Busy Week

While I am always more or less busy, the past week was one of the "more" ones because of a two-day conference for work and all that entailed.

Monday (12 October) was the 4th anniversary of my Dad's death. Of course the three of us (Mum, sister and I) got together in the evening at Mum's for a meal my Dad would have enjoyed, but before that happened, I had work to do plus my quarterly routine check at the eye specialist's. All's well there, and my next visit is scheduled for the end of January.

The day started very chilly at only 6C/42F, but the sun came out after a foggy morning - very autumnal.

I worked at the office in Weilimdorf on Tuesday (13 October) and afterwards took a train straight into Stuttgart where I changed to another train to the airport, where the conference was to take place on the following two days. The reason I went there already on the evening before the actual conference was that the leading committee of the Association of Data Protection Officers in Germany (who hosts this conference every year in October) had called for an extra meeting, members only, to update us on political developments in this country which could have quite an impact on our work.

There was a little get-together afterwards, but I didn't stay long and was home by about 9:30 pm.

The conference started in earnest on Wednesday (14 October). It was a beautiful sunny day, and although I found the lectures and talks interesting and enjoyed meeting my fellow DPOs to catch up, I regretted not being able to go for a good long walk. After the end of the day's program, we were all expected at dinner (this is part of the conference every year) there, and before the sumptuous buffet was opened, listened to a singer, a couple of speeches, another singer and one last speech.

Again, I didn't last long (many were booked at the hotel for the night and could stay longer), and when after some adventures typical for our local trains I finally arrived home at about 11:00 pm, I was as glad as I was tired.

Thursday (15 October) saw the conference continued, but no dinner organised for us afterwards - usually, everyone just wants to get home at that stage. The day was again sunny, and since it was still daylight when I left, I got off the train in Kornwestheim and walked the rest.

For the second time that week I went to the office in Weilimdorf on Friday (16 October). 

Sunrise Friday morning from my kitchen

First and foremost, it was to receive my annual flu jab, something my employer offers to all employees and their family members every year around this time. Then I participated in the making of a video in view of the company's 200th anniversary next year (we are the oldest life insurance company in Germany), which was fun and didn't take very long, so that I also had the chance to catch up on emails and speak to my boss after the two days at the conference.

The original plan was for me to go home, clean and then take the usual trains to Offenburg for the weekend. But unfortunately, my husband was down with a cold, and so we had decided to each stay at their own place this weekend. 

I had just finished cleaning and was about to set out for a walk when my sister texted; did I feel like a walk in the palace grounds? I did, and although there were way more people still about at that time than what we expected, it was a nice way to finish the afternoon.

On Saturday (17 October) the sunny weather had made way to grey clouds and constant rain, but I had planned to walk from Marbach to Steinheim (for the first time since April), and walk I did! The rain wasn't heavy and it wasn't windy so that I was fine wearing appropriate footwear and my rain coat, and enjoyed the walk in spite of the chilly wet weather. 

The river Murr flows through Steinheim

I didn't take a break (it was too wet to sit on any of my usual benches along the way) this time but marched on, my pace as regular as the rain drops. It was very quiet with few people out and about; just a handful of farmers on tractors, and at one point a family with two small children, all bundled up in wellies and rain jackets, heading for the woods where the little ones would probably have fun collecting colourful leaves, chestnuts and acorns.

The rest of the day I spent making myself cosy at home, reading, playing my favourite computer game and watching the new "Matlock" series on Netflix.

At home

Sunday (18 October) was still grey and chilly but not as wet as the day before had been. In the afternoon, my sister and I met at our Mum's for coffee and cake - she had made a delicious Tarte Tatin, which we ate almost straight from the oven, perfect on a day like this.

Afterwards, I walked to Kornwestheim and back, a walk of about an hour and 20 minutes, and spent the evening at home more or less like Saturday.

Water reservoir on the outskirts of Ludwigsburg, built in 1936

Of course my husband and I spoke on the phone every day, and although I missed seeing him, the quiet time did me good after the busy week.