Photo tour to “Lost Place” “Der verlassene Fliegerhorst Schönwalde” 10 May

Share Button

With go2know – and there are still spots available on that day.

(Still bogged down with Covid, but hope springs eternal).

Basel 12-16 June 2024

Share Button

Direct night train to and from.

To visit the following art fairs:

Art Basel

Volta Basel

Photo Basel

Other places to visit if there is time:

Zoo Basel

Opportunities to play bridge in Berlin in the foreseeable future

Share Button

Last updated: 05 May 2024 PM.

(For newcomers to the subject: please refer to the previous posts in this category for (almost) anything else you need to know).

Friday 19 April – the following VHS course has started and runs till 14 June (with the exception of 10 May). It is still available for registration : “Englisch B1 plus – Learn to play Bridge in English”. Course number Pa4101F.

Latest developments:

The VHS is closed on 10 May. I have previously indicated that we can play at my place on that evening, but that is no longer the case. Even if I do test negative by then, I am unlikely to want to spend time indoors with other people, for any purpose, any time soon, if ever, if that is what it takes to avoid getting sick like this again.

Photography: Personal favourites 2024 April

Share Button

A post-Labour Day walk around Urbanhafen

Share Button

Instead of staying home, trying to make peace with the world, I went out early to inspect the damages after the Labour Day “celebrations”.

As it turned out, I was almost too late, as people were already in full swing cleaning up at around 06.30 in the morning, and most of the garbage had been either swept together in more or less neat piles to be collected, or already removed.

It is amazing how people seem to think that that is good use of taxpayers’ money.

We humans arethe worst thing that ever h appened to this planet.

That said, not all the of the below photos are acidy commentaries :-), just things I stumbled upon that caught my eye.

1 May short walk

Share Button

Impressions from Berlin Gallery Weekend 2024

Share Button

Two gallery walks with InterNations: Friday 26 April, and Sunday 28 April.

On 26 April, we ended up visiting about 14 galleries on the route.

On 28 April we probably reached the same number of galleries. The route was shorter, but there were several new gallereries there that I had not been aware of.

Phototour to “Verlassene Lungenheilstätte Grabowsee” with Volkshochschule 27 April

Share Button

***************************

BREAKING NEWS A PROPOS “LOST PLACES”: There are still spots left for this tour with go2know. (I am going on 10 May).

*****************************************

*****************************************

Yes, really, this all-day event took place in the middle of Gallery Weekend. It did not even occur to me to check before I signed up. Just like one of the previous all-day VHS photography courses I signed up for turned out to take place during the Berlinale. I seem to be the only one who finds that sort of thing really strange.

Anyway, it was an enjoyable day out with about 12 people from Volkshochschule, and fun running into four people from BLENDE2-HAMBURG with whom I had recently been in a zoom session, and will be again soon.

Link to the “Lost Place” here.

I don’t particularly like very many of the photos I took, but the following give an impression of what the place looks like.

In cases where I am not sure whether black & white or colour, I have done both and juxtaposed them.

This sounds like a must-try dip

Share Button

Caramelized five-onion dip

  • 3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
  • 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
  • 1 large sweet onion (such as Vidalia – the “flat” one), quartered and thinly sliced
  • 1 medium-size yellow onion (what I call the “normal” ones), quartered and thinly sliced
  • 1 medium-size red onion, quartered and thinly sliced
  • 4 medium shallots, halved and thinly sliced
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt, or to taste
  • 6 spring onions, thinly sliced
  • Approx 225 g cream cheese, softened
  • Approx 3 dl sour cream
  • The original recipe says 230 g mayonnaise, but unless I can be bothered to make some vegan mayo, I will skip that since I can’t stand conventional mayo)
  • 2 teaspoons garlic powder (I think I will use fresh garlic – not a fan of garlic powder)
  • 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
  • Black pepper, to taste

Heat oil and butter till the butter melts.

Add all the onions, except the spring onions, and salt, simmer, stirring occasionally till they start to soften and turn light brown at the edges, about 12 minutes.

Reduce heat to medium-low. Cook, stirring occasionally, until onions are caramelized, about 35 minutes.

Add the spring onions towards the end of the cooking time.

If it starts to stick to the bottom or become too brown, add a bit of water.

Transfer mixture to a large bowl and let cool before stirring in the cream cheese until it is incorporated.

Add the rest of the ingredients, season with salt and pepper, chill. Can be made a day ahead.

Random photos from my windows and from a walk to Engelbecken

Share Button

Including a visit to this exhibition at BBA Gallery.

The life of a Danish pensioner in Berlin