Overwhelming

 

Our kitchen has red on the wall, not on the floor, this is ESE.

Left, Coffee-/tea-maker, right, water. 

 

 

The place is overwhelming.. I liked the old building better. I worked there on Thursday, see here:

 

 

Lunch break.

LOL in the aftermath you see how small I am... Gurri  is... aw well... 

Why I worked there, with a VERY LOUD colleague opposite me? 

 

Christmas party.

 

At cgs it always was with your partner  - that (was security and) made 80-90 peeps.

 

Here just colleagues. 

From the over 450 ...  at least 300 were there.

 

And somehow I ended up nearly right up front so bosses saw me, despite I´m so small (yipee - show your face).

Endless speech and at some point I thought I faint.

Scary, told fK. At first I wanted to stay strong but wee.... so many people, so close together, air getting thinner, room getting hot... Secretly fK led me to the chairs in the corner and got me a glass of water, then another.

 

Picture it: The Giants, LOADS of people, but fresh air and not THAT close together.

Here, all the time I got bumped. 

 

fK said if I want to go home she´ll drive me NOW (driving me home was the plan anyways as ESE is in a lonely place...)

 

Stayed strong, met new and "old" colleagues...  

 

One I knew from the summer-festival. He blinked at me, smiling and I thought, "hey, I´m married!" A very handsome guy, too.

Later told fK and she said, "he has a 'ticking eye`". - "Huh, glad I didn´t blink back!!!" - "He´d thought you have a ticking eye, too 🤣". OMG.

 

Her wife has Usher´s and was on a train - the conductor addressed her but she didn´t realize.

Angrily, loud: "Are you deaf?!" - "Yes."  - I´d said sorry a million times!!!! He showed her a leaflet.

Took her a while. Him: "Are you blind, too?!!!!!" - "Yes.". He never said sorry. And yet, she is that brave, she travels by herself!!! She still sees a bit, with glasses, and hears a bit, with hearing aid.

 

And on the party another colleague stared at me, that was really creepy.

We left early. Too many people.

 

But the food!!! YUM!!!

The managers threw money together for it as the company still struggles!

Wild goulash, dumplings, red cabbage and sauce... heaven (there was also a vegetarian dish).. sadly I was still a bit drowsy. 

The rooms were icy cold! I could eat just bits.

fK and I changed so I had an empty  plate.

I stole away from her apple pie, though - yummy, sweet tooth woke up.

 

I hope I can stay in that company! Despite it was too much and you get lost easily there.

 

I think I have very bad news, though, but that is when I am sure.

 

Henry 🦁 

 

 To a happy Advent-time!

 

River reminded me, someone needs socks!!! 

 

 Even his friend blanket does not help anymore!

 

 

Thank you, Grandma R - she knitted Elmo´s socks from left-over wool from socks she knitted for me! 

 

Nellie was sent to me by a friend from Perth. Before prices for postage exploded!!

 

From left to right: Nellie, Lille Ingo, Mielebär, Elmo, Blanket, and Sleepy Bear.

All content now. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

T This ProducTive Week

 

Pic from summer days.... and with this (2C / 35F right now) I join Elizabeth´s T.

 

The journal:

 

 

Monday: Went grocery shopping after I was cold all day. My legs were nearly numb already - Bea was at the self-check-out as supervisor. I neared her from behind and said hello, without seeing me she replied, "Hi, Iris!" - now I wonder is my voice that strange?! We had a nice little chat - I said my good-bye, went outside and nearly got killed by their huge sign that the mean, cold wind blew over. Boy, that was LOUD!

"Against the Wind" - ... I remember 1999, Darwin, Lake Andrew, a sign: "No nude or female topless!" - here a topless Aborigine-woman - I never expected that! Everything on TV is rated in Australia and the DVD is aged 15+.

"It will be a great day when the people in this country find out what a good drink beer is!" - and they did!

 

 

Tuesday: Wonders happen!!! I called authority Braunschweig to make an app for Ingo to get my "big" travel-passport for Perth (it´s hard to reach via public transport)..

A woman - supernice and funny! Certainly the e-mail to confirm didn´t reach me as she understood "w" instead of "f" - so I corrected her as we waited and sad, "no, f like fly"....

made her laugh. Read to her the confirmation, she, "yes, even our program is polite :-)!"

Wished her a nice evening, "thank you, only 32 minutes to go!". 

 

Sadly "Against The Wind" is but a mini-series and I am done.

Mary and Jonathon Garret, two convicts in the 17-1800s died leaving 5 children, 23 grandchildren, 11 great-grandchildren and now 8 000 Australians are related to those two.

 

 

 

Wednesday: My Scarf and Bonnet are out again with coat Gurri (name by the company), wee was it cold! But I sure walked myself warm.

My teamleader had to let me in and later bring me to the "Brown Bag Day"-date. 

mM explained the heating to me, you can only flip 2C up or down, man it was cold.

4 other guys worked in the open area - nobody said a word! 

The date-room was even colder and we were but 4 people!!! But... I showed my face. The only female one. I could help mSA  and he later wanted to take more pics for me but the tram was in test-mode. He´s such a nice guy.

Thursday: mSA and I talked about raising kids in the 70´s (us) and now and inbetween - his daughter is 3 years old and needed to see the doc with him for a vaccine. A funny talk!

teams is like being in the office - great technology. 

  

After driving to Salzgitter, working 8 hours, driving back, searching 45 minutes for a place to park the car at the end of the world, grocery shop on the long way home Ingo did book the hotel in Frankfurt and the Flix-Bus to and fro - THANK YOU! I´d need... forever.

And I am so blocked having that darn test so soon. 

 

 

Friday: -4C / 24,8F in the morning ... 

 

 

On the way home saw a very small elderly woman with a very crooked back, walking slowly in mini-steps in a way too thin jacket, bag nearly on the ground. Stopping every few steps and looking to the street. Asked if she needs help - "the bus stop is gone!". Those darn construction site barricades she could not look over. I told her how far it still is and with a nod the lady with her nose and cheeks red from the cold went on. How the heck will she get on the bus? Must find out about "Crisis intervention teams" and ask what to do... Even if I was willing to give my Gurri to her... she would´ve stumbled over this for her way too long coat.

Hope the bus came in time for her and brought her very near to her home...  

 

Weekend: Saturday: Bea at the self-check-out, we had a nice, long chat. A friendly face to talk to.

Other.. by myself. Stupid, but I feel no joy, just pressure.

 

Sunday: Die Maus is in prison!!! HA, I´ve been in some, too. As visitor - in museum-prisons.

Other: Luxury trains on TV! The Transcantábrico Clasico - they explain also the technique! A treat!

Munchy: 

 

 

The internet series: 

 

"Our everyday objects and their unusual origin stories

 

 Chain Saw

 

Warning, this story is gory. Until the 18th century, there were no Caesarean sections, so doctors assisted with difficult births by using a knife on the pelvic bone to create space for the baby. In 1780, two doctors created a hand-operated, cranked blade on a chain, which first became popular for cutting bones before being used on other materials such as wood."

 

Brrrr......

 

And... at Tom I found out... "TODAY IS NATIONAL PLAY DAY WITH DAD", so...

 

 

Oh, the 1970´s....  the colors... the wallpaper, the sofa... LOVE.

 

Henry 🦁 

 

 To a good week.

  

 

The Three Roots

 

49 years later and it starts again.

Bad dreams.

 

I was 4.

My parents presented me with a puzzle 6+ years.

 

Mine way back then was a different one, this is but an example.

It was Christmas-time, advent 1st. I sat at the table struggling with the puzzle, not "supervising" the candle on the advent-wreath - and.. the candle was down, the wreath caught fire!!!

 

 

Behind me: closed balcony-door, no key. Left - no space. Right - little space and the fire. I screamed my soul out! 

 

The puzzle sadly stayed unharmed.

So... I was at it again.

The scene: A long way up a hill between meadows up to a charming house. 

 

And the dreams started.

 

 

I was a flower.

Three roots, with earth on it. One root had more earth than the others and in general - try to run with three roots, try to balance!

I was on the road, on the bitumen, wanted to reach the house... aka mastering the puzzle?

 

Heard a noise behind me, turned my head - it was hard to see due to the large petals.

A construction machine of some kind, trying to catch me - I started running faster. Faster and faster, struggling on my three roots - I was 4 years old!

 

The flowers in the meadow saw me and yelled, "run into the grass!!" - but I couldn´t leave the bitumen.

 

Woke in fear. 

Finally fell asleep and it started all over. 

 

It went on till the puzzle was solved.

 

Now I await my test... Various bad dreams haunt me... 

 

This btw is a great jigsaw to do online. 

 

Woah. Same with you - bad dreams when in fear??

 

This is a pilot-project.  Gack. No one really knows... what to expect, what to deliver.

I feel so helpless. 

fK helps, but doesn´t know, either, mAA1 offered to have a look, just what for, will only buy his time...

I feel sick. I know. In other countries there are bigger problems ... the world around you is present, though... 

I want two legs to walk on steady...

 

Ingo said I´ll fail. 

I´m down like never before. If he´s right > job gone. 

The stress is tremendous. I am not 20 anymore. 

I am a shy introvert.

I will have forced 7 minutes to speak free to "introduce myself" (camera on, HORROR!!), then 13 minutes for the presentation. 

Germans, punctual. 

Then stand the questions for 10 minutes from the female-only-"jury". 

I feel sick. 

Friends and colleagues encourage me...

 

Ingo had an unknown future back then.. me... fixed goal... 

 

The internet series: 

 

"Our everyday objects and their unusual origin stories

 

 Graham Crackers

 

 The tasty biscuits were first introduced by Presbyterian minister Sylvester Graham as part of a special diet designed to curb 'carnal urges', based on a then-popular theory that sexual appetite was the ruin of society and could be reduced by bland food."

 

Some people have strange thoughts... 

 

Henry 🦁 

 

 

Let´s hope "we" manage, baby-Henry...

 

 

And This Bee I Speak Of...

 

When I was little Biene Maja was on TV. She was a curious bee, had a friend who was a bit clumsy and not the brightest, Willi, and a grass hopper named Flip. The introducing song was fun and sung by Karel Gott.

Here is a link, English was not available, but in Portuguese it was. 

 

There is no artist - this is again at the old Market Hall on my way home - but the name of the pear, German "Birne" is Maja - sounds nearly the same, Birne and Biene and made me smile big.

 

Not really artistic, but clever, huh? Here is the song, meet Maja, Willi, Flip and some other bug - see, the importance of bees was known already in the 1970´s:

 

 

 This is for Sami´s COLOURFULWORLD Monday Murals.

The internet series:

 Highway to Hell: Spooky Stories from Route 66

 

 For many people, a road trip on the Mother Road, the legendary Route 66 in the United States, is a dream vacation. The route stretches from Illinois to California, and the rolling and ever-changing landscapes, the small and large towns along the way, and the simple joy of driving on one of the longest roads in the world make for a perfect adventure. Unfortunately, you can get more than just a thrill on Route 66. The legendary highway is infamous for its ghosts and winds through some supernaturally shady areas. For some, this might make the trip even more tempting, but for others, it might be a reason to forgo the trip altogether."

 

 

See more tomorrow...

 

Our parents gave me money to travel Australia (we lived in the car, we were cheap, Ingo and I) and Mom gave my lille Bro a trip on a motorbike on Route 66 in the United States.

  

He never went. He feared his English is not good enough. 

 

Do you have any idea how much I wanted to slap him in the face? 

(I didn´t live at home anymore at the time and learned only later).

A dream he just threw away out of fear.

And I bet. I DO BET. Whatever "bad" your English is... people would make an effort to help you... right? I helped raising my Brother. And obviously did a bad job.

He turns 48 soon. Slap him then? 

 

Bee Maja sure would´ve hopped on the plane and bike! 

 

The countdown to Creep: 

 

 

Limpy organized another vehicle, a train!!!

We´ll soon hop on again, too, Ingo got this one:

 

We have our Transperth Smart Rider tickets ready!

Henry 🦁 

 

 

HENRY

 

Pic taken by my friend fK last Saturday - Sami, you make us all look out for murals! 🥰

I got this via WhatsApp.

I´ll be out and about today and will check, too!

(Yes, soccer-colors, sadly) 

fK works via ESE for ALSTOM, railway.

 

Reckon the chalk-mural is near "Schlossarkaden".

 

Interview with ALSTOM Vienna/Graz soon and hopefully off to get a laptop from ESE - greetings to your J, dear Sami, I might be back in railway with maintenance ... - if I get a YES... happy dance on ... no, not ON...  WITH Henry... I´ll pop by there on the way home.

Cause. Nope, not home in a hurry, Ingo, I take my time!

Ingo ordered beer from Jürgen´s brewery. 

 

Sami, I think you are right: Braunschweig is still a small city ;-)

 

I e-mailed yesterday ... please deliver Tuesday and Paul, "Hi Iris, yupp, Tuesday,"

What did we do before e-mail?!

(In Germany Sunday is a day off, actually)

This is for Sami´s COLOURFULWORLD Monday Murals.

Also.... yikes. It was in the TV-news, shitti#st summer in a long time and now it is September!

Licht Parcours Braunschweig: HIT & RUN LOVERS by Monica Bonvicini is part of a series of language sculptures and drawings based on song lyrics from the 1960s and 1970s. The artist explores the relationship between public art, consumerism, and power dynamics.

Hey, to our generation, right?

 

On The Rail Again

 

 

Some numbers:

Average length of train: 878m (includes two locomotives and 35 carriages)

Average weight of train: 1710 tonnes
Length of track: 4,352km
Length of journey: 65 hours Sydney to Perth – 4,352 km
Average speed of train: 85km/hr (max speed 115km/h)
Symbol: The wedge-tail eagle, Australia's largest bird of prey. Its massive two-metre wingspan symbolises the epic journey spanning the continent.
Average number of carriages: 35 carriages including guest carriages, crew quarters, restaurants, lounges and power vans. 

 

Ingo let me know  the Indian  Pacific, that we rode February last year,   is  on TV.

 

 Some infos, if you like.

 

Imagine how they did it "back in the day""!

 

 

Finally:

 

See here, February last year...

 

Was interesting!

The series:

"Are these the worst decisions in history? 

 Atari rejects Apple 

When Apple co-founders Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak wanted to sell their revolutionary personal computers, they approached Atari, then one of the largest video game and home computer companies in the world. Atari said no. They even rejected the Steves' offer to work for them. Atari was crushed by the 1983 video game crash. Meanwhile, Apple became the largest brand on the planet in computers and consumer electronics."

 Henry 🦁 ´s alter ego the wedge-tail eagle:

 

 Thanks again, River, for helping, meeting us  and having fun!