What a night!

There I was - still feeling very happy in the afterglow of the wonderful concert - in front of the hotel. The key was in the inner pocket of my coat. Well, it should have been there. The pocket was open and empty!!!!! Yes, I had put the car keys in there as well and I remembered that I had taken them out to give to a friend to get the cake from the car. Obviously the hotel key had fallen out. Well - it should be save in the church.

Unfortunately the church was empty and locked by then and the owner of the key was travelling over country roads to take back some borrowed lamps to an unknown place. What could I do? At first I checked my bags to make sure, the key wasn't in any of them. Then I tried to ring the owner of the church key on his mobil. As it's not allowed to use a mobil while driving a car, I tried it again and again - until I reached him. Well, most people would have been angry, but not this friend. He didn't ask me to wait until he was back, but turned around to come back to the church. Together we searched the little room where we had kept our clothes. Luckily he also looked inside the clothes bags - and there was the key, well hidden in the singer's garments. Maybe someone has found it on the ground and put it in there? We'll never know.

When the church was dark and locked again, my friend smiled and said: "These stories are best to tell! " And yes, he is right! This lost key will be remembered forever and will make this one concert an exceptional one!

He went back onto the country roads and I drove to my hotel, got savely into my room and finally dropped into bed by 4:30 am. What a night!

 The hiding place

Dunkelschön's 10th Band Anniversary

It was nice to wake up on the day of a very special concert just 1 mile away from the event. I had a very long breakfast learning lots of bits from the hotel landlord. Then I collected all the more or less important bits and went to the next town with plenty of time to shop local specialities, like beer and wine. Franconia is famous for both.

Although the concert didn't start until 8 pm, plenty of things needed to be prepared and I arrived at the church just on time at 2 pm. At the beginning everyone was relaxed, instruments were unpacken and tuned and some last details were discussed. I prepared the "shop" for selling CDs, T-shirts and other mechandise like buttons, stickers, lanyards, etc. As the light and video help had become ill, I offered to do that job as well - nobody was going to buy anything during the concert. It meant giving up my seat in the front row. At least the husband of the cello player made some fantastic photos from my place. 

After some bread & cheese it was time to get dressed and to open the doors at 7 pm.

There wa a constant queue until about all 250 people were in the sold out church. It was exciting to meet so many friends again like every year at this church concert. This year I had asked a few to help me with the anniversary surprises, like writing into the guest book and getting others to write into it as well. One couple gave every visitor a sparkling light without the band noticing.

The concert was fantastic: songs from the very beginning, through all 10 years as far as new songs from the upcoming CD. In the back ground slide shows with photos from the past gave a nice view of many concerts. At the end all the audience sang Happy Birthday and lit the sparkling lights - and at the final the band and audience sang together a song about parting.....

Watch the video of the final (click here)

At the end the band got presents and a "Birthday cake".

Many fans wanted to talk to the band members and it must have been midnight until most had left. Some stayed to help making space for special photos for the next CD cover. Unfortunately the light wasn't enough and the session had to be repeated on Sunday. 

It was 3 am by the time I was back at the hotel.......and got an unexpected surprise. But that's another story.

More photos - click here

Back in Reality

Last week I worked more than during the busy December as both my work-mate and boss were on holiday. Now my boss is back and I can finally try to get back to routine.

That weekend in Bavaria was so packed with exciting and wonderful things, I won't put it all into one blog. 

On Friday, the 17th, I had to work a few hours before I could pack our car and go on my way. As I went that way a few times before, I know the way by heart, but took our satnav anyway in case there was a hold up somewhere. Funny enough, it wanted me to take a different route, but I insisted on my comfortable one.

After an hour on country roads I reached the motorway and could travel fast. The sky was a mixture of dark clouds and golden sunshine, but I couldn't stop to take pictures. A video would also have been nice. I stopped twice for a cup of tea and stretching and by the time I reached my destination a huge golden moon was welcoming me to Franconia.

The hotel "black eagle" already feels like home, as I stayed there last year for the January concert and with my husband during our cycle trip along the Main in summer. I enjoyed a nice dinner in the restaurant and then finished the photo/guest book I wanted to give as present the next day. 

The hotel at the bottom of the castle in Mainberg.

Part of Franconia along the river Main.

Holidays everywhere....

My boss already went on a holiday on last Friday. So my work-mate and I are back to working overtime..... At least we can look forward to holidays ourselves.

For me it's "only" a short trip to Bavaria at the weekend. Just for one concert and to meet many friends I see regular in the internet but not often enough in the real life. So it's going to be a very special treat. 

The concert is the 10th anniversary of my friends' band, so I'm busy to prepare some surprises. I'll tell about it after the concert.

Watch this snippet closely:
Video trailer for the concert

As it's quite a distance to travel, I would have loved to stay a few days more - but my work-mate will start her holiday on Monday, so I'm the only one left to take care of the wine shop.

On the other hand I wouldn't like to miss another very special concert on Sunday evening. Angelo Branduardi will give a church concert in Hannover. His music accompanied me almost all my life and I really look forward to it.

Watch a concert of him:
Concert of Angelo Branduardi

Goodbye Christmas tree!

During my childhood our Christmas Tree was always allowed to stay until the middle of January at least! I even remember it's company at my birthday in Febuary once or twice. But then - it was no problem to get rid of it afterward in a nursery.

When I moved into our village, I had to accept, that Christmas trees have to leave the house at the 6th of January at the latest - unless one wants to keep it until Easter, when it can be brought to the Easter fire - or what is left of it until then. When the tree takes up a lot of space or looses needles just by looking at it, I usually agree to that custom. This year my heart bleed to let it go! It was so slim, we could reach everything around it - and even when taking the decorations off, it didn't let go a single needle. 

Mind you - it was very sad, when I had to throw it to the worn-out and old looking other trees on Tuesday.

 At least, we have plenty of photos to remember it's beauty!

Counting.....

Most companies in Germany were very busy today, counting all their stock. In my job it means counting all bottles. Two years ago I started my new job with stock taking and the about 600 different wines were overwhelming. As my next task I had to write the result of counting into the computer, which gave me an idea about all the names. My boss was delighted that I can use a PC and when one stocktaking list was finished, I had to do the year before as well. Easy? Well, in that list the same wines had different names - and that way I learned a lot about all the wines.

Since then I tasted quite many of them, but still no all.

Last year we didn't need to write all the names into the lists while counting, because I had printed them out and that way saved us a lot of time. During the year I added all new wines to  the list and counting the wines today was almost fun. Well - we had already counted some on Monday and Tuesday and only needed 3,5 hours today. The stock rooms still need to be counted, but there's no real hurry, as there isn't much left anyway. 

 Italian wines

 Oversea and more Italian wines

 Austrian and Spanish wines

 Sparking wines and French red wines.

 Champagne, white and rosé French wines and some German wines.

 More German wines.

Happy New Year 2014!

2014 started with perfekt winter weather. At night is was cold, but there was no wind and we enjoyed watching the fireworks of others from outside our village for a whole hour!

On new year's day many villagers walk or cycle down to the river where some brave men show their skills on water skis. At least it was sunny this year. It's always a nice destination to get out of the house.