Yet another Bel journal
3 Weeks Ago
<alert>Long journal</alert>
It was the day of my son's (and his mates') solemn oath with his battalion today.
As some of you know, we still have conscription here in Germany, and son #1 started his on 1st October this year. I wrote up his first expressions here: A58256382 (in case you missed it but are interested)
About two weeks or so ago, he called, asking if we'd come to see him and the barracks where he's stationed on 5th November.
I wasn't keen on going, it's quite far away, I had to arrange to get the day off work, and I don't like to drive such long distances. However, when he asked whether his brother could have the car and take his (son #1's) flat mate, I realised how important it was for him to have his family there on this day, so I agreed to come, too.
Then my husband managed to arrange to get the day off work after all (he'd initially said that he wouldn't go), so all was well.
We got up at 5.30am this morning and left home a good hour later. I had taken some 'Stullen' (the German equivalent of a sandwich) and a thermos of  .
As the schedule was for the oath to be held in the late afternoon, I took an extra pair of (woollen) socks to wear while watching the parade etc.
We set out in dry weather, which was a bonus.
Disaster struck about an hour later: I needed to go t the loo, so we stopped at some 'Raststätte'. When I got back into the car, it smelled lovely of . I thought my husband had had a up, but no: while parking the car, the bag with the Thermos which I had kept upright before had toppled, and all the coffee had sipped into the bag. My socks were drowned in coffee (as was the mat of the car).
Wet socks, no coffee. 
We arrived at barracks after a good three hours drive.
The weather was lovely: a sunny, mild (if not too warm) autumn day. 
Our son showed us round. There were quite a few stands presenting the weapons, equipment and whatever else there is.
One of my son's superiors did an introduction to the weapons they are exercising with and insisted I should try it.
Those weaponss really aren't made for small people, I'd be totally unable to handle it (apart from the fact that I can't imagine I'd every shoot a human being). 
Son #2 then joined the queue to do some shooting (simulation) while I went with son #1 to have lunch - well, we insisted that he should have his lunch there).
Afterwards there was a mass in the basilica, and then we had to go to some other barracks some 30 km away for the rest of the event.
We arrived early and went to see some more presentations. There was a room where you could see most of the weapons in use: the bazooka weighs about a ton!  (Yeah, it's exaggerated, but I could hardly lift it, let alone aim at one of the toy tanks which were about two metres away), as does the bulletproof vest (18kg).
We got an introduction into the signal service (they operate with ms dos!) and admired a mobile field kitchen (complete with stove and baking tray for cakes).
We then went to the field where the rest of the event would take place. It was about 4pm now, and the sun was sinking. I really cursed my bad luck because my feet were soon cold!
We were still lucky because we could move about a little and stamp our feet - the poor companies had to stand there for more than an hour and weren't allowed to move at all!
Speeches ensued, they all swore their oath (they swear to defend the rights and freedom of Germany), and they then had to stand still and wait until all the friends and family members had taken photos (it was nearly dark by now, so the photos I took don't show anything much).
The recruits are not allowed to smile, or look anywhere else than staright ahead of them (without actually seeing anything), but as soon as I had spotted my son, I laughed and smiled at him - especially when I noticed that he had trouble not to smile back - I could see he was biting his tongue).
He later complained and said I had even managed to make the mates next to him lose their composure.
At about 5.30 they were allowed to leave, so we took our son home with us. He slept for most of the three-hour-drive.
I'm glad we went, because it meant so much to him.
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Vernissage
4 Weeks Ago
or, as you say, varnishing day?
Anyway, I went to one last night. I had never heard of the artist before, but what I had read on the invitation sounded interesting.
The speaker who had been invited is somebody I've encountered at various events - the owner of our local book store is very active and organises interesting events throughout the year. So far, he (the speaker) has always been a guarantee for good entertainment, and I wasn't disappointed last night.
The entrance was free, and we were even offered snacks, apple wine, apple juice and  .
During the speech (introduction of Albert (Ali) Schindehütte) by Prof H. Boehncke, I took a few photos; most of them turned out to be too blurry to be of any use, but you can find a few here:
http://picasaweb.google.com/TheBelana/Vernissage#
Now to the artist: There were lots of his paintings (they'll be in the book store for a further two weeks), and some books he illustrated were for sale, too.
I loved the paintings. They are in a style I've grown up with, I had two fairy tales books with illustrations in a very similar style.
I bought a few postcards, a catalogue which contains quite a few of the paintings, and a book with fairy tales the grand-grand-grand.... father of the artist had written down for the Brothers Grimm in exchange for some of their well-worn 'Beinkleider' - that's trousers - so each time constable Krause (the artist's ancestor) needed trousers, he wrote a letter to the Brothers Grimm and they made a deal.
The artist signed the books, and he didn't merely write his signature, but rewarded us with some real artwork. It took ages, but it was definitely worth the wait. While I waited for my books to dry (he used a quill and ink) I made the acquaintance of a man who is from Schleswig_Holstein, like me, who used to live in Kiel (like me) and even in Husum (where I went to school). Funny old world, it just showed how small it is.
The glass of had nearly knocked me out, and not even the walk home in the fresh and cold air sobered me up again, so I went straight to bed.
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- Latest reply: 3 Weeks Ago
21
4 Weeks Ago
It's my son's 21st birthday today.
21 years ago, we had a lovely, sunny and warm October day. I remember it as if it was only yesterday.
My husband went to Neu Ulm to visit his dad who was in hospital there. He refused to take me with him for fear the child would be born on the Autobahn. A wise decision as it turned out. Husband made it back just in time to see the birth of our first child.
Today, it is a dull, grey and cold October day.
My son is in a wet and cold army camp somewhere in deepest, darkest Bavaria. It is the first time that he doesn't spend his birthday here at home. I'd better get used to it, I guess.
My husband is away in the Vogelsberg region, due to his job.
My mother in law is in hospital (The same hospital weher I was 21 years ago). She had an OP today.
I'm waiting for a phone call to find out how she is and how it all went.
Depending on that, I may go for a brief visit later.
My aunt is in hospital because she fell down the stairs in her house a few days ago. I'll call my mum later for news about my aunt.
It feels meh today.
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- Latest reply: 4 Weeks Ago
Germans and humour (and other things)
Oct 14, 2009
I finally found this clip on youtube:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XXRKZzPjYV0
You may not understand each word, but you'll get the gist.
It demonstrates nicely that we (Germans) can poke fun at ourselves.
Those who are German (or speak it) will probably know Loriot That's his nom de plume) and his sketches with the Hoppenstedts.
One of the best known pieces is this:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BtRUrxVNC6k
Yesterday, there was a young man in our shop, wanting to buy a certain brand of bread. Unfortunately, there was none there, so I asked him whether I should reserve one for him for Thursday. He said yes, so I asked for his name. When he told me the name was Hoppenstedt, I spontaneousy said: Oh, that reminds me of Loriot.
He replied: yes, it is my family name Loriot uses. My great-grandfather was in the same sports club as Wilhelm Busch (a famous poet who also illustrated his books), and Wilhelm Busch once drew a banner featuring Mr Hoppenstedt for said sports club, and it was after that banner that Loriot shaped the Hoppenstedts. (Or at least I think that's what he said, I was busy writing down the order and hadn't expected his reply).
I was baffled, I never thought it was a real name, let alone indeed connected.
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- Latest reply: 3 Weeks Ago
Autumn is here
Sep 27, 2009
It was a perfect autumn day today: sunny, warm, no wind.
I went for a walk (a little late, the sun wasn't very strong any more), and I took a few photos:
http://picasaweb.google.com/TheBela...a/NewCameraTest#5386209486767940418
It's just across the road from where I live, and wonderful for a walk in such lovely weather.
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- Latest reply: Oct 4, 2009
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