80 Years and Counting

Dirk's mom celebrated her 80th birthday yesterday at the Chocolate Museum in Köln. It's a coincidence that my mother and my brother shared the same birthdate with Mutti. But my mother have been long gone to heaven and i thank GOD that i still have one mother here on earth. Birthdays remind us that the gift of life is the most precious and important one and to reach 80 years of age calls for a big celebration.
To you Mutti, we're wishing you happiness, good health and all the great things in life that you can still do, just live your life and forget the age, each coming day is a blessing.









Mutti requested that instead of flowers and gifts, donations can be put in her piggy bank to be distributed to different charitable institutions. Mutti is a generous person, she always share her blessings to charities and to the less fortunates.



My Family here in Germany

Carmen and Me

Dirk arrived from his business trip in Austria today. I arrived in Offenburg train station early so i still have enough time to browse around the city. At C&A store, i saw Carmen, a very good friend of mine. We're laughing at ourselves while trying different winter hats. It's just a short meeting but we enjoyed it very much. We agreed that we're going to have a luncheon date next week.



At home, much better without winter coats and other bling bling

Carnival Season

Fasching (Karneval)in Germany is a time of wild fancy-dress parties and costume-balls, which are open to the public. It reaches its climax in big street processions with elaborately decorated floats and colorful attires. It gave the people a break as they were able to hide their own identity behind imaginative masks and costumes. People were able to mix with all other levels of society and share fun with them.



School children particularly love Karneval. They go to school in fancy dress and spend their time partying and spraying each other with silly string. Well it’s more fun than doing homework.


And..... Guess who?????

That's ME.....

Friends in Action

Though there's heavy snow all around Germany, the much awaited 33rd Fessenbach Jubilee still pushed through. The participants and spectators don't mind the cold weather and all are in high spirit so with my German and pinay friends assigned in one of the stalls there. We have lots of fun while watching the parade.





Me and Sabine's daughter

Markus and girlfriend

Sarah's Twins and Sabine's daughter


Madam Jo and Fe in the hotel kitchen

Participants in action as well

Asia Shops in Offenburg

Yesterday, while waiting for the parade to start, we decided to buy some food stuff at Oratay's Thai Shop. The Thai girls were about to take their lunch but they're kind enough to joined us for photo ops.







The new Indian shop was our next stop where i bought Tilapia.

Parade's Scene and Seen

While waiting for the Offenburg parade to start, we first have lunch at Guglhupf, a local restaurant in the city. They really serve the best schnitzel and potato soup. We then browse around the city and buy some foodstuff at Asia Shop.


Here are some of the sidelights and highlights of the parade
Kids and other spectators are also wearing carnival costumes.


Wine stalls, its very cold liquor makes the body warm.

An improvised kaputt tire needs repair

Wearing just a vest is not the best winter outfit with minus degrees temperature

There are lots of confettis thrown at us, the school kids enjoyed it very much


The participants takes some spectators and jailed them

My Stone Friends

Though not feeling well, i still did drive to the city to buy some household items. Its really freakin cold and the best way to beat it is to wear extra warm winter clothes. In the city i saw again my stone friend, who's always there rain, snow or shine.



My other friend is a summer attraction in the hotel where we work. But its still winter so i accompany him in this gloomy weather.