Writer's Block

Okay, biggest apologies go out to every one of you, I will not attempt to explain my lack of communication, albeit to say that I was just a little stressed.

So now's the bit where I try to recount everything that's been happening over the last (gosh!) eight weeks. With the help of Lou's diary pages (no, I didn't steal them, she gave them to me) and what's left of my decrepid memory, I will now go back to the beginning and reveal all (no, not in that way. no need to hide the kids).

So, April 26th saw Roberto (the italian) have his leaving party. Highlights of the evening were Alicia's tortilla, and the amount of wine drunk. Also on this same night saw a repeat Kalimocho party in Alberto's flat, which ended up with not many people remembering much of the night, including me, although there are vague recollections of some people close-dancing...

On May 22nd Don Albe (jose alberto to you and me) came over to visit us. Time was spent drinking, chatting, drinking...

Dinner was provided by Olga on May 23rd, so Lou and I went over to Bretzenheim to eat our plate's worth. Very nice. Afterwards, fiesta brava in the Mainzer Kolleg, where it was also the last day behind the bar for Antonio, before he left to go back to Seville. Very good night had by all, Albe certainly enjoyed himself, as did the rest of us dance-a-holics. At about 6am most people made their way home. Apparently Carlitos and Roberto stayed on a bit longer, whilst the latter painted the steps to the bar a nice shade of pink-with-carrots.

After his brief visit, Albe went back to Valencia on May 27th, promising to return soon. So the night of the 26th we had a leaving get-together for him in Hechtsheim Bar, where I got out a couple of special beers that I had brought back from England (one from chocolate, the other made with honey).

June 4th saw a strawberry-party organised by the Hechtsheim halls. So naturally we all went to Carlitos' place (about 3 metres away from said bar) and had our own super party (despite certain people trying to stop the fun).

Lobelto, sorry, Roberto the frog, um, frenchman laid on a Paella on June 6th for his housemates (including Olga) so Lou and I went along to give our opinions.

June 9th-12th I spent in my humble village in England, getting together my books, beer and sauces to bring back to Germany, whilst showing Olga around London on her first trip to the UK (crossing roads was a particular difficulty she had...). During this time Alberto (aka Albakra) and Jordi went back to Valencia for a week (it was uni holidays, honest).

The birth of Marcus the baker happened on June 14th, when, with my newly bought bread-baking machine, I baked my first loaf. Not wanting to die alone, I invited Lou to come along and try the bread first :)

June 15th saw me back in the experiment room in the physics building, where all sorts of computer problems occured. At 8pm I quickly ran away back home.

The preparations started well in advance, for on June 18th the halls of residence in Hechtsheim filled with about 3000 people for the annual summer party. Not before I cooked my Indian meal (a korma, for those in the know) for Andres, Carolina and Olga, and served it along with a freshly baked loaf of bread.
So, as expected of us, we had our own private party in Carlitos' flat. Again, some people not understanding the idea of a private party, nor that a person's toilet is not for communal use for a population of 3000, and that somebody saw fit to steal Lou's camera and also to push over the kitchen shelves. But apart from those little mishaps, it was a very good party, and Carlitos is to be commended once again for his organisational skills.

This Saturday just gone (June 21st) I went on a little shopping trip with Olga, to buy food. Why is this worth writing on this website you may ask? Because when it came through the checkout at 120 euros, and filled two boxes and five carrier bags, and had to be transported back home by bus, I would consider it something out of the ordinary. Highlights of the shopping trip: Colombian fruit (can't remeber what they were called), flour of type 1050 (no, I have no idea what that means either, but it's the one required for some of my bread recipes) and a Tigger toy.
After a meal of chicken with rice (attended by Sylvia), and sleeping the siesta (Olga has a problem with quantities when cooking, so yes, after eating it all up everyone needs a siesta) we had a pasta dish prepared by Nuria, wish was also very nice.

Now that I think I've done the majority of the news of late, I will let you get back to your cups of tea and coffee, that will definitely be cold by now.

Sorry.