No more need be said.

 

Talking in Telc and buildings in Brno.

 Telc is a very attractive town in Moravia in the Czech Republic.  Every day bus loads of tourists from Asia come there to look around, but we were there to talk English.  I have talked English as a volunteer in Spain and Germany previously in return for board and lodging.  Now I have talked in Telc.  It is a great way of meeting people from other English speaking countries, for example on this trip there were two Canadians, one American now living in the Philippines, two Brits now living in mainland Europe, and about 6 Americans.     After last years run in with a dyed in the wool Trump fan and British supporter of Braverman, I tried to avoid the one person who declared she would vote for Trump again, but much to everyone's amusement she thought one of the Brits was Czech.  Mind you I thought the Liverpudlian from Montpelier was from the States, so many interesting accents were present.  Then there were the lovely Czechs we meet. I was especially lucky with the woman I was matched to mentor as Zaneta turned out to not be the shy person who could scarcely speak English, the person, I first met, as I quickly discovered someone with lots of knowledge but without the experience to use it till asked to do the presentation.   Having set up her first nursery about 18 years ago, she is now the owner of three places and helped set up emergency provision when Ukrainian first came to her town. She also runs the creche for the local film festival so has met the children of all the stars and she has been elected onto the town Council. Hers was definitely one of the best presentations, but all of them achieved well despite the unexpected amount of Czech that was used in a week supposed to be dedicated just to the use of English.  Some were just beginners, whereas previous participants have been intermediate or above, compared with the Spanish and German participants so that explained the less formal approach to participation.  Vast quantities of drink also got consumed, most amusingly by the Trump supporter, who despite her 80 years let rip and complained that us Brits were too buttoned up.  :) and most of the time we all joined in well socially together but sadly the party totally fizzled out.  That is usually one of the highlights for me and the food, which this year was just okay rather than great.  However, the star of the week for me was the location. It was lovely to walk through the park, past the castle, and into this beautiful square and learn about my "students " work or family en route. 

As everyone else sped back to Prague or their homes further afield, I took a short bus ride to Brno.  Not as attractive as Prague, the country's second biggest city is nevertheless worth stopping off in especially if you have studied the history of architecture as one of Mies van der Rohe's most famous houses is here.   I stupidly but accidentally booked a tour in Czech, so recommend double checking before you book, but it is very interesting to visit, despite that.    It also seems to be a party town as everyone was out eating and drinking in the warm September evening when I arrived.  Leaving late on Saturday night I travelled by bus through parts of Slovakia, Slovenia and Austria, before arriving in a wet cold Zagreb but now pleased to say in the warmth of Dalmatia by the sea. 

Kafka tracked down at last, and the Czech Bus system navigated.

 If you go to the Na Znizeci bus station in Prague, there is no one to ask which bus stop is the right one, but look at the ticket and that will give a clue.  I only needed the station as I was off to see a friend, but if the friend had not told me how to get there I would not have known as googling revealed nothing. However, from the busyness of Prague I went into the countryside of the Czech Republic and spent time with a friend from Hertfordshire in her Czech home along with other friends from Hertfordshire.   From the outside her home was just a rather dull wall, instead it blossomed literally and metaphorically.  Full of flowers, books, crafting material.  It was lovely.  She is the custodian of a dolls house museum in the small village and many of the craft activities taking place in the home helped decorate and fill the little houses.  

Once back in Prague, I just had two nights before heading off to Telc, so I had to visit the Kafka Museum.  Much of the information provided is set out quite cleverly, to indicate the world he experienced, but at the end it described a Kafkaesque world as one that is filled with helplessness. Whilst this certainly seems to be an element of his world,  to me it describes even more than that.  Anyone who has worked in the British Education system has experience both helplessness and insanity from the system, it is Kafkaesque personified.   It is one of the most relevant words I know - sadly.   Yet some of the Anglo speakers in Telc did not even know of it.  But more of that later.     I also revisited some of my favourite spots in the old town.  Prague really is a beautiful and interesting and fun city to visit. 

Back to Berlin and Prague.

 I am on my way to Croatia, but with a circular route, first stop Berlin.  The last two times I visited was in winter, New Year in my 20s,  and much more recently, when I was shown around all the key sites and some personnel sites a few years ago by a childhood friend who moved to Germany 33 years ago. It was freezing, but very interesting.   However, he always said summer was the time to visit.   Since then he has become a grandfather and one of N's cousins has moved to Berlin and had twins! So,  although it is not the height of summer, it is still very warm so I decided it was time to go back and meet all the little ones.  Although this time the visit was to see friends and family friends and family made sure that I saw some of the town too,  from a swim in the Lakes beyond Potsdam to a techno march and birthday party with D and one of the palaces and a typical German meal with family.   

My base was about an hour from each of them, but turned out to be a bit of a gem. My dorm only had three women in it and although in theory no food was provided each morning a lovely Russian speaking (originally from the Caucasus) member of staff heaped plates full of cheese, ham, cake, and breads.  When I arrived at 11pm no staff member was in sight and I felt like Goldilocks, letting myself into the hostel and helping myself to tea and cake whilst I tried to fathom out where I was sleeping.   It was only when I set up the internet, I finally got instructions and this hands off approach seems to be growingly popular, however, this staff member seemed to believe in complete hospitality, even showing us the bags to take away packed lunches!  I was not the only Brit there nor, the only British 60 + there, other guests came from further afield - Brazil, Vietnam, Italy and so on.

  

I have now moved onto Prague, which is a delightful city, I have jumped on and off trams happily all day as they are free to oldies whilst trying to check how to get to my next destination.   I have also eaten delicious food outside in a little cafe near my hotel, had coffee in Pavilion Grebovka, had lunch in what I think must be a very traditional Czech establishment which had a set menu for each day. My very limited Croatian at times giving clues as to what things might be.  Before finishing with another ice cream and then a picnic evening meal in the hotel garden.  

The Following is Based on a Pack of LIes -

 The Following Events Are Based on a Pack of Lies The Following is Based on a Pack of Lies - Great title - new BBC series which is unsettling but in some ways, so far, celebratory viewing for anyone who has been conned.   Very little work about to happy to get viewing. 

Every second however, my What's App pings as the neighbours including myself have had to turn investigators and observers to stop trees being cut down in the street and land suddenly maybe built upon.   

It all started a few weeks ago when a neighbour asked if I had received the letter.   As it happened I had not, but I had seen the weird signs up around the street saying to contact the Council about the Auction. It turns out, and we still do not really understand why, but parcels of land in between the houses have been sold, with the implication that they can be built upon, which they probably in most instances cannot be, and then sold on again when this is realised.  But one or two of the purchasers have taken to trying to move in on "their" land and acquire more of it. The weird thing is though they have not bought all the land as the Council maintains it but does not own it and any owners cannot do anything as they only own the sub structure or something like that.  It is all very weird. Anyone Saturday a message went out, via the street What's App asking everyone to rush to protect some trees, which we have managed to do, the police have been informed about what is going on and why the residents are right to say,  the owners cannot do anything with the land and with luck things might die down.  But it is all most odd. The Auction Houses have been "lax" with their descriptions, the buyers, opportunists maybe thinking they have a bargain and then selling on again when they realise they have paid for something that at present is worthless and then one or two of them trying to bully their way onto the land regardless.  

Oh, dear, just heard more land is up for sale, the weirdness continues. 

On a nicer note, two sort of musical interludes, with R. One in Suffolk, which was still lovely despite the rain, which included a visit to Britten's House and last weekend a return to Carnival. Carnival has really changed, we were being charged for the loos, didn't really see any costumes and just heard big sound systems travelling around. I probably will not go again, but at least it was nice to see how it is, but it is like the heart and soul have gone out of it.  

ng Events Are Based on a Pack of Lies

The Following Events Are Based on a Pack of Lies

The Following Events Are Based on a Pack of Lies