Jan, 30 years old today, needs a "Jungfrau." ( A Virgin, that's if he can find one.)

Jan, a tenor in our choir is still unmarried at the age of 30.  Today, on his birthday, and according to tradition,  he had to clean the Rathaus steps until a virgin came along  and kissed him.  I offered, but I don't quite fit the bill, if you know what I mean.   Bottletops covered the Rathaus steps and the poor man had to sweep them clean with a toothbrush.   The photo below shows us watching him work, but he did get a few breaks,  when we drank a drop of Champagne and all said, "Cheers."  The photos below show some of the members of the "Chorverein Concordia Brunsviga" watching the poor man slaving away. 

I left after an hour and he was still doing his chores.   He changed into a rabbit outfit half way through, and the bottom photo shows him peering in vain into the distance,  waiting for the woman of his dreams to arrive.   Jan has a good tenor voice by the way.  The occasion was great fun in spite of the terrible weather, no summer here as yet!

We watch Jan clean the Rathaus steps as he waits to be kissed by a "Jungfrau."

From the right, some lady singers from the choir:  Renate, Maria, Erika, Ursula, Doris and Doris.

At the Rathaus steps, "Jan the Rabbit" searches for his "Jungfrau."

Haydn's "Nelson Mass" and English Daffodils for Henry.

I've launched into  long distance choir practising, as when I return to Devizes on Oct 7th, four days later on the 11th  I start singing again with Devizes Chamber Choir. www.devizeschamberchoir.org.uk  We have a new conductor, an American lady who is, I am reliably informed, a very good musician.  We will be singing our usual Christmas programme of Choir solos and Carols for the congregation. 

Today I bought a CD of Haydn's "Nelson Mass," as I start rehearsals of this work with the  "White Horse Opera Chorus" in late October.   www.whitehorseopera.co.uk    I'm playing the CD on repeat so that I can relearn the piece.   I last sang the Mass in West Sussex in 1979  with Steyning choir.   Just after Christmas rehearsals start with  "Marlborough College Choir." At Easter 2012 we are singing Handel's Messiah.  I'm look forward to a busy singing season.  

The daffodils in an English Country Churchyard are for my friend Henry from Hamburg who died last week.   It was he who introduced me to the German language way  back in the 1970's.  He adopted England as his homeland after coming to Scotland as a prisoner of war in 1945.  He met Monika his Swiss wife in England,  and with their two children, they made their home here.   We all enjoyed "German/Swiss Evenings" with cake, tea, beer and German.  I have them to thank for my life long interest in Germany and the German language.   Cheers/Prost Henry and Monika.

Daffodils in Lydiard Tregose Churchyard for Henry and Monika.

Riddagshausen Klosterkirche. (continued)

This detailed wood carving from the pulpit staircase in the Nave shows Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden.   So this is where all our troubles began, thanks!   The wood carving dates from 1615.  It is an amazing structure, as is the oak Baroque High Altar of 1735 in the photo below.  The lowest photo shows a general view of the Nave looking towards the High Altar.   More historical information can be found at:    www.klosterkirche-riddagshausen.de     I received news this morning of the death last week of  an old friend.  He had been ill for several years but is now at peace.   I feel rather melancholy at the moment, but I will be back later with more news from a very wet Timmerlah and Braunschweig.   Am I in England?

The Cloistered Church at Riddagshausen

Today Janet and I visited Riddagshausen and the Klosterkirche of St Marie.  It was founded in 1145 as a monastery by Cistercian monks, who formed a close knit community living a simple life, growing  their own food and attending religious services around the clock.   They even had to get up in the night, oh dear, not for me I'm afraid.   I will continue this write up tomorrow, as after this afternoon's guided tour, wandering slowing around the grounds, the herb garden and the fish ponds,  I am too tired to think and my feet are killing me.  I'll be back tomorrow, when I can write a lucid account of my wonderful visit.                      www.klosterkirche-riddagshausen.de

Cloisters

Carved wooden font cover.

Chaos Reigns in Weststadt.

"Schools out" in Braunschweig and the city has launched itself into mega roadworks and tram rail repairs.  My nearest tram stop at  Weserstrasse has trams that are, at the moment,  going nowhere, as the photo right shows.  I walked into Weststadt today to buy my ususal smelly cheese, only to find  the road surface ripped up and being replaced with very hot tarmacadam.  Chaos reigned!  The traffic and pedestrians had to pick their way through the gravel heaps, dump trucks, a huge steamroller and with men in high visibililty orange dungerees spreading and smoothing the tar with very wide rakes.   The area appeared a bit of a free for all.

I joined the audience that had gathered at the cross roads to watch the comings and goings.  I enjoyed the noise and the chaos, the smell of hot tar and the company of a group of elderly men with bicycles, shopping bags, assorted dogs and walking sticks.

The lowest photo, in contrast, shows an unharvested cornfield in Timmerlah.  The crops are being gathered and soon the fields will be bare,  bar the sparrows and crows that nibble the spilt seed.   I am reminded of "We plough the fields and scatter the good seed on the land,"  those lovely words from the harvest festival hymns of my childhood.    Our choir practises restart this evening after a three week break, so yippee, yet another evening singing to Johann Sebastian's  music.   

Henry the Lion and a Birthday Party.

I've acquired a  "Henry the Lion," a present from Monika and Ralph.  Henry has the "Braunschweig United" Football team motif embossed on his haunches.  He sits happily on my windowsill with his friends, from left: Norbert, Mr Lampe and Brian.    This morning I went into the city early  to buy a birthday lavender plant for Bettina's garden.  It was very hot, so I was pleased to come back to the green fields of Timmerlah.

This afternoon was Bettina's birthday party, (she is 21 again) and we all enjoyed, including two small children,  a nice afternoon eating cake and sitting on the terrace in the sunshine.  The weather is so much warmer and back to it's normal self.  It was a lovely day and I think I'll have an early night tonight,  parties, eating cake and doing nothing can be very tiring.

An Organ Recital in the Kaiser Dom, Koenigslutter.

Once again last night, I enjoyed an evening with Johann Sebastian Bach, my favourite man.  The concert was entitled, "Contrasts" and consisted of works by Bach, Cesar Franck, Jean Gillou and Schubert.  I tend to be rather conservative in my choice of music, but "Sagas 1 & 2 by Gillou, a modern French composer were an amazing powerhouse of sound.  Saga 1 sounded, with my eyes closed, like an industrial landscape charging up in the early morning.  I could hear the pounding of the machinery, the shrill whistles blowing, engines starting and faltering and the clank and grinding of metal on metal.  When the experience ended (it was pure evocative sound not music) there was a almost audible gasp from the audience.  I have never heard anything like it before. I must open my eyes to modern music and not be so blind.  www.kaiserdom-koenigslutter.de    Friends in the UK need to click "translate."  

The photo below shows the organ loft in the Kaiser Dom where  Etienne Walhain, the organist of Tournai Cathedral in Belgium sat and performed the wonderful sounds.  www.cathedraledetournai.be    See Wikipedia too.

The lowest photo shows a view of the candle lit high altar at Koenigslutter and the grave of Kaiser Lothar 111.  Once again Wikipedia has detailed information about this amazing, highly decorated building.  Ahhh, I was in paradise again last night.  On the way back to Timmerlah we stopped at a Gasthof in the St Magniviertal of Braunschweig and Monika, Ralph and I enjoyed a good pint of German beer and a chat,  it was a lovely evening.

View of the High Altar.

In the Botanical Gardens with Monika, Karin and Victoria Amazonica.

It was chilly, damp and generally unpleasant Monday, but we walked along the path beside the River Oker from the Theatre to the Botanical Gardens, where we found this Hydrangea blooming in spite of the sunless sky.   Karin, wearing red and Monika are standing behind the large specimen.  Behind them is a herb and spice garden, all neatly fenced in with a low, clipped hedge of Box.

We also found a warm place in which to hide, the tropical greenhouse with its huge "Victoria Amazonica" water lily.  Ahhh, so beautiful and it has a single white flower blooming.   Look carefully, Monika is waving from behind the potted plants.

The lowest photo shows two delightfully sculptured plant forms, (and me, the small but perfectly formed specimen in the middle.)   The plants are such simple forms and nestle in the verdant grass among the trees and flowers.   In spite of the cold weather we had a nice wander,  and afterwards went back to a coffee house opposite the Theatre for a cup of hot chocolate and a chat about the problems of learning our respective languages.   All in all, I had a lovely morning with two lovely friends.

"Blowing a Gale of Wind," that's East Anglian for, "It's very Windy."

I don't know whether you will be able to hear my words on this videoclip, there was such a wild wind blowing today that at times I gasped for breath.   The weather has been diabolical and so cold.  Today I put on the heating and I'm wearing socks and two sweaters.  I will never  ever moan about the hot weather again, at the moment I feel as if I am back in Devizes on a cold, drizzly November day. 

This weather makes me feel bone idle, I did not want to go out today, but thought I'd better get some exercise for my health and fitness.   I must have walked about 3.5 miles in the woods, and feel better for the exercise.   I came home to a nice cuppa and put my feet up.  

I've found a nice classics programme on the radio, rather like our "Classic FM" or "Radio 4."   Today seems to be a Bach and Beethoven day, wonderful music from two of Germany's most famous composers.   Tomorrow evening I am going to an organ concert in Konigslutter Dom with Monika and Ralph.  I know there is some Bach on the programme!    It's just started raining again here by the way.

Midday with Bach and the Afternoon with the Combine Harvester.

The Cathedral Organ.

Every Saturday at midday in the Cathedral is an organ recital.  There is no charge to listen, but I always give a donation at the end of the performance.  The cathedral was packed today to hear the Cantor, Ulrike Bloss, play Mendelssohn's  Prelude and Fugue in D Minor Op 37 and JS Bach's Fantasie and Fugue in C Minor BWV 537.   I sat in my usual seat, in the corner with the slender remembrance candles flickering gently in the subdued light.  I was soon in tears, a Cathedral and Bach's organ music  are guaranteed to make me need a packet of tissues and a pair of dark glasses!

It is cold and windy here, the everyday heat has taken its leave, and I've had  to wear my fleece jacket and socks once again!   I don't do "Wandering in the cold,"  so I came home at 3.30pm to work on my  German reflexive verbs that cause me so much trouble.    I'd just got stuck in when, what sounded like a noisy dumper truck, came thundering passed below my window.  I looked out to see the "yellow beast" pictured in the lower photos, harvesting the ripened cornfield outside my window.   It was a clever machine, gathering in the corn with its wide rotors, threshing it and spewing out the chaff onto the ground, all in one action.

My first thought was for the poor little mice who have suddenly lost their homes, and now that the grain is gathered, the sparrows and crows are having a "field day" on the leftover seeds.   The whole field was harvested in around an hour, and I was amazed to look out and find my lovely cornfield battered and flattened.  I've watched the corn growing since my arrival in April and I hope they don't scorch the field, it will smell terrible and the white smoke will ruin my washing!

A Day of Rest without Beer and Fish and Chips.

I deserve a rest!  Although I'm on permanent holiday, I still need a day off sometimes!   In the photo Meggie can be seen sitting on the top deck far right, you can just about make her out, as she waits for the 16.40 to Hamburg to depart.  This is a regional, double decker slow train, that can accommodate so many passengers.  We cannot have them in the UK because our ancient bridges are too low.  What a pity, they are great fun in which to ride and to enjoy a panoramic view of the countryside.   After our "goodbyes" I came straight home, gasping for English tea!

We had a final coffee together in the station cafe and arranged to meet again in Hannover to walk in the "Herrenhausen Gardens,"  a legacy from the Hannoverian Kings.  More information can be found on  www.wikipedia/herrenhausen   I have seen pictures of these Baroque gardens, but the nearest I've ever been to them is on Platform 4 at Hannover's main railway station where I'm usually eating a cheese and tomato baguette.

In the vast entrance hall at Braunschweig station is this detailed model of a German village and railway.  For a small fee you can make the trains race around the tracks. The lower photos show an "ICE" Intercityexpress, car carrying trucks, (Wolfsburg the VW Autostadt is not far from BS)  and various goods wagons.  It is a delightful model, and is always surrounded by excited children begging for money for the slot machine to make the trains move.  The trees and houses are particularly well modelled.

Cows, undisturbed in the foreground, continue to chew the cud!

"ICE" Intercityexpress in the forground, with half timbered houses behind.

VW cars from Wolfsburg, with a steam train pulling into the station.

Studying the Menu and Deciding on Fish and Chips.

Here it is, high in saturated fat, but it tasted wonderful.  My first plate of England's traditional dish since I arrived  in April, went down very well with a pint of German beer!  Ahhh Heaven!   Meggie went home on the 16.40 to  Hamburg this afternoon and I will miss her chats about English grammar, the beer and the fish and chips!  I am now back on salads.

The photos below show us sitting in a lovely cafe in the St Magniviertal, reading whilst waiting for our mugs of hot chocolate to be served.   The area reminds me of little villages in the South of France,  with their tree lined, wide, sandy squares, all waiting for the elderly Boules players to awake from their afternoon naps and throw silver balls at one another.  The day was humid and muggy and it was from here that we walked to "Galleria" to buy the umbrella that was never needed.   The sun has shone since its purchase.  

Now Meggie has gone, it is back to my German email writing.   I have had a week off from my daily battle with the written language, although I spoke so much German with Meggie, when she got a little tired of speaking English.

On the Beach with Meggie at Okercabana.

We discovered "Okercabana" by accident on our boat trip yesterday, so today, as the weather was warm, we spent the morning on the artificial beach.  Watching the world and boaters go by from our deckchairs, whilst eating ice cream, was a very nice way to spend the morning.  The schools in BS have now closed for the summer holidays, so plenty of children were enjoying building sand castles and having much fun.    www.okercabana.de

We made a move at 1.30pm and walked to the Altstadtrathausmuseum to see the historical films about old Braunschweig.  One film I had not seen before, the history of the old railway station that closed in 1960 when a new one was opened.   The original facade has been incorporated into a new building that now houses a savings bank.

The musician below is one of many who play in the market squares.  This clarinetist was playing some "Haendel" when we first heard him, then Meggie requested some Bach for me, and he kindly obliged with some music that made me cry. (Bach always makes me cry.)  He was a Russian clarinetist and a really talented player.

The bottom photo shows a view of the "Quadriga" on top of Schloss Akaden, viewed from the rooftop car park of the Karstadt.  Meggie wanted a view over the city, but I think a better view will be had from one of the church towers that are open at Sundays.

A Tripboat on the River Oker.

Meggie folds her unused brolley.

The sky became slate black and heavy rain threatened, so before our river trip, Meggie decided to buy an umbrella.   The photo shows her trying to refold it, because no sooner had she bought it, then out came the sun again in a cloudless, blue sky.  I suggested she request a refund!

The 1.5 hour trip was lovely, in a boat made for 20 people + driver.   We viewed Braunschweig's parks and beautiful houses from duck level, it was cool and fascinating.   The photo below shows some passing canoeists, and gives you some idea of how tranquil and green was the water.

The bottom photo shows the boat station and blue canoes waiting to be hired.  I have to admit that we both had fish and chips again, with a pint of beer each.   This is getting to be a habit.   Tomorrow we visit the Altstadtmuseum to see some historical films of old Braunschweig.   I'm not sure that this evening I can manage to eat another plate of fish and chips, although the beer will be no problem.

Passing canoeists.

The boat station.

Meggie Visits me from Hamburg

These pumpkins have nothing to do with Meggie, they are growing at the bottom of Janet's garden and the plant is becoming so big, she doesn't know what to do with it.

Meggie arrived at 12.45pm from Hamburg today, and I was so pleased to see her again.  We did our usual galloping act along the station platform, me as a reindeer and she as a rabbit. (we are both a touch mad.) She is staying in a lovely hotel, and after settling in we wandered into town, did a bit of sightseeing and shopping and then tonight had a meal and a beer.   I had "Fish and chips" for the first time in three months, and it tasted so nice, although not quite as good as the "chippie" in Devizes Market Place.    I am so tired tonight, all I want to do is get horizontal.

Tomorrow Meggie comes to Timmerlah for lunch, and then we will have another wander around the city, another meal and more beer!   Below is another lion, this time on a small trailer carrying  "Wolters Pilsener," which is brewed in their Braunschweig brewery.     More tomorrow, I must sleep.   Gute Nacht!

Nussberg and Franzsches Feld. (continued from yesterday),

Staircase down to the bunker in the ampthitheatre.

This stone staircase leading down to the bunker and dais at Nussberg,  is all that remains of the once huge ampthitheater seating 15,000 people and used for Nazi rallies.  It was a hot day, and to walk in the dappled sunlight and  imagine what these stones had witnessed,  was so very interesting.

Below, Janet and I are standing on the platform in Franzsches Feld, another place used to address Nazi rallies and troups.  I wonder if "He" stood here?   Goering certainly did when he visited Braunschweig and Nussberg.  A special road had to be  built here to  take him to his overnight accommodation.

Two attractive ladies on the platform at Franzsches Field.

Prinz Albrecht Park/Franzsches Feld/and the National Socialists.

Gun emplacement and bunker.

A really interesting day today, a visit to a park that once housed the "Thingplatz" an ampthitheatre that seated 15,000 people and was built by the National Socialists in 1935 for rallies.  There is also a platform for addressing troups and a bunker with an anti-aircraft gun emplacement on the top, looking out over the city.  It is so interesting to touch recent history, Hitler visited Braunschweig on several occasions and addressed a rally from here.  Nothing now remains of the huge ampthitheatre except a staircase that leads down to the bunker and dais.    

Wikipedia "Nussberg" has further reading about this place, or click  on the  links  below  for  more information. The park itself is lovely and  very popular with dog walkers, weekend strollers and sunbathers.   It has a huge monument to Prince Albrecht of Prussia who established the park in 1850.

I saw so much today, it is difficult to know where to start, but it is better to read online all the information.   The day was hot, I am tired and I will return tomorrow to finish this story.   I must make another cuppa.

 http://www.hitlerpages.com/pagina54a.html 
http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thingbewegung
http://www.vernetztes-gedaechtnis.de/franz.htm   
http://www.vernetztes-gedaechtnis.de/nussberg.htm

Janet and Guenter at the platform for addressing Nazi rallies.

The bunker in the ampthitheatre.

Platform in Franzches Feld for addressing Nazi rallies.

My Lovely Lion Bench is Back.

Lions are everywhere in Braunschweig and I wrote, with sorrow, a couple of weeks ago about the disappearance of my favourite lion seat outside Braunschweig Cathedral.  Well it is back, not quite in its same little alcove,  but just on the other side of the great portal.  How superior is my favourite lion, with his nose snootily in the air and with a great smerk on his face.  It is no wonder that children (and me) rub his nose everytime we sit near him.   I try to sit on this seat whenever I visit the Cathedral, and I get a little miffed with people who get there before me!

Below, with my seat in the background,  is a photo of a little bronze model of old Braunschweig, with the Domplatz in the centre, and the Lion Monument in the middle.  This too had disappeared for a time, and I thought metal thieves had been at work.  But no, the removal had been to allow for the building of easy access for the disabled into the Cathedral.   With the new ramp, it is all looking very smart once again.

I had a hot chocolate with Janet this afternoon in the "Graff" bookshop coffee shop.  It is nice to have a good chat in English sometimes after attempting to speak German all the time.   It is a wonderful bookshop, where you can hide, undisturbed in a corner, reading for days on end.

Mrs Sherlock Holmes and Family History.

I came across this indolent lion today whilst wandering from the City Residents' Office (it was closed) back to the city centre.  Braunschweig was established by "Henry the Lion" in 1129-1195 and lion statues are much in evidence around the city.  Henry and his English wife Matilda are buried in the cathedral, were my favourite "pondering the meaning of life"    bench outside the main portal was supported by two lions.   (It is still missing.)

I returned to the city centre and visited the Archive, searching for information for Mark in Oregon about his family named Buehrig.   A very helpful young lady showed me the tome relating to the names and dates for which I am searching, but I had no luck.  She referred me to the Archive in Wolfenbuettel, which  Mark has already contacted in an online  search.   This certain Herr H Buehrig must have his birth registered somewhere in the locale.

The bottom photo shows the new bridge being built at Fellersleber Strasse Tore.  Work was started some years back but the original builder went bust, so all work stopped  and only now is it finally being finished.   I remember the site from last year when there was just piling on both sides of the River Oker.   It should have been finished last year but it provides a good place for watching men at work.