Mr Richie in Walldorf!

Two nights ago the one and only Lionel Richie's less famous younger brother Simon Richie played a live gig right here in Walldorf. Unbelievable!

Brilliantly, I was able to hear the concert loud and clear from my very own balcony, thus managing to evade the rather steep €2.50 entrance fee they were charging. Ha, Walldorf Dave one, Simon Richie nil!!! Mr Richie played a wide range of truely astounding classics such as Hazy (Like Every Morning), Say Poo Say Heehee, and 'Allo 'Allo is it René you're looking for.

Apart from Phil Colins, who you have to like if you live in Walldorf otherwise you will be banished, I think our Simon is now one of my favourite veteran singer/songwriters. Maybe he'll even come back and play at the asparagus festival next year - that would be excellent.

Apparently, he also played a gig in Weil am Rhein yesterday. Here's a copy of the poster they used to advertise that concert as I couldn't find the one for Walldorf. I guess they were all stolen and burned by the angry Phil Collins fans.

I Love Sundays

Sorry about that last post, I don't know what happenned. I was just reading back through what I'd written and I inexplicably fell asleep and banged my head on the keyboard - I think I may have briefly dislocated my forehead but I'm alright again now.

I'm looking forward to my Sunday this coming weekend because it's one of my favorite days. Here are some reasons why I like Sundays:

1. I don't have to go to work
2. Therefore, I'm always in a good mood
3. Sundays are quiet
4. I can't do the washing on Sundays, as the spin cycle might disturb the neighbours
5. I go on walks on Sundays and not much else

Maybe that sounds boring to some people but I suppose it's just the way you look at it. Anyone who disagrees should read Simon's blog entry on attitude from 20th March (http://postcard-from-weil.blogspot.com/2007/03/attitude.html).

Riesling

Before I start this post I just want to say that this is all my own work and as such is only my own opinion...

Ever since working on a vineyard in the Pfalz in the summer of 1997, I've had a dislike for German wine, particularly Riesling. I don't want to get too much up myself here, but, for me, the Riesling grape produces some of the worst (white) wines in the world, the lion's share of which originates from Germany. Fact. Forget the sordid pleasures of Napa Chardonnay or the kinky gooseberry of Hawkes Bay Sauvignon, Riesling is the wine we should all avoid.

For decades German wine exports were fighting a losing battle for the hearts and palates of discerning international wine lovers. Drowning under a deluge of mass-produced Blue Nun and Liebfraumilch, Germany's winemakers were unable to shrug off the justified stereotype of German wine being the sweet concoction your Nan got tipsy on every year at Christmas. Something had to change, but nothing did change.

Firstly, some background information. The cause of German wine's fall from grace can be traced back to the German Wine Laws of 1971. Under pressure from the country's powerful Liebfraumilch-producing concerns, the politicians oegfnvnvfmkobvgfmdkmesdlöfgg

Fastnacht

Sorry I haven't written anything for a while but it's been kind of hectic here in Walldorf recently what with Fastnacht last month and of course the excitement of the asparagus season fast approaching. Fastnacht (or Fischnet in the local dialect) in Walldorf is one of the best shrovetide festivals in the entire South-West Germany and Switzerland area. It all begins at 11.11 on the Thursday (or Schmozig Donschdig in the local dialect) when Lord Mayor Herr Barry Klug dresses up as a Wasp and opens the festivities with a cry of "LET'S GO CRAAAZY". From then on it's non-stop fun and frolics all the way to the Tuesday (or Faschnet Dinsdig in the local dialect). Fun really is had by all with local people doing wild and crazy things such as cutting people's ties in half, drinking tiny bottles of liquor and wearing amusing hats. In Walldorf there is a huge parade (or is it procession? Actually, who cares?) and people can even throw confetti any time they wish, which I thought would be the case everywhere but according to somebody called Grenzgänger on The Brits forum, in Basel you can't throw confetti until midday (http://www.thebrits.de/index.php?topic=3445.0)
How rubbish is that!!! Anyway, I just wanted to write a bit about that because it's an event not to be missed, and the Hauptstrasse is the place to be, and I should know because I watched it all on my computer over the live webcams!

Subway

Great news! Subway, the fast food sandwich chain, is opening a new franchise in Walldorf this Spring. I love Subway, the only thing is that the new store is moving into Walldorf's best and only specialist doily shop, Horr. Heaven only knows where I'm going to get my crocheted lace table decorations now. Disaster!

Anyway, I had a look on the Subway website and found this rather interesting article:

Christmas and New Year

Merry Christmas dear readers and all the best for 2007!

Christmas was a fairly quiet affair here in Walldorf. I spent most of the time sitting down but also a bit of time standing up and walking around. I particularly enjoyed my Christmas dinner which was the traditional meal of chicken with a side helping of ravioli followed by an anchovy sandwich and a cup of hot chocolate. Yum!!!

One rather exciting piece of news is that there were a couple of earth tremors in Walldorf over the yuletide period. However, as these occurred on a daily basis approximately 30 minutes after lunch, I strongly suspect that they were "man-made" (as was the case in Basle in December) - in fact, come to think of it, one or two suspects spring immediately to mind.

My favourite gift this Christmas has to be my new camera. It really is a handy little gadget and I'm still trying to get used to the fact that I can take it with me everywhere I go. The best thing about it is that I don't even need to worry about carrying a couple of spare flash blubs around all the time - it actually has a flash build in! How fab is that! Anyway, now I've got my new camera I don't need my old one any more so I've organised for a crane to come and take it away. It may have been a bit on the big side but the picture quality was fantastic.

Ho hum, that's all for now. I'm dying to get into Walldorf with my new toy and get some photos before it gets dark. There are some lovely new roundabouts in Walldorf and, call me weird if you will, but I want to go and see if any of them are shaped like feminine hygiene products.