Things are brightening up???

What was that rubbish I wrote a few days ago? Here everything is grey-in-grey, cold, raining, not a soul to be seen or heard. Looks more like we are heading for doomsday than brightening up. In a few days it will be new year. The only resolutions I can think of are downright scary, so I think I have 2 options - either I stick my head in the sand (pity, no bucket of sand within reach) or I read a book till it's all over.
At the beginning of January 2008 I wrote a poem about hibernating, perhaps that really would be the answer:
*If I were a bear
I would sleep in my lair
Cuddled up with my mate
From early till late.
In our cave warm and deep
All winter we’d sleep,
We would lose all out fat -
Now just fancy that!
In the spring we would wake,
Our slim hips would shake
Then go out for a bath
And have a good laugh.
We’d catch some nice fish
To eat with no dish,
And enjoy the fresh air -
If I were a bear!* ((c) Valerie-J Tups)

Unfortunately, I'm not a bear, just a (sometimes)lonely person well past her best-buy-before date.
Any suggestions? DON'T TELL ME!!!

Things are brightening up....

Monday the 21st was not only my birthday, but also the winter solstice, the longest night of the year. But now we're going back in the other direction. The days will be getting longer, the nights will be getting shorter, we can start looking forward to spring again. Well, it's not exactly round the corner, but it has already started its journey to us. Light at the end of the tunnel.

Sightseeing in Düsseldorf and aggressive scrap

Yesterday was my birthday, and although it was a cold and snowy day, I really enjoyed it. My best friend B courageously battled her way through the snowy countryside and over frozen roads to get here to breakfast with me. I don't know if I would have dared the drive in that weather, but she did, and it is something I very much appreciate. In the afternoon my friend Dani came to eat some birthday cake with me, and we enjoyed a nice couple of hours together talking about God and the world by coffee, cocoa, cake and pro-secco. Lots of people rang up to congratulate me, others sent mails, many of my friends from England sent cards and presents which warmed my heart. Thank you all. My family kept their distance and left me alone - another big thank you!! And yesterday evening we had a virtual birthday / Christmas party on the DC Scrapbooking Forum with fantasy dates, food and drink, making a bizarre society ranging from George Clooney and Hagrid to Westlife and Alex-the moonlight-vampire. *Fingerfood* and *Katzpiss* wine from Alma rounded the evening off nicely. A funny evening in the company of nice ladies, who felt very near even though we were all sitting in different towns and countries. Thanks to Gina who organised it, and to all who joined in the fun.
Today was back to normal. I had promised to go to *Bettypepper*, our new scrap-café, to talk about my scrap course in the new year. I didn't feel like driving through the town with the chaotic pre-Xmas traffic enhanced by icy roads, slushy pavements and missing parking lots. So I went by tram and bus. No problem. The tram stop is just along the road, and after 2 stops I changed to the bus, which even came on time (a modern day wonder, in spite of snow and ice!) and off we went. The bus evidently does a sightseeing tour of all the districts of Düsseldorf that I have never seen, never wanted to see, and never want to see again! All in all it took 1 1/2 hours! The bus kept filling up with new passengers, who mysteriously disappeared a few stops later, to be replaced by others. But the passengers were friendly, and chatty -could it be that a little Xmas feeling has rubbed off on them? That a little bit of *peace on earth good will to all men* had come down to the 730 bus? Even on the way back the bus and tram were on time, no waiting. And I must admit, I did enjoy my outing a bit, although travel with bus and tram is usually on my *problems to be avoided* list and not listed under the things I like. But I think it's important for me to do things even if the weather is bad, instead of thinking up excuses, and I hope in the coming year I will be able to see more things as a challenge, as an adventure, instead of as problem to be avoided.
And of course, while I was in the scrap-café, those strange phenomena that all scrappers know happened - things flew from the shelves into my basket, and I felt obliged to buy them. Tattered Angels, Tim Holtz, My Mind's Eye - need I say more?

The sounds of silence...

I woke up this morning (afternoon)at 12.20, I couldn't believe my eyes that it was so late. And as I listened to the sounds of the morning, I realised there were none. No faint sounds of the planes taking off or landing at the airport, no traffic, nothing. Then I got out of bed and looked - snow, everywhere snow. A thick white blanket of powdery snow covering the ground, the trees - and even my balcony. Never had that before, the wind must be blowing hard from the east to blow it there, my chairs and table looked so surreal sitting there with this coating of perfect, glistening white. Before I start getting sentimental, and to make it quite clear, I DO NOT like snow. Looking at it, yes. Pictures and post-cards, yes, very pretty. But I neither like going out in it nor driving in it. Of course, sometimes I have to. Last year it snowed at Xmas and stayed for weeks, so had to take my daily walk stomping through the snow along the Rhine, wrapped up in multiple layers of warm and wooly clothing, and then a hot coffee in *Café Schuster* in Kaiserswerth to warm up before attempting the way back. (That's the café where I got stung by a wasp back in those lovely hot days of summer) Now it's just the cold that's stinging! I can see three little birds sitting on a branch outside my window, all huddled up and looking a bit sorry for themsleves, poor things. At least I am sitting inside, next to a hot radiator, and with a big bucket of hot coffee to keep me going.
And what about all the homeless? What must it be like having to be out day and night in weather like this, alone, hungry and probably both desperate and destitute. Poor people, hope they find a shelter for a few nights while it's so bad.
Some are dreaming of a romantic, white Christmas, hope they get it, and can enjoy it. But I'm dreaming of a warm and peaceful Christmas for the whole world. For children in need. Children and adults who are ill. For all those suffering from war, hunger and hate. For all who are alone, ill or sad. *Tis the season to be jolly??* Well, I'm not quite so sure about that.

Silent night....

It's snowing now quite heavily, I think I will be staying home tomorrow!

Goethe's secret tales....

Yesterday evening I made the Chanukkah supper for B and her Mum. Managed to clear enough stash out of the kitchen to have room to lay the table and sit down, grated potatoes galore, this time without taking the skin off my knuckles, chopped the onions, added all the *secret* ingredients and started frying. (No, I was just doing the frying, not being fried.) Got the *latkes* all fried beautifully, rolled the smoked salmon slices, put the crème fraiche into a bowl, I don't think I forgot anything this time. By the time the guests arrived I had the feeling that I smelt like a big latke myself, but supper was ready. Before we ate, I lit the Chanukkah candles, said the blessings and sang *Maos Zur*, a beautiful Chanukkah song, and translated it all for my visitors. Was lovely to have company and not be alone. We enjoyed our meal, which, much to my surprise - as I am not a good cook - tasted delicious (I ask you, how stupid would you have to be if you were NOT able to get such a simple dish on the table?!) and sat for a long time drinking coffee and eating German Xmas biscuits. I wanted to serve ice for dessert, but we were all full up - enough is sooner or later enough! We talked for ages, telling stories, reading poems and trying to guess the authors, and just enjoying each other's company. I don't have a Xmas tree, but I do have some glass baubles which I have been given in the course of the years, and *Goethe*, my flat mate (see picture) has also been decked out for the season of festivities. All in all, a lovely evening with good company, presents, nice food, and the feeling of understanding and being understood. If *Goethe* could hear and speak, I wonder what he would have had to tell?

The First Snow - Well!

After the ice cold weather of the past days and the permanent warnings of the weather men that SNOW was on its way, some fell last night.....It was just about enough to put an icing-sugar powdering on the fields behind our house. It may have been more other places, but that was all that came down here. I am NOT complaining. Snow is always very pretty, love looking at postcards or photos, but it is not nice when you have to drive over the dirty, slippery mess it leaves on the roads. So, I am not dreaming of a white Xmas, just of the time when the sun will be shining all day and I can sit at an outside café and enjoy my coffee without freezing....