T This ProducTive Week

 

Pic from summer days.... and with this (2C / 35F right now) I join Elizabeth´s T.

 

The journal:

 

 

Monday: Went grocery shopping after I was cold all day. My legs were nearly numb already - Bea was at the self-check-out as supervisor. I neared her from behind and said hello, without seeing me she replied, "Hi, Iris!" - now I wonder is my voice that strange?! We had a nice little chat - I said my good-bye, went outside and nearly got killed by their huge sign that the mean, cold wind blew over. Boy, that was LOUD!

"Against the Wind" - ... I remember 1999, Darwin, Lake Andrew, a sign: "No nude or female topless!" - here a topless Aborigine-woman - I never expected that! Everything on TV is rated in Australia and the DVD is aged 15+.

"It will be a great day when the people in this country find out what a good drink beer is!" - and they did!

 

 

Tuesday: Wonders happen!!! I called authority Braunschweig to make an app for Ingo to get my "big" travel-passport for Perth (it´s hard to reach via public transport)..

A woman - supernice and funny! Certainly the e-mail to confirm didn´t reach me as she understood "w" instead of "f" - so I corrected her as we waited and sad, "no, f like fly"....

made her laugh. Read to her the confirmation, she, "yes, even our program is polite :-)!"

Wished her a nice evening, "thank you, only 32 minutes to go!". 

 

Sadly "Against The Wind" is but a mini-series and I am done.

Mary and Jonathon Garret, two convicts in the 17-1800s died leaving 5 children, 23 grandchildren, 11 great-grandchildren and now 8 000 Australians are related to those two.

 

 

 

Wednesday: My Scarf and Bonnet are out again with coat Gurri (name by the company), wee was it cold! But I sure walked myself warm.

My teamleader had to let me in and later bring me to the "Brown Bag Day"-date. 

mM explained the heating to me, you can only flip 2C up or down, man it was cold.

4 other guys worked in the open area - nobody said a word! 

The date-room was even colder and we were but 4 people!!! But... I showed my face. The only female one. I could help mSA  and he later wanted to take more pics for me but the tram was in test-mode. He´s such a nice guy.

Thursday: mSA and I talked about raising kids in the 70´s (us) and now and inbetween - his daughter is 3 years old and needed to see the doc with him for a vaccine. A funny talk!

teams is like being in the office - great technology. 

  

After driving to Salzgitter, working 8 hours, driving back, searching 45 minutes for a place to park the car at the end of the world, grocery shop on the long way home Ingo did book the hotel in Frankfurt and the Flix-Bus to and fro - THANK YOU! I´d need... forever.

And I am so blocked having that darn test so soon. 

 

 

Friday: -4C / 24,8F in the morning ... 

 

 

On the way home saw a very small elderly woman with a very crooked back, walking slowly in mini-steps in a way too thin jacket, bag nearly on the ground. Stopping every few steps and looking to the street. Asked if she needs help - "the bus stop is gone!". Those darn construction site barricades she could not look over. I told her how far it still is and with a nod the lady with her nose and cheeks red from the cold went on. How the heck will she get on the bus? Must find out about "Crisis intervention teams" and ask what to do... Even if I was willing to give my Gurri to her... she would´ve stumbled over this for her way too long coat.

Hope the bus came in time for her and brought her very near to her home...  

 

Weekend: Saturday: Bea at the self-check-out, we had a nice, long chat. A friendly face to talk to.

Other.. by myself. Stupid, but I feel no joy, just pressure.

 

Sunday: Die Maus is in prison!!! HA, I´ve been in some, too. As visitor - in museum-prisons.

Other: Luxury trains on TV! The Transcantábrico Clasico - they explain also the technique! A treat!

Munchy: 

 

 

The internet series: 

 

"Our everyday objects and their unusual origin stories

 

 Chain Saw

 

Warning, this story is gory. Until the 18th century, there were no Caesarean sections, so doctors assisted with difficult births by using a knife on the pelvic bone to create space for the baby. In 1780, two doctors created a hand-operated, cranked blade on a chain, which first became popular for cutting bones before being used on other materials such as wood."

 

Brrrr......

 

And... at Tom I found out... "TODAY IS NATIONAL PLAY DAY WITH DAD", so...

 

 

Oh, the 1970´s....  the colors... the wallpaper, the sofa... LOVE.

 

Henry 🦁 

 

 To a good week.

  

 

T STands For Huge Shock

 

With this healthy drink I join Elizabeth´s T.

 

The journal: 

 

Monday: Up at 05, laundry, paper-mail... the day starts, it´s getting light! -7C / 19F, brr, off to REWE.

Dude at the cash-out  tries to pay via cell. Takes forever. Then card, takes forever, unpacks and leaves. After rolling my eyes I think, poor dude, shitty start to the day. No one moaned loudly.

Cash-out #2 opens, I jump after the others. Yelling at me: 

 "hey!!!!... You look like a ladybug! 🥰"

 

Do I love my Gurri (winter-coat).

The guy, maybe in his mid-20s, follows me. Amongst other the tiniest, saddest bunch of Gerbera in his bag.

Tells  me, changing between causal "du" and official "Sie" that he has a female colleague who is always in a bad mood in the mornings, so he wants to cheer her up with the flowers. Cause actually she is really nice. He kept repeating this, because he was very proud of himself, I encouraged him, of course.

Not the brightest, but such a sweet guy, wishing me a good night.... um morning!!! 

And at Tom´s I learn: "TODAY IS NATIONAL RANDOM ACTS OF KINDNESS DAY." Jupp!

 

Passed test #3. This pressure makes me sick. Sooooooo tired.

 

 

 

Tuesday: -9C/15F, but sunny. Time runs and I fight. WhatsApp: fK: wanna phone?

An hour, but it was good! To hear another voice, to chat and forget about the problems for a sec. And get advice.

Horror-studying again. 5 pages for the last question are lurking.

Evening (07 pm+ done studying) Lucy - a time warp: Romeo et Julietta!!! Ingo smoked those in Varadero/Cuba ages ago!

 

Everything is cold. Mouse, doorknob... earrings... nose.. 🥶

Wednesday: The most shocking news, brought to me by fK.

mM, who is a great guy, fun, full of enthusiasm, who brought 60 people into the company, who organizes and pays for the yearly cinema-Christmas-event from his private money for our whole team - and beyond, who emphasized it´s the railway-team with the spirit, who gave me the guarantee (written as authorized representative) that I get my  job back if I have the certificate (and hence the job center pays for my training)... he lost his position and stubborn as he is... he might leave the company.

How can that be. I am shocked and so sorry.

mK took over, not really happy. He´d told fK once he wants me back (I´d worked for him, too), so not all seems lost but... mM was the heart and soul of our team. I, WE are shocked.

 

 

Won´t happen 😢 

Why he lost his position if he is such a great guy? He tells you the truth.

You did something wrong? He names it, not really always friendly - but! He delivers  a solution with it. The new lady from DB ECO group became the new CEO and obviously cannot take criticism... 

Thursday: -5C/23F. And I have an app, means I have to leave the (cold) house.

Took off my mittens - hands deep red. Doc told me to keep Gurri & Co on!

He´s Greek, he understands what being cold is!!! 

Before I went to REWE.

I got this with a happy smile and a "Happy afternoon!".. It was 07:09 a.m. or such!

 

I was still working on questionnaire #6. Turned out the last ones were optional!!!! For when you want to do teamlead - which I  sure as hell do not want! So: ready, waiting for editorial stuff.

The BIG 2 was on HTML/CSS and done in no time.

Started the BIG 4 as 3 is again with "teacher" and starts Tuesday. Oh, my. German language at it´s finest... 65+ pages, too!

mM had to leave for good. No one knows details.

 

Friday: I had had enough. Studying 11 days in a row, often 9+ hours was enough. Even my doc on Thursday - he is a couple of years younger than me - said, 30 minutes learning and he needs a break!

Cleaned the living room, Ingo came home early, sat all arvo at the new PC, installing Linux and Windows 10 parallel for me, took care of the walking pad, helped me with studying in the sense he HAS such an old jigsaw which solved the "riddle" even the "teacher" could not solve... fK tried to build me up, too. That "teacher" wants me to be good... Hm.  "Wanting" things not declared in the prompt...? I dunno. 12C / 53F - WHAT?

 

Weekend: Saturday: Tired, relaxing. Ingo made horse sausages again, YUM!

Ingo cooked - I sadly was too tired to take pics of all the fine ingredients, but next time I´ll do better and show you! The end result does not give it credit!

News. A 19-year old Syrian refugee stabbed down a tourist from Spain at the Holocaust Memorial in Berlin. An anti-Semitic assault is "assumed"..

These "refugees" need our "protection", you get that, huh?

Sunday: We went voting. Of course. Whilst Ingo is still interested in politics I kinda resigned. I voted, but I have low hopes for a change... We have no democracy. Lazy day.

I played the hairy one again:

(Thank you, Tom for the poster!)

Despite a new week starts I am supposed to cuddle up, yippeeee....

The new series:

"Not just cars: these things were invented in Germany

 

 

The name of the drink comes from the German word 'fantastisch'. The soft drink was invented out of necessity. Since the German population had to cope with Coca-Cola's lack of raw materials due to the war, a new drink was invented in 1940. Now Fanta is refreshing people all over the world."

 

Not a fan... you?

Henry 🦁 & weekday-munchy:

 

Have a happy T-Day!

 

T Stands for A Freaky Week

With this warming drink I join Elizabeth´s T of course! It´s cold enough still for that!

The journal: 

 

 

Monday: Three shades of red here thanks to River who sent the pencils over all the way from Australia, seeing I am in a lack of red colors (and grey and...) 

 

H, the executive, let me know that she rewrote the characteristics for one team complete according to my comments and will discuss it with our boss#1.

There is no hierarchy in our company, I am impressed! We´re a bunch of nearly 450.

The seminar on fire protection on trains moved to 22nd. Great, the info will be totally fresh when we hop on the train to Frankfurt. Gah!

 

Meeting: Finalized design will get... redesigned. 

 

My WalkingPad arrived - post to come.

It is FUN. Counts as training! (started slowly)

 

Tuesday: -9C / 15F. GACK!!!!

Nice chats with female K (from now on "fK"), but male K (mK) is really driving me nuts! We had the "final design" and instead of building the structure so I can start working he made design suggestions. Not working WITH me, but parallel! Again!

So another design-round, this time with J. Sad L is on holiday - she would have had the guts to tell him off! It.is.the.darn.intranet, for crying out loud!

When I worked for ALSTOM, often 11+ hours, all I had time for was.... time recording.

Seems like those who work internal have a lot of time on their hands...

 

Went recycling. It was so cold outside, my nose started bleeding when I came back inside. 

Made me thinking of the Ukrainians, and Russian soldiers, too. Why does Put#n not brave up and go himself. He sits in some secret, warm palace with good food&drink.

Must check how the app works, but reckon 7-10 km on the WalkingPad.

Whilst watching Lost Places (thank you, Ingo).

 

Wednesday: We have the final design!! Finally! No more NO!!!

Police got me out in the street as there was a fire in the cellar. 1 1/2 hours in -9C/15F.

 

 

I wonder why they still wear their masks???

They scare me off so much. I get breathless just seeing that. How Ingo could do that... ?

He was a respiratory protection wearer, too...

 

5-7 km on the WalkingPad.

Thursday: Problems again with mK. He requested example pages and created the productive ones wrong. WT... He will HAVE to do it as requested.

Nice chat with fK. Our teamleader wrote her an E-mail starting with "Dear Iris,...." -  content was a seminar for the IRIS-certification, that stands for International Railway Industry Standard 🤣

fK "googled" me, wow, like I was in a The Simpson-episode being Marge!

Wanted to go to the city. Ingo said "no".

It took him forever to get from the car to the house, everything is icy outside. So still no calendar.

Felt unsecure on the WalkinPad, WT...?

Friday: Chatted with fK, then Bro called 🥰! At work! People think when you work from home... aw, well, it was Friday and I needed a break. Fun was - my Bro is his own boss - he talked to customers meanwhile (he had the phone in his ear, I then put him on speaker and worked, also). 

Was like being a kid again and waiting for Mom to get finished with her customer to tell me which groceries to buy (she REFUSED to write a list).

It snowed.

Then to the city. Ingo got himself proper clothes for our train ride with the Indian Pacific.

HELP, please!

It will be a constant 22C/71F inside, whilst when we get out around 39C/102F. I will be cold inside. This is a luxury train - what can I wear to keep me warm over a dress??? What is appropriate???

Women can wear anything, right? I plan on 2 jersey dresses Ingo presented me with: Summer-Gurri (red with white dots) and a blue one with anchors I wore at his Brother´s Wedding.

What warming stuff goes with that???

Got YUMMY - more tomorrow. 

Walking to and fro city counts as sport.

 

Weekend: Saturday: A docu on Sport in East-and West-Germany. Certainly with the horrible Olympics in 1972. Did my walking outside despite the nasty weather - did me good.

River Oker iced... 

Got loads of vanilla-scent to burn, hmmmmm, yum!

Sunday: Sleep in, Löwenzahn, Maus, Ingo ironing and sewing and me doing the journal...

Lazy day, too icky to go outside!

Munch-wise:

Henry 🦁

 

 

To a slower, normal week!

FFO And Smiles

 

  

I am the oldest physics toy in the world!

Ingo put this lille pressie he made me in a bottle, where the devil-diver can dive up and down.

Devil is made beautifully... out of glass, and held by by-accident-glass-breaker... I am glad I got the following pics done without an incident!!!

A film-sequence is difficult, but here is some info: "A Cartesian diver or Cartesian devil is a classic science experiment which demonstrates the principle of buoyancy (Archimedes' principle) and the ideal gas law. The first written description of this device is provided by Raffaello Magiotti, in his book Renitenza certissima dell'acqua alla compressione (Very firm resistance of water to compression) published in 1648." read more here, if you like.

 

Do you get such romantic gifts from your loved one, too? 😉😘

As he has a (devilish) face I join Nicole´s FFO, who hopefully has no rain on her show!

This is a tough week in which I learn(ed) a lot at the workshop "Introduction to rail vehicle technology I + II" and on the way to III soon.

Learning is great and that makes me smile, also the fact that we start at 09:00 a.m. which allows me to get some things done, as I get up at 05:00 a.m. and could walk the 3 km / 1,86 miles  to the company in mostly good weather.

Yesterday I got a beautiful new brolly with dots fitting my Gurris 😍 

I LOVE summer rain!!! Sadly the rain´d stopped after the workshop...

 

 

Plus I met new nice and helpful colleagues and with all that I join Annie´s Smiles.

 

Yet...

 

Henry 🦁

 Have a happy Friday!

T Stands For (Toast) Hawaii And ExTra DirT(y)

 

My "DirTea" entry to Elizabeth´s T!

 

"STAY", don´t "BE"!

Gosh, that was (way too) sweet!

My week in sketches:

Monday: 

06:38 - called the "new" bakery. "Good morning, K here" - "half a Glattes, I´ll put it to the side - have a nice day! :-)" 

They do know me!

 

Played dishwasher etc and started work later cause 7:30 the heating-check-guy was due.

To my surprise a young woman, small as myself came in! It took her forever, she was loud and... ?

Something else was broken (new filter the week before!).

Lunch-time she came back to fix it. 

Needed help (and I could!).

We shortly talked and she revealed she has ADHD and depression. 

For that she was really good! 

 

She called for me. She dropped a screw behind the cupboard. 

She must be related to The Swedish Chef from the Muppet Show. She threw the screw a good meter to the wall to make that happen! Try not to laugh!!!

 

Well... I did drop some things there, too!, I told her. A joke might´ve caused trouble?

 

I certainly tipped her properly and she said once she got some "whopping" 20 cents. Can you believe that?!!!!!

Didn´t get much done, work- or otherwise.

 

My mailman!!!

At first Birthday-mail from Kathy!!! 

Too early, but well, YIPEEE and thank you, so pretty!!!!

See:

 

 

 

Thank you!

Tuesday: 

Mailman Ingo at work again: A gold medal.

To put a long story short I am a safe but slow swimmer. 

Ingo and his Dad.. weeeeeeeeeeeeeeee... gone they are.

FIL sent me one of his gold medals from back then.

I do not deserve that - I have his winner-shirt and now this!!!

I just have the "Seahorse", indicating I learned to swim... (you sew that on the swimgear of your kid). Pic to come in a while (medal and certificate plus t-shirt).

 

Other: Work. That´s all folks! (still not fit enough for sport/training...)

Oh and our W gave me name/address of his doc!! So if I get sick... and it´s a woman, too! YES!

Wednesday: Weeks ago I ordered a ring and 2 earrings - yippeee, they arrived!

In beautiful cases even!

 

Work... yikes. 

I have to pre-proof read and the document has 200+ pages.

Middle monitor: German, right monitor English version from the Spanish dudes (it´s some "fun").

Left one for notes.

After a while scrolling with middle finger it hurt, I scrolled with the index-finger, later with ring-finger. By golly!!!

Phone rang, Bro and both Nieces.... "Happy Birthday, to you, happy birthday to you..." It was not my Birthday! 🤣

Hups! But we had a nice chat, Bro and I.

 

Thursday: I just LOVE working for ALSTOM and with men only! 

At SIEMENS a woman silently pressed that "BK" went on her nerves. Surpressed anger.

I asked what "BK" stands for. "Blöde Kuh", "dumb cow" (cows are NOT dumb!). Reckon she was angry all day still.

ALSTOM: Something essential was missing in a document. I wrote to Spanish colleague P.

His answer: "fuck! ... I´ll take care. Sorry".

See? Anger is out and he is polite and says sorry, that´s the ALSTOM-way. 😊

Honest and polite, I love that.

The f-word is pretty common in international meetings when under pressure, only problem: I take that certainly into private life! Ups...

Later longer work-chat with teamleader. Maybe the project will survive longer than we thought, oh, pretty-please!!!!

Went to the pharmacy for Ingo - lady there smiled BIG at me and exclaimed, "ohhh, such a cute hat!!!" You´re welcome :-) This hat/bonnet made smile so many people by now!

And she also told me off - order meds EARLY. We have shortages! 

Unbelievable, is it? Still COVID, or Putin?

 

Made Mac & Cheese for the first time. Yum, but way too much (Ingo does not eat this). 

 

 Think will be some time before I do that again!

Friday: Frickin`cold but we went to the city cause Ingo promised to quit smoking and throw his (wooden) pipe  into River Oker!!!

I´ll take anything to make him stop smoking!!!!!

I want to keep him and not have the same story as with my parents, who were heavy smokers and we had to be there till the last breath.

 

At Guido´s we were served half a pizza upon my request to share for but € 3,60.

Yes, they know us and we got that 🥰🍕

 

Weekend:

Saturday: Ingo did all the grocery-shopping again (me still sick a bit).

I did the list, though, and hence we went to (Toast) Hawaii :-)

 

Other... ccccold.

AAAAND!

Flowers, Gerbera, THANK you Ingo!!! 

 

He took not the ones from the front (that needed to go and were shabby) but from behind, all fresh and beautiful (and I feel sorry for the ones in front).

 

They will travel every day from private to work PC :-)

Sunday: SNOW. YIKES. What?!

 

Löwenzahn and Die Maus, the fairy tale was too boring.

Day for rest right, Monday my Tram waits! 

Teamleader said it might take till 2024 - not good for her - but for us. 

Wish me luck!!

For now we only have the three-tram out, and with regulations, time to fix that till end of February.

Four-tram still sits and waits in Spain!

"Art-wise"...

It got cold and I was too lazy to resume this...

Henry 🦁

"You saw me with the Happy Hat!"

 

Addendum!!! The Gerbera has two more tiny buds, I just saw when moving her around on my workplace! Wish me luck I don´t kill this plant!!