And there it goes

my holiday, that is. Tomorrow I shall have to get up early again and hoist myself to work. Well, I do get paid, so who am I to complain? Exactly. So I don't. Complain that is.
Today though, we have the annual christmas fair in our congregation. It has been going on for a couple of years and it is always nice.
My niece and I shall work the coffeebar. So it is rather fun as well. My niece, fyi just got her drivers licence. So a new phase in her live starts. Yet again. But then, that is youth for and it is great.

Apart from that, I thought, I'd write about another genre of books I do like. "Surprisingly enough", these are crime-stories. Agatha Christie of course, I am just listening to "Passenger to Frankfurt". It is a story neither with Miss Marple, nor with Hercule Poirot. Rather nice. She did write several books where those two don't appear, though I do like Miss Marple. This book I am listening to, is read by Hugh Fraser, who performed Captain Hastings to David Suchet in several Poirot-Films.

But the Stories, that I want to write about today are those of Arthur William Upfield. He was an engish man, who emigrated to Australia, did several very different jobs and finally wrote about 30. Most of them about a Detective Inspector of Queensland with the not so common name of Napoleon Bonaparte, called, by friends and family simply Bony. That is reiterated in every book. The reader knows it already, but the people he asks to call him Bony don't.

The specialty about Bony is, that he has an aboriginal mother and a european father. So he has two cultures in him. His parents abandoned him. Or rather: his father abandoned his mother and she abandoned the son. So Bony grew up in an orphanage and fought up to his standing as Detective Inspector. And that was really hard work. Arthur Upfield wrote in the time between the 1930's and the 1950'. And he portrayed, what was the general oppinion of that time. And that wasn't very charming, to put it mildly. Aboriginies (I hope I do write that correctly), were seen a little below stock, but above vermin. Women, were a little above stock.

I do not always like Bonys attitude, he is often very complaecent, but then I never liked that about Hercule Poirot. Also I think, that it is obvious, that a european wrote the stories, because even though he states, that Bony has all the good sides of an Aboriginal in him, but compared to the - few in my oppinion - good sides in a european, they did not weigh as much to Mr. Upfield. Useful for the solution of his cases, but he still was just a "half-cast". I put this into marks, because I do not like the use of this word.

Still, the stories in themselves, as crimestories, are very good. And Upfield gives some very fascinating descriptions of the landscape and the lifestyles of these times. They are very good stories, well worse reading....

This is the title of the latest audiobook for those stories. It is just an example. Read them all or listen to the audiobooks.

Now, the piece from the film above (that I don't own), is a theatre in Cairns and I did see that myself in 1996, when I took and extended holiday to Australia. Myself, I started in Sydney, drove up to Cairns in a coach, flew to Alice Springs and then was driven in another bus to Darwin. And in Cairns, as I wrote, we went to see this and it is really well worth it. There is one song, called: Proud to be Aboriginee. It tells about the story of Aboriginals and how they have been treated by the people who invaded their country. AND it has a very nice melody and Didgereedoos in it.

That's it, here it is 1.52 am and so it is time to get into bed. Good night therefore...

I'm not a detective - Is Sport Murder? Part 3

5

Linda opened her eyes and saw a lot of eyes staring back at her. One of them Lyles.. Oy, what happened? Ah, the accident. Had she been hurt? No, she did not think so. So why was Lyle here? "Why are you here"? "Sean called me. But I was on my way already, cause one of my customers told me about the trouble here." So that cleared that, she supposed. "What happened after I was turned off?" "Well, the police and the ambulance came. The police interrogated the others and now you've come round, they can ask you, after the doctor has looked you over. Just why did you feel the need for a nap, in the midst of all this confusion?" Lyle asked her teasingly, she didn't deign to answer this, but looked at him stonily.

The doctor came over, to examine her and asked her, if she often had fainting-fits in stressful situations or knew another reason for this one. "Well, it just came to me, that it could have been I on that treadmill. I had already prepared myself for the ardours on it, but then found, that I didn't like the program on the TV-Screen ahead of me, so I changed to the one with National Geographic on it. That was very fascinating. I almost forgot to walk... Anyway, I had all but started the machine and at first, after I realized, that something had happened beside me, I was to occupied with that and chatting with the other women, changing in the locker-room, but some chance remark about my being lucky, when we all came out, brought it up in me." "Yes, that is understandable." "What was with the guy on the other machine? Is he o.k.?" "He is. His wife came and took him home. He has a little trauma and will have to rest for a day or two, but otherwise, he is o.k.".

Meanwhile the police-inspector came over to ask what she might know or not. As she had anticipatd, nothing much. She hadn't looked about her much. For one reason, because the documentary on the screen was so gripping and then she only wanted to get over and done with it.

Linda asked, if they knew already, what was wrong with the treadmill, but the inspector could only tell her, that they would have to have an expert in, as a cursory lookover didn't show anything and they did not know anything about this kind of machine.

"Do you think, that it is just the wear and tear of the machines? I hear, that some of them were bought used, when the studio started. So this might be one of them and the others as well." "What other nmachines?" asked the inspector. Sean answered that:"As I had indicated, we have been having problems with other machines. We assume, as Mrs. Hunter just did, that it was the wear and tear and will have those machines looked over by the expert. Are you finished with Mrs Hunter? Linda, I hope you get over the shock. I have prepared you your favourite shake, but I fear, it is for take away, as we have to close today, because we have to talk with the police for a while yet." Thanks Sean, that is very kind of you." Lyle grabbed her bag and they left. On the way to their car, Linda asked her husband, who had told her about the accident and he said, that it was someone he thought was called something nordic, Thor? Thorben? Yes, Thorben, he thought. "Ah, yes, I know him. Well, that was kind of him." But she had some nagging thought in the back of her brain, that wouldn't come out properly, nor disappear again....

Here we go again

I think, that is even a song...

I don't own either, but as you see, it is not just a one-faced topic. Very good either, though

Today I thought, I'd write about another of my former favourite TV-Series: Scarecrow and Mrs. King or as we knew it in Germany: Agentin mit Herz.

This is about an american secret-service-agent with the codename Scarecrow. In the very first part he has to get rid of a parcel and he thrusts it into the hands of Mrs. King. And this leads to four series of them trying to work together, her getting better at her job and the two of them getting married in the end. That is the very short version. 

The witty thing about it is, that Mrs (Amanda) King is portrayed by Kate Jackseon (no, not funny yet) and she used to be one of Charlies Angels. Now as such she could shoot and fight and do all kinds of neat agent tricks. But as Mrs. King, she is hardly able to hold her pistol the right way up, let alone fight off any attacks. Well, at least in the beginning.

It has a lot of nice characters, like her Mom, who incidentally played the Mom of Laura Holt as well. And both very well. Amanda King has two sons of a former - divorced - marriage, they are rather small, but already in school at the beginning. And then of course there is a formidable,  but fair boss and always some guest stars.

If you haven't seen it, but like this sort of series and are into the fashions and shows of the 80ies and 90ies: rent it out or watch it online or even buy it. It's well worth it.

In order for you to recognize the protagonists, portrayed by Kate Jackson - as mentioned - and Bruce Boxleitner, here is a picture of them, doing their stuff:

 It's even the start of it all, when he passes the parcel to her. Well, now you know it: go along... Cheerio!

Honey I'm baaack

And have neglected you shamefully. In a way I own you two posts and two installments of my story. It is not, tht I did not get on with it at all, I simply was a sloth. My two week holiday started on Friday, the 15th of Novembre. I got home..... and slept. And I slept on Saturday and Sunday and most of  Monday. Monday Evening I heard a discurse about believes and the difference of believes from the preacher of a catholic church near my home. I am not catholic, but a Christian. Now considering, that even Christians do not believe in the same way among themselves (take catholic and protestant believes, but also among catholics it is different), it has been very haughty of me to say, that "we all believe in the same God, just in different ways". That is, what the preacher said and considering it, I think, that he is right.
But away from this excurse to religion, and I had written once, that blog is not about Religion. Well, my holidays. On Tuesday I met with two former colleagues, with whom I shared an office once. Incidentally the one, that I moved into on my last workday before my holidays.Most of Wednesday I spent in bed. And it was wonderful. I slept long and then I played the Settlers on my Nintendo afterwards I watched a little TV before I played the Sims 3 on my PC. until 1 am. The night before, after my dinner with the two colleagues I played the Sims 3 until 3 am.
On Thursday I had two machines washing done, then got some food in a restaurant and some more cappuccino. I was out of cappuccino. Not good.
Friday I went to listen to some fairy tales with my walking girls. That was very interesting. It was about the 12 days of Christmas. The time between the 24th of December to the 6th of January. It was known in old times, as the time between the years. That was, as I have learned on Friday, because in those times, the years only had 353 days. From those times we have the songs and several rites, that were "translated" into christian rites. It was very interesting and a very nice atmosphere. Women only. I do not know, why there were no men, it just happened that way.
One of the hearers was a former head teacher of mine. No idea, wether that is the right word.  No, it was class teacher. I liked her very much then and she is just as nice now. Well we all had fun.
On Saturday only three of my walking ladies (including me) did a small turn and then had some applepie and a hot drink. It was short but just as nice. I also had a machine running, while I was walking and hung it afterwards. It takes a little longer on the balcony in winter, but by hanging parts of it on the heating in my bath, it goes a little faster. :-)
Today I stayed in bed until about 2.30 pm, then watched TV and knitted and now I write here. I do not promise to go on with my story today, because I can't find my notes on it right now. But I will go on.. Anyway, though you didn't get any blogposts, I am very much refreshed. So tomorrow I can start on my big fall-cleaning. That is the same as in spring-cleaning. Only I don't do that, I prefer a fall-cleaning and I finalize it with a big decluttering come Friday with my Dad.
What can be the right song for this post? Hmm seeing the upcoming cleaning.... (I don't own it)..

 

TV-Series

When I was a lot younger than now and actually until I discovered the Sims, I watched a lot of TV.
Mainly TV-Series. Now those where the 80ies, into the 90ies and the early 21st century. There were a lot of very good TV-Series on at the time. You may say, that there are a lot of good ones on these days and you are right. It does not follow though, that I watch them. Partly, because I just don't like them and partly, because they are on so very late. Inspector Barnaby for instance was on very late and usually, unless I knit the night through, I like to be in bed early and before 10.00 pm.

But this one is about at least one of the TV-Series I loved, when I was a Teen and early Twen. It was called: Remington Steele. And it started off to this melody by Henry Mancini. Obviously: I do not own the clip.

It has a lot of Piere Brosnan in it, but no matter, this is just about the melody.

My favourite in the series has always been Stephanie Zimbalist. She was spunky and feisty and funny. She knew the asnwers and how to defend herself and she looked good in an not overdone way. This for me was rather a rolemodell. Because she did things and used not only her body, but her brains as well and quite a lot, too. Well, she had to, once Remington came in, because face it girls: SHE did the work. He did look good, not denying it, but in the beginning, he was also witty and his charme was, that he may have been vain and tough, but you just knew, that this guy was able to laugh about himself. I do not think, that Pierce Brosnan lost that ability, but it isn't visible any more. At least not to me. And to the end of the series, there was a lot about him being an earnest man. Too earnest to enjoy things. I cannot describe it any better. He lost his charm. That's Remington I talk about. And therefore, it might be, that it wasn't actually him, but the screenwriters, who wanted him to develop and lost his essence on the way. Plus he was more than just miffed, when they hindered him to become James Bond. We would have been as well.

As for Stephanie Zimbalist: the managed to develop Laura Holt, without her losing her spunk. She got a little more earnest and confused about Remington, but she was still that beautiful woman (inside and out), that used more than her body and did a great job with great charme and still able to laugh.

I just thought, I'd let you know...

Carnival

Today is the 11th of Novembre. In cultured or normal parts of the world, it is just a day. Maybe a birthday, but in generally normal. In the Rhineland, especially in Cologne it is the beginning of the carnival. It is the time to laugh and sing and schunkeln (meaning, that you hang your arms into two peoples armes to both sides and move to the left and the right. Preferably in the rhythym of th music playing). Unfortunately it is also the time for a lot of people, who are not diagnosed alcoholics or may even be quite sour the rest of the year, to drink themselves into oblivion and pour out their innermost. To put it mildly. It is a disgusting thing to avoid it on the street.
But I am told, that there is a lot of fun in it, the singing and the costumes. Because in the Rhineland, people wear costumes for Carnival, not for Halloween. There is only this day in autumn, when they are worn. The real time begins about February/March and ends with Ash Wednesday. And then the fasting before Easter begins. It is actually a catholic feast, with some heathen sprinkling in it. As is Easter, because the searching of eggs is not christian at all. It is a fertility-rite.
And so we all have learned something from this post. And to add something. My third favourite day in the year (after my birthday and christmas) is Ash Wednesday....

This post is to amend for my usual Sunday-Post. But since I had problems, as I wrote already, I have to write on another computer..

Alaaf or Helau (the first is a carnival-greeting in and around Cologne and the latter in the rest of the carnival-places. But Alaaf is international. I think. It is easier said. :-)

 This is a prince carnival of cologne. The guy in red and gold, with the feather. No, it is not Robin Hood.  

I'm not a detective - Is sport murder? Part 2

3

For the REst of the week Linda couldnt do sports, there was too much going on with Lyles birthday, the kids' charity-bake-out and her big clear out of the attic. That was sport as wel with the lifting and shifting and walking up and down stairs. Since she didn't meet her sports-mad aquaintance, she had a lot to hear on their way to the "killer"-class.

There had been another near fatal accident with one of the machines, a seat couldn't be adjusted at first and when it finally worked and teh wights were in use, the seat just broke down. Her first idea was, that it was someone of her weiht and felt sympathy, but on inquiery she was told, that it was one of the modeltypes. Somewhere between a Rubelns-figure and a stick of wood. So a weight-problem was out.

They arrived, changed and chatted and went to warm up. That day, the worst that happened was a gymnastic-ball bursting under the weight of some hulk type, but that was it. There was too much air in the ball.

Over the next two weeks though, ther where at least three more accidents on machines. People began to worry and check machines very thoroughly befor using them. Some machines were only braved by the very daring. Some people of course tried to get out of their contracts "for safety reasons". But it did not work out.

In the third week, Linda was amgling along on the treadmill, accompanied by her favourite audiobook: "Persusasion" by Jane Austen. At exactly the moment, when Louisa had her accident, there was such aloud shriek, that she wondered, wether it had alswaysbeen so loud on her i-Pod or if she had the voume on too loud. She was about to check that, when she saw a lot of people pointing to or running towards the treadmill beside hers.

4

What had happened? She slowed her "mill" and only then dared to look to her left. But though she heard the people and saw it move, there was nobody on it. The people where looking towards the wall behind it, where someone seemed to lie. She asked someone nearby and got an iritated look. While someone entirely else said:"Didn't you see? It was right beside you. Suddenly Grayson was flung off the machine against the wall, hitting his head." Linda looked about her, while she asked, who called a doctor. Sean told her, that he did and the police as well. "This does not look like an accident. The machine is still running.". Then,  raising his voice, he asked everyone to back off and told them, that they all would have to stay, until the police had iterrogated them. They should all get changed, the team offered free drings for all there.

"Fortunately it wasn't all taht full today, so the changing-room wasn't too packed." Shelley said, while going with Linda. "But it is horrible. Just think: you were on a treadmill. It could have happened to you!" Linda suddenly felt queazy. That was before the world went black. Did she hear yet another scream?

That's it. Sorry, but my computer didn't work the whole weekend, so it couldn't be done before today. I hope, you like it.

So sorry

I had planned to write yesterday, but I have been shopping and when I got back, I just got to my needles. Knitting needles, that is. But: I now have a proper new handbag, even with garantuee and some tops and
the two newest Sims 3 games. I just love them. They are fun. The Sims 3, that is. The two new ones are not installed yet, as I was to tired for that. But tomorrow.
Why not today? I'm meeting friends today. So I won't be home very early and be - as likely as not - in bed rather earlier than latley. But tomorrow, after I wrote the crime-post, I will install and play. Yeah...

Anyway, I cannot write much now, I still have a lot to do. This is just to keep you posted. More on Sunday. I hope.



This, that and maybe the other

So, another week has slipped by and rather peacefully. With enough work to get through and with enough time to myself as well.

Yesterday or rather very early this morning I managed to finish the backside of my new pullover. That was after many unravellings, but it is done now. Counting the arms as a unity, I have decided, that it is one third done. I' m almost there...  (don't own that, it's from here, and does not fit to knitting really):

Whatever, I am getting on at least. Yesterday I fought myself to a shop that is a little further away from my usual groceryshops. But I wanted to try it out anyway. Now it is not bad, especially since it has cottage cheese with or without herbs, but it is too far of for a walk and the prices or not remarkably lower, than in my shops. So in future I will save me the way and time and shop in my shops closer by. 

Other than that I will bake a bread in a little while and thus have something for breakfast tomorrow. And I will make some Pasta with Tomatoe-Sauce to have some lunch as well.

There is a row of lectures tomorrow, with discussion-rounds attached. The latter I really hate. Because there are always some people who only talk to hear their voices. And that they can do in their private life and not steal my time. BUT there will be tea and/or coffee-breaks. Whatever one prefers. So that is nice. :-) And the lectures in themselves sound interesting as well.

Then I'll go home and get my sport-stuff and go to training. And after that and a shower I will only go home, prepare for the next day and fall into my bed. That at least is the idea behind it. I don't know, if I will do it that way. At any rate, I won't have to cook tomorrow, because I have a date at MacDonalds for lunch. I just hope, tha they still have their fishmac, as Novembre has been declared 

- by me of course - as my month without meat. I did that in June this year and I did feel good with it. It is not, that I absolutely always need meat, I can live nicely without, but sometimes I want some.

I saw a talk-round, where a former vegetarian said, that she had been a vegetarian for a long time and then on her 70th birthday she tried a steak, because it smelled so good. She ended up that evening, eating three steaks and said, she felt great afterwards and then she stopped being a vegetarian.

I never started being one, but I "compromised" by keeping off meat for a month or more a year. I do it fish, as you will have guessed by my question about the fishmac, but I will not eat meat this month. I can't do that in Decembe, becaus we have herring-salad on christmas-eve and there is beef in it. I won't resist the herring-salad... :-) It's a delicious tradition. And no, we do not have mayonaise in our salad. BAH, that tastes horrible. Well, at least to my family and me. Others may differ, as long as they don't force their salad on us. 

For the "maybe the other" I will add another little film that I don't own, also from Disney: Rapunzel

I'm not a detective --- Is sport murder?

"Why," she thought, "did I think it would be a fun way to loose weight in such a tortorous way?"
Maybe she hadn't been warned sufficiently? Or did she just not pay attention, because at the crucial point Deena or Doug or both - most likely - had caused some disturbance?
Well, it was too late now, she was comitted for the next 11 month, 2 weeks and 5 days. Not that she was counting or anything.
Well, apropos counting: how many sets had she done on this machine? Did she just say, she was through or did she fight on.... "Two more sets to do, only 30 repetitions." This came from Sean the Slaughterer, and though it may not be possible from a 6'4" man looking ready to go for the kill: it sounded downright chirpy... Somehow, she couldn't get rid of the feeling, that Torquemada or whatever his name was, would have loved him as an employee in the spanish inquisition scheme.

"You're sure? I'm certain it is only 15" she fought through clenched teeth, trying to breath at the same time.... "Yes, I am sure! You don't want to make it easy for you, do you?" "Actually, yes I do..."
"Aah no... you will get to love this", he chirped again and hopped off, like a happy little bird. Sure, she thought, I'll learn to love it, like Superman loves cryptonite...

After a gruelling hour in the fitness-studio and a hot shower afterwards, she hurried home, because her husband would have dinner ready and - hopefully - the kids washed and brushed...
And he had, well, not the brushing, but the rest. Delicious Pasta and Tomatoe-Sauce and..
A Salad with yoghourt-sauce and some shrimps for me? Where was her pasta? "Carbohydrates, Sweetie, not after 6.00 pm and certainly not after you spent an hour in the tortour-halls of hell. Have just read a book about it.." Of course he would, he part-owned a book-shop, he had enough material.
Well, at least it was a very tasty salad. But I would have enjoyed it more, if I hadn't seen my kids enjoy their pasta in that heartless way. Lyle at least tried not to like it. But he could have tried more.

After dinner, the kids brushed their teeth and were extra good. Why? Because they wanted a, to watch their favourite TV-Show and b, get permission to stay over at some friends house after school the next day. The kids were fraternal twins as were there friends and together they were the Quantum Quartett. Quantum here meaning mega-trouble. Well, their Dad permitted, so she did. Because they knew, that it would mean some quiet time for at least 3 hours until the big fight, always taking place. Since they had Nora and John over the last time, she didn't have too bad a feeling.

After TV, the twins rushed off to bed, the parents had some time to themselves and to plan their day off. Since Lyle also had a day off at the shop and so they could share some housework and shopping between them, there was ample time to relax after together in the local Sauna-Paradise..

2

After a simply lovely time with Lyle and a pair of very tired twins early in bed, she thought, that she had best be strong and fight the machines again the next day. To get a routine. "It is very important to go regularly, once you get started," as Lyle read aloud from his tome of wisdom, lying on his rather bigger then usual stomach, maybe he should go.... "Tell you what: by the time you get home, the kids will be fed and cleaned and in front of their show and I will cook something special without carbohydrates for us." Lyle must have hit the cook-book-shelves again... well, he was an excellent cook and so she agreed. On the condition though, that he did not cheat and have a carbohydrate-rich dinner with the kids first. He did promise, so that was that.

The next evening, when Lyle was home from work, she met with a friend to go to a Bodypump-class. Her friend was enthusiastic. She wasn't. But like her husband, she had promised, so there was no way out. The changed and went to do some warm-up on the treadmill. While she walked and her friend ran, she looked around, at what sort of people where in that day. Always fascinating, because she would not meet them or see them out of the studio.

Suddenly, there was a very loud noise "aah, someone did let go of the weights to soon. Been there, done that, bought the T-Shirt." This was how far she got, when there was a shriek all of a sudden and people ran to the guy whose weights had crashed. Her friend and herself as well.

There was blood on the guys face and Gary, one of the trainers on duty that day was there with his first-aid-kit, while Louise already called an ambulance just in case and Sean looked at the machine and then sent the other sport-junkies away... "He just let go of the weights too heavily and unfortunately one of the plates broke. This machine is of duty and he will be seen by a doctor. Just get on with your work-outs!" Well, of course they didn't really back off until our class started and the one good thing that happened was that Louise - the trainer - was too shook up to be very on them, so Linda survived. This ones. Her friend Aggie thought it wasn't as great as usual and that I would have enjoyed it more, had it been harder. But she doubted it. It was hard enough, as it had been. And anyway, she was more interested in what happened to the guy. When they went to check out, there was a sign on the counter, saying that the guy went to a doctor, but did not need hospital. He had only gotten an splinter of the weight on his forehead and let a lot of blood, as you do on that part of the head. Well, lucky him. The machine meanwhile had been covered by some blanket thing.

At least, something exciting to tell the family, when she got home. Lyle wouldn't mind, since nobody had gotten badly hurt. He didn't want to discuss nasty since like a peeping Tom once removed...

That is, how far I got. I shall have to think how I get on. Tell me, if you liked it. That is, if you want to. Suggestions are welcomed, but I do not garantuee, that I use all of them.

Cheerio