Lockdown 2.0 day 14

 Another day in the row of lockdown, dark and empty streets, cold and rainy, really good days to stay at home.  It gets more and more uncomfortable, when we have less access to our comfort shopping, that all now happens on line. Works fine, the mailbox is filled and the notes of delivered packages are around. So, I AM happy, with the little assecoires for my camera, it makes my luxury a lot more comfortable.

Today I had a long sit in the tram, a man dropped down, unconscious, so we all had to wait for the medical aid to come. I had a bit time to think, and one of the things that came up, was about the 'anti corona' brigade.
At the start they were convinced about the Gates Conspiracy, what happened to that?  Is there still anyone believing in the chips in the vaccinations?  When will the first alarm go, when a vaccinated person is entering the supermarket?
Hot item at the moment is the limitation of the firework, with silvester.  It is not soled in the shops, but in internet people can buy it everywhere.  At many places it is not allowed to fire it,  in other cities there are just certain areas where it is not allowed..

It is a bit irritating, all those different regulations. I understand it (a bit), but for the normal people it is only confusing. People need, and find a lock, so that they still can do those things, what are not good in this time.  A general rule should be much more easy!   Well, for the people who think like me it is easy.  No firework, also no confusing, where and where not  But it is very confusing, and for the people that appearantly look for 'mazes'  in the net, they will find it and make unnecessary things dangerous. 

I fear that it is with all the measures are taken. There is no transperancy.  Most people are clever, they just stay home, but there will be always a group that needs the rules more. And if those rules are not there, the unpleasant surprises are predicable.

I don't want to end this blog negative,  I am grateful that we are still healthy (knock on wood) and that we have our house, our food, and each other.  Life is as good as you make it. Worries are a reason that people get ill. I want to be healthy. I smile, and those days, I sing loud with the music :)  Ahhh bliss!

The photo is taken today, I was getting bread in Düsseldorf  on a very grey day.  

Lockdown 2.0 day 13

 And I did not post a blog yesterday.   Not that there is nothing to mention, every day has its highlights, but it was just a day to forget everything.

The lockdown brings a kind of weird isolation. It is not from free will, and, tho I do not mind being alone and dong things alone, that consequently has affects at the day, at the things I do. No horry, it can be done later, tomorrow., next week...
The first signs are already there, that the Lockdown will not be over, after January 10th.  We have a while to go, but the numbers of infected people are not really going down enough.  
And considering the lots of things those lockdown already costs it is in my eyes useless to say, okay, leave it, as long as there are no other alternatives.

No one can foresee what happens, but we can foresee today.  It is winter, yes, the glasses get dampy when we go out and I see a lot of fellow 'damp gazers'.  Good that it is not that busy, but  it is also a bit unhandy.
Mask on, Hat on, and then the cleaning the glasses in the street. Did you ever try?

:-) 

Anyway it was beautiful (cold) weather, and I went for a lovely walk, unmasked. Not too many people outside, and that was exactly how I wanted it. Sometimes it works :) 
Oh, yes, worth to mention, this year there is officially no firework on sale in Germany.  Also, who wants, buys it at Internet, but in a lot of places it is not allowed to fire them with Silvester, well, you can imagine what is going to happen.  
We stay home. But, that is not yet, a lot can happen in 2 days.  What will happen?  I think you might read a bit of it, soon in this theater :)  

The photo.. Well, no comments to that!

Lockdown 2.0 day 11

 On the 3rd day of Christmas....    

It is sunday again. When I went to my work (yes..) at 6.45 in the morning,  I was confrontated by a fully empty street. The bakery just opened, the tram passed by with one passenger. And at the corner a homeless man was sitting, smoking his cigarette.

Cold, windy, defintitely a day to be cozy at home. And definitely not in the street, like this man. 
Who  knows me a bit, knows that I believe, that everything happens for a reason.
The view of this man, in the cold, I greeted him good morning, was pinched at me, and I walked further to find the coffee machine not working properly. Argh... Me and no coffee,  that was not as planned!

Luckily I found some alternatives, and my working hours went wonderful. With every talk I had that man in mind, sitting there in the dark. What should he be tinking, if anything at all, when he saw me, masked?  Ah, most likely he did not see me in the dark, just a silhouetto of a man...mama mia...

When I came back, it was a bit lighter, and stormy weather. The bakerys were still open, the man is gone. A few more people in the street, still no weather to be outside.
At home, first a real coffee (wow.. did that taste!) and then we had a video talk with our friends in the UK.
What a lovely hour that was, as if they were sitting with us at the couch, and as if things were just like in the good old times. 
Since the good old times are gone forever, we need to build on the good new times. And I think that that is the challenge for the upcoming time.

Oh, yes, before I forget, it is a diary, so it is about today..
They started with the vaccinations, today, what is positive. No matter if youi want to be vaccinated or not, fact is, that (when all turns out well)  it slowly will lead to a bit of normalisation of our daily lifes.  With all those lockdowns, it is getting harder to find the things that we need to buy. Where to we get a ightbulb for our (special) lamp, now the shops are closed?   On line, correct, and it will take at least a week before it is delivered.
More and more I discover the advantages of 'on line' talking.  Chatting from the couch, seeing eachother,  better then the pub.  

The photo is taken this morning at 7, at my desk.

Lockdown 2.0, day 10

 On the second day of Christmas....

Another day, lazy at home, shops closed, and... everybody in the park, because what else can you do on such a day.

I was in the park as well. After a lazy moring, nice and relaxed breakfast, I made a wonderful walk, in beautiful weather. No matter where I go, everywhere I find signals that things have changed. I still do not mind too much, but some moments I miss it, or I notice it. Sure with the camera in the hand.  

On this day I met a few people, that clearly had some difficulties.  The old lady, who was collecting the paper work in the street, and asked me if I could take the little 'car' home, (see photo).  I asked her, do you know who it belongs?  Yes,she said, they live there, and she pointed to a window at the 2nd floor.  Not that I had the intention to take it, of course. :)  

Then, later, at one of the beautiful edges of our park, a cluster of people was begging me for money, inviting me for a smoke, argh... Poor people. It is cold outside and there is no place to go.

After a while my gratitude returned. I am so happy, to have a roof, a warm bed. And even when the scones did not rise as good as I wished, they are still delicious to eat. I can't take away the idea that Mags is giggling, upstairs, when she sees the monsteous scones.  
Everyone can bake scones.

Well... that is definitely not true :) 

Yes, I eind this day with a smile. There are hard times on our way, for who thought Christmas was bad, beware for t

he next few weeks. 
I have confidence. I wish I can share my hope, my faith, and my humor with you.

Lockdown 2.0, day 9

 At the irst day of christmas....

After a false start in the day, at 3, where I did drop back in old habbits, the restart was much better.Awake at 9, a nice and calm breakfast and then I made my  walk, with beautiful weather.  First day of christmas, and of curse the bus was (almost) empty, as well as the street. It is going to look a lot like christmas. 

As I wrote before,  the biggest problem for a lot of people is, what to do with the load of free time, now that the entertainment possibilities are so little. No Zoo, no museum and that not just for one day.

Well, that was, as expected, what I saw today.  First, it was early, a lot of joggers, and later, families with kids, grandparents, and I don't know what more. I was not intrestetd, just in keeping distance, and  I concentrated at my photography, and getting my head clean again. 

It worked wonderful, I walked home, missed my coffee ;-), but I recharged, so all is fine.
I just baked my oath cookies, and now.. am ready for a quiet evening, in best company.

The photo is the first one of my walk of today. I think some more will come, at my Hafri Site at Facebook.  

Lockdown 2.0, day 8

Merry Christmas!

At Christmas eve, we had the luxury to enjoy our first free day in a roe of 4.
Thank God it's Christmas!

I did my last shoppings, the city looked very empty, only the perfume shop had a queue, last minute on line pick ups.
It looked very much like a lockdown indeed.

We stayed home, the weather was  inviting for a nice day, Kartoffelsalat and sausages, and a remote talk with family.

The church clocks invited the people, who booked their tickets, to come to the church.
No gatherings allowed, but this is okay?
The church clocks sounded like dead bells to me. The most scary thing I heared in this year. Okay, I think too much, maybe?

Now I am awake in the middle of the night, just awake, well, I guess that is lockdown? 

Blog is written. Cold feet. Back in bed. Hopefully for a bit of sleep.

Mood? Restless...

Lockdown 2.0 day 7

Strange days it are.

Soon it is christmas, and, as every thing, this year, it is different.

But not all has changed.
The madness in the supermarkets remains.  What is new, are the endles queues outside, waiting before one is allowed inside.  And when I hear the news, there is no sight that the curve is flattened enough to hope at a bit better, soon.  Too manie people are killed by the virus, too many people get sick by it.

A deep sigh and forward we go.  Today was a bit a strange day, the preparations for christmas are finally running here in house as well, but it is .. .different. 
The dark cloud is not really leaving.  I wake up and the cloud is there, I make my walks, in the park, the cloud is there. I cook, I clean, the cloud is there. Radio on, radio off.. it is there. You don't see it, and it is there.
I fight hard to stay positive. And I succeed. I have no other choice. I want to survive, I want to get good out of this, and I will. And I will do what I can, so that you come out of this good as well (that is my loud wish to .. you know). 

Meanwhile, everything remains different.  And meanwhile even the ruitine walks, bring surprises.  I only had to look up, to see the bird. Wow.
My day was good. The surprise came, just when I did not expect it.
I am open for more surprises. And I know very well, that I am very grateful for what I have.

Tomorrow the last preparations, for christmas. It is going to look a bit like it.  The light burns inside..  See it. Let it shine into your eyes.  Masked, of course :) but not the eyes. 

Todays photo is from the christmas tree market, in front of the monumental 'Alte Post'

As if nothing else matters.

 

Lockdown 2.0 day 6

 Yes!  We are in!

Europe gave the 'go'  to the vaccination against the virus, right at the day that some more pharmaceutic companies announced that their serum is (almost) ready.
Big business is coming for them, the power lines will be stronger and more openly then ever before.

It is time to consider, if I want to be vaccinated or not.
Well, there is no consideration, I will get the needle, when it is that far, I think somewheree before summer, when we know a bit more.
Or not.
It is so scary, to see how 'the world'  now is falling over the new variation in the virus, that bubbled up in the UK (and a few more countries).
The UK is now practically isolated,  someone wrote me that there might be a lack of Brocoli, this chirstmas, blimey, the world really is falling apart.

Now all the sudden strict measures to one country can be taken within a day, but when it comes to a personal lockdown, in our country, there is hesitation and consideration, while in that time hundreds of people die.

I not need to understand it, it makes me upset, when I read too much about it.

But today, day 6 in the Lockdown, is a rainy day, so I automatically stay at home, and the news bubbles in the background so I get an endless flood of that information, what made me think, instead of cleaning :) 

Every disadvantage has an advantage,  so true!
The Brocolli haters in the UK will agree with this.
And further... I hope the soup is worth to be eaten, tonight. That is at the moment my biggest worry. Life could be better, maybe, but I think... Life is good. Life is what you make of it.

Blog done. Back to the soup.  And a photo from yesterday, 

Lockdown 2.0 day 5

First I want to write a few words about the 'big' news of today, about the mutation of the virus, as found in S. Africa and the UK.

It is not unusual (and it is predicted), that the virus changes and finds new ways to infect. 
Ironical the country that as one of the first started with vaccinating (UK), gets the first serious outbreak. 

For me, and for most of us, nothing changes. We keep on wearing masks and we keep on being limited in our contacts. Nothing new, nothing to change our things now.

So, this is a sunday in lockdown 2.  The streets are more quiet then on usual sundays, I mean the motorways.  In the city the normal crowd of people.  The people without home and the people with the illegal (drugs) business are more obviously present, what is normal, of course, when the street gets more empty.

I decided to go for a walk in a square of our city, what is very much changing, huge industry disappears and makes place for houses. Old streets, new buildings even a rennovated park.
It gave me mixed feelings. Seeing the past, a part of history, disappearing, and at the other side a lot of nice new things.

In the park (I like it, very small but nice) a woman asked me to photograph the dirt in the 'sitting square'.  From all the people that need to party, preferrable when no one sees it.  I usually do photograph such, but this time I did not feel like. 

The walk was beautiful. I feel very, very privileged, that I can do such. My biggest reward was, the longer I was out, the more the sun came out.
A huge reward, but I am not sure why I deserved it.

I feel grateful. And I wish all who read this, to be happy and look forward to the upcoming christmas days. It is up to you, to make it work! Take the challenge to build something beautiful.

Lockdown 2.0 day 4

When I lay awake in the night, and the thoughts come (it happens!), I also think of course about the Lockdown, the virus, the ill people and the future.
Now the future is not a thing I can change, and I wish I was as good to cure the people who suffer from the virus, but no, I am not. 
My 'help'  in this is limited to listening, and to try to give a bit  of hope, happy moments, to people. As with photos, a few words, or a listening ear,  and that's it.

It is a kind of masquerade, and I think a lot of people wear a mask. in those times, that they are scared to be themselves, a poerson that has worries and, just like me, is insecure about everything what is coming to us.
I think that as well the Anti Corona movement is wearing a mask. I can not imagine, that people really, deep in the heart, don't mind that so many people get serious ill, so many people not survive and that the virus affects our life every day. 

How can you deny a thing, that is real, only why you not see it? 
And at the same time believe in the opposite, what you can not see even less? For what are no facts, no reports, just wild videos and panic making behaviour. 

Day 4 in this lockdown. 
Wonderful weather. And what did I do?
I did stay home, decorated a littlebit for christmas, I love the lights, and the silent nights.
In the night I always wonder how I will come through the day.
And in the day, I always manage prettty well.

All in all it is a good Saturday. I love my inner peace, but I also am glad when I can take care of my better half, what will be not too long, before she is home. For some people the lockdown all work remains the same. The true heroes, who you not hear, and not see.

Oh man. I stop this thinking. It gives headages!  Bring me my coffee :) 


Also, a photo from yesterday, in the silence city  Düsseldorf. 

Lockdown 2.0 day 3

A beauriful, sunny day. And I went to the city, to get  our favorite bread. Yes, the bakery is open.
As well as the donut bekery, the popcorn stalls and the hamburger restaurants.

All in take-away, but consequently a lot of people are eating their food in the city... where masks are mandatory, but hey, you can't eat with that thing on, hey, so... it is hanging at the chin, as a kind of napkin.  And I don't want to know, who spilled a bit of Ketchup from his fries in the mask, and putting it up again, when the service people demand them to wear the thing.

The city is not empty, more filled like at a quiet sunday. People sitting in the park, Families are walking, children are playing.. Many shops closed, and the ones who have the take away have an easy sunny day.

I continue my walk back, duty is done, and I enjoy the sun. As if nothing else matters. Yes, we stoill can not see the virus, and the killings it causes. And since may people don't care, we shall have to live  with it. 

On the positive side... I did not found any mask on my way.  
I must add to that, that I did not look for them. The weather was beautiful and I absolutely had no time for that negative load today.

Life is so good!  Life is so worth to fight for. Be good. Protect others, wear your mask. The ciggie and the drink can wait, the virus doesn't.

Day 3 this is. And counting. 

Lockdown 2.0 day 2

 There we are, Lockdown Thursday, one more week before Christmas.

It was a lazy day, I went no further away as to the mailbox, hardly listened to the radio, barely read the social media. 

Life is good!  The ook not finished, yet, and no photos taken -at all-  The one to this blog is from yesterday, I had so much fun with my 'crystal ball' ,  if I ever get bored in this countdown, I know what I can do.

The weather looks sunny and bright, I thought about going for a round, but well, why should I go, if I am happy at home, together with my sweetie?

Official forms are fixed, the last thing for this year, yeah! 

The radio was on. I  heared the corrected numbers, for infected people.  Help. 
Read that a few areas are using cool containers, to store the bodies.   Help
Masks are washed and clean 
And I am ready for some reading an gaming.

Have I said already, that life is good?  Well, it is!

Lockdown 2.0 day 1

Last  night I woke up at 4, far too early, but my stomach was protesting, I think it is not good to fill it two days in a row with salads ;-) 

Anyway, that is not where I wanted to talk about here :)  

Laying awake, all kind of things went throught my head, and, naturally, as well related to the Lockdown. 
A slight form of panic, like.. .what to do when we are not allowed to do anything... and so on. 

Around 7, still awake, I allowed myself to get up and make breakfast, and the day started running...
Like every other day.
Slight changes. Shops are cloesed, no nosey people, standing for the shop for a talk, no hairdresser open, but the chinese (food to go) had its noodles ready.  The city wakening up, 9 am, and, surprise surprise, a bit of sun, yea!

The day went in routine. A bit more queues to wait in, but, considering the weather, it was okay.
It surprised me to see entire families (also mom, dad and kids) going together for shopping.  Strange it is, people simply do not get what is really going on. 
Or they don't care. 
Such as the people that still were not wearing masks.
The Bratwurst 'christmas stall'  is gone.  The popcorn and almonds stand still ist there, in front of the closed shoe shop. 
Some shops are partially closed, not allowed to trade half of their products, just the essential ones.  

We shall see how it continues. At the end of the weeks the schools close, for the chtristmas holidays, now already there are much less kids on their way.  Tram and bus go as usul, and are filled with people. I have no idea where to. :) 

Today I met no people, other then the cashier in the supermarket.  But an message from my friend in the US made my day. Just so nice, to read people with a positive attitude. :) 

Life is good. A week before christmas. Bring it on!  :) 

Lockdown 2.0

Lockdown 2.0.  

That tells it all. We are again in a lockdown, thank you, Corona Virus. 

Sunday it was announced, and the people have had time until tonight, Tuesday, to behave like no one wanted that they should behave.  Queues before the shops, endless, and of course no distances. But, most masked,that is a thing we learned the past few months.
 Appearantly many not yet see the essential of the problem, and they matter more about their christmas gifts rather then about  the people around them.

My preparations for the lockdown were limited. If I compare with the first lockdown, on what we hardly did know what we could expect, I now know that the supermarkets stay open, so there is a guarantee that I will get some stuff. We shall survive. That is, when the people behave and not buy as much as that they did with toilet paper. And it starts again, I heared from reliable resources.

I will write a bit about the coming days. Christmas is different this year. How different?   Read Satties Lockdown Journal, and you know all about it. 

Today was the day that people in risk groups could get the first 'stack' of free PP2 masks. Since I am in the age that is labeled as critical, I could get 3 as well. I will give them my sweetie, she needs them more then I, with her countless contacts, every day. For her there is no lockdown, the show will go on.

Tonight... Rain.. baked potatoes, salad, saucages.  Life is yum! 

Todays photo is taken on Sunday, also 2 days ago. When we saw the sun for the last time.

Peace Fighter

 You have no idea

With who you start the fight

It is a mistake

To fight with a peace keeper

You have no idea

How it is, to be a peace keeper

And that is fine

Just don't start a fight

With a peace keeper

You won't win the fight

Love is the word

Peace is the light

© HaFri Poetry

30.11.2020

Breaking the rules

 As you might know I am a photographer.  For fun, I should do other things next to it, so far the theory (yes I am guilty!)

Next to sharing my photos, it is also nice (and, to me, essential) to be challenged in it. I do the challenges alone (like the 52 Trees), or I let myself be inspired in groups, and Facebook is the perfect place for gaining that inspiration. 
There is a group, I am member in, who has very few rules, and a nice challenge.  One of the  rules is, that you should use your own photo, according to the given word. The word is chosen in random, every week someone in the group chooses the words.

Now, as in every group, there are always people who 'forget'  the rules, and then luckily a few others are telling and correcting this to the one who posted.  So far, so good.
Unless there are people, who disagree with the rules. Strange, when you join a group and disagree with the daily rules, why are you in the group then, anyway.

The alternative is, building your own group, with your own rules. Sad, however, when you then try to steal the members out of the old group, appearantly why you not have an idea how to find people (no friends, maybe?).
The more sad it becomes, if you continue to break the rules. Putting things at the border (as in stealing a photo from internet and publish it as your own, eventually edited). 
The more strange it is, when such person is awarded with the week award.  By a person that jut has broke the rules as well (another rule,but still).

A new bomb is placed under the group. And I look forward to see how the bad boys and girls are going to leave. 
As in chess, it is good to think forward, to what next step  could be, and anticipate on that on forward.

And who knows me, knows how difficult it is, for me, to wait and not wildly kick around . But, I can, I am improving! 

I keep looking from aside, today. And here as well I believe in Karma, just like by Trump, I can not wait to see the evil leaving!  :) 

Behind the masquerade

 No, this time it is not a story about 'the masks', but about a mask.  A mask people can pu tup, to give others an inaccurate impression of themselfves.

Let name the man Arnie.
I know Arnie for a longer time.  We went together in a very intesnive training, what lasted 9 months. 
At our introduction to the training, Arnie was noticed by my colleagues. Someone asked him, if he could take off his hat, so that we could see how he looked without it.  
That was a legal request, we were all there supposed to be ourselves, and a hat, or so, could lead away from finding out who the real person is.
From that day on, I had a feeling in my stomach, that Arnie is not genuine. Arnie seemed to hide things. All the others in the group were honest, showed their feelings, and were as in a team. Arnie was an otusider.  He was always too late at our training, could not find a parking lot, forgot the date, or had planned double, he was doing some other projects similar to our schooling.  

In the months that followed, we became a very close group, knowing so much of ourselves, and of the others, as that we probably ontly talked about to our partners, and I am not even sure about that. :) 

Arnie remained a closed book. He was always leading away from the subject, with his 'adventures', a cold  a this, a that. But what was really the thing with Arnie, I could not find out.
At the end of our education, Arnie failed. He withdraw from the duties and 'should concentrate on his other projects'  Of course Arnie did not fail, and I was strongly confirmed that there was something what we not knew of Arnie.
Time went by, and Arnie found me on Facebook. Now Facebook is an open book, you can find so much about people there,  even without searching.
So, it appeared that Arnie had done a few more projects, that are all failed and ended.  I was not searchinf for it, just reading messages that passed by.

Now I was searching for another friend, finding out about the upcoming local elections here in Germany.  One of the parties, that I am intrested in, I watched closer.
And guess who  is on the list of proposed candidates for a position in the city council? 
Exactly, our Arnie.

I still have sympathy for the party, will not vote for Arnie, he is at a safe low place.
But, it all proved that my 'feelings from the belly' are right.
Arnie can impress people easily with his charmes, and it is no wonder that that happened again.

As a topping on the cake, I noticed that Arnie wrote as his profession 'Actor'.  
I think that that is one of the few tings of Arnie, that is true.

No, I will not tell anyone who Arnie is. None of you can know it. 

The lessson learned, and the lesson I have for us all, is, look further then the masquerade. Trust your belly, trust your feelings. If you doubt, you have reasons for it. 

I loved his meatballs, by the way!

The Ring Man Philosophy (part 1)

Some people think that they can continue, as if nothing has changed.

Other people may forgive, but not forget

I belong to those 'other people'.
Who hurts me once, I forgive.  Who hurts me twice, I will remember.  Who hurts me more, I will forget.

It is fully unfair, when you accuse me, and then, after the storm is over, just pretend that everything is like before.
Maybe I treated you wrong, or acted not as you expected. But the least you can do, is say I am sorry.
If you can not do that, I  consider that you are not sorry at all, and you do not know what you did. To me or to who else. It might be part of the roblem, that keeps you wondering, why you are, every time again, disappointed in people, in friendship or in relations.

If you think, that you not hurt me, then you know me not as well, as that you think.
if you can look behind my masquerade... then you are in my rings. You not need to fight your way out anymore, you are in. One closer, one further away.

If you, however, do not try to heal the damage, you will orbit out of the rings, in the dark space. And the chance that we meet (and possibly greet), are close to zero.

Fill in the puzzle, with names. Maybe I mean you. Maybe not. :)  You know it, and so do I

Hello again

 It's been a while, and I urgently need to update ny blog again! 

It is so cool, that I always can return here, to my private on line diary, available at all devices. 😊

It was a hot night, barely slept, and it is going to be a hot day. 

It is Sunday, also guess who is lazy today?

A tea (lol) and time for a longer email to my brother. He is a bit too quiet,  imho, so let me take the tiny step. Sozializing in the corona era! 

(again) freedom

A never ending theme is the freedom of speech. And, a never ending theme, as long as I am on Facebook, is, the freedom of speech at facebook.

I reacted at something someone copied (a speech) at his time line. My reaction was a bit emotional and just sideways to the topic.
The reaction, that came back promptly was, if you have an opinion, put it at your own 'timeline'. and that made me thinking, because  a lot of people have this kind of attitude.

The question that bubbled up in me is this.

We 'all' have our own area at facebook, where we can post and do what we want (within the rules, of course).  Why should I not react, when someone, who is in my friends list (also who matters, for one or another reason), posts something?  I can add a thumb or a silly smiley, but I can also discuss the subject.
What is the use of posting things, when you then seem to say,  hey, guys, I posted this, take it or leave it. It is MY property.

Maybe I should accept, that not everyone is like me. When I post something (it can be provoking), then I like to see reactions. It happens that I change my mind, during the discussion, or (most likely) not.  It helps to give me insight, in why another is acting or telling things his/her way. 
I do like it so much, to get smarter, to understand others.

Why are people blocking me, for when they post something (about the bill gates conspiracy, for example), and I ask, what the sources for their post are?
Why  is it better for them to ignore my question, rather then trying to convince me for why they stand for an opinion?

I am not sure if I want to know the answer. Because I think I know the answer already.

I better let go. If I can :)

Stones (no bricks)

I am not sure how it is in other countries, but in Germany there is a  'new sensation going strong and that are the 'Freude Steine'  Fun Stones.

The idea is seasy.
Search a stone, paint the stone, lay it out, to be found, somewhere, and, when you fond it, tell it at Facebook, and then put the stone anew  somewhere, so that someone else can find it.

Now, in the time of Corona, many people have much more (free) time then before, and especially families with kids  are painting and putting the stones everywhere.
Of course Facebook remains the place of the adults, they make groups, they make ruels.
As you know I do not like rules (shove it!)  and, I do just what I want.  I can not paint, but I can find, I make a photo, post it, and then (eventually)  put the stone somewhere to be found again.

Everytime I find one, I feel happy and good.

A few days ago, my wonderful and dear friend Margaret passed away, and, of course, that was a pretty sad day.  Two days later, I felt like going on my way again, and I  took my bicycle, with high expectations. Not sure about what... but that there should be something on my way.

When I biked along the small Chapel (guided by a police patroulle, how weird those times are!),  I saw something glittering. I looked better, it was green, and I though, wow, a stone!  And indeed, it was a stone. Not a stone that follews the (adult) rules, also with the group name written behind.  Just a stone. Sparkles on it, at the kneeling bank before the chapel (it is all open air there). 
The child in me cheered up, and I felt very lucky, to have found that one.  I looked at it, made a photo, and then a little robin was whistling, so loud and bright, and so near.

Looking up, I saw him, and I said, loud, hi Mags!   To me, a robin is a greeting from a person that, not so long ago, passed away, and this absolutely made sense, it was exactly fitting my thoughts and comfort.
My voice scared the bird away, so I said, it's okay, Mags, it's me, Hans.. and then, carefully, the robin returned, and sang a song, at a funeral stone, that was aside of the chapel.  I asked if I could make a photo, now it was calmed and was sitting there, waiting until I got my camera and made the photo. Then it did fly away.

I was 'wow' ing loud about this, what a wonderful rendezvous that was, and I had tears in my eyes (nooo, NOT the allergy  :-)   ).  I can not describe what I felt, it was like a whitle light, of comfort and warmth.  The closure of a beautiful chapture, and the opening of a new way of communication with my friend.
I took a deep sigh, and then a black feather dropped down from the bushes, right in front of me.
Now (I think I wrote it before), feathers are something special as well. It are the communication between me and my mother. At different moments, when I need her support, the feather  is coming on my way, no matter where I are.  And this time, it was there again, as if she came along  at our party of friendship.

It was such an intimate moment that I had, there in the middle of nature. Where human and spirits  gathered.  Now, a few days (and a few stones)  later, I decided to write this down.  Maybe none of you can ever understand what I mean.  That is fine.
But, maybe, some people do understand.  :)

Just needed to share it with you,  I love this so much.  Life is real!

Don't believe what you read

Don't believe what you read

Well, that is easier said then done, especially in those days.
What is true, what not?  Did the virus escape from China? Is it a plan, to take away our freedom and make us dependend of...  ... a country, a power?

Many, many theories are walking around, the traces go down to China, until a year ago almost no one heared about Huan, and yet we all have an opinion about it.

How many of us still read newspapers, now we can find all the news at Facebook and Co?
And see, how easy it is to control us, to make us believe things that have nothing to do with freedom anymore. We not even see it, that we are directed by... yes, good question.

Okay,  enough of this bullshit, or even when it is true, enough of it! 
Fact is, that many people die.  Fact is, that the world economy has stopped. Fact is, that no one cares any longer about the essential problems in Africa and with refugitiees, or the climate. 
All comes to one word, a virus, with different names, of who no one exactly knows what it is and what it is doing. Something with breath. Yes, let's all wear masks then.  Yes, and how about the people with breathing problems, who have a fight to breath even witout a mask? 

Everyone has an opinion about everything. And in the meantime a lot of people get busy. Helping others, and for all, helping theirselves in filling the loads of time that they have. Many useless things are created, but that's fine. If you want your computer to search for new life in the galaxy, why then not for 'things'  about the virus, however no one knows what exactly they are looking for?
Why not watch out of the window, and right away report when you see people who are violating the new laws?  The police state in full function!  And everyone all the sudden knows why we should keep distance, and why we should wear masks, and why we should wash hands...
Everybody has a theory and everyone has a lot of time to spread the news.  The news desparately searches for news, and finds people who have sniffed at corona. It are the headlines of those days.

In the meanwhile even my hair grows out.  And not only at the head :)
In the meanwhile, we point to others, and tell them what to do. And we let others tell us what we should do.
No wonder that more and more people not feel happy with what happens.  We are restricted, and everyone tells us why, or why we should not be.

The shelves in the shops fill again with toilet paper. Housewifes sew like mad and earn lots of money with a piece of cotton and a chord.  10 euro for one.. And  all the sudden we all feel save, with something to wipe and somethng so that we can breath less free air.

I do not know what I can believe or not. I do not even know if I can believe what I wrote here, above.
But there are a few things that I know.
I love my friends,  nearby and a bit further.  The forbidden hugs will follow, one day.
I love myself.  I am happy that I can do a little thing, to help people through this time.  We just started, many people think it is almost over, but I think it is not.  Again, no one knows, we shall see what happens.
I love my hobbies. A pity that the bicycle is broken, and I hope that my camera can be fixed again.  I like it a lot from myself, that I not panic more then this.  That was different, not so long ago.  
I think that good things are happening, for who is open for it.
Do not fear, because it will lame you. Do not believe what you read, because it will fear you.

Do live, it will set you free.

And that line, is the only line in this, that I am sure about, that it is true.

I want to live, together with you

Hamstern - Stock Piling

Reading the subject, I think that most of us think it is about toilet paper, those days, right?

Yes, we are restricted in our lives, the dark clouds hang above us and no one can escape.
Sh!t happens,  right?

So, my beautiful Toilet Roll Collectors, are you happy, now you have a stock for a few months?

And if so, what problem did you solve?
Was there a problem at all? Apart then for the people, who needed paper and could not get it?

Is it stock piling what you do?  I love the german word Hamstern so much more ;-)

The principle of stock piling is saving things for when you are not able to access it anymore.
For example, when you are ill, and you can not leave home, and you have no one around who can get your stuff for you.
So... why the toilet paper?
It was a run, but it is over now, and the shops start getting their normal stock again.
Why did you collect all those cans, all those water bottles (you can drink from the tap, you know!), and heaven knows what more?

I must agree, I have done some extra shopping as well. It was basically, because so many people are buying like crazy.  Look into the mirror.  Do you really want to tell your mom, or your children, that you were in the queue at 6 am to get toilet paper?  How do you explain it ?

The idiot who started buying a pallette of rolls, who was it?   Now the entire worlld is pampered with toilet paper, what's next?

People, be nice for yourself. Be nice for your wallet.  Yes, buy a bit extra. When you get ill, you may not leave your home for 2 weeks.
Ask for help, if you need it.  Yes, I know that that is the problem. There are many lonely people, who have no one to ask for help.
Don't be afraid to ask, if you need help.  You will be surprised what happens!  You have nothing to loose, right?

Care for your neighbour, maybe he or she is the one who needs your help, and can't go out for shopping herself.   How should you feel, if you offer help, and you can not get the item that the other desperately needs?
Would you share your stockpile with them?

Think about it.  The time to think 'me first', is definitely over.
The time now is, together we can!  And we will!

Take the challenge, not the paper work!

Bricks in the wall 3

Saturday. 
A two days weekend.
Can you imagine, how happy I am?

Still no trace from that document...😑😑

Very positive ... A lot of sun☺
A message from my daughter 😍😍
After shopping (what is not fun, those days)  there was market 😊
I avoided it, of course, but it looked so familiar 😄

A little walk on a bright and cold day
Waiting for dinner for two
Almost ready

Tomorrow I really  must find the document.

Bricks in the wall, 2

Things come to a change rapidly, but not so fast as the weather.

The lockdown is prepared, it wont last long before we all are in our houses. 

So, what to do with the time.  Cleaning the house is definitely an option, and it will be done , one day.  Now I feel still a bit restless, and I am running around  without being very productive. What of course is not a nice thing, not for me, and not for my beloved.

So, what I go to do, is writing this blog, and then, after it, a bit of house cleaning. I have to learn it again, I think, and when this lasts a bit, we shall end in a place as it was not before.  Just like in the world outside.

Tomorrow I made this photo. It is exactly telling what the day is.  No sun, not much color. But, if you look well, you see a tree behind the house.
Considering that this is the view that we have from our kitchen, I also got inspired by the book of Anne Frank. Who was hiding as well for something bad, something evil.
And in the time, that she was hiding, she wrote her diary.  As I do it now, now I am hiding (well, not always, but more and more) , for the evil.

Spring starts, officially, and the temperatures will rise.  The grey will soon be decorated with a bit of green. It is the lesson that nature gives us.  After a hard time a winter, with not much sunlight (and loads of rain, lol), it now is time to recover.  The tree is already in spring modus. And every day that I look at it, I will know that we are a day closer to the end of this fear.

I will make messages of hope, as if only to defeat my own unhappy feelings.

I will make a plan, this afternoon, what I can work out and what I can do, a daily scheme.  Life goeson and so are we.

The  countdown started.  We are strong, when we are not alone :)

Bricks in the wall 1

This morning I got the idea of starting a little diary, about the things that happen with and around me.
We are in times, that we can not be sure what is happening tomorrow with us, also it has not much use to think about that. The show will, and shall, go on, and the make up might be flaking, but.... our smile still stays on.

I got a lot of crying people today, they were all worried about the virus that is on its way. Well, I must be careful, else I can join them in their sadness, and not knowing what to do.  I need people to talk to, yes, but for all I need to talk to myself, and stop the thoughts at tomorrow.

I got a nice talk, today. Someone who thinks about challenges. Someone who likes to use the time, to get creative, and do something for us all.

I think that that is amazing, and a good thing to realize.
It are 'slower times'  at the moment, what means, more time forourselves.  Something that we are not good in. We are better in telling others what to do.
Now, we will learn to be good for ourselves. And for the people that are close around you.

Facebook --- again

Let's talk about Facebook

Again?

Yes, again.

Because, we are part of it.  We almost all are part of it, and it is a problem!
It is a problem, that Social Media (for all FaceBook) takes so much of our time.  When I was in the queue in the shopping mall, before me a man was checking his facebook. I am not a stalker, but I saw the F app lightening up at his handy, and he almost 'forgot'  to pay, I guess he had a very important message coming in.

Just like the girl that passed the street, and for only a few centimeters 'missed'  the ER car, what was coming around the corner. It was a narrow escape, but it happens more then we realize!

Anyway, my 'problem'  today with FB and Co is, the messages that come.

Unfortunately there were a few bad things happenng, in Germany there were some bad incidents as well.
Now I am following a few news groups, so I am informed pretty well about what happens.
Now, my friends seem to follow the news as well,and they think it is okay to share the news as well.
Result:  I got about 50 messages in my news feed, about each attack.

What happens, when you see bad news so many times?  What does it do with your psyche?
There is a reason that I do not watch the news on tv, because, it is so often the same. I am good informed, anyway, and when I hear that bad news often, it makes me feel sick, worried, helpless, all the things that are not good for me.

People who spread the news, are not aware of this, of course.  I think that it is as well a thing that is used to influence us.  When we read 100 times about the german killer, we believe that every german is a killer and that we are no where safe.
It is like the troll in our head.  It is not true, but it is connstantly tricking us, and convincing us that we are in danger, that the things are bad, and it makes our psyche react, without that we really want to. No one wants to be in panic, no one wants to be depressive. But this agresive way of communicating makes it more easy, and the hate preachers use it, to influence the people as well.  As I described above, I think it goes much further than thatt.


Is it a reason to skip facebook to the 'was nice, next please* ???  No, not yet, and not at all.

It is a reason to consider who I will follow.  My true friends (I know who they are!) are not the big posters of this kind of messages. But there are a few, that leave no opportunity unused to show the hate, the disaster.
I not need photos of killed animals, to care for their health!  And I not need to see terror, to know that we should love each other, every day!

Selecting friends and groups that I follow.  Less is more. I think we all need the balance, betweeen good and evil. And the only one who can make that, are we, ourselves.

Less is more, I think.
And there it is, another try to use the 'new media'  in a healthy way.

And I am sure I will write more about Fb, later

Sturmfrei .... wtf?

At the moment that I write this, the sun is shining, as if it is spring already, on a beautiful Friday, the next horror messages are coming out of the media. Radio and TV.
Everything is preparing for a stormy weekend, in what we expect, next to the normal rain, a storm, with possible windspeed as in a hurricane (140 Km p H)

So, appearantly it is pretty easy to forecast this, what makes our part of  the country preparing. In the schools will be closed on monday, 'sturmfrei', also free for storm. 
Yes...  Storm Free...To prevent our scholars for worse...

Well, call me old fashioned, but I do not understand such things very well.
I remember the time when we were young (yes, that is a while ago), that we had to go at our bicycles, or if not, by foot, walking, to school when the weather was bad. When there was snow, rain, and also when there was a storm coming up. 
I can not remember that there has been one day, that we did not have to go to school, no matter the weather.  Of course it is good that 'we'  can better foresee what all comes to us, so that we not need to bring ourselves in danger, but.....
When the situation is so serious, why are only scholars prevented?  Why do other groups of  people still have to risk rheir lifes, to go to their shops, to serve people, who appearantly better should stay home, just like the scholars and teachers?

It confuses me, it gives me headaches. Maybe I better stay home, and see if I can get out on Monday.  Oh no.. wait, then not. Oh, why not, I am not a scholar, so I can.   Help.... :)

your choice

Oh, is this about elections?

Well, maybe it is, maybe it isn't.

It is about choices, that we all have to make.
Meanwhile, we see that there is a change in how to act.

Was it a long time fine to listen to the opinion from another, now it seems more like you are pro-  or against someone.
With upcoming elections you see, especially in the social media, more and more 'slogans' coming up.. The reason why I do vote for... and then a few  photos, or words, as ugly as possible,, from an opponent.
There is no space for nuances, not a considering, why the arguements from others are not good.
Discussions come not further then... it is MY opinion, and if you don't like it,  live with it.


Well,  apart then that it is true, that I do not need to follow YOUR opinion, I always try to find out why people do things.
Why is the little guy in school bullying a few others?  What is behind it?  Do we accept it as normal, or do we try to find out what is wrong, so that he might be able to stop bullying (when he knows that he has an alternative way to feel better, for example).

When we can not discss anymore, then we drift away in two camps.  You like what I do, or you don't. And in the end no one knows why we are 'against'  the other, just because his hair is orange, or that he has a strange nose...

I keep on trying to find out why people are who they are, act how they act.
I never shall accept violence, bullying, discrimination.  To name a few.
But I can try to let others see what consequences their behavior has. And I can try to find out, where the agression comes from. 

In my world is no place for violence, even when I, now and then, find myself  guilty as well, in thinking bad without any reason.
In my world is place for love and understanding.
Yes, I know, those words are a bit uncool, those days, but it is a fact, that love is the only way to peace.

Look at yourself.  Can you leave in peace with yourself, without that you love yourself, for what you are, for what you do? It is your choice, to make your world better or not!