Men Who 'Drive You' ---Crazy

Calling in for a Belgian Beer at the Haus of 100 Biers ,one of Berlin's best eateries , can result in rather pleasant encounters . Last night proved the case .
These two guys are both drivers and to put it mildly , were entertaining.
On the left is a trainee Berlin taxi driver fresh out of his first day at taxi school. I never knew this involved so much .There had to be a toast to his success. If enthusiasm is a marker he's a winner . On the right is a Danish driver . He spoke perfect English and drives Danish school groups on European educational visits. One week Berlin , next Rome ,then Paris etc , etc . His schedule is very full at this time of the year . For years he has done this work and obviously enjoys it . Today he is en route back to Denmark. Seems he'll take his wife to the cinema on Friday and then whoosh off once more with yet another party .I'll say it again .. people such as these are the interesting ones . Good luck to them both .

Advance April Fools !

This has to be the joke of the year .The full article was found at AP news yahoo.com. Such excellent reading I've provided the link at the end of this post.

'BEIJING – China is calling for a new global currency to replace the dominant dollar, showing a growing assertiveness on revamping the world economy ahead of next week's London summit on the financial crisis.'

No doubt each note would carry the words MADE IN CHINA . I can tell you now any money from there would be fit for only one purpose and since a bunch of leaves does just as well , give me such .
Unlike China and similar dictator type countries we don't have a peasant class.
Their wealth is built on slave labour and suppression of the masses with no freedom of speech or workers rights .
It is noteworthy that countries who have moved their manufacturing for this cheap workforce and trade mainly with China have been hit the hardest . Here in Germany , where shoddy Chinese goods are shunned , European countries providing quality ,it's life very much as usual .
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/as_china_global_currency;_ylt=ArDdJz6LcusZLgruHQJiAunZn414

Sour Grapes Mr Rushdie ?

It isn't too long ago since Salman Rushdie attacked the Oscar winning film 'Slumdog Millionaire' as being ridiculous. One reason for his disdain being that for a young man from the slums to actually succeed on the Indian version of 'Who Wants to Be a Millionaire (quote ) " beggars belief"
Last night we saw this film here in Berlin . It's amazing so I can't help but think Mr Rushdie is somewhat sour at the way in which truth is well portrayed in this work of fiction. It captures the spirit of India.
The late Jade Goody didn't win 'Who Wants To Be a Millionaire ', indeed much of her fame stemmed from lack of general knowledge ,but , she became a media star and Britain is now preparing for her huge televised ,public funeral. From the PM down , so many tributes are written . The numerous radio phone in programmes include those who rather like Rushdie find this all 'beggars belief'. Yet we have Stephan Fry likening her to :-
" a princess Di from the wrong side of the track "
It may beggar belief but believe it or not there is much coverage of Jade Goody here in Berlin.
Slumdog Millionaire has won eight Oscars. Do try and see it . Let me know your views .
As for Mr Rushdie and his books . Well for most of the public he is best known as the author who ,twenty years ago ,had an Islamic death sentence imposed on him . This by the Iranian government following publication of his Satanic Verses .
Sour grapes do not enhance your smile Mr Rushdie ! Nor does being born to wealth in Mumbai give you right to scorn the hopes,dreams and possible destiny of the underclass.

South African Hypocrisy.

Today I spotted this headline :-
South Africa bars Dalai Lama from peace conference
On reading the article I was sickened . Basically a country which was able to free itself of the evils of apartheid , through massive world support , is now unable to act so honourably towards others .Read this quote from AP :-
"Thabo Masebe, spokesman for President Kgalema Motlanthe, said now was not the time for such a high-profile visit from the Tibetan spiritual leader and added that South Africa hoped to avoid being "the source of negative publicity about China."
In spite of protest by Archbishop Tutu and many others the government will not budge . A few of those invited have already declined to attend but unless all drop out leaving the South African government and the Chinese to play brown noses together, nobody will ever take this Tibetan ordeal seriously .
The Chinese are to the Tibetans what the white South Africans were to the blacks.
Mandela was demonized by them as the Dalai Llama is by Beijing .
I suggest South Africa and China get together , maybe even invite Robert Mugabe 'none champion' of human rights, plus those responsible for horror in the Sudan etc . When it comes to genocide and atrocities they are all so well suited .
Only last week in conversation with a friend I remarked that as one who has been in most countries of the world , Africa was not included . I added then I had no wish to go .Now I am more than ever positive .
Another lot of goods to boycott . Quite sensible as well during the recession . Support Europe .. boycott Chinese and South African products .
You will at least have a healthier bank balance not to mention conscience .
Here's an apt quote from Ralf Waldo Emerson to close with :-
'Every man alone is sincere. At the entrance of a second person hypocrisy begins '
NB
do look up the biography of President Kgalema Motlanthe .He was in the underground movement , organized military training for sabotage and much more .Lucky he wasn't oppressed by China . Who is he therefore to reject the presence of a real man of peace .
The Dalai Llama lives via peace ,not sabotage and violence , he promotes freedom through dialogue and yet is demonized.

Mathias Tretter. Proof That Germans Do Have Humour.

It is a falsehood universally believed that Germans have little or no sense of humour ! My response to which is .. "Total hogwash".
Germany does have an amazing comedy cabaret scene plus many small theatres . On Tuesday we went to Die WühlMause am Theo to see Mathias Tretter. He did a one man show which brought the house down and then ,there were two encores !
This extremely tall, mid thirties young man from southern Germany , now lives in Leipzig but tours none stop .Just look up his schedule .. then should you be any where near to a venue ,get a ticket . His impersonation of Angela Merkel is side splitting.as indeed are most of his takes on politicians . With observational skills such as his nobody is immune from ribbing . What is noticeable about comedy here ,is that it's very funny but minus foul language.

The 'Vacant Can' From The Vatican !

I don't know about you but I was disgusted with the comments made by the Pope in Africa ..... 'Condoms wont solve the HIV Aids epidemic ...'
REALLY ! He advocates total abstinence [ Ok Benedict try telling that to those priests within your numbers who have been found guilty of child abuse.] If my memory serves me right that got a mere apology .
Condoms are not a cure but my word they are a great preventative and when it comes to stopping the spread of all STD's, necessary .
There is another factor here . Many men are opposed to the use of condoms as they say it lessens their pleasure .Your ridiculous words will give such types a reason to continue with their 'macho view'. This on a continent where women are not treated equally is careless , thoughtless , uneducated talk.
Finally for you to actually state that the use of condoms actually increases the HIV Aids rate is little short of criminal and a blatant lie .
Having left the Roman Catholic church .. you being one of the reasons . I know for sure that my decision was the right one .
You're like a vacant can .. lots of noise but that's all .

Snow Queen Vix From Ebay.

Having resisted for years , I finally gave in this week and signed up to EBay .
Those who know me will not be suprised that my first search was for snowdomes , known here in Germany as Schneekügeln .
This amazing item has a fascinating history . It belonged to a Germany guy who was given it years ago by a French exchange student . Not a fan of schneekügeln he left it in the box . As we approach Easter it rose , so to speak , to a new life in Berlin .No wonder I'm smiling . Look closely and you'll see that the skull is doing likewise .

ps ) still no suggestions for a collective noun re such .Come on all of you with any colourful, grammatical ideas .

Remember Tibet - Boycott Chinese Goods -

It's the 50th anniversary of the failed uprising in Tibet against brutal Chinese oppression , resulting as it did in the exile of the Dalai Llama and many of the people .
Little has been done to help the Tibetans regain their country , capital and spiritual life. Why ?
Because the 'major' powers in the world have allowed China to bully , dictate , cheat ,lie whilst, abusing all human rights .In return,certain huge firms have cheap shoddy goods manufactured in awful conditions. These are then shipped for a western public to buy at inflated prices .The average life span of such ware is short and often , as has been discovered in paints used , dangerous .
You do not have to use street demonstration to make a point .Simply refuse to buy anything where the label says 'made in China '.
NOTE :- This latest ghastly dictate should motivate you

"In developing relations with China, other countries should not allow the Dalai Lama to visit their countries and should not allow their territories to be used for the Dalai Lama to engage in separatist activities for Tibet's independence," Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi said.

Take further note that Tibetan women living in occupied Tibet have been arrested and taken away . The reason ..They were demanding the right to religious freedom in what is ,their own country .
Imagine for one minute if UK tried to ban all immigrants their right to religious beliefs .
Yet oddly enough the 'fall over backwards pc ' politicians of Britain remain silent as the grave re China .

Baku Azerbaijan ..Berlin Bundesrepublik

How many people here in Berlin have a snowdome containing a very tiny Maiden Tower in Baku Azerbaijan?

Well you can be sure one does , and yes, it's me !

Last night whilst at die Kleine Weltlaterne [see 23rd Jan posting ] Acki Hoffman , who was performing there , presented it to me in the interval . He and his group have recently returned from a five day invitation tour. That Acki took time out to find this for me , is something very special .One of his regular pieces is 'you are my sunshine', and this tiny item brought all the way back to Berlin is a magical kind of sunshine .

Guess who knows she's a very lucky lady .

If you too have a snowdome from Azerbaijan get in touch ,we could start a club.

Forget Recession and Depression ,Watch Clara.

It was by chance that I spotted a Yahoo News Item .... Then went to YouTube , and the rest, as they say ,is history .
A wonderful lady ,aged 93 years ( young ) has made a series of fantastic videos re cooking on a budget . She learned during the Great Depression , survived and in my opinion, is a marvel . Tonight we tried her recipe for peppers and eggs . Delicious , healthy , economical , it was all this and more .
Go to YouTube and in the search box type :- Great Depression Cooking or to her site ;- www.GreatDepressionCooking.com
It's worth it to see this fantastic lady . People such as her are the' bright lights', so necessary in dark times . She is what I call real star .

The Girl From Ipanema in Berlin

Upon landing in this city twenty two years ago,a colleague and I were out like a shot to investigate . With very little German and even less sense of direction, we jumped on the first bus that came along and 'hoped' for the best , little knowing we were to get such . In Neue Kant Strasse the vehicle stopped in front of the most marvellous cake shop / cafe.Never have I left a bus so quickly . Never have I eaten so much delicious gateau, torte and cream .The cafe was to become a regular spot . In time we found other delightful places and my clothes almost screamed " stop, this can't go on ". Yesterday, a friend and I, went back to the now renamed Piano Cafe. With an apt internal decor to reflect their new image ie ) live music , almost each day ,and regular jazz artists they are even more fabulous . From the menu we each chose one of the superb German breakfasts. . [After such one can go all day minus food .] The cultural menu consisted of this remarkably talented duo . Their repertoire and playing was impressive. They have consented to this video being shown here . Playing on the first Sunday each month their next date is in April. Make a note if you are planning a trip to Berlin and do say hello if you see ' yours truly'.

Suzuki -The Shape Of Things To Come -

Twenty two years ago I left my car in UK and came to live and work here. It's a terrific place with a transport system which ranks the best in the world . Yet the gypsy within seeks to find new places , outside of the city, not to mention, off the beaten track .There are so many European countries to see , all with their fascinating villages and landscapes.
Air travel is no longer enjoyable and although trains here are superb one is restricted to a network and timetable .
Today I made a test drive in this Suzuki 'Jimney'. Findings ----- "absolutely fabulous " --- I am smitten !
What's more ---- I wanna be free.

Berlin Auto Messe

Today was a fun day and how ! It was the opening day of the Auto Messe Berlin .Lots to see . Oh,how I could have bought so many were I wealthy enough .
The top collage shows some of the older items . Mainly videos taken, hence , few stills .
The lower collage shows some of my favourites ,;.-
L-R VW Passat+bike , Renault Twingo ,Seat Ibiza
L-R VW Golf , Seat Ibiza once more ,Kia Soul.
There was wine. My shoes were cleaned for free, and Saturday will find me at a large car showroom opening party with food , music and test drives ........Should be fun .
It's been twenty two years since I owned a car and now I'm longing to be back behind the wheel.

Friday The Thirteenth------ Great .

Unlucky ? Well it all depends on your point of view and outlook .

Today,yes a Friday and 13th ,began well and continued so .

With the sun shining in a clear blue sky it didn't matter one jot that the air was cold and crisp .

Toshiba have been terrific and today sent a courier to collect my tiny notebook which insists on playing up ( aptly nicknamed baby it is akin to a recalcitrant child )

As a good will gesture they will deal with it !

Once out and at Rogaki ( Berlin's finest fish store ),yet another surprise, a gift of Danish sherry herrings from the man in charge of the fish smoking department . For those who have never sampled these all I can say is , 'they are fabulous '. At another shop I was given a bottle of champagne . Then what should be seen but a long sought after item of furniture .These are just a few of today's 'good' happenings .The photos illustrate how beautiful a day it's been here. Winter is an enjoyable season .Warm clothes make being out of doors the healthy place it is .

ref L-R birds against a blue , blue sky, Lietzensee frozen , The sun is so strong to film creates a night image .

L-R 2nd row . A bird lives under Neue Kantstrasse bridge , Tree shadows on the ice ,

A poster telling of yet another jazz happening .

Acki Hoffmann at Yorckschloesschen Berlin

Yorckschloesschen is a place to visit . The food , drink and music are excellent. How easy therefore to spend four hours in good company ,listening to one of my favourite groups ,Acki Hoffmann and friends plus talking to Otto Hamborg who had dropped in .He's a wonderful pianist who performed a week ago at my other stomping ground . Above are just a few of the pictures I took , including one of Otto Hamborg. As of yet I'm still debating which video ,if any, to use on YouTube . The microphone doesn't really do credit and my jumping around hasn't helped. Do have a look at the link below .

Come to cabaret city - don't wait around for life , you make it happen ! This city is a pretty good starting point .

http://www.yorckschloesschen.de/

Top picture is of Otto Hamborg.

The other three are of Acki Hoffmann ( piano ) and friends :-

Gert Lübke....bass ,

Siegward Vollert ...tenor sax and clarinette

F W Born ..... drums .

Helga Napieralla...... trumpet and vocal

Let's finish with a bang .. here's a small clip of a great drummer .

Note :- permission has been given for the use of this material.

From The Sublime To The Ridiculous -

Why not ? Just as I was signing off I saw the latest Blogthings Quiz , so did it for fun and, answered honestly . Here are the findings .Sort of the best of both worlds .
Real and genuine --- c'est moi !

You Are Cute-Sexy!

You are definitely attractive, and you have an interesting mix of sexiness and cuteness. You are both hot and quirky. Gorgeous and silly. Charming and natural. You are not so in-your-face sexy that you're unapproachable. You tone things down a bit. More than anything else, you are real and genuine. And that makes you truly captivating.

Are You Cute or Sexy?

Basic Maths- Well Done President Obama.

Well well what a surprise, members of the Republican party in US are not in favour of President Obama's stimulus package ...Which one amongst us is surprised ? I for one am not .

Famous or should that be infamous, for being involved in very big business , including arms deals ,oil deals ,they were oh so content to sit back for the last ,not so few years and see trillions of dollars spent on death .. brought about by a 'trumped up invasion '.

Let money be wisely spent and oh do they squeal . Rather like a certain animal in Orwell's Animal Farm .

Great stuff President Obama you show them the real facts of life :-

honesty , reliability , responsibility to name but a few .

Now We have Jazz, Jazz , Jazz.

It's true that few are having an easy time of it these days . Conflicts increase , there is a financial crisis with all the misery attached to such , but, as the song says 'what good is sitting alone in your room ?' Answer none !
These words from the musical 'Cabaret ' , set in pre war Berlin are as true today. This city still has an amazing jazz scene and for just three euro you can forget the gloom , rise above despair and enjoy life . The top two photos show pianist Acki Hoffman and his band . This remarkable group has fantastic style and last week ,played to a packed house in 'der Kleinen Weltlaterne '
The bottom two pictures are of Sydney's Blues Band . Their music is very much Sydney Bechet style . Both groups are terrific as is the venue .Open Monday to Saturday they have bands every Thursday and Saturday .Food is good and well priced . So come hear the music play ,come to the cabaret .
http://www.diekleineweltlaterne.de/ Close to the Kudamm at Nestorstr 22 , it's a must see , must do place .

New year Fireballs at Stonehaven 2009

This is how I saw the New Year in ... way up on the North East Coast of Scotland . Then down to Manchester and all I can say is ugggggh . It simply proved mega depressing . Little of the Land of Hope and Glory there .
Onwards south to Dover for the ferry and across to Belgium , Holland and Germany . Home ? Can be anywhere I think . So where and how did you spend your New Year ?

Boxing Day Geese

These beautiful geese were seen and heard over Scolty today . The climb was tough and the descent worse but somehow they made it all worth while .

Black Kilts Pipes and Drums .

'Europe', that source of much political muttering is also a rather wonderful place.
Within the land mass of so many countries one finds an admiration and appreciation for 'foriegn ' cultures, especially in the world of music and dance . Yesterday at The Berlin English Church Christmas bazar ,this group were performing Scottish pipe and drums music . The lighting is poor due to my cam but never the less , enjoy.
All the musicians are German . The link to their website is:-
http://www.blackkilts.de/

Not Quite A Wandering Minstrel.

Whilst out and about on Friday I saw and heard several street musicians .Usually it's the accordion players who get me dancing . However this well known guitar player ( sure, he travels Europe) kept appearing at each station . Here in Mohrenstrasse U Bahn the marble made for great acoustics .My singing is not quite Ella F but hey who cares ?

Oh Ms V Likes To Be Beside the Seaside.

What better place to be than Zinnowitz on the Ostsee. A spectacular little resort with a sandy beach and waves that hypnotise . Even Father Christmas had stopped off for a Gluhwein. He said he remembered me as a little girl with plaits .. ( I wonder )

* Find time to read the entry in Wikipedia re Zinnowitz. It has a fascinating history .

The Snow Alien and Miss Vixen.

Today was snowy , cold ,but just right for kite flying . So off to Teufelsberg and look who I met !

A snowman alien . Absolutely harmless though ..or should that be 'armless' ?

Now who can guess what I whispered in his ear .. as you can see , it sure made him blush .

Any suggestions ?

Teufelsberg - From Cold War To Historical Hotspot

Berlin is famous for many things and has more than its fair share of interesting places to visit.
One spot , often overlooked is , in my opinion a must do .It's Teufelsberg [Devil's Mountain] . Linked historically to the second world war and the cold war , it provides a view of the city which you'll never forget. This man made mini mountain created from the ruins of the city rises 80 metre above Berlin. It is also supposedly built on a military college designed by Albert Speer.
Throughout the occupation of what was formerly west Berlin , Teufelsberg was home to one of the largest listening stations . Go to http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Teufelsberg for more information . On Friday I climbed up to this now abandoned structure and took these pictures . The air of desolation was eerie, plus the wind blowing through the weird towers made ghostly noises . The little video provides evidence of this .For a day with a difference , try Teufelsberg !

Alternative Pie - (Indeed rather fishy )

This delicious offering was created just for yours truly today--- A fish pie par excellence. Made by a wandering Viking ,not only did it have my mouth watering ,but it meant I had to consume a helping of 'humble pie ' . I simply failed to believe that any weird Nordic type could produce such a work . Served with green beans it earned 2 Michelin stars . Trust me , I am one fussy foxy lady but second helpings were called for here . Yummy .Should any one want the recipe just get in touch .
A few of the ingredients to tempt you :-´
fish[ varied] 700g, leeks, chives, onion, creme fraiche , 8 quails eggs[ boiled], fish stock ,butter,
emmenthal cheese and puff pastry for topping .

A Danish Superman ?

Once more Jens Galschiot shows us how actions can speak louder than words. Only months since the Olympic games closed ( remember Orange ) and he's able to present work to highlight the difficulties of those who are 'home less ' Another facet of human rights . This week finds him flying to London to join a conference in Cardiff, Wales. He will present the first of a series of 30 bronze sculptures depicting homeless people.I received this information today and take pleasure in giving you this information.

'SAS has sponsored the flight. The homeless man will travel as an ordinary passenger, but on first class, as the tourist class does not have sufficient space for the big sculpture. The sculpture will be a part of a travelling exhibition of 30 homeless sculptures scheduled to be displayed in all European capitals in 2010 to fan a debate about the situation of homeless people.You’ll find the press release below with a photo at ' http://www.aidoh.dk/HomeLess

BP Gives You Energy

 

No this isn't a posting for British Petroleum ..but rather a recipe for a healthy dessert with a difference .
Beetroot Ice cream served with Pomegranate seeds ! Simply delicious and I could, if requested, provide testimonials.
METHOD
Take two small cartons of soya cuisine and whisk well . Add honey ( clear ). Cinnamon to taste .Mix well.
To this mixture add two precooked beetroots ,well pulped to a puree. . Whisk again , adding sugar to taste .
You wont need much as beetroots are naturally sweet. Pour into a container and freeze. Or ,into an ice cream maker ,following maker's instructions .
Serve with fresh pomegranate seeds . The photograph gives you some idea of what a colourful dish this is .
NB) Many people have a lactose intolerance and ice cream made using soya is ideal for overcoming this dilemma .
It requires no cooking and no eggs are used . Good for those with high cholesterol.

Snot Green Sea and More .

Last Thursday was a special day. Excitement knew no limits when, (just as I was leaving for the airport ), a brand new camera arrived to replace that which had 'died' in France . It felt good to be going back to Ireland with a camera worthy of the name .

The above collage shows :-
Top L-R Sunday's amazing rainbow arched over the famous snot green sea,then a shot through a sculpture with a difference 'the Mothership, 'at Sandycove .One superb piece of graffiti.
Middle L-R the entrance of the National Concert Hall, More graffiti , James Joyce/ Martello Tower.
Lower L-R Guinness brewery, Guinness Brewery , Arriving Dublin .

Saturday night and The Bankers Comedy Club. Dublin has many as there is a lot of talent . Above the collage a sign which says it all . On each side of this gem, two really funny comedians.

L---Kevin Gildea , R---Derek Ryan.

Hope you enjoy this little video of Derek Ryan who used my cam to take this last picture of the audience .Interesting to see how we look to performers .

What A Witch Is Vix.

At last the truth is out ........However, a broomstick would have been more efficient than a certain airline today , but that's another story .

You Are 70% Witch

You've got some pretty witchy stuff going on. Even if you're not a witch, you've got to admit that you're a little freaky. You have a strong independent streak - social norms be damned. More power to you. Luckily, the time when you would have been burned at the stake has passed!

Are You a Witch?

Meet The Nightcrowd Bluesband.

I first saw this group at the Brussels 2008 Jazz Festival . What a sound ! Their music is terrific but the same could not be said of my digi cam recordings True to his word ,Don, the pianist sent me a present of such. Here are the players ... later on after some techno editing I'll add some more. So it's nearly November but on hearing this I'm transported back to a Brussels square on a warm sunny night .. OK it ended with a down pour but all part of the fun .. and after this sort of music ,I for one ,needed to cool down .

Back In The Saddle .

With apologies to Dr Feelgood :-

'This little Vixen went a cycling ,
' something she cant get enough of .....´There are other things , but this makes sure she's top fit ,and, that being said , the rest is a dream.............

Calling All Skype Users

Oh how funny , how true to form. As the song goes , 'when will they ever learn?'
I refer to our comrades in China .. where else ? Not content with abusing human rights and getting away with it .[IOC take note ] .they are now infiltrating Skype with illegal software . I advise all of you to go to this link :-
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/asia/chinese-snoop-on-skype-but-are-they-alone-949957.html
Read it and then, if like me, you like to use skype, feel free to use the limerick I've composed especially for THEM. Send to a friend whilst online-- That should have their 'keywords spyware' bleeping . Don't know about you ,but I 'm really sick and tired of the Big Brother creeps of this world . My communications are private . Harmless as well. Having an opinion is not an offence . Real education encourages such . Brainwashing seeks to eradicate . Which do you choose ?

A very old man in Tibet ,
Got his feet incredibly wet ,
Then his coat which was silk ,
Was covered in milk....
Not good for the man in Tibet .

In order to get himself dry ,
He jumped up as high as the sky,
This didn't win gold .As by then the milk mould
Had caused our poor man to die .

So my friends from now on take note ,
Have no nasty milk on your coat ,
Keep you feet nice and dry , Stay away from the sky
And then you're not likely to croak .