There is also the little matter of no-passwords & data from my server. I fell foul of German efficiency!! The DSL was cancelled in Berlin & Deutsche Telecom said it would take 21 days to cancel. So I left the Server running & set off for Scotland. 6 days later everything went black. The Telephone & DSL were cancelled super quickly so the Server lost it's connection to the Internet.. I lost access to all my email, Documents, everything... I've lived for 3 weeks without all my data, passwords etc etc. I'll have everything back after this weekend as I'm travelling back to Berlin to bring the furniture (& SERVER) back. So my data will be back on-line by next Tuesday.

I know how people feel when their PC goes up in smoke & they have no backups.. Luckly I knew my data would be back in a few weeks. I really wouldn't like to have lost my Pictures, documents, emails permanently.

I didn't know my Blogger password as it was auto-entered from my browser. I couldn't get the email with the password written on & when I asked for it to be sent from blog.co.uk it was sent to my email account running on my NOT-RUNNING server. Technology phahh!!!

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After 18 months poncing around Berlin, living the life of royalty & then so aburptly back into the land of slave labour should have been so hard for me!! but it's been a really super month for work....

New projects, technologies, programming, Electrical design, travel etc etc..

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The Blog description must change, it is now a 'useless boy' in two countries...

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A typical 15 year old is expected to be in a 'I don't want to be here' mood, to not be dynamic, to be shy/quiet. No! It was talkative & friendly. I heard it talking to many people through the evening.

It did attempt to have some wine & a beer without Dad noticing, I knew this was happening & didn't stop it, I just made it aware that I knew to see if it was controlled without my interference.

I was very impressed how it has changed. I now feel good about us leaving England to live in a new country, new language, no other family here.. I can see now how it has started to develop positively.

It is not perfect... but things are going in the right direction..

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Of course, if both of them are ill then serious questions about 'kissing' will be asked...

To be honest, it really isn't so good tonight. So I'll see if an early night has any effect in the morning, or if a day off school is required..

I think I'll show it this video tomorrow, to show where kissing girls get people!!!

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I hung up. A minute later I rang again. "Hello," I said, "I called you a minute ago because there were people breaking into my shed. You don't have to hurry now, because I've shot them."

Within minutes there were half a dozen police cars in the area, plus a Helicopter & an armed response unit. They caught the burglers red-handed.

One of the officers said: "I thought you said you'd shot them?"

To which I replied: "I thought you said there was no one available."

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I arrived home, Tuned Guitar & hunted out some of my Music Books. My god was I rusty, but over the last week it has been coming back, little, by little.

It heard me playing & has started to jump on the Guitar most evenings. I showed him some parts of 'Allegro' by Giuliani. It has practiced almost every day, sometimes for hours. I've waited to see if the novelty wears off, as learning Classical Guitar is hard work. Lots of finger position practicing, lots of scales, lots of sore fingertips.

So now comes the decision... I spent lots of hours, over a long time learning to play Classical Guitar. I know the attention span of it (Slightly shorter than a Goldfish). It has kept with the practice, mentioning today about some Guitar lessons.

I know the importance of a Good teacher, if there is to be any hope of learning the basics well. So, do I look for someone qualified & hope the little idiot has the motivation to stick with it?

My feeling is Yes. Why not see if this is something that creates a spark!!

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Here is a typical 7.00am school morning.Will it ever be able to drag it's sorry arse out of the Bed in a morning? If it was wired up to one of those machines I'm sure it would register absolutely zero Brain activity, not a sausage!!.

What is that saying ?...

"The Lights are ON, but no-one is at home!!"

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If you hear "She would kill me if I posted a photo of her" you probably are thinking....Oh yes, she would be very very angry. That doesn't even come close!! "She would kill me" means she really would inflict serious physical harm, that may (50:50) result in my death...

So I will post no photos...

However, nothing was said about cartoons, or other non-photographic-Artistic methods. I do think this is quite a reasonable stab at her .. the Red hair, freckles, Beer & Cig are a dead giveaway..

Isn't she lovely?

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I just had to watch the hi-lights again on the TV

The "Scheiß Bayern"(See Note) were held to a draw in Berlin yesterday evening.. All in all not a bad week for Football.

Note, Scheiß Bayern (Shit Bayern) is the friendly name given to Bayern München. These are the German equivalent of Man Utd. They have fans over the whole country, many don't know where in the country the Stadium is, having never been to a Football game!!

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Fact is, I really don't like talking on the Phone, never have. I like to see peoples faces, their expressions, especially their eyes. I watch the shifting of body position, a hundred little movements people make when they have a conversation. On the phone these are missing.

OK, on the phone many clues are still there to give the feelings of the other person. The pauses, sighs, the words they use, lots of clues! but I still don't like it..

But Birgit is a new level!!!

I'm English & she German, in normal conversation we speak a special mixture of the two languages. somethings are better said in one language, or the other. Sometimes German has a single 'nice' word for an English phrase, & sometimes English is better to describe a situation. This works most of the time. However, when things are important she drops into 100% German & I into 100% English. (People listening can be amazed that we appear to have two conversations running, in two languages).

So, on the phone where all the visual clues are missing & we are listening to each other in our second language. The subtle pauses, sighs, faster, slower, higher pitched, low etc etc to say 'Joke', 'Love' etc etc are missed. It's amazing how much difference this can make. So for a person who is natural 'phonephobic' it can be a nightmare..

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A 15 year old boy... How cool is that?

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This is a continuation of a comment on here. This is a "real" experienced by me, not an opinion. It happened shortly before the 'last' Invasion of Iraq....

Firstly, an interesting fact to set the scene:

There is a little town in the North of Germany called "Weize" in 1851 they drilled, & struck Oil. This was more than 1 year earlier than in Texas. So the Oil industry was born there. Today they don't get Oil from Wieze, but it is still a big Oil company area. Most of the American firms have a presence there.

Now, the Story:

At the time I was employed in this area by one of the large American companys to develop an underwater drilling & production system. In the same town was a rather large Halliburton factory. The Oil industry is like a small town, so in a small town it's like a little family. So we hear Haliburton has secured prime Oil contracts in Iraq. The other companies (American companies) haven't got a look-in.

Thing is, America is not in Iraq. Mr.B is talking of Mr.S's Weapons of Mass destruction. But here we have contracts signed & ready to go. Haliburton has ramped production & everything is prepared, all the equipment etc etc.. Still no invasion.

The point is.. The Invasion was decided long before. It was a big disappointment, there being no weapons. Too much 'Big' business had everything organised & was on-board.. It was a giant machine that couldn't be stopped.

Even now companies cannot get contracts in Iraq. There are suppliers that cannot get contracts. Their equipment is better, more efficient & a fraction of the price paid to the American companies supplying Iraq. These same American companies are controlling the contracts to rebuild Iraq.

My opinion:

This is Iraq's own money being used to rebuild the country. This comes from the profits left after the unrealistic costs of American controlled Oil Production. If Iraq money is funding this, should it not be ALL suppliers that are considered?

Thats All.. Unimportant posts resume tomorrow..

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I am not exactly positive about the Daily Dancer in my post (Although he really does continually entertain me). So what does he do? Visits this Blog & leaves a really nice comment.

What a nice guy... As a little Thank-you, It & me have decided we will do a tribute to the Daily Dancer. We will video a dance & send him it...

Any suggestions for a Song?

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This Guy must be one of the Internets biggest wierdo's. I don't know why? but we can't stop visiting, every few days, to see if the "Madness" is continuing.

What does he do? .. He films a Dance in his flat several times a week. He also takes requests, sometimes films in a friends (much bigger) house & also accepts 'Guest' dancers. I can't believe he can do this week, after week, after week... But he does!!

So far this all sounds OK, a Guy dancing.. Why not? Problem is... "He can't Dance for Toffee!!".

If you look through some of the older stuff you'll also find out that he also can't sing. This Guy makes it & me laugh. We are addicted...

Todays Dance is the Wham hit.. "Wake me up, before you Go-Go"

What do you think??

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Todays plan was for It to go to the Cinema with the Three Girls.

However, as the day progressed various obsticles appeared, which forced some changes to the plan. As the day progressed, each of the Girls became unavailable. This turned out to be pretty lucky, as it later realised 'the funds' were standing at zero until 'Friday-receive-dads-handout-day' comes around.

So it has spent this evening sitting in the Flat. Going absolutely nowhere! Arhhhh, how sad!

Still, this imprisonment presented the opportunity for it to locate the missing Mobile phone!! The Mobile apparently went missing while it slept! The Mobile was next to the Bed in the evening, but was gone the following morning? Dad's suggestion of "Why don't you ring it?" was deemed not possible as the 'Stupid Phone' had decided to, spontaneously, turn the sound OFF & the Vibrate ON. Maybe you doubt this?, I don't. If it can turn the Sound Off, & On, then the Mobile (Which has a far greater IQ) must be capable.

So we needed a Solution!
The solution was so simple... Let's keep ringing the Mobile while "Berlin's Idiot" puts its head against various pieces of furniture, the Walls, the Floor to detect any micro-Vibrations!!!

Did it work? surprisingly, It did!!

And where was the phone?

Down the back of the Sofa, of course, it walked there during the night!!

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The smell in the Flat was overpowering. Perfume, Perfume, Perfume!!

I asked it who had been in with so much perfume? It said "Dunno!". This I assumed was it being the normal "Useless Boy". So I followed up with "of course you know! You were here!, Don't be so stupid!"

Turns out he didn't know because there were three Girls in the flat at various times of the day. Next time I go out, I must remember not to mention that I will be back late!

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If anyone is interested, this is the Office where it all happens. This is the "Blog.co.uk, Blog.de. Blog.xx" offices. This is where all your posts are cared for. They have offices on one of the floors & it's full of people & PC's. Lots & Lots.

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I was on the Street Markt, at Tiergarten, this afternoon. Super, Fresh, Cold, Weather. I found a piece of my youth, "Pink Floyd, The Wall". Years ago I sold/gave away all my LP's. Since then I have been replacing them with the CD versions.

"The Wall", It's mine now!

To re-live my full memory, I've been a little bit 'out of it' this afternoon. Lying on the Bed, in the dark, Room spinning, Headphones on v-loud. What a classic feeling! The sounds, music, words, story.

I'm back to normal now (almost), Headphones are still on v.loud, but I've moved onto some more recent music (Röyksopp).

Classic Memory..

I remember travelling to London for a weekend to see "The Wall" at Earls court. We didn't have any tickets, so had to buy some on the Underground (for far too much!!).
Long hair, painted jeans, Trench coat (Original with a Bullet-hole in the side!). We watched the greatest concert ever? The wall was built during the first half, The airplane in flames (wouldn't be allowed now!), the giant puppets, the images on the walls. dah de dah de dah....

Was anyone else there? Call me Worm!

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It was -16ºC the middle of last week. It's been cold for over two weeks now. When I say cold I really mean cold. It's cold enough that people could die. In fact, people have died here in the last two weeks. I've been on Ski Holidays in the snow, this is something else!!

OK, some places have been worse. Russia, for sure! This shitty cold weather came from Russia & has managed to warm up as it's crossed poland. Last week it was -36ºC in poland. In one evening, 105 old people died in an Old-folks-home because the heating failed for a few hours.

So why am I happy about the temperature today?

"Herta Berlin' vs 'Hannover 96"

We support Hannover 96, but live 10 minutes on the U-Bahn from the Berlin Olympia Stadion, home of Herta BSC (one of the enemies!). The Bundesliga (The German Premiership) restarted today after the Christmas break & naturally, this is a big Football game for the Boy & me!!

Preparations for todays match were;

• Normal underwear & socks
• Ski Underwear & socks over
• Thick Trousers
• Two T-shirts
• Hannover 96 Shirt (of course)
• Boots, Gloves, Scarf, Hat
• Ski Jacket

We must be prepared to spend 3 hours in a unheated stadium.

After the match, "WE WERE FREEZING!!!" It took an hour back at the flat to get my limbs moving normally again. So, I am really glad it was only -6ºC today. If the game was last week I think it would have been too dangerous & could have been cancelled, or we would have died!!

The Result

Hannover took an early lead, but just before Half-time the captain (LaLa) was sent off after getting a second Yellow card. So the second Half Hannover defended quite alot, but still had chances. At the start of the 3rd minute of 3 minutes of added time Herta scored the equaliser.. What a bummer!! Still Herta were at Home, against 10 men. I sure they're more disappointed than us!!

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When I get home I can hear the coffee machine working in the Kitchen.. That's strange I have coffee for us!! I go in the kitchen. It has put the machine on, not put the jug underneath properly, so now the coffee is overflowing. There is water & Coffee Grounds along one of the worktops & part of the floor!! Am I mad? Not really.. The stupid arse has thought about making coffee, & it is the thought that counts.

But why has it made coffee when I'm bringing some..... Because its a little drunk!!

I notice it has a stupid "puppy dog" smile. The eyes are a little strange, half closed. His movements a slower than normal. Yeap!! Drunk alright.. But he is happy & funny. We sit together at the kitchen table talking. At one point, I ask him a question & he gives that surprised "What!!" & looks around for who spoke. I must look away to control my laughing.

Suddenly I ask him "How many Beers then?". I expect the standard Boy answer of none!! But no he comes back with "I had three!". he then voluteers all the details about where & with who. (I get a list of Girls names, like the role call for a Broadway show!!).

My final words as he goes to bed are "You'll be sorry tomorrow!!"

What have I learnt tonight?

I already knew it was popular with the Girls, I have absolutely no idea why!!. I also learnt that it belongs to the group that gets funny & friendly when, a little, drunk. Which is much better that the "I want to fight" group. But best of all, I learnt that alcohol is like a "Truth-Drug". It cannot lie, I got the answer to absolutely everything I asked, & it smiled while telling me!!

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Friends

I'm a contractor so it's normal to meet new people, make friends & then 'move-on'. But I really don't miss these people that I've worked with, drank with, had good times with. Occassionaly I would come away from a contract with a friendship that has lasted. These are real friends as once you leave a place only friendship can keep you in contact. So I move, they move & I now have a few good friends all over!! But I don't miss being around these friends. We email occassionaly, meet maybe once a year, sometimes closer to two years.

The other people... don't care about, or miss..

Places

I like to go back to visit my parents, but I'm really not interested, & have no drive, to re-visit the places I grew-up. I remember these places with great happiness, but the time has gone & I feel no need to keep this connection to the past. The places I've work I remember, but again will never return.

Family

This is the most important group. I travel to see my parents a few times a year, both for me, but more for my son. I try to see my Brother & Sister when I can, but we all live apart so it's not always easy. For some reason my mother, & her mother before, find it special if we can ALL be in the same place, at the same time.

I don't mind meeting everyone seperately.

Dead People

I think few people can reach 41 years old & not have contact with death. Almost all the older relations have gone. Maybe some friends have gone. People from 'the Office' have had fatal accidents, or illnesses. You know for sure there's no more conversations with this group (Oh, maybe later if your religious). Whenever someone (or a Pet) has died I have always picked a single thought to remember them. Often something small & trivial, but something to make me smile inside. Then later, when this stupid little thing happens in my life, that person springs into my head.. I thing that is nice & how it should be.

But there are two people that the little thing doesn't apply to;

My Uncle George. He died quite some time ago so these memories don't come because his death is fresh in my mind. I seem to have grown up with this guy. He was my mother's sister's husband. I remember as a baby always being left with him while the sisters went shopping, or somewhere. He was funny, we fought, laughed. As a very young child I have more memories of him than of my parents. I remember him now quite often. I can't say how often but maybe once a month.

And My Grandma (mother's side). I remember the day she died. I was 17 years old. That's 24 years ago & I still think about her most weeks. I don't dwell on her. But she is in my thoughts. I wish I could have told her just how special she was before she died. But I really didn't know that she was. I'm almost 100% sure that whenever something happens to remind me of her I end up almost laughing. She was so funny, but never told a joke. I just found her funny. I don't believe in God & the afterlife etc etc. But if there is one single reason for me to want to believe, it's so that my Grandma could know how I feel, but never said.

I never cry... But I am now. I'll have a coffee pause... Ok back.... last section.

People I've never met

Sounds strange! But this section goes to my Gradma's husband.. My Granda. He died when my mother was young, so I never met him. He could entertain at parties, sing, was popular in the village & was a constant source of amusment to my Mother. She speak's so often of him. And as I've got older, she has said how much I am like him. How interested he would have been in all the things I'm interested in.

If I find a "Genie in a Bottle" tomorrow & get only one wish. I would meet him!

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I found that once away from the classes the writing & grammer stopped. I've become so scared that I'm not learning anything new & am probably starting to abuse the language as bad as I ever have that I felt it was time to act. So I started another evening class. Just a couple of hours a week, but enough to have a teacher correct me again.

Saying German is difficult to learn is a complete understatement. For me it has been a complete battle. There are rules for this, rules for that. The German language also has a really special rule; 'Every rule has exceptions, lots...'

Enough negative!!

It is nice being able to walk around the City & understand what the locals are rabbiting on about! I have no fears of going anywhere & asking for anything. And the feedback from most of the German people is fantastic.

Their thinking goes something like this...

1. Someone's talking to me... what does he want?
2. What's wrong with his voice?
3. Oh, he has an accent, must be a foreigner!
4. That's nice, a foreigner speaking German, in Germany.. I'll be very nice.
5. What is that accent? ... That's an English accent!!!!!!!!!!!!!
6. My God! English people speak English, they don't need to speak another Language
7. An Englishman speaking German. I'll be extra extra nice..

Then in a Shop talking to a woman I can often get...

8. Oh the English accent is so 'soft', he can't say the 'hard' sounds... How sweet!!

Then finally, & this has happened alot!!

9. I'll do something extra.. Maybe a gift/sample, a chocolate... let me see.

So, I come out with somwthing extra, or

10. I haven't got anything. I'll give an extra big smile

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So, it has been in a primary school. Every evening I've had the

"Oh, I'm so tired! Little kids are such hard work dad!"

But, you know? I really think it is realising some things in life are hard work, but good. It has really been enjoying all this working-with-kids stuff. I am surprised (& pleased).

So, what's with the post title?

Well, It must do a little presentation about working with kids, the school, people, goals, what's happened etc etc. So ithas been busy since 'school' today working away on the Computer & doing something with paper...

Homework (definition: Anything for school that occurs outside of school) is not normally a popular subject in this house so, I've been walking around tonight a bit &

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I was out running(skating?) yesterday, just before it got dark.

FIRST:

Dear "Lovely Couple Holding Hands"... Get out of the way.!! For god's sake!!

The streets have old snow piled at the sides. There's not a great amount of passing space. I'm running along & meet this couple, Hand-in-hand swinging their arms between them, enjoying the romantic walk, taking up the whole path. Am I so wrong to expect that they bunch-up a little to make some room, or maybe go single-file for a few seconds!! Not a chance, I must run into all the Snow piles at the side of the path..

SECOND:

This town has wonderful cycle paths everywhere. They're nicely marked in red stone. Pedestrians must NEVER be on these areas when a Bike comes along!! This is a BIG NO-NO in Berlin. The minimum penalty is to be deafened by bells. But we have Snow/Ice at the moment. The snow machines are better at keeping the pedestrian ways clear so now the Bikes are coming up behind me & "RING", "RING". I must move!! What a cheek!!

Morons!!

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Obviously it couldn't wait this evening!

I am constantly surprised how something that appears to have so little Brain function knows exactly when to make an appearance, normally just after;

- the Potatoes have been peeled,
- the Coffee is ready,
- the Washing Machine has been turned on,
- the Dishwasher has been Emptied
- or one of a thousand other little items is complete

It's also worth noting that the Flat is approx. 22 degress & after just coming out of the shower a 'Hoodie' & 'Cap' have been immediately re-applied.

Strange creatures.....

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Buying the House had been a good financial idea. We had bought the house & it had been like a little hobby for me. I had ripped almost everything out! It had a new floor, Electrical wiring, Central heating. I'd had a great time, never really throught too much about actually living there.

We finished with the Vicar & everything was done. It took me a while to get used to the idea. I wasn't exactly into this permanent bonding thing. We had been going out together forever, but I was still only 20. Still it was decided & who was I to upset everyone? But then again, Why not? She was everything I could have wanted; Beautiful, Sexy, Friendly, Loving etc etc.

In fact I'm feeling a little strange now writing about Alexandra. Even her name turns me on now. I don't think she ever knew the height of my physical attraction to her

Live goes back to normal after these things, & it did. Work, evenings out, sport, hobbies & the approaching Wedding. We both still lived with our parents (You did in the 'old' days), but we were often together. Normally on a Sunday she would come around late morning & we would go off somewhere. One week, late morning passed & early afternoon arrived, this became late afternoon & finally became early evening... Then, she arrived.

"I have something important to tell you!", "I've met someone else"

"Little shocked" was a total understatement. Then came the story. This guy had started in her Office a week ago. ONE WEEK AGO!!! They had become friends & played squash twice. After squash this particular morning he had asked her to dump me & be with him. They wanted to buy my half of the house & finish it together. I never met this guy, I never wanted to.

I was upset (No, I was fuckin' devastated!!) But being the 'Romantic', 'Soft Shite', 'Easily trodden-on Insect', that I was, I let them buy my half of the house. As they were so eager to build their love nest, I got my asking price without a problem.

So, I had to start my life again. It was very, very hard. I was upset for months. But people recover from these upsets. I got a new life, a good life. I was having such a good life I decided that I really didn't want to meet another Girl, at the moment. I wanted to live a single life for a long time. I was completely happy again.

I was, most defintely not "Getting married"!!!

Next... "History #3 - A phonecall & a chance meeting"

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It's not a bad idea. After joining you take a little test where you rate 50 movies. The score is then used to show you other members with similar tastes. The idea being, members form little communities where the film ratings are averaged. When you watch a film/dvd etc you enter a rating on the site & if you are interested in a new film /DVD etc you can see the score from 'like-minded' members.

Obviously, my initial group is part of a community of its. I must change this or I'll get recommendations for "Ace Ventura: Pet Dectective" - Arhhhhh!!

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