Running,Jogging, Nordic Walking.

On Saturday evening my wife and I had a Skype link with my brother and like always we enjoyed it. It brings us both closer to each other all though thousands of miles separate us. I was glad to hear that his walking is on a daily basis and he is enjoying it. Sometimes his daughter accompanies him and gives him a good run, or should I say walk for his money. On Sunday morning while I was running a few thoughts came to mind about how long have I actually been running and to my amazement after some consideration I find myself now in the 38th year with one or two breaks in between due to illness or job. Running, Jogging or Nordic Walking, it doesn’t make much difference which one of those one does they are all good for your health and also helps to keep you fit. I took up running purely for health reasons. After coming out of the army after serving six years I was naturally top fit and my weight was around 66 kilos. My wife and I had decided long before I was demobbed that we were going to live in Germany because of the economical situation in England at the time. Well to cut the story short, what with having to learn the languish and the job I was in an extreme stress situation and totally neglected my health. I was smoking heavily and over eating and what was worse than that I did no kind of sport what so ever. My weight increased to 82 kilos I was out of breath if I did anything strenuous, in other words I was in a hell of a mess. After a total medical check up and on the imperative advice of the doctor I stopped smoking and started jogging, Later on I joined a group of runners. My average weight today is 71 kilos.
I myself like running but I know a lot of people who can’t understand when I tell them I enjoy myself during a run, I have the feeling that they think I’m telling them a load of rubbish. Of course there have been many of times when I have asked myself, why am I doing this? When for instance a ten-kilometre run feels like I am completing a Marathon. After showering and because of the extra intake of oxygen during the run, which makes me feel I’m on top of the world, it’s always then, that I realise it was worth the effort. I am getting to the age now when the long distance runs don’t interest me all too much. I do a 15-kilometre run now and again but mainly stick to 10 kilometres. I only hope that I can keep it up for a few more years. Movement for old people is a muss but also for young people too.
Take care out there were ever you are. Tshüss

Operation successful.

This morning my appointment for surgery was at ten. I arrived five minuets before and on entering the building I thought they were giving something away for free, so many people. I found out later the cause of it, the doctor goes on holiday at the end of the week. It was a long wait, I finely ended up in the room were the surgery took place at half past eleven. The cause of the infection and swelling on my hand is was (like I thought it was) a tip of a thorn that had gone deep into the flesh. A cut, and three stitches later I was outside. The Operation was successful.
Take care out there were ever you are. Tshüss

Landslide tips house into lake - The Local

Landslide tips house into lake - The Local

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Landslide

We all have our problems and sometimes the world does not seem to function for us as we think it should, and then you see such tragedies on the news like the hotel bombing in Jakarta or this large landslide in northern Germany taking with it a two story house with three people and a half of the next door neighbours house too.(look at the last post) On Thursday evening I was out on the town with the boys so to say. (My birthday present) It was a very enjoyable evening. We went on the bus to Düsseldorf; from the bus terminal it’s only five minuets to the Altstadt. The weather was perfect a very mild warm evening and the Alstead were full with tourist and local people. I think during evening I drank my twelve glasses of beer and really enjoyed myself. Tomorrow I have appointment with a surgeon, I have a thorn in my right hand and no matter how I have tried I couldn’t get it out. Three weeks have past and it’s gone bad on me so tomorrow I shall have it cut out (Basta!!) Take care out there were ever you are. Tshüss

The 11th of July.

The day after yesterday! Another year older! Time just seems to fly by and the older one gets the faster time fly’s, or is it that we live in a age that is hectic were people never seem to have time? Going back to yesterday, I got up around seven then I took the dog out for his morning walk. On the way back I pass the three houses that I look after. To my amazement in the middle of the footpath was a large branch that apparently rotten from age had broken off during the night. This of course meant work for me, (naturally after breakfast).I think it must have been my birthday present from the God’s?
I then mounted my trusty bike and rode off to the bakery to get fresh rolls and croissants for breakfast. In the mean time my wife had laid out the table and made coffee, also there was my birthday present and a card waiting for me. My wife had bought me a new Morgenrock (dressing gown) my old one was over twenty years old and still like new (so I thought, cough). Remember, I also had received money early on in the year so that I could buy my camera so I did very well. Straight after breakfast I went out and removed the branch that was blocking the footpath, it took me a good hour to remove it (early morning sport) thus turning a negative incident into a positive one. Around half past ten the doorbell rang and on opening the door their stood our two neighbours wife’s (their husbands being away for the weekend) and after a very out of tune happy birthday they presented me with a scroll and on it (very nicely illustrated) was a free night out with their husbands in the Altstadt in Düsseldorf. The Altstadt is famous for it’s old pubs and their good beer. I thought that was a super present, will tell you all about it in my next post. The ladies had just sat down when the door bell rang again, this time it was my friend Colin with three bottles of wine and best wishes, sorry to say he was as usual in a hurry and did not stay long.
Normally and yesterday was no exception I take our dog for a walk around five, on my walk I met a man with a small dog, we stopped and passed the time of day with the main topic being focused on our dogs, when suddenly from no were this large black dog appeared and attacked our Toby without any warning. With out any hesitation and not thinking of what harm the dog could do to me I pulled the dog off only to my dismay the dog slipped out of my hands and once again attacked Toby viciously. Again I managed to separate them and this time the man came to my assistance holding the large dog at bay while I held Toby in my arms. Lucky Toby was not hurt just a bit shocked. After hearing all the commotion I should imagine, the owner of the large dog came running across the road, he was very concerned and really could not understand why his dog had behaved in this manner (They all tend to say that afterwards) My remark to my wife on arriving home was “ what with the shifting a half a tree this morning and now that I think I will go to bed and get up and start the day all over again”.
For the evening we had planned a meal in a small Italian restaurant, which is not to far away from were we live. We both chose a Pizza and between us a bottle of red wine. We were home for ten and I must say what with the two episodes during the day all in all it was a very good birthday.
Take care out there were ever you are. Tshüss
The scan photo is the invitation for a evening in the Altstadt.

Party &Polterabend

Sunday afternoon and I am still not really top fit after celebrating with our neighbour her 50th birthday last night. It was an enjoyable evening; she had invited family friends and neighbours around to celebrate her birthday. The food was excellent and the beer was cool and from the barrel. The evening was quite a long one it started at five and we left at half past twelve being a little bit worse off for wear and tear.
Last weekend a young couple across the road from us had what they call here their Polterabend. (See link Polterabend) they had put up a notice in the surrounding houses letting the people know that it would be a loud on the evening. When I heard the first crockery being smashed I decided to go out and take a few photos of the event with intentions to put it in this post. After getting the permission from the bride to put the photos in the Internet the bridegrooms father came and asked me if I would like a drink to toast the bride and bridegroom on there forth coming marriage. Well, not wanting to offend anyone I said “yes”, he gave me a plastic cup ¾ full of Vodka!!! With a splash of Bitter Lemon in it. I had the feeling that the bride’s family were German immigrants from Russia from the sound of the dialect from one or two persons that I spoke to. Naturally, according to their custom there was plenty of Vodka flowing. After ten minutes and with still two thirds of the Vodka in my cup I discretely left not wanting to get involved in a family celebration. My wife and I drank the rest of the Vodka together. The weather situation over the last week has been, not to say the least unerträgich (unbearable) very very humid and HOT with temperatures over the thirty’s. On Friday afternoon we had a very bad thunderstorm with local flooding and large amount of damage caused through lightning. We were lucky but in some areas not to far from were we live they had up to 100 litres of rain per square meter causing severe road damage. It is still very humid and we have just come back from a walk with the dog and in the distance there is the sound of thunder and I have the feeling that we are in for another storm. On Tuesday I was at work for the day, nothing unusual took place; I spent most of the day at the desk writing up maintenance documents for the machines in the production. To round the week off I paid a visit to my dentist on Friday to have a filling seen to, nothing dramatic but never the less a necessity. Take care out there were ever you are. Tshüss The photos are of the Polterabend and the 50th birthday.