Berlin in 26 Days from the 4th to the 30th of June 2016

This Berlin visit was a true family event for Peter and me. I would like to tell about the 26 days in Berlin in three different parts. First there were 8 days with Martin, Caroline and Matthew, then 9 days spent just with Martin and the last 9 days in Berlin we saw a lot of Monika and her family who came to visit Berlin from the 21st to the 30th of June.

When we arrived in Berlin on Saturday, the 4th of June, we were five adults from Australia, and we were renting a three bedroom apartment in Rubensstrasse, Berlin-Friedenau. Our rented apartment was just great, very spacious and well equipped.

The other family group from Australia had booked an apartment in Prenzlauer Berg which is a bit North-East from the centre of Berlin, whereas Friedenau is South of Berlin’s centre. Monika’s group stayed in Berlin for 9 days after already having visited London, Paris and Zuerich. On Thursday, the 30th of June, they travelled back to London to stay there for another four nights and then to fly back to Sydney, Australia.

Thursday, the 9th of June was my brother Bodo’s 78th birthday. Peter, Martin, Matthew and Caroline went on that day to Kreuzberg (Cross-Mountain). Peter wanted to show them the place where he had grown up. My brother Peter Uwe came to go with me to visit Bodo.

Bodo is being looked after in a home for the Aged.

We walked along here to get to the home where Bodo lives.

DSCN1056 — This place, a Memorial for the Berlin Wall, is not far from where Bodo lives.

Charlotte mit ihren drei Kindern 1948 — Mum with Bodo, Uta and Peter Uwe in 1948

Below a few pictures I took one morning in our apartment. Matthew is in the background, Martin is on the left, and Caroline and Peter on the right.

At Singapore Airport, Friday evening, 1st of July 2016

Qantas Flight Singapore to Sydney

There were Touch Screens on the last leg of our flight back home to Sydney. For instance I very much enjoyed the Louis Armstrong music.

I listened to the whole tape twice in a row, even though there was plenty of other music available that I could have listened to.

Also, bottles of water were frequently passed around for whoever wanted them. We did fly right through the night till we arrived in Sydney at 6 am. Some people slept most of the time, but others had their screens turned on in front of them. I very much liked these easy to handle touch screens. I ended up getting very interested into an American TV series called ‘The 100’ and copy here some information about it from Wikipedia.

“From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia:

The 100 (pronounced The Hundred is an American post-apocalyptic science fiction drama television series that premiered on March 19, 2014. The series, developed by Jason Rothenberg, is loosely based on a book of the same name, the first in a trilogy by Kass Morgan.”

I do find the plot very interesting. Here I copy again from encyclopedia something about the plot:

“The series is set 97 years after a devastating nuclear apocalypse wiped out almost all life on Earth. The only known survivors lived on 12 space stations in Earth’s orbit prior to the apocalyptic event. The space stations banded together to form a single massive station named “The Ark”, where about 2,400 people live under the leadership of Chancellor Jaha.[1] Resources are scarce, so all crimes – regardless of their nature or severity – are punishable by ejection into space (“floating”) unless the perpetrator is under 18 years of age. After the Ark’s life-support systems are found to be critically failing, 100 juvenile prisoners are declared “expendable” and sent to the surface – near former Washington, D.C.[7] – in a last ditch attempt to determine whether Earth is habitable again, in a program called “The 100”. The teens arrive on a seemingly pristine planet they have only seen from space. They attempt to find refuge and supplies at an old military installation, Mount Weather Emergency Operations Center, located in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains. However, they land some distance from the intended target and soon face other problems. Confronting both the wonders and the dangers of this rugged new world, they struggle to form a tentative community. They soon discover that not all humanity was wiped out – some survived the war: the grounders who live in clans locked in a permanent power struggle, another group of grounders who have become cannibals are known as Reapers, and Mountain Men, who live in Mount Weather, who locked themselves away before the apocalypse and are killed by the residual radiation outside.
In the second season, the remaining 48 of the 100 are taken to Mount Weather, where they discover a community of survivors. It is eventually revealed that the medical staff are extracting bone marrow from the 100 and the grounders so they will finally be able to survive on the outside. Meanwhile, the inhabitants of the Ark have successfully crash-landed various stations on Earth and begun an alliance with the grounders to save groups of people, naming the main settlement at Alpha Station “Camp Jaha”.”

Travelling back to Australia

From Singapore on we had been flying Qantas. This was a really great experience. Also, Singapore turned out to be a lovely break for our transfer to our flight home. First of all, after having landed in Singapore I needed quite a bit of recovery from that 13 hour flight from Frankfurt. I must have been very dehydrated, for within half an hour or so I consumed a lot of water. The water and some rest in pleasantly warm surroundings soon made me feel on top of the world.

In Frankfurt the airport staff looked after us very well. Since it is a vast airport and we oldies had very limited time to catch our connecting flight, we had asked to be driven to our point of departure, just to make sure that we would not miss our flight. This worked out very well. A very nice young lady drove us in that airport buggy car over vast distances and through secret passage ways all the way to where we had to go. Our son Martin was allowed to join us on that buggy car.
So this went very well.

Unfortunately we had not managed to acquire seats next to our son Martin: At Berlin Tegel Airport we had found out that three connecting seats were not available anymore. Even to get two connecting seats was a bit of a problem. Peter and I ended up having two seats in a middle row. Peter had a lady to his right, I had a young Asian student on my left. We think these days it is not a good idea to book seats at the counter when checking in because most people do book online. By the time one gets to the check-in counter, one has to put put up with whatever seating is still left.

Martin got off the plane with us in Singapore. He went on to Melbourne soon after our Qantas plane had left for Sydney. But first we could spend a few hours together with Martin.

Martin posing for a photo in the outside garden area of Singapore Airport Evening of 1st of July 2016 — Martin posing for a photo in the outside garden area of Singapore Airport
Evening of 1st of July 2016

Here I am with Martin in a lounge of Singapore Airport after I had hydrated myself sufficiently with some water.

Here is Peter with Martin at Singapore Airport on Friday evening, 1st of July 2016 n — Here is Peter with Martin at Singapore Airport on Friday evening, 1st of July 2016

Martin in the middle about to disembark after we landed in Singapore.

Martin had been sitting a few rows in front of us.

We had left Frankfurt on Thursday, 30th of June, late at night. We were given an evening meal and then the lights were switched off. Everyone went to sleep, including me, for I was very, very tired. I noticed that the air-conditioning was blowing quite a bit, however there were only light switches, nothing to turn off any vents. I wore my thick winter jacket which I had with me, for I knew it would be cold when grtting off the plane in Sydney. Peter ware his thick jumper. We used the thin cotton blankets that were provided. Being so tired, Peter and I slept soundly for a few hours despite the cold air. However when we woke up, we were both frozen stiff. Peter said, the plane felt like an ice-box. I don’t know for how many hours the lights were still switched off with every one was being asleep. I think it was about two hours before landing time, when finally there were lights and some movement started. We were offered very cold orange juice. Feeling so very cold and starting to shiver, I asked for some hot tea instead. Alas, tea was not ready yet, but the kind hostess offered to get me some hot water to drink, asking me with concern in her voice whether I felt all right. I assured her, that I was all right, that I just felt very cold.

Australian Federal Election, July 2016

Here is a copy of an article by the AIM Network on the above subject. I was especially interested in finding out a bit more about the senators who have been elected or are predicted to get into the senate. Towards the end of the article it says that Senator Xenophon does not like offshore processing of refugees.

http://theaimn.com/road-to-nowhere/

On a Road to Nowhere?
July 4, 2016 Written by: The Weasel 17 Replies
Category: News and Politics
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Tagged under:

2013 Federal Election, ABC, AEC, ALP, asylum seekers, Australian election, Australian Labor Party, Bill Shorten, Climate change, Constitutional Recognition, Double dissolution, Education, Federal ICAC, Gonsky, Greens, Hanson, House of Representatives, Katter, Liberal, LNP, Malcolm Turnbull, marriage equality, Mcgowan, Medicare, National, NBN, News and Politics, One Nation, Parliament, rageVote, Refugees, Renewable energy, Royal commission into Banking, Senate, stabilityMal, Treaty, Wilkie, xenophon

The Weasel
weasel-theResults-
As we all wake up today from our election hangovers, and stagger bleary eyed to work, many are considering the real implication of living in interesting times… and the real possibility that the Governor General may be forced to call a second election. The double dissolution election brought on by #stabilityMal has surprised everyone, not least the Australian voter; who, after casting their #rageVote now wonders what they were drinking, and who it was they spent those huddled, sweaty moments with in that election booth. Therefore, in another empty attempt to make sense of it all, it’s time for more analysis and conjecture!

Battle of the Bastards
The current count on the AEC website has the ALP leading in 69 seats, and the LNP with 64. The ALP is trending in a further three seats, and the LNP in two, though all five are too close to call… which should probably be the subtitle for this election. The AEC has six seats undetermined, though this includes Cowper where the nationals have suffered a 9.5 swing against, but will likely defeat Rob Oakeshott to retain the seat.

**updated 1800hrs 4 July** The ABC (i.e. Antony Green) has a slightly different tally, with ALP at 67, LNP at 68 **up from 64**. Out of the 10 ‘seats in doubt’ the LNP is ahead on slender margins in four seats, the ALP on a similar knife-edge in five, and Xenophon party fairly comfortable in one. Giving us a House looking like this:
TABLES-house

One of the key factors in this election is that traditional conservative voters have felt betrayed by the Liberal and National parties. Mining, CSG, the NBN, foreign ownership, constant cuts and privatisation have been a catalyst for conservative voters to look at what else is on offer. Some have realised that the ALP has policies they support; others have turned even further right. As a result, immigration is likely to be a continuing flashpoint, though this time around even Pauline Hanson supports socialised healthcare and the NBN.

Greens and Andrew Wilkie have a record of voting with the ALP, though Wilkie has stated he will not enter into any deals. Cathy McGowan tends to vote with the Coalition. Previously Katter aligned with the LNP, though this time there’s no carbon tax on the table this time. Key issues for Katter are CSG, energy privatisation and land sales, all of which the ALP have made murmurs about, while the LNP are unwilling/unable to move on either. If that will shift the pragmatic Katter away from traditional alliances remains to be seen. Xenophon has already said he will take the number of seats either party wins into account when negotiating agreements, so if that second seat in Grey comes to Team X then he will truly be the kingmaker.

Stiff Upper Lip
The new senate is going to be a mixed bag. Media and politicians alike may decry the election results as a circus as much as they like; but the people have spoken, just not coherently.

There are two truths in democracy: The voter is always right… and you get the government you deserve… and based on ABC.net.au and the AEC website, the senate is currently looking like this:

TABLES-senate

The trend for seats in doubt generally toward the right wing parties such as Katter, Shooters, Fishers, and Farmers, One Nation, and the various Christian groups. As per predictions, the lions’ share will likely go to the major parties; though there is a chance that either Katter or One Nation will get across the line.

Given the wide range of voices represented in the senate, we need to ask the question: Where do the new senators stand on legislation?

The Sydney Morning Herald published this rough breakdown of each parties’ focus. The Weasel takes a next step and looks at how the senators will likely vote on current key issues.

Positions garnered from official policy statements, news reports, and interest group websites.
Where there is no clear position, it can be assumed that senators will use the issue as a bargaining chip to further their own agenda.

Marriage Equality
Derryn Hinch: Pro equality, parliamentary vote
Fred Nile: Anti equality, pro plebiscite
Jacqui Lambie: Anti equality, pro plebiscite, conscience vote for party.
Katter: Anti equality
Lib Democrats: Pro equality, parliamentary vote
One Nation: Anti equality, pro plebiscite
Xenophon: Pro equality, parliamentary vote
see also Aus Marriage Equality site

Climate Change / Renewable Energy
Derryn Hinch: No clear position
Fred Nile: Sceptic, pro nuclear
Jacqui Lambie: Supports action (in statements), pro nuclear, voting record unclear
Katter: Pro Action, stop CSG, extend emission target, boost ethanol production
Lib Democrats: Sceptics, support mitigation, pro nuclear
One Nation: Wants a Royal commission into climate science “corruption”
Xenophon: Pro Action, 50% reduction target by 2030

Recognition or Treaty with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples
Derryn Hinch: No clear position
Fred Nile: Opposes Constitutional recognition, supports increased engagement
Jacqui Lambie: Constitutional recognition, plus dedicated indigenous seats in parliament
Katter: Wants action, possibly prefers treaty
Lib Democrats: Opposes Constitutional recognition
One Nation: Opposes Constitutional recognition and treaty
Xenophon: Supports Constitutional recognition

Education
Derryn Hinch: No clear position
Fred Nile: Improve education by adding bible study, and cutting Safe Schools
Jacqui Lambie: Boost TAFE, introduce national-service style apprenticeship scheme
Katter: Pro funding boosts, also wants systematic education reform
Lib Democrats: Stop Federal funding, pro deregulation, cut Austudy
One Nation: Government subsidised apprenticeship scheme
Xenophon: Pro Gonski, anti university deregulation

Royal Commission into Banking
Derryn Hinch: No clear position, may support
Fred Nile: No clear position
Jacqui Lambie: Supports
Katter: Supports
Lib Democrats: No clear position, unlikely to support
One Nation: No clear position, may support
Xenophon: Supports

NBN
Derryn Hinch: No clear position
Fred Nile: No clear position, wants more infrastructure
Jacqui Lambie: Supports FTTP
Katter: Supports FTTP
Lib Democrats: Prefers private competitive roll out instead of government
One Nation: Wants high speed broadband, proposes wireless hubs for regions
Xenophon: Supports FTTP

Federal ICAC
Derryn Hinch: Probably Pro ICAC
Fred Nile: No clear position
Jacqui Lambie: Pro ICAC
Katter: No clear position
Lib Democrats: No clear position
One Nation: Probably Pro ICAC
Xenophon: Pro ICAC

Refugees
Derryn Hinch: No clear position
Fred Nile: Mandatory detention, prefers Christian refugees,
Jacqui Lambie: Wants children out of detention, strict monitoring & quotas
Katter: Turnbacks, faster assessment, and supply work while on TPVs
Lib Democrats: Mandatory detention, on/off shore processing, strict entry requirements
One Nation: Turnbacks
Xenophon: Dislikes offshore processing, increase intake, speed up processing

Healthcare
Derryn Hinch: No clear position
Fred Nile: Better spending, especially in aged care
Jacqui Lambie: Supports socialised medicine, especially for combat veterans
Katter: Supports socialised medicine, wants more services for regions
Lib Democrats: Abolish Medicare, privatise, The Market will provide… apparently
One Nation: Supports socialised medicine
Xenophon: Supports socialised medicine, focus on prevention

On the question of which senators get a six-year stint, and which three… well that is up to the senate. There are two options:
1. Order-of-election; Out of the 12 state senators, whoever crossed the line first gets six years.
2. Recount; Votes are recounted treating the vote as a normal three-year cycle. Whoever would have been elected on that basis gets six years.
Which one the senate uses will likely depend on the three major parties, with Xenophon once again in position as king-maker. The inestimable Antony Green, of course, covers this question in more detail.

The anti-Islam voting block of Fred Nile, One Nation, and Lambie will bring up issues surrounding Muslim Australians and immigration generally; and likely to include senate inquiries into banning burkas or halal certification and labelling. The LNP could use this flashpoint as a major negotiating chip to pass other legislation; though that is unlikely to be the ABCC bill.

On practical and ideological matters of investing in education, healthcare, and infrastructure such as the NBN, the balance is definitely leaning toward the ALP. Lambie, Katter and Xenophon have shifted to the centre on these issues, and the LNP can no longer rely on social policies to wedge support for their neo-liberal economic programme. Accepting a Federal ICAC may present the ALP with a ticket to govern, but marriage equality is unlikely to get anywhere unless the ALP can push an open vote. Action on climate will be problematic, expect another senate inquiry into nuclear power.

As predicted Derryn Hinch picked up the PUP and Ricky Muir vote, though really has very little to offer beyond his pet name-and-shame project, and animal justice. Populist by nature, he could decide or shift his vote if a concerted push came from his electorate…

…and that is important to remember. You can write to your MP and your Senator to express your preference. This parliament is an opportunity for voters and community to have a real impact on the nature of the parliament, and what agenda the parliament pursues. Given that the independent parties may decide who gets to form government, the time to start writing is now.

Alt-Spandau, June 2016

One week ago, on Saturday the11th of June, we went to Alt-Spandau. It was a market day. In Germany June is the time for white asparagus (Spargel) and all sorts of berries (Beeren).

In the picture it says “frisch vom Hof”. This means the things for sale are fresh from the nearby country site and presumably organically grown (bio). I think that day we bought ca. 125 gram of blueberries for 1,50 Euros (a bit over two Australian Dollars).

It was the 11th of June, just a few days after Daniel’s birthday. We did meet Daniel and quite a few relatives for a family get together for lunch at the BRAUHAUS IN SPANDAU.

This is were the famil met in Alt-Spandau before going for lunch to the BRAUHAUS. — This is were the family met in Alt-Spandau before going for lunch to the BRAUHAUS.

I did a bit of sopping at KARSTADT. — I did a bit of shopping at KARSTADT.

Berlin in June 2016

Uta and Peter in Berlin June 2016 We are about to have breakfast at the Wolke on our first day in Berlin. — Uta and Peter in Berlin June 2016
We are about to have breakfast at the Wolke on our first day in Berlin.

We left home on the 2nd of June and arrived in Berlin on the 4th of June. We are going to depart again in a little over two weeks. Time goes quickly – I took already some 300 pictures!

So far we’ve been out and about every day. Today I chose to stay in our apartment on my own while the others went to Neukoeln. For tonight we have tickets for the Komische Oper. They show The Magic Flute in a modern version.

DSCN0461

DSCN0464 - Copy

DSCN0464

Pentecost Sunday, 2016

Today we went to the German Club for lunch. Since Peter’s birthday is tomorrow, which is a working day in Australia, we celebrated with the family already today. Peter took some photos of some of the family. We were a dozen people and had booked a table for our lunch. Every one was very happy with their Mittagessen, meaning we could all order whatever we liked. There was some dance music from the 1950s that Peter and I liked very much. We even had a little dance! Lucas and Alex, our great-grandchildren, enjoyed themselves too. It is great that children are so welcome at this club.

Uta’s Diary

Many months ago we booked our trip. It is exciting that our departure time is getting very close: We’re going to leave for Berlin on Friday, the 3rd of June. So, only three more weeks to go!

Today, Peter, Caroline and I are going to Wollongong. I have an appointment with Dr. Pearson for 9 o’clock. Friday mornings there are always markets in Wollongong. We plan to go to these markets after I’ve seen my doctor. We might be able to buy some fresh vegetables at the markets. In the afternoon I meet my lady friends for our games of Scrabble and Rummy Cub.

On this coming Sunday we’re going to meet the family for Peter’s birthday lunch, and on Monday Peter takes our old car to Warrawong to get it inspected for re-newel of registration. Caroline and I want to go with him to Warrawong to visit a nice cafe there where we’ve been before.

It seems we are busy all the time. I am sure the next three weeks will be gone in a flash. And then it is going to be only four more weeks and we will be back in Australia. We arrive back on the Saturday, the 2nd of July, which is going to be Election Day in Australia!

We talked to Peter’s sister Ilse the other day. She reckons for our family re-union we are going to be some 25 people! We also talked to my brother Peter Uwe recently. He wants to come to Berlin to see all of us. But we can also visit him and Astrid at their place in the country.

At last another Entry in Uta’s Diary

https://auntyuta.com/2016/04/12/utas-diary-tuesday-12th-april-2016/#comments

The last entry in my Dairy was exactly one month ago! Time flies . . . .

At my age time flies more and more.

On the 14th of April I published some comments to a blog by John Lord and Catterel wrote a comment to what I had said on that day:

auntyuta.com/2016/04/14/on-july-25-2014-john-lord-published-a-post-about-whether-grammar-matters/

I said: Finally I’d like to make a comment on the subject. I did not finish high-school and have never been to university. English is my second language. I have been blogging since July 2011. I very much enjoy the contact with other bloggers. I am aware that university educated people do find that there is a lot wrong with the way I write. I know that my daughters as well as my son may point to quite a few errors in any of my writing that I have published.

Here is what Catterel wrote:

“Dear Uta, as long as you communicate honestly and clearly, especially in a language that isn’t your mother tongue, all is forgiven! I’ve seen too many students traumatised into silence by over-critical teachers who leapt on every tiny error and destroyed the learner’s confidence. Yes, grammar matters of course, otherwise we’d be mutually incomprehensible, but it’s only one aspect of a language and like all living things, it evolves.”

Here is a bit of what I wrote on the 15th of April:

auntyuta.com/2016/04/15/how-did-world-war-two-affect-us/

I wonder, how many people, alive today, have never been affected by war? Wars continue to be fought in a lot of countries and a lot of continents. The refugee crisis is now worse than ever. Is mankind going backwards? The few people, who are not affected by wars, do they not ever consider how wars affect the rest of humanity? For as long as some of us can live in peace, we do not care what is being done to the rest of humanity? How can we be so selfish? Has it just got to do with a survival wish?

On the 17th of April Gerard Oostermann wrote the following reply to a Reblog I published on that day:

“There is a lot there, Uta. I think there is so much more in living with someone that many just choose to totally ignore. The ultimate banana skin is what in the west we call ‘love’. Many get blinded by that, especially romantic love, and this is just a cruel trick of nature. As soon as someone says: ‘I truly love you,’ run away as fast as you can. It is so often doomed to fail. When ‘love’ enters, we start to project the most outlandish, wonderful but totally unrealistic qualities onto the person of our affections.
A good friendship, care, consideration and mutual respect might well be the much better and more solid ingredients of love.”

I replied: I very much like your insightful comment, dear Gerard. They say hate and love can be very close together. I suspect that my parents had a love/hate relationship. They probably would have projected the most “outlandish unrealistic qualities” onto each other! And I reckon respect is absolutely essential for a lasting and mutual beneficial love relationship. And of course without friendship, care and consideration you cannot live together in a satisfactory way.

My re-published reflections about my parents you can find here:

auntyuta.com/2016/04/16/reflections-about-war-reflections-about-my-parents/

The following days during last month I just did some reblogging of different authors’ blogs that I found very interesting. After the 20th of April I did no more blogging for quite a while. For weeks I did not even touch the computer to do some reading. I read instead Jonathan Franzen’s Novel FREEDOM which I had acquired at a very reduced price. I thought, reading this novel was extremely well spent time! I actually had a few health problems which caused me not to want to sit at the computer . . . .

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jr9dB2Xf9e8&list=RDJr9dB2Xf9e8#t=23

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jr9dB2Xf9e8

http://www.news.com.au/finance/economy/federal-budget/melbourne-dad-duncan-storrar-steals-the-election-debate-from-the-pollies/news-story/3e3bdcd28baf3005b65f677cf3952271

An ARTICLE called “The truth about my father” you can find in Google.

Duncan Storrar became famous after last Monday’s Q & A program. I think what Duncan’s twenty year old son says about his father makes an interesting background story. Duncan seems to suffer from debilitating anxiety attacks. To speak his mind on Q & A was extremely brave of him!