26.10.01
Apfel Wein
I have discovered much to my amusement and delight that the mysterious man, who is my flat mate Thomas, has been regionally acclaimed with a 3rd prize overall for apple cider making. Not bad considering he went up against 29 of the best brewers around. The apple quality wasn’t up to scratch this year so he hasn’t bothered to brew any but last year he pumped out over 4000 litres at an average of 8%alc with the exception of some 100 litres that had been brewed using apple schnapps to up the ante and that was rated at over 14%. It sells at around AUD$2.70 per litre to local connoisseurs and stein swine alike. Maybe next year I shall have the chance to sing the praises of the apple harvest. Teedum teedum, 10 months to go !
21.10.01
The Fire Bombing Of Darmstadt
Bettina and I went down to the library on Saturday and managed to borrow a self-study German language course. It seems to be reasonable and with a little bit of time and effort it should help me to get a much better handle on things. At least it is a freebie as most of these sorts of courses are quite expensive to purchase. A really nice library too. Very modern and laid out over different levels with walkways, stairs and ramps connecting all the different sections.
Nearby to the library is the shell of a church with a large concrete cross in the middle of it and a bronze sculpture on the forecourt area of a naked person cringing with the hands held over the face and head. It is a stark reminder of a war that is not so distant in real terms.
The allies used Darmstadt as a test run for the Dresden fire bombing and dropped the same incendiary bombs with the result of destroying virtually the entire town. They returned the following day and proceeded to unload hundreds of 500lb bombs all over the place just to finish the job.
Bettinas house, which was her grandparents and built in 1927 is the only one from this part of the town that survived it all and that was due to a soldier spotting a burning fragment of incendiary on the roof and extinguishing it before it got a hold.
I suppose I find it interesting that we are only taught about the Dresden fire bombing in history classes back in Oz. The attack on Darmstadt was certainly just as hideous and costly as the attack on Dresden.
All very sobering.
Nearby to the library is the shell of a church with a large concrete cross in the middle of it and a bronze sculpture on the forecourt area of a naked person cringing with the hands held over the face and head. It is a stark reminder of a war that is not so distant in real terms.
The allies used Darmstadt as a test run for the Dresden fire bombing and dropped the same incendiary bombs with the result of destroying virtually the entire town. They returned the following day and proceeded to unload hundreds of 500lb bombs all over the place just to finish the job.
Bettinas house, which was her grandparents and built in 1927 is the only one from this part of the town that survived it all and that was due to a soldier spotting a burning fragment of incendiary on the roof and extinguishing it before it got a hold.
I suppose I find it interesting that we are only taught about the Dresden fire bombing in history classes back in Oz. The attack on Darmstadt was certainly just as hideous and costly as the attack on Dresden.
All very sobering.