Good News For The World .

At times it seems the news is all bad . Then,as if to show there's hope , all be it seldom ,we get a great item . On coming home late last night and logging on ,there it was ...... No Tony Bliar [Blair as EU President ] , no Milliband as EU Foreign Affairs Minister . Cause indeed to celebrate .So called a friend, had a glass of port and lemon ,played Dr Feelgood's Hog For You Baby . Truly I was happy as can be .

One had to note how very widespead contempt for Bliar is.

Tony you may well perceive yourself as a presidential god , most see you for what you really are .

First beaten by a rare species of protected bat and the now the EU .

ps) it dawned on me today why G W Bush liked you . As the world knows ,this guy has THE LAZY HUNGRY CATERPILLAR as his number one read ..

Well hunger for power knows no limits with you and just let's think of how a caterpillar moves !

From Barcelona to Berlin.

What a fabulous Sunday this has been .Colourful too in a strange sort of way . The Yorkschlösschen in Kreuzberg was a 'must', as Acki Hoffman and Friends were playing there . These guys have your feet tapping with each number .Plus I was the recipient of a yet another snowdome from Acki .Here you see us with the little treasure from Barcelona . If anyone wonders as to why I am muffled in my coat , read on ... A waitress carrying a full tray of drinks tripped and one very large glass of red went all over yours truly .This resulted in my having to take my top off , rinse it well and hang on the radiators . Now OK, lovely as my lingerie may be I decided to cover up . It was hilarious and much later with a special rendition of Ain't She Sweet I was able to don a dry piece of clothing . Some talk of red letter days. Mine was 'red wine and snowdome. ' Lovely . Hence after this final piece I rocked and rolled all the way home ...... Apologies for my duff cam and mic

Stupidity of Another Kind

ALISTAIR

DARLING

A man that brains and honesty forgot . Yes the dreary little puppet of Gordon Brown's , still holds office in spite of his many notorious expenses claims coupled with tax evasion .[read Daily Telegraph revelations ]
Each time this specimen opens his mouth with yet another idea for financial recovery , global warming , you name it ,the pound sinks further !
You have to laugh ,as we the tax paying public foot another lush ,and oh so grand gathering of the greedy G20 , every syllable uttered by this fool is like some nuclear fall out ...DANGEROUS .
Ever tried using sellotape Darling -- on your mouth ?
Once more I ask why was this bunfight not done via video conferencing ?

Just Who Is Stupid ?

We seem surrounded by prophets of doom these days. All bent on informing us that our days are numbered and we are guilty . Not they .. merely us .
Take the Green Party. If I could ,I would,only to leave them somewhere extremely untamed .Let's see how well they'd do minus all their creature comforts ! Then how about a tour round the house of Al Gore ,noting if he puts into practice that which he preaches . As for Franny Armstrong ... what a joke she is . Has the gall to condemn air travel yet , deems it as being OK for herself to get from A to B promoting her dictates.
Their whole mission is a farce . One in which over population is never mentioned .There is never so much as a whisper about China's increasing daily pollution . Not a word about the third world factories spilling chemicals into the water table whilst at the same time spewing toxic gas into the air .
The latest joke is to take place in Denmark .Yes, in December UN delegates will meet in Copenhagen to discuss what can be done . Question ) how will they get there ? Answer ) By air .
Why I ask in these days of amazing telecommunications is this necessary ? A video conference would save so much fuel , so much money .Ah, but what then the free luxury beanfeast , the
hotels , etc etc .The wives out for a shopping trip and gala ball.
I for one am weary of footing the bill for these types and then being made to pay even more tax on any air ticket I choose to purchase . In the following words ..IT'S A RIP OFF .
The world climate has changed ever since time began .
Continents have shifted ,and will ,over many years continue to do so .There are things we can do to have a clean planet.
Are all governments banning nuclear tests ?
Are all governments insisting that there are no oil spillages by the use of rust bucket ships ?
Are all rain forests truly left in tact and protected .
Are firms banned from sending spam advertising mail through regular postal systems ?
The list is endless. And all answers are NO
Who is stupid ? Well as I see it we are for accepting these dictates of pay up or else on an annual holiday . At the same time the likes of Franny Armstrong are for expecting us to take her oh so seriously .
Until all G8 ,G 20 and UN can work debating using video conferencing ,minus a financed super luxury freebie,I for one say. Sorry guys, I'm neither green nor am I cabbage looking in spite of my headgear in this picture .

B A T S

Born Again , Back Again To Sin ! BVFL.

On the Eve of All Hallows ,

Somewhere deep in France .

A creature so sombre all dressed in black ,

Decided Miss V had better come back

With a flash of light and the blood of live mice,

His strange incantations rang through the night ,

Then who should appear from webs spun so thick.

But Berlin's Foxy Lady...How's that for magic ?

The Final Curtain

It's been fun writing as BVFL but now the time has arrived to say " Good bye ".
Let's hope one day , all in this world will learn to be kind to each other and we'll see an end to the rewarding of corruption .
Where I'll go and what comes next , who can say .

THE END

Aint She Sweet,Got Blue Plastic On Her Feet .

Miss Vixen as you have never seen her . Not wearing her furs or the latest from Mode und Sparen,but protective gear which had to be worn to enter a room left in a real unhealthy mess by some German workman . Even with this outfit I can honestly say it wasn't a pleasant experience .
When will this problem be resolved via legal process.? No point in saying "watch this space", as I calculate it will be many postings before that occurs .
So for the time being this is Star Wars Vixen off to gather her photographic evidence of the worst work I have ever set eyes on !

Heidelberg,Worms ,Frankfurt, Mannheim, Speyer ,Mainze

The last ten days have been spent in Darmstadt . Not exactly a large German city , but a friendly one. An amazing German rail system coupled with Vodafone UMTS enabled me to set out each day [plus small notebook] to get work done and explore various towns and cities .

These were :-

Heidelberg , Worms ,Frankfurt , Mannheim , Speyer , Mainze .

Heidelberg situated on the River Neckar is delightful and clearly a tourist haven .With its castle ,old town and river ,this is a place which draws you back .

Worms [pronounced vorms ] is small ,pleasant with an impressive cathedral .The day we went there was a choral organ concert and one could but marvel at the acoustics .

Frankfurt , standing on the River Main is a business city.One feature I do like about this city is the extremely modern architecture . There is also a small Alt Stadt.

Mannheim is a city which had to be more or less rebuilt after WW 2 and a grid system was used .There remains a fascinating water tower ,a beautiful Jesuit Church and a very old palace

There is also has a truly superb ice cream shop. Fontanella . Look up http://www.eisfontanella.de/ In my jargon a place such as this is a 'hot spot' .Really great ice cream is a find and make it .

Speyer built along the Rhine is small but very pretty . It's an Alt Stadt with lots of cafes , churches, museums and shops . I made several lovely purchases here.

Finally Mainze built on the Rhine .This was /is my favourite . The cathedral is astonishing and the old town sensational. Food is wonderful ,reasonably priced and well served . Shops are tasteful and display quality goods . Guess who can't wait to revisit ?

I saw so much in each place and would advise any visitors to Germany to forget the A train... Just take DBahn .

Top Row L-R
Above the roof tops of Frankfurt / Commerce Area /Bridge into Worms / Heidelberg Castle.

Mid Row L-R

River Neckar /Water Tower Mannheim /Jesuit Church Mannheim/ St Josephs Speyer.

Bottom Row L-R

Speyer Cathedral /Old City Mainze / Mainze Cathedral / Above roof tops of Frankfurt .

Seen In The London Scene.

Yesterday I got up at 4:15 am in order to get ready and take the first BA flight to London.
Not my favourite city but well worth it to spend a day with a friend who used to work here .
We had a terrific time catching up on news , latest in books read etc etc . People watching , eating and drinking . At my request she kept me well away from Downing Street and Parliament .
The collage shows our 1st watering hole , a street show in Covent Garden , one of many fountains , Piccadilly Circus , a view of Parliament ,then inside a super Doc Martins shop .
The solo picture was also taken in this shop .I couldn't resist it. Born in Manchester and a lover of double meanings this appealed to my wicked side . British Airways may have lost their edge , terminal five is a nightmare, UK security checks are administered by 'fish wife ' types who bawl and shout ,BUT for friendship , fun and so much laughter ,all of these horrors were bearable.

note:- not only did I walk miles in my new boots , I was given another snowdome as a present !

IFA Berlin 2009

IFA is a huge exhibition for the latest in consumer electronics . Maybe ,but for me IFA stands for ,' International Fun Always' . This afternoon [ the last day ] I went and had the time of my life . Impossible to see everything, yet I packed a lot in and even had a go at the Vodafone Air Guitar competition . Vodafone made their own film which is on You Tube .A member of the staff made these using my little camera . Letting your hair down , not to mention kicking your legs up is extremely good for one .... why not try it.







One note to US viewers .
In my 20's I was hit by a driver. All these very lively limbs were smashed and the prospect bad . The amazing health service of UK put me together and to this day I give thanks for that . My mother was a recent widow ,and I a student yet the best Orthopaedic Specialist in the North West of England saw to me . President Obama is right and for those who say he is wrong take note.

New Boots , New Jazz Season.

A new month and we move into a new season . As luck would have it I found the very pair of boots I've been looking for . Then to start Die Kleine Weltlaterne season, who else but Otto Hamborg and the Viertakter. They really got things moving with a programme of Barock to Rock 'n' Roll.

Today I saw this amazingly tall man and wondered how he would look in boots .[ a lot of leather would be needed ]

Finally how about this guy's job ? Coming up the escalator in Karstadt Store what should I see but a lady being painted ! Totally naked save for her chic knickers she stood ín public as the artist did his work .

Never a dull moment . Note ] today the smell of Autumn was in the air .It made me feel almost drunk with joy . A colourful season which I for one love .

Wild West ? No ,Western Berlin

It isn't every day that you come across a group of cowboys standing outside a drinks establishment. So lucky that I always have a camera with me . Here's the proof .A great bunch of guys they explained how they were having a days ride around the city . Each owned a horse so all was possible . Getränke Hoffmann on Kaiserdamm was their watering hole . Minus a horse I may be, but I did have my trusty bike .

Germany, USA, Ancient Greece, Egypt--- in one day !

Saturday was Ruddesheimer Platz Festival .A terrific event with so much to see and do that one had to make choices . For us it was the US Air Force Band Check Six. Glenn Miller really began a tradition of great music and it's good to see today. The stage show was compared by the man you see in costume 'Echensteher Nante' see his web page www.nante.de He managed so much with such humour. Quite a guy. Then followed a fashion show to promote Oxfam ."So what," you folks in UK may say. There you have charity shops galore on each street . In Germany the concept is relatively new .I worked for a while at one and had a lot of fun. Now this is not yours truly getting wed .It was the surprise finale of the show and wow what a dress. 'Almost' had me wanting to try it on . Instead a friend bought me a delicate black shawl. It's beautiful. Then a surprise as we were given tickets for the Long Night Of The Museums . This astonishing event held twice a year, runs like clockwork . There are so many fabulous galleries , museums , studios etc it could take a life time . Photography [minus flash ] was permitted .Here you see Aphrodite , then the head of Nefertite and a truly ancient coffin . Could be used as a bath during ones life. Economical. There was glorious music in the Berliner Dom and outside a light show with the music broadcast to give extra effect . The shows went on all over the city until the early hours but at gone 1 am it was a very tired Miss V who stumbled into her bedroom after such a lot of 'cultural travel'

"12th IAAF World Championships Athletics Berlin 2009"

Last night was wonderful . Watching some of the worlds 'greatest' athletes in the Berlin Olympic Stadium was magical.

Here are two short videos . Not RTL standard, but they catch the atmosphere . One is a part of the 3000 metres Steeplechase won by EZEKIEL KEMBOI of Kenya . Fantastic to see. The other is of PHILLIPS IDOWU from Britain doing a lap of honour having won the Mens Triplejump . The stills show SANYA RICHARDS of the USA doing her lap of honour after creating a new world record for the Women's 400metres and an ecstatic STEFFI NERIUS for Germany .She is now the world champion for Women's javelin throw .

Then last but not least you see Berlino ,the mascot ,who one could safely say , is a winner every day.

Frankfurt Oder and Back to Berlin.

On Sunday I travelled to Frankfurt Oder with bike and the train . On arrival the temperature was 31°c and shade where ever possible , a must . The top row shows the German side of the Oder , with food as usual, served in vast quantities .Note , not only was it impossible to finish my lovely meal at the Ratskellar , it was mission impossible for this icecreamholic to even consider 30 scoops plus cream etc . The centre row shows Slubice in Poland and Frankfurt Oder viewed from there . On the return journey the train was packed with cycles giving one the impression of being in travelling cycle store . As some landmarks of Berlin came into view it felt good .. there would be a shower, a coffee , not to mention a chance to throw off all clothes and relax . Paradise .

Daramsala --- Berlin.

On the 17th August 2007 a very special armband was lost in Leipzig.( see the post for that date )

This led to my knowing a really exceptional young lady in Daramsala. We became regular email contacts then, actually met for the first time this summer in Frankfurt. Later she and her colleague were able to visit Berlin and stay with me. Action packed is an understatement and it was a very tearful farewell when we said goodbye . They gave me these beautiful gifts as a token of their friendship. The workmanship is astonishing and all is done by hand . I had stayed with a friend in Frankfurt and they too were presented with a gift . Should you ever require a special gift then go to http://www.norbulingka.org/ Online ordering is possible.

As we stood on the railway platform , each of my visitors took out the finest woven white scarf. These were placed around my neck and loosely tied . This it seems is how Tibetans say goodbye and thank you . I shall never forget the effect of that simple yet graceful custom . Now one question , "how do I say thank you to that hornet ?" Without him or her I may never have known such amazing people . Quite a thought .

The Dalai Lama in Frankfurt 2009

Last Tuesday I arrived late at night in Darmstadt . For those who haven’t a clue where this is, let me put you in the picture .It’s a small town /city outside Frankfurt am Main ..not far from Heidelberg and very close to what is known as Burg Frankenstein Castle. Yes you have read that correctly.
A Buddhist I’m not ,but it’s a faith which I respect . In my opinion HH the Dalai Lama is the worlds greatest spiritual leader, his respect being equal for all humans and all beliefs. Furthermore he is one who speaks truth seasoned with a lot of common sense. Something seldom experienced these days.
Thus when a good acquaintance said that I was welcome to stay with them for the duration of this huge event staged in the Frankfurt Commerz Arena , I accepted their hospitality. Why ?
I have a Tibetan contact . Like so many she lives in exile and works at the Norbulingka Institute. [see links Tibetans in exile ] Via the wonders of cyberspace we are best described as email friends .She and a colleague came all the way from India, hence cyber became reality and I was able to help them.
The weather was scorching and extremely humid but meeting up and working together proved terrific fun. We had lots of laughs , I met many interesting people. In the Asian exhibition virtually all countries were represented .
My day was not as long as my friends and it was a very exhausted Miss V who almost ‘fell off the train ‘ in Darmstadt each night .
Am I glad that I went ? YES , YES a thousand times YES but for now it’s back home and prepare to be their hostess and tour guide for a few days in the magic capital of Germany --- Berlin.

Note) I choose to live in Germany . My home country was not invaded and taken over. If you are reading this I hope the same can be said for you .
Yet to this date over 6 million Tibetans live under a Chinese dictatorship in their own country which is Tibet not China . Not only is their culture and language being eradicated , they are marginalized and minus freedom to worship .
The UN says nothing ,does nothing and why … because money is the God most revere and crossing the Chinese could result in lost contracts. “ So what... do we really need Chinese rubbish goods ?” Most of all can we really stand by and watch a dictatorship abusing human rights without saying a word ? UN representatives , EU members of parliament , indeed all politicians are working for us . They are well paid so let’s see them earn their money.

FREE TIBET .

Let me leave you with a wonderful quotation from HH Dalai Lama . True for all and in light of the new greed for wealth , even more so.
"Love and compassion are necessities, not luxuries. Without them humanity cannot survive."
Dalai Lama.

History and Corrupt Politicians

I like to think my lack of posting in recent weeks is due to a hectic social schedule . Truth be known a cocktail of inertia plus a mind elsewhere is the reason.
All the ghastly political events flooding the media have merely had the effect of stifling my rebellious nature [ is this a cunning ploy to dampen the likes of Ms V ] . Today shortly before leaving for Frankfurt I read that the British government have quietly awarded them selves a nine thousand pound annual claims allowance plus other fringe benefits . Brown, who spoke of cleaning politics up .. Oh my they are still as dirty as the colour of his name …. And we all know what smells and is brown . Yet 'Pox a la Politica' is more virulent than swine flu .
Yesterday Ulla Schmidt of the German government explained in terms befitting only a politician that the use of her tax paid for ministerial car for private holiday travel to Spain was actually cheaper than her renting one ! For whom Frau Schmidt ? The car by the way has been stolen . I do so hope by a German tax payer.
Meanwhile at my own expense I’ve been for a long weekend in Bavaria. The weather was wonderful with scenery to match . If you ever get the chance , try to visit this part of Germany . It's majestic ..Most of us are ignorant of German history … brainwashed by the Daily Mail re WW1 and WW2 the masses are led to believe that is all there is to Deutschland .
Reader there is so much more to this country . Relatively young compared to other countries it once had several kings . One being Ludwig 11nd of Bavaria . This artistic , sensitive individual was well and truly set up by politicians who had him declared insane .Minus any examination.
A few days later he was found dead in a lake . Read about him on line .
My point ? Politicians are the dangerous ones , with two things in mind a) money and b) power.. In UK we have prime specimens , smooth as silk , the only thing they are economical with is the truth . History does repeat itself .See MP's expenses !
Later I will add some photographs of Schwangau .
Until the next time , Miss Vixen is recovering her powers of rebellion .

Carousel Fun

Recently all of Europe has been experiencing hot and humid weather.Yet my weekend in Berlin wasn't spoiled by such . Friday night was perfect for a late, out door dinner on the terrace . Then on Saturday after a leisurely but luxurious breakfast , out on cycles throughout the city , stopping to quench our thirst in any number of places. A visit to the New National Gallery was a must, to see the latest exhibition . Timing was excellent as the heavens opened in a vain attempt to cool the city . This current exhibition entitled :- 'Picture Dreams', Ulla and Heiner Pietzsch Collection ,is on until the 22 th November and merits a visit .The works are pretty wonderful . Above you see a part of one . This was taken on a hoarding in the city and shows half the work . So much exercise had worked up an appetite and Winterfeld Platz was the next stop at what must be the most curious yet amazing eatery ever... IXTHYS. The owners are Korean , and all walls are decorated with hand written portions of the Bible . There are only none alcoholic drinks but the food is sensational and not expensive . I had the BiBam Bob a fantastic dish of spicy rice, meat , vegetables, served with an egg on the top .This you mash thoroughly then add hot sauce to taste. Eaten with Kim Chi ,it's a dish to savour .

So as you'll see it's been a round and about weekend .Even more so if you watch the little video . Right in the centre of Breitscheid Platz was a carousel .At 2 euro a ride ,I was off my bike and on there .One whirling Ms V reverted to age 6 years. Why not ? Each passing year adds 1 to our age but this doesn't have to destroy the child within..Can you spot me ? For sure you'll hear.

Bergman Strasse Festival

It started on Friday and finished today. Held in Kreuzberg it's a pretty lively event .There were four stages . Two for music and two for theatre and dance .With so much on offer and good weather , the place was packed .Food was fabulous and so varied it made choosing difficult . The collage is to give you an idea . Here , not only do you see you see a gypsy style jazz group and nose flute band but Phil Bates of ELO fame . This year he brought his daughter Rosie and she sang a couple of songs accompanied by her father . It was a nice touch which all enjoyed. Phil Bates is a fabulous musician with a great personality . Seems he is playing at the Potsdam Festival the weekend of my birthday so what a present that will be ! As usual , due to the impressive architecture ,there were those with had a real birds eye view. Finally this tiny video would have been longer but ,having lost sight of a friend I quit filming due to panic ! Where were they ? Right behind me .

Summer Solstice In Berlin

The longest day was fun and here you see BVFL taking it easy in the city waiting for a drink to be served.
I'll add a collage of images then tomorrow do my best to create a movie for YouTube re the Iranian protest held today. As you'll note the placards , symbolism and photographs speak for themselves . It was an ordered demonstration minus violence . I had hoped to spend the early hours up on Teufelsberg and watch the sun rise on this magical mystical day then enjoy a solstice breakfast. However the best solstice breakie requires a very special spoon but this was 'stuck in a drawer' . Later whilst cycling down the Heerstrasse I met my physiotherapist . He and his wife had been to a Solstice breakfast at the television tower . They had to be there for 4am and it cost forty euro per head .As he said , worth it for a once in year event , but still feel my T Berg notion had the edge .

All Things Bright and ----?

This little collage shows some of the rather unusual things I've seen in the last twenty four hours . The young man is a phenomenal drum player with' Otto Hamborg Viertakter.' At last nights gig he was wearing this spectacular TShirt [a present from a fellow drummer in US ] I loved the message . Next ,-- how about the orchids .These were spotted at Innsbrucker Platz today at a florist's shop by the SBahn . I found their beauty simply breathtaking . The two shots of fish were taken in my favourite food shop, Rogacki , Wilmersdorfer Strasse . Bottom left is a Sea Devil and behind a really red fish poking it's tongue out ! Top right I just couldn't resist .Hardly the Eye of the Tiger though.Then finally a box depicting a camcorder . Yes at last I've done it . This is my brand new Toshiba Gigashot 80 GB model .It arrived today . Off now to fathom it out and hope all works . YouTube here I come .

Fete de la Musique Berlin.

If you really want a great time and music is your thing ,then why not try Berlin this weekend where each year the Fete de la Musique marks the beginning of summer.
Throughout the city are 60 stages all staging a variety of music ( FREE ) .
You name it , you'll find it , every single genre ! Make any iPod freak go wild .
Berlin's Fête de la Musique celebrates the beginning of summer with an amazing variety of live concerts on around 60 stages throughout the city. All music genres are well represented, including world music and jazz, and just in case you missed it , all performances are free.
During the day you can have a terrific time and then at night off to the nightclubs where more performances continue until the early hours .
After that ,what better way to welcome summer yet again , than with an early morning dip at one of the many open air pools .... or ,if a recovery 'sleep in' is called for , no probs as the baths stay open even later at night in Summer .
Have fun ----------

Its Been Fourteen Days and Hours Galore

It's been fourteen days and hours galore, since I last posted here . Fourteen days of news following [that slug Blair having emerged again to play Saint Stir It---yuk]. However even with this and on top of the usual work items , routine chores plus appointments I've managed some pretty interesting times.Last weekend there was the Savigny Platz 2nd Jazz Festival where very mixed weather proved acceptable as the groups were terrific . Then Tuesday the 9th , off to Bristol for an appointment the following day in Cheltenham . Easy Jet proved remarkably good . Just a pity that Schönefeld Airport is such a terrible place . As usual I had the great fortune to meet some wonderful people .Back late in Berlin on the evening of the 10th I had a friend to stay. We managed to pack in stork watching at Malchow , a trip to the Theatre to see the Mel Brooks musical 'The Producers' and, yesterday ,the 47th Deutsch-Französiches Volksfest. [This gets better and better for me as more wild rides are added.] Last night there were fireworks as well. So, if you are to be in Berlin this month or July ,I can recommend the latter three . Note too that the weekend of June 28th is Bergman Strasse Jazz Festival . On this note , I'll close and leave you with these few pictures plus videos ..

Pictures From The Jazz Marathon .

Some are absolutely fabulous . Yes ,I mean the NIGHTCROWD BLUESBAND .
My camera could not do justice to their music and as you'll see I had problems enough due to the sun . So go to their site . It's well worth it and you can hear some of their great sound . http://www.nightcrowdbluesband.be/

Pictures of a few of the groups I saw .. Jazz is rather like literature ,it has very many varieties . Some fair , some middling , some ------ [see the top collage ]

This guy is a regular in as much as he plays his guitar in the streets of Brussels. To sit and watch him was a joy . Fortunately as there was no amplification the little cam picked it up reasonably ..

A Taste Of Brussels

For me , May ended and June began in Brussels . A city which never ceases to amaze. The Jazz Marathon 2009 began on Friday the 29th May and offered a wide range of music at various venues and , all free. As ever, tops for myself and countless others were the Nightcrowd Blues Band .Pictures to follow in another post .
Whilst still 'recovering' from a great time here are two items to give you a taste of Brussels . For believe me when it comes to food and drink the Belgians know a thing or two .As for the little video made in the souvenir area , kitsch but I couldn't resist. Who knows maybe it will get some of you planning for 2010.

Brown and the Brown Noses of Westminster

The Daily Telegraph has done an amazing public service and now we are privy to the truth. Indeed we could paper a lot of rooms using WANTED posters . Yet has it made one jot of difference to these arrogant MP's ? No , no a thousand times no.
We now have Brown defending members of his cabinet and Cameron stating that anyone can make an error involving over 11000 pounds ! Mr C could that be due to them also attending Eton ? Old boy networks and such .. See the latest news on Tory whip Bill Wiggin .
Seems a lot of errors have been made by those who claim to be running the country and our lives . Aren't you glad they don't drive buses or fly planes? Errors or not ,tell me one other job that allows you to claim your mortage interest , brand new luxury fittings and home improvements as the whim takes you ? Plus a rather large monthly food allowance .You name it, they have taken it .Why ? Because it was all so easy .We the tax paying public didn't know of their home made extremely lucrative ,secret system ,the very system they now blame for their errors ,oversights ,confusion. System my eye .It was greed and theft on a grand scale .
We have seen Martin resign as speaker of the house , but as well as remaining until 21st June ,this odius and very guilty creature has set out reforms . As big a joke as his corpulent frame ! Enough to make you laugh so much you could be in need of a panty liner but a caution here ,as a none MP, you can't claim for such. Then we have the spectacle of Ha Ha Harman saying how the rules must be re written and obeyed . Sorry it's all a massive load of horse manure !
This Nuremberg syndrome is too much . Let's get rid of this bunch of thieves and fraudsters . None have said sorry . None have returned the goods we the public paid for . It will merely continue and I for one object to even 1p of my tax ( yes I still pay to this not so great country ) going to these brown nosed liars .
A Parliament run by the very few who who were honest would be a cleaner and trustworthy house . Respected by all at home and abroad. As it is British politics simply stinks .
Were the Nazis allowed to run the trial at Nuremberg themselves ? Clearly not .
Why should this bunch be allowed to be their own judge and jury ?

ps ) I repeat now something I read on the web . Let's hope the next step for the Daily Telegraph is the European Parliament .

Storks and Nature Around Berlin,

This wonderful haven is on the outskirts of Berlin Lichtenberg. It's a nature sanctuary with so much and the bonus is that storks nest there each year . To watch these amazing birds I could only wonder at their grace and style . They arrive each year from South Africa add to the nest , lay between four or five eggs which they tend with care . Once hatched the youngsters are well fed by the parents and learn how to fly . The sanctuary rings all baby storks for tracking purposes . What is amazing is that the little ones literally fly the nest , minus parents and ,with an astonishing ' inbuilt ' system fly off to South Africa . Mature birds leave later . How do they know the way ? If you are in Berlin before the end of July this is a place I can recommend . The staff are friendly , have so much knowledge not to mention time for visitors . Or you can simply relax watching and listening to a 'first class symphony by nature' :- Here is a link to the Lichtenberg information site [in english ] They give a further link to the Malchow sanctuary this is in German though .

http://www.berlin.de/ba-lichtenberg/derbezirk/sehenswert.en.html

Gundling, Kaiserin Victoria at Bornstedt .

Last week I did something for the first time ... bought flowers for a man !
OK , a very much deceased person but one for whom I have admiration . No grave was to be found , merely a rather splendid epitaph ,so the small bouquet was left in the church at Bornstedt near to Potsdam . A place well worth a visit and very much so because of links to the English monarchy ..It is open each weekday until 5pm with helpers to answer questions. Sunday service is on a rota basis with other small places of worship.

Westminster Epidemic [Swine Fever MP Strain]

Britain has Swine Fever .A very virulent variety and those infected appear to have one thing in common..... all are in politics. The symptoms manifest an unusual greed only for the best of everything ,ability to tell lies so marked it makes the devil himself appear angelic . Add to this ,a marked tendency towards parasitic behaviour and the vision is anything but glorious . Furthermore it's crossed the Irish Sea and some very notable formally infamous members of the IRA are now troughing with the best, whilst claiming this is their right . As one born in Manchester ,[a city bombed by these creeps I beg to take issue ] Yes it's fever to the left , fever to the right and as ever those wets the Liberals are infected -
Let's make them hand all and I do mean all back , from bath plugs and paper bags to mock Tudor beams and plasma screens. Everything should be put on permanent display in a museum built and paid for by the very large property portfolios and bank accounts accrued at OUR expense . Each item bearing the infected MP's name and constituency .
As for the 400 pound monthly food allowance .. spare me and us all .Let them do as we do ,pay our own food bills out of what is left over when they ,the infected ones have taxed us every which way to ensure more of their luxury .
The museum could stand for ever as a reminder of how those in Public Service are liable to behave if not checked .Imagine how colourful the decor and grounds could be using repossessed pot plants etc and gardening materials . Works of modern art using ladies panty liners and nappies ... wow - Real Tate Modern stuff.
Let us never forget the new labour government , spawned by Mr Swine Fever himself . He who had the audacity to tell the Queen she must cut costs ,then go on to read his involvement and money making in the epidemic. Indeed he spread the filth from day one. It's taken years for freedom of information to get at all of this........ We should never forget nor let complacency creep back in .
As for those who are still there 'in power'. Don't let's wait one day longer . Sack them minus any pay . Belgium recently managed minus a goverment ... why not Britain . As for the swine Mp's Once sacked quarantine in prison . They are criminals so why not ?

For First Rate Corruption Visit GB

I am feeling extremely bolshie today .More so than usual in fact . Why ?
Because we have even more clear evidence of the robbery which has been going on for years in a country called Great Britain . Robbery of the public by the the politicians and to some tune .
There is so much talk about the corruption in third would countries ..oh my , Britain may no longer rule the waves but it certainly is tops at grand theft .
Expenses for MP's are not lunch vouchers . Oh no , more a never ending banquet . Their trumped up cleaning bills , Internet connections, Sky TV subscription, kitchen equipment , furniture , gardening tools [to name but a few items ] leave one furious and disgusted . Yet what is done ? Answer, very little .
Each and every one of these freeloaders should receive a bailiffs visit .The goods could be taken away after those with such expensive taste had been offered the chance to purchase using their money .Logic tells us they should have plenty .since salaries seem to go untouched for the everyday basics you and I worry about.
I doubt they would pay but let's then distribute the spoils amongst the public .
It appears ZDF [a German TV channel] broadcast my views on such .
Let's broadcast this corruption until we overcome the injustice of it .
Mentioning such .Never forget the grotesque cost of the G20 from which there is no evidence of one positive outcome .It was ,yet another grand mega scam for the scum to gather in luxury and feed richly at our expense. What's even worse is the deafening silence which has now fallen re the police brutality .Even though as we know ,it resulted in a man's death.
I leave you with a YouTube of one not so 'clean' Gordon Brown .Though heaven knows , his unlived in flat should be ,having cost the tax payer over 6000 Pounds for the cleaner . Err , one very expensive cleaner .I say let's find this person .Here Gordon the Greedy expresses surprise and sadness re young people not wanting to be involved in politics on leaving school. This indicates two things .A) he is referring to state school youth .They don't stand a chance anyway since the labour party have ruined the system B) our future 'leaders' will be more of the same .ie ) private school prats who will merely emulate their parents .Gordon forget your moral high ground, just pay the money back and ensure the rest do likewise.

Atheist's,Religious Why the Fuss ? All You Need Is Love .

It all began with advertising on a bus .Maybe you recall a group of atheists wanting to state that there is no God . [Hmm did this include Allah I wonder ]
Now it seems the desire to spread this message in the same manner, is being hotly debated in Germany .
If there is one absolute truth I would like to see spread about , it is as follows :-

"We can live without religion and meditation , but we cannot survive without human affection "

Dalai Lama

The former groups can debate as they will with their theories .What I find so wise about this quotation from the Dalai Lama is ,it's a fact !

Prince Charles and Camilla in Berlin.

Yesterday HRH the Prince of Wales was in Berlin . Amidst a busy schedule he called at the British Embassy , much to the delight of many , yours truly included . For it is a fact universally acknowledged that I , Helena Mikas , am a Royalist. For me the Royals of Britain are what actually make it 'Great '. Educated , mannered and above the corruption of politics , they act as a counter balance to some rather unpleasant characters who seek power and wealth via the House of Commons . As ever it proved fascinating to see the interest of German people and their media . One lady in particular was outstanding . Petra was thrilled once more to meet the Royal couple . I'm so glad that she did as she had taken a days leave just for this visit . She and her family have flown to London on many occasions for the Trooping of the Colour and as true Anglophiles visited many British cities. Here you see her being interviewed by the press and the Royal pair walking towards her . With luck two small movies follow .These capture what for many was a memorable day . It gave me a buzz to see this obviously happy couple . When asked by ZDF Television if I considered it wrong that part of UK taxes are spent on Monarchy I answered with a firm "No " . It is a true pittance when compared with the waste on MP's expenses ( which by the way will continue ) ,on mega security costs incurred again by those in political power .G20 for example . As one who still pays tax to Britain I am feel entitled to this opinion.

Why I Still Have My Case in Berlin.

This little movie made using Picasa reflects my days since the last posting . Whatever life throws at you , somehow Berlin makes it possible to keep going and be happy .

A 'Site' For Sore Eyes .

I stumbled across this site yesterday in that wonder of wonder search engine , Google . As one who has a passion for cooking I find VideoJug terrific without being pretentious or complex. Take a look for yourself . Tonight here's what I cooked . For that extra special touch I added a little Parmesan plus toasted pine nuts to the crumble mix . Delicious . Served with grilled salmon it was a winner .

Main Dish: How To Make Summer Vegetable Crumble

A Berlin Jazz Brunch with Acki Hoffmann.

From first waking until this present moment ,it's been a great day .
When you have perfect weather, fantastic music , superb food , terrific company , not to mention you're alive and well ...you are really 'rich'.
In the heart of Berlin behind the Reichstag are the ARD studios and the Die Eins bar/restaurant. One word sums this place up , fabulous. Performing there today ,Acki Hoffmann and Friends , once again let's hear it for fabulous .Here's a clip of them playing 'Take Five'



Then the thrill of my day. Knowing I had rewritten lyrics for the song 'Slow Boat to China ' ,they had me up to sing along . So ok as a singer I don't merit the fabulous tag , but the experience did . Thank you Acki and all who went along with this .

Ha ha Harriet !

This has got be the joke of the week considering all the revelations we have seen re milking the taxpayer via fraudulent claims ,use of smear tactics and so much more .
These words are from who else ,but the not so very honourable Harriet Harman. A person born to wealth and privilege she adds to her salary in a splendid fashion .
Principles ? Values ? Ms Harman you have to be joking !

"Labour stands for principles and values,"

A Wonderful Easter Weekend .

Germany makes Easter something so memorable each year . Their love of decoration coupled with a sense of fun add to this festival which is for me , the happiest there is .

Good Friday was summer weather ,so off to Teufelsberg to fly kites . The former listening station had lost even more panels . Now it stands looking truly deserted and skeletal . The view over Berlin was spectacular and plenty of people were having picnics .

More brilliant weather on Saturday and yet another fun day. The big one though was yet to come .Easter Sunday , my favourite holiday and where better to celebrate it than at Yorkschlösschen with Otto Hamborgs VierTackter . They entertained us with hours of fabulous music from Baroque to Rock 'n' Roll. Wow did we dance .The collage shows several pictures taken from ,people met to decor to musicians .[ A bonus being the arrival of Acki Hoffmann.] Note the unusual Curate's egg breakfast I had Easter Sunday morning . Not only the cross of Saint George but four quails eggs . Very tasty .

Easter Monday brought more sun, so off to the Gendarmenmarkt . Famous for the Konzert Halle , Deutschen Dom and Französische Dom . Here's a little video of the carillon of sixty bells .This was installed in 1987 to celebrate 750 years of Berlin. Between 2004 - 2006 this astonishing church 'rose from the dead ', so to speak as 50,000 Euro was spent renovating it and replacing 18 of the bronze bells . Worth it ? I think you know my answer .