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Here is a short sign of life from the F/B (Ferry Boat) LEFKA ORI (“White Gold”). Yes, we are indeed on our way from Venice to Patras.

On the picture, you see our red VW minibus standing in the queue to the ferry (with the kayak and the white-and-red warning sign on the bikes at the rear end of the car). Barbara is sitting behind the wheel and patiently waiting for permission to board. In the meantime, I am patiently sitting on deck #7 and enjoying a Stella near the swimming pool. Unfortunately, this is also one of the beer brands made by the huge concerns. But I will not allow that to spoil my mood.

On departure, the weather had been a little doubtful.  So much more reason for us to enjoy the “Adieu Venice” shortly before dusk.

As they say – one picture says more than a thousand words:

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Last Friday, we had a wedding in the family. Anna Barbara was the first of my children to marry – her Patrick Hubatschek. Now her name is Anna Barbara Hubatschek. Our Isetta was the bridal coach and I was permitted to drive her to the registry office. The picture was taken by  Rolo Zollner. He took it as we arrived at the Hohenbrunn Registry Office.

And, of course, I wore my original river’s cap from the 1950ies – because if you drive an Isetta, you get fresh air for free.

It was a happy day.

So now I also want to send the young couple my wishes for their life through the IF blog. May they always do as well as I did with Barbara through my long life so far

RMD
(Translated by EG)

P.S.
Incidentally, Rolo caught us as I reverse-parked (with the door open). That is why all my concentration is focussed on the rear mirror, instead of at the photographer.

I notice more and more often how few people still speak German in public places all over Munich. Going places by subway or underground trains and eagerly trying to listen to what the people sitting next to me are saying, I mostly understand nothing. People talk in a language that is totally alien to me! More often than not, I cannot even determine what language is actually spoken.

In trains, I find myself in a similar situation. For instance, I enjoy listening to what gentlemen dressed in elegant business suits say on their mobile phones when on my way to Nuremberg. And I am delighted when I can listen in on interesting business dialogue halves in English, French or German. But this is a pleasure I am granted less and less often, because the language in use is more and more often one I do not know.

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Currently, pensions are again discussed a lot. Well, there is nothing new about that over the last few years. Some people already demand that we need a legislation to “work until you are 70”.

Now that is all rubbish!

Pensions are too high. Consequently, they should be lowered. First and foremost, we should say good-bye to such nonsense as the pension-stability legislation very quickly. Then, we should set a fixed basic sum – why not higher than now? – that cannot be touched. And the rest should be linearly lowered as far as possible. Even if it means 50%.

Nobody should be afraid of the retirees. The current retired people in Germany belong to a “golden generation”. They were the first generation in Germany to ever be able to live all their adult lives in times of peace. And they experienced an almost never-ending increase of prosperity. They should be grateful for this each day and ready to give up prosperity.

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