A Windswept Week

Last week, it was windy, grey, cold and wet most days with precious few glimpses of the sun or opportunities for walks.

On the morning of Monday, the 30th of January, I arrived home from Offenburg after an uneventful and punctual journey involving the usual two trains - why can't it always be so?

I had enough work to keep me busy all morning. The afternoon was dedicated to an online conference with my professional association, and then it was time to meet with my volunteer group. That was the best part of the day; my sister was there, too, and apart from talking "business" we also had time to catch up with each other and share a few laughs.

My Dad would have been 81 on Tuesday (Jan. 31). I worked at my Weilimdorf office, co-hosting and moderating a workshop, something I always enjoy. Participation was good, and we had no major technology issues to battle with.

In my Dad's honour, my Mum cooked his favourite meal that evening, and my sister and I joined my Mum and her close friend who lives in the same house. Surprisingly, I had only one tearful moment all evening.

On the 1st of February (Wednesday), I worked in Weilimdorf again and, although it was very windy, cold and grey, on my way home got off the train in Kornwestheim and walked the rest (about 5 km). 

For the 3rd time that week, I was in Weilimdorf on Thursday (the 2nd of Feb.). It was chilly in my room, and I was glad that I was going to work from home the next day.

Friday (Feb. 3) was here, and I was able to start and finish work early enough to take advantage of the last couple of hours of daylight. 

No rain was forecast, and there was even a spot of sunshine around lunch and early afternoon, but by the time I was out and on my way to Benningen, there was nothing left of that. Instead, the wind blew me about quite a bit, and for the last km or so, rain was coming from all sides. Luckily, I had not entirely trusted the forecast and had zipped the hood on to my padded coat.

O.K. arrived a little earlier than usual, and we started the weekend with glasses of Apérol Spritz (we like to mix it ourselves, with more soda than Apérol) and a meal of home-made creamy mushroom and onion sauce on ham and toast, covered with cheese and baked in the oven.

For me, the highlight of that week was definitely Saturday, the 4th of February. Not only did the sun manage to come through (although it was still windy and chilly), but O.K. and I went for a good long walk to Asperg and the castle on the hill (you have seen it on my blog several times).

Mark the spot on the far right of the wall on top of the castle hill of Asperg.

This is the open space on top of the hill...

... and this is the spot visible to the far right in the first of these six pictures, a popular viewing place.

Looking across the town of Asperg towards Ludwigsburg

Looking across Asperg in the opposite direction

We went back through Eglosheim, stopping at Katharinenkirche (Catherine's Church), built in 1497. Typically for a protestant church in Germany, it was locked, so all we could do was walk around it.

We did not choose the most direct route into town, as it would have taken us  along a very busy road, but instead walked through the deer park again:

Schloss Favorite ("Favourite Palace") - the sunlight was very clear and sharp and brought the colours out so brightly it almost hurt the eyes.

On into town we went, across my hometown's beautiful market square and home for a quick coffee and a rest. All in all, I walked about 14 km that day.

At 1/4 past 6:00, we were off again, but not far - only to the Indian restaurant around the corner from my house. I had booked a table for four, and my Mum, my sister, O.K. and I had an excellent meal. It was VERY noisy in the packed restaurant, making conversation rather exhausting. Still, we enjoyed the evening.

No sun, no walk on Sunday (Feb. 5). 

My order of freshly baked croissants and rolls was delivered, according to the automatised notification email, but - for the 2nd time since we've started to order from the bakery more or less regularly - the bag was not there when O.K. went downstairs to pick it up. My front door is not easily visible from the street, and only people who live in the house or have something to do here walk past the cars and actually know that there is a second front door past the first house. 

I sincerely hope that nobody in the house stole my croissants, but it has happened twice now and I really wonder whether I should keep ordering. Delivery is usually shortly after 6:00 - I am not willing to get up at that time on a Sunday morning only to make sure my paper bag is not nicked.

Oh well, I still had a few slices of toast and served it with eggs sunny side up for a decent breakfast. 

We spent all day indoors, watching silly movies (Reese Witherspoon and Mark Ruffalo, anyone?) just right for a day like that, having coffee and cake in between and later eating my home-made Kässpätzle (as seen on my blog a few times before) before O.K. packed his bag and left shortly after 8:00 pm for the long, rainy and windswept drive home.