Brand new spanking new features!

Just to update you lovely readers about a change or two…

For this blog, I have added the options to give reactions… after reading a post, just tick on one of the boxes, which resemble your thought the closest. If it’s not listed there, just add a comment stating your (good or bad) opinion! I may add more boxes to tick if I can think of any, or seeing results in commentages!

Also, to post comments, you no longer need to be a registered user. You can just be any non-member random to post whatever. But if it’s totally irrelevant, or something to do with advertising or spamming about cheap offers abroad, or porn, or insurance, I’ll just bin them. Simple as!

And what has caused some confusion to some; is that these posts are posted with the most recent on top, and the older ones filing down the list and ending up on previous pages. So it may make reading easier if you start from the older ones (which are on the bottom, or on previous pages). Especially on posts about events during a certain period, such as that diary thing I wrote about my weekend in Rheinland-Pfalz. Just to let you know, in case things may seem confusing or backward!

Macht Spaß!

Annoying things that annoy me

I’m afraid to say that this week hasn’t been the best. It’s been one of those weeks that you’re waiting forever for it to be over and done with… and it seems like a lifetime.

This week also has been full of things that happened, and those things are the most annoying things to me. They’re not big things. It’s those really small, inconvenient, unnecessary, annoying things that just get on my nerves. Life would be much simpler without them.

To give you some examples of those things, they are…

Going for that much needed first-of-the-day cup of tea, only to find the kettle at school has a post-it stuck on it, saying it’s broken with a reassuring skull and crossbones drawn on it.

Walking a couple of minutes down the road (and also waiting ages for that Ampelmännchen to turn green when there isn’t even any traffic) to go to a bakery, only to find it closed at one o’clock for two hours. Why two hours? Who spends two hours eating their dinner at such a time? And it was especially annoying as it was just after I discovered that the kettle was potentially lethal. So I had to go without tea and bread and cakes.

Driving around a big car park only to find it’s full, only to find one space. But nobody can park in that space because some idiot of a driver couldn’t park right and consequently took up the two places. And it wasn’t as if this car was big. It was one of those crappy Toyota Yaris things. I was tempted to squeeze in there just to annoy him/her/it. There was just enough room to do it, too. I should have done. Or, if I had a strong enough vehicle to do it, I’d just shove it out of the way. But I didn’t want to damage my car because of some stupid idiocy of someone who deserves a couple of slaps. And a few tips on how to park right.

Another similar thing about parking, I was at the lights around the corner from the post office, and I needed to get some Luftpost stamps. And there was a good space outside, enough for two cars. It was one of those lay-by parking spaces at the side of the road. So I thought it was a good find. However, as I waited at the lights, a car parked there, but it was alright. There was still enough room. But noo… the dull woman who was driving parked her nice silver BMW, which took up these two spaces. Did she think she was driving a bus? How could she not see there was enough space for another?? It made me want to shunt that car forwards so I could also park there. But again, why put damage to my humble VW Golf? But why complain about that? We all know people who drive such cars own the road and do whatever they want.

But did I need to bother about finding a place to park outside the post office? No. They seem to close before half past four.

Next day, I went back and I found a place down the road to park. But as I was reversing out, there was this old woman crossing the road behind me, so I had to stop. And also there was this guy and a kid on a bike who decided to cross the road behind me. Why do that when it’s blatantly obvious that I was reversing. The moving car and the two white lights at the back of my car may give it away. And what was even more annoying about it… on the other side of my car was a zebra crossing. Why not use that? The council doesn’t put those things down just for fun. Sometimes I feel like beeping my horn really loud just to startle them. And maybe move back a li’l bit to put some sense into their thick skulls.

Another thing that people can’t grasp is the use of indicators. Especially when changing lanes on the Autobahn. But what gets me most is when waiting on a junction, or at a roundabout. And then a car comes along, and I wait for them to pass. But they don’t pass. They turn down that junction I’m waiting at. And because they didn’t indicate, I didn’t go and I’m still waiting for that huge line of traffic to pass that was behind that car whose driver thought the indicators were only there just for decoration.

What has been annoying me all week was the incompatibility between different computers. I’ve made a poster on Microsoft Publisher on my laptop. And the plan was to put it on the school computer and print a few copies out. But could I? Of course not. The computers at school don’t have Publisher, so I was unable to transfer it onto them. And when I tried to move it onto another program, it couldn’t decode properly. Can’t technology be faultless for once? If these technicians and scientists and such could create a spacecraft to go as far into space, or if they could create the technology to find the complete structure of the DNA double helix, I’m sure they could create something that could make all these programs compatible with each other. Even if that does mean to create just one mega-program with all of the features in one. I’m sure that’ll be more useful to everyone instead of them researching stuff like how to make the perfect pen, or how many times should someone stir milk in a cup of tea, or how many holes does it take to fill the Albert Hall.

And another thing I don’t get is how come I wake up exactly as my lesson start? Even though I did go to bed early, I somehow wasn’t disturbed by the alarms on my phone, and I got up, looked at my clock. And thought… bugger. I really should invest in a much better alarm clock. Phone clocks aren’t such good alarms. They never were.

And this week, I’ve had the joys of experiencing all those things. Maybe tomorrow will bring more experiences that will just annoy me even more. But I hope that next week will prove better.

Musique-al Instruments

Lately, I’ve had the urge to play the piano. I’m not sure why… maybe it’s because of some songs I’ve listened to there’s been some good piano playing.

Also, I’ve listened to all three movements of Beethoven’s Piano Sonata Number 14, in C-Sharp Minor. (Opus 27, Number 2, to be precise!). It’s also known as Quasi una Fantasia or Moonlight Sonata. The three movements are all popular and should be familiar to all, but the fact they’re all part of the same sonata is less widely-known.

And, I was watching a famous pianist Daniel Barenboim playing it all. And it was just fantastic. I think Moonlight Sonata is my favourite piece of music, along with Beethoven’s Fifth and Ninth symphonies (especially the Second Movement of the Ninth, which is on the 15:09 minute on the first clip labelled Ninth Symphony below). They are all just something else! I do recommend you listen to them… even if you’re not into that kind of music, you’ll think they’re amazing.

There are many others, too. What’s even more extraordinary about them, Beethoven wrote them while he was going deaf, too! It’s incredible… really is. It will always be better than that kind of rap 'music' and all that.

However, it made me feel even more to play the piano again. I started to learn about ten years ago, but then after a couple of years, I stopped. I don’t know why… maybe I didn’t have time. But for whatever reason, I regret I did it.

I don’t think it’s too late to start learning again. Thing is, I’m in Germany, and I don’t have a piano. I could start looking whether there are lessons about… maybe at my school. But I may wait until I get back home. But it’s a while to go, yet!

But, I do have a harmonica, which I’m learning. I’ve had a couple for ages, but only recently I’ve started to get into it. Maybe wanting to play the piano has brought it on!

But harmonicas are more convenient than pianos. I don’t have to lug a harmonica up the stairs and be careful not to scratch or damage it. And if I’m stuck in a traffic jam, I won’t be able to get my piano out of the glove compartment and start playing away!

So, hopefully my harmonica skills will improve. May be a bit harder as I’m teaching myself from a book, and maybe the Internet now and then. But time will come.

But for now… I do recommend you listen to the three movements of Moonlight Sonata and also the fifth and ninth symphonies. They may be a bit long… but they’re really good!

I hope I’ve provided you with some entertainment, at least!

I’m going back to my harmonica now. Toodles!

Moonlight Sonata, First Movement

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E10K73GvCKU

Moonlight Sonata, Second Movement

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zs0QAA0eItU

Moonlight Sonata, Third Movement

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YJeD8ckihN8

Fifth Symphony, First and Second Movements

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zhcR1ZS2hVo

Fifth Symphony, Third and Fourth Movements

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jDar-ycF5fE

Ninth Symphony, Part I

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O2AEaQJuKDY

Ninth Symphony, Part II

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cSEqQsAXbJw

The Green, Green Grass Of Home

A song made famous by Tom Jones, a singer from Pontypridd, which is in one of the Welsh Valleys. It starts off by the man returning back home after a long time away. He remembers the village and the people exactly how he saw them when he left. Mary, with her golden hair and lips like cherry. That old house that could do with a lick of paint. And the old oak tree he used to play on when he was younger.

But the song has a kind of a sad ending, which isn’t the point I’m trying to make.

What I’m saying is, wherever someone is, no matter how far away, or whatever situation they’re in, they always think of home. They don’t have to think about it all the time, maybe only for a very brief moment, but home is always thought of. It doesn’t have to be the thought of a house with four walls and a door with a few windows. Home is more than that. Home is about being with family, with friends, being in the area where you grew up, even if it’s the local park. Somewhere where you spent a lot of time with the people who you’re close with.

Everyone has a home. Even if they travel around a lot. A home isn’t four walls and a roof. That’s called a house. A home is a familiar surrounding with familiar people and things surrounding. For the average person, a home is where they live, where they grew up, where they share the same place as their family. But it doesn’t have to be in a fixed position. For a Nomad, their version of home may be the desert, a couple of tents and camels. But to them, it’s home. Because they grew up that way; they’re used to that way; they live by that way. If you stick them in a brick house with heating and electricity and the like, that would not be home to them, because they never lived in that situation before. How could somewhere be a home, when you haven’t been there before? It’s the same principal for the opposite. Try putting a successful businessman, who wears a suit everyday, into the middle of the desert with a couple of camels and a turban.

So… the topic here is home. Why talk about home? Because I’m far away from it. But, I do admit that I’m not as far away from home as some, and it may be easier for me to go home than others. However, even when I’m writing this, I am also putting other people into consideration, especially the ones who feel more homesick and the ones who haven’t been home recently.

I’m not one to get homesick. I do miss family and friends when I’m away, but I don’t get down about it. I don’t cry myself to sleep every night longing for going home. I’m not like that. I can go as long as it takes being away. But sometimes, there are some things, which do make me think about home. There are also some people who I think about, namely my mother, father, brothers (not sure if they do the same, though!), my sister (who does miss me and keeps asking about my whereabouts!), and also my grandparents, and nobody could ask for a better family that mine!

There are, of course, many friends of mine back home who I also think about all the time. I’m sure they know who they are, as the list is a bit long to name all.

But what got me to write all this, is because earlier this evening, I was talking to my mother via the Internet, and then she mentioned that my sister, Selina, and nearly five years old, keeps asking where I am. I’m sure I’m safe to say that I’m very close to my young sister, even though there’s about 15 years between us. I often take her in the car to places, to visit our grandparents and other family members. I wouldn’t like to compare the relationship between us to our brothers, though. But me and my sister are rather close, I guess. Apparently, she has the same characteristics and personality as me when I was her age. I’m too young to remember a lot of detail about it, but even now, I can see myself when I see her. It’s weird, but it’s nice to see.

But to have a sister is something I always wanted to have. I have two younger brothers, and after the youngest, Lloyd was born, I thought I’d never have a sister then. And I always wondered what it would be like. And then, at the early stages of my mother’s pregnancy, I dreaded of what will become. I didn’t want a brother again, even though in the end, I’ll be happy whatever. And when I heard the ‘blunt’ news from my father of having a sister, I was all for it. I was looking forward to the day when there was finally a girl in the family.

And since she was born, she has been an important part of my life. And I’m happy to have a sister like Selina. And sometimes, I find it weird being so far away from her for so long, when we were often together in the same room. Admittedly, she can be annoying sometimes when she begs to change the channel to watch some people dressed up as fat aliens eating plastic toast, or when she shoves a sticker book on top of the newspaper asking you to stick things in it, or when she even manages to kick you off the computer so she can play games she can’t play. But that’s how kids are at that age. And looking back at it, it’s comical on how they act and behave. And I think, it’s the wicked and mischievous, yet loving behaviour of hers that I miss mostly.

I also noticed that, when Cellan or Lloyd (my two brothers) come home from college or work or a weekend away, Selina doesn’t tend to greet them like me, she may be still lying on the settee or at least wait by the door. If I’ve been away for a weekend, maybe even for the whole day, she hears my (distinctively sounding) car going up the street, and presses against the upstairs window, and then, before I park the car, she’s standing on top of the steps outside waiting for me. Maybe she does that with the others, but I haven’t seen it.

I don’t know what it is, or what makes it happen, but the two of us are close. Very close, I guess. And hopefully it’ll stay that way, even though I’m not there. I won’t even be there for her fifth birthday. But I’m sure I’ll be there in spirit!

But for everyone, the hardest part of being away is being away from home, family and friends. And one reconciliation is that I’ll be seeing them again soon. And until then, I think I can hold out, as so can everyone else!

Selina in the most recent photo I have of her.

Posing for the camera in one of those funny expressions she often does.

Bless...

Der Rheinturm

The Rheinturm. For those who don’t know what it is, it’s the tallest building in Düsseldorf, Germany. It transmits the signals for radio and television, and it even has a restaurant on top. How original.

However, what is original is what’s on the wall of the tower. I knew of it before, but never actually seen it. I went to the city last week for some course type thing with other assistants, and we visited the Landtag, which is the parliament house for Nordrhein-Westfalen and also happens to be neighbours with the tower.

And going through my photos, I kept looking at the dots of light going up the tower. White, red and yellow dots of light, and these lights kept changing and flashing. It’s intriguing when looking at it. Such an original thing. And what is it?

The world’s largest digital clock.

Now, when we think of digital clocks, we think of squared-off numbers made of lines, which blink on your wrist.

But digital doesn’t have to be just made of numbers. Digital is something computerised or electronically driven. So even lights or anything can be a clock, as long as they represent the numbers of the clock, of course.

So, how can a series of blinking lights be a clock?

It’s quite simple, really. On this particular clock on the Rheinturm, it is divided into three sections, each dividing into two sub-sections. Reading from the top, we have hours in 10s, then the hours in 1s, then the minutes in 10s and then the minutes in 1s and then the seconds in tens and then the seconds.

Each main section is divided by red lights. The only lights not to change.

So… how does it all come together?

The seconds start from the bottom up. So, one second shows 1 white light. Two seconds show 2 white lights. Three seconds show 3 white lights. And so on.

When is reaches the tenth second, the first light on the sub-section above (the seconds in 10s) light up. And the seconds start again. So, for the twelfth second, there are 2 second lights, but one 10-second light. And the process carries on this way, by every ten seconds, another light on the 10-second section lights up. Such as 4 second lights and three 10-second lights are lit for 34 seconds.

When is comes to the 59th second, there are 9 second lights and 5 10-second lights visible. And the 60th second (or first minute) is shown by the first 1-minute light showing. And then the process starts again until the tenth minute. And when the time comes for 9 minutes and 59 seconds to pass (which will show as nine 1-second lights, five 10-second lights and nine 1-minute lights), the first 10-minute light will show.
This all repeats itself in the same way, up until the 59:59, only a second before the first hour. Then all those lights will switch off, and then the first 1-hour light will glow. And the process starts again for that hour.

And when the time is 0959 (in the morning, remember that these Germans believe in 24 hour clocks), the lights on the tower will be showing the nine 1-second lights, five 10-second lights and nine 1-hour lights. Then a flash of all the lights will happen, then they’ll all disappear, apart from one. Which will be right up top on the 10-hour section. But it’ll only be by itself for a second.

And then the process starts all over again.

And then it goes through all that during the day and into the evening, until 1959 (the time, not the year).

So, for eight o’clock in the evening, there’s another big flash of those lights, just like 10 in the morning. But then, after that, there are two lights in the 10-hour section. Meaning the time is 2000 hours. Or 8pm.

So, when it’s coming up to midnight, the light will be showing as (for 23:59): nine 1-second lights, five 10-second lights, three 1-hour lights and two 10-hour lights.

But because the day has 24 hours, it doesn’t go any further. There are no more lights. So the whole thing is restarted from scratch.

But looking at it, it’s very interesting, and also logical to work out. It isn’t as easy as looking at a couple of numbers, but it’s very original. Though it seems doubtful it’ll catch on in the wrist watch market, it’s something that will attract people, intrigue people and get them thinking for once.

To see a smaller online version of the clock in action, there’s a website which is on computer design, and mentions the clock and a li’l diagram of it ticking away.

http://www.behind-the-web.com/index.html

The Rheintur and the Landtag. The time here is 18:15:49.

Click on the image to enlarge!

At the going down of the Sun, and in the morning...

Just a thought. I was reading a recent post from Emily on her blog, and it reminded me… what does Remembrance Day mean to the Germans?

To us British, and also Canadians and Americans and other nations of the Allied forces, Remembrance Day is one of the most important days on our calendars. Not only because it has all the elevens, but also because it’s the main (but not only) day of the year when we remember the fallen soldiers and also civilians during the wars over the past years.

Many people believe it’s just the Great War and the Second World War that are remembered. But what about the other wars fought across the world? The Korean? The Boer? The Falklands? Also the Vietnam and Gulf wars should be thought about. And not only wars of before, but also the wars, which are being fought today and the ones who are fighting in them should also be remembered and praised.

To me, Remembrance Day is an important day. From the beginning of November, I wear a poppy, and even in Germany, I wore a poppy. And it’s still on my jacket. Before leaving for Germany a couple of months ago, I brought poppies out with me, so I could wear one out here.

But out here, I don’t know if they realise what this poppy means. Even though they grew in the battlefields not far away, they seem oblivious to it. I have been wearing it everyday since the beginning of this month, and nobody asked me what it meant. Did they know already? Or didn’t they want to ask? Do the German people refuse to know about it and are trying to forget everything about the Wars?

However, to my class, I did ask them what was pinned to my jacket, and one reply I had was; “Is it a rose that your girlfriend gave you?” Seems a bit obvious that Remembrance Day (or at least our tradition of Remembrance Day) is alien to them. But also, even though these flowers grew in the battlefields on the French border, some French people don’t know what this poppy means.

Last week in Düsseldorf, I was with many other assistants, some of them French. And at the time, I was wearing a French rugby shirt with a poppy below the cockerel badge. And a French guy came up to me, and asked, “Are you wearing the French rugby shirt and the English Rose to show your support of rugby between us?”

First of all, I don’t wear English rugby shirts. And second, the poppy I was wearing resembled nothing like a red rose.

I don’t know how the French commemorate Remembrance Day, but I’m sure they do, anyway. Though it seems the European continent isn’t familiar with the way we do things. Though it may be interesting when and how they do…

Unfortunately, I was unable to attend the ceremony this year back home. For the first time in seven years, I was absent from marching with my Air Training Corps squadron and also the veterans in the parade. For the past three years, I was the Standard Bearer for the local Royal British Legion branch at Pontardawe, but earlier this year, I had to finish the post due to my time going to Germany.

Even though Remembrance Day and other days of commemoration are important to me, I don’t come from a military background. From the top of my head, only five people in my (large) family have been in (or still members of) the military. My maternal grandfather was in the RAF during the Second World War; the brother of my paternal grandfather was a Warrant Officer in the RAF; and my uncle and auntie were also in the RAF and my cousin is currently based in Mönchengladbach with the Army Air Corps. Though the rest also reckon that Remembrance Day is important and also contribute in one way or another.

But will Remembrance Day be as important in Germany as it is in Britain? Maybe. I think so. The Germans have obviously been through more than the Average Joe regarding the Wars, the East and the West, the Wall, and also the years of humiliation and, to some degree, tormenting by some people who still hate them for what the former governments have done. And it is less than twenty years ago since it has all been normal in Germany. And only time will tell when the German equivalent of Remembrance Day may or may not be one of the most important days in the calendar.

Whatever may come of it, what has happened cannot go away from the memories and thoughts of people. And people should remember and praise the ones who fought, suffered, died and survived during wars over the years. The Germans are not proud of what happened, even though it wasn’t the fault of the people. It was not the people who did it, but the governments at the time.

Before coming to Germany, one of the locals at the pub said, “Why the Hell do you want to go to Germany to learn German and teach them English? They’re all Nazis! They killed us; your grandfather was fighting against them! Blah, blah…”

But I told him, it is true that Germans killed British, but they were ordered to. And they’re not Nazis, they’re Germans, Two different things, there. The government sent people to war. The government brainwashed the people into Nazism and fascism. But they are not proud of what happened, they want to forget that and make up for what they did. And today, Germany is a successful nation, with the largest European economy. And by going out there to teach them English, it shows that we’re not at each other’s throats anymore. And yes, they did kill us and we did the same to them. But what would you do in that situation? Kill, or be killed?

Today, many people are still ignorant to the relations between Germany and the countries who fought against them. Many people still think they’re Nazis and still go around locking people up in camps. Let them think that, but it’s them who are the racists in the end. And often, they don’t want to know the present situation, they don’t care that the Germans make the best cars, they don’t want to know that half of their electrical products are German, they don’t want to know that Germany is en par with Britain. They still want to believe that Germany is still run by an eccentric Austrian with a funny moustache.

But with this attitude still around, could it be possible for Germany and the Germans to fully come to terms with what happened more than half a century ago? Could it be possible for Germany and the Germans to commemorate the wars like us?

Things like these don’t happen overnight. It may still take a long time before everyone forgives Germany for what has happened. Until then, German people will quietly do it their own way and in their own time. And who knows, maybe the German population will be wearing the poppy.

But until then, Lest We Forget.

The Layout

After posting the blogs about my adventure… I noticed that the photos were placed in odd places. Just to point out, that it’s a bit difficult trying to put things where you want them on here. The feature for the photos and where to place them is a bit crap. And the preview lies, too.

And when I want to change the alignment on a paragraph, the whole text shifts with it. Must computer and technology be that awkward? Why can’t it just do what it’s told, instead of deciding to do its own thing?

Trains, Changes and Automobiles

Tuesday, 4 November 2008.

School is finally over, and therefore time to hastily make my way to the train station in time for my train back down Süd to Bingen. The train journey was over three hours long, I left at half past two, and had to be at the car park before seven that evening, otherwise, my car would be once again locked up.

But just like the night before, the train journey was rather boring. But I did have my phone and camera this time! So it wasn’t all so bad. I also had a writing book with me, in which I wrote all this to occupy myself, and in case I forgot what went on!

So… got on the train at the station in Recklinghausen and happened to site behind some drunk teenagers who made quite a bit of noise… vulgar and otherwise. In the end, this Turkish guy had a right go at them for saying something about the Turks. Was interesting. But they shut up after that… or went quieter, at least.

This train journey would be better that the one from the last night, this time, it was daylight, it was warmer, I had stuff to pass the time, and there wasn’t any long waits, and each platform I needed was always next to the one I got off. Cushty! And the changes were at the same places as before, Essen, Köln and Koblenz.

The sign for Essen station. I was getting closer...

And I got to Bingen Hauptbahnhof at six o’clock, and quickly made my way to the car park to retrieve my car. But I had trouble getting out once I got there. I didn’t know where I could play for the parking. I looked for signs everywhere and eventually found the machine behind a door signed ‘Notausgang’… even though it was also the door to the shopping centre above. And who puts access to the machine and store behind a door, which is only signed as the emergency exit?

This car park was not making any good impression on me.

So, at the machine, I put in my card. 24 Euros parking fee. I’d have preferred to play Monopoly’s free parking…

And where do I put in the notes? There’s a coin slot, but I have not got any coins adding to 24 Euros. And there was another slot, wasn’t signed for notes, and it looked a bit too wide for them. So I went upstairs to the service centre in the middle of the store and asked this guy about it. He seemed to be happy to speak in English, even though he couldn’t. My German was better, but he didn’t want to speak it. Idiot.

So he explained that the wide slot is for notes, after all. So I went back downstairs and started to pay. And it took me a while to get to the payment bit… as there were only two buttons, and one of them was to cancel. And as I was paying, the guy just appeared in the lift and asked it I was alright… I wish I could have told him this whole story. He seemed to be fond of the word ‘bye’, too…

Mein PKW!

So… I eventually got out of that place (I even managed to use the barrier machine on the other side of the car)! I just wanted to go home… and so I made my way onto the Autobahn, and after a couple of hours driving, I was back in Recklinghausen once more with my car!

I bet John McCain was having a better day in all…

It's a Long Way To Recklinghausen

Monday, 3 November 2008, and Tuesday, 4 November 2008.

Now for the epic adventures back to Recklinghausen.

A lot of people know that I really don’t like public transport. I much prefer to go by my li’l ol’ car. I prefer my car, because it’s more convenient than the bus and train. I can go wherever and whenever I want, and it isn’t late! It doesn’t smell as bad, either.

But, for once, the Deutsche Bahn, instead of being late and expensive and confusing, was in the spotlight. It had to do. I depended on it more than ever. And I never thought I’d say that!

So, with my timetable and ticket, I was ready to go. And I knew it was going to be a boring journey. My phone and camera batteries died. I had nothing to read or write with. But until Koblenz, I had the company of Laura and Emma, and we amused ourselves by reading out newspaper articles and did vocabulary tests. Because everyone knows, we’re too chic for school!

After Koblenz, the journey went a bit boring. I got to Köln, waited for five minutes. Got on a train to Essen. Got to Essen. This time, there was about a fifty-minute wait. And being midnight, nothing was open at the station (which seemed like a building site, anyway).

I was also freezing cold, and instead of standing at an empty and dark platform just waiting for a dose of frostbite to abuse my cold (I had been ill the whole time!), I decided to in search for a watering hole in the centre. So, I eventually found a bar that was open. So, I occupied myself with a glass of Pils.

And next door, there was this red carpet and lights and stuff. A few old 1940s cars were parked outside and a lot of security and people with cameras and stuff. It looked like a film premier or something, and then a big group of people came and entered the building, but they were all dressed in 1940s style fashion. It was a bit random. But anything out of the ordinary was welcome to an otherwise boring night.

The time came to get the train, which had already arrived and was waiting. So I may not have had to go to the pub after all! But that’s a ridiculous idea.

So I got on the train and I was off again. This time to Recklinghausen. I sat on these nice and comfy seats, which were through this glass door, and I was there for quite a while. There was nobody else on the train. I had the carriage to myself (apart from an empty beer bottle occupying the seat opposite)… but it was peaceful for once. I was glad that I was almost home!

However, when the train conductor checked my ticket, he pointed out that I was in first class seats and that I should move. So I did. I ended up on wooden-like seats. But even though I was a proud owner of a 94 Euro second-class ticket, and there was nobody else on the train, was it worth it to do that? He did seem a bit weird, though. Bless. But I found it a bit pointless moving me from one end of an empty carriage to the other end. And for the rest of the journey, he sat next to the first-class cabin door, as if I’d have gone back in there!

The train eventually arrived back in Recklinghausen! I swiftly left the empty train and the pedantic conductor to play with his clipboard. And after three and a half hours of Deutsche Bahning, I was so glad to be back. But in twelve hours time, I’ll have to make the same journey back…

Stations and Closing Times

Monday, 3 November 2008.

Today, we planned on going to Bingen, a small town on the Rhein, and not far form Mainz. Me and Rob went to meet a couple of fellow language assistants who are staying in the area, not sure how far exactly, but close enough!

We planned to meet at the train station, so I parked my car at this multi-storey car par and made our way. However, this place has two train stations at opposite end of the town, which is stupid because it really didn’t seem necessary. But it took a lot of time searching for a ‘small pub’ and a few phone calls to figure out that we were at the wrong station.

Me, Emma, Laura and Rob on a bridge.

So, eventually we met each other about half way, but not without me and Rob taking a scenic riverside path that lead us to a dead end and a few community service people. And we decided that the best side of town was our side, so we walked around there. Played with some Autumn leaves and a statue, took photos of a giant yellow duck and went to a pub for a bit.

All went über good and Rob’s train was due, so we left, said Tschüß and me, Laura and Emma made our way back to the carpark.

But… much to my disappointment, the carpark was locked, which was stupidly early to lock a shopping centre car park on a weekday (which was 7 o’clock), and only then I noticed small insignificant looking signs about the closing times.

So… I had no access to my beloved automobile. I had no access to my phone either, as the battery died on Saturday. I was rather screwed. I could have waited until 8 the next morning, but as it was absolutely freezing that night, and I had school in the morning, it was not going to happen.

The only sensible option left was to rely on the Deutsche Bahn. Me not being a fan of public transport, and with stupidly expensive fares, and with the reliability similar to that of a blind taxi driver in a foreign city, I was actually contemplating on staying in Bingen, or at someone’s place. But because of school, I had to go home, and then return the next day.

So, me, Laura and Emma went to the Hauptbahnhof (on the bad side) and waited for the train. The ticket from Bingen to Recklinghausen (changes at Koblenz, Köln and Essen), and an arrival time of 0108 after a three hour journey, and also the same journey back the next day, would cost me a total of nearly 100 Euros. I was not amused. Especially by the fact that the taps in the toilets soaked my arms and lower body, which didn’t go down well in the coldness outside.