I did some changes to the albums: the Album about guests has been extended and there is an Album about Elisabeth’s Birthday and one about the Cats.

Today after work I could not help but look at the location of destruction after yesterday’s tornado. Like a real onlooker, but it is only five minutes from my place of work.

Especially annoying during work today were all TV crews being flown across the disaster area in helicopters. Certainly a good business for Wasserthal Helicopters.

Thunderstorms are quite normal in spring and even have a positive side: they show that spring slowly really is coming. Therefore I was even a bit pleased about the thunderstorm that passed Hamburg tonight.

But suddenly: Bang! Lights out, TV out, Laptop on battery. Damn, I think. probably no spare fuse in the flat. But looking out of the flat I realise that there is no light anywhere, no traffic lights, no street lights. Obviously a major power failure.

I cannot remember when I experienced this last. But I clearly remember one such occasion. During the „big flood“ in Hamburg 1962, I was around 10 years old, when we had power cuts for 2 days. It was quite adventurous for us children that we were cooking pork chops on a spiritus cooker. And the situation was more than bearable as school was cancelled as well. We did not have to fear anything from the water, as we were living beyond the reach of the flood.

Today it is a bit scaring. And it shows us how culnerable we are from technical disruptions. Permanently I hear sirens from fire brigades and police, obviously a lot of accidents happened and similar things.

More than 40 years after the flood I cannot help but think that technologies could be made a bit more secure. Especially taking into account rising electricity prices. Vattenfall, where are you?

Addition at 5:30 am

Since 5 o’clock we have power again. After emptying the laptop battery I had nothing better to do than to go to bed. Maybe I was lucky. A tornado has passed Harburg, produced lots of damage including throwing down 2 cranes and killing two people. And damaged power lines cutting of 300.000 people.

Why lucky? 30 minutes before the tornado I left work and went to my flat. Heaviest damage was a couple of yards from my job.

Listening to ”La Valse (Choreographic Poem for Orchestra)”, by Boston Symphony Orchestra & Charles Munch (Play Count: 3)

If you want to read this page in Cockney, just click on the link, then on “Dialectalize!” and read (scroll down to the articles). Have fun!

Well, it can start now and one is looking for signs of spring. It is obvious that spring is here, the plants laif down in autumn are coming.

Hi Fans,

Ciao bellos i bellas!!!

When I just read the newest weblog entries with an open terrace door I hear someone crying: HEUREKA IT IS SPRING!! This cry came from across the roof, the roof top flat which has been occupied since last autumn by a nice couple. This is Manu’s favourite flat and I could hear merry music from the Beach Boys, a title about California.I exchanged greetings with our new “neighbours” and a small discussion evolved at once about planting and position of the sun and temperature and so on. All our pets of course hat to go to the terrace and therefore I was able to introduce Linus who by all means will explore all roof gardens during summer. Fortunately we have good relations with all those we greet regularly, and therfore his excursions probably will not be a problem.

That’s the good thing about Friedrichshain, that people are more open, always have time for small talk and they see everything a bit relaxed. I am looking forwardto the first warm days and the start of the BBQ season!!!!!

Just on a sideline: I would recommend Hanna and her family to read the Torontoist, for me and Michael also the Londonist is a possibility.

He is standing there in full concentration, following his fingers with his eyes. No smile drops from his face, emotions are not cool and anyway, music is hard work, no feelings should be involved. The sense of responsibility is weighing him down, he is the only melodic instrument in the band, the band depends on him.

The musical brain of the group, the writer of the band’s songs, the star. The singer tells the sound engineer to turn down the guitar, the guitar player turns up his amp. Full blast of the fuzz, with a rock ‘n roll sound, nothing to do with its covering of errors. And still no smile, no easiness, no relaxation, not a single look at the crowd. Full concentration. And no a single drop of sweat on his forehead.

He is the star. Would be the star. If he only could play the guitar.

Listening to ”Music”, by John Miles (Play Count: 7)

I cannot hide a little spitefulness as a Mac-user: Microsoft again had to postpone the publication of WIndows Vista to January 2007. They therefore are not in a position to profit from Christmas business as originally planned. They need to make the system more “secure”.

How often did they announce postponements by now?