An audio test.....

This is hopefully 3rd time lucky, trying out another of those web jukebox things (attempt 1.....Warren Zevon, Werewolves of London came up with a "this track is no longer available" message and attempt 2, the Flanders and Swann track I tried to embed turned out to be someone's Uncle Sid apparently doing it in the bath!) Attempt 3 might give us The Animals doing "The House of the Rising Sun".......but I'm not holding my breath!

LATER.....Not impressed, not-particularly-good live recording....think I'll give it a miss!!

EVEN LATER....Now it won't play at all.....take this as a warning not to waste any time then!

Back on dry(ish) land

OK, so the skies weren't QUITE so blue, but it was still a great trip....DFDS did us proud! Both crossings were comparatively calm, the food excellent and in huge quantities, as much alcohol as you could stomach (it was an all-inclusive deal), beds/cabins comfortable and everything organised with military, sorry, naval precision. Our time in Amsterdam was enough for a sightseeing tour, a trip to the floating flower market to buy spring bulbs (which I'll plant as soon as it stops bloody raining!) and half a dozen cacti (now THEY were fun to transport back!), some leisurely shopping (for traditional tourist tat and 'foreign' cooking ingredients!) and several cups of coffee. We saw the New Year in offshore from Great Yarmouth apparently. Would I do it again?.....Definitely!
Link to DFDS website

Pictures from an exhibition

The quality of the photos isn't brilliant (it doesn't do justice to the artwork on show), but I only had my phone with me.....hopefully though you get the picture! I asked about the reason behind the name of the studios, but that seems to be shrouded in mystery or a cloud of alcohol. But apparently the building itself has a chequered history (not related to mushrooms).....it once acted as an overflow for the city morgue and before that it was a toffee factory!

No equivalent in English for....

Kummerspeck (Germany): "Grief bacon" - the weight that you gain by overeating when you’re worried about something.
Attaccabottoni (Italy): A "buttonholer" - someone who corners casual acquaintances or even complete strangers for the purpose of telling them their miserable life stories.
Modré Pondeli (Czech): "Blue Monday" - When you skip coming in to work to give yourself a three-day weekend.
Razbliuto (Russia): The feeling you have for a person you used to love, but don’t anymore.
Shitta (Iran): Leftover dinner that’s eaten for breakfast.
Tartle (Scotland): To momentarily forget the name of the person you’re talking to. The word helps reduce the social embarrassment of such situations: "I’m sorry, I tartled there for a moment."
Pana po’o (Hawaii): To scratch your head in an attempt to remember something you’ve forgotten.
Ngaobera (Easter Island): A sore throat caused by too much screaming.
Backpfeifengesicht (Germany): A face that’s just begging for somebody to put their fist in it.
Papierkrieg (Germany): "Paper war" - bureaucratic paperwork whose only purpose is to block you from getting the refund, insurance payment, or other benefit that you have coming.
Rujuk (Indonesia): To remarry your ex-wife.
Mokita (New Guinea): The truth that everyone knows, but no one will speak about.
Gorrero (Spain, Central America): Someone who never picks up the check.
Fucha (Poland): Using your employer’s time and resources for your own purposes.....much as I'm doing right now!

from Uncle John’s Bathroom Reader Wonderful World of Odd.
This book focuses on the odd-side of life and features articles like the strangest TV shows never made, the creepiest insect on Earth, odd medical conditions, and many, many more.
Since 1988, the Bathroom Reader Institute had published a series of popular books containing irresistible bits of trivia and obscure yet fascinating facts. Check out their website here: Bathroom Reader Institute

The spy who came in from the cold.....

Except this one decided to bring the cold back with her.....there's dedication! This is just a quick plug for the hotel in Berlin I stayed at last week.....a John and Anne request.

The MarkApart Hotel
Website
Reviews on TripAdvisor


The picture makes it look a bit better than the reality, but externals don't really matter in the long run. Internally, scrupulously clean, spacious bedrooms, bath as well as a shower, oodles of hot water, friendly, helpful staff, superb breakfasts....from full english to mind-blowing/stomach bursting continental served buffet style from 6.00am to noon (that's right, till noon!), quiet but centrally placed just off the Ku'dam for any of that designer label shopping you feel obliged to do, handy for U and S-Bahn.....and only 2 short stops or a 10 minute walk from the best department store in the world, Ka De We (check out their food hall on the 6th floor!). Only downsides, no tea-making facilities in rooms, so pack a portable kettle if you just can't live without.....there's a supermarket just round the corner for 'supplies'. And the water from the taps is never colder than lukewarm.....so buy bottled water. Possible downsides for the supremely picky.....no bar (though personally I think that should be counted as a plus!) and no restaurant (but as the surrounding streets are jam-packed with them, who cares?)