my handwriting-nearly...!

Just a little trial - I'll get it better, I hope!

AMAZING WHAT YOU CAN DO ON PC's!

My own handwriting.....?

What do you think of this?

Hey – looky here  …!

 

I've just created this font (type face) based on my own handwriting…!

As you can see, I'll have to do it again; it's all over the place!

BUT – it does look a bit like my own handwriting, so all is not lost!

Happy Christmas to you!

And of course – A Happy New Year…!  Ian W Mitchell! (iwmpop@gmail.com) Mr. le marquis

(It is personalized – isn't it…?)

Berlin....Part 1

Berlin...! (Part 1)

The train gasped and panted like an old asthmatic patient. One could hardly imagine that this monster would be capable of taking us anywhere, and - after all we had heard and been taught about our destination, one wondered why it would even want to take us there - to Berlin!

Prussian capital, with a charged history, going back much further than Napoleon's occupation, but more recently the capital of a more sinister group - the NDSP - also known as the "Nazi" party. The Capital was currently split into 4 zones, American, British, French and - the largest - Russian.

Sounds so simple, 4 zones, just like four counties or Federal States - but it wasn't quite like that.

There was a construction built to fulfill an impossible function - split a country completely in two. Hadrian had tried it centuries before and it hadn't worked - Chinese Emperors had tried it even longer ago, and it hadn't worked, now something called Communism was trying it, and it could only be assumed that it wouldn't work, but it meant that we were here, standing in front of this puffing monster, awaiting instructions to "embark"!

No - not politicians, not diplomats - just little lads in uniform from all over Britain, more interested in what Manchester United or Chelsea were doing than in Berlin, East or West!

We were going there because "they" had told us to go there!

This was the original Military Express Braunschweig - Berlin!

A train only for British Military and their dependants, which chuffed, daily - back and fro' - through the occupied territory of Eastern Germany, to finally arrive in West Berlin, another piece of occupied territory, just occupied by a different set of "Military powers that be".

This was a novelty trip for most of the young defenders of liberty! 

It would probably be the first and last time they would be seated in a railway dining car, being served by German waiters, albeit being served the same "composite" rations they got on manoeuvres in the wild countryside of Western Germany, but somehow - different! 

Being served was the difference, the novelty, even when the food was of "doubtful" origins. After all, what else could you do for the 6 hours needed for the journey over 180 kilometers but eat? That's why the "powers that be" had put on the service!

If you added to the length of the journey the fact that after only 15 minutes or so after starting, the train stopped, and strange noises were heard from outside the carriages. We were at the East-West Germany Border Control point of Helmstedt/Marienborn, and the East German guards, together with their Russian allies and friends, were busily covering up ALL windows of the train with "elderly" pieces of boarding, making the light inside the train even more sinister, adding to the atmosphere of "gloom and doom".

We were in the middle of the "Cold War" of the early 60's, and we weren't allowed to see any of the boringly flat and empty East German countryside as it passed by.

This "boarding" would only come off when we reached the West German or "Allied" border point of West Berlin, at a place called "Drei Linden"- just 15 minutes from our endstop, the Charlottenburg Railway Station, West Berlin, Military Express platform, where the lights and hustle-bustle of a modern Western city, exagerated to "show off" against the Eastern poverty, blinded us on our arrival - but we soon got used to the good life!

So - we ate and ate, but - not having the good luck to be in the French Army, no wine! Cups and cups, and mugs and mugs of tea - "char" - a "brew up", in British Army tradition, but unbeleivably boring.

Our purpose....? Well - obviously to protect "freedom" in the West, but rather more (like the other 3 powers in Berlin) just to show presence - "we're here - so watch out!" 

We were officially to guard a gentleman called Rudolph Hess, sitting almost on his own in a prison called "Spandau Gefaengnis" - situated on West Berlin territory, and upheld as a result of the Nurnberg War Criminal trials, even if only 2 of the original prisoners were still held, in a prison built for over 150 prisoners! and to ocasionally patrol that famous impractical thing called "THE WALL".

The "Allied Forces" (which included the Russians) had an arrangement whereby they each took a period of 3 months "guard duty", before handing over to the next "ally"!

Everybody did it. The Russians because it was their one and only entry authorised to Western Territory, the French because they could play revolutionary music to the Communists to upset them, the Americans because they could smother the prisoners with Lucky Strikes or Camels and Hamburgers, chewing gum and all the rest, and obtain their wished for impression of "being loved" by the prisoners.

The British did it basically because the prison was in their "zone", and they didn't want to spoil the party.

All did it as well because West Berlin was a wonderful place to be stationed in. Everything was laid on, at generally no price, gratis, free!

Sure - it was a hard life, guarding two elderly men from Hitler's Regime, and sitting in landrovers buzzing around the wall perimeter, rather like a City Sightseeing Tour, but somehow, we managed!

We played golf, free of charge, we played cricket (when we could get our balls back from the Russian guards), we played football, and invariably beat the Russian team.....the Bars, restaurants, clubs, cafés, brothels, shops, were open 7 days a week, 24 hours a day - Berlin was special.

Read here: https://sites.google.com/site/ianwmitchellswebsite/a-biography-part-1/berlin-tales

We had access to our "NAAFI" products, including tax free cigarettes, alcohols, beers and all the rest, so money was never a real problem - 3 liter bottles of vodka, whisky, cognac etc...etc... changed hands at reasonable profits and although we were payed our sold (army wages) in things called "BAFFS" (British Army replacement bank notes - exchangable or usable only in British Army places) these were exchangable in various "dark" places for German D-Marks, and of course the bottles and cigarettes changed hands at the same time for more D-Marks! 

All probably highly illegal, but everyone did it - EVERYONE!

West D-Marks of course, it was only later in civilian life that I discovered the novelty of exchanging (equally illegally) West D-marks for East D-marks at the rate of 1 West for 20 East!

(Read some stories about Army Life in Germany here:)

https://sites.google.com/site/ianwmitchellswebsite/army-cooking-differently  

In part 2 : I'll be telling you about the happenings in West and East Berlin later in life, as a "Civilian" in the Overseas Civil Service,

                             ***********

iwmpop(mr le Marquis)        copyright November 2009.

   

Berlin - Part 2

Berlin - Part 2

This is the Berlin Bear, city emblem, but in the past, travelling to Berlin, through Eastern German corridors was a real live adventure.

To control the cars, and their contents, the Eastern German authorities went to certain extremes, even (as we now know) scanning them with radio active machines, not X Ray, but real nuclear stuff! They found people hidden regularly with the help of these machines.

The East German Border Guards and the "Vopos" (Volks police) were a particular type. People unhappy with everything and everyone - even themselves, and they were aided and abetted by a whole army of military and civilians who enjoyed putting obstacles in the way - of everybody!

On the transit road route, I recall a railway level crossing which became famous in the West, everytime the little functionaire reponsible for raising and lowering the barrier saw that holiday traffic was coming heavyily from or to West Berlin, he closed the barrier. I and my wife once sat there surrounded by other holidaymakers from the West for 2 and one half hours. Not one train passed through, and finally the barrier went up! If you said anything, you were ripe for a thorough control of your belongings and car - another 2 hours!

Maniacs about collecting papers and files, they opened a dossier on everything and anything! I wasn't surprised to find out that both I and my wife had one - each, and a third one for the family name! The above photo shows the enormous task faced when sorting out these dossiers had to be done!

The whole system functionned on everybody denouncing everybody else, and then themselves...! Visitors from the West were only there to mock their system, so they had to be dealt with - harshly!

In East Berlin restaurants, where there was only one thing on the menu on any given day,Western visitors had to leave their over-dress,umbrellas, hats, scarves, gloves etc.. with the cloakroom lady! 
If you didn't, you were rudely asked: 

"That's how you sit at table in the West, is it?" 

It all had to do, of course,with getting a tip - small change, preferably West money!

Money was a theme anyway! Since the East German powers knew that the official rate of 

1-mark East for 1-mark West was undermined in West Berlin, where you could get up to 20 east for 1 West, they made it obligatory, for the day pass to visit East Berlin, to change a minimum of 20 D-marks WEST per person into 20 East...and outlawed the exporting of Banknotes or coins from Eastern Germany to the West!

The fact that there was little or nothing to buy in East Berlin didn't matter, they got the cash! Of course, the cloakroom lady wasn't happy - East marks in small change? 
Not worth it, so you were likely NOT to recuperate those expensive kid leather gloves...!

Of course - the toilet lady had to be paid as well, not to forget the waiter who "served" the most atrocious food.

All in all, your 20 marks was gone before you got anything!

I recall an occasion when we went to the Television Tower Restaurant in East Germany, one of the better adresses, where the restaurant revolved, giving views over the whole city.

We decided to eat in "French" style, ordering 4 or 5 different courses, and different wines.

We were just at the fish course, when we were rudely asked to leave, by one of the "Intourist" hostesses.

When I refused, saying I'd bought and paid for 5 courses etc., she left muttering something about "Capitalists"! 
She came back with the Boss, who informed us that "1 turn of the tower was all we were allowed" - so I told him to pack the rest of our meal in boxes - we'd finish it off in the street!

He disappeared and didn't come back!

I felt quite "chuffed" until - when finally leaving, we found ourselves presented at the doors with a whole mass of East German Citizens, outraged that a couple of tourists had blocked them from entering the restaurant for 2 whole hours!

They were NOT allowed in whilst we were still there - amazing....!

These guys didn't get a tip, but if you had offered......?

They symbolised Eastern Germany and East Berlin. Never, anywhere, have I ever seen so many people in uniforms.

Doing their shopping, drinking a beer, whatever - uniformed people - everywhere! The normally clothed civilians seemed to find this quite normal! 
Maybe it saved on the National Economy - importing clothing can be expensive, but I have, to this day, the proof that Eastern Germany exported more clothing to West Germany than they sold to their own citizens.

I've still got 3 pairs of trousers "made in East Germany" - bought by me in West Germany.

Obviously the quality was good, because I bought them almost 40 years ago! They don't fit anymore, but I'm slimming!

The reason everybody wanted West money (dollars or pounds sterling were "ok" as well) was simple. 

All over East Berlin and Eastern Germany were "Intershops" to be found. 
These belonged to the State, but everybody who had Foreign currency could go and buy cheaply, everything that wasn't available in the East - but only with West money!

Western cigarettes, café, watches, jewellery, just about everything! 
There was an Intershop here at Alexanderplatz metro station, just right for the travellers to illegally buy cigarettes and alcohol - dirt cheap - only to be charged by Customs officers when the train re-surfaced in the West!

Of course there was complicity between East and West authorities...!

The "chicaneries" were legion - but tourists still went!

 One thing which I loved from East Germany was this young lady - Katerina Witt - an ice skater, winner of Olympics and World Championships, but in the first place a DELICIOUS, refreshing young lady - so I'll forgive them a lot of things - because of her....!

*************

In the third and last part I'll try to show you the drastic differences between East and West Berlin, with its "KADEWE" ("Kaufhaus Des Westens") a state subsidized West German super store which showed off in a truly propoganda fashion- 
"You're in the West here! "  

 the entry.           ***          one of the floors.                      

**************************

 

Berlin - part 3 and last!

Berlin - part 3 and last!

Berlin West didn't exist of course at the end of the War, and that part of the City which became West Berlin, was just as badly destroyed by Russians, Americans, British and other armed forces as the rest was.

When the so called "cold war" got under way, it became rapidly obvious that the best way of showing differences had to be by example, and excessive ones!

West Berlin had to have everything, and in its best and biggest form.

The photo shows a look into East Berlin, from the West, and if you had been able to look in the other direction, you would probably have seen a few of the following:

This was in the 1960's, and there was still land left to build on...! The church steeple shown is called the "Gedaechniskirche" and no - it hasn't just been bombed, it was left like that as a memorial and protest against war.

The church is just around the corner from the famous "Bahnhof Zoo" and the "Zoological Gartens", just 200metres from the start of the well known "Ku-damm" - Berlin's most frequented shopping street - a sort of "Mayfair" or "Park Lane" of Berlin.

A very animated area of Berlin, it was in the British Sector.

We lived during the first period in the district of Wedding, a workers area, now very much one of the Immigration central districts.

You probably would have seen one of these things passing by, there were thousands under way - day and night!

The Berliners called them "grosser gelbes" (big yellows) and they didn't run on the same basis as London buses (none for 2 hours then 20 of 'em all at once!) no they ran on a timetable that normally worked - every 2/3 minutes a bus! The prices were very low as well, because in the West Berlin of the 60's, cars were more than a luxury, they were really only for going on holiday with, or leaving the City.

West Berlin got enormous assistance from all the Western World, even ourselves, my wife and I went to Berlin the last time under a West German parliament ruling, to get qualified people to go from W Germany to W Berlin.

We had removals, transport, new carpets, new curtains, a monthly allowance for the first 6 months, and many other advantages, paid for by the West German government in Bonn. Our only promise was to stay in West Berlin for a minimum of 1 year - a year which passed too quickly, and finally became 10 years!

We lived firstly in Wedding, then on the Heerstrasse at Spandau.

My current driving licence (valid for life - everywhere) was taken out in Spandau, and occasionally serves as a "bet winner" in French bars and cafés....!

Of course - KADEWE....!

An enormous propoganda effort, fresh bread from Paris - daily - hourly!

Oysters, mussels, lobsters alive - alive oho!

Everything imaginable was available - fresh daily! Prices reasonable at the epoch, and our visits to KADEWE were weekly, and took up ALL of Saturday!

A little tour around the whole place (and it was big) keeping an eye open for the celebrities, then up to the "Schlemmer" etage ( the gourmet's department) where almost everything could be tasted and ordered for consummation at the little bars and tables.

When I say everything was available - I mean it....! I even saw some rather disgusting and I would have thought illegal things on sale, like "Bear Steaks" or "Lion Steaks" - with the beasts on display in the cold storage rooms. We didn't eat them, we stayed within limits - snails, frogslegs and the like!

The cheese counter was unbeleivable. I honestly beleive that ALL of the over 3000 French cheese types Gen de Gaulle spoke of, were present, together with a few thousand of other cheeses from absolutely EVERYWHERE!

Of course - the need for the propoganda has disappeared now, so I don't know what it's all like in 2009.

When the Wall fell, I found myself, with my wife on the way back from France to Bavaria in Southern Germany, and didn't have a great deal to do with the whole thing. We followed the story with interest of course, but felt no desire to go to Berlin to see events!

We had both been subject to pleasant and unpleasant experiences, in both East and West Berlin, but those in East Berlin will have to wait for some time before being recounted. They WILL be told, but in a separate series.

The point of this little series is to note the anniversary of the Unification of Germany and the Fall of the Berlin Wall 20 years ago.

Some people were and still aren't happy with the events, on both sides, but it's proof enough that in general -

Nothing is forever!

30600 - Vauvert, France ............... I W Mitchell

November 2009

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Winter's coming

A little bit of rain and out come the mushroom stalls, the fresh snail stalls amongst others.
These are a few of the mushroom types on sale, here, at the moment.

I won't be participating, at over 10GB pounds - a pound.

Just to try and poison yourself.....!

No - thanks all the same! A few snails, well - maybe, if I can't find some fresh frogs legs.

Weekend time....

Hi Dad....or is it Mum........?




It's people.....yes it is.....!

It's people who make up spam - so here's a tin of people.....fileted and boned.........Bonne Appetit.....and

Have a nice Weekend!

Lettre service-public.fr no 468 du 5 novembre 2009

OK,ok - it's in French, but a few "ex-pats" may be interested, and this site isn't racist or discriminatory.....!
NEW things in France    -    Nouveautés en France
Oui,oui - je sais que vous êtes déjà au courant, mais juste pour le cas ou....! (éd)
Si le message ne s'affiche pas correctement, cliquez ici.

n°468 du 5 novembre 2009 Energie Le comparateur en ligne des offres d'électricité et de gaz naturel Le Médiateur national de l'énergie et la Commission de régulation de l'énergie (CRE) proposent en ligne un comparateur sur les principales offres d'électricité et de gaz existantes en France métropolitaine hors Corse. Litiges Médiateur de l'eau : comment y faire appel ? Chaque consommateur a la possibilité de saisir le Médiateur de l'eau dès lors qu'il se trouve en litige avec une entreprise gérant les services publics d'eau et d'assainissement (membre de la Fédération professionnelle des entreprises de l'eau).  Diététique Pour connaître la teneur en sucre, gras ou sel des aliments du quotidien Logements neufs Majoration du prêt à 0 % sur les bâtiments à basse consommation énergétique Chauffage Entretien annuel des chaudières : quelles obligations ? Protection sociale Couverture maladie universelle complémentaire : les plafonds de ressources relevés Trêve hivernale Location : expulsion interdite jusqu'au 15 mars 2010 VIE-PUBLIQUE.FR Le Traité de Lisbonne est ratifié : application en décembre ? 9 novembre Le 20ème anniversaire de la chute du mur de Berlin Pourquoi le mur de Berlin a-t-il été construit ? Comment les berlinois l'ont-ils vécu ? Dans quelles conditions s'est déroulée la chute du mur ? Comment s'est opérée la réunification de l'Allemagne ? A l'occasion du 20ème anniversaire de la chute du mur de Berlin, le 9 novembre 1989, découvrez sur le site "www.touteleurope.fr" les faits.                                                   ET (Lisez l'article par mrlemarquis sur "Chez mrlemarquis" - en Anglais) Consulter les archives S'abonner au format texte Fil RSS Comment obtenir une licence d'entrepreneur de spectacles ? Médaille d'honneur du travail : exonération de la gratification Création du statut d'éditeur de presse en ligne Pme.service-public.fr » Virus - Grippe A/H1N1 : ce qu'il faut savoir Toutes les alertes » Assurance maladie - Sécurité sociale : les mesures pour 2010 De nouvelles mesures concernant l'assurance maladie devraient se mettre en place en 2010 : augmentation du forfait hospitalier passant de 16 à 18 euros, baisse des taux de remboursement de 35 % à 15 % pour une centaine de médicaments, diminution des tarifs de certaines spécialités (radiologie, biologie)... IMPÔTS - Paiement de la taxe d'habitation et de la redevance audiovisuelle Rubrique Agenda » La Documentation française vous propose : L'Allemagne, Vingt ans après… Se former en alternance Documentation photographique n° 8070 Documentation française Retour en images sur deux décennies de changements radicaux. 10,80 € TTC Ministère du travail, des relations sociales et de la solidarité Les indispensables jeunes Un guide indispensable pour tous les jeunes, parents et employeurs. 8,00 € TTC

Mentions légales Informations sur service-public.fr Directeur de publication : Xavier Patier © copyright La Documentation française

EN: What exactly do these road signs ...

EN: What exactly are these two road signs trying to tell us..?

FR: Qu'est-ce qu'il veulent dire ces deux panneaux.....?

I'm at a loss.....!

Je ne peux pas imaginer - du tout...!

                                                         ***********

Scotland-the new one!

It's interesting to see how things change, and Scotland is a brilliant example of that.

I recall the "auld days" when that country was still under the "yolk" of the Englishman, but instead of doing it the Irish way, with violence, the Scots waited and finally got what was required - independance, own Parliament and much more.

They haven't wasted the opportunity, and a more informed Country is difficult to imagine.

I receive all of their newsletters, and I'm constantly surprised by what is available in information.

Health, European matters, heritages, justice and laws, sport, agriculture, tourism......an endless list.

Now it's the English who are complaining - "it's not fair" is bleated around, but fairness wasn't on their list, regarding Scotland, for centuries....! Go have a look at what you can find....(ed)

***************

Pass on to a friend or colleague http://www.scotland.gov.uk Daily Digest / Tuesday, November 3, 2009 Common Fisheries Policy Time for EU to repair damage caused by broken fisheries policy - Richard Lochhead. Read the full article >> Older people's advice service New advice service to help older people claim any benefits they are entitled to. Read the full article >> Help for fuel poor Free energy advice for more homes. Read the full article >> Other issues A National Conversation >> Homecoming Scotland >> SG on Twitter >> Plus + Stay well read >> Find all publications online Get in the know >> View the latest consultation papers Stay in touch >> Check out the latest government news

Saturday evening blues......!

Image by aldoaldoz via Flickr

Saturday evening boredom - nothing on the TV?
Well fill in time with this test: Once yo get to the page, click on the image (like this one below) and the test will open.
Follow it through, and you'll get your result at the end.....!
Hope the TV will come up with something shortly.....!
http://www.viraleruption.com/imgs/online-girlfriend-flowchart.jpg

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