tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19494250542956605292024-03-18T16:45:00.766+01:00From My Mental LibraryLibrarianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05704656564078750607noreply@blogger.comBlogger1752125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1949425054295660529.post-43714032411490618292024-03-16T13:29:00.003+01:002024-03-16T13:29:36.846+01:00Read in 2024 - 5: Mrs England<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgnuJK7OpbkPOT8fjg2C7JmIiQXRu-H05JiJ3WEGZH6wjS58GHif_JaXzbbdQezCeTyW23pSgHV5rRp2t8wXzCKQxXHSOOWXGJxZabAosmq6dI05Ys-6rbETZacm8aMqc9eA4to1h0ro5Nm1kUos0ice9CvxXSJ8XY9EOg0ZLNN4ns511SsnrK3fx5iUIny" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img data-original-height="571" data-original-width="361" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgnuJK7OpbkPOT8fjg2C7JmIiQXRu-H05JiJ3WEGZH6wjS58GHif_JaXzbbdQezCeTyW23pSgHV5rRp2t8wXzCKQxXHSOOWXGJxZabAosmq6dI05Ys-6rbETZacm8aMqc9eA4to1h0ro5Nm1kUos0ice9CvxXSJ8XY9EOg0ZLNN4ns511SsnrK3fx5iUIny=s16000" /></a></div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><u>Mrs. England</u></b></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>by Stacey Halls</b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br />What attracted me instantly when I spotted this paperback at The Little Ripon Bookshop last summer was of course the beautiful cover design. Looking at the blurb on the back, I thought it was going to be a good read.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">And now that I have finished it, I can say it was not just a good, but a great read!</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">From start to finish, I found it to be the kind of story that takes you right in. You know, when you are so "in" a book that you think about the characters in the story while you're not reading, and can't wait for the evening to arrive when you can finally retreat to your bed, prop yourself up with pillows in your back, turn on the lamp on your bedside table and open the book? It was exactly like that for me with this one.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Set in 1904, the story follows a young nurse who has left her position with a wealthy family in London and moves to Yorkshire where she looks after the children of mill owners Charles and Lilian England.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">It's not just the change of scenery, local dialect and use of words (such as "dinner" for the midday meal the nurse always knew as "lunch", and "tea" not necessarily meaning a hot drink but the meal called "dinner" in other regions) the newcomer has to adjust to - it's the entire household.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">At first, it just seems a bit odd how little involved with her children Mrs. England is; everything Nurse May needs to ask, all decisions her employers make regarding the children, their education, diet and schedule, are to be discussed with Mr. England instead.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Sounding like the perfect family when they were first described to her, Ruby soon finds out that things are not what they seem - but what ARE they, then?</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Strange incidents occur (nothing paranormal or supernatural), and slowly but surely the situation escalates to a point of no return.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">I am not going to tell you any more - just that I found everything about this book to like and nothing not to like. Language, style, excellent research that makes you feel you know what day-to-day life in a wealthy household (and also in a less well-off one) was 120 years ago. Characters you can relate to, and others you can't work out any better than the young nurse can.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">There are points in the story where you may think you know where it is leading, but for me, where it actually did lead to was not what I was expecting.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Read it, if you get a chance! The author's website is <a href="https://www.staceyhalls.com/" target="_blank">here</a>; Mrs England is her third book.</span></p>Librarianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05704656564078750607noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1949425054295660529.post-61648193991527008852024-03-15T18:20:00.003+01:002024-03-15T18:20:25.752+01:00First Full Week of March<p><span style="font-family: verdana;">And (as usual) a full week it was - not just because it was "fully" in March, calendar-wise.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">On <b>Monday (4 March)</b>, I was able to schedule my work tasks so that I could go for a back, neck and shoulders massage mid-afternoon. The evening saw me at a meeting with my volunteer group.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>Tuesday and Wednesday (5 and 6 March)</b> are quickly told: I spent both days at the office in Weilimdorf, and both days were chilly, grey and wet, so that no walk was on the cards other than the few minutes it takes me to get to and from the train stations. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Wednesday was the 50th birthday of our Head of Department, and she had food and drinks (no alcohol, of course) brought up to our meeting room. After the work part of the meeting was over, we remained together for another hour to celebrate. It is good to have a boss and colleagues I really like and where I feel truly appreciated and part of the "gang".</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">The 5th strike of train drivers </span><span style="font-family: verdana;">within the past few months </span><span style="font-family: verdana;">on </span><b style="font-family: verdana;">Thursday (7 March) </b><span style="font-family: verdana;">meant I was working from home, and any walk I would want to go for after work would have to be without relying on a train to get back home. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">During lunch break, I quickly popped over to my Mum's for an errand. After work, I walked on the fields for about 1 3/4 hours, which did me good, in spite of it being a cold day with near frost during the night and early morning.</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2NShhEoHseF9SkpJJ-IyhznMNvgDnnCsrYLLgN7KYcF4SciR7NnKpZAC1z45qTGqkBcqdHoSnNU0zESXPB_WDZcuZnoRVPBnrFJWw1Sh329pyakqs5yQB9auDy1Dw7ptXxRehdq5jHBdEPRUY96F1zfTQVogzFUJJMHpBX3USsbVhhRcmdxASn4jIpChf/s4032/IMG_0122.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2NShhEoHseF9SkpJJ-IyhznMNvgDnnCsrYLLgN7KYcF4SciR7NnKpZAC1z45qTGqkBcqdHoSnNU0zESXPB_WDZcuZnoRVPBnrFJWw1Sh329pyakqs5yQB9auDy1Dw7ptXxRehdq5jHBdEPRUY96F1zfTQVogzFUJJMHpBX3USsbVhhRcmdxASn4jIpChf/s320/IMG_0122.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0HES6hBiTHozt21Yx9F5VQCoYJy6aWfXsiVuJaHrFqktCazWedmYB-aW5NjZzVZnRqHGnRR0PASEShkqY7G1imIpmxbtP8EMywl4FLtYHqCwZqDU_5YPT-Qq9qSRbiGz5GfychtxqrhPqy3ijPiDJfCdhw3Zkaxb2XNCMKcY4nSAvWJFeGPCPv26O4RIY/s4032/IMG_0123.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0HES6hBiTHozt21Yx9F5VQCoYJy6aWfXsiVuJaHrFqktCazWedmYB-aW5NjZzVZnRqHGnRR0PASEShkqY7G1imIpmxbtP8EMywl4FLtYHqCwZqDU_5YPT-Qq9qSRbiGz5GfychtxqrhPqy3ijPiDJfCdhw3Zkaxb2XNCMKcY4nSAvWJFeGPCPv26O4RIY/s320/IMG_0123.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP7TWdNwSTQMIqIw50MK9-Mb1zxlDz_5YvfBCMTo2b3ykYgKUmtyKjZp_ugOm7KoLxYB2ZISRKb81mr0sRvj8KrQpAgmsLIoGJTt5AXCi1_Dnjl6Ciy4MiMEMqc_O7vuz7mJWpZbt2qxmTkpVnGWshOjvZKMdqqBYxVL-czCHiCc1xUL1yFg6CEdK-Ukrl/s4032/IMG_0124.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP7TWdNwSTQMIqIw50MK9-Mb1zxlDz_5YvfBCMTo2b3ykYgKUmtyKjZp_ugOm7KoLxYB2ZISRKb81mr0sRvj8KrQpAgmsLIoGJTt5AXCi1_Dnjl6Ciy4MiMEMqc_O7vuz7mJWpZbt2qxmTkpVnGWshOjvZKMdqqBYxVL-czCHiCc1xUL1yFg6CEdK-Ukrl/s320/IMG_0124.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Hedgerows were bursting with buds that day - now, a week and several sunny and mild days later, more and more flowers and the first tender green leaves are showing by the hour.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioLhhWzMGo1P7Ff3GRATKJ-KhJpANGaIrfuA2PvWbRke4cxElncJXiF8ZB08MaJqC9hJEq_CDB3tbTrFKOH8q6-9IGAOWakM2H-qHbyBmYzUE6MMWyowerJ4vrkFBp4YuOLlFnEnvU0ndlE2Ec5SuQGigxDXWebs9UE9mNgNZsl1veGEFUNqmbwxNAlbVg/s4032/IMG_0125(1).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioLhhWzMGo1P7Ff3GRATKJ-KhJpANGaIrfuA2PvWbRke4cxElncJXiF8ZB08MaJqC9hJEq_CDB3tbTrFKOH8q6-9IGAOWakM2H-qHbyBmYzUE6MMWyowerJ4vrkFBp4YuOLlFnEnvU0ndlE2Ec5SuQGigxDXWebs9UE9mNgNZsl1veGEFUNqmbwxNAlbVg/s320/IMG_0125(1).JPG" width="240" /></span></a></div><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">My mother-in-law in Ripon turned 90 on <b>Friday (8 March)</b>. As arranged with my sister-in-law, I called her in the early afternoon. We had a nice little chat and she sounded upbeat and like always - she may sometimes repeat things she has told me before, but all things considered, at 90 she does not sound any different than when she was 70 or 80. (Besides, I do that, too - telling someone the same story again because I forget I have told them already.)</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Weather-wise, it was a good late afternoon / early evening for my standard Benningen walk. Entering the little nature reserve just before the first houses of the small town was like walking into fluffy clouds, with trees and bushes covered in white blossoms.</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4CcKe96PsQM3UqSLrxAW2mVRiJfjUZoGH2hidsfw3MWPpn0rhfyvfWomeW7PMU0TP9bXXz-ZWxCR2c_n5E1QPalMLdYH9fJT4gZl_G4SxKpyCpC_2j4vXRW7ujFXMbE7b9ydQoTUTAU_jXMO5A9syxKbPsAjP_5NBrm9438lohuCr5ipmBQxL_ueadEGy/s4032/IMG_0128.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4CcKe96PsQM3UqSLrxAW2mVRiJfjUZoGH2hidsfw3MWPpn0rhfyvfWomeW7PMU0TP9bXXz-ZWxCR2c_n5E1QPalMLdYH9fJT4gZl_G4SxKpyCpC_2j4vXRW7ujFXMbE7b9ydQoTUTAU_jXMO5A9syxKbPsAjP_5NBrm9438lohuCr5ipmBQxL_ueadEGy/s320/IMG_0128.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp16Mj0S7_ybISLqEY1MeeURnyWwTqNG8TzMtDbPg6EBxujCCkGyX5ex5zN62rmj2feXUB7TeHam2ueSfo44AEYWZE3jIEE5LBlxPzNo4Jkgphz1aPfFhATK99qLylgN83IYyH_bF4uPSvPQ8orueLIgUtn3_k3cRGiGoBFEN3yPsGgYr_3jA52J_21xZE/s2100/IMG_0129.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1575" data-original-width="2100" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp16Mj0S7_ybISLqEY1MeeURnyWwTqNG8TzMtDbPg6EBxujCCkGyX5ex5zN62rmj2feXUB7TeHam2ueSfo44AEYWZE3jIEE5LBlxPzNo4Jkgphz1aPfFhATK99qLylgN83IYyH_bF4uPSvPQ8orueLIgUtn3_k3cRGiGoBFEN3yPsGgYr_3jA52J_21xZE/s320/IMG_0129.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">The big ferris wheel is back!!</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl0q_koRsYd3xd3jc0Fn8KuH5XwhQlgP0dzqqfsAnPdb1PizOC74CBdJsKUqFGBeowWjJ24FCz06WeGgJs0RAbxpFf5hq_lMNadfhfmMymOMkR1mk2zHobPFN-x9qOdjXLXHy8L7wW-RodjL7k_dh8ZxXqYKcv3bp3NF5gqbShMm40lJMjZS1vhhWfC89j/s4032/IMG_0130.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl0q_koRsYd3xd3jc0Fn8KuH5XwhQlgP0dzqqfsAnPdb1PizOC74CBdJsKUqFGBeowWjJ24FCz06WeGgJs0RAbxpFf5hq_lMNadfhfmMymOMkR1mk2zHobPFN-x9qOdjXLXHy8L7wW-RodjL7k_dh8ZxXqYKcv3bp3NF5gqbShMm40lJMjZS1vhhWfC89j/s320/IMG_0130.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiws_bOrCoVZs2BSUOMyDnl7y0pwj-GdzdYl7DE8HZaLBnA_WgP__k8ZcrngKXu1YZHXGrx74P4IzRWSxSXUr2ro87NycYAVIQxFIeiYEs7f6093IRCumo8ikGCFQQxeXYDdn2kt_dpmt69Acq8Ov30hZGd4_4f9SHpk9DFyhONpw9_i_tLYuw-NFNRuqyx/s4032/IMG_0132.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiws_bOrCoVZs2BSUOMyDnl7y0pwj-GdzdYl7DE8HZaLBnA_WgP__k8ZcrngKXu1YZHXGrx74P4IzRWSxSXUr2ro87NycYAVIQxFIeiYEs7f6093IRCumo8ikGCFQQxeXYDdn2kt_dpmt69Acq8Ov30hZGd4_4f9SHpk9DFyhONpw9_i_tLYuw-NFNRuqyx/s320/IMG_0132.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY_hHf6KYS2nyT-LYCVWEiEyqhcjWNVYlfqOnw-isVJbZ7lhP-4I-yV62_pHlNDOoq9Oy8IlFu03n55GziN-rbkoFH-QCdHyt-3tg4gQGPMRgvmbhLA8j-zKt4xzJcKSCejJgjEZaWEVrxqP9S0CqzyoPMfb9IaghE4tXznYHJESfgdwvnyox_m997YIHV/s4032/IMG_0133.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY_hHf6KYS2nyT-LYCVWEiEyqhcjWNVYlfqOnw-isVJbZ7lhP-4I-yV62_pHlNDOoq9Oy8IlFu03n55GziN-rbkoFH-QCdHyt-3tg4gQGPMRgvmbhLA8j-zKt4xzJcKSCejJgjEZaWEVrxqP9S0CqzyoPMfb9IaghE4tXznYHJESfgdwvnyox_m997YIHV/s320/IMG_0133.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGGjxGird9-DllkkotzxF6tuaTDYTaWq12CCGVwSWSQVU0K4sE1eCu_UTcu8CcO5n3nEuSnMF6wFaDYOMBO49fOiy2kzyRJlUcExuKQNUAn4JRrGJe6K-6MtRfg5C9gaXqBa-wINYGuQujDr4WEes0zG2jVOcJaAm2vS3WWzqiGespZZ6zLu4nJ5jAGOZb/s4032/IMG_0134.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGGjxGird9-DllkkotzxF6tuaTDYTaWq12CCGVwSWSQVU0K4sE1eCu_UTcu8CcO5n3nEuSnMF6wFaDYOMBO49fOiy2kzyRJlUcExuKQNUAn4JRrGJe6K-6MtRfg5C9gaXqBa-wINYGuQujDr4WEes0zG2jVOcJaAm2vS3WWzqiGespZZ6zLu4nJ5jAGOZb/s320/IMG_0134.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">I travelled to Offenburg on <b>Saturday (9 March)</b> on what was a beautiful sunny day, the warmest of the entire week. My trains were on time, and O.K. and I set off for a walk around the village almost as soon as I got there. Coffee & cake were next, followed by a brief rest and then a visit with O.K.'s Mum.</span></p><p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjciPDwqvAD5aYkItsno99LemAhyphenhyphen8KhHFf9B1XDL2mKT1YN-wnLpf49Dde_y7en8mOepFquJReFIqRUsAGpmHKnbHjpHXCZYystj6HCf3bllGWT7LEmyFpmllr7ix_bMC-qiabDkUOKh438q9k-xoWiDLvLMj8mDJzC-cxMh9pX-v2acJtRIYaCT-MnvaG5/s4032/IMG_0135.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjciPDwqvAD5aYkItsno99LemAhyphenhyphen8KhHFf9B1XDL2mKT1YN-wnLpf49Dde_y7en8mOepFquJReFIqRUsAGpmHKnbHjpHXCZYystj6HCf3bllGWT7LEmyFpmllr7ix_bMC-qiabDkUOKh438q9k-xoWiDLvLMj8mDJzC-cxMh9pX-v2acJtRIYaCT-MnvaG5/s320/IMG_0135.JPG" width="240" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">View from O.K.'s living room into the neighbours' garden. The tree was not yet in full bloom that day, but I am sure it is now.</span></td></tr></tbody></table></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>Sunday (10 March)</b> started sunny again; it rained in the afternoon and for most of the evening, but we didn't have time for a walk anyway. The village brass band were playing in church in the morning, and although O.K. did not play this time (his cough was still quite bad), we still went to church. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">The band members and their families, friends and supporters (such as myself) gathered in the Rectory Hall next to the church afterwards. Lunch was served, and at 2:00 pm the official part began: It was the band's annual General Meeting, plus a retrospective of the last 100 years - 2024 is the band's 100th anniversary.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">We were home at about 5:00 pm and spent a quiet evening in, like we do most Sundays when we have an early start on Monday.</span></p>Librarianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05704656564078750607noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1949425054295660529.post-4905543189852348522024-03-09T10:30:00.010+01:002024-03-12T07:10:04.067+01:00Something About AI<p><span style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana;">Several of my fellow bloggers have been experimenting with AI, such as Neil having AI write poems or <a href="https://beefgravy.blogspot.com/2024/02/wow.html" target="_blank">create book covers</a>, or Monica illustrating her <a href="https://dawntreader-island2.blogspot.com/2024/03/rainy-week-and-discussions-with-ai.html" target="_blank">posts with AI-generated images</a>.</span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana;">It's all good fun and often shows us what AI can do - and where it struggles.</span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana;">Some commenters have wondered why, for instance, AI often spells words wrongly in images, or has difficulties picturing hands correctly; others have said that they find AI frightening. Let me try and explain a few things about AI <i>as I understand it</i>; maybe I'll be able to dispel a few myths and alleviate fears. </span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana;">Please keep in mind that I am by no means an expert on the matter. I have merely been reading up on it and attending a few webinars on various aspects of AI in my line of work (privacy/data protection, mostly in the insurance industry).</span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b style="background-color: white;">What is AI?</b></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span>There are various definitions of the term Artificial Intelligence, but the one most people will agree on can be found on <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Artificial_intelligence" target="_blank">wikipedia</a>: „Artificial intelligence, as opposed to the intelligence of living beings, primarily of humans."
That is of course a very broad definition and can mean a lot of things in different context, but let it suffice for now.</span><br /><b>What is AI <i>really</i>?</b></span></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana;">For one thing, the term itself - the "I" of it - is misleading. Software or a machine can never be intelligent the way a human being or some animals can be. But a well programmed software and a well constructed machine can "learn", true enough.</span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="color: #202122; font-family: verdana;"><b style="background-color: white;">Things to keep in mind:</b></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #202122; font-family: verdana;">When you are confronted with AI - be it in your line of work, because you are subject to it when dealing with a company, or while you're having fun with an image creator - keeping a few things in mind is useful.</span></p><p><span style="color: #202122; font-family: verdana;"><span style="background-color: white;">Since this post is becoming much longer than I anticipated, I have put my key statements together here; if you don't have time or can't be bothered to read the rest, that's fine.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span><b style="background-color: white;">1) AI can only be as good as its programming.</b></span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span><b style="background-color: white;">2) AI is often biased - again, because of its programming.</b></span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span><b style="background-color: white;">3) AI can't autonomously decide to do or learn something it was not programmed for.</b></span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span><b style="background-color: white;">4) Good prompting brings good results.</b></span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span><b style="background-color: white;">5) AI can not discern between truth and fake, good and bad.</b></span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span><b style="background-color: white;">6) It's not AI we need to worry about - it's who uses it, and how.</b></span></span></p><p><span style="color: #202122; font-family: verdana;"><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></span></p><p><span style="color: #202122; font-family: verdana;"><span style="background-color: white;">1) How good AI is depends on two key factors: The <b>database</b> (the "model") it draws on, and the <b>algorithms </b>originally programmed into it (on which base it usually - but not always - can develop new algorithms, hence the "learning" effect). The adage "garbage in, garbage out" is not only true for readers of certain newspapers and viewers of certain TV channels, but also for AI.</span></span></p><p><span style="color: #202122; font-family: verdana;"><span style="background-color: white;">Developers of AI have a scope in mind: What is their particular AI supposed to do? Is it <b>generative</b> (generating text, sound - such as speech - or images that did not previously exist) or <b>static </b>(making decisions based on certain criteria, such as "a person over 50 is offered tariff X for life insurance, a person under 50 is offered tariff Y")?</span></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #202122; font-family: verdana;"><span>The AI in the first example "learns" with every bit of text and every image it creates. It re-feeds its own database every time it is asked to write something or create a picture. </span></span><span style="color: #202122; font-family: verdana;">For instance, the poem Neil had AI create recently is now part of that AI's database, which means when the next person asks for a poem with the same prompt (more about prompts later), the AI can draw on its own archive. That doesn't necessarily mean it will produce the same lines as it did for Neil, but there will most likely be similarities.</span></span></p><p><span style="color: #202122; font-family: verdana;"><span style="background-color: white;">The AI in the second example doesn't "learn" - it simply repeats what it was programmed to do, and every time its decision will be the same when the criteria are the same. The person over 50 will never be offered tariff Y, and someone under 50 never tariff X.</span></span></p><p><span style="color: #202122; font-family: verdana;"><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></span></p><p><span style="color: #202122; font-family: verdana;"><span style="background-color: white;">Maybe at some stage during your school years you learned about <b>algorithms </b>and <b>probabilites</b>. Even if you didn't, the basics are not that compliacted, and you can find good explanations on wikipedia. Let's have a look at them with an example most of us can relate to:</span></span></p><p><span style="color: #202122; font-family: verdana;"><span style="background-color: white;">You look for a book in an online shop with recipes for Yorkshire pudding. You find one and order it; once it's been delivered to you, you surprise your loved ones with a great meal, and they love you more than ever.</span></span></p><p><span style="color: #202122; font-family: verdana;"><span style="background-color: white;">Next time you visit that shop (or even while you're still on the site, completing your order), you see recommendations. These are based on <i>algorithms</i>. A reasonably well programmed shop will show you more cook books, maybe with recipes for other British culinary classics, or of typical Yorkshire dishes. A less well programmed shop will show you books about Yorkshire terriers; that's because the algorithm does not take into account that the dish and the dog are not directly related; it just sees that they contain the same word. To work well, the algorithm needs to have access to the data base of the shop's products - all of them.</span></span></p><p><span style="color: #202122; font-family: verdana;"><span style="background-color: white;">For the probability bit about such recommendations, the algorithm needs access to the shop's sales history. If a certain number of customers have bought not only the same book you have just ordered, but also a biography of Marilyn Monroe, that biography will now be recommended to you - even if the two books have nothing in common. But how <i>probable</i> is it that a significant number of customers have bought both books together? Recommendations based on high probability will be more likely to work for you. Now, if many who buys the cook book get the MM biography recommended AND the two are offered at a special bundle price, more customers will buy the bundle - and the probability of purchase rises, leading to more recommendations, leading to more purchases, further increasing the probability.</span></span></p><p><span style="color: #202122; font-family: verdana;"><span style="background-color: white;">See what I mean?</span></span></p><p><span style="color: #202122; font-family: verdana;"><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></span></p><p><span style="color: #202122; font-family: verdana;"><span style="background-color: white;">Developers of AI would love to be able to feed "the real world" into their AI. But with all the data in the world, we can not re-create the real world in a database - not really. It is always only an incomplete <b>model </b>of reality, based on available data. Think of a map - it represents a certain town or area, but it does not recreate it - it's only a two-dimensional model of it, and a static one at that, not able to reproduce changes, not giving you an idea about the sounds and smells of the place.<br /></span></span></p><p><span style="color: #202122; font-family: verdana;"><span style="background-color: white;">To develop a model for generative AI, a HUGE database is needed. For static AI, the requirements are less demanding.</span></span></p><p><span style="color: #202122; font-family: verdana;"><span style="background-color: white;">If your AI is supposed to be able to generate a picture of a dog in the snow, it must have many images of dogs and of snow first - it can't "know" what dogs are and what snow looks like unless it is "taught" about them. Give your AI pictures of 100 different kinds of dog, and it will be able to generate a vast variety of dog images - much more than the 100 you fed it with. Give AI only 10 pictures, it will still produce many different dog portraits for you, but not as sophisticated as the better fed AI.</span></span></p><p><span style="color: #202122; font-family: verdana;"><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></span></p><p><span style="color: #202122; font-family: verdana;"><span style="background-color: white;">2) Let's not forget about the <b>bias</b>. AI doesn't think and has no emotions; it being biased is not its fault, but that of the developers responsible for selecting its underlying database. </span></span></p><p><span style="color: #202122; font-family: verdana;"><span style="background-color: white;">Here is an example I was told about last week at a webinar: In order to "learn" to recognise horses, an AI's database was fed with a large number of photos of horses in all shapes, sizes and colours; some were standing, others jumping, running or resting on the ground etc. When testing their AI, the developers found that it recognised horses alright, but it also classified as horses many other animals, people and objects that had nothing horse-like about them. It took the developers a while to find out why - it was the copyright sign included in each photograph. The AI had simply matched the part of each picture it recognised easiest, and that was the copyright sign.<br /></span></span></p><p><span style="color: #202122; font-family: verdana;"><span style="background-color: white;">Can static AI also be biased? Yes, of course. Let's say a company wants to facilitate predictions about their customers' paying habits, and base their pricing on how likely it is that someone will need several reminders or not pay at all. The AI they use is fed with payment data of hundreds of thousands of anonymous consumers. If payment information is related to post codes, a pattern emerges, showing that consumers from a certain area are notoriously unreliable payers. Based on this, the company offer their products and services to anyone from that area at a higher price, actively discouraging them from buying - and if you happen to live in that area but are a perfectly good customer, you'll suffer from that bias.</span></span></p><p><span style="color: #202122; font-family: verdana;"><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></span></p><p><span style="color: #202122; font-family: verdana;"><span style="background-color: white;">3) If you have seen the AI-created book covers on Yorkshire Pudding's blog or some of Dawn Treader's AI-generated pictures, you have noticed that the spelling is often not right. Why is that? You've guessed it - again, it's down to programming.</span></span></p><p><span style="color: #202122; font-family: verdana;"><span style="background-color: white;">Generative AI is programmed to generate text, not to calculate numbers. A text-based AI such as ChatGPT (<b>G</b>enerated <b>P</b>re-Trained <b>T</b>ransformer) is exactly what it says: A chatbot, designed to "chat" to whoever uses it. At its base is an amount of text so huge I can't get my head round it - books of all kinds (novels as well as non-fiction), internet articles (probably even content from our blogs), scientific publications - you name it, ChatGPT has it. BUT... and here come two "buts":</span></span></p><p><span style="color: #202122; font-family: verdana;"><span style="background-color: white;">Chatbots (in general) are meant to communicate using text (yes, I know - GPT-4 has now learned to use visual content, too). They are NOT meant to calculate. If you ask a chatbot "what is 2 + 2?" it will probably answer correctly, but not necessarily so. If, for instance, in its database it finds "2 + 2 = 5", it may give you this result - not because it "believes" it to be true, but because it can not add - it merely repeats what it has found, and its <b>algorithm </b>has determined this as the most <b>probable </b>answer.</span></span></p><p><span style="color: #202122; font-family: verdana;"><span style="background-color: white;">Therefore, an image-creating AI was trained to create images, not spell. That it does not even get the spelling right when a correctly spelled word was used to <b>prompt </b>it just goes to show its limits.</span></span></p><p><span style="color: #202122; font-family: verdana;"><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></span></p><p><span style="color: #202122; font-family: verdana;"><span style="background-color: white;">4) Generative AI needs <b>prompting</b>; it doesn't act autonomously, waking up in the morning and thinking "Oh, I might write a poem about spring today." A prompt is what you type in to trigger the AI's work.</span></span></p><p><span style="color: #202122; font-family: verdana;"><span style="background-color: white;">Some of you have become pretty good at this, and you have probably noticed how you get better results when you are more specific in what you type in. Say, I want AI to create a picture of myself, cartoon-style, wearing a yellow dress. Just typing in "picture of a woman in a dress" will show me just that, but probably looking nothing like me. "Picture of a woman in a yellow dress" will get closer to what I want. "Picture cartoon-style of a woman with short white hair, wearing glasses and a yellow dress" would probably give a more satisfying result.</span></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #202122; font-family: verdana;"><span></span></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjGbD-jaWSZXJ0Cpi63TUTTEZ43Lu6kWK5oYpswEleOZxzUkBgYH_-h-MLp8f5EHxUITu_FugjZBsx2SqNyLJdi_CXH1y1Yfui5B7bAVc03UulvyiHD2-0U6KtVQGz8Y-Oskato-OzOtVoDmJIkNqQVUcUdQlXBedfzlj43dr779g1_rBPAunHuBRt40u_T" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="1024" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjGbD-jaWSZXJ0Cpi63TUTTEZ43Lu6kWK5oYpswEleOZxzUkBgYH_-h-MLp8f5EHxUITu_FugjZBsx2SqNyLJdi_CXH1y1Yfui5B7bAVc03UulvyiHD2-0U6KtVQGz8Y-Oskato-OzOtVoDmJIkNqQVUcUdQlXBedfzlj43dr779g1_rBPAunHuBRt40u_T" width="240" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana;">The best of four offerings from Bing Image Creator after the same prompt. I never said "polka dots" or "bow" or "wrap-over", but that's the dress I got. Had I said "blue eyes" (I didn't mention the eye colour in my prompt), it would have been more like me.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #202122; font-family: verdana;"><span></span></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjxwCjViMLIRoReat7xcGNvda-4WYw9cJnOL0luy8Btd0QEa9CC5x0SnEqlJNYlnqb-VqqcrazoPx07-w7JjWY44R0ll3p901uQGAv5KEXKrAkqB82QyAZrAB1lRcfndcCzxra8Py4yP67b7jDBOvtJ9OydxyR7er03_g0hnsE2u7YLqHbJncL1fuULEmmA" style="background-color: white; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="1024" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjxwCjViMLIRoReat7xcGNvda-4WYw9cJnOL0luy8Btd0QEa9CC5x0SnEqlJNYlnqb-VqqcrazoPx07-w7JjWY44R0ll3p901uQGAv5KEXKrAkqB82QyAZrAB1lRcfndcCzxra8Py4yP67b7jDBOvtJ9OydxyR7er03_g0hnsE2u7YLqHbJncL1fuULEmmA" width="240" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Adding "blue eyes" to the prompt and using "librarian" instead of "woman", this is what I get - the red nose and pearl studs are the most similar features to the real me :-)</span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhioqVrCShmG27Nwlj5ZuHAZiHWS1lgZwJs_7eux2CCc8RR18XsvVLt9Xo0uuewVGlK0CiAglaVpJljVPX3K4_sVqSDHPcy9KjgDh_nYlgWRoKH2xzP41D6FU26LLKwet7s3rz-tBJPoOWZTByFY4PJeJBv8Z7SIb2UkyqvEDaYg18Jav9AvE5LGvrYeQze" style="background-color: white; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="1024" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhioqVrCShmG27Nwlj5ZuHAZiHWS1lgZwJs_7eux2CCc8RR18XsvVLt9Xo0uuewVGlK0CiAglaVpJljVPX3K4_sVqSDHPcy9KjgDh_nYlgWRoKH2xzP41D6FU26LLKwet7s3rz-tBJPoOWZTByFY4PJeJBv8Z7SIb2UkyqvEDaYg18Jav9AvE5LGvrYeQze" width="240" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Can you guess what term I put in for "librarian" in my next prompt to get this result?</span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p><span style="color: #202122; font-family: verdana;"><span style="background-color: white;">The same goes for text-generating AI: Be concise but specific in your prompting. Avoid superflual words, such as "maybe" or "perhaps" - even adjectives such as "beautiful" are not always a good idea. But the more you experiment with it, the more you'll understand how it works, and get closer to the desired results.</span></span></p><p><span style="color: #202122; font-family: verdana;"><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></span></p><p><span style="color: #202122; font-family: verdana;"><span style="background-color: white;">5) We all know that the internet and some of our traditional media are full of fake news. Not everything presented as a fact is necessarily true, and many news reports are biased in some way. But humans know what they're doing when they bend the truth or edit a report to fit their own agenda - AI does NOT.</span></span></p><p><span style="color: #202122; font-family: verdana;"><span style="background-color: white;">Ask a text-generating AI to summarise Obama's life for you, and you may - or may not - find that it gives you a mix of fake and true information about the ex-president, such as his nationality and religion.</span></span></p><p><span style="color: #202122; font-family: verdana;"><span style="background-color: white;">Therefore, I urge anyone who uses AI to generate text that is meant to contain facts to always <b>cross-check the facts</b> before publishing that text anywhere. As described before, generative AI re-feeds itself on its own results. This means that if your newly generated text contains a false information, that information will be stored in the AI's database and taken as "truth" by the AI - it may use it next time someone prompts it with a similar request. That way, false information is (often unwittingly) repeated across the internet until many people believe it to be true.</span></span></p><p><span style="color: #202122; font-family: verdana;"><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></span></p><p><span style="color: #202122; font-family: verdana;"><span style="background-color: white;">6) The above mentioned example of wrong information gives you an idea of what there is to <b>worry </b>about - not AI in itself; it can indeed be highly useful, apart from it providing some of us with hours of fun. </span></span></p><p><span style="color: #202122; font-family: verdana;"><span style="background-color: white;">But people use AI to achieve something, and their aims are not always honourable. If <i>biased</i> AI is used - deliberately or unwittingly - to make decisions about who gets what offer, who is observed by the police, who is subject to which precautionary measure, things can get really ugly. If AI is used to spread fake news, things will (and do) get ugly.</span></span></p><p><span style="color: #202122; font-family: verdana;"><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></span></p><p><span style="color: #202122; font-family: verdana;"><span style="background-color: white;">This is the post in the history of my blog I have spent the most time on writing. I could go on about this subject for a lot longer, but I know from my own experience that overly long posts are not welcome. Still, I hope some of you feel a bit better equipped now when confronted with AI - and confronted with it we all are, whether we want or know it or not.</span></span></p>Librarianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05704656564078750607noreply@blogger.com23tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1949425054295660529.post-5123638979936017702024-03-04T17:38:00.000+01:002024-03-04T17:38:13.162+01:00Last of February, First of March<p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Last week saw the transition from winter (or what passes for it these days in my area) to spring, at least according to the meteorological calendar. I made a surprising discovery and went on a good long walk, but unfortunately spent the weekend without O.K.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">In the course of <b>Monday (26 Feb.),</b> the weather changed from rain to sun, and it was rather mild at 10-11C/50F. Maybe you remember how my sister and I used to go for after-work walks nearly every day during the pandemic, but in all of 2022, we had little chance for that with my sister caring for R (who died in November of that year) and both of us going to see our Dad in hospital nearly every day for weeks. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Much as I don't mind at all (and sometimes prefer) walking on my own, I missed our regular walks together and was happy to meet my sister after work that day. All in all, including the 15 minutes it takes me to get from my place to hers, I was out and about for 2 1/4 hours. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">We spotted one cat who did not want to have anything to do with us and later, a couple (probably siblings) of young-ish cats who were VERY interested but cautious at the same time. Had we spent more time with them, I am sure we'd have befriended them, but we wanted to get on.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>Tuesday (27 Feb.)</b> was a little cooler, completely grey and very windy, which made it feel quite chilly at times. My old school friend and I had arranged to meet at the entrance to the palace grounds, but our aim was not a stroll in the park. Instead, we walked up to the complex of offices of a building society and insurance company that has been around in our area for more than a century, with one of its two main firms even going back as far as 1828.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">That complex of offices was started in the 1950s with more blocks added to it until well into the 1980s. A few years ago, the old buildings were deemed not worth renovating, and the company built what they call their "campus", a brand new site just a few paces down the road, abandoning the old buildings.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Now that nearly everyone who works there has moved to the new blocks, the old ones stand empty - but as we all know, space is precious, especially in a densely built-up and highly industrialised area such as Ludwigsburg. Plans were called for to give the old place a new lease of life, and those plans were introduced to the public with the opportunity to hand in suggestions and objections. My friend and I wanted to see the plans and models for ourselves, and spent an interesting couple of hours at the exhibition showing the drafts, with experts present to ask questions and give our feedback to.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">I worked at the office on <b>Wednesday (28 Feb.)</b> and went to see my Mum after work. She made us a delicious snack of savoury bakes and a fresh salad.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>Thursday (29 Feb.)</b> was my 2nd day at the office that week. It was sunny throughout, and knowing I was not going to have a chance for an after-work walk, I extended my lunchbreak by about half an hour and crossed the footbridge from the office building to the fields. A few minutes later and the woods begin, and I had enough time to explore a part where I'd never been before.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Imagine my surprise and delight to come across a small cluster of old buildings, one of them a beautiful wooden pavilion with a golden pheasant on top!</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOWLVVzyxIbTXcn3WGfZO_X5oBo0WQie9HtzNM0NUA5kd66b_YvHVo6xOLHl7ooGmOe4Qqg3cl6RzKkrPvEK3pdZy8Z-QQ6lL_VmrtCq5FpEVErlFoyXQWdlMwYpdA_pISpIjx5WBIf_soz_jA3bkV-SRG48MPnkVckLDpyAzc-kq5au6eEFbpTCWzE_pB/s4032/IMG_0091.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOWLVVzyxIbTXcn3WGfZO_X5oBo0WQie9HtzNM0NUA5kd66b_YvHVo6xOLHl7ooGmOe4Qqg3cl6RzKkrPvEK3pdZy8Z-QQ6lL_VmrtCq5FpEVErlFoyXQWdlMwYpdA_pISpIjx5WBIf_soz_jA3bkV-SRG48MPnkVckLDpyAzc-kq5au6eEFbpTCWzE_pB/s320/IMG_0091.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">A board next to it informs the interested reader of it being the former pheasantry, originally built in 1818. Back then, this part of Germany had only recently become a kingdom (it was a duchy before), and the new king who was a passionate hunter (weren't they all in those days) now wanted to hunt in style, worthy of a king.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Pheasants were popular game for hunting, but there were nowhere near enough of them in the wild to satisfy the king and his court's want for shooting. Therefore, a farm in the woods was built. Pheasant eggs were collected from the fields and placed with domestic turkey hens for brooding. The hatchlings were well fed and cared for until old enough to satisfy the hunters' wish for big birds, and then systematically released into that part of the woods only to be killed equally systematically.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">This kind of "sport" was neither new nor unusual; for centuries, the high and mighty of this world have applied similar methods to satisfay their blood thirst.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Anyway - the buildings are in a beautiful "rustic" style of the time, some of them being used as offices for the Forestry Administration of Stuttgart. The largest of the buildings stands empty and has very much a "lost place" feel.</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZqg3769JPMWlslbmDnUhh0m-LMCjUId4aN9qreTUiLLSVkfnw0eVyaqNj3VOi2c7Z6_fN572BiFTw-AJNZf-DAM7SZDqEWeGMZYBKVuE2d9J5RNr52QC6QllU1lZlJlteI5PJRO2Q4aqNyLPbV1vy7Mg1npNMrnWjWM0Tv9abu464W4Jnv9mJYUzrxyTv/s4032/IMG_0092(1).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZqg3769JPMWlslbmDnUhh0m-LMCjUId4aN9qreTUiLLSVkfnw0eVyaqNj3VOi2c7Z6_fN572BiFTw-AJNZf-DAM7SZDqEWeGMZYBKVuE2d9J5RNr52QC6QllU1lZlJlteI5PJRO2Q4aqNyLPbV1vy7Mg1npNMrnWjWM0Tv9abu464W4Jnv9mJYUzrxyTv/s320/IMG_0092(1).JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_eTeQOw5-VkK8KdQFZFnzGQT6LHBbs_e97yDjzH4WF9GehQEVpord797szCwu-81jJ6tg2FcFXMsOJvvtwl5qAPSaWdoU-qCscIwKEJWa8krUvTfXm3-O7qymrDblipSlreDEVmgUl3MUBHyUm1LNB1cXlYIbxVzNVYDmx1qPr0EVPIHmwebAlkxEguuS/s4032/IMG_0095.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_eTeQOw5-VkK8KdQFZFnzGQT6LHBbs_e97yDjzH4WF9GehQEVpord797szCwu-81jJ6tg2FcFXMsOJvvtwl5qAPSaWdoU-qCscIwKEJWa8krUvTfXm3-O7qymrDblipSlreDEVmgUl3MUBHyUm1LNB1cXlYIbxVzNVYDmx1qPr0EVPIHmwebAlkxEguuS/s320/IMG_0095.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Lost Place par excellence</span></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">The pavilion is the prettiest part of the ensemble. Back in the hunting days, the ladies (who generally did not hunt) whiled away the hours in there until the men came back; then, a sumptous meal (probably including roast pheasant) was served.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Now the wooden structure could really do with some sanding down and a lick of paint, but the golden pheasant at its top still gleams in the sunshine.</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzdKB9NlTw4Hqeri5t0O8gsDBvrSNjg4cZ5LTAocF5LExzm8FxfgojvEJytKRdN9UEHja6FDyge97Kbd4URFa1zlyi9KGDtElA66aCDShaIskcBpE-oQ43QGqiIXw95J7JcBwFYP5MqC_mGojEjdYaikkShN3swUrohxH1HCYXJQ6Rxhs3bgYdeaqQyXwa/s4032/IMG_0093.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzdKB9NlTw4Hqeri5t0O8gsDBvrSNjg4cZ5LTAocF5LExzm8FxfgojvEJytKRdN9UEHja6FDyge97Kbd4URFa1zlyi9KGDtElA66aCDShaIskcBpE-oQ43QGqiIXw95J7JcBwFYP5MqC_mGojEjdYaikkShN3swUrohxH1HCYXJQ6Rxhs3bgYdeaqQyXwa/s320/IMG_0093.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaxbu0zCntd6KzupzBRRPZ6-d28SrrcpPCJ4K000EpULWECcvqR7Kxj1VVbhrr_AjQ97OBH-lAXBz34KKpxtHluzMfXup38LuHKW0dBUJMkCJ5a61ajT6k0jeMgeDRPCxoFgtU-J3LrRE4eeqWkbUGBRc566YgvaY7vjDHx4Ubr7YXzw94uw7BmC7Sicrl/s4032/IMG_0094.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaxbu0zCntd6KzupzBRRPZ6-d28SrrcpPCJ4K000EpULWECcvqR7Kxj1VVbhrr_AjQ97OBH-lAXBz34KKpxtHluzMfXup38LuHKW0dBUJMkCJ5a61ajT6k0jeMgeDRPCxoFgtU-J3LrRE4eeqWkbUGBRc566YgvaY7vjDHx4Ubr7YXzw94uw7BmC7Sicrl/s320/IMG_0094.JPG" width="240" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">In spite of the peeling paint, one can imagine the former glory of the pavilion, decorated with acorns and oak leaves around the rim of the roof.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEaGkmEO00xbV9kdARKLwTqH4kbf-ZrG3x5ZZMk3jxt2bYG_Gm0ofsKtE8fF5ZEyCD31-RVw1sofoZGv3aV_-j1Ey17DPzqSe_mu-U7kMjjiQCSfe1U1lzZ1ylirczPebpq8x9ZQRgou8MnORwHvqQFmJt69H62pZe7ylF1haM3XmYp_yl_JorUPW8bqL2/s4032/IMG_0096(1).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEaGkmEO00xbV9kdARKLwTqH4kbf-ZrG3x5ZZMk3jxt2bYG_Gm0ofsKtE8fF5ZEyCD31-RVw1sofoZGv3aV_-j1Ey17DPzqSe_mu-U7kMjjiQCSfe1U1lzZ1ylirczPebpq8x9ZQRgou8MnORwHvqQFmJt69H62pZe7ylF1haM3XmYp_yl_JorUPW8bqL2/s320/IMG_0096(1).JPG" width="240" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-d3UsRmMRP7x_Bq3qM4P8Jm0VeSE60yIgC8yAI3Rh66Po6cMn5x4isxT5tpB0Nt2DuV6Dxyc9GtcVgRgQqyuIUzahfLUX0H1EOi6IvmaZUn6Ho3AKKpsNWhZXfYVEAbnhPDOK55cBc9OIMbktewMsGWr6ntfe6MFle6UiSYR0dMPpcjgX60aSVn-q7L5L/s4032/IMG_0097.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-d3UsRmMRP7x_Bq3qM4P8Jm0VeSE60yIgC8yAI3Rh66Po6cMn5x4isxT5tpB0Nt2DuV6Dxyc9GtcVgRgQqyuIUzahfLUX0H1EOi6IvmaZUn6Ho3AKKpsNWhZXfYVEAbnhPDOK55cBc9OIMbktewMsGWr6ntfe6MFle6UiSYR0dMPpcjgX60aSVn-q7L5L/s320/IMG_0097.JPG" width="240" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSel0sjwMC-vi7f1YAanDPDIvK4D99EPSWOeqC1thgJG1dCsvM6Kn-VRTeqH1_ARqVDzctODWlKdSUxVcwxwqgrl_w5WyZibyH3QKus8MKhP6R_kQT4vO13SZ_XrVS4olypTlTCrD06Sc4mnQ760ZA4Og7YLXHFP4q1hJ-LwPnOOb0RX7kZKnPL8ew0rcS/s4032/IMG_0098.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSel0sjwMC-vi7f1YAanDPDIvK4D99EPSWOeqC1thgJG1dCsvM6Kn-VRTeqH1_ARqVDzctODWlKdSUxVcwxwqgrl_w5WyZibyH3QKus8MKhP6R_kQT4vO13SZ_XrVS4olypTlTCrD06Sc4mnQ760ZA4Og7YLXHFP4q1hJ-LwPnOOb0RX7kZKnPL8ew0rcS/s320/IMG_0098.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Walking back towards my office in the long white building.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">On <b>Friday (1st of March)</b>, O.K. (who had been nursing a cold all week) felt bad enough for us to cancel my plans to spend the weekend at his place.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">All morning of that day I attended an online seminar about AI - stuff I need to know for work, but also find interesting apart from work. Some of the explanations given about what AI can do (and what not), and how it works, were really good. I plan to write a post about it soon, having in mind fellow bloggers Monica's and Neil's adventures with image creators.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Being home alone on <b>Saturday (2nd of March)</b> meant I could spontaneously meet my sister for breakfast at our favourite café in town. A stroll across the market followed, and since it was the 1st Saturday of the month, a sale of used books in aid of the church was going on behind the church.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Although I didn't "need" anything, of course I had a look... and went home with 8 paperbacks by two authors I like (Anne Perry and Martha Grimes). They were 1 Euro each, and once I have read them, I will return them to be sold again.</span></p><p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCaXwDDLUzJLKDanlpzpHEI0kAPEA9eMwtaOgdOgYJ-Xc0KNUkteOFP5hxQb4RlbBIxmfVgkT3i_dAQLnP4IfpuXrlxwQXyOtVE0hl287rL9gHrkjI4F6OP2fBvqyHmicaIt7GUzooa6V2L2lSA8qdqWHkAgJBY8sqhQqjGGiQoMgVciKzV0PEXEg-P3zj/s4032/IMG_0102(1).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCaXwDDLUzJLKDanlpzpHEI0kAPEA9eMwtaOgdOgYJ-Xc0KNUkteOFP5hxQb4RlbBIxmfVgkT3i_dAQLnP4IfpuXrlxwQXyOtVE0hl287rL9gHrkjI4F6OP2fBvqyHmicaIt7GUzooa6V2L2lSA8qdqWHkAgJBY8sqhQqjGGiQoMgVciKzV0PEXEg-P3zj/s320/IMG_0102(1).JPG" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">My spoils!</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: verdana;">On market days, there is always (I think) a 15 minute organ concert at the church, free for all, donations welcome. As it happened, it was just gone 11:00 when we finished buying books, and the concert had only just begun. (By the way, it was the same church and same organ you can see <a href="https://librarianwithsecrets.blogspot.com/2023/11/rainbow-week-music-weekend.html" target="_blank">in this post</a>.)</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">It was nice to see the church well filled, and we quietly listened to the organ being expertly played for the next 10 minutes or so - a good way to counter-balance the hustle and bustle of the busy market. I must remember to go there again with O.K. some time.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">I went home after that, had a sandwich and a bit of a rest before setting off again at 1:30 pm. A local train took me to Marbach, where I started on what you may remember as my Mum and my favourite walk together when my parents still had their allotment.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">The way to the allotment, then on to the woods and eventually back to Marbach in a large loop meant walking for a solid 4 hours. This time of year is just wonderful in the sunlit woods, birdsong all around, small flowers everywhere. I spotted two deer in a field, saw several buzzards circling and at one time a large heron flew overhead.</span></p><p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuYDPexcVD1QR3vuh7llkmy-Fnvyk832ZJwF-CyZpwbb5Nq9D8Zp6kc07i-18U_3P7tUhFNXcHMo4_HB0GeKDdrBTB2clR85AoceQfKZz_a7CG5mGzsg1tTDy0uxVFpGr3rmX69uNICUvB9OMEdicA3wujv5Zp1hqa-ZvKPEqIaTqMObVMiqDHd_D6F7hH/s4032/IMG_0103.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuYDPexcVD1QR3vuh7llkmy-Fnvyk832ZJwF-CyZpwbb5Nq9D8Zp6kc07i-18U_3P7tUhFNXcHMo4_HB0GeKDdrBTB2clR85AoceQfKZz_a7CG5mGzsg1tTDy0uxVFpGr3rmX69uNICUvB9OMEdicA3wujv5Zp1hqa-ZvKPEqIaTqMObVMiqDHd_D6F7hH/s320/IMG_0103.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Oh Steinheim in the sun... (sung to the tune of "Island in the Sun")</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0gTScJN6kqSv5IefwEZGHXMXS_WReMUo6swjE8Q87ZKuq_N-c9-_xrhnwzfT971id2fu1Y4gF0RSouQIDh6zp8a_MekA7D5XuwKF3NwSEou3vXBR3gyRPMRbLPl1yctmH4yTbUenrqFjPrLbUeBKdQHNx51y50TiIoTpPxONzP01QQtsghWUyQDc-BPg8/s4032/IMG_0104(1).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0gTScJN6kqSv5IefwEZGHXMXS_WReMUo6swjE8Q87ZKuq_N-c9-_xrhnwzfT971id2fu1Y4gF0RSouQIDh6zp8a_MekA7D5XuwKF3NwSEou3vXBR3gyRPMRbLPl1yctmH4yTbUenrqFjPrLbUeBKdQHNx51y50TiIoTpPxONzP01QQtsghWUyQDc-BPg8/s320/IMG_0104(1).JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; 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text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibpYCBAOB7LTMeKTea2hGzABwFASb1vfJP0HF1i918nzxuUgJBKSKNzjQq7GtiGvAN2PIKCakXJYAiQDKQ44rusaQXJMCm6T6KJfpuwZDQttBTIrRKBwE_nTenBv39fDlHAWyMWEVS6fGcKEoneWDRNpXCj1P2kbD8H_y8ipNcGQRl4NXAdh_Z9a6ekcSN/s4032/IMG_0115.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibpYCBAOB7LTMeKTea2hGzABwFASb1vfJP0HF1i918nzxuUgJBKSKNzjQq7GtiGvAN2PIKCakXJYAiQDKQ44rusaQXJMCm6T6KJfpuwZDQttBTIrRKBwE_nTenBv39fDlHAWyMWEVS6fGcKEoneWDRNpXCj1P2kbD8H_y8ipNcGQRl4NXAdh_Z9a6ekcSN/s320/IMG_0115.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimBAgYQPbreUrEBFMuL4N58NZ2pg8ftQMg7_4564OKKJmEAfUTDAshqbCt1A37DTN9wEWlB-tMPplMcsAxug7Y7he9SPtC5PJBsFqmpDv6VQa7g2LWYLtjN3TlH3B_Q8T1axFFykjpMnFSkilvmLdDj9xrM0CIDeur-9_mG1MdXMW9VgQnfT47OI8psWtZ/s4032/IMG_0116.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimBAgYQPbreUrEBFMuL4N58NZ2pg8ftQMg7_4564OKKJmEAfUTDAshqbCt1A37DTN9wEWlB-tMPplMcsAxug7Y7he9SPtC5PJBsFqmpDv6VQa7g2LWYLtjN3TlH3B_Q8T1axFFykjpMnFSkilvmLdDj9xrM0CIDeur-9_mG1MdXMW9VgQnfT47OI8psWtZ/s320/IMG_0116.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">It wasn't as dark as it looks here on my way back to Marbach, but I arrived at the train station there shortly before sunset.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: verdana;">About 3 hours into the walk I rested on a bench, eating the sandwich I had brought and drinking half of my water bottle.</span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">It had been chilly in the morning at 3C/37F, but the sunny day rose to an impressive 15C/59F in the afternoon - not totally unheard of for my area at the beginning of March, but unusual.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">On <b>Sunday (3rd of March)</b>, I spent a quiet morning at home and then went to my Mum's for the afternoon. The friend whose mother's funeral my sister and I had attended last Friday was coming for coffee & cake, with his partner. The four of us had a chatty afternoon and early evening together, with my Mum serving a delicious chili sin carne.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Over the weekend, O.K. and I talked every day, sometimes only briefly because he really wasn't well and especially on the Saturday could hardly speak. Respiratory viruses are spreading left, right and centre, and it was much better for him to be on his own this time. Hopefully, next weekend I can travel - train strikes are starting on Thursday, and I may have to find alternative transport.</span></p>Librarianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05704656564078750607noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1949425054295660529.post-5659405092269733352024-02-28T07:10:00.002+01:002024-02-28T07:10:57.732+01:00Read in 2024 - 4: A Pen Dipped in Poison<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdn1Vekm-dkYdhz-iNQw8VKj0MF4bi5kFAX2f8S9nqU1yo15Ix6mKkiAZT18mFZQkmcTTQd-88SsfAkGYdmXZi3kTZNJZ9lNcK6fm9Hb0vKhC7zSREoOhW9e09lqTqQAvUJoT3vcp5bGTs7SzZRolpkAjTDGqaSeYl0dnm_R4Uqo6pv2E6xIbn69fnP_HF/s500/Poison.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="327" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdn1Vekm-dkYdhz-iNQw8VKj0MF4bi5kFAX2f8S9nqU1yo15Ix6mKkiAZT18mFZQkmcTTQd-88SsfAkGYdmXZi3kTZNJZ9lNcK6fm9Hb0vKhC7zSREoOhW9e09lqTqQAvUJoT3vcp5bGTs7SzZRolpkAjTDGqaSeYl0dnm_R4Uqo6pv2E6xIbn69fnP_HF/s320/Poison.jpg" width="209" /></a></div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><u>A Pen Dipped in Poison</u></b></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>by J.M. Hall</b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br />In 2022, I found "A Spoonful of Murder" among donated books for sale in <a href="https://librarianwithsecrets.blogspot.com/2022/07/sunday-in-ripley.html" target="_blank">Ripley church</a>, left some money in the box and took it home with me. It turned out to be a really good read (click <a href="https://librarianwithsecrets.blogspot.com/2023/03/read-in-2023-6-spoonful-of-murder.html" target="_blank">here </a>for my review), and you can imagine my delight when I found its successor at <a href="https://www.littleriponbookshop.co.uk/" target="_blank">The Little Ripon Bookshop</a> last summer.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Retired school teachers and friends Thelma, Liz and Pat are still meeting at Thirsk Garden Center for coffee on Thursday mornings. Some things have changed in their home lives, and they are not entirely open with each other, trying to pull through problems by themselves without bothering their friends.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Then they learn of nasty anonymous letters starting to turn up at their old school, and before they know it, all three of them are more than knee deep in a puzzling mix of nasty letters, dodgy (or not?) school accounts, a mysteriously over-heating biomass boiler, school supplies disappearing from the stock room and other funny business.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">One of the letters effectively ends someone's marriage, another one leads to a near-suicide, and others claiming that nobody wants the efficient Head there seems harmless in comparison.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">What did said Head of the school spot at the summer fête that made her look so shocked for a moment? And who would bother typing letters and hand-delivering them at the risk of being discovered when you could do it all much easier and more effectively on Social Media?</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">In spite of their homelife situations demanding attention, the three friends combine their efforts, and of course one of them works out the mystery. Not all is well that ends well, but some wrongs are righted, and the old closeness between the three and their husbands is re-established.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Just like the first book, I very much enjoyed this one, last but not least because I know so many of the places mentioned. Even my and my sister's favourite place for eating out in Ripon, <a href="https://oliverspantry.com/" target="_blank">Oliver's Pantry</a>, makes an appearance!</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">I am certainly going to have a browse at The Little Ripon Bookshop this summer - sure that I will find #3 waiting for me.</span></p>Librarianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05704656564078750607noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1949425054295660529.post-37643323829986582662024-02-26T18:45:00.006+01:002024-02-26T18:57:10.404+01:00Exhausting Week<p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Most of my weeks are busy, some more than others; often, the "busy-ness" is of my own choice, what with after-work activities, socialising and so on - but that does not mean I get less exhausted.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Last week, my activities were as mixed as the weather. By Friday evening, I was rather exhausted and welcoming two days of not having to get up early.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Taking my usual trains back from Offenburg on <b>Monday (19 Feb.)</b> morning meant the usual early start for O.K. and me; on such mornings, the alarm goes off at 5:15. </span></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYK0Q3zVKbWLKl8gNbfTSLQfJZXDTgtMzi8QqviwZS3Dqv54kpIFlZ76jq-ZH-rqXIiLy8RMgzwbk_AY6W9C0NenPVRy2Vx0V1AQyP0byPZBkLj3yAUYtoCKNPBomBQXTtz3L0h1NWFVTufJkpibyckuLOxZRKrTS7z8LQYdKSdLrct5y0BrIQd6UkbF2W/s4032/IMG_0039(1).JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYK0Q3zVKbWLKl8gNbfTSLQfJZXDTgtMzi8QqviwZS3Dqv54kpIFlZ76jq-ZH-rqXIiLy8RMgzwbk_AY6W9C0NenPVRy2Vx0V1AQyP0byPZBkLj3yAUYtoCKNPBomBQXTtz3L0h1NWFVTufJkpibyckuLOxZRKrTS7z8LQYdKSdLrct5y0BrIQd6UkbF2W/s320/IMG_0039(1).JPG" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">My breakfast aboard the train.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: verdana;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDcWNTGKftdD1ekv0P1Eae2VMF3Jp_v3y40TTrAeD9lIPu8nx4cXwnaULsJI3NbpEYdqe-et5n1a5QuZJXVLsyLWaOdByxFSMVtY4Ie8uc8VeMKGsT-PyjoJDTNU-8TdWwF4hbsONsBF_7q-cufi1NtA6ljB-vYtxzzvwDQU6aHTVakrmc2NT4HnFK4ghw/s4032/IMG_0040(1).JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDcWNTGKftdD1ekv0P1Eae2VMF3Jp_v3y40TTrAeD9lIPu8nx4cXwnaULsJI3NbpEYdqe-et5n1a5QuZJXVLsyLWaOdByxFSMVtY4Ie8uc8VeMKGsT-PyjoJDTNU-8TdWwF4hbsONsBF_7q-cufi1NtA6ljB-vYtxzzvwDQU6aHTVakrmc2NT4HnFK4ghw/s320/IMG_0040(1).JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tentative signs of spring in my flat; I found these twigs broken off on the ground near a recently cut hedge during our Sunday walk.</td></tr></tbody></table>All went well and I was home in time to start work at 9:30. After a quiet morning, the entire afternoon was one long online meeting with my professional association. It wasn't boring or unnecessary, just LONG with only a 15 minute break half way through to give everyone the chance to get a coffee. Of course, no walk was possible that day - it was dark by the time we finished, and I was too tired to contemplate anything else but something to eat and watching TV.</span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>Tuesday (20 Feb.) </b>was windy and chilly in the morning (4C/39F), but milder in the afternoon at 10C/50F. I spent my lunch break getting a hair cut (good job my hairdresser is literally just round the corner from my house) and finished work shortly after 4:00 pm. Now that sunset is considerably later than a month or two ago, I knew I had enough daylight left for my standard walk to Benningen, which I really enjoyed.</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7TRazyrmET7adEdt3-_hlYh_azpWIIlRbPIbCOPREtUhlMEQz5cNQrvZ6er75EADpKCXFmF9vjG03iZwm_5esyEDYzPrnf9g7ELbyDkki9SCYdL4nFW8BRq89N8I8yep3_Y_HubLiDA0Mhq-ZE_FyGoMbHmpPPpR-K452V1YInr1dyxPh-EE3E96P6vZB/s4032/IMG_0041(2).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7TRazyrmET7adEdt3-_hlYh_azpWIIlRbPIbCOPREtUhlMEQz5cNQrvZ6er75EADpKCXFmF9vjG03iZwm_5esyEDYzPrnf9g7ELbyDkki9SCYdL4nFW8BRq89N8I8yep3_Y_HubLiDA0Mhq-ZE_FyGoMbHmpPPpR-K452V1YInr1dyxPh-EE3E96P6vZB/s320/IMG_0041(2).JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMloJ-Cm_sdUWdGJOPCytRxCGP737lUXNDWc9p51OXhRlRlwaU4uUB7ihM7mALaSJXQFfUIqcjGfoDSS3eSj9LvnHty3s_hZhfGBuG63LNpBQZPeDaaYOnLdlV-dFwr7KSplgMg-0h-v_aRooES0cHUUekdm4XXgm9jfCbBmUfU1XgblovJMsmldl3PqCN/s4032/IMG_0046.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMloJ-Cm_sdUWdGJOPCytRxCGP737lUXNDWc9p51OXhRlRlwaU4uUB7ihM7mALaSJXQFfUIqcjGfoDSS3eSj9LvnHty3s_hZhfGBuG63LNpBQZPeDaaYOnLdlV-dFwr7KSplgMg-0h-v_aRooES0cHUUekdm4XXgm9jfCbBmUfU1XgblovJMsmldl3PqCN/s320/IMG_0046.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Plum tree starting to bloom - in February!!</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7UVyw_9fFkW0AH-lCAnErXdfy5Bcjj2JeK7MTB0beEcDGRhMcZtBO4RTSopot593B25p95Q-4tNYQoAxuxnOG0gWtmU8F59-g4YO8x56wEfM_iPXk3hvVH-BEMzhlgwy0n7CG0u3ktvRkELHp9MwQkA2YC9iHdXwQGiG6j4BktAg3KLgy4ir4DV7aMLPN/s4032/IMG_0047.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7UVyw_9fFkW0AH-lCAnErXdfy5Bcjj2JeK7MTB0beEcDGRhMcZtBO4RTSopot593B25p95Q-4tNYQoAxuxnOG0gWtmU8F59-g4YO8x56wEfM_iPXk3hvVH-BEMzhlgwy0n7CG0u3ktvRkELHp9MwQkA2YC9iHdXwQGiG6j4BktAg3KLgy4ir4DV7aMLPN/s320/IMG_0047.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLO8WdFLBW18_52A2AB5zUnjzNiCZ2zOgQATUAlXGYY02amKHkwAATS8EQkA5prkWI61Dpo6RFS12xIEvP3R0XBbE9h4ytbzLdXn4yb79b3osPXIbedOBVPha4w_rmK_rqOkR1jxojn8zcpnp1xS2yG9lfkjgUVAHfgVukr2GVzbnYlO7XdXPLXXFC5HkK/s4032/IMG_0049.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLO8WdFLBW18_52A2AB5zUnjzNiCZ2zOgQATUAlXGYY02amKHkwAATS8EQkA5prkWI61Dpo6RFS12xIEvP3R0XBbE9h4ytbzLdXn4yb79b3osPXIbedOBVPha4w_rmK_rqOkR1jxojn8zcpnp1xS2yG9lfkjgUVAHfgVukr2GVzbnYlO7XdXPLXXFC5HkK/s320/IMG_0049.JPG" width="240" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Met this cat in the middle of nowhwere (actually, not far from a farm)</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTmmBhiOiCxVJdzYGscDrfouOCjwe1RMFqqtDTOxxfbx9E6H5QTVclNgpXg1j-aB-Ra3l4CH_A2v7_KMrFXkKz1qnAWmFgbhwFkJZuax_CaJOAA8G66gSaNgT1_TEwR30vf6Y7vEIW2turWdCw-g_3fwHdHPJOz1HBZ_LJa0t0o97xetDHEohllZtwaJl5/s4032/IMG_0050.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTmmBhiOiCxVJdzYGscDrfouOCjwe1RMFqqtDTOxxfbx9E6H5QTVclNgpXg1j-aB-Ra3l4CH_A2v7_KMrFXkKz1qnAWmFgbhwFkJZuax_CaJOAA8G66gSaNgT1_TEwR30vf6Y7vEIW2turWdCw-g_3fwHdHPJOz1HBZ_LJa0t0o97xetDHEohllZtwaJl5/s320/IMG_0050.JPG" width="240" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">No matter what I tried, he didn't want to face the camera. Cats!</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span>The weather was pretty much the same on </span><b>Wednesday (21 Feb.)</b><span>, when I was working at the office. An hour before I was due to leave, my Mum texted me and my sister that our Aunt W., one of our Dad's sisters, had died that morning. She was 84 years old and had been very ill for some time; still, it came as a surprise, and although unlike my sister I wasn't really close with her, I was sad nonetheless and had a little cry in the privacy of my office.</span></span><p></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKwaNBeXtphwt1VFE-rnq2LIihWmiV1GI6dps4s1gfh9mj8LjMFykLblXGsE_rYjV2HWpQw7LlxxWW24NdFIhkD-lFcSJLQK7z3XAHiW92ePye1hjW8kfOjEC_sjXju9idWc4EhVNN73W6E_NY_KftFr4mfL6YCvj9DiaTyM1sCAeb7HBHdG6kJ9SFeivU/s4032/IMG_0051.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKwaNBeXtphwt1VFE-rnq2LIihWmiV1GI6dps4s1gfh9mj8LjMFykLblXGsE_rYjV2HWpQw7LlxxWW24NdFIhkD-lFcSJLQK7z3XAHiW92ePye1hjW8kfOjEC_sjXju9idWc4EhVNN73W6E_NY_KftFr4mfL6YCvj9DiaTyM1sCAeb7HBHdG6kJ9SFeivU/s320/IMG_0051.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Pastel sunrise that morning, as seen from my kitchen window.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: verdana;">Some time after 6:00, I left work and took a train into Stuttgart, where I was meeting a group of fellow Privacy Officers at a restaurant for informal exchange. This particular group meet once a month, but I went for the first time. It was nice and the food really good, but I am not going to join them every month - a few times a year will be enough.</span><p></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdamlld1Kmjtrlcuc4gq6kOIsRQwLKEaewqOnI2llsjJAikUniUjytyehHebcUZtXGrcdmSHW3ORvnekYt7EsN0fN9GuYxSh1O5oTizgUy_wKvJ5NbBSw-dAozyr2d50vjbDZdHCRNwwW64t25uzPgawHgM1I0rCGoWNq1mkVLgyZ_UMQlE4k0rbaNLGQw/s4032/IMG_0052.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdamlld1Kmjtrlcuc4gq6kOIsRQwLKEaewqOnI2llsjJAikUniUjytyehHebcUZtXGrcdmSHW3ORvnekYt7EsN0fN9GuYxSh1O5oTizgUy_wKvJ5NbBSw-dAozyr2d50vjbDZdHCRNwwW64t25uzPgawHgM1I0rCGoWNq1mkVLgyZ_UMQlE4k0rbaNLGQw/s320/IMG_0052.JPG" width="240" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">My fried mushrooms with herbs came on a bed of roast spuds with Brezel crumbs - delicious!</span></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">It rained all day on <b>Thursday (22 Feb.)</b> and was very windy but mild at 11-12C/51-54F. For lunch, I met up with my Mum and her friend R at the "Vesperkirche". I posted about this particular charity project in 2012, when my Mum wrote <a href="https://librarianwithsecrets.blogspot.com/2012/02/guest-post-by-my-mum-sixty-three-angels.html" target="_blank">this guestpost</a>. Now that my Mum can't physically do the volunteer work any longer, at least we go there for a meal, and instead of the symbolic price of 1,50 € per meal, we pay 10 € and contribute in a small way.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">The food was alright (you don't go there expecting a gourmet meal anyway) and the cakes for dessert were delicious. I walked there in the rain and back with only a sprinkle, so I had at least a bit of exercise on a day that was otherwise completely spent indoors.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">On <b>Friday (23 Feb.)</b> I only worked a couple of hours early in the morning. Shortly before 10:00, my sister came to pick me up for the drive to a village about 30 km from Ludwigsburg, where we attended the funeral of a friend's mother. Never having met the deceased woman, we were there for our friend's sake, who appreciated our presence very much. Still, it was odd to sit in the small but packed church, listening to the non-religious speaker talking about a person we never met and knew very little about. </span></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKRKuK5UznqtddX-Wy7S3WqOFtJAMthZ9rxdG6mRrF5pRJBPZT_oXfEhQdxThIXAMBiN3bWrHK_Y_e_Ckll4MAQmUk4L5UEQO_FUZJP9Y0IQeUZzPXVENlDKARdn6pAL_I8gj_MtU1ldHS1zlUVRujZzr-miacPDxSImdlLnFzFuZJOt_vKxDBVvmZpgeI/s4032/IMG_0056.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKRKuK5UznqtddX-Wy7S3WqOFtJAMthZ9rxdG6mRrF5pRJBPZT_oXfEhQdxThIXAMBiN3bWrHK_Y_e_Ckll4MAQmUk4L5UEQO_FUZJP9Y0IQeUZzPXVENlDKARdn6pAL_I8gj_MtU1ldHS1zlUVRujZzr-miacPDxSImdlLnFzFuZJOt_vKxDBVvmZpgeI/s320/IMG_0056.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">At a quarter past 6:00 pm, the moon rose in the East - it was a lot "bigger" and more luminous really.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: verdana;">Back home at around 2:00 pm, I had ample time to do my weekly cleaning, shopping and get everything ready for the weekend. O.K. arrived at 8:30 pm.</span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>Saturday (24 Feb.)</b> was one of those days of fast-moving clouds when the light alters every few seconds. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">O.K. and I had a leisurely breakfast and then walked into town where we met my Mum and friend R at a historic palais, once belonging to an infamous (= unpopular) mistress of Duke Eberhard Ludwig, the founder of Ludwigsburg. Of course the building changed hands and use several times; it was lovingly restored to re-create some of its original character and is now the administrative seat of the Ludwigsburg Festival, an annual series of events spanning everything from theatre to opera to ballet to concerts.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">They were having an Open House Day, and the offer of a guided tour with a historian was what we were most interested in. </span></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMTBrQtgCXKNSt_cRYmkn-NuVWX46fbgYr-nAmNsVyVDeUWuSU7CGIxEXUVkNXDNx8gQnLC0b6UvLT00sgnWJpNQc2tTxZp7Es8cbXKFzH-gY8KT-qA0Gp5-MkhqSZ9ibu_xQV2HBc9JwCt3Oq_l1qeqhfNRReobZ3k7cqdb1H1ml4BweJK94ZhTZPXb_C/s4032/IMG_0057.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMTBrQtgCXKNSt_cRYmkn-NuVWX46fbgYr-nAmNsVyVDeUWuSU7CGIxEXUVkNXDNx8gQnLC0b6UvLT00sgnWJpNQc2tTxZp7Es8cbXKFzH-gY8KT-qA0Gp5-MkhqSZ9ibu_xQV2HBc9JwCt3Oq_l1qeqhfNRReobZ3k7cqdb1H1ml4BweJK94ZhTZPXb_C/s320/IMG_0057.JPG" width="240" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Grand staircase, heavily altered but still looking impressive.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt5WWZ2b5vEjYIBOCjDWT9WnVV3ONkRjYkbc1-sv1UBwwdTr3PaGq9shnpvf1kDgG-c2E6vDWnoKuZRf4bWc1vglVL_OH0QFYVbWmiOJT-7sLUSr0qeZGHS5mfSIkqq5R_19Xmvd42Dhcdreo0OFASZ3ocGDdCqBHFspiDffZ8kiDz2KBZ3Ka2vlORMKVV/s4032/IMG_0058(1).JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt5WWZ2b5vEjYIBOCjDWT9WnVV3ONkRjYkbc1-sv1UBwwdTr3PaGq9shnpvf1kDgG-c2E6vDWnoKuZRf4bWc1vglVL_OH0QFYVbWmiOJT-7sLUSr0qeZGHS5mfSIkqq5R_19Xmvd42Dhcdreo0OFASZ3ocGDdCqBHFspiDffZ8kiDz2KBZ3Ka2vlORMKVV/s320/IMG_0058(1).JPG" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Largest of the reception rooms, spanning the entire length of the upper floor.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg8Z29aut4Xq6_hbi0femxUXIM4GMMe8fBNbMMclyyDKJpaLvTl0srqBRv8bM0uN5PlZVF5vm5q38RlJowbHAy02xJyywKYMbYj9_mRyQOj8rmP7z6QcLvqJEe8qwKW2DNx1Gafi6CqoKrIxkGuiXv1b6QbwUJvhyzG1MHvFMD56f2kYPUaGRLd9I-TayE/s4032/IMG_0059(1).JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg8Z29aut4Xq6_hbi0femxUXIM4GMMe8fBNbMMclyyDKJpaLvTl0srqBRv8bM0uN5PlZVF5vm5q38RlJowbHAy02xJyywKYMbYj9_mRyQOj8rmP7z6QcLvqJEe8qwKW2DNx1Gafi6CqoKrIxkGuiXv1b6QbwUJvhyzG1MHvFMD56f2kYPUaGRLd9I-TayE/s320/IMG_0059(1).JPG" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">One of the offices that used to be a smaller reception room.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJDuCTCLmMjC6Bs4yyikHeoJdpw7IDsox9rLoem_Hh3YiBsJaC3pOhTTmRLNiU8WWSOt6TiEQeBehAmJRqGt__sJarTPoEqTMfMx30t9QFDxB4rL1gGpnxTv-N36pajH8eufecsR-8pQTN1qdoyF6YKn5yRd8g3Rkt1HgTcaNOkHlF-Ttr2sj2_xOcjiP5/s4032/IMG_0060.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJDuCTCLmMjC6Bs4yyikHeoJdpw7IDsox9rLoem_Hh3YiBsJaC3pOhTTmRLNiU8WWSOt6TiEQeBehAmJRqGt__sJarTPoEqTMfMx30t9QFDxB4rL1gGpnxTv-N36pajH8eufecsR-8pQTN1qdoyF6YKn5yRd8g3Rkt1HgTcaNOkHlF-Ttr2sj2_xOcjiP5/s320/IMG_0060.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Another office.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH_6VWeQ6V0-emuCgORp1_yo1fmWufHAvic_hpULR9BS_tdww0f4pINZjEgocqo9GGG9rJWo81ZX8I4faTrm3P7JBeiRzqHecpCq7Bqu2I4L9EEjSTL8zD9GGCnSsr9b_7AcYz10KYt4LhzFIYVeaoRu6zIgbPqx0rQXsdDGO9B0V0jyP4RhVdWsrs5Q0F/s4032/IMG_0061.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH_6VWeQ6V0-emuCgORp1_yo1fmWufHAvic_hpULR9BS_tdww0f4pINZjEgocqo9GGG9rJWo81ZX8I4faTrm3P7JBeiRzqHecpCq7Bqu2I4L9EEjSTL8zD9GGCnSsr9b_7AcYz10KYt4LhzFIYVeaoRu6zIgbPqx0rQXsdDGO9B0V0jyP4RhVdWsrs5Q0F/s320/IMG_0061.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Manager's office. Not sure I would want to work surrounded by such vivid walls all day, every day.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">After the tour and listening to live music from a (really good!) jazz trio, O.K. and I crossed the road to the palace grounds while my Mum and R walked the short distance to the shopping mall where my Mum had not been in a long time.</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz3gZHxcvQZdcUVmsl30zdcy_QMbyHb2yVoZGFy6kk2rKUsoVuiEEoM0wzwmnpR6goqZJmuyXfHHCcrNlEMiuIcMS1IwSUC8q5zPrpOihKMAhw6OU9JraQKphBZy99dhNkI0IVfDYJsyd7FJLo7CaS6C4JtPDu5sTkwsWXqOyZJ8oJnU5toisQIW4y6Hyr/s4032/IMG_0062(1).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz3gZHxcvQZdcUVmsl30zdcy_QMbyHb2yVoZGFy6kk2rKUsoVuiEEoM0wzwmnpR6goqZJmuyXfHHCcrNlEMiuIcMS1IwSUC8q5zPrpOihKMAhw6OU9JraQKphBZy99dhNkI0IVfDYJsyd7FJLo7CaS6C4JtPDu5sTkwsWXqOyZJ8oJnU5toisQIW4y6Hyr/s320/IMG_0062(1).JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguxav8cwoXiF58nX8QFhush0gXwyE5rzX_a4W8kX_vUyERulWHEDY1jawEjqMLl2S82ieFMHkJ770A1gEFD6ER9bVzTeNMpzWT6K3Qs8iTLgFNQa3KLEoWTsZF4jGOfJL6sPWWmZIheuxSk7TRjoPzrFkn7wzYW-tGmgz1ObxgT2OzBktV_XFyTlMcCHbg/s4032/IMG_0063(1).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguxav8cwoXiF58nX8QFhush0gXwyE5rzX_a4W8kX_vUyERulWHEDY1jawEjqMLl2S82ieFMHkJ770A1gEFD6ER9bVzTeNMpzWT6K3Qs8iTLgFNQa3KLEoWTsZF4jGOfJL6sPWWmZIheuxSk7TRjoPzrFkn7wzYW-tGmgz1ObxgT2OzBktV_XFyTlMcCHbg/s320/IMG_0063(1).JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrVmMqtISwTzCeDL8pMvLR65_D1GsrRhvCrjMCJvwCPiyLGraYyfYlD0OgelQFkgKWIxczkN-yb16zvDO9I1sdwwivNaP8UKCC9_1tTlaHjyNkJGR1syPwzZiXeeeZislETPseDHxYNGWfiMLX09urLt3qyTv8ngfuISb2OcClcRLnBMPv_lZpuJO6AHGt/s4032/IMG_0064.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrVmMqtISwTzCeDL8pMvLR65_D1GsrRhvCrjMCJvwCPiyLGraYyfYlD0OgelQFkgKWIxczkN-yb16zvDO9I1sdwwivNaP8UKCC9_1tTlaHjyNkJGR1syPwzZiXeeeZislETPseDHxYNGWfiMLX09urLt3qyTv8ngfuISb2OcClcRLnBMPv_lZpuJO6AHGt/s320/IMG_0064.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgqEEmK4SzPtmWo_G9J4WEdSM3zoMc-8UKzlvCPuKbyLi7MqZOohyGMy__JEqatKFiFj2goK45qjh93WmAkOE2-gtEIET-Ufv_trCV5IjXr9XdeATlNrdXyfQ_HXjMIT_vio1nzeyvXRcNbIpmgun0EOijfaNRWJdlfQLU7WzPYOJ7Xf5fOsDZvVaVW2e_/s4032/IMG_0065.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgqEEmK4SzPtmWo_G9J4WEdSM3zoMc-8UKzlvCPuKbyLi7MqZOohyGMy__JEqatKFiFj2goK45qjh93WmAkOE2-gtEIET-Ufv_trCV5IjXr9XdeATlNrdXyfQ_HXjMIT_vio1nzeyvXRcNbIpmgun0EOijfaNRWJdlfQLU7WzPYOJ7Xf5fOsDZvVaVW2e_/s320/IMG_0065.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Back home from our walk in the park, O.K. and I had a little rest before I made dinner. Later, we watched a biopic about J.K. Rowling, "Magic Beyond Words".</span></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfaIWBlqte-eT2F0xigNXzD5v7GgPbAtk78xuL9fXjz-lxXtOP5sZ8mw50hea9qYYKJ3B_LujgDtxyatIlYd3b22rPJT4GG3com-IyjqI8SyNzSEWveCwpLo_Rx8h44yAe3TXoRxxIl39buiAi_EdsHFr0AiqsP13gScOR0RVNB36q2cN3BfgGoeWGirLj/s4032/IMG_0066.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfaIWBlqte-eT2F0xigNXzD5v7GgPbAtk78xuL9fXjz-lxXtOP5sZ8mw50hea9qYYKJ3B_LujgDtxyatIlYd3b22rPJT4GG3com-IyjqI8SyNzSEWveCwpLo_Rx8h44yAe3TXoRxxIl39buiAi_EdsHFr0AiqsP13gScOR0RVNB36q2cN3BfgGoeWGirLj/s320/IMG_0066.JPG" width="240" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Another luminous moonrise</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdM8g2Pb8v0g6QLBmeep88x5i6GcRnoKsTC38QlRrkMQi_sz7DgGkNiy3IrgTp-n5kqJQ16MKqVtAVwi209zAXo53Qivbe8RkgyiLdqLGWJLpaX-kgbvs5LtDWTYFIpbCHVin3py0gB4oDtPyOJoqFUIg3LNAoHscRVbjwNI2GG8d46IlExsjyoEJFyudT/s4032/IMG_0067.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdM8g2Pb8v0g6QLBmeep88x5i6GcRnoKsTC38QlRrkMQi_sz7DgGkNiy3IrgTp-n5kqJQ16MKqVtAVwi209zAXo53Qivbe8RkgyiLdqLGWJLpaX-kgbvs5LtDWTYFIpbCHVin3py0gB4oDtPyOJoqFUIg3LNAoHscRVbjwNI2GG8d46IlExsjyoEJFyudT/s320/IMG_0067.JPG" width="240" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">The same view zoomed in</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisXSlB1Z3ey8vcDMi5sLPdQL-G43Fm9xmQ0zffOdoj_aDBmVN-sJuEQqb0UDd8wF8iLjXT4w5iUkTwwZtLhtSwG5hyphenhyphenwW6mE1PrlCpAzf3eLzxFUDieD_vIwTiD44rLX2yMaHGUiI5lhf_647leZAIbRPHthDEgy-2l_FlC4sL-pGZ6Qx2ZhuvtOQ9nQIDI/s4032/IMG_0068.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisXSlB1Z3ey8vcDMi5sLPdQL-G43Fm9xmQ0zffOdoj_aDBmVN-sJuEQqb0UDd8wF8iLjXT4w5iUkTwwZtLhtSwG5hyphenhyphenwW6mE1PrlCpAzf3eLzxFUDieD_vIwTiD44rLX2yMaHGUiI5lhf_647leZAIbRPHthDEgy-2l_FlC4sL-pGZ6Qx2ZhuvtOQ9nQIDI/s320/IMG_0068.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">About two hours later, the moon was high up in the sky. To the naked eye, it looked perfectly round with a very clean-cut rim, not as fuzzy as my picture.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Because we had gone to bed relatively early the night before, we were up early-ish on <b>Sunday (25 Feb.)</b>. It was mild, windy and sunny again, and after a brunchy breakfast with scrambled eggs, we set off to a walk along the top of the vineyards above the river valley to Marbach.</span><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMjZp4Z6ib9ri6WxoR3rZyZIx2CzdTkkikiu64ZQ2ilQIr9YNaICpRoQ94vKkM_tNq7fPwFYBUDRaWE_X2ek5OlseyUtae7tsKuYDkiSlbJdgmBWmbHxxLp3zK3ztxBCQDYMXWO0mmfmsdkV-zhC3iyVigz-hq7SyWeJftS6yGBrBAr_rjW3aQl25gRnAA/s4032/IMG_0069.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMjZp4Z6ib9ri6WxoR3rZyZIx2CzdTkkikiu64ZQ2ilQIr9YNaICpRoQ94vKkM_tNq7fPwFYBUDRaWE_X2ek5OlseyUtae7tsKuYDkiSlbJdgmBWmbHxxLp3zK3ztxBCQDYMXWO0mmfmsdkV-zhC3iyVigz-hq7SyWeJftS6yGBrBAr_rjW3aQl25gRnAA/s320/IMG_0069.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfbh9g5DWJDhkckHPCSg9CeNGGzp-21Lh81jFxoqGzdI2QrY5UatG0tpWy5chj69t_fJFTuFXj3M6ftLX-_WqvI1-TRggM9FY0kMQ67CscsQHD6NNQrVYtBFwou0LSwTfn7EW3eBFnzPpdw1eNmTUhT8ECn5lxcBcjz7bBs8ojSod5TFGsEyLELZFFhf8I/s4032/IMG_0072(1).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfbh9g5DWJDhkckHPCSg9CeNGGzp-21Lh81jFxoqGzdI2QrY5UatG0tpWy5chj69t_fJFTuFXj3M6ftLX-_WqvI1-TRggM9FY0kMQ67CscsQHD6NNQrVYtBFwou0LSwTfn7EW3eBFnzPpdw1eNmTUhT8ECn5lxcBcjz7bBs8ojSod5TFGsEyLELZFFhf8I/s320/IMG_0072(1).JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX6vcje4suexwUmC0Lt9M4K0LM4ehJKfzcuj3BpHvpYccX8KQOlKa6SR5Sd_XfOTJRDL7IgLHAiOjUimJE6VWATFNk_YJi-uD6x4mgAdYXiyR2JaIQbTIbA2s8N0jpHvU2mqNoTfBGmY-TeBBN5CktaCCbBqrB_O4bi0uUu2Uuo5tGvXSdCSnLt_A98WwY/s4032/IMG_0073.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX6vcje4suexwUmC0Lt9M4K0LM4ehJKfzcuj3BpHvpYccX8KQOlKa6SR5Sd_XfOTJRDL7IgLHAiOjUimJE6VWATFNk_YJi-uD6x4mgAdYXiyR2JaIQbTIbA2s8N0jpHvU2mqNoTfBGmY-TeBBN5CktaCCbBqrB_O4bi0uUu2Uuo5tGvXSdCSnLt_A98WwY/s320/IMG_0073.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTYuyulTkx4x2AT-mkB45Zr2PcyrOEMmIQ6EY2ACOz2FpbCM2A4-83fgaD9IG-FlSrZcBp3xpufJl2n3clL8FGTvEp0olXUkA6OJ8MC0kxR-lQoNcjs742EfnogrJ9cWTyyAMcobznm22e0WxUGAeRAuWGcH7uMjZ0QrpniwWQccaXoGXlq0f23pFrheww/s4032/IMG_0074.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTYuyulTkx4x2AT-mkB45Zr2PcyrOEMmIQ6EY2ACOz2FpbCM2A4-83fgaD9IG-FlSrZcBp3xpufJl2n3clL8FGTvEp0olXUkA6OJ8MC0kxR-lQoNcjs742EfnogrJ9cWTyyAMcobznm22e0WxUGAeRAuWGcH7uMjZ0QrpniwWQccaXoGXlq0f23pFrheww/s320/IMG_0074.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNv6_aO8Z2dDMWlN_-LRpt0-1VnyzUCfae-Hv-olidDnpXxmhGKi7Btx_bI3JtxcMb49wprSPQn1G4WyEYxng-ven54evx2jEvTiWPFFgbBM7AS1F6XIo5UFnPeWyhrXAlZHw_CktAxk-EdfD-Pn7rMKpMo5Y-aWWlKf920pCbUB0lvzG5w0xJ5kqOSRib/s4032/IMG_0075.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNv6_aO8Z2dDMWlN_-LRpt0-1VnyzUCfae-Hv-olidDnpXxmhGKi7Btx_bI3JtxcMb49wprSPQn1G4WyEYxng-ven54evx2jEvTiWPFFgbBM7AS1F6XIo5UFnPeWyhrXAlZHw_CktAxk-EdfD-Pn7rMKpMo5Y-aWWlKf920pCbUB0lvzG5w0xJ5kqOSRib/s320/IMG_0075.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3AMn941zg883nE9Ulp5Hvr_u9IO-PR5NHx7SRgp0bC5HdwyxnmZZStVSHlW2LAmNZqu-FdhA6_kChiR1cZskGu0C-XUC1V_pzGo5xAZ6T9K_IqutHmK9u7b_HlbvWXhFMqXxo4EiFE6OD8YJZMHimwzrAdxZdP6OVecPiChVeB00vlbTXFzHHjveZA_t_/s4032/IMG_0076.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3AMn941zg883nE9Ulp5Hvr_u9IO-PR5NHx7SRgp0bC5HdwyxnmZZStVSHlW2LAmNZqu-FdhA6_kChiR1cZskGu0C-XUC1V_pzGo5xAZ6T9K_IqutHmK9u7b_HlbvWXhFMqXxo4EiFE6OD8YJZMHimwzrAdxZdP6OVecPiChVeB00vlbTXFzHHjveZA_t_/s320/IMG_0076.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjD7PXz6liGXNgnvYkAaKSjEDDeqHJ_My_J12eHSadYbeLFmbp4DZdXUqtQaU5YS9_znO9CgQ3mLg77EJblCj_vT53HTWBE6ZqZRLYVWFoyWhKEn5ARdG_ozzgysc3zNBbcKvhvDMiWIqIAOovUQgToyFGtzsJvMwk6Pn-1fyglLrSkpwW3VmfjRWbg_gKu/s4032/IMG_0077.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjD7PXz6liGXNgnvYkAaKSjEDDeqHJ_My_J12eHSadYbeLFmbp4DZdXUqtQaU5YS9_znO9CgQ3mLg77EJblCj_vT53HTWBE6ZqZRLYVWFoyWhKEn5ARdG_ozzgysc3zNBbcKvhvDMiWIqIAOovUQgToyFGtzsJvMwk6Pn-1fyglLrSkpwW3VmfjRWbg_gKu/s320/IMG_0077.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">View from the footbridge to the railway bridge across the Neckar</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWTbHJtZCLOF4hr3bbhGj7lfO57Tf5hSxHglCIOmdloALiwQO8EKG1P0NRf37yIHt5HjJtFb4GgIJAxMfgy6jpSztHywtzogX91Nk_jXTqSSF9YbGDgkv4LSy0G8a_BkKTZSCvTFdWb5p1DdpjLMN_tlQv29lR1QtvP7siaiM5ENkWMS_29rHbCqdznqkJ/s4032/IMG_0078.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWTbHJtZCLOF4hr3bbhGj7lfO57Tf5hSxHglCIOmdloALiwQO8EKG1P0NRf37yIHt5HjJtFb4GgIJAxMfgy6jpSztHywtzogX91Nk_jXTqSSF9YbGDgkv4LSy0G8a_BkKTZSCvTFdWb5p1DdpjLMN_tlQv29lR1QtvP7siaiM5ENkWMS_29rHbCqdznqkJ/s320/IMG_0078.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span>A short stroll in Marbach's picturesque old town followed, with a little rest and coffees in a sunny spot, before we took the train back to Ludwigsburg. </span><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM4tX6zU-jLPTes5TN2J9j4-ffZLpa_HeiXtQcwtL_fVKnSLTPLlK4nUZIurWXqgYN17Iwo-hMknfGaiMZcZfbsAKI4sKEU2VC1wJhTBmyJ4JeRvARelA1mvfJ3dZwor-ZGDoX0_zfSnyC1UwOjQ5lQXOEiyj9LfSu7_VE76Suh03TRbz_1ajTiaBjHMgM/s4032/IMG_0079(1).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM4tX6zU-jLPTes5TN2J9j4-ffZLpa_HeiXtQcwtL_fVKnSLTPLlK4nUZIurWXqgYN17Iwo-hMknfGaiMZcZfbsAKI4sKEU2VC1wJhTBmyJ4JeRvARelA1mvfJ3dZwor-ZGDoX0_zfSnyC1UwOjQ5lQXOEiyj9LfSu7_VE76Suh03TRbz_1ajTiaBjHMgM/s320/IMG_0079(1).JPG" width="240" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS8WYloPXvepC_UgN9Gvy2coFeUePKO83Cn9K45IE4uCozCNNLJMamU8ij9FEPeOswICJkTE5JDXeShf_9C0pDDHiPkHl1TMuf-ocAvNbnha2zXypx_LVDsKeGu80RGU0rp2oyplhtUacNfGtvX5xsYb_0D1O0yXYX0Odd-qHHDLzOPi81iixHHoXBqEf1/s4032/IMG_0080.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS8WYloPXvepC_UgN9Gvy2coFeUePKO83Cn9K45IE4uCozCNNLJMamU8ij9FEPeOswICJkTE5JDXeShf_9C0pDDHiPkHl1TMuf-ocAvNbnha2zXypx_LVDsKeGu80RGU0rp2oyplhtUacNfGtvX5xsYb_0D1O0yXYX0Odd-qHHDLzOPi81iixHHoXBqEf1/s320/IMG_0080.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimXoRbLLaRpNMaHll18gkIoYBnF_cHb8DFv0rBAlJVrghRmSXmcA9pmLVHP4eUZ6wrXiABeZXOtC5GHoru2TuxPgWNSylaGXffFCi-kpS3gbqcQy9jXsKSBHPp3a5KhFSI9s_27UevxUepsWZ41f9oIFUatj334NQ_q23bIGa_TCznFYHVVS_JxZUVsCbQ/s4032/IMG_0081.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimXoRbLLaRpNMaHll18gkIoYBnF_cHb8DFv0rBAlJVrghRmSXmcA9pmLVHP4eUZ6wrXiABeZXOtC5GHoru2TuxPgWNSylaGXffFCi-kpS3gbqcQy9jXsKSBHPp3a5KhFSI9s_27UevxUepsWZ41f9oIFUatj334NQ_q23bIGa_TCznFYHVVS_JxZUVsCbQ/s320/IMG_0081.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">One stop before ours, it was announced that the train was stopping here for an unspecified time, "thanks" to people on the tracks. We did not feel like waiting without knowing how long for, and got off the train to walk the rest of the way. All in all, we had around 15.5 km under our belts that day - exhausted, but happy.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">For our Sunday dinner, I cooked pasta and made a salad of baby spinach leaves, feta and tomatoes. O.K. left at 8:30 pm and was home in well under two hours. I am always relieved to get his "I'm home" message on those Sunday nights!</span></p></div>Librarianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05704656564078750607noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1949425054295660529.post-52791391647227095422024-02-22T16:23:00.000+01:002024-02-22T16:23:15.291+01:00Read in 2024 - 3: All Teachers Wise and Wonderful<p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><u></u></b></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><u><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjmY6T9rCc9JFTKkyE1NgHuKtdfIoRW1iltALqpEO7kdZd1klmOqjoVTU9Ge5dK2kufH8HhlY4CPOSlUrr0tw9EEfQDE38frbyEBtcT5iMp84RWcjqCRGO6YqgExbSn_xwzj7YtTv_TXZQwndKOfBTYcmc0idPqiOFzAmpK7OADklXUBDT3DY4msBZkZ8ZY" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img data-original-height="947" data-original-width="600" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjmY6T9rCc9JFTKkyE1NgHuKtdfIoRW1iltALqpEO7kdZd1klmOqjoVTU9Ge5dK2kufH8HhlY4CPOSlUrr0tw9EEfQDE38frbyEBtcT5iMp84RWcjqCRGO6YqgExbSn_xwzj7YtTv_TXZQwndKOfBTYcmc0idPqiOFzAmpK7OADklXUBDT3DY4msBZkZ8ZY=w254-h400" width="254" /></a></u></b></span></div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><u>All Teachers Wise and Wonderful</u></b></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>by Andy Seed</b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br />This is the 2nd book of Andy Seed's memoirs about his life as a primary school teacher in the Yorkshire Dales in the 1980s. I read the 1st one in January and reviewed it <a href="https://librarianwithsecrets.blogspot.com/2024/01/read-in-2024-1-all-teachers-great-and.html" target="_blank">here</a>.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Once again, the book follows an entire year from the beginning of the new school year, the 2nd at Cragthwaite Primary School for the young teacher who has only moved into his first own home the previous year and started a family of his own with his wife Barbara.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Their son Tom is now a toddler and soon becomes big brother to another baby boy. The young parents experience all the lack of sleep, worries about colics and how to fairly divide work in and outside the house that I suppose all young couples are familiar with.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">As before, Andy comes up with all sorts of great ideas for his class. Activities in the classroom are sometimes as adventurous as out - be it the launching of bottle rockets in the field next to the school or a trip to Whitby (complete with Dracula experience). An Egyptian mummy plays an important role, and Sports Day is made really successful by an additional event a week or two later. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">One new girl is very different from the rest of Andy's class in that she causes trouble for herself and others constantly, and no approach seems to reach her. What she gets up to and how her teacher, the Head and even some of her long-suffering classmates try to help her runs through the entire book.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Just like before, each chapter has the name of one child as its title, and while the chapter may cover many other events, the focus is on that child. I enjoyed this way of writing about a school the first time round, and it was no different this time.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">The third book is already on my kindle, but I am reading something else first, to make a change.</span></p>Librarianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05704656564078750607noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1949425054295660529.post-61449887571350390282024-02-20T18:59:00.005+01:002024-02-20T18:59:32.986+01:00Office Week<p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Years before the Covid pandemic meant an almost total retreat into working from home for many people, I had been working from home quite a lot, sometimes for weeks on end, travelling to a faraway office only once a month. I was used to this and never had a problem structuring my day or organising my tasks, unlike some who kept telling me if they were to work from home all the time, they would never get out of their PJs.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">The end of the regulations in connection with the pandemic saw lots of people returning to their offices while still working from home one or more days a week. I usually work on-site on Wednesdays, since my department's Jour Fixe is that day, and often I manage to organise other "live" meetings (as opposed to online) for that day to make the most of the trip.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Last week was an exception in that I went to the office the full three days I work for this employer (my second employer does not have an office for me). I had a hot lunch at the canteen on each of those three days, something I am not used to. Some important stuff was finished, but I actually get more done when working from home - fewer interruptions, a much earlier start and no time lost on the trips to and from the office.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>Monday, 12 February</b>, was a quietly efficient WFH day (for my 2nd employer). I also rang my former neighbour who moved to a Senior Residence last autumn. She is 92 years old, and while her body is getting frailer, her mind is as sharp as ever. We had a good chat and agreed that I shall come visiting her again some time soon. Her garden and house are what I see every day when I look out of my kitchen window; it is sad that the house stands empty, but good to know her nephews (my age) take turns in looking after it.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">I ended the day with a walk not long before sunset.</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjANPvIWZ8ISweVvjmG7f9_5vtbC3QugTr9QNmnuhdfWGLAQcVZ7P7fTEMZw6D8iMB-vhPoJW377qq6D1GR_lmyc4DR1iequtIUeMpidCXLnA9LM9n2MHO2cNqXodsQ9g6Lsz_RpoNyypjKvuiWisa8HZfiekwAGpo7p8YMbwHCzbNfc9PtTd6nh6k9_70G/s4032/IMG_0026.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjANPvIWZ8ISweVvjmG7f9_5vtbC3QugTr9QNmnuhdfWGLAQcVZ7P7fTEMZw6D8iMB-vhPoJW377qq6D1GR_lmyc4DR1iequtIUeMpidCXLnA9LM9n2MHO2cNqXodsQ9g6Lsz_RpoNyypjKvuiWisa8HZfiekwAGpo7p8YMbwHCzbNfc9PtTd6nh6k9_70G/s320/IMG_0026.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGAudiYBzzqKXaoaO6Z8LnV6pst76rJ1zPruTL1riBwBUDAP2QdlHVyupw_6IpHXb_eWRzSxV3p12VF2kYpnfPE2mjRyjJ8Fuw4kBWs0rwj7X6ypAL1eSyxELFNa2st9Y_nyugzZLp8Dl5XLjiy1yk7h6jA9NWxUnMIPMNB1wHH-ceZv1amEqqzChTBNts/s3825/IMG_0027.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3021" data-original-width="3825" height="253" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGAudiYBzzqKXaoaO6Z8LnV6pst76rJ1zPruTL1riBwBUDAP2QdlHVyupw_6IpHXb_eWRzSxV3p12VF2kYpnfPE2mjRyjJ8Fuw4kBWs0rwj7X6ypAL1eSyxELFNa2st9Y_nyugzZLp8Dl5XLjiy1yk7h6jA9NWxUnMIPMNB1wHH-ceZv1amEqqzChTBNts/s320/IMG_0027.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4OexK-0lK_CeHGaldj0zLf6pOlb1J6kRlmbIqVlHnIkotIioL2K_uH2srkTodUAyVRbBc5YzKTl_7vhX4RQ00xuROY1XNTBmnJFzgUfJOi9s0LohEq7go1ey1LgUnowYvBaUEcLBL2fZGRNmmxaKxnWGUuKyeFocFW-7mw3AY8JpwEGkvFqHm22IlIt6j/s4032/IMG_0028.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4OexK-0lK_CeHGaldj0zLf6pOlb1J6kRlmbIqVlHnIkotIioL2K_uH2srkTodUAyVRbBc5YzKTl_7vhX4RQ00xuROY1XNTBmnJFzgUfJOi9s0LohEq7go1ey1LgUnowYvBaUEcLBL2fZGRNmmxaKxnWGUuKyeFocFW-7mw3AY8JpwEGkvFqHm22IlIt6j/s320/IMG_0028.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>Tuesday, 13 February</b>, was a typical early spring day: 4C/39F in the morning, 11C/52F in the afternoon and plenty of sun. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">After work, I got off the train in Zuffenhausen and walked the rest of the way, taking in the cemetery where my Dad's and friend R's resting places are, and arriving at my Mum's a little before 6:00 pm. It was good to see her and catch up on the latest goings-on.</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzyo0dbEIR3OPCW6A-vzAQs-rtJDWc9IxNtjlyffPaOlaFu_pAqeXDmfH1JKwY_sXOcofvsnRFxsbPxl7FzpoeSl_tOGfi3Evzlx5jTyCxb_6vY3qIWVpVZKaOWyNlNjTOdMA5EPxfgP6I0-1S2sC_av_YKjfwSurDaXXaDOVKs6vZPEt5jPXeaCTsrm2y/s4032/IMG_0029.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzyo0dbEIR3OPCW6A-vzAQs-rtJDWc9IxNtjlyffPaOlaFu_pAqeXDmfH1JKwY_sXOcofvsnRFxsbPxl7FzpoeSl_tOGfi3Evzlx5jTyCxb_6vY3qIWVpVZKaOWyNlNjTOdMA5EPxfgP6I0-1S2sC_av_YKjfwSurDaXXaDOVKs6vZPEt5jPXeaCTsrm2y/s320/IMG_0029.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoGES-CvVjIq-oPplGs3yLgv04QHZ19z1YH1ql50iNwmWWcl_eAcknQm43rrYetNk5H2pA5pSt-ztiZaKtvBUolQW4DtEW0f6UX93j93c-wz4QvQYba5R6HtHRf60rbGOmJgPFkcv85fFEzHqX4fZmx3Inqa0YNGlxHVSLEUKSuGLHXav-f4EONoIy225D/s4032/IMG_0032.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoGES-CvVjIq-oPplGs3yLgv04QHZ19z1YH1ql50iNwmWWcl_eAcknQm43rrYetNk5H2pA5pSt-ztiZaKtvBUolQW4DtEW0f6UX93j93c-wz4QvQYba5R6HtHRf60rbGOmJgPFkcv85fFEzHqX4fZmx3Inqa0YNGlxHVSLEUKSuGLHXav-f4EONoIy225D/s320/IMG_0032.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">I was back at the office on <b>Wednesday, 14 February</b>. Valentine's Day is not something I observe, but our canteen had a special dessert on offer, shaped like a swan; apparently really delicious (one of the ladies said she'd had two, and bought more to take home) but not something I was keen on.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">In the afternoon, a young colleague fell ill very suddenly. I found her on the floor in her office, clutching her tummy and moaning with cramps. At first she did not want me to call someone from the company's emergency team, but eventually I did, as I was really concerned for her. She said that she often has stomach cramps and all she needs are her tablets and a rest, but when her face became paler by the second and it looked like she was going to faint, I called for help. Once they arrived and I knew my colleague in competent hands, I went back to my room and waited for news; a couple of hours later, she was well again.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>Thursday, 15 February</b>, was the warmest day of the week so far at 15C/59F. It was cloudy but remained dry so that I was able to walk home from Kornwestheim, one stop before mine. At 7:00 pm, I attended an online meeting in connection with my volunteer work. It was a long day with many hours spent sitting at desks and staring at screens, and I was glad I had at least walked that bit after work.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">It was even warmer on <b>Friday, 16 February</b>, but very unsettled with a mix of clouds, sun, rain and wind. Luckily, it remained dry for the time it took me to walk to my Mum and back; she had invited me, her friend and her friend's brother for lunch. The four of us enjoyed a delicious Szegeden goulash and coffee with shortbread afterwards.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Back home, I finished work, did my usual cleaning, packed my little red suitcase and was off to the train station just after 6:00 pm. My long-distance train was on time, but the overall situation around Stuttgart main station was chaotic, and for a little while it looked as if I was not going to make it. But I did, and O.K. and I rang in the weekend with our customary meal of salad, cheese, bread and wine.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">We were expecting a group of friends for the evening on <b>Saturday, 17 February</b>. Preparations of the room (shifting the table to the middle of the room, setting up more chairs etc.), the food and drink began at 3:00 pm. That way, we still had time for a little walk around the village around lunch time, and even a brief rest afterwards - often, 20 minutes of closing my eyes is enough to restore my energy.</span></p><p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3n-xI5fyeHM0-x2C1EzKm169ILZpq5tJS9DqMXd2XONZFkdcJKQhftuZXooLSS8ySUuQQxbn4fSI9b3lGgBzRDuBCjCTJE9uF6DvgRIC0vwF8aIB9Q5sKgAVDGXcSu6g-zj5Glpl1EYhgNXKciCGEMoUVmuPer_DjZkcKcKkL33XZP69xxhM9kFSkpnjN/s4032/IMG_0036(1).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3n-xI5fyeHM0-x2C1EzKm169ILZpq5tJS9DqMXd2XONZFkdcJKQhftuZXooLSS8ySUuQQxbn4fSI9b3lGgBzRDuBCjCTJE9uF6DvgRIC0vwF8aIB9Q5sKgAVDGXcSu6g-zj5Glpl1EYhgNXKciCGEMoUVmuPer_DjZkcKcKkL33XZP69xxhM9kFSkpnjN/s320/IMG_0036(1).JPG" width="240" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">One of three such trays ready to go into the oven. We cut rolls in half and spread them with three different mixes, containing grated cheese and other delicious things that work well when baked.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: verdana;">The evening was fun and relaxed with everybody enjoying our food and their contributions, drink, chat and laughter.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>Sunday, 18 February</b>, was another mild day, not quite as warm at "only" 12C/53F and very windy, but dry after some rain during the night and early morning.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">After a good, late breakfast, O.K. and I were off for a walk, part of it leading along a winding beck where plenty of snowdrops grow. The look of the fields, trees and gardens as well as birdsong and plenty of avian activity made for a definite spring feel, and those two hours outside felt very good.</span></p><p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj2ua_gghmS2eTQGSorZaKooqAv_LRT17-uKejuc8wZKPP53_IZzznAc1IojMuAQViGh1bD9NrV1GsAP6DKqUHbyn81-qxwISXDZyR4sS1axI7RVaIp0L5tNYVwbnmkNA-N7VEuRH1F3HI8Z1MP_yLdHY9fTVKEIl1V4Up-R7phaxVFLPvWUG90BxLZVAI/s4032/IMG_0037(1).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj2ua_gghmS2eTQGSorZaKooqAv_LRT17-uKejuc8wZKPP53_IZzznAc1IojMuAQViGh1bD9NrV1GsAP6DKqUHbyn81-qxwISXDZyR4sS1axI7RVaIp0L5tNYVwbnmkNA-N7VEuRH1F3HI8Z1MP_yLdHY9fTVKEIl1V4Up-R7phaxVFLPvWUG90BxLZVAI/s320/IMG_0037(1).JPG" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">It was not as dark as it appears in this picture - in fact, we had been walking with the sun warming our backs less than an hour before.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: verdana;">Back at the cottage, we had coffee and cake, a brief rest and then a cosy afternoon and evening, eating yesterday's leftovers and watching a TV documentary about the Bavarian Forest where we'd been for a hiking holiday in September 2018.</span></p>Librarianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05704656564078750607noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1949425054295660529.post-19366372733405519622024-02-12T17:46:00.001+01:002024-02-12T17:49:12.043+01:00Rainy Week<span style="font-family: verdana;">Last week, it rained on four out of seven days, and strong winds made umbrellas useless. Most days saw a high of 10C/50F; according to the meteorologists, too warm for this time of year.</span><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span>On <b>Monday (5 February)</b>, the two trains taking me from Offenburg to Ludwigsburg were on time, and I </span>started work as usual. The afternoon was sunny, and my sister suggested we go for a walk. We met a little after 4:00 pm and walked across the city centre to the palace grounds, happy to spot many a sign of early spring. (But we are realistic enough to know we will probably get a few more frosty days and nights as well as possibly snow and ice before spring truly arrives.)</span></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVkfHpIwR3w-E1mlaIgdICq6VRs825obnh1a9SoRfKkIgCaT1NPUtgjGqY0KghKemjkCLEbhBuPIekh8DEtovHut_3ucGHdGm3G_wMKP6htWZN7J7_lFGHlVdSfSm9Pv58ZODzaZw8j6Bnf6XMDj0FWoLnoju0TdhjNKGjKkGIk1ydDxCOPLemz5WEr-r6/s4032/IMG_9974.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVkfHpIwR3w-E1mlaIgdICq6VRs825obnh1a9SoRfKkIgCaT1NPUtgjGqY0KghKemjkCLEbhBuPIekh8DEtovHut_3ucGHdGm3G_wMKP6htWZN7J7_lFGHlVdSfSm9Pv58ZODzaZw8j6Bnf6XMDj0FWoLnoju0TdhjNKGjKkGIk1ydDxCOPLemz5WEr-r6/s320/IMG_9974.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Ludwigsburg Residential Palace under a glorious blue sky.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtEm2zCIUji8HNAQkHgcfMf_0hS5dFHa_9CMxBp6Sy6mHQDCKc-Kbkjgu0-hzlsvXYMJblL-VUhOnIzt0jb2YVJErgPgy8PelDBnnVmQ2XpcYAZRfZsCWSNzb2lbCG60XRdGWPt0yVuk9LnEUg6gHBk29pzOYIS4uKcFnIhpXKSXzqq_3Eoj4bmPZ-uIqq/s4032/IMG_9975.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtEm2zCIUji8HNAQkHgcfMf_0hS5dFHa_9CMxBp6Sy6mHQDCKc-Kbkjgu0-hzlsvXYMJblL-VUhOnIzt0jb2YVJErgPgy8PelDBnnVmQ2XpcYAZRfZsCWSNzb2lbCG60XRdGWPt0yVuk9LnEUg6gHBk29pzOYIS4uKcFnIhpXKSXzqq_3Eoj4bmPZ-uIqq/s320/IMG_9975.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Snowdrops in the palace grounds.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCPsPHZPrNbnvdxoR_CEb7jB6yy3tKyqhBys50cjZ9mxbVe1sqHOmT8eg2yQgUxcKsJt76_WiM8vlklbpMbCZI_4FtsuO-MLfNBvTfbVR9ls4w0msMb5D3tCyO4ab80Uyq1yu867eQBsP_NQVXc8PcQCp7O8lvTYomuKb-gt63yWl2FTEfwFbwZevZm4dA/s4032/IMG_9976.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCPsPHZPrNbnvdxoR_CEb7jB6yy3tKyqhBys50cjZ9mxbVe1sqHOmT8eg2yQgUxcKsJt76_WiM8vlklbpMbCZI_4FtsuO-MLfNBvTfbVR9ls4w0msMb5D3tCyO4ab80Uyq1yu867eQBsP_NQVXc8PcQCp7O8lvTYomuKb-gt63yWl2FTEfwFbwZevZm4dA/s320/IMG_9976.JPG" width="240" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">The blossoms of the shrub on the left give off a very sweet scent.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHGIbLhzFO8OfDswiisnOp8ep24ErQf9Uz_YVms7A95EmE-XuiyMzM04SdSLkAri44o9FXinEknDUB5rckFL45G0u21qWz4JR9LbcC2QMcb38Jrrr3S3mXbTbe9Gh8USwN8hA9PKQaA-f6yQF7q-IESS4kKV0XmIrqMQ2Bc7WyJUGAatThvIrQ48_yNWta/s4032/IMG_9977.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHGIbLhzFO8OfDswiisnOp8ep24ErQf9Uz_YVms7A95EmE-XuiyMzM04SdSLkAri44o9FXinEknDUB5rckFL45G0u21qWz4JR9LbcC2QMcb38Jrrr3S3mXbTbe9Gh8USwN8hA9PKQaA-f6yQF7q-IESS4kKV0XmIrqMQ2Bc7WyJUGAatThvIrQ48_yNWta/s320/IMG_9977.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">This is not a snowdrop, but what in German is called Märzenbecher ("March's cup") and usually appears about a month after the first snowdrops - I didn't expect to see them out already.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggzaOkXrsmNBxqKxzlLP_HzL2aohSdlyY1PY8LiGt-AJ-Tc1Km3ejJGbPj6hyphenhyphenvOwtkDGXXZdkFcv1knA1j95WKggGUocra5ZZoccvQnQv-jkKfgxVXwJeSafB3TPWZVtdWoGhJ488KXle4IipXHo56SANEq9pEDRDCwul-8G7_9ghyphenhyphenQR9AOmOTa0Lt9daM/s4032/IMG_9978.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggzaOkXrsmNBxqKxzlLP_HzL2aohSdlyY1PY8LiGt-AJ-Tc1Km3ejJGbPj6hyphenhyphenvOwtkDGXXZdkFcv1knA1j95WKggGUocra5ZZoccvQnQv-jkKfgxVXwJeSafB3TPWZVtdWoGhJ488KXle4IipXHo56SANEq9pEDRDCwul-8G7_9ghyphenhyphenQR9AOmOTa0Lt9daM/s320/IMG_9978.JPG" width="240" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">And I certainly did not expect to see the first daffodils in bloom in this sunny, sheltered spot!</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEircmyvUfLTgNjIFigzYXRMteQ2QOj7tlHHe09phUzrLh3ogRjWdSqdjTO7u4vjj0swwt_35lUDf1MLv46GlkTbZGFBxs-pAzVlhC7zpM8QPKRvAYeWYiwRU1F1MoWawHqaEqRV9cVoMWQojj5K-vzbYJPlvaozmFIMaWlqd-sf89l8g2H7DrOUGT0SqccY/s4032/IMG_9979.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEircmyvUfLTgNjIFigzYXRMteQ2QOj7tlHHe09phUzrLh3ogRjWdSqdjTO7u4vjj0swwt_35lUDf1MLv46GlkTbZGFBxs-pAzVlhC7zpM8QPKRvAYeWYiwRU1F1MoWawHqaEqRV9cVoMWQojj5K-vzbYJPlvaozmFIMaWlqd-sf89l8g2H7DrOUGT0SqccY/s320/IMG_9979.JPG" width="240" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: verdana;">Working from home on<b> Tuesday (6 February) </b>and starting very early made an afternoon walk to Benningen possible while still allowing for a brief rest at home before I set off again, this time to the pub: My team and I were playing the quiz for the first time this year, and for the first time since October.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnNSU-fQSNn2LVB2kX-6iVfP7FmzgnKuM6wp4xgiScCrViNbJUJ4qb66gyygr3vqIQBtE0HtXl__hs7CK-gxnCniRirBlzowtbdf4UXCBuvlG2HzML6j8-LVyJGfdse765Vw3Cnuov7-GAxchcvTgnLjpdEmndQ8y2Ai9earriHzYj9GzcONd561yehquq/s4032/IMG_9980.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnNSU-fQSNn2LVB2kX-6iVfP7FmzgnKuM6wp4xgiScCrViNbJUJ4qb66gyygr3vqIQBtE0HtXl__hs7CK-gxnCniRirBlzowtbdf4UXCBuvlG2HzML6j8-LVyJGfdse765Vw3Cnuov7-GAxchcvTgnLjpdEmndQ8y2Ai9earriHzYj9GzcONd561yehquq/s320/IMG_9980.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhifRpdAu4hkSEa5oXfSLD17DZPjjYxxZkNAbV2th2yxmXHZIaVdKnebJBFrQ2soyZCuSrOPq10h5NIRR2G3HdqxheJ2mrYQ3_nmm0-he5rfpg83Sf9WWy5I8Ec-KTiu7KTpSrG6E0xAlzqPBjOhD0HvYon8x8IhIHgOSC169HA7Fhb3hj4kaBjNFhlmrae/s4032/IMG_9981.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhifRpdAu4hkSEa5oXfSLD17DZPjjYxxZkNAbV2th2yxmXHZIaVdKnebJBFrQ2soyZCuSrOPq10h5NIRR2G3HdqxheJ2mrYQ3_nmm0-he5rfpg83Sf9WWy5I8Ec-KTiu7KTpSrG6E0xAlzqPBjOhD0HvYon8x8IhIHgOSC169HA7Fhb3hj4kaBjNFhlmrae/s320/IMG_9981.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeG4WJsEuUzb5OiiYjvQbE5onqQYfGG8Map7FlwrVuAcFX4RybXLXp8LZsmLI07d9kdJX8IZBVxJwkZRRflRxm3na3pn-gbMkMWyI_VSj_m6CEwB3FUizFhpaJhPkYh1cU2VfoMb7-DaoYRud5sSsuN-IRdtPY4IR2vk-uZSaod6utXbfNj6fPqZO_vQTb/s320/IMG_9982.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="320" /></span></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">You can see why I simply HAD to go for a walk before it was too late, can't you!</span></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeG4WJsEuUzb5OiiYjvQbE5onqQYfGG8Map7FlwrVuAcFX4RybXLXp8LZsmLI07d9kdJX8IZBVxJwkZRRflRxm3na3pn-gbMkMWyI_VSj_m6CEwB3FUizFhpaJhPkYh1cU2VfoMb7-DaoYRud5sSsuN-IRdtPY4IR2vk-uZSaod6utXbfNj6fPqZO_vQTb/s4032/IMG_9982.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"></span></a></div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzL7q8AZOjJWWOss3039e-N4h3zBPhtVD_bQXr0YQB6q7CWhjLezJscFY_uNV7m_YJ3YMZVZNqjKCfh5R538dx4QXPYjGgyPEbtU6rBl3bq7yZn6uv-nv47AIAskE2xxlVDq7Xdbg8fIfkmKYh4m_bT9vpRSW0AnHiCAqVuuT3YrIvbywJuVX6i0E5pp8N/s4032/IMG_9983.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzL7q8AZOjJWWOss3039e-N4h3zBPhtVD_bQXr0YQB6q7CWhjLezJscFY_uNV7m_YJ3YMZVZNqjKCfh5R538dx4QXPYjGgyPEbtU6rBl3bq7yZn6uv-nv47AIAskE2xxlVDq7Xdbg8fIfkmKYh4m_bT9vpRSW0AnHiCAqVuuT3YrIvbywJuVX6i0E5pp8N/s320/IMG_9983.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdlabRyHd7IN-eSFo-iomgR9EUCfLJXRvBcmY9-jHgjpsWMX_1U3Oa_SRnFZBB-njZlwzVPK3H6pke_HLLd7IXnlbSFPVkQey_AfOXB3C4g_ARZu8asiAoCSLhGIxqh8nr6ZXnu_LBdLlvbdCeHd3PX43tVN7V2b_27NOQEHpc_3E6_I4rtJEVY2ZWjO1M/s4032/IMG_9984.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdlabRyHd7IN-eSFo-iomgR9EUCfLJXRvBcmY9-jHgjpsWMX_1U3Oa_SRnFZBB-njZlwzVPK3H6pke_HLLd7IXnlbSFPVkQey_AfOXB3C4g_ARZu8asiAoCSLhGIxqh8nr6ZXnu_LBdLlvbdCeHd3PX43tVN7V2b_27NOQEHpc_3E6_I4rtJEVY2ZWjO1M/s320/IMG_9984.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrRp_xBvhezzRO7_hvroV2WRVfF5i1WoiIpHXC6cCXwp4nXSyDmn1dzmKl6jHIRCCcq3YPXjE5RtUS26a9Pn5ii-Orw8jIWx1xXfbG5C6ar6kC3QuOAYVrsb9JewEtFOqiqXOJB-5xQbFW3Pp_Kjs61-uPoFWBTj9Q9ROl_hiAwvctaB0zrQvuGLn3PRtP/s4032/IMG_9985.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrRp_xBvhezzRO7_hvroV2WRVfF5i1WoiIpHXC6cCXwp4nXSyDmn1dzmKl6jHIRCCcq3YPXjE5RtUS26a9Pn5ii-Orw8jIWx1xXfbG5C6ar6kC3QuOAYVrsb9JewEtFOqiqXOJB-5xQbFW3Pp_Kjs61-uPoFWBTj9Q9ROl_hiAwvctaB0zrQvuGLn3PRtP/s320/IMG_9985.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">Four of our original team (including myself) made it to the pub this time, and I also recruited a friend of mine who had come along two or three times before.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">We had a lot of fun and were doing well - but so were many other teams, and we ended up fourth, so did not carry home any of the three prizes.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">Never mind; it was good to see everybody, and we have booked our usual corner table again for March 12.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>Wednesday (7 February)</b> saw me working at the office. It was a blustery day of <i>very </i>fast-moving clouds and changing light, and started to rain by the time I left work.</span></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmFD_QgglAeS5W02q6tpMj143nEKzpQBgHdyUPXY3TtVdFjnff1cwYrOpYbsm5pK2jgCnuMfa5VR0f7ijvfTQZEhUqWPDv4iKN5miY3aRvmWqTusPE-BA_Z1MS1E6iNa-i4Febjk2Aa8iZX9qGYjUuOevg06mNivAMGumIZHutBYN93p_5-oYvKGIloKVc/s4032/IMG_9986.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmFD_QgglAeS5W02q6tpMj143nEKzpQBgHdyUPXY3TtVdFjnff1cwYrOpYbsm5pK2jgCnuMfa5VR0f7ijvfTQZEhUqWPDv4iKN5miY3aRvmWqTusPE-BA_Z1MS1E6iNa-i4Febjk2Aa8iZX9qGYjUuOevg06mNivAMGumIZHutBYN93p_5-oYvKGIloKVc/s320/IMG_9986.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Sunrise from my kitchen window on the 7th.</span></td></tr></tbody></table></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">The warmest day of the week was <b>Thursday (8 February)</b>, but again wet and very windy. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">My sister and I were at our Mum's after work, first helping to stow away the remainder of her Christmas lights in the attic (we prefer her not to climb the ladder up there, especially not while carrying boxes) and then sitting down to a delicious meal of savoury pancakes, rolled up and stuffed with all sorts of good things, such as ham, chopped avocado, spring onions and so on, then topped with grated cheese and baked in the oven. A fresh leafy salad garnished with radishes and mushrooms matched it perfectly.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">I worked from home again on <b>Friday (9 February)</b> and then did my weekly cleaning before packing my little red suitcase and heading for the station. I took an earlier connection, arriving in Offenburg an hour earlier than usual. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">We went to see O.K.'s parents briefly before having a quick snack and getting changed for the annual Preismaskenball ("costume contest dance"), a tradition in the village I quite enjoy: </span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">It's easy for us to reach, no car needed, no cost other than what we drink or eat, and we always meet fellow musicians from the village band, neighbours and others for a chat. The music is far from brilliant, but I do get to spend a bit of time on the dance floor, and generally have fun.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGbS_KDVH01EQyY92EYXIu4U1abaU_lxvZUQOOKaSKKmqc5AH1TPM99divvoGXcOsFraQh_uUbppA2xUledS0CO9I7vj7JtJ5SVoXKrpqD3r0qv9rTWpT5GoHYGQnjCMmZKfDVtpNyPIqoYaRQDi2Fccub2HqSyI0JP67eEfwhboyakpes5VoS4pnRTIvm/s4032/IMG_4405.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGbS_KDVH01EQyY92EYXIu4U1abaU_lxvZUQOOKaSKKmqc5AH1TPM99divvoGXcOsFraQh_uUbppA2xUledS0CO9I7vj7JtJ5SVoXKrpqD3r0qv9rTWpT5GoHYGQnjCMmZKfDVtpNyPIqoYaRQDi2Fccub2HqSyI0JP67eEfwhboyakpes5VoS4pnRTIvm/s320/IMG_4405.HEIC" width="240" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: verdana;">Every year there is a different motto for the event. This year it was "Urlaub" (German for holiday or vacation). I had two ideas for a costume: Wear PJs or a nightdress (since holidays mean for me to sleep in), or dress up in a classic hiking outfit (since holidays for us usually mean hiking, preferably somewhere in the mountains).</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">Of course it may seem a little boring to choose a hiking outfit, since apart from the trousers it is not so very different from what I really wear, but it was what it was, and since O.K. and I never enroll for the competition with our costumes, we were fine anyway - it was uncomplicated, comfortable and didn't involve buying anything extra for those few hours once a year.<br /></span><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">Officially, the party ended at 2:00 am, and we were home about 20 minutes after that.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>Saturday (10 February)</b> it did not rain, and we took advantage of that and went for an afternoon walk around the village. After coffee and a little rest, we spent the evening in Offenburg with friends, catching up and enjoying an informal meal of home-baked bread, cheese, salad and other good things.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">It was time for the annual Carnival parade in the village on <b>Sunday (11 February)</b>, which means O.K. as a member of the village band was to participate in the parade. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">His Mum had made two big pots of delicious goulash soup, which we ate with crusty rolls. O.K.'s sister and her husband were of course also there, and after O.K. had left for the band's gathering for the parade and we had washed the dishes, we went to stand by the village road to watch the parade.</span></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0pBSuEuA3Lu9DOs1WpOZkHCgfb0XHadBjWJ47K8KBZTCH4tEQEVY7ZzPUAY3mGwItpaohVpKpm4rPNui8MGVXU3ihRfZqraQcvkeu7ZMZzeJSA-wAjnb2-hCwDCj_fArtShskinwYJi4oeNGhIYbhptX_5xinpCvyeBg4ZPzCfbokKp89yJJKUSn0vdGg/s3752/IMG_0004.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2814" data-original-width="3752" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0pBSuEuA3Lu9DOs1WpOZkHCgfb0XHadBjWJ47K8KBZTCH4tEQEVY7ZzPUAY3mGwItpaohVpKpm4rPNui8MGVXU3ihRfZqraQcvkeu7ZMZzeJSA-wAjnb2-hCwDCj_fArtShskinwYJi4oeNGhIYbhptX_5xinpCvyeBg4ZPzCfbokKp89yJJKUSn0vdGg/s320/IMG_0004.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">The village band were first, opening the parade.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsGRXwZyoOEmGBIGMlAlf2LvVVe1CaLFRQhu8Qw8_FVu77PhstoG3nT8jXe7zPIeAc70tfYf6qhytKOuvWIFnbxTcWuym8CHq7wGbPqelnuqMqXrizYAg4Z9lxHdZSmNMgAlqAbCNFnHR399yVdCRgb5Gla0cPnKBVnidTnfPdNhKRlYZY9swsXz3zxwDj/s3832/IMG_0005.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2874" data-original-width="3832" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsGRXwZyoOEmGBIGMlAlf2LvVVe1CaLFRQhu8Qw8_FVu77PhstoG3nT8jXe7zPIeAc70tfYf6qhytKOuvWIFnbxTcWuym8CHq7wGbPqelnuqMqXrizYAg4Z9lxHdZSmNMgAlqAbCNFnHR399yVdCRgb5Gla0cPnKBVnidTnfPdNhKRlYZY9swsXz3zxwDj/s320/IMG_0005.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaGTkw3s96ww4GBrEQekNl_RP6OQWVYV9VXVj3u1kkUDxFr0QxHl8nxFSAUUSVJ8MiEaxcKZKY_A85GAv-UxjZYKC4xq5mchHp9t3iS2sbQAjrJ9n-K4dziGxcVYQDyESv4DIDF6mB4hQg-p-MJr0iXM5JoEuQIyzof8zLBFWnh5msFIZwmKk95DEp9Hme/s3688/IMG_0006.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2766" data-original-width="3688" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaGTkw3s96ww4GBrEQekNl_RP6OQWVYV9VXVj3u1kkUDxFr0QxHl8nxFSAUUSVJ8MiEaxcKZKY_A85GAv-UxjZYKC4xq5mchHp9t3iS2sbQAjrJ9n-K4dziGxcVYQDyESv4DIDF6mB4hQg-p-MJr0iXM5JoEuQIyzof8zLBFWnh5msFIZwmKk95DEp9Hme/s320/IMG_0006.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj8t3Hym8DLS4h82Ar_kHBfuRFegiJlkDx-duh9fqknq3w5rNyst0r-0tdF_dlF27PN-m2c0scYoxs0LVg_taXYwmBSBQCl0QAsT7vF5KkqG2u7oYS5HdGySVCielQVNVQx0ElSyzIH_c2rpZv16XRgl1szKNvdi2a4UHLF0PPJzVmCu4n18f_KJKlQzts/s3793/IMG_0007(1).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2844" data-original-width="3793" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj8t3Hym8DLS4h82Ar_kHBfuRFegiJlkDx-duh9fqknq3w5rNyst0r-0tdF_dlF27PN-m2c0scYoxs0LVg_taXYwmBSBQCl0QAsT7vF5KkqG2u7oYS5HdGySVCielQVNVQx0ElSyzIH_c2rpZv16XRgl1szKNvdi2a4UHLF0PPJzVmCu4n18f_KJKlQzts/s320/IMG_0007(1).JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkPUfAScftJPIY9LMIbhm-rcoONpuK1GfjW3imXjO9aaDHB9zRzU6wE-x4wEOaOCscwG0BYPOZ_qP8VXB7rYS1Jfs12k0H5IJ1M9NwR_ZYcsWJrTZj3N0hyUBl_-Lek8HHxJIpW9RZw6ga9NLCxlkBJT_B5m31RZ-HHiHylbImBJmhv1HM2zQ9dK1FCCy3/s4032/IMG_0011(1).JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkPUfAScftJPIY9LMIbhm-rcoONpuK1GfjW3imXjO9aaDHB9zRzU6wE-x4wEOaOCscwG0BYPOZ_qP8VXB7rYS1Jfs12k0H5IJ1M9NwR_ZYcsWJrTZj3N0hyUBl_-Lek8HHxJIpW9RZw6ga9NLCxlkBJT_B5m31RZ-HHiHylbImBJmhv1HM2zQ9dK1FCCy3/s320/IMG_0011(1).JPG" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">The witches were next.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1xqvxOcuUMEJ_qlvLnyLKBkS6CZIkpkCQBN4P6bhz_ntCNAB3hW9V5Sr8_B0mzOZAPh_XjDEB2AcqR8UkaddTdXrpgQJGBP62NLpfuK0iWd-GYeME6UxAMMWIznGuLSnLhgzrpXx8F1kE_MJ4XN_LVvq8e0U3nysktnG10sNWlqiDBiX0AudP81VxpIpy/s3834/IMG_0013(1).JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2876" data-original-width="3834" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1xqvxOcuUMEJ_qlvLnyLKBkS6CZIkpkCQBN4P6bhz_ntCNAB3hW9V5Sr8_B0mzOZAPh_XjDEB2AcqR8UkaddTdXrpgQJGBP62NLpfuK0iWd-GYeME6UxAMMWIznGuLSnLhgzrpXx8F1kE_MJ4XN_LVvq8e0U3nysktnG10sNWlqiDBiX0AudP81VxpIpy/s320/IMG_0013(1).JPG" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Just like last year, the very young and the not quite so young were together.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPoB1gT-gcbGqpQj4-eHvZniz3R0398AqseqE7DlcaWsLdXjdwWRj926tHQFXKm9EAprZr3X9rpKqTTB_ZnKCLvpL2qi4XkpPOAwmUVyGBFgZBWPzh-QFQBZGxW2phNWhHCg0vsPd5L69Ng6VyaeNOiqHb8QYHWHjQ3HqrWFvzJxhltm90u0GPtAjU1YGO/s1280/IMG_0014.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPoB1gT-gcbGqpQj4-eHvZniz3R0398AqseqE7DlcaWsLdXjdwWRj926tHQFXKm9EAprZr3X9rpKqTTB_ZnKCLvpL2qi4XkpPOAwmUVyGBFgZBWPzh-QFQBZGxW2phNWhHCg0vsPd5L69Ng6VyaeNOiqHb8QYHWHjQ3HqrWFvzJxhltm90u0GPtAjU1YGO/s320/IMG_0014.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">One of the witches suggested a selfie with me - I guess it was someone I know, but I have no idea who was under the mask and did not recognise his voice. In any case, his teeth look much better than mine :-D</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG7hymkOvZ1I6bVTaeX4YMsHJ1a6mTJaFNitrChyphenhyphencjtdGOJXseX6aoRBJ5aPcR9uLo_byt-3B2BLxqSME-CbjxqmKM3hVStr2cvTFBdFu64JeDgiTQiVXTG607sQPuXSCOKpWgHiHNqnbzr7yafDOEkllVBZO9qNtTOmXlfybQNqlmmKe7XLUGDHRTZDwB/s3688/IMG_0015(1).JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2766" data-original-width="3688" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG7hymkOvZ1I6bVTaeX4YMsHJ1a6mTJaFNitrChyphenhyphencjtdGOJXseX6aoRBJ5aPcR9uLo_byt-3B2BLxqSME-CbjxqmKM3hVStr2cvTFBdFu64JeDgiTQiVXTG607sQPuXSCOKpWgHiHNqnbzr7yafDOEkllVBZO9qNtTOmXlfybQNqlmmKe7XLUGDHRTZDwB/s320/IMG_0015(1).JPG" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Then followed the Beiabsäger (literally "sawers-off of legs" - don't ask!)...</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr3DmV0X28NzjxNPt-waPzPwPI8gm4ZETMLsV6TptzsIOrlju1W2aUMGBCuwWHMz-VQ_u-HzDEJcrSvmQMfU9zCOETyhSg0pEpHyoecpmAeZ74fQNgNlRhfrZNuwv3j5rRWMqiBY0LObVfsDkHeO20lihffrPHFcJ7VtL7hyWHiZnssReBsBvnJWwp7aTx/s3823/IMG_0016(1).JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2867" data-original-width="3823" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr3DmV0X28NzjxNPt-waPzPwPI8gm4ZETMLsV6TptzsIOrlju1W2aUMGBCuwWHMz-VQ_u-HzDEJcrSvmQMfU9zCOETyhSg0pEpHyoecpmAeZ74fQNgNlRhfrZNuwv3j5rRWMqiBY0LObVfsDkHeO20lihffrPHFcJ7VtL7hyWHiZnssReBsBvnJWwp7aTx/s320/IMG_0016(1).JPG" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">...and the Dominoes, the oldest of the village's traditional Carnival characters. I find them spooky.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-VTH42SjXNLJIj21d1PyMd_WDv2OVBGDCooi-HaDKSLrh4PaUjV1DFoK8Ebygli7NO3gpr9uSctJ4O0S85CzQTWL19QmZNHTAUJ-LKqnIqXcHS0tn_ncecjHYo_687XRpbZRwAqRDY7SnOeW7hMDFKds22DYlQJoL39s9o_ojLQ57STxmgH0r_tmzIt49/s3855/IMG_0019.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2891" data-original-width="3855" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-VTH42SjXNLJIj21d1PyMd_WDv2OVBGDCooi-HaDKSLrh4PaUjV1DFoK8Ebygli7NO3gpr9uSctJ4O0S85CzQTWL19QmZNHTAUJ-LKqnIqXcHS0tn_ncecjHYo_687XRpbZRwAqRDY7SnOeW7hMDFKds22DYlQJoL39s9o_ojLQ57STxmgH0r_tmzIt49/s320/IMG_0019.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Another band, the Gletscherfleh (literally "glacier fleas" - again, don't ask!).</span></td></tr></tbody></table></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">The parade was over after about 10 minutes, and we followed them to the square behind the village hall where the music groups performed some more and a few speeches were made (some in verses), as is customary on Carnival Sunday. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">It kept raining on and off, but there was also sunshine, and we even spotted a rainbow just before the parade started.<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKvJGW4UYoHxJX8rGnjg7R-vH6rJL4EOaXXbE8sCNk85jEe-gvR4OBdFxvTvNsC8kwxylxw82YMFDtYjl_9MHUIj4nc2aEjiWl7uROTDswDC8vPGvUvyNnJUZqh8T5XMUFMpc5kXPFuUecTrCF1bAb5rfjfeaYaf8UcECtBRtT-5PlC3AhWv23nbflqAW1/s2823/IMG_4157.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2823" data-original-width="2117" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKvJGW4UYoHxJX8rGnjg7R-vH6rJL4EOaXXbE8sCNk85jEe-gvR4OBdFxvTvNsC8kwxylxw82YMFDtYjl_9MHUIj4nc2aEjiWl7uROTDswDC8vPGvUvyNnJUZqh8T5XMUFMpc5kXPFuUecTrCF1bAb5rfjfeaYaf8UcECtBRtT-5PlC3AhWv23nbflqAW1/s320/IMG_4157.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Me in my 80s outfit for the day. I don't even know the name of the young man, but his pink-yellow-green-white 80s-style track suit was just too good NOT to be photographed!</td></tr></tbody></table></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">A drink at one of the venues open only for that occasion followed, and around 4:00 pm, O.K.'s sister and her husband drove me to the station in Offenburg where I took three trains back to Ludwigsburg - all of them on time. At almost exactly 6:30 pm, I was home.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">(On Carnival Sunday and what in Germany is called Rosenmontag - "Rose Monday" - O.K. is busy non-stop with the village band, which means it does not make sense for me to stay longer than the parade and a little afterwards.)</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">I had fun dressing up and taking part in the Carnival activities, but I am not sad that it's over for another year, and things can return to normal :-)</span></div>Librarianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05704656564078750607noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1949425054295660529.post-65882713111273266722024-02-06T07:37:00.007+01:002024-02-06T07:45:01.137+01:00Last of January, First of February<p><span style="font-family: verdana;">The past week saw my family remembering my Dad and me finally - after we'd last seen each other on 7 January - spending the weekend with O.K. again. The relatively mild days made for a pre-spring atmosphere.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">It was sunny on <b>Monday (29 January)</b>, with a frosty morning and a high of 12C/53F in the afternoon. Work was uneventful, and a very early start meant that I was able to go for my standard Benningen walk (just under 2 hours) and still make it in time to a meeting with my volunteer group after work.</span></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_3HP4fse_PZ4pLD6OWsgoD0X46ncxCW2114uIICcHexjBZWtWxSW8bMBmSOKXOjcaW2higtYEzoBSxxMlPqenDfT5MkLcOEWoS946ojOeCEXwAh6h8vHw-schzDi0RC_s45OJo1KcrjTUQyPD2eXA1OzOJvTOtGFrbl0VJ-40x4y8dSCT_kluAUTjmIz1/s4032/IMG_9946.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_3HP4fse_PZ4pLD6OWsgoD0X46ncxCW2114uIICcHexjBZWtWxSW8bMBmSOKXOjcaW2higtYEzoBSxxMlPqenDfT5MkLcOEWoS946ojOeCEXwAh6h8vHw-schzDi0RC_s45OJo1KcrjTUQyPD2eXA1OzOJvTOtGFrbl0VJ-40x4y8dSCT_kluAUTjmIz1/s320/IMG_9946.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">On the fields just outside Freiberg</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2N2RMEDswqXPmL-V1a0CO3FaxVuw3xGVxxow6DK6I6hGSFFkI8cdwlWQYu9Y4_DNdbby2VayyjthA5bBzJRQJ-RJ7Va6OPt9EKcyw_BcHdZWWErZDrWx3sBoGwufAr33stG6lO_HC05I1cOPA_XR4_Mc8HUVvzi-GYe4I2KSZ9cUuc_DoXoyJyKigXgJx/s4032/IMG_9947.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2N2RMEDswqXPmL-V1a0CO3FaxVuw3xGVxxow6DK6I6hGSFFkI8cdwlWQYu9Y4_DNdbby2VayyjthA5bBzJRQJ-RJ7Va6OPt9EKcyw_BcHdZWWErZDrWx3sBoGwufAr33stG6lO_HC05I1cOPA_XR4_Mc8HUVvzi-GYe4I2KSZ9cUuc_DoXoyJyKigXgJx/s320/IMG_9947.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Looking back to where I have come from on my way to Benningen</td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>Tuesday (30 January) </b>was mostly cloudy but still mild at 9C/48F. After work, I walked for about 1 1/2 hours, this time in a different direction and not involving a train back. My lunch break was spent at the nearby spa where I was booked for a back & shoulders massage of half an hour.</span></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJUxlVnzd5WLfpg0bFwoeF_LW9j-l8jhSJwa5mrIr3S1culR4G72XoNr7UZWNOOvTbQZrnyOJgWPVVI2QrUXuOT6QzAgRIHp2RPcaYNeU_hCH8bKOEu_k4y4nN2t3fLWjvjTAZTmRBH4IBZrjpCfkD3wblccFtLVOS9ZpViNNNnIy-2CE72zdKuazV6vw_/s4032/IMG_9950.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJUxlVnzd5WLfpg0bFwoeF_LW9j-l8jhSJwa5mrIr3S1culR4G72XoNr7UZWNOOvTbQZrnyOJgWPVVI2QrUXuOT6QzAgRIHp2RPcaYNeU_hCH8bKOEu_k4y4nN2t3fLWjvjTAZTmRBH4IBZrjpCfkD3wblccFtLVOS9ZpViNNNnIy-2CE72zdKuazV6vw_/s320/IMG_9950.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sunrise on Tuesday morning</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1l2HWTtQ0gq2MiDJlSwZBxkZ4df4P9B5xlv2Cz9f0qIGCnx6IiZ2gGmYEbyaSq_AeUAF9dbWjDSSM2kNfivXYB4_aXrDQ-pLeb1en2pzCRn4dYu_Nfu2WFKlliKWuWt9yWD4I5TScAeVHq0F-PGxYkxYJPTNDtznfZh2iDO270ddlvBc9EF4is4ls_B8W/s4032/IMG_9951.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1l2HWTtQ0gq2MiDJlSwZBxkZ4df4P9B5xlv2Cz9f0qIGCnx6IiZ2gGmYEbyaSq_AeUAF9dbWjDSSM2kNfivXYB4_aXrDQ-pLeb1en2pzCRn4dYu_Nfu2WFKlliKWuWt9yWD4I5TScAeVHq0F-PGxYkxYJPTNDtznfZh2iDO270ddlvBc9EF4is4ls_B8W/s320/IMG_9951.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A minute or so later</td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">I worked at the Weilimdorf office on <b>Wednesday (31 January)</b> - the first day in my new room. My group of five as part of our department moved within the building from the 4th to the 2nd floor. All our rooms look pretty much the same, so it wasn't anything spectacular; just making sure that my things (few enough there are) were where they should be, and my computer was set up properly and fully functional (it was).</span></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibgd8sCO2n8hKgUj095WUFB28RXj2KjZ1mHzllJpvuy_EWFsJRQSekwTcuR-w2qn3JW27Ya9s0rqsQEhCnKwDYv_AzfsipB9JBnau4HuYKldxwB8osPW4FKEs4vdLlInZGB-N6CqoQxG9OESTgKzew5axDNPGpjd0AOGSQyPnUgcxPY66bxcjbn0ngTITn/s4032/IMG_9952.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibgd8sCO2n8hKgUj095WUFB28RXj2KjZ1mHzllJpvuy_EWFsJRQSekwTcuR-w2qn3JW27Ya9s0rqsQEhCnKwDYv_AzfsipB9JBnau4HuYKldxwB8osPW4FKEs4vdLlInZGB-N6CqoQxG9OESTgKzew5axDNPGpjd0AOGSQyPnUgcxPY66bxcjbn0ngTITn/s320/IMG_9952.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sunset as seen from a footbridge when I left the office</td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">My Mum expected my sister and me at 6:00 pm for a commemorative meal: It would have been my Dad's 82nd birthday. She had prepared one of his favourite meals for us, and we spent a pleasant evening together (after I was about 15 minutes late, thanks to yet another problem with public transport).</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>Thursday (1 February) </b>was wet, and I did not have a chance for a walk. After work, the two brothers who co-own the house with me came for a visit to talk about last year's cost of heating, water and electricity and who was due to pay how much (they don't live in the house but have rented out their flats; I am the only owner still living in the house and therefore compile our annual table of costs).</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">It was sunnier again on <b>Friday (2 February)</b> and still mild at 9C/48F. Work involved the usual end-of-month tasks, as did my weekly cleaning round. I have a weekly routine but there are also a few things I only do once a month, and in order to keep them regularly without forgetting, the end of one and beginning of another month is a good time for me.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">After three weekends spent separately, I finally was on my way to O.K. again. Both trains were on time - always a relief. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">When O.K. met me at Offenburg station, he suggested we give a newly opened restaurant a try. A short drive later, we found that in spite of it being their opening night, they had a table for us - it was already past the main dining time, and so we were lucky. The chef's parents are from Hungary, and he grew up with Hungarian cuisine, offering a mix of traditional German and Hungarian dishes. We both went for Hungarian options and enjoyed our food. It is not going to become our favourite restaurant, but we can imagine going back with friends.</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP4Nro3W5gqyRCAXx6YulZeh1XF8Pl8MziOWT1nPAVlHfgsvX42j_K8AYyJaQSseR27cGaaQ-3FP0XBZkrkGAh-QWP-fIZZBLyZHcJzS0hmF8Oaxts9qy9EwQ8YIgc-QSzAVH8Ba0JuFfBTYVD9jtt8uCerRetCCdpoIaOd7F1qc55ZfoTIo2hD-ZMad27/s4032/IMG_9953.JPEG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP4Nro3W5gqyRCAXx6YulZeh1XF8Pl8MziOWT1nPAVlHfgsvX42j_K8AYyJaQSseR27cGaaQ-3FP0XBZkrkGAh-QWP-fIZZBLyZHcJzS0hmF8Oaxts9qy9EwQ8YIgc-QSzAVH8Ba0JuFfBTYVD9jtt8uCerRetCCdpoIaOd7F1qc55ZfoTIo2hD-ZMad27/s320/IMG_9953.JPEG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_4U4Myd6u1e_UR3OZMl2pFh9P-FzMFQbKG665pqNJnFeoLdtkEUWupp3jwQFYOUsYajAs_5VICn5oWDuOhQp-FaDwN_-8N32quEU5sSZe0Ps_AGfQQI3lXHZYGL2fdBxGpkMKJAj7zAtuZhyZ8I06jKR63K74vtoJbP8G9Ih4hde5A7LsTJobcKU5svxA/s4032/IMG_9954.JPEG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_4U4Myd6u1e_UR3OZMl2pFh9P-FzMFQbKG665pqNJnFeoLdtkEUWupp3jwQFYOUsYajAs_5VICn5oWDuOhQp-FaDwN_-8N32quEU5sSZe0Ps_AGfQQI3lXHZYGL2fdBxGpkMKJAj7zAtuZhyZ8I06jKR63K74vtoJbP8G9Ih4hde5A7LsTJobcKU5svxA/s320/IMG_9954.JPEG" width="240" /></a></div><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">On <b>Saturday (3 February)</b>, I was on my own most of the afternoon, since together with a small delegation from the village band, O.K. was to play at an 85th birthday in the village. 10C/50F and a mix of sun and clouds made for a nice walk, even if only for an hour.</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSByELqMCs8BlYOEcL4FgC-UqEKDjolQ8IvhY_lw3SMf9gNbV8kRL6Tvh7MEkEhIF92mw-ETm4PfknJ_yS3Do-7T4X0uVHRkf9yR9VQip0QLt3RJfLZHAc290Cz-Y-V6h9THtPjzan7r5-L7ZpjERukmi9-QThhOwesuxb1Nvxj-pJ70ABefoWt_dfZ3MX/s4032/IMG_9955.JPEG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSByELqMCs8BlYOEcL4FgC-UqEKDjolQ8IvhY_lw3SMf9gNbV8kRL6Tvh7MEkEhIF92mw-ETm4PfknJ_yS3Do-7T4X0uVHRkf9yR9VQip0QLt3RJfLZHAc290Cz-Y-V6h9THtPjzan7r5-L7ZpjERukmi9-QThhOwesuxb1Nvxj-pJ70ABefoWt_dfZ3MX/s320/IMG_9955.JPEG" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVJ4hCfQx1C9OC-J65l_RDGYIFHtNLd2h8OYw2XsRBsEXN76Ho7n6D6PvKCfjd5Sn9-i6amTNynGYXhAasfjEKWpPNA0oB8iei4RtMSgn3WDUdm-K3bRPuVaaI9cfbiBXN-2c8ycy2FYmRdidFvo5NwZexmuDhw6fXchrPFiT5p-rt-8-Lh2I01BEpx6DW/s4032/IMG_9956.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVJ4hCfQx1C9OC-J65l_RDGYIFHtNLd2h8OYw2XsRBsEXN76Ho7n6D6PvKCfjd5Sn9-i6amTNynGYXhAasfjEKWpPNA0oB8iei4RtMSgn3WDUdm-K3bRPuVaaI9cfbiBXN-2c8ycy2FYmRdidFvo5NwZexmuDhw6fXchrPFiT5p-rt-8-Lh2I01BEpx6DW/s320/IMG_9956.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKdrH2emA_wHVVIH68YdRiy3R9Yl4MHLrzOJttj7rX7u3WgvDDxbpAxa0dlX3O7askKfe6rr1mpIwjO_-Lxcq_nrgj42krY2nA1t5-aJ-Vh8TI8UhJvbmGh_2CNb80VKfCXuXhq6qfrRlG3JDWy8W98QwAcZrqR7EmVrqVwAhnTgyC1oNs9H9wnY3h-ejl/s4032/IMG_9958.JPEG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKdrH2emA_wHVVIH68YdRiy3R9Yl4MHLrzOJttj7rX7u3WgvDDxbpAxa0dlX3O7askKfe6rr1mpIwjO_-Lxcq_nrgj42krY2nA1t5-aJ-Vh8TI8UhJvbmGh_2CNb80VKfCXuXhq6qfrRlG3JDWy8W98QwAcZrqR7EmVrqVwAhnTgyC1oNs9H9wnY3h-ejl/s320/IMG_9958.JPEG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Looking towards Dierbsurg, one of the neighbouring villages</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwa9101_hxMPqXn-mBNoE1ObdVl3Ikrtd2hhWU3L71VrF218KiANgr7toyWVB73ULNJsBjGKQ-59IazTtPKb8BqFc0W4GxSp0419aifzGR4fpXsthLj0QmnHo5U4jCEOtw1fWgnOGxzh7KRhkpNyftc5B7-EjJOGeXKYlQxa940oQi2zoyccrk28Yq0rNO/s4032/IMG_9959.JPEG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwa9101_hxMPqXn-mBNoE1ObdVl3Ikrtd2hhWU3L71VrF218KiANgr7toyWVB73ULNJsBjGKQ-59IazTtPKb8BqFc0W4GxSp0419aifzGR4fpXsthLj0QmnHo5U4jCEOtw1fWgnOGxzh7KRhkpNyftc5B7-EjJOGeXKYlQxa940oQi2zoyccrk28Yq0rNO/s320/IMG_9959.JPEG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFulGjoxhzwKmcKW8-yGnsRLxFGyB3gR35lvDBwRWHtNjG63XPry_ndATMvcJmXTsYmVi4nPucjrMJGg9NF9czwF0eUX2-G7dZD9_2JXaVHLPPePckry8_z39eRcMz-gAKONb9Mi06FSo0zuqDs5Nku_CxwHEsBhNWNcrNruDMZrvOFAmyVmVkLPvWVdcJ/s4032/IMG_9960.JPEG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFulGjoxhzwKmcKW8-yGnsRLxFGyB3gR35lvDBwRWHtNjG63XPry_ndATMvcJmXTsYmVi4nPucjrMJGg9NF9czwF0eUX2-G7dZD9_2JXaVHLPPePckry8_z39eRcMz-gAKONb9Mi06FSo0zuqDs5Nku_CxwHEsBhNWNcrNruDMZrvOFAmyVmVkLPvWVdcJ/s320/IMG_9960.JPEG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbwfgFd4V5UCwA4LgExjCX-u4w87Y9iLueb6X3pmyfZ6yNgKeu1WCJvyG6hdLUoiA-T0OjmrlRdWSm9mDrKcdhafZGrTbIcejD2ZlkWTBd0DFc8PzHz3vb2CsE__qGf2LlPYgMBeY9-i-cYZzTPlUsnAHmQph7GlUKXXZMVnrIMJVEKtsPj11lqhcbG6B3/s3678/IMG_9961.JPEG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2758" data-original-width="3678" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbwfgFd4V5UCwA4LgExjCX-u4w87Y9iLueb6X3pmyfZ6yNgKeu1WCJvyG6hdLUoiA-T0OjmrlRdWSm9mDrKcdhafZGrTbIcejD2ZlkWTBd0DFc8PzHz3vb2CsE__qGf2LlPYgMBeY9-i-cYZzTPlUsnAHmQph7GlUKXXZMVnrIMJVEKtsPj11lqhcbG6B3/s320/IMG_9961.JPEG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The church at O.K.'s village</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs1MCO0vdUrYbJ5918qGb3GQYt1wZfYIzs4KdWGf8J2zrsw8VXBKAgS9sv2jqYtIRagoqVlhBRX-GGjNBVK2SqC3-MzYORX1Yd_gW4FSR2R14IQpBbMbb9XQiuQnq_8A4vsdk4SjH-pNY1uKCKQ2s43PevUKpnOwa5qH4zhp5TpHc3K5c5BFhH9u_Ip0Gp/s4032/IMG_9963.JPEG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs1MCO0vdUrYbJ5918qGb3GQYt1wZfYIzs4KdWGf8J2zrsw8VXBKAgS9sv2jqYtIRagoqVlhBRX-GGjNBVK2SqC3-MzYORX1Yd_gW4FSR2R14IQpBbMbb9XQiuQnq_8A4vsdk4SjH-pNY1uKCKQ2s43PevUKpnOwa5qH4zhp5TpHc3K5c5BFhH9u_Ip0Gp/s320/IMG_9963.JPEG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglR2Jr59fmpSBhmx8D1RLajWvms2LLEyPaaUg93Cp5kwx0ivII8QGPiwFwbMd5MBFgFs8DhDehRcbXJDlZ8u-S6I6LjayQ-soRKa0ZinLVjXLQtZsfVUSMPyUqbgYiRj0LCtZoFuSlB8AbWGLB9hSKksVD8HTvt46KplcOQl6f8uFdexJWsWi3Zr-GjefR/s4032/IMG_9964.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglR2Jr59fmpSBhmx8D1RLajWvms2LLEyPaaUg93Cp5kwx0ivII8QGPiwFwbMd5MBFgFs8DhDehRcbXJDlZ8u-S6I6LjayQ-soRKa0ZinLVjXLQtZsfVUSMPyUqbgYiRj0LCtZoFuSlB8AbWGLB9hSKksVD8HTvt46KplcOQl6f8uFdexJWsWi3Zr-GjefR/s320/IMG_9964.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The church again</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG9IMAapLh_rSputE9tyKYP77C5VZkSbCTDbCD0Y3v-C3tUXb9QKKf5pH2KGWYGTfXiiUfMdIz6plzbswKI_EbhdV7s37fe6HKM5UIq9q83riiXnTXi-pda_2eZzhKdOdlhNmfwg4PZ5hMugryo4QSLyU7qyEKJeQIuNdHbqzJ6V8HlkbzO86UBc2DXHJP/s3773/IMG_9965.JPEG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3773" data-original-width="2829" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG9IMAapLh_rSputE9tyKYP77C5VZkSbCTDbCD0Y3v-C3tUXb9QKKf5pH2KGWYGTfXiiUfMdIz6plzbswKI_EbhdV7s37fe6HKM5UIq9q83riiXnTXi-pda_2eZzhKdOdlhNmfwg4PZ5hMugryo4QSLyU7qyEKJeQIuNdHbqzJ6V8HlkbzO86UBc2DXHJP/s320/IMG_9965.JPEG" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Carnival bunting in the village</td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">When O.K. was back, we briefly went to see his Mum before it was time for our customary evening meal of salad, bread and cheese, some of which his sister and her husband had brought as a souvenir from a recent holiday in Austria.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>Sunday (4 February)</b> was off to a sunny start but later was mostly cloudy. We'd not been for a proper hike in the Black Forest since October (I believe), and were itching to go. From a booklet with suggestions for hikes and walks (many of which we have already "done"), we chose one that involved a drive of a bit over half an hour to its starting point.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">The suggested circuit was supposed to be somewhere between 10 and 11 km (6.2 to 6.8 miles), but we ended up covering only about 6.5 km/4 miles. Why was that? </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">All started well, with signposts clearly indicating which of the paths cutting through the woods we were meant to follow - sometimes there was even a sign on a perfectly straight path with no diversion, completely unnecessary.</span></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuyujsOebZJYUadK6DQdxDqWgM6kdFabrcEe4Oa9E1bjE-2cpNSDu6MuMQZgJzpOmWJXzvTWaJQF2az8v5E42T19JBcxCX77OmKbne8K4FLCUQ9Vr-R8Pj2szKVUr9468k_uW2zlq3uu0ehdQ4p7Cbk6hsm4RWEmC4fS6jdtTTssRsAbBYbWh2dkrWbq-v/s4032/IMG_9966.JPEG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuyujsOebZJYUadK6DQdxDqWgM6kdFabrcEe4Oa9E1bjE-2cpNSDu6MuMQZgJzpOmWJXzvTWaJQF2az8v5E42T19JBcxCX77OmKbne8K4FLCUQ9Vr-R8Pj2szKVUr9468k_uW2zlq3uu0ehdQ4p7Cbk6hsm4RWEmC4fS6jdtTTssRsAbBYbWh2dkrWbq-v/s320/IMG_9966.JPEG" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We could have sheltered underneath this rock (but didn't need to).</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrnhhF5ChKjkN0Tyg2o9oXpSKDGlZS1sAByTfSZGi8dTx97AUFGGgro64J7eiJOWyd7UQsYvw2pvOJEYHRZR44YryyA2ELHF1GFaBVI9h-QQMMD7fsrfZ7JNB71qJTsR9-HILj4P2EDYAzi-fRDs33B4Hr-rEOSHveysQcmVNlWp0VqKrcaLfoyQDkaQSk/s4032/IMG_9967.JPEG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrnhhF5ChKjkN0Tyg2o9oXpSKDGlZS1sAByTfSZGi8dTx97AUFGGgro64J7eiJOWyd7UQsYvw2pvOJEYHRZR44YryyA2ELHF1GFaBVI9h-QQMMD7fsrfZ7JNB71qJTsR9-HILj4P2EDYAzi-fRDs33B4Hr-rEOSHveysQcmVNlWp0VqKrcaLfoyQDkaQSk/s320/IMG_9967.JPEG" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUY_Y0nFf3tP2Cgi-OxeSuKSZUxSn4f3K7dPRltgL9RMBd7cbn_v49PBjO4xCRnn47AFv6Jpg4NKayDUlCB_EOiCY4-2BGdVkWBOwc_B2iuKgtyzgfEjCyURN767ZNtOsu5PcYyiJCW9W8pB1u0mumpovPPQChSdlxaIjQ5vu4ftVvc_dFXJp22BvfnkEr/s4032/IMG_9968.JPEG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUY_Y0nFf3tP2Cgi-OxeSuKSZUxSn4f3K7dPRltgL9RMBd7cbn_v49PBjO4xCRnn47AFv6Jpg4NKayDUlCB_EOiCY4-2BGdVkWBOwc_B2iuKgtyzgfEjCyURN767ZNtOsu5PcYyiJCW9W8pB1u0mumpovPPQChSdlxaIjQ5vu4ftVvc_dFXJp22BvfnkEr/s320/IMG_9968.JPEG" width="320" /></a></div><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">We took in the impressive and slightly mysterious big rocks of the "Heidenkirche" ("heathen church"), which of course was never a church but got its name from folks believing that in ancient times heathen priests performed animal and human sacrifices there. Another myth says that there are caves underneath those rocks where those priests (and maybe others after them) hid precious treasure in times of danger, and a ghostly black dog guards the entrance.</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwXNdeRK0LqRvvjd9odElO6ydr6nje5sS4b3P6_lYWPq1e-9CAMk6K26JTPJIBDyB7xBZQRIkROvvCra0H74ZFgCG5zqt646mlGMQHUeMA21ur2x72BdfnOptc_TEyVUsTi9TpigdvjHyIyTI3yCZsadBXoIZNo0TZHwZ-Y0RYFaiIyM-vqvxoNa3FQuI3/s4032/IMG_9969.JPEG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwXNdeRK0LqRvvjd9odElO6ydr6nje5sS4b3P6_lYWPq1e-9CAMk6K26JTPJIBDyB7xBZQRIkROvvCra0H74ZFgCG5zqt646mlGMQHUeMA21ur2x72BdfnOptc_TEyVUsTi9TpigdvjHyIyTI3yCZsadBXoIZNo0TZHwZ-Y0RYFaiIyM-vqvxoNa3FQuI3/s320/IMG_9969.JPEG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiB0rW00lodveatJfwi_DP2aH-Dodml1jy2qr-wKPEYFS2GmYven54IAUHueT-M7WiK2_KVDYAhpPsQ2d-aVvlxX_iU4EzSs61RoltvsR4W6wDjsRlhM8D7Z855V-0XfrV9MU3DVJxR1c_qp897Qsf-lEe21n3cvTvN8WqflXh7S3egm2N6z8aBw26XfuD/s4032/IMG_9970.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiB0rW00lodveatJfwi_DP2aH-Dodml1jy2qr-wKPEYFS2GmYven54IAUHueT-M7WiK2_KVDYAhpPsQ2d-aVvlxX_iU4EzSs61RoltvsR4W6wDjsRlhM8D7Z855V-0XfrV9MU3DVJxR1c_qp897Qsf-lEe21n3cvTvN8WqflXh7S3egm2N6z8aBw26XfuD/s320/IMG_9970.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Well, we saw neither ancient priests nor treasure, but there was a couple of walkers with a collie-type dog; they had nothing ghostly or mysterious about them.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Not long after that, we came upon a crossing with a multitude of signposts. Surely it was going to be easy to find ours among them? No... none of the three place names we needed next appeared on any of the signs, not one. We looked and looked, compared with our booklet, checked the tiny map in the booklet for general orientation, and in the end gave up, slightly disappointed.</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidyRMdtoPeP8uzIBoAAgthbJBrB9S1I5ByJlwaYO-clGH3gtfIUhDSy0OOD6oFiY5RxK8DRYCro5rBbbd59OwyoZTYyPjxi6mm-C-WWOyCyN1XRk2ysQwhj9IzfNQmNYmogmW1fwgo7VBURESk4QLBUDmD7wDq1mmBXrAVcx1OzyIVmYtqG0gyr7nD55T2/s4032/IMG_9971.JPEG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidyRMdtoPeP8uzIBoAAgthbJBrB9S1I5ByJlwaYO-clGH3gtfIUhDSy0OOD6oFiY5RxK8DRYCro5rBbbd59OwyoZTYyPjxi6mm-C-WWOyCyN1XRk2ysQwhj9IzfNQmNYmogmW1fwgo7VBURESk4QLBUDmD7wDq1mmBXrAVcx1OzyIVmYtqG0gyr7nD55T2/s320/IMG_9971.JPEG" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcrU35qjN_mBfdGssM44KperKRhtC82RHrrMXlEKV8elnQ_aKQziqBG0iwO5afHXAUv0AY0a0aACMr175aQ59XOe-scyzlWuxAD5vF-1OD4q6gSAf6YTSu5zjFvrBr4H7e4bslBXBr8VL2UeOnqi2ifNQJx6UuixjAJbrZGQfMPxroDnF2JGUlXFts0ijz/s4032/IMG_9972.JPEG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcrU35qjN_mBfdGssM44KperKRhtC82RHrrMXlEKV8elnQ_aKQziqBG0iwO5afHXAUv0AY0a0aACMr175aQ59XOe-scyzlWuxAD5vF-1OD4q6gSAf6YTSu5zjFvrBr4H7e4bslBXBr8VL2UeOnqi2ifNQJx6UuixjAJbrZGQfMPxroDnF2JGUlXFts0ijz/s320/IMG_9972.JPEG" width="240" /></a></div><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">We walked back on a path largely parallel to the one we had come, and when we reached the car again, ate the sandwiches we'd brought.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">It was still a beautiful walk with the "heathen church" being a fascinating landmark, but the entire outing was not quite what we'd been looking forward to.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Back at the cottage, we had coffee and cake, then a little rest before spending a quiet night in to end the week.</span></p>Librarianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05704656564078750607noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1949425054295660529.post-41346376965068308642024-01-29T17:42:00.002+01:002024-01-29T17:42:38.749+01:00Windy Week<p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Last week saw a mix of rain and sun, plenty of wind and quite a rollercoaster in terms of temperature. It ended with a première for me: My first ever political demonstration.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">On <b>Monday (22 January)</b>, I worked from home as I do nearly every Monday. Half of my lunch hour was spent at the nearby spa for a very necessary back-and-shoulders massage. Because of the rain, I didn't go for a walk at all. (The five minutes to the spa and another five back do not count.)</span></p><p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9tppG5gZ9no74eRrK7dD0YSMEMv85hOLEy7LHedRf3DtDhGsVWhpCbN97YWeUDwUb-uOAXozQtCXqlHQeoAFAJrQZsFagljmwFghR-yg1KoU-eS8Vl1swWFbEeOrXVvZjFHj7wWvlV6gv4mrnAHZk1uuJpbQZFn-TF_xjplkVq-gHF7RNtrlTnUB0LOP_/s3491/IMG_9912.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2618" data-original-width="3491" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9tppG5gZ9no74eRrK7dD0YSMEMv85hOLEy7LHedRf3DtDhGsVWhpCbN97YWeUDwUb-uOAXozQtCXqlHQeoAFAJrQZsFagljmwFghR-yg1KoU-eS8Vl1swWFbEeOrXVvZjFHj7wWvlV6gv4mrnAHZk1uuJpbQZFn-TF_xjplkVq-gHF7RNtrlTnUB0LOP_/s320/IMG_9912.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Sunrise from my kitchen window that morning.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: verdana;">Another train drivers' strike was announced to begin on Wednesday, and so once again, I made <b>Tuesday (23 January)</b> my Office Day instead of Wednesday. Within the building, my department are moving from the fourth to the 2nd floor. I prepared everything I could do myself - there are not many personal items in my room anyway, so it was done quickly. The rest is up to facility management (moving my desk and chair) and IT guys (moving my computer, monitor, headset, keyboard etc.).</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">It was mild, mostly sunny but very windy. By the time I was ready to leave work, rain had set in - another walk-less day.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">I made up for two days without a walk by being out for a bit more than 2 hours on <b>Wednesday (24 January)</b>, walking to Pattonville one way and back another. The thermometer rose to 12C/53F in the windblown, sunny afternoon after a rainy morning. As is my habit, I couldn't help noticing that Christmas Eve was exactly 11 months away.</span></p><p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEits0Q0Axpu2YzdDcopHgSNh2RG6hIYHwIECT5ZM7yOOCdUsaIPvKKUJnpMTX6IVmADhkToYFO-qgvwPKDPBQKHGCLtdMzXizizM0QNve55vtf26702nU47mRFC3xjkVUz2UuZPdp9vDkUiv62PF-57aTWJP2o-Zjv43TrZdwEnf1KEjLsriMUo9auf9GKG/s4032/IMG_9914.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEits0Q0Axpu2YzdDcopHgSNh2RG6hIYHwIECT5ZM7yOOCdUsaIPvKKUJnpMTX6IVmADhkToYFO-qgvwPKDPBQKHGCLtdMzXizizM0QNve55vtf26702nU47mRFC3xjkVUz2UuZPdp9vDkUiv62PF-57aTWJP2o-Zjv43TrZdwEnf1KEjLsriMUo9auf9GKG/s320/IMG_9914.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">4:00 pm on Wednesday - you can almost see the wind rushing the clouds along, can't you!</span></td></tr></tbody></table></p><p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-lvxD6Q7BkQn2Yo84S6718lqgcmDeqUAHPzXh_k099UaCSM0CDryWdj_qQaHDy-B37dA-SoMoXtzN5PPNWSMXr9kmwBXmNlPnysFrQpn1dSypufqDBI1HtT7umhf0uaVAoWiaoih5B-5yi56_S3FcLgOh4u2AZIbjKhfEenTgx89z-ryfMI__ehs8bHWX/s3914/IMG_9915.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3021" data-original-width="3914" height="247" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-lvxD6Q7BkQn2Yo84S6718lqgcmDeqUAHPzXh_k099UaCSM0CDryWdj_qQaHDy-B37dA-SoMoXtzN5PPNWSMXr9kmwBXmNlPnysFrQpn1dSypufqDBI1HtT7umhf0uaVAoWiaoih5B-5yi56_S3FcLgOh4u2AZIbjKhfEenTgx89z-ryfMI__ehs8bHWX/s320/IMG_9915.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiII4HIvg6q5KCBVe_4kIDJ693vbydYDBJK6YTW1pYYXFFBHa9qhvBP5ArRD1VRZXhugLzTy8pXvG_dtWl3hEd3Uw6eDxgmuphnqXpAXGoKq23rRMWAJcSyE5gt2r093PORc9Aj9zNZtoXw4TZj0YZKYGq_XuTMjMaf3FWbTVhp3Y1UWyTCJ47TrMf2SuS4/s4032/IMG_9916.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiII4HIvg6q5KCBVe_4kIDJ693vbydYDBJK6YTW1pYYXFFBHa9qhvBP5ArRD1VRZXhugLzTy8pXvG_dtWl3hEd3Uw6eDxgmuphnqXpAXGoKq23rRMWAJcSyE5gt2r093PORc9Aj9zNZtoXw4TZj0YZKYGq_XuTMjMaf3FWbTVhp3Y1UWyTCJ47TrMf2SuS4/s320/IMG_9916.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirnQYx2Lo1wdq3VazfkxhKhIma4QqHPFoQWslUgHFwHvtUNCtqjgxtzkQC8Bt7qol9Taqkljl7SN5TB3eZod5WBQiVjU6a_Uy_JxV0Qr4dO01zFf44kCbE1jHJI0GqHRAO90heMVZhA9Xu1g4-rOVDrZb9YX_MTRdyC-ZeEEHeAy6fis4YTmfg_1nMzJgg/s4032/IMG_9917.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirnQYx2Lo1wdq3VazfkxhKhIma4QqHPFoQWslUgHFwHvtUNCtqjgxtzkQC8Bt7qol9Taqkljl7SN5TB3eZod5WBQiVjU6a_Uy_JxV0Qr4dO01zFf44kCbE1jHJI0GqHRAO90heMVZhA9Xu1g4-rOVDrZb9YX_MTRdyC-ZeEEHeAy6fis4YTmfg_1nMzJgg/s320/IMG_9917.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">I used to work on the 9th floor of that tall building.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEighVa3XcN98C21xTsdlz0rgWha9HhWDr4dfNdllzaQx00r9pnQ27sMvnHKp7FEF5i2V3yykc0Wr8L4_Mj4nQPKLWNiu6967kOTRriCZAdPip_0dxy4jIOD4bBAK5gv3yV7Bu-dGzR-2fCt-1VLi9fnMOrpB4XkPbu-uZgq3E2_D7qHV8G_7Je2SrhGFkYw/s4032/IMG_9918.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEighVa3XcN98C21xTsdlz0rgWha9HhWDr4dfNdllzaQx00r9pnQ27sMvnHKp7FEF5i2V3yykc0Wr8L4_Mj4nQPKLWNiu6967kOTRriCZAdPip_0dxy4jIOD4bBAK5gv3yV7Bu-dGzR-2fCt-1VLi9fnMOrpB4XkPbu-uZgq3E2_D7qHV8G_7Je2SrhGFkYw/s320/IMG_9918.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">10 past 5:00 pm, sunset.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">On <b>Thursday (25 January)</b> after work, my sister and I met at our Mum's. I had asked for a particular kind of soup (vegetable broth with semolina dumplings) which I know my Mum makes to perfection, and that evening was no exception. The day had been mostly sunny but with not enough time between calls and tasks and meetings to afford a walk other than the 10 or so minutes it takes me to get to my Mum's.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">O.K. was supposed to arrive at my place on <b>Friday (26 January)</b> evening, but... One of his colleagues had been home with a cold earlier in the week, returning to work the next day. Only the day AFTER, he casually suggested O.K. - who had been working in the same room with him all day - self-test for Covid, since he himself had tested positive the day before... Why on earth he didn't say a word the day before, or - better still - stayed at home is anyone's guess! I was quite angry at such inconsiderate behaviour and a little upset, and of course it meant that O.K. and I were to spend the third weekend in a row without seeing each other - he ended up testing positive, too.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">It was wet and windy but mild all day, with the sun putting in an appearance shortly before sunset, as seen from my windows:</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL7Lk3WneFUVw2pNYzjL7CbxOJRPPTXyDBUEj7bZBVlWPptrSAnSOOKjwvCbkjg9KxRKFZexZ8ZvpUMq1XLGpY80d5xc4Tqfj88yPeNngOFQv-MIMiF0EOAeQJHMB4Ys1GlmuALzPquQ0f9m5ICebSfBSRczuWxOJsgFIj9RL8jDmyT5DsoZk5R8BU_cYa/s4032/IMG_9919.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL7Lk3WneFUVw2pNYzjL7CbxOJRPPTXyDBUEj7bZBVlWPptrSAnSOOKjwvCbkjg9KxRKFZexZ8ZvpUMq1XLGpY80d5xc4Tqfj88yPeNngOFQv-MIMiF0EOAeQJHMB4Ys1GlmuALzPquQ0f9m5ICebSfBSRczuWxOJsgFIj9RL8jDmyT5DsoZk5R8BU_cYa/s320/IMG_9919.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVyL4L8gQht2cgo_Fm49pPy6IgHh_2eKnQ4eDQ0dMvqTKgQZQPLuRDh5t0eBTyqQmRViCJcfFyISiYT8dF99LP9L4BUGII7vfb4gTUU5L-6AeAnQDtl472V3q4LCeIA672ry-mtjS1k03pFo4FNUCfayAzqhKm54z6zPt7m3KJTPOM542CDaKZsausG8Me/s4032/IMG_9920.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVyL4L8gQht2cgo_Fm49pPy6IgHh_2eKnQ4eDQ0dMvqTKgQZQPLuRDh5t0eBTyqQmRViCJcfFyISiYT8dF99LP9L4BUGII7vfb4gTUU5L-6AeAnQDtl472V3q4LCeIA672ry-mtjS1k03pFo4FNUCfayAzqhKm54z6zPt7m3KJTPOM542CDaKZsausG8Me/s320/IMG_9920.JPG" width="240" /></span></a></div><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>Saturday and Sunday (27 and 28 January)</b> were days of azure blue skies and wall to wall sunshine, frosty nights and mornings with temperatures below freezing and milder afternoons with 7 to 9 C/44 to 48 F.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Housework and food shopping didn't take very long, and I had ample time for a good walk to Hungerberg and back through the deer park. It was beautiful in the sun but as soon as I was in the shade it felt cold. </span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn4hZOe2UnpglzUcrdIFYPUTmrnUQvlItId9OLWe_-lJ-y1cqP3cn_YUDtQBTxpx1I6rsHk4TItBXqHBMENtlnfmLZJTneLJdEhhBKn4JanS2cl6469nt37YnFjNlRoyKcDcyNznfVD2CbgDIRnQEDjNFNtZAeFC3cjBnaKkLsafzhfVoMFghZDbiPAx2n/s3507/IMG_9921.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2630" data-original-width="3507" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn4hZOe2UnpglzUcrdIFYPUTmrnUQvlItId9OLWe_-lJ-y1cqP3cn_YUDtQBTxpx1I6rsHk4TItBXqHBMENtlnfmLZJTneLJdEhhBKn4JanS2cl6469nt37YnFjNlRoyKcDcyNznfVD2CbgDIRnQEDjNFNtZAeFC3cjBnaKkLsafzhfVoMFghZDbiPAx2n/s320/IMG_9921.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbjOulzyssqvJaIQqAHG8_7-VA6F9u0LQBfdZwumRByXeAYQ-_AtIF1SFNkCHK1qRHgkGcIMKdsXqoJ-nUwgwmWKfqOEKO5Jy6OkRl-piXM0YCWOMbpuuOwXH69P5cVkasYxSMYNXbjnS3ppJhgLYBaN_WMdRHP1Zk0hTSY_jPvyY6E6URlwNQoLqHg7Hj/s4032/IMG_9922.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbjOulzyssqvJaIQqAHG8_7-VA6F9u0LQBfdZwumRByXeAYQ-_AtIF1SFNkCHK1qRHgkGcIMKdsXqoJ-nUwgwmWKfqOEKO5Jy6OkRl-piXM0YCWOMbpuuOwXH69P5cVkasYxSMYNXbjnS3ppJhgLYBaN_WMdRHP1Zk0hTSY_jPvyY6E6URlwNQoLqHg7Hj/s320/IMG_9922.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">The monoliths at Hungerberg - an over-sized sundial, really.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWiU2iqQi6x0zGZbH-kHzuGe-NPEdVCqRtGw3Id52FKo54kBg5MXILp0QsJ9fE-jhkJREzfcofUjzEnOR-oOw7VL2kx6zwNvvtO4jTvmoK8upwbyNurkNMNVACGINFnEGP7upoQwWMH2pg7BJ4Mruqq4TZD_D9W0d7Y_xAcox7tntLePSzGX4KOia1T37N/s4032/IMG_9923(1).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWiU2iqQi6x0zGZbH-kHzuGe-NPEdVCqRtGw3Id52FKo54kBg5MXILp0QsJ9fE-jhkJREzfcofUjzEnOR-oOw7VL2kx6zwNvvtO4jTvmoK8upwbyNurkNMNVACGINFnEGP7upoQwWMH2pg7BJ4Mruqq4TZD_D9W0d7Y_xAcox7tntLePSzGX4KOia1T37N/s320/IMG_9923(1).JPG" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">If you click to enlarge, you should be able to see the "rocket" that is visible from many places around here.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipcxzach9sraTk4UtXLx0hGXpLKYJnFkuUjWVrDMJ3CEIhJoHs-vAW1PDb_f_fygCVoy54mu9lDEo1NhFCyY7J-C-kMeq1yCt7NCxpnO2xEx90N3uTHdbnowozYjVtL5Of2OY3MZJMJm0L0ABUi0vE8mDNUfMgYwwyVNAzksXIis2RgDJEWG6DCW3hJBMj/s4032/IMG_9925.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipcxzach9sraTk4UtXLx0hGXpLKYJnFkuUjWVrDMJ3CEIhJoHs-vAW1PDb_f_fygCVoy54mu9lDEo1NhFCyY7J-C-kMeq1yCt7NCxpnO2xEx90N3uTHdbnowozYjVtL5Of2OY3MZJMJm0L0ABUi0vE8mDNUfMgYwwyVNAzksXIis2RgDJEWG6DCW3hJBMj/s320/IMG_9925.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">A swan made of an old car tyre... would you put this in your garden?</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0_vbaSh-CXQC1huzhQ7v6yD2oMJO0ulabhlZDtlzqp2OuJBb6RV-R7uht12zEo3EBdybKjf7RzKkGSbDhOECgvaVc4N1Rw4Ws9pyRZYVU0SWKM0_SWREKBkzHrJlwlj6sBQKGoQaobhDgbZ7TQhI4tFIdmG8e1t7bbPkPLaC6Hu5J0NcGBswrayU6YtJO/s4032/IMG_9926.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0_vbaSh-CXQC1huzhQ7v6yD2oMJO0ulabhlZDtlzqp2OuJBb6RV-R7uht12zEo3EBdybKjf7RzKkGSbDhOECgvaVc4N1Rw4Ws9pyRZYVU0SWKM0_SWREKBkzHrJlwlj6sBQKGoQaobhDgbZ7TQhI4tFIdmG8e1t7bbPkPLaC6Hu5J0NcGBswrayU6YtJO/s320/IMG_9926.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">The deer park was THE place to be that day, judging by the numbers of people. It was as good as impossible to take a photo without people in it.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">My Mum and I met at our nearby Italian restaurant for a pizza (me; Mum had gamberi in a slightly disappointing white wine sauce) and a glass of wine each. It was nice to catch up on things, just the two of us.</span></p><p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEA1bSrCNKqvZCvBkjV-lpTotzV4ZZNNZBcytcBZrUj9UX0s2_ltyT4VZ-DSTQc8rnn01EvhYFhAXPEhLp3rZpRjXj4kCGe9zHH46laGkMp9C7QFaXm-D1qQwru7tIad7u2MaB2D9IVlmP8ZMeVj0FKQtrLHsnriKzksrhL2VKkBDE8YVz3QsHjXVSja91/s4032/IMG_3087.heic" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEA1bSrCNKqvZCvBkjV-lpTotzV4ZZNNZBcytcBZrUj9UX0s2_ltyT4VZ-DSTQc8rnn01EvhYFhAXPEhLp3rZpRjXj4kCGe9zHH46laGkMp9C7QFaXm-D1qQwru7tIad7u2MaB2D9IVlmP8ZMeVj0FKQtrLHsnriKzksrhL2VKkBDE8YVz3QsHjXVSja91/s320/IMG_3087.heic" width="240" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">My Mum took this picture of me while I was taking a picture of our food :-D</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUHYUEVQWMAQ3xKgUzR0Rmxr87t7UmWkfiF1kvTrrWgl-xzRl0SworA4zojjYanBz74wbf8cERDXOCR0FQlo2Q6ufQfNV8k0o-j6tp__jwxtY53D1e4oBFmA6uhOmvABmFR8Ixx7dfyHbRShF1X76DgpYlPnQ915ZRaaswSW9KV08v4XR6MW4dDPWGlgVf/s4032/IMG_9933.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUHYUEVQWMAQ3xKgUzR0Rmxr87t7UmWkfiF1kvTrrWgl-xzRl0SworA4zojjYanBz74wbf8cERDXOCR0FQlo2Q6ufQfNV8k0o-j6tp__jwxtY53D1e4oBFmA6uhOmvABmFR8Ixx7dfyHbRShF1X76DgpYlPnQ915ZRaaswSW9KV08v4XR6MW4dDPWGlgVf/s320/IMG_9933.JPG" width="240" /></span></a></div><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">I don't know if you are aware of what has been going on in Germany now for a while. In short, a political party of extreme right-wing views has steadily been on the rise. The German Domestic Intelligence Services have been investigating and observing them for years. Recently, a network of independent researchers have made public a "secret" meeting of some of the party's high-ranking members with various other figures, planning on "re-migrating" millions of people they deem to be not worthy to live in Germany. Sounds familiar? Exactly!</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Once this was known, people started taking to the streets. In many cities across Germany, protest marches and rallies started to be held, all of them drawing much bigger crowds than what the organisers expected, and all of them peaceful.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Yesterday, Sunday, Ludwigsburg held just such a rally in the townhall's courtyard. It was organised by an alliance of politicial parties, volunteer groups, industry associations and others, and the variety of those who spoke was reflected in the diversity of people who attended: Families with children, old people, middle-agers such as my sister and myself, colourful and less conspicuous folks - all ages, sizes, shapes and looks were to be seen.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">An estimated 7,000 crowded the courtyard, but in spite of this large number, it never felt uneasy and we were never shoved about or squeezed, and I was not worried for one second that we could easily leave anytime we wanted to.</span></p><p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigbbjCy8O8H1TRlt7EXhPiyUIZnU3dV72VHlfgjYN7cTUxxLmyJZuAS9IuYWDkiTQiJ9U2zgbsksdHkYtn4DJz2XnReNt4Bah5QaayERA0n-qeeoxW-_ShAoFEUDKCzmtL909FF8ur660h45gbMv1DNcjXlVgECqAs80qOGigHku2skeWJX0im5qzghn4H/s4032/IMG_9935.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigbbjCy8O8H1TRlt7EXhPiyUIZnU3dV72VHlfgjYN7cTUxxLmyJZuAS9IuYWDkiTQiJ9U2zgbsksdHkYtn4DJz2XnReNt4Bah5QaayERA0n-qeeoxW-_ShAoFEUDKCzmtL909FF8ur660h45gbMv1DNcjXlVgECqAs80qOGigHku2skeWJX0im5qzghn4H/s320/IMG_9935.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">This was just as we arrived; more people kept joining the crowd throughout the rally.<br />The building in the back is our city hall. The 1960s concrete block to the right is the Kulturzentrum ("culture centre") of Ludwigsburg, holding among other things the city library where I was trained and worked from 1986 to 1992.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfGgbpAjIB2eB_z-bD5tgs1HGjdbgExZ27LM-Gz6J4CLhYkdYEqY5VCsswnZ37N0Pzo9fu_qS1z2DvIcILEh7Mv4Xg7zC7Xs3gFl0Iankn50whJM2O2UkefaqwZ3neR4ohwv4bEt0wZWt4ZxRkmJuYYcmC-RrVsrk-DuRkj5h6L3Kwf1neMakqvHa_68F2/s4032/IMG_9938.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfGgbpAjIB2eB_z-bD5tgs1HGjdbgExZ27LM-Gz6J4CLhYkdYEqY5VCsswnZ37N0Pzo9fu_qS1z2DvIcILEh7Mv4Xg7zC7Xs3gFl0Iankn50whJM2O2UkefaqwZ3neR4ohwv4bEt0wZWt4ZxRkmJuYYcmC-RrVsrk-DuRkj5h6L3Kwf1neMakqvHa_68F2/s320/IMG_9938.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaHkZy8OYwaCi1i6hOT2AAMDvTMx9DMaJfwIPNNOlhTbDJv2n5aM3ue1r87xH7wwIbNT13ya-_rc5pT5aYtcDSIOyd725Li5hCEMtFMch6WYE9wA0JTN4VlnJTUo90kEPdJe3Jifq375NMQP4JSOvHrIpQZv4opDxwlqQUNOPq1N2YXkscqKeirFfsxknq/s4032/IMG_9939.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaHkZy8OYwaCi1i6hOT2AAMDvTMx9DMaJfwIPNNOlhTbDJv2n5aM3ue1r87xH7wwIbNT13ya-_rc5pT5aYtcDSIOyd725Li5hCEMtFMch6WYE9wA0JTN4VlnJTUo90kEPdJe3Jifq375NMQP4JSOvHrIpQZv4opDxwlqQUNOPq1N2YXkscqKeirFfsxknq/s320/IMG_9939.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7gTAOl6I9VlPuHzyJH3GKYt26u9sVxmSmDnAuuc41ESHoKz4rC-Z44OR-3YhBi8qQlyeIaiMoSkAMrk8-jhKkFisDsTWvcp76oZn1KuCubFJcSTvZp5E2_f_UGf-mpncQavarZdXCQ52ThNe4IUAB1HqymSzGaW5Ub5aBUN_SIGYxSAIB0erF_QIkuA3k/s4032/IMG_9940(1).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7gTAOl6I9VlPuHzyJH3GKYt26u9sVxmSmDnAuuc41ESHoKz4rC-Z44OR-3YhBi8qQlyeIaiMoSkAMrk8-jhKkFisDsTWvcp76oZn1KuCubFJcSTvZp5E2_f_UGf-mpncQavarZdXCQ52ThNe4IUAB1HqymSzGaW5Ub5aBUN_SIGYxSAIB0erF_QIkuA3k/s320/IMG_9940(1).JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcxlzcMEMJvV8TKhK5RZ6tK5TSaieFelPYMvwnUgSZKD4_RH0rSRFZJ47FQha5kNWkC82wbM7Q8UfG6igedLteg5S4dmu8JF4Ke7rHH9pfVPyRlv69GOeg8N_4e4mSpUyODP5pCl-sN-5t1F8aEHv6ptODWZ34cnDHBWEjlR8ZgdepEYPX4FLBNynaoJXj/s4032/IMG_9941.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcxlzcMEMJvV8TKhK5RZ6tK5TSaieFelPYMvwnUgSZKD4_RH0rSRFZJ47FQha5kNWkC82wbM7Q8UfG6igedLteg5S4dmu8JF4Ke7rHH9pfVPyRlv69GOeg8N_4e4mSpUyODP5pCl-sN-5t1F8aEHv6ptODWZ34cnDHBWEjlR8ZgdepEYPX4FLBNynaoJXj/s320/IMG_9941.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: verdana;">A series of speeches - most of them clear and concise, with only one of them elaborating in a way I could not competely agree with, and only two of the speakers being so nervous they had to read from their notes - was interspersed with protest songs performed live by a man with a guitar. Placards and banners were held up, some of them rather witty. The atmosphere was relaxed, not fired up in a way that made you fear the mood could swing to aggression anytime.</span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Ludwigsburg's Lord Mayor put emphasis on the fact that, much as it matters that people come to rallies and protest marches, it is even more important to actually DO something - and he meant things like voting (we have several elections coming up this year), speaking up when we hear someone making a racist or nationalist comment, do volunteer work and quite clearly position ourselves far away from those who still believe that the human species consists of 1st and 2nd class invididuals, those who deserve to enjoy freedom, peace and prosperity and those who don't.</span></p>Librarianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05704656564078750607noreply@blogger.com20tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1949425054295660529.post-71775659686657463742024-01-22T17:46:00.002+01:002024-01-22T17:46:16.561+01:00Wintry Week<span style="font-family: verdana;">Last week brought more frosty nights and a bit more snow, but also sunny blue skies and several good walks for me.</span><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">On <b>Monday (15 January)</b>, I had to be out and about early in order to make it to my regular eye check-up in Stuttgart at 9:00 am. With my eyes, all was as good as can be expected, and I was back home by 11:00, working from there for the rest of the day.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">It was cold, the thermometer not rising above -1C/30F all day, and it started to snow around lunch time.</span></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwpvKZdkZicjWJU5Fx8y5dTSZM-6-Eg8WK1pD2MVuILNtiO7OgafGpbSra0JaNKUzlVbeSMxD5jZjLXy-hxUnU9YK3Hkw3SV8so-8LanmMuLN9KL3Qyw-iVV7jp03UGRIy8mNbG8mLTSdQoiRtq70kqxpQoPYNDml3ZT1B8oAwoGCXfkV63rLGSCOjTGtv/s3854/IMG_9871.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2890" data-original-width="3854" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwpvKZdkZicjWJU5Fx8y5dTSZM-6-Eg8WK1pD2MVuILNtiO7OgafGpbSra0JaNKUzlVbeSMxD5jZjLXy-hxUnU9YK3Hkw3SV8so-8LanmMuLN9KL3Qyw-iVV7jp03UGRIy8mNbG8mLTSdQoiRtq70kqxpQoPYNDml3ZT1B8oAwoGCXfkV63rLGSCOjTGtv/s320/IMG_9871.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Mid-afternoon last Monday</span></td></tr></tbody></table></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">Late afternoon, my former neighbour called for a chat and to thank me once more for the wall calendar I gave her for Christmas, printed with my own photos. She is such a nice lady, never complaining although she is struggling to adapt to life at the senior home, and I am certainly going to visit her again before long.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">Because icy rain and dangerous conditions on the roads and for public transport were forecast for Wednesday, I went to the office on <b>Tuesday (16 January)</b> instead. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">With the sunny day it turned out to be (but still as cold as Monday), and knowing I would not get a chance for a good walk the following day, I left as early as I could and walked home from Zuffenhausen. This usually takes a little under 2 hours, and although not all of it is beautiful, the part across the fields under a wide open sky always feels good.</span></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw3xmXluhsKlIj8e-IsFbVzI6GlwE2puaHx6jYG0t2KGZsEcH6YWy84Vz1GQ4nG5M6c3kNhUdnqqRS_XI9Cjt0r-I2i4H7J7Vj8vvv_3tQ9puuMcsDsuJ51_2jXTaWiExlhGqopmGpo4GfhwbLMgKskBIEOktRVrqxAkCOx1OmrTzV_gdREBT-1qrF9hhJ/s4032/IMG_9872.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw3xmXluhsKlIj8e-IsFbVzI6GlwE2puaHx6jYG0t2KGZsEcH6YWy84Vz1GQ4nG5M6c3kNhUdnqqRS_XI9Cjt0r-I2i4H7J7Vj8vvv_3tQ9puuMcsDsuJ51_2jXTaWiExlhGqopmGpo4GfhwbLMgKskBIEOktRVrqxAkCOx1OmrTzV_gdREBT-1qrF9hhJ/s320/IMG_9872.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Morning sky at 8:00 that day</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAR1orEIvxXVLi-HnH_rpdHmW8wcClkBQC1qQwZHd0CwfsKvF2BGc26MKq1cMK9i8NJnOPVaLz4BmpZyzxNsu2GQaKgYhBhJkHVystD4WfL_zwVOPFdBqGh83o6Oxiaj4Q2iM8E7nLV-gKBVqu-zXL55dPJ1LcYTPnQj7DYA9-eCW0ZpbZS1x-v75XZOpn/s4032/IMG_9873.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAR1orEIvxXVLi-HnH_rpdHmW8wcClkBQC1qQwZHd0CwfsKvF2BGc26MKq1cMK9i8NJnOPVaLz4BmpZyzxNsu2GQaKgYhBhJkHVystD4WfL_zwVOPFdBqGh83o6Oxiaj4Q2iM8E7nLV-gKBVqu-zXL55dPJ1LcYTPnQj7DYA9-eCW0ZpbZS1x-v75XZOpn/s320/IMG_9873.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">late afternoon light on the fields, not far from home</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcUkyMAd80HtbSfsznyX1L9zrCrLodnagbfMDtz0TLxvc4qEQx7KdSwmiVLtjLQJ04HN5SZVASqNoWnW_w7MCTb5avAS3MMQRZvuPdtAucO2C2rhCOj2VGnibEBr9arYDxhxjjyjtuNXS2WxQYT6AYYJD6ysiU_L7fDyM2cqRurJ0Zh7-iueKKZ8rthth6/s4032/IMG_9874.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcUkyMAd80HtbSfsznyX1L9zrCrLodnagbfMDtz0TLxvc4qEQx7KdSwmiVLtjLQJ04HN5SZVASqNoWnW_w7MCTb5avAS3MMQRZvuPdtAucO2C2rhCOj2VGnibEBr9arYDxhxjjyjtuNXS2WxQYT6AYYJD6ysiU_L7fDyM2cqRurJ0Zh7-iueKKZ8rthth6/s320/IMG_9874.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">A rosy glow on the snowy field comes with sunset fast approaching.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGuwzsdtKrQCtMW1j8NSigE7DvgD1w55ueB7O2Uq2BldFc4q0I8l6_F2DcP4M_WlnscJdsEoV6dWXV2FX-z39a78tDaCFc7SX0PZbVaGvZU6ME3ajo-OedJ5uq1qPNHHcrtKRzcSSbS6KgC3Wz2DUGHFslHYw85TIincYkuOVOQ3hfOwVB-bAtcp5Qs_N6/s4032/IMG_9876.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGuwzsdtKrQCtMW1j8NSigE7DvgD1w55ueB7O2Uq2BldFc4q0I8l6_F2DcP4M_WlnscJdsEoV6dWXV2FX-z39a78tDaCFc7SX0PZbVaGvZU6ME3ajo-OedJ5uq1qPNHHcrtKRzcSSbS6KgC3Wz2DUGHFslHYw85TIincYkuOVOQ3hfOwVB-bAtcp5Qs_N6/s320/IMG_9876.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: verdana;">The icy rain materialised as predicted on <b>Wednesday (17 January)</b>. That evening's news were full of reports about chaotic traffic and many accidents. The day's temperatures ranged from -4C/24F in the morning to 9C/48F - a freak weather day! No wonder I had a headache in the evening.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">Nonetheless, my sister and I were at our Mum's at 6:00 pm for a delicious meal; my Mum wanted to try out a new recipe, and the mixed vegetable patties, fried a crispy golden brown, were a hit, along with a rich peanutbutter sauce and a fresh leafy salad. With the evening being so unusually mild, a bottle of rosé wine was the perfect drink.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">The mini glimpse of spring was replaced by the return of winter on <b>Thursday (18 January)</b>. I worked from home and went walking for an hour, incidentally meeting a member of my volunteer group. We'd not seen each other in a while, and it was nice to briefly chat with the young woman and her little daughter.</span></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQ15DqnTutpRo0yETHOmrapU6-gQmHJYSfa2eINw3rJY6yuv3JCUEXcEaD2vqokTw9PUfn1EAsuZY6g_D9BOZQtIJPgL8N2gfp1xn3Th9f-TSHwmH1CjvrLdls_hXPteSwmxRdlRywMl49pj3vl7My4lmOJ9iwU2336qvJIlkym6wOArXihtuU9qtwVUvE/s4032/IMG_9878.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQ15DqnTutpRo0yETHOmrapU6-gQmHJYSfa2eINw3rJY6yuv3JCUEXcEaD2vqokTw9PUfn1EAsuZY6g_D9BOZQtIJPgL8N2gfp1xn3Th9f-TSHwmH1CjvrLdls_hXPteSwmxRdlRywMl49pj3vl7My4lmOJ9iwU2336qvJIlkym6wOArXihtuU9qtwVUvE/s320/IMG_9878.JPG" width="240" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Someone's garden in my neighbourhood. There was something about the small wooden handcart, covered in snow, that I found appealing.</span></td></tr></tbody></table></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">On <b>Friday (19 January)</b>, I only worked until lunch time and then took a train into Stuttgart, where I met my sister at the main station. Soon, we were on a train to Karlsruhe, arriving there less than an hour later.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">My birthday gift for my sister had been two tickets for an exhibition there. The topic: The 1980s! That decade was decisive for my sister and me; I was 12 in 1980, a school girl still playing with Barbie dolls, and 22 in 1990, about to get married for the first time. Everything that happened in between mattered - finishing school and starting work, first boyfriend (whom I was daft enough to marry), first move out from my childhood home, and so on.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">The exhibition covered about every conceivable facet of life in the 80s, from politics to culture, society, work, sports, music, fashion, games, electronics - you name it, they had it. And especially with music - you name it, we knew it! Music was HUGE for us as teenagers, and it was great to see a collection of record sleeves on display along with a musical memory game (which was easy).</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">In the fashion department, they had a clothes rack full of coats, jackets, hats, legwarmers and other things for visitors to try on. We had fun with that - I wish I could show you the photo we took, but my sister is in it and of course she won't have it.</span></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9NPtqaws5z2jZlZvxQXIl6NORb95g8pwWmiddytPSgBYefAKiSMliiHBSzuqnvP_U0aUgFM_-2pdBJAoJHdC-tm5MQZCggyw0xxJwR5wvY4Bsr-OeGJSW2G0FHD0yy4tCKPlHRTwFx9AGbixltLoSK8kOTAUrBpXES_IJKHlsTN7bAWg58CdvsckTQiPx/s3804/IMG_9879.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2853" data-original-width="3804" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9NPtqaws5z2jZlZvxQXIl6NORb95g8pwWmiddytPSgBYefAKiSMliiHBSzuqnvP_U0aUgFM_-2pdBJAoJHdC-tm5MQZCggyw0xxJwR5wvY4Bsr-OeGJSW2G0FHD0yy4tCKPlHRTwFx9AGbixltLoSK8kOTAUrBpXES_IJKHlsTN7bAWg58CdvsckTQiPx/s320/IMG_9879.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Another beautiful morning sky from my kitchen window.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0KQv5nLRVg25fs1Bc9v9iH1lPReo2ZhN0F0vf2GiSJYSbdc4hKKxCZEYMevmeFayHaLDur9nA7frwQnYCtHCjFjpLvzDOxidCpTNoOtnS9ZB6nO04_q3MLmHL-jbghasurWfbLXBBdEXXpVEdG7pAj3RGh-F_sRPBbOWxBDFzfgg6zrvz4dVnjUR5VItW/s4032/IMG_9880.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0KQv5nLRVg25fs1Bc9v9iH1lPReo2ZhN0F0vf2GiSJYSbdc4hKKxCZEYMevmeFayHaLDur9nA7frwQnYCtHCjFjpLvzDOxidCpTNoOtnS9ZB6nO04_q3MLmHL-jbghasurWfbLXBBdEXXpVEdG7pAj3RGh-F_sRPBbOWxBDFzfgg6zrvz4dVnjUR5VItW/s320/IMG_9880.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Schloss Karlsruhe (Badisches Landesmuseum)</span></td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmd-ukIDVBcYEOgFnoTh6Z2I913LWoB4lMDGtHWTZV2oFOzR0_kxM-RQ5Zw2z_0aRo_mBpqsKhqaG3R4_GtXFouTFpzDZz_5hW4qYUCi3Oax8O6tDtVCNsh2rFNBFwgeNdY6O0fSKlzMEfUwK_01WL6lKgyJBjeX8r3ec9JpKxs68whSBkR3kK8cXjoevp/s4032/IMG_0978.heic" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmd-ukIDVBcYEOgFnoTh6Z2I913LWoB4lMDGtHWTZV2oFOzR0_kxM-RQ5Zw2z_0aRo_mBpqsKhqaG3R4_GtXFouTFpzDZz_5hW4qYUCi3Oax8O6tDtVCNsh2rFNBFwgeNdY6O0fSKlzMEfUwK_01WL6lKgyJBjeX8r3ec9JpKxs68whSBkR3kK8cXjoevp/s320/IMG_0978.heic" width="240" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Look at this "mobile phone" to be used in cars! "Pocky" was state of the art in 1988 and available at the incredible price of 15,000 DM - roughly 16,000 € today, or 13,000 pounds, or 17,000 US $. For size comparison, I held my iphone next to the display.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1sat7JPftXFjysBErEvxd4CVHNDTDvMVdjFQt0iprpbDCSxT5KWGTdCeiAty5j3yahYoR9zFa14QaoedlzkF1HspdwYyyFLfqL4NQe3hR_PiEjKOk34qYpYJp2gqLsrYijPiLJBQYE7dOYQyhp6sWnMsu7PWhy1lpccNCV6_hQvGHbvWldbb61jkW2BdM/s4032/IMG_9882.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"></span><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzx0IR7hMrXc67FrOWH3LiRTFPV6MGhQF7Sw4OEm1HtFK_0UNTOfW2c82tRSl_cmsp0bJlcBwwuGX4ABQAGKUmsoKug0pdFDDuCqYg7-lCjVK8s07K4XJPrJasxxEK65KBifEowQYd8qC6s5mrUc1LXAKpTlzHhvXj6C5h9Si4gEoXUiyVOqUSx7BjSUpT/s4032/IMG_0982.heic" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzx0IR7hMrXc67FrOWH3LiRTFPV6MGhQF7Sw4OEm1HtFK_0UNTOfW2c82tRSl_cmsp0bJlcBwwuGX4ABQAGKUmsoKug0pdFDDuCqYg7-lCjVK8s07K4XJPrJasxxEK65KBifEowQYd8qC6s5mrUc1LXAKpTlzHhvXj6C5h9Si4gEoXUiyVOqUSx7BjSUpT/s320/IMG_0982.heic" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This was the atlas we used at school for geography lessons! A true blast from the past for me.</td></tr></tbody></table></a></div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwGp2aq643sWeDgulk_buo5Lu-bHOefLRXnmufp6H3qRvrpSLjEt-rgESQRwzuOtVrEPLlg4jEtt6r__tkjwuyOSfKNJhv7flkxDBHZs5PVKwdiRninsI1QBE9aqWM_eX-lTGQ3hulLhcL1TBoQnq-x49YYHRStS_GH91iYTQnYVgA5CK13IYE0xbbYsDD/s4032/IMG_9883.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwGp2aq643sWeDgulk_buo5Lu-bHOefLRXnmufp6H3qRvrpSLjEt-rgESQRwzuOtVrEPLlg4jEtt6r__tkjwuyOSfKNJhv7flkxDBHZs5PVKwdiRninsI1QBE9aqWM_eX-lTGQ3hulLhcL1TBoQnq-x49YYHRStS_GH91iYTQnYVgA5CK13IYE0xbbYsDD/s320/IMG_9883.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">A selection of products that could be found in many households in West Germany in the 1980s.</span></td></tr></tbody></table></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">Back then, we were not politically minded, but of course we knew about the most important goings-on; you couldn't escape the news. Now, we could refresh our memories and at the same time marvel (coupled with a sense of despair) at how much was already known about the state of the planet, all the measures that were suggested, and what has come of it several decades later...? I leave it up to you to answer.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">What we found very interesting was the East German perspective. In the 1980s, my family had no contact with anyone in the "other" Germany, and what we knew about life across the fiercely guarded border was limited. Now we could see for ouselves what their take was on those topics so familiar to us.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">You can have a look at the exhibition's website <a href="https://80er.landesmuseum.de/" target="_blank">here</a>. Scroll down a bit (or use the menu at the right side of the page) to look at the music - you don't need to understand German for that bit :-)</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">After a very interesting and pleasant couple of hours, we had looked at everything that was there to look at, and were in need of sustenance. </span><span style="font-family: verdana;">Walking back towards the train station, we stopped at the first café we saw, and had a large piece of cake and coffee each.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">The journey back home was uneventful; by 7:30 pm I shut the door to my flat from inside. A great day out it had been!</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">Just like the previous weekend, and for the same reasons, I was on my own. On <b>Saturday (20 January)</b>, I did all the usual household things before going out for a walk in the afternoon sun. It was cold (-7C/19F in the morning and no warmer than -3C/26F later), but as long as I kept moving and the sun was shining on my back, I was fine.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCpRmla8MEjELUvQKo9QqJovQe3iH3Cm-xJ_BiSqPJbJTTQa13XwWzY3fO8HdWgAVSQCLMdS76HipcScNRbj8_Ua5FEW6zWE_2cDqF4aoKzV9GYhxaQHaB8ZanPUgz7Xqczn1kGhWIbdmsOrvSy-I40tYKaKj8dxDQxPOyF3Q1ock8sc10US40Sj3bARTj/s4032/IMG_9896.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCpRmla8MEjELUvQKo9QqJovQe3iH3Cm-xJ_BiSqPJbJTTQa13XwWzY3fO8HdWgAVSQCLMdS76HipcScNRbj8_Ua5FEW6zWE_2cDqF4aoKzV9GYhxaQHaB8ZanPUgz7Xqczn1kGhWIbdmsOrvSy-I40tYKaKj8dxDQxPOyF3Q1ock8sc10US40Sj3bARTj/s320/IMG_9896.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGN7F9hiw_6Htf9mTlObfbPrNFudIsb8a-rgyDBC96gV9f5PttzQDOSUVOQDsorhTvXeXixpqy8wem_WSqkAFc6p3extSiPP8K931YdYxN9l7aQY7HNHgg01quM9Hg9S3krY6gpX6DHhhOm0kqDdAqZ7YYLYLY3yn0NT_RxMiIEMzKP7LK7_Kn3el-qtPG/s4032/IMG_9898.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGN7F9hiw_6Htf9mTlObfbPrNFudIsb8a-rgyDBC96gV9f5PttzQDOSUVOQDsorhTvXeXixpqy8wem_WSqkAFc6p3extSiPP8K931YdYxN9l7aQY7HNHgg01quM9Hg9S3krY6gpX6DHhhOm0kqDdAqZ7YYLYLY3yn0NT_RxMiIEMzKP7LK7_Kn3el-qtPG/s320/IMG_9898.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9-aGGSp6jb22PEykMqkHVWgOU8j9W0L3GmoD8ix0vM6wB0jLAPpG9ePLUdAAHVr0FxOQ5ifpoZkDOgWc3HAlLBrxdURu62I2hEvoNFMTT0KzySQnwdYI6gECDBCzHNGSvhC6-fJ7faY6S3gR7z7_uBC2dIqSigqy3ZVGOVZlyXotbejYUAsMUFd6FxXQo/s4032/IMG_9899.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9-aGGSp6jb22PEykMqkHVWgOU8j9W0L3GmoD8ix0vM6wB0jLAPpG9ePLUdAAHVr0FxOQ5ifpoZkDOgWc3HAlLBrxdURu62I2hEvoNFMTT0KzySQnwdYI6gECDBCzHNGSvhC6-fJ7faY6S3gR7z7_uBC2dIqSigqy3ZVGOVZlyXotbejYUAsMUFd6FxXQo/s320/IMG_9899.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7QbMACRZoRSYNISqrOJJCQqyeMmSG9IVejRdcSy1Gd_B6IOI4LmRpzlDqIMA-zofMuAkHajT3Q4zHWTDRvORX8wQnN1_83iAwFnQ3swJZbS1pCojHDLhc1Q3IKSHzm4MnMwc5rU-G1NmC6UU-6TzWoKghfP_pGEVAF1oPRNghi1tSRTAZJo7J07XmYl40/s4032/IMG_9900.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7QbMACRZoRSYNISqrOJJCQqyeMmSG9IVejRdcSy1Gd_B6IOI4LmRpzlDqIMA-zofMuAkHajT3Q4zHWTDRvORX8wQnN1_83iAwFnQ3swJZbS1pCojHDLhc1Q3IKSHzm4MnMwc5rU-G1NmC6UU-6TzWoKghfP_pGEVAF1oPRNghi1tSRTAZJo7J07XmYl40/s320/IMG_9900.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinPMJFqfuWxyzcpxVaAsHdsZmzF9Q0Xyo15R8uZTSWsqOdT3f3V2bKs0BEQAAY3VwXsEAtVWDBJOfwESdJ3Xitj_20PjbXi7a5jWyjuJuJhPa9_htkzv2jeLhVbc7WShIIeV7ZPlIudU8CgDqX6EtWCn0p9d8sRECQ427nGsebOML3oNt813qyfW-QioPq/s4032/IMG_9901.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinPMJFqfuWxyzcpxVaAsHdsZmzF9Q0Xyo15R8uZTSWsqOdT3f3V2bKs0BEQAAY3VwXsEAtVWDBJOfwESdJ3Xitj_20PjbXi7a5jWyjuJuJhPa9_htkzv2jeLhVbc7WShIIeV7ZPlIudU8CgDqX6EtWCn0p9d8sRECQ427nGsebOML3oNt813qyfW-QioPq/s320/IMG_9901.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQorqX_eESq7F5BmimccGLBkgzHKZZz04yvWk_RGpJSY9XoylOkqe8cBE1k5O35Gwp0zwe0MUoNmwtud1KwvtOMczucqbBn30O1YQbYaxU1pFrcxUNarIcgVjkIYkFgIRr6XJXHIKy7djCz2AlNMOk25bnG-bO60rDoNaC3do78_HTTQFBAn7hficy3omF/s4032/IMG_9902.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQorqX_eESq7F5BmimccGLBkgzHKZZz04yvWk_RGpJSY9XoylOkqe8cBE1k5O35Gwp0zwe0MUoNmwtud1KwvtOMczucqbBn30O1YQbYaxU1pFrcxUNarIcgVjkIYkFgIRr6XJXHIKy7djCz2AlNMOk25bnG-bO60rDoNaC3do78_HTTQFBAn7hficy3omF/s320/IMG_9902.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: verdana;">Sunset is now at around 5:00 pm, by which time I arrived at Benningen's train stop (you can't really call it a station) and took the next train back to Ludwigsburg.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>Sunday (21 January)</b> was milder with the afternoon temperature being at 4C/39F and much of the snow and ice on the paths (and on the lake!) thawing. After a leisurely morning, I walked to the small palace by the lake, where we'd been for several "Wine After Work" events last summer. Of course, I wasn't the only one to have that idea - the place was packed, and the kiosk doing brisk business with hot sausages and mulled wine. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">I only took a few photos and then walked back.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp4Jj6U3FBFXW2vblbLo7K3Of6m5ldvANnjCmKPUed4yyjMuwDMRLKmPqrC4-fPEFD-ml1skQQoKCiPGQ-M_4b0F8dNstQpxFOqSSUwmhpOj6-RKvskOQyLAyJfx7IBOhik_n1ZMCpHqUIgWWo9Abqz_tTbytIK_AuDurKKRkrsN77sLzxNuAFx3sTeuf6/s4032/IMG_9906.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp4Jj6U3FBFXW2vblbLo7K3Of6m5ldvANnjCmKPUed4yyjMuwDMRLKmPqrC4-fPEFD-ml1skQQoKCiPGQ-M_4b0F8dNstQpxFOqSSUwmhpOj6-RKvskOQyLAyJfx7IBOhik_n1ZMCpHqUIgWWo9Abqz_tTbytIK_AuDurKKRkrsN77sLzxNuAFx3sTeuf6/s320/IMG_9906.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">About a dozen unfamiliar birds visited the khaki tree in front of my bedroom window on Saturday and Sunday, eating what they could get out of the fruit still hanging from the bare trees. With O.K.'s help, I identified them as Wacholderdrosseln (Turdus pilaris), from the thrush family.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5cnwXc4_WkNqQ6VALZbiNTieg-mBeW02cHhyPMKoZXx5DUK_AZvf1iY1zAjFbn57d0xZt8dxpw8uIO_PAFkN4lxvsoT3Rrd-Nu_WbP91x_hQfhwSfuM9rs575Dtr7YjZ8YBH74d8NQzCA46n_df5j8pKYSihWgz1802I3bJw86VtM1lsPGiek0kljn6Rw/s4032/IMG_9908.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5cnwXc4_WkNqQ6VALZbiNTieg-mBeW02cHhyPMKoZXx5DUK_AZvf1iY1zAjFbn57d0xZt8dxpw8uIO_PAFkN4lxvsoT3Rrd-Nu_WbP91x_hQfhwSfuM9rs575Dtr7YjZ8YBH74d8NQzCA46n_df5j8pKYSihWgz1802I3bJw86VtM1lsPGiek0kljn6Rw/s320/IMG_9908.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">The lake was frozen - but thawing had begun already, and wisely, nobody stepped on the ice.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ9lBZmMc1XwdbvjAo2g4TO1DLfyDoTMgQUmxoFB7fiQFXBM-sXa3jOSZF_Ldp63YGcNQ1pj5aGhSV-yOznQCJvJRnjd-Wyl5dfSSfWtPaBn018zoxG7ogTjttDmoGNW6j7N31U4a2Oeyf87CgYPdn0dQeE4N_t2pCYZfPDdFZJf_s3Uua2nOZPi5x-XKR/s4032/IMG_9910.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ9lBZmMc1XwdbvjAo2g4TO1DLfyDoTMgQUmxoFB7fiQFXBM-sXa3jOSZF_Ldp63YGcNQ1pj5aGhSV-yOznQCJvJRnjd-Wyl5dfSSfWtPaBn018zoxG7ogTjttDmoGNW6j7N31U4a2Oeyf87CgYPdn0dQeE4N_t2pCYZfPDdFZJf_s3Uua2nOZPi5x-XKR/s320/IMG_9910.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAQcmbtls7C4ggUhdNmn5OfImoq3jlT3f-c5khvEeRbogQfnZk5_WR4u4QE5jZ4aU8rbVr_1madvbmx5rLF1fsFz9A6dV5CuZlv_bbXK3uIXYX1EeLJI4U2p2C5E_xtKID2nzcCI5DAgQuIXFdHOUhZXdqjHAFs43irqMCt8dABmMWEaKXX8NLDMOvdLM7/s4032/IMG_9911.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAQcmbtls7C4ggUhdNmn5OfImoq3jlT3f-c5khvEeRbogQfnZk5_WR4u4QE5jZ4aU8rbVr_1madvbmx5rLF1fsFz9A6dV5CuZlv_bbXK3uIXYX1EeLJI4U2p2C5E_xtKID2nzcCI5DAgQuIXFdHOUhZXdqjHAFs43irqMCt8dABmMWEaKXX8NLDMOvdLM7/s320/IMG_9911.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: verdana;">It is good to know that next weekend (unless either of us falls ill), O.K. will be here - we have talked on the phone every day, but of course that is not the same as spending time together "for real".</span></div>Librarianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05704656564078750607noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1949425054295660529.post-87520029671129733422024-01-21T10:15:00.004+01:002024-01-21T10:15:39.089+01:00Read in 2024 - 2: The Next Girl<p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><u></u></b></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><u><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi975dqn7AF2UycH6GgwpD8c3NUWH0ov1oBi1ykwkiR76XyxdjQUtDHZQTNyd-MIAHNC4gNH2oJEOQxmKpjA77xoB-BBBiEf2-iYa_NFnpOkNPqEW4RBq68epKdDcAVUFbWJNls_KhmN3ePGHBxmuAft6JySpZ-M9rsLMTs_1AHjhQPMv6ihpuOm04_Q0n9/s468/Front_Cover_The_Next_Girl.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="468" data-original-width="298" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi975dqn7AF2UycH6GgwpD8c3NUWH0ov1oBi1ykwkiR76XyxdjQUtDHZQTNyd-MIAHNC4gNH2oJEOQxmKpjA77xoB-BBBiEf2-iYa_NFnpOkNPqEW4RBq68epKdDcAVUFbWJNls_KhmN3ePGHBxmuAft6JySpZ-M9rsLMTs_1AHjhQPMv6ihpuOm04_Q0n9/s320/Front_Cover_The_Next_Girl.jpg" width="204" /></a></u></b></span></div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><u>The Next Girl (No. 1 in the DI Gina Harte series)</u></b></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>Carla Kovach</b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">As has been so often the case with my reading in the past ten years or so, this was a freebie on Amazon's kindle shop, meant to entice the reader to get interested enough to buy the following books in the series.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">It has not quite worked that way for me, because although "The Next Girl" certainly was a very gripping read, especially as events picked up speed in the last third of the story, I did not get quite as deep "into" it as the author would like. Not her fault, but probably my own way of handling what I sometimes found hard to bear.<br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">A young woman, mother of two small children, disappears on her way home from work, seemingly without a trace. Four years later, just as her husband and the children are coming to terms with her probably being dead and never returning home, an abandoned newborn baby is found - and a DNA test (prompted by an anonymous phone call) shows that it is the missing woman's child.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">DI Gina Harte, who investigated the original case when Deborah Jenkins first went missing, has never quite overcome her guilty feeling at having failed back then, not having been able to give the Jenkins family a definite answer as to what happened to Deborah.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Now she gets a second chance at solving the case, and is determined to give it all she can - not easy when her entire department is understaffed and running on a tight budget.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Her own family life is problematic, too; her late husband has left dark memories behind she has never shared with anyone, leading to her daughter becoming more and more estranged.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Is Gina going to find Deborah before it's too late, and will she make her grown-up daughter and granddaughter be part of her life again? Also, there is a budding relationship she does not know yet whether to pursue or not... Enough material for more books in the series :-)</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">For a change, in this story the investigating officer is not in danger of being hurt or killed herself. But her own memories keep haunting her, being too close to what she believes the missing woman must be going through.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">It was</span><span style="font-family: verdana;"> the combination of Gina's memories and Deborah's reality during the four years she's been missing that I found hard to bear. Knowing that such horrible things really happen to countless women all over the world, in all parts of society, is bad enough; reading about them is not what I'm looking for in reading for entertainment.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">This was the first time I'd come across Carla Kovach and her work. You can learn more about her and her books on her <a href="https://www.carlakovach.com/" target="_blank">website</a>.</span></p>Librarianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05704656564078750607noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1949425054295660529.post-32946938986451790182024-01-20T14:18:00.002+01:002024-01-20T14:18:31.737+01:00Read in 2024 - 1: All Teachers Great and Small<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiooRirNQ6WFCoau2_yv3c9_um-uJMadFQwQlvh-NzcQl-qQ7QKR6WuYSwBv4jN6r_zh0TA1wnDFqUjw7kkLAQxHQYLGJWTLCQR6sMSacGrBsFvCZIMq3hksoCOsS8JxwnDC8J3bLIlEpykG3C0AQjxrcZ8oEWEb8zy-emJFDG1tmKDce6PaW1j-TSYIs4C/s685/teachers.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="685" data-original-width="450" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiooRirNQ6WFCoau2_yv3c9_um-uJMadFQwQlvh-NzcQl-qQ7QKR6WuYSwBv4jN6r_zh0TA1wnDFqUjw7kkLAQxHQYLGJWTLCQR6sMSacGrBsFvCZIMq3hksoCOsS8JxwnDC8J3bLIlEpykG3C0AQjxrcZ8oEWEb8zy-emJFDG1tmKDce6PaW1j-TSYIs4C/s320/teachers.jpg" width="210" /></a></div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><u>All Teachers Great and Small<br /></u></b></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>by Andy Seed</b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">A gift from my sister, this is the first book in a series about the life of a village school teacher in the Yorkshire Dales.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Sounds familiar? Yes, and there certainly are similarities to Jack Sheffield's "Teacher" series - you can find my reviews of those delightful books by entering "Jack Sheffield" in the search box in the top left corner of my blog.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">In both cases, we have a young teacher starting his first job at a village school in Yorkshire. And it's not only work itself, the children at the school, the other staff and living in a new place, but also entering a new phase in their adult lives, starting their own family, that needs some adjusting to.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Also, both series are set in or around the 1980s - a time I remember so very well myself, because it was the crucial period of teenage years and transition to young adulthood (I was 12 in 1980, and 22 in 1990) with the milestones of leaving school, starting work and so on.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">But still, it would be unfair to say that Andy Seed has just created something like a copy of Jack Sheffield's older series. He, his wife, the school staff, the school itself, the village, his neighbours and so on are all their own characters and no cheap copies.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">The book follows his entire first year at the school. Each chapter's headline is the name of a boy or girl who features prominently in that chapter. Built around those individual children are all the events of the school year, successes and dramas alike.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">There is a school trip, a Christmas panto and nativity play, the old Head Teacher leaves, a memorable football match takes place, and the school year ends on a game of rounders with the opposing teams being children v. staff.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">In the meantime, the new young teacher and his wife find their first own home, make it habitable, meet their new neighbours and have a baby.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">No shortage of events there, and I expect the next installments to be similarly entertaining (I already have them on my kindle).</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">The author's website is <a href="https://www.andyseed.com/" target="_blank">here</a>. Like Jack Sheffield, Andy Seed really used to be a teacher, and much of what happens in his books is based on real happenings from that time.</span></p>Librarianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05704656564078750607noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1949425054295660529.post-81301995108240407602024-01-20T13:58:00.006+01:002024-01-20T13:58:49.737+01:00Read in 2023 - 35: A Christmas Posy<p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><u></u></b></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><u><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBMMshzgyKGJH0G6HtVdnvENdaHDf1OqAPDccN2hD_AwIXt6PIR7YD4_4Kppm5q3fl1sJCzQ2l7pdXG9rfPzoFPUnDXyB6DbTF_cNcMoA5IHst2UHbP2xb1exAtlrUfJkvB8jdtufkebDt5Pe-7B1XzdejUMn9eF7QY9bJm8B7RoWEsZJNxTinsSgVfrlQ/s300/Posy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="190" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBMMshzgyKGJH0G6HtVdnvENdaHDf1OqAPDccN2hD_AwIXt6PIR7YD4_4Kppm5q3fl1sJCzQ2l7pdXG9rfPzoFPUnDXyB6DbTF_cNcMoA5IHst2UHbP2xb1exAtlrUfJkvB8jdtufkebDt5Pe-7B1XzdejUMn9eF7QY9bJm8B7RoWEsZJNxTinsSgVfrlQ/s1600/Posy.jpg" width="190" /></a></u></b></span></div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><u>A Christmas Posy</u></b></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>by Mrs. Molesworth</b></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Every year around Christmas, I try to get in at least one seasonal read, in some years with more success than in others. Not long before Christmas 2023, I started on another one of the many old children's books I have on my kindle, several of which were written by </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mary_Louisa_Molesworth" style="color: #00997f; font-family: verdana; font-size: 15.4px; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">Mrs. Molesworth</a><span style="color: #222222; font-family: verdana; font-size: 15.4px;"> (clicking on her name will take you to her wikipedia entry). You can find my other reviews of her books (one as recent as October 2023) simply by typing "Molesworth" in the search box in the top left corner of this page.</span></span></p><p><span style="color: #222222; font-family: verdana;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 15.4px;">The one I chose last Christmas was a minor disappointment in that it was not really about Christmas, in spite of its title. </span></span></p><p><span style="color: #222222; font-family: verdana;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 15.4px;">Several short-ish stand-alone stories are supposed to leave the young reader with a warm feeling and a boost of morale, encouraging good behaviour but not in a sour-faced way. There is humour, too, but all things considered, I found none of the stories as engaging as some of the author's other works.</span></span></p><p><span style="color: #222222; font-family: verdana;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 15.4px;"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj_HIKABSDrZ2QDjLENnTP5bSWeY0DUy0tJTQWYp1IQJFd7nK9eusSw6n-mNzl1yOt65JhL1JSN8F0zEXvt3CKpYQenPiT_5rCwcwhgjrhVSKh9K3fhr2hSfp03QGY2jT3dN5yfaF6TkZ_FsCfTvQ_D-Z0oy1IlkK-m1Vuy-13jnBSjfGZa9sOgyciGSxe_" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="606" data-original-width="389" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj_HIKABSDrZ2QDjLENnTP5bSWeY0DUy0tJTQWYp1IQJFd7nK9eusSw6n-mNzl1yOt65JhL1JSN8F0zEXvt3CKpYQenPiT_5rCwcwhgjrhVSKh9K3fhr2hSfp03QGY2jT3dN5yfaF6TkZ_FsCfTvQ_D-Z0oy1IlkK-m1Vuy-13jnBSjfGZa9sOgyciGSxe_=w205-h320" width="205" /></a></span></div><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: verdana; font-size: 15.4px;">Each story is about overcoming a difficult situation, usually with the help of others, but also last but not least because the hero or heroine draws on their own goodness and strength of character.</span><p></p><p><span style="color: #222222; font-family: verdana;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 15.4px;">The topics range from a lost, much treasured family heirloom returned to its rightful owner to a boy who wishes nothing more than to learn to play the violin. Maybe the stories were just too short for me to really warm to the characters.</span></span></p><p><span style="color: #222222; font-family: verdana;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 15.4px;">And I am not saying I did not enjoy the read or consider it a waste of time, it just was neither particularly Christmassy nor engaging.</span></span></p><p><span style="color: #222222; font-family: verdana;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 15.4px;">Originally published in 1888, my free kindle copy came without illustrations and of course did not have the ornate cover I am showing you here.</span></span></p><p><span style="color: #222222; font-family: verdana;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 15.4px;">I actually finished it in 2024, but read 80 % of it in 2023, so it is my last read of 2023 and first of 2024 at the same time.</span></span></p>Librarianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05704656564078750607noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1949425054295660529.post-45738412180405288902024-01-15T17:52:00.004+01:002024-01-15T17:52:56.008+01:00Frosty Week<p><span style="font-family: verdana;">All of last week, the termometer did not reach above freezing point. We had cold nights and mornings, -8C/17F being the coldest I experienced. No new snow fell after what came down last Sunday night, but because of the cold, it simply remained where it was, hardly melting under the sun. Yes, the sun! Several sunny days in a row were really enticing for walks, but never very long; the cold eventually made itself felt, no matter how warm I dressed.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">My longest walk last week was on <b>Monday (8 January)</b> when I took two hours out of work in the afternoon, not having any meetings, and walked my standard route to Benningen. At -3C/26F, it was not too bad as long as I was moving.</span></p><p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiehcJ2IEbFOXlQEKW_9_FH2ipayeilJK03RK4g7XyYe13LstS4fdoiV-rP70KRXmOZLK2-1e-iH9Lcx7D4LUMndiBhPlxo5ksoOBFbbQbKXYzEVWdSSIhJoQQY7HfEa8AtJUiNvDj1-QtOmYnPn4uZVRyOeHDRO0COAHIFaUrkc8GcvFwZQ8Mz6EhAnuSM/s4032/IMG_9852.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiehcJ2IEbFOXlQEKW_9_FH2ipayeilJK03RK4g7XyYe13LstS4fdoiV-rP70KRXmOZLK2-1e-iH9Lcx7D4LUMndiBhPlxo5ksoOBFbbQbKXYzEVWdSSIhJoQQY7HfEa8AtJUiNvDj1-QtOmYnPn4uZVRyOeHDRO0COAHIFaUrkc8GcvFwZQ8Mz6EhAnuSM/s320/IMG_9852.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">View from my kitchen window at 1/4 past 8:00 that morning...</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRnWQAD0ecGVPhzCo6q4dkeLCl7vCYQFYJA0Die4JBTakIJS7lZ2DRTSR1WKuYseacUYDhF40YjkVXAoXCYYGT2bRBPdcMfcNmWdApEq8rwt7IUctrgpoMbRzZdLW-BSLQK15STU1GLrKYMzVGGl7LhQjUHPzYsAM7xeHH-y0dZJjBAwcxiI1YDHCoUf-_/s4032/IMG_9853.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRnWQAD0ecGVPhzCo6q4dkeLCl7vCYQFYJA0Die4JBTakIJS7lZ2DRTSR1WKuYseacUYDhF40YjkVXAoXCYYGT2bRBPdcMfcNmWdApEq8rwt7IUctrgpoMbRzZdLW-BSLQK15STU1GLrKYMzVGGl7LhQjUHPzYsAM7xeHH-y0dZJjBAwcxiI1YDHCoUf-_/s320/IMG_9853.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">... and at 1/4 to 2:00 in the afternoon.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_RbGKujZCZTmU7n3x_dDAsq4uZteojr2-a7jVDAX4Z7w1mYfRfb4STbaO80WRPeCyAD4L717SdViK1kkOEV5jt9Qr-7nEw5x31Pk7wKc7a30f66cn2W9ITesBzqTovY4iWpdTkvVLW8WFjTD2u4ZR3LX0F0zHr-12xujcptUp1KVfyCGlMsXVHO7K-mcw/s4032/IMG_9854.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_RbGKujZCZTmU7n3x_dDAsq4uZteojr2-a7jVDAX4Z7w1mYfRfb4STbaO80WRPeCyAD4L717SdViK1kkOEV5jt9Qr-7nEw5x31Pk7wKc7a30f66cn2W9ITesBzqTovY4iWpdTkvVLW8WFjTD2u4ZR3LX0F0zHr-12xujcptUp1KVfyCGlMsXVHO7K-mcw/s320/IMG_9854.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">On the way to Benningen</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb7fPKUzIqnCIpRxJXsFyG7z7kBUbfoZcs3FsAqdZdo9C2a5Mp3-FgyMfw_NntvinDEtfW5tnBg1UZITzM_63TweaguNEMdPN4-G3gqyebN2zbvohNxY0wejt-tR5NoNxLAnBByv1lpoIxahyqRS14qTl_gmYK2vCkUtoCbNU0PYFVSF0qCIkzg_-2YSIW/s4032/IMG_9855.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb7fPKUzIqnCIpRxJXsFyG7z7kBUbfoZcs3FsAqdZdo9C2a5Mp3-FgyMfw_NntvinDEtfW5tnBg1UZITzM_63TweaguNEMdPN4-G3gqyebN2zbvohNxY0wejt-tR5NoNxLAnBByv1lpoIxahyqRS14qTl_gmYK2vCkUtoCbNU0PYFVSF0qCIkzg_-2YSIW/s320/IMG_9855.JPG" width="240" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlcIl7EQwz5N702JmPL74JWAuDnRvTNUYYyfBBm6Y6L4aOBPSSToP4itUQnK5DkBOs8L7GL3JnAQ5ftGglOq3EJKTCa6OTU4w0kI_cE3YobfsT1QVn8gL_cN5aJbNkCgGzWFz1Crzr7zm-M4394ND1FYQ0_zZO20Ubcg77oPt09SMn-LFCMA9XCHUwNxBI/s4032/IMG_9856.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlcIl7EQwz5N702JmPL74JWAuDnRvTNUYYyfBBm6Y6L4aOBPSSToP4itUQnK5DkBOs8L7GL3JnAQ5ftGglOq3EJKTCa6OTU4w0kI_cE3YobfsT1QVn8gL_cN5aJbNkCgGzWFz1Crzr7zm-M4394ND1FYQ0_zZO20Ubcg77oPt09SMn-LFCMA9XCHUwNxBI/s320/IMG_9856.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF5b5eKjRO4adgZEAVIAn-ewpOPBfFRRIAajjR1iIud6nvqNTyrOtHMV4I8sWKYtnGR64xAgPjJqs6Sz4rhEC-CCWTea6OX1gF-jmZSQRLJo3e50TMsBW9oDs7j5U8rReIFtuHDZPyfPzc1Qqb3C0-_BvPqjQ52KXFkX-irl7CgM9v-oz4axSS6E9c2uAE/s4032/IMG_9857.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF5b5eKjRO4adgZEAVIAn-ewpOPBfFRRIAajjR1iIud6nvqNTyrOtHMV4I8sWKYtnGR64xAgPjJqs6Sz4rhEC-CCWTea6OX1gF-jmZSQRLJo3e50TMsBW9oDs7j5U8rReIFtuHDZPyfPzc1Qqb3C0-_BvPqjQ52KXFkX-irl7CgM9v-oz4axSS6E9c2uAE/s320/IMG_9857.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEgNO7HnYZ8mrhJ0esmZPIkwFcn0ts9vwN5VPHXrJfJFpk87YTt3uf2uRVw_ROFihD05cATPzcbOke0iHpYZEctHEyGYzYE8GFcukktHVs0dIs6uEwJ9h3tjm9T-y3x8VDsTnaUO6AwPIuJpu5RJAt0H3hw6Vz4mbzY5qccLVjZNwg1KOAYLcx3PYN0-Vz/s4032/IMG_9858.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEgNO7HnYZ8mrhJ0esmZPIkwFcn0ts9vwN5VPHXrJfJFpk87YTt3uf2uRVw_ROFihD05cATPzcbOke0iHpYZEctHEyGYzYE8GFcukktHVs0dIs6uEwJ9h3tjm9T-y3x8VDsTnaUO6AwPIuJpu5RJAt0H3hw6Vz4mbzY5qccLVjZNwg1KOAYLcx3PYN0-Vz/s320/IMG_9858.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: verdana;">An uneventful day was spent at the office on <b>Tuesday (9 January)</b>; waiting at the train station was not very nice at -7C/19F, but I survived :-)</span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Maybe some of you have noticed that I work at the office mostly on Wednesdays, not Tuesdays. I changed that last week, because train drivers were on strike from Wednesday to Friday.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>Wednesday (10 January)</b> was another sunny but crispy cold day. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">After work, my sister, my Mum, two close friends and I met at our favourite Italian restaurant to celebrate my sister's birthday. That place is our favourite not because of the food (although it is good, I wouldn't call it excellent), but mainly because we like the familiar atmosphere and the nearness - we can all walk there within 10-15 minutes from our respective homes, and are made to feel very welcome, no matter how busy.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">It was nice to bump into two friends of mine who happened to be there, too; we had a brief chat, but of course I was there for my sister and so we really kept it brief.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">The thermometer showed -4C/24F on <b>Thursday (11 January)</b>, and it was sunny again. I made use of that late afternoon, walking on the fields for 2 hours and taking in the sunset. By the time I arrived home, I was really glad to get back to the warmth of my flat.</span></p><p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJESAQPx4xT1nEmDhEhvPXGjcdK-Ce74Tand1GQsiPSrdlKON3SGMorC-HlLf41Upu4q9uVnxxJwfTH2W8INauxMFvNnoPXxsFb14RknDMIug0_aez4GCwNYFhTTofUlKGg_WYucIWaVWlD-hH2n46Lta_HilxapzrS9RwdgDtvRYOOr47QXtQGgBUUFi4/s4032/IMG_9859.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJESAQPx4xT1nEmDhEhvPXGjcdK-Ce74Tand1GQsiPSrdlKON3SGMorC-HlLf41Upu4q9uVnxxJwfTH2W8INauxMFvNnoPXxsFb14RknDMIug0_aez4GCwNYFhTTofUlKGg_WYucIWaVWlD-hH2n46Lta_HilxapzrS9RwdgDtvRYOOr47QXtQGgBUUFi4/s320/IMG_9859.JPG" width="240" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">A shady figure!</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV7mEVsHUUXutvXStGxEJPwt7UH_i6vPesSSA2o7uOQD-1KyVppZhjBlu6Pa0-8kgKb6GOszmWAPcZXhhc6z6hO7DSqxvqhy41sLvzeu9BoYDgxzbYXrRvfx28e6MKVuExda08RXzWOLjNsSAWX4nvxEjerJkPJsrIx59i4gj6lqRXcDqadLByNHTXq8A9/s4032/IMG_9860.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV7mEVsHUUXutvXStGxEJPwt7UH_i6vPesSSA2o7uOQD-1KyVppZhjBlu6Pa0-8kgKb6GOszmWAPcZXhhc6z6hO7DSqxvqhy41sLvzeu9BoYDgxzbYXrRvfx28e6MKVuExda08RXzWOLjNsSAWX4nvxEjerJkPJsrIx59i4gj6lqRXcDqadLByNHTXq8A9/s320/IMG_9860.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-15BO5mlPjoEDIfpMOb6S2GBZOB9p4a6Zo07ldexuhAgVETyLjsT2gxCMzdH8bzp77FviDd6I0ZUUj2UKCUmXwahjLsxodk5zQLVDtxvsQsfVdtpEb1JaLnLVHdpNqH1Ci-gULwwcHaZnp7ixO8cE648hr3spyfJcaeiKnRpHZ1rE70KCbWlXbVl-Dw6X/s3539/IMG_9861.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2654" data-original-width="3539" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-15BO5mlPjoEDIfpMOb6S2GBZOB9p4a6Zo07ldexuhAgVETyLjsT2gxCMzdH8bzp77FviDd6I0ZUUj2UKCUmXwahjLsxodk5zQLVDtxvsQsfVdtpEb1JaLnLVHdpNqH1Ci-gULwwcHaZnp7ixO8cE648hr3spyfJcaeiKnRpHZ1rE70KCbWlXbVl-Dw6X/s320/IMG_9861.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip-9k2EjE3uh5Dv2STJccKQVGLJqV6G3sF7NPn7t7CWecO3dRbEXbyeYXBRdm0j2ZS9UoWvclBDAoiHw-q5U0twhtpQVeOASNuX7eNpL8zseFoUZOaG7DT9jS2ZRLP67dQgvZTvQVjpLmQVYKjppSnRnVRo4Nub1kwQL2FhTFRch47L1uLwiFuD5rLc2K8/s4032/IMG_9862.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip-9k2EjE3uh5Dv2STJccKQVGLJqV6G3sF7NPn7t7CWecO3dRbEXbyeYXBRdm0j2ZS9UoWvclBDAoiHw-q5U0twhtpQVeOASNuX7eNpL8zseFoUZOaG7DT9jS2ZRLP67dQgvZTvQVjpLmQVYKjppSnRnVRo4Nub1kwQL2FhTFRch47L1uLwiFuD5rLc2K8/s320/IMG_9862.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">There's the shady figure again!</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCE4kkBBg9Bi4x7ddNgNHCtxR2AM_cEnyLjuk7ZPv0gUP2TSo4VsjGcqriNrqmpMNXsFxUi76W4jwKAZj22UA85tLKOzEi3NvwMIcFS5WEJXr_3nKjdsmpjIHJ7gArJfsLv0EL4jOKVnyRX34V16LU-d0IR_0iboHmQ_K5yD53_yjexU8r-0rKqF3Og6za/s4032/IMG_9863.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCE4kkBBg9Bi4x7ddNgNHCtxR2AM_cEnyLjuk7ZPv0gUP2TSo4VsjGcqriNrqmpMNXsFxUi76W4jwKAZj22UA85tLKOzEi3NvwMIcFS5WEJXr_3nKjdsmpjIHJ7gArJfsLv0EL4jOKVnyRX34V16LU-d0IR_0iboHmQ_K5yD53_yjexU8r-0rKqF3Og6za/s320/IMG_9863.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">View from the opposite direction of what is one of my favourite places.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtWJdKsD-11EHGmKNHGI4yISo3pA3RN-2-xdq9hGhlBCMCguCHcnbTAjt0wojc6OU9OB0Jim19cze8AWZJcPxDnh267AhUAz452WWBXlotuju_IXoLuIGhMFRmOf15sX9VjHCZR6fY_kB0kH6SzLncNe26qqKZ6OEEBAUcDRVVxeqsylYzzEYGmCgG2Zup/s4032/IMG_9864.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtWJdKsD-11EHGmKNHGI4yISo3pA3RN-2-xdq9hGhlBCMCguCHcnbTAjt0wojc6OU9OB0Jim19cze8AWZJcPxDnh267AhUAz452WWBXlotuju_IXoLuIGhMFRmOf15sX9VjHCZR6fY_kB0kH6SzLncNe26qqKZ6OEEBAUcDRVVxeqsylYzzEYGmCgG2Zup/s320/IMG_9864.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgopPbw57J1U3Mtiq2WY8Z22m9-NMpGpUZJjOFAqydFirYMiNF1ARgnBo8-B1n6pIyLYktcC6boH1i_CAu6a92pmHgxqhwiRwabVazZ3NHw18OFvFGgpIU-2hGQFBpnPluiqyO-OP3aOZzQ2ws1lMHLXS96o9ZZTo13imPgNgqpXwgKEmHk3W8Fd_ZiJ3x7/s4032/IMG_9865.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgopPbw57J1U3Mtiq2WY8Z22m9-NMpGpUZJjOFAqydFirYMiNF1ARgnBo8-B1n6pIyLYktcC6boH1i_CAu6a92pmHgxqhwiRwabVazZ3NHw18OFvFGgpIU-2hGQFBpnPluiqyO-OP3aOZzQ2ws1lMHLXS96o9ZZTo13imPgNgqpXwgKEmHk3W8Fd_ZiJ3x7/s320/IMG_9865.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: verdana;">O.K. and I were spending the weekend separately; we both had separate and time-conflicting appointments and so decided to remain each at our own place.</span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>Friday (12 January)</b> saw me working as usual, but already at 3:30 in the afternoon, I had to leave in order to be on time for a meeting related to my volunteer work. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">As part of a group of around 40 people, I was invited to view and evaluate different plans and ideas for how the former industrial area next to the train station could be opened to the public for different uses. I wrote about that area on my blog a few times, for instance <a href="https://librarianwithsecrets.blogspot.com/2022/11/last-full-week-of-november.html" target="_blank">here</a>.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">The event lasted until after 7:00 pm, by which time I just wanted to go home and settle in front of the TV for a quiet evening.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">With an early bedtime on Friday, I was up early on <b>Saturday (13 January)</b> and finished all my cleaning etc. before meeting my Mum and my sister in town at 11:00. After a few errands, we were glad to be out of the cold and sit in a café for an early spot of lunch - very nice (the café and the food), very full (the café) and very filling (the food) :-)</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">My Mum took the bus home, while my sister and I walked first to her place to drop off her groceries etc., then on to my Mum's. We helped pack and put away most of her Christmas decorations; a lot of climbing up and down a ladder to the attic is involved, much easier for us than for her.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Coffee and a remainder of Christmas cookies were welcome before going home, where I spent another quiet evening relaxing, reading, playing my favourite computer game and watching TV.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>Sunday (14 January)</b> was just as sunny and cold as it had been during the week. I fully intended to go for a long-ish walk, but was back after only 1 1/2 hours - actually, not as much because of the cold, but mainly because I needed the toilet, and since no shops are open on Sundays (and I was not near any shops anyway), I had no alternative but go home.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Now let me treat you to photos O.K. sent me - he spent Sunday afternoon walking in the Black Forest near the village for nearly 15 km, and look how beautiful it was:</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSy73T-yFwByoMcUm90I0KK3f2OL34ZJ2P37HISSQaF_M3eMlAY3uEePzbl7i_JgFyiP5iBJRKJEC5j4dy1IANKdZy8w3-8770LuQIMBfXCJt_LJpDopfGcF3OhHV9680b8yyGqYB8E1OecNNLM1QgxfMAOkDxx41RId1UzwD7FcA1X5Wb1sZro3knHiMw/s4032/IMG_4355.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSy73T-yFwByoMcUm90I0KK3f2OL34ZJ2P37HISSQaF_M3eMlAY3uEePzbl7i_JgFyiP5iBJRKJEC5j4dy1IANKdZy8w3-8770LuQIMBfXCJt_LJpDopfGcF3OhHV9680b8yyGqYB8E1OecNNLM1QgxfMAOkDxx41RId1UzwD7FcA1X5Wb1sZro3knHiMw/s320/IMG_4355.jpeg" width="240" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimdpEnYLiudYx22Ka-QWK8KeCploRChu2SBxXa5xintuQW9UiVfbPSMbVjoolSTMUbdqmgUyh433hIH1cQL7T7Vwu13bceFFtzitFAh6XQBIxpIFpOYKa0rnXpeT_eEy320Ad2NSNLy31pWs1z8YhUHuwR0eLIo2JUh3-3v-PXVUYauPEx6FAwcyzc_PQb/s4032/IMG_4361.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimdpEnYLiudYx22Ka-QWK8KeCploRChu2SBxXa5xintuQW9UiVfbPSMbVjoolSTMUbdqmgUyh433hIH1cQL7T7Vwu13bceFFtzitFAh6XQBIxpIFpOYKa0rnXpeT_eEy320Ad2NSNLy31pWs1z8YhUHuwR0eLIo2JUh3-3v-PXVUYauPEx6FAwcyzc_PQb/s320/IMG_4361.jpeg" width="320" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhU4HOE-Eusb4UMbasco6VZCwyBIv7o4tLEByI6_RrVqlqbL61D3nZHyU6Mmzfb_FzfqkJgQiSAWPL0pwvtrwk8zVWp7rzcwcH2P0cajBMds56UBJY-5Ic64uPycO4z5-F1KIV4nYcXr3zVuENxYB5Rquj39X_dYdlooRHGxEPHuSTC6vChLa4hhk3APFe/s4032/IMG_4366.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhU4HOE-Eusb4UMbasco6VZCwyBIv7o4tLEByI6_RrVqlqbL61D3nZHyU6Mmzfb_FzfqkJgQiSAWPL0pwvtrwk8zVWp7rzcwcH2P0cajBMds56UBJY-5Ic64uPycO4z5-F1KIV4nYcXr3zVuENxYB5Rquj39X_dYdlooRHGxEPHuSTC6vChLa4hhk3APFe/s320/IMG_4366.jpeg" width="320" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw2ALOtlybII32jmI8W4QW0wMl3nfAzKNMeeSPlivT5MWecYPv7G9SDy-KUNGF-tBgj85bRvm6YsU46SHHe5zdAIyhFYyoIDOkwtMKXXbDCgvcCz7CAm2i-u-ynsQPDV58Zi7kXfTc58EYTbknO6yzp1QAvrQlSlUjcbsUdxQrsJ2gBEegmark5DLAcSeS/s4032/IMG_4367.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw2ALOtlybII32jmI8W4QW0wMl3nfAzKNMeeSPlivT5MWecYPv7G9SDy-KUNGF-tBgj85bRvm6YsU46SHHe5zdAIyhFYyoIDOkwtMKXXbDCgvcCz7CAm2i-u-ynsQPDV58Zi7kXfTc58EYTbknO6yzp1QAvrQlSlUjcbsUdxQrsJ2gBEegmark5DLAcSeS/s320/IMG_4367.jpeg" width="320" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgj1TsfH_SOI8L-9F59Eisu04bx4k-8wkdpCH7wYgTqcPWBl_OFT-8fcpeO9wV0bPzpdVLzv9mS8KX_fyf_G_253CXDq7S5ilW1BCb4tdHhI3gmC7z9yuHdg9tlVyV-JTg-s06y-LHrBRk3hKt9pAMHyz3_R5E5v5d18Zb_RMN-8Wz0U_TLZAb73fdsv-rN/s4032/IMG_4368.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgj1TsfH_SOI8L-9F59Eisu04bx4k-8wkdpCH7wYgTqcPWBl_OFT-8fcpeO9wV0bPzpdVLzv9mS8KX_fyf_G_253CXDq7S5ilW1BCb4tdHhI3gmC7z9yuHdg9tlVyV-JTg-s06y-LHrBRk3hKt9pAMHyz3_R5E5v5d18Zb_RMN-8Wz0U_TLZAb73fdsv-rN/s320/IMG_4368.jpeg" width="320" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: verdana;">I just wish I could have been with him! My urban walk - apart from being only half as long and far as his - can't compete:<br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBaBYZzWwHcX0us4zFg9ZERrycBJrYwzMX_EOT8Jjbk_07-Ei-YD2LsP8rbhDIj2IPG3uYzzlGP6ZcMYknZYiCxcH8FiLBoEqvW17LM3d2eSX2jGPlPUW4mMQoLn4mKMWZ5CmoTxitjbLOgundViEIkh-74guB6bvebXvffGQb2oL3N-hW0iOONFDyAGW1/s4032/IMG_9868.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBaBYZzWwHcX0us4zFg9ZERrycBJrYwzMX_EOT8Jjbk_07-Ei-YD2LsP8rbhDIj2IPG3uYzzlGP6ZcMYknZYiCxcH8FiLBoEqvW17LM3d2eSX2jGPlPUW4mMQoLn4mKMWZ5CmoTxitjbLOgundViEIkh-74guB6bvebXvffGQb2oL3N-hW0iOONFDyAGW1/s320/IMG_9868.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5GdDPE81XOeGCLUBqk6X-XRlZ1hvo98VkyvWsNgvTru1VeKYIa-64i2rLTVD9BDgsYUAcwEovHf_fq4YnSbLUFdsLzwxsarIlwIj0KzuTKNdBzw3o6Q2Cj5jYSrO3pAx3a2wcUU-GNWkmSYeR5s20XZtT9Je0HtNte2QlumdWmGH3FeAAT82r4Dxg0pNc/s4032/IMG_9869.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5GdDPE81XOeGCLUBqk6X-XRlZ1hvo98VkyvWsNgvTru1VeKYIa-64i2rLTVD9BDgsYUAcwEovHf_fq4YnSbLUFdsLzwxsarIlwIj0KzuTKNdBzw3o6Q2Cj5jYSrO3pAx3a2wcUU-GNWkmSYeR5s20XZtT9Je0HtNte2QlumdWmGH3FeAAT82r4Dxg0pNc/s320/IMG_9869.JPG" width="240" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: verdana;">But don't get me wrong - I really like my hometown, which I hope is obvious from when I blog about it.</span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Such a largely quiet weekend on my own is not standard for me, and of course I love spending time with O.K. either at my or his place, but every now and then it is quite welcome. And of course we spoke on the phone every day, sometimes twice, to keep each other updated with what we'd been doing and how our various events went.</span></p>Librarianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05704656564078750607noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1949425054295660529.post-87242893167262809612024-01-08T18:36:00.006+01:002024-01-08T18:54:33.856+01:00First Week in 2024<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEfY2ffbeea7GFf2jjIyhyPPHTHSOx4aH-ji-8CPXI4I1qQrHHuQNqSW39-vtmJo5FhanwObx50ILSBCiS3ATbEUDL3yu3ip-TDtOpTF8SOicFIhn3cPbKW80aV-RBQYY8y6ajpgM7PNCLWC7yKVjffK8GO9RGkRCLAjowBXs_4Bq3o6OBwi__ISY_fVeT/s466/IMG_6295.jpeg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><img border="0" data-original-height="466" data-original-width="329" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEfY2ffbeea7GFf2jjIyhyPPHTHSOx4aH-ji-8CPXI4I1qQrHHuQNqSW39-vtmJo5FhanwObx50ILSBCiS3ATbEUDL3yu3ip-TDtOpTF8SOicFIhn3cPbKW80aV-RBQYY8y6ajpgM7PNCLWC7yKVjffK8GO9RGkRCLAjowBXs_4Bq3o6OBwi__ISY_fVeT/s320/IMG_6295.jpeg" width="226" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: verdana;">The first week of a new year always feels special to me. It is usually a relatively quiet week, in spite of the inevitable return to work, and has a certain "newness" about it - new calendars are hung on the wall, a new diary (I keep my appointments in a book-type diary, apart from the work ones which are electronically) is started, and the end of that first week usually sees me taking down my Christmas decorations.</span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">I was of course still at O.K.'s on <b>Monday, the 1st of January</b>. Because of our quiet New Year's Eve, we'd not been up all that long after midnight and therefore were up and about earlier than most other New Year's. Between noon and 2:00 pm, we walked to the next village and back, covering about 10 km. It was still mild at 10C/50F and partly sunny, but very windy.</span></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFwY4O5WLm5xdiDgYuwrmcI0fkZBUZe45ttzP76Nk5ZLqxNoUMUUCvxLE7sHU3ljZwdLcjWcHQfsZgRC1Ei1CZQfLog8ai1DFU1PDZl0Z7HfvCi7pEA2kSRt-UeyrM5R-9a5CBMV1ChDqsPsVH0ZwJna54tMcR4Nkkkeo4PZ3yyuRDoxSwQyc5RaSl0v_F/s4032/IMG_9826.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFwY4O5WLm5xdiDgYuwrmcI0fkZBUZe45ttzP76Nk5ZLqxNoUMUUCvxLE7sHU3ljZwdLcjWcHQfsZgRC1Ei1CZQfLog8ai1DFU1PDZl0Z7HfvCi7pEA2kSRt-UeyrM5R-9a5CBMV1ChDqsPsVH0ZwJna54tMcR4Nkkkeo4PZ3yyuRDoxSwQyc5RaSl0v_F/s320/IMG_9826.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">This and the next two pictures are all from that same walk, but the wind made for very rapid changes in the sky.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh1v2-SFkTmqXFJpteo-_nui2-v75rEroABnbZNLViEDUZWm1IsuvDCk1UmzEXYnpHmqujZhDsmzk4ZGwIbQqVNgfcO0unqckePTCPKdKP3Cjk6OfytGDBlXF2oX7D9fcmjyoRKGq2r4jtSb7kLZWlPxXWS9xSSADMoFRt2bn5VhkRWzGqJlH9HPWVKIZW/s4032/IMG_9827.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh1v2-SFkTmqXFJpteo-_nui2-v75rEroABnbZNLViEDUZWm1IsuvDCk1UmzEXYnpHmqujZhDsmzk4ZGwIbQqVNgfcO0unqckePTCPKdKP3Cjk6OfytGDBlXF2oX7D9fcmjyoRKGq2r4jtSb7kLZWlPxXWS9xSSADMoFRt2bn5VhkRWzGqJlH9HPWVKIZW/s320/IMG_9827.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKsBzrQNjOhMIkPCPByOOVn9dUz2Cd9_RAji8K1O3lnOX1Q-doWCKO4jLciSl_JAP-jBnWGEqYD9yrmVk_fDwm5EYuGUZWTHUUahw1OplHgfNhUMqxq0WyuE4GcpnBC6EXxP5T3SdZPoBmUSt-cVceDLZsix6hpiiJUxTX8xVoWkcYmnagZxZHSG9lxmQV/s4032/IMG_9828.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKsBzrQNjOhMIkPCPByOOVn9dUz2Cd9_RAji8K1O3lnOX1Q-doWCKO4jLciSl_JAP-jBnWGEqYD9yrmVk_fDwm5EYuGUZWTHUUahw1OplHgfNhUMqxq0WyuE4GcpnBC6EXxP5T3SdZPoBmUSt-cVceDLZsix6hpiiJUxTX8xVoWkcYmnagZxZHSG9lxmQV/s320/IMG_9828.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: verdana;">At 5:00 pm, we crossed the road to meet with the family at O.K.'s parents'. His mother (who will be 84 in August) made her customary New Year's Day meal of Badische Schäufele with horseradish and spuds salad - always something to look forward to! (There does not seem to be an equivalent English term for it, but it's pork shoulder, cured and smoked, then cooked until very tender - it even has its own <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sch%C3%A4ufele" target="_blank">wikipedia entry</a> in English.)</span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">After this delicious meal, O.K. and I spent the remainder of the evening at the cottage, watching a rerun of Midsomer Murders and going to bed as early as 10:00 pm in view of the next morning's early start.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>Tuesday (2nd January) </b>was here soon enough when the alarm went off at 5:15. O.K. took me to the train station, and with my trains being on time, I was home just after 9:00 and started work immediately. It was a stormy, rainy day, but I managed a short walk of 45 minutes mid-afternoon.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">There was a better chance for a walk on <b>Wednesday (3 January)</b>, when it looked like there was going to be a longer break between showers. I started off early in the afternoon, only to land in a shower about half way along my intended route, and cut the walk short by hopping on the next train back. I still was out about twice as long as the day before, and was rewarded with not one, but TWO rainbows.</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2gJa2-ac6BajNcwQ9iMJykbV0SzyNineEi_IIBeZWbv1tr-iTm3YtLlbAPxqip3t6fXObixU8WySLKsb1nuV04v3zlA-IX9jh5nKpR_9Oq_I0ovlGFO8GGgRLW7QGxD6u45mCvNB_8X2PgJNBylbvVaug8O8AW2IeyN0bQ1pKFsjy8yrw1LNQpgglE5Wj/s4032/IMG_9829.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2gJa2-ac6BajNcwQ9iMJykbV0SzyNineEi_IIBeZWbv1tr-iTm3YtLlbAPxqip3t6fXObixU8WySLKsb1nuV04v3zlA-IX9jh5nKpR_9Oq_I0ovlGFO8GGgRLW7QGxD6u45mCvNB_8X2PgJNBylbvVaug8O8AW2IeyN0bQ1pKFsjy8yrw1LNQpgglE5Wj/s320/IMG_9829.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZAshAcb6qt5vNtTMQpdToQXDeI_m16dYwtaTJkLs2CeEyzziBHLnn4o0vN0_w_gcMljBbC7sta_SicffX04o8rNy_SJNj2RAc-3jKUIOvDt553r3dheLkRTVgH4Hn0GzFOtahQEg4eXzcKXGMPvqL3S4p9KrFeGNBVMMepUiQ8tMQp47s4i5gXDYPQER6/s4032/IMG_9830.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZAshAcb6qt5vNtTMQpdToQXDeI_m16dYwtaTJkLs2CeEyzziBHLnn4o0vN0_w_gcMljBbC7sta_SicffX04o8rNy_SJNj2RAc-3jKUIOvDt553r3dheLkRTVgH4Hn0GzFOtahQEg4eXzcKXGMPvqL3S4p9KrFeGNBVMMepUiQ8tMQp47s4i5gXDYPQER6/s320/IMG_9830.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Can you see what I saw?</span></td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuD5KhD4t68gTRFihRpJc2fWO-slByLLRUumrP-uhk4VmjpCNXW6D86jNYQNa0VogU9Pu-RI2QNAjEAbMXS2B4CIt73fXNg9cGuei37dF_wRDJv1hjRtshiKUE7jVt6EyYx2pPqzXyWDWNpYiaoT14_nMl_W_sLmZJb5cqxXvGU05euULslwuBC39oKgdV/s4032/IMG_9831.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuD5KhD4t68gTRFihRpJc2fWO-slByLLRUumrP-uhk4VmjpCNXW6D86jNYQNa0VogU9Pu-RI2QNAjEAbMXS2B4CIt73fXNg9cGuei37dF_wRDJv1hjRtshiKUE7jVt6EyYx2pPqzXyWDWNpYiaoT14_nMl_W_sLmZJb5cqxXvGU05euULslwuBC39oKgdV/s320/IMG_9831.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">You can now, can't you!</span></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyaW4E1xjlzVmd06SsasU3WMXktjgeF56si__cvuUYk7DXyBc6Vp9ny0Z5lgCqBflFXBbm-AwVk294nPo7pJ9UE33qk_IRYs4KFyKt0Ry_t6LOU_XbqeKbARDot6HFWeGYatZgoMINRtfhg__ruIp8gcER5JkL2eKJqtjh0ioNkbruvA1d6zOfcipsN9h-/s4032/IMG_9832.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyaW4E1xjlzVmd06SsasU3WMXktjgeF56si__cvuUYk7DXyBc6Vp9ny0Z5lgCqBflFXBbm-AwVk294nPo7pJ9UE33qk_IRYs4KFyKt0Ry_t6LOU_XbqeKbARDot6HFWeGYatZgoMINRtfhg__ruIp8gcER5JkL2eKJqtjh0ioNkbruvA1d6zOfcipsN9h-/s320/IMG_9832.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl3Tir7Xd6YUkGw0ODXB_GMZCtlLoryyutNfDryue8yIKtuTj4_SMW8UbKaFbbXds-4ZZI7NZQEWSy2IbjYoBzPo58qJG3PAvogbR7lHKH3tqlWZxCsaxzxjXE8YM3nYg3jwjtoRn716wXiDgp7l1EdJcjvFxPXWD4PNJ_92NkYHqQ95FI9TiQ-CodJtfl/s4032/IMG_9833.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl3Tir7Xd6YUkGw0ODXB_GMZCtlLoryyutNfDryue8yIKtuTj4_SMW8UbKaFbbXds-4ZZI7NZQEWSy2IbjYoBzPo58qJG3PAvogbR7lHKH3tqlWZxCsaxzxjXE8YM3nYg3jwjtoRn716wXiDgp7l1EdJcjvFxPXWD4PNJ_92NkYHqQ95FI9TiQ-CodJtfl/s320/IMG_9833.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: verdana;">By <b>Thursday (4 January)</b>, the temperature was "down" to 8C/46F, still very windy, and again with a mix of sun and rain. In other parts of Germany, the storms and heavy rain have been causing flooding and disruptions, but fortunately not in my area. </span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">I met with my sister for an early lunch break spent walking, some of it again with a shower. Typically, by the time we were back at our respective homes, the sun was out again.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">My first working week of 2024 was over mid-afternoon on <b>Friday (5 January)</b>. Before starting on my cleaning round, I put away my Christmas things. Afterwards, I still had time for a bit of a rest before packing my little red suitcase and head to the train station. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Because it still was the school holidays, my usual Friday evening connection was not available, but the alternative looked good enough. Well, it turned out not to be - I missed the connection in Vaihingen by only a few seconds!! What was supposed to be my next train was still standing at the platform when I rushed across from my delayed first train, but the doors were already closed, and just as I was near enough to press the button to open them again, the train pulled away. For a moment, I felt like throwing a tantrum, but of course it was no use, and so I merely texted O.K. to let him know I was going to be at least an hour later than planned.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">And so it was; I had almost half an hour to lurk around Karlsruhe train station, and arrived in Offenburg at 9:32 instead of 8:28 pm. I am always happy to see O.K. when he picks me up there, but that night I was extra glad!</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">It was 10:00 by the time we sat down for supper (you guessed it - cheese, bread and wine, plus rucola salad).</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>Saturday, 6 January</b>, is a holiday in my part of Germany. It was cloudy with showers, and we only managed a brief walk around the village before having a quick lunch of hot soup and bread, then a little rest, followed by coffee and cake.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Not long after 4:00, we left for the next village, where O.K. and four others from the village band were to play carols at a "barn nativity". Such nativity scenes, set up in open barns for everyone to admire, are not uncommon; some are more beautiful and elaborate than others, some go back centuries, and the one we visited was first started as a family nativity in the late 1800s.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">In the early 2000s, it grew in size and became so popular that the then owner decided to transfer it to the barn next to his house. After his death, the Craftsmen's Association of the village took over, and since then, it has continually grown. New buildings were made, new figures acquired, more landscaping was added, and nowadays it is an entire village with the actual nativity scene at its heart.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">The traditional village crafts and trades are represented; there is winemaking, a smithy, cattle and poultry, a bee keeper, an angler, a small market stand selling fruit and vegetables, a baker, and a house is in the process of being built, with carpenters, bricklayers and others working on it.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Click on my pictures to enlarge, or have a look at the ones on the <a href="https://scheunenkrippe.com/fuenf.htm" target="_blank">website</a>. </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhYmc3IIlvTZOabGBxr6a444kQVMllPAyvxI6mqFmBqcze4ZvQrwOC_6p047DhxXK_HrykzZLBCqe9eWxyv5G4Ji-5YKMm1ixAaS6FWlJgv9KyiQjctbnMmPgtAI37O1rqBXwGYgpPpPobxArjH29x9wkYRm8iokmImxiNi-frGVgwFo89GqL7y4uO-O4Q/s4032/IMG_9845.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhYmc3IIlvTZOabGBxr6a444kQVMllPAyvxI6mqFmBqcze4ZvQrwOC_6p047DhxXK_HrykzZLBCqe9eWxyv5G4Ji-5YKMm1ixAaS6FWlJgv9KyiQjctbnMmPgtAI37O1rqBXwGYgpPpPobxArjH29x9wkYRm8iokmImxiNi-frGVgwFo89GqL7y4uO-O4Q/s320/IMG_9845.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKzYFJjx8_DgnlbSoieqpVCu7IK3i45OGF8O883paRd0YHFaWwtHX1OT1MbHDQUOt1HtZvdQsX3EJkB1UHmy1OdiPoHssuHDWBnpTwIhCvdstGzcxlaB6Tgzrq1P6ZYt4ESWiAepmP-sYbJG31gMp0zqgdnmGfBnTst_me1QaLhvngnXEc3E0uDaJp2nbj/s4032/IMG_9835.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKzYFJjx8_DgnlbSoieqpVCu7IK3i45OGF8O883paRd0YHFaWwtHX1OT1MbHDQUOt1HtZvdQsX3EJkB1UHmy1OdiPoHssuHDWBnpTwIhCvdstGzcxlaB6Tgzrq1P6ZYt4ESWiAepmP-sYbJG31gMp0zqgdnmGfBnTst_me1QaLhvngnXEc3E0uDaJp2nbj/s320/IMG_9835.JPG" width="240" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKRb0oZ-r-T1M6WDdp5DJe0Kpwov5oJn0DCy-Q2POFlXWynpwaAkZ9_C-H3LOueeBFs6WNmPXKvwB7rHdb1xh8FoBU6V2r65jvA9czkSqjnsrQIhqIiG1sPflVgDWTmB66Qqz_SUewqjW4YnWFG7fMIqtRTCRoxiL718EzX3OgbaRx72Z5PmisFLeAgiWv/s4032/IMG_9836.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKRb0oZ-r-T1M6WDdp5DJe0Kpwov5oJn0DCy-Q2POFlXWynpwaAkZ9_C-H3LOueeBFs6WNmPXKvwB7rHdb1xh8FoBU6V2r65jvA9czkSqjnsrQIhqIiG1sPflVgDWTmB66Qqz_SUewqjW4YnWFG7fMIqtRTCRoxiL718EzX3OgbaRx72Z5PmisFLeAgiWv/s320/IMG_9836.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">close-up of the wine press</span></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjbhEcSDGKNM_OglEEqTfWatp43kerk7-mpJT5kM8jDZgyYydEEE5sPYf_0R2QqHGkna7uezX2fYz5rUAjgyTCTodDELlQZQDnBjBTinCZxmape4nM3uemN3oIVV4XE64PmEqRgqZl955njZltG9GGqbZGKC-AaDKsUKomcwoCRceBJ7pA4PRhoXZgf_tY/s4032/IMG_9837.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjbhEcSDGKNM_OglEEqTfWatp43kerk7-mpJT5kM8jDZgyYydEEE5sPYf_0R2QqHGkna7uezX2fYz5rUAjgyTCTodDELlQZQDnBjBTinCZxmape4nM3uemN3oIVV4XE64PmEqRgqZl955njZltG9GGqbZGKC-AaDKsUKomcwoCRceBJ7pA4PRhoXZgf_tY/s320/IMG_9837.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">The smithy and bakery have "fires", and there is running water in a fountain and the fishing pond. The love of detail is amazing; there was so much to look at, and nothing placed accidentally. For instance, a fox observes a flock of geese, and in the next field, his family is waiting for him to bring home dinner!</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXKy64BmkAHd-crx0OXG-RR-HbJtFlh2VEJt5kyUNZG0LVBoyPeS3Fmmjka7dbcyj58k_l7_DnfAeAtgsHB1E5L4KOTFdB3U0J8JIsF0ldObJOKozsSOz6mYtyQzfwLArgm9O9KjADVg_WJ8VG59vmgy9wYQJ_u_CI3ZneLbA1GbgHD0WVUhyphenhyphenHzCD8Zyka/s4032/IMG_9838.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXKy64BmkAHd-crx0OXG-RR-HbJtFlh2VEJt5kyUNZG0LVBoyPeS3Fmmjka7dbcyj58k_l7_DnfAeAtgsHB1E5L4KOTFdB3U0J8JIsF0ldObJOKozsSOz6mYtyQzfwLArgm9O9KjADVg_WJ8VG59vmgy9wYQJ_u_CI3ZneLbA1GbgHD0WVUhyphenhyphenHzCD8Zyka/s320/IMG_9838.JPG" width="240" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgszxKxslyXJetVO-Hte80D4b8QUrn1VCkWvpsTsxia8vbL6HWKdMu2xTR3JF53gAzaJvDqS8zf8cKO-vJ3s7GAJHN9gpkMMKXdTR5jKAq2qmjdCakXdBOA0QyNXkRwrGO1bbzY_rRgNEhpBzBBCAsDkN89pRRMExBUh3bdCCliL4x-QiWgHst_ZQbjt6lR/s4032/IMG_9839.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgszxKxslyXJetVO-Hte80D4b8QUrn1VCkWvpsTsxia8vbL6HWKdMu2xTR3JF53gAzaJvDqS8zf8cKO-vJ3s7GAJHN9gpkMMKXdTR5jKAq2qmjdCakXdBOA0QyNXkRwrGO1bbzY_rRgNEhpBzBBCAsDkN89pRRMExBUh3bdCCliL4x-QiWgHst_ZQbjt6lR/s320/IMG_9839.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">There is even a starry sky!</span></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0gLvTml2CMOhhf-M4r_I69IU1Mv5daTh-HxCMc8869Q02qIbcV3lNHCx93oHfRYH6_AqUFdcrMnINwIZmpkOvU0lR9YswtmDBikVzer98779VHuNqJEYmfp6cfqI7A6vY87mY3HFeAg_lCd3KrqWvF0WCtjrxDGkBdWvJbw9uaVwABE7m01bkaUIKoKl1/s4032/IMG_9840.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0gLvTml2CMOhhf-M4r_I69IU1Mv5daTh-HxCMc8869Q02qIbcV3lNHCx93oHfRYH6_AqUFdcrMnINwIZmpkOvU0lR9YswtmDBikVzer98779VHuNqJEYmfp6cfqI7A6vY87mY3HFeAg_lCd3KrqWvF0WCtjrxDGkBdWvJbw9uaVwABE7m01bkaUIKoKl1/s320/IMG_9840.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">The brass band members played beautifully, and everyone joined in at the last coral after an hour . Afterwards, we had mugs of mulled wine (there was also cake for those who wanted it - and all based on donations), and chatted with friends and relatives.</span></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhveM0t03gD-17PXqBTuWFVgAWURHNtcN5nxamSjcmA43ysk4huLGx0M6_BMxaZB7t6aQXfYQgoze7YG93DEyMUklNYVn77ryAbMwupiopxkZoyhxlVVyPHealaqLVgeIaMogXdhhgSpfnOWC6znd4AQ9hATuO6qE6k6pFzOf0wc6Pn9LLNKjO28ZCm70hv/s4032/IMG_9843.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhveM0t03gD-17PXqBTuWFVgAWURHNtcN5nxamSjcmA43ysk4huLGx0M6_BMxaZB7t6aQXfYQgoze7YG93DEyMUklNYVn77ryAbMwupiopxkZoyhxlVVyPHealaqLVgeIaMogXdhhgSpfnOWC6znd4AQ9hATuO6qE6k6pFzOf0wc6Pn9LLNKjO28ZCm70hv/s320/IMG_9843.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">The five musicians</span></td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5G2O1OoFvhUvTOWcfc3odFAdPD5z59Ld0wVbnER9LGFqR6cns5WLA2id2KPLREBNNN2QaVjhzmfWIzk_vRfbGzh8wKs31GfAo-toRWlbMf9qA6XoiLkrh6v6VtshCFXycADAFgERPdV45LiDL9osOZ6YaxP5YwkUNGUI9NZUGbyZOwNOSx-Gu7HZ-vlQv/s4032/IMG_9844.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5G2O1OoFvhUvTOWcfc3odFAdPD5z59Ld0wVbnER9LGFqR6cns5WLA2id2KPLREBNNN2QaVjhzmfWIzk_vRfbGzh8wKs31GfAo-toRWlbMf9qA6XoiLkrh6v6VtshCFXycADAFgERPdV45LiDL9osOZ6YaxP5YwkUNGUI9NZUGbyZOwNOSx-Gu7HZ-vlQv/s320/IMG_9844.JPG" width="240" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">There were many visitors; I took advantage of a quiet moment to take this photo.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">When we started to feel cold and hungry, O.K. drove us to another village where we had burgers before retreating to the cottage for a cosy night in.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">This was a very fitting and beautiful end of the Christmas season for me.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">It was considerably colder at 3C/37F on <b>Sunday, 7 January</b>, and windy but dry. We wrapped up well for a walk after breakfast (at noon) and were home two hours later.</span></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPp7rvNSGB8EAQWOkzj-2sUT9cBlshneN3aapiPAV49MW06McPxrtGx91798Yr7_GHcYnlyGJpp1HjkaWjB02kciOASsUneV3RXbXnCq0Gwyx3ewi_kxwdm1v4IkcW5Iuu8sUl3wZz1CqrSOYu6xsyVZxJcXN_-vmgEKYAIrK1IaaoaWuVulbKomerxSuo/s4032/IMG_9847.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPp7rvNSGB8EAQWOkzj-2sUT9cBlshneN3aapiPAV49MW06McPxrtGx91798Yr7_GHcYnlyGJpp1HjkaWjB02kciOASsUneV3RXbXnCq0Gwyx3ewi_kxwdm1v4IkcW5Iuu8sUl3wZz1CqrSOYu6xsyVZxJcXN_-vmgEKYAIrK1IaaoaWuVulbKomerxSuo/s320/IMG_9847.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Ortenberg castle, which you have seen several times on my blog.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwMuNZXfyFEILAYOZ0p7hji57t4DREm72oPt8iwxbrOQ-5FY1WQNznGL5znwYvXjeAmPRyWUJts_S7xdLqb4MPywYPr_UbPlfxvJ0W5Yhm0Zu94YOpm0RMtFIGCU2jdOOyYL5JCz1VMRcCcX3hKJQ1iXEiZ2XYXqbAf4ilrjtW7KQ-uwxXwAugceEHB1VB/s4032/IMG_9848.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwMuNZXfyFEILAYOZ0p7hji57t4DREm72oPt8iwxbrOQ-5FY1WQNznGL5znwYvXjeAmPRyWUJts_S7xdLqb4MPywYPr_UbPlfxvJ0W5Yhm0Zu94YOpm0RMtFIGCU2jdOOyYL5JCz1VMRcCcX3hKJQ1iXEiZ2XYXqbAf4ilrjtW7KQ-uwxXwAugceEHB1VB/s320/IMG_9848.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGnGhLziddZtECf775LhLr7koqLarqo-3CEC2PaaTmgp9nEYK5HP-ne4wJi-rfitPSeWU0mDK-DckYMPs2r0xrGEtCUrNc1e2E7FAciQl8E2Z9PftlNZZQ65x5QZp6zKZz4WduI8VOkF1pTU9C2zt_M9LMw9O9pejtelq99mVqvB8Dvz4kBYj8OaAaXE31/s4032/IMG_9849.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGnGhLziddZtECf775LhLr7koqLarqo-3CEC2PaaTmgp9nEYK5HP-ne4wJi-rfitPSeWU0mDK-DckYMPs2r0xrGEtCUrNc1e2E7FAciQl8E2Z9PftlNZZQ65x5QZp6zKZz4WduI8VOkF1pTU9C2zt_M9LMw9O9pejtelq99mVqvB8Dvz4kBYj8OaAaXE31/s320/IMG_9849.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Vineyards and the Black Forest</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: verdana;">After a late lunch of crusty bread, made in the oven with ham, cheese and lots of other good things, we paid O.K.'s parents a quick visit before having coffee and cake.</span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"></span></p><p></p><span style="font-family: verdana;">At 5:30 pm, O.K. took me to the train station - for a change, I went home on the Sunday evening instead of Monday morning. </span><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">There were two reasons for that change: Train strikes were forecast for the following week, and it was unclear when they were going to start (in the end, they did not begin on Monday). Plus for a while now, farmers all over Germany have been protesting about government plans for cuts in their funding, and it was going to be next to impossible to reach the station on Monday morning with the roads being blocked by tractors.</span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjewGfO6Up6ey1_WjMhaJovBjmtTmoL4oYDGM6k_elRYZZS0ggb-nV4KEoQTVzeoHtem-Tu_ArQRhGlv8W8y571wFP9cigbNJsijXtJhjcjLe1lAawg7aoYWgU_-BHixK1EJVbtCf2ko8Lyhjb2se2Gu1UfvW9ukRKuAtqM5Ou8RsR6X_Hg_6vAZC0GuKDZ/s4032/IMG_9851.JPG" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjewGfO6Up6ey1_WjMhaJovBjmtTmoL4oYDGM6k_elRYZZS0ggb-nV4KEoQTVzeoHtem-Tu_ArQRhGlv8W8y571wFP9cigbNJsijXtJhjcjLe1lAawg7aoYWgU_-BHixK1EJVbtCf2ko8Lyhjb2se2Gu1UfvW9ukRKuAtqM5Ou8RsR6X_Hg_6vAZC0GuKDZ/s320/IMG_9851.JPG" width="240" /></a></span>I was lucky in that my trains were on time, and in Stuttgart even managed to grab an earlier one than originally planned. By 8:30 pm, I was home, having walked from the station in sleety snow fall.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Along the road to my house, I spotted first this snowman on the bonnet of a car, followed by similar illustrations; there were a unicorn, flowers, an angel, snowflakes, fireworks and message wishing everyone a happy new year. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">I found this rather sweet, but only stopped to quickly take a photo of the first "drawing".</span></p></div>Librarianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05704656564078750607noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1949425054295660529.post-48742155482850592372024-01-03T18:56:00.003+01:002024-01-03T18:58:35.207+01:00Between Years<p><span style="font-family: verdana;">In German, the period between Christmas and New Year is called "between the years". It fits, I think; the old year is not yet over, but as good as, and the new year has not yet begun. For many, it is a time off work, when they visit friends and family or take to the mountains for skiing or simply relax, start on the books they got for Christmas and maybe go for walks they don't have time for otherwise.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">On <b>Monday (Christmas Day)</b>, I got up early-ish and once more lit all four candles on my Advent wreath while unwrapping the presents that had been sent to me from the UK. I then walked to the train station where there were much less people about than usual when I am on my way to O.K.'s.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">All three trains were on time, and O.K. and I arrived at the village at 2:30 pm. It was mild at about 10 or 11C, partly sunny and windy, and we took advantage of the dry weather by going for a walk before having coffee and cake at the cottage. Afterwards, we exchanged our Christmas presents (one of which was the book I reviewed <a href="https://librarianwithsecrets.blogspot.com/2023/12/read-in-2023-34-lost-places-im.html" target="_blank">here</a>).</span></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV_5xpMMnClF34jQTJibRCF2guYed67WeCoBaDV9OrewcKQDJ_o0KgXkr2V29TRxhRMRX6J4CA5GyY04ODt113jq_JKwUxeAIZ0SfD9-WBitecfxarYhyphenhyphenBiXHalrFwCu7fy2c8kJ4oovmfgcieaZ9Ytox5a9gU8VpvLeqebPEa44_fI_eiBeSLX0WtlYtF/s4032/IMG_9805.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV_5xpMMnClF34jQTJibRCF2guYed67WeCoBaDV9OrewcKQDJ_o0KgXkr2V29TRxhRMRX6J4CA5GyY04ODt113jq_JKwUxeAIZ0SfD9-WBitecfxarYhyphenhyphenBiXHalrFwCu7fy2c8kJ4oovmfgcieaZ9Ytox5a9gU8VpvLeqebPEa44_fI_eiBeSLX0WtlYtF/s320/IMG_9805.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">It was still almost an hour before sunset!</span></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Later, I rang my mother-in-law in Ripon to wish her Merry Christmas, and we had our customary hour of chatting about this and that. Mary will be 90 in March, and although she has many health issues, with the help of carers, a nurse and her daughter (who lives only a 5 minute drive away) she still lives in her own home. Mentally, she is fully there, and interested in a variety of topics.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>Boxing Day</b> in Germany is simply the "2nd Christmas Day". As usual, for us it meant a morning at the village church; the traditional family mass is accompanied by the village band, and when O.K. plays, I attend.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">O.K.'s sister and her husband hosted our equally traditional festive family meal afterwards. They always serve an excellent, sumptuous meal of a starter, main course and dessert, with sparkling wine to begin with and a wine matching the main course.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Back home in the evening, O.K. and I watched "Love, Actually" on TV - can you believe I had never watched it before? Of course I knew about the film but somehow had never gotten round to it until now. I remembered what Alan Rickman had written about it in his diaries which I have reviewed <a href="https://librarianwithsecrets.blogspot.com/2023/10/read-in-2023-25-27.html" target="_blank">here</a>.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>Wednesday, 27 December</b>, was again sunny and mild, allowing for a stroll in town, running an errand or two, and later a walk around the village before coffee and cake at the cottage, followed by a brief visit with O.K.'s parents.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">O.K. drove us back to Ludwigsburg on <b>Thursday, 28 December</b>. We were expected at my Mum's for a gathering with friends and family at 2:00 pm; our late friend R's brother and partner had come from Berlin, and two other friends as well as Mum's friend who lives downstairs in the same house joined my Mum, my sister, myself and O.K. Nine around the table does not sound all that much, and in past times there were more of us at various festive occasions, but it was very nice and of course my Mum served an excellent meal, too.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Us "young people" (we're all in our 50s) went to the cemetery before it got too dark so that we could visit R's and my Dad's graves.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">On <b>Friday, 29 December</b>, O.K. and I had a late breakfast (it was actually noon) after a lazy morning and then walked across town to the palace grounds. </span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZz2W_IzYLQPV3-YwjzgUfWlXPbtjA3ZCyxyWtle90CgsaUOTgAYQklhGt_kkexSbeisle40j144rRPK5o0Q35_TI98LF-qm6oSxa6oAu0mHtTwTR4IvBB9lee1tYLocDcAFbyKx7vtywLRWrLHDUvDq2FLsLGEXPng3XPFFwrWa5gfPdgkAzM8_2uTnMy/s4032/IMG_9806.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZz2W_IzYLQPV3-YwjzgUfWlXPbtjA3ZCyxyWtle90CgsaUOTgAYQklhGt_kkexSbeisle40j144rRPK5o0Q35_TI98LF-qm6oSxa6oAu0mHtTwTR4IvBB9lee1tYLocDcAFbyKx7vtywLRWrLHDUvDq2FLsLGEXPng3XPFFwrWa5gfPdgkAzM8_2uTnMy/s320/IMG_9806.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg2weaiINiSnaSzbpICOWPLAplNzGhEydkyLUOteqLiu_Tgmh6xbkLlQb6CFtLD1AxB61vbYulsPZxb_2iZIE5as195Q1D5GdhygbwjJU5Acg-27MeuPAC_6lgl2gCyhTrPL_gVH0VwSZt6JRe8u4D3A5kWsaIvgdLjuS6-p9BXUR1KAVIO0Q3y2k3IAG1/s4032/IMG_9808.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg2weaiINiSnaSzbpICOWPLAplNzGhEydkyLUOteqLiu_Tgmh6xbkLlQb6CFtLD1AxB61vbYulsPZxb_2iZIE5as195Q1D5GdhygbwjJU5Acg-27MeuPAC_6lgl2gCyhTrPL_gVH0VwSZt6JRe8u4D3A5kWsaIvgdLjuS6-p9BXUR1KAVIO0Q3y2k3IAG1/s320/IMG_9808.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinhUIHzDCs4ALiOydticECkbe0CLFWvWYUyybeHasTSV8mlJBWkQZdxIq81A_iRy-UGa84jegafRl94AovQIk_AlkruClXlje3zfkj3TK7j7y8IBNOQqInj1zg16RYyvdMocLsyTmZuGYTW7xw4fezCXC-Xxg3T2LTSZualWg6cEgsvVHUtaUN9qDZ6MkZ/s4032/IMG_9810.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinhUIHzDCs4ALiOydticECkbe0CLFWvWYUyybeHasTSV8mlJBWkQZdxIq81A_iRy-UGa84jegafRl94AovQIk_AlkruClXlje3zfkj3TK7j7y8IBNOQqInj1zg16RYyvdMocLsyTmZuGYTW7xw4fezCXC-Xxg3T2LTSZualWg6cEgsvVHUtaUN9qDZ6MkZ/s320/IMG_9810.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-2WuV6o1B8YOJ7ZARnWYvqnebUSyMQtqlIBBPQQZuXEsA0sX2eGqbvtpIGNlEbJjKt2nlg-jJFy0ZS5e4YrY2QYjPw0jrKj5xQ1HXSY14b67DeCn0y1UgL-3f0FFFeFvL2eiYF3xbynkpFoYZQHjhykEiDkBoWP10PHzDB4fejvx2Gf5IDLpfXfDKY230/s4032/IMG_9814.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-2WuV6o1B8YOJ7ZARnWYvqnebUSyMQtqlIBBPQQZuXEsA0sX2eGqbvtpIGNlEbJjKt2nlg-jJFy0ZS5e4YrY2QYjPw0jrKj5xQ1HXSY14b67DeCn0y1UgL-3f0FFFeFvL2eiYF3xbynkpFoYZQHjhykEiDkBoWP10PHzDB4fejvx2Gf5IDLpfXfDKY230/s320/IMG_9814.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1JnFe85NDmI3Zfk2cEJFbfEQ5J7wrUh0Lug5e81tpNBzU3Kp1k9eEKMRqmq5giXtO5EQEjHx3NZGJobPUWcEfPacuqEX7g4gdj2g2-xTmyczt4_Xwl81n3e63PHZZ3KaiOhbhTtN3p3BNJa4wXOeOhLoZQJdA0S9DUNXRyd3EIypVWBeMfC_7ecXwRotU/s4032/IMG_9815.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1JnFe85NDmI3Zfk2cEJFbfEQ5J7wrUh0Lug5e81tpNBzU3Kp1k9eEKMRqmq5giXtO5EQEjHx3NZGJobPUWcEfPacuqEX7g4gdj2g2-xTmyczt4_Xwl81n3e63PHZZ3KaiOhbhTtN3p3BNJa4wXOeOhLoZQJdA0S9DUNXRyd3EIypVWBeMfC_7ecXwRotU/s320/IMG_9815.JPG" width="240" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0DTjrbJQkh-hlUzfuyYsXyPmgVfs8Sz9fYLlIn3tOrlLoISOXDqfH21hsWQH9UR9hRB8vqfv5dCu1AweZUYJmprz97Hfi3zQEeErViT3_8mAWzSkVGgWbMKBBpm4xAK2yb8qxTug2BesTmUidHJwn_KGI0wDpPdlJl5NHLSwKjgcJ2IeKGMh1GfQOgiGe/s4032/IMG_9816.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0DTjrbJQkh-hlUzfuyYsXyPmgVfs8Sz9fYLlIn3tOrlLoISOXDqfH21hsWQH9UR9hRB8vqfv5dCu1AweZUYJmprz97Hfi3zQEeErViT3_8mAWzSkVGgWbMKBBpm4xAK2yb8qxTug2BesTmUidHJwn_KGI0wDpPdlJl5NHLSwKjgcJ2IeKGMh1GfQOgiGe/s320/IMG_9816.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxL33FsikpPyyXJl8BYam2h2nDNt5CxT66Qwy-Jy88GMZkc7pzqyqwwLTI06MN_pAC4wRWM2UuB5TXP8_bo4gLM5-UNgwZTBuxOcQtm-v7Ibac1rXnrKkmaaQEl_H5Uxwx8dc0jUPHcZgU3e-HpzeXYtb9Whl5x4SZRpKIoh9iMgYOhKHZvoOOhF5bdRLE/s4032/IMG_9818.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxL33FsikpPyyXJl8BYam2h2nDNt5CxT66Qwy-Jy88GMZkc7pzqyqwwLTI06MN_pAC4wRWM2UuB5TXP8_bo4gLM5-UNgwZTBuxOcQtm-v7Ibac1rXnrKkmaaQEl_H5Uxwx8dc0jUPHcZgU3e-HpzeXYtb9Whl5x4SZRpKIoh9iMgYOhKHZvoOOhF5bdRLE/s320/IMG_9818.JPG" width="240" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCEINWhGnqwL7hpqCyBsVHS313d34XalVnAQVaQ4G4dt3eGisUpd_SIpWGE8MWG52s0a__nOcrLtoGaDP4E9gBLlJAOLreeeh5N_Lx_fxyVVkWEm7KSzjlQbAYab_Jqo3YDnjFT5yDjb54wdAstI7H6u1NjPuvpWe40REnZLVOFnTNqdE4mALU_p8WGVL9/s4032/IMG_9820.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCEINWhGnqwL7hpqCyBsVHS313d34XalVnAQVaQ4G4dt3eGisUpd_SIpWGE8MWG52s0a__nOcrLtoGaDP4E9gBLlJAOLreeeh5N_Lx_fxyVVkWEm7KSzjlQbAYab_Jqo3YDnjFT5yDjb54wdAstI7H6u1NjPuvpWe40REnZLVOFnTNqdE4mALU_p8WGVL9/s320/IMG_9820.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">As it got dark, we popped in for a glass of prosecco at our favourite winebar, and at 7:00 pm, we arrived at the Italian restaurant near where I live and where we had been lucky to grab a table for two and enjoyed a pizza each.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>Saturday, 30 December</b>, saw me hosting a family meal for a change. There were just the four of us (Mum, sister, O.K. and I), and I made game goulash, roast vegetables (spuds, carrots and parsnips) and Yorkshire Pudding after a salad of baby spinach leaves with an assortment of chopped nuts and spring onions. Dessert was meant to be ice cream, but my Mum brought a Christmas cake (very chocolaty!), and so we had that. </span></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrpXZsEppvyLOF73pS5ZVOpWaUtbK4t4jwR6V0OkUUnJDfdjc9vbS7_RmQSMO4IjXJtWh4X6xdjGMkE4BtmJwDl0BJkKIjpg3NhIOK_P6TgA3ima-mDVbeaThuzJMbPgVywUmdhlaZG4m85z7a6PSRq1qQS6kQsqQyggKbrWsVN36ZkZG7KwDvGWQx2twz/s4032/IMG_9822.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrpXZsEppvyLOF73pS5ZVOpWaUtbK4t4jwR6V0OkUUnJDfdjc9vbS7_RmQSMO4IjXJtWh4X6xdjGMkE4BtmJwDl0BJkKIjpg3NhIOK_P6TgA3ima-mDVbeaThuzJMbPgVywUmdhlaZG4m85z7a6PSRq1qQS6kQsqQyggKbrWsVN36ZkZG7KwDvGWQx2twz/s320/IMG_9822.JPG" width="240" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">I don't have a dining room; we eat in the kitchen.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXgZragCNb_stfLiZNyGbPoMo5-JOyqnu4aNNN4lLlEloPn6nOeGumVA0NK4evI7npDTG5SVHvyepnEQ7fUFpaGiBwyaPv6v1DKSy1rZLPMhwiAByzN4u6sZpmasuzjP15swG7p0Aria_2dL1V8gg7gfk9cpyZ-ouUW8J_QNXtge_7JF6ZSQ6kvpd69EAr/s4032/IMG_9823.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXgZragCNb_stfLiZNyGbPoMo5-JOyqnu4aNNN4lLlEloPn6nOeGumVA0NK4evI7npDTG5SVHvyepnEQ7fUFpaGiBwyaPv6v1DKSy1rZLPMhwiAByzN4u6sZpmasuzjP15swG7p0Aria_2dL1V8gg7gfk9cpyZ-ouUW8J_QNXtge_7JF6ZSQ6kvpd69EAr/s320/IMG_9823.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Who said something against individual YPs instead of one big one?</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBcYXHQFzE6xZ8lbyfXE9LiI8rhN7ZZCeCY0GtK7Oyjnd0zSRJBfvkrJ4nP-IwsC59D5M7ieikULAPpCGPHcIJx2c61wA7OdAmc-hVjB4Q9e1IZZwxT1mU9hnBxhB0Ya4K1AZ1xVYWVVTMEFQ5-W18OA6Yu9R0mlO1YhYOHWgmMM2n-e_0vWtsifyjNKiZ/s4032/IMG_9824.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBcYXHQFzE6xZ8lbyfXE9LiI8rhN7ZZCeCY0GtK7Oyjnd0zSRJBfvkrJ4nP-IwsC59D5M7ieikULAPpCGPHcIJx2c61wA7OdAmc-hVjB4Q9e1IZZwxT1mU9hnBxhB0Ya4K1AZ1xVYWVVTMEFQ5-W18OA6Yu9R0mlO1YhYOHWgmMM2n-e_0vWtsifyjNKiZ/s320/IMG_9824.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">It was all much better than it looks here, even if I say so myself.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Of course, there was sparkling wine to start off the evening, and red wine (a Syrah) that I had also used to make the goulash.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Early afternoon, O.K. and I had been out for a walk on the fields.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">O.K drove us back to the village on <b>New Year's Eve</b>. It was raining for much of the drive, and rained again later, but kept off long enough for the neighbours to have their fireworks. We watched quietly from inside the cottage - a nasty cold wind had come up, and we just didn't feel like going out.</span></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia7GFKM-T0DNf07osUYHjhbpXeembV83AVlC86SQo_MGF5ZhweytO04B8DOmrBvfKahcBPiLr39LJskHK0TMvtG3HCZW2lTESzkQK6Rl8hNdisSd3DlD7AOQYuWMH0ecedNOW6CNirUZTlv-iYPRXj5lH0DJ_l6xWv4uMU4mX0uo83H-rjyqKQW1FMQQzU/s4032/IMG_9825.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia7GFKM-T0DNf07osUYHjhbpXeembV83AVlC86SQo_MGF5ZhweytO04B8DOmrBvfKahcBPiLr39LJskHK0TMvtG3HCZW2lTESzkQK6Rl8hNdisSd3DlD7AOQYuWMH0ecedNOW6CNirUZTlv-iYPRXj5lH0DJ_l6xWv4uMU4mX0uo83H-rjyqKQW1FMQQzU/s320/IMG_9825.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">The last sunrise of 2023, as seen from my kitchen.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: verdana;">We had spent much of the afternoon in the warm kitchen, preparing boar in a thick dark gravy (based on red wine, surprise surprise!) with onions and carrots. O.K. served a linguine-type of noodles with it, and it was truly delicious.</span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">At midnight, of course we clinked glasses with sparkling wine before starting to exchange messages with friends and family.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">In the course of the evening, we listened to music, watched some silly stuff on youtube, and talked. It was a cosy, quiet New Year's Eve - just what we wanted.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">- - -</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">What a lot of food and drink! But it was all good, and all in good measure - I can honestly say that I did not wake up with a headache once, and although I never left the table hungry, I can also say that I did not eat to the point of feeling unwell. We tried to intersperse all that eating and drinking with walks, and it was simply good not having to be up at a certain time every morning.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">And now it's over for another year, and the first half of the first working week of 2024 is already behind me.</span></p>Librarianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05704656564078750607noreply@blogger.com35tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1949425054295660529.post-78479252649288087302023-12-31T09:53:00.005+01:002023-12-31T09:53:52.219+01:00Fourth Advent Week<p><span style="font-family: verdana;">The Fourth Advent week culminated with Christmas Eve and feels "long gone" - unless I look at my living room, where Christmas is still very much present in the shape of all the cards and presents I received.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>Monday, 18 December</b>, was off to a pleasant start when I met my friend for a morning walk at 9:00. We had both started work early and could well afford an hour's interruption, and it was good to catch up with her before she and her family were off to the US to celebrate Christmas with their families back home.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjGS2CHmfGhSCraoCiFW_4duk6PJRQD4VMgAwoCtfAtaNxYmNvvIaJTzmugRLSIG555r2Bhud-OQy1ORVAOKz27HGWG7Eo-VszNUCDNC6G3ms-VzwsPJX63FdhThJoThsEEv63nGRFLGTGBHhHT5-ID_E4zI7JaEbvbGYo6z3CkHffuRDABPSD_Vmn-OpVc" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="2778" data-original-width="3384" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjGS2CHmfGhSCraoCiFW_4duk6PJRQD4VMgAwoCtfAtaNxYmNvvIaJTzmugRLSIG555r2Bhud-OQy1ORVAOKz27HGWG7Eo-VszNUCDNC6G3ms-VzwsPJX63FdhThJoThsEEv63nGRFLGTGBHhHT5-ID_E4zI7JaEbvbGYo6z3CkHffuRDABPSD_Vmn-OpVc" width="292" /></a></span></div><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">The day was sunny and dry, and our last visit to the Christmas market as a family (Mum, sister and I) after work was not cut short by rain this time.</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyUSZXzZBJVfcCoLyTyH8O0Uaq9M40u4ZFiof-pNsZquZ_eXdkGozw6pNgleKGzm6M6Hp1FoCEAdKiCcxw_PGpazaKHJTUmLzI5h5kalHn4Q95a3wmZpebG7IBwWV-SkUTtBqRcnRS_Z-gMkaSjVsom4Vfbwl_oQOJfkuJ85zjsLvQst3_7YKkqJZiJpkG/s4032/IMG_0872.heic" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyUSZXzZBJVfcCoLyTyH8O0Uaq9M40u4ZFiof-pNsZquZ_eXdkGozw6pNgleKGzm6M6Hp1FoCEAdKiCcxw_PGpazaKHJTUmLzI5h5kalHn4Q95a3wmZpebG7IBwWV-SkUTtBqRcnRS_Z-gMkaSjVsom4Vfbwl_oQOJfkuJ85zjsLvQst3_7YKkqJZiJpkG/s320/IMG_0872.heic" width="320" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirO9TDnjrIBcEtF5vsaRvEH32B673IGWSY_RdUUB4jUfLrjf1a2WcTcbhOh5-WHYp3gJUrU1ZWFu7WcHrk2tIdeTCqUYLfYT1S7obHL4ySmAmWWx71NzEXtuKxVwx0WrT6oL2mjL4zUvWDIvfPsU49VbhuZRO6RBwDmNAfGAPq-NBvG35BelDaL3dybAGO/s4032/IMG_0866.heic" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirO9TDnjrIBcEtF5vsaRvEH32B673IGWSY_RdUUB4jUfLrjf1a2WcTcbhOh5-WHYp3gJUrU1ZWFu7WcHrk2tIdeTCqUYLfYT1S7obHL4ySmAmWWx71NzEXtuKxVwx0WrT6oL2mjL4zUvWDIvfPsU49VbhuZRO6RBwDmNAfGAPq-NBvG35BelDaL3dybAGO/s320/IMG_0866.heic" width="240" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">My Mum and I, listening to three brothers playing carols on bassoons</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrZrwYm24xKa9A-yu1ExXll9MkNirKjgokQJjs6VaYrAkeY45U9L3fuRQGtsyN2hO4pI8O6PSDfYqZeFDi4ZvvznX7RRu02KcssjiEjpbdx5LVtV4GmvdcIAAJvHwz5SpxXqJ5Wonu91VV2uF8rE5AhJ9KSonQTef-c2DsE96ETD19xHSyK0wlwMnJ6RuC/s4032/IMG_0864.heic" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrZrwYm24xKa9A-yu1ExXll9MkNirKjgokQJjs6VaYrAkeY45U9L3fuRQGtsyN2hO4pI8O6PSDfYqZeFDi4ZvvznX7RRu02KcssjiEjpbdx5LVtV4GmvdcIAAJvHwz5SpxXqJ5Wonu91VV2uF8rE5AhJ9KSonQTef-c2DsE96ETD19xHSyK0wlwMnJ6RuC/s320/IMG_0864.heic" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Enjoying mulled drinks of various kinds</span></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">A rare frosty night this December followed; we had -3C on <b>Tuesday (19 December)</b> morning. The day was sunny again but became overcast later.</span></p><p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWahc4_njI2FCoHUI6d3tBiIZB-wAsf6CvX9T8_jJ3RKPR97rstSkNkIndi5xt-Zozs0SlIdgvqB5QZ5GRiNp6j8wb2oUo7vPSUKVGR2Ru7JyiOueJdUcQNnPs_BrhtLdmLUiSIrqnPra7YDDyfs4h5fHK0nkdLmrdS8eYd3y8NPnjaPWU0zmwfym71QxU/s4032/IMG_9785.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWahc4_njI2FCoHUI6d3tBiIZB-wAsf6CvX9T8_jJ3RKPR97rstSkNkIndi5xt-Zozs0SlIdgvqB5QZ5GRiNp6j8wb2oUo7vPSUKVGR2Ru7JyiOueJdUcQNnPs_BrhtLdmLUiSIrqnPra7YDDyfs4h5fHK0nkdLmrdS8eYd3y8NPnjaPWU0zmwfym71QxU/s320/IMG_9785.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">View from my kitchen at 8:04 that morning...</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYiPA-RFe36hGDy2B1KDh560hZU05qRpUXAcV-cA0kdB8_Qc3Zp_nrKesp96tBNDW_8gOl_REOiuwfDWS1f4LBd5ekMeTrdFTqOH1yXTtiFPqZTyoh5zh6Okh9-lYdqnsaGh3Hhyk1ZbYkvnOkGIDKAEeIBBkGE-KEx1DS27Cp6gi18Ojf7H9J5ID9hMaS/s4032/IMG_9786.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYiPA-RFe36hGDy2B1KDh560hZU05qRpUXAcV-cA0kdB8_Qc3Zp_nrKesp96tBNDW_8gOl_REOiuwfDWS1f4LBd5ekMeTrdFTqOH1yXTtiFPqZTyoh5zh6Okh9-lYdqnsaGh3Hhyk1ZbYkvnOkGIDKAEeIBBkGE-KEx1DS27Cp6gi18Ojf7H9J5ID9hMaS/s320/IMG_9786.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">... and at 8:05.</span></td></tr></tbody></table></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">I had a mid-afternoon appointment for a haircut and then kept working for a while. Apart from a quick walk to Aldi and my visit to the hairdresser's I did not leave the house.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">I worked at the office in Weilimdorf on <b>Wednesday, 20 December</b>, and with three of my six immediate colleagues went to the Christmas market afterwards as our mini Christmas celebration from work. We had a fun couple of hours together, and it felt weird to have been at the office for the last time this year. During the day, I had occasion to speak to a few other colleagues who I have befriended over the years, which was nice.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>Thursday (21 December</b>) was very windy, if not to say stormy, and wet, but mild at 9C. I worked from home (which was really busy with 8 calls from my boss alone, plus four others from various colleagues) and met with my volunteer group afterwards. We distributed chocolate Santas and tangerines in front of our office at the train station, which was fun - the reactions of people we approached ranged from disbelief and fear of having to sign or pay something to smiles and joy, and brief conversations.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Three of us went to Kullman's Diner for a meal and drinks from there before going home. A good conclusion to this year's rather limited activities with the group.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>Friday, 22 December</b>, was my last working day for 2023. I expected it to be relatively quiet (which it was) and over by lunch time (which it wasn't).</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">I went to my Mum's at lunch time for a delicious soup and getting started on the Christmas tree, but in the end my Mum and my sister decorated it without me as I had to go back to work. I worked until almost 4:00 pm when my former neighbour came for a short visit; we exchanged gifts and she took her mail that still gets delivered to this address in spite of her and her family having moved in May. It was nice to see her one more time this year.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">With stormy and rainy weather, I did not miss going out for a walk - and would not have had time anyway.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>Saturday (December 23)</b> was dedicated to household things, and I went for a walk of about 2 hours when it wasn't raining, admiring people's Christmas decorations and letting my mind wander. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">I had time to read, play, write emails and watched some TV in the evening.</span></p><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">On <b>Christmas Eve</b>, I opened the last doors on my two Advent calendars. I walked to the cemetery but got rather wet half way through and so cut short what I had intended to be a longer walk on the fields. </span></p><p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhCnu9etvhGik_jh-GJHRpVnmAPM_lptM6kTb65gnwDnWObI2GaGTtBdf5rCRdw6Tp5UNlObZxe-xlO9gGv0RWwZjtXKwRscbSEvm4ERJ7HsR-lBdav5_oQ4jWLXi4dkHmnExltERszM5y1951A-HTMVEbbs0iPA9kpvFYFbtSG0rIGkwaBi61Rnu7g6Zg/s4032/IMG_9789.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhCnu9etvhGik_jh-GJHRpVnmAPM_lptM6kTb65gnwDnWObI2GaGTtBdf5rCRdw6Tp5UNlObZxe-xlO9gGv0RWwZjtXKwRscbSEvm4ERJ7HsR-lBdav5_oQ4jWLXi4dkHmnExltERszM5y1951A-HTMVEbbs0iPA9kpvFYFbtSG0rIGkwaBi61Rnu7g6Zg/s320/IMG_9789.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">All four candles on my Advent wreath were lit.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHU1bM25O1gYv_FkEjfVxIJvMsqXwaEcsRLBZRa077rXka1W5e4OE5zh1nAK_6wqMYYRVlyMJdYqcYVQkxx1rrxELCBmVf0T2SPrOFvA3KaXheP1Kb2oE-AZTDbMn52TcVY3R1RYfMoBHcScQrHixuQXvYAIl9kKOMViOt9mAeOuEeaFJV9xoAtr2CfcRm/s4032/IMG_9790.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHU1bM25O1gYv_FkEjfVxIJvMsqXwaEcsRLBZRa077rXka1W5e4OE5zh1nAK_6wqMYYRVlyMJdYqcYVQkxx1rrxELCBmVf0T2SPrOFvA3KaXheP1Kb2oE-AZTDbMn52TcVY3R1RYfMoBHcScQrHixuQXvYAIl9kKOMViOt9mAeOuEeaFJV9xoAtr2CfcRm/s320/IMG_9790.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Some presents are already waiting on the sideboard.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">O.K. and I spoke on the phone and I rested a bit in the afternoon before setting off to my Mum's at 5:30, where my sister and I spent Christmas Eve with her.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">We had our traditional meal of Wiener sausages and spuds salad, and star-shaped ice cream for dessert. With the candles on the Christmas tree lit, we even sang a few favourite carols! The amount of gifts amazes me every year.</span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6i1nwTh73pDCWx76OfbSN0KLXrMo6kQGSpVr_CFXbi4fUAWf1TmWoN9TnYjqjF9_aJf6uPdd6R2gu3SHcIzPzfeO2fmWfvP5OoD35NfFGUytM2bNRbZfXtVV0lsQck5BFDchXAXC7_hqJKn5zI1FH5EkeBT-Mhrohn77cOmocyeP0gtk3WcPHnFOT1UJE/s3163/IMG_9791.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3163" data-original-width="2022" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6i1nwTh73pDCWx76OfbSN0KLXrMo6kQGSpVr_CFXbi4fUAWf1TmWoN9TnYjqjF9_aJf6uPdd6R2gu3SHcIzPzfeO2fmWfvP5OoD35NfFGUytM2bNRbZfXtVV0lsQck5BFDchXAXC7_hqJKn5zI1FH5EkeBT-Mhrohn77cOmocyeP0gtk3WcPHnFOT1UJE/s320/IMG_9791.JPG" width="205" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Christmas tree at my Mum's</span></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4vs97bKaAP5bCwHdmEoe0lafPEk6YEQAbzWNKI1QvygkpXdTu1j9SwP0PkMjQjZJRqpdwSvHhjML305xTvk0JmsviZ2odpqG7nu-MFIonqHKRbnet4nomBX4r3pEm3wd9bfKm3CHURWJ8PfUOCwSvmyCJW323NLOASC4QZgAONQvJQ2lbyaEJbHb5E3Tp/s4032/IMG_3048.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4vs97bKaAP5bCwHdmEoe0lafPEk6YEQAbzWNKI1QvygkpXdTu1j9SwP0PkMjQjZJRqpdwSvHhjML305xTvk0JmsviZ2odpqG7nu-MFIonqHKRbnet4nomBX4r3pEm3wd9bfKm3CHURWJ8PfUOCwSvmyCJW323NLOASC4QZgAONQvJQ2lbyaEJbHb5E3Tp/s320/IMG_3048.HEIC" width="240" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">More presents!!!</span></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6i1nwTh73pDCWx76OfbSN0KLXrMo6kQGSpVr_CFXbi4fUAWf1TmWoN9TnYjqjF9_aJf6uPdd6R2gu3SHcIzPzfeO2fmWfvP5OoD35NfFGUytM2bNRbZfXtVV0lsQck5BFDchXAXC7_hqJKn5zI1FH5EkeBT-Mhrohn77cOmocyeP0gtk3WcPHnFOT1UJE/s3163/IMG_9791.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></span></div></div><span style="font-family: verdana;">The rest of the evening was spent talking, reminiscing, thinking of those loved ones not longer with us.<br /></span><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW2_MxUAOWUbC2B-XbMJyq928jDHf65bJnFR3MYHFgWicd1Ik5K0tqkGPcrgvxqClNOddSHNxPyIzNvXklETbO-mlT7FW4dl7O83C0aLJszIExRgClrvMEbro4FBiAPIBLOOqM08EjjKnYf_GJItHRenFQs847JlY_HqjTY08NpGbZU7dUnsV13QPiyqZq/s3559/IMG_9795.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3559" data-original-width="2134" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW2_MxUAOWUbC2B-XbMJyq928jDHf65bJnFR3MYHFgWicd1Ik5K0tqkGPcrgvxqClNOddSHNxPyIzNvXklETbO-mlT7FW4dl7O83C0aLJszIExRgClrvMEbro4FBiAPIBLOOqM08EjjKnYf_GJItHRenFQs847JlY_HqjTY08NpGbZU7dUnsV13QPiyqZq/s320/IMG_9795.JPG" width="192" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Walking home, I stopped to take a picture of my favourite "public" Christmas tree, next to a bank.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">And because this is my last post for 2023, let me wish you all a </span><b><i><span style="color: red; font-family: georgia;">Happy New Year!</span></i></b><span style="font-family: verdana;"> Thank you for your reading and commenting these past 12 months. </span></p><p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_ztGjQnwk-LzGqIFgT3CLUNQxtZQ2_gxLADB2_GOvpMBbE4_OKqmhJ_2XCFXVj_I39UFkhpsFn9hj0vzw0G-htKSCy05PI4tKvEnBhy3zoOUBwfSapaLIL_NyaH6Dl3A17HCwbVjFXeLT0uBIOzILpBoVDsC3Es_lT74hR9lTOJEZJcfHWXZukrcnxzbP/s4032/IMG_9821.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_ztGjQnwk-LzGqIFgT3CLUNQxtZQ2_gxLADB2_GOvpMBbE4_OKqmhJ_2XCFXVj_I39UFkhpsFn9hj0vzw0G-htKSCy05PI4tKvEnBhy3zoOUBwfSapaLIL_NyaH6Dl3A17HCwbVjFXeLT0uBIOzILpBoVDsC3Es_lT74hR9lTOJEZJcfHWXZukrcnxzbP/s320/IMG_9821.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Display at a wine bar in Ludwigsburg</td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: verdana;">I know it won't be all that happy and cheerful for some of you, but I hope you will still find some solace and joy in being with loved ones, reflecting on whatever good things 2023 held for you, and looking forward to what 2024 may have in store for you.</span></p>Librarianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05704656564078750607noreply@blogger.com17tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1949425054295660529.post-29364835939410163752023-12-29T10:59:00.000+01:002023-12-29T10:59:00.742+01:00Read in 2023 - 34: Lost Places im Schwarzwald<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8kXHvHSPuXv-6hhhwc1Kcttt00qV2y9sViU04hcygHWm9mBMbIWPyJciBOHaqeY5Npe-KdqSZihkOO0znyOP2-RgrL8GOoQTViVKvbPmBZD0CYdKwdhOkzx1nIC9dY5tKHq_8b2VmgaE_unAFYXNRNxDe-uPdB5rJ_XKVdk15Yv2-bLa4NkKxaLleuEFJ/s600/Lost.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="471" data-original-width="600" height="251" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8kXHvHSPuXv-6hhhwc1Kcttt00qV2y9sViU04hcygHWm9mBMbIWPyJciBOHaqeY5Npe-KdqSZihkOO0znyOP2-RgrL8GOoQTViVKvbPmBZD0CYdKwdhOkzx1nIC9dY5tKHq_8b2VmgaE_unAFYXNRNxDe-uPdB5rJ_XKVdk15Yv2-bLa4NkKxaLleuEFJ/s320/Lost.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><u>Lost Places im Schwarzwald</u></b></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>Faszination des Verlassenen</b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>Jasmin Seidel</b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">As some of you will know, I have always been fascinated by what nowadays are officially called Lost Places. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">One of my presents for Christmas 2021 had been "Lost Places in der Region Stuttgart" (Lost Places in the Stuttgart area), which I have reviewed <a href="https://librarianwithsecrets.blogspot.com/2022/01/read-in-2022-1-lost-places-in-der.html" target="_blank">here</a>.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">This year in October, I was browsing the stalls at a trade show in Offenburg while O.K. and the village band were performing, and came across this book. I took a business card of the author, whose photos were for sale as large prints at the stall, and then mentioned this book when asked what I wanted for Christmas.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">When I arrived at O.K.'s on Christmas Day, we exchanged gifts, and this book was among mine. Over the next couple of days, I had time to read it, and here it is - my last review for 2023, while the other "Lost Places" book was my first review in 2022.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Jasmin Seidel's website is <a href="http://heimatliebe-jsphotography.de/" target="_blank">here</a>; her pictures are worth looking at. She was born and raised in a small town roughly 60 km from where O.K. lives, and knows the Black Forest very well. 13 places in the region are introduced each with a bit about their history, followed by photos.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">The places range from an abandoned chocolate factory to hotels to a nursery to hospitals to an old farm, in various states of decay. Some are still carefully guarded and seem ready to return to life with little effort, while others have been subjected to so much vandalism they are left almost beyond recognition.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">As with the book about the Stuttgart area, some places are well known, while the exact location of others is kept secret so as not to encourage more destruction.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Like the author of the Stuttgart book, Jasmin Seidel has the same attitude towards Lost Places and adheres to the same simple rules: Take nothing but photos, leave nothing but foot prints. Whenever possible, she asks for permission by the current owners or custodians of a place; if no contact can be made, or a place is in such a state that every step inside could be your last, she only takes pictures from the outside.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Her way of researching every place thoroughly appeals to me, as do her photos. I have certainly not browsed this book for the last time.<br /></span></p>Librarianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05704656564078750607noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1949425054295660529.post-73008940526237396912023-12-29T10:30:00.001+01:002023-12-29T10:30:12.702+01:00Read in 2023 - 33: The Bullet That Missed<p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><u></u></b></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><u><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKgVI7T6rdD8KQ0-XvE82vB0kkbtUXPUSRw0PUwSsocwxrRqJuctLcBWzMJmCSqpbBYINcZZMNaxdvpvqoaWw4uyCXyvqgdvjcxpigaIIBX6u9t2nRWmIwb-1cMiUjgL1_-MNcfcPKIrDMBhX-NnFMMUB11_okzt-iA9-vGLvkPKWFYiu8LatD7jFslWsw/s500/Bullet.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="326" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKgVI7T6rdD8KQ0-XvE82vB0kkbtUXPUSRw0PUwSsocwxrRqJuctLcBWzMJmCSqpbBYINcZZMNaxdvpvqoaWw4uyCXyvqgdvjcxpigaIIBX6u9t2nRWmIwb-1cMiUjgL1_-MNcfcPKIrDMBhX-NnFMMUB11_okzt-iA9-vGLvkPKWFYiu8LatD7jFslWsw/s320/Bullet.jpg" width="209" /></a></u></b></span></div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><u>The Bullet That Missed</u></b></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>Richard Osman</b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">The third book in the Thursday Murder Club series, I enjoyed this one just as much as the first two.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">A friend I know through my volunteer group lent me this one (just like she did with the first two), and she said she already has the fourth one ready for me when I want it. </span><span style="font-family: verdana;">You can find my review for the 1st book </span><a href="https://librarianwithsecrets.blogspot.com/2022/08/read-in-2022-22-thursday-murder-club.html" style="font-family: verdana;" target="_blank">here </a><span style="font-family: verdana;">and for the 2nd one </span><a href="https://librarianwithsecrets.blogspot.com/2022/09/read-in-2022-25-man-who-died-twice.html" style="font-family: verdana;" target="_blank">here</a><span style="font-family: verdana;">.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">My friend said she liked this one well enough but not quite as much as the other two, since in her opinion there was too much focus on the romantic relationships between members of the cast.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Speaking of which, we meet all the familiar "faces" again; Elizabeth (who in my mind looks excatly like Helen Mirren) and Stephen, Joyce and her dog, Ibrahim, Ron and Bogdan. Chris and Donna return, as does Patrice and the infamous Connie Johnson.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">There are also some new people, such as Mike, Pauline, Viktor, The Viking, Heather and Jack. Not everyone of these new ones makes it alive to the end of the book, but I won't tell you who, or why and how.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Anyway: The Thursday Murder Club have just started investigating the presumed murder of a journalist who was about to uncover a major VAT fraud nearly ten years ago. Her body was never found... but someone somewhere must know something, right?</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Almost as soon as Elizabeth and her friends have enlisted the help of Donna and Chris, things take an unexpected turn: Now Elizabeth has to decide whether or not to murder an old friend... or a newer friend of hers will die.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">As I said, I enjoyed this one very much; the dialogue and descriptions are pure delight, and in spite of the often rather absurd scenarios playing out, somehow each and every character is (in my opinion) fully credible.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">I have other books to read before I borrow #4 from my friend, but read it I will!</span></p>Librarianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05704656564078750607noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1949425054295660529.post-12840562126680030062023-12-21T17:02:00.006+01:002023-12-21T17:02:59.497+01:00Third Advent Week<p><span style="font-family: verdana;">The week saw some musical highlights, as well as more sun than we'd been having before. Only one substantial walk was possible, but it was still a very good week altogether.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Because we had been at my place for the weekend, I did not have a train journey to make on<b> Monday (11 December) </b>morning but could start work very early. That meant I was able to finish early, too, and had a good walk to Benningen across still sunlit fields mid-afternoon. It was windy, but mild at 12C/53F.</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4U9qQGxd9E2Kj4RJfihs01ndHdvWYEYZ2oMwfPRREPavHhvMldx8I97-hEYmd7AQ1-J2GXa_AvniFo1xY23NtjtlEGR_to2YMSE2UXbQuUvVLo_8GITM7W3loLsSMM0_azBPjU5mTuhlEP5myP01YPmzXVLE4Gzzwxx5e9OFQg8K8LSPT3qm5e1CjmAL2/s4032/IMG_9744.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4U9qQGxd9E2Kj4RJfihs01ndHdvWYEYZ2oMwfPRREPavHhvMldx8I97-hEYmd7AQ1-J2GXa_AvniFo1xY23NtjtlEGR_to2YMSE2UXbQuUvVLo_8GITM7W3loLsSMM0_azBPjU5mTuhlEP5myP01YPmzXVLE4Gzzwxx5e9OFQg8K8LSPT3qm5e1CjmAL2/s320/IMG_9744.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheaM9YI81r-d7HoGnOgk8kf9dfe3-T22a3RLGavTh9ZgJtMby9zG_qCuffpsbfLVzHPdnAGw2U85rFQfflL-0vnKzm2yvsFGtctp7rSBBp4N6-JeNufDFJGrqaeYD3HDu8_aW5aM-jRvF6l7EXDgXTowheQqimXj-gbLy2uKoFZHMQpOmlz2am37uRuxRY/s4032/IMG_9745.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheaM9YI81r-d7HoGnOgk8kf9dfe3-T22a3RLGavTh9ZgJtMby9zG_qCuffpsbfLVzHPdnAGw2U85rFQfflL-0vnKzm2yvsFGtctp7rSBBp4N6-JeNufDFJGrqaeYD3HDu8_aW5aM-jRvF6l7EXDgXTowheQqimXj-gbLy2uKoFZHMQpOmlz2am37uRuxRY/s320/IMG_9745.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Nearly sunset</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ6MPHVLFcfYrT6YR6sWUk60PBFFB4KEeYiYeSv_-XaXO4LMjhyphenhyphen_k6RJRGgmZnE-X_jyg_pdf1RetHsNhsLWAjQWgJYpUWmXyr5nUaR5wLhbjfHdw2FPpB9hxm27EXB0BaPOlbLnBYrbJaz7U7HpOvEgCJGCrF38869N82bNhJrZhLbECVH7U8zQH20v-F/s4032/IMG_9746.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ6MPHVLFcfYrT6YR6sWUk60PBFFB4KEeYiYeSv_-XaXO4LMjhyphenhyphen_k6RJRGgmZnE-X_jyg_pdf1RetHsNhsLWAjQWgJYpUWmXyr5nUaR5wLhbjfHdw2FPpB9hxm27EXB0BaPOlbLnBYrbJaz7U7HpOvEgCJGCrF38869N82bNhJrZhLbECVH7U8zQH20v-F/s320/IMG_9746.JPG" width="240" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Benningen townhall, right next to the train station</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: verdana;">In the evening, I met a former colleague (now retired) and his wife at the Christmas market; good food, good drink and good fun.</span><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0zkYPl0IqvMbdgTPZHwqLk-SdRyw1QzvLG9I_6HHJb24IZDSyHkDt6umcUl5AEFp7zAvY21pPIjUt-Q1m2a9YOysndaAyv6_dnfkqUe23G0LNe4Ch_CXLsKupPKoXDDEC_Fumh2duZwvTRDAtldiIMrNNtcgdfKwfipbMMvL6yKU8ug7_Gxvals-kdGEn/s4032/IMG_9747.JPEG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0zkYPl0IqvMbdgTPZHwqLk-SdRyw1QzvLG9I_6HHJb24IZDSyHkDt6umcUl5AEFp7zAvY21pPIjUt-Q1m2a9YOysndaAyv6_dnfkqUe23G0LNe4Ch_CXLsKupPKoXDDEC_Fumh2duZwvTRDAtldiIMrNNtcgdfKwfipbMMvL6yKU8ug7_Gxvals-kdGEn/s320/IMG_9747.JPEG" width="240" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisIxQF1MsAA_WUP589cXoj3sKHo4gryBQSBStQ9QW8olRHHp4sI8VDD14yt4-b2Uop4mcC7UxMdD7NRjsawAB8sHctrNjotCJa-b_9ct3AEhfwQF5F5qOP3Cjk1kIhnWbGZiWWSiV09ON9iIM1C0354xlEpSkGhKnpqwGHfpexa2ZxJv45GPbIQrjXHCCT/s4032/IMG_9748.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisIxQF1MsAA_WUP589cXoj3sKHo4gryBQSBStQ9QW8olRHHp4sI8VDD14yt4-b2Uop4mcC7UxMdD7NRjsawAB8sHctrNjotCJa-b_9ct3AEhfwQF5F5qOP3Cjk1kIhnWbGZiWWSiV09ON9iIM1C0354xlEpSkGhKnpqwGHfpexa2ZxJv45GPbIQrjXHCCT/s320/IMG_9748.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-EH-jfDk6jG5fh2_iC-z1URtQ2paPOjyfbJfX0fWD33sY3ZG-BfAqCBMTVs5TGD9ICKohHkTdfNCZZaZ1IEzuDQ0oGKK3ag16f01TFuvOUZmHkvGiKrE5XtB9ct4Can0e6iECKWY1X37eFLu29pJYs9-Qam09gWclujemDEE0hMCfMrJSWiNKBuMFoI74/s4032/IMG_9749.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-EH-jfDk6jG5fh2_iC-z1URtQ2paPOjyfbJfX0fWD33sY3ZG-BfAqCBMTVs5TGD9ICKohHkTdfNCZZaZ1IEzuDQ0oGKK3ag16f01TFuvOUZmHkvGiKrE5XtB9ct4Can0e6iECKWY1X37eFLu29pJYs9-Qam09gWclujemDEE0hMCfMrJSWiNKBuMFoI74/s320/IMG_9749.JPG" width="240" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">This eight-legged housemate waited for me in the stairwell when I arrived home that evening. He or she is about the size of my palm.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>Tuesday (12 December)</b> was still mild at 9C, but it rained all day, and I did not set foot out of my front door; just worked, had my meals and a quiet evening.</span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">An uneventful <b>Wednesday (13 December) </b>was spent, as most Wednesdays, at the office in Weilimdorf. There was sun until about mid-afternoon, but the day ended in rain, and I had no opportunity for a walk.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">My Mum, my sister and I met up for the Christmas market on <b>Thursday (14 December)</b>. After a cloudy morning, the sun came out around lunch time and made us hopeful for a dry evening. But almost as soon as my Mum got off the bus where we met her, it started to rain, and became too unpleasant for us to stay outside. Instead, we retreated to the pub where we had our usual food and drink (fish & chips and cider for me).</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">By the time we left the pub, it had stopped raining, so that we still got to walk around the market together before we accompanied our Mum to the bus stop.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">On <b>Friday (15 December)</b>, my sister and I took the Christmas parcel for our family in England to the post office. As it was lunch time (and not raining!), we had our favourite food at the Christmas market before going back to work.</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-nsjxatTetZCUv2aiPpSfPx82OFT1Puf1ZwxnsmVQ8ABa7Ss7D9vm1fndUisFw9PYeJttdWd6WtLjvHIagTiwT9pM8NHGGsYzE1MvqNI5ZnZoe2TY3Yr_VWw5BgGGhcpsH7G0EQ76DokUBGzy6WbNEQ1GauClAJtFUSkGv579-Yhrbn4qAzF3dYe75bn-/s2048/IMG_0850.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-nsjxatTetZCUv2aiPpSfPx82OFT1Puf1ZwxnsmVQ8ABa7Ss7D9vm1fndUisFw9PYeJttdWd6WtLjvHIagTiwT9pM8NHGGsYzE1MvqNI5ZnZoe2TY3Yr_VWw5BgGGhcpsH7G0EQ76DokUBGzy6WbNEQ1GauClAJtFUSkGv579-Yhrbn4qAzF3dYe75bn-/s320/IMG_0850.jpeg" width="240" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: verdana;">I finished work, did my usual cleaning, packed my little red suitcase for the weekend and headed to the train station shortly after 6:00 pm, by which time rain had set in again.</span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">With only 10 minutes delay, I arrived in Offenburg. O.K. drove us home to the village, and we had our favourite Friday evening meal of salad, cheese, bread and wine.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">We were up comparatively early on <b>Saturday (16 December)</b>, because at 9:00, setting up the village hall for the village band's annual concert started. Many hands worked together for a few hours, and by around 12:30, we were back at the cottage for bowls of hot soup and bread.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">There was not all that much time for a rest afterwards, as the band's last practice for the concert started at 4:00 pm. We went across the road for a bit to see O.K.'s parents, then he left for the village hall while I was only expected there at 7:15 to begin my shift at the drinks and snacks counter.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">The day was cold but beautiful, and I went for a quick, short walk of about 35 minutes to take in the golden afternoon light and sunset.</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir6fmVrgh6zbqpTt5-dOoxy94V31ravH7tAmZTLAFV4TYBVEUhK55uGVucrQRaLutWWg56Slz7m1GGlOGMwNZTgscDGciO8XEwMzAGzobeK_1pZDW6ATbgO4ghDkcBb2RSuEzAdzzEEllMB1MK5HDTM6BnIudyVWUlkDCeiGO4lmAc6PJJKNwVcdsgrHId/s4032/IMG_9753.JPEG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir6fmVrgh6zbqpTt5-dOoxy94V31ravH7tAmZTLAFV4TYBVEUhK55uGVucrQRaLutWWg56Slz7m1GGlOGMwNZTgscDGciO8XEwMzAGzobeK_1pZDW6ATbgO4ghDkcBb2RSuEzAdzzEEllMB1MK5HDTM6BnIudyVWUlkDCeiGO4lmAc6PJJKNwVcdsgrHId/s320/IMG_9753.JPEG" width="240" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglx-3xORPDlCdhETUq6mHhH8zWiaObyzY_NA0GOiM0l_cxUG__M_HQvOqQadPwviO7N0VoKK3ROrDjaD0p_ZbMkJPRRnGP-fCSkLSiS-lkM6k19-SJRPBHQZR0ppi6y2EnrtmVRN3nw5ffHqnhSi1AR7EeqG3hzZPbL9TeBIcgB_kkkLFsl8jZOSzpRl7C/s4032/IMG_9754.JPEG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglx-3xORPDlCdhETUq6mHhH8zWiaObyzY_NA0GOiM0l_cxUG__M_HQvOqQadPwviO7N0VoKK3ROrDjaD0p_ZbMkJPRRnGP-fCSkLSiS-lkM6k19-SJRPBHQZR0ppi6y2EnrtmVRN3nw5ffHqnhSi1AR7EeqG3hzZPbL9TeBIcgB_kkkLFsl8jZOSzpRl7C/s320/IMG_9754.JPEG" width="320" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvFSNYHr4YO7I-6V6OY-Mj6kAYS_nIfmcA5y5LuskEpKIFDtKz7ARGwbwnRf6YJhcR7RKGfi1Wa38wEhSw7EVxBR4jriaYdn1gx8uN9EJrXeVBT-tUcmW1pSq8F16KIxf04v_2lzzuxYs3Mm4x0rueZzl23VSjTCMVyzELFPimO-YWi2MrRCw5X9ksMGST/s4032/IMG_9755.JPEG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvFSNYHr4YO7I-6V6OY-Mj6kAYS_nIfmcA5y5LuskEpKIFDtKz7ARGwbwnRf6YJhcR7RKGfi1Wa38wEhSw7EVxBR4jriaYdn1gx8uN9EJrXeVBT-tUcmW1pSq8F16KIxf04v_2lzzuxYs3Mm4x0rueZzl23VSjTCMVyzELFPimO-YWi2MrRCw5X9ksMGST/s320/IMG_9755.JPEG" width="320" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGtZVjJ180iHcLIluZHJc9YKk9fy3t_e0qIkA9Dpc7CLnhraNkp3VKyQp_RmLm0UdBbbHsp2sokEz7hByvNsRowRXX7E_JRrDQM8KgkURmdW1tSPtXQv3l1XuINFZ3N_4gu95eqqnJHWatwnltsnkQlhpaebDaqmJSkUpPGyA75MkAKW3Zi7Lq-AaYngPX/s4032/IMG_9756.JPEG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGtZVjJ180iHcLIluZHJc9YKk9fy3t_e0qIkA9Dpc7CLnhraNkp3VKyQp_RmLm0UdBbbHsp2sokEz7hByvNsRowRXX7E_JRrDQM8KgkURmdW1tSPtXQv3l1XuINFZ3N_4gu95eqqnJHWatwnltsnkQlhpaebDaqmJSkUpPGyA75MkAKW3Zi7Lq-AaYngPX/s320/IMG_9756.JPEG" width="320" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm82tGunim3cAjqXHL_We_XwIY07MJn1fl7hnI0l4I70B2T5qic_kkxmzyivLhdrSK08n45uB3TNkR4O1WCleUCrk_RzqWymQJBuEp98KcYb7Q1cXoB__Tw4N_-u4LUNqn4HRCW7OlFJHj9Q3LRvr9fRQijfR64Sn5KUaPGyOv529eywDAgt08p6WSoeGq/s4032/IMG_9757.JPEG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm82tGunim3cAjqXHL_We_XwIY07MJn1fl7hnI0l4I70B2T5qic_kkxmzyivLhdrSK08n45uB3TNkR4O1WCleUCrk_RzqWymQJBuEp98KcYb7Q1cXoB__Tw4N_-u4LUNqn4HRCW7OlFJHj9Q3LRvr9fRQijfR64Sn5KUaPGyOv529eywDAgt08p6WSoeGq/s320/IMG_9757.JPEG" width="320" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2SHaovkks0QSWvrpkaaBI2EwQmFUARM-UWLblxGvgnHAnDqg_wkd7Tq2rcFt1-oCigmmWmFIYyQKysVYMb52dsxy0FW1JsfX5A09X-HykBiqNmxKXTFTxzHY9O3grSfSwxbk5LNuHAZMjpeXPdj6xfqenUh_t07Gek0mrKMfND8KKEIXIylQs_-NbCQTn/s4032/IMG_9758.JPEG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2SHaovkks0QSWvrpkaaBI2EwQmFUARM-UWLblxGvgnHAnDqg_wkd7Tq2rcFt1-oCigmmWmFIYyQKysVYMb52dsxy0FW1JsfX5A09X-HykBiqNmxKXTFTxzHY9O3grSfSwxbk5LNuHAZMjpeXPdj6xfqenUh_t07Gek0mrKMfND8KKEIXIylQs_-NbCQTn/s320/IMG_9758.JPEG" width="320" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5gyFIh12guEdLGjviLZ4vO4BJsXyQxdWWonrf0c08VUDFNLXnKipGeFGVhRof-X3cVp03TGiMDMczAQ6Mvzs0mevj9mYLjf45Qufm0ljOrdq3o68aj2-5GIT9SX9zM5Xknd8O1p3wkEUNeAqOKAx2nu2xKQDxhRuA9yb9YFMAsJjb76WcDUYlSwYBNsnX/s4032/IMG_9759.JPEG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5gyFIh12guEdLGjviLZ4vO4BJsXyQxdWWonrf0c08VUDFNLXnKipGeFGVhRof-X3cVp03TGiMDMczAQ6Mvzs0mevj9mYLjf45Qufm0ljOrdq3o68aj2-5GIT9SX9zM5Xknd8O1p3wkEUNeAqOKAx2nu2xKQDxhRuA9yb9YFMAsJjb76WcDUYlSwYBNsnX/s320/IMG_9759.JPEG" width="320" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: verdana;">After showering and putting on my concert finery, I walked to the village hall and arrived well before 7:00. That way, I had enough time to get the counter ready and organise myself with the other three who were to man it. </span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">We were a good team and sold a great many snacks and drinks before the concert began, during the half-hour break and afterwards, until shortly before midnight when we had run out of the most popular drinks and food, and closed our counter.</span></p><p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg35vIDPU92EDb2oV1H8mgSRh7oyXi9Ud-3tNUEj_iFYePRQ7xntPkaEtzze5Cj-2MNtVUAjHRC2TnoQDxdxRT2T3o2HWJ1w16s4FnSSv7xhivup7h2Y0SbbLzsNdycwg1T4ygyj25_9raMOaveikqRFCM0iwlFcRb_5PAmCX92EsnrYXlXYQfzuJoJ2TpO/s3546/IMG_9761.JPEG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1994" data-original-width="3546" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg35vIDPU92EDb2oV1H8mgSRh7oyXi9Ud-3tNUEj_iFYePRQ7xntPkaEtzze5Cj-2MNtVUAjHRC2TnoQDxdxRT2T3o2HWJ1w16s4FnSSv7xhivup7h2Y0SbbLzsNdycwg1T4ygyj25_9raMOaveikqRFCM0iwlFcRb_5PAmCX92EsnrYXlXYQfzuJoJ2TpO/s320/IMG_9761.JPEG" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">The stage is set!</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: verdana;">The concert was great fun: Instead of a regular succession of pieces of music played by the band, there were two actors who enacted a crime mystery on stage, interspersed with the band's music. The audience were invited to guess whodunnit (it wasn't all that hard, really), and at the end of the concert, the winner was announced and received a prize.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">It was the first time they had done their annual concert that way, and a great success, judging from the audience's reactions.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Once we had closed our counter, I joined O.K. and the other musicians for drinks and chats. We were back at the cottage by 1:30 am.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">As the saying goes, there is no rest for the wicked: We had to be up early-ish on <b>Sunday (17 December)</b>, since putting the village hall back in order started at 9:00. For a change, I opted out of helping, but remained at the cottage instead. I needed a bit of time to get showered, dressed and ready for departure at 11:00, when O.K. took me to the train station in Offenburg.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">I was home as planned at 2:00 pm with just enough time to grab a quick coffee and get changed into something more suitable for my 2nd concert this weekend: The Christmas Sing-Along my Mum and I love so much.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">We arrived at the venue with half an hour to spare, so I got us a glass of sparkling wine each, and we met friends and relatives to chat to, which was lovely.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">The concert was as wonderful as usual, the songs sung in turn by the nine (!) different choirs on the stage and the audience. When almost 1,500 voices join to sing those familiar Christmas songs... that is quite something. There were tears for both of us, but funny moments as well. All in all, we had a fantastic time.</span></p><p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH8hlv4dwegVR0jPfIO0Jb5KusNAZS8jFGBl_b3-k9Gi2BSVxRK41dRCzdI8_e7_UlFckrvMEGcQ0KoO7XVbVghPAeP6GV5WgcN2XL831rYQS3FR18xlgYrZtGB2WP09ahthk4EIpxe827aM3q6ls7UqM8PoVogs5Vnx1bfNScS78Hh_Pf__12aHbt5SA5/s2518/IMG_3019.JPEG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1248" data-original-width="2518" height="159" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH8hlv4dwegVR0jPfIO0Jb5KusNAZS8jFGBl_b3-k9Gi2BSVxRK41dRCzdI8_e7_UlFckrvMEGcQ0KoO7XVbVghPAeP6GV5WgcN2XL831rYQS3FR18xlgYrZtGB2WP09ahthk4EIpxe827aM3q6ls7UqM8PoVogs5Vnx1bfNScS78Hh_Pf__12aHbt5SA5/s320/IMG_3019.JPEG" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Our seats were perfect!</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: verdana;">I walked my Mum to the bus stop before going home, and was quite ready for a quiet evening on my own, lighting three candles on my Advent wreath. A beautiful conclusion to a busy and festive week.</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaWXGuWwxepGeaH9Dja7pbFUfkuXOeeJQ3keuw7ex6SVKuzruc1FMCTocUU5FwTzE9uguS9As8UcB5KDBrz9IwVohLHrD0LSK_VnIMmCJaHXAjJ2dt0jsdHCctUsr2Jpxlpx8REepZcvAZMWfh2jP7CEE8TxgjonoJ6IWplWR_Hogg-vVKbxUFHHJjpKDs/s4032/IMG_9762.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaWXGuWwxepGeaH9Dja7pbFUfkuXOeeJQ3keuw7ex6SVKuzruc1FMCTocUU5FwTzE9uguS9As8UcB5KDBrz9IwVohLHrD0LSK_VnIMmCJaHXAjJ2dt0jsdHCctUsr2Jpxlpx8REepZcvAZMWfh2jP7CEE8TxgjonoJ6IWplWR_Hogg-vVKbxUFHHJjpKDs/s320/IMG_9762.JPG" width="240" /></span></a></div><p></p>Librarianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05704656564078750607noreply@blogger.com20tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1949425054295660529.post-35783617346569423212023-12-19T17:41:00.000+01:002023-12-19T17:41:01.689+01:00Read in 2023 - 32: The Brewery Murders<div class="a-section a-spacing-micro" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; margin-bottom: 22px;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><b><u><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv162ovqwsGVa3YZ7bo22bWAOpKOiABpjmtUj6nRlYaR7FQEHXO08cuievLuqyTU2gV3TR1fJn9spFKwA4MXr8ERx3VoRqqvx14YCn9Xy5fhfjuTOxvO09zJJU6zvibrCAbk3Yd42PMdDqimIIo3QzcOn0d_o7K6Exwllgg4KrPBnPbpa-HRGTSFu4QPAj/s488/brewery.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="488" data-original-width="488" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv162ovqwsGVa3YZ7bo22bWAOpKOiABpjmtUj6nRlYaR7FQEHXO08cuievLuqyTU2gV3TR1fJn9spFKwA4MXr8ERx3VoRqqvx14YCn9Xy5fhfjuTOxvO09zJJU6zvibrCAbk3Yd42PMdDqimIIo3QzcOn0d_o7K6Exwllgg4KrPBnPbpa-HRGTSFu4QPAj/s320/brewery.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>The Brewery Murders </u></b></span></div><div class="a-section a-spacing-micro" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; margin-bottom: 22px;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><b>(A Yorkshire Murder Mystery Book 9)</b></span></div><div class="a-section a-spacing-micro" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; margin-bottom: 22px;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><b><span class="series-childAsin-item-details-by-line" style="box-sizing: border-box;">by </span>J. R. Ellis</b></span></div><div class="a-section a-spacing-micro" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; margin-bottom: 22px;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">Is beer worth killing for?</span></div><div class="a-section a-spacing-micro" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; margin-bottom: 22px;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">Someone definitely seems to think so. A dead body is found floating in the fermenting tank of a brewery, just as the annual local beer festival is coming to an end.</span></div><div class="a-section a-spacing-micro" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; margin-bottom: 22px;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">It soon becomes clear that the victim did not accidentally fall in, and equally soon it transpires that people care more about the disruption to the festival and to their tranquil community than about the dead man, who had more enemies than people who liked him.</span></div><div class="a-section a-spacing-micro" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; margin-bottom: 22px;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">Add to that the rivalry between the two breweries in the small town - not only are the owners competitors in business, but also estranged siblings - a bunch of men who can not accept women at the head of a brewery, and rumours of the secret recipe to a much prized beer making the rounds, and you have a mystery right up DCI Oldroyd's alley.</span></div><div class="a-section a-spacing-micro" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; margin-bottom: 22px;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">As soon as I started reading, I knew that the place where it all happens is based on the small market town of <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Masham" target="_blank">Masham</a>, famous for its two breweries. I've visited this pretty place several times and was pleased (but not surprised) to find out from the epilogue that I had guessed right.</span></div><div class="a-section a-spacing-micro" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; margin-bottom: 22px;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">Masham is not far from Harrogate and Ripon, the part of North Yorkshire I know best. Even the 36 bus, which my sister and I use frequently, is mentioned!</span></div><div class="a-section a-spacing-micro" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; margin-bottom: 22px;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">The story is well plotted and the characters multi-faceted as always in this series. It is a delight to "meet" Oldroyd and his colleagues again, as well as his partner and his sister. This time, the story's sidelines about their private lives deals with house hunting, addiction and forgiveness.</span></div><div class="a-section a-spacing-micro" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; margin-bottom: 22px;"><div class="a-section a-spacing-micro" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 22px;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">For the second time this year, I had the pleasure of reading a book of this series; the previous one's review is <a href="https://librarianwithsecrets.blogspot.com/2023/01/read-in-2023-1-railway-murders.html" target="_blank">here</a>.</span></div><div class="a-section a-spacing-micro" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 22px;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">And again, I send a heartfelt "Thank You" to Monica, as it was through <a href="https://dawntreader-island2.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">her blog</a> I originally came across the series, and it is again through her that I usually find out about the latest installment.</span></div></div><div class="a-section a-spacing-micro" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; margin-bottom: 22px;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">I enjoyed each and every page, and am happy to see that Amazon's kindle shop shows #10 in the series as being available in April 2024.</span></div>Librarianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05704656564078750607noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1949425054295660529.post-85579583489630480782023-12-14T16:36:00.000+01:002023-12-14T16:36:01.902+01:00Second Advent Week<span style="font-family: verdana;">As mentioned in my post about the <a href="https://librarianwithsecrets.blogspot.com/2023/12/first-advent-week.html" target="_blank">First Advent Week</a>, the heavy snowfall in some parts of Germany meant much disruption to public transport. It was therefore not much of a surprise when we got up at 5:20 on <b>Monday </b>morning (<b>4 December</b>) and found that my train to Stuttgart was cancelled.</span><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">There was, however, a reasonably good alternative connection, and I arrived home only a little later than planned.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">It was very cold in the morning with icy rain later, but milder temperatures in the late afternoon. I was on trains once more, this time to meet up with a group of colleagues for a meal out in Leonberg.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">The food was good and the company even better, and although it would not have been difficult to get back by train, when a colleague who has to drive through my town to get home offered me a lift, I gladly accepted.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">Until then, I did not know all that much about this colleague, and it was very interesting to learn that he reads a lot, and most of it non-fiction. He is Turkish and told me a bit of how he and his wife do volunteer work to encourage and help children and teenagers with a similar background.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>Tuesday (5 December) </b>was sunny again, and milder. Along with another set of colleagues, I was scheduled for a business visit bang in the middle of Stuttgart. The visit went very well, and it made a nice change to be out and about in daylight on a working day. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">I told my boss I was going back home to work from there but that he was not to expect me online immediately; instead, I got off the train in Zuffenhausen and walked across the fields, arriving home in just under 2 hours. I'd not been that particular way in a while, and it will probably be months before I have the opportunity again.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">At 5:00 pm, my sister and I met to go to the Christmas market together. In one of the shops near the market square, I made a new friend:</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCUd-h6ynl0bp3axkCSASfkOtaGOyJnYAIfbqWxnLghYJzDjQnU9LKvYH0_WfKUquGmrqkCFb4GR5zpLhueTVC7z-YaEFeGg5kj-YoqPJbX4vWpM5DsYIQL-4a_V1VgJW2AXy1-Z1VOZesbUrd0m6y2Jk8WZK6hAOJcKF1WkmkHyltvcP9yTb1XCO0yu13/s2048/IMG_0832.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCUd-h6ynl0bp3axkCSASfkOtaGOyJnYAIfbqWxnLghYJzDjQnU9LKvYH0_WfKUquGmrqkCFb4GR5zpLhueTVC7z-YaEFeGg5kj-YoqPJbX4vWpM5DsYIQL-4a_V1VgJW2AXy1-Z1VOZesbUrd0m6y2Jk8WZK6hAOJcKF1WkmkHyltvcP9yTb1XCO0yu13/s320/IMG_0832.jpeg" width="240" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: verdana;">An unventful grey and cold <b>Wednesday (6 December) </b>saw me at the office in Weilimdorf all day.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">The sun was back on <b>Thursday (7 December)</b>, and working from home meant no stress before meeting some of my volunteer group at the Christmas market. As always, we had a good time and enjoyed our hot food and mulled wine, but it was rather crowded, and sooner or later I always reach the point where I am either cold or want to get away from the crowds or both, and that evening was no exception. Still, it was good to be there, and with them.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">Rain was forecast for <b>Friday (8 December)</b>, but it arrived only late in the afternoon. This gave me and my old school friend the chance to meet for a walk during our lunch break. She lives only about 15 minutes away, but in some years we manage to meet only once or twice. This was, I think, the third time we'd met this year. It is always good to catch up with her.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">O.K. arrived at my place at 9:30 pm, and my hot and spicy thick, creamy vegetable soup of spuds and parsnips with fresh crusty bread and a bottle of Primitivo made for a nice meal to start off our weekend.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>Saturday (9 December)</b> was milder again, with an overcast sky shedding rain every now and then. After a leisurely breakfast, we walked into town for some errands and a stroll across the Christmas market - our only chance together, since O.K. won't be back in Ludwigsburg until after Christmas. </span></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl3by8QJ-XUl5i4UhC1ZDH6ZoPpb8mx4Uba60TwKabg7qD3AU_Yw9MJrNNFoez-nDz-OfAxXNSLTlHtY4Dses6Jz6-8ON5w5a3441lYkC2EDZDNnXVv7R0k4vBAKyV8QIfGPKN0pDxXAaR45ksXikdwHVy0xIyN80hNsGn7dPRINppRfJQM7PytqqG2Vqd/s2014/IMG_4225.JPEG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2014" data-original-width="909" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl3by8QJ-XUl5i4UhC1ZDH6ZoPpb8mx4Uba60TwKabg7qD3AU_Yw9MJrNNFoez-nDz-OfAxXNSLTlHtY4Dses6Jz6-8ON5w5a3441lYkC2EDZDNnXVv7R0k4vBAKyV8QIfGPKN0pDxXAaR45ksXikdwHVy0xIyN80hNsGn7dPRINppRfJQM7PytqqG2Vqd/s320/IMG_4225.JPEG" width="144" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">O.K. took a selfie of us - but I am only allowed to show my half of the picture.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7JU36l4CHtgE3XdMVBcIMKWbVyu-nf41SGu0ZVfT27HZmlUUCwXZrwse0UXgbmk6yiRrK233c3X8uOlNTFg65NDwuljXNld7svMFli-VeUWbf6TOT3QSkvKkpgjzC04SDxF2SIA4LLXjWgNRZsT5Ey17Z_nL_u0corMco1dXs6muHkW_AzWDtMxWMUFJ4/s2048/IMG_4226.JPEG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7JU36l4CHtgE3XdMVBcIMKWbVyu-nf41SGu0ZVfT27HZmlUUCwXZrwse0UXgbmk6yiRrK233c3X8uOlNTFg65NDwuljXNld7svMFli-VeUWbf6TOT3QSkvKkpgjzC04SDxF2SIA4LLXjWgNRZsT5Ey17Z_nL_u0corMco1dXs6muHkW_AzWDtMxWMUFJ4/s320/IMG_4226.JPEG" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">It is rare for me to see the Christmas market in daylight, but pleasant because it is less crowded.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF_vPhGfjz_aOFdzvmOqixG2lMnFx71yCblnqTtn1lfTpwsDVkD_orJHp4DplUWmTNp8WQy_VBI6-_bT9ck61CDuiRXayRReEYMUQWGD66ykONL3tTZQmaKUdDF__h97omnjU77np9kURp6OUk2YLOPehHL5VD8-mYO-cZ7CnN3JegeIbK4Qr-CgO2Mbvm/s2048/IMG_4228.JPEG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF_vPhGfjz_aOFdzvmOqixG2lMnFx71yCblnqTtn1lfTpwsDVkD_orJHp4DplUWmTNp8WQy_VBI6-_bT9ck61CDuiRXayRReEYMUQWGD66ykONL3tTZQmaKUdDF__h97omnjU77np9kURp6OUk2YLOPehHL5VD8-mYO-cZ7CnN3JegeIbK4Qr-CgO2Mbvm/s320/IMG_4228.JPEG" width="320" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: verdana;">Back home, we had enough time for a bit of a rest before setting off again, this time to my Mum's.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">We had ordered takeaway food from the Indian restaurant half way between my place and my Mum's and picked it up on the way there. The four of us (my sister was also there, of course) spent a pleasant evening together.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">The thermometer showed 9C/48F on <b>Sunday (10 December)</b> - not completely unusual for December, but not exactly "normal", either. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">The sun lured us out with only our first mug of coffee and a few Christmas cookies in our stomachs; we walked to the small palace by the lake and back on a different route, ending up with roughly 9.5 km under our belts. Because we had not eaten properly, I really needed to sit down for a minute when we came home before we had our brunch at 12:30.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">Although O.K. left about 2 hours earlier than usual (the village band's annual concert is coming up, which means he puts in more practice than usual), we had enough time for coffee (and more Christmas cookies!) in the afternoon and a filling meal of Kässpätzle and salad in the evening.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIF7_r9QtXxqQDyR7yT3gSV-ImL7v4GA7BBQ-yv8UbyYke0RDnlajXpCb8zpJy4KjCtDNwOy6yrvyYxge6vHKvPkT6dr4v5WjQ2uIu6ymmztR4tcIyZLSt7vNRYh_BOiJMEolonp5gRLrq23fT6s9N74z078m-hfpRNe_JoHA6uYOj71PsvDw-znS5UByl/s4032/IMG_9742.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIF7_r9QtXxqQDyR7yT3gSV-ImL7v4GA7BBQ-yv8UbyYke0RDnlajXpCb8zpJy4KjCtDNwOy6yrvyYxge6vHKvPkT6dr4v5WjQ2uIu6ymmztR4tcIyZLSt7vNRYh_BOiJMEolonp5gRLrq23fT6s9N74z078m-hfpRNe_JoHA6uYOj71PsvDw-znS5UByl/s320/IMG_9742.JPG" width="240" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: verdana;">Two candles were lit on the Advent wreath, and more cards have arrived. I love this time of year!</span></div>Librarianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05704656564078750607noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1949425054295660529.post-38818469869892179582023-12-10T10:32:00.003+01:002023-12-10T10:32:44.105+01:00Read in 2023 - 31: Northerners - A History<p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><u></u></b></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><u><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ3kyHWFPC3BZSPJ6caHz75fjhxVxnixFR_CA45qzzKo7pjTXKHkax4IjhZI7ejNAMh0gmLoFUDekm9DvFArV375gMC5wCP71y8I354N5jJzcWeKrGSkp490Hu2x6fNZmD3fxlJze0nfXO0UjqBrBMMhChsF8U5QHI_Oh4xaOb9YuoqME6qPdN7s_0GcAr/s561/cover.webp" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="561" data-original-width="363" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ3kyHWFPC3BZSPJ6caHz75fjhxVxnixFR_CA45qzzKo7pjTXKHkax4IjhZI7ejNAMh0gmLoFUDekm9DvFArV375gMC5wCP71y8I354N5jJzcWeKrGSkp490Hu2x6fNZmD3fxlJze0nfXO0UjqBrBMMhChsF8U5QHI_Oh4xaOb9YuoqME6qPdN7s_0GcAr/s320/cover.webp" width="207" /></a></u></b></span></div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><u>Northerners - A History</u></b></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><i>From the Ice Ace To the Present Day<br /></i></b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>Brian Groom</b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">One of the books I bought back in July at The Little Ripon Bookshop, I was really looking forward to this work of non-fiction.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">At first, though, I must admit that "Northerners" did not quite live up to my expectations. Especially with one or two chapters in the first part of the book, it felt like trudging through a rather bleak and exhausting part of a walk, always hoping for a more interesting, beautiful view and less challenging path after rounding the next bend of the path.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">There were just too many Oswalds, Oswins, Edwins and other names that jumbled through my head as the history unfolded in that chapter, where it seems that no two brothers or father-son relationships ended any other way than in murder. I struggled through it and was left with an overall impression of violence and war left, right and centre. Life can't have been much fun or offered even a minimum of security and stability to the average person back then.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Gradually, I found myself liking the book more and more. Each chapter looked at a particular period of the North of England's history, and examined its political, cultural, social, religious and economical aspects, painting an overall picture with bold strokes.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Some aspects were given more attention than others, and those more detailed accounts made for the most interesting reading in my opinion.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">I doubt that I will ever read the book again cover to cover, but it definitely makes a good work of reference if I shall wish to brush up on background knowledge about a certain period in the future. </span><span style="font-family: verdana;">My overall feeling after I finished reading it was that, indeed, we humans never learn. If we don't get along for one reason, it's another, and it seems just short of a miracle that some countries (fortunately, mine is one of them) have managed to live at peace with its neighbours for several decades in a row now.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">According to the first page, Brian Groom is a journalist and leading expert on British regional and national affairs, and this is his first book.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">"<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/59227759-northerners" target="_blank">Goodreads</a>" gives a good account of the contents, if you want to know more. I could not find an "own" website for the author, but <a href="https://www.imagininghistory.co.uk/post/interview-brian-groom-on-the-history-of-the-north" target="_blank">here </a>is an interesting interview with him.</span></p>Librarianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05704656564078750607noreply@blogger.com5