In late winter/early spring I came across a bag of bio sunflower seeds for sowing and thought it might be interesting to try.

Bad idea. They are not suited for pots on balconies. They consume an inordinate amount of water – on sunny days three times a day – and definitely seem to need more soil under their strong roots. Most of them did not survive the unusually windy conditions on my sixth-floor balcony this year – it seems that about every four or five summers it is more windy, and the wind tends to come from an easterly direction directly on to the balcony rather than a more north-south direction which is not felt on this side of the building.

Five of them survived, and grew much taller than I had expected – I think the tallest one may be over 2 m tall.

In any case, they are finally blooming, and finally attracting some insects (and we finally have a blue sky again).

According to NABU, the swifts, of which there have been many around my building this year, headed south yesterday, so perhaps I will finally see more insects making their way all the way up here.

Short walk organised by Museen Tempelhof-Schöneberg, led by Uwe Sawitzki.

Read more about Freizeitpark Marienfelde here.

Most of the route on MapMyWalk here.

First some garbage, since we were on our way up a “mountain” created by garbage:

The view from the top:

A couple of insects – unfortunately an increasingly rare sight:

Passed through one of Berlin’s largest industrial areas on the way back:

And finally, the black and white photos of the day:

Mostly for bird- and other wildlife photography:

Must visit Angermünde and NABU Zentrum Blumberger Mühle – don’t forget to set aside a date, or perhaps two?

Same for Anklam, a couple of days to walk along the Peene river, in each direction.

And here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Havelland_(district)#/media/File:Havelland_FHSW.gif

Loop from Kratzeburg – Pieverstorf, Wehrschloss Ankershagen, Schliemann Museum, Havelquelle, Dambeck – Kratzeburg.

Industrielehrpfad Kirchmöser

Döberitzer Heide

….. (and boob-free, but you can’t have everything …).

In return, I almost immediately noticed that the crippling fatigue, which I had felt for months, and which should have alerted me to the fact that something was wrong, had lifted. (So, everybody, never ignore a lingering tiredness which feels different and inexplicable).

On the same day, I was told that only one lab test remained but it was likely that I would not need chemo – only a couple of weeks’ daily radiation. So that is what I was psyching myself up for when a week later I was informed that I needed neither.

In so many ways so much luckier than so many others.

Today (as on most days, actually) I think of the rising number of much younger women who have to face this diagnosis which for so many different reasons is more life-changing and momentous the younger you are.

A very nice animal park with a large play area for children.

First some black and white photos: