A Walkless Week

Walkless does not mean I did not use my feet at all during that week. But every time I did walk, it was to get from A to B, to meet someone or to do something, never just for the sake of walking; no distance greater than maybe 15 minutes, and all within town or village. And I so missed a good, long walk! But the week  was again full of good things.

Monday, the 12th of December, was a cold day with the sun making it through the clouds only around lunch time. After work, I met up with an old school friend to visit the Christmas market. We have known each other since we were 9 years old, and although we still live in the same town where we were born and went to school, it is not always easy to find the time for a meeting. But when we do meet, we always have plenty to talk about. 

The thermometer showed -8 C (17.6 F) on Tuesday morning (Dec. 13). I was back at the Christmas market after work, this time to meet my Mum and my sister. We enjoyed our visit, and on the way back, my sister and I walked through the brightly lit and decorated mall, browsing two or three of the shops (but buying only a bit of stationary), something we had not done in a very long time. It felt good!

Wednesday, Dec. 14, brought snow - proper snow, and enough of it to even cover the roads and stay there. I had an appointment at the hairdresser's after work, and later, my upstairs neighbour came for a chat. She brought me a dish of her home-made hummus, which I later had with my evening meal - very nice!

View from my kitchen window around lunch time...

...and just before 5:00 pm

On Thursday, the 15th, I had to travel to a client's in spite of more snow. My sister spontaneously invited me to her place for the evening, sharing her meal of oven-roasted veg and dumplings with me. It was delicious, and I brought a bottle of red to go with it. 

Thursday morning

Each khaki/kaki/persimmon has its own little snow hat!

I worked quietly from home on Friday (Dec. 16), then did my usual round of cleaning etc. before packing my little red suitcase for the weekend. My trains were almost on time, and I arrived at Offenburg station at around 8:30 pm. As usual, O.K. picked me up, and back at his cottage, we had our customary Friday night meal of salad, bread, cheese and wine.

Friday lunch time

Saturday, the 17th, was an important day: The village band's gala concert was scheduled for 8:00 pm, and there was still plenty to do before that. We were up at the village hall at 9:00 in the morning and worked for about 3 hours to set things up for the evening. A quick lunch of hot soup at the cottage and a bit of a rest were next before it was time to change into our finery (the festive uniform for the musicians, and a nicer-than-jeans outfit for me as the presenter) and walk back up to the hall in the icy dark - at -12C (10.4F) it was the coldest night this year so far. 

For the band, the next hour and a half was one last rehearsal, while I sat quietly and listened, going through my presenting notes one last time.

The doors were opened and the audience took their seats, the lights were lowered, and the concert began. I gave a short presentation before each piece, and before a 20-minute break, some of the musicians were honoured for their long-standing work with the band - one gentleman has been with the band for 60 years. Quite an achievement!

The second half of the concert was maybe even more beautiful than the first. Everyone gave their best, and big rounds of applause with the occasional "bravo!" shouts followed each piece.

The stage as seen from about the middle of the hall.

I was given a beautiful bunch of flowers for my contribution, and then the lights went back on, a few tables were set up at the back of the hall, and everyone was welcome to stay on for snacks and drinks. We did, too, chatting with friends and neighbours as well as with the other band members, before we finally wrapped up warmly again and walked home very carefully through the icy night, reaching the cottage at around 2:30 in the morning.

Do you know that weird feeling when something you have been preparing for weeks or even months is over?

Of course, there was no lie-in for us on the 4th Advent Sunday - we were back up at the hall at 10:00 am to pull down again everything we had set up the day before. There were enough helping hands to have the hall empty and clean again in about 1 1/2 hours; during the week, it is used for PE by the schools, and many other activities take place there regularly.

We were home before noon and had a quick snack before preparing the Advent coffee with O.K.'s parents, his sister and brother-in-law. At 3:00 pm our guests arrived, and we spent a pleasant afternoon together. We'd not really had time to sit and chat in many weeks, so this was a welcome occasion for me to catch up with them.

O.K. and I spent the evening quietly on our own, and I was tired enough to be in bed by 10:00.

The last week before Christmas was about to begin!