Finally...

...the trials about the recent history of Cambodia started. Let´s pray for justice.

And hopefully it is a chance to also look forward and tackle the current issues they face. This wonderful country and people really deserve something better in the future!



If you don´t know the details, I really recommend this book which offers insight into only a small part of the atrocities, but a very intense one.

News from the stable

The conveyor belt was destroyed by accident before christmas, so we were building up mountains of muck. Thank god it´s wintertime, otherwise this matter would really stink. ;)



Now its shoveling time!

Elbtunnel marathon

Thanks to my friend J.R. it was a very nice marathon. He paced me during the first half of the race with lap times differing by a few seconds. Thanks a lot.



In the end I finished in 3:37 h, very good for a January marathon.

48 laps to count

My boss told me to see a hairdresser, so I went and he convinced me of some extensions.



By the way, I am leaving in 4 hours to take a train to Hamburg where I will take part in the Elbtunnelmarathon. It´s a nice familiar marathon 48 laps in the historic tunnel of Hamburg.

Ski vacation

Astrid and me went skiing to La Plagne in France over New Year. Find some snapshots here of the fine french architecture. It shows our apartment complex in La Plagne Bellecote.



It was quite cold, but only weak winds and a lot of sun. After some fresh snow on the second day we had wonderful conditions.



The ski resort offers nice views on the majestic Mont Blanc. Maybe one day I´ll be able to return for this event.



Here a glance through my red sun glasses. :)



New Years Eve was celebrated on a mountain hut with the Skiclub Fritzlar.



The magic first minutes of 2009.



I wish all of you a happy New Year!!!

1978

Between my company's and our riding stable's christmas parties on Friday and today I went to Austria for the 30th birthday of my old mate Steffi. After riding the Alpine Coaster (a kind of roller coaster in the snow) we went up the mountain above Bludenz to party in a very scenic mountain hut of the ski club.



Tony and Steffi filled the guests with delicious local food and drinks,...



...local friends guided a torchlight procession...



...and triggered some fireworks.



Just before crawling in our sleeping bags Tony and me escorted Steffi circling around the hut barefooted in the snow, which seems to be a local tradition when getting 30 without being married, at least somebody told her to do so. :)



In the morning I hiked back to the cableway enjoying the nice mountain panorama.



What a great short vacation in the mountains. Living here does not look like bad idea.

November

The November is almost over and I haven´t run very much so far due to lot of work and other activities. We have been to concerts of Udo Lindenberg and Die Toten Hosen. Moreover was my sister visiting with Mikael Babajanyan who was singing the Marcello in the La Boheme opera.



Last weekend the the first (and seldom) snow was falling in Mannheim, so I show you one more garden photo for this year, our last wine grapes I harvested 8 days ago.



My haflinger Andor is quickly becoming familiar with his new surrounding. The neighbouring mares are already fallen in love with him. On Sunday I could go on my first small trip outside the riding stables with Andor, yet still on led by Astrid.



The December is already planned with lots of Christmas and birthday parties. I will be in Mecklenburg around Christmas eve before leaving for a weeklong ski trip to France with Astrid and her home ski club.

Andor

We just came back from a weekend in Hesse and bought a new horse, a 3 year old Haflinger named Andor.



It is a very cool character, taking everyting as it comes. Now it´s mostly up to Astrid to teach him. :)

The last warm and sunny sunday this year?

Last Sunday was a big exception in the last weeks with its very warm and sunny weather. So it was a perfect fit for our small trip to Freinsheim in the Palatinate where a wine festival was hold.



We met some actual and former collegues and had nice food, fresh and old wine.
And Lea had a big hangover afterwards. At least it looks like. ;)

Yearly birthday

September is birthday time. As the weather continued to be rainy, I invited for a bbq session in the garden on short notice and some friends could really make it.

As a preparation we temporarily changed a part of our living room into a dining room. As we liked it we kept it. So we have now a new dining room and a sofa in the kitchen. :)



Below one of my birthday presents, a new phono player from my Camelot colleagues.



Lea also likes it. As she rests and relaxes in the living room every morning, she is happy about the new phono as well.



We are still very happy with our garden and especially the previous tenants which managed to plant colourfull flowers for every season...





...and present us with some really delicious apples. Yam yam!!!