A Week of Spring Flowers

Last week was quite typical for March here with cold mornings and nights but often sunny with blue skies during the day. There was some rain on Saturday, probably very welcome to everything that wants to grow now.

On Monday (16 March), my trip back from Offenburg was a bit different from usual in that the direct train to Stuttgart wasn't running; I had to change at Karlsruhe but it all worked out, and I was home to start work at my usual time.

During an online meeting in the afternoon with two of the people I work with closely at the Literature Archive in Marbach one of them told me that he'll retire in a year. Of course I knew that this was inevitably coming, and I am happy for him to have more time for his family and his hobbies, but I will miss him, his expertise and his calm way to approach even the most complex situation. Over the past 12 years, we have found good solutions together, meeting the sometimes contradictory requirements of IT security and data protection.

After work, I walked to Benningen. It was windy and rather chilly, but I was sensibly dressed and really enjoyed the walk.

Magnolia tree, almost in full bloom

Between Eglosheim and Freiberg

Almost in Benningen, looking back towards Freiberg

I worked again from home on Tuesday (17 March) and had a back & shoulders massage afterwards. Next I went to my Mum's; we had salad and Wiener sausages (which we both love) and of course a good chat.

Wednesday (18 March) was my usual day at the office. It was winterly cold in the morning at 2C/35F but a beautiful sunny day. 

After work, I took a train into the centre of Stuttgart and walked roughly half an hour to a restaurant where I met a few fellow data protection officers. We had a good meal and exchange about current topics. I have known some of them for many years, and we also talk about (more or less) personal matters.

I was again at the office on Thursday (19 March) because we had our annual company-wide assembly. Full of information and the opportunity to ask questions, I do not consider such meetings a waste of time.

Leaving work, for the first time this year I got off the train in Zuffenhausen and walked the rest, now that there is enough daylight left in the late afternoon.

Friday (20 March) was divided into a morning of work and an afternoon of household tasks. O.K. arrived in the evening, and we discussed what was up during the weekend.

On Saturday (21 March) morning, I gave my windows a badly needed cleaning. O.K. and I then picked up the cake I had ordered from the bakery down the road, to be served on Sunday.

Next, we walked into town, where at 1:00 pm we were expected at the jeweller's to pick up our wedding rings. They were just as we had ordered them three weeks ago and fitted perfectly. We were offered to toast the occasion with sparkling wine, and we didn't say no.

A brief rest at home followed, then we wanted to go for a walk - but it started to rain, and rain properly with no sign of letting up soon, so we stayed in until a little after 7:00 pm when we walked into town once more.

I had suggested we meet my sister at the pub, have a meal there and then go back to my place, and that's what we did. As always, it was very noisy at the pub, so once we'd had our food, we didn't last all that long.

At my place, we passed the next couple of hours talking, and my sister and I attempted to play a board game - it proved to be too complicated for us to be bothered, and so we simply made up our own rules and had fun with that.

At midnight, I popped open a bottle of sparkling wine and we toasted my birthday. Some time later, my sister left, and we called it a day, too.

Sunday (22 March) was my 58th birthday. Unlike last year, I didn't want a big celebration; although our upcoming wedding does not require much planning and organising, and I am not at all stressed by the preparations, it is a very big and important step and mentally dominating for me at the moment; and so I only wanted to have the simplest of celebrations for my birthday.

O.K. and I had a leisurely breakfast the kind I enjoy twice a year (on New Year's Day and my birthday), with fillet of smoked trout with horseradish cream and a glass of sparkling wine along with our usual Earl Grey tea and tomato juice.

Once the kitchen was in order, we went for a walk in the sun; then it was time to prepare the coffee table. My sister arrived first, followed shortly by my Mum and friend R, who brought a home-baked apple pie.

I opened my wonderful presents, and the afternoon went by quickly talking and laughing. 

There were two phonecalls for me, but most of my friends sent text messages or emails, plus I had several cards from the family in England and blogging friends.

In the evening, I ordered pizza, and then O.K. had to leave. It took him about twice as long than usual to drive home; there was a lot of traffic on the motorway and several hold-ups. On those evenings, I wait up until he lets me know he's made it home safely, and when he rang just a few minutes before 11:00 pm, I was very relieved.

Now the last week of March has started, and Easter is almost here!