Tuesday 11 May 2021

Wet again

 Wet again and quite cold with it - and almost at the middle of May.   I am decidedly wobbly today and am hardly daring to walk anywhere for fear of falling over.   It was fine walking out with Priscilla because she has a steady influence.   I went shortly after a lovely lunch of asparagus quiche and salad - brought by my carer.   It was delicious.    My  walk was good in that I met three different people, none of whom I had met to speak to before and they all stopped and chatted and all seemed to know where I lived and how long I had lived here and the fact that I had broken my hip - it is that sort of estate.   It is important to me to make these connections - it keeps my mind active.

I have something on every day this week - today it was merely the Tesco order coming, but it does mean unpacking and putting away everything and that takes quite a long time.    Tomorrow The Falls Team are coming to check on my walking - that will be a good thing I think as I do have good days and bad days.   Then on Thursday it is hair dressing day which means a taxi into and home from town - and then it will be the week end again - how quickly it has come round.

It is a brief post tonight because it is a Rick Stein programme at 7pm and he is in Berlin - a city I have never visited so I am anxius to see it.   Have any of you been?   If so what did you think to it?   Have I missed a treat never going?   It is too late now - that is why I am anxious to see it.

26 comments:

Debby said...

I will be curious to see what your Falls Team has to say about your walking. I've never been to Berlin. Yet.

sparklingmerlot said...

Your estate sounds like a lovely, friendly place to live. Hopefully the Falls Team can give you tips to cope with "wobbly" days - can't have you taking any more falls.
I travelled a lot as a kid as my father was with the then British Colonial Service. Since settling in Australia in 1971 I have not been overseas much to many people's consternation! I am quite happy to be an armchair traveler so look forward to your opinion on Berlin.

Anonymous said...

My fondest memories of Berlin relate to wonderful coffee and cake. Who says travel is wasted on the young?

I wonder if the falls team might have suggestions on your dressing challenges?

ceci

Susan said...

I've never been to Berlin. RS will do a very good job introducing Berlin. His programs are always outstanding. Will the Falls Team recommend actions to address each and every question you have?

Joanne Noragon said...

Never been to Berlin, or London or Paris, for that matter. We have the rain and cold completely in common.

Bonnie said...

It is good timing that The Falls Team is coming Wednesday since you have been feeling wobbly today. Hopefully they will have some helpful suggestions for you. Your neighborhood always sounds so pleasant. It is good to run into such nice people to visit with when you are out.

Cro Magnon said...

My youngest lived in Berlin for a while (where hasn't he lived?), and he loved it. A very vibrant, and young city. Was this a 'repeat' Stein show?

Derek Faulkner said...

We had a lovely, very warm and sunny day here on Sheppey, almost like mid-summer.
After the rainy spells we've had this last week, everywhere looks lovely and green.

Sue in Suffolk said...

Hope the Falls Team have ideas to help you.
Have a good day today

Jennyff said...

We had a long weekend in Berlin some years ago, it is my favourite city ever. Good food and coffee, beautiful modern hotel, easy to get around and of course all the modern history. We paid our respects at the Jewish museum which was very sensitive and moving, I still think about it. We too thought Rick was a repeat that we’d seen and only caught half of it, I’m sure it will reappear sometime.


Librarian said...

Rain here again, too, but not all day as had been forecast, and so we went for a good walk around the village in the early evening. Like you, we met quite a few people and stopped for chats, which was nice. Sometimes walking the very same village roads we do not see another soul!
I visited Berlin with my late husband as a sort of long honeymoon weekend, we both enjoyed the huge choice of museums and places of historical interest. In recent years, I have been to Berlin only for business and not seen much of it apart from the taxi ride between airport and hotel. My sister is a real Berlin fan, she loves the place and knows her way around. Maybe I am too much of a smalltown girl to really love it, but it certainly is impressive.

Frances said...

I have been to Berlin twice, and enjoyed Rick's programme, though we didn't visit any strange back street restaurants!(Probably not there then anyway.) The first time we went for the day..from Luton airport, which is only about 5 miles from here. The second time, we ( myself plus 2 girlfriends)stayed overnight with our other pal who was living there at the time. It was 15 years ago. I was disappointed that Rick didn't go into the dome at the Reichstag building as that was amazing, and he missed out the British Embassy building....it is a most unusual place, not far from the Adlon Hotel. We were lucky enough to go in and look round as our friend's partner and daughter worked there.Very modern building with some superb artworks.( can be seen online!)We had coffee and cake at the Ka de Ve and saw the rather boring Checkpoint Charlie. It seems that none of the presenters who go to Berlin ever visit the Jewish Memorial. It is most unusual.

JayCee said...

Hope the Falls Team give you a good mid term report!

busybusybeejay said...

I went to West Berlin in 1966 when the wall was still standing.My late sister in law was from Berlin and we stayed with her mother..Also with us was my fiancé now husband,and my brother.We drove from Lancashire to Berlin through East Germany.Quite a adventure.

CharlotteP said...

It's good you are able to get out and chat; it builds a sense of community when everyone feels their neighbours care about them.
I've never been to Berlin, either; my only experience of Paris was cycling through it in the morning rush hour (not good!). In fact, I've never been to Liverpool, Chester or Cardiff (all within a couple of hours drive). This doesn't worry me at all. I'm familiar with Scotland, the Lake District, much of Wales, and the Shrophire hills on my doorstep. These are places I'm anxious to see!

the veg artist said...

I've never been to Berlin, and for some reason never watch Rick Stein either. Will have a look. Nice neighbours here too. One called yesterday to tell us that the window of the back, passenger side, door of husband's car had slid down and was completely open! The car is soaking inside, and the garage we normally use can't look at it until the 24th! Cardboard and plastic is doing the job at the moment.

Julia said...

My husband and I met in Berlin in 1986 when we were both in the Army - I was a nurse serving in the British Military Hospital - Rudolph Hess used to be a regular for his medical checkups whilst in Spandau Prison but we weren't allowed anywhere near him! It was the most amazing posting and it was so exciting getting permission to go over to the East for a REALLY, REALLY cheap dinner in a top notch restaurant. We had to wear uniform so stuck out like sore thumbs but was worth it. An amazing city. And we went back for our Silver Wedding and still loved it.

Rachel Phillips said...

I have been to Berlin several times. I might write about it one day. Yes, to Cro, this is a repeat of Rick's Long Weekend City Breaks and I think this is the third repeat, but I enjoy them every time. Have a good day Weave.

Mary said...

Was living in Germany when the wall went up. My family went to Berlin within a year after that event. We traveled by night sleeper train from what was then West Germany through East Germany to West Berlin. We were told not to look out the windows if the train stopped. Of course, when I awoke in the middle of the night and the train was stopped, I pulled back my bunk curtain to the corridor and came face to face with an East German guard holding a rifle. Quickly closed my curtain. Guards checked the train and the under-carriage several times during the journey in case people were trying to escape. It was a heart-breaking trip in many ways. Seeing all the crosses and flowers along the wall marking where people had tried and failed to cross. The bricked up windows on buildings on the edge of the wall (the buildings were later torn down). Watching families stand by the wall and use compact mirrors to reflect a light to separated families in East Berlin--letting them know they where still there and waiting for a flash back--evidently at pre-arranged times, as for some years West Berliners could not visit. As US citizen, I was able to go through Checkpoint Charlie into East Berlin on a bus. The absolute bareness of East Berlin compared to the vibrancy of West Berlin was very dramatic. It was a very different time, but the visit made an ever-lasting impression on me as a young pre-teen.

Rachel said...

Berlin is a fascinating city Pat, very cosmopolitan nowadays yet still somehow retaining a sense of foreboding in the old Eastern quarter. The excellent public transport system makes it easy to explore. It's a 10/10 from me for a short city break.

Yellow Shoes said...

Mary, that is a poignant account of Berlin after the Wall went up, particularly the compact mirror detail.
Never been to what sounds like a fascinating city.
Pat, do any of your neighbours follow your blog I wonder?
Could that be how they are so well informed of your current status? x

Traveller said...

Have been to Berlin a few times. One of my fondest memories was having dinner at the top of the Reichstag. It was a couple of weeks before Christmas as the flower we dark red amaryllis, masses of them.

The Weaver of Grass said...

Thank you for all your views on Berlin. I have never been and not likely to go now but I found yourideas fascinating. I thought RS'S programmes were repeats Rachel - but they are enjoyable aren't they? Vienna tonight. Wonder how Gwil is - I do miss him.


Thanks everyone. Just off across the road to post three letters - back later.

Ellen D. said...

Never been to Berlin. I have traveled to Italy, China, and Rwanda! When my daughter and I went to Italy in 2019, our favorite city was Venice and I know you enjoyed that city too!
Enjoy your walks!

The Feminine Energy said...

I seldom go places but it's by choice. I prefer home. :-) Please take good care on those "wobbly days". ~Andrea xoxo

Bovey Belle said...

My son loved Berlin and wouldn't have minded living there, he said it was very vibrant. I hope you enjoy the programme this evening.

Sorry you are wobbly today. My husband gets the same with his balance (he has Temporal Arteritis) but we get out to walk along by the river most days. Some days are better than others. It is a worry.