Freitag, 25. Juni 2010

Sale - Sale - Sale ....

....no I won't  sell my hubby nor my cameras. Yesterday I went to the city center to meet up with a former colleauge of mine for a chat and a glass of spritzer. And I took my camera with me as so often I went to the city center and didn't have my camera with me and regret that. When I arrived at "Marienplatz" there was hardly something special to take a photo of. The sun was shining and  as I stopped counting all the photos I've taken of our beautiful old city hall or the "Frauenkirche" (cathedrale) there were nothing "special" in front of my lense.
So I walked a little up and down and saw that now all is on "sale" especially all the summer clothes. So I looked a little here and there and then I took some photos below. 













Wouldn't that mean if I get all those discounts at least at the 5th shop I would get money back without buying something - wouldn't I?

Here everything is packed - my photobag with all my equipment - all batteries charged - all flashes checked and later off to the airport for my way  to Duesseldorf for a photoshooting there. No idea what I have to do there ( I think taking photos - of course) but there are two ideas - first is to do photos during a shopping tour at the "Kö" - second is to do photos during a walk through a museum (if allowed) - in the afternoon the people have to choose betweeen a 

- treasure hunt    or

- segway rallye   or

- horse-drawn carriage

I am happy with everything and will be back on Saturdy evening at around 10.00 pm - Sunday - if the weather allows - we will have a barbeque and will watch football and then weekend is over again...
So have a great weekend all and hope to "see" you soon.
CHeers everyone :)

Donnerstag, 24. Juni 2010

team up thursday - week 7

This weeks theme is chosen by me and it is: books

My oh my I cannot remember how many books I have read in my life but it sure were a lot. I love to read - the most important thing when I pack my suitcases for holidays are books (at least 2). I love to finish the evening with lying in bed and read a good book - when I was a child I didn't watch tv often I was happy to go to bed and read my "girlie books".

And when I chose the theme I had no idea what kind of photo to take - first thought were to take a photo of some books about photography - then I thought about a photo with all my books in my board and then I rememberd I once took a photo of a board with lots of books. That were back in 2007 when we were in Sydney and sat in the hotel bar- I loved the light  - nice music of a piano player and a glass of red wine in front of me and I turned and saw that board with all the books in it.





I love Marcelles idea to take a photo of her photobooks which she creates. I love this style very much - they're looking really classy and gorgeous. As you can see she again shows her creativity how she created the books. And I also love the angle of view she took. Just the thought of what story "writes" every book  with phtotos is very interesting - so for me a perfect photo for the theme BOOKS and a BRILLIANT IDEA:
Again - well done Marcelle. Always a pleasure to do this weekly challange with you and I am so happy to have another one who is really "addicted" in photography and "taking a great photo" - AAAND always a pleasure to talk to you on the phone - that pushes my bravery to "speak" and not just to write or read the English language :)

Have a look at our other TUT photographers and leave a message :) :

Andrea        http://andrearobertsontoo.blogspot.com/
and Claire  http://www.mcgeers.blogspot.com/
Berta         http://rboice.blogspot.com/
 and Corey   http://livingandlovingeveryminuteofit.blogspot.com/
Megan      http://mentalinventory.blogspot.com/
and Meloldy    http://thehipmommasjournal.squarespace.com//
Joanne      http://worth-it-all.blogspot.com/
Cat  and  http://juggelingactoflife.blogspot.com/
Shayne    http://scrappy-time.blogspot.com/

Mittwoch, 23. Juni 2010

THE day for the german soccer guys - PLEEEZE make it.....

Normally I am not that soccer fan but married to a boy who always loved (but never played) football you cannot avoid sitting in front of the tv sometimes to watch 22 guys who try to get a ball and when they finally "have" it they shoot it away :) No - I have to say I like "our Bayern Munich club" much and I think "we" can play football... But now with the world championship in South Africa I have to say that I am "addicted" to footy....
So no surprise I was very dissapointed when the Germans lost their game last friday - but now there is a new chance. We cannot call it a "chance" as "we" have to win that match because otherwise we are "out" of the championshio and this would be terrible. Anyway I will blow the VUVUZELA today til I drop :) Maybe the boys can hear me blowing my lung out of my body......

4 years ago at the world championship in Germany I did public viewing in Berlin - which was great - it was hot like hell but I had a great evening - even hub was at the stadion with a client of him and I didn't get a ticket for the stadion - but public viewing was much better we later found out.

Some pics of my Berlin visit (second time I visitied Berlin - first time was in 2000 - was a birthday gift for Achim and I "managed" it to have a nice evening in a nice restaurant and in the night I got very very ill (food poisoning) and spent all three days in a hotel bed....)







Woke up this morning with a blue sky and no cloud - THAT is a waking up - mood rushes to 100% perfect and after my two cups of coffee I wanted to do something in my garden as all the rain has damaged lots of blossoms.
But then I recognized its not that warm outside - around 15 degreess and this should be a "summer day". Okay I decided to do some paperwork instead and now my sky is cloudy and grey again.....
NO I- won't comment this weather anymore....... looking forward for tomorows weather :)

        UPDATE: SUN IS OUT AGAIN - around 20 degrees C - off for an outside run!


Dienstag, 22. Juni 2010

Today two years ago....

my "first and closest friend" - my granddad - died. We had a special relationship althought it wasn't my biological granddad - I loved him to bits. When I was born the first 5 years my parents lived with my grandparents (they all together worked in the bakery and the bakers shop) so I grew up with "two mums and two dads" - I always had my granddad around - I think he loved me to bits too - whereever my granddad was I was close (when my dad and my mum weren't around and had to work). And nothing changed when I grew older - I could always ask him anything - he knew an answer - sometimes it wasn't what I expected or wanted to hear but he always had a wise reply.
10 years ago he had a stroke and since then everything changed - he couldn't talk anymore (he tried but the words didn't came out the right way) and that broke my heart. Every time I came home to a visit I first stopped at my parents and an hour later I was on the way to look for my granddad (and grandmother) - he often tried to ask me something and every now and then it worked and we had a very slowly conversation - but we HAD a conversation -  anyway - I sooo loved to get  named " mein Stern von Rio"  from him- which means he called me "my star of Rio" - how I miss that.
Unfortunately my grandmother couldn't take care for him the last 3 years and he had to move to a nursery home which he never accepted as a home - he lived there but he wasn't happy. He was a nice man and had a grin for everyone there but knowing him soo well I knew he was unhappy. My parents couldn't take care for him either as they this time still had to work in the bakery and the bakers shop. So the nursery home was the only way. (thank god we have such nursery homes). But two years ago he didn't want to go on with his life and he stopped eating - which means he did't allow someone to give him something to eat - after 2 weeks he accepted a little pudding and yoghurt but just a little. He couldn't walk and sit anymore - jsut laid down in his bed. And the last time I called the nursery home I was told that he is still "fine" - no problems and it can go on  that way 10 - 12 days  but saturday morning I woke up and my first thought was I have to drive all the way to Schlüchtern to look for my granddad - it was like he called me. Achim and I had breakfast and I called my parents if there was a change - and they told me that granddad had a little yoghurt this morning and he "looks not that bad" - but I couldn't get stopped. I packed a bag and we drove to Schlüchtern - short visit at my parents and then off to the nursery home. My granddad laid in his bed - he was so small and thin and tiny - and first he didn' t recognize me - I sat there 3 hours and cried and tried not to show him that I silly cow came to sit on his bad and cry.....  After 3 hours I left him with the promise I will be back tomorrow morning-Sunday morning I went to the nursery home again and sat on his bed for 2 hours - when I came close to give him a kiss I saw that he recognized me - he had such a cute smile on his face and his eyes showed me hat he was soo happy to have me there. I talked to him and after another hour I left him as he needed his "nap" and I told him that I "allow him to go if he wanted to"..... gave him a kiss - he hold my hands and after 5 mins I left him...... half an hour later - we all sat at my parents - the nursery home called - my Granddad has gone....
I am sure he waited for me - he wanted to see me again and for the last time and I felt that .....

Granddad - you always have a special place in my heart - I love you!



Montag, 21. Juni 2010

Monday

again - a new week with new grey in grey and rain here in Munich - I don't want to write a weather forecast blog but honestly slowly but constantly this shit weather is going to drive me crazy. Since the beginning of May we mostly have lots and lots of rain and a cloudy sky. There was one week when we had nice weather - in the end of April and then two weeks ago we had a few nice days (which means NO rain and a little sunshine but not that hot temperatures). And I am sooooo sick and tired of all that weather I cannot tell. Thinking of the fact that tomorrow the day-night time turns (the nights will be longer and the days shorter) makes me really angry. And June ist almost over so what will we have as a "summer"? Theres only July and August left - okay you can have nice days in September too but as said before the days are shorter....
Anyway - yesterday my parents stopped by for an overnight stay - they had a weeks holiday at the Bodensee where the weather was better than here in Munich but not good - rain and clouds and low temperatures also.
In the evening we went to a concert of a really good band called "Table for two" there are just 4 men - Harry plays the piano and I never have seen and heard a person playing like that...... FANSASTIC - and the thought of having my weekly piano lesson later makes me think:OMG why are I am bothering my piano and me? LOL . just kidding -but he plays in a way - never thought that fingers can move sooooooooo fast!

My parents did enjoy that evening a lot and after the gig they bought 2 CDs of them - they are composing all their songs by theirselfes and its really good.

Unfortunately I cannot leave a video of them I only had my cam with me so there are a few photos.

 

Donnerstag, 17. Juni 2010

team up thursday - week 6





Unbelievable - we are at week 6 with our team up thursday photos....

This weeks theme is chosen by Marcelle and it is:
10 mins from home....

Honestly first time I heard about that I was a little overcharged - as the weeks before we had very simpe themes like yellow, cubes, sports ...... and for me this was a little "out of the box" as Marcelle sometimes say. So when we talked on the phone Marcelle told me that we have to walk exactly 10 minutes from our door and then we have to take a photo. My first thought my photo would be all green as I am living on the outskirts of Munich and there is a lot of  trees and green around. My oh my  - I never thought that the day I will take the photo it is aaaalllll grey in grey instead of green. I took my photo yesterday and since I opened my eyes  in the morning was raining cats and dogs. I hoped for a ray of sunshine or at least 10 minutes without rain but noooo chance. So I walked around with my umbrella and my cam around my neck and walked my usual route which I "normally" run  - I say normally because I didn't do that run for more than 10 days. And normally after 5 minutes I turn to the left and run this way as it is nicer and in the forest and today I walked straight on and came to that "grit factory" - I knew that it is there but never thought about taking a photo of that. But today I thought - why not - and so I did. But when I came home and checked the photo I found it all grey in grey - sky grey - factory grey  - street grey and I HATE grey these days so I decided to "play a little with the color". So now it looks a little little "warmer" but still ... hmmmmm.... not my best shot but these are also not my best days as it is beginning to bother me a lot - this ugly weather here in Munich.



I love Marcelles photo as  it has lots of colors in it and I love that thing in front of the hose - although I don't know what it is - is it a light bulb? Anyway I like it because of the colors and the style - very modern and stylish. 

With this weeks photo Marcelle again shows that she is walking around very considerate and open minded regarding our theme. I cannot tell enough how I love this "project" -  let me see the world and everything around with different eyes - it opens my mind and my thoughts, my imagination and my fantasy. And again I want to say thank you to Marcelle for being my partner here and for all the ideas and thought-provoking- impulses and not least the great and interesting chats we had and hopefully have in the future.

Check out other team up thursday themes and photos by:

Andrea        http://andrearobertsontoo.blogspot.com/
and Claire  http://www.mcgeers.blogspot.com/
Berta         http://rboice.blogspot.com/
 and Corey   http://livingandlovingeveryminuteofit.blogspot.com/
Megan      http://mentalinventory.blogspot.com/
and Meloldy    http://thehipmommasjournal.squarespace.com//
Joanne      http://worth-it-all.blogspot.com/
Cat  and  http://juggelingactoflife.blogspot.com/
Shayne    http://scrappy-time.blogspot.com/

Dienstag, 15. Juni 2010

12 of the 12th - little late but better now than never.....

 
 




As I would love to join the "12 of the 12th" -project by Marcelle I now post some photos which were taken on the 12th of June. Its a little boring as we sat a long time in the car and drove to the border to the Netherlands to visit Achims uncle who turned 91 on Saturday. We had my sister and brother in law with my 
niece with us and my mother in law too.

 
 
Here we are on the highway in the "Ruhr area"  


















still on the road.....

















seems they had a break down














Here we are in "Goetterswickerham" a very small town directly on the river Rhine.





There are 86 years! in between them.....




I went shopping last week and bought this pair of shoes - love them and want to show you :)








Still didn't feel very well at the weeknd - this bloody cold is hugging me like a ... I don't know...











This is where Achims uncle lives
a very old and nice nursery home.
















Part of the family : left: Achims step mom, his uncle, Achim, my sister and my brother in law and little Ann-Sophie in front.




As Achims uncle thought he had eaten way too much he decided to have a "cognac" afterwards - I don't like cognac but I love the color :)




Where we had our dinner - its called "Wasserschloss Voerde" - nice and very good restaurant downstairs and above there is the registry office.


By night....

Sorry those pictures were not spectacular - next month I try to get my day in photos like it should...
Off to do the scan work the next hours.....





Donnerstag, 10. Juni 2010

team up thursday - no 5

This weeks theme is chosen by me and its: CUBES

Marcelles photo did blow me away - I sooo love that photo because of the colour - the background and texture - and the idea - for me THIS is a CUBE.


 

And as she mentioned it yesterday: Do you see that we both have "Africa" in/on our photos? Marcelle with her AMARULA-cube and I with my "south african flag colours - cubes" and the frame around. Again without talking to each other we both had identical thoughts while taking our photo - and of course it so fits: Tomorrow the soccer world championship in South Africa starts:







Honestly the first thought by choosing this theme was exactly the photo I took - then I thought its a little boring because everyones first thought would be this game cubes and I tried to find something "special". I did some colorful ice cubes but while taking photos they began to melt away and the photos were not that way I wanted them. And at least I found my way back to my first thought....





See what our other team up thursday friends did this week:

Andrea and Claire
Berta and Corey
Megan and Melody
 Joanna
Cat and Shayne 

Mittwoch, 9. Juni 2010

Lucky hubby.....

...is invited for the soccer world championship semi-finals in South Africa. Great! I am happy for him - first he is a huge soccer fan - second he loves South Africa.....third - he deserves this.
The thought is that I will follow him after his "official visit" so that we can spend a week til 10 days in South Africa but unfortunately its winter down there so I think the weather will not be as good as we would like to have. When we visited South Africa in November 2008 we had lots of rain (which was unusal) but every now and then we had a sunny and warm day.

As I mentioned South Africa I want to share some photos of my first (and not last) holidays there:


First view of Cape Town - right before landing


View down from the Table Mountain to Camps Bay - where our hotel was located


The  Cape Town stadion - lot of work to do....


Beautiful beautiful Waterfront - I loved that place


nothing to mention....... love that photo.




colorful part of Cape Town




 whale watching in Hermanus



Where are we now???


Where the Indian Ocean meets the Atlantic Ocean...


.

Bay of Plettenberg



yep - yep - yep - Franschhoek and its beautiful and gorgeous wine yards.....




Beautiful little town Knysna


Dienstag, 8. Juni 2010

sick....

I am sick - unbelievable - I was so proud to come though that long and cold winter without any cold and now? Yesterday I went to bed with a running nose and throat pain  - had a terrible night and woke up every 30 minutes with headache and feeling ill.

Sun is out and I would have lots to do but today I feel unable to concentrate myself - not even the thought of doing my weekly team up thursday is getting me excited. So will wait til tomorrow. Will sit a bit in the sun and watch the gardener works - bring them some coffee and water and some snacks.

So today a very silent "have a great day all" - sun is shining in beautiful Munich and lifts up my mood....



Montag, 7. Juni 2010

My weekend - full of calories

My Friday started as usual the last weeks with a cloudy and rainy sky – got up and had breakfast with hubby. In the meantime a gardener with his help arrived and we gave them some instructions – by looking up to the sky I saw something I haven’t seen for weeks – there was something very bright in the sky – hmmmm – yes – it was THE SUN…..

Couldn’t trust my eyes but finally I know it’s still there. Had to go shopping and then pack my things for a weekend “at home with my parents” Hubby came home around 6.00 pm and an hour later we sat in our car – as there was a public holiday on thursday there was noooo traffic jam at all – something I’ve never expected on a friday evening going out of Munich.

And 2 hours 50 mins later we arrived at my parents home which is 380 km from ours. Sat a while with them and had a glass of sparkling wine (mum and I had two – the “boys” had a beer instead of the second glass of sparkling wine) and my moms “Nudelsalat” – I could die for that. Don’t even think of the calories she “mixed under” – but hell – it tasted sooo good.

Saturday we went to a “golf training” for two hours and Achim and I both thought if we just could have this teacher here in Munich. He has a special talent to explain how to hold the irons and how to hit that litlle damn golf ball. As we really got crazy about his teaching we asked for another golf lesson on Sunday morning 08.00 o clock!!! Eight o’clock on a Sunday morning – normally unbelievable for my hubby but what he does for getting better in playing golf …. LOL. Saturday afternoon we sat in the garden and had coffee and cake (again millions of calories joined my body) and in the evening we were invited to the golf restaurant by my sister and brother in law. No need to tell that I again kicked over the traces.




Here you can se not only the sun in the glass - there was some "spirit" in the glass too.

Sunday we got up at 06.30 am and arrived for the golf lessons on time. Had a great hour with lots of things to keep in mind the next time we’re on the golf course.

Later on mum invited for a “brunch” (for her 65. birthday) and the whole family and some friends went to a nice restaurant (again) and we had breakfast and lunch there – holy I ate lots that weekend but sometimes my explanation is: show your body sometimes what you can eat – and then show him with how less you can survive – he has to “see the difference”… OMG stupid me and I exactly knew I will get shocked when I weight myself next morning. And to top that when Achim and I arrived back home in Munich yesterday evening we had salad with tuna and white bread – later in the evening I had a quarter of a chocolate bar as a “Betthupferl”(bedtime sweets) as we germans nicely say.

Me - photographed by my 5 years old niece - during I read a rhyme  for my mum (I did a resumee of her life so far)

In the late evening we had a very strong thunderstorm and – again – it rained loooooots and heavy. Woke up that morning with a grey and cloudy sky – think that is our summer here in Munich – and recognized scalding hot that I didn’t something for my piano lessons during the “holidays” I had. I am not teached in piano playing during school holidays so last time my teacher left me with lots of homework to do and I did nothing!!!!! Nothing! But to apologize I can tell that I really had two very busy weeks with photoshoots and work with photos – editing and mostly to scan photos. But nevertheless I have to go upstairs and have a quick look at the piano – doing some finger excersise and playing thought the repertoire.


Okay and now you want to know what the weight scale said this morning – the result of not thinking about calories for 3 days is – 1,2 kilos more. OUCH!!!! That hurts!!!!! First thought this morning: Silly cow – you should have knewn that…. Then thinking: OMG nothing for me to eat the whole day – 10 kms run outside today – drinking tons of water to get all those calories out of my body – lol how funny are these thoughts in the morning…..

Bad thing is I have an appointment with a girl friend tomorrow at a Greece restaurant – and I know I won’t eat and drink nothing – just watching her eating and drinking… No I love my greek calamaris from the grill and a glass of Retsina mixed up with Coke….. you think she is crazy? No that’s what I’ve learned when I spent holidays on a small greek island called “Karpathos” – all Carpathians drink Retsina with Coca Cola (and that’s the only one I can stand that wine – LOLOLOLOL)



Talked enough about eating and drinking and calories – can feel my brain is beginning to think what can I eat now – NOTHING!!!!!! Just fruit today!!!!!