Sunday 19 September 2021

The First Days of September

You have already seen what I've been doing at the beginning of September, but that was only the start of what so far is turning out a very good month for me under many aspects.

The picnic on the 2nd was fun, the walk with my sister on the 4th was very nice, and with the beautiful weather still there the next day, I went on another walk. This time I was on my own and took off with my water bottle, mobile phone and only a rough idea of the direction for my walk.

In the end, I went a bit further than I had planned, and was rather tired afterwards (but in a good way).




Monday to Friday were regular working days, one of them spent at my client's office again and a lunch time walk with two of the people there. Tuesday evening saw me meeting up with a group of friends (we are actually volunteers working together at improving the situation at and around our town's train station) at a beer garden near the lake; a most pleasant evening. 

Wednesday morning, I had my last post-OP appointment with my eye doctor. Once again, she was happy with how everything turned out, and so am I. I will only see her again for my routine appointment in December.

September sunrise, as seen from my kitchen window

On Thursday, I took the usual train back from work but got off two stops before mine, exploring how to best get home on foot from there. It was a bit of an adventure, as I had not walked that route ever before, but of course I always knew where I was, since I am familiar enough with the area as such.

September sunset, as seen during my long walk home from work

Friday was the only day during that week without a walk. I worked from home and then got everything ready for a virtual wine tasting I had booked for OK and myself, my sister and my Mum. The wine itself had arrived earlier in the week, along with a leaflet explaining what to do: When to put which wine in the fridge and when to take it out, along with suggestions for food and so on. We had a great time, and it was interesting to compare notes on who liked which wine best.

Wine tasting at home. The jeans-clad leg is O.K.; he does not wish to have his full picture published on my blog, so I have cut that part off the picture.

On Saturday morning, O.K. and I went for a run. For the afternoon, my Mum had invited us over for coffee and home-baked plum cake - delicious!

Sunday was truly deserving its name with wall to wall sunshine and brilliant blue skies. It was Open Monument Day, an annual event where listed buildings and other interesting places normally not open to the public can be visited. We took several guided tours, but more details will have to wait for another post.

A lot of walking for one week, you think? Well, it was partly due to the beautiful weather we had and the golden light that I could not resist, and partly in preparation for our upcoming hiking holiday - we'll be off to the mountains tomorrow!

15 comments:

  1. It's wonderful that your last post-OP appointment went well! You have had many lovely walks and get togethers with friends and family. It sounds like it's been a very special week. How exciting that you are about to leave on your hiking holiday in the mountains. Have fun!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you, Bonnie! We'll be away for 9 nights, and I still have some catching up to do about last Sunday with the Open Memorial Day. After that, there will probably be quite a few posts with pictures from our mountain hikes - provided the weather plays along.

      Delete
  2. Wow! That is a lot of hiking and a lot of fun! You are ready for your holiday! Hope it is terrific!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks, Ellen! The first week is as good as over, and it has been really great so far.

      Delete
  3. Glad your eye-ops went well and that both you and your doctor are pleased with the result! Happy holidays, I hope you'll have good weather for your hikes!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you, Monica! For this entire first week away, we have been very lucky with the weather. Rain and thunderstorms are forecast for tonight and then a drop in temperature. But we only have two full days left here anyway, so we‘re fine.

      Delete
  4. You truly do live a lovely life, and I'm always happy you share it here on your blog.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you, Nan! Yes, I am indeed very fortunate with how my life has turned out, and I know it. Gratitude for all this goodness is still a dominating emotion for me.

      Delete
  5. Early in the last century G.K. Chesterton said that the one thing you will never see outside of Germany is a beer garden.
    The only word to describe a German beer garden on a sunny day is gemutlichkeit, said Chesterton, for which there is no exact word in English.
    G.K. liked his beer + sausages.
    I was reminded of gemutlichkeit when I saw the photo of you and your mother.
    The Dutch call it gezelligheid, the Danish hygge, the Swedes say gemytlig.
    And the Scots say couthie, or hamely, or bonny.
    Jack













    This is how I remember German homes and why your blog makes me long to return to Germany.

    Comfort is the nearest word in English to gemutlichkeit.
    Gezelligheid in Dutch

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Gemütlichkeit gets more and more important not only as the year approaches its colder part, but also as I am getting older. Fitting, I think.

      Beer gardens can also be found in Austria and Switzerland, and I am sure in other countries as well. But I can well imagine that they were invented in Bavaria (where I am at the moment).

      Delete
    2. You are not getting older, my dear Meike. That is a lie from the pit of hell.
      Jack

      Delete
  6. I could not for the life of me work out why I hadn't read any of your posts for a while even allowing for the long times I've spent out of Blogland recently. Then I saw your comment on my post and realised I hadn't read about you being 'in the mountains'. Then it occurred to me that your blog is no longer in my Reading List. Fortunately it is still in my blog's sidebar. So over the next day or so I shall be catching up with your posts and finding out what you've been up to.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. You won‘t have much catching up to do as I have not been posting much - there is quite the back log now, with at least three book reviews, a weekend of exploring chuch spires and other places of interest in my town, plus the hiking holiday. Phew! I am beginning to wonder when I will find the time to write up all those posts.

      Delete
  7. Now, I will know OK anywhere from his jean clad leg! HA HA!
    How wonderful to see you dear MOM on your post and that you enjoyed a wine tasting with her. Equally wonderful to know that your eye is doing well! Reading your comment above, I also seem to be out of time these days. So busy that at end of day my hands actually ache from constant activity. Good thing the pain left them after the cabinet fell on them! It took weeks and weeks and I thought I must be getting "arthur-itis" as my Dad used to call it to be funny! I must tell you, my sister had a birthday in September and I MADE her a card from the lovely paper you sent to me in June. She was AMAZED that I made it! "Where did you get this lovely thick paper?", she asked me. My reply? "From my friend in Germany!" Not sure, but she might think I have lost my marbles! Thanks very much, and I hope to make more cards...if I can just find the TIME! Take care!! And enjoy the museums you get to visit for me! As well as your lovely walks.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Dear Kay, I love it that you have been using the paper I sent you to make a birthday card for your sister! Crafting can be very relaxing, but of course - as you say - one needs to find the TIME for it.
      I hope your hands stop hurting altogether; you are way too young yet for arthuritis ;-)

      Delete