On Life's Sunny Side

Walk The Lines by Mark Mason - A Review

2012-01-28T14:27:00.001+01:00

The author walked the “London Underground overground”, as it is said in the subtitle. He “walked the lines” making his way on foot from one Tube station to the next following the respective lines. During this journey he met interesting people like a female cabby (black cab driver) apprentice and a “mind the gap” voice, and overheared everyday conversation. He also shares a lot of historical facts on buildings or areas he has been walking through. The walks include a night walk and one in deep winter shortly before Christmas.

The reader literally walks the streets with the author, seeing what he sees and hearing what he hears – all of course through the “filter” of the author’s eyes and ears, but nevertheless one gets a very good impression of the many different faces of the megacity and its people.

“Walk the Lines” is a real treat for everyone who loves London – not only the parts which tourists usually get to see, but all of it. As a “Londoner at heart” I thoroughly enjoyed reading it, giving me a little of the happy London feeling I miss so much during most of the time of my life, as I’m living far away and cannot visit the town even nearly as often as I would like (a London Tube station named “Stetten am kalten Markt” will sadly never become real and even the next airport is about 100 kilometres away from our remote little place in the south of Baden-Wuerttemberg). It was a good remedy for the symptoms of my londonitis – that is what I call the “illness” which makes me want to move to London and stay there for the rest of my earthly life. I think the londonitis comes from something one of the people the author talked to mentioned - that London was “full of misfits from all over the world … because [there] they can be themselves”. This was exactly my experience when I was studying at a college in London in 1987 / 88 (one of the best years of my life). I dressed in a way which would have taken me right into the newspaper or the nuthouse in the small town I came from – and even more in the village I’m living in now. In London nobody even looked at me because of that and I felt very safe in the anonymity.

The book made me want to do the same as the author did – walk (almost) all parts of London once in my life. On a rating of one to five stars this book gets six from me ;)

For the photo I wrapped it in my tubeline scarf (a scarf in the colours of the Tube lines), the pattern of which can be found in Lauren O’Farrell’s book “Stitch London”, another book for the London fan.

My 1 Euro per Day Experiment

2012-01-15T14:01:00.000+01:00

Even though we are sponsoring eight children in Armenia already and pay the therapy costs for one of them, I decided to do the 1 Euro per day experiment nevertheless, on which I wrote in the previous blog post. Simply to see what is possible (with GOD's help always more than one thinks). Each day I put one Euro in an old savings box which had belonged to either me or one of my brothers and of which I didn’t even know it still existed – until I noticed it standing on a sideboard in my middle brother’s living-room. When I exclaimed “Oh, you still have it???” he gave it to me, and after I had put it on my own desk I soon realized what it was good for.

However, the money which I’m saving in there is not meant to sponsor another child, but to support projects which are important to me. No, sorry, I will not take any suggestions, as there are already more projects on my (invisible) list than I will ever be able to support! The money for January will be donated to support the Arise Conference.

The 1 Euro per Day Experiment

2011-12-18T14:21:00.000+01:00

It is always impressive to see how much money is being given for charity when famous people appear in telethons and ask for donations. Suddenly people open their wallets which are closed most of the year – except when spending money for one’s own luxury.

In particular, many people seem to be unwilling to give on a regular basis, for example sponsoring a child in need – in spite of the fact that the monthly contributions for a sponsorship are ridiculously low compared to what the children are getting. For app. 25 to 35 Euros (33 to 47 USD / 21 to 29 GBP) the sponsorship organisations care for the basic needs of a child – food, clothing, medical care and school supplies.

If you are not sure whether you could afford a child sponsorship I invite you to take part in a little experiment. On each day for one or two (or more) months put the amount of one Euro ( the approximate equivalent in your currency) in a savings box and see whether by doing this you have to do without something which you are REALLY and URGENTLY in need of. If this is not the case, take the money and decide what to do with it. It’s entirely up to you!

Would Jesus have used Social Networks?

2011-11-27T14:32:00.001+01:00

This question is difficult if not impossible to answer and so people like to answer this question according to their own preferences. I don’t know the answer either, but it is still funny to see what could have happened if social networks had already been there 2000 years ago :)

The Doctor's Lady by Jody Hedlund - Review

2011-11-13T13:56:00.001+01:00

Obviously they existed even during the 19th century – the true Christian missionaries to the Native Americans. Those, who showed them the love of Christ without trying to convert them to their own “superior” Europeanism in the first place, a mistake many missionaries all over the world had made, even until well into the 20th century.

“The Doctor’s Lady” is a historical romance novel based on the story of a missionary couple who had lived with the Nez Percé tribe for several years. The novel describes the long and exhausting journey of the main (fictional) characters, Priscilla and Eli, across the North American continent during the first half of the 19th century. Apart from the strains of this journey, they also have to deal with the growing complications in their relationship which started as a marriage in name to make it possible for them to become missionaries.

It is one of those books you can hardly stop reading once you started and which makes you rejoice and suffer with the characters. It’s exciting from the first to the last page! Very highly recommended, just like Jody Hedlund’s previous novel “The Preacher’s Bride”.

It's getting cold

2011-10-16T14:16:00.000+02:00

This is the time of year to switch on the heaters. However, we are still refusing to do so and only using the wood stove for as long as possible. This means that most of our current life at home takes place in the sitting room, as it is too cold in the other rooms to stay there for long. We also keep warm with warmer clothes and, if necessary, blankets.The reason why we are doing this is to save money.

A good side effect of it is that we get a little (though just a very little) impression of how it feels to have to live in a place without proper heating. Of course, we are still spoiled. Our home is well insulated, there is no draught, we have got windows instead of just plastic foil and it is not dripping through our roof when it rains. So despite our little retrenchment we are not nearly as bad off as for example the people who have to live in these huts in Gyumri in the north of Armenia:

By Gentle Powers

2011-10-01T18:16:00.000+02:00

I did not know there was an English version of this song / poem as well. While listening to it, please keep in mind that Dietrich Bonhoeffer, when he wrote this poem for his family, fiancée and friends, was in a Nazi prison and already knew that they would kill him – which they eventually did in April 1945, just weeks before the war was over.

Today I dedicate this song to Pastor Youcef Nadarkhani who is waiting for his execution in an Iranian prison. His only “crime” is that he became a Christian.

10 Years Ago Today...

2011-09-11T10:14:00.001+02:00

… at about 3pm CET my brother phoned my parents and me from work and told us to turn on the TV. A plane had crashed into the World Trade Center in New York. We saw how the smoke came out of one of the towers and assumed it had been a horrible accident. Then we heard the screams of the people and the horror-stricken voice of the reporter when another plane crashed into the second tower. It was surreal to me and I had the feeling that this was not really happening, but at the same time I knew that it was something much worse than an accident. We saw the people waving from the windows, climbing alongside the façade of the building and jumping or falling in a desperate attempt to save their lives or even to die a quicker death. Eventually the towers collapsed and then we knew that it was over for all the many people who had still been inside. By and by we also heard about the other hijacked planes and more people killed.

In the following years many more people – and many of them innocent - died in the attempt of the free world to defend its freedom against those who just abuse our liberty and tolerance to install cruel dictatorships. However justified this defence is, as it is the duty of a state to defend its people, we should not fall into the trap of wanting revenge – at least not those among us who are Christians!

“Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everybody. If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God's wrath, for it is written: It is mine to avenge; I will repay, says the Lord. On the contrary: If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head. Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.” - Romans 12:17-21

End of Summer Break

2011-08-14T11:37:00.001+02:00

This song goes well with the topic, I think… ;)

I can hardly believe I haven’t posted anything here for so long. However, taking a break from my blogs did not mean taking a break from life, of course. I have been busy with two novels – published one meanwhile, still busy with the second. This was okay, as we didn’t have much of a summer this year – or rather, we had the summer in spring, with a lot of sun and warm weather, but since June it has been more or less a mixture between autumn and spring. Sometimes cold humid weather, sometimes warm humid weather. I wouldn’t have cared so much, if this humid weather had not caused me pain. My head was aching often and so were the scars and adhesions inside my body. My body needs dry weather to function reasonably well, so this summer was not for me :(

Palaces and Calluses

2011-06-19T16:40:00.004+02:00

This rather unusual combination of words is the title of the debut novel by Rebecca Woodhead. I will not tell you anything more about it, but rather let the author talk about herself and her book. I suppose what she has to tell you is much more interesting than anything I could write here ;)

You can buy the book – highly recommended by me :) - via Rebecca’s website!

As you probably have noticed, the video had originally been made for someone else’s blog, but I couldn’t find the URL for it.

Waiting for our BlackBerrys

2011-05-21T15:04:00.004+02:00

After Hermann’s old Nokia had been dead for a few days and only awoke today and mine is having problems, too, we decided to make a huge step forward in technology and order smart phones. We opted for Curve 3G 9300.

One important reason why we decided to buy BlackBerrys is that they have got keypads on a regular basis. We didn’t want touch screens which become greasy as we have seen on other people’s devices. Another reason is that BlackBerrys are often used by companies to equip their leading personnel, and they wouldn’t buy cheap stuff, would they? So we feel safe with them quality-wise. A third reason is the “family connection” ;) One of my brothers is working for Research In Motion (RIM), the BlackBerry Company, as an engineer, so we had the luck to get very good advice on which ones of the BlackBerrys would be best for our particular purposes. Asking him saved us a lot of time searching the internet for information and reviews, as we would have had to do with smart phones by other companies. There is nothing worse than reviews contradicting each other by 100% which make things terribly confusing, and this is what happens often enough!

So now we are eagerly looking out for the e-mail telling us that the package is on the way and can hardly wait to have the BBs in our hands :)

40 Years Later

2011-05-02T13:39:00.003+02:00

As I had mentioned before Hermann and I traveled to South Tyrol over Easter. For me it was a journey to my past as I had been there with my family for several vacations about 40 years ago. Hermann and I now stayed in the same village in the same hotel. Of course many things have changed, the village has grown much bigger and the hotel had been modernized. Not everything had changed completely, though, as you can see below :)

The place where I’m sitting on the photo was the one where my grandfather used to sit surrounded by the family during breakfast when he was a guest in the hotel; this table had always been reserved for him. The former breakfast room is now an adjoining room of the inn.

This is little me on my 5th birthday in 1971 sitting on the outside of the bay where my grandfather used to sit inside.

The same place 40 years later. Everything is looking more beautiful now, of course, but I was a little sad that the old letter box was gone which had been a relict from the times when the house used to be a coaching inn long ago.

Helene, the young woman on this photo of 1971, was the hotel keepers’ daughter; she and her younger brother were like friends for my brother and me when we were there.

Helene is now herself the hotel keeper and she was the one who modernized the hotel very beautifully; she has placed lots of flowers and decoration everywhere which makes the place cozy; the photo shows the two of us in the lovely new breakfast room which is designed like a winter garden.

I think it does not happen very often that the favourite places of one’s childhood are still attractive when one has grown up, especially after such a long absence. This was the case here, however. I have changed and the place has changed as well, but we are still fitting together ;) As Hermann liked it very much, too, we are planning to travel there soon again, maybe next year.

View From Our Balcony

2011-04-10T16:17:00.002+02:00

Listen to the Spring

2011-03-20T13:37:00.001+01:00

Carnival Parade

2011-03-06T16:56:00.008+01:00

Some impressions of this year's carnival parade in our village:

Guggenmusik

2011-02-20T13:35:00.003+01:00

Guggenmusik is a special kind of music which is part of the carnival taking place in the Alemannic regions of Germany, Switzerland and Austria. Here are two of the many different bands (in the first video you will be able to recognize the song from around minute 2:15 ;) ):

Crime Time

2011-02-13T12:04:00.002+01:00

I’m a great fan of criminal stories – both as books and films. One of my favourite crime series at the moment is “Criminal Minds”. This is mainly because of two special characters, Dr. Spencer Reid (Matthew Gray Gubler) and Penelope Garcia (Kirsten Vangsness). Both are hyper smart and have special gifts – Reid has got an eidetic memory, for example. Here are some scenes of the series with both of them:

There are other crime series with freaks and nerds (when I use these expressions, I always mean this in a positive sense), like Navy CIS (McGee and Abby), Psych (Shawn) and of course Numb3rs (Professor Charlie Eppes a.k.a. David Krumholtz):

I think I like them, because all of them – regardless how big the difference is – are closer to my own self than any of the “normal” characters :)

Everyday Blogging

2011-02-06T12:25:00.006+01:00

I really admire those of you who are keeping up their blogs by writing about everyday happenings. For me this is difficult, because what I find interesting in other blogs I always think others will find boring in mine. I have just finished reading “Jane Austen’s Letters” and I’m astonished how she fills many pages just writing (usually to her sister Cassandra) about what she has done all day, who she met and of course the latest events among family and friends. Of course, personal letters are different than a blog which can be read by anyone. One cannot tell too many details, but I think my inability to write about everyday things is that I’m not a “small talker”. Or rather, I’m just learning to be one. Meanwhile I can talk quite a while about “the weather and the state of the roads”, as Jane Austen would put it ;)

When I think about last week I suppose my most interesting days have been Friday and Saturday. One reason was that from Tuesday till Thursday I suffered from low blood pressure and even had to cancel a dentist appointment. On Friday Hermann and I attended a birthday party and in the evening I released a book into the wild. This is the BookCrossing term for putting a book where other people can find it and hopefully take it home and register it at the BookCrossing site. So I left a book on a park bench (wrapped into a plastic bag, of course). Yesterday morning it had still been there, but I’m hoping for many passers-by today afternoon, especially as the weather is fine, and that one of them will take the book.

Yesterday we received the good news that one of the Armenian children we are sponsoring no longer needs our help, because the family is doing much better financially. We also received the request to support another child, which we agreed to. Astghik is 12 years old and suffering from cerebral palsy and eye problems. As if this wasn’t enough her father left the mother before the child’s birth, so the two have to get along by themselves. At least the girl is able to attend school despite her disabilities and via the sponsorship she can get some medical help, too, apart from other things like food and clothing.

This afternoon I hope to be able to go for a walk, but this depends on what Miss Migraine says.

Nostalgia Tour

2011-01-23T12:46:00.003+01:00

I suppose it’s a sign of getting old when people start visiting the places of their childhood. I’m going do that in April of this year. Hermann and I will be travelling to Trens, a tiny village in South Tyrol where I spent several holidays with my family when I was a child. We will stay in the same hotel which is still a family business, now run by the daughter of the previous owners. She still remembered me when we wrote to her. She and her brothers were already young adults at that time. It always felt like home when we were there, everyone was kind and patient with us children. Of course I’m aware that this feeling will most likely not return when I visit again, because so much has changed. The old half-farm-half-hotel has turned into a modern place during the past years – it had to, I guess. Nonetheless I’m looking forward to seeing it all again. Here are some photos:

1970 at a festival parade; I (aged 4) sit on my father's shoulders, my younger brother (aged 2) on my mother's (so I believe); on the right is my father's mother

1970: I wasn't afraid of the cows ;) The cows wore bells round their necks which I loved; still like to hear cow bells and I guess it is because of these childhood memories

1970: with my mother and brother

1971: on my 5th birthday in front of the hotel (wonder whether the bench and table are still there or not)

1971: at a festival parade with the hotel owner's daughter (the current hotel owner)

The Nazi King

2011-01-20T14:08:00.001+01:00

75 years ago today, on 20th January 1936, the British Empire got a new king. It was Edward VIII who became most famous in the world for his tragic romance with the twice-divorced US-American Wallis Simpson. He was only king until December of the same year when he stepped down and later married Mrs. Simpson. Many people still admire his loyalty to the woman he loved or at least pity him for the “cruelty” of his family and government.

Yesterday I watched a TV documentary which showed the story in a very different light. Obviously the affair with Mrs. Simpson was not the main problem the British government had with him and when they forced him to step down this affair was only secondary. The main reason was that the King proved to be an admirer of Adolf Hitler and tried to influence the British policy accordingly. Even after he had stepped down and left Britain he continued to give all information he received about his country’s policy and military decisions to the Nazis. In return Hitler invited him to Germany and addressed Edward’s wife as “Royal Highness”, a title which the Royal Family denied her. There is evidence that Edward tried to get back on the throne with the help of the Nazis and wanted to establish an absolute monarchy in Britain. After the war he denied his admiration for Hitler and support for his regime.

Fortunately for Britain and the monarchy, his younger brother and successor, King George VI, was a very different sort of man. He was sensible and brave, happily married with two daughters - the older one is now Queen Elizabeth II – and he refused to leave London with his family, even when the German bombs hit the palace, because he wanted to stand by his people. Just recently he became a “film star” by “The King’s Speech” – actor Colin Firth (“Mr. Darcy”) was awarded a Golden Globe for this role.

How I Persuade People

2011-01-16T16:28:00.002+01:00

Did this test recently:

You Persuade People Through Logic

You feel like facts should be enough to persuade people, and you always focus on making a reasonable argument.

You never appeal to emotion - you feel like it's beneath you. You are much more concerned with evidence.

Once someone is convinced of the facts, you show them the logical steps to reach your conclusion.

You rather have someone totally convinced and persuaded than not, even if it is a lot of work.

How Do You Persuade People?

Blogthings: We're Not Shrinks, But We Play Them On the Internet

Call me Ms. Spock ;)

New Year, New Opportunies

2011-01-09T14:45:00.001+01:00

I hope you had lovely holidays and your new year started smoothly! As I had posted before we spent the holidays with my family. We enjoyed it as always, but somehow I didn’t find time to do much on the computer – I didn’t continue with my novel during that time and I didn’t post on my blog as you can see.

In my last post I told you about my resolution, and I can tell you that until now at least I was able to keep it, even though several things happened which could have made me terribly worried. However, with GOD’s help I remained calm about these issues, which was completely contrary to my overanxious disposition.

I’m curious what this year will bring – and I’m sure it will not be boring :)

Don't Worry, Be Happy 2011

2010-12-19T14:53:00.002+01:00

Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. – Matthew 6:34

Usually I don’t have any New Year’s resolutions, because I know I cannot keep them anyway ;) However, I make these words by Jesus Christ my resolution for next year and I’m determined to keep it!

12 Days to go...

2010-12-12T12:23:00.002+01:00

… until Christmas Eve! This is the day we celebrate Christmas here in Germany. On the day before Hermann and I will travel “home” to my family. Even though we are all grown up now and two of us four children are married (one with children of his own) and no longer living “at home”, we are still celebrating Christmas almost the same way as we did when we were kids. This is mostly owing to my father who still puts up the Christmas tree (which in Germany is usually not put up until Christmas Eve), decorates it and places the gifts in his living room. None of us is allowed to enter the room before the evening. In the evening we first visit the graves of late relatives and light candles there and then we return home. Our father goes into the living room and rings a bell, the same bell he rang when we were children and then we all enter the room. I enjoy celebrating Christmas this way, it brings back my childhood :)

2nd Sunday of Advent

2010-12-05T14:05:00.001+01:00

Blog Reduction

2010-11-28T11:58:00.001+01:00

Until now I have run five blogs; that worked well in my “previous” life, but since we moved (the new apartment still requires a lot of work until everything will be completed) and especially since I have started writing books again I simply don’t have time for this any more. Therefore I keep the two blogs I get most feedback on: “Leben auf der Sonnenseite” and “On Life’s Sunny Side” (this one). There will be no more posts on the other blogs.

If you have got...

2010-11-12T14:44:00.002+01:00

... any German speaking friends who like to read romance novels, please let them know they can win a copy of my novel on my German blog. They can take part in the competition, no matter in which country they are living. Thank you :)

Progress

2010-11-06T15:23:00.001+01:00

Meanwhile our apartment looks more like a home than like a building site. However, it is not over yet. The two bathrooms, one of the two kitchens and some small things still have to be done. I’m still busy unpacking boxes, but I’m confident that I will make it before December. Looking forward to putting up the Christmas decoration, too :)

Also my debut novel is out, you can see it on the Amazon.de website and if you know German you can even read parts of it there ;)

Are You a Tortured Genius?

2010-09-26T17:51:00.002+02:00

You Are 91% Tortured Genius

You totally fit the profile of a tortured genius. You're uniquely brilliant - and completely misunderstood.

Not like you really want anyone to understand you anyway. You're pretty happy being an island.

Are You a Tortured Genius?

Blogthings: We'll Tell You The Truth... Someone Has To!

Okay, so if nobody will like my debut novel it is not, because it is badly written, but because I have been misunderstood. Very comforting ;)

In Our New Home

2010-09-19T17:08:00.000+02:00

The moving part is now over, thank GOD! However, some rooms in our apartment are still building sites and cannot be used properly. Also we do not have a telephone / internet connection yet, so it is just mobile phone and (slow) mobile internet for the weeks to come.

Anyway, I like living in this little town (which is not even officially a town, but just a village). I have got more infrastructure than in the previous place (which was officially a town), a greater variety of shops and three supermarkets. I know that doesn’t sound much, but in Mühlheim we just had one little supermarket and a small grocery shop within walking distance. For the pharmacy and the post office I had to climb a steep hill. For everything except every day items I had to go to another town. Now I have got most shops (plus pharmacy and post office) within easy walking distance which is very convenient as I don’t have a car.

On Friday we officially gave the keys of the old house to the new owners, a very kind Italian couple who have been living and working in Germany for about 30 years and now wanted a house with a garden. After all it was Hermann’s childhood home and his parents had built it, so we were happy to get such friendly new owners who really appreciate it, especially the garden which had been my mother-in-law’s favorite hobby. The woman looked as if she could hardly wait to take gardening tools into her hands ;)

Today I take a break from unpacking boxes – start again tomorrow!

It's Official...

2010-08-06T17:08:00.001+02:00

Our house is sold and we are going to move by mid-September.

My novel is finished, just have to do some editing. However, I will wait until after our move with the publishing as I have got too much work to do before.

Slow Blogging

2010-07-04T14:50:00.000+02:00

As you have probably noticed, I’m not blogging very much at the moment. This is for two reasons: firstly it is summer and at this time of year I usually am not so much in the mood for blogging; secondly I’m just writing my first novel and that takes a lot of time and creativity, of course. So I will reduce my blogging. I will just post when there is something new I feel like writing about. Please be patient with me. In case you are looking for me you can still find me on Twitter and Facebook ;)

More Delays

2010-06-23T17:25:00.001+02:00

While the problem with the loan is almost solved – we had to change the bank, though – there are now other delays, this time on the seller’s part. The house with the apartment we want to buy is owned by the town. Therefore they have to decide how the complex is now to be shared between them and us. Our architect had been very busy drawing up a plan and discussing it with the people involved. In the end the town council should have decided. On Monday they had their meeting, but it was not on the agenda – we have got no idea why not! The next meeting will be in four weeks’ time and if there is no other way we will have to wait until after that, before we can buy the apartment. So it will most likely be September (or even later?) before we will be able to move. Meanwhile I have doubts that it will ever happen at all!!! Who is next throwing stones in our way?

Waiting again

2010-06-17T19:47:00.001+02:00

Right now we are waiting again – this time there is a delay regarding the loan. Just a formal thing really, but it seems to be a problem. Everything else goes smoothly at the moment, so we hope that the loan problem will be solved in time, so that we can buy the apartment as soon as the other formalities are completed.

Meanwhile the whole house selling and apartment buying business reminds me very much of a dance like this one:

You move forward, backward, to the side, in circles, and by this slowly reach the end of the line. A dance is much more pleasant most of the time, though ;)

More Steps Forward

2010-06-05T11:23:00.001+02:00

We are still moving forward slowly but steadily with regard to our new home. Within the following two or so weeks the paperwork should be completed, so that we can hopefully sign the contract before the end of this month. Afterwards it is up to our architect and the craftsmen to get all the renovation work done while we are packing our things. This is probably not the greatest way to spend the summer days, but we are determined to move before the days are getting colder again!

A Small Step Forward

2010-05-18T20:00:00.001+02:00

Today we completed the extensive paperwork which is necessary to get a loan. Now the agreement has to be drawn up. From our side we leave this part to our broker who has been doing an excellent job already, while we know nothing about such things, and he will then explain all the small print to us. So all we can do now is wait – once again. Not too long this time, I hope!

One Step Back, One Forward

2010-05-06T20:26:00.001+02:00

The potential buyer doesn’t want the house now – the heating contractor made a quotation for a new heating system which everyone regards as far too high (we knew it before, that company is notorious for it) and which he cannot afford. So now we will take up a loan which we pay back when our house is sold, so that we can at least move forward and buy the new apartment. We hope to be able to do it sometime this month, so we can move before my birthday (July 24). Of course, the apartment needs some renovation, but that should not take too long. In the meantime I will dedicate myself to the task of packing up all our stuff, the mere thought of which horrifies me – at least until I can actually start with it.

Our weather is still like autumn, but at least I’m feeling a little better now and I do not think that it was gastritis; instead I had a migraine for the past two day, but that is over, too, for now.

So I see my life in a brighter light again ;)

Frustrated

2010-05-02T17:59:00.001+02:00

I’m in a state of frustration these days.

Firstly, because the decision whether our house will be sold soon or whether we will have to take up a loan is dragging on and on at the moment. The potential buyer is waiting for a quotation by the heating contractor and what his bank will say on the quoted price or something like that. Hopefully we will know more before next weekend.

Secondly, because the weather has suddenly decided that it is autumn, so we are having rather low temperatures and lots of rain. According to the forecast it will remain like this at least until Friday. We had switched our heater off already, but now it is on again and I only hope that we do not have to buy any more oil!

Thirdly, because I’m not feeling well and wonder whether it is gastritis or just the weather – could be the weather, as I’m reacting extremely sensitive to it, but until either I or the weather get(s) any better I cannot tell.

Strange World...

2010-04-25T17:08:00.003+02:00

Why is there so much hatred against Israel? It is a small country, the only democratic one in the Middle East and constantly in danger of being overrun by its neighbors most of whom deny this country the right to exist. Despite its faults and political errors (which are not worse than those of most countries in the west none of which is in such a dangerous situation) it should have the sympathy and support of all democratic countries and people. Instead one gets the impression that Israel must be one of the worst human rights violators in the world and the biggest threat to world peace! This is completely incomprehensible to me - unless, as a German journalist once put it, Israel is said to be the biggest threat to world peace, because it is a thorn in the side of those who are really the biggest threat to world peace, but naming these people / countries is politically incorrect and dangerous, too... It is not dangerous to demonstrate against Israel, because they do not send their terrorists out for suicide attacks on civilians in western countries - others do and therefore it is probably better to appease those by bashing Israel!

London Impressions April 2010

2010-04-17T13:03:00.008+02:00

Home Again

2010-04-12T14:03:00.006+02:00

On Friday evening we returned from our London trip and meanwhile I have also returned home mentally (after our trip to Armenia last year it had taken weeks to get my brain set on “home” again). We had a great time and I was happy to see the town again after 22 years (I do not count a very short visit in 2005 when I wasn’t able to see much of it). Many things have changed, but the megacity atmosphere which I enjoyed so much during my year there was still the same. Also the weather was nice most of the time (except one day with rain). Hermann was very impressed and found London “addictive” – I completely agree on that ;) If there is one place I would really find it perfect to live it is this crazy megacity!

Our House

2010-04-01T18:03:00.003+02:00

It is "inofficially" sold now, and we hope that it will be "official" very soon. Before this will happen, though, we will enjoy a week in London, so I now say Happy Easter already to those who celebrate it!

Waiting...

2010-03-28T15:42:00.002+02:00

After having resolved on taking up a loan to buy our new apartment everything is now on hold again. The reason is that last Monday we had visitors who are very likely to buy our house. If they do we don't need the loan. We hope that they will finally decide in the course of this week, because we can hardly wait to move forward and therefore we need to know as soon as possible whether we will have to take up the loan or not. Our plans are to buy our new apartment in April, so that the necessary renovation and maintenance can be started soon and we will be able to move sometime in May or June and enjoy the summer in our new home already :)

Getting Started

2010-03-19T14:09:00.001+01:00

Even though our house is not sold yet we now decided to start the procedure to buy the new apartment and have it renovated, so that we will be able to move sometime in May or June, depending how long it takes. Of course we have to take up a loan until our house is sold, but that is far better than remaining here probably another six months or longer being unable to plan and probably even risk to lose the apartment we are intending to buy. If we were still living in the house towards winter we also would have to buy heating oil again. So there would be many disadvantages and almost no advantages (or none at all) if we stayed here.

Spring Cleaning

2010-03-05T16:48:00.000+01:00

By the beginning of last week, as the snow had started melting, I suddenly felt like doing spring cleaning. That is, my mind felt it, but my body was on strike again for four days due to low blood pressure. On Thursday afternoon I finally felt well enough to start. Meanwhile it is almost finished, except for the windows, but as it has now become colder again (for tomorrow they are even predicting snow) this has to wait. I’m not going to catch myself a cold for clean windows!

A Tragic Story

2010-02-24T16:51:00.004+01:00

I read through this book almost without putting it down. It is the beautiful but sad memoir by Turkish human rights lawyer Fethiye Çetin on her grandmother.

Here is the description from the cover:

When Fethiye Çetin was growing up in the small Turkish town of Maden, she knew her grandmother as a happy and universally respected Muslim housewife. It would be decades before her grandmother told her the truth: that she was by birth a Christian and an Armenian, that her name was not Seher but Heranuş, that most of the men in her village had been slaughtered in 1915, that she, along with most of the women and children, had been sent on a death march. She had been saved (and torn from her mother’s arms) by the Turkish gendarme captain who went on to adopt her. But she knew she still had family in America. Could Fethiye help her find her lost relations before she died?

There are an estimated two million Turks whose grandparents could tell them similar stories. But in a country that maintains the Armenian massacres never happened, such talk can be dangerous. In her heart-wrenching memoir, Fethiye Çetin breaks the silence.

Another Week...

2010-02-13T17:12:00.002+01:00

… has gone by – time goes too fast sometimes. I have been busy with several things, particularly with a new website I’m creating for an elementary school. The principal is a member of my former church, and as obviously none of the teachers or parents at the school is able or willing to create a site and I have also created the church’s website he asked me if I was willing to do it. Of course I said yes! I don’t know what I will get for it (not much to be sure, schools in Germany usually do not have a very high budget, and they’d rather spend it for the children), but that is not something I care about. I enjoy creating websites, especially when it is for a good cause :)

Movie Evenings

2010-02-07T10:48:00.001+01:00

The carnival season is in full swing now and therefore Hermann has to spend many evenings at the various events for the newspaper he is working for. This means that I’m alone at home all those evenings which gives me the opportunity to watch movies that Hermann wouldn’t want to watch – like the Jane Austen adaptations, for example. In his opinion, nothing ever happens in those movies *lol*

Yesterday I watched “Pride and Prejudice”, the famous BBC adaptation of 1995 with Jennifer Ehle and Colin Firth. It is so beautifully made – just right for a romantic evening on one’s own ;)

Winter Continues

2010-01-28T20:41:00.001+01:00

Since last night it has snowed a lot and it got colder again, and this weather is supposed to continue at least for the rest of this week and for the next. Of course, I did not really expect spring yet…

Here is something for all who are longing for it – enjoy :)

What Kind of Intelligence?

2010-01-21T20:56:00.001+01:00

I did this test a while ago – the results didn’t really surprise me ;)

Your Dominant Intelligence is Linguistic Intelligence

You are excellent with words and language. You explain yourself well.

An elegant speaker, you can converse well with anyone on the fly.

You are also good at remembering information and convincing someone of your point of view.

A master of creative phrasing and unique words, you enjoy expanding your vocabulary.

You would make a fantastic poet, journalist, writer, teacher, lawyer, politician, or translator.

What Kind of Intelligence Do You Have?

More Visitors

2010-01-17T14:42:00.000+01:00

Yesterday there were two more families looking around our house. Quite honestly, I hope we do not have to go through this procedure too often before the house is sold. I was exhausted afterwards. Not that I was involved a lot, but the mere presence of so many strangers in my home is rather stressful for me.

Snow and Visitors

2010-01-11T13:34:00.001+01:00

Meanwhile we have got even more snow and everything looks lovely outside – I like it when the snow covers all the dark winter colours!

Yesterday we were visited by two families who are both interested in buying our house. Things are looking good at the moment and we hope to be able to move to our new place within the next six months.

Holidays Over

2010-01-04T17:27:00.002+01:00

So here am I again - hopefully more often in 2010! This is not a resolution, as I never keep resolutions ;) We spent the holidays with the family at my father’s house and we had a lot of fun. Anyway, now we are back in the daily routine, even though it is still a little calmer than usual. The Christmas holidays at the schools are lasting one more week and even though we don’t have children we feel it, too.

We are enjoying cold and sunny winter days at the moment, just the way it should be :) I only wished that Hermann would not have to drive so much in this weather, especially on those winding roads along the Danube Valley. He is a careful driver himself, but unfortunately there are people who think they can drive fast on icy streets and by this put others into danger.

As always at the beginning of a new year I’m very curious what lies ahead of me in the coming twelve months!

Between the Holidays...

2009-12-27T16:32:00.001+01:00

I hope you had a wonderful Christmas time :)

During the past weeks I have been a lazy blogger, as I must admit – apart from posting the Advent Calendar songs and occasional comments in your blogs. Of course I also posted on Facebook and Twitter.

Our house is now online for sale and so we are expecting a very busy and exciting year 2010!

Advent Calendar Song No. 22

2009-12-22T08:24:00.000+01:00

Christmas Gift

2009-12-20T16:23:00.002+01:00

I received this beautiful gift from my dear friend Annette - thank you :)

Advent Calendar Song No. 18

2009-12-18T08:50:00.000+01:00

Advent Calendar Song No. 12

2009-12-12T08:42:00.001+01:00

Advent Calendar Song No. 9

2009-12-09T08:42:00.000+01:00

Advent Calendar Song No. 5

2009-12-05T08:39:00.001+01:00

Advent Calendar

2009-11-26T20:12:00.000+01:00

I invite you to follow the Advent Calendar on my five blogs from December 1! On each day a Christmas song can be heard on one of my blogs. On which of the blogs the song for the particular day can be found will be published on my Twitter page. Have fun :)

A Successful Day!

2009-11-25T19:28:00.001+01:00

Even though I’m rather tired I just wanted to write a little update.

At first we showed to the expert the apartment we wanted to buy. He took a close look at everything from the loft to the cellar. We had only hoped that he did not find too many faults with the condition of the house, but it was just the contrary! He showed us many things which had been renewed in the house since it had been built and which we as “ordinary people” had not seen. So afterwards we went to the town hall right away to talk with the people responsible for this to secure the apartment for us :)

Then we talked about the sale of our present house. The expert set an amount which we already had expected, so no unpleasant surprises here either :) With our share of this amount we would be able to buy the apartment and still have some money left for renovations.

Next Wednesday...

2009-11-20T20:03:00.004+01:00

... we hope to get to know more about the issues regarding the house we sell and the apartment we would like to buy. We will meet with our expert - who had been here on Tuesday to take a look at the house - and will show him the apartment, hoping of course that he will tell us that it's worth it :) Also he will most likely tell us then how much money we can expect when selling the house.

No More Snow

2009-11-16T13:06:00.001+01:00

We had no more snow until now since this first one, just a lot of rain. I don’t care much, though.

One of our appointments of last week regarding the sale of our house had to be cancelled unfortunately and has been postponed until tomorrow. I hope that it can finally take place, because then we will know for how much we can sell the house.

With regard to an apartment for us things are looking much better at the moment. Last Wednesday we had a look at an apartment which we liked very much and it is for sale at a very reasonable price. If our expert sees no obstacle we will buy it, so that we already know where to go when our house is sold.

First Snow

2009-11-09T17:30:00.002+01:00

Today we had the first snow this winter. However, it was mixed with rain and therefore didn’t stay. This kind of weather makes me look forward to Advent time and Christmas even more.

This week we are having two appointments regarding our intended move – on Wednesday one regarding a potential apartment for us and on Thursday we are talking to an architect who will assist us in selling our house. He will not do everything an estate agent would do, but all the things which are important for us and which we could hardly do ourselves. I’m a little stressed because of this and I’m sure the stress will increase, but I try to keep my thoughts fixed on the result – a nice new apartment which will be much more suitable for us than this house and which will be closer to the area where Hermann works!

Selling A House

2009-11-04T18:18:00.002+01:00

Of course, now that it is settled that we are going to offer the house for sale I’m occupied with several tasks surrounding it. Firstly, cleaning out the house which means sorting, checking and throwing away things which have been collected by its inhabitants within the last 45 years – and that is a lot of work to do! Secondly, we are trying to figure out whether we should hire an estate agent (which would cost the buyer extra money) or not. Thirdly, I’m looking for a suitable and affordable apartment for us to move in once we have sold the house.

Recently I found out from the internet that one of the neighbors on the other side of our street is also offering his house. He is an elderly widower and so the house and garden are too large for him now as well. The house is similar to ours (there are a few differences, though) and he told me that he has been offering it for five or six weeks now which is not long, of course. He also said that there are potential buyers. It will be interesting for us to see how fast he will be able to sell it!

Monty Python's Flying Circus

2009-10-27T21:25:00.000+01:00

This is completely bizarre humor – enjoy :)

Changes...

2009-10-18T13:50:00.001+02:00

Strange where time goes – just found that it is already one week since I blogged here.

I had a lot to think about during the recent days, though. We have decided to sell the house we are living in and buy a flat / apartment instead within the next two years. There are several reasons for it: first, half of the house belongs to Hermann’s brother and he wants to get rid of it, as he does not live here and sees no sense in keeping it, as it only costs him money; second, the house is old and will cost more and more money in repair – more than we can afford in the long run; third, the house and garden are much too large for the two of us to manage – Hermann has got so much work in his job (seven days a week is the rule) and for me it would be more than a full time job to manage the house – apart from the fact that with regard to the garden I have got no idea how to take care of it. It will be hard for Hermann to leave his parents’ house after such a long time, but of course we have to be sensible. So we are looking for a nice affordable flat to buy and hope that when we offer the house we will get at least the price for it which the bank says it is worth, because our share of it would be about the sum a flat would cost.

How To Win The Nobel Peace Prize

2009-10-11T12:11:00.002+02:00

I took this test recently…

You are a Model Citizen of the World

You care deeply about the world, and you do everything you can to help.

You feel like the injustices in the world are your injustices, and you fight to fix them.

You have a deep appreciation for the differences that make up the world.

You feel like you have something to gain from every culture and country.

Are You a Citizen of the World?

… and looking at the result I think I would deserve the Nobel Peace Prize, too – since it now is being awarded for not much more than good intentions and nice words *lol*

Take a look at the previous Nobel Peace Prize winners and you will see that they all worked for years, sometimes decades, for peace and change and some even had to suffer persecution for their efforts before they were awarded this prize – none of them received it in advance and for almost nothing!

Autumn

2009-10-07T15:56:00.002+02:00

It is finally here – even though sometimes in our area it still feels like summer – and this deserves a new layout. I also received lovely gifts from Annette and Lori – thank you :)

Day of German Unity

2009-10-03T09:35:00.002+02:00

19 years ago today, Germany was reunited. The video shows the events in 1989 which eventually led to this:

Last Day in September

2009-09-30T17:04:00.002+02:00

Tomorrow starts the last quarter of this year - really don’t know where time went!

My next “duty” will be to prepare our garden for winter, but as long as it is still warm and sunny here (which I appreciate, of course) I don’t think it is good to cut down the plants.

The ticks are also still active, I was bitten by one last weekend – don’t know how this happened, I really take care that they don't crawl on me! Anyway, I tried to remove it myself as I have done several times with Yaris, but the tick’s head still stuck inside. So on Monday I had to see a doctor to have it removed – and this resulted in a little surgery, because it was so deep inside. Now I have got a band-aid on my right hip and have to check whether a large red spot will appear, because that would be a sign for borreliosis. Then I would have to see the doctor again to get antibiotics. Luckily just by the beginning of September I had received the last shot of my TBE vaccination, so I should at least be protected against that nasty illness.

Time Flies!

2009-09-25T08:46:00.001+02:00

It has been already one week since I posted here – I can hardly believe it! Where did time go? However, it is still summer here, even though officially it’s autumn, so I have an excuse ;)

It is certainly not Twitter which keeps me from blogging, even though it is very interesting, especially to follow some tweets of organizations, etc. It is very different from Facebook where I usually only accept people as “friends” who I know at least from somewhere else in the virtual world. Also I found many people there who I knew from the past and some who I thought about often and wondered what had become of them. On Twitter I did not find many people I know, but there it is not important. I use it primarily to get information and as it takes only minutes to read through all this and “filter” the interesting tweets it is very convenient and takes much less time than I had thought.

Tweet Tweet

2009-09-19T17:04:00.003+02:00

Since Tuesday afternoon Yaris is not our only pet any more – we have now also got two budgies named Fitzwilliam Darcy and Henry Tilney. They are very beautiful little birds, but they like to quarrel a bit from time to time ;)

The second new thing is that after thinking a while about it I have now got a Twitter account. I was just curious how it worked and I’m not sure yet what exactly will become of it, but I will certainly not spend a lot of time tweeting. I still prefer Facebook and blogging, although I’m a little lazy even with that at the moment – I guess it will get better once the weather gets ugly ;)

Patrick Swayze (1952 - 2009)

2009-09-15T13:59:00.002+02:00

This morning I heard on the radio that he had lost the battle against cancer. I find this particularly sad because he was one of the few celebrities who despite having been one of the “sexiest men alive” he remained married to Lisa Niemi who had been his wife since 1975. The video below shows the couple dancing – very beautiful:

Sunny Days

2009-09-09T14:37:00.002+02:00

Summer does not seem to give up yet - the past days were sunny and according to the weather forecast there are more to come :) The temperatures are a little lower, though, which I prefer - I don't like it very hot. However, autumn / fall is behind the corner, as one can see on the trees - the leaves are getting brown or red (which is a beautiful sight) and start falling off. Also during the night it gets quite cold.

In about 3.5 months it is Christmas already - can you imagine *s*

September...

2009-09-04T16:37:00.001+02:00

It’s getting colder now, especially in the mornings and evenings, and summer finally seems to come to an end. We had good one this year, even too hot for me sometimes. After such a summer I’m not sad when it gets colder again. Now I’m looking forward to cozy days inside :) I think every season has its advantages and disadvantages, and none is better than the other!

A New Month...

2009-09-01T18:00:00.000+02:00

... deserves a new layout - hope you like it :)

Vacation

2009-08-27T17:32:00.002+02:00

We had a great time on our trip to East Frisia, it was a very relaxing vacation :)

Talking about vacation, I know the summer season is almost over, but I would like to introduce to you this campaign below, in which we take part (we sent pictures from around our home town and from Armenia). I think it is a very nice thing which a father is doing for his murdered son and it is also a campaign to condemn terrorism which kills so many innocent people each year:

Back!

2009-08-24T17:32:00.001+02:00

Just a short note that I'm back ;)

Just One More Week...

2009-08-09T12:47:00.003+02:00

... until our vacation starts :) We will travel up north to join my father and "little" brother Stefan in a trip with the rv to the north sea area of Germany. I'm very much looking forward to it!

I hope that when I return I will also have some more energy for blogging again. During the entire summer season I have felt lazy and uncreative. Usually this is not the case, but this year the summer was extremely "tropical" in our area and I am not tropicalized at all! This is why I do not travel to countries with such a climate, but if the tropical weather comes to us I cannot do anything to prevent being exposed to it :(

The Isle of Mainau in 18 Minutes

2009-08-02T17:15:00.004+02:00

This is approximately the time the slide show takes which I have put online. So if you are in the mood for a short virtual vacation, you are welcome :) Of course a real life visit on this beautiful "flower island" in Lake Constance is much more worth it, but not everyone can get there.

Another Thing Which Shouldn't Be...

2009-07-31T11:54:00.001+02:00

Found on Cody’s and Maria’s blog:

Hermann's Cake

2009-07-29T19:39:00.002+02:00

Hermann made a cake today with redcurrants from our garden (we have lots of them this year). It was so complicated that I was glad I only had to do the washing up – which was a lot of work but at least not complicated ;) Even though he claimed it was the first cake he had made all by himself it was sooo delicious :d

Thank you!

2009-07-28T14:02:00.000+02:00

Thanks to all of you who posted birthday wishes :)

Birthday!

2009-07-23T13:00:00.002+02:00

I received this lovely gift from my dear friend Annette - thank you :)))

Tomorrow is my 43rd birthday. However, I must say that I don't feel like over 40 at all - I think I'm really just about 25, that's what I feel like ;)

Extreme Shepherding in Wales

2009-07-19T09:21:00.003+02:00

I found this on Sayori's blog and just had to show you :)

Family Visit

2009-07-16T15:04:00.002+02:00

My brother Klaus and his family will visit us from Sunday for one week. I’m so much looking forward to it, especially seeing my nephew Simon (3.5 years old) and niece Amelie (9 months old). The last time we saw them was by the beginning of this year and Amelie was still a little baby then – and children change so fast at this age! Fortunately it is not that extreme any more with Simon. Almost one year ago he already did a great job as flower boy on our wedding:

Anyway, if you do not see much of me here during next week you will know why :)

Exhausted...

2009-07-14T17:06:00.001+02:00

The weather is tropical again here in my little place on Earth, it is hot, the sun is shining, but the air is so humid that the laundry I did yesterday morning (!) is still soaking wet and starting to smell ugly (despite the beautifully smelling fabric softener I have used). So strange! No wonder this weather makes me feel exhausted, even though I didn’t do much today, just the daily routine. According to the weather forecast it is going to stay again for a while – I hope I will get used to it!

My Personal Summer Song :)

2009-07-10T17:25:00.002+02:00

This was the Eurovision Song Contest 2009 contribution by Inga & Anush from Armenia. I love to dance to that song :) Don’t know why these two ladies keep reminding me of my favorite band ABBA ;)

Summer Blogging

2009-07-07T12:37:00.000+02:00

It is summer now and this means that the blogroll gets slower and slower ;) I will continue blogging, except for probably two blog breaks of about one week – one this and one next month.

New Layout - again ;)

2009-07-04T16:39:00.002+02:00

As I was not quite content with the background of the Thy Word Is My Light blog - not colorful enough I changed it again - this time I used a background by Hot Bliggity Blog.

The Fog

2009-07-03T20:02:00.002+02:00

I took this photo from our balcony this afternoon after a thunder storm – one of many during the past days. The “tropical” weather is supposed to remain during the weekend, but meanwhile my body got used to it, so I do not suffer much any more.

Talking about health – both Hermann’s and my check-ups today went very well and the doctor found nothing to worry about :)

Blood Test

2009-07-01T17:11:00.001+02:00

For me this is one of the worst parts of a medical check-up, because my veins are so difficult to be located. After they have found one they can take blood from they have to be very careful and it is always a rather long and painful procedure for me. Well, it’s done for now and I hope that at least for the following two years until the next general check-up nobody wants my blood!

Coconuts and Bananas

2009-06-29T13:26:00.003+02:00

I guess this is what we will have in our garden soon instead of apples and cherries if the weather continues to be that tropical ;) – and according to the forecast there is no end in sight! I wouldn’t care much about it, but meanwhile I’m feeling weak, sick and dizzy due to the weather – my blood pressure is almost gone and I always feel as if I had finished a marathon after walking the few stairs up to our apartment! One thing which makes me glad, though, is that this is not an actual illness. However, on Wednesday I will have to see a doctor for a blood test and I may not eat anything before I go there – that could be difficult with such a weather! Well, there is always hope that the forecast is wrong – wouldn’t be the first time :)

The Danube Valley in Summer

2009-06-25T19:50:00.007+02:00

Hermann and I went for a walk today in "our" part of the beautiful Danube Valley. Even though the weather was tropical - warm and humid, with sun and rain at the same time - it was very nice to walk along the Danube under a roof of trees. That's why all the pictures are very green ;)

Medical Check-Ups 2009

2009-06-22T19:29:00.001+02:00

Today was my first of four medical check-ups which I have to undergo this year. This one was at the gyn’s (everything was okay, thank God!). The second and third ones will take place by the beginning of July – a general and a skin cancer check-up (those two are only every other year, if the doctor does not find anything worrying – which I hope!). The last one will be a check-up at the dentist’s in September.

I do not particularly like medical check-ups (well, who does! *lol*), but of course they are necessary and I’m so glad that they are covered by insurance. Especially the cancer check-ups I find extremely important and I wouldn’t want to miss any of them!

New Layout

2009-06-20T12:48:00.003+02:00

As you can see I have played around with the layout and changed it for summer :) I also changed the background of Thy Word Is My Light.

Hyper Creativity

2009-06-18T17:51:00.001+02:00

Sometimes I have got so many ideas on my mind that I have got the feeling that my brain will burst. Ideas of topics I could write about, of new blogs or new websites, etc. The problem is, however, that the ideas are all confused in my head and I find no way to put them into a structure. I have to wait until the structure comes by itself – I cannot force it. This is the phase I’m currently in and therefore I’m writing this confused post *lol*

Good Bye, Lenin!

2009-06-16T17:44:00.002+02:00

Hermann and I are currently watching the movie “Good Bye, Lenin!” which is comedy and tragedy at the same time. Here is the description from Amazon:

The movie starts in East Germany before the fall of communism; our hero, Alex (Daniel Bruhl), describes how his mother (Katrin Sass), a true believer in the communist cause, has a heart attack when she sees him being clubbed by police at a protest. She falls into a coma for eight months--during which the Berlin Wall comes down. When she awakens, her fragile health must avoid any shocks, so Alex creates an illusive reality around his bedridden mother to convince her that communism is still alive.

The scene above shows Alex’s mother how she “escapes” from her room and gets a glimpse of reunited Germany – and obviously feels as if she was beamed to another planet!