Journal Entries
Art exhibition ... Great sucess!
Posted Jan 13, 2008
So after many days of planning (and too much money invested) my exhibition is finally over. I'm really tired and ... tomorrow I can go to work, as a reward!
This morning started at around 8. I printed out a few prices lists and drove to the gallery, where my oil paintings (54), photographs (23), sculptures (5) and poems (5) are displayed. I spent 8 hours there yesterday hanging the stuff up. Luckily I had help from a friend of mine.
At eleven the visitors began to arrive ... I had a glass of champagne, which help to steady my nerves. The head of the gallery gave a short speech and then asked me to say a few words. Which I did (in my broken accent). It was nice to see so many friends, family and neighbours there to encourage me. I think there were about 200 people in total. Great, for a small village/town.
I donated two of my paintings. One for my Internet-Cafe Project and one for the gallery/art centre. The first was auctioned off for 70 Euro, which was excellent! The other is hanging out for the next 6 weeks,in full view where people can write on a card, how much they would be willing to pay for the said painting. The painting goes to who has offered the most after the show is finished.
At the end of the day I sold 4 photos 40 x 50cm and 5 oil paintings and about 20 postcards. I didn't take home that much money, having spent much to much, but at least I will appear in the two local newspapers next week, thus promoting my image in this area.
I'm not sure that people know about the amount of time, money and energy which is put into such an exhibition. In the evening I took my family for a nice meal ... which was really great too!
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Latest reply: Jan 13, 2008
But on a positive note !
Posted Jan 10, 2008
I went to see my boss today, no not my wife, my other one at work. I have to discuss my position with her once a year (but we meet together at least once a month, anyhow).
Anyway, she arrived late and we started to talk ... I explained to her that in England, but more so in the US, people get hired and fired if they can actually do the job that they have ... She should know this, as I'm tried to explain this to her over and over and over again.
We've got this new form of pay increase scheme (which is voluntary?) where you (me) have to work out with your superior which goals you have planned for the coming year (half year, actually). So ... each of your goals (up to 5) are given points ... the more points the more money at the end of the year.
Which sounds great, doesn't it? NO! I explained ... I've been doing stuff for the organisation that is not part of my job description, to which she replied: Pech! German for 'bad lucky' or 'that's life'. Okay, she tried to recanter(sp?) but it was too late.
Which could mean, if you have followed anything that I have written, that the next time someone in the organisation asks me to do something "extra" should I say: Pech! I'm quite disheartened but I was expecting something similar.
Any ideas of what I could do?
PS: Her boss, very hierarchical this organisation, asked me 10 minutes before my boss arrived for our meeting, if I could do something for him next week? I'm very tempted to say: Love to ... but PECH!
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Latest reply: Jan 10, 2008
Where has my English humour gone?
Posted Jan 3, 2008
Has anyone heard about the War of the World radio play? It was played in the US in the 1950's and while being transmitted people actually believed that the Earth was being invaded my aliens! This caused mass panic around the US at the time!
Well, this evening I was telling my children to stop watching TV when they made me aware of a news story on childrens' German television programme. I watched it only with one eye until the children told me that from next Monday school children had to start school at 7 in the morning. They did a number of interviews, with cuts to ministers (even Mrs Merkel) all very convincing.
I began getting angry ... I've got a problem about getting up and getting my children off to school at 8.
I then left the room and stormed towards my wife and started to explain what I saw ... then my children came along and told me it was not true. Now ... naturally I was pleased to hear this; surprised to see this type of humour on German TV; but disappointed that I was duped.
Have I been in Germany too long?
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Latest reply: Jan 3, 2008
Everything is white this morning
Posted Dec 22, 2007
Woke up this morning and all the trees were white with frost ... incredibly beautiful - am I really saying this? A person that just tolerates the long Winter months.
Got my exhibition in 3 weeks and haven't really got anything new to show, apart from the posters which I sent off and received back a few day ago. Because of my flu I haven't the energy to get up and create -- very frustrating.
I might go for a walk later, but a slow one. It is about -5°C here at present. Here in northern Germany the temperature fluctuates so radically, which throws a lot of people out of kilter. One day it is +10°C then the next day it is -10°C. I always wanted to live in Greece over the winter months and have winter in the winter months and spring in the spring months, etc. etc. One day!
Still haven't found a recipe for minced meat for my minced pies! Last night Jamies used a jar ... unfortunately the shops here in Germany don't sell it here!
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Latest reply: Dec 22, 2007
Waking up to sunlight and birds singing.
Posted Dec 12, 2007
So ... it was either getting on a Quantus flight to Melbourne and visiting Hermoine in Australia or the cheaper alternative ... getting myself some sort of SAD light, to help alleviate the winter blues!
My Philips Wake Up Light arrived this morning, but didn't have any time to plug it in until now - because of work and also that my daughter is 11 today and she invited 11 of her friends over to a birthday party. Very stressful, but the children were all very well behaved, so it wasn't that hard. Cake, Apple Juice, Biscuits, Jelly, then home-made biscuits, a bonfire in the garden and then to end the day, drumsticks and chips!! I'm knackered.
So, I got this cylindrical plastic lamp thingy. Plugged it in, time, wake up time, light intensity and birds song. So, theoretical, at 5:45 tomorrow morning the light should switch on at level 1 and move towards level 15 in the half an hours wake up phase. After that the sound of birds calling should be heard - cuckoos, I think!!
See what happens ... if one believes the instruction book it should "People who use the wake up light wake up more easily and feel more energetic." See what happens tomorrow!!
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Latest reply: Dec 12, 2007
Einmoto - CoachAntony
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