Carnival In Berlin

Bright sun, blue sky, but low temperature ( very low )Yet in spite of this fact the atmosphere was warm ,and full of fun . These pictures serve to show the imagination people have when it comes to costume. Hope you enjoy .As soon as possible will add a sound track.

Welcome To The World Of Wonder Woman

Never just wonder , get up, get moving and be a wonder... a Wonder Woman. To help you , Mac Cosmetics are running a special promotion for their Wonder Woman Range .They believe that within each and every woman is courage , confidence and charisma . If you happen to be in Berlin between 07.03.2011 and 13.03.2011,call into Ka De We and try this fascinating collection.Nearly all the beauticians speak English, so no problems there for none German speakers. Here's their web site address :-
http://www.maccosmetics.de/

This Foxy Wonder Woman will be going. Take a look at the picture .It says ( I translate ):-'Wonder woman in action. With her magic arm jewellery she defends herself from Medusa's dark intentions.'

Maybe my Chilango is force enough and I say to all woman out there 'wouldn't we be a match for a very nasty dark force in Tripoli .

My Post to Gaddafi

Let's hope he comprehends the message contained in these words .

'He who establishes his argument by noise and command shows that his reason is weak.'
Michel de Montaigne

Time for you to go Mr Gaddafi ( your tin pot medals and braid mean zilch to me and many more ) All that most people need is a good dose of common sense and humanity . Violence, corruption and rambling rhetoric , never !

Tony Blair will surely allow you to reside with him . He toadied and grovelled sufficiently ignoring the blood on your hands then. You make a good pair .Hardly a dynamic duo but full of hot gassy empty air.

Miss Vixen Has Her Own Reunification Day

Last week I had to send my Panasonic Lumix off to their workshops .Minus this amazing camera I felt lost but could capture stills with my very ancient Tchibo no brand. Imagine my joy therefore when today a text came through informing me the TZ10 was awaiting collection. It was a reunification day for BVFL. First a coffee to celebrate , then capture the Funkturm ,finally the rather beautiful sunset which seemed to signify 'all is well with Lumix and Miss V '.

The Green Citadel of Friedensreich Hundertwasser.

Magdeburg isn't far from Berlin and easy to reach via road or rail. What's more it's worth it .Today was very cold but the visit was a joy and I have to say it is a place to return to ,plus will take my bike. Look at this architecture and wow at the film of what must be one of the classiest WC's in the world .

A Man's Point Of View .

On leaving Physiotherapy and pausing to find my keys I noticed the above . Worn by a man who was sitting in a room awaiting treatment, he was more than happy to say 'fine' to being photographed . The camera , (my old one) played up but was sorted by a very clued up physiotherapist . These T-shirt fun sayings are often spot on . To the happy wearer who said yes to the picture and his wife I say a big thank you , long live your humour and have a great weekend.

Lazarus Lavamat

As you are well aware two weeks ago I lost my long life 'partner' Lazarus Lavamat. Oh how I missed him . His solid sturdy frame that meant total reliability . In twenty three years he'd never once let me down, for not only was he great to look at, he was inwardly terrific , and as genuine as one could wish for. We were a pair.He was my AEG Lavamat 971
Shopping for a replacement was depressing . So many flashy items that didn't inspire confidence .Nor did I 'fancy' any of them .No X factor .
Thus today I had a guy call round who had a look at Lazarus , examined him and pronounced him to be ... fine. A new plug and whoosh life came back. With swishing and swirling he made a good job of a wash .How long L and I will remain in our blissful union who can say .They don't make them like him anymore . It's a little late but maybe he should now be called Lazarus Valentine Lavamat .

Bei Mir Bist Du Schön

This was recorded at the end of December 2010. The group played it as a special since they knew I dearly wanted the complete work . Until now ,technical matters have prevented my uploading it . However here we are, two days after Valentine's Day 2011.[Never let it be said Ms V gives up easily.]
Plus it's an appropriate piece for all who find some one / some thing ,beautiful
ps. Best viewed in full screen mode

Valentines Day Is A Coming

 

There are those who find this celebration a nonsense , others think it delightful and some are totally indifferent .
February is not a month of glorious weather so why not enjoy this half way marker.
The above were spotted today at my favourite French bakery. What a shame I can no longer eat sugar.The photo is my enjoyment and who knows, maybe it will give you some idea for a fun treat on Monday. ' Say it with cookies' . To finish here's a rather wonderful quotation:-

"Love is an irresistible desire to be irresistibly desired "

Robert Frost...

Negatives and Positives ..

 

A week ago my washer died in a rather spectacular fashion. This negative event was balanced by lots of excellent advice re washing machines from a guy who writes a fantastic review site,followed by delivery of a long awaited beautiful new bed .
Today the sun shone and off I went on my bike to begin a busy programme . Only at Innsbrucker Platz did I notice that several important keys were missing from my key chain. After riding back and forth but to no avail I gave up. Later in the day on calling at a favourite shop ,namely 'Mode & Sparen',there was coffee ,a meeting with a rather wonderful Vietnamese architect and a present from the lady pictured here . She and I share a love of Skull and Crossbones. This belt buckle is her present to me. For some time now she has been carrying it around on the off chance we met. Again a negative experience was counterbalanced .Last week I read that the head of Barclays Bank in UK is to be awarded a nine million pounds bonus ! My views on that are not for here but this much I will say ... Never would I swap my financial status and happiness for his wealth. Little things do mean a lot .. a very lot. The secret of life being, 'keep on smiling'

Acki Hoffmann & Friends at Die Eins Jazz Brunch .

Die Eins [Wilhelmstr67A Berlin] is a very good restaurant/bar famous for it's excellent Sunday Jazz brunch. However no superlatives are able to fully describe this group who were there today. Acki Hoffmann and Friends never fail to give a superb performance . Five amazingly talented individuals who come together to make magical music. Well it even cast a spell on my Windows XP and that has to be something .

The Cookie Club Trio Plus One .

 

left to right :-
Drums) Meinolf Saggel,known as 'Cookie',Bass) Axel Obert, Piano) Martin Zentner.
On Wednesday 2nd February we were treated to an evening of great music at the Piano Cafe, Neue Kantstrase 20. Joined by Burkhard best known as 'Quasi' on Saxaphone ,the result ? Magic . I made 17 videos which back up my words but uploading will have to wait until next week and an Apple Mac. The Trio will be a regular monthly feature at Piano Cafe ,so should you want a pleasant evening and good food ,I can recommend.
Make a note of this group. They are going places .On dates when the trio play with Quasi ( sax) they are known as Magnolia Jazz Quartet . Not really confusing simply best remembered as GREAT MUSIC .

Parasitic Politicians Cling To Power.

Yesterday on reading that the United States faced a moral dilemma I had to smile.
How on earth can they have a moral dilemma when politically they are lacking morals .If you think I am being anti US or OTT in my opinions read on.
:-These are the words of former CIA agent Robert Baer, “If you want a serious interrogation, you send a prisoner to Jordan. If you want them to be tortured, you send them to Syria. If you want someone to disappear—never to see them again—you send them to Egypt.”
For years the US has funded President Hosni Mubarak and known only too well that his corrupt government did little , if anything for it's people .Elections have been rigged , human rights flouted but silence from the USA. Now as millions of ordinary downtrodden men and women protest the US is worried .They have only them selves to blame. An average Egyptian has had to exist on 2 dollars a day. Has Mubarak ...no way. Yesterday he told the crowds he wont stand for reelection but neither will he step down now . Oh how the greedy cling onto power . You can be sure he'll be arranging his bank accounts and setting up candidates .This wave is sweeping across the middle east . Mind you it seems in vogue elsewhere. Last month the Irish Parliament had to resort to strong tactics to force the Prime Minister Brian Cowen to dissolve Parliament and make ready for an early election. Mr Cowen did not want either nor did he want to stand down .
It would appear that at long last people all over the world are waking up to who is really the "boss". THEY ARE . Let's face it, any worker found stealing or not fulfilling their duties can be fired without notice .Why therefore should corrupt and or inefficient politicians be exempt from such treatment . Mubarak showed what dictator material he was made of when he closed the entire Egyptian internet network down.Not a good move . As for the USA they would do well stop trying to buy friends and cease playing Geo-Politics.