Thanksgiving

According to calendars and my American friends, today is thanksgiving day in the USA. So to all my American friends and acquaintances, wherever you are in the world - Happy Thanksgiving!

I learned recently that Canada also has a thanksgiving day, but not on the 4th Thursday in November. Possibly other countries do too. For me it is a foreign concept, hard to grasp the feelings, emotions and pressures that seem to accompany it.

At this time of year my thoughts are already on Christmas. Advent is just before us, starting this year on Sunday. I have written all of my Christmas cards for friends and family and will send them off in the mail this evening. The shopping list has been compiled and almost all of the items purchased. I really want to relax and enjoy Advent this year. I plan to take a little time to myself each day and reflect on the reason behind the season. Also when we get to Scotland I want to enjoy the time with friends and family and not have to rush like a maniac around the stores to finish the shopping on time.

Just in case, you think I am a little early this year. I received my first Christmas card this morning. It was sent by my aunt in England. Must run in the family! Thanks Auntie! 

Toastmaster of the Year

This weekend saw us taking a trip to the city of Hamburg for our Toastmasters District Conference.  It was a great weekend. We had a chance to catch up with old friends, make a few new ones, learn new things, discuss, enjoy good food and wine and of course dance.

On Saturday there were the speech contests: humorous speech and table topics (impromptu speaking) in English, French and German. I went along to the English and German contests.  The standard was incredibly high and worthy winners were chosen. I was especially proud of the winner of the German Humorous Speech Contest. Vera Orac is a Czech woman who grew up in Canada and took the plunge to give  a speech in German entitled "Warum ich Deutsch spreche" (Why I speak German). It was hilarious with a great twist in the tale which showed her to be a great storyteller as well as humorous.

On Sunday we had our "Hall of Fame" ceremony where the District Governor of 2008 - 2009 presents a number of awards, recognising the achievements of Area and Division Governors. Finally there are three special awards: Area Governor of the Year, Division Governor of the Year and Toastmaster of the Year.

Joao de Mendonca from Lisbon was recognised as Area Governor of the Year, Jaap Russchenberg from the Netherlands as Division Governor of the Year and I am the Toastmaster of the Year!

Unbelievable! Me!! Toastmaster of the Year for Central Europe! The plaque declares that it is presented "in recognition of exceptional leadership and devoted service". I am so proud and so amazed. I did everything in 2008 - 2009 because I wanted to, I believed it was right and good and the award was so  unexpected but is received with grateful appreciation.

Marienplatz, Munich

Almonds roasting, 

wafting on the evening air.

Aromatic coffee,

drifting across the square.

The smell of the day,

fading away as night begins to fall.

I wait and watch and wonder.

Standing small beneath you

as you reach into the sky

reminding us of your power and might.

Flowers hang still in the evening,

the red of the sun gone for another day.

I look up expectantly,

knowing what should happen.

Remembering my first visit.

The excitement of a young traveller,

in the company of others equally young in travelling.

Captivated by your simplicity and history.

Today you are silent,

the square hustles in subdued tones,

In reverent expectation.

Thoughts of people and times past,

days that could never last,

are marked in tuneful salutation. 

Last day of the year

Today is the last day of my year. How has it been?

Quite difficult in places. We have lost a few friends and family members, all fondly remembered. David has battled with his health and we'll know tomorrow how that's looking. My health concerns have taken a back seat as I've focussed on other things. As a result I am not as fit as I was a year ago and have regained some of the weight I lost a few years ago. I am currently carrying a knee injury which doesn't really help. I twisted it leaving someone's home while carrying a heavy box. Stupid, I know but easily done.

It's been a good year in other ways. We have continued getting to know Dave and Terasa and have watched Aiden and Ethan growing from babies to boys and bringing us lots of fun along the way. They invited me yesterday to a sleepover at their house. I so wanted to go!!  I have made progress in Toastmasters and enjoyed all of the work that accompanied the progress. Church has brought more new people to us and we've been able to make the long promised visit to South Africa as well as having other fun breaks in Italy and England with friends.

For the year ahead, I plan to continue to grow in my understanding of the world that surrounds me. I want to travel some more and hope to do more paid work and perhaps less free work. I want to regain the lost fitness and increase it if possible. 

Above all I want to grow in love and appreciation of those people placed in my life for whatever purpose and for however long.

Ah Vienna

This weekend I had the pleasure of a pre-birthday trip to Vienna. I drove down on Friday evening with the dog and David flew there from Berlin and I collected him at the airport. 

We stayed at a favourite hotel of ours. Favourite because it is in a great central location, but not hideously expensive and welcomes dogs. 

When we checked in the receptionist gave us a carrier bag full of goodies, especially for the dog. His very own welcome pack! He knew immediately it was for him and stuck his head straight into the bag to sniff out the goodies and then when we got to the room he wanted to investigate everything in detail. Then he felt very at home.

On Saturday afternoon we were attending the Toastmasters Area Conference where I was giving an educational workshop on "Working in a team environment" and David was counting ballots at a speech contest. Shadow was very happy to stay alone in the hotel room with his toys and relax until we got back.

On Sunday morning I walked with him around some of the streets near the hotel where he sniffed and sniffed and sniffed, every open door we passed he wanted to go in and explore - especially the cafes!!

I think he likes Vienna almost as much as I do. In the words of that famous Ultravox song  "Ah Vienna".

Happy Anniversary

Yesterday we celebrated 22 years of marriage. In some ways it has flown past and in other ways it feels like it happened to someone else.

My wedding band is now plain gold - it used to have a criss-cross pattern on it but that has been worn away by the years. My hair is lighter in colour (colour chosen in consultation with the hair stylist). My wedding dress would never fit me but I still have it in the box in the cellar. I can't imagine any situation (apart from fancy dress) when I might have even the vaguest wish to wear it again.

Hopefully over the years I have learned some very real and practical lessons about love, forgiveness and relationships from an excellent teacher.

Would I do it over again? YES!! With the same man? OF COURSE!!

The dark and difficult days have been the times when I have learned most and grown closer to David. The sunny and easy days have been the times when we could celebrate what we share.

Happy Anniversary David x x x

September

September always makes me think of autumn, weakening sunshine, spiders, heavy morning dew, shortening days and of course our wedding anniversary!

Today on the 1st of September it is 37C on our terrace with only a few leaves beginning to change colour and no sign of heavy dew fall or spiders.

It seems we are having a little late summer this year.