Day 52: Things I like about Germany

 "The man who has planted a garden feels he has done something for the good of the whole world" - Charles Dudley

Plants give us oxygen for the lungs and for the soul.  ~Linda Solegato - See more at: http://www.hortmag.com/blogs/garden-quotes#sthash.LO44ZmZ4.dpuf

Plants give us oxygen for the lungs and for the soul.  ~Linda Solegato - See more at: http://www.hortmag.com/blogs/garden-quotes#sthash.LO44ZmZ4.dpuf

Plants give us oxygen for the lungs and for the soul.  ~Linda Solegato - See more at: http://www.hortmag.com/blogs/garden-quotes#sthash.LO44ZmZ4.dpuf

Plants give us oxygen for the lungs and for the soul.  ~Linda Solegato - See more at: http://www.hortmag.com/blogs/garden-quote

Project 365: #52

There are lots of things that I like about Germany, probably too many to go through. This is one, linking to what I wrote about urban greening before: this is a municipal horticultural field....you can't see clearly, but there are rows of plants, shrubs, and trees, all tended by the municipality and used for public spaces. I have seen these types of plots all over the the suburbs, where they are regularly tended.

It does seem that when tax money is spent wisely, and not squandered, that it uplifts communities, even in appearances initially, and provides employment for those tending the gardens. It is nice to see tended gardens, verges, parks, and forests as it provides a sense of pride in the environment that can be relayed to the community. So, not only do the plants provide necessary oxygen for use to survive, but they have the possibility of breathing life into any community.

Day 51: Goodbye until the next adventure

 "It's time to say goodbye, but I think goodbyes are sad and I'd much rather say hello. Hello to a new adventure" - Ernie Harwell

Project 365: #51

This is how I feel today - Mouse has the best place in the house, with her head on my pillow in the sun (when it shines)! Today is the second last day in May - exactly a month until we fly to NJ. Yeep! Pretty much a dark and gloomy day, 13 degrees, raining intermittently. It is the "Summer Splash" PTA fundraiser at school this afternoon - will be Splash, but not Summer! Gloomy too, as Mike is on his way back home. It was an awesome week, but goodbyes are always horrible. At least, the next time we see him we will truly be beginning the new adventure. Goodbyes are good too, as you appreciate hellos more! SO, here's to all the "hellos" in life, with less "goodbyes" and more "see you soons"!!

Day 50: Through the tram window

"Never lose an opportunity of seeing anything beautiful, for beauty is God's handwriting" - Ralph Waldo Emerson

Project 365: #50

Some snippets through the window to and from town (or as the kids calls it "the city"). This typifies most towns in Germany for me...firstly, the suburbs are always intermingled with productive agricultural fields:

 This is why I will probably be able to drive ANYWHERE else - firstly, I had to learn to drive on the other side of the road, yup, everything back to front, upside down....as it is, I am normally completely muddled up, so this was an added challenge...AND the roads are VERY narrow in most places, where you have to pull over and wait for oncoming traffic....AND there is mostly only parallel parking (of which I am VERY bad!)...AND you have to share the roads with trams!

 

There are often waterways in most cities - here the tram crosses the Mittelandkanal  at Noltemeyerbrücke. At 325,7 km long, this canal is the longest artificial waterway in Germany, with construction beginning in 1906! There is even a barge on the canal if you look carefully!

There are always beautiful churches, steeped with history. I will miss the bells ringing out on Sundays calling everyone to church.

And, of course, there is the corner store down the road....

This trip may be mundane, but there is always something beautiful to see, even if it is the new planting in the field, or a sunset over the canal, or a beautiful church spire. If we just take a moment, there will be something in our day that is uplifting and will remind us of God's beautiful handwriting!

Day 49: From here to there...Hannover to NJ

 “From there to here, from here to there, funny things are everywhere!” - Dr Seuss, One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish

Project 365: # 49

It is very funny how childhood stories get stuck in your head. I adored Dr Seuss when I was little, and then had the chance to relive the stories with my children, who had no choice BUT to enjoy them too...night after night at storytime!! This quote popped out my head (again!) when I was looking at these pics from Mike's trip home....

"From here

to there

funny things are everywhere!"

If I had been asked as a young adult where I would be living in 25 years time, I would never have imagined Germany, let alone the US, on the doorstep of NYC! It is an enormous contrast in itself, let alone the change from sunny South Africa! Gosh, we didn't even want to venture from little old PE to Joburg! I do not for a minute believe that the grass is greener on the other side, although that might be difficult to believe looking at the aerial view of Hannover! I do believe though, that each place has positives and negatives, and that we need to make the most of the situation that we end up in. One thing is certain, that although I am anxious about moving continent yet again, I am excited to begin new adventures and discover the funny things everywhere!

Day 48: Celebrating happiness not age

"Let us never know what old age is. Let us know the happiness time brings, not count the years" - Ausonius

Project 365: # 48

Birthdays are always a time to reflect, years gone by, accomplishments, dreams, goals. This is one of my  best places to sit and reflect, but the weather today is not playing along...still cool at 13 degrees max for almost summer and the beginning of June next week! At least that can be remedied by a nice cup of coffee and a blanket! I can also pretend the sun is shining! I just love how all the hard work you put into gardening reflects with the succession and development of gardens through seasons.

I am definitely not counting the years, but have realised that with each year I certainly experience a deeper peace, joy, and happiness. I am not sure if it is just a maturity of accepting things as they are, and making the most of them, or if some of the brain cells responsible for how we feel deplete with age? Maybe a combination, anyway, I much prefer how I feel now to when I was younger. If I had the chance to do things again, I would like to be the me now in the past...but who wouldn't?!

Day 47: Aeroplane shadows

"Find beauty not only in the thing itself but in the pattern of the shadows, the light and dark which that thing provides" - Junichiro Tanizaki

Project 365: #47

How amazing is this photo of the aeroplane's shadow on the clouds? The reflected light even makes it look like the plane is about to fly through a wormhole! Too much science fiction,  but it is a bit like we are living on different planets in different time zones at the moment - so this was a fitting photo that Mike took on his way home at the weekend. He seemed to warp here, and surprised us all! So much excitement!

Day 46: The depth of birdsong

"Use what talents you possess; the woods would be very silent if no birds sang there except those that sang best" - Henry van Dyk

Project 365: #46

We live in close proximity to two autobahns, yet every morning I am amazed that the sounds of nature, particularly the birdsong block out the drone of cars. These are the birdsongs and frog chirps in the early morning. There are so many different calls, it is amazing to hear.

Some of these calls are not as nice as others, but it is totally true that if only those with the most beautiful songs sang, then the woods would be silent. The combination of all the calls is what makes the early mornings complete.  It is important to recognise that each and every one of us has been blessed with unique talents, and that in combination these can be used for the betterment of the world we live in. We need to recognise our talents and apply them each day, to bring joy to ourselves and those around us.

Day 45: Pfingstenrose and Pentecost

“When you strip it of everything else, Pentecost stands for power and life. That’s what came into the church when the Holy Spirit came down on the day of Pentecost.” ―David Wilkerson 

 

Project 365: #45


One of the most amazing things about nature is that it always seems to have perfect timing. Every year the dates of the religious calender change, yet nature seems to match the dates perfectly! Today is Pentecost, Pfingsten in German. And, my Pfingstenrose (peonies) have been waiting to open, just for today! It cannot be truer that Pentecost stands for power and life!

“The dove descending breaks the air
With flame of incandescent terror
Of which the tongues declare
The one discharge from sin and error.
The only hope, or else despair
Lies in the choice of pyre or pyre-
To be redeemed from fire by fire.

Who then devised the torment? Love.
Love is the unfamiliar Name
Behind the hands that wove
The intolerable shirt of flame
Which human power cannot remove.
We only live, only suspire
Consumed by either fire or fire.”

T.S. Eliot, Four Quartets

Day 44: Interesting road signs

"Life is one big road with lots of signs. So when you riding through the ruts, don't complicate your mind. Flee from hate, mischief and jealousy. Don't bury your thoughts, put your vision to reality. Wake Up and Live!" - Bob Marley

Project 365: # 44

While here, I have had to learn the meaning of some new road signs, and have also come across a few that have amused me:

Maybe the wind is very strong in the area, blowing your hair back horizontally (not much wind here though), or you have to walk really fast. Walking really fast in a dress...hmmm. Maybe she has a broomstick? No matter, the sign was entertaining anyway.

And the paths and roads are totally awesome. The perfect place to uncomplicate the mind, and flee from all the thoughts and "what-ifs" that we get caught up in. It is important to unburden from all the complications we place on ourselves, and keep things simple. I have decided that simplicity is the key to living life...unravel from all the complicated emotions and enjoy each moment for what it is. Live life, keep it simple, and do whatever makes your hair blow back!

Day 43: Angel rays at sunset

"Angels come to help and guide us in as many guises as there are people who need their assistance. Sometimes we see their ethereal, heavenly shadow, bright with light and radiance. Sometimes we only feel their nearness or hear their whisper. And sometimes they look no different from ourselves..." - Eileen Elias Freeman

Project 365: # 43

This week has been filled with the ups and downs of buying a new house in a new country. We can't find a house to rent, which would be the best option, so we have to commit all we have to a house. The stress of all the uncertainty was overwhelming, all I have been asking for is a sign that things will work out. So, to de-stress, I took to the great outdoors with fresh air and space to think! I think my request was answered! Sunset across a field, with the most beautiful angel-rays shining down. Somehow, they filled me with peace, and made me feel that everything will be alright in the end, it always is. The perfect start to a long weekend.

Day 42: Original postal route between Hannover and Celle

"When I am travelling in a carriage, or walking after a good meal, or during the night when I cannot sleep; it is on such occasions that ideas flow best and most abundantly" - Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

Project 365: # 42

One of my regular running routes is along sections of the original postal route between Hannover and Celle that was functional between 1643 and 1784! It is not that hard to imagine what it must have been like - as many of the little towns along the way, that have been incorporated into suburbs have retained much of their old-world charm, and many of the original buildings still remain. The route is also beautiful, especially in spring. I do wonder if they also admired the vivid greenness of spring, and how they survived the thick snow and slush in winter with no snow ploughs and snow tyres!

Then around the next corner, I think about the Brother's Grimm, as we are living in their backyard, and wonder where they imagined all their fairytale characters from....some of them are pretty scary!
Sometimes I don't see another soul when I am out running, and I just get lost in all the residual history, imagining the lives of those waiting for the mail carriage to deliver some important news. I wonder if everyone was as impatient to receive their mail as they currently are, and if the mailman and horse had to gallop along these little paths. I wonder if there were bandits waiting to rob the mail carriage? Then I start wondering about the depth of history in Europe, and thinking that the great composers and artists travelled in carriages along these sorts of roads...they were all ordinary people, unable to sleep at night too....I wonder if this creative greatness is now being channelled into science and technology and exploring new realms?

Day 41: The long walk to school

"Success is not a destination, but the road that you're on. Being successful means that you're working hard and walking your walk every day. You can only live your dream by working hard towards it. That's living your dream" - Marlon Wayans

Project 365: #41

This is the girls walk to school - a long and straight pavement, demarcated for pedestrians and cyclists. DO NOT CROSS THE LINE or else you will be squashed by a bicycle!

There are beautiful buildings to look at too, like this police department. 

This long road that they walk every day to and from the tram stop, is pretty much setting them up for success. I have tried to drill into them, that success is what you make of your life, and not something that instantly happens. It is the working hard every day, getting up on time, making your bed, being prepared, doing what you have to, going where you want to go...setting goals, dreaming big. And little by little your determination takes you in the direction of success and you start living your dream. I am pleased the girls have had to do this walk, it has made them a little more determined than they were before.

Day 40: Evacuation...undetonated WWII bomb in Südstadt

"Every gun that is made, every warship launched, every rocket fired, signifies in the final sense a theft from those who hunger and are not fed, those who are cold and are not clothed" - Dwight Eisenhower

Project 354: #40

When I began this adventure blog, I did wonder what I would write everyday. But there is always something that happens, or something to write about. Today's story is not something out of the ordinary if you live here, but if you live elsewhere in the world it could be interesting. Every now and again, due to ongoing construction in and around the city, excavators come across an undetonated WWII bomb! It can cause a large amount of disruption, as they can be quite unstable, so generally, depending on the size there is an evacuation of at least a 1 km radius while the detonation team goes to work until the all clear. It is usually covered by the daily newspapers (print and online versions) - this article was in the Hannoverische Allgemeine, and all residents are updated with maps, etc regarding the evacuation. 

It does make me think again about the senselessness of war. It seems like such a waste of lives, money, homes, families, the list can go on and on. You would think that we would learn from past mistakes, yet the cycle just seems to repeat itself, driven by greed and power. There are so many countries facing war and civil unrest, displacing millions of people and turning their world's upside down...creating poverty, hunger, disease, impacting education and  future generations. What is the point at the end of the day? I think I will go back to focusing on the nice things in life! Life is short, embrace it! Embrace peace, not war!

Day 39: The glory of gardening

"The glory of gardening: hands in the dirt, head in the sun, heart with nature. To nurture a garden is to feed not just the body, but the soul" - Alfred Austin

Project 365: #39

Why is it that everything starts looking like you want it to just when you are leaving? It has taken me the last two years to work out how my garden grows, and it is looking stunning now with all the flowers starting to bloom. I have learnt how to prune and overwinter everything so it is awesome in spring...oh well! My gran always used to say that you must tend your garden, no matter if it belongs to you or not, as someone will always benefit from your efforts along the way! My garden has been my refuge and delight while living here. I have learnt to appreciate the seasonal cycles, learnt which flowers the butterflies love, which seeds the birds eat, which trees drops their leaves fastest in autumn (and made a mental note to avoid those in the future), where to find the shrews nest (per kind favour of Campbell who thinks they should live inside as real-live squeaky-toys), even the hedgehogs hidey-holes and favourite foraging grounds. I will miss the garden, but look forward to finding a new one to nurture my soul.

Day 38: Recycling in Hannover

"Years ago, we all talked about recycling and not dumping things down your drain and all of that, but talking doesn't help much. Basically, it's going to have to be legislation because the impact is so huge and diversified" - Ted Danson

Project 365: #38

I know many places around the world recycle their goods, but the efficiency with which it happens here is inspiring. I would love to implement these systems throughout the world, but it takes money, manpower, and education. All of these services are invoiced, but mandatory. Firstly, our home waste is divided into real "trash" (only garbage that cannot be recycled goes into a black bin); paper (goes into blue plastic bags or a blue bin); plastic (all plastic, except bottles, goes into yellow bags); and bio-garbage (basically anything you would compost goes into a brown bin). These are collected regularly by the local services. You can also subscribe to an additional "orange" bin for recyclable appliances, like toasters, etc. The mandatory bags are available by request from the cashiers at some of the supermarkets (much to my dismay when we first arrived here, not knowing how to ask for them!!) Many of the public bins in town are segregated in the same way.

Then, down the road, near the supermarkets there are always glass recycling bins, divided into their different colours. Very often, the clothing and shoe donation bins are also nearby as in the picture.

Then, in the supermarkets, there are plastic bottle and glass reclamation machines. So, when you purchase your liquids in recyclable bottles (with a recyclable barcode on them, e.g. water and some beer bottles) you pay a small deposit. Then you take the empty bottles to the reclamation machines, feed them in, and you receive a voucher for the value of the deposit to use in the shop. In some shops, you have the option to donate this amount to a charity, instead of using it yourself. Also in here, and in most supermarkets, there is a battery-recycling drop-off bin. The quality of these pics is not very good as I had to sneak around after hours to avoid being questioned!

How did this all become so efficient, and how do we implement it throughout the rest of the world with the same efficiency??? I sometimes lie awake thinking about this, knowing it is an important step in environmental sustainability. I do realise that this has been achieved here through strict legislation, but maybe, if we all do our little part towards recycling, then it will spiral, with more and more people taking part and educating more and more people? Eventually it becomes a habit. In the words of Linda Evangelista "God help anyone who disobeys my recycling system. I have all the separated bins. I'm very adamant about it because I try to be a good citizen of the world, I really do. I even use eco-friendly cleaning products, but sometimes you just have to break open the disinfectant. Some jobs require it"....and even then I feel guilty!!

I have even stopped purchasing plastic bags in the shops, always taking my basket with me out of habit...when it is empty, that is!

Day 37: Flowering fields in Hannover's suburbs

 "Flowers always make people better, happier, and more helpful; they are sunshine, food and medicine for the soul" - Luther Burbank

Project 365: # 37

It is really true that flowers make people happier. They are uplifting. Just last week when I jogged this route, these were green fields, and I was becoming bored with the monotony. Then this week...bright yellow flowers!

The flowering season is short, by next week this field will be in seed. But, in the meantime, it has probably lifted the spirits of all the passers by. These fields are next to a busy road between two suburbs, Isernhagen-Süd and Isernhagen in Hannover. You can also clearly see the shared cycle/pedestrian track running alongside the road. How we will miss these wherever we go! When not on a bicycle, do make sure to be alert for the bicycle bell AND make sure you ALWAYS stick to the right of the lane...else you may be run over! The use of these tracks is at your own peril & you have to avoid landing in the ditch at all costs!!

Day 36: Hearts in the sky

"Each day holds a surprise. But only if we expect it can we see, hear, or feel it when it comes to us. Let's not be afraid to receive each day's surprise, whether it comes to us as sorrow or as joy. It will open a new place in our hearts, a place where we can welcome new friends and celebrate more fully our shared humanity" - Henri Nouwen

Project 365: #36

Today is a perfect late spring day, a little cloudy, not too cool, and the best is that it is Friday, not Saturday! I almost forgot what day of the week it was as we are enjoying a nice long weekend! So, after getting up early, doing some chores, I was desperately in need of a run to get rid of the madness. So off I set, camera in hand, and took some pics along the way. I can't believe how quickly everything grows. After just a week, some of the fields that were green last week are in full bloom this week, yellow and alive with bees and butterflies. I snapped away through the suburbs, taking photos of  the beautiful flowering trees and gardens, admiring all around me, even the fields of dandelions bursting with seeds, just waiting to be carried off in the wind.  But, that was not my surprise....when I was editing my pics at home, this is what I found:

A perfect heart, beautifully crafted by nature! And I didn't even look for it when taking pictures - there is was to surprise me. If anyone knows me, I love hearts! So today, my surprise was joyful. If we just look around us, and embrace our surprises, our day-to-day journey will be uplifting.

Day 35: Incredible journey in Hannover

"Life rarely turns out exactly the way you want it to, but you still have an opportunity to make it great. You have to do what you can, with what you have, exactly where you are. It won't always be easy, but it will be worth it in the end. Remember that there is no perfect life, just perfect moments. And its these moments you must cherish; its these moments that make the whole journey worthwhile" - Ritu Ghatourey

Project 365: #35

Only 330 days of my project to go!! I know that I have posted these on FB before, but I drove past them again yesterday, and it reminded me about the amazing things that you come across in odd places in Hannover. We came across this farmyard scene quite by accident last summer when out for a cycle - this gorgeous collection of sculptures that look like they come from the "Incredible Journey", except they include a menagerie of farmyard animals!

They were so enchanting, and it made me wonder if people really notice their surroundings, and what is on their doorstep everyday. Do they appreciate them? And then of course, it made me think that we really have to appreciate every moment, and make the most of each day. After all, we are given a brand new day each morning to make the most of. I am considering each day a step in my journey, and I am determined to make my journey worthwhile, by cherishing the small moments!

Day 34: Subway tram at Hannover's Waterloo Station

 “It’s not that we have to quit this life one day, but it’s how many things we have to quit all at once: music, laughter, the physics of falling leaves, automobiles, holding hands, the scent of rain, the concept of subway trains... if only one could leave this life slowly!”  - Roman Payne, Rooftop Soliloquy

Project 365: #34

 This is  Waterloo Station - the girls tram stop for school. It has recently been upgraded and the walls are covered with murals depicting the history of Hannover from 150 AD, when it was a settlement known as Tulifurdum, until the present. The pillars on the platform between the tracks have the facts and figures explaining the pictures. It is an awesome concept to learn the history of a place. I am not sure that the girls have learnt anything from this, but they have spent many accumulated hours waiting for the tram home.

I have realised recently that this relatively safe and clean form of public transport is unique to mostly Germany cities. I will miss the ease and convenience of avoiding traffic, and the uniqueness of each stop. I have been on a mission to try and explore all of the tram lines running through Hannover, to enjoy the sights that each has to offer. I am hoping to experience the amazement of subway trains in other places, but I will have to make an effort to do so, as I doubt they will be on my doorstep!

Day 33: Fun on the run

"Like a welcome summer rain, humor may suddenly cleanse and cool the earth, the air and you" - Langston Hughes

Project 365: #33

As I run with my phone for music, logging my routes, etc, I also have a camera with me at all times that is most useful for taking quick snaps (but rather distracting from the actual running!) I also like to run different routes to alleviate boredom, and am very bad with directions, apt to getting myself lost! While running through the villages on the outskirts of Hannover, there are many beautiful old buildings and barns. I think historically these little villages were independent and have eventually been incorporated into suburbs with urban spread. Many of the old buildings have historical shields on them, with family crests, or pretty pictures, with the family name and dates, etc like this modern one:

And then....some have a sense of humour! Bart Simpson!

I am pleased that I can record these silly moments - humour puts everything into perspective and lifts the mood! Thank you, Germany, for providing laughter in the oddest places when you are least expecting it!

Day 32: Hannover Opera House through the window

"Get correct views of life, and learn to see the world in its true light. It will enable you to live pleasantly, to do good, and, when summoned away, to leave without regret" - Robert E. Lee

Project 365: #32

While waiting endlessly in the orthodontist's waiting room, the view could be worse...it could be  a pokey little room, with a window facing a wall, but this waiting room has a beautiful view of the Hannover Opera House, a magnificent imposing building, covered with beautiful statues honoring several of those who contributed to the rich European culture. By this time next week, the view will be shrouded by leaves, but will still be there. With the warmer weather, street café chatter from below wafts in through the window, making me think of people's different views on life. (Definitely too much time in the waiting room!!!)

I have hoped that with all the freedom that the girls have experience here, compared to their fairly protected existence in South Africa, that they will always rely on their values and our views of life. When I was researching different views on life, I was amazed to see this quote by Robert E. Lee, an American soldier commanding the Confederate Army of Northern Virginia in the American Civil War between 1862 and 1865. It is good, timeless advice! Pretty much what I would like to teach my girls - live well, do good, have no regrets! Always look around and appreciate and respect different views, but keep anchored on your own!

Day 32: Mother's Day and the cycle of life

 “Life is a repeated cycle of getting lost and then finding yourself again. There are many smaller cycles within that cycle where you get lost to a smaller degree and then remember yourself again. Sometimes you do it to yourself on purpose, consciously or unconsciously. Every time you get lost it is so that you can learn something or experience something from a different perspective” - Jay Woodman

Project 365: #32

Well, today being Mother's Day, I have been completely spoilt by my girls with breakfast in bed, fresh flowers and gifts! I am grateful for the gift of children, and sad at the same time, that I did not let my mother know how much she meant to me when she was alive. Maybe it is with passing that we really appreciate people because we miss everyday things that just happen naturally and we take for granted. So, I bought some flowers in honour of my mother, and when I put them into a mason jar, it made me think of her scolding me, and suggesting that a vase may be prettier! There is not a day goes by that I don't think of her, and wish she was here to chat to. Although we had our differences, she had an infinite wisdom, that I could have really drawn on in recent times! She also explored Europe in 1960, having recently qualified as a teacher in South Africa. She travelled to England by ship, and taught there to earn some money and then travelled with friends to various places in Europe.  I would have loved to chat to her about it now that I have lived here, as I did not truly appreciate her experience before. What I have learnt is that the cycle of life goes on, and we really need to appreciate each moment, and not rush to the next! I have also gained new perspective on so many things, having lost and found myself again several times over. Hopefully, I have gained some of my mother's wisdom to pass onto my girls. Once again, nature shows us her awesome cycle....look at the tree on the left of the pics, the transformation is amazing from winter through spring...life continues!

 

Day 31: Urban greening in Hannover

"There is pleasure in the pathless woods, there is rapture in the lonely shore, there is society where none intrudes, by the deep sea, and music in its roar; I love not Man the less, but Nature more" - Lord Byron

Project 365: #31

I really do love nature, and through nature I feel closer to the Maker. I am always in total awe of ecosystems, and how every living thing has a perfectly constructed and intricate part to play in a much bigger system. By now, I don't have very many new running routes, so my photos are all the same, or similar, and we have been here long enough for repetition to creep in. Most of my friends are in awe are the beautiful landscapes, and if I did not know better I would imagine that we live out in the countryside, not in a city. What I have discovered is that Germany has a great respect for urban greening and urban forestry, and all land is used. There are fields under cultivation in between conserved areas, and between suburbs. All land has a purpose. For my quicker running routes, I run a five km circular route from home, and usually through urban forests:

 Just around this corner is this tunnel....under the A2 (yup, autobahn)...If you zoom in, you can see the tell-tale German graffiti all over the walls. A true sign to work out which European country you are in. This is just to prove that we are actually in an urban area!

Just the other side of the tunnel, I turned right and ran parallel to the A2. You can see the embankment leading up to the road (that also has sound protection barriers in urban areas) has been "greened".

The stunning forest floor, blossoming groundcover.

Urban greening, near the tram stop - perfect ecological succession!

One thing I have learnt here, is that for all the first-world development, there is still a deep respect for nature and preserving beautiful spaces.

Day 30: The amusement of ducks

"From there to here, and here to there, funny things are everywhere" - Dr Seuss

 Project 365: #30

I know that I have said it before, but we have been very blessed to live where we do. Living next to a lake has been total escapism, and I really forget that we live in a city! I have so enjoyed all the life that comes with it - there are so many different types of birds, as well as squirrels, hedgehogs, and the odd fox (which I have not seen, just the footprints in the snow). But, of the birds, I have decided that the ducks are my favourite - they are just so comical, I could watch them all day! We have some regulars that park off next to our pond, occasionally having a sip of water or a dip, or do a little foraging. Then they have a little waddle around, and quack at each other. From inside, with no sound it looks like they are having a conversation. I know I shouldn't laugh, but this week we had a bit of a thunderstorm, with some small-sized hail, I was waiting to see what the ducks would do, expecting them to seek some shelter under the trampoline, or the trees, but they just lay in the grass, looking quite bewildered as to what was pelting them. They kept looking up and shaking their heads. It was so funny to watch, they were completely befuddled! Then to my amusement, on my trip to town today, I came across this:

This is Mrs Duck, and when I saw her, she was balanced over the edge with her head in the water, having a drink. I walked a little further and saw this:

Mr Duck, who was having a shower under the fountain - you can't see it very well, but he was bobbing about in the gentle spray.

They obviously decided that they needed an outing to town as well, after all, there are no beautifully sculptured fountains in the natural ponds and lakes! Life is short - embrace every moment - shower in a fountain! Have some fun!