Out with the old ...

Out with the old and in with the new as the saying is. 2013 has certainly seen its ups and downs, and I suspect a few people won't be sorry to see the end of it. Hopefully 2014 will bring better fortunes for us all. For my own family there have been some great times and some of the others as well. My youngest daughter got married in July to a man I really like. My eldest finished her Bachelor of Science degree with Honours, and my son is currently doing what he loves - flying helicopters.

Silke, Harry and I had a great holiday in the UK, travelling around in a hired camper van, the only snag being the battle we had with the UK's 'rules' concerning animals (even with 'Pet Passports') arriving by air with their owners. Next time we'll know, and travel by car!

Our trip took us through Dorset, Devon, Cornwall and Gloucestershire, giving us a chance to walk on beaches, explore the history and catch up with friends. It was lots of fun and the Camper Van proved to be a good way to do it.

A trip to Belgrade for a conference for  me proved interesting, and Silke had similar conference trips to Hamburg and Thuringia. Our papers were well received - rewarding considering the amount of effort that goes into preparing them.

The rest of the year has been taken up with a wide range of work related activities for Silke, the publication of one new book for me, and preparation of another. The work I've tackled for a history of my former place of employment seems to have stalled temporarily while I try to find information, anecdotes and pictures of one of its 'former' manifestations, and, of course, lots of 'playtime' and walks for Harry.

All that remains is to wish all my friends and  readers a very happy and prosperous 2014!

Awaiting the Winter ...

We are in the path of some Siberian weather at present. It will arrive in the next day or two, but as things stand the temperatures are alreay falling. The forecast says there won't be any snow - the air is too dry apparently.

Be that as it may, we're expecting temperatures down to minus 10* in our area and Berlin is threatened with minus 25*C. For my part - they can have it! It is also said that the really cold air will move aside next week and may bring moist air - which will turn to snow. We haven't had much this year, so we can't really complain if we get a bit now.

The weekend was busy, today was busy, but hopefullynrmal service can be resumed tomorrow ...

Movies

Last night Mausi and the Monk treated themselves to a visit to the cinema in Mainz. Probably contrary to expectations, we chose to see the new Dreamworks film "Puss in Boots" in 3-D. I think I shall confine myself to saying it was spectacularly well done and very funny. There are a few fairy stories and nursery rhyme characters who will simply never again have quite the same image in my mind at least.

While the old fashioned 3-D was pretty good, the new digitised version is spectacular. You simply can't help yourself as things come straight at you out of the screen. You know its the movie, you know it's not 'real' but your reflexes move you anyway.

With 'Puss' based on the Shrek character you know he simply isn't going to be the version you know and love from Pantomimes. He certainly doesn't disappoint. He's sassy, he's bold as brass and does that thing with the big eyes and drooping ears every cat 'carer' knows and can't resist when he needs to. The ending is a bit of a surprise, but has a nice moral to it as a good fairy story/nursery rhyme should.

If you haven't seen it, you should.

Nine Lessons and Carols ...

Last night attended a Nine Lessons and Carols Service in the Augustinian Convent Church in Mainz. It was terrific, great choir and terrific setting, but very different from what I am used to. The lessons and most of the carols were in English (the previous evening they'd done it in Hocheim in German) and the printed Order of Service gave both languages. The music mixed ancient and modern and included some of the really great Advent Carols.

It was good fun all round and there were a surprising number of English speaking people present. One elderly lady behind us held forth at some length about how "churches were desperate for members these days" and then complained that the church was packed. In fact they were frantically adding chairs in the aisles in the seconds before the organ began the introduction to "Once in royal David's city." OK, so my twisted sense of humour did have me chortling away at the obvious refutation of her earlier statement.

After the service it was a journey back through the Weinachtsmarkt - with a small detour through a toy store where we browsed the model ships, LEGO Technik, board games, etc. - and back home to a late supper, wine and some warmth. These Baroque churches look fabulous - but they didn't go much on heating!

Snow and dentists ...

Don't normally go together, but when Mausi and the Monk left for their annual dental check-up this morning, winter decided to make a start. At first it couldn't decide if it was just going to produce sleet, maybe rain, but then it settled for snow and sleet...

So now we have a layer of icy snow on the ground, the snow ploughs are scattering grit and the first accidents are reported on the Autobahns. This could be the start of some exercise of the Monk, the path and driveway need to be kept clear again, our neighbours are very elderly and a slip could be fatal.

Ah well, wrap up warm and get down to it ...

Something to bring a smile ...

Mondays can be depressing, but I found this on YouTube by accident ...

Les Chats, by Rossini.

For anyone who doesn't know it, this is a comic duet usually sung by two Sopranos. It will never be the same for me again after watching these performers sing it.

Just wish Madam Paddy Cat was as harmonious...

Fun

I'm just about to set out for Frankfurt Airport to meet two of my friends from Tewkesbury. They're here for a concert in the Marktkirche tomorrow and we plan to show them a bit of the Rheingau afterward.

I have to say I'm looking forward to both the music and their company!

An evening concert.

Last night we went to a concert in the Lutherkirch in Wiesbaden. The concert was to celebrate the completion of the restoration of the 100 year old Walcker Organ and for the occasion it was joined by the Weisbaden Bachorchester. We were treated to a programme that included two concertos for Organ and Orchestra, the first being one by Josef Gabriel Rheinberger (1839 - 1901) (Concerto no. 2 in G) and the second to end the programme Francis Poulenc's Concerto for Organ, String Orchestra and kettle drums. In between we had the organ strut its stuff with Lizt's Prelude and Fuge on B-A-C-H, Widor's Allegro from the Organ Symphony No 5 in F and Durufle's Choral Variations on a theme from Veni Creator.

It was grand, to say the least.

The church itself is an interesting building, being built in the early 20th Century to a very grand design and decorated in the Art Nouveau ideas of Medieval painted walls. The Walcker organ sits above the choir gallery at the East end of the church with the console located behind the sounding board for the central pulpit. Galleries run around both sides of the church and a larger one spans the rear of the nave and part of the narthax or entrance. It was not until we stood to leave that we realised there is a second large organ, a modern one, sat on the rear gallery!

I guess one day we'll have to go and find out what that can do!

Another Birthday to mark ...

Two birthdays close together sometimes creates a conflict of celebration, but the Monk is happy to report that on this day his son marks a significant birthday. He hopes that Nicolas and his partner will have a terrific day and a fantastic year ahead. Again, he is proud of what his son has achieved and of what he does - but he does wonder if his own insane career spent running into burning buildings and placing himself in danger has rubbed off.

After all, who wants to fly something where everything is suspended from a single bolt holding a great big fan over your head?

Have a great day Nick!

Happy Birthday ...

The Monk's youngest daughter today celebrates her XXth Birthday. While wishing her a great day and a fabulous year ahead, the Monk confesses that he still can scarcely believe so many years have slipped by almost unnoticed and yet not unmarked. He is enormously proud of her, her determination to achieve her goals and her achievements.

Many happy returns of the day, Allison!

Visit to Hanover

OK, OK, I can hear my German friends telling me it's spelled Hannover ...

Never mind, my camera packed up on me so I could only get a few pictures on my phone. The following were taken in the suburb of List which is very full of trees (All of Hannover is!) and has some fascinating architecture out of the late 1890s, early 1900s. Most of it has been beautifully restored and the 'Wohnungs' (Apartments or Flats to the English speaking world) within have been modernised. These scenes are all located near the Lister Platz U-Bahn station.

Weinfest Pictures ...

As promised, some pictures from the Weinfest in Wiesbaden ...

A "Grill" evening

Last night we enjoyed the company of our Pfarer and his family for a "Grill" evening. That's a BBQ to the rest of us.

It was great fun, we all ate a superb mix of meat and salads and parted company eventually a little sadly as it had been so enjoyable. Nothing quite like good food, good company and a little of the right beverages to make it all come together wonderfully.

We were lucky in the weather as well - the morning did not bode well, with "gewitter" and heavy rain, but by the time our guests arrived, the sun was out, the sky clear and we had the perfect evening.

Evolution?

The Postulant writes -

I’ve discovered a subspecies of policeman:

homo sapiens odit homines can be distinguished from homo sapiens sapiens by it’s crusty exterior, monosyllabic and sometimes complete lack of communication with other humans. Anthropologists theorise that odit homines has evolved to distrust the rest of humanity based on overexposure to criminal pathogens (or is that pathological criminals).

Weinfest ...

Last night Mausi and I visited the Wiesbaden Weinfest. Its an annual thing, and all the Rheingau vineyards have their stalls set out and their wares to sample. There's food available as well - an essential really. Interestingly the local Transport company has several stalls for patrons to buy transport tickets and to obtain water, fizzy drinks and the like.

The venue is the Marktplatz around the Marktkirche and Rathaus between Friedrichstrasse and the Landestag buidings. There are three stages set up around the area and live music from all of them. The whole thing lasts a week, and the square is packed throughout. Mind you, given the range of choice of wines, you need a week just to do the sampling justice ...

As Mausi was driving, the Monk sampled. The system is you pay a deposit on a wineglass and €2 or €3 per refill. You can visit and sample as many stalls with your glass as you think necessary. The great thing is you don't wind up dodging drunks. Everyone has a good time, drinks and eats sensibly and it's a great evening out.

Some pictures will follow when I have downloaded them from my phone...

Redecoration ...

The Monk and Mausi live in a lovely part of the State of Hessen in Germany. We are surrounded by forest and perched atop a mountain. All that is missing are some of Pratchett's "silicone based lifeforms," a few vampires and the odd werewolf to make it the perfect reflection of Überwald. Not quite the Ramtops, but Granny Weatherwax, Nanny Ogg and Magrat optional ...

I jest of course, it is a beautiful little corner, one I am glad to inhabit away from the youff and freeloaders causing the riots in Britain.

We currently have the decorators repairing and redecorating the exterior of our house. That means scaffolding, plastic sheets over windows, and strange noises emanating from the jet washing of tiles, walls and other surfaces as they prepare them for a new coating of paint, treat the timbers in our soffits and generally get it all looking nice. They're a cheery bunch, drawn from several countries including Kosovo, Poland and, of course, Hessen.

My German is improving - but Hessiche still defeats me!

Retirement Plan - one I wish I'd thought of!

Fire Safety in ... a Massage Parlour???

The Greater Manchester Fire Safety team must have had a lot of research to do for this prosecution...

Massage parlour manager gets community service for fire safety breaches

I confess that I almost spilled my coffee laughing over the report that, alongside the blocking of a fire exit by using it as a "changing area," several of the rooms were considered 'dingy' and one at least was equipped with "restraints, manacles and chains." Well, I suppose that does restrict the options for escape in the event of fire - but how do you 'Risk Assess' these activities ...

OK, OK, I'll get serious for a moment. It can be done, but how you'd discuss it with the 'client' and keep a straight face I'm not at all sure.

English BBQ?

Yesterday we had friends round for a BBQ. The weather should have been cloudy, but fine. The moment I lit the BBQ, it began to rain.

So we enjoyed an English Style BBQ - I BBQed on the patio, and we ate indoors...

It was good fun all the same, and a good time was had by all.

Kräuter Schnecke -

Literally "Herb Snail" although 'spiral' sounds better. As promised here are some pictures of the completed 'schnecke' with one of Madam Paddy Cat enjoying the sun (and the bird bath water - thank you very much!). I've included the near hysterical Black Bird who appears every time the old lady goes out doors and spends all his time hysterically piping at her and trying to drive her away.


She seems to be either deaf to his antics, or just to old to be bothered with trying to catch him ...