Relaxing Sunday

I understand the Sunday trading debate has risen it's head again in the UK England and Wales. When I last lived in the UK in the 80's, in a rural area and working 9-5, Mo-Fr, I was pro free trading.

Now having lived in Bavaria for 25 years, I have adjusted my opinion. I say Bavaria rather than Germany as there are probably some small differences from state to state - I think Berlin is pretty much "open". Will leave out the religious aspects but with a high proportion of church goers in Bavaria, it does play a role, if not as major a one as once was.

Initially the ban on virtually everything drove me crazy. At the main train station in Munich, there was a shop that sold groceries (at high prices) and that was it apart from petrol stations. Now bakers are allowed to open for a few hours, after they protested when  petrol stations installed bread baking ovens and I think out of town car wash units can operate - car washing on your own drive has always been prohibited. However there has been a remarkable change in the normal Mo-Sa shop opening times which have increased greatly, if only for the large national chains - DIY, Electronic, Supermarket etc. You may see some shops & businesses eg car sales, furnitures shops, open on a Sunday but only for viewing. The employees are not allowed to either give advice nor sell anything.

Local councils are  allowed to designate a few Sundays a year as "Open Sunday" when local shops can open. Today was such a day in Erkheim where they also had one of the streets filled with stalls selling everything from snack food, to clothing, handcrafts etc etc.

The Sunday laws are not just about shop trading but also extend to no trucks being allowed on the roads, no noise, lawn mowing, chainsaws, building work etc. Farmers are allowed to do what they want but it is very rare to see them out & about on a Sunday doing routine work. For all others, it's enforced relaxation.

It would have helped if the temperature had got above +4°C, the chilly strong breeze reduced and the sun replaced the clouds. Then people may have been getting on their bikes for a day out to the nearest beer garden.

In the collage, between the two Erkheim scenes, I have sneaked in a few photos from the British Isles - Grandson's 8th birthday cake decorated by his sister, their Mum warming up their Dad's bike helped by one of the dogs and Son's miserable attempt at pouring a bottle of Wheat Beer - at least he had the guts to send the picture with the remark "Forgot, again, to rinse the glass in cold water first" - it's the key to the job and only drip dry or shake out water, never use a tea towel. I will have to buy a crate of wheat beer for him to practice on when he's over.

Despite this extended cold period which dashed all our hopes from February of any early spring, the market today symbolises the start of the outdoor events and festival season.