy and academic conferences.

We decided to look around the Markt and I told them I used to work in two buildings there. I took a shot of them against a building painted yellow. It used to belong to The British Council and I worked in the Teaching Centre for years. It was closed as the emphasis moved to China and new teaching programmes there.

The other was of a building opposite. This is where I found my first teaching job in Berlin. The school had two floors in the building owned by a publishing company. It had been founded by a group of ex-academics from Humbolt University. I immediately felt at home.There is now an Italian restaurant on the ground floor - as you can see in the photo.  Happy memories of a time when all was new in Berlin and before I met Jan and his family.

We settled on a restuarant under the railway bridge. We caught up on latest news while sipping some beers, or in my case a glass of red wine with veggie soup! We talked about future plans for I would like to visit them in Den Haag. Now I have a better idea of who will be where at what time.

We left to head east. Me for my home and they towards mother's where Kaffee und Kuchen und Abendessen was waiting for them. Wonderful to see them again and looking well and happy. They really made my weekend!

Early presents

Yesterday I got a shock. In the afternoon my doorbell rang and Mr Postie announced I had a parcel. I signed for it and wondered what it could be. It was an early birthday present. Actually this is the earliest birthday present I have ever had = 10 weeks early!

It was from Ian and Birgit in deepest-down-under Sydney. I think they are moving into the end of summer as we are moving into the end phase of winter. Having written that, it is snowing at the moment and more is forecast for tomorrow :-)

They sent me two books to help improve my photographic skills. One is called 'The Weekend Photographer' and each image has details of camera, lens, settings, flash or not, focal length and tripod used or not. Great - just what I need!

The second book is 'Digital Landscape Photography'. It has lots of technical information about an image, including processing and even if changed and how in Photoshop. Wonderful presents. Many thanks to both and I have lots of homework to do.

Newsflash: I am listening to ABC Classic FM (which I often do). The news report is warning of heavy rain and floods around Sydney! Wow - but that is an abrupt end to summer! Take care Ian and Birgit. That also goes for Daniel who lives in Sydney.

Genosse J

I have a new title. I am a Genosse (comrade). When I moved to my present flat I had to join the housing association which owned the property. No problem. I joined a Wohnungs-Genossenschaft and told people I was now a Genosse.

They smiled and said, 'Yes' in a way that said,'Yes and No'. I asked a few people about this and they said this form of address was usually used in a political sense and not for being a member of a housing association. 

At the end of January 2013, I joined the Sozialdemokratische Partei Deutschland. In short the SPD. If you remember, I posted information on my blog last September that I would look for a political party after becoming a German citizen.

I spend a number of months attending meetings in two parties and finally chose the SPD. I now have a membership book and card. I was also invited to a wide range of meetings and events in the last few weeks. Lots of things to learn. Welcome Genosse John!

India and ODs

In a short time the television station ARTE is to show the Richard Attenborough film called Gandhi. I read it and groaned -again. The film blurb says it is a biography from 1982. I am in it for a few seconds and as a face in the crowd!

The film opens with Gandhi's funeral procession along Jan Path. In the background is Rashtrapati-Bhavan = The Presidents Palace. I remember shuffling into that area in autumn 1981 and standing on the left side of the street as you see it from the camera angle. My family connection with India does not begin there.

In 1919, great uncle Sir Michael O'Dwyer sat in Lahore and ruled Punjab as Governor-General. He received orders from the government in New Delhi not to tolerate a wave of strikes and unrest in support of an independent India. He called his military boss General Dyer and told him to stop a demonstration planned in Amritser. It was in Jullianwallah Bagh, a large open but walled-in market/garden area in the centre of the city with only one entrance and exit.

General Dyer set off with troops, armoured vehicles and machine guns and confronted thousands of demonstrators in the garden. He ordered his troops to open fire. It was a massacre. Many people died. It has been called the beginning of the end of English rule in India. I think there is some truth in that claim!

Uncle Michael was sent back to England where he lived a nice life with his wife in their villa in Surrey. With little else to do, he researched then wrote a book. It is the history of my family and how we lost our lands, estates and castles in a district of Tipperary. I have read the book and made notes to guide me when I tour the area at the beginning of May this year.

Many years later an Indian man joined his staff and when there was a meeting with leading politicians in Sir Michael's house he took out a pistol, killed Sir Michael and a few others. He was later hanged and at his trial it was discovered that as a child he survived the massacre in 1919. It was his revenge. Now to watch the film again!

Workshop and AGM

Yesterday I went to workshop given by Scott Thornbury. He is something of a star in the world of English Teaching as a Foreign Language. He is very entertaining as well as informative, so you learn a lot as well as having more than a few smiles and feeling good at the end.

It was about language and the body. He is writing a book on the topic. Why do we teach languages to people in a classroom with them sitting down and not moving? I have hardly ever done this and certainly not since the advent of PC/laptop and projector which allows students to move in terms of making their own presentations. Must have been doing something right without knowing I was on the cutting edge of teacher theory and technology:-)

Then we had a nice lunch of veggie soup. We checked to make sure there was no horse meat in it! Who is we? We is .... members of The English Language Teachers' Association of Berlin and Brandenberg. ELTABB for short. I co-founded it nearly twenty years ago. I think there will be a big party to celebrate the event in December of this year.

After lunch we settled down to our AGM. Lots of business items such as finance, planning, events, legal requirements to be met and then electing a new board. It was a pleasant afternoon with some good presentations about the state of the association.

We even got four new, younger members to take positions on the board. Membership is also at a record high. The situation looks good for this year and we decided to open corporate membership. We've come a long way since I opened my flat to host the first meeting.

I noticed that I now have an 'older statesman reverence' when people approach me to talk about the organisation. Not sure I am happy with that - still thinking about it!

Bethany

Now for a story to warm your heart this cold, northern hemisphere winter day. My nephew Jefferson and wife Leanne have produced another marvel. A little girl called Bethany. She arrived on Saturday 6th February at 6:08am weighing in at a healthy 7lb-11oz. Isn't is nice that the English still keep the Imperial System?

The good news is that Mum and baby are happy and healthy. The proud father shared the news a few days ago with a file under the title winmail.dat. I can't open it. I use an iMac and have even downloaded other programmes to try to open it - alas without success. I say that for I guess it contained a super photo of Bethany sleeping in Leanne's arms.

When I get a photo I can open I shall share it with you so we can all look at it and say, 'Aaaaah...Ooooh..isn't she wonderful!!  I'm hoping to see her with her big sister and brother when I visit this June. Keep watching for more news! Meanwhile, here are a few flowers just for Bethany - and Mutti!

Maces

What is the plural of a mace? If it were a joke you would say 'mices', but it is maces. What is a mace? It is not something the 'normal' person ever puts on the weekly shopping list!

It stems from the 'Middle Ages' - or even earlier - when men (no women allowed!) had one to show off their status as a king or something stupid like that. Later they were made of gold and encrusted with jewels to show off how much loot the man had stashed/robbed/stolen. In those days they didn't have a Rolls-Royce car to perform the same task.

When men form a procession these days, led by a man holding a mace, we usually associate this with a mayoral procession. All the men like to wear strange clothes, based on flowing robes like those worn by 'starlets' or 'personalities'. The tradition is also strong in the church and legal profession where men like to dress up in clothes one normally associates with women. In the legal profession they even wear white wigs.

Who is this person holding a mace - or even about to make off with it?  It is my sister Pauline! Amazing but true. Another pic is of her with the local mayor. He appears to have two maces! Check out his outfit. Don't the English just love to dress up!  I recently got an e-mail from someone, not in the UK, who asked me, "Is this your sister?" I answered, "Yes, it is - and how did you find it?"

It was posted online in a picasa web-file with many others. They showed some kind of ceremony at the Anglican Church in Cherry Hinton - which I am sure you all know is in the east of Cambridge, where Pauline lives. So what do you think about that, Frances and Barbara? Strange world isn't it?

Peeling

More adventures about my placards. As you can see, I am now peeling! Variations could be that I am peeled off, peeling off the poster board,  peeling down, need more glue, glue wasn't strong enough.

I checked the word to peel, and can happily report that it is usually used to describe the act of removing the outer skin of fruit with a knife, or skin after a long day in the sun.

 I wonder how many other placards are 'peeling me off''.  This one was found in my district near to the railway repair yards.

Thanks to all who added a comment, phoned, sent e-mails and talked to me in person about my picture on placards. Most were of the opinion that I should have got more money. I immediately agreed!

ikea

Last Thursday, Silke and I met up and she drove me to IKEA. The company opened a large store in the north of the district where I live and I had never been there. I needed a replacement for my old 'Billy' bookcase. I am sure you will find one in every second house in Europe!

As you probably know, you find what you want on display, go to a large warehouse in the store, put it on a trolley, pay for it and try to get it in your car. We eventually did all that but started with lunch. The stores have large canteen style restaurants offering meals at a reasonable price. Nice.

After nearly getting lost and going the wrong way along the arrows on the paths, we found what I wanted. I didn't really like the new 'Billy' and then looked around the corner. There was another kind of display case smiling at me. I smiled back:-)  After paying for it and about to leave the store, we found a "Hot-Dog-Station".

I stared in disbelief. This is just another example of someone in an advertising department/agency who failed English at school but comes up with new 'Dinglish'. Speakers of good German do not like this at all! I don't either.  Since when did a 'Hot-Dog' have a station? Perhaps there is a 'Mustard Platform' somewhere in the store - but we couldn't find it!

More me

Silke was on her bike heading somewhere and found these new placards of me used to advertise red wine from Saxony. Oh, no! Now I am on the side of a 'Müllwagen' - Refuse Truck!

 I am sure I know where all the locations are. So far they have been found in two districts to the east of the city. That makes sense for this is where people originally from Saxony mainly now live.

The railway platform advert is on the Lichtenberg line and the othe is near to S-Bahn Rummelsburg. I used to work nearby, so I recognised it immediately. At least you can see a bit more of the city, Frances and Barbara :-)

I believe the adverts will continue until the end of February. Although I could not buy a luxury car, at least I got some money and used it to cover my Dublin costs. Think positive!

Spending

I have been spending money! Yesterday evening I booked my flight to Dublin for my birthday in early May. I then booked a hotel in Dublin for my first evening. I needed wheels, so I booked a small Ford to pick up at the airport.

I shall drive to our old family lands of Kilmananagh, County Tipperary, in the south west of the Republic. I plan to tour around and look at our ruined castles and find some new relatives:-) Should be an interesting time. I shall also take lots of photos to share with you.  Other images are of a ticket to the Schubert evening last Friday, programmes about future concerts I plan to go to and special purchases today.

I bought a copy of a recent film celebrating the centenary of Kathleen Ferrier's birth. The other is a copy of her complete EMI recordings. I shall reserve both for a time when I can relax, listen, and sip a nice glass of red. Perhaps a glass of Saxony Curvee!

Even more spending: I went to see the new Tarrantino film called Django this afternoon. Over the top as usual - go and see it. Coming up is a new tripod with Silke's help and a trip to ikea with her on Thursday. After this there will be a period of stringent saving!

February 2013

Moving into a new month and leaving one that has seen lots of snow and minus temperatures. Even so, I enjoyed January with many things the same and new events such as trips, meetings, concerts. My mind is increasingly moving to Spring and planning events then.

I have joined a new group of seniors who meet once a month. This includes discussions and going on excursions later when it is warmer. I'm looking forward to that. I'm going to a concert tomorrow evening and will have a drink with Angelika - after she has stopped playing the viola!

Mid-month I am going to an exhibition of theatrical/film costumes with Silka. Would never think about going to such an event on my own, but it sounds interesting. I'll probably post a report to my blog. I've just noted I have three concerts/operas for next month. Busy musical boy!

Who has a birthday in February? Sven starts the month with his 37th on the 1st of February in Berlin. My dearest and oldest friend Alan hits the big 70 on 3rd February. Sure to be lots of visitors, cards and calls to Cas on that day. Wish I could be there! Jens celebrates his 43rd on the 5th, my 'boss' Dr. Ingeborg Pardon has her 65th on the 18th, Eleonora will celebrate her 54th in Berlin on the 22nd, with no doubt lots of calls from Hungary, Adrian in London will enjoy his 53rd on the 25th with Tanja, Frau Reimer will sip a glass of something in Rostock to enjoy her 87th on the 27th, and Peter in Australia will be 33 on the 28th - a day he shares with Ralf who will celebrate his 48th here in Berlin. HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO EACH AND ALL!

More Placards

Just look at my last but one post. It was about the photo of me with a bottle of red wine from Saxony. I told you it had been taken by Silke at the Saxony Photograph Exhibition. See that post.

I also told you that Silke had been in discussion with an advertising agency and they accepted the first image to put on a placard. We found that and I told you where it was in Berlin.  See that post. I also said I was wondering whether to buy a Bentley or a Rolls-Royce. A nice idea!

I decided on a Rolls-Royce given my age, and that the car looks like an up-market large SUV, but now I am not sure. I met Silke yesterday evening at an event at the Town Hall and she said she was still in discussion with the agency about how many placards they could use, and the price for each one.

She also advised me to cancel the Rolls-Royce for it would appear I would not be a new millionaire given the details of the advertising contract. It seems that I come last on the list of payments after a lot of other people. Even Silke will get more than me when the pay-out starts! Why do I get the least when I am on the photo/image?

Here you can see more images of me, and the wine from Saxony, on different placards in different S-Bahn and U-Bahn stations in Berlin. When do I get some money?