Britta's Letters from her life divided between city-life in German's capital Berlin and life in a Bavarian village

Friday 23 October 2015

Do not block!

Brigitta Huegel


Dear You, 
I must have got that wrong.
Saw this 'Writing on the Wall' on our narrow boat trip, when we travelled for one week on the Leeds & Liverpool Canal, and then drove with a van up to Newcastle, Durham and Edinburgh.
"Do not block" - today. when I sifted the 1235 photos from our lovely, lovely tour I saw my mistake:
error - so I am allowed to blog on!
I am also very thankful to Susan who writes the blog "Southern Fascination" - she shook me up by a recent comment, asking: "So, Dear Britta, has the traveler made it home? You are missed."
That touched me. I thought of an well-known Zen-story, where a learned man travelled a long way to meet a Zen-priest, to learn even more about Zen. You know what follows: the monk pours tea into the cup of the guest, and pours and pours. "But can't you see that the cup is overflowing!" cries out the guest. "I know", answers the monk, "so is your mind - you have to empty it first to be able to receive more."
And boy: my mind was overflowing with impressions. The chip card of my camera was more carefree - almost 3000 photos it filed without grumbling - having accompanied me
- two weeks through England & Scotland
- followed by a wonderful week with friends in the Imperial Spa Bansin at the Baltic Sea, and then
- in an impressive week at Rome, together with husband.
So: my cup was more than full. Full with the lovliest Darjeeling, to stay in the picture, but nevertheless: overflowing.


But you know me: I never am quiet for long, and I am a roly-poly doll (no, I didn't gain weight - though the many "FullEnglish breakfasts" tried their best,

Brigitta Huegel

as tried the many, many pubs with their special craft beers - our navigator Matti is a specialist for these arty beers, and finds always the right smashing pubs:

Brigitta Huegel

Brigitta Huegel

and then a London friend, an editor of a big newspaper, joined us (among other lovely people) - and he was a beer expert too; he had written a blog on craft beer with a title like "Through the Year with 365 different craft beers" -- well, and then imagine me (if I drink beer at all, on a hot summer day, it must be a wheat beer):
I will be remembered as the Little Red Rooster - oh no, sorry, I was the only little hen of that party, who always chirped "Only half a pint, please", while the male world bravely tested the hoppy, fruity goods,
But we tested the spirits of culture too -- and enjoyed a lovely landscape (and astonishing good weather), we made music, and visited really impressing cities -
and I promise: I will show you a glimpse of that - pint by pint bit by bit in my next post.
And I will try to dive deeply into your blogs again - of course with better results than the poor guy who one early foggy morning fell into the canal just in front of our narrow boat - nothing happened to him, the canal was shallow, but police and ambulance came nevertheless and helped him - though we had already given him a blanket and the very British panacea, the universal remedy:
a mug of strong, sweet hot tea.


20 comments:

  1. I am delighted both by your wonderful adventure and your renewed online company. From California, I welcome you back to Germany!

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    1. Thank you, dear Geo.! I am sorting out all impressions (to think that I didn't talk about New York even yet!) I am sure my autumn/winter days are well filled.

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  2. Welcome back, wherever 'back' is.

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    1. Dear Tom,
      "Home is where my carpet is" says an old Persian proverb. I love that. I'm back home.

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    1. Dear Joanne, thank you! You just added "Delft blue" to the many colourful impressions I brought back.

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  4. Such fun Britta and your cup runneth over - what is the secret to not becoming a roly-poly after a full English breakfast every day?

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    1. Dear Rosemary, yes it was a lot of - very different - fun. And my next post - you gave me the idea - will be exactly about the subject of eating.

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  5. All that food and all that beer - of course you had to take a break! I echo the query of another and ask 'how do you get through those full English breakfasts and maintain la ligne? '
    Welcome nach hause!

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    1. Dear Pondside, I am so very glad that you are back in Blogland! Yes, I got a very special secret - which I will reveal very soon :-)

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  6. I missed you. Where is Britta, everyday.

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  7. Oh my dear Rachel, I (almost) feel guilty now - but glad too.

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  8. Sounds like you had a wonderful time - nice to see you back where you belong.

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  9. Dear Elaine, thank you! Yes, Berlin and blogland will be my "canal" for some time now.

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  10. It is good to hear from you again. It sounds like a wonderful trip. The picture of your meal made me hungry and just the word Darjeeling made me wish for a cup of tea. As soon as I click publish I am on my way to take care of both cravings. A frightening but funny story about the poor man who fell into the canal.

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    1. Dear Emma, thank you! I am a person who is easily enticed by writing on food too - I love to read cookbooks. And yes: the incident with the man was both - funny and frightening, but except the shock - for him and us - nothing happened to him.

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  11. Britta, there you are! I'm off to make a cup of tea in readiness to read of your adventures. Eight weeks' worth of adventures, mind you; we must not be shortchanged.

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    1. Dear Mise, thank you! It will be best to make a whole pot of tea :-)

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  12. Dear Britta... I am behind in my blog reading and here you are again...and so kind to mention me! I have missed you, but knew your summer of great adventures was providing you many lovely experiences to share with us! I am nursing a nasty cold and sore throat so I plan to rest, read, and savor each new post! Smiles...Susan

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    1. Dear Susan, I understand you well: it is so very difficult to read all those interesting blogs, AND lead a normal life :-)
      Sorry to hear that you have a cold - stay in your warm bed and try to make the best of it - I wish that you are as fit as a fiddle again soon!

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