Thursday 27 September 2018

The End of the Hiking Holiday - and of Summer

On Thursday, the 13th of September, we had our last breakfast at the hotel. 

Just before 8:00 on our balcony
After packing our bags and loading the car, we checked out and then decided to visit the Museum of Forest History across the road - highly recommended to us by other guests.

They were right, the museum is very well made. It looks at the forest from all sides: Geologically, biologically, from the point of history, sociology, culture, industry, right down to the modern-day efforts necessary to keep the National Park this gem of rare natural environment.

I was impressed with the stories of emigrants and their descendants, who now, around 100 years or more since their ancestors left Bavaria for the USA, are visiting the places that used to be poor settlements or even just single farms or the homes of woodcutters, glassmakers and so on.

The drive home to Ludwigsburg took around four hours; the motorway was busy but we were never really stuck. At home, we had enough time to start the first of four loads of washing and rest a little before we were expected for dinner at my parents'.

OK stayed with me for the rest of the week. I must admit I shed a few tears when he had to leave on Sunday. Being together for two weeks had been wonderful, and I missed him as soon as he was through the door.

Ah well, such is life - this is (for now) the way we live, with 150 km between us. One day I hope we find a solution that will be fair and suitable for both of us.

- - -

With the second half of September, autumn has set in. We still have warm, sunny days, but the nights are really cold already at 3 or 4 Celsius (37 F). This week Wednesday, for the first time in many months I turned the heating on in my bathroom while getting ready for work. Also for the first time this season, I wore a padded coat and a scarf to work. Neither was necessary by the time I left the office, but I was glad about them while waiting for the train in the morning.

It is still way too dry; we had a storm last Friday and some rain, but nowhere near enough to make up for the months of draught.

Next week Wednesday is a public holiday in Germany, to remember the reunion of East and West Germany. I will make use of my free time that day to sort out my wardrobe, put the summer things away and get the knit dresses out.

Speaking of knitted items: My Mum has restocked her Etsy shop of hand-knitted socks, beanies and hats. This season, she also offers shawls of various shapes, sizes, colours and patterns. If you click on the picture to the left of my blog, you'll be taken directly to the shop. I wonder whether you'll recognise the "model" in some of the pictures ;-)

10 comments:

  1. What a wonderful holiday it was! It is not a surprise that you were quite sad when OK had to return home. I do hope you find a solution. Lovely things your Mum has in her Etsy shop. Christmas is coming - though I'm hardly used to it being autumn yet.

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    1. Yes, my Mum is great with knitting needles and crochet hooks! I am the complete opposite.
      Less than 3 months to Christmas, and here, it is definitely cold enough in the mornings and at night to get the wooly things out!

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  2. Love the sound of that museum, I would dearly love to have something like that here!
    Also, I just want to say, I ADORE The things that your Mum makes! She is so talented! You know the socks that I have, the wool ones? The wool is unlike any wool that I know here, it is comfortable and soft. And yes, I think I do recognize the model! :-)

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    1. My Mum will be well chuffed to read that, Kay, thank you! We knew about the museum before our holidays, but thought we'd save it for a rainy day - then there was only one half-rainy day, and we spent that differently.

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  3. Parting can be so difficult, the closer you get, so I also hope you can sort something out. I often think about those who emigrated in the olden days, and had to part with loved ones knowing they probably wouldn't see them for years! I do believe that people remain basically the same no matter what period they live in... so I suppose they just had to somehow think of separations in a different way from how we do. But it must have been hard.

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    1. Those who emigrated often knew they would never see their loved ones again. It must have been heart-breaking, leaving elderly parents etc. behind. The same is still going on all the time with refugees.. Like you said, people have not changed so fundamentally, even with today's means of communication separation hurts.

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  4. Your emotions before the second half of September set in were, I thought, very poignant. If I'm honest they brought a wee tear to my eye for you too. It was also a reminder to me that it was a very long time ago since I felt like that. I hope that you find a final solution that is fair to you both.

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    1. Thank you, Graham. It is touching to know a friend can relate to my situation so well it even brings a tear to their eye.
      Things aren't bad as they are - we very much enjoy our time together, and are in touch (although not literally!) during the week, too; I like my life here a lot, but even though we've been doing this for more than 2 1/2 years now, parting on a Sunday evening does not become easier.

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  5. Thank you for sharing with everyone. I know everything about you. It's great and it's great.
    ยุโรป

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    1. Please stop leaving such nonsense comments. They are definitely NOT great.

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