BBQ season opened

We became quite a bit nervous yesterday, as it was continuously raining the whole day after a week full of rain and we had invited some friends for bbq on Sunday afternoon.

But when we opened our eyes on Sunday morning, the sun was out. After riding I mowed the grass and we got out our bbq stuff.

Lea was exhited because of all the guests and fresh meat on the grill. :)

The almond trees are in full blossom

Finally the winter is gone. 25 degrees Celsius allow garden work. And also our big almond tree is in full blossom and looks gorgeous.







On Monday our horses moved to a new stable in Straßenheim near Mannheim. Here you see Andor and Ray shortly before the move.

Mud race

Today I was supposed to run the Strongman Run, the big mud challenge where I have been last year. But we decided to swap this challenge for the first dressage tournament of this year in Bensheim.

And as it was raining heavily the last days, I had my mud challenge with the car and horse trailer...



...while Astrid had her challenge. We were pretty excited because it was the first tournament in 2 years and Ray is always a bit excited in new environments.



But the worries were unnecessary, she was cool as ice and both did a great job. Yes, I love them!



At the end of the day Astrid won back some money to make up the lost registration fee of the Strongman Run.



It seems like the winter has really gone now. Our garden is awakening in full speed and Lea is happy to see us more often outside to play with her. :)

Monnemer Fassnacht

We had a fastnacht party in our stable on Saturday with quite some headache the day after. :)

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.