3 Day Blitz Summer

Germany's biggest tabloid, Bild (or Bildzeitung) declares the summer over almost before it got started on its front page today:"3 Day Blitz Summer".
In contrast to British minds, nobody here associates the word Blitz with the war anymore.It means lightning and appears in weather reports.Not even remotely, secretly in the back of their minds does it connote to WWII.
It appears in word combinations like blitzschnell (as fast as lightning), blitzartig (like a lightning) or blitzsauber (so clean it sparkles). War references, Blitzkrieg, mean The First Gulf War or Israel's 6 Days War.

Anyway, Bild, not exactly the paragon of journalism, knows our bliss with the sun is going to be short-lived.We shall see and I'll let you know. Today certainly is another day for the swimming pool.In Berlin that means that the lucky ones who needn't go to work hang out on the banks of the River Spree, Havel or at Wannsee.  
All of Meck Pomm with its hundreds of lakes and waterways imbedded in a gorgeous landscape of unspoilt forests is basking in the sun. Really worth a vacation for nature lovers.

There is a lot to do...

Other people would be packing bags already or at least think about what they are going to take. We spent another preparation-marathon-weekend doing up the porch. Thank goodness, it wasn't as scorching hot as before when we did the outside painting.On Saturday, hubby power washed. We had only painted the floor of the lanai last year before our trip, but watering plants had left unsightly stains, rusty and some algae-green. While we were at it, some plants had to be repotted and the urns they went into---you guessed it: They had to be derusted and painted too. That's the trouble when two perfectionists come together.
On Sunday, we painted the floor and I cleaned the garage. Yes, I hear you ask...but you know yourself: Whose garage is in ship shape? Certainly not ours. There were even some remnants of the last (French) visitors beach erosion that they must have caused judging from the amount of sand we found in some corners. Now there is only the indoor touch up jobs to be done, be that walls or skirting boards and doors. I'm sure, we'll find some last minute extra job that needs doing urgently....2 weeks and counting!
In the meantime, we've also got a schedule for our roaming visitors. I didn't really want to run an open house again, but the nature of the beast is that you want to see your nearest and dearest. And no better place than in a house that can accommodate 7 people easily although they won't all be there at the same time.

Exciting times! And it will all be worth it. We can relax when we're there!

Meck Pomm- one of the “new” states

Meck Pomm- is one of the “new” states- and short for Mecklenburg -Vorpommern.

After reunification, the federal Republic of Germany got six more states (Bundeslaender) which until then had belonged to the GDR (German Democratic Republic). As a Wessie (from Western Germany), I had always been annoyed about their claim to democracy. There were so many proofs of the contrary…

Germany now has 16 federal states; only 10 until 1990. Berlin was never one of them but had a special status, a city ruled by the four allied powers since the end of World War II. Now it’s the capital of reunited Germany. Most people will be hard pressed to name them all, maybe now after twenty years plus, they are well-known. Here’s the challenge to Germans and all other readers alike: fill in this picture below…:)