1157 – Being Social Again

Tuesday 7th May 2019

We drove to Riedlingen on the Danube, as Margaret and Angus who host the Brin motorhome gatherings near Inverness were following the Danube on their way to meet friends N of Munich.  After a wander around the small village and the regulation ice cream, I cooked supper.  M&A brought wine and cheese.  Lovely to catch up with them … and no alcohol was consumed at all … yeah right!  

 

1158-1160 – Shopping and Kerstin’s

Wednesday 8th – Friday 10th May 

Margaret provided breakfast and I walked the dogs in peeing rain, then we set off on our way.  In fact it pretty much peed down all day … we headed to Metzingen, which is a whole town converted into an outlet centre.  A lot of top name brands for which we have no use, but J came away with some shorts and trousers, and I invaded the biggest Gerry Weber store I’ve ever seen.  Last time I purchased 3 pairs of trousers and numerous tops.  No sale on this time, so just one outfit purchased.  

Not far from here onto Kerstin’s in Reutlingen.  Where we parked up last time has now been built over for asylum seeker’s flats, so we went into a neighbour’s driveway.  Not only were Petra and Stephan giving us driveway space, they had lopped some trees so we could get in, and offered us hookup!  We even came away with home grown radishes and Petra’s Pesto (so yummy and garlicky, that I am even eating it on Ryvita as I type!).  Such kind and generous people.

Several lovely dog walks around here with views of the  funny little pointed hills that are the Schabische Alpes.  J visited the doctor to have his hormone injection implanted and a blood test to check his PSA levels – it only cost £18 … He paid over EUR100 in France. We got the result on Monday and it was brilliant news … down to 0.03.  Everything going as it should. 

James or Mum normal dye my hair – reluctantly.  As a special treat, I let Kerstin have a go! A new experience for K as she has never dyed her own, let alone anyone else! Erika, Kerstin’s Mama, on being shown this pic, asked if Kerstin was looking for nits!!!!  As if?

Our little Greek puss feeling the cold … hoping the fire would be lit!

Most (pronounced Mosht) is fermented apple, pear or quince juice.  Often a mixture of fruit, but usually with apple juice.  The alcohol content is normal around 4-5%.  It is made by small local growers.  Kerstin’s village had their first ever Most tasting competition; in previous years they had entered their Most at another village’s competition.  The top two were going onto the local heats and then the regional final.  So it was serious stuff.  They were sadly short of tasters, so Kerstin arranged for us to nobly assist!  We went along with our Irish, British and a borrowed German flag to respresent the international delegation.  Most of the Most was pretty foul, but a couple were palatable.  So was the copious nibbles of cheeses and sausages.  Good fun and a bit different.

Two of the tasting criteria were colour and clarity … quite a variation.

Not one I liked, obviously!

J didn’t chuck many, and his tummy suffered a bit the next day!

We must’ve liked this one!

From left, 3rd (son and first time he’d entered), 2nd and 1st (father) and Organiser, who kindly spoke excellent English to explain about Most and the competition.

 

1161 – Kerstin’s 50th

Saturday 11th May 

Kerstin had hijacked the barn belonging to some of her neighbour’s allotment / country gardens for her party.  

The morning was spent decorating the barn.

From 4:00 people were arriving loaded with food and a lot of cakes.  I forced myself to try 4 varieties of cake … a BBQ followed later and then more cake!

Kerstin’s Goddaughter, Yasmin … she was really good with CO2 and wanted them to go home with her.  On realising that we would miss them, she offered J and I living accommodation too.  When I said, we would be bored as we like our scenery to change, her Mother Judith quickly said we could change bedroom every week!

Anton, another neighbour, attempting to record sparkling wine.

Not Most, but locally made Schnapps from different fruits. I did try a few 🙂 only to be polite!

My jumper was much admired by the ladies.  Thanks Mum.

Kerstin speechifying.

1162 – Left overs

Sunday 12th May 

After the final tidying up and clean at the barn, it was left overs, a BBQ and more cake at Kerstin’s.  And an early night!!!

Guess who has charge of Corrie.  We had to threaten to check the car when they left in case of stow aways.