Kim loves sun, sea, sand, her friends and family, travel, justice, trying to dance, her husband, trying to dance with her husband, walking, swimming, fresh (sunny) air, wine festivals, fairness, reading until the cows come home (and go out again), music - from Joy Division to Dean Martin and all that's in between, politeness, human rights being adhered to, HP sauce (of course!) and collecting inspiring or philosophical quotes such as:
'Better the reality of the unknown than the artificiality of the known.' (Mary Russell)
'Whatever you can do, or dream you can do, begin it... begin it now.' (Goethe)
'This world is but a canvas to our imaginations.' (Thoreau)
'It all depends on how you look at things, and not on how they are in themselves.' (Carl Jung)
'There is no way to happiness - happiness is the way.' (The Buddha)
'The ideals which have lighted my way, and time after time given me new courage to face life cheerfully, have been kindness, beauty and truth. The trite subjects of life - possessions, outward success, luxury - have always seemed contemptible.' (Albert Einstein)
'It is not how much you love someone that counts, it is who you are when you are with them.' (from The Accidental Tourist)
'Bad literature brings no redemption.' (from Umberto Eco's "Foucault's Pendulum")
'Art is not a handicraft, it is the transmission of feeling the artist has experienced.' (Leo Tolstoy)
'Mum and dads of the world be patient with your children.' (Snow Patrol)
'Then give to the world the best that you have, and the best will come back to you.' (Madeline Bridges)
'An eye for an eye makes the whole world blind.' (Gandhi)
'We must never rise to conquer, just hold our own.' (Gothicman)
'No man can become rich without himself enriching others.' (Andrew Carnegie)
'What ideas individuals may attach to the term 'Millennium' I know not; but I know that society may be formed so as to exist without crime, without poverty, with health greatly improved, with little if any misery, and with intelligence and happiness increased a hundredfold.' (Robert Owen)
'A loving heart is the truest wisdom.' (Charles Dickens)
'The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.' (Edmund Burke)
'What comes from the heart, goes to the heart.' (Samuel Taylor Coleridge)
'There is no Frigate like a Book to take us Lands away.' (Emily Dickinson)
'Life is too short to learn German.' (Richard Porson)
'Let's be realistic: try the impossible!' (Che Guevara)
'...the hardest thing to acquire is the faculty of being unselfish. As a quality it is one of the finest attributes of manliness.' (Sir Frederick Treves)
~~~
Real heros and heroines are hard to find. Other than those I actually know,
four of mine are:
Nelson Mandela
Maya Angelou
Tina Turner
Robert Owen
To read 'A Long Walk to Freedom' by Nelson Mandela makes any of our hang ups/complaints/moans and groans pale in comparison. I've heard that patience is a skill - well he has certainly demonstrated that - what a role model!
The autobiographical works and poetry of Maya Angelou is simply inspiring. To be a woman, can sometimes be difficult. To be a black or coloured woman, can be even more difficult - to rise above the limits *that others* set for you, and stake a place in the modern world with dignity, style and panache, is something to behold. She must have the world record for honorary doctorates! This wonderful poem is one of my favourites:
Still I Rise
You may write me down in history
With your bitter, twisted lies,
You may trod me in the very dirt
But still, like dust, I’ll rise.
Does my sassiness upset you?
Why are you beset with gloom?
‘Cause I walk like I’ve got oil wells
Pumping in my living room.
Just like moons and like suns,
With the certainty of tides,
Just like hopes springing high,
Still I’ll rise.
Did you want to see me broken?
Bowed head and lowered eyes?
Shoulders falling down like teardrops,
Weakened by my soulful cries?
Does my haughtiness offend you?
Don’t you take it awful hard
‘Cause I laugh like I’ve got gold mines
Diggin’ in my own backyard.
You may shoot me with your words,
You may cut me with your eyes,
You may kill me with your hatefulness,
But still, like air, I’ll rise.
Does my sexiness upset you?
Does it come as a surprise
That I dance like I’ve got diamonds
At the meeting of my thighs?
Out of the huts of history’s shame
I rise
Up from a past that’s rooted in pain
I rise
I’m a black ocean, leaping and wide,
Welling and swelling I bear in the tide.
Leaving behind nights of terror and fear
I rise
Into daybreak that’s wondrously clear
I rise
Bringing the gifts that my ancestors gave,
I am the dream and the hope of the slave.
I rise
I rise
I rise.
(Maya Angelou)
And Tina Turner? Well, there'd be no Beyoncé Knowles without her for a start! 
Robert Owen is someone I have recently come to know a bit better through visiting the world heritage site of New Lanark in Scotland www.newlanark.org
The 'Millennium Experience' is such a great way of inducting children or reminding us all, of the relevance of the past and present to the future, and that the world can never have enough visionaries! I cannot recommend a visit to New Lanark highly enough.
Kim can be contacted by email at katschroeder@gmx.net
~~~
NEWS/VIEWS & MEWS!
Tues 24th May 05:
I hope to use this page as a bit of a blog. Nothing much to report at the mo. Nicole, my niece will be 7 on Thursday and I'm flying to Edinburgh for a long weekend with my good friend and critic (Christine) on Friday.
Tues 31st May 05:
We had a fantastic time in Edinburgh though unfortunately didn't manage to get along to my friend, Linda's hen night BBQ at Dalry Cemetery. 
We stayed at a super B&B in the west end of the city which I can highly recommend. The lady (Aileen) who runs it with her brother, can only be described as...well, you've all heard of the hostess with the mostest? Anyway, suffice to say that I have given her an additional moniker:
Aileen, Queen of 4-star B&B accommodation! It really is 'the ultimate' B&B experience.
You will find her here:
www.thevictoriantownhouse.co.uk
Tues 7th June 05:
Tell me why I keep updating on a Tuesday? 
Hubby (Chris) and I are booked up for 5 days to Scotland over the time of my friend, Linda's wedding on the 24th June. So that'll be 2 days in Helensburgh and 3 days over in Fife catching up with family and friends. It seems that ALL the men at the wedding will be in kilts, including Chris, so I'm looking forward to seeing a lot of swooshing tartan and asking my usual:
'Donald...where's your trousers?'
After that it'll be full steam ahead for the 'Tex Mex 30th Birthday BBQ'. Chris' '30th' I hasten to add - I passed mine a while ago!
We're planning a nice get together with friends/family and (hopefully) the sun, with said theme, owing to the fact we're due to be moving to Houston, Texas for a year or two within the year.
On the 12th July I'm going down to the holiday flat in Bavaria for 6 weeks and Chris will join me after a fortnight. I plan to complete the manuscript for 'Mental' and Chris will be writing up much of his PhD. Of course, all this will be squeezed around the taking in of the wonderful alpine scenery! 
And I can only do this and fulfil my dream of writing 'Mental' because of the wonderful man I married:
photo courtesy of Jayne Russell photography
FOR CHRIS
I love you because
you let me fly
insist that I fly
watch me soar high
beyond the sky
with a face
like Mandela.
Wed 8th June 05:
I would love to be part of a comedy writing team one day. Laughter and fun definitely make the world go round. There are people even employed as Laughter Therapists!
I read about a lady (Margaret McCathie) who dresses up as a clown (a la Patch Adams) and visits hospitals, children centres and nursing homes. She has accompanied Patch on his clowning tours around the world visiting Tibet & China with him last year.
Having a good laugh with friends or by yourself, perhaps watching something on TV or reading a book, is a favourite pastime of mine. Some older and newer sitcom favourites:
Some Mothers Do 'Ave 'Em
The Fall And Rise Of Reginald Perrin
Cheers
Frasier
Blackadder
Father Ted
Men Behaving Badly
Still Game (my current favourite) - such clever writing and the Glaswegian vernacular lends itself perfectly.
I heard on Sky News yesterday that a formula has been developed to guarantee you a successful sitcom:
(rd+v)f divided by a +s = HIT
- it was something like that and the brackets were straight (no idea if that makes a difference) 
and I'm not sure what the letters represent either! Oh well...
Fri 10th June 05:
It's the Wilhelmstrassenfest today and tomorrow here in Wiesbaden. How I love this time of year, with a 'fest' of some sort every weekend over the summer months - everything from apple blossom, strawberry, sparkling wine - OK - food and drink is widely celebrated - a very fine tradition!
But it's great to see all and sundry out and about with their friends and family - the smell of German sausage is in the air along with an eclectic/international range of other tasty snacks. The beer and wine almost seems to be flowing through the street. There's a great buzz which gets 'buzzier' in relation to the quaffing! And when the Brazilian samba dancers get going, well, what can I say?
The culmination seems to be the 'Rheingauer Weinwoche' which is a 10 day festival in August, celebrating (and quaffing) the fine wines from well over a hundred local vintners in the Rhine valley area - it's marvellous!
Wed 15th June 05:
The reading list arrived yesterday for an online course I'm due to start in September - the MA in Creative Writing (novel route) at Manchester Metropolitan University. It's a part-time course over 3 years with an autumn and spring term using WebCT software and an annual meet up during the summer for a week or so. Last time they went to Ted Hughes' old house in West Yorkshire which is one of The Arvon Foundation's writing retreat/venues. www.arvonfoundation.org
The first term incorporates a half module: 'Reading Contemporary Novels' - I had one of the 10 books on the list - 'The Remains of the Day' by Kazuo Ishiguro. I'm really looking forward to doing some academic study again (never thought I would hear myself say that!) There appears to be about 9 of us on the course and we'll meet up for weekly live online seminars and there will be a 2500 word essay to submit. Bring it on! 
Mon 20th June 05:
We're having a heatwave and it's great! Thirty plus, is really swimming pool weather but we decided yesterday to play tennis instead. I only recently became a member of the WTHC (Wiesbaden Tennis & Hockey Club) www.wthc.net so we're trying to get the most out of my 'trial year' membership. And it is a bit of a trial, as I'm not very good, though I do have a lot of enthusiasm! And a patient husband. 
We only lost 2 balls (in the ravenous nettles)...well, when I say 'we', I mean 'I'...
I'm hoping to maybe have a few lessons to set me on the right track (or court). Anyway, it was very hot, but fun (kind of).
Thurs 30th June 05:
'You're simply the best!' And I'm talking about the wonderful, beautiful, small but perfectly formed, SCOTLAND!
We're just back from a five day visit which included several of my very favourite things: sun, sea, sand, lochs, castles, fish & chips with brown sauce, Irn Bru, men in kilts, a Scottish wedding, visiting my lovely nieces and nephew and just basically being SO inspired by the openness and friendliness of the Scots!
We took loads of photos which prove that Scotland is great fun, especially in the sun, and that it's not only in California that palm trees are growing!
The two days in Rhu by Helensburgh, staying at the Rosslea Country House Hotel were super, in anticipation of my friend (Linda's) wedding. It was delightful being beside the sea again and it wasn't long after our arrival that Chris & I were sitting at the seafront, tucking into fish suppers and swigging down Irn Bru.
The 'half hour pop in just to say hello' to Linda's turned into a four hour sesh of champagne, laughs (with her and her sister, Julie), more Irn Bru (diluted with Ardbeg) and a very patient husband dragging me back up the road to the hotel at dawn! Linda's first words as she radiantly passed me down the aisle after marrying Gary were, 'You wee bugger, ya!'
After that we headed east to Fife, staying in Aberdour at the Woodside Hotel - with Andy Murray giving it laldy at Wimbledon - there's a future champ!
It's always great to catch up with family again and we had a super 'sundowner' BBQ with my brother and his family. We were left with a philosophical question at the end of our visit - do moths urinate copius amounts?
A huge brown moth had settled on my brother's hand and as we all peered closer to the fine specimen, it suddenly emitted what looked like a flood of...er, pee! He yelped like a banshee while we all guffawed (in support of course)...in support of the moth!
Went to visit Loch Leven and out to the island where Mary, Queen of Scots had been imprisoned. We had also visited Aberdour Castle and both of these historic sites are managed by Historic Scotland who really pride themselves on showing off their assets, with friendly, helpful and knowledgeable staff. www.historic-scotland.gov.uk
We've returned, suntanned, invigorated, skint, and looking forward to our next trip!
Oops, nearly forgot to mention - Ottakars bookstore in Kirkcaldy have A COPY of 'Glad to be Mad - Poems Verging on Sanity' in their poetry section!
Here's the pic to prove it:
OK, it is literally JUST the one copy, but I was chuffed to see it on a shelf in amongst some great poets!
Thurs 7th July 05:
What a very sad day in London and around the world as we all come to terms with another awful example of man's inhumanity to man.
Such acts of terrorism are cowardly, and the good people in the world will never give in to them or be beaten by them. My heart totally goes out to all who are affected in London - you are in our thoughts and prayers.
Tues 12th July 05:
I leave later today for the Bavarian alps and I hope, lots of inspiration! It's time to get some serious work done on 'Mental,' as well as enjoying the fresh, mountain air and views. I'll be away for 6 weeks and I hope to return with a lion's share of work done. If nothing else, I am optimistic!
Chris' 30th Birthday BBQ was great fun, though I did overdo the Margaritas (perhaps a tad).
So, although there will be fun to be had as well in the coming weeks - a friend's wedding and another friend coming down to Bavaria for a weekend, I hope to report muchos progress the next time I pop in here. Over and out!
Mon 29th Aug 05:
Well...that was fun! And we got out just in time before Noah and his ark arrived - what amazing weather - bristling sunshine and blustering rain - we've seen it all!
I was lulled into such a wonderful state of peace and quietness, but thankfully managed to complete a quarter of the 'Mental' manuscript (heading back to the big city) before I exploded with Italian 'pane cotta' icecream and generous glasses of blueberry wine!
In amongst the pages, we managed to see our good friends, Erik & Nadine, get married...
... scooted about the Chiemsee on a (very quiet) motorboat; stayed overnight in the mountains in a friendly hut (though I was convinced I had altitude sickness!) and climbed the Geigelstein (nearly 6000 ft) to witness the wonder of being above the clouds with a 360 degree panorama which included the snow-covered peaks of the Austrian alps. Breathtaking, in more ways than one!
It's now catch up time back home, and continued full-steam ahead with the book. I'm relatively pleased with the progress, but will take on board the results of an experiment I made with a captive audience on my travels:
It was snoring too!
If you ever find yourself in the Chiemgau region of southern Germany, check out the pretty village of Aschau www.aschau.de and I recommend you pop into the very traditional Cafe Pauli www.cafe-pauli.de for a glimpse of all things truly Bavarian!
We're off to Montpellier in the south of France for a few days at the end of the week - these darn trips are fair getting in the way of writing, but I'm not complaining!
Fri 2nd Sep 05:
I had to write something for the people in New Orleans and the surrounding areas:
Southern Brother
Impossibly, Tom succeeds on screen
but Katrina has lifted the lid on
real life: natural disasters discriminate (in this case)
on the side of the poor man. The underbelly
sweats, starves, stares with honest eyes
inhales the excrement of neighbours.
We-Want-Help! The children chant
as if in fun. Where are the oily gatekeepers,
the slick spin-doctors? They’ve escaped
from swamplands where low-lying predators pad
a clawed imprint on bloated bodies.
We’re on the TV now – shoot, loot, root
we’re martialing law - 'Everyman' for themselves.
So what’s new? There’s nothing scientific about it.
And the world sees clearly.
Wed 2nd Nov 05:
Things are very quiet on the home front at the mo, what with trying to keep up with the creative writing course and Chris trying to get his PhD finished before he retires!
I'm very much enjoying the course and the interactions with people dotted around the world. The novels we've had to study have been interesting - some of them haven't been books that I would otherwise have read, so I'm certainly being 'educated'. So far we have covered books by:
Giuseppe Tomasi di Lampedusa; Kazuo Ishiguro; Natalia Ginzburg; Clarice Lispector and Julian Barnes.
Before the end of semester we still have books to look forward to by:
Bruce Chatwin; Milan Kundera; Thomas Keneally; James Baldwin and V. S. Naipaul.
I've been delighted to have recently gained a good couple of mental health contacts through my friend, Linda (not for my own personal use you understand), but you never know! So...
a big thank you to Karen Masson from Vale of Leven hospital in Argyll & Bute, Scotland, for all her help with my early-onset dementia research! And...
an unputdownable book I have recently read (at Linda's recommendation), was 'The Naked Bird Watcher' by Suzy Johnston. This was a great and inspiring insight into living life to the full with a manic-depressive illness. Suzy's book and her mother's book about being a carer, 'To Walk on Eggshells' by Jean Johnston can be purchased from www.thecairn.com
We're off out with the family tonight for a meal with Chris' gran - it's her birthday tomorrow. And there's a ball on Saturday in celebration of the fact that the hockey and tennis club here in Wiesbaden is 100 years old - only as young as I feel!
Over and out!
Tues 15th Nov 05:
Now that we're well into November the approach of Christmas can't be avoided. I'm more a fan of New Year and looking forward to spring-time, but what is so lovely here in Wiesbaden is the Sternschnuppen Weihnachtsmarkt (Shooting Star Christmas Market).
It runs for 4 weeks over advent and is a great place to meet and bump into friends you haven't seen for the rest of the year! There's a super atmosphere as the crowds huddle round the blue and gold (the city colours) wooden huts, drinking one of the many varieties of Glühwein - our favourite is the Feuerzangenbowle which is a ritual to behold!
A huge sugar cone is placed over a warming pot of red wine and oranges, then it's ignited with dark rum being poured over it - this is very effective and atmospheric when done in a candlelit and cosy room, or when at the Christmas Market, they switch the lights off in their hut. Suffice to say it is a very potent body warmer, and conducive to a heightening of festive spirit!
I'm still enjoying the course at MMU, though it will be good to have the break over Christmas. There's an essay to be written for January. I think I'm going to mull over and prepare something for the essay question:
'In some novels characters are shaped by external forces, in others they emerge in relationships and seem to have a given "nature". Consider the contrasted formation of characters (including narrators) in two of the novels you have read, and relate them to your own practice.'
Wish me luck!
Tues 6th Dec 05:
Today is der Nikolaus Tag or Santa Claus Day in Germany, so I'm up to my ears in chocolate Santas!
It's a lovely tradition that involves waking up in the morning and finding your shoes and boots stuffed with nuts, oranges and yes...chocolate Santas. The first time I experienced it here, it was such a wonderful surprise and I thought it so 'sweet' that Chris/Santa had gone to the trouble.
Santa hands out gifts at the Christmas market and lots of shops and businesses give choccie Santas or wee pressies to customers. I once received a beautifully-wrapped poetry collection about angels from a local book shop I go to.
When friends have been visiting from Scotland, I've made sure that they left their footwear out in the hall and taken great pleasure in surprising them! There's really nothing like the delight from the first time and it IS like being a kid again!
I'd got a huge 'Milka' choccie Santa in a box for Chris, and threaded it (kinda) through the straps of his rucksack...he couldn't fail to miss it on his way to uni this morning!
I've posted the last bit of work for the course at MMU and we've only got a couple more seminars left - it's great to nearly have the first semester behind me.
Several of us will be meeting up at the Christmas market on Saturday then going to 'Pattaya' our favourite Thai restaurant - inexpensive, very friendly and with delicious and powerful cocktails! I'll try to remember not to have too many Glühweins before hand...
Merry Christmas Everybody!
The Feuerzangenbowle always goes down a treat!
The tree with the first two pressies underneath
from our lovely nieces and nephew:
Nicole, Erin & Thomas
Sun 8th Jan 06:
New Year was lots of fun with my friend, Jayne, who was visiting us from Scotland. Unfortunately, Chris has been very poorly over the last few weeks - cough, cold, full blown chest infection - and despite my Nurse Ratched tendencies (or because of them!) has not responded as rapidly as expected to hot lemon drinks, inhalations, expectorants or antibiotics. I think health is again flickering for him on the horizon, but he really has been knocked for six.
Jayne and I definitely had a good start to the year, while poor Chris watched the fireworks over Wiesbaden from our third floor flat in his dressing gown.
We started with a lovely Thai meal along with Christine (a German friend of mine), then Jayne and I braved the warzone that Wiesbaden had become as we walked along fire-crackered streets to the casino at the Kurhaus. www.spielbank-wiesbaden.de
Our game plan was simple - entry into the casino then nipping outside with our Sekt piccolos (mini bottles of champagne) to watch the traditional fireworks that are ignited over the beautiful cupola of the Kurhaus.
Wiesbaden is one of Germany's hidden secrets - only a ten minute drive to the Rhine, twenty minutes from Frankfurt and surrounded by an array of half-timbered houses in quaint wine-growing villages. It allegedly used to have the highest density of millionaires in Germany and perhaps it still has. The Romans put Wiesbaden on the map by developing it as a thermal spa town - it bubbles with natural hot springs! I can recommend...no...I would INSIST that anyone visiting the area should put the city of Wiesbaden on their hit list. www.wiesbaden.de
It wasn't the best of weather for fireworks (rain and mist!) but the display prettily lit up the tall cranes which loom over the building site (at the moment) in front of the Kurhaus, while an underground car park is being built. There was a spectacular finale when a huge screen lit up and the local state ballet did a performance of Queen hits (? from a ballet version of Ben Elton's musical) - very rousing and apposite - We will, We will, Rock you into the new Year!
Jayne and I were surrounded by the 'ballers' - those that had paid 200 euros a head for a 4-course meal and entry to the Silvester (New Year) Ball at the Kurhaus and all its beautiful rooms, with jazz, disco, rock and roll, salsa etc booming enticingly out of the labyrinth! In effect, we had 'gatecrashed', as after nipping from the casino to see the fireworks (the casino is also in the Kurhaus), we...decided to stay! Until 3 am, then hobbled back home to find Chris in the shower and feeling much better. He was able to vicariously enjoy our 'experiences' through the series of mini-videos I had taken with the camera and the numerous photos.
New Year's Day brought my usual awakening with the eponymous song from U2 and Abba's 'Happy New Year'! Then, Jayne, (borrowing Chris' dressing gown) and I, packed up everything but the kitchen sink to spend a day of relaxation at the Kaiser-Friedrich-Therme (thermal baths).
So there we were...NAKED...in the mixed-sex Irish-Roman bath house...very unrelaxed in our 'nakedness' being a bit 'British' about these things. We did get into the swing of it (the 2 hours we spent in the spa bar drinking sekt helped!) and we returned home to a hungry Chris and prepared a lovely Fleisch Fondue and watched the wonderful and intriguing film 'Swimming Pool' on DVD. A fine start to the year, and one Jayne and I will not forget in a hurry! Or Chris, for that matter...
Thurs 2nd Feb 06:
Well, I'm very glad to be into February now - that grey and dull January weather was grim. But we warmed the cockles of our hearts last week by having a Burns Supper... OK, we didn't have any haggis, neeps or tatties, but we did have a wee dram and a recital of 'Address To A Haggis' by Chris.
We'd also downloaded 5 MP3s from the Scotsman online newspaper - so we sat and supped our whisky while listening to:
Tam O' Shanter; Comin Thro' The Rye; A Red, Red Rose; The Birks Of Aberfeldy; and my very favourite:
A Man's A Man For A' That
(Here is the 2nd & 3rd verse)
What though on hamely fare we dine,
Wear hoddin grey, and a that;
Gie fools their silks, and knaves their wine,
A man's a man for a' that!
For a' that, and a' that,
Their tinsel show, and a' that;
The honest man, though e'er sae poor,
Is king o' men for a' that!
Ye see yon birkie, ca'd a lord,
Wha struts, and stares, and a' that;
Though hundreds worship at his word,
He's but a coof for a' that.
For a' that, and a' that,
His riband, star, and a' that,
The man of independent mind
He looks and laughs at a' that.
(Robert Burns rocks!)
Continuing with a Scottish theme, I've recently finished reading the wonderful, 'The Wee King o the Midden - Manky Mingin Rhymes in Scots' eds. Matthew Fitt & James Robertson. A cult classic! Check out www.itchy-coo.com for fun, fun and more fun.
Sun 5th March 06:
Chris and I spent 6 days in London in February. It was great to visit some of the wonderful historic sites and take in some gorgeous sunny (though cold) days. We were staying quite centrally in Westminster and enjoyed wandering around and getting to know the place a bit better, then huddling in coffee shops or a traditional pub, for warmth and sustenance!
We watched some of the debating in the House of Commons, just missing out on Prime Minister's Questions, but listened as the discussion ensued relating to Northern Ireland.
The Queen's Gallery at Buckingham Palace was well worth a look - especially to see the recent portrait by Rolf Harris, commemorating the Queen's 80th birthday.
Madame Tussauds always raises a smile and it had been years since I was last there - I found the Dalai Lama particularly amenable! Chris was game for a celebrity makeoever and was miraculously transformed into Justin Hawkins from The Darkness - I think he's always wanted a chest like that! 
We sent the pic to Kirstin (my lovely sister) in Scotland... she likes a laugh too!
The Tate Modern was very interesting and you could spend weeks there - they've made a great job of converting an old power station into a super, cultural space for all. The views across the Thames from the restaurant are worth it in itself.
Our boat trip down to Greenwich and visit to the Royal Observatory and the National Maritime Museum, were delightful, and we enjoyed some fish and chips which is always a treat on return trips to the UK. Cornish pasties were the other takeaway delight from the West Cornwall Pasty Co http://www.westcornwallpasty.co.uk/
You can tell we were on a budget, can't you?
The Strand, Trafalgar Square, Covent Garden were frequented most days as we made our way back and forward to our hotel which was only ten minutes fron Westminster Abbey and the Houses of Parliament. Of course, the Abbey was one of the first places we visited and I was particularly fascinated by Poets Corner and Mary Queen of Scots' tomb. I had visited many years before when we had a primary school trip which left NO stone or place of interest unturned! We even took in a show then - imagine around forty 10 year olds and their teachers on a night out on the town, watching 'Carry On London' with Sid James, Barbara Windsor et al!
It really was great to take in the atmosphere and friendliness of the local people - until the next time!
Mon 3rd April 06:
This is a good day! My Gran (Bessie) has her birthday - I'll be giving her a wee phone later to hear about her day and check that our pressie got to her OK. Happy Birthday, lovely Gran!
Also, this was the day that me and Chris got engaged in 2000 - he had proposed on April Fool's Day...ahem...(we were a bit tipsy!), but I'm glad to say that he did mean it, and so did I, when I accepted! But we wanted to make the 'official' date on my Gran's birthday as she's very special to me (as was my Grandad).
The MMU first year is now behind me - next term starts in the autumn, and so far so good! I'll be going to the Ted Hughes Arvon Centre with a group of the other students, two tutors and a guest speaker/tutor too (I think). In the past they have had agents and editors come along.
The week before, I'll be heading to Scotland to stay with my Dad and family and I look forward very much to that and to catching up with everyone again.
Chris enjoyed a mini ski break at the weekend, along with friends for the occasion of SEBI'S STAG EVENT in the Bavarian and Austrian alps. If anyone happened to notice a slaloming Superman... that was SUPER SEB! Don't men always look so cool with their underpants outside of their tights...hehe. Sebi & Maren get married on Sat 6th May in Pfalz, a beautiful region of Germany which has one of the largest wine productions in the country... so we should be alright for a glass of vino or ten! Which will set me up well for my trip to Scotland on the Monday.
Having read the book, 'Schindler's Ark' by Thomas Keneally recently, I watched the DVD, 'Schindler's List.' I was never much of a movie buff in the past (too fidgety) and always preferred a good book, but these days I appreciate both. So, it was my first viewing and I was filled with trepidation I have to say as I get very upset at seeing man's inhumanity to man. Anyway, I'm glad I did, and here is a review I found which sums up brilliantly what I felt about the movie, but couldn't have nearly expressed so well: http://movie-reviews.colossus.net/movies/s/schindlers.html This site had been recommended to me by a Californian friend who is a huge movie fan.
Better late than never, that's me when it comes to films, but I still haven't seen any Star Wars movies, and that's never going to change! When Chris wants to send me to sleep or quieten me down, he gets out the original trilogy , and I'm guaranteed hog-snoring in minutes.
Thurs 27th April 06:
It's my lovely father-in-law's birthday today so MANY HAPPY RETURNS, KARL! We're all going out with him for a meal at Biebricher Schloss beside the Rhine tomorrow night - looking forward to that - it's very picturesque and we can sit outside on the terrace if the weather's good. Here's a picture: http://www.klaes-w.de/webseiten/mittelrhein/wiesbaden_biebrich_schloss_8424.htm
It's not long until Sebi & Maren's wedding and my trip to the UK. I'll pop a couple of photos up when I'm back. I'm sorting out work to 'workshop' at the Ted Hughes Arvon Centre and sorting out some structural issues with the book. I think that it's shaping up!
Seeing family and friends again in Scotland is going to be great - there's a group of us meeting up in Edinburgh and I've also got plans to do a couple of research-related trips for the book. Catching up with family and staying in Fife will be such a treat and I'll be snap-happy with my camera as usual!
I plan to do a bit of work at the language school http://www.languagecenter.de/v2/en/sprachschule/navigation.html once I'm back in Germany and then Chris and me will have to make serious plans for our prospective move to Houston, Texas in the autumn. It would be great if we could have a nice sunny holiday together once he has the PhD exams behind him - he more than deserves a good break and I'm always desperate for the sun!
Fri 2nd June 06:
I had a great time in the UK recently, catching up with my lovely family in Scotland and spending five days at Lumb Bank (the Ted Hughes Arvon Centre).
It was so nice to see my Dad, sister (Kirstin) and step-Mum (Sandra) in their new home in Kirkcaldy. I was very spoilt! We had some good jaunts about in the car (Kinghorn, Aberdour, St Andrews and South Queensferry) and I had a super time catching up with friends in Edinburgh too, and meeting the wonderful Margaret McCathie (laughter therapist) in Bridge of Allan, by Stirling. Kirstin was sitting her Higher exams and was putting in an awful lot of revision work - I'm sure she's done well!
My Dad ran me about in the car (like in the old days!), and nothing was too much trouble for anyone - I was well and truly pampered on the food and drink front, enjoying many of the favourites that I can't get my paws on here - traditional fish and chips, twiglets and M&S flapjacks!
Caught up with my friend, Jayne, who was in fine fettle and of course saw my brother, Vince, and his family a few times. It is always a delight to see my nephew, Thomas, and nieces, Nicole and Erin. Fran, sister-in-law, and I had a good natter as usual, though not to the extremes of our record-breaking one last summer! A twelve hour sesh!
Meeting some of the folks from the online MA in Creative Writing at Lumb Bank was a very worthwhile experience, along with a few other students from different stages of the course and one who does it non-virtually. Our tutors, Paul Magrs (from MMU) and David Armstrong (crime novelist) were very good, managing to mix work schedules, readings and 'socialising' to perfection. Everyone was friendly and approachable and it's always a joy to hear about other people's projects and to see that you're far from being alone when it comes to the niggles, doubts and anxieties of writing a novel!
I've just finished reading David Armstrong's non-fiction book, 'How (Not) To Write A Novel,' which I found very interesting and entertaining. Paul Magrs' 'Strange Boy' is winging its way to me via Amazon.
On my last day at Lumb Bank I had the pleasure of being collected by Chris, a friend's husband, and driven to meet Lisa (who I hadn't seen for years) in their beautiful home in Hooton Roberts, South Yorkshire. I was to meet a very special person... Clementine (Clemmie) their eleven month old daughter who was gorgeous. A big thank you to them for a lovely (short but sweet) visit, with some great cake(s)!
Also, a huge thank you to Dad, Sandra and Kirstin for a really great time with them - look out - I'll be back!
Thomas, Erin, Nicole & Auntie Kim
Forth Road Bridge in Scotland
Photo taken from my room at Lumb Bank
Wed 28th June 06:
Just a quick word to say that the World Cup atmosphere in Germany at the moment is great. Chris and I have been over to the Fan Fest area in Frankfurt (for the England v Trinidad & Tobago game) and it's very heartening to witness a truly international atmosphere and a lot of fun and goodwill between people from all continents.
It pleases me no end to see Germany being on the world stage for a very positive and uplifting reason, and for those who visit over this period to witness a friendly and easy-going environment - the litres of beer help!
Here's a pic I took when we were in Frankfurt, which I think aptly sums up the mood and overall ambience - perhaps not the best photo going, but it is a young boy wearing a Beckham top with a German-style Mohican! Which I hope will be symbolic of the dream final I would like to see, of Germany v England, with England winning, of course!
Sat 22nd July 06:
The heatwave continues and the outdoor swimming pool beckons! Chris and I enjoyed a few hours up at the Opelbad during the week, which is a gorgeous pool overlooking the vineyards of Wiesbaden and the city itself. How luxurious it feels to lounge on the loungers, bake, then cool down in the rippling blue water - a real and much needed treat as the temperature soars to 40c!
I'm still doing a bit of work at the language school and getting on with the reading list from the 'Contemporary Novels 2' part of the course at MMU which restarts towards the end of September. I've been enjoying them.
We've booked a holiday in Gran Canaria for a fortnight next month, and that is very much looked forward to, especially for Chris, after handing in his PhD thesis (that's why we're already in practice at the Opelbad!).
We're going to be heading towards the Rhine vineyards today for a walk from Schloss to Schloss, sampling a wee glass of wine here and there! The Rheingau is really beautiful and it's always good to see how those grapes are coming along.
I thought the World Cup final was very disappointing - the best game was the night before when Germany beat Portugal - a very exciting match won by the best team of the tournament! The only rainbow to be seen the day Portugal knocked England out of the competition, was this one in the Kurpark where we watched the game on an outdoor screen:
And here's a wee pic from the Opelbad which is reckoned to be one of the nicest in Germany:
Until the next time!
Wed 9th Aug 06:
Chris is in Zürich at the moment for a meteoritical conference. I so wish I could have gone with him (I was invited!) as the city sounds gorgeous and right up my street. As usual with Chris, he's already been to the zoo (Dr Attenborough, I presume!) and is doing his best to see as much as possible around the conference schedule. He hasn't quite espied the Swiss alps through the clouds yet, but he's hopeful. He's back at the weekend in time for the wonderful ten day Weinfest here in Wiesbaden, which will help us slide nicely along to Frankfurt airport for our hols to the Canaries.
Great news from bonny Scotland is that my 'sweet sixteen' sister, Kirstin, passed her Highers with flying colours, so I'm more than delighted for her. She worked extremely hard and certainly deserves a wee goodie or two for her success.
I'm making the most of the peace and quiet to edit lots of work and get a few more chapters of the novel done. I've also got a couple more visits to the language school before the hols, and then I'll be concentrating on writing again (full-time) and the MMU course starting towards the end of September.
Just been reading about the ex-Bayern Munich and now, Chelsea footballer, Michael Ballack. It's good to see that he's got off to a good start with the English team, and that (how can it be possible?) he's looking fitter and better than ever!
http://www.michael-ballack.com/?101A0A1
Prost!
Fri 8th Sep 06:
It's our 5th wedding anniversary today - aw shucks! We're going out for a nice meal at a place that does huge schnitzel - the kind that drapes over the edges of your plate!
Just back from a super and very relaxing holiday in Gran Canaria which we really enjoyed and where finally Chris could chill out a bit after all the hard work he's done on his thesis over the years (that feel like decades!). It took him a few days to unwind, but he soon got into the swing with his conditioned response, 'fun!' to my question, 'what are we having?'
Got around the island a lot in the second week with a hire car - into the mountains and along the coast. Ended up hanging out at a fun cabaret bar, Cafe La Belle, on a few occasions - even going on a very 'gay' boat trip! Lots of fun and laughs were had by all - swimming with drag queens has to be done!
Our favourite excursion was to Palmitos Park in Maspalomas. http://www.palmitospark.es/palmitos/index.php?wlang=en
The beautiful, colourful and talented parrots appeared to be happy and well-cared for and the exotic birds and birds of prey shows are spectacular highlights of the visit. There were other animals such as you would expect to find in a small zoo, including a Komodo Dragon lizard. A twenty minute bus journey gets you out into a rocky, arid wilderness that blossoms into an oasis of palms within a deeply-ridged valley.
As usual, the Canarian potatoes with mojo sauce went down a treat, as did the sangria. Chris was quite fond of the locally produced beer, 'Tropical', and it was very interesting to discover that the island produces its own rum and coffee as well. It was good to visit the capital, Las Palmas, visit the museum and the Governor's House, where Christopher Columbus had stayed during his pit stop to the New World. The Canaries have definitely played an important part in history and it's fascinating to see the extremes on such a small island, especially when you compare the tourist areas to the quaint villages where artisans and local people are living.
The weather has been beautiful here in Germany on our return, so now that we're well-sunned and rested it's onwards and forwards with my writing work, and Chris will be swotting up for his PhD exam in November. Scholarships, visas, etc have to be looked into and sought in preparation for the prospective move to Houston.
I'm looking forward to the 2nd year of the course at MMU starting later this month - Contemporary Novels 2. The reading list has been very interesting.
But... here's to the next holiday!
Sun 1st Oct 06:
Had the first online seminar for the MMU course on Thursday evening, with a new tutor, Dr Andrew Biswell. It'll be good to interact with everyone again and hopefully get a re-firing of inspiration.
Erin, my lovely niece in Scotland, will be five years old tomorrow, and my nephew (her brother, Thomas) will be seven on the 5th Oct - I believe they've got lots of fun lined up for their respective parties and treats - quite right!
We had a very enjoyable time at the wedding of our friends, Andre & Uta, last Saturday - lots of sun, scintillating wine and a good catch up with various friends who are dotted about Germany. The bride and groom looked wonderful together, and we'll all meet up again this weekend for a trip to an adventure park where you swing about in the trees like a commando!
Chris and I visited the gloriously sunny Erntedankfest (harvest festival) on the Sunday. I'm so fascinated by those curly wurly pumpkins and all the tasty organic produce on display. As usual, a few glasses (and a bottle to take home) of my favourite Kürbissecco (pumpkin sparkling wine) made me very happy!
We have also booked a trip to Scotland to stay with my Dad and family in Kirkcaldy from Boxing Day until into the New Year, so we are delighted to have that to look forward to.
I've recently finished reading 'Leap of Faith - Memoirs of an Unexpected life' by Queen Noor. I found it a very interesting and moving read, and, along with an excellent blog pertaining to Middle East issues that I've enjoyed reading recently, I feel I'm learning a lot about a part of the world that interests me greatly, and I would so like to see 'resolution' in, like many. Thankfully there are numerous moderate, flexible, intelligent and understanding people trying their best to make a better future for all affected by the ongoing hostilities - I really hope that things can happen sooner rather than much later.
I've just started reading John Muir's, 'The Wilderness Journeys', and I'm thoroughly enjoying it - how I love a visionary! And like many great ones he was way ahead of his time! His writing is injected with warmth, humour, insight and displays an infectious compassion for the world in which we live, and the interconnectedness of it - the forefather of global conservation for sure! And another fine Scotsman to add to my list of fine Scotsmen!
I'll leave you with a few pumpkins:
Mon 16th Oct 06:
Getting into the swing of the MMU course again. I've enjoyed most of the books we've had to look at - a lot more contemporary than last year's novels. We've already covered: Small Island by Andrea Levy and The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time by Mark Haddon - this week we'll look at The Accidental Tourist by Anne Tyler, then for the rest of the term: The Corrections by Jonathan Franzen; Frankie and Stankie by Barbara Trapido; I'll Go To Bed at Noon by Gerard Woodward; Brick Lane by Monica Ali; Cloud Atlas by David Mitchell; The Time Traveler's Wife by Audrey Niffenegger; Vernon God Little by DBC Pierre and The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold.
My bruises are slowly fading from the adventure park experience last weekend - it's what I would call tough fun! This weekend was a lot more sedate with a nice evening out with friends on Sat and a wee jaunt through the woods on Sun, where we spotted another adventure park for mad, mountaineering folks. I swear, my stomach lurched at the not distant enough memories of my dangling (unlike a monkey) not knowing whether to laugh or cry.
Here's a pic from Sat night that my good friend, Christine, took of Chris and me with our scrumptious mojitos in a local bar called... er... Mojito.
Prost!
Sun 22nd Oct 06:
Visited an excellent exhibition in Frankfurt yesterday called, 'I Like America', at the Schirn Kunsthalle www.schirn.de
I thought it was very timeous in view of much of the rhetoric that has been directed towards America since the president incumbent's administration detonated its policies like cluster bombs.
It served to remind of some of the good reasons many of us hold a fascination with America (not that I do, admittedly), but I do have a healthy interest in discovering more about other countries and cultures. The focus was on fiction portraying the Wild West which is tattooed as folklore in many of our childhoods. I was very interested to discover that the fiction in Germany painted the native American as a very noble person (and rightly so), whereas my upbringing in the UK focused on the 'baddie' image of the native American - rebelling, raping and pillaging against 'manifest destiny'. I was also surprised to discover that Hitler was a great fan of the native American and avidly read the fictional literature by German authors such as, Karl May.
Some wonderful art work was on display, depicting real and mythologised images of native American people in all facets of their lives. If you should live in the Frankfurt area, I highly recommend the exhibition.
Mon 13th Nov 06:
Enjoyed a procession of lanterns on Friday past with my good friend, Christine. It's a tradition here in Germany for the kindergarten children to celebrate St Martin's Day, making paper lanterns which they illuminate with either tea-lights or a small bulb - there were some great designs such as bats and dragons.
St Martin had showed great compassion and kindness by sharing his coat with a beggar. Christine's niece, Sofia, participated alongside around fifty eager chums. Parents, relations and friends gathered for the bonfire singsong before a short tour of local streets, led by proud lantern-carrying children, then it was back to base at the kindergarten for sugar pastries shaped like ? St Martin and hot juice - Glühwein for the adults.
Here's Christine showing how it's done:
... Rabimmel rabammel rabumbumbum!
Tues 28th Nov 06:
I'm in a really good mood at the moment. Going to see the gorgeous, Daniel Craig, (James B(l)ond) tonight, and then to the Christmas market for a mulled wine or three:
http://www.weihnachtsmarkt-deutschland.de/weihnachtsmarkt-wiesbaden.html
Yes, it's that time of year again where Chris and I meet (most nights) there, and partake of a warming Feuerzangenbowle, then move on for a home-baked (in a wood oven) Dinnette (Schwäbische Pizza), which is like an oval-shaped flat pasty with topping - on the top! My fav is cheese and onion.
We're due to meet friends there on Saturday for a wee get together, then along to the ice rink which has a great atmosphere pitched in front of the beautiful theatre in Wiesbaden. The half-timbered huts selling all varieties of mulled wine with various 'spirited' additions and the glowing embers from free-standing log fires make for a grand effect... but perhaps may be a bit warm for this time of year - which is still so mild. We've got a table booked at our usual Thai restaurant, Pattaya, for a nice spicy meal afterwards.
Wed 29th Nov 06:
Just had to pop in to post a link to a few photos of my latest heart-throb: B(l)ond, James B(l)ond. I've been a Daniel Craig fan since seeing him in 'Sylvia' with Gwyneth Paltrow - I loved his 'Ted Hughes' and what a dashing figure he cuts. I'd been looking forward to seeing him as the new Bond, and how satisfying that he excels in the role that many critics, and so-called James Bond fans, thought he was wrong for (before seeing the film). Enjoy!
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Thurs 7th Dec 06:
Just wanted to pop in with a pic of us all from last Saturday at the Chistmas market. We had a good evening - lots of Glühwein and a visit to the outdoor ice rink where Chris and Nadine made a great Torvill & Dean. Celebrated Uta's birthday in Pattaya, and enjoyed some great food and a couple more cocktails.
The Christmas atmosphere is so well done in Germany and here in Wiesbaden it's really looking good. The Kurhaus is spectacular-looking at night with its fountains and two large Christmas trees illuminated in all their glory - I'll try to take some photos over the weekend. It is always worth having a look inside the beautiful Kurhaus too, and the atrium boasts an enormous Christmas tree assembled from poinsettias = stunning!
The Glühwein Gang
Sat 13th Jan 07:
Chris and I had a great time in Fife, Scotland. We really enjoyed catching up with everyone again - it's always a treat to have a few drinkypoos and a good natter. We were spoilt by my dad and step-mum and were made to feel comfortable and at home.
My sister, (Sissy) Kirstin, is looking well and still going strong with boyfriend, Martyn, (who plays a mean hand of poker). My brother, Vince, and family are doing super too - lots of excitement in their household after a very generous visit from Santa!
Enjoyed our trips over to Edinburgh (as usual) with a big day out including high tea at the Balmoral Hotel, as Chris had always wanted to try one (part of his Christmas pressie from me). We welded ourselves into a couple of cosy armchairs in the drawing room and felt like the cats who'd got the clotted cream scones (they were gorgeous!).
Visited a quaint and more-ish fruit wine distillery in Errol, Perthshire, on the hunt for some nice Autumn Oak Leaf wine that Karl (father-in-law) is particularly fond of - which is really interesting considering he's a huge Riesling (halb-trocken) fan normally! It's an excellent wee place, run with care and attention, and it's a scenic drive into the countryside too. www.cairnomohr.co.uk We sampled quite a few!
Also enjoyed a great evening out to the Jam House in Edinburgh and to Orocco Pier in South Queensferry with its stunning views of the Forth Road & Rail Bridges: www.oroccopier.co.uk A wonderful venue for a quiet drink, gourmet meal, function, weekend break etc, on the shores of the Forth.
Chris had a couple of successful meetings at Edinburgh university (astronomy dept), checking out possibilities for the future after his post-doc at the Johnson Space Center in Houston - that all went well. His doctoral exam is on the 19th Jan, so we've got everything crossed now, and he's/we're really looking forward to having this out of the way and having a wee celebration with his family next Friday. Good news this week was that he's been awarded one of the scholarships he'd applied for, so 'moving to Houston' plans go into full force. He's worked amazingly hard for a seemingly unending amount of time, and I'm really proud of him.
Thus far, the New Year hasn't been so bad.
At the Balmoral!
Tues 30th Jan 07:
Dr Schröder and I have had a great couple of weeks enjoying the post-stress of the last couple of years in particular. How exciting it is to be able to do things again at the weekends (guilt-free). Went to an art and antique exhibition, and enjoyed a very civilised glass of Sekt in the piano bar there. Had a nice evening with Chris' gran too, who we'd invited over for lasagne and sherry trifle!
We're now in the process of checking out apartments for our move to Houston. Hopefully we'll get somewhere in the vicinity of JSC (the Johnson Space Center) and it all looks very appealing with 'resort-style' amenities: swimming pools, hot tubs, tennis courts, gyms, BBQ areas etc. The Clear Lake area where we'll be based looks great, with its boating communities and being so near to the coast (Gulf of Mexico), and surrounded by bayous... yes... alligator and snake country. We had a week there a couple of years ago, so kind of know what to expect. I was very impressed by the 'southern feel' of the location, and the many cultural activities that are available downtown, as well as nature which is pretty much on your doorstep (or a short car trip away).
We look forward to exploring the immediate surroundings and going further afield as we get into the swing of Texas life - we'll make the most of this wonderful opportunity to see something more of the world.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Houston,_Texas
http://maps.google.com/maps?q=77058&spn=0.07,0.07&hl=en
http://www.visitbayareahouston.com/
http://www.mfah.org/main.asp?target=home
http://www.texasranchlife.com/
Here's a poem I like:
The Devil in Texas
He scattered tarantulas over the roads,
Put thorns on the cactus and horns on the toads,
He sprinkled the sands with millions of ants
So the man who sits down must wear soles on his pants.
He lengthened the horns of the Texas steer,
And added an inch to the jack rabbit's ear;
He put mouths full of teeth in all of the lakes,
And under the rocks he put rattlesnakes.
He hung thorns and brambles on all of the trees,
He mixed up the dust with jiggers and fleas;
The rattlesnake bites you, the scorpion stings,
The mosquito delights you by buzzing his wings.
The heat in the summer's a hundred and ten,
Too hot for the Devil and too hot for men;
And all who remain in that climate soon bear
Cuts, bites, and stings, from their feet to their hair.
He quickened the buck of the bronco steed,
And poisoned the feet of the centipede;
The wild boar roams in the black chaparral;
It's a hell of a place that we've got for a hell.
He planted red pepper beside every brook;
The Mexicans use them in all that they cook.
Just dine with a Mexican, then you will shout,
'I've hell on the inside as well as the out!'
(Anon)
Sounds good, eh?
Thurs 22nd Feb 07:
Chris has been jetting about a bit again recently - Pasadena, Berlin - but he's back now and hopefully we can soon get our flights to Houston booked.
Had a lovely day out in Heidelberg on Saturday with Christine and her good friend, Kerstin. It was Christine's birthday, and the birthday girl was in great form. A bit of shopping, a lot of eating, and a trip to nearby Ladenburg too, made for a very fine time.
Have recently discovered an author I very much admire, MJ Hyland. She was a guest 'speaker' recently on the course at MMU, and gave some inspiring tips on being and becoming a writer - it's certainly not for the faint-hearted (that I know!).
I'd read her Booker finalist book, Carry Me Down, before the seminar and am nearing the end of her first novel, How the Light Gets In. Both books are excellent examples of unique first person narratives and how successful such can be when in skilful hands. She's presently working on her third novel which I'll be looking out for.
I just loved a bit of How the Light Gets In that I came across. It's always very satisfying when a book echoes something you've often thought yourself:
'Only selfish people don't listen to other people's details and the most selfish of all people never ask any questions.' (Lou Connor)
There are too many people like that in the world, I'm afraid.
Wed 21st Mar 07:
That's the MMU course finished until after Easter and it's amazing to think that we've now had our last online seminars. Some course work to hand in next month, a project for September, then our final manuscripts for next April. Still lots to do but we've got a lot behind us too.
We plan to move out from our flat next week and move in with Chris' dad until we fly to Houston which is likely to be on the 12th April. I took lots of 'memory pics' of the ol' homestead before we started dismantling everything. It's a beautiful flat in a building over a hundred years old which was built by a group of artisans, architects and engineers that included Chris' grandfather.
We've been catching up with friends in recent weeks: the Mergells, André & Uta, the Apells, Gerhard & Katharina, Maren & Sebi, and we had a great time with Nadine & Erik at the weekend. They gave us a lovely calendar (from everyone) with a super group photo of all the 'Event' crowd for each month. I will hang it in a very special place in our new home in Houston and remember all the wonderful times we've had together, especially at weddings (in the Pfalz, Dresden & Baden-Württemberg) and parties, and: Aschau; the Pfalz, swinging through trees!; Wiesbaden (of course); Rhine walks; the Christmas markets; skiing and the opera! We were delighted by such a thoughtful and perfect gift.
Chris and I have also been visiting a few places we'd been meaning to for a while and recently had trips to the local Sekt cellar www.henkell-trocken.com and to the Goethe House in Frankfurt. No champagne tastes better than Sekt from the Rheingau or the Pfalz as far as I'm concerned. There is a lot I will miss here, not least our lovely family and friends.
Catching up with Christine, another good friend, later today.
Thurs 14th June 07:
At long last I've been able to catch up with myself after the move and the various things that have been happening, good and sad. My lovely gran, Mabel (Sadie's mum), passed away three weeks after we moved here and that made it all the more special we'd spent time in Devon visiting her and my other gran before we came. I travelled back to the UK for her funeral. Mabel was 92 years young and she is irreplaceable. Here's a photo Chris took of me and Mabel in Ivybridge in early April with the ivy-cladded bridge in the background. I was born in the village - midwife-delivered in Mabel's bedroom.
We're settling well into our home here in Seabrook, Texas www.seabrook-tx.com & www.seabrooktourism.com Chris is enjoying his new position and we're both getting on with our working/writing routines and incorporating exercise and activities (visiting local sites and going further afield). It's very handy having keep fit facilities on our doorstep and the fact that this appears to be an eco-friendly area has come as a wonderful surprise. We're enjoying all the wildlife and birdlife (love the pelicans, herons and egrets!) and Chris is pleased as he's seen five alligators. Not so sure about the mosquitos especially as I've had a few bites now (one on the side of my nose!) but it's all bearable and with sensible precautions we're learning to live with the cons of nature too.
As I type I have a great view from the 'den' window of blue sky, tropical foliage and evergreens including a huge pine tree laden with cones. I keep looking up as birds, butterflies or squirrels fly, flit or leap past. Green anole (small lizards) are very common and often scurry along the balcony and do their press-ups! We've even had the largest bug in Texas right here: a leaffooted bug - it looked very prehistoric and mechanical as it ambled along with its flat feet, antenna on full alert with eagle-owl-like eyes. Here's a link to some of the things that can await you: http://www.wildtexas.com
We're getting to know some very nice people and I've joined a local writer's group. Chris goes to Italy for a conference and field trip next week so I'll have plenty of writing time at my disposal instead of being whipped off on wildlife hunts!
We nearly went to the Houston Highland Games, http://www.houstonhighlandgames.com/ but we'll try and get there next year now. What with all the German and Scottish traditions here like Oktoberfest and Wurstfest I don't think we'll feel too homesick.
I'll leave you with a couple of pictures.
Tues 17th July 07:
We enjoyed a jaunt downtown www.houstondowntown.com over the weekend, taking a chance to see some sights and a couple of films. I was also very excited (I'm easily pleased!) to visit a British Isles shop and purchase a few of my favourite things: Twiglets, Irn Bru and teabags!
The skyscrapers are impressive and I like the way there are different districts such as, the theatre district and museum district, to get to know and keep you right. With this area being extremely flat it's always a surprise to turn off the freeways and find yourself in another world. There is a lot of leafy suburbia - the roads and avenues are packed with trees - from pines, palms to oaks.
Fireworks Friday has been going well and the last two are coming up. Our fireworks cruise out on Galveston Bay was fun and it's good to see that the most is being made of the coastline for water-based pursuits. We also saw our first flock of parrots which brought to mind those we left behind in Wiesbaden!
There is such a variety of entertainment and restaurants here and something to suit everyone - we're enjoying discovering some favourites such as Ichibon, a Japanese seafood and steakhouse we visited where we had hibachi (table-cooking), and the wonderful, Hungry's where I could not stop smiling with pleasure as I ate - gorgeous food! http://www.hungryscafe.com/index.html
The weather continues hot and humid though there's been a lot of cloud cover this month so the average daily highs of 95f haven't been reached that often, but it's definitely a case of sunglasses, hat and high factor sunscreen if you venture out of your air-conditioned car or building. I can understand why the tunnel system is handy downtown and is also a good way to get around and a unique way to shop (see the downtown website).
Thunder and lightning is very common and I've seen some amazing acrobatic light shows from the sky. No wonder everything is so green. Flash flooding can be a hazard though. I had a really severe barometric pressure migraine recently which is not something I want to repeat in a hurry. 
Shop till you drop the messages! Oh yeah.
Haha... I felt so brave for standing *by* the sign!
Can you spot Chris?
Sat 18th Aug 07:
Aah! I just wrote a long entry and lost it so a quick synopsis: had another nightmare migraine again; visited the Space Center at last - loved the longhorn project there! Had a nice trip to Bolivar peninsula on the car ferry from Galveston and enjoyed seeing the dolphins swimming alongside, though we didn't see the pink one which is reported as being an albino dolphin with sunburn! The many fields of cattle with all the white egrets hanging out with them was something to behold! And the endless lines and chevrons of pelicans heading to Pelican island as the sun was going down; and the fact we *didn't* see any gators at the bit where the sign stated they were! This was at a deck at the back of Stingaree restaurant. Though eagle-eyed Chris spotted the Gator Fest signs, http://gorvtexas.com/gatorfest.htm so we may end up back there.
Oh... and if there wasn't enough new excitement still, we might be having our first evacuation in the next few days as Hurricane Dean struts its stuff and may be heading for... us! Though as I type the sky is blue, the clouds are minimal, it's hot and humid (as usual), the wind is nill... don't tell me it's the dreaded calm before the storm!
A reading recommendation: What Was Lost by Catherine O'Flynn which was on the long list for this year's Orange Prize. A very sensitive and insightful read into motivation, loss and attempts at resolution and letting go told through the lens of very well-drawn and believable characters with lots of mystery and suspense. It's very poignant too, especially in the opening sections with its young protaganist. An author I look forward to reading more from.
I'll keep you posted... hopefully!
How wonderful,eh?
We are not amoosed!
Fri 24th Aug 07:
We had the pleasure of being part of the audience in the Teague Auditorium at Johnson Space Center as the space shuttle, Endeavour, made its way back to Earth at Kennedy Space Center with the first teacher in space on board. Employees and family members are allowed to gather there for takeoffs and landings, and media personnel can conduct interviews.
It was very still and silent within the historic room as a commentary gave an overview of the shuttle's position in relation to its goal in Florida, its speed etc. A big screen on the stage gave an astronaut's-eye-view of the landing strip and the perfectly executed safe return. It was amusing to hear the words from the CapCom at mission control in Houston say: 'Welcome home, Endeavour! You've given a whole new meaning to higher education!'
JSC is a fascinating place and is highly regarded by the local and global community it serves, and is a source of great pride to its employees and the United States in the nation's psyche. The story of the 'space race' during the Cold War is full of all the best ingredients - adventure, excitement, fear, ridiculous politicking! which can almost be looked back upon now with humour and certainly a lot of rose-tinted nostalgia.
An excellent book which portrays the rise of the astronaut to heroic status is The Right Stuff by Tom Wolfe. Great writing which portrays the myriad of complexities of the test pilot's life en route to astronautdom! (not least, the danger, which of course they thrived on!), and the strength of their families, in historical context as they flew towards stardom at the 'whim' of those holding the presidential coffers - Americana in all its glory/gory!
Now, as the jets fly overhead, which they frequently do as a security measure, I have a new understanding and appreciation of what it takes to 'push the envelope.'
JSC also intrigues because of its mix of technology and wildlife! Its grounds are a natural haven and habitat for: deer, squirrels, skunks, snakes, opossums, koi, the occasional bobcat, even the odd alligator, many different birds, longhorn cattle, armadillos, to list some of the animals in its educational leaflets. A Wildlife Committee helps to advise employees on how to coexist with it all. It tickles me to espy the huge rockets at Rocket Park through the legs of white-tailed deer when we drive along NASA Parkway.
Chris and the shuttle!
Fri 21st Sep 07:
We enjoyed a lovely anniversary weekend in San Antonio earlier this month, which is around three hours west of Houston by car. The freeways were very pleasant to drive along once out of the busier downtown traffic - listened to some Don Henley, and felt it was like back in Germany at times with long ribbons of 'Autobahn' stretching out ahead, and the town names we passed such as, New Berlin.
We stayed at the beautiful Havana Riverwalk Inn. Our four-poster bed was the most comfortable I've ever slept in, like I was floating on a cloud... or down a river! www.havanariverwalkinn.com I became very fond of the chocolate martinis in the antique-packed cigar bar.
We were impressed by the beauty of the city and its medley of cultural heritage. One of our first stops was to visit the historic Alamo www.TheAlamo.org and re-familiarise ourselves with its national importance. I was surprised to learn the significance that events played not only in the Texas Revolution but in present day US foreign policy - quite an eye-opener.
How we loved the Riverwalk itself with its many European-styled older buildings which were built by a lot of German and Czech immigrants. Although we weren't in gondolas as such, the boat trip reminded me of Venice owing to the bridges that spanned from one side of the café-sided river to the other. We had some great sundowner margaritas and enjoyed our inevitable Tex-Mex food, which I can't resist. New buildings/skyscrapers had their place in the core of downtown, and the successful merging of many renovated buildings in avante-garde designs, with the more traditional, was inspiring to see.
Our trip to SeaWorld www.SeaWorld.com was excellent. It was huge, very well-run, educational and with an obvious commitment to the welfare of its many inhabitants, such as Clydesdale horses and alligators - it wasn't just about the marine animals. It was possible to get up close and feed alligators, dolphins, lorakeets etc and we had the wonderful pleasure of dining with Shamu after the killer whale show. It was amazing to get behind the scenes with the trainers who came and chatted to us as we had a gorgeous buffet while watching three killer whales frolic and sing (in a whaley kind of way).
It really is a park for all ages and if you are lucky enough to live in the vicinity, a season ticket for the family would be value for money, and the waterpark and restaurant facilities are super... but you could bring a picnic and make use of the many tabled and umbrella-ed lake-side areas where you can see acrobatic stunts from waterskiers while you munch your lunch.
I'll let these photos speak for themselves:
The Havana Riverwalk Inn
Water taxi
The Riverwalk
Happy 6th Wedding Anniversary!
The Hooded Claw clamps her chocolate martini!
It's all gone, mate!
Backstage with Shamu!
What beautiful animals!
Triple flukes!
Double trouble!
Entrance to SeaWorld
The road back east!
Sat 22nd Sep 07:
Happy 18th Birthday, Kirstin! My lovely sister in Scotland is celebrating today, and she has lots to be proud of with all her excellent exam achievements over the last couple of years. She is now studying Law at Dundee University.
Chris and I have been enjoying our beginners ballroom dance classes on Thursday evenings, and feel fairly confident with the waltz, foxtrot and swing to date. Many of the other couples are taking the course before their upcoming nuptials - we ought to have thought of that too, but just made do with a five minute practice before we were on!
On our way home from the class we pop into a popular local pub called Boondoggles http://www.boondogglespub.com/ - Thursday is snow crab night so the beer garden tends to be full of crustacean-eating enthusiasts, snapping legs and cracking nippers. It tastes fantastic!
Boondoggles is a popular haunt for JSC employees and locals having a catch up with friends, or celebrating a special occasion. It's also accessible by boat so many, especially at the weekend, enjoy the delights of a cruise around Clear Lake and its environs then hop off at the Boondoggles' jetty for refreshments or some great food.
The last shuttle crew were having a debriefing at JSC on Thursday and that evening were enjoying a get together at the next table to us. And I can safely say they were all drinking responsibly!
Tues 6th Nov 07:
After a few health blips I'm back to normal and moving forward again with the ol' manuscript - I've a lot of work to do in the next few months so the entries here may become a bit more intermittent, and I've got a writing blog which isn't live, but which I'm working on behind the scenes for promotion purposes.
Chris and I finished our dance class and feel fairly proficient in the foxtrot, waltz, rumba and swing (east coast triple step!). We may take the intermediate course in the new year as we'd love to learn to tango - olé!
In the meantime, I'm still hanging out with the astronauts whenever I get a chance!
Shy Kim & Richard (Ricky) R Arnold II
Fri 9th Nov 07:
Had a great day yesterday at Ellington Airfield being part of the welcome home reception for the return of Discovery (the latest shuttle) crew. How exciting for family and friends to greet their loved ones after a very eventful mission... the smiles on everyone's faces... the placards, balloons, baskets of flowers.
The astronauts all looked so young and enthusiastic sitting up on stage with a stars and stripes backdrop - each gave a speech and thank yous, and did a crowd mingle. You can only admire the hard work, determination, mental and physical strength that each has shown during their training period, involving simulated environments, and then... imagine! the reality of space. It was encouraging to hear that 'reality' was just like the mock ups: they simulate weightlessness in a huge diving tank at Ellington.
Listening to their speeches, and hearing their appreciation for all the technical, engineering and scientific support that goes into helping them achieve successful missions, was very uplifting. But all were most thankful for the support of their families. I bought a wee slogan at JSC last weekend:
shoot for the moon
even if you miss
you'll land among
the stars
The crew epitomised this for me: http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/shuttle/main/index.html
We spent half a year in LA in 2004, and my sister hoped I'd be on the look out for 'stars' in Hollywood and get their autographs. I didn't succeed, but I was delighted to be able to get a signed astronaut photograph for her last weekend from a *real star* (see above pic)... here are a few more:
Mission STS-120 with ISS astronaut end left
Not so shy Kim & Doug Wheelock
Kim: maybe see you at Boondoggles sometime?
Mon 17th Dec 07:
We enjoyed a visit to Galveston at the beginning of the month for the annual Dickens on the Strand. It was a hot, sunny day so the myriads of residents and visitors dressed in Victorian costume had our sympathy, but they looked fantastic. The theme was A Christmas Carol, thus there were several ghosts of Christmas past, present and future on the ghoul!
The Strand historic district became a home to many colourful stalls selling the usual suspects: arts and crafts, food and drink (gator on a stick! and tasty funnel cake). There were concerts and a variety of theatrical performances, even snow! And elephant rides, which we couldn't resist participating in.
Chris patiently queued for a signed (by the great great grandson of Charles Dickens, Henry Dickens Hawksley) antique copy of Dickens' Five Christmas Novels. I stood with him for a while before joining friends in the beautiful Tremont House for wassail (hot cider) and to listen to some carol-singing from a local choir. Chris enjoyed wassail with whisky to refortify him!
It was great to see the parade twice as the evening's participants held lamps, and there was much bagpiping rejoicing and many a kilt wearer. Pirates in the Lafitte tradition were well-represented and I must say that Queen Victoria was looking surprisingly well.
We enjoyed a rousing performance from The Rogues http://www.therogues.com/index.html who got the audience tapping their feet and the children leaping to bagpipes and drums.
Last Saturday we attended a basketball game at the Toyota Center: home of the Houston Rockets who were playing the Dallas Mavericks. Now *that* was entertainment! An overkill to the senses as loud music, power dancers, gymnasts, karate demos, quizzes, fast food galore (I only managed a few inches of my Texas-sized popcorn bucket), muchos audience partcipation especially for the dance cam... and there was even some basketball. The game seemed even in the first segment but the Mavericks easily upped the tempo in the next and managed to basket most of their balls (excuse my lack of sporting terminology!), while the Rockets became rockier despite the towering presence of Yao Ming at 7ft 6.
Chris was pleased to see the German Mavericks player, Dirk Nowitzki, in action - he was apparently the NBA's biggest scorer last season. He certainly made his mark being involved as far as he possibly could in most of the on court action (including fouls)... thus he became Dirty Dirk to me.
It was good to witness this family friendly sport in a modern and spacious auditorium, where all the banter between the Rockets' and Mavericks' fans was good-natured, the most provocative thing being the mascot mouse spray-gunning four Mavericks' supporters wearing Nowitzki shirts with that fun spaghetti-like stuff. Granted, one of them seemed a touch peeved - the luminous pink ribbons didn't do his closely-shaven head much justice.
With Christmas being nearly upon us I wanted to post this lovely story that Chris sent me last week:
Spirit of space pioneers shines brightly at Astronaut Memorial Grove
Each winter around Christmastime you see the usual sights at JSC: grazing deer, holiday garland and ornaments scattered about the workplace, white elephant gifts and festive desserts at office parties, and the tasteful—and tacky—results from the annual door decorating contests.
But one tradition—the yearly lighting of the memorial trees—has a special and spiritual significance at JSC.
“But why the lone red one?” You may have asked yourself while driving by the main gate.
It’s a question often posed to Ginger Gibson, support services specialist for Center Operations, who oversees the tree lighting project.
First, a little history...
According to Gibson, the idea for the Astronaut Memorial Grove was spearheaded in 1996 by George Abbey, JSC director at the time, and then became a reality when seven live oak trees were planted in memory of the STS-51L crewmembers who perished 10 years earlier during the Space Shuttle Challenger accident.
>From that moment on, tree dedication ceremonies have been held in honor of every astronaut who has since departed this life.
In the book “Rocket Man” by Howard Klausner and Nancy Conrad, wife of late astronaut Pete Conrad, astronaut Buzz Aldrin said when Pete's tree was dedicated, his close friend and Apollo 12 crewmate Alan Bean took the podium and “channeled” the spirit of his departed comrade.
Although Pete’s ceremony at the grove was seven years ago, Alan Bean remembers that day well—and always with a smile.
Like the Oracle of Apollo delivering messages from the great beyond, Bean paused and looked skyward for about 10 seconds, looked down at the hundreds of JSC employees assembled, and quipped, “As I fell asleep last night, I was thinking about what I might say today. I woke up in the middle of the night and Pete was at the foot of my bed, saying, ‘Don’t worry about it, Beano, I’ll tell you what to say tomorrow!’”
Again, Bean paused and looked to the sky. “Okay Pete... Okay... I can do that.”
Bean looked back at the crowd and said, “Pete wanted everyone to know he appreciates their being here today.” Then he turned his attention to Abbey: “George, Pete says that while he was here he was always the shortest astronaut, but he doesn’t want his tree to be the smallest tree. Pete wants his tree to be special—the most colorful tree—because his motto is, ‘When you can’t be good, be colorful.’”
The crowd found this highly amusing at a normally somber event. “My whole idea was to make it a little more fun,” said Bean. “Pete would have loved it—he would have loved anything to lighten up the day.”
And Mrs. Conrad won’t forget that day either. “We all arrived at the tree-planting ceremony filled with pride and pathos… So sad that Pete was no longer with us, and so proud of all he had accomplished. Alan’s ‘conversation’ with Pete was a real show stopper. It was such a beautiful way for Pete’s dear friend to reach out to all of us...to comfort us and to make us laugh. It was awesome!”
Aldrin’s recollection in the book is that “Pete” had a message to transmit from across the universal divide through Alan—for George Abbey to light those trees at Christmastime. And, reminding everyone of his motto, further insisted that all those lights be white—except his.
Abbey and JSC Center Operations have kept the promise to this day, and if you drive by JSC around the holidays, you’ll see all 40 astronaut trees in the grove twinkling white, except for one—Pete’s—which is red.
“Every year I get an e-mail—usually several—from folks at NASA with the image of Pete's tree. And every year it puts a big smile on my face. It means the world to me that NASA takes the time to remember,” said Mrs. Conrad.
As the years pass, surely the grove will become brighter at Christmas. But these and future trees will serve as a shining and poignant reminder of the service to our space program given by our fallen astronauts.
Merry Christmas!
Kim, Chris & Nellie
A sunny parade
What a bustle!
Dickens Chicken & Helmuts Strudel! Teehee
The Rockets' mad mascot mouse!
Fri 22nd Feb 08:
Just a quick note to say I have a new writing blog under construction which will go live as soon as my book is finished sometime in the next few months. Internet time is at a minimum (checking emails) while I polish off the book to the best of my abilities. I'm so excited to be nearly there... at last!
We had a great week in Washington DC recently. Chris had a conference at the Smithsonian Institution and we took some extra days to sightsee. We stayed in the most wonderful B&B in Alexandria, Virginia: Yesteryear's Treasures run by the very attentive Moina Ratliff.
We're both doing well and are looking forward to Chris' parents visitng next month, and a few days in New York in May. The weather here is very pleasant after a couple of months of 'winter' - mid 20s for the weekend.
Until the next time, when I should be nearly book-free!
Fri 6th June 08:
We had a great time when Chris' parents visited and took them to see as much as possible, including the Houston Rodeo. We spent Easter weekend in New Orleans where I got over my non-desire to see alligators and snakes in their natural habitat. A swamp tour is a must in Louisiana!
Unfortunately our planned trip to New York had to be cancelled as I'd had a few health blips closely linked to the fact that I'm now seven months pregnant (due date 29.8.08). Thankfully all seems to be going well again and I've been able to progress with my book and am now racing the clock to finish the work before baby's due - it kind of feels like twins with two long-wanted wishes happening around the same time.
I still plan to launch my new writing site/blog once I've completed the work, in order to help promote Mental.
I'm delighted to be the guest writer for this month on John Holding's fine website: http://www.fictionfest.co.uk His own work and that of other guest writers is well worth checking out.
Here are some pics from the last few months:
The Capitol in Washington DC
Awaiting Barack!
Arlington Cemetery
A very nice man
Great egret in Hermann Park, Houston
Wild lavender at Lake Somerville
Bluebonnets and Indian Paintbrush in Brenham
Tues 9th Sep 08:
Just a quick entry to say that I won't be posting here anymore. I'm on the brink of handing in the novel and having recently given birth to River Schroeder on the 11th August my hands are full at the moment. I didn't quite get the novel finished before River arrived (three weeks early) but I'm nearly there. A new writing blog is still pending and I'll link here to that as soon as it's up and... walking.
Here's a photo of River - a long-awaited and longed for baby:
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