Rain, rain and nothing but rain.

After two consecutive days of rain without a let up one starts to think it might be practical to start thinking about building a Ark (or something similar) just in case. After such a long and cold winter and now this cold and very wet period it’s time we saw some sun. Every one you meet is kind of dismal and definitely depressed with the weather situation, according to the weather forecast there is no change in sight, not in the forth coming week anyway.
On Tuesday we drove into Düsseldorf to do a bit of shopping, for instance a new kitchen-slicing machine was on the shopping list and one or two other small articles. We had lunch first, pepper steaks with French fry’s and carrots and peas and to wash it down a bottle of Alt beer. Afterwards we did our shopping, it’s always a mix of actually shopping and window-shopping when we are in Düsseldorf.
During a phase of window-shopping my wife saw a pair of earrings that she liked and I picked up the hint straight away that they would make a perfect birthday present, (My wife’s birthday is in the middle of May) I said to my wife “ If we wait till May they won’t be they’re any more” and really, I would rather buy something that my wife has picked out herself then me buying something that she doesn’t like, (I’m good at that)
A few weeks back I had reserved a table at the local Stadthalle (Town hall) for a jumble sale. Last year in September I did the same and I quite enjoyed myself also I made some good money out of things that we didn’t need anymore. This time I was there at half past six and the doors opened at twenty to seven. Seeing that the sale is over at one, being there early is important. Things went well for me in the first three hours, I managed to sell my old analogue video camera and one or two other pieces which brought me a total of 112 Euros, this will go towards buying the Canon 450D which I’m saving for.
In the afternoon we drove to the cemetery to tidy up and plant some spring flowers on the grave of my wife’s parents. We hadn’t been there for nearly three months due to the weather but were surprised to see that the grave didn’t look to bad.
Tomorrow I will be going to work instead of Tuesday because I have an appointment on Tuesday at the dentist, (just a check up)
On Friday I donated blood and was told that they had increased the donating age from 68 to 69, which by my reckoning gives me another ten years to go. (Laugh)
With this I will just say “I hope spring finds it’s way to Germany very soon because we have had enough of winter.
Take care out there were ever you are. Tshüss
The photo was taken in 1982 I think from Devonport? New Zealand.

Short story’s of past incidents in my army life (funny and sometimes sad)

After 12 weeks of intensive training the finial day came for our passing out parade. Parents, wives and lovers were invited to see us pass out. Parades in the army are equivalent to a theatre play, you rehearse and rehearse till it’s perfect then you have a complete dress rehearsal, then the rest of the time till the actual day is spent bulling you best boots and getting your uniform ready for the day. A daily nuisance is the frequent inspections of your kit to see if it is up to the required standards.
On the day, my parents came and I think my brother was with them but actually I can’t remember. After we had passed out we were given a few days leave. On reporting back to the barracks we packed out kitbags and then was taken by lorries to Preston railway station, there we boarded a train for Portsmouth. On arriving in Portsmouth we boarded a boat, which took us to the Isle of Wight were the Regiment after returning from a three year tour of Hong Kong was stationed . We were picked up by lorries in Cowes and driven to the barracks just outside Ryde.
To be continued.